Sitting on his bed at 2 in the morning, John Grayson was grateful it was still summer break, so he didn't have to worry about getting up early that morning, though John knew he still would. Drawing in his sketchbook, John heard a window open and light footsteps coming from his father's room next door, signaling he was home at last from his regular patrol. His father, Richard Grayson, who was in reality, Nightwing, protector of Bludhaven, along as a police officer. Pulling John out of his thoughts, his sister Fallon stirred from her spot in her bed across the room from him before turning and opening her bright blue eyes. Looking at each other for a minute, Fallon finally spoke.
"Dad home yet?," she asked softly, stretching her arms. John nodded, not needing to ask how she knew to wake up right when their father came home; light sleeping seemed to be an inherited trait for the both of them.
"Should we go check on him, ya know, to make sure he isn't too hurt?," she asked, again dragging John out of his thoughts. The two both knew about their fathers nightly activities, though this fact didn't mean they didn't feel worry every time he left as Nightwing. John pondered his sister's question for a moment, before nodding his agreement.
Slowly the two headed down the stairs, and John felt his heart rate rising with each step. This wasn't because John was scared,it was just always nerve wracking to see what state his father might be in. Even though Dick wouldn't admit it, John knew that the nights were getting longer, the villains tougher, and the risks higher as he grew older. He began wanting to help, No, needing to help. He felt, that as Dicks son, he deserved to be able to assist his father in any way possible? He suspected Fallon felt the same as well, which only strengthened his resolve.
"Hello you two, I'm surprised you're both still up and at em." Dick called out, interrupting John's thoughts with his sudden greeting. The two looked up, meeting their father halfway down the stairs.
John gave Nightwing a glance, looking over him from head to toe and was not pleased with the current state he was in. Dick's body was littered with cuts and scrapes all over, his hair sticking to his forehead with the remnants of someone else's blood. His Nightwing suit was going to need major repairs, and it looked overall as though someone had pushed him off of a cliff and then run him over with a semi truck. John was shocked, however, this wasn't the first time his father had come home from a night of crime fighting hurt, but this, this was different. This changed things.
"What on Earth happened to you!" Fallon gasped, breaking the awkward silence that had begun to form. Dick noticeably tensed before answering.
"Tonight was rough, I'll admit, but was also very successful," Dick tried to assure John and Fallon. "There are multiple bad people who are now behind bars, and I was able to track down the base of one of Bludhavens more notorious crime lords," he heaved a strained heavy breath before continuing. " I may look beat up, but tonight actually went very well."
John didn't completely believe his father's explanation; Nightwing was far more skilled than some petty thug or crime lord, and this kind of damage had to have been caused by a greater threat. Though John knew he was only trying to comfort them, he only felt more that Nightwing needed some help. After exchanging goodnights, Fallon and John hugged their father and went back up to their room. John's mind was going a mile a minute as he walked into his room, thinking of his options. Heaving a sigh, he flopped down on his bed, sparing a glance at his sister, who looked just as worried as he did.
"We need to do something," Fallon said, the statement surprising John slightly. Nodding, he sighed again.
"I agree, but how can we go about this; dad would never outright agree to us even suggesting that we could follow the whole vigilante route," John stated, heaving another sigh.
"He'd say that it's too dangerous and not necessary," Fallon agreed. "But he needs help, and if it doesn't happen soon, I don't know what will happen. I'm not willing to loose him, and I know you aren't either."
John nodded, his brain firing off of ways to get around his father and his arguments. Picking up his phone, he decided to send a text off to his best friend, Nathaniel, the son of Wally West (who previously was known as Kid Flash and now currently was The Flash)
"Hey, we need to talk." John sent off. He proceeded to add his sister, best friend, and two "cousins", River and Avon, into the chat. John was beginning to form an idea, and he would need all the help he could get for it to work. Setting his phone down, he said a quiet goodnight to Fallon before laying his head down. The group could talk tomorrow, and John finally felt a little peace as he drifted off to sleep, whilst formulating his grand plans.