Dick cried. He sat in front of Jason's headstone and he just...sobbed. Jason had died, and he hadn't been there! Why wasn't he here?! Why didn't he...he could've done something, could've saved him! And Bruce...! He and Bruce had had a huge argument weeks before; the man hadn't even bothered to tell him that Jason was dead before they buried him! When he found it, his heart shattered into a million pieces. Kori had been there to comfort him, holding him while he cried.

But here he was now, sitting in front of the teen's grave, sobbing. Guilt overtook him because he wasn't even at his damn funeral. Jason, his little brother, was dead. He was gone and Dick hadn't even been here...It took months for Dick to cope with the loss, having pushed everyone away, leaving Bludhaven and moving to New York City, and now here was again, back in Bludhaven.

Dick had found that the shadows of his past were not easy to escape from. Even ones long thought dead.

-o-o-O-o-o-

Nightwing swung through the air on his grappling hook, spinning through the air with acrobatic grace. One might almost think he were actually flying. Dick landed on the roof and raced across the rooftop, his parkour better than ever as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop without missing a beet. It had been a year or so since he'd been back to Bludhaven; there were old memories here, bad memories, dark ones even that he would have rather forgotten. He tried starting a new life in New York City, but Gotham called him home again, where he stayed for a time before coming back to confront his darkness personally.

He was back and stronger and better than ever before. More importantly, he was here to stay. It was thanks to Bruce that he found the strength to come back. "Why do we fall?" he had asked him. "So we can learn to pick ourselves back up." After a long discussion and a heart-to-heart, the two of them put their grievances aside and Bruce helped Dick to move past what had happened in Bludhaven. Dick made the decision to return, because Bludhaven was his city.

Dick laughed as he did a quadruple flip through the air and landed on another rooftop, his patrol nearing its end. Gotham had turned out to be Bludhaven Lite; for all the crime and corruption in Gotham, Bludhaevn was worse, but it had been doing better since Nightwing had returned. Unfortunately, it couldn't stay that way for just one night. Dick heard a scream and skidded to a stop looking in the direction from which it came. There he saw The Red Hood, dangling a criminal over the edge of a building by the collar of the man's jacket.

"I don't know who this guy is, I swear! They just pay me to keep people quiet!" the man begged, glancing down at the ground, three stories below. Jason laughed darkly and pretended to lose his grip for a moment.

"Bullshit. You go back and forth between Gotham and Bludhaven on this guy's orders and you don't ask any questions? Yeah right. Enjoy the trip," Jason said darkly, dropping the man off the edge of the building. The man screamed as he fell and closed his eyes, but Dick intervened, swinging in and saving the day. He grabbed the man before he hit the ground, the man thanking him over and over.

"Yeah, you're welcome," Dick muttered, cuffing him to a dumpster in the alleyway. He fired a line to the roof above and found himself face-to-face (so to speak) with Jason.

"Still running around playing gangbanger, huh Jason?" Dick asked, unimpressed. Jason snorted, his face hidden behind his blood red mask.

"Still playing the part of Bruce's Golden Boy, huh Dickie?" Jason asked with a derisive snort.

"What're you doing here?" Dick demanded to know. Jason backed up a bit and gave a shrug.

"Oh, y'know. Just enjoying that sweet Bludhaven air. Gotham's has gotten a bit stale. Needed a change of scenery," Jason said smoothly, looking around at the city itself. "Not much of a change though."

"Jason-" Dick began, taking a threatening step forward.

"Hey, I'm not here for a fight, Dickie-bird. I'm here to put an end to a drug ring running out of here," Jason began, pointing back toward the direction of Gotham City "to Gotham."

"By carving a bloody scar through Bludhaven? Yeah I don't think so," Dick said flatly, attacking Jason.

Both Nightwing and Red Hood soon found themselves grappling on the roof tops, exchanging blows back and forth. A light rain fell down on them, a sprinkle really, as they fought. Dick flipped backward, avoiding a fist from Jason. Jason pursued him, and Dick ducked a blow, allowing himself to fall backward, catching himself on his hands and kicking toward Jason. Jason grunted at the kick to his stomach which sent him tumbling backward across the roof. Jason's helmet lay on the roof across the way, having discarded it specifically for the fight. Jason flopped back onto his feet and lunged in for another attack, ducking and sliding across the ground as a wingding flew over head. Dick brought an escrima stick down on his head, but Jason blocked it with his arm.

