A/N: Hey my dears! I'm so happy to be updating! I really wanna thank Elliniest for helping with the editing process! You've been a really help and I cannot thank you enough. I'd also like to thank all of you who I've been in contact with, whether it be reviews or pm's, thank you for your feedback and support, I love you guys.
One thing I would like to mention is that Esme mention in a review that they thought the last chapter felt like a good way to end some of the chaos that had been taking place in the story and that gave me an idea. So from here on out, I would like everyone to think the duration of this story as Act 2 and look at the last chapter as the end of Act 1.
The other thing I would like to mention is my fiance and I are supposed to be closing on a house at the end of August so updates (though written) may take a wee bit of time to edit and post in next couple of months. As a lot of my time will be spent renovating said house and working to play for said house XD. But I'm hoping to have the next update ready for October. I will try and get one more update up before the closing, so keep those fingers crossed, both: I'm able to do that and that the closing goes smoothly :) #BuyingAHouseIsAPainInTheAss XD
And one last thing as some of you know, I just posted a new story that's a collaboration so I'm actually excited for that. However, it is a RobStar story (I know who the hell would ask me to write RobStar? Ironically enough, that's not the first time that's happened) but! I get to write a really awesome subplot with Raven and Wally that I'm super excited for! (My original OTP) So if you love the original comics and wanna read something new, please feel free to give it a read!
So with that! I love you all and enjoy!
With Love -Ophelia
Act 2
Hell is Empty
"It seems, you've mistaken me for someone who cares
I'm just a dirtbag, under the weather, and overrated."
-Bradsucks
He watched her as she chained smoked on the balcony, the smoke drifting away with the night. The morning hours had begun to bleed into the dulling shades of midnight, the nightscape melting away before her. It was almost beautiful, like a tragedy written by the hand of an ill fading muse, marking the death of a golden age. He could recall a time when her age was still ripe, her days still long, and her nights spent in his company. Only now, she was merely a shadow of the girl she once was, a ghost of the woman he loved, and somehow, still did. Only she wouldn't have him now, or ever again.
She finally turned to him, her face burdened by time, shadowed in the paling moonlight that dueled with the colors of the growing morn. Her expression held no emotion for him, not even hatred. Her eyes once fiery and bright, now sheltered in a cold ocean of rue that they never seemed to drift from.
"Creeping through the shadows, Slade?" she finally asked, placing the cigarette to her lips.
"I couldn't quite get to sleep tonight, I see the same of you, Addy."
She turned from him, she hated when he called her that. "I have a lot on my mind. Every piece needs to be placed just right."
"I know that," He stepped into the night air, the wind brushing his face with its cool grace. "We've come a long way, you know?"
"We have," she nodded, her smoke sailing into the wind.
"So when is the demolition?"
"2 days," she tapped her cigarette, and looked off into the garden below, "The Wayne Foundation is eager to tear that relic down. Ironically, it was Bruce's great grandfather who built it."
"Little did he know he was setting the stage for the city's most exciting era."
"The Waynes' have been the ones to single handedly build and dismantle this city, Bruce is only doing what's in his blood."
"And you are only doing what's in yours."
"And what would that be?"
"Using the Waynes to keep your hands clean."
She looked at him smugly, the lines on her face telling. "Darling, our hands have never been clean, but, I️ find it precious that you think they are." She stubbed out her cigarette and threw the butt to the garden, her husband watching disapprovingly. "Did you have a nice dinner?"
Slade raised his brow curiously, apprehension guiding his tone, "It was fine, but I️ suspect you don't really care?"
She smiled condescendingly. "I️ don't, but you're little indiscretion has cultivated a few of her own, and they have all led to some needless complication. First with was that bore Rancid, now the Hood. She truly is your daughter."
He frowned, he hated when she used his daughter's integrity against him. "If I️ didn't know any better, Adeline, I'd think you were jealous," and in a sense she was. Rose was the daughter Adeline never gave him and couldn't. Rose may not have been perfect, but she was still his little girl, not theirs.
"Don't mistake my disdain for your little bastard as flattery, Slade. I'm more overcome with the fact she's still breathing and our son's not."
"I️ miss him too, Addy," Slade grimaced regretfully, and he meant it. "But what happened to Grant is not Rose's fault."
"No, it's not," Adeline agreed, "it's yours, and I️ will never forgive you for that." Her eyes lit up with loathing and disgust, some of which she held for herself. "And I️ will never forgive you for replacing him with the product of the woman you were going to leave our family for."
"I️ made a mistake, Addy. How long are you going to punish me for it?"
"That mistake led to your son being maimed; Joseph can't even utter a word and you want me to FORGIVE YOU?" she lamented bitterly. "May I remind you that you were the one who spit on our views for some whore for hire?"
"Because I needed you and you wouldn't have me!"
"Oh so it's my fault?" Adeline scolded ironically.
"You do realize, Adeline I lost our baby too. I needed my wife."
She smiled bitterly, an old sadness filling her dull eyes. "I'd apologize, but it wouldn't fix anything, just as burying your sorrows in some 20-something didn't fix our marriage."
He said nothing and how could he? He couldn't blame her for her feelings toward him, he let his carnal needs get the better of him and even though he still loved her, he knew she'd never love him again. Not ever.
"On that note, I'm going to go get ready for the day, but I'm glad we had this little chat," she patronized. "And Slade, tell Rose if she doesn't want to end up like her whore mother, she should probably stop acting like her," Adeline added and looked back with warning, "she's gonna get hurt."
"Is that a treat?" he frowned sternly.
"What do you think, Slade?" she replied and glared into the lifeless void of where is right eye used to be. And with that, she left him to the cold breath of morning. Their union still shattered and his pride ever-wounded. Though part of him knew he'd wounded himself.
