Chapter 2 - Return of the Mutans

"The infamous Mutant Gang has made a comeback since the death of Batman at the hands of Superman. Their influence has grown and a new leader has taken the forefront. Gotham's night life is now ravaged by the war between the Mutants and Joker gangs. Harley Quinn has returned from her absence in the wake of Joker's death to claim her rightful place as 'Clown Princess of Crime' as she puts it." The news report played as the sky began to lower. Dick was sitting in the chair of the Bat Cave. His body a black silhouette at the brightness of the large monitor. He finished painting black around his eyes and placed his mask onto his face. Standing to his feet, he looked to the past suits. He touched the glass as he continued to walk past the many former suits. The short eared cowl of black and silver suit. The long eared metallic suit of all black. He stopped at the blue cowl and cape with grey suit. His mind instantly flashed back to his first moments meeting Bruce. The feel of his touch on his shoulder. He remembered the moment he first saw Bruce in the suit. How terrified he felt marveling at the tall silhouette of a man. His eyes slowly shifted to his suit, the original robin suit. The cape and jacket was missing, liberated by Damien for his first rendition of his Robin suit. He could feel a chill run up his spine as he heard the screech of the bats dwelling within the cave.

"How have you and Korri been settling in?" Damien's voice echoed into the massive cave.

"Almost as well as you and Raven," Dick turned to show Damien the side smirk plastered on his face.

"So you heard that?" Damien asked, turning away with his arms folded.

"For a mansion, you would think the walls would be thicker. That or the occupants to be just a tad bit more quiet." Dick chuckled as he spoke.

"Been a while since we got to see you smile," Tim said as he entered the cave's suit display room. He donned the crimson and black Red Robin suit. The suit itself had a layer of black form fitting kevlar lined with steel mesh. Between his joints were a flexible steel which allowed him to move as freely as if her were in comfortable clothing. His crimson high collared armor covered from his neck down to his lower abdomen in a V shape. Strapped over his chest was a crest in the shape of a Robin. His cape hung over his traps and covered a small portion of the floor at his feet. His crimson gauntlets were spiked much like Batman's and the color matched that of his gloves, boots and shin guards. Covering his eyes and upper face. When in his suit, his hair was spiked forward, almost falling over his beak shaped crimson visor.

"I haven't been much of myself lately," Dick said as he placed his mask onto his face.

"Not gonna wear the cowl?" Tim asked him.

"I left Batman to escape his shadow, his crusade, his insanity. He may be gone, but the mission is not over." Dick said before looking to the Batmobile. "So who wants to go hunt some mutants?"

The air inside the warehouse was as chilled as it was outside. The walls cracked and floors covered in debris and dirt. Hard to think the place use to manufacture vehicles before being shut down five years prior. The voices of four Mutant Gang members could be heard.

"I don't shiv spud, we grab Harley's little girl. Figure it make her balls mad." The young man was only in his late teens, his body lean and head shaved bald. He wore thick shades with red lenses. His teeth were filed all into sharp fangs as many of the slicer dicers within the Mutant Gang would tend to do. "Mutant Leader wants us to grab licken legs and hold them up here," he explained. "Mutant Leader is ready to take back the turf Batman knocked him out of."

"We can't ace this score. He billy some balls anger out the little clown licken legs." One of his underlings said. "We best-" he was cut off by the sound of a window breaking.

"What was that?" Another said.

"Don't shiv, go check and don't get dusted spud." The leader said. His underling was shorter, wearing a blue leader jacket and skinny jeans. His outfit was covered in various spikes and chains as per usual in the Mutant Gang. Pulling out a nine millimeter pistol, he slowly made his way up the stairs and to the room where the questionable sound was made. His heart began to pound in his chest. He could feel the perspiration begin to build on his brow and in the palm of his hands. He hugged the wall as he inched closer to the doorway, the chill in the air growing far colder. He approached the doorway slowly, his breaths becoming more sporadic.

"Who in there better come out, figure I billy peg your ass." He shouted through the doorway, his pistol aimed into the dark room. The only illumination was the light from the window, creating jagged edged shadows from the remains of the broken glass. He stepped closer into the room, his body seemingly vanishing into the darkness. As he continued on, he couldn't see the crystal eyes glaring into his skull but he could feel it. He looked into the direction of his feeling of terror. To his relief there was nothing there. As he turned back around he was face to face with a silent glaring Nightwing.

"What's taking spud so long? Hope he ain't get pegged, don't need nobody dusted or we finna ace." A mutant said.

"Shuddap," the leader said as he stood to his feet. As he left his chair, two crimson hands reached out from the darkness, pulling him into the darkness. The remaining two stood in shock but before they could reach for their weapons, Nightwing dropped from the ceiling, palming bother their faces, slamming the back of their skulls into the ground. Nightwing stood slowly and turned to see Red Robin holding their leader as he struggled.

"Where is Mutant Leader?" Nightwing asked, his tone low and eyes piercing.

"I don't shiv spud, Mutant Leader peg you for this, he gonna be balls pissed." The leader of the small group spat.

