Homecoming

A.N.: So, Long time, no see, amiright?

I honestly have no excuse for how late this is, hopefully you'll at least like it. Enjoy!

The forest was golden and dewy, soaking his paws. Aurora pranced ahead of him, tongue lolling out of her mouth. Her voice was like fresh air.

Her words, however, were drowned out by a long, loud roll of thunder. The ground rumbled beneath his feet.

He blinked, and when his eyes opened, the thunder had turned into Tim, knocking on his door.

"I'm up, I'm up," he groaned, running a hand through his hair and behind his ear. The clock glowed 4:32.

"It's early," he whined, pulling on a t shirt. "What gives?"

"Barbara said you'd take the night shift as ops manager. She asked you the other day, remember?" Dick thought for a moment, before realization struck him.

"She visited in the middle of the day," he groaned. "I was falling asleep when she asked me."

"Well, get up anyway, and open the door. I've got some stuff for you."

Tim was already dressed in his Robin uniform when he walked in, the scent of his Axe trailing behind him.

"Alright," he began. "I've been trying to figure out how you can cope with your senses a little more discreetly. So, here." He laid some items on the desk, spreading them out. He picked up the domino mask first.

"I've slightly redesigned your mask. The main difference is that the lenses are polarized."

"Like sunglasses?"

"Exactly. It'll cut most of the glare and darken everything, but you'll still be able to see. So, here, try it on." He slipped the mask into place, and the world went dark. Tim hit the lights, and a click and a buzz later, the room came comfortably into view.

He couldn't help the smile on his face as he looked around his lit room. While the buzzing sound of the lights was distracting, they didn't hurt. Colors weren't painful.

"Glad you like it," Tim remarked. "I've also designed a respirator for you. It's made of a cloth-like material. It's not perfect, but it'll take the edge off. You'll have to speak a little clearer, though."

He pulled the respirator over his head, wiggling it into place.

It was tough to breathe, but it was better than having to smell everyone else, honestly. Already, Tim's body spray, burning his throat before, was easier to stomach.

"Finally," Tim dropped two tiny, flesh-colored earpieces into his hand. "Communicators/hearing aids. Wireless, so they're pretty discreet. It'll quiet everything down."

"Thanks, Tim," he said, wiggling the pieces into his ears. "I can't tell you how much this means to me."

Tim shrugged. "No problem. Now get changed; we're late."

The cave was bustling, as ever. Even with the computer reading out his name, it took a full ten seconds for them to look up. Once they did, though, you could've heard a pin drop.

Beast Boy was on him in a second, squeezing him in a literal bear hug.

"Oh-my-gosh-you're-alive!" he squealed as he pulled away, returning to normal.

Dick smirked, despite it not being visible behind the respirator. "Was that in doubt?"

"Batgirl said you were sick and couldn't work. We were worried." Blue Beetle, along with the rest of the team, was stepping forward, more curious at his sudden reappearance than elated at his apparent well-being. He sighed. Looked like he was doing this sooner than later.

"I was - am - sick. I needed time to get used to it, and even now, I still can't fight."

"Yet you're here?" Superboy pointed out.

"I'm well enough to fill in as ops manager; I just can't be out with you. Capisce?

A few raised their eyebrows, but said nothing. All perked up as Barbara stalked in the room.

"Nightwing!" she greeted. "Glad you could join us."

"Glad to be back."

She didn't respond, instead standing beside him and doling out missions to the assembled team members, herself included.

"Will you be alright on your own?" she asked, just before leaving. He nodded, and she left him with a pat on the shoulder.

The next twenty minutes went pretty well, save for Wolf sniffing at him. For a reason he couldn't describe, the wolf inside couldn't help but snarl when the beast came close. Hell, even he glared at it from time to time.

Why was he so defensive?

After those twenty minutes, though, the zeta tube blared to life, recognizing Kid Flash, B03.

"Dude!" Wally squealed, darting around him before grabbing him by the shoulders in excitement. "Babs said you were back. How's it feel? Are you better?"

"Feels great." Dick pushed his friend back, forcing his arms off his shoulders. "And I'm not better. Just coping."

"Is that what this is?" He pointed to the respirator on Dick's face.

"Yeah. Tim designed it."

"So, you need anything?" He shook his head.

"No, thanks."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

"You're sure you're sure?"

"I'm fine," he replied through gritted teeth.

"Oh." He slunk back, looking sheepish. "Okay."

Dick sighed. "I could do with a bottle of water, actually." And in an instant, Wally had run off to retrieve it. Once he was gone, Dick sagged, pinching the bridge of his nose. He felt bad about what he said, but really? He couldn't just treat him like a person?

Wally had pulled a chair into the main room and straddled it, silently watching Dick work, water bottle now in hand.

"So, how'd you spend your last full moon?" He turned to glare at him, but realized there was no real point, and so admitted defeat.

"In a zoo. We were investigating the people who donated blood in the area and lost track of time."

"Oh. Did you find the guy, at least?" He pushed at the memory; he could still smell that rancid air.

"Yeah, we found him. Hung over the toilet having literally puked his guts out."

"Tough break. Why were you looking for blood donors, anyway?

"We think that's how I got infected. A bad transfusion." He heard Wally hum quietly at this. "And that's not even the worst of it."

"What is?"

He sighed. "This guy? He was murdered. With wolfsbane. Someone knew he was a werewolf and poisoned him."

"Damn. So, do you think they're after you, now?"

"I don't know, man. Wish I did," he said, shrugging.

"Which zoo did you go to, anyway?"

"Um…" He pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking back to the sign outside the gates. "Grand Mill Zoological Park."

"Was it nice?"

"Well, ya' see, I didn't care to notice, what with the whole 'turning into a wolf' thing," he snapped, watching in satisfaction as Wally winced slightly.

The rest of the night passed silently and without event, for which he was thankful. Tim noticed he was pretty tight lipped about Wally's visit, but he didn't comment on it. All in all, a gratifying success.

Even the dank, guano scented air of the Batcave couldn't dampen his spirits as they stepped through the zeta tube.

You know what could dampen his spirits?

"Dick. Need to talk to you. Now."

A.N.: so, apparently, I started this document on November 1, 2017, and...yeah… At least it's out, now, right?

Next chapter will deal with some heavier topics. Nothing gory or violent, just some added drama. Stay tuned, and hopefully it won't take so long, next time. Thank you for your time, and GOD BLESS!