Still, as he waded through the years of lies, weakness and infidelity, names of young mistresses who'd supplied him with the facade of companionship, grew cold on his steel heart. For even though their tender flesh could be bought and sold to him via petty gifts and superficial transactions, it could never earn him the love he longed for. Nor could it earn him the love he'd unequivocally lost. For no amount of power or money would win her back, and no amount of regret or shame could relieve him of her chill. Yet still, even through the anguish and disdain, he loved her. Even if she'd never love again.
The morning crept in before anyone noticed. The light slipping through the window with its golden flex bouncing off the glass to the floor. Jason was still propped up on the wall, his ankles and arms crossed as if standing guard. Jinx and Wally still remained on the couch, Jinx curled up on her side beneath Wally's wiry arm. Raven and Dick were still asleep on the air mattress, nestled next to each other for warmth in the drafty apartment. Dick had let the empath cover herself with his coat, as she easily got cold at night (which was odd given that she ran around in nothing more than a glorified swim suit for most of her teens. But that's a story for another time).
Everything in the apartment remained still, almost deathly quiet, until the light chime of a cell phone began to play. At first the sound didn't really stir anyone, but as it persisted, that oddly began to change.
"Shit," Raven groaned and blindly reached for her phone, but had trouble finding the pesky device as it sang on.
Suddenly sighs and scoffs could be heard as the rest of the group was stirred by the sound. Wally shifted his body, accidently pushing Jinx off the couch, where she fell to floor with a whine.
"Fuck," she hissed tiredly.
"I love you," Wally droned, still in a sleepy fog and looked over the couch as she scowled at him from the floor. "Dude, is that our fucking theme song?"
"Don't look at me," Raven said, barely conscious, Dick somehow still in an alcohol induced coma, "Kory set it."
"Well can you shut that shit off, it's fucking awful," Jason chimed in, not even opening an eye.
Raven finally pulled her phone out of her pant pocket, her eyes blurry as she tried to read the screen. "What?" she answered, her voice raspier than normal, a hand over her pounding head.
"Raven?" she heard Kory coo over the line, "Are you alright?"
Raven shot up, a little more awake, though her head protested against her moving that fast. "Yeah Kory, it's just early… and, I'm a bit hungover."
"Ooooh," the alien replied awkwardly, "Did you not drink enough water as you instructed Gar to do?"
"That would be accurate," she sighed.
"I'm sorry, I'm obviously bothering you. I'll just call back later."
"No, it's fine," Raven assured, moving Dick's arm from her waist. "I have to get up anyway. What's up?"
"I don't know, I just miss you, I guess… I tried calling Donna, but I haven't been able to get a hold of her."
Raven glanced in through the open door, Donna still clinging to her first love's side, completely unmoved. "She's probably just tied up, that's the life of a mom."
She pulled on her coat and stood up, looking around while Kory replied.
"I know, I'm just a little sad, is all."
"Oh," Raven mused, leaning down and taking Dick's wallet in her hand, placing it in her back pocket. "I'm sorry, wanna talk about it?" She went to the front door and pulled it open, checking to make sure it was not locked before headed down the stairs.
"I don't know, I guess I'm what you would call depressed," Kory replied as Raven left the building and headed down the street toward and old coffee chain she'd passed the day prior. "I've never really been this sad before. I fear Earth life has gotten the better of me."
"It will do that," Raven replied with a frown. "That's the result of heartbreak, Kor. It leaves you empty, and it almost hurts to make it full again."
Raven flinch at the honestly that left her mouth, her jaded view of the world not akin to Kory's whimsical outlook.
"Oh Raven," she sighed, "you have always been so wondrous with your words, if only I were so witty, then I too could express my feelings in a way that meant something."
"Yeah, I'm not that talented and you already do," Raven drawled pulling the glass door open and stepped inside the franchise. "Plus we both know my poetry is depressing and I can't go five minutes without being a miserable bitch."
"You are quite fond of being the bitch."
Raven took her place in line behind two construction workers and a woman who seemed to be ordering the entire goddamn menu.
"Well it keeps people away, which keeps the heart from breaking."
"Oh X'hal, I miss you…" Kory whined with a pause, "…and Dick... I miss him too."
Raven winced at the mention of his name, not really sure why her heart sank so low.
"How is he?"
"He's okay," Raven replied, waiting behind the annoyed construction workers. "He's just trying to figure things out, I think…"
"Welcome to Dunkin Donuts, what can it get you?" A young man said, his hand slung over the register in a casual fashion.
Raven looked up at him and told Kory to hold on a moment. "Yeah can I please get five plain bagels with cream cheese on the side, one Box O'Joe, a medium tea, with extra milk and sugar, and one multigrain bagel with strawberry cream cheese, toasted, please…"
"That'll be $30.14, cash or charge?"
"Charge," Raven replied and pulled out Dick's credit card and swiped it.
"Did Dick send you out on a coffee run?" Kory asked recognizing his order.
"No, he's still asleep, I just figured I'd go," she said taking the receipt in her hand.
"It's gonna be about 15 minutes on the coffee, feel free to take a seat," the young man yawned.
She nodded and walked over to an open table by the window, awaiting Kory's reply.
"Oh," she said, "that is very kind of you."
"It's really nothing, he's paying for it." Raven could hear Kory giggle a bit, though its color was muted. "So how are things in Jump, anything interesting?"
She heard the alien free a heavy sigh, its register thick with warning. She didn't like the sound of it.
"Star, what's up?"
The alien paused, her breath a little ragged before she spoke. "It is well… it is most unpleasant."
"How so?"
She heard Kory grunt a bit, forcing herself to speak. "You know the gang that Rancid belonged to?"
"The Black Horseman, who could forget: why?"
"Well they're still looking for Dick."
Raven was by no means shocked, though it had been a few months since the initial incident. But if she knew the Horsemen as well as she thought, they'd probably never stop looking for Nightwing, not until he was buried in the ground. "I'm suspecting there's more?"
