A few years ago
Beep* Beep* Beep*
"Mmm…too early" A drowsy raven haired woman buried herself deeper on her man's chest.
"Let me handle that" After their World Tour, the couple needed an alarm to fix their schedule now that they were back home.
"Nooo…no work" Dick only moved to put off the alarm but Z thought that he was getting out of the bed to go work.
"Z-" She moved to bury her head on the crook of his neck.
"No. Happy wife, happy life. You stay" While Zee was too drowsy to register the words coming out her mouth, Dick wasn't.
"Y'know that people usually get married before going to a honey moon, right?" Donna teases the original Boy Wonder as he drags her and Wally through what it feels like the millionth jewelry store.
"And I'm supposed to be the one with fast moves but I've never skip steps" Wally was bored to death as he eats another slice of pizza.
"It wasn't a honeymoon…it was correction course and time to heal wounds and be better than before" Donna wanted to tease her friend but that dorky and dreamy smile of his didn't allowed her to.
"In any case, what are we looking for? We've been through thousands stores…" Wally complains.
"And don't tell me that you took this decision over night. I know for a fact that you've been thinking about this for quite a while" Donna calls for Dick's attention.
"I look for one when we were in Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, and every other place we set foot and none was enough…" Dick asks for the worker to show him another engagement ring.
"Enough? Dick…you could offer her a candy ring and she would say yes to you"
"Do you think that I don't know that? She referred herself as my wife this morning and I agghh…" Donna thanks the worker before stepping aside with Grayson.
"What is it, Dick?"
"She's the best thing that ever happened to me and she deserves the best an-"
"And you are the best for her. You are the best for each other…" Donna took a deep breath. "Look. I can't promise anything but I might be able to get you are ring from the Amazon's vault-"
"I could never ask you to-"
"And you are not doing it. I'm going to try it because I love you and Zatanna. It might be hard but she helped us to take down Ares not long ago and there's a good word of you on the island thanks to Cassie, Diana and me. Just stop beating yourself over this, okay?"
"Will do. Thanks, Donna"
"And wouldn't you have something in the Amazon's vault to help me too?"
"Wally. There's nothing on this world to fix your problem with Artemis"
"It wasn't like that. Everything was exploded over proportion…"
"So you didn't have a date with Linda Park?" Donna asked while arching her eyebrow. She wasn't having Wally's bullshit and Dick was confused.
"It wasn't a date. We were studying together at the library and we got hungry and she suggested that we should go and grab something and we did…"
"That doesn't sound bad…why would Artemis be mad about it?" Dick asks, he couldn't get why the archer would be so mad about it.
"Tell the rest of the story Wallace"
"Okay. Linda Park was…kinda flirting hard with me since we meet and I made very clear that I was happily spoken for but that didn't stopped us from being friends…she was really cool about it but obviously, Artemis wasn't a fan of me being buddies with someone that was crushing on me and Artemis kinda…"
"Hated her guts?" Wally nodded at Dick's statement.
"And well I shared this class with Linda and she's really smart and good at but I wasn't and I needed help"
"Yeah but tell Dick that you told Artemis how you were studying with your buddies from the class" Wally winces at Donna's words.
"Wait?! You didn't tell her that you were studying with Linda? But also told her that it was an only dudes group?" Dick didn't know how to help his friend.
"I don't know because I knew that she'd flip a switch and be mad about it and-"
"And yet she found out"
"She kinda see us together. She saw me and Linda at the burguers' place and well…she kicked me out of the house"
"WHAT?! Why didn't I know that?" Dick was in disbelief. He couldn't get why his pal wouldn't tell him about his problem.
"Because you were dealing with your own fence problems and having a blast in your trip and didn't wanted to rain on your parade"
"But dude. I'm still your friend…how bad is it?"
"I'm crashing at the Kent's farm with Conner and Wolf"
"That bad, huh?"
"I'm sure that Conner and you are depressing Wolf"
"Don't worry Wally. I'm sure that you and Artemis will be just fine…you just have to talk to her and fix this"
"But I've tried…I call her nonstop and leave her like thousands of messages…"
"Wait! You haven't look for her? Like in person?"
"I tried but she always run the other way when she sees me"
"And you are going to tell me that she can outrun you?"
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Outrun her and let her get everything out of her system"
"You know that she might kill me?"
