Ok, the idea behind this is to create an expanded universe for CW's "Arrowverse". I'm Grey, and I'll be penning a Nightwing series as part of this collective group. There are other works being put out (Teen Titans will be running alongside Nightwing, and there should be one or two more projects coming, but all by different authors), but this is the only work I am penning. If you wish to message this account, please make sure to note which author you are trying to reach.
Of note is that I attempt to write as if this would work on television. I keep a theoretical budget in mind, CW mindset, and I don't write characters thoughts or things like that. I write as if you're watching this on television (although I don't write it as a script, because I can't stand doing that).
Of note is that in the Arrow/Flash canon, we chose to have a cutoff point, because we began writing these before the seasons had ended. And I, at least, have my entire story bible planned through my series finale, and the events of those shows might have tossed some of it into chaos.
The Arrowverse proper canon ends at Arrow's "Nanda Parbat", while Flash works all the way through to its finale properly without interfering with plans we had already made. If you would like to see some of the Arrow changes, please refer to Teen Titans, as some things will be addressed there.
One final note: I write Dick's character as if he's being played by Steven R. McQueen, because yes, I too am in that bandwagon.
Enjoy.
1. Pilot
The silence in the dark of night was broken by the sound of gunfire, and men running out of an apartment complex, guns in hand. Two of them were carrying a bleeding, groaning man between them.
"Load him into the truck!" one of the men was shouting. He lifted his gun towards the flashing lights of the police car that he could see approaching. He fired a few shots, slowing the police as they tried to open their doors.
The men climbed into the truck, and the shooter climbed into the bed, with the bleeding man. "Go!" he hit the back window. The truck began to move, and the police scrambled back into their car, lights and sirens still blaring.
The truck took twists and turns through the streets, weaving through traffic. The squad car didn't attempt anything it didn't have to, and tried to drive relatively straight.
The officer in the passenger seat took the radio, "This is squad 21, the getaway vehicle is a red pickup truck, about ten years old, no license plate. It's going south down Broadway Street. Approach with caution!"
There was sudden movement in the air ahead of the squad. The two officers saw something fall on top of the truck and land.
The man in the bed turned around, gun coming up. His gun didn't last long as something batted it away. "What the…" he didn't finish his next word as a metal stick struck him in the throat. He gasped and then fell by the bleeding man.
The truck came to a stop and the four men inside came out, guns in hand. They fired on the squad, which pulled away to avoid the brunt of the gunfire.
"Greg is down!" one of them shouted. "What happened?" He reached over in the bed and tried to shake his fallen ally, "Greg? Greg? He's still breathing!"
"It must have been whatever fell on the truck," another man said, "It probably bounced off and hit him."
"The hell was that anyway?" a third man questioned.
"It was me."
One man turned and took a metal stick across his face. He hit the ground. The other three men lifted their weapons in that direction, but the dark suited man rolled, taking out two of them by swinging his sticks into their legs. They fell to the ground.
The last man attempted to fire, but the fighter threw one of his sticks into the man's hand, making him drop the gun. He rolled, came to his feet, and drove his elbow into the man's face, taking him down.
He span around, kicking one of the two men whose legs he had wounded, then slammed his stick into the last one.
He hurried to the truck bed and checked on the bleeding man, "Just hold on," he said. He looked back at the squad, which was approaching. The red and blue flashing lights cast out on his black armored suit, dark hair, and black domino mask. The greatest part of his armored, Kevlar suit that stood out was the blue bird emblem on his chest.
He sheathed his metal sticks on his back in an X pattern and turned to run. He fled into an alley and was gone.
The officers approached, weapons drawn. They looked cautiously at the downed criminals and looked at each other, "It was him," one of them said.
The other one nodded, "Nightwing."
The apartment door came open slowly and quietly. The dark haired youth came through and looked around, seeing a few lights on. He closed the door and looked around some more, "Boone? You still awake?"
A blonde haired man of about the same age – 24 – came out of a room. He was pulling a shirt on, "Yeah, of course I am." He was soft spoken, "You didn't think I was going to let you get past your one year anniversary of living with me in Bludhaven, did you?"
The dark haired man smiled, "One year. Wow. That seems ridiculous. It feels like a lot less time than that."
"Well Dick, maybe that's because all of your nights bleed together," Boone said bitterly. He moved to the table and sat down.
"Boone…we agreed we weren't going to talk about that," Dick said, moving to sit with him.
"Did you really have to go out tonight? This was our night, Dick. Our night! You came to Bludhaven with so little, and I gave you a place to stay. You were happy, I was happy. I thought that maybe our friendship could resume properly again, now that you weren't Robin anymore. But then you put on that black and blue costume and become Nightwing instead, and then you're out, emulating you-know-who instead of just following at his side."
"Boone, this is the life I know now," Dick said.
"Then why do you start the police academy tomorrow morning?" Boone asked.