She sighed in conformation, "Yes, it's actually part of the reason I called."
"What?"
"Um please do not tell Victor or Gar."
Raven's face filled with worry. "Kory what happened?"
"Yesterday morning, I um… came to the tower for a training session with the team. And when I arrived… I noticed something."
"What?"
"At first I thought it was just a piece of trash or clothing that had washed up from the bay…" she paused, Raven could tell she was beginning to cry. "I approached the entrance where it lay, it was then I could tell it was a blanket, it seemed so harmless. I knelt down to remove it and immediately noticed that it was damp. I lifted my hand to inspect my palm when I saw—blood. I moved back in revulsion, but knew there was something beneath it. I finally found the courage and pulled the bloody fabric off whatever was underneath it."
"What was it?"
"A dead crow…" Kory sniffled, "...with a note nailed through its neck."
"Oh my God," Raven gasped slowly. "What'd it say?"
"The Bird killed our brother. Give up the Bird or we'll kill the murder."
Raven sat frozen, taking in the haunting words, not really sure what to say. She jumped as she heard a voice resonate from beside her and looked up to find the boy who'd taken her order.
"Need anything else?" he asked, his expression still blank.
Raven placed the phone to her clavicle and uttered her reply, "I'm good, thanks."
The boy leaned in a bit and looked around to make sure nobody was looking. "Also, my number's in the bag, if you're interested."
She smiled uncomfortably. "Again—I'm good."
She quickly grabbed the coffee and scurried out before the things could get any more awkward. Once outside she continued her conversation:
"Star, you have to tell Vic, that was clearly a threat."
"I know," Kory droned, "but if Vic finds out he might tell the League, what if they blame Dick?"
Raven sighed, part of her wondering if the mention of his name was supposed to persuade her.
"Kory, if anything happened, Dick would be heartbroken, you know that."
"Yes, but what if it's nothing and he gets in trouble for it regardless? He already hates me enough."
"He doesn't hate you, he's just dealing with a lot of shit right now and trying to move on—" Raven paused feeling guilty. "Shit, I didn't mean it to come out like that."
"No, but that does not mean that it is not the truth." The alien sighed again, this time with more self-pity. "He is indeed moving on... and as far away from me as he can."
Raven could feel the tears roll down her face, the heat of her blood growing flush on her cheeks. "That's not what he's doing," the empath tried to reassure, "but you have to tell Victor. He's your leader now, not Dick. You can't keep things from him or the team."
"You mean what is left of it," Kory lamented painfully.
Raven bit her lip, the words not really meant to sting, though they did, right to the bone.
"Star listen, you need to tell Vic, someone could get hurt if you don't. What if one of those degenerates goes after Sara or Jillian? God only knows what those shit bags would do to them."
"I guess you're right," she finally sighed, her defeat heavy in her voice. "You must be so disappointed in me, Raven…"
"No," Raven assured over a long breath, "and I honestly have no right to be."
She could hear the alien pull back her tears a moment and her breath hitch. "Hey Raven?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think you and Dick will ever come home?"
Raven paused, she'd never really thought about an after. Part of her thought that it wasn't really a question, but now, part of her wasn't sure if being a Titan would ever be a part of her life again.
"Yeah..."
It was honestly a lie, though she wanted it to be true, for Kory's sake. It was bad enough that she'd packed her bags and basically run off with her ex-fiancé on some suicide mission that seemed to get crazier with every passing day. But Kory couldn't know that, it would break her heart. The alien princess fell in love with Nightwing, she needed to believe he would one day come home. Even if he probably wouldn't.
"Do you know when?"
"I don't." That was the truth. She had no idea how far this road would take them, or where it would even bring them. Part of her wondered if they would even come back at all.
"Raven?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell Dick I'm sorry, for everything?"
"Kory maybe you should—"
"I know," she replied cutting her off, "but something tells me he's more likely to listen to you. He always listens to you."
Raven agreed, feeling guilty again, though she still wasn't sure why.
"And Raven," Kory added before hanging up. "I know you're probably not coming home anytime soon, but do you think it would be alright if you and I set up a time when we could meet? I'd really love to see you."
Raven smiled sentimentally and nodded. "Yeah, I'll figure something out in the next few weeks, okay?"
"Oh thank you, Friend Raven, that makes me most joyous." For a moment the color of her voice was became brighter, though it was still muted from its normal vibrant tone.
Raven insisted that her efforts were nothing and undeserving of praise, but the princess was persistence of their importance and bid her goodbye. Raven hung up the phone, placing it back in her pocket as she pondered, partly how she was going to make that meeting happen. But also trying to wrap her head around that horrible message. She looked down at her phone and scrolled through the contacts until she found the name she sought. She let her thumb tap his name and waited for that rich voice to answer and it did:
"Rae, how's my favorite little witch?"
"She's good," Raven replied, uncertainty meeting her reflection in a store window, but continued anyway. "Do you have a minute, I need to tell you something?"
He sat in the booth, his coffee warm as he sipped, waiting. He glanced down at his watch, checking the time. It wasn't unlike her to be late, but today it seemed her timing was more off than usual, and if he were anyone else, she would have been there by now. He placed down his cup and picked up his phone ready to call her when he noticed a pretty redhead enter the diner and smiled. He lifted his hand waving to her, she returned his warm expression and pushed through the crowd, a laptop case slung over her shoulder and a leather bag over the other.
"I'm so sorry, Daddy," she sighed, a little breathless. "I just couldn't seem to get out of the house this morning."
"No problem, Barbara," he said still smiling, "I'm just happy you made it at all."
"And miss our weekly father daughter breakfast?" she mused sitting down, "I wouldn't dream of it!"
"Well I took the liberty of ordering your favorite, I hope you don't mind?"
"Not all, thank you. So how've things been?"
"It's been interesting," he replied sipping his coffee.
The waitress came by and asked Barbara for her drink order, writing down an organ juice and a Black English tea.
