This was the second NW fic I wrote. It was inspired by Dick's use of the alias "Robbie Malone" in Titans #18. But it started something that's been dubbed by others as Robbieverse. These Malones are fun to play with. I hope you all enjoy. :-) Char



ROBBIE MALONE: Part 1

The dark figure by the window blended well with the shadows on the wall. His entry had been so silent that the man at the desk had not heard him. But, that had come to be normal in their relationship. He stood there a few minutes watching his old friend working through the pile of papers which cluttered the desk. He waited until the perfect moment. As Jim Gordon raised his cup of coffee he spoke.

"You needed to see me Jim."

The man at the desk jumped, startled, "Do you try to give me a heart attack!?!" he asked turning toward his visitor. He could almost swear that the man in the cowl had almost smiled, just for the most fleeting of seconds.

"You needed to see me Jim?" The Batman repeated.

"There's a strange aspect to some robberies we've been having in the fashion and diamond districts near Moench Row."

"I've heard about the robberies. They seemed rather routine to me."

"Until last night, I would have agreed with you. There was a video surveillance camera at the Diamond Cuttery that was robbed last night. What it picked up is hard to believe, if everything's kosher."

"What did the tape show?"

'Boy, you're a real conversationalist' Jim Gordon thought to himself before he began, " Eddie Maltz and company seemed to be back in business."

Batman turned toward Commissioner Gordon, "Maltz is in Blackgate."

"Suppose to be."

"I didn't hear about any escapes."

"There weren't any. And when we checked around this morning, our detectives found Maltz in his cell. The new warden said my detectives misidentified the perps on the video. I Id'd the perps on the video and I know I wasn't wrong."

"So you think the new administration at Blackgate's involved." Batman simply stated, there was no question in his tone.

"Yes."

"How do you want me to help?"

"Remember about 11 years ago, you went undercover for me in Blackgate when I suspected corruption in the ranks there?"

"You want me to do that again?"

"How do I, umm, put this delicately." Jim said averting Batman's gaze.

"Delicately?"

"You're, umm, too, uhh, old for this one."

"Too old???"

"Maltz and his gang are street punks, you know that. The oldest one's no more than 24. I'm afraid neither of us are going to pass for that again, friend."

"Then why call me?" Batman said puzzled.

"You do however, have a son."

"Son?"

"Nightwing. You two might fool some people, but I'm not one of them. I've known that boy since he was in short pants, literally, I know he's the original Robin; and I know what he is to you. Do you think he'll do it?"

Batman thought, it hadn't been so long ago that he had asked Nightwing to go into Blackgate. He was almost killed then. Now to ask him to return.

"Don't you have any undercover officers who could do this?"

"Not as well as you two. Besides, you both can get out of situations that my 'regular' officers could never. Will you ask him?" Jim Gordon said as he walked to the VCR to retrieve the tape.

"I'm not making any promises. I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Here's the ..." Jim began as he turned around. He stopped when he saw he was alone.

***********************************************************************

"Boy Wonder, you are sooo busted."

"What'd I do Babs?" Dick asked innocently shooting his best smile at the computer screen.

"Tim MAYBE could hack into my computers. You, NEVER. Trying to break in and find out personal information about Jason Bard. Dick you are sooo jealous."

"I am not! I'm concerned."

"Jealous."

"Concerned."

"Jealous."

"Concerned."

"JEALOUS!!!"

He turned from the computer as he heard his doorbell ring.

"Where you expecting anyone?"

"Now who's jealous? And no I wasn't."

"Let me check first." Babs said as she went to check the monitors. She was careful about opening doors now, not just hers, but the doors of those she cared about. She had monitoring systems in place so she could keep an eye on 'her people'. When she saw who was ringing Dick's doorbell, she lifted an eyebrow in surprise. " Go get it. I'll check in later." she said as she closed her connection.

"Concerned." Dick said at the now black computer screen as he headed towards the door. Opening the door he literally felt his jaw drop, "Bruce? What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you? Can I come in?"

