Dick slipped back in the bedroom through the balcony doors. It was over. He'd gone out to do some work while Harley slept, and it was nearing sunrise. He paused to light some candles. It made him sad to know that he'd have to leave her soon. He walked towards her and took his mask off, smiling at her tangled in the bedsheets. She lay on her stomach, her white skin soft and inviting in the moonlight shining through the balcony doors. Her red and black hair was tangled around her well muscled shoulders, her mouth slightly open and her makeup smudged around her eyes as she slept soundly. Dick reached down and brushed her bangs away from her face.

"I love you," he whispered quietly, a small smile on his lips. He sighed deeply, the weight of the sentence lifting off of his shoulders as he shook his head and stroked her cheek. "Harley. Harley, wake up…" She grumbled a little, rolling and smacking him in the face.

"Oh my God!" She sat up suddenly, wide awake. "Why do I keep doing this? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Dick laughed, kissing her cheek "Don't worry about it." His hair was pulled back in a ponytail, a few loose strands framing his face. "Good morning," he smiled.

"Ew," she complained. "Morning." She leaned forward, but instead of giving him a kiss, blew raspberries against his cheek and giggled. She leaned back on her elbows. Dark bruises were starting to blossom across her throat. "Ya know, I don't like this state 'a dress as much as the one that I feel asleep to," she said as she eyed his uniform. Dick laughed.

"I know. Personally I don't either," he laughed. "I had to get out and do some work while you slept, but you know. Duty calls," he chuckled, leaning against the mattress as he smiled at her. "I have to go pretty soon."

"Boo. That doesn't sound fun at all." She suddenly leaned forward and poked his cheek. "Sorry, kinda thought it was a dream." She waggled his eyebrow with her pointer finger. Dick laughed again, looking almost naked without the mask.

"No, this is really my face. Sorry to disappoint." He smiled, watching her.

"Oh no, it's not disappointing, but," she leaned in and whispered, "am I allowed ta know this? Am I gonna get in trouble? Are you gonna get in trouble?" Dick leaned closer to her with a smile.

"You know, I think if we keep it a secret between you and me, we'll be alright," he whispered.

"Richard Grayson who?" she teased, grabbing him and pulling him down to kiss her. "Wait," she sat back up a little, "it's almost morning?"

"Yeah," Dick blinked in surprise, his lips chasing hers. "I wasn't done with that…" he muttered. Harley rolled her eyes and giggled, kissing him again.

"I just don't think Crane can cover for me this long. I don't think it's believable that I spent all night helpin' him."

"Well maybe he will cover for you. Or tell the Joker you were out… killing zombies. Or use the 'lady problems' excuse, Spoiler always uses that to switch us on patrol/rest days," Dick laughed, dropping down on the bed on his back and looking at her.

"Lady problems. You're adorable." She kissed his nose before getting up and starting to pull her clothes on. "Between the horny three stooges and the rioters that want my head on a stick, I think lady problems is the least 'a my worries."

"Nah, but lady problems can't be easy in this day and age, so," turned his head to watch her, barely hiding his disappointment as she got dressed, and he smiled a little, "just let me know if you need a back massage," he chuckled. She grinned at him as she clipped her bra behind her back.

"Seriously, you are too cute." She moved back over to the bed, leaning over him. "What am I gonna do with ya?"

"Oh, I dunno," he tucked his arms under his head and sighed, "keep me here, feed me, play with me," Dick smiled up at her and bit his lip.

"Well I already have one too many puppies, so I don't think that's gonna work out." She gave him a quick kiss. "Besides, I don't have the time to walk ya an' how am I gonna find you food?" She grinned.

"What do you mean?" Dick cocked his head a bit, looking up at her. She studied him.

"Have ya even seen Arkham? The only food left is what's been stolen from you guys, an' I think that's about gone. What did ya think we were eating?"

"That's terrible," Dick said quietly, sitting up and moving her onto his lap. He sounded genuinely concerned.

