Oh My Goodness! Apparently you guys actually like the first chapter even though it was super short! What WHAT? Any who...let the story begin.
The protector of Bludhaven dropped down into the seemingly empty warehouse; his boots making no sound as they landed on the harsh metal grate of the catwalk. A cape fluttered down next to the raven haired man and another domino mask looked down on the warehouse. Nightwing held up to fingers and motioned to the other side of the catwalk and then to the other. Jason gave a curt nod and both boys ran to their sides. They sat perched on the railings of the catwalk, waiting for some one or something. Nightwing's eyes glanced down as the warehouse door opened and shadows ran up the wall.
Team Nightwing said telepathically We have a sighting one someone. Not sure who. I will try and get a closer look and Jason will be my lookout. Jason glanced at Nightwing from across the warehouse with a irritated look. Nightwing smirked and shrugged. He needed someone to watch in case the light had their own look out. The bird slowly slid down the catwalk and plopped down into a crouch as he hit the ground. His light blue eyes glanced around as he crawled toward a large crate on the far wall. He peeked over the large crate to see who's shadows had entered the building.
Superboy, did you see them enter? Nightwing asked cautiously. He wanted to make sure his scouts on the ground were doing their job.
Yeah, Four heavy hitters - not sure who thought. And a bunch of lackeys. Superboy's growl came across in the mind link. Everybody could tell he was perturbed by using the mind link. Nightwing let out a small laugh. Meghan had a lapse of judgement, something that not everyone had expected, but something Nightwing did. She was young and inexperienced had these powers she didn't know she had. A sudden surge of emotion would have triggered it.
Nightwing's eyes surveyed the scene infront of him. There was Ra's Al Ghul, Vandal Savage, Queen Bee, and ...Nightwing narrowed his eyes at the forth personage. It was a man with an orange and black mask. A whole for the eye in the orange side and in the black side was pure nothingness.
We have Queen Bee, Vandal Savage, Ra's, and someone in an orange and black mask. Anyone got any bets on who it could be? Nightwing sent across the mind link. A range of answers from Probably no one important to Watch him carefully, Nightwing, he could mean trouble.
Nightwing acknowledge their warnings and slowly and carefully stole closer to the middle of the room to better hear the conversations, then the Queen spoke.
"Do you have what you promised, Ra's?" Her elegant eyes glaring at the seemingly fit middle aged man. Ra's nodded and motioned for the masked man to bring forward a small box. Nightwing looked up at Jason; Jason still holding his gaze on the villains.
As the masked man approach The Queen he held open the box in which three small vials were contained. Nightwing's eyes raised and sent a swift message to the others who were doing their respective job.
I've got eyes on three vials. Not sure what they contain. Nightwing sent a quick picture of what he was seeing through the mind link. He stole a glance from were he was hiding and watched the four villains. The masked man turned his head toward the direction Nightwing was hiding; Nightwing ducked hoping that he had not been seen. Just might have bee compromised. Get ready to attack-
But before Nightwing could even finish that thought, both Robin and Lagoon Boy attack. Lagoon Boy rammed in full frontal assault. Robin on the other hand swung down from the rafters, swing into several of The Light's cronies. Nightwing sighed and jumped up from his hiding place only to be slammed into the ground by the masked man. His light eyes darted up behind the mask to see the man standing over him, and he looked bored.
Nightwing rolled out of the way as the masked man swung a heavy broad sword down upon him. He rolled up to his feet and immediately went into his fighting stance. The masked man laughed, but it wasn't a laugh at the same time. It was deep and dark; something that scared children when they heard it at night.
"So who are you? I mean you must be pretty good if the league doesn't know about you," Nightwing said blatantly holding out his eskirma sticks. The masked man laughed again and chills went up Nightwing's spine. This man was an enigma. Then in a flash the masked man was upon him. The sword in his hands slashing down on Nightwing and Nightwing barely defending with his eskirma sticks. Nightwing's suddenly saw a gape in his defenses, his slashing was wild.
The black hair boy ducked underneath the sword and in close to the man. He had meant to elbow him in the side, duck under the sword and kick the man in the back. Unfortunately none of those things happen. His elbow fell upon hair, the sword didn't whish over his hair, and his kick was grabbed; throwing Nightwing off balance.
The man had laid a trap! Nightwing's foot was suddenly twisted and thrown over a shoulder. Nightwing spun, rolled and landed. He turned to see the man simply staring at him.
"That was good. You saw a weakness and you attacked it. The damage done by that attack would have been a broken rib. But you're holding back. You don't know who I am or what I am capable of. So you're testing me. Smart," the masked man finally said. Nightwing was dumbfounded. How had the masked man known this? These had been things Batman had taught him since he was nine years old, and he did them subconsciously.
"So the masked man finally speaks? I was wondering if I had to start calling you The Mute Murderer," Nightwing spouted off, and was surprised when the man actually retorted.
"I was going to start calling you Bird Brain because all you do is squawk," and with those words the man chuckled again. Nightwing had to admit that was good and being outsmarted wasn't something he was used to.
"You know," the man continued, "I could use someone of your skill on my side." Nightwing raised an eyebrow. Was he serious? Was he offering him a job? His eyes flashed darkly for a minute but quickly returned to normal.
"Yeah? I can see it now. Nightwing turned rogue. He went insane! You're dumber than you look if you think I would ever-" Nightwingw as cut off as the man started to laugh. And this time it wasn't the dark chuckle that sent a shiver. No this was a full blown laugh, and the teen couldn't tell what was more terrifying.
"Let's be honest here," the masked man said,"we both know your secret about Zucco."
Nightwing physically paled and any fun loving demeanor left was gone. He instantly cut off the mind connection. Thanks to extensive training this was like turning off a light.
"Tony Zucco's death was a terrible shame. He murdered himself in Arkham two years ago."
"Yes. And that was when the Robins changed didn't it? The first Robin became Nightwing and then he was replaced. A little strange to me, but what do I know Richard?" The masked man said and the ebony haired teen could hear the smirk in his voice. This man knew his identity; which meant he knew Bruce's and Jason's.
He came out of his shock only to find Miss Martian, Robin, Aqualad, and Superboy standing in front of the ex boy wonder.
"Nightwing...?" Miss Martian said a bit worriedly. L'gann was hovered behind her, and he was not looking good.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Let's just head back," he said distractedly looking around.
When they returned to the base, Nightwing hadn't said anything since they had left. He ignored everyone, and headed straight to him room. No one could tell what was going through the bird's head but they knew that he wasn't alright.
