A/N: Trigger warning: contains a scene with violence in a school environment. If you wish to skip, stop at "Dick opens his mouth to-" and pick back up after that scene break.
ooooooo
"So, let me get this straight," Dick says, leaning back against Zitka as he points to Helena, "you get out of the family business; but, apparently just can't kick that fistfights and secrecy gene so decide to join up with Selina." He hand waves over to her. "Skip forward a few years, you hear about Spyral and think 'meh, might as well see if they cover dental' and join up. That right, so far?"
Selina gives a fond sigh. "Unfortunately, I could never quite persuade her of the appeal of very large gems and the beauty of not having to pay for them."
"A real shame," he says dryly.
Helena looks between both of them. "Take this seriously."
"Trust me, I am." Dick goes blunt. "So, after you join, you get suspicious. Why?"
"The missions," Helena answers, "I don't mind dirty work. Some missions there were people we were ordered to kill and cover it up, others we were told to keep safe at all cost. I'm good at noticing patterns and I couldn't find one. It made me curious." Her lip tilts up. "If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's when there's a secret, I should make sure I'm not the one it blows up on. I stole an activation card and hacked the rest of my way in."
"And what did you find?"
Helena looks grim. "A database. Files on everyone-the Titans, the Titans Dark, local hero affiliates, a few Atlantians, Amazonians. Fuck, there were even some metahumans who probably haven't thought of putting on a mask in their lives." She pauses. "And I found a list of potential buyers."
Dick stays calm through years of practice. "You said they had mine?"
"And your family's," Helena confirms.
Honestly, that part isn't a particular surprise, no matter what Dick may have hoped. That's always been a downside to staying so close, both with civilian identities and with their other job. Bruce….Bruce would have probably tried to create more separation there, give at least the appearance of distance in one side of their lives.
Dick has never been able to get himself to actually go through with it. He likes staying close to his family too much.
And this is the cost.
He focuses. "How? It can't just be facial recognition-Zatanna put charms on all of our masks ages ago."
"We think it was DNA," Helena says. "Magic and technology can only go so far to help, even you can't help but bleed."
"That would mean they had Dick Grayson's DNA on file, too," he surmises.
"Yes." Helena nods. "I have no idea how long this operation has been in place. They could have been targeting hospitals globally, sending agents to the places they couldn't. I'm not sure how they did it honestly; all I know is that they have what they need for full confirmation." She sighs. "I think they're using yours as a test or something. Or maybe to get you out of the way before they can fully launch an operation. Yours was the only one that said it was sold."
Alright….alright, Dick can work with that. Single seller means that Spyral has to keep the information fairly confidential from everyone else if they want to keep up the price. That just means he has to handle Spyral, whoever they sold it to, and….and find out if that person told anyone else.
Shit.
"Who'd they sell it to," Dick asks.
Helena looks at Selina before answering.
"We don't know," Helena says. "The activation card I stole could only get me in so far. Whoever they sold it to, they're not keeping it where I could find it. But, my bet is their buyer is the same one that left you the present in your bed at the gala. And I'm guessing that was only a start."
A thought occurs to him.
"You two came back to Gotham to warn me." He looks between the two of them to see what they'll say.
"Yes," Helena says as Selina hesitates. "You're welcome, by the way."
Dick cocks his head. "Even if it meant betraying your organization. Wow, I'm touched."
Helena narrows her eyes. "I decided to try to go about things the smarter way rather than throwing on a cape and jumping off a building, Grayson; but, that doesn't mean I don't get the point of the Titans." She crossed her arms. "I'm not stupid, I know you and Batman are the ones who put my father in jail. And good. Gotham doesn't need that scum. Gotham needs someone that can work the frontlines. The world does, that's your job." A shrug. "I just chose to work behind the curtain."
That's sweet. Dick's almost moved.
"Well, if you're going for spy work, you need a better excuse," Dick says bluntly. He looks at Selina. "Yours normally are better, Selina. What? Didn't think I'd figure it out or are you losing your touch?"
"We are here to warn you," Helena sounds annoyed now and idly Dick wonders which part pissed her off the most. He's guessing it was the dig against Selina; Helena seems like the secretly loyal type…..current circumstances notwithstanding.
"Sure," Dick agrees readily. "But, that's not all of it. If it was, you wouldn't be playing this game of act and observe. If this was just about warning me, you could have told me at the party-heck, before the party since apparently you both had time to sneak around and make a plan. You didn't. You waited almost a week after the body was already found and I think it's pretty obvious on why."
Zitka draws in closer, wrapping her trunk around his shoulders as if detecting the sudden tension even if she doesn't understand the words. Dick sends a small smile up at her before continuing.
"You told me at the gala, didn't you?" He says to Helena. "You wanted confirmation. This wasn't just about warning me; this was a test. You wanted to see what I'd do. That's not something you'd need for a simple information exchange; that's feeling out an offer you're deciding on making. You want something."
