Blüdhaven
The Next Morning
Dick's cell phone rang, and, mostly asleep, he fumbled for it, looking at the display before he swiped the screen to answer it.
Bruce's contact information was displayed, and Dick sat up, all traces of sleep gone. He answered the phone with a sense of urgency. Bruce never called unless it was important.
"Bruce?" Dick's voice betrayed his anxiety.
"I'm sending a car for you. It will be there in a half hour."
Dick was already up, heading for the bathroom. "What is it?"
"I have a job for you. Are you up to it?"
Dick turned on the hot water in the shower and shoved his underwear off. "Of course. What is it? Something for one of the cases you're working on?"
"You'll find out soon enough. Your schedule is clear through lunch."
"Uh, yeah. I don't have a class today until one."
"It wasn't a question. I'll talk to you later."
He hung up, and Dick pulled the phone away to look at the screen. Damn mysterious bat! He shook his head and laid the phone on the sink before stepping into the shower.
As he lathered, he wondered what Bruce wanted him for. Was it one of his cases – or League business – or the Team? No, it wouldn't be the Team; if it was, he would have heard of it already. That left one of Batman's cases or League business. Unless – unless he wanted to talk about something about him. Shit. What could Bruce want to talk to him about? What had he done lately that might merit Bruce's attention?
How about spying on Devon? Not something the Batman would approve of.
Dick groaned. Devon. He did not want to talk to Bruce about her – not again. The last time had been too mortifying.
Dick's thoughts turned to Devon, and he remembered how she had looked the night before, when she was crying. He wondered what had upset her so; he had hated seeing that, which is why he had taken that precarious step towards her that had caused the branch to creak. He had wanted to reach out to her; he had wanted to touch her, take her in his arms and hold her until the tears passed, and then he wanted to kiss each and every tear off her skin.
Dick washed himself with long strokes as he thought of her, and he felt himself grow hard. He leaned one hand on the tile of the shower stall and continued, imagining Devon's hands and mouth on him.
His more rational side broke in, however, and he groaned. He didn't have time for this, no matter how much he needed it. Bruce said that a car would be there in a half hour, and Bruce was always timely.
He finished his shower, willed his erection to go away, ran out to the kitchen, devoured a bowl of frosted flakes, ran back to the bathroom to brush his teeth and shave, threw on some clothes, and was ready when the doorbell rang exactly thirty minutes after he had hung up with Bruce.
He peered through the peephole (no sense being careless), to see a chauffeur standing there, immaculate in his uniform.
Dick opened the door.
"Mr. Grayson, Sir. Mr. Wayne sent a car for you."
Dick locked the door and stepped out into the hall. "Thank you." He followed the man down to a limousine double-parked in front of the building. The chauffeur opened the rear door for Dick, who ducked in – to find Lucius Fox already sitting in the car.
"Mr. Fox?" Dick was confused. "What are you doing here?"
Lucius smiled as the driver pulled into traffic. "This is my car. Bruce asked me to pick you up and take you into the office."
"Oh." A lightbulb went off in Dick's brain, and he leaned back on the cushions of the seat. "So when Bruce said he had a job for me..." he trailed off, and Lucius smiled more widely.
"He meant mine."
"Ah." Dick shook his head slowly. "I should have known."
"Maybe you should have."
"He could have just told me. And let me drive myself."
"Bruce does things his own way. And maybe he knows you a little too well."
"Knows that I would have found an excuse not to go?"
"Perhaps. Now, Bruce told me about his plans – how much has he told you?"
Dick ran a hand through his hair. "Not much. Some. He wants me to take over from you –" he shot Lucius an apologetic look, "when you're ready. You know. Not – pushing you out – or – anything." He finished lamely.
Lucius chuckled. "I know, son." He patted Dick's leg. "Bruce and I have been through far too much together for me to be threatened by his preparing for the future. No," he added, a finger in the air, "it's a good idea to know who'll succeed me when I retire. Of course," he shrugged, "I always assumed it would be Bruce, but," he shook his head, "I should have known he wouldn't want that for himself." He gave Dick an avuncular smile, "You're very lucky to have someone who looks out for you like Bruce."
Dick nodded, and turned to look at the buildings sweeping past. "I know. I just –" he frowned.
"– Don't want it either."