"Interesting how?"
"Well just showing up to one crime scene and then coming upon another, it's like my day never ends."
"I hear you on that," she replied checking her phone before turning it off.
Their food came out, same as usual. Barbara had French toast with an extra side of bacon and a fruit cup, her father: two eggs (scrambled), and toast, he too also having his extra side of bacon.
"What about you," her father asked. "You seeing anyone lately?"
"Nope, not since Harvey. I fear my love life's gone the way of the dinosaurs: no longer in existence."
He laughed cutting into his eggs. "Well you never know, maybe you two will work things out?"
"I'm not counting on it."
He stopped for a moment and look at her quizzically. "If you were seeing someone, you'd tell me, right?"
Barbara looked at him a minute, placing down her fork. "Of course I would, Daddy. Why would you even ask me that?"
"No reason…"
She studied his face, his brow down cast and his eyes avoiding hers. "Daddy, I'm not a little girl anymore, you don't have to lie to me."
He looked over at her, her eyes begging for him to be honest with her, they reminded him so much of her mother. He couldn't lie to her.
"I ran into Dick, yesterday."
She nearly choked, surprised, spit out her orange juice, and coughed a moment while wiping her mouth. "What?"
"You heard me, Barbara," her father replied, trying to help her clean up the small mess before her, which seemed, when it came to Dick Grayson, something he did a lot of.
"Sorry," she gasped, "I just wasn't expecting you to say that."
"Hence why I was reluctant to tell you."
"Is he here… in Gotham?" she questioned wide eyed.
"Unfortunately…"
She looked back at him, his tone disapprovingly, though in context she couldn't really blame him. "Daddy, it's been like 10 years now, you can't still be mad at him?"
"He tried to take you away," he growled, but caught himself, "then he left you here—alone—to deal with the fall out."
Barbara frowned and stared down at her plate, her mind darting back to that 15 year old girl standing on her front stoop in tears as her first love drifted away with reality. Leaving her to deal with her own.
"Daddy, it wasn't like that… you need to get over it—I did."
Her father shook his head and lifted his coffee cup. "He hurt you, and when someone breaks your little girl's heart, you never get over it."
Raven arrived back at the apartment to find everyone tiredly skulking around, aimlessly searching the cabinets for food or an ounce of coffee. She walked to the kitchen and placed down the box and bags, taking out the paper cups and plastic lids.
"Got bagels and coffee, help yourselves."
"Oh my god, thank you, Rae," Wally sang grabbing a bag.
"Except that one." She snatched the bag from him quickly, aware of how alarmingly fast he could eat, which almost put his running to shame. "Try the other bag."
"But I love strawberry cream cheese," Wally whined.
"Then you should have bought bagels," Jinx said as she poured herself a cup of well needed coffee. "Thank you, Raven. You're temporality off my shit list."
Raven smiled sarcastically at the witch as she handed Dick his bagel and shrugged. "Don't thank me, Dick paid." She then handed him his wallet just as he was about to take a bite.
"Well at least I sprung for the strawberry cream cheese," Dick sighed. "Hey where's Jason?"
The Outlaw sat himself in the alley, just out of sight and lit a cigarette. He removed his burner from his coat pocket and dialed her number from memory, like he always had. He waited as the phone rang, taking a few drags.
On the other side of the ether, she sat perched on her fire escape just outside her window, listening to the commonplace voices and traffic down below. She too was enjoying her morning cigarette, alone, her phone vibrating deep in her pants pocket. She flipped it open, half expecting the voice on the other end belong to her father, only it wasn't.
"Hey…"
"Oh," she replied a little off guard, "I wasn't expecting to hear from you this early."
"Yeah, I didn't hear from you last night," Jason replied cautiously, "just checking in, y'know—make sure everything's alright?"
"Wow…" Rose drawled, "that's actually kinda chivalrous of you, you feel'n okay?"
"Yeah… I'm fine, just a rough 24 hours." He paused a moment, trying to place her voice. "Soo… you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Rose sighed picking rust off the 80 year old railing. "Y'know, just having a cigarette and waiting for my dad to call, shit like that. Why you so concerned?"
"I don't know," he shrugged, "you usually call or text me at night, even when you have nothing to talk about."
"So?"
"So you didn't, I got worried."
She let out a breath, not really sure what to feel. "Yeah I just didn't feel like it, I guess?"
There was a pause on the other end, Jason biting at his lower lip in a moment in quarrel. There was something cold about her voice, like she'd numbed whatever was biting at her heart.
"You sure you're okay? You seem… cold."
She frowned, though she couldn't really deny her chilliness towards him, especially since her father had shattered her fairytale the day prior.
"Rose, if there's something wrong, you can tell me. I mean did I do something—"
"Did you?" she snapped out of nowhere.
"No—at least not that I'm aware—why, do you think I did?"
She gave him a heavy sigh, realizing she'd let her insecurities get the better of her. "This is stupid, I'm sorry I brought it up."
He scowled with worry. "Why did you?"
"Just forget it," she scoffed, trying to do damage control, "it doesn't matter."
"No, if somebody told you I did something, I wanna know?" Jason replied defensively.
"Nobody told me anything," she drawled with irritation. "I just know how you are with other girls—"
"Wow," Jason snapped, "really?"
"Shit," she hissed, immediately regretting the dig. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
"Then how did you mean it?"
He was fuming, she could tell by the venom in his voice.
"Nothing," her tone was defensive now, "but can you blame me after that whole kitten thing?"
"That happened like a year ago," Jason grimaced, "I thought we were passed that shit?"
"Well maybe I'm not?" she growled.
He scowled, two could play at this game. "Okay you wanna be like that? I was gonna wait and talk to you about a little discovery I made yesterday, but since you're giving me shit, might as well."
"Oh and what would that be?" she snarled. "You gonna call me a daddy's girl or some bullshit like that?"