Dick smiles at them both."I swear-politics, journalist, intelligence organizations-it all gets so annoying. All of you are so much more interested in playing a game then just saying what you want." The smile goes sharp enough to cut. "Well, you wanted to see what I'd do; so, let me be very clear. You had information that not only I but the rest of my family was in danger and instead of telling me directly, you kept quiet to see how I'd react and so you could use that warning to foster some kind of bullshit goodwill before you made your offer. One man's already died. Could I have stopped that if I'd known there was something coming? I don't know and neither do you. What I do know is that I am incredibly tired of playing games with other people's lives. So…."
His smile drops. "What. Do. You. Want?"
Helena's glaring, too, now; but, at the very least, it looks like she's finally dropped the mask.
Selina hasn't, still looking composed and aloof as ever; though, then again, Dick is fairly sure she wouldn't drop that particular mask even if the world was ending.
"Go on," Selina tells Helena softly and, once again, Dick wonders about the relationship between the two. It's not quite like the relationship Dick has with Jason, definitely not like with him and Barbara, it's almost like him and B-
"You're planning on destroying Spyral," Helena says.
Dick raises a brow. "Well, yeah, seems like a definite given at this point, sure."
"I'm asking you not to," Helena says. "Spyral's one of the widest information gathering organizations on the globe and, unlike the others, we've managed to keep our privacy. Even you hadn't heard of us until I told you. The resources it has are invaluable."
"Resources it's apparently using to target heroes and metahumans," Dick counters.
"I know; but, that's only the higher ups. Most of the regular agents don't know about it." Helena's chin raises. "They wouldn't support it. They joined to help people, like me. If Spyral goes down, they'd be exposed and an exposed spy is worthless. What I'm offering is we work together to take down the Spyral higher-ups, but leave the rest of the organization alone."
Dick hums. "Since we're being honest, then, what's in it for the Titans? We've had rather bad luck with secret organizations, what makes keeping Spyral worth the risk?"
"Destroy Spyral without my help and it's going to be a chaotic mess," Helena says. "A mess that puts all of your identities at risk of exposure. Help reform Spyral into an organization that works and can continue independently, then the Titans gain a powerful ally that the rest of the world don't even know about."
Dick's at least listening. "So, what, just you and the Titan's then? A lot of the Titans don't exactly do long term covert ops missions."
Helena shrugs. "Then, we'll figure something out that works for both sides. I've already got my partner briefed and agreed. We can cover things on Spyral's end; you'll just need to coordinate with us."
Dick pats Zitka's side absently.
"One more question," he says, "if we're taking down Spyral's leadership, how do we know the new leadership won't be just as bad? Who are you expecting to take their place?"
Helena meets his eyes.
"Me," she says simply. "I want your help taking over Spyral."
ooooooo
"Well, things are looking up," Jason said sarcastically. "Guess we're being hired to start a coup, then. How much do you think those things pay?"
Dick rolls his eyes. "I definitely got more of the impression we're the hired help than the instigators; but, yeah, that's basically it."
Tim frowns, curling up in his seat in the car while his expression goes pensive. "Can we really afford not to help, though? If Spyral has our identities-all our identities-then we have to stop them, right? Helena's got a point-a complete takedown could get messy."
Dick hesitates, exchanging a look with Barbara, before Jason beat them both to it.
"It's not if we're doing something, it's how we do it," Jason says. "Sounds like they're trying to make it seem like we're the ones cornered. We're not-," he pauses, "I mean not entirely. We still have options. They're the ones that are trying to take down an entire organization with only two or three people. We can want their help; but, they're the ones that need ours."
Dick blinks, surprised before his smile grows. "Yeah, Jason's right. That's basically the gist of it."
"So, we don't help them, then," Tim says. "We do it our own way, like always."
"Maybe." Barbara tilts her head. "Helena's right, too. She might be framing it in a way that makes it look like she's in a better position than she is; but, things are a lot easier with allies. The main problem is we need to do something about Spyral and, with this idea, at least we may get a global intelligence agency in our corner by the end of it."
Tim nods. "And figure out who they sold it to."
Dick sighs. "Yeah, that's the main priority."
"It's probably someone in Gotham, yeah," Tim asks. "I mean maybe it's one of the Titan's villains; but, the body at the gala, it just…."
"That's definitely Gotham style," Barbara agrees.
"So who?" Jason ticks off his fingers. "Someone who's got money and knows how to make a business deal so probably not any of the weird ones. Not Two-Face, not Nygma. Not Professor Pyg or the body would've been more messed up. Not Scarecrow or Ivy. Black Mask?"
Tim shakes his head. "Most of his accounts are still tied up in that drug case that's in trial."
"Penguin," Jason suggests.
Babs wrinkles her nose. "If Penguin found out. He wouldn't bother with the body; he'd just hire a few mercenaries to handle us directly before we knew it was coming."
"The body was a threat," Dick says. "We suspected it before; but, this proves it. Whoever's behind this wants us to know they're coming."
Tim frowns. "Why?
Dick grimaces.
"Fear," Jason answers. "It's what these psychos always want, right? They want us to be afraid."
No response can echo that and, for a moment, the only sound in the car is the crush of gravel that marks the Wayne Manor's driveway.
The car pulls to a stop and Alfred opens the door.
Dick clears his throat. "Now, that we know for sure that I'm the target, we need to be even more careful-as civilians, especially. Public places may be fine; I doubt they'd want that level of attention from the PD. But, until we can identify and track them down, be alert anywhere they can target us individually."
