A walk down memory lane [Nightwing]

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Gotham City police department, July 6th 2015, 8:25 PM. 


The Officers of the Gotham city police department were hard at work, the past few days gave them plenty to do. The shooting at the university as well as a plethora of other crimes to deal with meant over time for a lot of the officers. At least those that cared about the justice side of their job. Those that didn't care gave up the overtime to those that did. They'd make more money breaking the law then they would enforcing it. The loud atmosphere of phones ringing and common street thugs yelling about wanting their lawyer was interrupted fairly quickly as Officer Steve Malloy and Officer Ethel Williams return with a sharp dressed man in an expensive suit. 


The entire department knew him as an associate of Tony Zuco. This amazed most because Zuco had been out of commission for a while. The man that was being dragged into the police station had been thought deceased. Antonio Deluca, a lieutenant for Tony Zuco's crime syndicate.  A group that the other organized families along with the cops in Gotham thought was long defunct. 

"What are you pigs looking at?" Deluca spit on the ground while the officers brought him to the front desk. "That's right, gawk all you want? Guess who's back in town? That's right! Zuco is back in town and all you pigs are in for it." Officer Williams hit Deluca upside the head. "Shutup Deluca!" The uniformed officer ordered, Deluca grunting at the slap to the head. "Inform the commissioner that we have a known associate of Tony Deluca ready for questioning." The officer at the front desk shook her head, picking up the phone. 


"Commissioner Gordon, you're needed in interrogation room one." 


Twenty minutes later and the sharply dressed man and the two arresting officers were in the interrogation awaiting the arrival of the commissioner.


Footsteps could be heard outside of the room followed by the door handle turning. Deluca smiled at the sight of the commissioner entering the room. "Nice of you to join us, commish. Long time no see."


Gordon approached the table, placing his palms flat. "It's uncommon for a man as high up as you to get caught. What's your game, Deluca?"


Deluca grinned sharply. "Well you're a detective, can't you figure that out?"


It wasn't long before the radio channels all around Gotham City and it's surrounding cities lit up with the information that Tony Zuco had returned. It wasn't long before the media learned about it either. Soon the entire surrounding state will know of the Mobsters return.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Gotham wasn't the only city that had gotten the news, there was one other area that had gotten it. Bludhaven. To be more precise, a member of the Bat-fmaily had gotten wind of this news. Actually the evidence had been there the last few days in Gotham. The Outsiders new a bit more on this than the JL would at that time.

Nightwing had taken this information rather personal. This scum shouldn't be around. They through he had been dead. Tony Zuco was the man responsible for the deaths of the Flying Graysons. Well all escaped for one. And even back in the day, they had failed to take out the only witness who had seen them tampering with the equipment at the time.

Back then, Batman had managed to shut that operation down. Dick had been the target then and thus a distraction to Batman.

Year later, a similar incident came upon Gotham in more action out of Zuco and his gang. Getting shut down, then following a turf war. One in which it was thought Zuco and most of his goons had been finished off. Or so they had thought.

Now here they were, the news flying around and buzzing all over the social media as well in Gotham.

Nightwing wasn't going to let this one slip by and it was personal.

That evening while Zuco's pal, Deluca had been capture and interrogated, Nightwing had slipped into the Gotham police department in disguise and had made it into his office. He had left a wingding in on the desk knowing the Commissioner would know who it was from and what it meant.

It was the only communication Nightwing had with the police within Gotham compared to Batman.

It would be long before Nightwing was waiting in the shadows on the rooftop for the Commissioner to finish the integration. Nightwing intended on getting all the information he could first.

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The commissioner had been returning from a coffee break when he returned to his office. That's when he saw it. A calling card from the member of the bat family. It wasn't Batman or Robin but it was nightwing. A former student of the Batman. Gordon sighed, setting down the cup of coffee on his desk. This would mean that he'd have to take a trip up to the roof. He was tired, it had been a long night. Tony Zuco's lieutenant showing up again meant more paperwork for everyone, especially the Commissioner. Deluca's interrogation was at a halt. So he might as well see what the Nightwing wanted. Gordon left his office again, making his way to the stairwell that lead to the roof.

He wondered why Nightwing wanted to speak. Last time Gordon checked Nightwing stuck to bludhaven, a city that wasn't in the jurisdiction of the GCPD. Gordon climbed the stairs to the roof, having plenty of time to figure out why Nightwing wanted to speak. Maybe it had something to do with Tony Zuco, A well known associate of the man showing up followed by Nightwing in the same night? It had to be something, why not be the reappearance of Tony Zuco?  Perhaps he wanted to end Zuco's operation before it got too big. 

Gordon made it to the top of the stairs, just mildly out of breath. It wasn't that long of a haul but he isn't exactly who he used to be. Forty-three years as a cop ensured that. When he walked out on the roof he didn't see anyone, he was sure that he would show up eventually. All he had to do was wait. 