"Because you can't do all of the good that needs doing from the shadows and behind a mask," Dick said, "That's why. Now, we can sit here and argue, or we can open that bottle of tequila I saw hidden in the freezer, get wasted, and I can enjoy my first day at the academy slightly hungover."
Boone smiled and got up. He opened the freezer and pulled out the bottle, setting it between them on the table. He took two shot glasses and set them beside the bottle.
"Who are they?" a woman asked as she walked with a uniform officer in the jail. She looked inside the cells at the various men whom Nightwing had apprehended.
"We don't know," the officer said, "No ID on them, same as the last few batches the vigilante and police have brought in."
"So, it's that gang," the woman said. She folded her arms over her chest, "And if they're anything like the last group, they're not going to talk." She was Hispanic, in her mid-twenties and rather attractive with light colored hair.
"Standard procedure then?" the officer asked.
She nodded, "We'll get them on the actual charges, then send them off."
"This was a Nightwing takedown," the officer said.
"I'm aware," she said. He opened his mouth, but she interrupted, "I am also aware that some of his takedowns have resulted in the charges being thrown out. Except this time they shot and abducted a man, and fired at the police. This should stick." She walked down the hallway.
"Ma'am? Where are you going?" the officer asked.
"I have to step into class," she said.
Dick sat in his desk, holding his head in one hand. "That was stupid," he muttered to himself. Like everyone else in the room, he was in black boots, black tactical pants, and a black shirt. He glanced over at the man who sat beside him.
"Hard night?" the man asked. He was dark skinned and about the same age as Dick.
"Yeah, my one year anniversary living with my roommate," he said.
"Oh, congratulations," the man told Dick, "How is that?"
"It's not romantic," Dick said, "He's a friend who offered me a place when I had nowhere else to go. And I'm telling you that because people just jump on it being a girlfriend or something."
The man nodded, "I wasn't going to ask. It's not my place."
Dick nodded, "Dick Grayson," he said, extending a hand.
"Aaron Douglas," the other man responded, shaking his hand, "How do you like this uniform?"
"Eh," Dick said.
"It could use some blue," Aaron said, "Blue looks great with black."
"Man after my own heart," Dick said with a smile.
"Excuse me?" Aaron asked, confused.
"Nothing," Dick responded.
All heads turned as the door opened and a woman walked in, dressed in a suit. She looked over the students and shook her head, "I understand this is day one, but it should be common sense for all of you to stand when an instructor enters."
"What?" someone called from the back, "You're not our instructor! It's all men!"
Behind Dick, someone whispered, "I don't know, I wouldn't mind her…"
"Everyone up. Now!" she snapped. Everyone scrambled to their feet. She overlooked the room, "Ok then, everyone will listen to me. I am Detective Catalina Flores, and I have just as much say here as your instructors. I don't like what I'm seeing here. Everyone outside, now! You're going to go run laps for the disrespect. Next time you'll all know better. At least, I would hope so, if any of you want to become police officers."
Dick and Aaron looked at each other as they walked out of the room with the others. Dick sighed, "Great idea getting drunk last night Dick…," he muttered to himself.
Catalina stood off to the side as a man in uniform approached. He looked out at the track at the students running, "What? Did one of them make you mad?" he asked.
She smiled a little, "Nothing wrong with making them work on day one," she said, "Besides, you'll get to the physical work eventually, might as well get a glimpse now at what you've got."
The man nodded, "Yeah, yeah, can't argue with that." He pointed, "That one seems pretty good."
Catalina nodded. She shouted, "Everyone stop where you are!" Her voice carried and echoed, and everyone stopped, "Voice and a commanding tone are important, learn that!" she shouted. She pointed to Dick, "Do you see him? He's been lapping most of you, and he's clearly hungover. Let that sink in; you people, who want to be cops, are being beat in laps by a hungover man. How are you going to chase down someone sober? Keep running!"
Dick let out a breath and started to run again with everyone else.
As Dick started to get close to passing some people, one of them looked back. He looked ahead again, then slowed. As soon as Dick was at his side, he thrust his foot out.
Dick looked down and saw that his foot was about to hit the other man's. He doubled over forward to throw his weight forward, thrust a hand out, and landed it on the ground. He flipped himself over, came into a roll, then came up to his feet and right into a run again.
The man who tried to trip him slowed and watched, "How the hell…?"
"You!" Catalina shouted, "Over here, now!"
Aaron looked as the man cut across the track; he looked nervous. Aaron looked at Dick, "Well, he's…he's something."
"That's enough!" Catalina shouted, "Back to the classroom, now!"
The students stopped running and started to make their way back towards the building. Aaron waited for Dick and looked at him, "How did you do that? That was awesome!"
"Luck, I guess," Dick said, "Or, well, something like that."
"No way that was luck," Aaron told him.
"I was a circus performer in my youth," Dick said, "I guess something stuck with me."
Dick hurried past Aaron, who looked at Dick as he left, "Well…ok then."
Boone was walking down the street with a bag in his hand. He looked at some children playing up ahead outside of an apartment building, and smiled a little. He looked and saw three men approaching them.
