Little Boy Blue
Pt. 2
By: Shannyn Grayson Ivy
Dick semi-awoke to a massive figure intensely shaking him. Startled, he cried out and threw his arms about combatively. More worried than ever, Batman picked up his former partner, balancing his stomach on the Batman's broad shoulders using a fireman's carry method. Dick mumbled incoherently as Batman gently placed him inside the Batmobile. Darting across the hood to quickly gain access to the driver's seat, Batman wasted no time in reaching Dr. Leslie Thompkins Clinic.
Two hours later had yielded little in the way of answers. The test results had shown a small head injury, nothing more serious than a mild concussion. So why then had Dick's memory been affected? Dick's shock at seeing an older version of Leslie surprised Batman at first until he realized that Dick was seeing everything through the eyes of a confused fourteen year old.
"Ready to go, Chum?" Batman asked. Leslie lifted her head from the chart she was studying at the mention of Batman's old nickname for Dick. The nickname he had used when Dick had been Robin. When he had been a child…
"No way!" Dick retorted.
"Pardon me?" Batman asked surprised. Dick gave a mock panic look towards Leslie.
"You can't just let him take me! He's gonna ground me for life! I need to stay with you Doc Leslie. You're my witness! You can tell Alfred on him!" Dick whined as Batman rolled his eyes at the theatrics.
"Even Alfred won't be able to help you if you don't get your butt up and into the Batmobile, NOW." Batman growled half-heartedly.
"SEE! See what I have to put up with?" Dick asked. Leslie flashed a grandmotherly smile his way. "Don't worry Dick, if Bruce gives you any trouble you just let me know. I'll take care of it." She reassured him.
"I know you will. That's what I love about you." Content that Bruce was in check; Dick spontaneously reached over and gave Leslie a kiss on the cheek.
"Night, Doc." Dick gloated with a smile.
Leslie looked from Dick to Batman, noting the worry she saw in Batman's face. She smiled for Dick's sake. Whatever he was going through was frightening for all of them. But years of stitching up, not to mention loving the Batclan, had taught her to stand strong. If anyone could find the answers to this they could.
"Good night dear. Get some rest."
VVVVV
Batman meant to turn the car towards home but found himself instead headed toward Bludhaven. He needed answers. It was almost dawn. He couldn't let Officer Grayson be seen with him in the Batmobile so a quick stop was made to Dick's out of the way garage. Part of Nightwing's secret lair. Dick had asked a million questions and Batman had been as vague as possible. He knew however that he couldn't dodge Dick for long. His former partner deserved to know what was known about his condition as well as his situation.
"Where are we going now?" Dick asked as a changed Bruce Wayne jumped behind the wheel of a '83 Camaro. Bruce fought with himself about what to say and what not too. In the end, he decided he could only play it by ear.
"Somewhere where we can talk freely and you can relax. We'll be there in a few minutes."
A frown crossed Dick's face and he became uncharacteristically quiet. Bruce glanced over with conflicting feelings. He finally had to admit to himself that a part of him missed Dick being fourteen. That had been the age when Dick thought Bruce could do no wrong. Oh, how the fall had hurt, when he tumbled from that pedestal…
Pulling up in front of Dick Grayson's apartment building, Bruce watched for any signs that Dick was remembering. To his dismay Dick seemed totally unaware that he had ever been to this location before, let alone lived there.
"Okay, I give. What's this place?" Dick inquired as they walked up the steps to Dick's apartment. Bruce opened the door with his key, a spare Dick had given him in case of emergency. "I'd say this qualifies." Bruce mumbled to himself.
"Huh?" Dick asked confused.
"Nothing." Bruce answered. "Come on in." Bruce led his uneasy son through the apartment. Dick took note of each what-knot and trinket, paying particular attention to the photos displayed throughout. When he reached a 5x7 of Barbara, she was still the same beauty she had always been; only now… noticing the wheelchair, Dick stopped cold.
"BRUCE!" Dick growled. "What is going on? Explain this!" The fear in Dick's voice was strong, though well hidden behind a wall of explosive anger.