The stick collided with a gauntlet hidden underneath the sleeve of the man's black leather jacket, and Jason retaliated with an uppercut to the man's jaw. Jarred, Dick stumbled back a bit before recovering, performing a few back flips to gain some distance. Dick had the advantage in wide, open spaces. With plenty of room to move and maneuver, he could out pace Jason. But in close quarters, Jason would have the advantage. He was more ground-and-pound like Bruce, a brutal fighting style based on speed and brutality. But unlike Bruce, Jason was more agile, faster, more flexible, using everything to his advantage.

As Dick landed on his feet, Jason was already on him, fists swinging. Dick barely had time to counter the aggressive assault, defending and deflecting blows. Jason had him on the defense, raining a flurry of furious blows down on him, a few finding purchase on the acrobat. Jason threw another punch and Dick, finally seeing an opening, danced around it, deflecting the blow. Jason stumbled away, his momentum taking him away. He spun around to see Dick coming at him. Dick swung an escrima stick as Jason and scored a blow to his ribs. Jason stepped back, grunting in pain and clutching at his side, he grinned at Dick and laughed.

"Not pulling your punches I hope, Dickie-bird?" Jason asked with a chuckle of amusement as he pushed himself up to his full height. Dick stood up right, letting his arms drop by his sides, still glaring at Jason. A silence settled between the two of them as they stared each other down. Jason broke the silence with a laugh, cracking his knuckles. "I told you, Goldie, I didn't come here for a fight. I came here to put a stop to a drug ring."

"And I told you; Bludhaven is off-limits. You're killing people, Jason! I can't just ignore that!" Dick retorted, arm slashing through the air angrily. Jason, still grinning, crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, turns our putting bullet in a scum bag's head keeps them from committing more crimes," Jason replied haughtily. Dick growled and shook his head. He figured he was making a mistake, dropping his guard a little, his expression softening.

"Jaybird-" Dick began. Jason growled and stomped forward a bit, glaring at Dick.

"Don't call me that!" Jason snapped. But Dick ignored him and continued. He wanted to believe that his Little Wing was still in there somewhere, that Jason was not beyond saving. He missed that happy, carefree, goofy teenager he used to train with, hang out with, talk with.

"We were trained and taught never to kill. Because it's easy and that's why the criminals use it," Dick said softly, taking a few steps toward the man. "Can't you see you're becoming just like them?"
Jason snorted, still staring him down. He waved his hand dismissively.

"Your way doesn't work. Mine does. I get results," Jason replied, crossing his arms over his chest. Dick sighed, shaking his head. After everything that had happened, a reasonable person would give up, but not Dick. He couldn't and he wouldn't. Just because people stumble and lose their way, doesn't mean they're lost forever. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of kindness, and a little bit of hope. Sometimes, they just need someone to reach them Clark had once told him back when he was Robin. Bruce had trained and taught him that same lesson, albeit without the words, but through his actions. That stuck with Dick and he believed in it.

"Jason-'

"No Dick, enough. Either get out of my way, or I'll put you down," Jason said with a dark glare and an aggressive stance. Dick noted that Jason hadn't yet drawn his guns or his daggers this whole fight. He was holding back; that was a good sign. But how could he reach Jason? How could he bridge the gap between them and make him understand? Dick had a thought; it was small, but it was also a start.

"Let me help you," Dick offered. Jason flinched at the offer, taking a step back in surprise.

"What?" he asked, confused. Dick smiled and took a step toward him.

"Let me help you. Bludhaven is my city. If there's a drug ring here, then I want it broken up as much as you do," Dick answered smoothly. Jason eyed him suspiciously through the white lenses of his domino and took a few steps toward Dick, closing the space a little.

"Why? You obviously have a problem with my methods, so why do you want to help?" Jason asked, arching an eyebrow as he eyed the other male suspiciously. Dick gave a nod, waving an escrima stick as he spoke.

"You're right, I don't. But if I help you, I can keep you from killing," Dick replied, to which Jason snorted.

"You can try. Do you even know what these scum bags have done?" Jason asked, a hint of venom in his tone. Dick watched him warily, then crossed his arms and shook his head.

"It doesn't matter, you-"

"No it does, Dick! These drugs that they're peddling? They're dealing to children. And that's not the worst of it; the drug gives them a feeling of euphoria, but withdrawal causes them to have a psychotic break," Jason ground out, clenching his fists at his side.

"I've seen kids, kids Dick, committing suicide. When I find them, they're dead."

Dick frowned at the description of the drug. To say it sounded bad, would have been a horrible understatement. But killing was certainly no better. He had to try and help Jason and keep the causalities to a minimum.

