Hey! This one took a while, so…sorry, guys. Please review! I'm eager for feedback, and I can't wait to bring in new characters!

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER

BATCAVE UNDERNEATH WAYNE MANOR

#######

Batgirl's gloved fingers tapped furiously at the keys, and the echoing clicks made the bats hanging in the far reaches of the cave shiver uneasily. The batcomputer was responding perfectly to her commands, and yet, she was still having trouble finding the information she needed. There'd been a breach somewhere, though maybe breach wasn't a strong enough word. Somewhere, someone had ripped a tear in the fabric of their dimension. Batman had explained this nonchalantly on his way to an emergency League meeting earlier that week, and while he seemed to feel that the situation was under control, Batgirl had other ideas. See, she had a theory that the breach hadn't only caused a smattering of temporary blackouts across the globe. From skimming news articles and credible websites, she'd put together the idea that electricity spikes and declines were only a part of it.

What if, when the breach had opened, someone had come through?

But there wasn't enough information. Only small sightings and rumors. The tear had been mended by the Green Lantern Corp, so everyone felt a little more at ease, and Batgirl figured she ought to as well. And yet, the nagging sense that she was missing something remained.

Behind her, she could hear a grunt of frustration. A smile tweaked the corners of her lips.

"Hurry it up, Dick," she called. "We've got patrol. Batman's on the Upper East end waiting for us."

She paused, waiting for a reply.

"Dick. It's been four weeks! You've got to be used to the new costume by now!"

Dick finally emerged from the shadows. He seemed sheepish in his gray and black outfit, decked out with pockets for various crime fighting goodies, holsters for his escrima sticks, (a new preferred set of weapons) and a blue eagle emblazoned on the chest. Batgirl turned, resting her palms on the edge of the computer desk. The new uniform suited him, she thought. Maybe even better than his Robin suit had. He'd always hated that cape, for one thing—he was an acrobat!—and the bright colors of his old costume only seemed to draw ridicule from villains now that the Boy Wonder had reached the age of eighteen, and was now only two inches shorter than his mentor. There was something about a full sized young man jumping around in red and yellow that made criminals shake…with laughter. Now, all decked out in dark, the uniform displayed more than enough intimidating muscle, without the drag of a cape, or the stigma of pixie boots.

The new uniform was definitely not childish, that was for sure.

"Still gotta break it in," he said. His lopsided grin earned him one of her smirks as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Though I guess you'd know, right?"

Batman had let her design her own new uniform several months ago when she'd hit her own growth spurt. Now five inches taller, and a little fuller, she'd decided to take the designs a little farther than they'd been before. The yellow boots and gloves had been the first things to go. She'd added armor to her stomach and chest area, all across the front and through the back. It seemed to be the place most villains went for with guns and knives, anyway. The end result wasn't vastly different, though. Why change up a good thing when you had one going, after all?

"Ah, trust me. Feels like a second skin after a while. Besides." She leaned forward. "I find that I quite enjoy your new outfit." The smirk grew wider. Grinning, Dick stepped closer.

"Are you flirting with me, Miss Pennyworth?" He leaned in closer, bracing his arms on either side of her. "Cause I think Nightwing quite enjoys that kind of thing."

Barbara raised her eyebrows. "Mmmhmm." He leaned in for a kiss, but at the last minute, she twisted and faced the Batcomputer monitor. "Maybe later, Hunk Wonder. For now though," she pointed at the bat computer's screen, "We have patrolling to do. And you have some contacts to visit for me."

He nuzzled her neck a little, breathing in deeply through his nose. "Sounds good. I—" He jerked back. "Wait. What did you just call me?"

"Uh…"

If possible, his grin widened tenfold. He backed up a little more, then sighed dramatically, and struck a pose.

"Be honest, though, BG. 'Hunky' as I am, does this suit make me look fat?"

Barbara barked out a laugh. She got to her feet, and was over to her partner in one stride. The two shared a quick kiss, and Barbara smiled wide.

"Not a bit, Nightwing," she said. "Now come on!"

