Spoilers and Brothers
Assassination (CaraLee)
Dick moved. His body flipped, arched and kicked off walls. He swung over railings and leapt over tables. He moved high and low, whatever it took to dodge the blade being wielded by the assassin.
"Who are you?" Dick demanded to know as he flipped backwards off the table.
"Do you not even remember that, Grayson?" the man in orange and black questioned in an amused tone which really annoyed Dick. Obviously this guy knew about his amnesia but he was purposely not explaining anything. "I'm Deathstroke the Terminator and there's a contract on your head."
Now, that was interesting. Dick could only think of a few people who would put a contract out on him. He really hoped this could be a link to the corrupt in Bludhaven.
But first, he needed to take this assassin down. He flipped over Deathstroke and pulled out his gun while he was in the air. The moment he landed, he shot him in the chest.
Deathstroke's body shuddered on impact with the bullet and he dropped to the floor, blood staining the front of his uniform. He would live, Dick purposely didn't shoot right at his heart. However, Dick had also noted his advanced healing abilities which honestly freaked him out more than the assassin trying to kill him.
"A… gun…?" Deathstroke wheezed out.
"I'm a cop," Dick pointed out, "and this certainly falls under self-defence. You were coming at me with a sword!" He pulled out his phone and called the police while Deathstroke watched him.
"You've changed," the assassin commented in a soft voice. "Never… would have shot me… before." Dick just stood there silently. "And… I can't shake the feeling… this should have been easy… were you holding back before?"
"I honestly can't answer that," Dick responded just as Alfred came into the kitchen.
"Richard, what happened?" Alfred asked, taking in the gun in Dick's hand and the assassin bleeding out on the floor.
"He shot me," Deathstroke stated.
"He tried to kill me!" Dick whined.
Brains (Ki-Chan Riker)
"Brains," Jason groaned like a zombie, arms wrapping around Tim's shoulders and chin planting on top of Tim's.
"Bite me and die," Tim growled. He was not in the mood, which was probably why Jason was doing whatever this was. Stupid Jason and his stupid zombie movies.
Jason let go and then plopped himself down on the computer console.
"So, Timmy, how long have you been down here?"
"Don't bother, Dick already tried," Tim said. He had been here for a while but he was certain he could crack this case.
"Yeah, I know. He called me. Come on, Tim. I have ten dollars riding on being able to get you to bed."
"Well, too bad." Tim had to stop typing as Jason lay down on his hands, like a big cat. He glared. "Go away."
"Keep in mind, if I leave, then Dick'll have his turn."
"Dick already tried."
"No. Dick tested whether you could be reasoned with. If he had been trying, you wouldn't be down here."
Tim made an unimpressed noise.
"Sirs," Alfred said suddenly, causing them both to jump. "It is far too early for either of you to be down here."
"Haven't left, Alfred," Tim explained, pulling his hands out from under Jason. Jason stood up and apologised to the butler before ducking upstairs. Tim swallowed as the butler turned to him.
"A word from me, Master Tim, and these computers shut down," Alfred reminded him. Alfred had the highest security clearance after all. "Finish up for the night, thank you."
Tim nodded.
Wisdom (Ki-Chan Riker)
Jason had to break into the Batcave. He wasn't subtle as he wanted Bruce to know he was there.
"Alright, what's going on?" he asked. Bruce had called for him after all. Bruce was dressed in the Batsuit but with the cowl down and he didn't look happy.
"Body washed up in Bludhaven," Bruce explained in his all-business voice.
Jason raised an eyebrow. It wasn't like Bruce to share information without being specifically asked for it.
"Okay. Bodies wash up all the time, what's special about this one?"
"He was an IA Officer, investigating Dick's precinct."
Jason cursed. That was not good.
"Right, any clues?" He was determined to solve this quick and get the bad guys who thought they could kill people without any retribution.
Big Bird (Ki-Chan Riker)
Tim stared. The giant stuffed bird was sitting atop Stephanie's bed.
"What. Is that?" he asked the blond teenager. It was big and yellow and he thought his reaction was appropriate.
"Why?" Stephanie questioned with a wide, mischievous smile. "Jealous?"
Tim gave her a flat look. That was not it. He wanted to know why there was a giant, yellow, stuffed bird on his sort-of-girlfriend's bed.
"No. It's ugly and takes up almost all the bed."
"Well, yeah," Stephanie agreed, "I put it on the floor when I sleep."
"Where did it come from?"
Stephanie laughed but decided to finally answer him.
"It's a present." Tim's face fell as he imagined the thing being given to his almost-girlfriend by some unknown person. "For a friend from her boyfriend. He wants me to look after it because he's afraid he'd lose it."
Tim looked at the giant object, not even able to imagine a scenario where he would accidentally lose the thing. Destroy, yes. Drop off someone far away, yes.
"Lose it?" he questioned.
Stephanie giggled.
"That's what I thought. But hey, it's only for a few days."
