Merry Christmas loopylouise123!

You made a suggestion involving Nightwing and Red X! As I've said before I know close to nothing about Nightwing's life, but I found out a little bit from research… about his apartment and so on, however, I know nothing, so I just made it up. I also don't know if his co-workers know that he is the Dick Grayson or anything… If you know, you are welcome to tell me… This actually turned into a sort of "prequel" to "Long enough…" but you don't have to have read that to read this… or the other way around… ;o)

Warnings: None... except more lemony goodness! Yay for vitamins!

Oh, and thank you all SOOOOOO much for the reviews! It's really the best X-mas presents I could wish for!


Business or Pleasure?

Nightwing knew every part of his city. Every roof. Every alley. Every shadow. Therefore it was quite easy for him to spot the one that didn't fit in.

He held back for a moment, studying the silhouette that was crouched on the ledge of the roof below him. Who was it? Dick didn't recognize the figure, and he had no idea if he was friend or foe… on the other hand, another vigilante willingly taking on Blüdhaven? Not very likely.

The shadow proved him right only a moment later, as it leapt off the edge and there was the sound of broken glass followed by a shrill alarm. Something becoming visible when the figure jumped, stirred a feeling of recognition within Nightwing, but he couldn't figure out what… something about the cape?

The man, definitely a man, that much became clear as soon as the person had moved, were only out of sight for a second before appearing on the opposite roof. Whoever this one was, he really moved quickly.

Dick watched the shadow disappear and smiled to himself. He knew the route the thief had taken, it was a series of easily accessible roofs and fire escapes, but the down-side to it was that there really wasn't anywhere else to go. You had to stay on the path or get smeared on the street below… if you were human, that is. That meant he knew exactly where his prey where going… and he knew a short-cut. The chase was on.

Five minutes later, the criminal, somewhat winded, rounded the corner of a rooftop building and slammed into a waiting vigilante.

"What the fuck-?"

"Ah-ah-ah… mind your language, thi- YOU?" Dick couldn't help but gape at the shape on the ground before him.

The shape in question muttered under his breath as he got to his feet and dusted himself off. As he looked up, however, a smile broke out on the half masked face.

"Kid! Long time no see!"

"Red X! Wait! How did you… I…?"

"Never pretty when a hero stutters." The thief smirked. The smirk itself made something click in Dick's mind.

"You changed your outfit." he said, a hint accusingly. After all, he had designed it.

"Well, you try to eat on the go with a mask covering your mouth… or kiss, I might add…"

Dick studied the man in front of him. It was mainly the mask that had changed as far as the costume was concerned. It was a half cowl now, much like Batman's, and the image of the white skull looked more molded to the contours of the face, although much more sinister than a normal skull would have looked. The ominous appearance, however, was completely destroyed by the big and rather friendly grin. Dick couldn't figure out why he hadn't recognized his old adversary until the man was standing up straight. Red X had grown up. Well. Physically.

Nightwing himself was not unhappy about his own development for the past few years. He had shot up quite nicely, and filled out too. So why did X have to be taller than him still? It wasn't by much, but it still made Dick want to get on his tiptoes… he would have too, if he could have gotten away with it.

"How did you know?" Dick folded his arms, using his best Bat-glare to try to wipe that smile off the thief's face, but to no avail.

"About you changing your style and moving out here? Star told me."

"What?" A million images, most of them very, very disturbing, flashed before Dick's eyes.

"Well, when I said 'told' it was more like 'overheard'" Red X admitted with a shrug. "I was going through your stuff, and-"

"What!?" Dick repeated, this time drawing his bo-staff and used it to pin the other one to the wall.

"Hey!" X croaked. "Let me breathe, okay? I was just in the Tower for a bit… only curious… didn't like take anything! …much…"

"Oh, and that makes me so much happier!" Dick growled. "Why are you here?"

"Missed you."

"What?" Dick's head spun. He knew the man was teasing him. Well... he was pretty sure, anyway… sure, they had flirted a bit, while fighting, back in Jump, but… He felt his groin tighten slightly, but blamed it on the dry-spell he had had lately… like the longest one in history. He really didn't have time to date.