She pulled him over to their motorbikes, and as she revved the engine, she couldn't help but roll her eyes and laugh.

#######

There was nothing quite like swinging over the streets and people of Gotham. The whole city lit up like Christmas at night, the chill evening breeze blasting your face and whipping through your hair. The roar of traffic and crowds, moving below like a rushing tide. The city during the day had its charms, for sure. But at night…

It was almost like flying.

Exhilarating.

It didn't take long, though. Batgirl found her mentor's dark silhouette in the barely-there light underneath a steel suspended train track. One of many such tracks in Gotham. It was the perfect place for the homeless, the criminally bent, and anyone stupid enough to wander this way without means of defending oneself. As a street kid, she'd never dared to so much as walk past this place without a switchblade or a bent piece of rebar. Once, even a plastic fork. Anything could be a weapon if you tried hard enough. Her heels made a barely audible click against the steel support beam. Batman nodded slightly to acknowledge her presence.

Batgirl knew to stay silent; she could already see the thugs gathered under the tracks below. They were big. Mean looking. It wasn't anything she hadn't handled before, but she was still glad she was concealed in the shadows above.

They stood gathered like circling sharks around a scruffy figure, whose hands were zip tied in front of him. The figure was shorter than she would have expected, but well built. The realization rattled her head a little, and it wasn't just the train thundering overhead; this was just a kid. A gag had been stuffed into his mouth, and the boy didn't seem to be happy about it.

One of the thugs was holding his hand gingerly, as if he'd been bit. Batgirl managed a smile.

"You just wait till the boss gets to you, kid!" The injured thug snarled.

The boy's hand moved, one choice finger pointing up to the sky, and the thug made a grunt of displeasure.

Batgirl hoped that Nightwing was pursuing that lead in Midtown, and that he'd found something useful. If nothing came of tonight, she'd be back to square one in her investigations; there was little info to be had anywhere else. He was supposed to meet them back at the Batmobile when he was done, and Batgirl was beginning to think that he might beat them there.

A car pulled up, motor humming, and Batgirl tensed in readiness. Beside her, Batman held up a hand. Wait. So she forced herself to relax.

The car door flew open, and a tall man in a suit stepped out authoritatively. He and two bodyguards stepped into the light, and Batgirl caught sight of his ruined face. Half of it, from his forehead to his chin, was bubbled and red. The lips were ruined, stretched like silly string over pearly white teeth. The eye was bulging out, bright and malevolent.

The other half of the man's face was male-model handsome, with slicked back hair and smooth olive skin.

Even the man's suit, one side black and one side white, was split down the middle.

Of course, Batgirl recognized the mob boss instantly. Part time Arkham Rogue, and part time mob boss. Two Face.

She felt a rush of relief that Dick was busy finding those contacts. Her partner still had nightmares about the former DA turned mobster. Nightmares that usually involved the crack of a baseball bat and breaking bones. Usually, she was the one to find him, thrashing until he was tied up in his own sheets and drenched in cold sweat.

"This is the kid, sir," one of the thugs gruffed, "The one that stole the money from us."

Two Face turned his terrifying gaze on the boy, who didn't even flinch. To his credit, the kid glared back defiantly, eyes narrowed. It was a look that would have given even the bats a run for their money.

Kid's got nerve, she thought with a slight nod.

"That so?" Two Face ripped the gag from the boy's mouth. "And what," he demanded, "Would a whelp like you need with fourteen hundred dollars?"

The boy smirked. "You're kidding, right? You $%#^#'s were just leavin' the $%#$# cash lyin' around. Figured I could use it better."

"You figured wrong, kid." Two Face smacked the boy hard across the face. "Now where's the cash?"

Head still faced to the side, the kid scoffed. "Sure. Like I'd tell you that."

Two Face was outraged. He hit the boy one more time, then turned to his goons.

"Get to work on him. Figure out where the cash is, then kill him. Make sure the GCPD doesn't find any evidence."

Two Face started towards his car, and Batgirl looked to Batman for permission. He shook his head and whispered, " Not him. Not yet. Not today."

Batgirl nodded. Focus would be on the goons, then.

