Rooftop Rendezvous [Batman]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Not exactly what he had planned for tonight at all. At least not this late in the night. Considering he had made a promise to Kory that he would at least try to get some sleep that night before he headed for work. She knew he was working on a case of his own. And he has been spending many nights after being with her, getting up only to be digging through more files on his laptop while at her place.

Most of the time, it was just the sound of an older clock in the place ticking away the hours of the night and the sound of Roy snoring. Dick couldn't help it lately. This case was driving his well...batty. And he kept returning to Gotham when not with the team. The team meet ups were only for missions. And maybe the occasional call for others to look into smaller cases in that night. Not very likely on Batman's watch. He had made it rather clear on not stepping on his toes and keeping the team in check.

Roy was managing to do just that lately. Except for their few fall out every once in a while. But considering Supergirl hadn't brought down an entire warehouse in the past few weeks was a pretty good sign.

Dick had used this meeting point as a chance to gather more information. And yes that meant hacking the police files around here using his own system. And it had worked. Though as to whether Bruce had noticed a hack on the lines within Gotham...that was yet unknown. Dick had a feeling Bruce knew something of several of the files. As to the case, that would be a different story if Bruce knew of Dick's activities.

The name Zucco had risen from the underground in Bludhaven. A name Dick was not happy to hear of. And an obsession to take him down was hard not to fall back into. Dick had tried twice so far. Once after he was taken in by Bruce at first and then another time later in his mid teens. Something he still couldn't get over.

Shaking that off was something that would not come easy for Dick. Though this meeting with Bruce was over the Outsiders. He knew that much. As to what information, he wasn't sure.

There was the possibility of a few new members though. That would probably play a key in the conversation that night.

"You must be losing your touch," Nightwing spoke up as he had been facing out toward the city.

The foot fall was not an easy indication of one's presences. At least on Batman's standards. Maybe Nightwing was getting better at pin pointing him by now. Unfortunately, he knew there would be a retort to his smart remark. Oh, well...it came with the job.

[Deleted]

“No more than you losing your smart mouth.”

Came his dry, gritty reply. And no sooner had those grimly toned words been spoken, when the Dark Knight surfaced from the rooftop shadows only to appear right beside his former protégé. Right. Beside. Indeed, Dick had sensed the Bat’s arriving presence – but he hadn’t pin-pointed just WHERE Batman would appear. Until now, standing on his right was Batman as if appearing out of the darkness itself. Even though Dick’s uniform had changed, along with his image name, and territory – deep down (never to be admitted to anyone ever) Dick Grayson would forever remain known to him as Robin; not just the designated heir to the Wayne Empire, but also the rightful heir to the Batman Mantle.

But, life had other plans in store – so did Dick Grayson, and when the Boy Wonder left to venture out on his, he made damned well sure to leave all ties held with Bruce behind, as well. The Robin uniform was retired the moment Dick and he parted ways, kept locked away in a safeguard vault that only Bruce had the combination to. A homage of a trophy, haunted by eerily sacred isolation and melancholic memories of the dreams that once were. Standing beside Batman now wasn’t the young boy he had taken into his home, adopted into his family, trained into becoming a protector of justice. Now standing beside the Bat, was a man who had matured to be successful in life by truly thriving, rather than just surviving. Beside Batman, standing shoulder to shoulder wasn’t a novice crime fighting little boy; instead it was a grown man who was highly skilled in vigilantism bent on justice – Nightwing.

You’d be hard pressed to find a scrap of news lurking about Gotham that Batman didn’t already know about – be it in brief bullet points or excessive detail. Gotham was HIS city, after all. And just because the Bat had an omnisciently acute awareness of all on-goings within the city, didn’t mean he could intervene for every situation all at once. He was just one man at the end of the day and thus, he had to carefully prioritize his strategy for which affairs he’d attend to during his watch. Having a meeting of terms with the city’s guest-vigilante, Nightwing, topped his current list of priorities needing attention. It had been awhile since the two had spoken and of course quite a few things had changed in that time.