"Is that all you can say? I mean, you have grown, but your vocabulary sure hasn't."

"And you are as juvenile as ever." Dick snorted. "What did you steal? Hand it over and I promise to dump you in front of a nice police-patrol."

"Can't. Didn't steal a thing." Red X huffed.

"I'm not in the mood, X."

"Too bad… but I didn't!" The young man assured him. "Come on? Would I try something that clumsy? I was trying to get your attention!"

"You sure got it." Nightwing smirked. "No matter. I'm sure there is a warrant with your name on it somewhere…" he said, stepping back just a little bit, to draw a set of handcuffs from his belt. "Turn around. Spread your legs and hands behind your back."

"Ohhh… kinky…." Red X grinned. "But no can do. I'm here to see you, not the inside of some cell… See you tomorrow."

Before Dick had time to react, one of the thief's hands had reached his belt. In a second he was gone, and even though Dick threw himself forward, he caught only air.

"Where did you get the Xenothium?" Dick growled, but only heard a light chuckle from the distance. He ran towards the sound, but however hard he searched, he couldn't find a trace of Red X anywhere.

Irritated, Nightwing headed back to his flat after a while. The thief could forget about seeing him tomorrow… he was going to pull a double shift at the station and knew better than to hit the rooftops after a day like that. Next time he did see the annoying clepto, however, he would go straight for the cuffs. No chitchat. But not tomorrow. Being a rookie police officer by day and a vigilante by night, could be exhausting. Dick loved it, though.

Late next night he dragged his feet up the stairs to his apartment. It was convenient, living on the top floor, but not when the elevator was broken. And it was broken a lot. The neighborhood wasn't really that bad, but he had opted for a flat that he could actually afford with his civilian salary, and that said a lot. He didn't want to raise any suspicions amongst his co-workers, however. Just a regular cop. No super hero and definitely not a rich boy… The last thing would get him more grief than the first, he reckoned. It was bad enough that he wasn't the son of a cop. Most of his colleagues were the sons and daughters of long lines of police officers, and they usually thought themselves just a little bit better than those who weren't from cop families. One of them had gotten on his nerves today as he had ended up on desk-duty for the last couple of hours… the man had claimed that riding the streets at night took a "real" cop. At times like that Dick really wanted to be able to show them all the real Blüdhaven… the areas even the police refused to enter during the night… that took a real cop…

Dick sighed with relief as he finally reached his door. He wasn't really winded, just tired from a long, often frustrating, day. Before unlocking the door, he checked the lock out of habit. Hadn't been touched. After entering his apartment and locking the door behind him, he relaxed, feeling the tensions of the day roll off him. He went trough his usual routine, picked up the mail on the floor, threw the keys on the small hallway table, dropped the duffel bag with his uniform, towel and work-out clothes, on the floor. He rarely wore the uniform home, he knew it might get him some unwanted attention. He shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it in the general direction of the coat rack and grinned to himself as it caught one of the hooks and stayed there. He then kicked off his shoes and, entering his small bedroom pulled his t-shirt over his head.

"Ooohhh… nice show!"

Dick very nearly lost control of his bladder. The shirt was over his face, too far gone to pull down again, so he quickly pulled it off, going into a defense position. Sitting, cross legged, on his damn bed, dressed in black jeans and t-shirt but with his mask on, was Red X.

Dick did exactly as he had planned. He reached for a pair of handcuffs that he had taken to carry with him and threw himself at the thief. Surprising him, he managed to get one wrist caught in a steel cuff, but then X managed to twist away, causing Dick to stumble, falling headfirst onto the bed. The feeling of cold metal around his own wrist made Dick curse out loudly and he tried to kick out, but it was too late. His right wrist was now very much chained to Red X's left.

"What kind of a greeting was that, officer?" Red X tutted above him, and Dick rolled over, on his back, forgetting about the short chain, causing the thief to fall on top of him.

"So eager? Well, I forgive you then…" the other grinned.