Tim stared at the giant stuffed bird. Later, he would be unable to tell the story without emphasising giant, yellow and stuffed. Not that it mattered, Jason would be laughing anyway.
Heart (Ki-Chan Riker)
Deathstroke escaped. Dick had been expecting it but it still hurt to hear. They hadn't gotten any information from him.
"Don't give up yet," Commissioner Gordon told him.
"I'm not giving up," Dick responded. "I'm just bored. Sitting here and waiting doesn't feel right to me." He caught the look Commissioner Gordon gave him. "You're not talking about Deathstroke, are you?"
Commissioner Gordon sighed and nodded. He pulled out some papers and handed them to Dick.
"The IA officer turned up in Bludhaven's river this morning. He's dead."
Dick's heart plummeted. The IA officer had been there for him. Because of him. Now he was dead.
Wing (Kessy Rods)
Dick jumped over the rooftops, feeling oddly at home as he made his way to Bludhaven.
There had to be a way to make a dent in Bludhaven's crime. There were beatings in the street. People dying and the police couldn't do anything to help.
"Wait," a voice said softly but strong. Dick paused on the roof and turned to see Cass stepping out of the shadows. "Your plan is what?"
Dick shifted. His plan made him a hypocrite. Breaking into Bludhaven's police station for whatever evidence he could find. His focus was on the Chief. He hoped that taking him out of office, hopefully in disgrace, would allow change to begin.
"I see," Cass said with a nod. She reached into her utility belt and pulled out a mask. "Here."
Dick held up his hands. He didn't need anything like that.
"Take," Cass ordered.
Dick shook his head. The Chief already wanted him dead, covering his eyes wouldn't get him anything.
"Take the mask, alright," another female voice said as a teenager in purple climbed onto the roof. She grunted as she pulled herself up with effort. Dressed in purple and some black, she dusted herself off and nodded to Cass who was Batgirl.
"Um... you are?"
"I'm Spoiler! Didn't RR tell you about me?"
"RR?"
"Red Robin!" Spoiler said. "Timmy's my friend. You're Dick, right? Nice to meet you!" Dick wondered if they had met before. "We haven't met before. You barely spent any time with Tim before vanishing."
"Really?" Dick couldn't imagine that. Tim was a smart kid and Dick liked spending time with them. "Why?"
Spoiler shrugged.
"We're getting off topic. You know RR and the rest are out looking for you, right?"
"I don't care," Dick sighed, the line lacking bite.
Batgirl winced and pointed to her ear.
"Oracle," she said. "Wants know if you are Oh. Kay."
"I'm fine," Dick said, "I'm just going back to Bludhaven."
"Cool! Count me in!" Spoiler said. Dick didn't think he could bring her along. Not into danger and not when an IA officer had already lost his life.
"Mask," Cass reminded them, waving it before them.
"I don't need it," Dick said.
"But, if you get caught, won't people go after Timmy?" Spoiler questioned. "And what about Red Hood?"
Dick paused. His mind came up with reasons it was a bad idea and didn't make as much sense as the girls thought.
"Take," Batgirl ordered, her voice cutting off his thoughts. With an annoyed expression, she pressed the mask to his face. Dick went stiff as she stood on tip-toes to press the smooth textile to his face. He didn't move as her fingers pressed lightly around his eyes and the bridge of his nose.
She dropped back down and stared at him, head tilted as she took in her work.
"Missing something," she mused.
Spoiler stepped forward with a smile.
"Let me?" she questioned and Dick sighed, bowing his head.
"Ow," he whined as her hand practically clawed his hair as she mussed it up.
"There! Since you always wear your hair neat."
Batgirl nodded her agreement and pulled out a can of hairspray. She sprayed Dick's hair so that it would stay mussed up.
"You carry hairspray?" Spoiler questioned in surprise.
Batgirl demonstrated by pulling out a lighter and making a flamethrower.
"Useful," she explained, smiling in amusement at Dick's and Spoiler's shock. "Jason showed me."
Spoiler recovered first, moving to the edge of the roof.
"Alright, 'Wing, let's go?"
"Wing?" Dick questioned in horror. Spoiler smirked back at him.
"I'm not calling 'Dick' over rooftops, it's stupid."
"It's my name," Dick muttered.
"And I'm not going to call you Nightwing unless you want me to. So 'Wing. Deal with it."
"Deal with it," Batgirl echoed.
Strength (Ki-Chan Riker)
It took more than strength to train surf. It was balance. Dick's body moved with the train as he leapt on. Batgirl landed behind him. Spoiler dropped in behind her and stumbled.
"Oh, this is cool!" Spoiler cheered, although her voice was wavering.
Dick crouched low and settled in to enjoy the ride. Batgirl shifted and used her body to show Spoiler how to move.
Begging (Kessy Rods)
Bruce stared at the logo on the screen.
"Why should I?" the digitised voice asked. "I didn't even know he was alive until he turned up in my tower."
Bruce placed his head in his hands. They had returned from patrol, only to find Dick missing. Alfred said Dick received a phone call which he retreated into privacy to answer. There had been nothing from Dick after that.
