And once again we're here. If you're here then hopefully the first chapter didn't bore you. I feel I enjoyed writing this chapter. If there any plot holes tell me, hope there's not but anyway enough of me let's get to Dick!
Chapter 2 Big trouble in a Hong Kong Apartment
Dick's eyes slowly opened, He had another dream about the past he left behind, and He got up from his bed stretching his arms out yawning quietly. For a few moments he looked around his apartment he noticed it needed a small dusting but nothing too big. The apartment itself was quite big having some space filled up with a punching bag and a few weights scattered across the floor.
He walked to the kitchen pulling up his sweatpants up grabbing a bottle of cold water from the small mini fridge and continued to walk towards his small balcony playfully punching his battered punch bag along the way. He opened the lid of his bottle sliding open the glass door. Dick was attacked by a sudden heatwave as he heard all the traffic noises of motorbikes and cars honking at each other, Taking a drink of his cool water bottle he heard the aggressive gesture ''Yídòng tā!'', hearing the Taxi driver shouting out 'move it' his window slamming his car door in frustration Dick shook his head with a small smile looking into the distance of the city that never sleeps. Dick raised his plastic bottle in the air '' Good morning Hong Kong.'' He drank from the bottle again, To then hearing a giggle coming from street, he looked down to see 2 girls looking at him with a smile on their faces, they seemed young maybe one or two years younger than him, he questioned why they were giggling at him, only to remember he was shirtless, he look down realising they were looking how lean he was. Looking back at the girls he didn't want the attention, so he turned his body towards them showing his bare chest. The girl's smiling face turned to shock as they saw all the scars on his body. Dick raised both his eyebrows at them sighing when he watch their expression turn to shock. One of the girls grabbed the other's hand and started to walk away in a rush. Dick turned to go back inside closing the door behind him brushing his hair back.
He turned his attention to the Mirror, he slowly walked towards his reflection to examine his own body.
3 years it's been since that since he left Gotham. He remembered as if it was yesterday
After closing that door he managed to get past the guard to the first floor and escape through a small window that he was able to fit through due to his skinny body. After some 'minor casualties', he escaped out of the window he had to leave the area before the other members of the gang noticed, He found a loading ship only a few hundred yards away. Subtly sneaking onto the ship to hide. He waited until he drifted to sleep from exhaustion, by the time he woke up he already he realized he was at sea. After freaking out in his mind he realized there was nothing there was nothing to go back to in Gotham? So after days sailing, breaking into the crates to searching for food and water he found many different many items. During this time he was able to get a bit of his strength back, and when finally landed he hid in one creates only to leg it when the time was right before he realized it he was in Hong Kong. He managed to survive after few weeks doing some circus shows on the street for cash, it was usually enough for a day's meal. But one rainy night he remembered a small drunk woman on the street stumbling home. She saw the boy on a rainy night, Dick remembered her pitiful look towards him so she took him in for the night. Miss Mei was her kind heart to Dick did not reflect on who she portrayed as the person first impressions ways. She owned the apartment and gave it to him, Dick was able to scrape enough money to pay the rent each month from his street performing.
So here he was 3 years later. Remembering how he use to look like, he's a lot healthier. and his probably in the best shape of his life, during most of his free time all he'll ever do this is training 3 hours a day In martial arts and by performing on the street he improved his acrobatic skills, including running on the rooftops on the way back home. His hair was a medium length mainly a disheveled Hairstyle. He grew to about 5'10 considering that was a big change in three years. He noticed he's grown more handsome by the year even though Miss Mei says always westerners are ugly.
After inspecting himself he left to get change turning the TV on whilst putting on a pair of blue jeans and a Purple fitted T-shirt. Dick overheard the American anchor talking about how ''once again the Justice League has saved us all!'' Dick watched the broadcast recorded from the scene, He noticed Superman and the Flash fighting this type of robotic giant and defeating it like it was child's play. Before watching anymore he turned it off almost feeling his stomach twist from the memories. He tried to stay away from all the news about the league and especially Mr 'Billionaire playboy'.
He heard a hard knock on the door as if someone wanted to break it down. Dick sighed knowing only one person who wanted to. Another Bang hit the door ''Grayson! Wǒ zhīdào nǐ zài nàlǐ!( I know you're in there!) . Grayson walked to the door taking a deep breath before opening the door. There in front of him was a woman smaller than him in height but postured proud like a lioness, She wore a traditional blue Chinese dress with a dragon design, her hair tied up, With one hand on her hip and the other holding the lit cigarette to her mouth inhaling the nicotine with eyes like a thunderbolt staring up at Dick. ''Miss Mei '' He smiled convincingly, '' How lovely to see you''. Miss Mei's expression did not change, She did, however, give Dick a firm slap around the side of the head in a motherly manner ''Ouch!'' Dick cried '' what was that for?'' Dick knew not to yell at her if he wanted to keep his life. Miss Mei puffed her cigarette again ''good my ugly westerner is still soft on inside'' She turned to face away exhaling the smoke still keeping eye contact the teen. ''Today is you pay rent''.