Right then it dawned on Dick that Red X knew about his identity. He stared up at him in shock. If he knew this, then he also knew… and then….

"Awww… don't look so scared officer Grayson… I'm great at keeping secrets! Really! Or else I would tell you about Slade."

That made Dicks eyes widen even more.

"Slade is dead." he half growled, half gasped.

"What? Since when?" Red asked, looked confused, even though he was masked.

"What do you mean 'since when'? He disappeared! Years ago!"

"Oh… I spoke to him last month, though…"

"What?"

"Back to the 'whats', are we?" The thief grinned, making himself comfortable on top of the muscular young man. It was rather easy… Red, you see, liked it on top.

"Impossible."

"Nope. He told me to tell you something…"

"What?"

Red X chuckled and Dick wanted to bite his own tongue off.

"He wanted me to tell you… that you are still 'his little bird'… isn't that sweet? What, were you two an item back then? Never figured the big guy to fuck little boys, but whatever floats you boat- ouch!"

Dick had gotten an awkward left-handed swing in, but it didn't even leave a mark on Red X's cheek. Instead the thief moved forward, pulling Dick with him by the chain until they were both laying completely on top of the bed.

"Hey! Don't kill the messenger… besides, I was just jealous..." the grin on X's face turned rather lecherous.

Dick barely noticed, though. Slade was alive? The bastard! If he ever saw him again, he would- his thoughts were interrupted as unfamiliar lips were pressed to his, bringing him back to the present in an instant.

"Mmmfff! What are you doing?" Dick snarled, trying to throw the other man off. Red X wouldn't budge, though.

"Booty call?"

"Get off me!"

"Come on, I know what kind of hours you work… I'm practically doing you a favor!" X chuckled.

"You. Are. Not."

"The only condoms I found in here, expired last year." his assaulter said pointedly.

"You went through my stuff?!" Why wasn't he surprised…?

"Yup! Good thing too. Glad I brought my own… Found the fake wall in the closet too, but I haven't been able to figure out how to open it yet… good job!"

Dick just couldn't help to feel a little pride over that fact.

"There you go… I love that smile." Red X smirked.

"I wasn't smiling!"

"Oh, come on… relax… consider me room service…"

"No."

"No way?"

"No way." Dick glared up into the lens-covered eyes. So okay, he was really turned on right now, but there was no way he would let this thief… he hesitated, getting an idea. He started to smile, rather evilly. "Weell… alright then…"

"Really?"

"Yeah… I even let you top… on one condition…"

Red X snorted.

"'Let' me top? Respect you elders, kid! So… what's the catch?"

"Remove your mask." Dick grinned. He knew there was no way in hell the thief would do that. The fact that he had changed his mask so it now was clear that he had olive colored skin was surprising enough.

"Hmmm…. and you promise to play if I do?"

Dick gulped. "Well, you won't, so just get off me." he claimed, just a hint of shrillness in his voice.

"Oh, but I'm reeeeeeeeally in the mood…" Red X claimed, and moved, putting first one, then both of his knees between Dick's thighs. Dick could only helplessly feel his legs open and then Red X pushed his hips forward, pressing their groins together. "… and so are you… Wanna play now, kid?"

"… mask…" Dick groaned, still insisting.

"As you wish…" Dick's eyes widened as the thief lifted his left hand, dragging Dick's right one up with it, and pulled the mask off. A shock of soft, chocolate-brown tresses fell around an angled, almost sculpted face, half obscuring the thief's eyes… and the eyes… Dick heard himself gasp. He had always had a soft spot for brown eyes, and these were a dark hazel with specks of gold and green around the rim, making them sparkle. His hand was still lifted and now he curled it around the other's neck, drawing him down for a kiss that showed without any doubt, that he was indeed ready to play.