"I won't ask twice," Nightwing said as he drew a wing ding from his utility belt. He stabbed it into the mutant's thigh and slowly pulled it downward, covering his mouth as he screamed. "I only stabbed it deep enough to break the skin. I thought you Mutants were suppose to be tough," Nightwing grew a grin on his lips.

"Alright I give I give. Mutant Leader is hold up at an abandoned arcade. Balls security and sebbin lebbin girls coming in daily. Boss don't shiv and you ain't scary bird man." The gangster said. Nightwing drew his head back and forcefully impacted the bridge of the gangster's nose with his forehead. The shock from the blow knocked him unconscious.

"Woe Nightwing what was that?" Red Robin asked him.

"That was getting the job done, now we can get closer to taking out one of them." Nightwing examined the room looking for traces of taken women. He was pleased to find none before taking the phone from the leader's jacket pocket. Within seconds he had it unlocked and was scrolling through messages.

"What did you find?" Red Robin asked.

"Crime Alley, there's a party celebrating the death of Batman." Nightwing's voice trailed with the last bit of his words before he dropped the phone and turning away.

"Wait, it could be risky," Red Robin advices.

"They don't fear me, I have to leave a mark." Nightwing said before stepping outside onto the Wing Cycle. He placed the helmet over his head, pressing the ignition and revving the engine. I's roar echoed in the streets of Gotham as he road through the streets weaving between cars and trucks.

The music echoed in the empty Gotham streets. The entire alley was filled with youthful and wicked men and women. Their bodies rubbing and grinding against one another as various colored lights flashed and the band singer screamed into the microphone. A young woman sitting in the ledge of a windowsill stared off into the night sky unenthusiastic about her environment. Her hair was dyed emerald green and her skin as pale as her father's. Her left eye had a black diamond painted over it and her lips were colored in the same. Her hair was tied into two pigtails and her body was covered in a long trench coat with a fur rim around the hood. As the chilling wind blew, she pulled the hood over her face. The daughter of the Joker and Harley Quinn, Lucy Quinzel better known as Killer Spade wished she could be with her mother. She loathed the Batman for taking her father from her. Her face void of emotion slowly lit up as she noticed a silhouette of a body flying through the alleyway.

The power suddenly shut down, shrouding the alley in darkness. Her eyes widened and her lips stretched into a wicked smile only her father would love before the maniacal cackle began. Red Robin stood at the end of the alley, his fists clenched and jaw set. All eyes fell to him as he flipped his cape back over his shoulders. The Joker Gang began to rush Red Robin but when the closest member was only feet away, a cloud of smoke filled the alley. Nightwing dropped down from the other end and quickly rushed through the cloud of smoke. He first came in contact with a male, not as y'all or as muscular. Nightwing leaned to his right as he stepped forward and rifled a body shot into his ribs causing him to hunch over. As his head lowered, Nightwing brought his leg upwards then straight down for an axe kick on his head.

He continued to move forward, side kicking on gangster and using that momentum to throw a jumping round kick to the next right besides him. As he made his way through the gangsters, Red Robin made his move. He drew his staff in its short form, gripping it tightly before lunging forward to land a Superman punch in the closest gangster. As he continued forward, he spun while extending the staff and swinging it into the face of another. He shortened the staff again, slipping a wild and blind punch before extending the staff again into his attacker's ribs. The smoke began to clear, exposing the unconscious bodies sprawled along the street and sidewalk. Nightwing jumped almost clear over a six foot five inches tall man, wrapping his legs around his neck. As he leaned back, he forced the large man to flip over his body, slamming him to the ground. As Nightwing began to land the knockout punch, he heard the distinct click of a bullet being chambered begins his head.

"Well how bout that? The big bad birdie here to round us all up huh? Now who's the big bad?" Killer Spade taunted as Nightwing slowly raised his hands. "On ya feet," she said. "I want you to look me in the eyes before I kill ya, ya know, all dramatic n stuff." She giggles as she spoke. Nightwing kept himself calm as he slowly rose to his feet, towering over the smaller woman. He looked at her, cold and emotionless before a smirk grew across his lips.

"Whaddaya laughin' at birdie boy?" She asked. Within an instant Nightwing had one hand over the top of her pistol, pushing the slide backwards. His other hand was gripping Killer Spade's to keep her from pulling the trigger as he slid his index finger behind the trigger. "What the shit?!" She yelled before Nightwing applied pressure to the top of the weapon and turned her wrists the opposite way, forcing her to let go. He released the magazine and popped the bullet from the chamber.

"Now hold on there, I was just jokin' around c'mon birdy, can't ya let a pretty girl have some fun?" She smiles brightly and tilted her head sideways while raising one foot backwards. Without warning she attempted to kick Nightwing but he landed a downwards elbow on her quadricep. She winced in pain as she fell to a knee only to eat Nightwing's knee strike in her jaw. Standing over her, he could see her eyes filled with rage and insanity.

