A/N So it's been...what, around four months since I last updated? I feel really bad about it; I don't really have an excuse other than real life and a lack of inspiration. I all but forced myself to start writing this again. Once I did though, I realized how much I missed it. I'll do my best not to make you guys wait as long until the next chapter.
Thanks to all those who stuck with me in the mean time. You are all fantastic!
~Aiva
Dick didn't actually remember falling asleep, but he must've at some point, because he woke up and Leslie was gone and there was a clean white bandage wrapped around his arm. He could, however, remember talking to Wally. At one point, when both of their brains were addled by the drugs Leslie had put in their systems, they had some pretty interesting conversations. Dick was pretty sure one of them involved dancing with giraffes…
"Hello again, Sleeping Beauty," Wally's voice greeted.
Dick forced himself to sit up, shaking off the last lingering sensations of grogginess as he turned his head to look at the speedster. "Haven't you used that one before?" he asked, with a slight upward quirk of his lips.
"Probably," Wally said, shrugging. "You weren't out for long, just so you know. You sort of dozed off once we started talking about giraffes."
At least he hadn't imagined that part of their conversation. Dick glanced around, a slight frown creasing his brow. "Where are Bruce and Roy?" he asked.
"Bruce stepped out to go call Alfred a few minutes ago, I think, and Roy said something about a date. I'm pretty sure that means he's going to meet up with Cheshire, but he said he wouldn't be gone too long," Wally answered.
Dick nodded, trying not to imagine Roy meeting up with Cheshire. He fully supported his friend no matter what and had come to terms with the unexpected relationship (though how Batman hadn't found out yet, he still wasn't sure), but that didn't mean he liked to think of the full implications. Some things were better left unimagined, after all. Wanting to change the subject, the acrobat asked, "Where do you think we'll go next?" Because he knew that they couldn't just stay there for very long; Bruce was too paranoid for that. This wasn't one of his highest security safe houses, just the one that happened to be most convenient at the time. They would eventually need something with better protection.
Wally, obviously following the same thought process, merely shrugged. "Dunno," he answered simply. "I mean, we could go to another safe house, but I think Dr. Anthony Lawrence has caught on to that by now. We need someplace different, and I guess we could go to the Watchtower, but-"
"-Bruce would never let us on after it was hacked," Dick finished. "Not until he ran it through a bunch of different tests, scans, and reworked the entire system, which would take a while."
"Right," Wally nodded. "The same goes for the Batcave, and besides, everyone in Cadmus probably knows where that is anyway." A thought struck him then. "Wait, isn't it a risk for Alfred to be there? I mean, what if they go after him to get to us?" It was a distinct possibility after all…speaking of which, maybe he should call up his aunt and uncle and tell them to rent a hotel under a different name or something.
"Alfred will be fine," Dick answered confidently. "We have dozens of contingency plans for situations like this; he knows how to take care of himself."
It was then Bruce walked back into the room, slipping his phone into his pocket. Dick didn't wait for him to say anything, instead leaping at the opportunity to talk to his guardian. "So where are we going next?" he asked. Surely Bruce had a plan by now; he was the Batman, after all.
"That's the problem," Bruce admitted. Dick could see the hints of exhaustion in the man's countenance, things too small and seemingly insignificant to anyone else; they might as well have been neon signs to the young acrobat. "We have to assume that Dr. Anthony Lawrence knows the locations of most, if not all, of the safe houses I have set up. The Batcave and the Watchtower have proven to be insecure and Cadmus is going to be keeping tabs on us as well, so security is a priority."
The solution seemed obvious to Dick, the answer flashing through his mind brightly. "Why don't we stay at Mount Justice?" he suggested. Seeing the immediate skepticism, he hastened to explain. "Yes, it's a bit of a risk, but we're already being watched so what's the point of trying to hide? The security runs on a different system than the Batcave mainframe, which means that we can safely assume it hasn't been hacked yet. Plus, we'll always be able to have at least one hero nearby who can back us up if we need it."
Bruce nodded, mulling it over. "As long as there's at least one League member present at the same time, that may be our best option," he agreed slowly. Dick felt a warm flush of pride at the subtle praise; it had been Bruce coming up with the ideas thus far, and it was nice to be the one planning things out this time. It was even nicer when it was actually a decent idea.
"I vote Black Canary," Wally chipped in, a slightly dreamy expression entering his emerald eyes. "Or Wonder Woman."
"Wally, we're not having League members there just so you can ogle them," Dick replied with a good-natured roll of his eyes. Falling back into this established routine was like getting a hug from an old friend; they slid neatly into place, clicking together like two pieces of a puzzle.