Sighing, Bruce took the picture and placed it back on the table. With one arm around Dick's shoulder, Bruce guided him to the blue and tan overstuffed sofa in the middle of the room.
"Sit down son; I think we have some catching up to do…"
VVVVV
"We made the news!" The exuberant auburn haired girl giggled.
"Indeed. And what of our unexpected guest?" Her boss asked with mild curiosity.
"You were right! He's not even mentioned. It's like he was never there!" The hench girl gleamed.
"That would be because in his mind, he was not." Her boss gloated. He was quite proud of last night's trial run. For the weeks and months to come an array of crimes had been planned out. Each would gain him the money he craved to continue his research into controlling the human mind. Each would appear petty to the police and be located in Gotham's sister city of Bludhaven, thus not gaining the attention of that ever annoying Bat.
"So what did you do to that guy anyway?" The young girl laughed.
"I simply sent the policeman back in time. Back to his childhood." The criminal genius divulged with pride.
"Whoa! So how long is he going to stay that way?" Alyce asked her boss in awe.
"I'm afraid little boy blue is forever lost, my dear. As will anyone else be that dares to come across… The MAD HATTER."
VVVVV
Dick entered Wayne Manor with trepidation. This was NOT the house he remembered. Sure, some things had a familiarity about them but overall the house he was seeing did not match his memories. Dick rubbed his aching head and sighed. This was like a bad dream that he just couldn't wake up from. Alfred stood comfortingly beside him, silent but watchful. At least that hadn't changed.
Dick's eyes darted around the informal room. Bruce's study he surmised. Besides the presence of Alfred and Bruce, Barbara and some teenager kept staring at him like he expected Dick to know him. No one had spoken; all were awaiting Leslie to come in. Maybe she had some answers. Feeling woozy, Dick planted himself on Bruce's desk. He saw the surprise in the teenager's eyes that he would dare do that with Bruce standing so close by. Dick inwardly smiled. If this was the kid that had replaced him as Bruce had explained, then he had a lot to learn. Most importantly, not to show Bruce any fear or let him take himself too seriously.
As Leslie walked in, Dick stood to show the lady Doc that he loved as a grandmother his respect. "Hey Les." Dick greeted. His tone less than cheerful, Dick did his best to give it a good show.
"Dick, how are you feeling?" Leslie asked in a motherly tone.
"Oh, I'm okay. Seem to have lost about ten years and I have a headache but other than that…" Dick half-heartedly joked. He saw the concern in Bruce's eyes and decided to keep his chin up for Bruce's sake at least. "I'm kidding. I'm fine. Really. Any idea what's going on?" Dick asked and sat back on the desk, noting that Bruce and especially Alfred did not scold him.
"Well all test confirm that the knock on your head is most likely not responsible for your memory loss." Leslie explained.
"Blood work reveal anything strange?" Bruce was quick to ask.
"Negative. Nothing unusual in his system, so he wasn't drugged." Leslie lifted her hand to run it along side Dick's arm. "Whatever is going on Dick, it's not medical."
"Ohgreat! So I'm crazy." Dick retorted.
"That's enough of that." Bruce warned. "This is not your fault and we WILL figure it out."
Dick did a double blink at Bruce's defensiveness; it was nice to have the big guy in his corner, even if he had given his job away. Dick found himself studying the teenage boy who sat quietly in the bronze leather chair in the left hand corner of the room.
"So maybe he has some psychological reason for not remembering. Like maybe he saw something…" Tim interjected looking to Bruce for possible confirmation. When Bruce seemed pleased by the theory Dick's temper flared.
"He saw something? The name is Dick. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn't talk about me like I'm not here." Dick glared at the unwanted presence of his predecessor.
"Uh sorry bro." Tim answered, using the nickname out of habit.
"I'm not your bro." Dick huffed holding firm eye contact with his rival for Bruce's affection.
"Yes. You. Are." Tim replied, obviously upset. He crossed the room to stand in front of Batman's first Robin. Although he understood where Dick's hostility was coming from it didn't make it hurt any less. "And I'm not going to stop until you remember that…"
VVVVV
Dick awoke from his nap disturbed. Strange images had haunted him. His head pounding, Dick made his way down stairs. When no sign of Alfred or Bruce was found he adjusted the hands on the grandfather clock opening the secret passageway to the cave.
