AN: Thanks for all the feedback, it is very much appreciated. For it you get Chapter three as a reward. This chapter might not be as interesting as the whole thing will focus on how Chase is adjusting to Gotham City. P.S. as much as I'm going to exclude this reboot, Chase will be wearing the reboot Nightwing suit with a few alterations. Why? Because, its boss that's why.
Chapter Three: A Night on the Town
The night in Gotham City was just like most others, it was cold, dark, and rainy, with the wind blowing around the citizens. All of it creating the atmosphere that Gotham had been known for a long time, dark but with hope right on the horizon. That was the purpose of Batman, Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl, and Black Bat. That was the feeling that the figure perched atop Wayne Tower wanted to bring to the city, and after two months of training and partnered patrols, the new Nightwing was ready to play it solo. The new vigilantes name, Chase Jordan, and until recently he'd thought this world was fiction until he was transported to the world of DC Comics after a freak event, a wonderful gift. Standing up from his perch, the young acrobat shot his grapple and went in search of some action. Thinking back to when he first found out he was going to be a part of the bat family Chase couldn't help but want the approval of one man, Bruce Wayne. His first encounter with the boss man was one that he hadn't been expecting. Bruce realized the seriousness of an outsider knowing their identities, but then he thought about Tim and how much he'd come to be a huge asset, and just like that Chase realized he had validation from Bruce Wayne, and that pushed him to be the best he could be. The young man was trained by Bruce and Cassandra to fight, he honed his acrobatics with Dick, learned how to hack with Tim Drake, and learned how to still have fun from Stephanie Brown.
Thinking about his life in Gotham City, Chase realized that he was in the good life. He was brought into the Wayne family, adopted by Bruce under the cover of Dicks long lost brother. Now he got to make a difference by patrolling the streets of Gotham City. 'This is one cool experience; I mean I'm Nightwing, who else gets to say that? Just me and Dick I guess?' Losing himself in his thoughts on the rooftop in Crime Alley he landed on, Chase thought about his friends that he still hadn't seen yet, and still wondered if they were all right. The young acrobat also thought about his new look, a far cry from the old Nightwing. Chase looked down at his suit at the dark black suit and its blood red bird emblem that went into the finger stripes over his gauntlets, his including fins like those on the Batsuit, and his domino mask having red lenses rather than white. Over all Chase thought he looked pretty badass, but he knew there was more to stopping crime than looking the part, he had to strike fear into criminals. Lost in his thought, the acrobat didn't hear the approach of the figure behind him until he felt two hands on his shoulders. With a jump he turned to find the smiling form of Cassandra Cain, the Black Bat. Letting himself breathe easier Chase put on his best stern face, which didn't last too long as Cass's smile made him smile as well, her smile was something he didn't remember seeing that much in the comics and seeing it was a rare and beautiful sight, Chase really like her smile.
"Any reason the Black Bat is looking for little old me? I know I'm nearly irresistible, but humor me with some other reason." Letting his smile get bigger, the young man knew that besides being acrobats and goofs, he and his brother Dick were fairly chatty with the ladies as well. Chase had grown especially close with Cass. He got along fine with Steph, heck he even had a little crush on her at first, but as time passed he found himself increasingly in the company of Cassandra. They were both very different, but the acrobat found that they had more in common than he originally thought. They were both passionate about the work they were doing; both were deep down very sensitive people that cared a lot about people, and as much as Cass didn't show it Chase knew she liked to tease as well.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was to tell you to keep your mouth shut before you did too deep of a hole." 'There it is.' Chase thought to himself as he let his smile grow as he turned to face the lovely Asian crime fighter. "Actually Oracle and Batman have said it was a slow night so we should turn in. With the boss away helping Diana and Superman, Batman thinks we've earned an early turn in." Crossing his arms the young acrobat leaned against the ledge, he removed his mask letting her view his look of disappointment.
"Awesome, my first solo patrol and I see nothing. I guess that should be a good thing but it's still pretty boring." Removing her mask as well Cass leaned right beside her new friend on the ledge, allowing herself to smile at his pouting. Cass couldn't say that she was close to many people short of the Batfamily, but she wasn't quick to trust them at first either, at least until she met Chase. She found he was easy to get along with and most of all he was fun. She and Tim were close, but together they could be a little stuffy she thought. She and Steph were best friends, but the girl could get a little too wild sometimes. Bruce was like a father, Dick was her older brother, and Alfred her grandfather. The young woman didn't really know what to call Chase. Sure he was her brother now, but she couldn't help but stare at him sometimes, stare and imagine. Cass wasn't left with much time to think about her new brother or partner or crush, she allowed herself to add, because she felt him take her hand in his as she met Chase's eyes with her own.
"Well you could always talk to yourself; you seem to be pretty good at that." Laughing as she took her hand out of his, Cass pulled her new acrobat friend up from the ledge along with her to head back to the penthouse.
"I'm chatty, it's part of my charm and furthermore…" Chase and Cass were cut short in their banter when they heard a series of gunshots that sounded less than two blocks away. "Well, looks like we will see some action after all." Slipping on their masks the two masked heroes grappled off, swinging through the cityscape to the source of the shot. "Nightwing to Batman and Robin, Black Bat and I are investigating gun shots we recently heard; we'll call you if we need anything." Chase said as he radioed Dick and Damian their situation.