"Why don't you kids go run and get us Ben Anders. One of you is his kid brother, right?" one of the men asked, leaning down to talk to them. A gun was visible in his waistband.
Boone stood and observed. The kids were looking at each other, and one started to cry.
"Oh shut up!" one of the men shouted at the crying child, "Just stop crying!" He didn't, so the man shouted again, "You shut up, or I'll shut you up for good!"
Boone set down his bag and walked quickly towards them, "Hey!" he shouted, "They're just kids!"
"And you're not important," the man who had threatened the child said. He walked towards Boone, "Do you know who we are?"
"Scum who pollutes these streets," Boone told him, "You're in the Blockbuster Gang. You're ruining this city!"
The man punched Boone in the face. Boone hit the ground and groaned, grabbing at the spot where he had been struck. He looked up at the man, "Come on. Get up," he told Boone, "If you want to act like we're the enemy, then get up and try to be the hero."
"How are you anything but the enemy of the people?" Boone demanded as he came to his feet.
"We're imposing order," he told Boone, "The police can't do it all. Wouldn't you rather have all of the criminals under one man? No more gang wars, no more carnage."
"Except the carnage your boss tells you to commit in his name," Boone hissed.
The man threw a punch again, but this time Boone ducked. He took the man's other fist to his gut and doubled over, then took a kick which put him on his back.
"Weak," the man said. He pulled his gun from his waist and aimed it at the downed Boone, "I guess this is as far as you go."
"Hey!" one of the other men shouted. The man with the gun on Boone turned to see the kids were gone, and a man was fleeing.
"Oh shit," the man with the gun said. He turned and started to shoot after the fleeing man. Boone picked himself up and ran, ignoring his bag.
Dick sat at a table alone with his brown paper bag. He pulled out a sandwich and took one bite before Aaron sat down beside him.
"Yeah, too pricey to buy food here," Aaron said, setting his own bag on the table.
"Most places are," Dick responded.
"I looked you up," Aaron said. Dick turned to look at him and opened his mouth, but he shut it again. "Your name is Dick Grayson, your parents died at the circus, and you were adopted by none other than Bruce Wayne. Interesting life, a lot more interesting than mine."
"Please, keep what you know to yourself," Dick told Aaron, "If people find out, they find out, but I'm not going to go around telling people who I am. I want this on my own merits, not on the merits of the man who helped to raise me."
"I understand," Aaron said, "Well, not personally, but yeah, I get it. So…why do you want to be a cop?"
"Because my parents were murdered," Dick said, "I want to stop whatever crime I can, organized or otherwise. And because I had a sense of duty ingrained in me from them, and from Bruce Wayne. I need to do something right with my life."
Aaron nodded, "Better than my reason."
"And what's your reason?" Dick asked.
"Well, I mean, women like cops, right?" Aaron asked. He sighed, "Sorry, I had to try that joke. But do they?"
"How would I know?" Dick asked.
"Well, you're a good looking guy; I just assumed you had a good love life."
"Even if I did, it's not my first thought to ask, 'Would it turn you on if I had a police uniform on?'," Dick told him.
"Fair point," Aaron replied, "I like computers, and there's way too much going on out there in the web. Way too much crime and too few people who know what they're doing to fight it."
"But you know?" Dick asked.
He nodded, "I want to work in cybercrimes, but I figure I need training and a degree and all of that first," Aaron said, "So I'm here."
"And what do you think of the first day so far?" Dick asked.
"Reminds me of the first day of classes in high school and college. Except, you know, more running."
Dick smiled, "Syllabus day? Yeah. We're going to be in for some interesting times though."
"What makes you say that?" Aaron asked.
"That female detective," Dick responded, "She came in and took charge right away. I figure she's not the only surprise instructor we're getting. And I doubt we've seen the last of her."
"She seemed impressed by your move out there," Aaron said.
"Let her be," he responded.
"But yeah, I think you kind of got those other students angry."
He shrugged, "I'm not the one who tried to trip someone else."
"Just…be careful," Aaron said.
"You be careful too," he told Aaron, "You're with me now, and oh, trust me, we've been seen. You're going to be targeted to, if I had to guess. Just be careful."
"Yeah, I will," Aaron said, "Thanks. But do you think they'll actually be that petty to try to hurt you…or me?" he asked.
"This city has a problem with corrupt police," Dick said, "I'm willing to guess that that's what attracted some of these people to the academy. I wouldn't trust all of them, and I'm going to keep watching my back. It's not that I don't trust them, it's just that I've learned to be careful."
"I imagine that being raised as a circus acrobat instills that in you," Aaron said.
Dick nodded, "We don't have much time left for lunch," he said.
Aaron nodded, "Yeah, sorry."
"Conversation's good," Dick said, "Don't be sorry." He picked up his sandwich and took a bite.
Dick took off the bag he was wearing and set it on the kitchen table, "Boone?" he called, "Hey Boone, I'm back! Are you here?"
Boone came out of his room with an ice bag held up to his face, "Yeah, I'm here," he said.
