A/n: Right, so uh, I don't think I'm gonna finish these before New Year's (TOMORROW), so I'm gonna post them Jan 1- whenever. One chapter per day. Less pressure for me, more excitement for you. You're welcome. Win-win for everyone but Dick Grayson.

Saturday December 14, 00:41

Dick crouches on the building across from the coordinates Oracle gave him, assessing the situation.

The building that Batman was supposed to be in is nothing but smoking rubble, already surrounded by firemen piling out of a large firetruck parked to the side. Paramedics ferry civilians away from the still-burning fire. Among them, Dick spots a civilian wearing a gas mask that is all too familiar. Not hard to figure out what must have happened from there.

Batman must have been getting the civilians out from the building, giving up his mask to help that young girl but exposing himself to the smoke and fear gas. Only problem was… where was Bruce now?

Gunshots echo from a few alleys down, giving Nightwing a good idea of where his next destination will be. Heading over, he sees Batman surrounded by four men, one of them armed with a small gun. The fact that those men are still standing is telling of how badly the fear gas has already affected Bruce.

"Look, it's another one of 'em!" Before Dick can drop down and take them by surprise, one of the men looks up and announces his presence for him. Not one to waste an opportunity, he flings his escrima to knock the gun out of the goon's hand while diving down from the rooftops, landing on and knocking out another guy.

"We're everywhere, I know," Dick smirks, purposely diverting all of their attentions to him. It works a little too well, and in the small alleyway, there's not much room to move to start with but one of the men manages. He rushes at Nightwing who barely has time to flip over the man, letting him run into the wall behind the vigilante.

Unfortunately, Dick lands right in front of one of the other goons, who quickly delivers a roundhouse kick right to Dick's head. His gas mask takes the brunt of the blow, but the cold, sharp scent that Dick can now spell tells him the mask has cracked. He doesn't waste time taking it off - for one, the other two goons are attacking him and besides, some protection from the gas is better than no protection at all.

Instinct takes over, and he's dodging, flipping, punching and kicking without really thinking about it. The first blow to his head threw him off a little and his eyes kept drifting to check on Batman - who manages to take care of one of the men, even if that just means punching him into the wall - otherwise the fight would have been a little shorter. As it is, by the time it's over, Batman has fled.

Nightwing wishes he could be surprised at the older man's actions, but he did learn the whole 'running away and hiding from your problems' thing from somewhere…

Either way, Dick knows how to find his dad hiding in the corner of a nearby rooftop. An alley would have provided more safety, but if Dick had to guess what memories the fear gas dredged up for Bruce, he severely doubted being in an alley would help at all.

In all the years Dick had been with Batman, he's seen Bruce under the influence of fear gas enough times. He doubts he will ever get used to the sight of his father, this incredibly intimidating vigilante of the night cowering in a corner.

Nightwing approaches the huddled form of his father slowly, forecasting his movements. When he's close enough, he crouches down next to Bruce.

"Whatever you're seeing B, it's not real. You know that. Listen to my voice. You're safe. I'm safe. I'm alive. Red Hood, Red Robin, Robin, Orphan, Oracle, they're all alive. If you're seeing otherwise, it's not real." Reassure him that his children are safe - that'll address 80% of his fears.

Dick's dealt with fear gassed Bruce enough to know that just words aren't good enough, so he moves even closer, slowly reaching out for one of Bruce's hands. He gently removes Batman's glove - doing it carefully so he doesn't trigger any booby traps - and places it against the Nightwing symbol on his chest.

Give him proof of life, let him feel your pulse, heartbeat, the rise and fall of your chest. Even if he might not be able to see it, he can feel it. Irrefutable truths.

"Breathe, B. I'm right here, I'm okay."

Dick really wished he had some antidote on him. He wonders if there even is any left - at the Manor, at the precinct. Vials had been distributed to the first responders, but those were a generic formula and usually worked slower than the gas itself. Still better than nothing, but nothing is all he has.

Eventually, Bruce calms down enough to pull himself together. While reassuring his dad, Dick had been looking Batman over for injuries. One of Bruce's shoulders looked odd, some blood on his cheek, but anything else could hide under the armour. It was a time of crisis, but B couldn't keep going like this tonight. Maybe if Alfred clears him to come back out, but Cave first. Always.

The Batmobile was already sent to their location. Dick can hear it pull up to the building now. He helps Bruce slowly get down to street level, then into the passenger seat of the car. As Dick climbs into the driver's seat, he considers just putting the Batmobile on autopilot back home and sending Bruce off on his way, but he knows from experience that his dad is too unpredictable when he's drugged.

He sighs. Adjusts the headlights so they cut through the green haze settled on the sidewalks. Ignores the feeling of dread that has started spreading from his gut.

Then they're off.

Saturday December 14, 01:32

"Master Dick, is it truly necessary?"

Dick doesn't stop what he's doing at Alfred's words, just keeps pulling on the suit.

"You said it yourself, Alf - B is in no condition to go back out." The older vigilante had remained in a somewhat catatonic state since Dick had gotten him into the Batmobile, and Tim was asleep on one of the beds in the medbay. Both of them would be okay eventually, but not tonight.

"Yes, but I do know how much you… dislike wearing his suit."

"Batman needs to be seen on the streets - for both the civilians' benefits and Scarecrow's. You and I both know what might happen if they think he's gone and the situation's bad enough already," Dick replies, standing up and reaching for one of Batman's gauntlets.

Alfred sighs and hands it to him. "I do," he relents. "I do hope you know I don't enjoy seeing you in that suit just as much as I know you don't enjoy wearing it." Even so, Alfred had made this Batsuit for him without complaint when Dick had needed it all that time ago and had brought it out mere minutes ago without needing to be told to.

"I know. Thanks, Alfred."

The butler just nodded, handing Dick a few more supplies. A new rebreather - Alfred had been less than happy when he'd see the crack in Nightwing's old one - and two doses of the generic antidote. It was all they had left in the Cave, but by the time anyone else - god forbid - would need one, Alfred would have had time to make a more specific one for this strain to be administered here.

Dick's quick to leave after that. He's already spent too much time off the streets, leaving Red Hood, Orphan and Robin to fend for themselves. He quickly checks up on his younger brother and his dad - still sleeping, still barely responsive.

"Do try not to be the next one on the empty beds," Alfred says as a goodbye, passing Dick his cowl.

Dick doesn't answer. He can't promise that he won't be, and he can say that he'll try, but they both know there's no predicting what will happen outside of the Cave. Instead, he just nods, before getting back into the Batmobile and driving off.

A/n: Fun fun. Dick's the Bat now.

Stay safe, take care of yourselves (indulge in food, but like also don't stuff yourself or you will regret it), and see ya soon!

- CrowofArcadiaOaks