"I know you tagged those bodies, Rose?"
"What bodies?"
"The ones you dumped after the run," he replied condescendingly. "You tagged 'em."
She paused as her eyes went wide.
"Why?" he added
"Cause he told me to," she replied a little jumbled.
"And you didn't think to tell me because?"
"Because I didn't think it mattered!" she snapped.
"It does matter, Rose," Jason replied shortly. "Once the police release that info the Lords are gonna come sniffing around. Your dad knows that."
"Well I didn't do it to hurt you, if that's what you're implying?"
"But you still didn't tell me?"
"Y'know, Jason, I don't know what you want from me?"
"I want you to be honest!" he asserted.
"That goes both ways y'know," Rose retorted.
"I never lied to you, not even about Kitten."
"No, but you don't tell me everything," she corrected.
"That's to protect you."
"No, it's protect yourself," she hissed.
"You can think that all you want," the Outlaw replied, "but I have done more for you then you're shit bag father could ever be bothered with! Any time you've needed me, I have been there, no questions asked! I mean, I killed a fucking Kingpin for you!"
She didn't say anything, he knew she was fuming. "Listen," he could hear the disdain dripping from her voice, "I gotta go, but maybe I'll stop by tonight and continue this little Ted Talk when you cool off, if that's still fine?"
"Yeah sounds great," he patronized "hope you're in a better mood by then."
She could feel her brow crease with distaste, knowing she probably resembled her mother with a look like that. "I'll be in the mood that I'm in, and if you really love me, then you'll take me as I am. Got it?" God she even sounded like her mother.
"No, if you're gonna be a total gash, don't even bother," Jason retorted. "You don't get to act like a spoiled little bitch and not even give me a reason as to why you're treating me like I'm guilty of something…"
Rose had only one thing to say to that. "Fuck you, Todd."
"No, fuck you," Jason snapped, "you don't get to treat me like an asshole then expect me to take your shit. If I pulled this shit with you, you'd punch me in the goddamn face!"
"I'd punch you in the face right now if I could."
"You really are your father's daughter." He knew that had to hurt.
He could hear the resentment clawing its way out of her throat. She would have ripped out his tongue for that one.
"Hey, that's what you signed up for, Todd."
"No, I signed up for us to be friends, that wasn't enough for you, remember?"
"Whatever… I never heared you complaining when I was bl—" She stopped herself as she noticed her neighbor staring at her from the window, giving her a judgmental stare. "I think you know where I was going with that," she concluded, trying to hide her sheepishness.
"Knowing you, someplace very vulgar," he drawled, unamused. "But whatever… I gotta go, call me later if you're in a better mood."
"Why don't you call me?"
"Fine," he said in a weary discontent. "Oh and Rose, if you find my real girlfriend, y'know, the one who doesn't act like a little bitch, tell her I love her."
Ouch. "Fuck off, Todd!"
"Right back at'cha, Rosie."
He hung up the phone and cursed under his breath. They'd had little spats before but nothing that really stung that much (if you discount the Kitten thing). He turned the corner as he placed the phone in his pocket, the last person he wanted to see lurking just around it.
"Well aren't you two just more proof that Cupid tots a shotgun," Jinx patronized, "You two really are a "corrosive confection," should I start planning the wedding?"
"Shut the fuck up, Jinx," Jason groaned and threw down his cigarette.
"Hey I'm not the one who got all tangled up with the current year's Little Miss Psycho Bitch," she replied, her hands up defensively. "But if you'd like some advice, I'd be happy to give it."
"Yeah, I think I'm good," he smiled sardonically.
"Well you didn't sound good."
The sardonic smile lifted from his face. "How much of it did you hear?"
"Enough to know you actually care about her," Jinx revealed.
Jason frown at her, he didn't like feeling vulnerable "Yeah well, I kinda wish I didn't right now."
"Yeah that's the thing about love, JT, you can hate someone with every ounce of your being, but still love them all the same. It doesn't get better y'know?"
"If you're trying to make me give up on her, it isn't gonna work, Jinx."
He hated how unfair she could be and how much judgment she could place upon a girl she hardly even knew. But something told him that didn't matter.
She shook her head, her pink eyes giving him a pitying glare. "Yeah I got that the last 40 times I tried to warn you about her." Jinx paused and let an ironic chuckle. "Just remember something, JT, you're not bulletproof, and neither is she."
Dick moved down the sidewalk, after he and Jinx agreed to look for Jason, knowing he probably wasn't far. He needed the air anyway, after spending the night in that stuffy apartment. He took a moment to look around, the streets and sidewalks still littered with sand, meant to treat roads through the winter months. Beyond them stood brick walls, scarred with tags and names sakes, left as a warning or just another lost memoriam.
The horrors from the night before were little more than ghosts in the light of morning, the sun bringing them temporary warmth. Their lurking now at rest till the hours of dusk inevitably arrived. It was almost quiet and peaceful, even though the air still smelled of stale smoke and the scenery was not so aesthetically fair. It was in that short lived moment of clarity, he saw her.
She was just standing there, throwing a bag of garbage into a pile, she didn't even notice him.
"You…" Dick said in complete disbelief.
She looked over at him, her dark hair getting caught up in the breeze as it passed her. Her blue eyes suddenly filled with fear, reality hitting her with enough force to nearly knock the wind right out of her. The two stared at each other for a moment, unsure who might strike first, if at all. Dick thought about trying to reason with her, try and understand why she'd done what she had. Who knows, maybe she is a victim in all this? he thought a moment, trying to believe that maybe she was better than he'd previously thought.
"Listen…" he began and took one step toward her, but before he could finish, she timidity took off, like a feral cat.
Dick bolted after her, confident he could catch up since they were about equal in height, the hero being easily stronger than her. However, she had a clear advantage—she knew these streets far better than he did.