Dick turned back to Lucius, his brows raised. "No. No. it's not that. It's just that I – wanted..." He didn't know what to say.
Lucius smiled kindly. "To do something else with your life."
Dick sighed. "Yes. I guess so."
Lucius chuckled. "I understand. But, even though it's not as exciting as what you're used to, it can be – exhilarating." At Dick's skeptical look, he chuckled again. "You still get the thrill of the chase when you're chasing a big deal. It is a bit – different, of course."
Dick smiled wanly. "If you say so."
"Just give it a chance. Really. It will grow on you."
They arrived at the Wayne Enterprises building, and Dick followed Lucius into the private elevator and into the CEO's office.
"Morning, Joan." Lucius greeted his secretary. "Mr. Grayson is here for some – orientation."
The older woman smiled at Dick. "Should I get him the files you had prepared for him?"
Lucius nodded at her..
Dick stood while Joan loaded his arms with several thick binders. "Thank you, ma'am." He gave her a dazzling smile.
"Just call me Joan, Mr. Grayson."
"Then you should call me Dick."
"All right – Dick."
He winked at her and went through to Lucius's private office.
He waited while Lucius took off his jacket and hung it over the back of his desk chair, and the older man caught sight of him. "Why don't you," he waved a hand towards a coffee table in front of a sofa, "put those heavy things down?"
"Thanks." Dick did as he was bade. "Don't you think it would be easier to give me everything on a jump drive?"
Lucius smiled, but shook his head. "No. It's actually more secure to give them to you the old-fashioned way."
"I'm not so sure about that. I do have access to a pretty impenetrable computer system."
"Which Bruce does not want you to use for this."
"Oh." Dick looked at the pile. "In that case, I wish I had brought along my backpack."
Lucius came over and patted Dick on the shoulder. "Not to worry. Just take them home little by little."
Dick gave a crooked smile. "So does that mean that my coming here will become a regular thing?"
Lucius frowned. "Not if you don't want it to be."
"No, no." Dick was quick to reassure him. "It's fine. It's – fine. Really. It will just take – some getting used to."
Lucius smiled kindly. "You will. Get used to it."
The intercom on his desk buzzed, and Lucius walked over to it. "Yes?"
"Mr. Fox, your 8:30 is here."
"Thank you, Joan. Send him in." He smiled at Dick. "Ready to jump in, feet first?"
Dick sighed. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Dick sat in not only on Lucius's 8:30 AM meeting, but his 10:00 AM meeting, and his 11:30 AM meeting, which ended at about 12:15 PM. This left Dick, after briefly thanking Lucius for his time, sprinting for Gotham University. Bruce, being Bruce, had made certain that Dick's car was waiting for him in the parking lot, and that his backpack was inside his car.
Dick smiled at the valet as the man hopped out of the car, and, within a minute, he was speeding towards the university. As he turned into the parking lot at a bit more than the speed limit, a person stepped into the path of the car, and Dick threw on his brakes, coming to a screeching stop. The pedestrian jumped back as Dick's car left long skid marks on the pavement.
Instantly contrite, an apology formed on his lips, and he threw his car into park.
Devon stared at the car, her knuckles white on the strap of her backpack.
Shit shit shit shit shit shit, Dick swore at himself. The one person that he did not want to embarrass himself in front of, and there she stood.
He jumped out of the car and rushed over to her. "Devon! I am so sorry. I – I didn't see you, and I'm late for class, and I know that I was driving too fast, and I am so, so sorry. Are you hurt?" He unconsciously grabbed her arm, but she twisted out of it, holding her palm up at him.
"Dick?"
He gave a weak smile. "Hi."
Her face was twisted in confusion. "D – did you try to hit me on purpose?"
"What?" He was horrified that she would think that, but, really, how did it look? That he just happened to have almost hit the woman who had turned him down – who had repulsed his advances? "No! No! God, no!"
"Okay. Okay." Her voice was shaky, and she stepped away.
His heart fell. She was obviously angry.
Angry? Of course she's angry, you idiot! You nearly ran her over!
"I'm really sorry. Really. It was an accident. I – I would never –"
There was a sudden honking behind him, and they both turned to find another car behind Dick's. The man driving it, obviously a student, leaned out of his car window. "Hey, genius! You want to move your car out of the way? That isn't a parking spot."
