Hey guys, thank you to those who reviewed last chapter. Please do so again. I do not own DC Comics or any of their characters. Italics is personal thought and bold italics is comlink communication. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Richard stayed near the Waynes the rest of the night. However, Clark Kent, Oliver Queen, and Roy Harper were never far. Keeping an eye on him, it seemed. Weird. The party started dying down, and people began to leave. Richard stayed behind to make sure nothing happened that would endanger anyone.
"Grayson! You're so smart! And handsome! You need to meet a girl and have fun." A drunk Jim Gordon said.
Jason and Tim laughed at the older cop.
"How much did you drink?" Richard asked.
"I lost count." Jim slurred. "I'mma go home."
Gordon took out his keys and began walking for the door. Richard grabbed him by the shoulder and waist and lead him back to a table then took his keys and gun.
"You're not fit to drive." He said sternly.
"You gonna drive me?" Jim slurred out the question.
"Yes…" Richard replied.
Shit, I don't know where he lives and I don't drive cars often. He slumped a little at this revolution.
"Would you like me to drive him home, sir?" A british voice said from behind him.
Richard turned to see Alfred.
"Alfred, thank god for british war veterans turned butlers! Please do...I don't know where he lives, but I need a ride home later tonight. I planned on leaving after everything was wrapped up…" Richard said.
"You can stay here. We've got plenty of rooms." Jason entered the conversation.
"Well...I-" Richard began to make an excuse.
"Yeah, Grayson. Stay, we have plenty of room." Tim commented.
Richard saw Bruce, behind Tim, give the boys a look that revealed his displeasure with the suggestion.
"I don't think I should. I don't want to intrude." Richard tried to reason.
"It's just one night." Tim pleaded.
"It's fine, Detective. You can stay." Bruce said from behind the boys.
"Even Bruce says you can stay, and whatever Bruce says goes." Jason said.
"A-Alright, I guess, but I don't have any clothes other than what's on me." Richard replied.
"You can borrow some of my clothes or Bruce's clothes." Jason responded.
"Come on, I'll get you some stuff. I want to get out of this suit." Jason said as he lead Richard upstairs.
Richard laughed.
"I do want to change, but this suit is damn nice. I could never afford something like this." He said.
"Neither could I before Bruce took me in." Jason replied as he opened the door to his bedroom.
Jason's room fit him. The walls were dark grey, the bed had black blankets and pillows, the dresser was a dark mahogany. Clothes were strewn around everywhere and his desk was piled with papers.
"Speaking of that, I thought Bruce legally only had one ward, Tim Drake." Richard said.
"I don't want to be legally tied to Bruce." Jason responded and threw grey sweatpants and a black shirt at Richard.
"Oh, that's understandable, I guess." Richard replied, awkwardly holding the bundle of clothes.
"There's a spare bedroom two doors down on the right. You can change in there and use it." Jason said as he got his own clothes to change into.
"Okay, thanks." Richard turned to leave.
Behind him Jason took off his shirt. As Richard turned around the close the door, he saw the scars littering Jason's torso. Damn, I have a few of my own, but nothing like that. Where did he get those? Deciding not the bring it up, Richard quietly closed the door and walked to the spare bedroom Jason talked about. Opening and then closing the door, he didn't hear the front door open or Alfred's distressed yell. As Richard changed, he thought about how peculiar the Wayne 'family' was. Interesting they were, but they were oddly close. It's really sweet. Richard got done changing and was alerted to the situation down stairs by rapid footsteps coming up the stairs, and Tim crashing into the room and slamming the door shut behind him. Tim leaned against the door. Richard looked at him. The teen had a bruise forming on his cheek and a small cut.
"Were you pistol-whipped?! What happened?" Richard quickly questioned as he went over and gently inspected Tim's face.
"Joker's downstairs looking for you." Tim said seriously.
"Fuck, Joker. What happened? How'd you get away?" Richard asked.
"Alfred opened the door, Joker hit him and dragged him inside, with Joker came his crew. They got Jason, but he put up a fight. I ran upstairs to get away. I-I think Bruce is in the study on the other side of the hallway." Tim said calmly, toward the end worry seeped into his tone.
Richard took a quick inventory of what he had on him. My bad guy beaters, two guns, badge, and phone. Phone! Richard took out his phone. It had 1%. Shit, that won't last for a call.
"Do you have a phone on you?" Richard asked Tim.
Tim groped himself looking for a phone. He shook his head.
"Okay, you come with me to the study. If Bruce is there, I'm going to give him one of my guns, and you're going to stay with him. Okay?" Richard explained.
Tim nodded.
"Alright let's go." Richard ordered.
Richard walked to the door, is footsteps quieting as he approached the door until they were completely silent. Tim was impressed, usually no police officer could be remotely quiet. Richard motioned for Tim to follow as he opened the door. The hinge squeaked a little, but Richard lead Tim out of the room and began walking down the hall. Tim's footsteps are extremely quiet. That's abnormal for a teenager. For some reason, the image of Robin appeared in his mind, and he began pointing out similarities. There are way too many similarities between Robin and Tim Drake. Deciding to dwell on it later, Richard pointed to the door at the end of the hall and looked at Tim. The teen nodded. Richard increased his speed but stayed quiet. Again, Tim was impressed and believed that Jason was right. Richard Grayson was a natural bat. Richard opened the door and nodded for Tim to go in first. As Tim snuck in, he noticed the wall clock sliding back into place and panicked until the clock stopped moving. Tim moved aside and let Richard in, who looked at the clock then at Tim with a confused look.
