Hey guys. Sorry for the wait, haven't had time to write. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made. I do now own DC Comics. Thank you to those who reviewed last chapter and please do so again. They really help out. As you know italics is thought and bold italics is commlink communication. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Last Time:
"Heroic, actually, but I want to know what you think you're doing." Batgirl said.
Richard raised a brow.
"I know things. About you. None of which explain why you're doing this and not your day job." He responded.
"I suppose you'll have to find out." He replied cockily.
She glared at him.
"Come now, you're a bat, so be one and figure it out yourself." He challenged.
"I think I will." She growled.
He laughed.
"I'm considered a genius in my field, but you already knew that. Either way good luck." He smirked.
"I don't need luck." She growled.
"Oh, I think you do." He replied.
"I don't know what this is about, but is he actually a good guy?" Kid Flash questioned.
Nightwing looked at him and smiled. Batman came up behind him. Time to go.
"I don't consider myself one." With that he left.
"What kind of answer was that?!" Kid Flash yelled.
Batman gave him a look of question. Richard simply smiled and continued walking.
Richard was running in a concrete maze. He didn't know what he was running from, but he knew it was bad. He skidded to the right only to run straight into a wall. A dead end. Footsteps thundered behind him. A crowd of people coming after him. Desperately, he searched for an escape. Seeing none, he turned and prepared for a fight, arms raised and ready to strike. The second a figure came into his field of vision, he lashed out. His powerful fist aiming for the figures face, only for it to be caught by a gloved hand. Richard followed the arm and recognized that it was Batman, but instead of feeling relief, he felt immense fear and dread. Behind the Bat stood the others: Robin, Red Hood, and Batgirl. Batman said something, but Richard only saw his mouth move. Then the Dark Knight had Richard on the floor, pinned. The next thing Richard knew he was in a jail cell with Joker to his left and Zsas to his right. Richard was dressed in a straight jacket. He crazily slammed against the steel bars and screamed.
Detective Richard Grayson shot up in his bed as the nightmare rocked his mind. He let out a shaky breath and put his head in his hand. Third night in a row. Richard didn't believe in dream analysis, but it seemed like his mind was trying to reveal something to him. At first, he just believed the dream was a side effect of believing he's a guilty criminal, but now, it didn't seem like that. He looked at the glowing red numbers on the clock. 2:18 AM. He sighed. I won't be able to go back to sleep. Richard got up, took a shower, got dressed, and grabbed his keys, gun, and escrima sticks. He left his room and straddled his bike. Turning the key in the ignition and putting his helmet on, he revved the engine before going for a night ride. The streets were empty and dead with everyone in their homes, he could go as fast as he wanted. As he zoomed down the quiet, crime infested streets of Gotham at 2:45 in the morning, he thought about everything until now. Unknown to him, a shadowed figure was following him from the rooftops. Richard was going 80 in a 45 in a long, straight road. He looked up at the sky. I wonder if Red Hood or one of the other bats is patrolling tonight. Richard's tired mind didn't comprehend the figure diving straight for him until the figure was up close and personal. Richard swerved to the left and caused his bike and himself to roll. His back slammed into a building and stopped. His bike slamming into wall beside him. The front of his helmet was cracked and his clothes torn from the hard asphalt and concrete. Richard could see the black booted feet walking towards him. He got up on the elbows. One of the feet stomped on his back, pushing him back to the concrete with a grunt.
"Hello." The figure said.
What is up with that voice? It's like a thousand voices in one, must be some kind of voice disguiser.
"Hey." Richard responded.
"So, you're the famed Richard Grayson, huh?" The figure said.
"I wouldn't say famed, but yeah." Richard replied.
Well, this is normal. Me being under this guy's foot. Totally normal conversation.
"You're famed in the Light and almost all other organizations." The figure seems to argue.
"What do you want?" Richard asked.
"Ah, now you're actually being a detective. Here I was worried you were a complete let down, but you're only a three fourths let down. Congratulations." The figure said.
"You didn't answer the question." Richard pointed out.
"What I want…" The figure thought for a moment. "I want my beloved. You know what I'm talking about?"
Richard blinked from his place under the figure.
"Your...beloved?" He asked.
Why does that sound familiar?
"Clearly you don't." The figure replied.
