Blast From the Past!
As the figure fell towards Dick, claws first, he dodged to the side. The grey figure's claws sparked off the sidewalk where Dick had been a moment before. (Bladed weapons, head to toe body armor, everything about this guy screams hired killer. Who did I piss off enough to get someone this expensive after me, by his own admission he is truly after me not Rob..Nightwing.)
Seeing Dick dodged his initial attack, "Good... Make it a fight, more of a release for me. Using what they taught me to kill you. You should thank me for an easy death."
Dick needed a distraction to hide long enough to get into his outfit in his backpack. Then Grayson can disappear, and Nightwing can take over. At that moment Metropolis's finest showed up with remarkable response time, much better than GPD that tried to show up late, so they just had to deal with cleanup not the actual crime. (More likely, these guys were just down the road when this idiot attacked me.)
"Metropolis PD, freeze or we will fire."
"This guy is dressed like a supervillain Rookie, so we go with the enhanced book first off. Noncompliance means full force."
The costumed figure spoke, "Beat it pig's, I'm killing a killer before he becomes the greatest killer ever."
"Just freeze there and don't make us shoot, Special Crimes unit is on the way already. If this guy is that bad, then they can deal with it, or Shield comes into play."
The figure screamed at the two cops "NO, I will kill him, I deserve that privilege. It's all his fault." Then he charged the police officers. (I'll just kill them a little bit for getting in the way.)
The cops seeing him approach started shooting but he was very fast and avoided any direct hits, even the bullets that did hit him didn't penetrate his outfit. In seconds the figure was close enough to use his two claws attached to his gloves. Punching his left claw into one of the officer's stomach, the other officer tackled him before he could shove the claws on his right fist into his partner's chest. Saiko turned his wrist and slid the sharp edge of the claws across the face of the cop who tackled him.
Standing above both injured officers he prepared to kill them both for getting in his way when he saw several people rushing at him yelling for him to get off the cops. He shouted back, "Stupid civilians, I could kill you all in seconds."
Metropolis Citizen, "That won't stop us from trying to protect those that try to protect us."
Saiko was stunned at this reply, and he wasn't at all prepared for the attack that hit him from the side. The kick was a solid attack that pushed him away from the cops and the civilians rushing to their aid; he felt a couple of ribs give way. Then he heard.
"All right sport, here are the rules. You tell me what this is all about and I only break your little claws... and your jaw."
The figure in grey looked to see a black-clad Nightwing and growled in frustration.
Nightwing was just as amazed as Saiko that civilians were willing to put themselves in danger to help the police. (If only it was like this in Gotham.) He shouted toward them while keeping an eye on the figure in front of him, "You all see to the officers, try and stop their bleeding, and get an ambulance on the way. I'll keep this guy away from you."
"So the orphaned prince has a hero looking after him. ALWAYS HIM! My suggestion Hero, stay out of this."
Before he could react, Nightwing saw the guy charge at the apartment complex on the left side of the street and then the grey-clad figure started climbing the patio rails with acrobatic grace that was on par with his if not a little better. Quickly Nightwing started giving chase. "Sorry, your whole kill anything in your way angle is going to prevent that."
Nightwing caught up to his prey on the roof and the figure yelled, "You have no idea who you are trying to protect." After saying this he punched toward Nightwing trying to impale him with his claws.
"Then why don't you tell me who hired you to kill him? I'm curious." Nightwing then dodged to the left and delivered a solid right to Saiko's face.
Spitting some blood onto the rooftop, the figure replied "Grayson is no innocent. Dick Grayson is the fiercest killer in all the country, and he doesn't even know it." He swings his claws toward Nightwings face again but it's dodged and then he hits his true target. A wooden water catch for rainwater used by the building residents. After cutting the legs out from under it, the vessel tips and all the water gushes out hitting Nightwing and forcing him off the roof to fall 4 stories to the ally pavement.
Lucky for Nightwing he was able to catch a clothesline strung between buildings helping slow his fall before it snapped under his weight. He then fell the rest of the way down hitting a garbage can that snapped a couple of his ribs, he rolled off it and lay stunned in a puddle of water. He watched as the grey-clad figure jumped down after him, breaking his fall by jumping wall to wall. Covered in water that's still falling from the roof the figure approached the stunned Nightwing.
Catching his breath and waiting for the numbness to ease the pain of the broken ribs, he snarked, "You know I have been meaning to ask, why only 2 claws like Soldier Girl? Not Man enough to swing 3 on each hand like Captain America and Wolverine?"
The figure reached down and grabbed Nightwing by his costume.
"Also, that's a really nice suit you got there. Is it insulated? Cause mine is." Pulling the Escrima Sticks from under him he puts both to his attacker and pushes the button that releases a 150-thousand-volt shock. Knocking the figure away.
Nightwing fought through the pain in his ribs and charged the guy and grabbed his arm then twisted it trying to drag Saiko to the ground. "If we are going to keep dancing like this buddy how about giving me a name? You know so I can come up with some more personal insults!"
The grey-clad figure jumped and flipped out of the arm lock Nightwing was using on him and replied, "Keep on talking hero, it will make killing you much more worthwhile!"
Nightwing thought to himself (Got to get this guy talking. I keep forgetting that this fight started with him targeting Dick Grayson, not Nightwing. Apparently, Grayson is the fiercest killer in the country, and that's news to me.)
As they were fighting, Nightwing saw the guy toss a grenade at a car in the distance, having no choice, Nightwing stopped fighting him and raced to the car to help pull the driver and passenger clear of the burning wreck. (Unfortunately, this guy doesn't know I'm his target, so he escaped without looking back. Probably trying to find Dick Grayson.)
After ensuring everyone was ok, Nightwing also disappeared into the night. He headed to the alley where he changed and luckily his backpack was still there along with his clothes. (This will make it easier to get back to the hotel.)
Bad news there also, the request for more rooms was simply not happening. All booked out and a wait list two blocks long. (I guess we can put Diana in my room and us guys can bunk together.) Dick started tidying up his room for Diana and packing the few things he had unpacked. But before he could text Logan about the plan, there was a knock at the door.
Dick opened it to see the redhead Raya telling him, "You're taking me to Atlantic City Tonight."
He was a bit surprised, and the fact she was a childhood friend was the only reason he didn't close the door in her face. "I am?" he said in confusion.
"Something's come up Dick, something I really need your help with."
"What about the Circus Raya? You're part of the show."
"We've got two days off, something about being framed for child trafficking. I guess Cali saved a bunch of kids along with some heroes. I already told Bryan I'd be back before we reopened."
Dick faded back in his memories for a brief moment, (Raya Vestri and I grew up together in Haly's Circus, but up unit a few hours ago I hadn't seen her in years. Not since I shadowed the funeral of our friend Raymond McCreary. We were inseparable back before the death of my parents. But seeing her crying on Raymond's coffin, I just couldn't face her grief, so I left before meeting anyone.)
Raya saw Dick was still hesitating, "I have to get there tonight, and I don't have a car. Can you please give me a lift?
Dick shook himself, (Beautiful girl comes back into my life and needs my help. Who am I to say no.) "Yeah, I think we can figure something out..."
-(Scene Shift, Logan)-
Text* From Tweety [Hey I couldn't get a room for everyone, but something came up and I need to get Raya to Atlantic City tonight, so I slipped my room key into your room for Diana to use.]
Text* Sent... [You just ran into her for the first time in forever today, you best not be coming back married. Matt would kill you.] ... Delivered
Text* [Serous though, something is going on with this Circus Dick. Someone is out to close it down permanently, without caring about who gets hurt. We will keep an eye out until you get back.] ... Delivered