"He's vanished," Bruce said, "he's vanished and I have everyone I can out looking but I haven't heard from any of them. Come on, Barbara, give me something."
Oracle was silent for a few moments.
"Fine," she relented. "My sources say he's heading for Bludhaven."
Bruce breathed a sigh of relief that Dick was safe. Then he transmitted the information to Red Robin and Red Hood.
Bench (Kessy Rods)
Takes place before Wisdom (Ki-Chan Riker).
At age 83, Agatha had well outlasted the average lifespan of a Gothamite. Not that she was going to curl over and die because of it; you don't get to age 83 in Gotham by rolling over and letting life do whatever.
She stalked through the park on her weekly walk home from the prison, where she taught a knitting class every week (despite everyone in her family telling her to stop), and sat down on her favourite bench. She ignored the young man in the biker jacket. As long as he didn't bother her, she wouldn't bother him.
His dark hair was straight and hung slightly over his faded blue eyes, they were sort of like a clear winter's sky, which were focused on the distance. He looked sad but everyone was sad in some way.
They sat there in silence for a while. When Agatha got out her bread to feed the birds heading their way, the young man turned and smiled at her.
"Share a slice?" he asked and she entertained the idea that he was homeless and hungry, despite his well-kept appearance. The bread was stale and she didn't mind handing him a piece.
He smiled a little wider, showing off white teeth and his cheeks almost dimpling as he crumbled the bread up in one hand and tossed it gently to the birds.
Agatha was smitten. She spotted a few scars on his arms and decided he was polite and a fighter, the kind of young man she liked to see.
If he didn't leave before she did, she thought she might like to take him home herself.
"Jason!" a teenager called out. This one was a little less well-kept. His hair was messy but short and his face flushed as he ran over. His eyes were red like he had been crying. Or trying not to cry. "Jason! Jason!"
"What?" the young man, Jason, snapped. "You scared off the birds, Replacement."
The teenager's face fell, possibly as a result of the nickname (at least, she hoped it was a nickname but some parents were crazy).
"You ran away." He sounded heartbroken.
"I left a note," Jason said, trying to sound untouchable.
"You ran away," the teenager sniffed again. "Yes, we have Dick back but that doesn't mean we don't need you! Who's going to trade information with me if you leave?"
"See Oracle," Jason shrugged. Agatha wondered if this was some kind of video game or something they were talking about. She hoped the teenager wasn't pulling at straws while trying to get Jason to go home.
"But, Oracle doesn't just work with Tim," another voice, older and smoother said from behind them. Agatha jumped and turned, wondering when this man snuck up behind them.
"Dick!" Jason cried out, "you scare nice old ladies with that move!"
Agatha shared a glance with both of the young men. The one who scared her apologised and shook her hand, kissing it when he was done.
A young gentleman he was. Agatha blushed at the courtesy, rarely seen in Gotham except when the rich and fancy get together.
"Jason, you have to come back," he said to Jason in a very insistent tone.
"Why?" Jason said. "I'll get a place of my own and I'll still be able to work with Tim."
"Really?" the teenager, Tim, mumbled. He didn't sound like he believed Jason. "Because I didn't think so. I thought you were leaving forever."
"Don't leave, Jason," the young man insisted again, "I'll probably shot Bruce if I'm left alone with him without you."
"Unlikely," Jason responded and Tim nodded in agreement.
"Although I really hate seeing them argue," Tim added with a hopeful glance at Jason. "Bruce wants Dick to work with us but Dick doesn't want to and they're not going to reach an agreement anytime soon."
"That's why I need you, Jay!" the young man, whose name actually appeared to be Dick, whined. "You're the only one who respects the person I am now."
"I respect you," Tim muttered but he was looking at his feet like he knew he was missing something but didn't understand what.
"I," Jason seemed to waver, "no. I'm leaving. Maybe I'll head to Metropolis or something."
"Clark will bring you back," Tim pointed out.
"Then New York! I'll stay with Donna for a few weeks."
"But, Jay, you're our brother, you can't just leave," Dick said.
All three froze. Jason and Tim stared at Dick as if he had said something unbelievable. Dick broke contact first, staring at his hands.
"Sorry. I know I wasn't adopted before-" he stopped talking as Jason wrapped him in a hug.
"Forget that. You're our brother too, Dick," Tim said, still looking shell-shocked.
"Never heard you say it before," Jason muttered hoarsely into Dick's ear.
"Will you stay?" Dick asked, sounding younger than before.
"Please?" Tim added in a whine.
Jason let Dick go and looked between his two brothers. Then he heaved a sigh.
"Fine. Let's go home."
"Awesome! Alfred's doing a French soup with bread and I've never had French soup before," Tim cheered as they walked off.
Jason laughed.
"If you had told me that before, I would have come home right away! I wouldn't turn down Alfred's soup!"
Agatha smiled as she watched them go. She thought they were a nice family. Her own boys, one with boys of his own, could learn a lot from them.