"It makes some people very cranky." She sighed. "I mean, I have Ivy, but she refuses to help Mistah J out, so most people just try fishin'."

"Shit, Harley, I'm sorry. I had no idea how bad it'd gotten." He looked down. We have food, but would it be enough? "Maybe… maybe we can work something out."

"You an' me? What are we gonna do? Offer up Oscar?" She gasped suddenly, grabbing his shoulder. "Do ya think they've been eatin' the wild dogs!? We gotta help all those puppies!"

"And we can help them," he assured her, "by getting people food so that they stop eating them." Dick grimaced. "If they are eating them."

"And where are we getting this miracle food?" She leaned back to look at him. "Are you giving it ta us?"

"The fact that you say that like its a joke wounds me. I'm wounded," Dick smiled a little. "I'm sure I could talk Batman into an exchange. Or get him to ration off some food for Arkham…" Dick bit his lip, sighing quietly.

"What was that?" She flicked his lip. "Was that uncertainty?" She grinned.

"Well the problem isn't Batman, it's you guys. Batman will want to talk, and who's he gonna talk to?" He flicked her nose as payback. "You?"

"Hate ta break it to ya sporto," she wrinkled her nose at him, "but it'll probably be who's in charge. Your all time favorite man. Ooo," she winced, "that means I'll have ta tell him about this whole meeting."

"Then no. We can't do it," Dick shook his head decisively.

"No." She put a hand on his arm. "It'll be fine. We gotta do this. Think 'a all the dogs."

"I'm thinking about you, Harley, I don't want him to hurt you again," Dick caught her hand, looking at her seriously. She cupped his face.

"I'll be fine. I think you're forgettin' that I've been with him for years. I know how to handle this. As long as Batman actually shows up…"

"I'll get him there. This is actually happening… Ok, where are we meeting? On the bridge?" Dick glanced at her, biting his lip.

"Um," she thought about it. "Yeah. Seems untrustworthy ta meet anywhere in Uptown or Arkham, an' we obviously can't go into Gotham. Plus, you guys will probably feel more in control with lots 'a guns pointed at us." She grinned. "So how much security are we allowed to bring?"

"Probably not much," Dick winced. "Do you think you can prepare a good enough argument in three days?"

"Three?" Harley chewed on the inside of her cheek. She'd have to approach the Joker about the meeting today if he knew Dick's patrol schedule. "I'll have a yay or a nay for the meeting by tonight."

"Alright," Dick glanced out at the sunrise. "I'll be on city patrol… but if I can't make it, I'll send someone for your answer. They'll meet you by the bridge," he assured her, stroking her cheek.

"All righty. If I don't go, don't let 'em shoot whoever I send." She leaned her head on his shoulder with a sigh; she'd seen him glance out the window. "Do you gotta leave now?"

"Well there's still time before the sun rises," Dick smiled, turning his head to kiss her forehead. He sighed quietly. His blue eyes glittered in the firelight of the candles beside the bed that he'd lit when he'd come in. The color was so pure and cold, yet his gaze was so warm when he looked down at her. Dick smiled a little and wrapped his arm around her.

"Because, ya know," she reached her arms up around his neck, "if I'm tellin' Mistah J I was out here, I doesn't matter if I stay a little longer."

As long as you're with me, you're not with him, Dick thought sadly, smiling to hide it. "And I've already missed most of my patrol, so I may as well stay too." Dick dropped back on the bed, pulling her back with him.

"So what patrol do ya got next? Oh wait: city. That's what ya said right? So what's after that?" She grinned.

"Yeah. After that I'm on supply run. Anything you want me to try to find for you?" Dick smiled at her, pulling her close.

"Umm," she pretended to think. "Some cake and some ice cream."

He laughed. "Where the hell am I supposed to get ice cream?"

"Then maybe you can find me a more capable man?" she taunted.

