Sorry the chapters have been so short. I have a list of things I need to happen before season two, and I'm just trying to get them written right now. The chapters will get longer and, hopefully, better. The sidekick Wren is my OC from my other fic Some Nights. She'll be in this story a little, because the stories are in the same universe, but she's mostly gonna stay in Gotham, so if you don't want to read the other story, you won't miss anything as far as this one goes. If you are reading the other fic with this one, you should read the new Some Nights update before this chapter. Anyway, hope you like it, and I could really use some reviews right now.
Mallory and Zatanna were playing a video game in the living room a week later when the computer announced Nightwing's arrival. When he appeared in the tube, Zatanna glanced over, and Mallory took the distraction as an opportunity to get a shot in.
"Hey!" Zatanna complained good naturedly.
"Sorry," Mallory said unapologetically.
Zatanna laughed and tried to shoot Mallory's avatar, but she missed. They heard Dick storm behind the couch and go to his training room, slamming the door behind him. They glanced at each other, the game forgotten, and got to their feet in unison. When they went in the room, he was upside down on the rings, his arms stretched out, a look of anger and concentration on his face. Mallory looked at Zatanna, hoping she would be the first to say something. She shook her head slightly, and Mallory sighed.
"Hey, Nightwing, got a minute?" she called.
He flipped off the rings and landed a few feet away. "What do you need?" he asked calmly.
Mallory tilted her head a little. "Dick, we know when you're not yourself. What happened?" she asked.
He sighed. "There's a new Robin in Gotham," he said quietly.
"What?" Zatanna asked.
"Batman found a new Robin, and another kid, calls herself Wren. He sent them to Bludhaven last night to help me with an arms deal," he said.
"How can he do that to you?" Zatanna asked angrily.
Nightwing nodded. "Yeah, that's how I felt about it too. I mean, I don't hold it against the kid for taking the title, how could he pass it up. But how could Batman replace me, and then send my replacement to my new city as if I can't handle it. And it means he's still watching me if he knew about the deal. And I just went and talked to him, and he wants to put them on the team. My team. I worked hard to be Robin, and to start this team, and Batman's just handing it over to the first unattached kid he came across."
The girls glanced at each other, not knowing what to say. "Dick," Mallory said slowly, "I know you're mad at Batman, but think about it from his point of view. From any of our mentor's points of view, really. You left after working with him for ten years. He got used to having someone fighting with him, and just because you left doesn't mean he doesn't still need the help. Aquaman did the same thing, and you understood when he did it."
"Aquaman didn't find someone that looked like Kaldur and name him Aqualad just for appearances," Dick pointed out.
"No, but he still replaced Kaldur, and he expected us to take Lagaan on the team without even checking with any of us beforehand. He's not doing it to rub it in your face," she finished, out of ideas.
Dick sighed. "I know that, that's not the point."
"Then what is?" Zatanna asked quietly.
"It's only been three weeks, Z! I was his partner for ten years, and he didn't even wait a month before adopting the first kid he ran across to take my place."
Mallory sighed. Inwardly, she was just glad Batman hadn't tried to talk her brother into becoming Robin, but she didn't say as much out loud. What she did say was, "is he good?"
Dick shrugged. "I guess, I mean he and his sister both held their own when they were fighting, but Wren got shot, and I had to bring them back to my apartment to make sure she was ok."
"Is she? Ok?" Zatanna asked.
"Yeah, she's fine, it hit the kevlar, so she's just got a bruise," he replied distractedly.
Zatanna nodded. "Maybe you should go spend a few days in Gotham," the magician said after a moment.
"Why would I do that?" he asked angrily.
"To help Batman train them so that they don't get killed, for one, and to get to know them, for another. Dick, you know how important having a family is, and if Batman's all these two have, they're going to need some sort of support system. You know how hard it is to put up with him even for a short period of time."
Dick sighed and crossed his arms. "He's not so bad when he's not wearing the suit," he said quietly. The girls didn't say anything, and he sighed heavily. "Fine, I'll go over there in a few days, as soon as I hit a lull in Bludhaven."
Mallory arched an eyebrow. "Right, 'cause you have those all the time over there," she said, her tone dripping with pointed sarcasm.
"Ok, fine, I'll go tomorrow. I just need to get someone to cover my beat," he said.
Zatanna smiled brightly. "Good. Well, now that that's settled, you want to play the winner?"
He grinned and followed the girls back out to the living room and settled on the sofa behind them, watching as they restarted their game and started playing.