"What about patrols," Tim asks.
"Partner patrols for now," Dick says. "On rotation, too. That way someone's always free to call for backup."
Tim nods, offering a small smile. "I'll look into the major rogue's finances, see if I can get a suspect list."
Dick smiles back. "Thanks, Tim."
Jason waits until Tim's already headed to the house before turning back to Dick. "Might be time for me to hit the streets again. See if anyone there's heard anything."
"That's dangerous, maybe too dangerous." Dick frowns. "I know we talked about expanding the Malone cover; but, right now….even in disguise, whoever it is will probably be looking for us."
"More dangerous to sit here and wait," Jason argues. "Come on, Dick, I can handle it. You know I can."
Dick does know. That doesn't make the idea feel anymore safe.
Barbara nods, walking around from the other side of the car. "That'll work. Wait until I can monitor you on comms, though, okay?"
Jason grins, shooting a thumbs up before following Tim up to the manor.
"He's getting more confident," Barbara observes quietly.
"It's Jason," Dick says. "He's always been confident when it comes to this stuff. He is the kid that jumped in front of Black Mask without a day of training, remember?"
Barbara laughs. "You're right. Let me rephrase, now, he's confident and earned it."
"I know. That's even more terrifying."
"Is it?"
Dick nods. "Because now when he says he's ready, I believe him." He tips his head back to stare up at her from where she's standing. "I can't lose them, Babs. I don't want to lose anyone; but, especially not them."
Barbara smooths his hair down, not pretending at a comfort they both know she can't guarantee. "I don't either."
He sighs, standing and shutting the car door behind him.
When he stretches, he feels a little bit steadier. "If the body was a warning, then we need to know what's coming next. And, for once, I really have no idea what kind of scale it's going to be."
"I'm sure we'll find out soon," Barbara says grimly.
Dick nods. "So am I."
"Are you heading up," Barbara asks, starting her way to the door.
"Give me a sec."
She nods and after he sees her head in, Dick pulls out his comm device.
He hits the connect button and crosses his fingers.
The picture flickers slightly and he holds his breath, hoping for a grainy image and a warm smile to finally filter through.
Instead, he gets a message about a passing electron storm.
He releases his breath in a slow exhale, leaning his head against the device and just breathing for a moment anyway.
It's okay. He'll try to tell Kory tomorrow.
ooooooo
"I understand. Yes, I-," Dick sighs, "Just schedule an interview for tomorrow, I'll try to calm everything down."
The head of Wayne Enterprise's PR department still sounds frantic, citing market speculation and stock prices and….and, honestly, Dick starts to tune out, making sure to give vague hums of agreement whenever there's a long enough pause.
He checks his watch again, wondering how long until he can make some excuse about heading to class. It's really unfortunate that the Wayne PR team probably knows his civilian schedule even better than him.
Crap. He's still got an hour.
He sits down on a campus bench and makes himself comfortable.
Then, he hears the familiar click of heels on stone and glances up to find Selina.
"Hey," Dick says into the phone, "I'm going to have to go talk to a classmate."
There's a sigh from the other end. "Alright, alright, I'll set something up. The Gotham Gazette, definitely. Oh, and maybe a small thing for GBS Financial. It would help if the police would close the blasted investigation already. If it was Bruce, he would-"
"Marty," Dick interrupts politely, "I have to go."
"Oh….right." There's a click and the line goes silent.
Dick looks back up. "I'm still mad at you."
"I know." Selina makes herself comfortable on the bench. "Mind if I join you anyway?"
"How'd you get on campus," Dick prevaricates.
"Start of the semester." Selina waves a hand. "Everyone's too busy to notice much of anything, even an heiress."
Dick doesn't believe that. For better or worse, Selina's always been exceptionally noticeable unless she's working not to be.
"I'm a bit surprised," she admits. "I know you always enjoyed school. But, college….between the Titans and Gotham, I don't know how you've found time."
He snorts. "I didn't get much of a choice, actually. My family schemed with the team and they all collectively decided this was my mandated time for normalcy. Apparently, they thought it was necessary or I'd 'overwork'."
"Hmmm," Selina says, "it sounds like they care about you."
"They do. I care about them, too.
She sighs. "Somehow, I can't imagine the same tactic working on Bruce. That man was the definition of overworking."
"To be fair, Bruce's version of free time was like analyzing blood splatters or refreshing his Russian or something."
"You have a point." Her brow dips down into something more serious. "Gotham is different; I didn't expect it to change this much."
"How so?"
"It's hard to explain." She meets his eyes. "It sounds silly now; but, after everything happened, I actually didn't expect you to stay here for so long."
Dick blinks. "Where else would I go?"
Selina shakes her head. "The where doesn't really matter. I guess I just thought you were a little more me than Bruce in that regard-can't stay settled for that long of a time, don't like strings trying to tie you down."
He pauses, unsure of how to really answer that-not even really sure how to think of it, actually, and why it sits uncomfortable beneath his ribs.
"I was needed here," he eventually says.
There wasn't a choice.
"I know, kitten," Selina says gently. "Be careful, though, this city's always been bad about snuffing out the best of it."
