Hoo-rah an update! This story is starting to wrap up! It only took me two years. Thanks for the continued support guys! It's awesome that some of you are still following!

Dick sat on the roof of headquarters.

So yes, on the roof of an antique shop.

He had this pang in his chest that he couldn't fathom. It was irritating to say the least, and he'd thought some fresh air would help him relax.

It didn't.

He looked up at the stars, but being outside so late at night, perched on a roof, free to fly, brought odd frames of melancholy. He couldn't understand it. Was he yearning for his old life? One full of masquerades and disloyal friends? A lie of a life?

His thoughts were too murky. Perhaps once he killed Batman, his last remaining ties to his past would dissolve. Perhaps then all those haunted faces would leave him to rest in peace.

"Talon," a voice rattled from behind him.

It didn't startle Dick. He'd heard the man approach ages ago.

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be preparing for the event?" Cobb questioned.

Dick swallowed the disgust in his throat. He'd come to despise everyone ordering him around. He wasn't a slave. He could kill all the Court's owls if he really wanted to. If he'd learned one thing from Slade, it was his own potential for carnage.

"Everything's in order," he said, menace hidden by false respect. "I have a plan."

Cobb came around to stand beside him, looking out towards the inner city. "You know, the Court has always been the ones to protect Gotham. We have always been its guardians. The talons of Haly's Circus, your legacy, as well, have served this empire. Then he arose from the ashes of Gotham's crises; then he reignited the flame that we had drowned."

"Batman?" Dick asked. He hadn't said the word aloud since he'd confronted his old mentor at the prison. The word was sour.

"Yes. That vigilante has tried to save a city that needn't saving. He has torn down the mountains we created. He must be stopped for Gotham's future to prosper. He must be killed once and for all."

Dick refrained from rolling his eyes. He'd heard this speech already. He knew exactly why Batman was a threat.

"Why me? You could send any of the members after him," Dick said, though even as it left his lips, he knew it wasn't true.

"You know his weaknesses. And you are our best chance. Do not fail me."

Dick glanced at the old man, withered with age. His stone cold expression reminded him of another. Someone set with purpose, drive, a sense of justice.

No. Not justice. Terror.

Batman.

"The Court needs the Talon to carry out its goals. You have been chosen. You have proven your loyalty and your leadership to the Court of Owls, the greatest and wealthiest members of Gotham. You will do great things as my heir, grandson."

Dick's frown deepened. He'd had a question burning in his mind ever since he'd heard about it.

"What is the ceremony?"

"Ah," Cobb sighed. "It is a ritual every Talon has experienced. In it, you will die, but you will also become immortal."

"I don't understand."

"In order to gain something, Grayson, you must give something in return. To become an immortal being, you must sacrifice your current state of living."

"What does that include?"

"Frivolous things. The taste of food. Certain human desires and feelings. Any memories you still have of your old life. Outside thoughts."

"Outside thoughts?"

"You will be solely focused on your mission when you are awake. At other times you will be resting, preserving your life span. Much like myself."

Dick's stomach turned slightly.

"I see. Will I become like one of the Hybrids?"

"Only if you sway from the orders of the Court." There was a warning in his tone. A threat. "You are not second guessing your decision to become one of us, are you? You are not thinking of abandoning your destiny."

"No. I just want to have the information."

Cobb nodded. "You have a thirst for knowledge, Dick. That's certainly important. For us owls to protect the city, we must know of every shadow that passes before and behind us."

The way he said that seemed oddly directed towards the ex-hero. But Dick merely nodded, the festering ache in his stomach constricting.

When Dick made it back to his room, something wasn't right. He could sense it in the atmosphere.

He unsheathed his sword and kicked his door open.

Mary somersaulted away from him and held up her knives, weaved between her fingers. They stared at each other, weapons drawn.

Finally, Dick spoke, but it was deadly. "Why are you in here?"

"I was digging for information about you," she confessed. She looked a little frightened. For good reason, he supposed.

"And what did you think you'd find?"

"You aren't like the others, Dick. You're related to Cobb, that much is obvious. But…you're different. Something happened to you between the time of the circus and when you came here. I thought I could find out what."

Dick let his sword drop from its position, and he sat down tiredly on his bed. She was smarter than he'd given her credit for.

"You aren't wrong."

She breathed out and stood before him, relieved he didn't aim to kill her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. It's just been eating at me. I could have sworn you looked…familiar."

Dick met her gaze. "Did you hear about my next mission?"

