Flight Through Fire

Episode 7: Life in Steel

Author: Brruundin

Warning, I do not own Nightwing or any other DC characters

Weeks have passed since Nightwing has arrived in Steel City, and it's almost been a year since the events with the Titans. He has been living in an old apartment in the bad part of town. It was cheap and in the middle of the crime district, with every night being a new adventure, he loved it; nothing could stop him.

One night while out patrol, he noticed something suspicious, he was gliding from building to building observing his surroundings, all the buildings lights were off in this part since it was nearly 2 in the morning. However, he was drawn to one place in particular, after a few moments of watching it the lights came on. He couldn't see anything or anyone inside, but he thought this was weird and he headed over towards it. As he got closer he noticed broken glass around the outside. It was obviously a break in. He quickly and quietly entered, as to not alarm whoever was inside.

He looked around, noticing it appeared that not much has been moved or taken. Only a few items, it was 98 cents store, so not much was that valuable. However, when he got to the cash registers, they were all empty and open.

"Figures" Nightwing mumbles under his breath, so that whoever was inside wouldn't hear him. However, as soon as he says that, he notices movement. He quickly moves towards it, using what he learned from the League of Shadows. As he gets closer he sees a figure close by. It looks like a female but he can't see her face because it is covered in a mask. He then gets within touching reach and grabs her, doing his best not to hurt her.

"Hey let me go!" The masked girl says, trying hard to push Nightwing away with very little luck.

"What are you doing here? Why are you stealing from this store?" Nightwing asks, trying to get to the bottom of her crimes.

"It's no business of yours, don't let it concern you. Just let me go!" The girl calls out.

"No, I can't let you steal from this store and get away from it." Nightwing responds.

"Well then you'll have to catch me." The girl says, and with that she disappears, in the same way Nightwing has learned to do.

"Where did you go?" Nightwing calls out.

"Behind you!" The girl replies, and as Nightwing turns to see, he gets kicked in the face; then falls to the ground. He then rubs his face in pain as he struggles to get up off his feet. Where did she learn to fight like this? It seems so familiar. Nightwing thinks to himself, not sure about why he is so concerned with this girl, but he just feels threatened by her.

"Who are you?" Nightwing asks, finally back on his feet.

"I'm sneaky and stealthy like the night, I move quickly and quietly. So you can just call me Cheshire like that cat." Cheshire says, then waves at Nightwing and vanishes. Her mask was very distinctive, and looked like the cat she described herself as.

"Why did I let her get away? Stupid!" Nightwing says, and punches his fist against the wall. He decides then just to call it a night and head back to his apartment. On his way back, he thinks about who this girl could be and suddenly it hits him hard in the face.

"Could it really be Jade though? Why would she be doing these evil things, I thought she wanted to use her powers for good?" Nightwing said out loud as he sat down on his couch. He was tired and decided to go to bed. In the morning he would figure these things out.

The next morning Nightwing decided to do some research on this Cheshire identity. He learned that she had committed several crimes in the past months, starting about the time he had arrived back in Gotham. So it would be very likely that the girl was in fact Jade. Nightwing decides he would follow her the next time he was on patrol and located her. He wouldn't make any movements towards her, just staying back in the shadow like the ninja he had become. However, the next few weeks had been unsuccessful as he didn't seem to find her. There were also no signs of the Cheshire committing any crimes over that period too. Maybe she decided to stop, he only hoped for the best, as he didn't want to hurt the girl he had worked together with in Tibet. Nightwing would continue to go on his nightly rounds, and finally one night he found her again.

It was in that same neighborhood that Nightwing was doing his rounds. He noticed some noise, so he decided he would follow it. As soon as he got close he saw his familiar friend. He decided to keep his distant so that she wouldn't notice him. Nightwing hid in the shadows and waited for her to leave. When she was ready he followed her, doing his best to keep up without being noticed, the two of them traveled silently through the darkness. When she finally arrived at what seemed to be her home; Nightwing waited outside for a few moments as not to alarm her. Eventually he snuck his way closer, peeking into the windows to see what he could find. What he saw shocked him, as it was in fact Jade with another woman who appeared to be older. Nightwing assumed it was her mother that she told him about. He waited until she went upstairs to her room. He decided he would sneak in and try to talk to her and find out what she was doing.

Nightwing then climbs up to the second story and looks inside. She was in her bathroom, so he slowly opens the unlocked bedroom window. He hides in the corner, waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. As soon as the door opens he speaks.

"Well long time no see friend" Nightwing says, getting out from the corner.

"What are you doing in here? What do you want?" Jade asks him, she looked scared but ready to fight.

"Relax Jade, it's me Dick. Please don't do anything crazy."

"Dick is that really you? Why are you here, why are you dressed like that?" Jade asks, surprised it was really her friend.

"Yeah it's me. I moved to Steel City to watch over it. I heard it was in bad shape so I decided to check it out. Hoping I could someday run into you, and we'd catch up. But I've been following you and noticed you've done some bad things. Why Jade? Why turn to a life of crime?" Nightwing asks, concerned about the behavior of Jade, wanting to get an answer from her.

"It's a long story. My mother is too weak to work and can't afford to pay the bills on the house. So I decided I would steal enough just to take care of the bills, being a hero doesn't pay well. However, doing petty crime does. I'm not too proud of it. But it's what I have to do Dick. I'm glad to see you though." Jade answers him, explaining her reasons.

"I see, well I guess I'll let you get away with that for now. But I'm sorry I can't let you keep stealing like this. There are ways to get around a life of bad to take care of her. You don't have to do this." Nightwing says, trying to convince her to lead away from a life of crime.

"I'm sorry Dick, I can't do that. This is the way it has to be done; you're just like my sister…" Then Jade heads over to Nightwing, and kicks him in the face. He falls to the ground. She then picks him up and throws him out the window. He groans, and passes out. Jade then hops out and looks through a couple things on his possession. She sees an updated ID with his current address. She then picks him up and takes him back to his place. She takes him to his bed and tucks him in, kissing him on the forehead in the process.

"I wish things could be different Dick, I really do…" Jade says, as she heads out the door and disappears into the darkness.

A/N Episode 7 is done! Looks like Nightwing has a lot in store in dealing with Jade/Cheshire. Will he stay and fight her off, or will she get the best of him? More to be answered next time I update, as always Read and Review!