"What happened?" Dick questioned as he moved towards Boone, concern in his voice, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine…," Boone said as he sat down.
"What happened?" Dick pressed with some more urgency in his voice.
"I was getting groceries, then I saw three gangbangers harassing some children trying to find some guy they knew, or I guess, wanted to kill. One of them threatened the kids, so I had to do something."
"You're lucky you didn't get hurt worse, or possibly shot or stabbed," Dick said.
"Oh trust me, I know," Boone said.
Dick looked at him, "Someone had a gun held at you?"
"Yeah," Boone said, "Not a good feeling. But I imagine you're used to it."
"Look," Dick told him, "I keep offering to give you some sort of self-defense training."
"Is this your subtle way of telling me that without you, I'll die?" Boone questioned, "Look, I never wanted to have anything like that when I knew you were Robin, and I don't want anything like that now that we're living together and you're still doing this vigilante thing. It's not like I'm going to go out there trying to get revenge on those guys."
"But what if something like this happens again?" Dick questioned, "Don't you want to be able to handle yourself?"
"Then what's the point of living with you?" Boone said with a small smile.
"Not the time to joke," Dick said in a humorless tone.
"Look, I'm just not interested. Now, maybe something will happen, and I'll need it, but until then, no. I'm happy as I am. This was a one-time thing, and I'll be fine."
Dick sighed, "Fine, I can't make you learn how to defend yourself. Just…just be careful. I've lost too many people in my life. I don't want to add you to that list."
"You won't," Boone told him, "Trust me. You won't."
"I want to believe that," Dick said. "I know you're not going to go running around trying to fight gangbangers or anything, but…but this city is a mess."
"And isn't that why you came here?" Boone asked.
"Mostly," Dick said with a nod, "I hope that I can make it safer soon enough. I hate this…sometimes I think it might be worse than Gotham."
"I don't believe that," Boone said.
"I do," Dick said, "If only because I lack his skill," he added softly.
A few men came into the rundown apartment. One was clutching his bleeding arm.
"Anders do that?" someone already in the apartment asked.
The man nodded, "Asshole shot me!"
"To be fair, weren't you trying to shoot him?" a young semi-dark skinned woman asked.
"Shut up Kate," the man said, walking into another room. The faucet turned on.
The woman named Kate shook her head, "I thought you guys said Ben Anders was an easy target?"
"Well, he was supposed to be," one of the other two remaining men told her, "But then some idiot got in the way."
"You mean one of your partners?" she asked with a smile.
"Hey!" the other man shouted.
"No, some guy who wanted to be a hero," the man said, "Of course, Derik, being the genius he is, pulled a gun on some kids. That's a bit far, even for me."
"So he probably deserved to get shot," Kate said, "At least in the arm like that."
"Yeah, probably," the man said.
"I heard that!" the man named Derik shouted as he came out of the bathroom, a towel tied around his arm, "Shit, that hurts."
"Then maybe you should be smarter," Kate said, "Oh wait, we're not paid to be smart, are we?" she gestured to the apartment around them, "That's why Blockbuster sticks us in a piece of crap apartment like this. Because you guys are incapable of doing anything with proper precision."
"Hey!" Derik shouted at her, "I don't see you out there killing or shaking down people!"
"Because I'm here, planning. How did you know where Anders was? Because I figured it out," she said, "And then you blew that, so now I have to find him again. Thanks, do you know how long it takes me? A while."
"Ok, enough!" the lead man shouted, "We're done with this argument. We get it, Derik screwed up, we all screwed up somewhere. Now, we need to kill Anders or we're not getting paid, and I think we all agree that that's not a good thing. So let's get to work and put a bullet in this guy."
Kate nodded, "I want out of this place as badly as you do. This time you guys can't fail, or I'm out, and you're going to be running around blind."
"Fine," the lead man said.
Kate took out her phone, "I'll start making some calls and gathering information. Go be productive, and don't shoot yourselves." The men left the room, "Idiots," she muttered as she dialed a number.
Dick was standing on the rooftop holding his two escrima sticks. He struck at them in a pattern, moving them across his body, going faster with each pass until he swung them both down and took in some deep breaths. He set his sticks down and dropped down, going into a series of pushups.
"You realize there is a gym nearby, right?" Boone asked as he stood in the doorway leading to the rooftop.
Dick stopped in an up position, "I know, but do you really think I'd risk using my sticks somewhere where people can see? I intentionally waited to take up my mask until after I'd become established in Bludhaven, and then waited longer to go to the academy. I don't exactly want people thinking they can link me to Nightwing."
"Well, obviously," Boone said, "Adopted son of billionaire Bruce Wayne moves to Bludhaven, days later there's a new hero running around, and you're trying to become a cop. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to piece that one together."
"Exactly," Dick said, going down into another few pushups.
"Well, you could always do your other working out at the gym, just do the sticks up here," Boone said, "Instead you spend all this time up here where you don't exactly have the best conditions to practice."