"Oh ouch," Dick laughed again, glancing at her. "Well if my company displeases you that much..." He smiled and sat up.

"Aw did I clip your wings?" She grinned. "Are you gonna fly the coop, bird boy?"

"You can't scare me that easily, Harley Quinn," he beamed down at her, suddenly catching her around the waist and flipping her over himself where she bounced in the soft pillows on the bed, giggling. He pinned her down playfully, still smiling broadly. "I've faced worse than you," he laughed, nose to nose with her.

"I dunno," she tilted her face to brush her lips against his for a second, "ya may have faced worse, but I don't think they've scored as much as me."

"I don't think so either," he smiled, kissing her gently. She bit his lip before kissing along his jaw to his ear.

"I think I'm one 'a the few villains ta triumph over ya," she whispered. Dick shuddered and closed his eyes.

"I'm man enough to admit when I'm outmatched," he replied, one hand pulling her close as the other held himself up effortlessly above her. She suddenly wrapped her legs around his waist, using them to roll them over.

"Oh you have no idea," she murmured, sliding down so she was sitting on his hips. Dick laughed, looking up at her lovingly.

"I think I have a pretty good guess though," he smiled, his hand trailing over her belt at her hip.

"Oh really? Well did you know I could do this?" She grinned slyly before reaching up, grabbing his nose, and honking and giggling uncontrollably. Dick burst into laughter and nodded as she rolled off of him to lie beside him still laughing.

"Yep. It's official." I'm in love with you. "You're too cute to be a villain." Dick grinned, biting his lip.

"I dunno, you haven't seen my truly criminal moves," she smirked, giggling a little.

"I've seen a few," Dick raised his eyebrows. "You were always a force to be reckoned with, and that hasn't changed now."

"Nope. Only who I reckon with." She gave him a quick kiss. "And how I do the reckoning."

"Well I have to say it's a lot less dangerous now," Dick grinned, turning his head to kiss her softly before glancing back at the doors. "Sun's coming up." She covered his eyes.

"Maybe it'll stop comin' up if ya stop lookin' at it."

"Maybe." Dick's voice was soft as he smiled. Harley uncovered his eyes, and he blinked them open to see her leaning above him. She pursed her lips as she studied his face. She made her fingers into circles and put them around his eyes like a mask.

"Hmmm." She moved her hands away and smiled. "Definitely better this way."

"I've always thought so," Dick smiled gently, lacing his fingers with hers.

"What do ya think?" She pulled her fingers away to mimic a mask around her eyes. "Should I wear a mask to protect my identity and those I love?" she asked in a fake deep voice. Dick giggled, covering his eyes with his fingers too.

"It's a joke but it's not a joke," he smiled, laughing again. "There's a big family of blood and allies that this mask protects. Now that includes you, too. Should anyone find out that I'm affiliated with you, it could put you in danger. It separates these lives." Harley lowered her hands.

"So which life am I a part of?"

"The one that matters," Dick smiled a little, taking her hands and kissing her fingers. "Remember me telling you that my civilian life... That was my mask. It's ours. This is my life. I'm an acrobat vigilante who is the prince of one of the only standing cities on earth- in the zombie apocalypse. I'm in a five star hotel room surrounded by candles and watching the sunrise with a convicted murderer and committed psychopath who is so beautiful it takes my breath away. I have to go back out there- but I don't want to. That's the life you're a part of." Dick watched her, his hand tightening around hers.

"It sounds like a good life," she smiled. A tempting life. She had her life, a different one. The Joker. Or Nightwing. Her Puddin or Dick. They felt like two different lives that didn't mesh together and she was going to have to pick one. She'd never intended for it to end up like this. She had been bored and thought she could get intel, now she had intel and a relationship she'd never expected. You really got yourself into a pickle this time. "A good life every four days," she added.