He frowns. "I know what Gotham is."
Selina doesn't move to reply so Dick moves on.
"Speaking about strings," he says, "it sounds like you've found a pretty major one, too. I didn't know you were in the business of adopting, Selina."
"Not technically adopted."
Dick rolls his eyes. "Helena. You trained her."
Selina nods. "We both found each other in a difficult time and, well….I guess you're not the only one picking up a few of Bruce's better habits."
Dick nods.
"I know you don't trust her," Selina continues. "Us, maybe."
"You haven't given me much reason to," he says. "Not since you came back. A week, withholding that someone was targeting my family for a week. Selina, what were you thinking?"
"It's not quite as bad as you think," she says. "I wasn't lying when I said we were waiting for confirmation. We weren't sure whether the information had been sold or was still in the process. We wanted to find out more before we made contact. It seemed like the best plan was to monitor the situation and confirm before we approached with an official offer. That was our mistake. We didn't expect the buyer to act so soon."
Dick still doesn't feel particularly happy with the situation.
"I don't like being kept in the dark with information concerning my family, Selina," he says. "Of everyone, I'd think you would understand why."
"I do know." She pushes forward. "All the better reason to have an intelligence agency on your side."
Dick sighs; but, he supposes it wouldn't be Selina if she didn't press forward for every advantage. An explanation and an admission is probably as good as he's going to get for now.
"Selina, I barely know Helena," he says. "That's not enough ground to know whether I want to basically install her at the head of a world leading spy organization."
"So, get to know her," Selina suggests.
Dick rolls his eyes. "Trying to make the kids get along?"
"Maybe a bit," Selina admits with a grin.
Dick opens his mouth to-
BOOM!
The ground shakes below them. Snow falls off the trees in clumps. Dick can smell smoke.
Selina and him look at each other, eyes wide. That sounded like-
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Bombs.
Dick's on his feet, phone to his ear and pressing the panic button. "BG-"
There's screaming, Dick can see the smoke spreading like fog now.
"-ROBIN, RED, GET TO GOTHAM U NOW," he orders, "SOMEONE'S SETTING OFF BOMBS!"
A hiss over the speaker and then-
Crack!
The phone's shot out of his hand and Dick holds his hand up to his ear, already dropping down.
Selina beats him to it, pulling his arm and pushing him back to the nearest building.
They're in the open, the courtyard has nothing to duck behind besides benches and a few frail trees. The smoke's everywhere and Dick can't place the sniper, can't tell how many there even are.
There's the crack of bullets around them and Dick feels a slashing pain across his arm at the same time that Selina drops to the ground in front of him.
"Leg," she hisses out, pulling up the edge of the dress that's already soaking red with a bullet through the thigh, painfully close to an artery.
Dick doesn't hesitate, can't stop running just pulls up on her arm and slings it across his back in a half carry.
The nearest hall's too far away, fifteen feet, ten. Dick can still hear bullets hissing through the smoke and there's no way to stop them, no way to dodge.
He….there isn't anything he can do.
They make it to the hall and Dick all but throws them by the nearest wall, getting them cover.
"They're targeting us," Selina says bluntly.
Dick nods. "We need a way out."
They can't stay here. Not for long. Unarmed like this, the safest plan is always to get as far away as they can and wait for backup.
Selina can't run with a bullet through her leg.
So, next plan, defense-find a place to barricade.
Dick….he doesn't know where the shooter is. He can't-
"Robin," Selina says quietly, hand gripping his arm. "The shooting's stopped."
Dick blinks and lifts his head.
She's right. The only thing Dick can hear is far off yelling and the distant sound of sirens. Whoever was shooting is gone.
Why?
A moment later and there's the sound of running, Detective Bullock himself racing down the hallway with a gun in his hands.
He takes one look at them and goes for his walkie. "We need backup and medical attention over at East Hall. Looks like gunshots." He stops and meets Dick's eyes. "Hey, Grayson, you okay?"
For a second, Dick stares back at him blankly.
"I'm fine," he says eventually.
Detective Bullock looks at him like he doesn't believe him…..Dick thinks he may have a point.
ooooooo
The good thing-amazing thing, really-is that he and Selina seem to be the most major injuries. The bombs were placed at lesser used parts of campus, prioritized for the flash and smoke rather than destruction. A few scrapes and bruises, a couple of cases of smoke inhalation, but for the most part everyone else on campus is fine if shaken.
The snipers only aimed at two people.
Which means-
"We think you're being targeted," Commissioner Gordon says bluntly.
On a hospital bed that he'd be forced to come to and with an arm bandaged from a bullet graze, Dick can't really disagree.
"We're already questioning the ones on the list you gave us earlier," Gordon says. "But, you know I have to ask. Can you think of anyone-anyone-that might be targeting you?"
"Not really."
And the sad thing is he's telling the truth.
Gordon sighs. "Alright, until this is over, I want you to keep it safe. Nowhere without your Wayne security guys beside you. Probably want to double it on the rest of your family, too."
"We will," Dick agrees even as he privately thinks that if his family can't do anything then really a few of Wayne security's bodybuilders aren't going to stand a chance.
