This is the last of my pre-written chapters so updates will slow down from here on, but I have plans for this story and I love writing it so I will be continuing it. Never fear, the best is coming. Hang in there for me. Special thanks to everyone who is following my story. It means a lot and inspires me to continue with this and other stories.

Disclaimer: I don't own Batman or One Piece.

Okay, I admit that I hated my original chapter for Nightwing. I love Grayson and I did not do him justice at all. So this chapter was almost entirely rewritten. Hope you like it. Let me know if it's still missing something.

Nightwing-

The air whistled through Nightwing's hair as he leaped across the rooftops of Gotham. It made him feel alive to be running through his old haunts again, even if it was a little strange. Gotham was Batman's city, not his, not anymore. He had to come back only to make an appearance at a Wayne charity event, but he couldn't just sit in his apartment all night. He needed to patrol, to get out and stretch his legs. Since Bruce hadn't said anything against it, Dick figured it wouldn't hurt. Though if Batman had said something, then he probably still would have gone out tonight. He was past letting Batman dictate his actions, even if he had to listen to Bruce Wayne sometimes.

There were days when having two sides of himself like this felt odd: one half Richard Grayson, one half Nightwing. He learned how to balance those sides from Bruce, though he hoped he's been better at it than his mentor. Dick wouldn't trade any of it for the world, though. There was something amazing about being a hero, protecting people and chasing down criminals. Take now for instance, the crook he was chasing had robbed a mom-and-pop grocery a few blocks back and didn't even know that he was being chased yet. In a moment, Nightwing would take him down and he'd pay for scaring poor Mrs. Wilson. Behind them, police were finally responding to the poor woman's "911" call. They would canvas the area and find the thief, who Nightwing was planning to hang from a light post. Cliché maybe, but the classics were classic for a reason.

With a final leap, Nightwing flipped over the roof and landed squarely on top of his quarry. Bull's-eye! The man didn't put up much of a fight as he was tied up. Nightwing left him swinging from the lamp post, the stolen merchandise and money in a pile under his head. Right on cue, Nightwing heard the fine officers of GCPD approaching, so he disappeared into the night, trying not that think of how cliché that was to. Batman had the market cornered on fading into the night, but Dick learned his lessons well. Maybe someday he could serve his mentor some of his own medicine.

With that happy thought, Nightwing returned to his patrol. He was taking a short cut when he heard a woman scream. Damsel in distress? That sounds like a job for a young hero to come save the day. He followed the sound to an alley, only to discover that someone else had beat him to the punch, or well the kick since the man below was only using his feet.

It was an odd scene. A blond man in a fancy suit had a mugger, identifiable by his makeshift mask, pinned against the wall with one foot to the mugger's shoulder. It was an impressive feat of flexibility, more impressive because the blond was turned to offer the woman her purse. He actually bowed as she took it, which made even Nightwing ache a little in sympathy.

"Oh miss, it was my most sincere pleasure to be your shining knight. I promise that this ruffian will never intrude on your beauty again," the stranger spouted gallantly. The woman giggled into her hand, completely charmed by the gentleman.

Nightwing watched while she leaned over to kiss the man's cheek, making him blush and stammer. She laughed and waved as she left. Only in Gotham could a woman brush off a rescue like that so quickly.

The man turned to the thug that he still had pinned to the wall. "You shitty bastard," the blond snarled, "how dare you threated to harm a woman? I should tenderize you, dice you into little pieces, and stew you."

Okay, now it was time for a costumed hero to step in before this guy went overboard. Nightwing dropped down into the alley and addressed the man. "Now don't you think that's a bit much?" he said with a laugh to diffuse the tension.

The man studied the newcomer for a moment before turning to his victim and ground his foot harder into the poor man's shoulder. "Do you swear that you will never again harm a lady?" he snarled. He didn't seem homicidal so Nightwing waited for him to finish.

"Yeah, yeah," the man gasped. "Just let me go, please."