As the car streaked away, one of the thugs pulled a switchblade from his pocket. He flipped it open, and wedged it under the one of the boy's fingernails.

"This's gonna be fun," he said, an evil smile spreading up his face.

Batman waved his hand.

"You're right," Batgirl called out. Every head turned to the bats' hiding place. Batgirl placed a fist on her hip and pasted a smirk on her face. "This will be fun. I haven't busted heads all day."

"It's the bats!" One thug gasped. Guns whipped out, and bullets flew past them, ratting and tatting away. Batgirl managed to dodge most of them, but one bullet made contact with her side. She winced at the sharp impact, but luckily the Kevlar stopped the projectile. It would probably still leave a bruise later, though.

When Batman entered the fray, it was all pretty much over. A few well aimed punches and kicks served to send the thugs off with their tails between their legs.

Batgirl looked around for the boy, but all that was left of him was a broken zip tie lying next to the thug's switchblade.

#######

Eight muggers. A minor bank robbery attempt. Even some sucker who wanted to steal cash from a convenience store. All in a night's work. Batgirl struggled to keep her eyes open as she followed Batman back to his parking spot. She was wobbling as she swung, her abdomen on fire. Tonight, he'd parked the Batmobile in an alley where he was sure that no thug or mugger would operate that night: the alley two buildings away from the GCPD.

They descended from the roof of an apartment building, barely making a sound as they hit the concrete. Batman stood squarely in front of her, not moving. She couldn't see a thing around his bulky frame, her face full of bulletproof fabric. But she could hear him make a strange sound, coming from the back of his throat.

"Unreal," he muttered.

Batgirl craned her neck, and saw the Batmobile.

It was raised up on cinder blocks, the tires stacked haphazardly nearby. They'd been jacked.

"Huh," she said, "Batmobile lost its wheels and the mobsters got away. Just another Tuesday, then?"

Batman stepped forward, and a head popped up on the far side of the vehicle. It was a boy, his face streaked with black grease, and he held a tire jack in his hands. Batgirl squinted.

"Hey!" She recognized the boy immediately as the one they'd saved from Two Face's men. The boy dropped his jack with a clatter, and started to bolt out of the alley. A dark shape fell from the sky and stood, arms crossed, barring his escape. The boy drew back at the sight of the blue eagle, and turned.

Batman and Batgirl stood behind him; the boy was completely surrounded.

"$% #" he moaned, shoulders slumping.

"Well, well," Nightwing said, "Looks like the thugs keep on getting younger."

The boy glowered. "Keep your stupid wheels! They were too heavy to carry back anyway."

Batgirl inspected the boy's lean face. He was a street kid if she ever saw one. The way he talked, the way he held himself, even the way he dressed. She'd been camped out near a cop car once, and had heard one of the officers tell his partner that Gotham City street kids were like rats. Provoked, they were dangerous and unpredictable. Left alone, they tended to fade into the background. Life was safer that way.

There'd been other comparisons, of course. Their tendency to hide in the shadows, scavenge for scraps, and multiply like crazy. But Barbara had liked the first comparisons the best; it made her feel tougher, more 'dangerous and unpredictable'. This kid was just like that.

Batman knelt to the ground and picked up the tire jack.

"We're all going to put the wheels back on. And Nightwing?"

"Yeah?"

"That kid doesn't go anywhere."

Batgirl knelt to help her mentor reattach the wheels, holding it in place while he twisted the bolts back into place. She did her best to ignore the pounding in her side. Pain tugged like an ornery child on the edge of her consciousness, but she ignored it.

When all four wheels were back in place, they all filed into the Batmobile, kid included.

"Dibs on shotgun!" Batgirl and Nightwing both shouted at once. Nightwing beat her there by half a second, which left her in the back seat with the boy.

He'd seen too much, not to mention he'd almost made off with the Batmobile's wheels, and so Batgirl didn't really question Batman's motives for bringing him along. If word got out, every thug and gang banger in the city would be itching to do the same; the wheels were custom made, probably the most expensive set in Gotham. So, naturally, they had to make sure that the boy was safe, and that he would neither tell, nor try the same thing again. The kid, though, didn't see it that way.