Great. That kid was there, wearing the Robin costume…but not. It was different. WAY different. But then so was everything now.
"Hi, Dick." Tim greeted cheerfully. When Dick glared back Tim pretended not to notice.
"Batman is already gone out. Alfred went to Leslie's he should be back in a couple of hours. Can I get you anything?"
"Can YOU get ME anything? No. I don't think YOU can." Dick growled.
"Gee, bro. Pissed much?" Tim growled back. To Tim's surprise, Dick gave a half smile before eradicating it.
"You know I'm not your replacement. No one could ever be. Not with Batman." Robin added solemnly. It was something he didn't like to admit, even to himself.
Seeing the look of sadness with a hint of jealousy that the boy possessed, Dick decided to cut him some slack.
"Yeah, well. I'm sure you do all right. I saw the way he listens to you. He respects your opinion." Dick commented.
"He's never said so." Robin answered.
"He's not going to 'say' so. But he does and I guess that's enough for me. Just…uh…hold off on that bro stuff for a while. K?"
"Sure." Robin answered coolly and turned so that Dick couldn't see his reddening cheeks.
Suddenly feeling like a jerk, Dick amended. "It's not you. Okay? I just have a lot to get used to all at once."
"Hey look at the bright side. You're old babysitter is now your girlfriend." Robin teased.
"Yeah, so, how about you tell me where she lives…BRO" Dick answered with a smile.
VVVVV
"Report." Batman demanded as he entered the cave. An awaiting teenager stood up excitedly.
"The coffee mart Dick stopped at last night was robbed." Robin began to explain.
"That I know already. What ELSE do we have?" Batman asked annoyed. Had the boy called him to the cave for this? Robin shuffled his feet nervously.
"The store's video surveillance showed nothing out of the ordinary and no signs of Dick even being there." Robin reported but avoided looking at Batman directly. When the Bat was this angry it was better to lay low.
"What physical evidence do we have?" Batman growled.
"I lifted dozens of prints from the store and ran them. None have prior records." Robin handed Batman the print out.
"Dick's print wasn't found?" Batman questioned.
"No sir. But I did find several hairs that I believe belong to him. They were found outside, near the drive thru window." Robin pointed out.
"Pulled or shed hairs?" Batman asked curiously.
"Definitely pulled. I think someone grabbed him by the hair and then hit him in the head. Maybe they shoved him into the outer rock wall." Robin recounted.
"Any EVIDENCE to that effect?" Batman warned. His junior partner knew better than to dart about theories without some sort of evidence to back them up.
"Small dark stain on the wall near the drive thru window. Luminol tests confirm its blood. I'm cross testing it to see if it matches Dick." Robin explained.
"UH…there's something else you should know. It's the reason I called you." Robin hesitated before continuing. "Dick was down here a few minutes ago. He took a cycle and a suit."
"HE WHAT?" Batman boomed. Robin could see from his expression that he was livid.
"I tried to stop him but he wasn't in the mood to be reasoned with." Robin defended.
Batman hit the main intercom linked to the upstairs house. "Alfred! I need you, NOW!"
"Alfred's out. It's just us." Robin explained. Wishing that Alfred were there to buffer some of Batman's stormy mood.
"I can't believe that he would go out as Nightwing tonight!" Batman shot back incredulously.
"Um… he didn't." Robin replied and braced himself for Batman's wrath.
"You said he took a suit…" Batman asked with fire in his eyes. "If not the Nightwing suit then…"
"He doesn't remember Nightwing. BUT he does remember Batman. He found the few that are in his size and helped himself."
"Has he gone crazy?!" Batman asked rhetorically.
"He wants answers…" Robin explained. "But mostly tonight I think he wants to impress a certain redhead." Robin laughed.
"Well that never changes." Batman grumbled.
Robin bragged with a cocky grin. "Don't worry though. I'm tracking him."
"Keep at it." Batman hissed and was gone before Robin could reply.
VVVVV To be continued