"I get it Jason, I do, but no killing. If you're going to operate in my city, you follow my rules," Dick said firmly. "Please." Please? As if that'd work...Jason was silent as if considering Dick's offer. Dick hoped he would accept because it'd be nice to work side by side once more, like old times instead of fighting and arguing with each other all the time. Finally, Jason approached and held his hand out toward Dick.

"We'll see, won't we?" Jason asked. Dick smiled and shook his hand.

"Good," Dick said, eyes drawn to Jason's chest. There he saw a red bat symbol, which was curious considering his...well, hate seemed strong...dislike of Bruce. Dick gently moved the jacket out of the way a little to get a better look and arched an eyebrow at Jason. "What's this about?" he asked curiously. Jason looked down, eyeing the bat symbol on his chest and snorted.

"Why the hell not? The man trained me, may as well borrow his symbol. Plus, it'd probably piss him off to see me wearing it, so that's a bonus," Jason replied with a smug grin. Dick smirked; he could tell Jason was lying, or at least not telling the whole truth, but he let it go.

"Alright, fine. Any intel on where their distribution center is?" Dick asked. Jason's grin widened as he moved toward the edge of the building, looking back at Dick over his shoulder.

"As a matter of fact, yeah. What, you honestly didn't think I'd just come charging blindly into Bludhaven without knowing where I was going, did you?" Jason asked with a snort. Dick waited patiently for Jason to share the intel, but when the man remained silent, he grew a little impatient.

"Well?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Jason gave a shrug.

"Pause for dramatic effect," he answered and Dick rolled his eyes, chuckling in amusement. Jason turned around toward Dick again and nodded behind him. "I busted their asses in Gotham as they were getting their operation off the floor. We're lucky; they've only got one drug distribution center set up here in Bludhaven so far."

"So we take it out now and put it down before it can grow?" Dick replied. Jason gave a nod.

"Haven't lost your touch, I see. So, what're we waiting for? Follow the leader," Jason called with a grin, diving off the edge of the building. Dick laughed lightly to himself before following suit.

-o-o-O-o-o-

They'd found the warehouse near the center of the city, guarded by only a few thugs as far as they could tell. They were perched on a rooftop across from the warehouse, scoping the place out. Jason had just returned from doing a little recon on the place. He had his helmet back on and Dick had activated the magnification sight in his mask. Other than a couple of perimeter guards, the place looked completely innocuous. But they both knew looks could be deceiving.

"Two guards at the front door. Nobody on the roof. If we're quiet, we can sneak in through there," Dick said softly, turning his attention to Jason. Jason glanced over at Dick and gave a nod, reaching for a grappling gun and firing it to the roof across the way. Dick followed after him and together, the two of them snuck inside the building.

So far so good; it seemed security was light. These guys had to be amateurs at best. The two of them dropped silently down onto the catwalks and looked down on the thugs below. They were loading crates of drugs onto trucks with only a handful of armed guards overseeing the loading process. A pudgy man came out a few minutes later barking orders to the men.

"Get those damn trucks loaded! We're behind schedule because I hired a bunch of jackasses!" the moan shouted angrily, storming back into his office. Dick exchanged a look with Jason and the two simply nodded at each other.

Dick pulled a small smoke bombs out of a hidden compartment on his gauntlet and dropped it on the thugs below. The men stopped their work to when the small pellets started dropping onto the floor. A smokescreen began billowing out of the pellets and filling the room. Dick and Jason jumped down and took down the thugs, one by one with ease.

"Huh. That was less fun than I was hoping for. I prefer a straight up fight myself. Gets the blood pumping," Jason said smoothly, clapping his hands together.

"You might just get your wish," Dick answered, drawing his escrima sticks and nodded toward the armed thugs headed their way. Jason grinned and drew his hand guns, earning a look from Dick. Jason rolled his eyes and holstered them.

"Fine. Buzzkill," he muttered, ducking a punch and delivering an uppercut to his jaw. One blow and the guy was out. "Wow, we got a lightweight over here," Jason said amusedly, as he deflected a baseball bat aimed at his head. Dick flipped over one's head, the other behind him aiming an automatic rifle. Dick drew a few wingdings and knocked the gun out of his hand, throwing an escrima stick at the other's head. The man yelped as it struck his head and knocked him to the ground. The thug with the gun tried to slam Dick in the back of the neck with the butt of the gun, but Dick side stepped, avoiding the attack. He put his leg out in front of the guy and tripped him.

"Have a nice fall," he said with a laugh. Jason flipped to avoid an attack, landing on his hands and trapping the man's head between his feet. Before the man could react, Jason grunted and flipped, slamming the man to the ground and knocking him out cold.