"This's kidnapping! You can't just take me away in your car! My mom's gonna be real worried, you know!"

Batgirl turned to him. "I don't think you have a mom, do you?"

The boy blanched a little, and turned away, staring out the tinted windows to watch the city go by. It was a stupid thing to say, of course. But it was obvious; the kid didn't look like he'd eaten much in a long time. Plus, street kids didn't usually talk about their parents. At all.

Batgirl knew from experience. She'd been there herself.

Batman and Nightwing had put up the barrier, a Plexiglas screen similar to what police used in their patrol cars. To bring criminals to base.

Her two male partners were having a conversation that the back-seat passengers couldn't hear, so Batgirl turned back to the boy.

"You're not being arrested, kid," she said casually, knowing that that would be his first concern. "We just need to ask you a few questions about tonight. Plus, the Bat's a little pissed that you tried to jack his car."

She cracked a smile, but the kid stared back sullenly.

"A few questions, huh?" He snorted. "You're just like the coppers."

He started to turn away again, but Batgirl held out her fist. Was it a cheesy play? Sure it was. But she needed this kid's trust. He turned back to her, startled, and maybe a little wary, but made a fist himself. She turned hers clockwise, until her thumb was pointed up, and let him put his, still faced down, on top of hers. They opened their hands, and clasped each other's wrists, then leaned over in the seat to embrace, clapping each other three times on the back with their free hand before pulling away. The kid's face was pulled into an expression of surprise.

"The Outcast handshake," he said, naming the street kid greeting. It was used usually when you wanted to show you were an ally, that you wouldn't stab the other person in the back while they slept. It was a promise of trustworthiness. "How did you-?"

She smiled. "Hey. I grew up under Gotham bridge."

"You?" he asked, eyes wide. "But you're -"

"Trust me, kid. I'm no copper."

He gaped, and she laughed.

"What's your name?" she asked him. He paused, still seemingly letting it sink in that she was like him. On the streets, the handshake was as good as a blood oath, so hopefully, he'd relax a little.

Finally, he opened his mouth. "Todd. Jason Todd."

"Well, Jason, don't tell the big man I said this," she darted a mock panicked look at the screen, and he smiled. "But my name's Barbara. You can call me Babs."

He nodded, as if pleased to finally have some sort of information.

Suddenly, the cab was plunged into darkness. Jason flinched, but Barbara was used to it. They had arrived at the Batcave.

#######

"Hello Master Bruce…Master Dick…Miss Barbara…oh, dear!"

Alfred dropped his tray with a clatter, sending all of his after-patrol, sugar-free-super-healthy peanut butter and oatmeal truffles scattering across the floor. (They were a great source of protein and omega 13!)

The bats froze, and turned to Jason, who had just heard all of their real names. Bruce's jaw clenched.

"I'm so sorry, sir!" Alfred looked as though he might melt into the floor with mortification. Barbara tried to make it up to him by picking up the fallen food.

"It's alright, Alfred," Bruce said, sighing, "I just suppose that it means that our new friend will be staying a little bit longer than he would have liked."

Jason's head swiveled around the cave. He whistled slowly, impressed.

"Sweet digs," he said, "But what's with the giant dinosaur?"

Dick clapped the boy on the shoulder and started to lead him away. He gave them a look like, 'I'll distract him for a sec. You guys talk.' and said, "Aw, nobody knows. It's just a classic. Let me show you this over here…"

Barbara's knees wobbled a little bit. Her head seemed to swim. She shrugged it off, though, and turned to Bruce.

"He says his name's Jason Todd. The tires are supposed to sell for quite a bit online. Apparently, you've got fans."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fantastic. And Two Face's money?"

Barbara shrugged. "He didn't mention it. But…"

Alfred was repositioning his tray. Barbara's gaze darted to him, then back to her mentor.

"He's like me. No family. Street kid. From what I gather, he's been in Juvie a few times. Probably minor offenses, but my money's on petty theft."

"He told you all that?" Bruce raised his eyebrows.