She darted into an alley, and unlike Mia, this girl could jump a fence like an Olympic pro. Even Dick was impressed with the ease it took for her to conjure up catlike reflexes and hoist herself over the chain-link without a scratch, something he was also very equipped to do. He shot over after her, hardly missing a beat on impact. She was still ahead of him, she may not have been trained, but she had potential, a lot of potential.
Still, Dick was gaining on her, his agile speed and ability out performing her own. She'd have to be both quick and clever if she wanted to lose him. She jumped and dashed up a fire escape, Dick following her lead. She was getting tired; he could tell. He may not have been in quite his peak condition, but his was still far superior to hers. But what she lacked in physical strength, she made up for in duality.
She shot through an open window, leaving Dick a little stunted. In all his years of vigilantism, he'd faced psycho clowns, mutant monsters, beings with abilities that he could only dream of, but a girl literally breaking and entering just to avoid capture, that had never quite happened to him before. Still, he hardly skipped a beat and flew in after her, hoping to God he wouldn't soon be staring down the barrel of a loaded shotgun.
He entered the apartment to the sounds of shocked screams, a mother sitting on the couch and her children mindlessly watching Saturday morning cartoons in their pajamas'.
"Get out, get out!" the woman screamed, the girl sprinting to the front door.
Dick looked over at her with embarrassment, the two children speechless. "Sorry," he said flinching as he ran passed. "Oh look Adventure Time, good choice," he awkwardly continued, going to his default.
He exited the apartment, looking to see the hallway door still swinging and dashed in its direction where he found her still running.
"Help, somebody help!" she screamed.
"Shit," Dick scoffed, "I just wanna talk to you!"
She continued her cries, hoping someone would feel heroic and come to her aid, not that it would actually stop Dick from pursuing her.
Finally, a stout man popped out of his apartment ahead of them, looking at the girl.
"Please, he's trying to hurt me!"
"No I'm not," Dick panted, not even slowing down.
The man frowned at him meanly as she ran passed. "Listen perv, you better stop right now or I'm gonna—"
Before the man could even finish his sentence, the hero's fist came crashing into the man's jaw, Dick apologizing at the site of impact.
"Sorry, Man!"
The girl glanced behind, hoping the larger man would be able to fend him off, but was startled and found a bit more drive nudging her forward. She bound down the stairs and threw the door open, sprinting her way down the street, not far from Roy's apartment. Dick followed as she ran down the sidewalk, looking behind her to see that he was still there and gaining on her once again, hopelessness clear on her face. He'd catch her any minute now, and there was no way in hell she could take him in a fight. Luckily she didn't have to.
A blur of pink shot out of nowhere, throwing itself into the girl with all its force, even Dick was shocked. The girl fell off kilter and crashed into the wall, hitting the brick with a groan as her shoulder took the brunt of the impacted. Before she could even right herself, her assailant was upon her, pinning her against the wall.
"Jesus Christ, Jinx, don't kill her," Jason droned listlessly, "at least not yet, anyway."
The captive girl went to scream, but was met with a backhand to the mouth, forcing a whimpering cry instead.
"You make one Goddamn sound and I will break your fucking jaw, got it?" Jinx hissed.
She was greeted with a spray of blood, her prey not so pliable. Jinx snarled, wiping the bloody spit from her face and balled her fist, getting ready to strike her once more. Both Jason and Dick rushing to stop her, but both carrying different motivations.
"Hey," Jason snapped, "we don't wanna make a scene. We need to get her to the bar, you can knock her around there."
Dick glared at him, obviously displeased with his lack of concern. "She's still a person, we should—"
"We should what, Grayson: Give her the benefit of the doubt?" the Outlaw questioned. "This fucking cunt tried to kill you, remember? She also knows who wants me dead and why. I know this isn't really your deal and all, but this bitch is gonna pay for the shit she pulled and she's gonna hand over the rest of her asshole friends, whether she likes it or not."
The two men looked at each other, the girl whimpering in fear beneath the cupped hand over her mouth. Dick knew they couldn't just let her go, and he honestly wanted all the same answers as Jason, but at what cost?
"I can't just let you hurt her," Dick finally said, not sure what else to really say.
"Then I suggest you look the other way. Jinx…"
The witch suddenly hit the girl across the face and slammed her head against the wall, knocking her out cold. Dick lurched forward trying to stop her, but was intercepted by the Outlaw who'd drawn his gun.
"Y'Know Grayson, I am getting awfully sick of this fucking Boyscout routine," Jason droned, the gun pointed to his elder brother's head. "Now I have been very lenient with you, but my patience for this shit is running awful thin and this whole dark side of your halo bullshit is really losing its charm."
Dick's brow furrowed, his eyes locked on Jason as he continued:
"I know how things work in your world, hero, but here we have one rule we live by. You live by anarchy, you die by anarchy."
Dick smirked at him coldly, his eyes almost laughing at him. "Then you better pull the trigger, Jay."
Jason glared at him and shook his head. "Like I'd actually kill you," Jason said lowering the gun from Dick's forehead, "I mean we're in broad daylight."
He returned his gun to his holster, biting down on a cigarette and lighting it,
"Oh how kind of you," Dick said sardonically.
"Yeah well I'm a thoughtful guy," he said taking a drag. "Now stop being a bitch and help us make this girl disappear before we all get arrested, for fuck sake."
Bruce stared at the screen, he must've rerun the test at least 10 times, only to be given the same unsavory outcome. A feeling of nostalgia clawed within his gut, his mind pondering how after all this time, something like this could just fall in his lap, and of all times now! He slammed his hand down on the mighty panel in front of him and rubbed his heavy brow with a shaky hand. He lifted his coffee and took a defeated sip. He understood completely, but he just didn't know how he felt about it, truly.