As Red's left hand was being caught up in a rather awkward position, the thief needed his right one to keep himself steady. That meant he couldn't touch the wonderfully sculpted torso beneath him, so he opted for grinding his hips into his partner's a bit harder. Dick drew his knees up and angled his own hips just a bit, reveling in the feeling. It was clear, however, that they wouldn't get much further unless they changed positions. Not one of them even entertained the thought of getting up and look for the key. Red drew his arm down and back, making Dick release his neck and trail his hand down the other's spine, until it met the hem of the black jeans. As Dick's hand moved around to the front, Red lifted his hips slightly.

"That's right, kid… get them off…"

"I'm… not… a kid… I'm twenty-two for god's sake!" Dick muttered between kisses.

"Yeah, well, I'm twenty-five, so you're still a kid…" Red chuckled and nipped at his throat. "Come on! It's just a regular jeans-button, how long do you need?"

"Impatient, are we?" Dick smirked, and then internally winced at the choice of words. Damn Slade, and damn his shadow.

"Very." Red admitted freely. "I've wanted this for ages…"

"Really?" Dick didn't know whether to feel flattered or a bit disturbed at the thought… not that his flirting had been completely innocent either…

"Yeah… didn't dare, though… not with Slade hovering over you like a big mother hen…"

"Forget about Slade…" Dick muttered, just as much to himself as to Red X, and he had to grin at the 'mother hen' image.

"Gladly." Red snorted. "Well, have you-ahhh…."

"Yes… I've figured out the button…" Dick grinned, as his fingers curled around the other's shaft. "No underwear, huh?"

"Saves time."

"Good." Dick pushed down on the jeans as far as he could reach, and then lifted his feet, placing them on either side of Red's hips and used them to pull the pants completely off.

"Wooow… limber, aren't you?" Red X grinned.

"You have no idea…" Dick grinned back.

Red pulled their chained wrists up, placing his next to the vigilante's head for support, pinning his arm there. His other hand was now free to do some exploring.

Dick arched his back as a hand traveled up and down his chest, nails raking softly over his nipples. His own left hand had found Red's ass, cupping and squeezing a cheek as that was all he could reach. He wanted more, though, and needed skin-on-skin contact. He shifted, trying to get to his own zipper when a hand stopped him.

"Nu-huh… It's my turn…" X smiled and dipped his hand below Dick's waistline. Dick growled and busied himself by arching up so he could catch the other's lips in a quick kiss, and then licked and nipped down Red X's throat, drawing his scent in. There was something very familiar about that scent.

"Hey… did you use my shower?" he asked, only half annoyed. The thief smelled of his own shower soap. A rather expensive brand and one of the few luxuries Dick allowed himself.

"What can I say…? I grew bored." Red X shrugged.

"I don't think I want to know what more you have done in here…" Dick growled.

"Oh, nothing like that!" Red grinned. "Saved it all up for you baby…"

"Oh, joy…" Dick sighed, but couldn't help but grin. "Say, thief… do you like this t-shirt?" he asked, brushing his hand over Red's chest, where the man's black shirt seemed molded onto him, showing every bulge and dent of rippling muscle, as well as two peaking nipples.

"It's just a shirt… why?" Red asked, and then felt Dick's hand tighten around the collar. With a satisfying ripping sound the shirt came off, and Red X looked down on a smugly grinning hero. "Besides…" he said, smirking himself. "…it was yours." That earned him a hard pinch on a nipple and he hissed before retaliating by clamping his teeth down on one of Dick's. The young man bucked up into his hand that had slid deeper down the front of the pants, but there really was no room to move. With a thumb Red nimbly flicked the top button oven, and a metallic rip sounded as the zipper was pulled down.

"You… you need to get off…" Dick murmured.

"Tell me about it…" Red agreed wholeheartedly.

"No, idiot, I meant get up… or you won't get my pants down…" Dick sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Wanna bet? Let's see how limber you really are…" X snickered and hooked one hand around Dick's knee and lifted. "Come on… up!" he urged, and Dick caught on, rolling his hips up, lifting his legs over Red's shoulders, until he was almost bent double at the waist., resting on his upper back and shoulders.

Red wasted no time and awkwardly slid Dick's pants and underwear off.

"Difficult with one hand?" Dick grinned, knowing Red needed the other to keep his balance.

