10 years.
It had been 10 years since Richard Grayson had left Gotham City and the lives of all those who lived at Wayne Manor.
Since that time Jason had vanished as well only appearing from time to time but as the Red Hood and never as a partner.
Tim like Jason had had a run in with the Joker, he had survived…but in body only, his mind was lost and he was currently living in a mental hospital in Star City. Away from Gotham and its horrors he was doing much better.
The manor was now quiet with only himself, Alfred, the new dog Ace and the boy who had appeared 3 years ago. Their lives were beginning to fall into a steady rhythm again.
Until a familiar face was spotted around Gotham.
Batman typed furiously on the bat computer, this breathes coming in angered pants.
"Who is this man Father?" asked Damian sitting across the cave from him
"His name is Slade Wilson, he used to go by the name of DeathStroke the Terminator" Bruce growled "He hasn't been seen in nearly 10 years".
"How dangerous is he?"
"He's taken on the whole league as well as Young Justice at one time. He's on of most deadly list" Damian silently gulped.
"So how do we work out what he's planning?"
"We can't" said Batman simply "getting into that man's head has never been something I could do" he paused "But there is someone who knows his mind, knows how he thinks"
"Who?" Bruce turned to face his son with an almost sad expression on his face
"Richard Grayson"
OoOoOoOo
"If you could go out the back and bring in those crates Rich then you can get going, its nearly 3" Rich stretched his arms above his head, glad that his day shift was nearly over.
"On it" said the 28 year old moving around the bar towards the back door, his American accent standing out against the British. He took a step out of the door and into the cold English weather. After 10 years he was used to the cold, unlike back in the States the weather here stayed pretty much the same all year round. Cold and wet.
Had it really been 10 years? Dick Grayson glanced up at the sky, so much had changed in that decade and he wasn't even sure if it had been for the better.
After bringing in the crates he grabbed his coat
"I'm off Jones!" he called back into the bar before walking back out and starting up the road.
He was about half way to his destination when something caught the caught the corner of his eye, he thought he had seen a figure in the dark alley way across the street, but the figure was now gone.
Knowing to always trust his instincts Dick crossed the road and cautiously made his way into the alleyway, his hand in his coat pocket fingering the edges of one of his old Birdarages.
Upon inspection there was nothing in the ally asides from old boxes and rubbish bins, Dick sighed in relief, for a moment he had thought it had been…never mind.
He turned, going to leave but the blur of something passing inches from his face and burying itself into the brick wall at his side stopped him in his tracks.
Taking a step back he looked around for his attacker but saw no one but the disk within the wall spoke volumes. It was a small but sharp circle blade with an "S" scratched into the surface.
Dick took a moment to steady his breathing before leaving the ally once and for all.
He walked quickly through the streets; no one stopped him or stared at him. Here he was invisible; no one cared who he was. Richard Grayson and Bruce Wayne were America's problem; the people here really couldn't care less.
Finally he entered the small tarmacked playground in front of a small building. It was empty apart from a small figure sat on the steps at the front door. Dick looked at his watch and realised due to his alleyway detour he was late.
The figure looked up as he approached
"Where were you?" she said her accent was defiantly English but she carried American traits in some of the words she said.
"Sorry I got held up" he apologised smiling sheepishly, the girl glared, standing up and walking past him towards the gate "Next week I promise I will be on time every day!" he said following her and taking her hand as they crossed the road.
"That's what you said last week and the week before that"
Dick stopped, took hold of the little girls shoulders and knelt down to her level, finally her blues eyes lifted to meet his.
"I'm sorry Amber, I really am" he said sadly "I know it been hard without your mom, but I'm trying the best I can. Honest."
The little girl nodded before reaching forward and hugging him
"I know" she said they stayed like that for a few moments, not caring if anyone was watching until suddenly the girl straightened.
"Look look" she exclaimed pointing towards the sky, Dick turned to see what she was pointing at and what had grabbed everyone's attention.
In the sky blocking out some of the sun was a symbol that Dick knew too well and he knew who it was meant for.
The Bat signal would be showing over most of the planet but it was meant for him.
After 10 years of silence Bruce was finally trying to contact him, and with the events in the ally way and from a few years back Dick was pretty sure it was about the dead man following him.
Once the symbol faded away they carried on walking finally reaching the apartment.
Amber ran straight in settling herself on the sofa and turning on her favourite cartoon while Dick made his way to his bedroom. It was a room until 2 years ago he had shared with his girlfriend Cassy. He sat down on the bed picking up a picture that was on the side table. The picture was of a woman with short brown hair and green eyes, he had taken this on the first week of knowing her, 10 years ago when he first arrived in England.
"You would know what to do" he whispered to the picture, Cassy had known about his past and had even tried to convince him to go back and make it up with Bruce. But life had got in the way.
"I miss her too" the voice beside him is what stopped his tears from escaping; instead he opened his arms and eloped the little girl in them.
"How about, I call up work and tell them I can't come in tonight. Then me and you can watch a movie?"
"Only if I can pick the Film" She put emphasise on the word film
"Of course young Miss, you may choose whichever film you desire" Dick bowed low to her while putting on his best Alfred impression.
oOoOoOo
It was late; they had currently watched Hunger Games, Twilight and had just finished Tangled though both had fallen asleep half way through the last movie, leaving the credits to carry on playing. It was the squirming of a body in his arms that woke Dick. He looked down to see Amber's face scrunched up in fear.
"Amber? Amber sweetie wake up" her eyes snapped open
"The orange man" she said "He was there again, the man with the orange face. He just stood there he wouldn't help mummy he just stood there" the tears started to fall.
"Shhh it's just a dream, there's no orange man. Just a dream" he rocked her until her tears subsided.
She had been talking about his orange man for nearly 2 years, after she had been in a car accident.
Could it just be a coincidence or could it be…
"Amber how would you feel about going on holiday?" the little girl stared at him with a frown
"Where?"
"I was thinking maybe the US?" her frown was replaced with a smile
"Can we visit where you're from?" she was bouncing with joy now
"That's the plan" he said starting to rock her again. His mind was made up he had to know if he really was all connected. He would go back to Happy Harbour and the mountain; he would avoid Gotham for as long as he could. But he knew he would have to go back eventually.
It was time.
A/N first chapter! I'm sorry if you don't like my OC, i promise i'm trying to make her as likable as possible. I'm sure you can all guess already who she is. As for her mother and such. All will be explained later. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Let me know what you think with some reviews. Karin xxx