"No, but I'm used to running around rooftops," Dick said, "This is more of a home to me than a gym would be."
"Fair point," Boone said. He left the doorway and approached Dick, "Why are you going into the academy?" he asked, "Your nights will be limited now. If you get a job, you'll be a cop all day or night, and then you'll try to be Nightwing in the other free time you have. When do you sleep?"
Dick stopped and came up to his feet, "I'm doing this because being a cop gives me the ability to help people, arguably more than I can as Nightwing. Yes, my schedule is going to be horrible, and yes, I can do less to fight organized crime as a cop, and following the laws, but I need to try to make a difference. The power of the public is strong, and…"
"And Bludhaven's police are corrupt," Boone said, "The people hate the police."
"Then let me give them a cop they can like," Dick said, "That's what I'm doing."
"And do you really think it's going to work?" Boone asked.
"I don't know," Dick said, "But I'm willing to try."
"Just don't get yourself killed Dick," Boone told him, "By criminals, or the police you turn against."
"I won't," Dick said, "I have too much to do. I can't die. Besides," he smiled a little, "what would you do without me?"
"I'd worry a lot less," Boone said.
"You're worried about me?" Dick asked with real emotion in his voice.
"Yeah, of course I am."
Dick looked at Boone for a few seconds in silence. He walked towards Boone, "I always worried. I knew people worried about me as well. It's just…part of the job."
"Job," Boone shook his head, "You make it sound so mundane."
"Anyway…," Dick said, "We just knew we all were worried about each other. It's another thing entirely to have someone say they're worried. Thank you Boone," Dick told him, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder, "That means a lot. I'm not going to make you too worried…or at least I hope I won't. Thank you for your concern."
"You make it sound like it's nothing," Boone told Dick.
"It's something," Dick said, "Something big, and something dangerous." He lowered his hand and walked to the edge of the roof, looking down, "We are defined by our values and our actions. I want to be defined as the man who fought and, maybe even gave his life to restore peace to this city," he looked back to his friend, "But I'm also not going to leave you intentionally. I will fight and do everything I have to in order to survive, so long as this city is better for it."
"You don't have to give everything to this city," Boone said, "You don't owe them your life."
"No, but I owe them a good life. I owe them peace," Dick told him, "I am the ward of Bruce Wayne. I was Robin. I've been exposed to some of the darkest secrets in this world, and the darkest corners of it. And with that comes responsibility."
"And Bludhaven is one of those corners?" Boone asked.
"It has the potential to be," Dick said, "And that's one reason I'll fight so hard. I've seen what becomes of cities and people, and I won't let that happen here, not if I can stop it."
"And if you do stop it?" Boone asked, "Then what?"
"I move on," Dick said.
"You leave me," Boone said.
Dick shook his head, "You don't need me. You have friends here. You have a life here. You have those women who I never seem to see an end to."
"But I only have one Dick Grayson," Boone said.
"We were apart for so many years," Dick told him.
"And I only just got you back, and realized that you're the best man in my life; the best person in my life. I need you in it."
"I can't be selfish and just stay in one place," Dick said.
Boone approached the edge of the rooftop, "Then what will you do? Become a cop, fight for this city on two fronts, and then just quit the force and move on? People will be counting on you, and you'd rather uproot your entire life and just go somewhere else. How will that work? What about the people here who count on you? And of course, you leave and Nightwing vanishes at the same time…"
"Look, it's not a perfect plan," Dick said, "But I am working on it."
"I want the best in life for you, but I don't know if you'll get what you want," Boone said, "I'm going back inside. It's cold up here."
Boone walked towards the door. Dick watched him leave, then looked down again. He let out a breath and hurried over to his sticks, picking them up before running after Boone and just catching the door before it closed.
Catalina stood in an alley by her car. She looked around cautiously, then turned entirely around, "What do you have for me?"
Kate walked forward from the darkness, "I have a name. Ben Anders."
"And why is he being targeted for death?" Catalina questioned.
"I don't know," Kate responded, "I just get the orders from above, I don't question the purpose of the orders."
"You're smart Kate. You're smart enough not to question things that would otherwise draw attention to you, but you're also smart enough to piece things together. Now, why is he being targeted?"
"Didn't you say you were former FBI?" Kate asked, "Maybe you should figure this one out?"
"There is a man's life on the line," Catalina stated, "Now, tell me what you know so I can try to save it."
"Why?" Kate asked, "The man's a lowlife."
"And that doesn't mean he deserves to die," Catalina said, "No more than you deserve to die."
"I'm a useful lowlife," Kate said, crossing her arms over her chest, "Isn't that what a CI usually is though?"
"You're more than that," Catalina told her.
"Am I really?"
"Of course."
Kate smiled a little, "So nice to know that you think that of me. Anyway," she let out a breath, "Ben Anders…he used to be in the Blockbuster Gang, but he left for the sake of his kid brother. Blockbuster didn't take too kindly to that."
"He's having one of his men killed for looking to family?" Catalina asked.
