The rain hit hard against the window of the manor. Nothing unusual but this rain felt more metallic and frozen than it actually was. However, Gotham's Gotham. This city, the people in this manor were used to rust, and even making some things shiny again. Not everything but some things, the important things.
Everyone in Gotham was restless. A major villain hasn't made an appearance in exactly 2 months, 3 days and 11 hours, Cass thought. 'Somethings wrong' she also thought. Everyone else was thinking it too. Steph, Tim, Barbara, Bruce and Cass. Jason was busy doing god knows what and Dick? Well he's keeping busy in Bludhaven.
Lightning started to crack in the air, a distant thunder. That must've been why the rain felt different thought Cass. A knock on the door. Not important. What was important was Barbara's body language, closed arms, faster breathing. Constantly checking her phone. 'Lover boy' thought Cass silently to herself.
Bruce was the only person to check the door. He came back in with a hurried persona. Telling Tim to turn over to Bludhaven news. Jason was behind Bruce, in the shadows.
"Breaking news, it has been a total of 3 days and 11 hours since Bludhaven's hero Nightwing was last spotted. Ever since a robbery which lead to a fight going all across Bludhaven from the centre to the Docks. There have been no sign of Nightwing. Hopefully the police can show the criminals that this city is still protected without a superhero. This has been Bludhaven news."
'There it was, the thing we were missing.' Thought Cass, probably in unison with everyone else. Tim shouted "on it" before rushing down to the garage for his motorcycle. "I'll check the docks" shouted Jason. Bruce came in third. "Right, Oracle get in position. I need you tapped in cameras. Spoiler you're gonna sweep the city. Orphan you've got point to where Oracle sends you. I've got the bank." This was something they were not going to let themselves live down. Especially if….'don't think that, he's Nightwing.' Thought Cass, trying to be positive. Cass also noticed what Bruce noticed. Alfred going pale, almost dropping a cup of tea. Mouthing "not my boy…" but there was no time, nothing she could do right now, besides Bruce was taking care of it. Cass rushed to the batcave donning her attire of Orphan.
The wires were tapped constantly. The docks? Dead end. Some traces but not much. Same with the bank. It has been 3 days though. Cass was idly on a rooftop, pacing. But she couldn't take it anymore. "I'm going to the police and seeing what info they got." No response, but then Barbara said something to everyone on the open channel. "It wasn't just one villain…Two-Face and Mirror Master hit the bank as a distraction. A getaway was prepared by Captain Boomerang AND Captain Cold. Which was all a set up to lure him to the docks…"
Everyone fell silent. The big man wasn't talking or even responding. Jason coughed. "Any chance you saw the joker near the dock?" Barbara replied, "no, all the cameras die at the dock. Destroyed or hacked, so I can't recover the feed." Jason kept quiet. Then suddenly, "family meeting."
But Cass wasn't finished…but it didn't matter, she was closer in anyway.
The inside of the station had a pin board, picture of Nightwing in the middle, connected to various locations. Recreating the scene from pictures and various images. But they, whoever was on this case knew something more…otherwise they'd consider this a murder, but they weren't…the police didn't know anything more. But they were treating it as a missing person case. The detective came into sight, she had dark hair, slender yet tall build. Green eyes. She looked around, but then continued to get lost in thought, muttering "where are you now Nightwing? You're still alive I know that much, but where? This city isn't going to last more than 3 months without you…"
There it was. The detective had a crush. Cass, feeling as if the police were working with much less left and recouping with the family. Jumping from building to building, back to where her motorbike was.
Everyone was waiting in the batcave. Barbara had the whole sequence planned out. All except the warehouse. Bruce sat down, facing away from all of them. "I….I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say, but we will find him. We have to." Everyone understood. "Let's review all the evidence. Cass you first. "Police don't have much. But they believe he's still alive." Bruce nodded. Then Jason stated something, "this wasn't normal. I detected signs of multiple villains, some not even ours in the dock…", Tim was quiet for now but finally spoke up. "Haley still had food, fresh even. Though this was clearly a hit. Question is by who. Not the joker, though I wouldn't put it past his involvement though he's currently in Arkham. I've already checked." Bruce interrupted. "We can't keep this in the family. As much as I want to, we need everyone on this." Cassandra finally felt the aster and for once, she understood what Dick meant. The night was spent with the entire bat-family sitting down, trying to be calm. Setting up a huge emergency meeting with every available team present. Bruce coughed. "As I'm sure some of you saw the news….Nightwing is currently M.I.A. as of 3 days now. I know that we…I've pulled this off before. I know not all of you like you or trust me, but that's not the point. The point is that I'm asking for your help. I'm asking for everyone's help. To find Nightwing and bring him home." The original titans, Connor, Miss Martian, Artemis, Aqualad, and Zatanna were the first ones to get serious, after super-man of-course. They knew the stakes and Cassandra despite not knowing them, she knew how close to Dick they are. A plan was advised. Superman would scan for his heartbeat. The flash would go through Bludhaven, every inch of it. Every psychic nearby would act as a funnel for Miss Martian to scan every information. Everyone else was on standby. Suddenly a portal formed right in front of them. Zatanna and she brought some help. John Constantine. "Listen Bats…we'll find 'im. I've got a spell I've been meaning to practice and I think this'll be the thing for this dreary dilemma we've got. But….I suggest we do it. Alone. It could turn out bloodier than we hope for. You understand?"
The silent knight just nodded. "The fuck you think I am. I'm looking for answers my way." Jason stormed out the house. The rest remained silent. Steph opened her mouth for one second. It quivered lightly and she shut herself down. Cass looked around. Everyone was hurting.
Constantine drew a chalk circle with various scribbles on. Cass has obviously seen magic before. But Constantine's magic always felt different, more old, more pure. Not a gift from a god. But actual magic. She never understood why all the other people in the league looked down on him. 'Why? Just because he actually does real magic and you've got a knock of clone?' She knew she was distracting herself and it was barely working for now. The spell was completed, they entered through the portal.