Commissioner Gordon gives him a sober look. "I'm sure Barbara's not going to be too far from your side while all this is going on, too. Do me a favor, son, and try to keep her safe?" He huffs. "As much as she'll let you, I mean."
"Always," Dick promises quietly and means it.
Gordon pats his uninjured arm. "Okay, I think you've got a few people waiting on you. I'll go talk to the staff and tell them you're cleared for visitors." He walks to the door before pausing, glancing back. "One more thing."
"Yeah," Dick asks.
Gordon raises a brow. "How's Selina Kyle fit in?"
Dick smiles. "Just checking in on me; she was Bruce's friend."
"Friend, huh?" Commissioner Gordon rolls his eyes in a way eerily reminiscent of Barbara and Dick can't help but smile wider as the man finally heads off.
Which means Dick finally gets a second to focus.
This shouldn't have happened.
Bombs created for the visual rather than damage. Fear, that's all it was for, just to cause panic, just like the body, just like the message.
The gunshots….Dick can think better now. The gunshots all came from one side, Dick's side-he may be lucky; but, he's not that lucky. They weren't aiming at him. In fact, he's willing to bet he was in their way.
They were aiming for Selina.
Dick's hands grip tight in the hospital sheets. He'd been wrong. He'd underestimated. It isn't just that this shouldn't have happened; he shouldn't have let it happen. Bruce would never have-
The body was a warning. The bombs were for panic. Shooting Selina….that was an attack.
And Dick may be the focus point; but, he's not what they're aiming at.
He thinks that maybe….he thinks they're aiming at those close to him.
Selina was first; but, what about-
"You're okay!"
Dick jerks up and, then, his eyes widen. "Catalina?"
Catalina Flores breezes through the doorway as if she belongs. "I got here as soon as I heard."
"How'd you get in," Dick blurts out, too thrown off to even care if that sounds rude.
Catalina smiles, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Keep a secret?" She pulls out an FBI badge from under her coat. "Technically I shouldn't be using this on personal leave; but, it's not like the nurses know that. And you'll keep my secret, right?"
Dick stares at her.
"So, what does the Gotham PD know," Catalina continues.
Dick still has no idea why she's even here. "Not….not much."
"Idiots." Catalina rolls her eyes before they narrow in on Dick. "I told you to be careful. You should listen to me more."
Dick finally finds his words. "Catalina, what are you doing here?"
An amused huff. "I came to check on you, of course. It's all over the news; I heard all of Gotham U basically got blown up."
Dick winces. "It's not that bad. The damage is mainly cosmetic; the news exaggerated."
Catalina hums like she doesn't really believe him and Dick tries not to feel too annoyed about that. Really, after everything else today, this is minor.
"My family should be here soon," Dick points out.
Catalina frowns, looking mildly annoyed but not like she's making any move to leave.
Dick tries again. "I'll keep your secret; but, I think they might have a few questions on how you're here."
Catalina's frown deepens. "You guys really that paranoid?"
Dick's smile thins, gesturing vaguely to the hospital room and his injured arm. "Stressful times."
Catalina sighs and finally stands. "Alright, fine. I'm sure we can talk soon anyway."
Honestly, Dick's really starting to hope not.
He nods politely anyway.
"Dick?"
Dick feels his shoulders relax just at the sound.
The door opens and Dick can see Barbara's smile turn up when she sees him. It drops just as quickly as soon as she takes in Catalina.
"This room is off limits to visitors," Barbara says.
Catalina isn't smiling either, flashing her badge too quick to read. "Needed to ask a few questions. Speaking of, I believe visitation is reserved for family."
"I'm his primary medical contact," Barbara returns, blunt enough to almost sound cold.
"Ah, well, then I hope you can keep him safe," Catalina says, pushing her way out the door without another word.
In the hallway, Dick catches Tim watching her go with narrowed eyes.
"What a-ugh," Barbara cuts herself off, going off to stand by Dick. "Hey, new gunshot wound? You know they stop being 'cool' scars after the fist dozen, right?"
"Just a graze," Dick says. "Hardest part was convincing them I didn't need a full checkup."
"So, I'd imagine," Alfred comments, shutting the door behind him until Dick's left with just his family in front of him.
Dick takes one look at his brothers-at the tense way Jason's crossing his arms and the way Tim's eyes keep flickering warily at the door. He gives them both a tired smile. "I'm fine, promise. Had worse paper cuts from Ivy."
Tim's gaze finally lands fully on him and Dick can see the moment when the strong facade crumbles, his shoulders sagging and-for once-not protesting when Dick stands up and drags him in.
He tries for Jason, who bats his hand away irritably. "Don't even. It was a graze-only full bullet wounds means I'm touching you"
"Your sympathy is boundless, Jay." Dick rolls his eyes.
"There were bombs, Dick. And snipers," Tim says quietly. "Your feed cut out before we could get a location."
"I'm okay," Dick reassures again. "Honestly, Selina got more hurt than me."
He meets Barbara's eyes across the room and sees she looks just as grim as him. She's realized he wasn't the target...which means it's probably only a matter of time before Tim and Jason think about it, too.
"They're getting bolder," Jason says. "The manor was one thing, but something as public as Gotham U…..they aren't going to stay low for long."