Wally pouted slightly before settling on sticking his tongue out at the younger boy. Not the most mature of moves, but it wasn't like Dick could judge with Peanut the worn and well-loved stuffed elephant resting on his bed. That meant Dick had free reign to stick his tongue out back, a teasing smirk ghosting across his face.
"I'll try to stay there a majority of the time," Bruce cut in, raising one eyebrow at the two boys. "When I can't, I'll try to call in Superman or Green Lantern, maybe Martian Manhunter. Possibly Black Canary." The last one was said with a pointed glance at Wally, who at least had the decency to look sheepish.
"He just called you out," Dick whispered loudly to the speedster.
One corner of Bruce's mouth twitched slightly before he left once more, stating that he needed to get things organized. Wally cast Dick an incredulous look as soon as the Dark Knight was gone. "Dude, how do you do that?" he asked. "I can say something, and he just sort of glares, but then as soon as you say one word he's trying not to smile."
"Glaring is his way of smiling?" Dick tried before grinning. "No, but he really is amused a lot more than you think he is. He just shows a bit more when it's about me because he feels like it's more understandable; I'm his adopted son, you know? Whenever you say something, he doesn't have that excuse, so he just doesn't react much. He's laughing on the inside."
Wally blinked for a moment before shrugging, trying not to wince as the motion made him remember the arm he very recently had minor surgery on. Not the worst pain he had ever felt before, but not entirely pleasant either. "I don't think I'll ever understand you guys and your Batanese," he decided, leaning against a pillow.
"Batanese?" Dick repeated, the corners of his mouth quirking upward and cerulean eyes sparkling with amusement.
Wally waved his hands erratically as he attempted to explain. "You know, your secret code thingy that only you guys seem to get. You two can have an entire conversation just by looking at each other for a second," he described. "The rest of us are left wondering how you can manage to say so much just by, I don't know, raising your eyebrows or wiggling a finger or something."
Dick nodded slowly, thinking it over before a wide grin split his face. "Batanese," he mused. "I like it."
An hour later, they were at the zeta tubes. Bruce had argued at first; Wally could metabolize the drugs and was only under the influence of acetaminophen (he probably should've been taking something stronger than over-the-counter pain killers after surgery, but it was just one spot on his arm and he knew how to deal and wanted a clear head) but Dick didn't have either of those benefits. He refused to admit it, but the shadows under his eyes and the slightly paler hue of his skin testified to his need to sleep the rest of the drugs off. He had insisted though; the sooner they moved, the better and Dick could sleep just as well in his room at Mount Justice, as he constantly pointed out.
Dick had obviously won the argument because he was decked out in his Robin uniform (he really did feel naked in civvies, utility belt underneath or not – there was something reassuring about the cape and mask) and standing in a battered phone booth on the street. "Recognized. Robin B-01," the computer stated before the blue light whisked him away.
The Cave really was a welcome sight; it had been a while since he had been around anything truly resembling home and while he was pretty easy-going in terms of traveling, the familiar rooms were pretty great to see. Trying to ignore the fatigue prodding at him insistently, Dick allowed a smile to flit across his masked face.
"Kid Flash B-03. Batman 02," the zeta tube system announced behind him. Dick turned to see Wally and Bruce walk through. Bruce immediately raised an eyebrow and gave him a pointed look. The young acrobat huffed a small sigh; he really didn't want to have to go to sleep, even if he knew it probably would be a good idea to sleep the rest of the drugs off; he would need his brain as clear as possible as soon as possible. "Fine," he reluctantly acquiesced, knowing that it really was pointless to refuse this time. Wally agreed with Bruce and both M'gann and Conner were asleep; he couldn't use them as an excuse to stay up.
Not even bothering to resist the urge to stick his tongue out at Wally – yeah, it was still childish and Wally didn't actually do anything, but it was still fun – he continued on to his room. It was sparsely decorated, simply because he didn't spend the night there very often, but it smelled like home and Dick was curled up on the mattress, head on his pillow and blanket pulled up underneath his chin before he knew he had moved. He didn't even bother to take off his mask or shoes before he was out, snoring softly into his sheets.
A/N It's not even my best, longest, most exciting chapter either...dang, I really am horrible right now. Again, sorry, but I'll stop the moping now. No point in dwelling on it, eh?
Sorry that I didn't respond to reviews; I figured it was best to just get this up ASAP. I will respond to them this chapter though.
And for those of you waiting for the action; it really is coming, and very soon if all goes according to plan. ;)
Reviews are greatly appreciated!