Disclaimer: Batman does not belong to me. It belongs to DC Comics.

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Chapter Six (Shadows Revealed):

A lone figure waited, embracing the darkness in the residence of Richard Grayson. He didn't have to wait long, as Dick had been off duty for half an hour already. A clinking of keys had been heard outside and the door creaked open. Dick walked inside, casually at first, but cautiously as he took his first step. He turned around to put down his badge, but not his gun. He kept a hand near it just in case. He could sense something coming at him. Shadow? Batman had warned him about this. Maybe he should've stayed out of it. No, he couldn't stay still for more than a minute.

The floorboards gave a slight creak that even a mouse could've missed. Dick turned at the last second and roundhoused the intruder. A gloved black hand caught it and lightly shoved it away. "It's me."

"Batman?" Dick said surprised. "What're you doing here? I didn't think Bludhaven was part of your patrol."

"A regular riot." Batman said uninterested. "I'm here to talk about Jason."

"Jason?" Dick's face turned stony. "Why? What do you want to know about Jason?"

"He's the Shadow." Batman informed.

"What?" Dick said increduluously. "What the fuck is he doing fighting against us then? Oh! I get it! This is some kind of sick joke!"

Batman glared at him. "No, not your sick joke, Bruce. I mean Jason's!" Dick corrected.

"The Jason we know is gone. Shadow wants nothing more than to see me dead."

"What? Why?" Dick was alert.

"He thinks we betrayed him." Batman looked down.

"You'll have to explain that one later. How can I help?"

"I don't know how he feels. I think you'd be better. You two were closer and had similar experiences." Batman answered.

Dick nodded. "A reasonable thing. But why didn't you tell me Bruce?" Annoyance was in the last part.

"I knew you'd hold back when you're fighting him." Batman responded.

"Like you're doing?" Dick shot.

"What--" Batman started.

"--Oh cut the bullshit, Bruce! I saw the first fight you two had. You didn't even land a hit. Normally, you'd have taken advantage of him hitting your body armor."

"I don't--"

"No, Bruce. Enough of this shit. I'll help you. For Jason's sake. You do this everytime. To me, to Jason, and pretty soon... to Tim! I can't do it alone though. You're going to have to give Jason some answers." Dick put on his Kevlar suit.

"He doesn't want to talk to me." Batman reasoned as Dick put on his gloves.

"I'll persuade him to let you live long enough to talk." Dick answered wryly. Dick inserted his gadgets and mask.

"I--" Batman started.

"--Goodbye, Bruce." Nightwing leaped out of the window, and into the concrete jungle.