"We can handle it though," Tim says firmly. "We always do."
Barbara's still watching him carefully. "Together?"
Dick nods, an arm still slung around Tim and trying again to get in Jason.
Together.
….As long as he can keep them safe.
For that, he'd do anything.
ooooooo
"When I said help me move, this isn't quite what I meant."
"I'm injured," Dick protests, not budging from where he sits cross legged on the couch and shoveling in the last bit of sesame chicken.
The apartment floor is a mess of broken down boxes and takeout containers and Donna stands above it like their queen.
The queen rolls her eyes at her one loyal subject. "It's a graze; you're fine. Come help me move the mattress."
Dick moans even as he's already standing and lifting it up. "You're so cruel in my hour of need, Don'."
"Your hour of need," comes the muffled scoff from between a foot of mattress padding. "I've been telling you about this move for months. And what do you do? Get targeted by another maniac. Rude, Rob."
Dick grins. "You say it like I planned it."
"It's Gotham," Donna calls back. "Maniacs are inevitable, learn to schedule."
They drop the mattress with a solid thump and Dick takes a moment to look around the room, eyes falling to the frames still waiting to be hung.
He smiles, picking one up. "You think we've changed that much?"
Darker eyes look back from the frame. The younger faces of himself, Donna, Will, Jade, Garth, Raquel, and Zatanna-not quite smiling but almost. He remembers this picture, barely a few months after their first mission when everything was still getting settled.
Donna hooks her chin over his shoulder. "Only where we had to and always for the better."
Dick thinks about that. "I like that answer."
He hopes he can keep being better. He doesn't want to think what'll happen if he can't.
"I keep telling you I'm a genius," Donna says. "I don't know why you insist on being surprised."
Dick snorts, sitting the picture back down next to an even older one of Donna and Diana. "It's going to be weird not having you in the Tower."
"I know," she sighs, "getting my own apartment makes me feel so old. What is this, Dick? I'm only twenty-two, I'll probably start going bald and getting crows feet now."
"Could be an improvement."
Donna pokes him viciously. "Keep it up and you're about to be really injured, Boy Wonder." She pauses. "Honestly, though, it just felt like time. Like I needed the space to grow and just find out what it's like to just be me by myself. You know?"
Dick doesn't, actually-can't even imagine having that chance. But maybe he does understand the impulse, to fly a little further without having to land back on solid earth. It's not a feeling he lets himself consider.
He smiles instead of answering. "And Kara taking over the next Tower room over had nothing to do with it."
"Please don't remind me." Donna shudders, burying her face in her hands. "For my life and my remaining sanity, I don't know how her and Vic think they're being subtle. She's the one with super hearing, right?"
"I'm sure they'll learn." he shrugs. "Or Garth will murder them both. Who knows?"
Donna laughs. "Oh, like he used to be any better." She points. "Now, come on. Mush, we've still got more work to do."
"Couldn't you have just asked Will," Dick groans. "Or, hey, get this? Maybe one of the billion people we know with super strength."
"It's the experience," she sings back. "Best friends help friends move, it's in the bylaws. Not that you're much help."
"I brought the food," Dick says, skidding back to the kitchen and pulling out the one thing he knows can save him. He holds up the gallon of rocky road. "Break time?"
Donna narrows her eyes. "I see what you're trying to pull here. Don't think I don't, Rob."
Dick smiles innocently, grabbing two spoons.
She huffs even as she grabs one and hops on the counter next to him. "Fine, a break."
They both scoop into the ice cream together and Dick finally works up the nerve to say what he needs to say. "Hey, Donna…."
"I knew it," Donna says fondly. "This is 'bad news' ice cream, isn't it?"
"I can't leave Gotham," Dick admits. "Not when it's like this. I don't think whoever's targeting me will try for the Titans; but, I can't risk it. So far they're keeping it to Gotham. As long as I stay there, at least I might be able to minimize the targets."
Donna sticks her spoon in for another bite but doesn't move to eat it. "And no Titans in Gotham, right?"
"It's too dangerous," he agrees quietly. "They already targeted a school, Don'. I don't want to see what they'll do if they think I called in metahumans."
"What are you doing about Jason and Tim?"
"What can I do?" Dick shrugs. "They agreed to partner patrols; but, it's their home, too. They want to help." The next admission is softer, what he couldn't quite bring himself to admit to Barbara in the hospital. He knows what she'd say already. "I don't know what I'll do if it gets worse."
Despite how competent they are, they're still Dick's brothers.
It's his job to keep them safe.
"Haly's?"
"I asked." He laughs without humor. "Didn't really workout well. Apparently, me being in danger is more of a reason to stay. Until they know I'm okay."
Donna smiles wryly. "They love you too."
"I know; still wish they'd care when they're not in range." He sticks his spoon in with more force than necessary. "I set the whole circus up with extra security through Wayne Enterprises. I'm not letting anything happen to them. Not because of me."
Donna reaches out and grabs his hand, running her thumb over the knuckles.
"This isn't your fault." She gives him a look. "You know that, right?"
"Does it matter?"
The look gets more pointed.