Kate nodded, "Apparently. But, there's more."
"What is it?" Catalina asked.
"From what I've learned, he slighted Blockbuster once. He made a comment about Blockbuster's mother that he didn't take well."
"Blockbuster's mother?" Catalina asked, as if taking it as a joke.
Kate shrugged, "That's about all I know."
"Please don't tell me it was some juvenile joke," Catalina said.
"If nothing else, I know his mother isn't well," Kate informed Catalina, "I'm assuming he's being protective of her in her time of need."
Catalina nodded, "That would make more sense. But he's using you guys to do it, instead of making the kill personally?"
"He's too smart for that," Kate said, "And he doesn't want to risk his top guys. He'd rather have expendable men make the kill, and then if they get arrested, so what?"
"I could move in on your three friends," Catalina said, "I'd arrest you too, of course."
"You could, and just let me go from lack of evidence. Except I'm sure those three will turn on me and incriminate me in exchange for a deal. It's not going to work. No matter what, we'd all be going down. They'd sell me out."
"Then I don't know what to do to keep you on the streets," Catalina said.
"Let them kill Anders," Kate said, "He's expendable, right?"
"I'm worried about the lives of other people," Catalina said, "I'm not going to let criminals kill another criminal just to keep my CI on the street. I have to see to this man's protection."
"Then arrest him," Kate said, "He'll be safe in jail."
"There are enough Blockbuster men in jail," Catalina said, "He wouldn't be safe."
"You realize he'll never be safe, don't you? Bludhaven is full of Blockbuster's men, and he has the resources to find Ben wherever he goes."
"I'm not giving up," Catalina said, "I refuse to give up."
"I respect that, but sometimes you just have to," Kate said.
"I never gave up on you, did I?" Catalina asked as she opened the door of her car, "I'll think of something."
Kate nodded, "Just keep me out of jail. Oh, and my payment?"
"Usual place," Catalina said, "Go get it before someone else finds it." She closed the door as she sat down.
Kate turned and walked the other way out of the alley as the car went in reverse.
"You're going out?" Boone asked Dick as he watched Dick lace up his boots.
"I am," Dick said, "I need to get out there." He turned to look at Boone, "You never usually voice questions. Besides, I have everything but my mask on, I think it's pretty obvious I'm going out."
Boone sighed, "Dick…just don't die, alright?"
"I don't plan on," Dick said as he stood up. He picked up his mask from the table and pulled it on, "I'll head out the window."
"Don't you ever worry that you're going to be seen, and people will then know where you come from?" Boone questioned.
"No," Dick said, "It's dark on this side of the building." He moved to the window and pushed it open, "I'll be back in a few hours."
"Fine," Boone said, "Just…well, I already told you not to die, but I'll say it again. Don't die."
Dick nodded and climbed upwards.
Aaron was walking alone at night through the streets of Bludhaven. He stopped and looked behind himself, but there was nothing there. He looked ahead and started to walk, then saw three men exit a building. One had a gun in hand.
"She said Anders would be here," the one with the gun muttered.
"Put that away," the level headed one told him.
"Why? Someone looks at us wrong; I'll just put a bullet in them. What's wrong with that?" he questioned.
Aaron stopped and moved aside to let them pass. He looked at them as they went past.
"What the hell are you looking at?" the one with the gun questioned.
"Ignore him," the third man said.
"No. He looked at me the wrong way," the one with the gun stated, lifting his weapon at Aaron, "I'm killing him."
Aaron backed away quickly with his hands up, "Please, don't! I beg you!"
"I didn't get to put a bullet in the guy I wanted, so now I need to put a bullet in someone else!" the man snapped, "You're the unlucky recipient."
"No! Please!" Aaron begged, "Talk some sense into him!" he shouted at the other two.
"You should just ignore him," one said.
The level headed one spoke, "We're going, Derik. Put the gun away."
Derik turned and shot his comrade. He turned, "You're next," he told Aaron.
A dark shape dropped from the rooftop of the building beside them. Nightwing landed on the ground and swung his stick out, taking out Derik's legs. He dropped and fired straight up on accident. The other man turned and saw Nightwing, so he threw a punch.
Nightwing ducked and rammed the tip of his stick into the man's gut. He span around, swinging his other stick straight into Derik's hand to relieve him of his weapon.
The other man grabbed Nightwing and struggled with him. Nightwing let go of his weapon, then as it fell he kicked it up, knocking the tip into the man's chin. He fell back and the stick fell.
Nightwing turned and gave a chop kick to Derik's side. He looked to Aaron, "Run!" he shouted.
The man picked up the stick and Derik ran for the gun. Nightwing turned his head to the man with the stick, and then put his weight forward, landed on one hand, and flipped himself over the weapon. He came up to his feet and ran at Derik. He leapt up and kicked him square in the chest while spinning around and throwing his second stick, striking the other man in the side of the head, taking both of them down.
Nightwing hurried over to the other man and picked up his twin weapons. He sheathed them on his back, "You need to go," he told Aaron, disguising his voice as best as he could by deepening it, "I'll get the police here soon."