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Sure enough, Nightwing stepped out of the shadows cross the rooftop heading towards the Commissioner. It had been a longtime since he paid a visit to the GCPD. Even longer since having a run in with the Commissioner.

"So I've heard that an old 'friend' is back in town and starting back to his old ways," Nightwing came right out addressing the reason for his visit.

He knew this was probably the last thing the Commissioner really wanted to go on. Since a lot of the GC police had a thing against the vigilantes yet. And this vigilante being seen as more of an outsider compared to Batman.

How would that reflect on the Commissioner giving information to an outside source. Though, the Commissioner knew the history of the former Robin gone onto his own name and town. This was something he was familiar with this town. It's crooks.

And this was a case he was familiar with back in the days of working along side of Batman. He'd know how to handle it. Nightwing knew all of Zucco's old connections and base of operation. This gave him an edge over most in this town.

Nightwing never forgot anything that had been exchanged between Zucco and the cases he had worked on. He had always wanted to find away to get revenge upon the murderer of his parents. Though his persona said all business about him, and nothing personal. At least to those that knew little about him.

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When Gordon saw Nightwing, he wasn't surprised that he got there as soon as he did. He had no idea how long he could have been waiting or when he placed that little object on his desk. Gordon hadn't been in his office hardly at all that day. It amazed him how someone like Batman or his former pupil Nightwing could stake out and wait for so long. To James Gordon, that meant dedication. Nightwing waiting him for who knows how long tonight told Gordon that he really did care about someone like Zuco showing their face in Gotham again. So when he was partially right about the Nightwing wanting information on Tony Zuco. 

Normally, Gordon would have expected this. He would have had a file prepared already with what the GCPD knew. He would have half expected to see Batman and hand over that file or tell him anything he wanted to know. Anymore though, it felt like the Batman already knew everything that James Gordon or the GCPD could possibly know, most of the time even more. This lead Gordon to believe that Tony Zuco showing up meant that it took everyone by surprise, even a masked vigilante. Before answering him, Gordon could only wonder what Batman thinks about this situation. Does he mind that his former student is taking care of something in Gotham? And if he does know, what reason does Nightwing have to go after someone like Zuco under the Batman's nose. 

"Does the Bat know you're here?" Gordon asked with a hint of curiosity. "I'd tell you what I knew if I knew anything. Deluca hasn't said a thing. The only thing I know about Zuco's return is that he's back." Gordon wanted to help the kid, but at this point he couldn't. "I'm sorry kid. I really am. You're welcome to be a partner while we investigate this. I know you and Batman are close, so I shouldn't have to worry about you roughing anyone up too much. Am I right?"

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing listened to the Commissioner as he had walked into sight. And the news he received, did not leave him all that pleased. This would bring fresh leads to an old case that had been left unsolved on may levels.

"He hasn't returned any calls. Figured, for old times sake," Nightwing replied to start with.

The news of Deluca keeping his lips sealed was now comforting on the information he would hope for. He should have figured. After all this time, why would he open his month after protection Zucco for this long.

Nightwing could tell that the Commissioner was tired. There was no doubt about that. He had probably been up since the early hours of that morning. There were more hints as to reflect that assumption. What else was the man going to do? He had a lot of job piled in front of him every more.

"Keep me posted," Nightwing said in reference to bring a partner in the investigation.

That could be helpful in more than one way during his time hunting for Zucco of course.

"Roughing up, the worst might be sent to the hospital, but nothing life threatening. The usual goal of getting the needed information to shut something larger down," Nightwing started. "Someone like Zucco doesn't just come to town to do the small trafficking. Something bigger is going to go down, otherwise he wouldn't have risked his safety."

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Gordon nodded at what Nightwing said. He was right, Zucco wouldn't have risked his safety for anything small time. There had to be a bigger reason. A reason why Zucco would risk so much. It had to be something out of the ordinary, a reason more than just a regular comeback. Tony Zucco wouldn't come back just because he was tired of retirement. He was made, he didn't need to do anything else. Gordon was proud to hear that the Nightwing had followed the same rules as the Dark Knight. 

"Deluca getting caught is no coincidence. There has to be a reason. I can feel it. There is something bigger at play here. Bigger than you or me. Zucco is up to something." Gordon knew that what he said was true. Zucco wasn't as big as the Falcone Family or perhaps the Penguin or any of the other mob families but he was still dangerous. Gordon would need all the help he could get to bring down Zucco before any real damage was caused. He was rather surprise that the Batman hadn't showed up. He probably already knew that Nightwing was in town and would let him handle it. 
 
"We can only hold Deluca for another twelve hours. After that we have to release him. Now I don't know if he'll be back in here again but you know I can't let you speak to him while he is in our protection." Gordon told Nightwing. He trusted that Nightwing wouldn't hurt Deluca bad. He has done this for the Batman as well. There was nothing he could do that was in his control after Deluca left the GCPD. 

That would be the next best step to figure out what Tony Zucco was up to.