Chapter Text
With a gasp, my eyes snap open to the sound of sirens and rain pelting on my skin. I blinked rapidly, forcing the water out and rolling over. I felt naked, my face bare of the familiar stretch and pressure of my domino mask. Where it had gone and where I was eluded me. The last thing I could remember was leaving the Batcave with Bruce and the new Robin Jason, they had called me in for a drug bust at the docks. Since Dick had left, Bruce had been asking me to join him more and more often, and more recently he had asked me to try and teach the new robin some of my own tricks. The kid was the most stubborn person I had ever met, and it made working with Dick something I actually missed.
I stood up slowly, wincing at the pain throbbing in the back of my head. So, definitely a head injury, and bad enough to make me fuzzy on what I hoped was only the last few hours. I scanned my surroundings, pushing my hair from my face. I was still at the docks at least, the few fires and destroyed building in front of me giving away the extent of the fight.
A honk broke me from my thoughts, my head whipping around to check my surroundings. I sighed in relief. Behind me Bruce was standing beside the batmobile, cape fluttering in the night and fixing me with what felt like a glare.
I definitely had something to do with this.
He nodded to me, opening up the doors and following me with his eyes as I climbed into the passenger seat. Behind me, Jason was splayed out in the back seat soaked to the bone and covered in a thermal blanket. My guess, he had been in the river.
“We’re going to have a talk about you following instructions.”
I groaned, throwing my head back before wincing once again. I brought my hand back to touch the throbbing area, my fingers coming back a funny mixture of blood and water. Bruce sighed, climbing in and pushing down hard on the gas.
“First we’ll get you both back to the cave and check out that head wound.”
I nodded, moving my head to watch as the rest of Gotham passed us by. It used to be my favorite thing to do after a job with Batman, watch the city and go over the coolest moves I had performed that night with Dick. Without him, it was mostly just arguing with Jason about dumb statistics, who had done better, or who was going to get the front seat. To me, the boys couldn’t be more different, yet they shared some of their best qualities. They were both headstrong, stubborn, and strong. And both assholes to me in their own way.
But I missed the asshole that left. I missed Richard Grayson.
-
The sound of a phone ringing woke me from my light sleep. Groaning, I pulled the covers back and reached for the phone on the side table. It was Dick. Think of the devil.
“Hey birdy, how’s it going?”
I let a small smile grow on my face. We had called a few times since he left Gotham, but it was rare that he was the one that initiated. I picked at sheets around me, eyes flickering around while we spoke.
“Good, I guess. Taking a rest day after a little accident last night but good. What about you?”
There was a pause, Dick’s voice was laced with concern when he finally responded, taking a deep breath. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“It’s no biggie, just took a tumble. What’s going on? You don’t usually call me first.”
“I need help with a case I’m working on.”
“Oh? Something outside the police? A little nighttime activity ?”
I wiggled my eyebrows though he couldn’t see. He sighed, the noise breaking through the phone's speakers as I got up and pulled on a suitable pair of pants to wear down into the cave. It was cold, but most importantly I’m sure Bruce would prefer never to see me pantsless.
“Nothing like that, I just trust you to keep this to yourself.”
I stepped into the elevator, the door closing behind me. It dropped fast, leaving no time for me to think about what exactly that meant. I quirked an eyebrow, adjusting my sweatshirt and hair.
“So you want me to keep it from big bad Bruce?”
The doors opened in front of me, the Batcave currently empty, Batman and his new robin most likely already on patrol.
“If you can, yes. I’m not sure it’s anything yet.”
“Okay, lay it on me.”
I placed the phone on speaker and set it down on the table in front of me. Hands steady above the keys, I typed in the name and address of some girl named Rachel Roth. I hummed, scrolling through the surprisingly limited results.
“Well Dick, I don’t know what you’re looking for but the info is sparse.”
“How sparse?”
“Like, all I have is an address and school.”
He sighed, the connection beginning to grow staticy deeper into the cave. A voice started to come through the speakers. A very distinct female voice. I grinned. As kids, I would never pass up the opportunity to tease one of my teammates, and I certainly wasn’t going to now.
“Who’s that? Your new girlfriend?”
“Oh please, you know you’re the only woman I let boss me around.”
“Shut up Dick, like you ever listen to me.
“Listen, I do have to go though. It's my new partner.”
“Ooh, partner eh?”
“I’m hanging up now.”
I chuckled, letting the call drop. He sounded tense, like he knew something about this girl and just didn’t want to tell me. Dick being a dick and keeping secrets. Again.
A sigh escaped before I could stop it, the memories starting a lump in my throat. I didn’t want to think about that right now. And judging by the look Jason was giving me when they got back from patrol a few hours later, it was still plastered on my face.
-
I ignored the look he had been giving me as he took off the robin costume and changed into pajamas. I could feel the glare burning boles in the back of my head, my face burning, and my mouth clamped shut. Jason had an innate ability to make you spill your guts both in the robin suit and in fluffy pants and a t-shirt.
“Whatcha doing over there, Blackbird?”
“Nothing.”
He hummed. A warm hand rested on my shoulder, causing me to jump.
“ Really? Because to me, it looks like you’ve got a secret.”
I took a deep breath, turning around to face his shit-eating grin. A rebuttal died on my tongue as the phone began ringing once again. I scratched it off of the counter, slapping away Jason’s hand at the same time. His grin grew larger, laughing loudly as I tried to read the number.
Richard Grayson .
I swiped to answer immediately.
“Why is it your phone calls always happen at the worst time?”
“You know I love your jokes every other time but this is serious right now.”
His tone made me sit up, facing the Batcomputer once again, fingers hovering over the keys.
“Okay, lay it on me.”
“She’s definitely powered, birdie.”
I paused, one hand returning to my lap and the other bringing the phone to my ear. I let out the breath I had been holding, somewhat relieved. More relieved that the girl wasn’t hurt or kidnapped or something worse.
“Okay. How are we moving forward? Should I go get Bruce?”
“No, no. Can you meet us? I think you might be able to help her.”
Flashes of the docks warehouse from two days ago crossed my mind. I had gotten emotional, something Bruce has been fighting the both of us on for years and I lost control. No one had been killed, but there were a few civilian injuries. Needless to say, I had been sulking during most of my resting period.
“Are you sure Dick? I’m not exactly known for the best self-control.”
“You’re the only one I trust.”