"Right," he smiled, but it wasn't as broad this time. His mask off, she could see his light eyes soften a bit and the tinge of disappointment in his face, behind his smile. Always behind a smile. He scoffed quietly and looked out at the sunrise. "I should go." Dick smiled again and kissed her cheek, sitting up with her in his lap.

Harley grabbed his face and kissed him fiercely, ignoring his muffled cry of surprise. "For the love of all that is holy," she muttered before kissing him again. She knew they were getting too close; she could see it in his eyes, but she couldn't stand to see him crushed by her words. "You and that stupid smile trying ta hide your pain," she cursed him as she pushed him back down against the mattress. Just friends. You're supposed to be friends. Just friends, she mentally chanted to herself as she kissed along his neck. Dick moaned, unable to stop himself, still a little in shock at her sudden change of heart. Don't do anything stupid like get feelings for a guy who's enemies with your current guy. That should be basic logic.

Dick's fists tightened in the blankets at his sides as he looked up at the sunrise out the windows. He closed his eyes. God, he wanted to stay. "Harley... I can't..." He breathed, closing his eyes.

Fuck logic. She bit his neck, and his eyes flew open when she started undoing his belt.

"Harley-" Dick moaned her name, pulling her against his chest longingly. One hand moved down her leg and held her closer, his head falling back against the blankets; his heartbeat elevated and his breathing spiked, and she felt his muscles tighten under her hands.

"And I'm pretty sure ya can," she chuckled, smiling meaningfully at him before leaning in to nip his ear. "An' I'm not makin' ya stay." Her hands slowly undid his zipper. Dick moaned again, scrambling to pull her shorts off as he bit his lip. She wasn't making him stay.

That's what scared him.

Dick had accepted that he was keeping secrets. He accepted that he'd fallen for her. He even accepted that she was a known killer and Arkham patient; that didn't stop him from wanting her. He wanted her so badly. He was terrified, however, of what might happen if he stayed. Harley hummed against his skin as she kissed back along his neck, her legs clenching around his hips. She slid her hands up and under his shirt. Dick sighed happily and ran his hands through her hair, tangling in the loose waves falling against his neck.

"Nightwing, damn it, report," Batman snapped into the comms, and Dick let out a strangled cry of surprise.

"I'm here," he gasped, pressing his comm in his ear.

"Why haven't you switched shifts yet?" Batman asked calmly.

"Just got a little caught up," Dick cleared his throat. "I'll be out soon." Harley continued to kiss along his neck, her hands pushing his shirt up higher. Dick bit his lip to stifle a moan.

"Dick," Batman said quietly into the comms. "Do you need help? I'm sending Robin back for you."

"No!" Dick cried, a little too fast. He opened his eyes. "I mean... Batman, I'll be in soon. Just give me a bit-"

"-Dick, I don't know what you're trying to pull, but you've been acting off for weeks now. When you're back, come straight to me," he snapped, an edge to his voice.

Dick muted his comm again, stared at the ceiling, and sighed quietly. Well, I'm already in deep shit anyway...

He caught Harley's hands under his shirt and rolled so that he was above her, his hands feeling down her torso and gripping her hips.

"Sounds like you're in a bit of a hurry," Harley murmured, pulling his pants down to his thighs.

"Y'know what? I'm not," he bit his lip, lying through his teeth as he smiled and kissed her hard, pulling her hips against his.

"Good," she grinned, "maybe I wanted ta savor this," she taunted, tugging him against her by the waistband of his boxers. "You're still a terrible liar," she smirked, kissing him again. Dick bit her lip and kissed down her neck, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against his bare chest. He smiled against her collarbone, a finger hooking in her underwear at her hip. Harley giggled, her hands running up to his shoulders. "So how much time do I have?" she asked, hooking her legs around his hips.

"I'd say his time is about up," a voice said darkly from the windows. Harley squealed and rolled to hide under the sheets, causing Dick to tumble to the floor. He scrambled for his mask and yanked his pants up before standing, pulling his shirt over his head. Robin had already walked to the bed and pulled the covers away from Harley's face. "So you're the distraction," he muttered.