“In town to host this month’s Outsiders-Con? Or are you just using Kory’s membership pass to get in as a guest?”

Brooding and carved from stone, the tone of his questions didn’t exactly invite for open conversation… Then again, the Bat wasn’t exactly known for his silver tongue. If anything, the Bat’s bitingly callous retort would be an unexpected surprise of proof to initiate a long overdue and much needed conversation with Nightwing.

“Speaking of membership… Hawkgirl is back in town, on probation under my strict watch. Having her gain membership with the Outsiders will reinforce my surveillance of her actions. Keep close tabs on her until she’s proven her loyalties. Think you can put in the word for her to Arsenal?”

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

It was unexpected that Batman would appear right beside him. Though not a note of surprise came across Nightwing's body as he stood there. He was always taught to hide any signs that would show that he had not expected such a thing. Then again, this was Bruce, he was always pulling such a feat as Batman. That was all a part of the image.

The last welcome remark was left to Batman as they started to speak. Well, as Batman had. What a twist, usually the tables were turned. But, Nightwing was known for his seriousness as well as his banter to the criminals while he fought. Though that usually varied on situations.

"I have other business to attended to. Kory's off on a mission with the Titans at the request of Cyborg," he replied to the first comment.

Nightwing could tell by his tone and words this wasn't just a mild check notes and leave situation. So it was not likely that Batman would be gone as soon as he would turn to face him.

"The message can be relayed as soon as I can make contact with him. Surprised you're not taking the message to him personally," Nightwing replied.

There was no really back story to that beside the fact that Nightwing was busy at the moment with work. Work that had nothing to do with the Outsiders at that time.

[Deleted]

The wit on the young man was uncanny, to say the least. And to say that such wit was wasted on the likes of the Bat was surprisingly untrue – such wit was very much so appreciated, just never outwardly expressed. Ever. Sure, Dick had Bludhaven as his own turf to protect now, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t unwelcome to the city parameters of Gotham. After all, Dick got his start in Batman’s grimy, urbanite dwelling. Robin was a staple in the legend of the Batman throughout Gotham – and Dick Grayson’s new identity, Nightwing, was becoming just as notorious. Just as respected – if not more so.

“I don’t do well with micromanaging. Besides,” Batman gruffly replied just as a stiff cool breeze picked up around the two masked men adding to the sudden dramatic pause.  “Thought if you were the one responsible for making such a decision would prove to be beneficial on your behalf… Letting those in Gotham know your name holds some significant weight.”

Was that a compliment? Coming from the Bat, yes- yes indeed it was; at least it was as close to a compliment as Dick would ever get from his long-time mentor and caretaker.

“Then again, maybe you’re too busy to handle such a request – what with your “close partnership” to Starfire. Or… Maybe your attention is drawn elsewhere… Like to that of the recent rumors about Zucco being back in town…”

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

The next response of Batman was a given. He didn't like to waste his time when there were others that could do the task. The less contact with others, the better. At least it seemed that way when viewing Batman. And even if he did associate with anyone, he found a way to make sure to have a back up plan.

Or as he liked to call it insurance. If someone didn't believe him, Nightwing could make easy evidence of a small led box that had a piece of Kryptonite.

It was the silence between them that seemed to drift on for a while. And then Batman went and said something like that....Was that a compliment hidden in with the last remark?

Yes, it was....Dick looked on toward Batman now. The lenses wouldn't give it away, but his expression would. He was a bit surprised. And he'd have a brow raised under his mask as well at receiving such a comment.

"Are you feeling alright? Because I swear I just heard a compliment in that," Nightwing replied in return.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you might be going soft on me," he said.

What did Bruce expect him to do, let it go? He'd live it up as much as he could. But he still kept it within a professional scale. That and that was about the best reaction you'd get out of Dick any way. Not like he'd go around gushing his feelings either. That and giving Bruce a slight hard time was always fun to see if you could get a reaction out of him under that mask.