He glanced up at the ID photo again, the imaged of his now grown ward present on the screen. The words Partial Match still blinking in red. Ironically the perfect color to describe the loss he was now charged with. He took another sip and placed down the cup, ready to run the damn test again, until he heard Alfred say:
"You know Master Bruce, 11 has never been your lucky number," the old man said in a dull voice.
Bruce turned to him tiredly, the man offering him a fresh pot of coffee.
"So what do you think this means, sir?"
Bruce begrudgingly looked at the screen again, the details of the DNA analysis scrolled across it.
"It means: I might have a lot of explaining to do."
"How so?" Alfred questioned.
"I told Dick he didn't have any family left…" Bruce paused a little beside himself. "It wasn't—it's not true, Alfred…"
Alfred frowned, but held his tongue. "So I take it you know who this man is, sir?"
He nodded. "His name is William Lloyd, also known as The Talon… he's Dick's maternal grandfather. He disappeared not long before his parents died. Word was he was working with the IRA, but no one could ever make the charge stick. Everyone thought he'd ran off…" Bruce paused, at a loss for words as he'd never spoken that truth to anyone. "There was also some suspicion that he might've had a hand in what happened to Dick's parents."
"Well it looks like he didn't get very far," Alfred frowned. "I take it they didn't have DNA back in his day?"
"It was just starting to become the norm in '98, but even at that there was never a profile to match it to, that's why Dick's keeps coming up, he's the closest thing to a match the system has."
"Then I suspect you're the only one who knows this?"
"And now you…"
The old butler glanced away. "I know nothing, sir."
Bruce turned to his old friend, a man of nearly untarnished honesty. "Are you suggesting that I withhold evidence or are you suggesting that I hide this from Dick?"
"I'm suggesting neither, sir, I'm simply just suggesting that you look into it a little further, at least until you know more, then… well… we'll just have to see what you turn up."
Bruce nodded almost childlike, and took one last sip off his coffee.
"Do you think Master Richard's parents knew about this?"
"I know they did."
"I can't believe I just helped you tape up a girl and throw her in the trunk of your car!" Dick scoffed at Jason as he slammed it shut.
"That's what brothers do, Dickhead." Jason said with a smirk. "And this isn't my car, it's Donna's. She's letting me borrow it."
Dick crossed his arms unamused with his tone. "How you gonna explain the blood stains?"
"Yeah," Jason shrugged, "that's what the plastic's for."
"You're fucking crazy!"
"Yeah Dick, and you're just soaked in bleach now, aren't'y?" Jason drawled ironically. "Now get in the car, we got shit to do. Plus Trilby didn't show up to work last night, so you got a long bar shift ahead of you. So perk up, buttercup."
Dick glared at him and shook his head. "Give me a minute, okay?"
"I'll do you one better, I'll give five cause I'm feeling charitable," the Outlaw explained, "But seriously Dick, lighten up, you don't always have to be a Boy Scout."
Dick didn't reply, Jason being far too witty in the face deploracy. He turned and headed up the stairs, the sun still low in the early morning sky. When he reached the apartment, he found Wally kissing Jinx goodbye, he'd apparently taken the day off from work to help take care of Roy, and Donna'd done the same.
"Let me know if you need a ride home, Babe," the redhead cooed lovingly, looking down at her. Dick wondering how she could act so unaffected by what had just occurred.
Jinx pulled away, and saw Dick in the doorway, the two sharing an awkward glance that only lasted a moment. She walked by saying nothing and head out the door, Wally still holding her hand till she slipped out of reach.
Wally glanced at Dick, a now muted look on his face. "You look tired," the speedster remarked.
Dick grimaced and shook his head. "I might be a little hungover."
Wally smiled. "That's the perk of being a speedster, you never get hungover."
"Well aren't you lucky," Dick droned dispassionately. "Where's Rae?"
"Other room with Donna."
He nodded and headed in, Donna sitting by Roy as Raven checked his vitals and explained that they had to be written down to show Dr. Thompkins, adding where they should and should not be. He stood in the doorway waiting for her to finish, watching her jot down a few figures when she finally looked up at him. She could see he was distraught, doing all he could to keep it down. She handed Donna the notepad and got up from the bed, smiling as though nothing were wrong. Donna turning her head to notice who Raven was looking at.
"Hey," the Amazon greeted, catching Dick's attention.
He glanced over at Donna and gave her a soft smile. "How is he?"
Donna looked over at Raven, waiting for her to answer.
"Better," she nodded positively, "he'll probably wake up today."
"That's great," he smiled, grateful.
The two woman nodded and Raven continued. "Yeah. It will be a different struggle from there, but I think if Roy's really serious, we can make it work."
She sounded a little exhausted and she was. He could tell she'd already gone to work at healing him, attempting to mend those broken threads, the day prior didn't help. Apparently bringing someone back from the brink of death was more than taxing.
"Well, we'll cross that bridge when it comes," Dick said and took a deep breath. "Can I borrow you a minute?"
"Yeah," she nodded and excused herself, Donna, possibly noticing something off between them, but said nothing.
Raven followed Dick out to the hall, then closed the door tightly behind him.
"What's up?"
"I gotta head back to the bar, you gonna be good here?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine," Raven replied. She paused noticing something, "but I get the feeling you didn't pull me out here to ask if I'm gonna be okay?"
Dick crossed his arms and looked away. "I didn't, but I'm not really sure what to say…"
Raven leaned on the door frame and looked at him, her eyes studying him in a way only they could. "Okay, you don't have to tell me now," she replied.
Dick gave her a half smile and a sigh, a little relieved he didn't have to put such fuckery into words.
She could see his visible relief, though it was clear that he was still very much bothered by it. "Just tell me one thing, Dick," she said looking him in the eye. "Is it necessary?"
His eyes shot away from hers again, he honestly didn't know. The girl was the only real lead they had, but he also had no idea who she was, or whether or not she was actually innocent. Still, the idea just didn't sit right with him and Raven could clearly see that. He just hoped he could find another way, but could he?
