I apologize for taking a while. I said I was going to get at least one a week and, well, here's one. Though you can probably be expecting another soon. I have exams right now, but on Monday we have a day off, so I'll more than likely dish out a few chapters.


"Nightwing… Nightwing? Dick!"

Nightwing jerked, nearly falling off of the ledge he was perched on, but his balance is just too amazing. He rubbed around his ear from which Batman's voice came screaming through the earpiece.

"Sorry. What?"

"I can't have you distracted."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not."

"I'm being serious."

"I get it. So what's up?"

"I need you to move positions. I'll send you the coordinates."

They were on the East End of Gotham City; the place where all the magic happens. It is the most run down part of Gotham, decorated with the majority of the poverty, crime, and prostitution of the city. While the official docks are on the North End, there are some makeshift docks where all of the drug lords and other criminals bring in their secret shipments. And no matter how many times they've been caught by Batman, they keep coming back here.

Nightwing leapt across the rooftops, stealthily and silently. He relocated himself to the building directly across from the dock, not too far away from Batman.

"Alright you guys, coming in on the left, approaching the dock. Less than ten minutes," says Oracle.

"Anything on there other tan kryptonite, Babs?" asked Batman.

""Just a shit ton of Black Masks' guys returning to Gotham. Speak of the devil; Black Mask is approaching from Davidson Street on your right, Dick."

"I've got a lock," said Nightwing. He watched the dark car drive up below him, headed towards the docks. It parks not too far away, waiting.

"Do not pursue until I give the word," says Batman.

"I know the drill, Dad." Nightwing heard the Dark Knight scoff through his ear piece. He suppressed a laugh. "How's Selina doin'?" He could hear another voice through the earpiece.

"Bored." Nightwing chuckled.

"Guys, I've lost connection with the ship," says Oracle. "Something's happened." Nightwing watches as the lights on the ship flicker out. A car door slams shut as Black Mask exit's the car with two guys behind him, walking in the direction of the docks.

"Anything you can do?" asks Batman.

"Trying everything. Reconnecting…aha!"

"Okay Babs, what's going down there?" The ship has pulled up onto the dock, but nothing is happening.

"Searching video feed from the ship." Nightwing became impatient, eagerly watching the ship. Suddenly, the door opens on the side as someone stumbles out, booking it down the dock to Black Mask. The guy is flustered, frantically trying to get his words out. Black Mask shoves him aside as he storms towards the ship, waving at his guys behind him to follow. "It's Red Hood," says Babs. "He's got his recruited gang members on the ship. Putting up quite a fight for something."

"Stealing the kryptonite?" asks Batman.

"Possibly. He's outnumbered Black Masks guys."

"Alright Dick, you go in on the port side. Try not to be seen unless you find Black or Red. Selina and I'll be coming in on starboard." Nightwing nods, even though Batman can't see him. He leaps from the building, rolling onto the ground to suppress the blow. He springs up on his feet and runs to the boat. After running up onto the dock, he shoots a grappling hook, swinging around to the port side of the ship. His feet press against the side with little sounds, and he releases the hook to drop onto the deck of the ship.

"Babs," he whispers, "where's all the action?"

"In the hull near the cargo. Watch out on your right." Nightwing swings up under the top deck, bracing himself against the roof. He holds tight as three people run up the steps to the upper level just in front of him. He watches the feet go up the steps, dropping down when it was safe.

Nightwing too off, running silently to the steps leading to the lower level. He slides down the railing, planting his feet before heading toward the door.

"Babs?"

"Clear." He pulls it open, carefully walking down the hall, hand on his belt. He sees no one in the barely lit area, but he could hear the commotion down in the hull. He quickens his pace, feet clanging against the metal floor. Suddenly his heel slips, gliding across the floor before he rights himself. He looks down to where he slipped to see it was blood. A man lies against the wall, blood leaking through his shirt from his stomach.

Nightwing shakes his head, clearing it, and heads down the hall. Three more guys on the ground, dead. Two are battling it out in the corner, and they don't notice him. He turns a corner, stopping short when he sees Red Hood holding a pale Black Mask up by his throat.

"Dick," says Batman in his ear. Nightwing only grunts in response as he chucks a birdarang and Red Hood, causing him to drop Black Mask. "We're detained on the deck. Pursue Red Hood and Black Mask."

