AN: Whoops! I didn't realise how long it had been since I'd last updated this story. I guess the real world got busy. Hopefully this chapter doesn't disappoint.

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Alfred found his first charge exactly where he expected to find him, standing outside the bedroom door of his second charge.

The bedroom door to Richard's room was partially open and Bruce was leaning against the frame, watching. Alfred knew what he would see when he got closer. Richard would be asleep, sprawled out across the middle of the bed, with the covers half way down his body. It was also, not an unusual sight to see Bruce standing in the doorway of one of the boy's bedroom when they were injured, and just watching. Never breaching the children's space, yet close enough to reassure himself that they would be okay.

"He's planning something, Alfred," said Bruce quietly, keeping his eyes on the teenager. Alfred kept quiet, Bruce didn't need platitudes at this point or comfort. He needed someone to listen to his concerns. "If he goes out alone, I'm not sure if I'll be able to protect him."

"Perhaps Richard does not need your protection," said Alfred softly. Bruce looked over to the older man. "Perhaps he needs your support."

Alfred could see the confusion on Bruce's face, even if the younger man did his best to imitate a statue and give nothing away. He just knew the man too well.

"You've raised a very capable young man," continued Alfred. "In both the worlds he lives in."

"I'm pretty sure you had more to do with raising a capable civilian."

"That is something we can disagree on, another day," smiled Alfred knowingly. "You have a strong young man in there, with a deep desire to protect the ones he cares about. Sounds familiar does it not?" Alfred turned to leave, placing a supportive hand on Bruce's arm and giving a quick squeeze.

Bruce watched his oldest friend, his family, walk back down the hallway and out of sight, before he reached forward and pulled Dick's bedroom door closed.

It would be dawn soon, Bruce thought as he walked towards his own bedroom. He might be able to get a few hours of sleep before he went back to the Wayne Enterprise building and put more plans in place for damage control.

However, if he were at the office that would mean he would not be able to observe Dick. Was this what Cobb wanted? To distract him enough so he could reach Dick more easily? Bruce paused as he considered his options, was sleep the best option right now?

Shaking that thought off, he entered his room. If he did not get some rest, he would never be able to protect Dick. The next choice could wait until after that.

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-/-

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Dick had felt trapped for the last three days, not having a moment to just be alone. Bruce had gone into the office the first day after the attack to sort out repairs and check on employees, then after that he'd been at home, and strangely hovering. It had Dick on edge.

Alfred had been constantly checking on him throughout the day and then in the evenings when the others went out on patrol, Alfred was constantly nearby.

Tim was with him before school and after he had finished. Even Steph and Barbara were finding excuses to call him about things.

This was why he lived alone. Yes, he loved being around his friends and family, but sometimes he needed to be in his own space and not have to put on yet another mask around people. He could feel his control on his temper slipping more and more each day.

On the third night he was watching the Gotham CCTV network, the Batcomputer was patched into, as Cobb went after Robin and Spoiler. Listening to the fight over the comm. line had him clenching his fists so tight he wouldn't be surprised if he drew blood.

Dick watched on the screen as Batman arrived, trading a few blows with Cobb before the Talon jumped off the roof and seemingly ran away. Robin and Spoiler were already getting to their feet and their voices over the comm. line didn't make it seem like they were seriously harmed. Did Cobb think he couldn't take on all three of them?

Dick reached over to the computer and scrolled back through the footage of Cobb fighting Robin and Spoiler. Something wasn't right. Watching again, and again, Dick zoomed in on Cobb's movements.

"He's playing with them."

Dick watched as Cobb purposefully blocked the hits and kicks from the vigilantes and the hits he returned were to no vital areas, and his movements were telegraphed. When Batman turned up, Cobb didn't bother to stick around – was this because Cobb thought Batman could best him?

Dick watched the footage again. No, Cobb wasn't even trying. Cobb most likely left knowing Batman would come to the same conclusion that he just had. Cobb didn't care for anyone but Nightwing.

It was pure chance the following evening that Dick could just walk straight down to the cave and get changed into his Nightwing suit, without having to look out for anyone. Bruce was delayed at the office and Alfred was picking Tim up from school after some club he was attending that ran late.

This was his opportunity to get out ahead of the family, and let Cobb find him. He would lure Cobb to the site Dick wanted to have their confrontation. If he controlled the environment, he had a better chance of success.