"How is someone so small so terrifyin'?" she asked, yanking the blankets back up to her chin. "How much trouble am I in?"

"For calling me small or for making him slack off and ignore his actually very important job during the apocalypse?" Robin asked, pulling his hood down and dropping his earbuds over his shoulder. "You know I'm only a few inches shorter than him, right?" He jerked a finger in Dick's direction. "I'm taller than you."

Dick stared at Robin in shock. His face had gone red, and he ran a hand through his hair, biting his lip. "Okay my height judgement is a little off from down here," she defended. "An' what's on the mixtape, Short Round?"

"No thanks," Robin put his hands on his hips. "Dipshit over here is already in big trouble because he's been screwing around here with you. I'd like to keep myself as far away from the situation as possible." He looked at Dick. "We've gotta go."

Dick nodded and looked down nervously, pulling his jacket on. "Jeez, I just wanted to know what you listened to," Harley grumbled. "I mean, I've never seen a real live gremlin before, I wanted ta know what kinda music they like." Oscar wandered in from the living room to sniff Robin's ankles. He knelt to scratch the dog's ears, smiling a little.

"And I've never seen a siren in real life. At what point were you planning on killing him?"

"Robin," Nightwing snapped. "Stop it. Let's go," he grabbed his brother's arm. Robin shrugged away the hand and laughed.

"Alright, alright. I was going to make a siren joke about her looks, but I just couldn't," Robin winked at her and then clapped Dick on the shoulder. "You're dead when we get back," he laughed, and then glanced at Harley. "I'm listening to Boston, by the way."

"Oh my God," she gasped, "it smiles!" She sat up, keeping the sheets up around her as she leaned against the headboard. Robin's smile wavered a bit.

"I guess it's been a while since we've crossed paths, hasn't it, clown princess?" Dick winced at the nickname. Robin glanced at him. "Come on. Finish up here, you're screwing with everyone else's schedules, not just your own," he told him sternly, walking back to the windows and onto the balcony. Dick leaned down and kissed Harley's forehead.

"Here," he whispered, pressing his comm into her hand. "If you ever want to talk. It'll contact me and only me if you ever get into a bad situation again." He sat up and then placed a grappling gun on the nightstand. "And if you ever need to get up here again," he smiled, tapping the gun. "It's a lot easier to use than an escrima stick."

"Okay, no falling without you around, got it." She caught his jacket. "One small favor?" she grinned hopefully. "Can ya take Oscar?" She glanced at the dog as he stood on his hind legs with his front paws resting on the bed as he tried to get up. Dick stared down at it.

"You're kidding me." He looked back at Harley. "You want me to go face Batman for- with that?" He looked down again, and Oscar started wagging his tail. Dick groaned. "I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Well it's either you take him or he goes back out to live with the other wild dogs an' we discussed how they could be gettin'," she dropped her voice to a whisper, "eaten an' look at him, he's practically a walking hotdog, an' I can't take him home cuz the Joker won't let me keep him and Red won't let him stay at her place anymore. I'd rather have him safe where I don't get ta see him than dead. Please?" she begged.

"Ok, fine," Dick scooped Oscar up and kissed her cheek with a smile. "Call me." He flashed her one last grin before walking to the windows, and she climbed out of the bed.

"And, um, another small favor." Harley blushed when he looked back. "Can whoever you're sending to the bridge be there before it gets dark?" She absentmindedly rubbed the bruises on her neck as she glanced down.

"Promise," Dick smiled before looking at her one last time. He sighed and shifted Oscar to one arm; he held up his fingers like a camera and pretended to take a picture with the other hand, keeping a mental image of her standing there with the sheets covering her thin frame, smiling at him in the sunlight.