She shook her head. "I can just tell."

Bruce turned and swept over to the computer. Barbara stayed put next to Alfred. As Bruce typed furiously, Barbara popped a peanut butter ball into her mouth.

Files came up on the screen, and Barbara waited for Bruce to read them.

"The snacks are wonderful, as always, Alfred."

The butler beamed. "Thank you, Miss Barbara."

Bruce turned. "You were right. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. All of what you said checks out."

There were a couple of mugshots featuring a very disgruntled and ticked off Jason. News stories filled the screen.

"His father was Willis James Todd."

Barbara gaped, another snack inches from her mouth. "The Willis Todd?"

Bruce swiveled in his chair. "You know him?"

She chewed thoughtfully, nodding.

"Thief. Liar. Former hit man for Falcone. And…"

Her eyes widened a fraction of an inch.

"A nasty thorn in Two Face's side. I remember being just down the alley where he beat up some of Dent's thugs."

Bruce nodded. "I got that from the news reports. My guess would be that Two Face and the Todd family have something of a rivalry."

Barbara nodded. Her hand snaked over to Alfred's tray again, but he pulled it back, waving a finger at her.

"That would make sense," she said, "seeing as how Two Face had Willis Todd murdered five years ago."

"And how did you get that?" Bruce asked.

She waved a snack at the big screen. Alfred made a sound of protest, before hiding the tray behind his back.

"I just read it off your screen boss-man."

They heard voices approaching, and turned to see Dick, unmasked, leading Jason towards them. He was babbling about the steel used to create the cave's interior, and Jason looked over the edge of the railing longingly, like he was considering a quick jump into the underground river below.

He caught Barbara's eye and mouthed, SAVE ME!

Barbara snickered, popping another peanut butter ball into her mouth. She was insanely hungry for some reason.

"I say, Miss Barbara!" Alfred declared, as the boys took one each.

"What?" she asked around oatmeal and yogurt chips. "I'm starving."

Jason looked at the Batman. "So. Bruce Wayne."

The Batman narrowed his eyes threateningly.

He turned to his two protégés.

"Go get changed. We'll talk about this after."

Dick smiled at Jason, then turned to walk with Barbara over to the other end of the cave. It was still in sight of the computer, but it was okay. Both sidekicks still had their underclothing to maintain modesty.

Dick was out of his suit in the time it took Barbara to slowly undo the straps and zippers that held her costume together. She was slower tonight. Her vision swam.

"I like this kid," Dick told her quietly.

"That's nice."

Her cowl was thrown to the side as she fumbled with her chest plate and cape. Both came off, but she had to pull harder on the chest plates as if they were stuck.

It fell to the floor with a clatter, the tip of a bullet sticking up through the Kevlar. Armor piercing. Fantastic.

…Armor piercings…wait

Her torso was soaked in blood, crimson and dark and sticky. She almost laughed as she realized that her whole costume must be filled with it. There were speckles of light and dark swimming in circles at the edges of her vision.

"Hey, Dick," she laughed and tapped him on the shoulder. "Take a look at this."

Dick, who had been stowing his suit back in its container turned, then jumped back.

"Barbara!" he shouted. She giggled.

"G-great, right?"

"Bruce! Alfred! Help!"

She wobbled, and collapsed on the floor. Feet thundered across the cave. The last things she saw before the glittering black dots took over her vision were the worried faces of the others.

#######

beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…

Bruce swore under his breath as Alfred taped the IV into Barbara's arm.

Dick watched her eyes move underneath their lids like she was dreaming. He hoped she got some good rest before she woke up; that wound was going to hurt like heck when she finally came to.

Jason hovered nearby, looking one part curious and two parts worried.

"She gonna be okay?" he asked, shrugging like he didn't care. Alfred prepped a piece of medical equipment, and tapped the bag of blood attached to Barbara's IV.

"She's lost a bit of blood, Master Jason, but luckily we have several stores on hand." He gave Bruce a piercing stare. "You would not believe how often this occurs."

Bruce sighed. "Two Face's men are using military-grade armor-piercing bullets. Specifically designed for punching through combat gear like Kevlar."

