This chapter is set right after Bruce "died" and Dick became Batman. I own nothing!

At the start of Dick's tenure as Batman, it took him a while to get into the swing of things. There were just so many things Bruce had to take care of as Batman. Dick wondered how he hadn't died from exhaustion years ago. Maybe it had something to do with his infinite number of sidekicks, or maybe it was just because Bruce had the strength and resources to handle it.

But Dick didn't have those resources at the moment. Everyone was mourning, Damian was still getting used to being Robin, he didn't even remember who was Batgirl now, and Tim was who knows where trying to prove his insane theory of Bruce being alive. Long story short, Dick was on his own.

Just ten days in and he'd been busting a drug operation he'd been tracking for weeks. It was a simple fight for the most part. About seven or eight goons to take out, only a few handguns presenting a problem, simple. But he unfortunately didn't know about the bomb.

It was most likely a failsafe from the higher ups, trying to cover up their crime if they needed to. And apparently having the big bad bat busting up your operation counted as a good enough reason.

It was a fairly big bomb, just enough to kill everything and everyone in the building without completely demolishing it. But still enough to hurt Dick. He had been so busy focusing on the goons that he didn't notice the quiet ticking noise until a hand grabbed him by the shoulder, throwing him out the nearby window before he could even think.

He instinctively shot off a line, landing on the roof of a nearby building. He watched as the very building he'd been in no less than twenty seconds ago shook and rattled with an explosion. If he'd been in there... Wait. Who saved him?

"You really need to be more careful, kitten. You could have been killed in there", a familiar voice rang out from behind him.

He habitually shifted into a fighting stance, but then he saw the familiar black catsuit and bullwhip of one Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. He relaxed, though still prepared in case of an unlikely attack. Catwoman was pretty unpredictable, but he trusted her for the most part.

"How'd you know about the bomb?", he asked.

She shrugged. "Saw some thug activating it and figured you probably had no idea."

Dick sighed, running his hand over his face. "You figured right. It's-... It's been difficult. Becoming Batman was harder than I'd imagined. I've got big boots to fill."

"Yes you do."

They were silent for a moment, simply staring at each other. Then Selina pulled back her mask and goggles, revealing a concerned face. "How are you? How is everyone doing?"

Dick too pulled back his cowl, glad to have the stuffy mask off his face. It was even heavier than he imagined, and he couldn't help missing his light flexible Nightwing costume. He sat on the edge of the roof, Selina moving to sit beside him.

"Like I said, it's been hard for everyone. Especially Damian. I can't figure out how to do anything with the kid. I try to handle everything the way Bruce would, but I just can't figure it out. I'm not even sure I should be Batman. Tim should have taken the mantle, not me."

Selina looked down, feeling his hurt and loss. Bruce had been important to everyone. It was going to be really hard trying to do everything without him from now on, that was obvious. She looked over at Dick, who stared out at the city below.

This poor boy. He was so young, and already he was being forced to take the mantle of one of the most important people in the country. That was a lot to ask of him, and she could barely imagine just how stressful it must be. She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder.

"Bruce wouldn't have given you the job if he didn't think you could handle it. And I know you can do it, you're better than you think you are."

Dick closed his eyes, his brows pulling together. "But now I'm supposed to be the one pulling everyone together. I'm supposed to be the leader, to keep the whole family safe. Now I've got all of this responsibility and no idea how to handle it. Jason's off who knows where with his own team, Damian is having trouble with fighting the way I tell him to, Tim is grieving to the point where I'm not sure if he's losing his mind or just holding on to any hope he can get..."

Dick sniffled, looking down at his hands. "I'm trying to stumble around in shoes way too big, trying to assume a role that's only fit for one man. But he's gone and now it's my job to take it, even if I'll probably fail and let everyone down." His eyes were glassy when he said that.

He knew he needed to be strong for everyone else and pick up the pieces of this family, but what about him? He needed to take so much responsibility for what's going on, and yet there's no shoulder for him to lean on. Who was there to take care of him?

Selina of course understood how he felt. She still missed Bruce dearly, him being a dark light in her life. She couldn't imagine what it must be like for Dick. Even now as she looked at this grown man, all she could see was the tiny nine year-old boy who liked flipping around and helping his adoptive father take down criminals- sometimes even herself.

It wasn't long before her maternal instincts took over and she pulled the man into a hug. "It's going to be difficult going on without Bruce, but I know you'll find a way to make it work. And if you ever need some help or even a pair of ears to talk to, you've got me. You'll be alright, kitten."

There was silence then as the two vigilantes stared out at Gotham, the city lights blinking below.

"...Thanks, Selina."