Dick rubbed the side of his head, she might be in her forties but she could still pack a punch. ''I can only pay half now but I'll be able to…''As he followed up he saw Miss Mei's eyes widen in anger tilting her head back to him, Dick knew he blew it for him, after all the enemies he faced in his life why did Miss Mei have to be the worst ''Only pay half today?, only pay-'' She slapped him around the head in the same manner as last time ''Nǐ dāng wǒ shì shénme?'' (what do you take me for).
There she goes ranting in her native tongue to him it's times like these he preferred she was drunk, was always softer on the words. Although pulling every word out the book word against him. He noticed behind her at the other end of the corridor a girl had her back against the wall looking down to the floor Dick recognized her, she was one of the tenants who lived here. Around her were three thugs by the looks of it, at first it looks like they were hassling her. But then just as she was about to leave the muscular man with a small Mohawk in front grabbed her throat suddenly with a perverted smile making the girl struggled.
Before Dick wanted to move to help her, his attention turned back to Miss Mei still ranting at him, a moment later she turned to see what he was looking at, the thugs catching her attention, Miss Mei like a bull to a red paint walked forward shouting at the Thugs. '' Nǐ zài zuò shénme?''(What are you doing) She continued to walk towards them as all three men turned their attention to her, The muscular man with the Mohawk with his hand still gripped around the girl's neck ''Zhè shì zhòngyào de yèwù, Zǒu kāi!''(This is important business, go away!) Dick looked at Miss Mei feeling her aura, he wanted to step in at any moment to help both of the girls asking her to let him handle this, but Miss Mei pride was too great '' Zǒu kāi? Nǐ de māmā gàosu nǐ, dāng tā dì yī cì jiàn dào nǐ de shíhou'?'(Go away? Did your mum tell you the same when she saw you for the first time) The man's eyes turned back to Miss Mei, in anger letting go of the girl walking towards her stopping halfway with the other two behind him ''Nǐ xiǎng yào yīgè Sǐwáng zhī yuàn.Lǎo wūpó!.'' The man said rhetorically.
Dick knew what he said and might have made his death wish. Miss Mei unmoved by the comment smoked her cigarette. ''Grayson'' He said not breaking eye contact with the man. '' Come here'' Dick obeyed the command and walked next to her ''How is you Cantonese these days?'' Her voice changed into a demon like tone, concerning Dick ''It's going good'' ''She pulled another cigarette from her pocket lighting it with her small cheap lighter,'' you know what he said?'' she continued as Dick immediately nods in response Miss Mei saw him from the corner of her eye,'' you deal with them now, this will pay the other half your rent,'' Sounded like a plan to Dick ,he walked forward without saying anything as one of the thugs whispered to main thugs ear, he looked at Dick with a smile on his face. The all walked towards him cracking their knuckles and neck, ''you got a lot of US dollars on your head, Dick Grayson''
Ok now he was surprised, what did he mean, how did he know his name. Has someone from Gotham found him?
Before he could think one of the thugs lunged at him Dick lifted his front leg up from his combat stance landing hit foot on his chest using the momentum to push him to the wall and onto the ground. The other two went for Dick both attacking him at the same time. Dick could already notice they were street brawlers with no training which made it easier for Dick to attack.
Dodging one of the swings landing a punch to the rib stunning him for a few seconds he quickly turned his attention to the muscular thug as he throws his left arm him hoping to land with his blocked the attack easily to then throw a punch with his free hand stumbling the thug back, Dick saw the 2nd thug still bent over, he lifted his foot to pushed his head into the wall knocking him out in an instance, The muscular thug got his momentum back looking back at the teen to see Dick in mid-air leading with his knee making contact with the thugs face. Dick smirked always wanting to land a flying knee to someone's face, ''to easy''. He turned back to Miss Mei in delight, however, saw the first thug who attacked him have a knife around her neck looking at Dick frightened, Dick's eyes locked on the Miss Mei's Before she used the momentum to throw her head back hitting the poor thugs face ,the knife moved to away from the momentum, Miss Mei turned back to him headbutting him again this time with her forehead putting the thug on his ass.