"Then let her. But I need to know something Wally, why didn't you went to study with someone else or at least tell Artemis about Linda?" Wally felt the pressure with Dick's question and, Donna and his eyes on him.
"Because I liked the attention! Okay. She has been pretty darn busy with her projects and Tigress and I've been too with coming back to the hero business and class and well…I fucked up" Dick places his hand on Wally's shoulder.
"And that's what you need to tell her. Zatanna and I heal our wounds because we had the rough conversations. We cannot live with the other but that doesn't mean that we are not setting boundaries and call each other's stuff" Wally took a deep breath. He knew what he had to do.
"Good thing that you have fast healing" The trio chuckled at Donna's comment.
Present
"Alright. This should do the trick…" Dick was currently working on his Nightwing domino's mask on his studio room. The mask was connected to his holo computer.
"How's that project going?" As soon as Dick heard Zee's voice, he put his project to the side to paid attention to his pregnant wife.
"Almost done…what about you?" Dick moved the table in front of him so there was a space big enough for Zee to sit on his lap.
"Food is almost ready" She said as she took a sit on his lap and kiss his cheek.
"What are we having?"
"Your favorite. My special veggie lasagna"
"God. I cannot wait. You are the best" Zatanna hummed in response.
"Past me would be really jealous of me right now, y'know?"
"Yeah. Why is that?"
"Because back in the day…I'd have to be parading in my most sexy lingerie and tease you non-stop and still wouldn't get your attention and now I did it with no effort at all" Zee smiled as Dick caresses her belly that was starting to show her pregnancy.
"Because I learn from my mistakes. I'm not taking you for granted anymore plus there's a reason as of why we retired from the hero business" Zatanna plays a little with his hair. "Besides, if I remember correctly, you were the same when you were overbooking shows and the league"
"As you said, past mistakes, we learn from that but enough of that. Before eating the twins wanted to show you what they did"
"And what did they do?"
"A mess and you better clean it up before we eat"
"It I could wait until Donna and Cassie arrive and let th-" Zee glares at her husband. "Ok. I'll get it fixed right away"
"That's my man" Zee was about to stand up but was pulled back by Dick.
"But first…*Mwah*" He pecks her lips.
"You already have our phone numbers but there's a magical mirror on the studio, all you have to do is to say "Sir Mirror, please help me" and then ask to contact me or Dick, okay?" Zatanna was overwhelming the Amazons with her instructions. "Also, if they cry for more than 5 minutes you need to let me know and we would be here in no time"
"And I know that you two are trained amazons and I know how capable you two are but there's a magical and technological safe keep in the house"
"Pocus is also trained for any emergency but we know that we will be back before anything happens…AND I ALMOST FORG-"
"Would you two please stop? We got you covered. Go to that party and have some fun. You know that Mary and Johnny loves us and there's nothing we wouldn't do to protect them. Just have some fun" The couple softly smiled at Donna.
"Yeah. You are right. Sorry. We are not used to the both of us being away from the twins"
"I know. Don't you worry. Besides, I brought my camera, I've been meaning to get back to take some photos and taking some of these cuties is the best way to start"
Crash* The trio look behind to see Cassie getting her hair pulled by Mary while Pocus and Johnny were going crazy with the toys.
"Don't worry about that. We have everything covered, bye" Donna finally pushes the couple out of their place and close the door, Dick and Zee looked at each other one last time before getting in their SUV to Desmond's party.
"Zatanna! Dick! Finally! I thought you weren't coming" Maggie, Commissioner's Yin's wife, greets the couple.
"Hey, Maggie. How are you?"
"Amazing. Yin is talking with other members of the city council right now but you guys, tell me about John and Mary. How are they?"
"They are amazing. They are so big now. You should visit us more often"
"I know. It's totally my fault but I promise that we will pay you guys a visit and Zatanna…"
"Yeah?"
"You are killing that dress. I swear that you get more beautiful every time I see you" The magician smiles. She was wearing a blue dress that matched with Dick's suit.
"Thank you so much and like wise. Yin is a really lucky woman"
"Why am I lucky woman?" Commissioner Yin joins the chat.
"Because you have such a beautiful and amazing wife"
"Don't I know that. If it weren't for her, I'm sure that the founds for the precinct would've reached new levels of low. She's my secret weapon" Ellen kisses Maggie's cheek.