"Dick?" Aaron asked, "Dick Grayson?"
Nightwing didn't say anything.
"Come on! You did the same move as earlier!" Aaron said, "And look at yourself, it's not like you're in a cowl or something. It's pretty obviously you in a mask…"
Dick sighed, speaking in his normal tone, "Look, Aaron, don't say anything…"
"Why would I?" Aaron asked, walking towards Dick, "You saved me. You're doing something admirable for this city. Why would I ever betray your identity?"
"I don't know," Dick admitted, "But I just want to make sure."
"You have my secrecy," Aaron told him.
Dick smiled, "Good." He lifted his hand, "Give me a moment." He reached to his belt and hit something. He stood in silence, then looked to Aaron, "I have a radio in here, and an earpiece so I can listen to dispatches. Something is going on, and I need to go. But…I need you to do something for me."
"Name it," Aaron said.
"You're good with computers," Dick said, "There was a man abducted last night by this gang. I stopped them and saved him, but he's still in the hospital, and it sounds like they're going to try to finish the job. I need to stop these guys, but first it would help to know what this guy did."
"Do you want me to hack police records or something?" Aaron asked.
"I don't know where you need to look, all I know is that there's an answer somewhere. I thought this was done, but clearly it's not. My number is 555-1984. Look him up and call me! My phone will route through my earpiece!"
"Do you even have a name?" Aaron called.
"No!" Dick shouted as he ran and started to climb a fire escape. He made his way up the side of a building and was gone into the dark night.
Aaron watched him, then turned and ran, "Computer, need a computer…"
Dick leapt from a rooftop and landed on the next one, rolling. He picked himself up and kept running before jumping to the next. He came to a stop.
"Aaron?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's me," could be heard softly in his ear, "I found the name of your guy."
"Ok, what else?" Dick asked.
"His name is Peter Steel. He's a former United States Army Major."
"Why would these guys want to target a former Major?" Dick questioned.
"I wouldn't know," Aaron said, "I can keep digging though."
"Thanks," Dick said, "I need to get going again, call me if you figure something out."
"Will do," Aaron said, "Good luck. Don't die."
"You sound like my roommate," Dick said, starting to run again.
Four men had entered the hospital and approached Peter Steel's room. There was a police officer sitting outside. He looked up and saw the men. He came to his feet, "Stop there!" he said, "Nobody gets in without proper identification."
"I have some," the lead man said, "I'm military. Just hold on and…," he reached into his coat and then pulled out a gun and fired, killing the officer. Hospital personnel began to run and shout from the gunshot.
A security guard came running, drawing his sidearm. "Stop there!" he shouted, aiming at the four men.
The one with the gun lifted it towards the security guard and fired. The window exploded open as Nightwing broke through, tackling the guard into a room and to safety.
"Stay put," Nightwing said, taking grip of his sticks. He moved into the hallway and whipped one down as he leapt out the window.
One of the men was struck and went down. "Guns!" the lead man shouted. The other two drew their weapons as the fourth man slowly started to get up.
Nightwing burst through a window behind them and threw his second stick as he rolled in their direction. It struck the lead man in the back and dropped him. The other two span and lifted their guns to the vigilante, who was already upon them.
He kicked one low in the knee, dropping him. He reached up, gripped the last gun, and tore the slide off. He smashed his elbow into the man's face and dropped him.
As the first man to fall came all the way up, he swung a knife for Nightwing. The black-clad vigilante dodged back and swung his leg up, kicking the knife away. He followed through on his rotation, slipped himself onto the floor, and crashed both legs into the man's left leg, then pulled, bringing him down. Nightwing rolled on top of him and delivered a punch to keep him down.
Nightwing rose with both sticks in hand and looked at the four men, "It's safe now!" he shouted to the guard. He looked around, "You're all safe! Police are almost here!" He looked to the security guard who was coming out of the room, "Make sure these men are secure." He hurried into Peter's room and looked at the man in the bed.
"Did…did they come to kill me?" he asked.
Nightwing nodded, "They did. I saved you again. No need to thank me."
Peter forced a smile, "I have a feeling that's not your style. Nor is it mine."
Nightwing smiled, "No. I don't expect thanks," he said, moving to the window. He opened it, "I'd rather not have broken glass in a hospital room. Hallway? Yeah, sure, but I won't break yours."
"Thank you," Peter said.
Nightwing nodded and leapt from the window into the night.
Aaron turned suddenly as he saw Nightwing enter in through his window. Dick came to his full height and removed his mask as he stood and looked at Aaron.
"You…uh, live alone, right?" Dick asked.
"I do," Aaron confirmed.
"Good," Dick said, setting his mask down, "This would have potentially been very bad if you didn't."
"What did those guys want with Peter Steel?" Aaron asked, "I couldn't find anything by digging around."
"I don't know," Dick said, "But I saved his life. That's what matters. The police are putting him under heavier watch. I just hope that the cops assigned to him aren't working for whoever this 'Blockbuster' guy is."
