AN: Well... it's kind of awkward because I didn't update last week, so I'm really, really, REALLY sorry about that. My fault entirely, so thanks to all you guys who reviewed and thanks to SakuraTenshi36092 for betaing and dealing with my over-use of commas (because I really do over use them).

Reveiws make me happy, happy me means happy bird boy, maybe.

Blue Bird

Chapter 6

Another ring of steam issued from Nightwing's lips as he perched, rather haphazardly, on top of the golden globe that topped Metropolis's Daily Planet building and watched yet another Ferris Air commercial flight pass overhead. It was heading from Gotham to Dubai, and it was kind of disconcerting for Nightwing to watch it, as he distinctly remembered boarding it ten years ago, for a conference which now, apparently, wasn't happening until next month. He rubbed his head, time travel was confusing, take tonight as an example; in exchange for him not telling the team who Nightwing was, Batman had sent the vigilante to deliver a message to the man of steel, while Nightwing remembered also sending Rose Wilson, A.K.A. Ravager, to deliver the same message in the year 2018, six years in the future (or four in the past, depending on how you looked at it), the encounter between Deathstroke's daughter and the last son of Krypton had culminated in a concussion for Superman, three broken ribs for Ravager and nearly ten thousand dollars in property damage as well as definitive contact between Superman and Superboy.

Nightwing winced at the memory, but smirked at the outcome, hoping that wouldn't change. He shrugged; there was always the possibility Superman wouldn't listen to him. A door below opened and Nightwing looked down in time to see the top of Lois Lane's head appear, he smiled to himself as she pretended to adjust her watch and proceeded to look up expectantly.

"Ms Lane?"

Lois jumped and turned to face Nightwing, now on the rooftop behind her, "Who are you supposed to be?"

"A concerned citizen," Nightwing replied, "I needed to talk to Superman about something and was wondering if you'd know how to contact him."

Lois folded her arms and tried to glare, an effect somewhat lessened by her blatant attempts to see Nightwing from behind, "If you're expecting me to jump off the building you're out of luck."

Nightwing shrugged, "I assure you Ms Lane I wasn't expecting anything like that, I more had in mind the signal watch Superman gave you as a means of contact should you fall off a building."

"Really?" Lois looked mildly impressed, "The only way you'd know about those is if you had one, so why not use yours?"

"I left it in my other pants," Nightwing said with a smile, "And Batman was reluctant to lend me his,"

"I see," Lois looked amused, "And what business do you have with him... uh, sorry I didn't catch your name."

"Nightwing," Nightwing introduced himself, "and I solemnly swear that it has nothing to do with killing him, or destroying the world or anything, he just isn't answering his JLA communicator."

"There's a good reason for that," Nightwing and Lois turned to face Superman, who was hovering just off the edge of the twenty-four storey building, cape billowing behind him and a frown on his face.

"'You alright Lois?" He asked,

"Yes, I'm fine, I wanted an interview but Nightwing here," she gestured to the hero, "Seems to have important League business he needs to discuss with you, so I'll be going."

"Actually, Ms Lane," Nightwing called after her, "Could you stay? This particular issue is one Superman tends to worm out of, and if you're a witness that makes it more difficult for him."

"Okay," Lois said, "Now I'm very curious."

Superman's scowl deepened, "Nightwing?"

"After the Kandorian legend," Nightwing said, "Now that that's out of the way, Batman asked me to deliver a message."

"Really?" Superman said, "And he couldn't come himself because?"

"Two reasons," Nightwing replied, "First is that he's tried twice and it doesn't seem to work, the other is that he's a bit busy looking for Robin, which you would know if you had picked up your comm. and found out rather than assuming he was trying to get you to bond with Superboy."

"What?"

"Superboy, you know; the clone of you, from Cadmus? The one who is currently running rampant with uncontrollable powers and deep running anger issues? The one who wants to be like you but can't because he doesn't know how to fly? Ring any bells?"

Superman narrowed his eyes, "What do you want?"

"Batman says that if you don't start teaching him, at minimum, he's going to end up killing someone by accident," Nightwing said, "And that this would be your fault because Superboy, who now has a real name, by the way, wouldn't know any better because you didn't teach him how to use his powers."

"And why couldn't Batman tell me this himself?" Superman asked,

"You really pay no attention when people talk to you, do you?" Nightwing said, "And just be glad it is me, if I wasn't here a crazy, teenage, kryptonite-enhanced assassin would pop up in six years and try to do you in over it."

"What makes you say that?" Superman asked,

"I'm from ten years in the future, Superman, I've got rough foreknowledge minus the alterations my presence here creates," Nightwing tapped the side of his head, "Think about it, Superboy will only wait so long."

As he leapt backwards off the building Nightwing smirked, through the wind he distinctly heard Lois say; "A clone huh? And when were you planning on telling me, the honeymoon?"

Nightwing let out a laugh and fired a jump line; it definitely wasn't Superman's lucky day. He swung from roof to roof for ten minutes before Superman caught up with him, a couple of blocks away from the nearest zeta tube.

"You said Robin was missing," was all he said,

Nightwing let out a snort, "Oh good, you had me worried, for a second there I thought you were actually going to talk to Superboy or something," he allowed a note of distain enter his voice, "Your brain must be smaller than your parent's henhouse, Clark."

Superman pulled up short and Nightwing dropped out of the sky, flipping several times as he fell and landing neatly beside the zeta point, shaking his head at Superman's stunned expression as he activated it.

"Recognised, Robin, B-0-1, Superman, 0-1,"

Then they were at Mount Justice, Nightwing raised an eyebrow at Batman, who was standing by the controls, "Computer malfunction?"

"Of a sort," Batman agreed, ignoring Superman completely, "Get some rest,"

Nightwing shrugged, "Don't really need it, but if you say so."

He left Batman to unpick Superman at the seams and made for the living quarters, then a thought struck him, and instead of turning left to the bedrooms, he turned right and ended up in the control room.

Nightwing sat at a console and opened a holoscreen and keyboard; very quickly he began to type.

"Okay, mini-me, hack through that," Nightwing murmured, setting the digital lock on the file for the day he disappeared. Nightwing stood and yawned, despite what he had said to Batman, he really was tired; he deactivated the computer and headed for the living quarters.

-THIS IS WHERE A LINE BREAK THINGY SHOULD BE-

Meanwhile, ten years in the future, the main computer screen in the control room of Mount Justice lit up. Robin looked up in alarm and turned to Ravager, "Is it supposed to do that?"

"No," the girl replied, "Where's Cyborg when you need him, huh?"

"Last I checked, he was with Batgirl and Beast Boy hunting down Warp, Impulse is trying to deal with those other Robins, I think, or he's done and with the others, and you said back in the gym that Batman is out of the country." Robin said,

"Don't be a smart-ass, that was rhetorical." Ravager growled, "But seeing as you've got such a good memory, bird boy, what did I say when you first arrived about records on this thing?"

"It could be hidden with a digital time lock," Robin replied, "And if that was the case Nightwing might have left you clues."

"Correct," the girl said, "Now let's find out what happened."

AN: And... we'll find out what's in that file next week in chapter four of Red Wings, meanwhile, next week here; the zeta room was trashed and Superboy wants to know why. So he asks Nightwing. (Somehow turning what should have been a three minute conversation into a chapter-long bonding session. :)