Notes: This chapter title (and chapter plot) links to the next one. There's plot. Lots of plot. It just kept coming. Also, variations of heartbreaking may occur.

The Batman is Dead…

Fireworks (Ki-Chan Riker)

To Dick, it felt like fireworks. Not the colours and excitement but the feeling of exploding and fire. The cringe at the sound and the way it rattled the body. The lethargic feeling when it all ended and the feeling that you saw something great burn out.

He had gone still at the news. Jason had to pull him into a chair just to get him to breathe.

He doesn't remember much after that. Jason said he completely spaced out.

Dick didn't know what to say. Bruce had opened his home to him, even though he didn't remember him. While Bruce had been trying to get Dick's memories back, he never threatened to toss Dick out if he didn't remember. He let Dick scold him for his vigilante activities. He let Dick move into a new room and dismantle the old one he didn't remember. He let Dick stay.

He heard Alfred tell Jason that Batman wasn't dead. That Batman couldn't die. He heard the reasons; the legend needed to live on, to strike fear in the hears of the corrupt and cowardly while bringing hope to the innocent and those who did good in Gotham and that Bruce would have wanted it this way.

Dick thought about that for a while. Was it really what Bruce would have wanted? He had died, leaving them all to morn. Why did it matter what he wanted?

It burned like fire in Dick's heart. It hurt like continuous mini explosions, every time he thought of or was reminded of Bruce.

Dick curled up, running his hands through his hair. Bruce had died defending the world and here Dick was, wishing he hadn't.

Landlady (Ki-Chan Riker)

Clancy shuffled around the man standing in the middle of the side-walk as she manoeuvred the heavy box she was carrying to the dumpster. Giving a great heave, she tossed the box in.

Turning, she noticed that the man hadn't moved, that he was looking at her and that she knew him.

"Jason!" she said in surprise, "aren't ya a sight for sore eyes!" She walked over and he wrapped her in a hug. She was glad to hug him back but she couldn't help noticing that his hug was subdued, almost sad. "What's shakin'?" she asked.

His lips twitched up in a smile but Jason didn't make a joke like he always did. Instead he sighed.

"My adoptive dad died."

Clancy swore. While this might now be considered part of Gotham, it was still Bludhaven and people still died all the time. However, it still hurt when it was someone close to you.

"I'm sorry."

Jason shook his head.

"Don't be. Not your fault." He sighed again. "There's a little issue though. I never told you why I came to Bludhaven."

Clancy raised her eyebrows. This sounded serious and she wondered what connection it had to his dead dad.

"I came here looking for my brother. Dick Grayson." Jason smiled widely. "I should probably thank you for taking good care of him. I've found he can be a bit of an idiot sometimes."

The pieces connected in Clancy's head and she smiled.

"Not a problem. We were all hopin' Mr. Grayson would find where he belonged." She spotted the way Jason's eyes darted away, possibly suggesting that Dick didn't belong completely and she wondered if that had to do with his missing memories.

"Yeah. And he's lost dad too. Except, it's hit him hard." Jason shivered a little. "We were hoping, his friend and I, that you would have some idea of someone we could have talk to him. Someone he's close to."

"That'd be me. Or Hogan. Hogan's kid might be a good choice since the kid likes Dick. Hey, you could even try Amy, they were partners before that attempted cop killin' incident."

Jason nodded at each name. When she stopped he asked, "that's it?"

"For all his friendliness, I didna see Dick get close to many people. That's how it is in Bludhaven."

Mother hen (Ki-Chan Riker)

Jason frowned when he opened the manor door. He hadn't been back since Bruce's 'funeral'. He had been crashing in one of his safe houses, although he had also been thinking about getting his own official place.

He wondered whether this was a good idea when he opened that door. The manor was dark and quiet.

"Whoa, this place is ritzy!" Clancy commented from behind him.

"It's not usually this dark though," Jason commented, looking around. Where was Alfred?

They found Dick in the study, standing before the grandfather clock, looking at the door they came through. Jason's eyes narrowed. Dick must have been in the cave.

"Clancy?" Dick said, his voice raised as the corner of his mouth twitched up. It was more expression than Jason had seen in days.

"Hey, Dick," Clancy said, "how about some lunch?"

Dick flustered, eyes darting around and they both realised he hadn't been planning to eat or hadn't realised the time. But he agreed and showed Clancy where the kitchen was.

"Right-O! I'll cook you up lunch," Clancy said, having a look in the pantry and fridge.

"Oh no, you're a guest-" Dick started to say but he was cut off by Jason.

"Hey, cooking in one of the fine arts!" Jason scolded. "Move over Boss-Lady, I'm going to do the polite thing and help."

"Can you even cook?" Dick asked and Jason dramatically held his heart as if Dick had hurt him.

"Ouch! I help Alfred all the time, Dick."

