This is short, but I wanted to get the story a little further progressed as I think introducing my OC from Strange New World would make for a bit of a over-packed chapter. So as a heads up my OC Hawkeye will be coming in the third chapter. If you haven't read Strange New World go do so now so you can be caught up, find it on my profile page. With that I now leave you the story below. Enjoy and equally important, review!

Gotham City – March 4, 2015
The Batcave – 2:00 a.m.

The Court of Owls watches,
watches all the time.
Ruling Gotham from shadowed perch,
behind granite and lime.

They watch you at your hearth.
they watch you in your bed,
speak not a whispered word of them,
or they'll send The Talon for your head.

The words of the quintessential Gotham myth ran through the Dick's mind. Somehow, without either him or Bruce knowing about their existence, the Court of Owls was real and there were back. The cold lifeless body on the table in the Batcave was proof enough. The man in question was one of the Court's most lethal assassins, perhaps their greatest. This Talon was able to beat Batman in combat and take back to the Court's underground layer to be relentlessly tortured. Only some quick thinking by Bruce allowed the tables to turn and without that ingenuity no would even know that a 400 year old villainous society was back to take over Gotham by force.

It was far easier to think over the words of the old wives' tale than to actually come to terms with the bombs that Bruce had just dropped on him. The assassin on the table was actually William Cobb, Dick's great-grandfather, and was still alive after 150 years. And despite the scary revelations of the past 30 minutes Dick couldn't wrap his head around the last piece that he was meant to be the next Talon. He would have joined the 22 other Talons and brainwashed to obey the command of the Court, but then his parents died and he was taken in by Bruce. It wasn't so much that it scared him that it could have happened. What scared him was that he had had no clue before Bruce told him. The fear of the unknown was what gripped his mind as he sat in the exam chair in the bowels of the Batcave.

Alfred was currently playing dentist and checking out Dick's backmost molar. On the undead assassin Bruce had found a symbol imbedded in the tooth that bore the mark of the Court and assumed Dick may have been similarly marked.

Rotating the light a little to the left Alfred found what he was looking for, "It appears you were correct Master Bruce. Master Richard was indeed marked as you thought."

Bruce, who was standing at Alfred and Dick's side, simply continued to brood on the matter for several seconds before replying, "This complicates things." His curt nature still remained despite his numerous injuries and obvious fatigue from his capture and escape. While the bluntness was not unusual the content of the statement managed to ruffle Nightwing feathers considerably.

Dick rose to a swing his legs over the side of the chair, "How so Buce? I don't care what someone had planned for me, but I'm my own man! and I choose what I do, not some stood Court of Owls that's for damn sure and if you think for one second I'm sitting this out because this meaningless crap!"

Batman walked toward Nightwing, grimacing as he shifted his weight onto his less than combat ready leg, "I would never ask you to Dick. But this isn't meaningless. I think the court will attempt to come after you. If not to capture, then definitely to kill you. You were always meant to join them and I doubt they will take kindly to Dick Grayson telling them 'No.' when they come calling."

Having calmed down from his outburst Dick could see the logic in Bruce's argument. He was obviously important enough for them to mark him as their next Talon. And if the Court was making a power play it would be fair to assume his civilian persona would somehow figure into their endgame.

The line of thought led Dick to a sickening realization, "But Bruce, that'd make you target as both Batman and Bruce Wayne. If Dick Grayson is important to them you took me in, which I doubt went over to well with their human resources department. And I don't think you're in a position to fight them off if they show up anytime soon."

Bruce sighed, "I know." No elaboration was necessary, Batman would need to sit for a long time to heal from his current injuries. Coming to grips with his own weakness was never Batman's strength, but he understood the gravity of the situation. Lifting his head to look Dick in the eye he spoke with his signature command voice, "Put out the call. We're going to need backup."

Nightwing nodded before looking as though he was running through a list of possibilities in his head, "League help?"

"No."

"Well that limits the people that can help. Outside of our extended family I can think of a few names who I know as their leader are not currently busy."

"You're not seriously thinking of who I know you're thinking of are you?"

Annoyed at this mentor's attitude Nightwing decided to mess with the old man, "Who am I thinking of then?"

"Hawkeye and Superboy."

"Well damn, you're actually right. And before you start I know you're stance on metas and aliens in Gotham, but this is serious Bruce. It's all hands on deck here and we don't have enough hands."

Bruce simply exhaled slowly, exuding contempt at having to put up with other heroes in his town. Then again neither of the two Dick suggested were in the League and considering Batman couldn't been seen not being able to handle his own house. Ceasing the conversation both Bruce and Dick headed over to elevator back up to the Manor above. Somehow Alfred had already ascended, which Dick was amazed the old man could do. No doubt used his secret butler/ninja power, he thought as he waited for the elevator to reach the top. Once in the manor Dick and Bruce parted ways to head to their respective rooms for the night.

Neither noticed the black-clad assassin perched in the trees just outside the hallway window.

I hope you enjoyed this particular outing, please review! Alerts and favorites are great, but I'd really like reviews!