Dick sighs. "I know, I know. But, they're still targeting me. It's still my name they got."
He doesn't mention the how. He doesn't mention Spyral. Not yet. Dick's still unsure himself about what he's going to do there and he would rather wait until he has at least some kind of plan.
"What's Kory think," Donna asks.
"I haven't gotten to tell her," he says. "There's an electron storm a couple hundred solar systems out. Can't get a signal through."
There's a long pause and Dick glances up to find Donna frowning.
"I don't like this," she says bluntly.
"You love Rocky Road."
"Dick." Donna huffs. "You know what I mean."
Dick's smile is helpless. "Well….I mean I'm not exactly happy with it either, Don'."
She's still frowning. "This feels...Dick, I really don't like this. It feels like I'm saying goodbye. I hate goodbyes."
He leans forward and she leans with him, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer at the same time he leans into her shoulder.
"Not forever," he promises. "I'll come back. You know I will."
"You better," Donna says, hugging him even closer. "You better, Rob. Do you understand me? I know you. Don't you dare lock yourself in that deathtrap you call a city and let it kill you. If it gets too bad, leave. I don't care how Gotham feel about metas. The Titans will help."
Dick knows they will.
He also knows Gotham.
And he isn't sure which of them would tear the other apart first; but, he knows it would happen and he couldn't stand either.
Some things he has to do on his own.
He leans against her shoulder. "Take care of the Titans while I'm gone, okay?"
"Of course, I will." Another pause and Dick can feel Donna's frown. "And my favorite ice cream's pistachio. Next time you're trying to break something to me, bring that."
Dick pulls back, holding her shoulders and looking pained. "Donna, I love you but there's limits. Frozen crimes against humanity are one of them."
He probably deserves the spoon whacking him in the forehead.
ooooooo
When Dick gets home, he doesn't pause like he normally would to check for Alfred in the kitchen or the library for Jay or even the cave to see if Tim's found anything.
Instead, he goes to the bedroom that he's newly designated as his and lays down without bothering to turn on the lights.
He's just tired. It'll be fine.
He's felt tired before, more than his fair share if he's being honest.
…..Tiredness doesn't sink down into his bones like this does.
It's probably just the impact from saying his goodbye's to Donna and, for practically the first time since they met, not knowing when he'll see her again. Maybe he's still just tired from the shooting and dealing with the cops and the press. Or the fact that his skin still smells like bomb smoke and it's dragging across bad memories. He could be wrong; maybe he is just tired. It doesn't have to mean anything. He'll get over it.
Just….just not quite yet.
He drags a hand over his eyes and, for a moment, let's himself just be alone and wonders if this is anywhere close to what Donna meant by space to be himself.
He doesn't think so. It feels too lonely to be something that people search for.
It feels terrifying.
Because someone's coming after his family and Dick doesn't have any idea how to stop it.
He doesn't know what to do about Helena and Spyral yet either. He's still got to deal with the Wayne board and the increasingly loud whispers on whether he's truly ready to join them-barely old enough, not a Wayne.
As if Dick's not perfectly aware of all the ways he's not Bruce.
As if he hasn't always been aware.
Bruce would have…
Done something. Dick doesn't know what.
And that's as far as he lets himself drop before he's pushing himself back up off the bed. He rubs at his eyes and then his arms that have started to break out in goosebumps.
Alright, time to get to work.
Besides, it's way too cold in this room and now that Dick's noticed it, he can't help but wonder why.
The window's open.
Dick knows it wasn't like that when he left just like he knows Alfred wouldn't have opened it.
There's a batarang in his hands as he approaches it cautiously, scanning for anything new.
A small gouge in the wood frame, barely noticeable but distinct enough to be an arrow pointing up.
Dick eyes the groove, noticing the middle goes deeper like a knife or a sword or….
Oh.
Honestly, Dick doesn't know why he's surprised.
Barely a minute later, he's climbing up to the roof, nodding to the figure already leaning against the chimney. "Could've just left a note."
"Could have," Slade agrees, his eye takes in Dick. "Heard you got shot."
"Not like that's new." Dick stands in front of him. "No offense, Slade, but I'm tired and you're on my roof. What is it?"
"I know who bought your name," Slade says bluntly, not even bothering to beat around the bush
Which is….odd, actually. Dick doesn't know what to do with a Slade that's not playing some kind of game.
Or maybe the game just hasn't been revealed yet.
"Well," Dick spreads his arms, "come on, Slade, I know how this works. You're holding the cards and I need them. What do you want in return?"
Dick blinks as Slade shoves a file in his hands.
"Bit big for a get well soon card," Dick jokes as if his hands aren't already gripping at the papers. He tries not to show it. Dick knows Slade. He knows that things are never this easy.
As if reading his thoughts, Slade gives a half smile. "Call it a freebie, kid."
Dick narrows his eyes. "That's generous."
Slade finally sighs, a bit of irritation leaking through whatever mask he's using. "Just take the file, Dick."
Like Dick really plans on letting it go. He opens it and scans it as if it could be snatched away at any moment.
"Roland Desmond," Slade says, "goes by Blockbuster. Mob boss out by the harbors with business all the way out to Bludhaven. Rumor is he might have a few metagnes, too."