Dick squeezed Barbara's hand. "That's a little more than typical gangs use. Two Face must have a military supplier."

"Course he does."

All eyes turned on Jason. He nodded knowingly.

"They made an agreement with Lexcorp. Luthor gets his enemies' cronies knocked off. Two Face gets weapons."

Dick raised an eyebrow.

"And you know this, how?"

Jason shrugged. "Stole some cash from 'em. Didn't even see me there. They were too busy talking about the weapons deal going down this morning with Luthor's people. And hey-" the boy smiled. "I've got good hearing."

Bruce cursed and whirled out of the room.

"Dick. Suit up. Come with me."

Dick squeezed Barbara's hand one more time, even though he knew she wouldn't notice. Then, both men left the infirmary.

Dick had the Nightwing suit on pronto, and hopped into the Batmobile alongside his mentor. Jason tried to clamber in too, but Bruce stopped him with one hand and a glare.

"You stay put," he growled.

Jason scoffed, throwing out his hands. "I'm the one who told you about the arms deal! You owe me for that, old man!"

In reply, the Batman closed off the top and sped out of the cave.

Nightwing stared out the window. "Aw. That was a little harsh, don't you think?"

Batman stared icily ahead. "That kid is going to get himself killed, even without our help."

Nightwing watched the speedometer of the vehicle. The needle drifted slowly but steadily to the right.

"You're speeding, boss man."

Batman growled.

"No I'm not."

But the needle swung back to the left.

#######

"Mmm…Alfred?"

Barbara cracked open her eyes and winced. She almost wished she could go back to sleep, if only to escape the sharp aching in her side.

The old butler was at her side in an instant, checking her vitals on a screen. Jason was there too, hovering over her.

"I'm glad you're alright, Miss Barbara," Alfred said softly, "There was a bit of a stretch that made us all worry for you."

Barbara's eyes swept the infirmary. Hospital beds and equipment built into the rough gray stone of the cave. It even carried a lovely hospital-like smell. There were worse places to die, she guessed. But she cleared her throat. "Please. I've had scraped knees that were more serious."

She glanced around the room.

"Where are Bruce and Dick?"

Jason huffed. "Stopping an arms deal."

Barbara tried to sit up, but groaned and sank back into her pillow instead. Alfred admonished her and fretted over her side, telling her not to pull her stitches.

"Whose arms deal?" she demanded. Alfred and Jason shared a glance, and the boy spoke up.

"Lex Luthor and Two Face."

Barbara's mind whirled. Lex Luthor had some of the most advanced weapons in the world. He wouldn't give the most high-tech stuff to a Gotham city mob boss, but even the leftovers of the weapons mogul's stash would put Two Face on top. Over all the other gangs, and—if the armor piercing bullets were anything to go by—maybe even above the city's vigilantes.

Of course, both sides would probably plan on the deal being interrupted by the Batman. Barbara's mind flew to images of the armor piercing bullets and other horrors. Her partners were walking straight into a death trap.

"We need to stop that deal!"

She sat up again and let out a sharp cry as searing pain flashed through her whole abdomen. Alfred put a stiff hand on her shoulder, and gently pushed her back down into the soft pillow. Jason looked up.

"Alfred," Barbara said, struggling, "It's a trap! They have to know they're coming!"

Alfred's face was drawn. "Miss Barbara-"

"I have to go! They need help!"

The butler was holding her down now, and she strained against his thin but powerful arms.

"They will be expecting you as well, my dear," he said, "I'm sorry. But they will expect Batgirl to be there alongside her partners."

Barbara let out a whimper and laid her head back down on the pillow. She felt so useless. Everything hurt. Her mentor and boyfriend were marching to their deaths and she was powerless to do anything to stop it.

Wait.

"Robin," she said, staring at the ceiling. A crazy idea was forming in her mind.

"What?" Alfred and Jason both asked.

Barbara's head flew up. Alfred released her arms, and she perched herself a little higher on her pillow.

"Robin," she said again, "They won't be expecting Robin."