"Alright, but don't be afraid to call for backup, the Kevlar in your suit only goes so far."
"Will do, Nightwing out." Smiling as he broke radio connection, he heard Cass calling into Tim and Stephanie.
"Red Robin and Batgirl, tell O that Nightwing and I will be later than expected. Gun shots were fired and we're on our way to investigate, be on your toes as well. Black Bat out." The newest of Gotham's heroes couldn't help but smirk at the established crime fighter as they switched to roof hopping from swinging. Looking at her he couldn't help but admire how she could be all business, and damn did he think it was hot.
"So are you always so down to business on the com or do you lighten up from time to time?" 'Nothing like trying to lighten the mood while chasing down a possible maniac' Chase thought as they made their way up a fire escape to get a better vantage point, Cass quick and efficient and Chase showy and unnecessary.
"No I can lighten up, the real question is can you move discreetly or is it always a big show with you?" Cass laughed as she watched as her partner decided flips were necessary to reach the side of the roof she was on. 'He's lucky that he looks good moving around in that costume or I'd tell him to be still' she thought to herself. Once the two were prepared they set out to find the culprit. It didn't take more than a minute or two until the saw a quick flash of red and the sound of a bullet fired at them. Dodging the shot the masked heroes, peaked from behind the ledge and caught sight of their assailant, the Red Hood, and back to his motorcycle gear no less.
"Alright, so Jason Todd, homicidal maniac trained by Batman is on the loose again, how do we want to play this?" Cass's only response was a crack of her knuckles and a smirk. "Good that was my idea too." Splitting up the two both threw batarangs at Red Hood, Black Bat hitting Jason in the helmet to knock him off balance, while Nightwing took out the gun. Taking the time to get in close to Jason, Cass took her fighting stance, while Chase got out his escrima sticks.
"Really, the big man couldn't come after me himself, I'm insulted. Oh, and look he's got a new bird flying around Gotham, didn't even ask me if I wanted to be Nightwing." Jason sneered as he quickly pulled out another handgun from its holster. "You didn't think I'd come without a spare did you?"
"You're nothing if not prepared Hood, but we can't really let you just walk out of here can we?" Chase asked, sarcasm thick in his voice as he watched edge closer to Jason's flank, they were about to take the sneakiest son of a bitch in Gotham by surprise. "It's also good to see you ditched the tights and cape, really not such a good look for a villain or anti-hero, or whatever you think you are." Giving the signal to chase, Black Bat jumped at Jason. Grabbing his arm and pulling it at an angle that Nightwing could knock the gun from Red Hood's hand. Getting into one on one combat with Red Hood, Nightwing found out first hand why everyone never really like dealing with Jason, he was freaking strong. Smirking to himself, the acrobat noted he wasn't alone, he had Cass and that was the best backup you could ask for. The longer the fight went on the more Chase noticed Cass wasn't in it, that she was letting him handle Jason, and he was winning. Where Red Hood was strong, Nightwing was fast and agile. If Jason got in one punch Chase was getting four or five, and that was the difference.
"So tell us Jason, why the gun shots if there were no victims from what we could gather." Cass asked as she rejoined the fray.
"I'm not plugged into the Wayne funds; I gotta fund my operation somehow so I knocked over a bank." Then with a series of quick movements Jason had gotten past the two of them and had grabbed his guns one pointed at each of the masked heroes at close range, there was no way a shot like Jason would miss either. "So now I'm going to get out of here and you two love birds can go on about your night, see ya losers." Just like that Red Hood disappeared into the dark alleyway, leaving behind a frustrated Nightwing and Black Bat.
Once they were back at the Wayne Towers penthouse Chase and Cass made their way to the bathrooms to shower. Letting the hot water run down his back the young man thought to how Jason got away from he and Cass. There was nothing they really could have done, if they made a move they more than likely would have been shot rather than stopped Jason. Drying off and slipping on a pair of athletic pants Chase put his Nightwing gear in his room as he made his way to the kitchen. There he saw Cass pouring herself a cup of tea that Alfred had made, he took a cup as well and followed her lead.
"So we made a pretty good team tonight didn't we hot stuff?" Chase asked, giving the young woman a small smile. Next thing he knew she was pulling him into a deep kiss. Once the initial shock wore off he found himself kissing her back. Once the two needed to pull back for air Cass gave him a smile of her own.
"We sure do Mr. Flips and Stuff." Cass joked
"I'm not sure Dick would like to know I've stolen his title, but Cass what does this make us?" The young acrobat asked as he continued to hold the beautiful young woman close to him.
"It means we'll just have to find out, right partner?"
"Right partner." Pulling Cass into another kiss Chase really did know he wouldn't go back to his other life for anything. Sure Dick and Steph would tease, Damian would make some snide comment while Tim would rein him in and give his own approving smile, but Bruce was a whole different story. Case just smile on as he continued to kiss the beautiful girl in his arms. I 'Bring it on.'
AN: Here it is everybody, Chapter Three, and it's all dedicated to Chase. Not all chapters will be this way with most taking on all four main characters, but all will at some point get their own one-shot solo chapter. Read and review, they are very much appreciated.