NOW:

Nightwing stared at her. "And this is the first time you've been back in fourteen years?"

"I wouldn't be back now if the League hadn't gone to ground near Gotham." Tatsu hugged her knees close to her chest. "No one knows Gotham like he does."

Nightwing shook his head. "And I thought Bruce was stubborn."

A shadow fell over them. "Katana."

Tatsu and Nightwing scrambled to their feet. The fire escape creaked its protest from underneath them.

"Hey… you got here fast…" Nightwing managed. He sounded just about a surprised as Tatsu felt.

Blast. And I thought Batman was good at sneaking up on people fourteen years ago. Apparently he had only gotten better with age.

If Batman was pleased by their reaction, he didn't show it. He studied them as he hung off the side of the building. "Let's go somewhere more private. Then we'll discuss this." His tone promised things, none of them particularly pleasant.

Nightwing sighed. "Fine. I know a place several rooftops down where we can go."

With some effort (and some small assistance from Nightwing), Tatsu kept up with the Batguys before they settled on a secluded - and uncovered - rooftop.

She shivered. "We couldn't choose someplace where we could stay dry?"

Nightwing and Batman just looked at her.

She sighed. "Never mind." If she caught pneumonia, she would definitely be sending Mr. Wayne the bill. The full bill. Including any medications.

Batman scowled at her. "You went around me."

"You weren't particularly helpful." Tatsu crossed her arms over her chest. "And last I looked, we aren't in Gotham."

"The League of Assassins is here, Bruce." Nightwing interjected himself between them. "And they're up to something big."

Batman glared at Tatsu a little longer before turning his glare on Nightwing. "How did you get involved?"

"Does that matter?" Nightwing countered. "The League of Assassins is going to make trouble. And right here in Blüdhaven. That makes me involved."

"What kind of trouble?"

Nightwing paused. "We don't know yet. My source didn't know much. We know where they're at, though. And we know that they're going to act sometime this week."

Batman shook his head. "That's not enough."

"I know that." Nightwing sighed. "That's why I called you. I was wondering…"

"Not an option." Batman snapped.

Tatsu spoke up. "What's not an option?" She stared at Batman. "You have another resource. One deeper in the organization." Anger welled up within her. "You have a resource and you refuse to use it? How stubborn are you, anyway?!"

Nightwing's head snapped around toward her. "You don't know what you're…!"

Batman cut the younger man off with a sharp motion of his hand. "Yes, I have a resource inside the League of Assassins. Unfortunately, she's very unreliable. Her loyalties are… divided."

Tatsu's anger cooled a little. "That's not much of a resource." She frowned. "She?" Wayne had always had a way with women, when he put his mind to it. "What if Bruce Wayne…"

Nightwing shook his head. "She knows." He turned to Batman apologetically. "I should have thought; sorry."

Tatsu stared at them. "Your contact - whose loyalties you're concerned about - knows who you really are?"

The guys just looked at her.

"It's a long story." Nightwing finally said.

Tatsu stared at Batman. "How are you still alive? And you lectured me about being careful about the League."

Nightwing sighed. "Back off, Katana."

"What else aren't you telling me?" Tatsu demanded. "Do you know where the Sword is too?"

Nightwing crossed his arms over his chest. "Katana…"

"No." Batman interrupted his protégé, his eyes on Tatsu. "Not yet. Getting information on the League is… complicated."

"Yeah, especially when your allies don't help you." Tatsu retorted. She sighed and let her arms relax at her sides. "Fine. What do you think our next move should be?"

Batman frowned at her. "You follow my rules, my lead, or you're on your own."

"Nice to see things haven't changed." Tatsu muttered.

Batman ignored her, turning to Nightwing. "Has missing persons or homicide been reporting anything new or unusual lately?"

Nightwing shook his head. "Not incredibly. A bum here, a drunk there. And it's election time for some key city positions, so people are go missing more in Blüdhaven right now anyway." He smiled tightly. "Vote management."

"Charming." Tatsu hugged herself against the night's chill.

"I want all recent deaths and possible kidnappings mapped." Batman stated. "Once we have a radius, we can start calculating the location a possible base of operations."

"Or we could just start beating down the local low-life for information." Tatsu laid a hand on her sword.

"Not in my city you aren't." Nightwing said flatly. He looked over at Batman. "I can start working on that after patrol tonight. What Oracle and I can't figure out, I'll get from work."

Work. Tatsu frowned. Oh. The kid's day job. Police officer. She shook her head. A vigilante with a day job as a cop. That would take some getting used to.

Batman grunted. "Don't show too much interest. We don't want to tip our hand too soon."

Nightwing flashed him a grin. "Hey, I was taught by the best."

Batman scowled at him.

Dick coughed. "I'll be careful."