I don't own Batman or the games.

Rest in Peace, Kevin Conroy.

Vengeance over the night of Gotham City.

Nights in Gotham was hell for the citizen who just wished to have a quiet, good, peaceful life. It was the luck of the draw, really; muggers frequented the streets, prowling like predatory animals, looking for the best candidate to rob at either knife or gunpoint, or with some other melee weapon they'd picked up, while higher up the pecking order some of the so-called super villains who were either free or in prison or in Arkham Asylum were making their own plans.

Prostitutes were standing on street corners, waiting for their next clients, while corrupt cops either threatened or cajoled other criminals or ordinary folk for protection money. Only the most perceptive criminal in the city, those whose instincts hadn't been wholly consumed by millions of years of devolution would realise they were being watched, not by the CCTV cameras monitored by clean law enforcement officers, but by something darker that, for some criminals, was straight out of the nightmare.

Gargoyles hewed out of stone, giving some buildings an almost gothic appearance overlooked the city. But one of them was more alive, with a long scalloped cape hanging from their shoulders, eyes gleaming a soft white. As the apparition moved, anyone who would be close by would see this was not a gargoyle, but one of the most terrifying vigilantes in the world.

Batman was currently on patrol over the city. He had found the best vantage point was above. From there, using the magnification setting in his mask lenses, he was able to spot a mugger even from a substantial distance up. Every muscle in his body was primed for a jump downwards, his hands close to his utility belt where his weapons and tools were stored were poised and ready. The Dark Knight had gone on his usual nightly patrol, and by his standards, it was a quiet night. He'd only had to deal with muggers and small-time crooks, and nothing more substantial like that, and he hoped to keep it like that.

With some of his more dangerous enemies like Joker either in Arkham or in hiding, Batman was alert for anything.

He had already been scouting over the city for a few hours now, patrolling different areas - one of the areas he had visited was Arkham Asylum to make sure none of his enemies had snuck out before he had carried out the rest of his patrol.

Suddenly Batman's senses - hyper-acute and honed through years of fighting the streets of his city - went sharp for a moment before he relaxed when he heard a familiar and welcome voice. "Night night, isn't it?" Nightwing asked.

"Hello, Dick," Batman couldn't help but smile - usually he wouldn't smile in the company of others as part of one of his tactics to hide his identity, but up here, and with someone like Nightwing, he was willing to make an exception to the rule. "How're things in Bludhaven?"

He had always been proud and yet concerned about Dick's choice of career since they knew only too well how corrupt some cops could be, but he knew Dick could handle himself. While their relationship had suffered and been strained once or twice because of Dick's perception of his meddling, although he was only trying to protect him, Bruce was genuinely relieved to see him.

"Quiet. We're trying to stop a drug operation. I came here into Gotham since we've found leads that indicate some of the trails come through here."

"Do you need any help?"

"No, this drug's operation is big. And to be honest, I've already finished and I've found out what I needed to know, but I'd like to know more. But still, please don't interfere. Too big and besides if there's any outside interference," Nightwing gave Batman a pointed look, "then it could compromise the entire operation and make the gang behind the drug operation hide and restart somewhere else. The Feds are involved, but all I want to do is to track down any possible leads to make the operation work."

Batman understood, but he still felt hurt that Nightwing would assume he would blow the drug's bust. Batman was many things but stupid when it came to passing over the turf of the cops was something he just refused to do. "I understand. Have you had much luck?" He asked.

"Not much. I was thinking of asking Barbara to keep watch on some criminals rumoured to have links."

"Good thinking," Batman nodded and looked down at the ground.

"Have you had any problems?" Nightwing asked, sensing the change in topic.

"No. Just a few muggers," Batman replied. "It's good to see you, Dick," he added when he felt some more was to be said in the hopes of really keeping his relationships with Dick, Barbara, and Tim strong.

"It's good to see you too, Bruce," Dick smiled. "I have missed you as well," he added. "How long are you going to be out here?"

"I'm not sure yet," Batman replied.

And he didn't.

He was toying with the idea of heading back to the Manor to grab some much-needed rest, and he could tell his old apprentice was planning on doing much the same thing.

"Listen, I was thinking of coming to the Manor one night. Do you reckon that's okay?" Nightwing asked.

Batman knew why he was asking. Nightwing knew only too well how dedicated he was to his mission of being Batman. Each time the Bat Signal was lit or some other emergency came up, Bruce would always leave as Batman. Dick didn't want to come if it meant he couldn't just spend time with Bruce as Bruce would have to see him leave for the cave.

While it sometimes went against his mission's goals, Bruce did sometimes yearn for a good night's rest and some peace. Perhaps he should have one soon. "I don't see why not," Batman replied.

"Great. Anyway, I'd better go," Nightwing added as he prepared to leave.

"Okay, keep in touch and let me and Alfred know about your plans," Batman added as he stood up.

"Will do," Nightwing returned. And with that, he leapt out into the night. Batman followed him, his lenses instantly zooming in and keeping watch with their night vision capacity, showing Nightwing as a dark human-shaped mass against a green-tinted backdrop of buildings. And then he was gone. Somewhat pleased yet surprised by the unexpected encounter, Batman was still for a moment as he wondered what he should do next, and then he decided that he should leave now.

But before he did, he stopped when he heard a woman shouting from below. Swinging around, Batman looked down quickly and spotted a woman and a child being harassed by two men holding knives.

Eyes narrowed, Batman dove down…. Gravity took hold of his body while he fired his grapnel gun quickly and he attacked the two men with a kick in the head, powered by the gravity he'd used to fall to the ground before he started beating the two men up. When he was finished, Batman was looming over the two men, who looked very worse for wear before he decided to head back to the Manor.

A/N - Please let me know what you think.