"Is that the name of the guy controlling these gangs?" Aaron asked.
"That's what I've managed to pick up," Dick said, "I don't know who this guy is or anything about him, though. Just a name. That's it."
"I could…," Aaron directed to his computer setup.
Dick shook his head, "Do you think it would be that easy?" he asked.
"No," Aaron said. "I really wish I could have helped more with the Peter thing."
"It's ok," Dick said, "Maybe it was just a hit on a military official to make a point. I don't know. Maybe it's as simple as that."
"Are criminals usually that simple?" Aaron asked.
"In some cases," Dick said, "In the case of this gang? Yeah, sometimes. Other times? No."
"So this one could go either way," Aaron said.
Dick nodded, "And I don't like that."
"What are you going to do now?" Aaron asked, "Go back on the streets?"
Dick looked out at the night, then picked up his mask. He turned back to Aaron, "I think for now I'm going to go back home and have a drink with my roommate."
"What about this city?" Aaron asked.
"I ask myself that a lot," Dick said, "I don't ask myself 'What about Boone?' enough though. I need to start doing that. The city will be fine for now, and I always have a radio cued up just in case."
"Dick?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can…can I join your fight?"
"You want to help me?" Dick asked with surprise filling his voice, then a more serious tone, "It's not safe."
"I owe you," Aaron said, "And I'm good with computers and technology. Let me be your technical support. Please. It'll make me feel like I'm making a difference in this city. God knows it needs more help. Besides, I'll be here behind a screen, not running around like you are."
Dick gave him a small smile, "I'm not going to tell you no. And…yeah, I could use the help. If you want in, you have to keep my secret, no matter what."
"I will," Aaron said.
"Even if you're tortured."
"I…I can try," Aaron said.
"I mean, it should never come to that. I'm just being overly dramatic," Dick assured him, "But my identity must always remain a secret."
"And it will," Aaron said, "Nobody will learn it from me."
Dick smiled, "Thanks. I'll see you at the academy in the morning."
"Yeah. Same," Aaron said, "Goodnight Dick. Nightwing."
Dick affixed his mask and moved out the window.
"You're back?" Boone asked as he sat with a drink in his hand. He got up and took a glass from the counter, setting it on the table. "Drink?" he asked.
Dick nodded, sitting down opposite of Boone on the table. He was in his street clothes instead of his Nightwing suit. "Boone, I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Boone asked as he poured the shot for Dick.
"Sorry for never being here. Sorry for being Nightwing. I should be here as your friend and roommate, and instead I'm spending most of my time on the streets."
"You have a duty. I know you do," Boone said.
"I do, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be here with you when I can be. I saved lives tonight, I save lives most nights. I always have to go, but I know that I can't save everyone."
"Then go when you need to," Boone said, "I know what difference you make here, and even if I'm not overly happy about it, I'm proud of you."
Dick raised his shot glass. Boone poured himself another shot and clanked their glasses together. They moved the glasses to the table, then lifted them and threw the shots back.
"Strong," Dick muttered.
"I can't imagine that I can probably outdrink Nightwing," Boone said with a smile.
Dick smiled at him, "Let's see if that's right or not."
"What about the academy in the morning?" Boone asked.
"I'll manage," Dick said, "For now? I'm with a friend and he's challenging my drinking abilities. I have to rise to the challenge."
Boone nodded, "Alright. Let's see which of us can outdrink the other then. I wish you luck. You'll need it."
Dick smiled, "Boone?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for everything."
"You never need to thank me," Boone told Dick.
Dick smiled. He slid his shot glass forward, "Let's do this then."
Boone lifted the bottle and poured their shots. They clanked glasses again.
A man in a suit entered into a well-furnished office. A large, muscled man in a suit sat at a beautifully crafted oaken desk. "If you came in here, then it must be important…," he said as he signed some paperwork.
"Peter Steel is still alive, and under police protection," the man said.
The man behind the desk looked up, "I sent four men after him, did I not?"
"They were stopped by Nightwing," the smaller man said, "They tried."
"They failed. Have them killed in prison."
"V-very well," he said, a little taken aback, "What of Peter Steel?"
"He can live, for now," the man said.
There was a patch mounted on the man's wall, along with pictures of him in uniform, including a picture of him with Peter, who was better decorated.
"Are you sure you're willing to divert the resources to tracking down and killing him?" the man asked, "After all, you hadn't seen him in years…"
"He was a Major, I was a Captain. He tried to get me discharged for my actions. He attempted to ruin my life." His hand crushed the pen he was holding, "He dishonored me. I will see him dead, now that he's seen fit to come back home. Except his home is now controlled by someone else, and Blockbuster does what he wants, when he wants, and deals out justice as he sees fit."
The man nodded, "Yes Sir, Blockbuster," the man said, "As you say."
Blockbuster smiled grimly, "Oh, and about Nightwing…I've let him operate for too long. Time to stop being so friendly."