"Yeah! Yeah! I will." Dick turned back to Devon, who was holding a hand to her head, and he stepped towards her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah." Both hands came up, as if to hold him off. "I – I'm fine." She waved wearily towards his car. "Just go – move your car."
He groaned silently. She wasn't forgiving him.
"Can I – can I take you anywhere?"
She shook her head. "No. Just – just – go." She pushed past him and was gone, and he was left staring after her while more cars joined the first in honking at him.
Devon was angry. However, she was angry with herself, rather than with Dick. Oh, she had been frightened by the car careening towards her, and even slightly annoyed that the driver had been driving so recklessly, but she had stepped into his path without looking. It was her fault that she had almost been run over – she should have been looking – should have been more cautious.
Her mind, however, had been elsewhere; mainly, with Nightwing.
She was still trying to puzzle out why he had been outside her window the night before; she had been so pre-occupied – all day, in fact, that her grandmother had told her to leave the diner early after Devon had given the wrong change to two people, and had gotten several orders wrong.
Unfortunately, Devon's thoughts continued to be consumed by the riddle of the hero's presence, and she had not noticed that she was walking across a parking lot entrance.
When Dick's car stopped suddenly, she jumped out of the way, and did not realize, until he rushed out of his car and up to her, that he was the driver. "Devon! I am so sorry. I – I didn't see you, and I'm late for class, and I know that I was driving too fast, and I am so, so sorry. Are you hurt?" He took her arm, but she twisted out of it, holding her palm up at him in an attempt to gain some space.
"Dick?" He had almost hit her? Had he done it on purpose? No, he couldn't have; she had walked in front of him. Wait. Could he have done it deliberately?
His face was obviously concerned. "Hi." He said sheepishly.
She frowned. "D – did you try to hit me on purpose?"
"What?" He looked horrified, and she realized that she had been mistaken. "No! No! God, no!"
"Okay. Okay." Her voice was shaky, and she stepped away, upset and trembling about her close call.
He had regret on his face. "I'm really sorry. Really. It was an accident. I – I would never –"
There was a sudden honking behind him, and they both turned to find another car behind Dick's. The man driving it, obviously a student, leaned out of his car window. "Hey, genius! You want to move your car out of the way? That isn't a parking spot."
"Yeah! Yeah! I will." Dick turned back to Devon, who was watching him, a hand on her head, trying to still the shakiness. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah." Both hands came up; she really didn't want him to get closer. Although she was certain now that he had meant her no harm, she still felt on edge, and she needed space. "I – I'm fine." She waved wearily towards his car. "Just go – move your car."
He looked at her with worried eyes. "Can I – can I take you anywhere?"
She shook her head. "No. Just – just – go." She pushed past him and was gone, her head starting to pound, and certain that he thought that she must be crazy.
Gotham University
Later That Day
Dick's text alert went off as he was leaving his last class. Bruce.
Dick sighed as he looked at the message.
Had a productive morning?
"Funny, Bruce." Dick muttered. He typed a response as he walked. You could have just asked me to go.
A response came a minute later. I did. Over a month ago.
Dick sighed again. Bruce was right – again.
It was a good morning. I'm going back on Friday.
Good man.
Me or Lucius?
Both. Come by the house tonight.
Dick groaned. He had a lot of homework, and, of course, there was always patrolling, and he really wanted to go by Devon's...
I'll come by after dinner.
We'll go out together later.
That was Bruce-speak for patrolling together.
Dick smiled slightly. It had been a while since he and Bruce had gone out patrolling together. Sure, they frequently ended up patrolling together, but going out together, as they had in the old days – well, that was a rare occurrence.
That'll be great.
He slid his phone into his pocket, a renewed spring in his step. He really missed going out with Bruce; there was a camaraderie, a rightness to patrolling with him, that Dick had never experienced with anyone else – not Tim, or Damian, or even Barbara. With Bruce, he always knew what to expect – not during the day, when he was Bruce Wayne, but at night, when he was Batman. Dick could predict Batman's reaction to any situation, and it gave Dick a measure of confidence that he never felt with another person, or in any other situation.
Dick's euphoria did not last long, though; when he reached his car, the details of his encounter with Devon returned. Encounter was not the right word, however; run-in was entirely too appropriate. He shook his head in self-disgust as he fumbled for his key fob.