"Swear it on your honor as a man," the stranger ordered, leaning closer to the man. Nightwing had to suppress a smile for that one, but he liked the idea. It fit with his own idealism.

The man swore as hard and as honestly as he could, blubbering like he was begging for his life. Nightwing was impressed; he'd only ever seen Batman get a reaction like that. With a disinterested sniff, the blond let him fall. Without another word the would-be mugger took off running as fast as he could.

Nightwing whistled in appreciation at the dent in the wall. "Did you do that?" he asked. The foot shaped dent was next to where the man's head had been, which meant it was probably an intimidation. Nightwing was liking this guy the more he learned.

The man took out a cigarette and with the ease of long practice soon had it lit. "Yeah, we going to have a problem?"

"No problem, just wondering who you are," Nightwing shrugged.

"Black Leg Sanji," the man said with a puff of smoke.

"Nightwing," Dick replied. He leaned against the wall nonchalantly, taking in the strange fellow. He certainly wasn't from Gotham. Dick had never seen a suit like that with the double row of gold buttons. His shoes were polished but no amount of shoe shine could hide the wear and tear. His hair was bright blond and brushed to over his left eye, leaving the right to glare out at the world under… why was his eye brow spiraled? Nightwing realized he was staring so he spoke up to cover it. "So what are you doing out tonight, Sanji? I mean other than rescuing damsels in distress."

"Looking for my shitty crew," Sanji spat out as he threw down his cigarette and smashed it under his foot. "Our ship got caught in a freak storm and we were separated."

"What do you mean 'crew'?" Nightwing asked, curious.

"My pirate crew, the Strawhats," said then his eyes widened dramatically and he reached over to grab Nightwings shoulders and shook the hero. "What about my poor Nami-Swan and Robin-chan? They're probably lost without me to protect them in this awful place. How will I find my flowers?"

"There are women in your pirate crew?" Nightwing said once Sanji calmed down a little. The pirate had lit another cigarette and was puffing like a train in distress. At least he wasn't blowing smoke in Dick's face. Pirates, though; that was new. Nightwing couldn't remember ever having pirates in Gotham.

"Two beautiful goddesses that I would die protecting," Sanji gushed. Then his demeanor changed, "and a directionless walking Marimo who is probably so turned around that we'll never find him. Not that I would cry over that, of course."

Nightwing wasn't sure what to say to that one. He decided to go with what he knew he could do. "Maybe I could help?" he offered. "I am a hero after all."

"You sure? I would be fine on my own," Sanji said suspiciously.

"Of course," Nighwing scoffed. "Sounds like fun, as long as you're not planning to pillage right?"

"Why would I pillage anything?"

"Because you're a pirate?" At Sanji's unimpressed look, Nightwing dropped it. "Never mind, Sanji. Tell me about your crew."

"There are just 9 of us. Nami-swan and Robin-chan, of course, are my first priority. The rest of the idiots should be okay, except maybe Chopper and Ussop." He stopped to ponder the thought as he tapped the ash off his third smoke. "Maybe not. We've all gotten so much stronger."

"Sounds interesting. Do you have any ideas where they could be?" Nightwing asked. He was committed now, and it sounded like a good challenge. However, this was also sounding more complicated. This pirate hunt could be bigger than he could handle alone, as much as he hated to admit that.

"No idea," Sanji shrugged. "Honestly, I was just going to wherever there was the biggest commotion. That's usually how we find each other."

"This happens a lot?"

"More than you'd think."

"Well we can't just wait for them to get into trouble, this is Gotham and things have a tendency to get out of control. Tell you what, I'll call my mentor and see if he has any ideas about your friends."

"If you think it will help, I'll do anything for my flowers," Sanji approved.

Nightwing nodded and touched to com in his ear, connecting it. He had already used it once tonight to check on Alfred but talking to Batman was always more complicated. Besides, how was he going to explain helping a lost pirate? The more he thought about it the weirder it sounded. Man, he hoped Batman would listen to him. "Hey, Bats? I have a situation."