"I'm not your beloved right? I can tell you now I'm a nuisance to humanity and I have crazy ass work hours and-" Richard began to rant.
The figure laughed.
"No. You are not." The figure answered.
"So then, why am I still under your foot?" He asked.
"I come with a warning." The figure said.
Richard stayed silent.
"You should be grateful. I was in Gotham for something that isn't you, but our paths crossed and I figured I would be nice." The figure said.
For a split second Richard thought the figure could be Catwoman, but she lives in Gotham.
"Tell me the warning and then I'll express all the gratitude you deserve." Richard replied.
"People are coming after you, very powerful people. You should watch your back. The things they want to do to you…" The figure almost purred.
"Thanks." Richard said.
He could feel the glare.
"You call that gratitude?" The figure dug their foot further into his back.
"Thank you for the warning, I will keep it in mind and I owe you." He replied.
The pressure lessened.
"I'll remember that you owe me." The figure said.
The pressure disappeared. Richard looked up and didn't see the figure. He slowly got up and looked around. Gone. He sighed as he walked over to his bike. There was a large skid mark across the asphalt. Shit. His motorcycle was dented in many places and the paint had been ripped off. He groaned as he picked it up. Checking the engine, he twisted the key in the ignition. His bike made a struggling noise. Shiiiiiiiiit. He repeated the action four times before the motorcycle started. He lifted his hands in victory.
"Yes!" He shouted.
He lifted his feet and drove to Wayne Manor.
To say Alfred was mildly annoyed with the insistent knocking at 3:20 in the morning would be an understatement.
"Who in God's name is up at this hour...They better have a good reason for knocking on my door at 3 in the morning." He grumbled.
He unlocked the door and opened it to see the detective. His face must've given away how he felt at the intrusion.
"I know, I'm so sorry, Alfred." Richard said.
Upon looking at the detective, Alfred saw the rips in his clothes and, behind Richard, he saw the dented bike and cracked helmet. His annoyance was replaced with concern. He let Richard in and immediately lead him down to the Batcave. Alfred made Richard sit on the medical examination table as he looked at the cuts, scrapes, and bruises.
"Chill, Alfred. I was wearing the proper equipment. My legs are the worse things." Richard tried to excuse.
It reminded Alfred of Bruce.
"Master Richard, if you don't stay still and let me apply proper medical attention I will sedate you." Alfred said politely.
"Okay, Mom." Richard sassed.
Alfred glanced at Richard before tending to the wounds. After making sure nothing was broken, Alfred excused himself to wake Bruce. Red Hood was out patrolling with Robin. The boys wanted to give Bruce some sleep. Oddly perfect timing. Knocking of Bruce's door, he entered the bedroom. Bruce heard the knock and was groggily getting up.
"What is it, Alfred?" He asked, sleep in his voice.
"Master Richard is downstairs. Something has happened that he wanted to speak to you about" Alfred answered.
Alfred heard the almost silent sigh ad Bruce got up. Alfred walked in front of Bruce as the two made their way down to the Batcave. Richard was still sitting atop the exam table. As soon as Richard saw Bruce in his pajamas, he apologized.
"Just tell me what you needed to talk to me about." Bruce replied.
"Well…" Richard said as he explained what happened.
He left out the dream and said he couldn't sleep, which was true.
"She said beloved?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah." Richard said.
Oh dear… Alfred exchanged a looked with Bruce. Miss Talia…
"Does that matter?" Richard asked.
Bruce gave Alfred a pointed look. Of course he entrusts me to explain…
"Master Bruce is called Beloved by Miss Talia Al Ghul, daughter of Ra's Al Ghul." Alfred informed.
Richard made the connection and freaked out.
"She...She was an assassin?! The League of Shadows is after me?! I'm soooo dead!" He said loudly. "Man, this day hasn't even started and it sucks! My bike is trashed, my helmet is cracked, I'm targeted by who the hell knows, and I don't know what the hell is going on with me!"
Alfred felt kind of bad for the young man.
"Well, you're going to have to suck it up. You need to be on high alert from now on." Bruce said.
Honestly, he could be so cold sometimes. Alfred blamed that on his bluntness.
"I'm going to contact Red-" An alarm went off and the Batcave was plunged in darkness.