"Like the time with the toaster?" Dick questioned, referring to an incident early in his stay at the manor. Jason had offered to make toast for breakfast and ended up setting the toaster on fire. Somehow.

"The toaster?" Clancy questioned with an amused and curious glance his way. Jason sighed and his cheeks went pink while Dick smirked at him. She hid a smile, deciding that her mothering of them was helping a little.

Longing (Kessy Rods)

Dick had a taste. He had a taste of what he had before he lost his memories. All it took was another grave, so like his parents. A person in his life dead with him unable to stop it.

He spent a long time down in the cave, looking upon Nightwing's old uniform and the dark Batman one which hung next to it. In the background, he could hear Damian training and Alfred watching over them while he provided information to Batman's operatives out in Gotham.

Dick had told himself he wanted Batman to stop, that vigilantism wasn't the way to help. However, he found he didn't like a Gotham without a Batman. Everything was darker and even the innocent seemed to sense the difference. The nights weren't as safe as they used to be, since the vigilante patrols had made people feel safe on the streets, and Gotham's crime rate was steadily rising. It had been high in the first place but now they were close to an all-out war against crime.

Even Catwoman was helping them out. Anything to stem the flow of crime.

Behind him, he could hear Damian arguing again about wanting to go out and help fight.

Dick felt out of place. He had no idea what he was supposed to do.

Scars (Kessy Rods)

It was like a number of scars in his mind. For once, Dick could feel the parts of him missing and the memories torn from him by bullet and infection. They were like the many scars which marred his body.

Dick twitched. It felt like Martian Manhunter was tearing them open. Almost as if blood was flowing from them. The inside of his head ached and stung.

There had to be something. Anything to bring his memories back.

However, one couldn't cut scars to restore skin to its undamaged state. So, they couldn't tear at forgotten memories to restore them.

'Never to swerve from the path of righteousness.'

'I swear it!'

That was-

...

-Dick opened his eyes to the medical bay of the watchtower. He looked around, surprised to find Superman sitting next to him with a sad look.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Superman, Clark, asked.

"Say what?"

"That you were planning to ask for your memories back. I had to hear from an upset Martian Manhunter after you collapsed during the process."

Dick was silent. Clark's expression fell.

"It didn't work," he commented.

"No," Dick confirmed. It hadn't worked. His memories were gone. Except for that fragments he had when he woke up, like that of a younger him and an older man making a vow. He hadn't realised it until now but the other voice had been Bruce's. A little younger but still Bruce's.

Dick turned away as tears began to leak out of his eyes.

"Dick?" Clark's hand touched his arm comfortingly. "It's okay. We'll find a way to get your memories back."

"I didn't want my memories back," Dick admitted, "I wanted Nightwing back. For Jason and Tim and Damian. So they don't have to fight so hard in Gotham."

"Dick-" Dick interrupted Clark as he didn't want to hear his sympathies.

"I don't feel like Nightwing, I barely feel like the Dick Grayson they expect. And with Bruce gone," his voice cracked. "We can't just rely on Jason to carry everything. It's selfish." He knew Tim had been suggesting to Jason that he take on Batman's mantle. Dick knew that the suggestions had begun changing to pleas.

Tim thought that Gotham needed a Batman and Dick couldn't bring himself to disagree, for all he disliked the idea of any of this little brothers in that suit.

Knock-Off Brand (yangires)

If you asked the Gotham reporters which Wayne kid was the best dressed, the answer would be Jason. The second eldest sold papers and outfits whenever he stepped out in public. So much so, that some designers and stores sent him clothes to wear.

Something which Tim grumbled about whenever the older man and new roommate stepped into the kitchen of his apartment, ready for a day at Wayne Enterprises.

"We can't all look this good," Jason commented with a smirk. "Besides, the dudes on the board like you better."

"Probably because I don't call them 'the dudes on the board'. Besides, I was helping Bruce to run the company before…" Tim trailed off, looking at his bowl. He didn't want to say it, didn't want it to be true.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm the useless heir who doesn't do any of the work and… plays… around," Jason trailed off, a shocked look coming to his face. "Holy… I've turned into a Bruce! A younger and more attractive version but still…" he let loose a string of curses while Tim laughed.

Child (Kessy Rods)

Dick was withdrawn and often disappeared.

Jason and Tim were living together, Jason crashing on Tim's couch. The two boys were looking after themselves as best they could, although Alfred wondered if it would be enough.

Alfred hadn't seen Cass since the funeral. Neither had Jason. Tim said Steph had but he hadn't. It was like chasing down a shadow and it ended with Oracle calling. She hadn't realised that Alfred didn't know Cass had moved into the clocktower temporarily.

Damian trained. Alfred watched over another young boy who had lost a parent and realised he still didn't know how to handle it. It was almost like it was just him and Damian, him and a boy who looked so like Bruce that Alfred sometimes felt like they had gone back in time.