"And last favor, I promise." She grinned. "Don't do anything stupid like die." Dick smiled at her lovingly and then stepped up on the railing, dropping over the edge and disappearing from sight. He fired a grappling hook to catch himself, and then hit the pavement running beside Robin. Titus sniffed at the dog in his arms as Dick glanced at him.

"I'm sorry, Robin," he said quietly. Robin shrugged.

"Save it. I knew what you were doing. As a matter of fact, we all knew. We, with the exception of Red Hood, myself, and Batgirl, just didn't know who had suddenly caught your eye." Robin smiled a little.

"You won't tell him?"

"I believe that this is a situation best handled by taking a page from Red Hood's book; I'm not going to breathe a word in order to save my own skin. Not if he doesn't ask me. But I will not lie for you, Nightwing, not to my father." Robin sighed in relief when he saw the bridge coming up, and he slowed to a jog. Nightwing shrugged. He'd been carrying the dog and Titus again sniffed curiously at him.

"That seems fair," Nightwing ran a hand through his hair. Robin shot him a grin.

"You know he's going to tear you a new one, right?"

"Oh yeah. I'm in major trouble this time."

"...was it worth it?"

Dick laughed. "It was."

"Tt. All of these relationships. Bad for clear thought," Damian sighed. Dick chuckled again.

"Yeah well. If you'd ever been in one, maybe I'd listen to a word you said."

"Fair enough. Good luck with Father," Robin shot him a grin. Nightwing rolled his eyes as he got on his bike and balanced the dog squirming under one arm.

Yeah thanks. I'm gonna need it.

Dick grew more nervous as he drove through the city, and when he finally got to the tower, he didn't even want to go in. He went straight to the elevator and pressed the button to the penthouse where Bruce and Selina would be, and he waited; Dick panicked when the doors slid open and he realized that he still had Oscar under his arm.

"Dick, come in here," Bruce called, and Dick swallowed hard.

"Too late now," he muttered, taking a deep breath and stepping off of the elevator. "Look Bruce, I'm sorry that I wasn't exactly on time for patrol and that I've been kind of a mess lately, and I know that-"

"-And I know all that," Bruce cut across. He was standing in the hall with his arms crossed over his chest as Selina peeked her head out of the bedroom. "What I want to know is why," he demanded. His eyes flicked down to the dog then back up to Dick's face, his expression unchanged. Dick bit his lip, desperately trying to come up with a way to lie to his father without lying to him.

"Why the dog? Because apparently Arkham citizens may be eating strays because they have no food- that's what I wanted to talk to you about, actually-"

"-First things first, we'll talk about your disregard for protocol," Bruce cut him off. "Shift change happened a half hour ago."

"I know. It won't happen again." Dick nodded. Oscar strained his neck at the ground and then looked up at Dick.

"Where were you?" Bruce demanded.

"Wit' a girl," Dick mumbled quietly, looking down. Please rescue me, Selina... He begged silently.

"During your patrol?" he asked slowly, deathly quiet.

"Yeah but it's not like you don't do it," Dick mumbled again, still staring at the floor.

"What were you thinking!?"

"I don't know that I was, was I? But it's not like it matters, no harm done," Dick shrugged. Oscar licked his hand and whined, straining to the floor.

"And what if something had gone wrong? What then? And what the hell is with the dog?" he added.

"I told you, it was gonna get eaten. Which is a more important topic if you don't mind," Dick stroked the dog's ears, smiling a little, thinking of Harley's soft pigtails.

"A more important topic than you endangering everyone's lives for a fling?" Bruce countered.

"And what if it's more than a fling?" Dick glanced up at him and then shook his head in irritation. "That's not the point Bruce. I'll get my act together with that, it's not... The people in Arkham are starving. They've stripped the stores, houses; all of the places that could have food have been cleaned out. I mean obviously that's why they've been stealing the food. They don't have any. It's awful up there, Bruce, you don't know because you're never there, but- it's bad. They need help too." Bruce sighed and ran his hand across his eyes.