"I'll kill you," she said in between laughs, "I'll kill you like the boy in blue killed your big bad bat." Her words stung, the reminder of Batman's death rang through Nightwing's ears. Before he could land his downwards punch on a now curled up Killer Spade, Red Robin grabbed his arm.

"You're better than this, he wouldn't want this!" He shouted as he held Nightwing's arm. "She's not worth it!"

"No one fears you bird boys!" She shouted. Red Robin slammed the flat of his boot into her face, knocking her out cold.

"We could've questioned her in where her mother is hiding," Red Robin said.

"She's a Quinzel, just like her mother, she wouldn't speak." Nightwing said as he pulled the grappling gun from his utility belt. As he stretched his arm to the sky and fired, he felt free. Feeling the hook grip into stone and the internal pulley rush him into the air cleared his mind. They don't fear us. Without the Batman, no one will be safe. He thought to himself. Will the bat accept me? Dick entered the cave in silence, Tim trailing behind him. Jason was to work at the Bat Computer, keeping records of the local criminals and their whereabouts.

"How'd it go tonight?" Jason asked without turning his head from the screen.

"I think Dick is losing it," Tim said as he removed his visor.

"Ha ha," Dick said as he removed his mask. He began to walk down the trail of the cave that lead to the dwelling of the bats. His armor left behind in pieces.

"What the hell is he doing?" Jason asked now turned in the direction of where Dick walked off.

"I think he's doing what Bruce use to do," Tim replied. "If so, then I think we are about to lose another to this cursed mission." Dick walked deeper into the cave, shirtless but still wearing the lower half of his kevlar, his steel toed boots and his steel shin guards. The cave expanded into a wide cavern. Light flaps of wings could be heard from above among the jagged stalactites that drip with the moisture of the damp cave. Dick dropped to his knees, looking into the seemingly endless darkness.

"Bruce must've come here an endless amount of times. You were never finished with him." He spoke softly. "Even in death, I can hear you call to him. I can hear all of Gotham call to the Batman, but he is dead." He raised his head and slammed his fist into his heart. "He trained me from a young age. I have stood besides him for years, fought to get away from him. Tried to abandon his mission and escape you, but here I am kneeling to you." He could feel the cold stares of the inhabitants of the cave. "Well, here I am. I offer you myself! Take me! Give me the will, the strength you gave may father! Let this war become my own!" His shouts were met with silence. His eyes began to tear as he hung his head low. Before he could stand, he heard the powerful flaps of wings. As he looked up, the cave came alive with flapping, chirps and click of bats. They circled around Dick, slowly tightening the circle, forcing him to stand. In that moment, he understood what gave his father the strength to continue his fight and to instill fear within his enemies. With clenched fists and narrowed eyes, he vowed to continue the mission until his final breath.

"You think he's alright down there?" Tim asked Jason who never took his eyes off the dark trail.

"Not a clue," He replied, "wanna go check?"

"Like hell I do," Tim replied before noticing Dick was standing to his left. "What the hell man?! How did you even do that?"

"Shouldn't you be use to it by now? Bruce use to do it all the time." DIck joked as he gathered his armor. He stood before an empty case of glass and opened the large door. He suited the mannequin with his armor and hesitated before closing the door with a sigh. "I'm gonna go find Korri, don't be up too late guys." Dick said as he walked up the stairwell to the exit.

"Did he just hang up his suit?" Jason asked with a worried look.

"We should keep an eye on him." Tim advised.

The large clock slid to the left as Dick walked into the wide hallway, empty and seemingly endless. As he started down the hallway he could already feel the darkness draw closer. "Something you need Raven?" He asked with a smile on his face.

"Why am I not surprised?" She said with a faint smirk on her face.

"Everything ok with you and Damien?" As he turned he could see only her black colored lips and pale skin. She pulled her purple hood back from concealing her head. Her eyes were large and black as coal. Her hair line was a widow's peak and dark purple. The peak of her hair pointed directly to the dark purple diamond shape seal on her forehead. The seal held one of the strongest beings in the underworld, her father Trigan.

"He's taking the death of his father as bad as you are." She responded plainly. "Look if you need someone to talk to, I'm always around. DOn't think about lying to me either, remember, we are bonded." She smiled kindly before phasing through a pitch black portal she created on the wall.

"And I thought we were suppose to be the creepy ones," Dick joked as he continued down to the master bedroom he and Korri now occupied. When he entered, she was brushing her long orange locks in the mirror to the left of their king sized bed. She wore a purple spaghetti string nightgown and to Dick's delight, no underwear.

"Welcome home boy wonder," she said in an alluring town as she placed the brush on the dresser. Her emerald eyes narrowed seductively as if telling him to come to bed. He didn't need much more incentive to accompany his wife to bed. He removed the last of his suit and grabbed a towel on his way to their bathroom.

"I'll be in right after a shower." He said with a smile over his shoulder.

"Just make sure you come back quickly and give me your namesake." Korri slid herself under the silk sheets as she seemingly purred her words out while Dick stepped into the shower.