"Found 'em," says Nightwing. Black Mask slumps on the floor, gasping and holding his hands around his own neck. Red Hood jerks his head in Nightwing's direction.

"There you are," he says. Nightwing barely has time to be confused before Red Hood lunges toward him. He dips down as Red Hood swings his fist toward him, placing his hands on the ground behind his back and kicking his legs forward. Red Hood flies back past the still gasping Black Mask. Nightwing springs up from the ground and moves toward Red Hood, who is just standing. He throws punches, every one of the Nightwing dodges. He dips and comes up with an uppercut to Red Hood's jaw.

"Enough!" says Red Hood, pulling a gun out from behind his back. "Not yet." Nightwing cocks his head. What does he mean? But then, he pulled the trigger, sending Nightwing smacking back onto the metal flooring. He gasped, feeling the weight of the bullet in his armor. Not piercing, but still painful. He forced his eyes open through the pain, watching as Red Hood takes off down the hall.

"Dick! I heard a gunshot!" called Batman through his ear.

"Oh my God, Dick!" Babs shrieked, causing Nightwing to cringe.

"I'm alright," he managed to cough out. "Bats, we got Black Mask down here, but I gotta get Red."

"I'm coming. Go." Nightwing shoves himself up from the ground, pulls the bullet from his armor, and runs after Red Hood. His feet pound in a mind-numbing rhythm as he gets closer. He's always been quick on his feet. Red Hood looks back, picking up his pace as he notices Nightwing's fast approach. Red Hood shoves through the door, running up the stairs just seconds before he does. He runs, following Red Hood across the floor of the middle level nearly until they reach the back of the ship.

"Red Hood!" shouted Nightwing as he took out his staff. He brought it down against Red Hood's shoulder. He could tell it hurt him, but he soon countered with a punch to the face. Nightwing's head snaps back and he tastes the blood on his lip. He shakes it of, using his staff to dodge Red Hood's blows.

"I don't have time for this," says Red Hood.

"Then why don't we end it now?" Another quick punch to his face. Damn, he was gonna see that in the mirror tomorrow. But when there was nothing to dodge after it, he looked up at Red Hood, surprised.

"Great idea," he said, and if Nightwing could see his mouth, he would bet that he was smirking.

"Dick," said Babs in his ear. "You need to get off the ship."

"What's your game?" asked Nightwing. Red Hood laughed menacingly.

"Oh, I don't play around." He pulled something out from his pocket. A button?

"Dick, get off the ship."

"See you 'round, bro," said Red Hood as he perched on the railing and leapt off. Nightwing ran up to the railing, watching Red Hood as he fled.

"GOD DAMMIT DICK!" He cringed at Babs's voice.

"What!"

"This ships gonna-"

There was a rumble within the floor, the shockwaves running through the ship. Nightwing looked back, watching and hearing as the front of the ship filled with fire, the explosion carrying towards him. He jumped up onto the railing, flinging himself away from it with all of his might. He looked below him as he passed over the ship, over the water, and tuck and roll onto the dock. His feet meet the ground and he pushes himself up, sprinting as far away as he can before his presses himself onto the dock, hands over his head.

"Dick, where are you?"

"Nightwing!"

He waited it out, feeling the heat of the fire behind him. All of those men on that ship… gone.

"I'm here," he croaked as he stood up, surveying his surroundings. "Babs, what the hell happened?"

"He planted a bomb by in the cargo hold."

This guy attacks criminals, but also police officers. He runs the gangs, but stops Black Mask. What the hell is he doing? And what did he mean by "not yet"?

Nightwing sighs, but he didn't ask. He snuck behind a building, using a grappling hook to get up the side. From the roof, he watched as the cops and the fire department came in.

"Dick. Get to the batmobile," said Batman through the earpiece. Nightwing raised an eyebrow. He came over on the N-Cycle. But he doesn't read too much into it.

"What's going on," he asks as he approaches Batman. He stands next to it, the door open as he looks down. Catwoman, who has her hands on Batman's shoulders, looks back at him. She jerks her head in a motion signaling him to "come here".

He steps up next to Catwoman, following their eyes to where they are looking. He glances down at the drivers seat, breath cutting off.

There upon the black seat was a scrap a fabric, a Robin mask.

Jason's mask.


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