"Woow. Commish, save something for when you are alone. I've never seen you being like that in public" Yin and Maggie smiled at each other.
"We just got back from our second honeymoon"
"A much needed honeymoon"
"And everything is better than ever"
"We are glad to hear that" Zatanna smiles at the couple.
"So…are you guys going to tell us or what?" Dick and Z were confused at Maggie's question.
"About what?"
"About you guys getting pregnant again"
"What? Babe, how do you know that Zatanna is pregnant?"
"Yin, baby, sometimes I doubt that you are a detective. It's so obvious. Just look at their dorky smile"
"They both always have a dorky smile…"
"The glow in Zatanna's skin and eyes, she just rejected the champagne plus she announced that she was stopping her tours for another season" Everyone looked at the woman with surprise.
"You should hire her as a detective Commish" Dick comes with a quippy remark.
"It's true?"
"Yeah. We are expecting again" Ellen and Maggie embraced the couple.
"We are so happy for you guys. And to be honest I'm surprised. The twins were already beating you" Yon mocks the couple.
"What? You must be confused because the last time the score was Zee - 9999 victories with the twins and me reaching 0 victories"
"You either have the gift or not and I was born with the gift of controlling the Graysons" Zee winks at them and everyone laughs.
"In any case…have you seen our host?"
"Mr. Desmond? Yeah. I talk with him for awhile when I got here"
"And what are you thoughts on him?"
"If I'm being honest…" Yin takes a deep breath. "I'd rather you talk to him first and make your own mind before we discuss this" Dick didn't like Yin's tone and words but he would find out about that the sooner than the later.
"Baby. I'm going to fresh up a little. This room feels to hot"
"Zee…We are in a rooftop, an open space and there's no sun" Zee just glared at her husband's comment.
"We are going with you. Be back soon, Dick. Don't get yourself kicked out of the party" Yin comments.
"Hey! When I've ever being kicked out of a party?" The three women glared at the men once again.
"Okay but most of them were because of Z and the other 3…I knew that Alfred shouldn't have tell you about the chandelier incident"
"Incidents, baby, incidentSSS. Be back soon" And with that, the trio made their way to the bathroom.
"Mr. Grayson. So happy to see you" Dick turned around as soon as he felt a giant hand on his shoulder. In front of the former leaguer, there was Roland Desmond wearing a white tuxedo.
"Mr. Desmond. Finally I get to meet the man himself" Roland Desmond chuckle but his laugh, triggered Dick's alarm. He brushed aways those thoughts and extended his arm to formally greet the host.
"Oh! If someone is the man, that's you Mr. Grayson and you have quite the grip. I didn't expect less from the Nightwing" Dick realized right away that the man had too much force in his hands, even for a man of his size.
"I'm not longer Nightwing. Just Dick Grayson"
"I see. Still, this city is in debt with you. If it weren't for your valiant efforts this city would have been nothing different from Gotham and I'm glad that you came"
"Well, we couldn't reject your invitation when you sent someone to my home to do it…kinda personally"
"My apologies but as you might guessed. I had a lot of things to do for this night to be a success and I'm the kind of men that thinks that if you want something done right you have to do it yourself but I see that your lovely wife isn't with you tonight"
"No, she is. She just went to freshen up with Commish Yin and her wife"
"Oh. I see. Commissioner Yin is a delight, her and her special task for and team of officers and detectives. I assume that you already spoke and saw familiar faces"
"Yeah. Some people of my precinct is here"
"I'd love to have them all but as you might imagine. We cannot live the streets of Blüdhaven unprotected and even more when there's no longer a Nightwing as you said" There was a tense silence between the two men. "Would you like to come with me for a moment? There's something I'd like to discuss with you"
"I'd rather wait for Z if it's all the same to you" Roland hold back a growl.
"I'd be quick. I promise. Your wife is safe, after all she was a Justice Leaguer and she's with the police commissioner" Reluctantly, Dick nodded before following Desmond. "As you might know already, I'm running for Mayor of this city" They were walking through the terrace with Desmond stopping now and then to greet the guests.