Getting on his motorcycle, Nightwing left the cave and headed into Gotham. He had no idea where Cobb had been staying, and he was sure Batman had no further leads other than the suspicious black-outs in Stephanie's neighbourhood, so he would have to assume that Cobb would be watching for him, same as he had been outside Wayne Enterprises. Therefore rather than heading straight to his chosen location he headed into the main part of the city, and took a circular route to his chosen destination.

A block away from what he wanted as his final destination he stopped his bike and stored it in an alleyway before heading up to the nearest roof.

It wasn't a particularly high roof, like the apartment blocks and offices in the middle of Gotham. It was in a more industrious section of the city, just before you got to the docks. One and two storey structures that either produced or repaired machinery, or like where he wanted to end up, food processing plants.

He started to stretch out his muscles as the sun started to set behind the Gotham skyline. His senses on high alert waiting for his target to approach.

He could feel the stitches in his side pulling slightly, he'd need to be careful tonight. Not overstretch himself on the acrobatics in case he were in danger of tearing the stitches, and that would just… complicate things.

He'd be okay, he knew Cobb would find him, he didn't know why or how, but he knew. Then it all came down to timing.

The sun had just dipped below the horizon when Nightwing knew that Cobb had landed on the roof behind him. There was no sound, or smell that indicated the teenager wasn't alone anymore, but there was a feeling. The hairs on the back of his neck standing up. That deeply buried instinct from the lizard-brain that says a predator was close and he was the prey, and he should run.

Nightwing ignored the flight response, let out a long, slow breath, and turned around. The only running he was going to be doing tonight would be a tactical move.

"You have finally come out of hiding, this is good," stated Cobb in his overly flat voice as he removed his hood. It didn't make Dick feel any more comfortable being able to see the lack of expression on the Talon. With those amber eyes staring at him.

"I wasn't hiding," shrugged Nightwing, purposefully relaxing his body.

Cobb surprisingly, raised an eyebrow in return, "Then you will come with me?"

"No, I don't think so," replied Nightwing nonchalantly. "We may share some distant DNA, but that's not family."

"You-"

"Will be remaining right here," interrupted Nightwing. "Where I belong."

"That is your final answer?"

"That is my only answer."

"That is disappointing," said Cobb as he replaced his mask. Nightwing had just enough time to roll out of the way and bring up his escrima sticks in a cross-guard, as Cobb leaped at him withdrawing both his swords in one swift move as he brought them down towards his head.

Cobb was fast. Possibly, no, probably faster than Deathstroke. Which had Nightwing hesitating for one brief moment. Fear, passing through him. Winning against Deathstroke was more to do with luck, than skill. Which meant that winning today was going to mean perfect timing.

Surprisingly Cobb then stepped backwards, releasing the pressure he was exerting on his swords against Nightwing's escrimas. Letting Nightwing get cautiously back to his feet, his vigilance rewarded when he was ready for the next attack.

Cobb attacked in a classic figure eight movement of both swords, which only left room for Nightwing to weave and step out of range. Cobb kept advancing pushing Nightwing to the edge of the roof, then he stopped. Both swords being brought down to his sides as he stepped further away from Nightwing, giving him space.

Nightwing straightened up, spreading his feet wider he was just about to launch his own attack when Cobb jumped first. This time he used a classic cut and thrust technique, putting Nightwing on the defensive again. Blocking and ducking as blades got way to close for comfort. Then Cobb stopped.

Nightwing frowned at the Talon, he recognised what was happening. This was a tactic Slade had used with him. To test him. Nightwing stood up straighter and re-sheathed his escrima sticks on to his back. "I don't like games."

Then he turned and ran.

He could sense rather than hear Cobb coming up behind him as he leapt over the gaps between warehouses. One more roof to go and he'd have Cobb where he needed him. Leaping the last gap he was just about to touchdown when something solid hit him from behind, knocking him off course so he started to descend faster than anticipated. He wasn't going to make the roof.

Tucking into a ball, to speed up his descent he crashed through a window lower down the building rather than smashing into a brick wall. Glass sliced through his uniform in places as he opened his body up to try and reach something, anything to stop his fall.

Grabbing a pipe, his hands slipped off and spun him around as he was unable to get a firm grip as his velocity was too great. Seeing the floor coming up faster and faster, Nightwing tucked his legs in closer to his body, ready to land and roll.

Which he did, and kept rolling right into a large metal object, that knocked the air out of his lungs. Laying on the floor as he tried to get his breath back. He looked up to see where he was, taking stock of his surroundings. When Cobb landed gracefully and silent as always in front of him.

"Shit!" He was in the wrong side of the warehouse.

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-/-

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AN: Do let me know your thoughts. Many thanks.