"Some drug dealers these guys turned out to be," Jason muttered, earning a laugh from Dick. He retrieved his escrima stick and pointed toward thew office.

"Come on Hood, that must be where he's hiding," Dick said, the two of them making for the office. Jason kicked open the door to find the pudgy Drug Dealer packing money into a duffel bag frantically. When the door was kicked off its hinges, he turned around and gasped, pulling out a gun. Dick threw a wingding and knocked it out of his hands. The man attempted to flee, which Jason chose to answer by shooting him in the leg.

"Hood!" Dick scolded as the Jason moved across the room toward the drug dealer. The man dragged himself toward the exit, whimpering in fear. Jason hauled him up onto his feet and broke his arm, peeling a scream of pain out of the man.

"No, please, don't kill me!"

"Do you know who I am?" Jason growled.

"Y-Yeah, the Red Hood! Y-you got a rep in the Underworld!"

"Hood, that's enough. It's over!" Dick shouted. Jason glanced over his shoulder and slammed the drug lord into the desk, forcing him face down against the cold metal of the desk.

"Good, I'm glad we can skip the introductions. Now tell me whose in charge of this operation," Jason demanded to know. He twisted the other man's arm a bit when he didn't answer. "You enjoy fucking up kids. I enjoy fucking up scum bags. Talk. Now," Jason growled. Dick watched, gritting his teeth. This was too much, and yet...

"Okay, okay! I'll talk! I-it's Black Mask!" the man replied. Jason let out a loud, annoyed sigh.

"Really? That guy again? He's like a fuckin' cockroach, I swear to god," Jason growled, looking up at Dick. "What'd I tell you? Shoulda killed him years ago. Instead he waltzes out of Gotham's revolving door prison-"

"Not now," Dick answered curtly.

"Can I go now?" the man asked nervously. Jason let out a bark of laughter.

"Sure."

"Really?"

"No," Jason said flatly, pointing a gun to the man's head.

"Hood, no!" Dick gasped, taking a threatening step forward. Jason looked up at Dick, then back at the pudgy drug dealer, pleading for his life. Then he looked back to Dick and raised his hands defensively, holstering the gun.

"Fine, fine. He's probably about as dangerous as a frilly pink dress anyway," Jason said with a derisive snort as Dick cuffed him and contacted the BPD. As the two men exited the building, Dick smiled and elbowed Jason playfully.

"Thanks Jaybird." Jason snorted and waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't get used to it." The two of them walked in silence for a bit, Dick contemplating everything that had happened tonight. He turned to Jason then and smiled. "Say Jason. Do you have a place to stay for the night?"

"It's fine Dick. Gotham's only thirty minutes away."

"It's three in the morning," Dick countered. Jason took off his helmet and frowned at him.

"Dick. We just fought not an hour ago."

"And?"

"I tried to kill you."

"And?"

"Twice."

"And?"

"And? What is wrong with you?!"

"You're family. I care about you," Dick answered easily. Jason snorted and turned to leave, but Dick stopped him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Believe it or not, I do care. We all do. You're still family." Jason snorted derisively but otherwise made no comment. Glancing over at Dick, he heaved a sigh and shrugged his shoulders.

"Alright Goldie. I suppose I could use a place to crash. Kinda wiped. Half hour drive does not sound appealing," Jason mused. Dick chuckled in amusement and led the man back to his apartment. The climbed in through the window, finding themselves in Dick's living room. When Dick returned he found that his old apartment building had been rebuilt after Blockbuster blew it up. Instead, he chose to rent an apartment on the other side of Bludhaven. It was a spacious apartment with one large room divided into a kitchen and a living room, with a bathroom off to the side and one bedroom. As always though, Dick's apartment was a mess. He was certainly not known for his proper cleaning habits.

"Still a slob like always I see," Jason muttered, closing the window behind him and taking off his helmet. He put it on the coffee table as Dick went into the bedroom, stripping off his gear and stashing it into the closet. He changed into a pair of blue dorm pants and a white tank top and padded out to the living room with a spare blanket and pillow, tossing them onto the couch.

"Make yourself at home, Jaybird," Dick said smoothly, watching as the man kicked off his boots and stripped off his jacket, hanging it on a wall peg.

"What? Not gonna offer me the bed?" Jason asked in mock offense. Dick snorted in amusement, a smile spreading across his face. He waved his hand dismissively.

"I could, but then you'd argue about it being my place, and I'd argue about you being a guest, and well, I'm just too tired."

"You know me better than I thought," Jason replied with a grin.

"So do you-"

"No."

"Good night then," Dick replied with a laugh.