"Hard not to. There are a lot of flyers and there's no much competition"
"Still, as you know if the people of Blüdhaven doesn't reach a decision…the leadership falls in the hands of the city council and that put the city in a tight spot" Dick agreed with the man, not long ago, Yin busted a money laundry operation and took down 2 major players of the council.
"Then you better prepare a good speech that it's more than just empty promises" Roland cackle at Dick's comment. Once more, his laugh give Dick chills.
"That's what I like about you. I'm a fair man but I'm also feared and you…you have the guts than many only dream or pretend to have" The duo reached a secure area and Roland gave the guard the instruction of let them in. The room was filled with red lights but what surprised Dick more was the people inside the room.
"What is all this?!" More than one member of the city council along with the current Mayor and some big companies fishes from Gotham, Blüdhaven, Metropolis, among other cities were doing cocaine, having strippers dancing around and some were leaving with the girls to more private area. Dick recognized a lot of faces and knew that most of them were 'family man' and 'uncorrupted'.
"What I'm trying to tell you. This city and other are full of trash like this. They corrupt themselves with money and power and their corruption falls on the city. What you might not know is that Bludhaven's casino area is more profitable than Atlantic City's but that money doesn't reach the citizens because of these people" Dick was stunned. How did Roland pull that stunt with the commissioner at the other side of the door and where did he got all the drugs and people if he was so clean.
"Cut the chitchat. Why did you bring me here?"
"I want your support. With the help of standout citizen like yourself. You are a father, a husband, an ex detective, a hero to this community…with your support, we could be unstoppable. We can bring real change to the city"
"Then…why don't you turn this people? I'm sure that a man with your resources have the means to get proof and lock away this people"
"I wanted to do it but I'm at the mercy. The hospital that I built for this city…is sponsored by some of these people and if cage them, I don't know if the hospital might survive. I'm taking a calculated risk, I just need to hold this project long enough so it can walk on its own"
"So you are willing to work with criminals and help them clean their money? Why don't you look for different sponsors?"
"I've tried to not avail. My brother tainted our name" Dick was surprised that Rolan mentioned the name of his brother. "I know that you know that my brother is Mark Desmond also know as the scientist turned into the beats known as Blockbuster"
"I do but you are not your brother"
"I'm not. But don't get me wrong, the clinic is also to help people like my brother, people that lost their way and I haven't lost hope that my brother will get better" Dick and Roland made their way back to the party. "Look Mr. Grayson. I'm not expecting an answer for you right away but I hope you consider my proposal for a better Blüdhaven" From afar, Dick spotted Zee talking with some other guest that, likely, were her fans.
"Mr. Desmond, sorry for the interruption but, one of your biggest sponsors just arrived" One of Desmond assistants let the big man know.
"Who?"
"Wilson Fisk, sir" Desmond thanked the young assistant.
"My apologies but duty calls. I hope you and your wife keep enjoying the rest of the evening" As soon as Desmond was out of reach. Dick went to Zee.
"Baby. Where were you?" Zee pecked Dick on the lips. "What's wrong?" Dick knew that they were being watched.
"Nothing. Missing the twins. Even with the music and everything this place feels way to quiet, y'know?" Zee knew that Dick was lying right away but played along.
"I know. I was just talking with Susan and the other parents of the community College of Blüdhaven" The couple keep socializing for another half an hour before leaving the party.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Dick was driving back home.
"Desmond. There's something really wrong with that guy"
"Yeah. I notice"
"What did you saw?"
"First, he was looking me in a very lewd way…"
"What?! Why didn't you told me?"
"Because I can take care of myself besides, it don't last long"
"Even if it was for a second. No one looks at you like that" Zee knew how protective Dick was and how much he hated that kind of person.
"And I didn't want you to cause a scene because you clearly figured something out and we shouldn't expose ourselves" Dick took a deep breath to calm himself.
"You are right"
"What did you find?"
"This guy isn't Bludhaven's cure but it's cancer and I need to stop him"
"Roland. How did it go with Mr. Grayson?" Wilson ask his long time friend. The party was long over and Desmond and Fisk were talking in the royal room of the hotel.
"As expected. He is a goodie two shoes, he is weak, too emotional and have a very exquisite wife"
"So don't you think he's falling for your plan?"
"Huh? No, he is. I just need to point him in the right direction and if everything goes well. I'm going to be Mayor of this city and Grayson will end up behind bars and I will keep his wife as a trophy"