Dick didn't need to help her as he watches the women kick him on the ground ranting in their language, leaning down to smack him. Dick turned his attention the crawling thug trying to escape his mouth bleeding from the impact of the knee, Dick walked over to him grabbing his shirt pulling him up to face him. The thug shouted ''please no more''. Dick shook him aggressively, ''Who sent you !'' The thug's hands held up to Dick in surrender, ''I wasn't sent by anyone ''He screamed in fear, ''T..there was a bounty with the criminals…..an American put a price wanting you, alive'' Dick's anger was rising gripping on his shirt tighter shaking him harder what was his name!'' The thug didn't answer ''Tell me!'' Dick Screamed. ''I don't know man! Ok, your name was going around on the streets, all I know it was big money, I think it started with a Z or something bro I don't know'' Dick had the final straw He looked away from the bloodied crook tensing up ''No one in Hong Kong knows what you look like, Just let me go, I won't tell anyone ok, I'll stop hassling that girl, Just let me go, Man!'' Dick turned his attention to the crook '' Sure''Dick brought him up to his feet walking towards the balcony of the stairs '' Wait no!'' he cried, as Dick threw him off of it, the Thug landed on a wooden table breaking its legs. it was only 2 floors so he'll live, just probably a broken bone or two.
He looked behind him as the girl from before was hiding in the corner next to a plant. Dick nodded at her, she nodded back as to say thank you, he looked back at Miss Mei who was just finishing her beat down who the thug looked like he was already knocked out 2 minutes before, She looked at Dick panting grabbing another smoke from her pocket looking at him sternly'' I hope you have broken my grandfather's coffee table''.She placed the smoke in her mouth reaching for her lighter ''Let it come out my rent'' replied Dick.
Dick's eyes moved down to the side of her stomach, a patch of dark red was forming from her blue dress. Dick walked towards Miss Mei slowly'' Miss Mei you're bleeding''. Miss Mei looked down at the appearing blood ''hm'' she responds in a disappointing matter, ''Stupid boy, it is just a scra-'' Before she could finish her sentence she dropped the lighter her eyes started to close and her body started to fall to the ground. Dick caught up just in time. ''Miss Mei !...Miss Mei!.'' He shook her but there was no answer, he could feel her blood drip down into his hand. He looked at the girl in a panic ''Dǎ diànhuà gěi yīyuàn! '' He shouts at her demanding her to call the hospital, She moves through her purse trying to get her phone,
Dick keeps his hand over the wound to stop the flowing blood '' Stay with me Mei, Stay with me!
Dick entered the room with a bunch of orange roses in his hand, walking to the seat next to the hospital bed, watching him was Miss Mei ''I see westerners have no value of time when one is dying'' Dick smiled Hearing Miss Mei's insult. ''The flower shop was pretty busy''. Dick pulls the chair forward noticing Miss Mei looking at the roses'' you remembered the right flowers'' Dick looked at them remembering she would not go to her nephew's wedding is the bride didn't have orange roses, She had a strong connection with them for an unknown reason. But Dick felt hand slowly touch his, He looked up at Miss Wei. ''I have one thing to ask you before I leave this world.'' Dick only nodded curiously about what she would say ''I never knew your past life before I met you, I never even bothered asking. For a boy so young with nowhere to go I did not bother. But whatever it is, has come for back to you, I can see it brings you uncomfort,'' Dick nodded Tensing up hearing the words, feeling guilty he was responsible for this circumstance. ''I do not want you to run back to America''. Dick jostled up ready answer back ''Listen'' Miss Mei growled at him, Dick felt a slight humor in it, even in her last breaths she was still a strong lioness. Dick nodded at Miss Mei to continued. ''Whatever it is, you can not run away, stand your ground and spit it in the face. You came here as a boy but now. You leave as a strong man spread your wings, Grayson, like a Saker.'' Dick smiled from the name of the bird.'' In my room, there is money I was saving for a holiday, but I see now you need it more than me.''Dicks' eyes stayed looking at the Woman who took him in when he had almost nothing. ''
Go and however wants to find you, you go and find him." she grips his hand harder giving Dick a smile. The first smile Dick has ever seen from Miss Mei. ''If you can put up with me, you can put up with the devil himself''.Dick laughed as if it was a joke, but he knew it wasn't a joke. She was right and for the first time in a long time. A Tear ran down his cheek.
Miss Mei smiled at Dick one last time resting her head ''I am very proud of you, and always will be.'' With her final words, she closed her eyes for the last time.
Dick sat there for a few minutes looking at Miss Mei before standing up. He exits the hospital not looking back, walking down out into the busy street he looked up into the sky, the night sky was clear except for one single star up in the sky shining brightly. Dick took a deep breath as he smiled with a mixture of emotions. ''I'm going to miss you'' He looked forward and continued his journey to, he clenched his fist tightly thinking of Gotham. The past life he tried to escape kept haunting him but a simple sentence went through his mind. 'stand your ground and spit it in the face' He knew he had going to go back to Gotham, he was going to make sure Zucco paid for what he's done, hero or villain he didn't care who'd he'd be. this time, he's going to do it his way.
OK DONE that took too long I reckon I do write a chapter
And hope you like miss Mei. Want to point out I have absolutely no clue is if that's the right words, I used google translate…...shoot me.
Tell me how you feel about this Chapter.
Ok, here we go. 3rd chapter. Lets bringDick back to Gotham