"You're asking? I mean, yeah, sure, come in! " Dick watched as the man who had raised him walked into his apartment. Bruce Wayne wasn't his father by birth, but that was the only way he wasn't Dick's father. Their relationship had been strained lately, but things had finally started to improve between them . Dick was glad. He missed the close relationship that they had once shared. He knew that Bruce did too, but that Bruce had a harder time expressing that than most people.

"What are you staring at?"

"Uh, sorry. Didn't mean to stare." Dick said closing the door. "It's just that you don't normally use doors."

"Cute. So, how have you been?"

Dick could see that Bruce was uncomfortable, it didn't take a great detective to figure that out. Small talk wasn't something he did well, even when in 'Brucie' mode.

"Good. Have a seat." Dick said as he grabbed his strewn clothes from the sofa and chair. He looked at Bruce with a wide grin " When Tim's done with him, can I borrow Alfred for the summer?"

"No. Sit down Dick, I want to talk to you."

"Talk! You want to talk? Okay." Dick wasn't exactly sure why his heart was racing at the moment. Part of him felt like a little kid waiting for his Dad's reaction to his report card.

"Let me say first, so there's no misunderstanding when this comes up later, that I am going to ask you to take a job. It's totally up to you if you take it. I know you're busy with your own work --- with the Titans and your city. "

"What's the job?"

"We'll talk about that in a while. I just wanted you to understand that I was going to talk with you about that, so you don't think it has anything to do with what I really came here to talk to you about."

Dick smiled as he looked at his dad, "I know that. If it was just a job, you'd have called. So why did you come?"

"Parents have the right, and the duty, to check in on their kids every now and then. No matter how big the kids think they are. I've been a little slack in this particular role of mine lately. I'd like to change that. Now, how have you really been?"

Dick wasn't sure where to begin. He felt the back part of his head spin, where was this coming from. "I've been okay."

"I know that you had it pretty rough when you cleaned up Blackgate during No Man's Land. I haven't told you exactly how proud of you I am for what you did there, but I am." Bruce stood up and walked to the far wall. He looked at the photos that graced the wall; Dick and Barbara at the beach prior to her shooting; and a photo Bruce hadn't seen before, Dick in his police uniform. He turned back to his son, "Graduation day?"

"Yeah." Dick said with a smile.

"I should have been there. I ..."

"You were busy. I understand. Taking care of my city on my own now makes me really appreciate what you do. More than I already did. Listen, what's the job you want me to take?" Dick asked, hoping to give Bruce a breather. As much as Dick was reveling in this type of conversation with Bruce, he realized that it was hard for Bruce. Not because he didn't love Dick, but because he did. Work however, was something Bruce could talk about with relish.

"I don't want you to take the job. It's a job that Jim Gordon suggested you do. You are more than free to turn it down."

"Gordon wanted Nightwing, not Batman?"

Bruce turned to Dick, a curious expression on his face, "He said I was ... too old ... for the job."

"He said WHAT!!! To you!!! " Dick could feel his sides start to ache as he felt the laughter coming. 'No, Grayson,' he thought to himself, 'you laugh now and you're toast.' But Dick couldn't help himself as he felt himself explode. He fell over on the sofa holding his stomach.

"It's not that funny." Bruce said dryly.

"If you say so." Dick replied as he tried to sit back up. "What ... what job are you too old for."

"It's undercover with a gang of thieves. Young thieves."

"Anyone I know?"

"Eddie Maltz' gang."

"But there're in Blackgate."

"I know."

Dick stared at Bruce. Now he understood why Bruce was reluctant to ask him to take this case. It meant going back into Blackgate.

"Tell me what's up." he said seriously. He listened as Bruce conveyed the situation. Dick moved to his computer. Clicking a few keys he soon saw Barbara's face engulf his screen.

"Hi!" she said as she spied Bruce in the background, "What's up?"

"I need you to create me a rap sheet so I'll look good while I'm in Blackgate."

"Blackgate?"

"Yeah, your Dad needs me to go undercover. So create me, I'm Robbie Malone."

To be continued