Hello world! I've haven't updated this story for a long time (for me, anyway) and I am genuinely sorry to those who've been waiting for a new chapter. In conjunction with health issues I've felt my inspiration for this particular tale waning. Maybe when the show starts up again that will solve itself, but I don't know. If anyone has ideas for this story I would greatly appreciate them!

This chapter contains references to one of my favorite bands, Led Zeppelin, and video game universes, Halo. See if you can spot the reference to the latter!

Please read, review, and enjoy!

Batcave
March 4th – 3:25 a.m.

They say that when you're facing imminent death that your life flashes before your eyes. That's one statement Dick Grayson knows is complete and utter bullshit. In that moment you know you're going to die you only have time for a select few thoughts to pass before the final breath is drawn. Nightwing's were currently of the more vulgar variety, such as: Well, doesn't this just suck major balls?

Of course, as he was busy staring into the eyes of his would-be killer the protégé to the world's greatest detective missed a golden object flying through the air and promptly connecting with his assassin's head. The lead Talon slumped forward and landed next to Nightwing. The Talons themselves panicked momentarily unsure as to the location of the assailant. Dick's eyes widened as he processed the new circumstances he found himself him in. The object he now recognized as a baseball bat, one that he hadn't seen in a long time. With realization dawning on him Nightwing just shook his head and laughed, drawing the ire of the Talons surrounding him.

As the Talons regrouped in the intervening seconds a new sound was heard throughout the cave over the speakers. A rhythmic drum beat rang out followed by the rest of the classic introduction to Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks. The music was definitely unwelcome to the caves unwanted intruders. The loud reverberations only further confused them. This, of course, was the moment the man who rescued Nightwing chose to make his grand entrance.

A man clad in a black and gold uniform quite similar to Dick's jumped down from the upper level of the cave system into the mass of Talons below. Landing expertly on top of the first Talon the newcomer timed his jump off the crushed villain and rolled between Grayson and the rest of the Talons. Readying his stance the man waited for the Talons to strike the next blow, which given his surprise advantage seemed like a wasted move. In fact, as though to further signal an end to his assault the man touched a button on his wrist and the music ceased, bringing silence back to the Batcave.

The Talons, however did not attack as they sized up their new opponent. An opponent who had just vaulted 45 feet, a jump that most assuredly would have injured a normal human. Just as Thomas made his entrance the Talon who had been on the receiving of the baseball bat had recovered and stepped forward to address the hero.

"You have no hope of victory. Your efforts here are in vain, hero. Our targets will die this night and you along with them!"

While the Talon had hope to intimidate the new opponent his threat did not have the desired effect judging from the young man's response, "It seems you've got quite the healing factor. Not many could get back up from one of my throws."

"Young one, I have received much worse over my 200 years of existence. You and your antics do not impress me. What is your name? Your uniform will make a nice trophy for the Court."

"For the record my name is Hawkeye. And I'm guessing that in your 200 years you haven't ever been on the receiving end of blow from a Kryptonian have you?"

"What?" As that precise moment Kon-El decided to make his presence known by jumping into the confrontation and delivering a hard right hook to the Talon leader's jaw thereby knocking him into the far wall. Thankfully Thomas's distraction had been enough to allow the less than stealthy demi-Kryptonian to slip in unnoticed. Superboy took up a fighting position next Hawkeye and readied for the battle.

But before the Talons could attack the doors from the armory blew themselves outward. All eyes were drawn to the newly created opening as Batman, clad in his robotic war suit stomped out of the threshold. The sight of the war suit was awe-inspiring to say the least. Standing well over eight feet tall the suit was probably more aptly labeled a tank than a suit. The silver and black unit had been designed to function in the most alien of environments that the Bat could think of, but he never planned on using it in his own home. Right now he just didn't care, because the Talons had come after him personally in his house. And it was payback time.

What the Talons didn't know was that Bruce had set the temperature controls in the cave to drop well below freezing. It would take a few minutes to reach full effect, but the Talons would begin to go into hibernation once the temperature dipped below a low enough point. There was one problem with the current plan, one that Bruce didn't want to leave up in the air.

"Hawkeye, keep Nightwing warm. It's going to get cold fast. Superboy provide cover for them." Bruce quickly cut the communication hoping that the two young heroes could protect Dick long enough for his desperate gamble to work.

As Batman engaged the Talons with the war suit Hawkeye turned to Dick, who was still lying on the ground clutching his leg from his earlier wound, "You just had to get just didn't you? I could be having fun right now kicking ass, but NOOO, I've got keep your ass from freezing to death!"

Spreading his arms outward Hawkeye began to manipulate his pyro kinesis around Nightwing. Normally he'd just use the genetic ability to flame blast some random villain, but maintaining a field of warmth without killing the people inside it required more concentration and focus which left him vulnerable. Thankfully Superboy more than ably kept the Talons at bay while Batman put the rest of the birds down permanently.

With the last Talon down for the count Superboy was called to help Batman place them in stasis while Hawkeye stood watch over Nightwing. The acrobat's leg had mostly stopped bleeding, but he would not have survived Bruce's plan had Hawkeye not successfully kept him from freezing to death. While Dick was inwardly thanking God he made it through the night Hawkeye just shook his head.

"See what happens when I'm not around Wing? I turn on my back on you bats for a few seconds and you're whole world falls apart! You're just damn lucky my comm when the call came over the wire."

"Yeah, you're telling me Thomas, you're telling me."

"So how's the leg? Can't do too much until Bats turns the heat back up, which will have to be after he gets the bird boys on ice."

"I've had worse, I'll be up and around soon I hope."

"So mind filling me in on exactly what's being going on?"

"Let's wait until after I get my leg looked at."

Fine, but you owe me one Nightwing." Dick looked at Thomas quizzically for he was pretty sure Thomas still owed him at least twice, but Thomas quickly amended his statement, "As long as we're only counting tonight."

So I'm a little lost as to what direction I should take this story. If anyone's got suggestion I would gladly take them. I hope to update more frequently in the future as well.