She nodded slowly. "It's huge. They never assign new Talons such a dangerous operation. Especially before the ceremony."

"Yeah. Well. There's a reason they're asking me to do it," he said.

She studied him, and the lamp caught the harsh colors of her scars.

"I don't…understand."

Dick looked down. Why did he feel the need to tell her the truth? He should have just told her to beat it. And yet…he was opening up.

"I'm the only one who can do it, Mary. Because I was his partner."

Her eyes widened, and she clenched her knives tightly. "Batman's partner? You were…Robin…and Nightwing?"

He nodded, though he hated hearing it aloud.

There was silence, and the ache in his gut returned, though it had never really left.

"What happened to you?" she whispered finally. There was weight to her words, like she really had known him. And maybe she had, in some sense. He was the first sidekick, after all.

"Nothing happened," he lied. "I discovered the truth. That's all."

She didn't push the subject, but her eyes were alight with something he didn't like.

"I knew you were different. You carry this…foundation with you," she explained. She had a sad look on her face, something laced with disappointment. Then she shook her head. "Never mind. I'll leave you alone. You have a big couple days ahead."

"Mary," he said sharply, and she turned. "Not a word. To anyone."

She nodded and proceeded to exit. Then she paused on the threshold. "Dick?"

He glared at her.

"I may hate certain people in this world with all my being. But…if they raised me for ten years…if they taught me everything…if they were my family…I don't know if I could kill them."

Dick grimaced.

"That's what separates us then," he answered coldly. "You're weak."

"You invited him," said Batman.

Tigress shrugged, looking back at Red, who was admiring the Batcave.

"He has some sort of weird connection to Dick. You saw how they interacted at the prison."

Batman nodded, though he was wary of this stranger who knew his entire family's identity. He didn't trust him at all. But he could tolerate him.

"So, why did you call us all here?" Tigress asked.

He turned to his computer system and typed a few words across the monitor. A message appeared, dated today.

Meet me where you failed me 12:00

"Well that doesn't sound ominous at all," Red jeered.

Robin shot him a look. "Why are you even here?"

The man seemed to roll his eyes behind his red mask. "Do you want me to blow your head off? It's really not that hard."

Batgirl sighed, annoyed by the bickering. "What does it mean by 'where you failed me'?"

"It must be Gotham's old automobile factory…" Batman muttered, heart heavy. He'd always regretted what had happened that night. But he never knew it was still so vivid in his son's mind.

"How did you fail him?" Red pressed.

"I could only save one," he said softly. "And I chose wrong."

That was all they got from him.

Tigress broke the silence. "Bruce, this is obviously a trap. You aren't going, are you?"

"If it means I can see him again, then yes. This is the first time he's initialized contact. It's a good sign."

"How is that a good sign? He's out to get you!" Robin cried.

"It's good because it means he hasn't leaked vital information. If the others knew of our identities, mine especially, I'm confident we would have been attacked already. The Court despises me. They always have. But they left this up to Dick."

"This?" Red repeated. "You mean, what, your assassination?"

Batman didn't respond. He didn't need to.

It made sense why they'd need Nightwing to handle it. He had connections. He had resources. He had memories.

"What are you going to do?" Tigress asked.

"I'm going to meet him. And I'm going to bring him back."

"You want to bring that maniac back here?" Red exclaimed.

"It's my only other option…" Bruce said. They didn't ask what 'other' implied.

"Master Bruce," Alfred declared from the top of the stairs, and Red stumbled into the desk. The old man regarded the red-hooded man carefully, and Batman realized why he had gone silent.

"It's okay, Alfred. He knows who we are."

"Yeah, but for some reason not vice versa," Tim muttered.

Alfred regained his composure. "I see. Well. If you intend to pursue the said mission I do hope you consider bringing along all of the individuals before you. I fear it may be the only way to convince Master Dick that we are not his enemies."

"I second that," Tigress said. Batgirl and Robin nodded. Red just shrugged, arms folded in front of him.

Batman had been hoping to avoid this. He had called them here to recognize that he may not come out alive. He had done it so they would know where to go from here.

But they wouldn't let him go alone. He should have known.

Dick, had he been here, would be the first to call shotgun and plant himself in the seat beside him, no intention of removing himself from the Batmobile. He was stubborn that way.

"Fine," he said at last.

The group nodded, relieved to be included. They began discussing possible plans, but Batman took special notice of the odd glance Red kept shooting at Alfred.

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