Notes: Okay, so here we get a little glimpse of the future. It might not be what some people are expecting but it's kind of what I had planned when I started this.
Also,Red Robin did not charter a pubic flight back to Gotham, he's taking one of the bat planes – Red Hood's just teasing him and he didn't get the chance to correct him.
Also, NaNoWriMo is finished. I made it! (Yay) So updates should happen more often.
Chapter 4 – Teasing, Time and the Bat Clan
Red Hood paced the Batcave like a madman. His hands were flying around as he tried to explain what went wrong, even though he had no idea what went wrong.
"Slow down," Red Robin insisted, having received a frantic call from a frantic Red Hood. Even though they were miles apart, he was trying to do everything he could. Namely, Red Robin was hacking everything he could find and gathering as much information as he could. "What happened to the assassin?"
"I have no clue!" Red Hood huffed his hands moving with the motion of his shoulders. "One moment, all is well, the kid's heading towards the assassin and a fight's about to break out. The next, they're both gone in some kind of bright light!"
"What kind of bright light?"
Red Hood glared at Red Robin. What was the point of all these questions when Nightwing and The Batman were probably going to kill him over losing their little bird?
"Every little piece of information helps."
Red Hood cocked his gun, in full view of the person on the other side of the screen. He did not deserve to be treated like a hysterical witness.
"A flash grenade, I guess," he huffed.
Red Robin hummed and then typed something on his side of the computer. It moved a bit, enough for Red Hood to catch a glimpse of the area around Red Robin.
"Are you… flying?" he questioned incredulously. "In full Red Robin regalia?"
Red Robin paused, his eyes widening behind the lenses of his mask.
"Yes," he responded hesitantly. "Your message came through while I was out with the Titans."
"My message," Red Hood repeated slowly, a smile forming on his face. "The one about Redbird going MIA?" Red Robin didn't respond, which was a confirmation. Red Hood's smile grew wider. "You mean, you were so worried about Damian Wayne, that you chartered a flight back to Gotham without even taking the time to change?"
Red Robin snorted in disbelief but it lacked real distain. It was a weak cover and they both knew it.
Red Hood wanted to tease more but the sound of an approaching vehicle gave him pause.
"He's back. Wish me luck," he said, hanging up on the other hero. "Hey, Bats. 'Wing. How was patrol?"
"Don't. Nightwing saw the message." Red Hood carefully schooled his expression. He wouldn't dare tease Batman the way he teased Red Robin. Even if he cracked when Nightwing figured out something was up.
"What happened?"
Red Hood shrugged. He must had been feeling suicidal to do that but he figured they might as well get to the killing him bit.
"You lost Damian, Jay. What. Happened?" Nightwing seethed.
"Overprotective much?" Red Hood joked. Then he let the smile drop and responded, "I have no idea. There was a crazy assassin with a crazy light."
"Do you think it was one of Talia's?" Batman questioned.
Red Hood shrugged.
"I only caught word of the assassination and how there was some kind of condition attached to it which kept most people from taking it. Although, the target isn't one to be taken lightly either. That someone actually accepted it was causing waves underground."
"Why are you interested in an assassination?" Nightwing questioned, although something about this was nagging at him. He had yet to figure out what.
"Because you are the target," Batman said to Nightwing before moving over to the computers.
Nightwing smirked at Red Hood and Jason glared from behind his mask. He hefted his helmet in warning; you try anything mushy and I chuck this at you.
But, Nightwing was too busy thinking to actually try anything mushy. The nagging feeling had grown stronger.
"Me as Nightwing or me, Richard Grayson?"
"Second one, I think."
"Did Damian go out as Redbird?" The message had said 'Redbird's gone missing'.
"Yeah. But Alfie switched out the helmet for a hood and mask. A shame really."
Nightwing blinked. A smile grew on his face. He glanced over at Batman and they shared a look. One of those silent ones which no one else could decipher.
"Okay, what's going on?" Red Hood questioned.
Nightwing ignored him and asked Batman, "and how old is Damian?"
Batman glared at him.
"No."
"Come on, it's a possibility." Nightwing was almost whining.
"A possibility we ruled out many years ago. Are you still stuck on that nonsense? Change is inevitable."
"Just answer the question."
Batman sighed and did, knowing that it was better to just let Nightwing have his way. And it was a possibility. A small one. A very small one. One which he really didn't want to explain to his sons.
Nightwing's smile grew. And then he laughed. Red Hood's eyes widened and he glanced between Batman and Nightwing and actually panicked.
Dick never reacted this way to any of them being in danger, ever!
Nightwing continued laughing and Red Hood stepped away, closer to Batman. Batman was still his old and grumpy self, growing grumpier by the moment.
"Enough!" he finally ordered. "Nightwing and Red Hood, you are going to check out the assassin's apartment. And, Nightwing, you had better bring me solid proof of your theory."
"What theory?" Red Hood questioned. Again, he didn't receive an answer.
"How old are you?" Dick asked, swinging back and forth on the balcony as he waited for Redbird to change.
"Fourteen," Redbird responded through the door. He had been much more amicable after breakfast.
"Really! So we're almost the same age!" Dick gasped. There were so many things they could do together.
"Whatever you're planning, it needs to stop," Redbird grumbled. The door opened and there he stood in a white shirt, blue jeans, a tight frown and a mask on his face.
"Well, that has to go," Dick said, pointing at the mask. "We can't go anywhere if you keep wearing it."
"Absolutely not."
"It's coming off, solutely not!" Dick responded, jumping him.
"Solutely?"
"If ABsolutely not means 'not going to happen' then 'solutely not' means you're going to let it happen. It's solutely not!"
Redbird fended off the attack.
"Get off me, Grayson! Stop butchering the English language like that or I will cut you!"
Dick blinked and grabbed Redbird's arms, pinning him to the wall.
"Now, now. That's a mean thing to say. And rather dark too." He took the chance Redbird's shock gave him and ripped the mask from his face.
"GRAY-SON!"
Bruce looked up from his paperwork as the furious, drawn out bellow echoed through the house.
"Sounds like the boys are bonding, sir," Alfred commented dryly as he placed Bruce's coffee onto the desk.
Bruce groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. In the distance, there was a faint echo of an overjoyed laugh.
Bonding, indeed.
The chase ended on the roof, Dick being extremely impressed the Redbird had been able to follow him up there. He flopped down onto the roof and waited for the enraged bird to reach him.
It took less time than he thought for the bird to reach him, red-face from what he assumed was anger with a hand covering part of his face.
"Give it back," he said in a slightly cowed voice. Dick smiled and held out a pair of sunglasses.
"Here, I wear these when I'm off-duty."
Redbird frowned but took the sunglasses and placed them on his face.
"They feel weird," he commented.
"Better get used to them. You only have a few hours before we head back to Mount Justice."
Redbird raised an eyebrow.
"I would rather work this out in the Batcave."
Dick mirrored his expression, adding a head-tilt and upturned mouth.
"Do you really think Bruce will let us?"
"-tt- I don't need his permission." Technically, he did but Grayson had taught him that it's a Robin's duty to do things without permission. Like sneak out on patrol or, in this case, break into the Batcave.
"Well I'm going to Mount Justice to hang with the team. Shouldn't you be with me in case the assassin comes back?"
Redbird cursed. Dick had him there.