"I think it is, but…" he stopped himself, the words sour on his tongue.
"It just doesn't feel right?" she completed, Dick looking back at her with defeat wide in his eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think there is another way?"
"Probably not."
"Then do what you have to do," she finally concluded.
He nodded, a little grateful that she seemed to understand, even if she truly didn't. He began to turn away, remembering that Jason had specifically given him five minutes when he heard Raven say:
"But Dick…"
He stopped and turned to her, his eyes still weary of the task ahead.
"…If you can find another way, you should take it."
"I know," he said, "it's just finding one that will get me to the same place."
She smiled ironically. "Maybe wherever you think you need to go, isn't the right place."
"Then what should I do?"
"What you've always done" she replied. "Do what feels right."
"I'm gonna skin that little trollop alive next time I see her," Clancy scowled, hurrying to restock the bar with Hogan and X's help.
Eddie was hard at work sweeping the floor and cleaning up tables, he too doing all he could to make up for the lack of manpower.
"I mean what the hell was she thinking?"
And really what was she thinking? X thought. "Yeah, knowing her, she's probably shacked up with some toolbag somewhere," X finally said, as it wouldn't have been the first time she dipped out for a man.
"So she's at your place?" Hogan added with a smirk as he ashed his cigar.
X smiled deviously. "If that were the case, then I'd be AWOLE too, not that I wouldn't hit tha—" X began playfully but was cut off.
"Y'know, she's a person, right?" Eddie snapped, "what if something happened to her?" His brow was creased and his lips curled in a frown.
"Dude, I was kidding… well I was mostly kidding," X corrected, "but I'm sure she's fine. I mean it's not like she's never done this before."
"Yeah, what is this like the third time she's slipped off with some guy?" Clancy asked, shaking her head disapprovingly. "She'll turn up and when she does—"
"Whatever you're gonna do, Chanc, I'm probably gonna do it first," Jason said entering the bar. "That girl's pulled this shit for the last time."
Eddie shook his head and slammed down the broom. "I got shit to do," he growled grimacing and stormed out, Jason noticing the brand new shiner he was sporting.
"Well someone's on their period," X added and looked over to Jason. "Did the Junky make it?"
"Yeah, Roy's gonna be fine," Jason replied, "for now." He looked around to see the bar in a not so hardy state. "So I take it I missed the apocalypse?"
An asinine look fell over X's boyish face. "Oh you mean Bar-pocalypse, yeah, you missed it alright, and you better be fuck'n glad you did."
"Do I dare ask?"
The three looked at Jason and then to each other.
"It's best left to the imagination, man."
"Okay then," Jason said with an understanding nod. "Hey, when you two get a minute I need you both to come down stairs." He added, gesturing to Hogan and the thief.
"What's it about," Hogan asked, putting out his cigar.
"Just stumbled across some information I'd like you to take a look at. It might help clear up things in regards to the run."
"Okay, just let me finish up here real quick," X replied, Jason giving him an approving nod. "Oh yeah, Jaybird, I forgot," he added, catching himself. "Your girl came by last night looking for you—she wanted to know where you were."
Jason turned, clearly unaware of this fact. "What'd you say?"
X looked back at him, taken back by the urgency of his tone. "I just said that you were out taking care of shit and that was all I could say."
"Did she seemed mad?"
"I don't know, I mean she looked a little disappointed, but then again girls like Rose always do." X finished, restocking the glassware and emerged from behind the bar. "Can't say I blame her though, I mean with—" he stopped himself, not sure if he should continue.
"What was that last part?" Jason asked finding the rambling odd.
"Nothing, just not thinking straight," X replied sheepishly. "So what'd you wanna show us?"
The two men followed their leader down the aged, narrow staircase, swallowed by the limestone foundation. Their footsteps fell heavy as they descended, the two inquiring what awaited them at the bottom.
"What did you get some kinda intel on the—" X began but then stopped in his tracks, the sight of a girl bound and gagged, catching him off guard. "Whoa," X said in discomfort, "you even gift wrapped it… you REALLY shouldn't have, like you really, REALLY shouldn't have!" he ranted in dismay.
X glanced over and noticed, along with Jinx, that Dick was checking the duct tape, making sure her bounds were secure.
"You had a hand in this, Chuckles?" the thief questioned.
Dick glared at Jason, his eyes screaming volumes to his discontent. "Well someone put a gun to my head. I sorta had to."
"Sounds fair," Hogan grunted, biting down on his cigar.
X glanced over at Jason expecting an answer, a good one!
"Hey, before you join Grayson up on his high horse, take a good look at that bitch and tell me what you see."
X glared over at her, inspecting her features, his face starting to cast realization. "Her?" his brows raised as he turned back to the Outlaw.
"Yep."
"OH HELL NO."
"Oh hell yes," Jason corrected crassly, "and she's gonna tell us who wants me dead."
X looked at Dick and frowned. "Are you okay with this?"
"Of course not!" Dick lamented annoyed. "But she does have information we need—"
"I don't care," X proclaimed. "We have rules, JT. Whatever happened to no women, no children?"
"What's your point: she's a girl?" Jason spat. "Some of the most dangerous people in this city are women. Fuck—my girlfriend's one of them!"
"So, she's not Rose! And she isn't Harley or Ivy either," Dick defended, "she's just some girl we know nothing about!"
"No shit, Dick and I intend to change that," Jason patronized.
"Yeah, so if you two could stop white knighting for the bitch that tried to kill you and revoke her pussy pass a second," Jinx proclaimed, "Y'know, maybe recall she put herself in this situation and stop defending her bullshit honor; I, as a woman, would greatly appreciate it." Jinx added, finally weighing in on the situation.
"See, Jinx is okay with it," Jason said justifiably. "Now like she said, she made her fucking bed and she's gotta sleep in it. Anymore questions?"
"Yeah," X quipped, "do they serve beer in Hell?"