The Meeting

By

AJ

Part 26

Nightwing stopped at the edge of Gotham City in a grove of trees. He wanted to go into the city under the cover of darkness. He also wanted to be certain that if Bruce came along this road, which he was sure to do, that he would not be seen. Nightwing sat for a moment studying his options. If the person he suspected was whom he thought, Nightwing might have to take that person down and turn them into the law for assault, even attempted murder of Robin. He wasn't looking forward to it. He would do it just the same, but he first wanted to verify his suspicions then try to find out what his game was before anyone else got hurt.

Nightwing looked at his chronometer on his bike. He had another hour to wait. He reviewed what he knew from Tim. Plus, he also recalled Damian's experience. Something was troubling the boy, ever since he found Tim. Damian was much like Bruce. He kept things more to himself and tried to give the appearance that he didn't care, but Dick could see that the boy did even though he tried to hide it. It was in the subtle way he moved and held his body. It was the way his eyes would look at you without you knowing. Those were the same expressions that Bruce held, and Dick should know. He learned to read him long ago, because he recognized it in himself. Damian needed, craved love, but he did not know how to ask for it.

'Damian must not have had a loving home life. His short life must have been filled with darkness,' Nightwing thought. He recalled something from his own past, something that Alfred had said to him.

"You have been a light in this house, Master Richard. Without you I swear Master Bruce would eventually kill himself from the strain."

"I don't understand?" Dick questioned.

"Master Bruce's parents were murdered just as your parents were, but he did not have someone to guide him through the worst of it."

"He had you," Dick stated.

"Yes, but he needed someone who could understand his plight. That is why I am grateful you have come along to help him through his worst moods."

Nightwing reflected on those times. When he was growing up in the Manor, it seemed Bruce's moods had lightened, at least that's what Alfred had said, but when he moved out something happened to change that.

'Yeah, a fat lot of good that did at one time. He still goes through them,' Dick thought recalling more than he wanted to think about. 'Now I'm starting to get moody. The sun is almost completely down. Better get into Gotham and to Crime Alley. Need to get into position and simply wait this out.'

Nightwing revved the engine of his motorcycle and headed further into Gotham and into Crime Alley. He first went directly there to check for any vehicles parked outside the one particular apartment building he believed the suspect would be located. He didn't see anything, but that did not mean there wasn't one. Going over to the neighborhood clinic that was ran by Dr. Leslie Tompkins, Nightwing parked his motorcycle out back behind the building and behind a dumpster so it was out of sight. He then used his grappling hook and climbed up to the top of the roof. He made his way back to the apartment building, this time watching it from across the street. He didn't see any activity at first. It was dark and quiet as a tomb. He had to concede that it was still early and he was going to have to hunker down and wait.

Staking out a place in the past had not been his strong suit. He had since learned patience and learned to observe with a discerning eye. Though stakeouts could be tedious and long, sometimes old fashion patience would pay off. And sure enough it did. Someone moved across the street, turning on a light. The bare bulb showed the figure in shadow. Nightwing lifted the camera with its telephoto lens up to his eyes to see what he could see. The figure was tall and that's when he knew something was wrong. Some sixth sense told him to move when something slammed into the concrete beside him.

"Nice moves golden boy. Care for two out of three?"

Nightwing recognized the figure that stood in front of him from Tim's description.

"What's your game Red," Nightwing questioned. "You know, attempted murder is an offence that will get you at least 20 years."

"Actually, I was hoping someone else would figure it out."

"Who's to say he hasn't."

"I'm disappointed, the demon child should have done his work by now."

Nightwing's eye's narrowed. He had only heard one person called a demon before and that was Ra's al Ghul. Could this guy mean Damian?"

"What does the Wayne kid have to do with this?"

"He was supposed to kill you and his father. Apparently he decided not to. Too bad. That would have made his training complete and then he would become Ra's al Ghul's heir. Looks like he's going to be very disappointed."

So, that's what was troubling the boy. 'He was supposed to kill Bruce and I,' Nightwing thought. Something must have happened to change his mind. "I think you underestimated him. He's a Wayne, just like his father. He knows that killing isn't the way, unlike you."

"I didn't kill the replacement, but I could have."

"Why didn't you?"

"Don't play dumb with me golden boy, you both know who I am. You wouldn't be here if you didn't know."

"So why are you doing this . . . Todd," Nightwing questioned.

"So, you really do know who I am."

"It wasn't hard to figure out," Nightwing stated. "Tim 'replaced' you after you died. So, what was it like being raised from the dead."

"You have no idea," Jason Todd replied then swiftly kicked out. He had worked his way closer toward Nightwing, hoping to catch him off guard, but Nightwing was prepared. He reached out and grabbed Todd's leg and pushed him back causing Todd to lose his balance. Todd tried to flip, but he couldn't quite make the move and he landed on his knees. Nightwing waited for him to get up, not pressing his advantage. That's where they differed considerably. Nightwing was all about playing fair, even in a fight. Todd's philosophy was different. Take the enemy out, regardless whether it was fair or not.

Todd grabbed a handful of loose gravel and threw it into Nightwing's face temporarily blinding him.

"That's what you get for not pressing your advantage golden boy," Red Hood stated then slammed both his fists into Nightwing's jaw. Dick was thrown back and he nearly found himself falling out into space, but instead he landed hard on his side against the concrete edge of the building. It was enough to leave him dazed and momentarily shaken. He shook his head to clear it and saw two boots standing very close to him. Then he heard the pop of a silencer and a dart was injected into his shoulder.

"I don't have any quarrel with you," Jason said, "But how else am I going to get his attention. And don't try to fight it. It will only act faster."

"Why?" Nightwing asked.

As the drug worked its way through Nightwing's system, he could barely understand what Jason was saying.

"I thought I wanted Bruce dead for not saving me, but now . . . what I want is Bruce to kill the one person who killed me. That will be my revenge, to have Batman kill the Joker. It will end there."

"You know . . . You know he . . . won't do it."

"Well you see that's the problem. If he doesn't then he won't be able to save you. And I lied. I do have a beef with you. Your shadow kept getting in the way when it came to Bruce. I should have been his first Robin and only Robin. But you just had to come before me. You were the golden boy, the one to have to live up to. And I wasn't lying when I said that Bruce would have to kill the Joker before he saves you. Because if he doesn't, he'll be picking up the pieces of his first Robin with a tweezers."

NIghtwing's vision began to swim and soon darkness took him carrying him away into the arms of Morpheus.

Continues with Part 27