Fuck….fuck, Dick's heard of Blockbuster. He normally stays too low on the radar to get much attention-not with more immediate threats like Bane and mobsters like Falcone. Which means fighting him's still an unknown and that's dangerous, even more so because Desmond's the kind of guy with resources not to go down easily.
Dick needs to process all that, talk to his family, come up with a plan.
So, instead he focuses on the questions in front of him.
"Desmond tried to hire you, didn't he," Dick guesses. He doesn't wait for Slade's response, gesturing to his own injured arm. "Guess I should thank you for saying 'no', you're a much better shot."
Slade meets his stare. "He wants you dead, Dick."
"A lot of people do."
Slade shakes his head. "Not like this. Desmond's powerful and he's not half insane like most of the Gotham scum. He knows your name. This isn't like your normal guys-you can't just knock him out and stuff him behind bars. He wants you to suffer before you die, even if he has to kill everyone in this fucking city to do it."
Dick swallows down his immediate reaction.
"Okay," he says. "Thanks for letting me know."
Slade takes a step forward. "Okay?"
"What did you expect me to say," Dick presses back. "I don't know what your angle is here, Slade. What do you want?"
"What do I want-," Slade pulls him up by the collar and Dick lets him. "Have I ever told you that you're the most aggravating fucking person I've ever met! I just told you a metahuman mob boss wants to burn you to the ground! I want to know what you're going to do?"
Dick grits his teeth. Oh, so that's what this is about.
"You already know what I'm going to say, Slade," Dick says evenly. "I'll do what I always do. Find an in and take him down. I don't have another choice."
Slade's already shaking his head. "You do have another choice."
"Not one I can take," Dick states. "I can't kill him."
Slade slams him into the chimney. "Wayne's fucking rules really so important that you'll die for them, Dick!"
Dick glares back. "Don't go there, Slade. Not tonight."
"Like you've ever let it not go there, kid," Slade says and this close, Dick can take in the heavy way he's breathing, the clench in his jaw and….shit, Dick thinks Slade's actually angry or maybe-
Slade pushes away from him, staring him down.
"Fine," Slade spits out, "then, I'll kill him."
Dick doesn't move.
"No, you won't," he says with a calm he doesn't feel.
Slade barks out a laugh. "Watch me. You think you can stop me, Dick?"
Dick meets his eye. "Yes."
Because the thing is Dick's not the sixteen year old kid struggling with a new team anymore. It's been six years and Dick's fought with Slade-sparing or seriously-more times than either can count. He knows how he moves, knows how he thinks, knows how to predict him. Probably as well as Slade knows Dick.
He doesn't know if he could beat him, not enough for it to actually stick long enough to matter.
But, can Dick stop him? Here in his own home city that he's grown up to fly in.
Yes, Dick can stop him if he needs to.
And they both know it.
They both stop, staring at each other for a long moment as Slade looks at him like he's trying to find something and Dick doesn't dare look away.
"Don't be an idiot, kid." Slade comes forward. "Desmond will kill you, he'll destroy you. You won't do it-fine. So, let me. Please, Dick, don't die for the pride of the dead. You'll never get it."
Dick's breath hitches like all the air's been punched out.
And he can't help the way his head tilts, eyes going sharp and cold.
"Do you really care, Slade," he asks quietly.
The next thing Dick knows he's slammed back into the chimney hard enough to blink away stars.
Slade's yelling echoes in his ears. "I DID NOT PUT IN THE TIME TO TRAIN YOU SO YOU COULD DIE A MARTYR!"
Dick manages to shrug and make it seem careless, tasting copper against his tongue. "Everyone has to die somehow, Slade."
When Dick's vision finally clears, Slade's hand is still wrapped in his collar, single blue eye glaring down with something like fury and something else even more terrifying than that.
And….for a second, Dick actually feels scared. Maybe not of him, but he's scared in a way he hasn't felt around Slade in a long time.
In a single action, decisive enough to almost be bland, Slade lets go and Dick's weight drops back to his feet.
Slade's already turning before Dick can catch up with the sudden change.
"Maybe, kid," Slade doesn't look back, "but, I don't have to be here and watch it happen. Good luck with Desmond, Dick, you're going to need it."
A second later, the roof's empty and Dick doesn't have to check the monitors to know that Slade's already gone. Fading back into the shadows and somewhere far away from Gotham.
ooooooo
A/N:
Hey, guys, apologies that this is two days late (there were just two scenes that would not work quite right and I wanted time to get it to a place I liked).
With the next part I'm doing something a little bit different. So, Year 8 will definitely have 5 parts total; but, honestly, part 4 and 5 are shorter chapters (well planned to be, every thing in this story tends to be longer than I expect, lol) and have a pretty big cliffhanger in between them so I'd rather post them at the same time or at least the same weekend. Plus, the next two chapters are particularly important to the later plot so I want to make sure I have the time and focus to get them right. That combined with the fact that my November schedule is a bit up in the air due to travel and getting ready for exams, I can't accurately give a post date for part 4 and 5 but most likely expect them late November.
With that, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and thank you so much for your support! (Side note: yay, we finally have Dick back in DC canon, it's been soooooo long)