Alfred's gaze wandered to Jason. His eyes widened and the old butler shook his head.

"Absolutely not," he snapped. "I won't allow any more risk of life tonight than I have to."

Instead of letting the matter rest, Barbara's eyes went to the boy. Jason's expression showed a mixture of fear and excitement.

"It's dangerous," she agreed, "But we can't let them go in without backup, Alfred. They'll kill them. Unless we can give the thugs a surprise."

Jason's eyes lit up.

"Dick's old Robin suit will work," she insisted, grabbing Alfred's arm, " It will. It's more bulletproof than anything else we've got."

"But it won't be enough," Alfred said. "The boy is untrained, inexperienced. He'll get himself killed on the get-go."

Barbara snapped her fingers. "Put a camera on him and give me a headset. It'll have to work. I'll talk him through it."

Alfred sighed and shook his head.

"I won't claim any responsibility for this," Alfred said sharply, "If the boy dies, it will be entirely on both of your shoulders."

Barbara looked at Jason. The fear was gone from his face. He looked ready to take on an army of armed mobsters singlehandedly.

"It's your choice, Jason."

He smiled, then. "I'll do it," he said, "Heck yeah, I'll do it!"

"Well, boss-man," Nightwing sighed, "It's been an honor serving with you."

Batman and Nightwing both sported cuts and bruises that seeped and smarted. They'd thought they'd surprised Luthor's and Two Face's men. But the thugs had been ready for them, and a struggle had quickly broken out. They'd put up a good fight, but fifty plus men with new weapons were more than a match for the former dynamic duo. Well, Batman could have held his own, but a gun to a battered partner's head is a good way to force a surrender.

Now, both men were cornered, hands on their heads.

"Quiet," Batman growled.

"Just trying to break up the tension." Nightwing shrugged.

"There's a time and a place for quipping," his mentor replied sharply, "And this is neither one."

Nightwing opened his mouth to reply, but a swift kick from one of the thugs interrupted him.

"Your boss is right kid," the man said, "Shut up."

The two watched as a man waded through the mobsters and Lexcorp lackeys and came to a halt in front of them. The man was horribly scarred on half of his face, and of course, Nightwing recognized him immediately.

"Hello, Batman. Bird boy." Two Face grinned at Nightwing and, though he tried to stop it, a cold shiver tingled up his spine. The mob boss's voice brought back memories of broken bones and wooden thwacks. Groans and laughter. Pleading and jeering.

Batman shifted next to him, as if sensing his partner's discomfort.

"I'd ask what brings you here of all places tonight," Two Face said, gesticulating as he spoke, "But I think we should skip the obvious, and get right down to the point."

Nightwing felt a crackle in his right ear, where he kept his comm.

Nightwing? Batman? This is Batgirl. Can you hear me?

Batman looked up at Two Face and said, very stiffly.

"Yes. That's probably best."

He put emphasis on the word YES, and Nightwing instantly understood the game plan. Apparently, Batgirl did too.

Thank goodness. Backup's on the way boys. Hang tight.

Nightwing huffed. "Not so fast, guys. I like obvious stuff."

"Be quiet," his mentor said, "Let's not do anything we'll regret."

Two Face smirked, a scary expression on a half ruined face. "That's right, kid. Now here's what we're going to do…"

Almost there.

"You're hurt, Nightwing," Batman snapped, "So don't do anything brash."

Two Face, obviously, seemed confused.

"As I was saying, here's what we're going to do." Two Face recomposed himself, pasting on a wide, sinister grin. "My benefactor, Lex Luthor, figured you boys would show up tonight. So Bats is going to Metropolis for a meet and greet." He fixed his gaze on Nightwing, who felt his hackles rise.

"Bird boy, on the other hand, won't be needed quite as much. There's a handful of villains who'd love to get their hands on him, but they never need to know he was here." He snapped his fingers. A thug stepped forward and handed the mob boss a baseball bat. A metal one. It gleamed like a sinister promise in the moonlight. Every muscle in the former boy wonder's body tensed. Two Face grinned and gave the torture instrument a practice swing.