"Where's this intel coming from?"

"Firsthand accounts. I've seen it. Like I said, you aren't there to see it. That's what I'm there for, right?" He smiled a little resisting the urge to bite his lip as he lied through his teeth.

"And what's your plan to save Arkham when you won't even protect your own city?" Bruce asked with an edge in his voice. Dick clearly wasn't forgiven.

"Well that's a little dramatic," Dick rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"What is it Dick," he snapped.

"Negotiation." He straightened up and assumed a more serious expression, clearing his throat a bit. "Organize a meeting in three days with the Joker. I have an informant in Arkham who's close to him that I've spoken to, and-" thinking fast, Dick took a deep breath- "and he says that he may be able to get the Joker to come to the bridge and negotiate with us about receiving food rations, peaceably, and stopping the raids on store houses and trucks," he nodded a little.

"So," Bruce held his hand up, "let me see if I have all of the facts. You know how bad Arkham is from firsthand experience, and you also have an informant who's close to the Joker. You're also inexplicably very interested in helping those in Arkham, and you blew off your patrol to be with a girl? Is that about it?" He crossed his arms. "I don't like you keeping secrets, Dick."

"Yeah, well, I've never liked you keeping secrets and look what it's done to our relationship," Dick said sarcastically. "I can handle myself." Bruce's eyes wandered to where a hickey was visible just under Dick's jacket collar.

"Clearly." He glared at Dick, and Dick pulled his collar up self consciously. "What are the terms that have been set for the meeting?"

"We... Hadn't done stuff like that. We thought we'd find out if you were ok with the idea," Dick confessed. "I'm meeting my informant today before dark at the bridge to seal the deal."

Bruce's sighed, mulling it over. "Someone other than you will meet your informant by the bridge," he finally decided. "The meeting is during your rest day, so at least we'll be better covered." He rubbed the back of his neck. "The meeting should be at night so I can have the supply run return early to have more men in Gotham. Just in case."

"Of course. Whatever you say. Can I request someone to meet my informant?" Dick bit his lip subtly, his words filled with hopeful hesitation.

"Depends who it is."

"Robin." Bruce let out a short laugh.

"You pick the one person I have no argument against."

"What can I say. I know you," Dick smiled a little.

"And if I question him as to why you picked him?" Bruce asked.

"Bruce, you're not an idiot. As a matter of fact, you're the opposite. I'm not telling you what; I'm not going to give you the satisfaction. But you're gonna see that my informant won't show up unless me or someone that I've okayed is there to meet them, and then we'll have no means of communication into Arkham," Dick shrugged. "So you aren't going to ask questions."

"Fine." Bruce rubbed the back of his neck. He had his suspicions; he wasn't stupid. But neither was Dick. Nightwing couldn't possibly be dumb enough to be spending his patrols with a member of the rogues gallery, and yet… "I would say there are going to be repercussions for your actions today, but you're already sacrificing most of your day off, so I have nothing to use against you."

Dick smiled a little. "And now we're only wasting each other's time," he held the dog up and made its paw wave, grinning. "See ya later, Bruce! Do we have any dog food?" He called over his shoulder as he walked back to the door.

"That thing better be house trained," Bruce yelled after him.

"Probably not!" Dick shouted back as the door closed. He pressed his comm when he got on the elevator, scratching the dog's back. Now that Harley wasn't there... He seemed a lot more attached to it. After filling every hero on the comm lines in, Dick addressed Robin directly. "I need you to go meet my informant at the bridge when I tell you to. Can you do that?"

"What did you tell Batman?" Robin asked.

"That you would."

"Damn you, Grayson," he shook his head.

"I'm sorry. Jason is busy and you're the only one my informant will trust."

"Ugh," Damian rolled his eyes. "I'll meet your informant if that's what will solve this problem." The disdain was clear in his voice. Dick grinned and began to talk, but Robin cut him off. "But you owe me, Richard. Don't forget that."