"Hey, give me a ride?"
Dick jumped at the proximity of the voice, dropping his keys, and, in less than the blink of an eye, Wally caught them before they hit the ground.
"Will you not do that?" Dick asked in irritation, as he always did when Wally used his speedster skills to sneak up on him.
Wally smiled cheekily and apologized, as he always did when he used his speedster skills to sneak up on Dick. "Sorry. Couldn't resist.""
Dick snatched the keys from his best friend, a dark look on his face. "Why do you need a ride? You live on campus." He obediently unlocked the passenger door so that Wally could get in.
"Thanks. I am not actually going home. I have to go to a bookstore over on Plymouth. Can you take me?"
"When are you going to get a car?" Dick slung his backpack in the backseat, and Wally followed suit.
"When I need one. And, thus far, I have not needed one." He buckled himself in.
"You need one now." Dick started the car.
"No, I don't. I have your car. With you as driver, natch."
Dick pulled out of the space. "So I'm your chauffeur?"
"No. You're my best friend. This," he spread his hands expansively to indicate the car interior, "is what best friends do."
Dick gave him a sidelong glance, and a smile. "That's true. What's the name of the bookstore?"
"Recycled Reads. It's on Eighth and Plymouth. You know it?"
"Yeah. Why you going there?"
"I need a book."
"That I never would have guessed. Haven't you ever heard of something called the internet? You can read books on it, I hear."
"Ha. Ha. What a sense of humor. This is a very old book."
"So why do you need a very old book?"
"Doing a paper about the influence of Percy Julian's discoveries, and I need his biography – which is not available online."
"Am I supposed to know who he is?"
Wally looked outraged. "He was just a trailblazer in twentieth century chemistry, and one of the most important American chemists, ever, and a pioneer in the African-American community!"
Dick's eyes opened wide. "I'm sorry I didn't know who he was."
"And now you do."
Dick grinned. "And now I do."
"See how enlightening it is to have me as your best pal?"
"Downright illuminating."
"That's right! And don't you ever forget it." He pointed at Dick playfully.
"How could I, with you always here to remind me?"
"What are friends for?"
"Mooching?"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. So, are you going on patrol tonight?"
Dick nodded. "You?"
"There's that sense of humor again."
"Well, you know, when you've got it..."
"Yeah, you've got it, all right. And speaking of getting it, anyone new on the horizon?"
Dick flushed. "I ran into Devon today."
"Dude!" Wally said plaintively. "When are you going to give that up?"
"No, Wally. I ran into her. With my car."
"You hit her with your car? Are you crazy?"
"I didn't exactly hit her. I almost hit her."
"Have you lost your mind? She says she can't date you, she even says she's sorry she can't date you, and so you try to kill her?"
"Don't be ridiculous. It was an accident."
"So you accidentally almost ran over the girl who friendzoned you?"
"It wasn't like that." Dick insisted.
Wally threw his hands up. "Dude, whatever. But you're in real danger of turning into stalker-revenge man."
They pulled up to the bookstore, and Dick sighed as he put the car into park. "It's really not like that."
"Okay. Whatever you say." Wally released his seat belt and opened the door. "Thanks for the ride."
Dick nodded, and watched as Wally disappeared into the store. It really sucked that his best friend thought that he was a creep.
Gotham City
Later That Night
The text came in that night while Devon was filling the sugar shakers in the diner after . She pulled the phone from her pocket tiredly – she was exhausted. It had been a long day, and she was more than ready for bed. She wasn't even sure if she could stay up to wait for Nightwing, in case he showed.
She looked at the phone display. It was Larry's number. Her pulse quickened.
Seventeenth and Court Street. One hour.
She groaned, and shook her head. No. Not tonight. She was so tired. Actually, not ever. She still did not want to shoot at anyone, even if it was just to miss.
Still, she knew that she could not ignore this summons. She had to go.
She had to go try to not kill someone.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, in which a collision occurs, and one is anticipated...and I won't say anything else. I have been accused of giving things away in the Author's Notes.
Anyway, I hope you liked it. I enjoyed writing it, and I actually have been writing a lot of this fic lately; I play a little Arkham City Armored Edition and it inspires me. I love playing as Nightwing on the bonus levels – he looks great, except for his CREEPY eyes. Ugh.
Please review when you get a chance!