"Why were you staring at the clock?" He whispered.
"It's not working." Tim excused.
Richard looked at him weirdly. Tim straightened up to stand, but flinched. He did have bruised ribs. Richard took note of the well-hidden flinch.
"Well, Bruce isn't here, so here's the plan. You're going to stay on this floor and hide out, provide support here and there, but that's it. Just support. Don't try to be a hero. If things get crazy, I want you to bail. Okay?" Richard said.
"Okay." Tim nodded.
"Do you know how to use a gun?" Richard asked.
Tim gave a hesitant nod. That's not convincing. Richard took out Gordon's gun and gave it to Tim.
"Show me what the parts are." Richard said.
"Safety" Tim pointed at it, "Trigger, finger on it only when ready to shoot."
He ejected the magazine.
"Fully loaded. I know how to use a gun. I just never killed anyone with it." Tim sassed.
"Hopefully you won't have to. But, well, if you don't shoot to kill anyone who isn't me, Bruce, Jason, or Alfred, you're dead. Or worse, tortured. This is the Joker we're talking about." Richard warned.
"I know." Tim said.
It kind of seemed like Tim had a hidden meaning behind that, but Richard didn't push it.
"Okay. I'm going to leave now. I'll knock eight times if you're safe and can open the door, okay?" Richard informed.
Tim nodded. Richard went over to the door and brought his gun out.
"Lock the door when I leave." Richard commanded.
Richard quickly opened the door, left, and closed it. He heard the lock click. Richard crept down the hallway with his gun raised. He quietly made his way down the stairs and swept his gun from left to right then right to left, repeatedly. He could hear Jason sassing the thugs Joker had with him. Only that kid would have the balls to sass the people who have killed people. Richard could also hear Joker singing his name. Then, behind him, a hand grabbed him by the waist and a hand went over his mouth. Richard fought hard to get away but to no avail. He was dragged into the dark room before being let go. Richard spun around and raised his gun.
"I have a plan." A stoic voice said.
"Fucking Batman?!" Richard whisper yelled, "Why the hell are you creeping around Wayne Manor?! And instead of being kidnappy, couldn't you be normal and say, 'hey detective, over here!' or some shit? I nearly had a heart attack!"
Richard swore he saw the emotionless Batman smirk at him.
"I dress in a bat suit and you think I'm normal?" Batman replied.
"Benefit of the doubt. Now, what's this plan you mentioned?" Richard asked.
"You're going to go to Joker and-" Batman started.
"Are you insane? That clown is hunting me down!" Richard whisper yelled again.
"He won't kill you. He thinks of you as another me. Something entertaining enough to have as a rival. He views this as a game. Now, you're going to find him and distract him. I'll get R-Jason Todd. Robin should be around, he's been given orders to provide support." Batman said.
Richard recalled what he told Tim. Provide support. Just support. Don't try to be a hero.
"Is Tim Drake the boy behind Robin's mask?" Richard asked.
Batman didn't respond, but opened the door and shoved Richard out. Richard turned around only to find Batman gone.
"Damn it." He cursed.
Richard listened for Joker's singing. He raised his gun before moving again. He stopped outside the kitchen. He could hear Joker inside the room. Stealing himself, he walked into the room, gun raised. Joker turned towards him. The crazed man's arm looked fine. How the hell…?
"Richard Grayson! Nice to see you again! Why don't you put that down? I'm just here to talk." Joker said.
Richard stayed alert and quiet, keeping his gun raised and eyes on Joker. Jason was in the room behind Joker. Harley was bent over him tugging at the white section of the teens hair. Richard felt the urge to shoot Joker and Harley in the leg. Batman will handle Jason.
"You know, you were famous. Your family was very famous" Joker laughed. "When they went splat!"
Richard felt a surge of anger.
"I will shoot you." Richard said through gritted teeth.
"Ooooh is that anger I see on that handsome face?" Harley walked into the kitchen with a smile.
"Puddin' it's not nice to antagonize quests." She giggled.
Richard saw movement behind Harley. Batman was quietly, expertly taking down the thugs guarding Jason. Damn, he's good. Harley stepped forwards and went to cup Richard's face. Dick quickly moved back and trained his gun on Harley.
"Step back." He growled.
She did.
"What do you want with me?" Richard questioned.
"Me? Nothing." She smirked.
"Bullshit." Richard growled.
Harley and Joker laughed. That's not good. Behind them, Batman and Jason were gone. Robin was nowhere to be seen. Shit.
"You're right." Joker laughed.
"We need a new toy. Something to play mind games with." Harley giggled.
"And you, Detective Grayson, have a lot of buttons to push. We just happen to know some of them." Joker laughed.
A bag was shoved over his head. Richard felt himself being dragged away. Shitshitshitshit. Dick reached into his jacket and got one of his escrima stick.
"Bet you didn't know this, bitch!" Richard yelled.
Richard put the end of his escrima stick on his attacker's leg and pressed the side button. Electricity coursed through both him and his attacker. His attacker couldn't handle the shock and let go. Richard yanked the bag off his head just as Joker lunged at him with a knife.