"Ah, this brings back memories," the villain said, "Of course, that wood one broke before you did, but I don't think we'll have the same problem this time, do you?" He ran a gloved hand over the shiny surface. "You're a big bird boy, now. I'm sure you'll last for a while this time."

Batman glanced at Nightwing, and Nightwing shook his head.

'Wait for Batgirl,' he said with his eyes.

Two Face stepped forward, the bat raised above his head. A whistling sound cut through the air like a knife, and Dick squeezed his eyes shut, gritting his teeth. But the rough blow he'd been expecting didn't come. He heard the thugs cock their guns, yelling and stomping around. He cracked open hid eyes and saw Two Face doubled over, clutching his hand to his chest. The baseball bat lay forgotten nearby. A red and yellow object stuck out from the back of the mob boss's hand, and Nightwing's jaw dropped. It was one of his old birdarangs.

Batman took the opportunity and bolted upright, simultaneously knocking out both of the armed thugs behind them. Nightwing stood and cocked his fist behind his head. Two Face whimpered over his hand at the vigilante's feet

"Oh, be quiet. You're a big man, Two Face old pal. I think you can handle this." Nightwing swung his fist, and the villain was knocked out cold.

Batman was busy fighting thugs, and Nightwing did a double take when he saw a flash of red, yellow and black streaking through the crowd alongside the dark knight. His shock turned to delight, and he planted a fist in a Lex lackey's solar plexus.

Did you like my present?

Nightwing was pretty sure that Barbara was only communicating with him, as there was no reaction from Batman. He took a thug down with two quick jabs.

"And here I thought I was the only one who could pull that costume off," he said, grinning.

It suits him, I think. How is he doing? I can only see things from his perspective.

Nightwing took down another opponent, then turned his attention to Jason, who was holding his own just fine. His technique was raw, obviously untrained. But the kid clearly knew how to hold his own and take a punch. He watched the boy take down a Lexcorp thug with a swift uppercut and a few choice jabs below the belt. The man collapsed, letting out a shriek.

I think he only knows street fighting.

"That's fine," Dick said, dodging a few bullets before whipping out his escrima sticks, "If I remember right, you used to prefer that yourself. Ooh! He just broke a Lex lackey's nose, though. Poor guy."

Agent A's having a heart attack. Keeps saying that we're 'needlessly risking a boy's life' and that this is 'too much exertion! You should be getting some rest!'

Nightwing whacked a thug across the jaw with his escrima stick. "Aaand, he would be right on both counts. How are you doing, by the way?"

There was a pause. I'm fine. Talking never killed anybody.

"He's right though. You should be catching a few Z's-"

I'm. Fine. Come home quick, Wingnut. Over and out.

Jason took out the final baddie, and stood side by side with the two vigilantes. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Batman.

"That was amazing, kid!" Nightwing said, grinning.

Batman said nothing, only stared at Jason. The two glared at each other so intensely that Nightwing was beginning to feel somewhat uncomfortable. Jason seemed to be daring Bruce to protest, to march him home and make him take off the suit and go back to his alley. Bruce seemed to be considering that. Then, he surprised both of them.

"You'll listen to my orders," he said. "No complaining about training or patrols. Our identities stay secret, even from friends and other members of the Team and Justice League."

Nightwing winced. That was a rule? If it was, he'd broken it a few times already.

"And above all, you'll work hard to preserve law and order in this city and bring justice to those who deserve it."

Jason's jaw dropped.

"Yes! All of that. I'll do it!"

Batman nodded.

"Congratulations, Robin," he said. He turned and walked away, towards the Batmobile's new hiding place. Jason shrugged and turned to Dick.

"He always like this?"

Nightwing laughed and threw an arm around the boy's shoulder. He started to flinch away at the unexpected physical contact, but relaxed. He even managed to smile a little.

"You'll get used to it, Little Wing," he said.

"Little what?"

"C'mon. Let's get back to the cave. Alfred'll have hot chocolate for us."

They walked slowly, following their mentor.

"That nickname's not gonna stick, right?"

"Oh. It totally will. Welcome to the family, Robin."