"You could help, you know…" Red muttered, making Dick laugh.

"I wouldn't want to do you any favors…" he said, though in fact he was quite unable to move right now.

Red finally managed to get the trousers off and tossed them into a corner. Somehow he probably felt that they should be punished for causing so much trouble. Dick sighed in relief as he slid his legs down again, resting his thighs comfortable around his partner's hips, squeezing gently.

There was a pause as the two young men took a moment to study each other.

"So… booty call, huh…?" Dick said, arching a brow.

"Yeah, well… mostly pleasure…" Red grinned.

"But some business?"

"Maaaaybe."

"Will you ever grow up?"

"Will you ever let your hair down?" Red X smirked. "And, speaking of that…" he sneaked a hand around Dick's neck and pulled at the elastic hair tie until it came out, bluish-black hair spilling across the pillows. "…you should do that more often…"

Dick was actually about to argue, but the words came out as a soft moan as Red X drew his fingers through his hair. He loved it... his hair was actually one of his secret pleasure areas, and Red X caught on to that immediately, as he leaned down on his right arm and grabbed a handful of hair, pulling Dick's head back, exposing his throat.

Dick fought the urge to come right then as Red's lips and teeth nipped at his jugular, making his pulse beat faster and harder than ever. He was so engrossed in the feeling that he didn't notice how his hand was pulled down with Red's until something thin and plastic met his lips.

"Huh?" He asked, opening his eyes. They met a condom wrapper.

"Bite down. Gotta get this thing open…" Red told him. "I'll drop it if I try it with one hand…"

Dick chuckled and bit down on the jagged edge, as Red slowly pulled the packet open. As Red gingerly fished up the rubber, Dick spit the corner of the wrapper out.

"Going to have me help you to fuck me as well…?" he teased.

"Nah, I think I can handle that." Red X assured him and grinned, before going back to attacking his throat. Dick moaned again, shifting and lifting his hips as he felt something cool press between his cheeks. The condom, Dick knew, was already lubed, which saved some precious time. The head of the thief's cock soon rested against his entrance, pushing lightly but steadily, letting his body grow used to the impending intrusion.

Red pulled his head further back, making Dick strain, and unintentionally, push himself down on the hot shaft. Dick gasped as the head suddenly was swallowed up by his body, along with almost all of the length, like he was sucking it into himself. It was an amazing feeling and he let out a moan loud enough to disturb the neighbors. Red's hips snapped forward, burying the rest of his shaft into Dick's body, making him buck and cry out. Wasting no time, the thief started moving, sliding along Dick's prostate as he did. The young hero moaned again, lifting his hips to meet every thrust and drive the man above him deeper, clenching as he withdrew for another thrust.

"AH-ahhhh… tight…" Red X moaned. "Keep … doing… that…"

Dick was unable to answer, his chest heaving and his legs lifting even higher, wrapping hard around Red's hips pulling him in quicker and harder. None of them had the stamina at this point to last very long, and the friction of Red's stomach against his cock alone, had Dick over the edge within a minute, his cum splattering and sticking between their bodies. Red followed almost immediately, showing his cock hard against Dick's prostate, making the younger man cry out and come once more.

Shivering and gasping for breath, Dick felt Red's body collapse next to him, panting hard. They stayed that way for almost twenty minuets before Dick finally stirred.

"…Shower…" he mumbled.

"In a moment…" Red mumbled back in his ear.

They were quiet for a while, before Red chuckled softly.

"Call in sick tomorrow…"

"…I can't..." Dick muttered, wistfully.

"Do it anyway…" Red begged him. "I'll let you top next…?"

"Yeah?" Dick asked tiredly, though his cock had the audacity to twitch in interest.

"Yeah… on one condition, though…" Red X breathed.

"What?"

"Wear you uniform."

Dick burst out chuckling. "Which one?" he asked, wondering if Red had a hero or a police fetish.

Red X seemed to think it over and then sighed in defeat.

"Okay… you'll get to top twice, then…"

The End.