Though light mood was quickly shifted with the next comment. Bringing Nightwing back to almost the level of the brooding Bat.

{color=Blue]"There isn't anything I haven't be able handle before,"[/color] he started off.

He turned away slightly at the mention of his closeness with Kory. He let that one slide. Holding his tongue over a comment he could make, but it would only post more questions for anyone viewing his relationship with Kory lately.

His eyes then narrowed at the next name mentioned.

"How long had you known about Zucco's activities," Nightwing replied to Batman's comment on a very touchy and personal subject. "Figured it wouldn't get by you that easily."

[Deleted]

Even if Dick’s response sounded half-hearted in its witty delivery, the clever sense of humor he possessed managed to somehow always charm Bruce. And on rare occasions, even cause Bruce to grin. Of course, Bruce’s grin wasn’t anything close to what typically defined a “grin” to be; Bruce’s grin consisted of the barest twitch upon the corner of his lips to subtly quirk them upwards, only to vanish from his features in the blink of an eye. Only a handful of people in Bruce’s life ever saw that ghost grin of his, but all knew upon seeing it that it was a genuine grin straight from the heart. (Not one of those shmoozy-sleezy playboy billionaire Bruce Wayne grins that he ridiculously exploited to the paparazzi during his daytime activities…)

Tonight, Dick had accomplished such a feat with Bruce – the ghostly grin gone from his lips almost the very moment it had appeared. A fleeting pain of melancholy stabbed through him; for a moment it almost seemed just like old times… But only for a moment.

“Good, then I’ll be waiting for your next briefing on Hawkgirl’s status with the Outsiders.” Cold, dark, grizzled, and firm was the tone of Batman’s cut-and-dry response.

And when Nightwing finally addressed the white elephant named Tony Zucco in the room, Dick’s tone was a damned near identical match to the Bat’s.

“Long enough to know you’ve been investigating the alleged rumors on the side... Alone.”

Indeed, there wasn’t much that went on within Gotham that the Batman didn’t know about. An elusive shift in movement and then suddenly the Bat had procured a small, digital, holographic video portable tablet device within his gloved hand. The petite, near paper-thin crystal screen glowed faintly before the two rooftop vigilantes now alit with digital images. Visual case file documentation collected and compiled on Tony Zucco and any known associations of his. Information both old and new.

“I have a live feed running on Zucco and any possible activities. I’ve linked it to your data-comm. Harder to hide from two sets of eyes, rather than just one.”

The small data-comm now portrayed a loading bar on its screen and then proceeded to upload its contents to Nightwing’s own digital data-comm device. Once finished the Bat put the data-comm away, securing the gadget within one of the many compartments of his utility belt. The next topic wasn’t going to be an easy one for Bruce to initiate, let alone discuss at any sort of length, but it was a necessity all the same. Get it out quick and be done with it – like ripping off a band-aide.

“Wayne Enterprises has just setup a new business partnership merger detailing specifically in security risk assessment services. Black Cat Securities now handles all security development for WE… Selina Kyle being C.O. for both companies in the form of a silent partner. She… Also knows who I am.”

Yup. Just like ripping off a band-aide.

Yeah right.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"I'll relay the message, but I'm no errand boy," Nightwing retorted.

There was a hint of annoyance in his tone. Ok, maybe a break back to reality. Though in all truth, he wasn't going to play the part. He would give Batman information at his pleasure, not when a bell was rang.

It was a lighter response compare to past conversations between them. Dick had spotted the slightest hint of a smile on Bruce's face. That was enough to keep his temper in check for now.

"What? Keeping tabs on me as well on the Outsiders," Nightwing asked. Maybe slightly pointed on the tabs on him.

He moved his hand to his mask to allow the download access. He'd be a bit peeved with his new upgrades if Batman was able to gain access without his permission. Sure their technology was similar, but they did have a few differences in their systems.

"Have you made visual contact with him," Nightwing asked as he skimmed through the images in his mask over the files as Batman spoke.

"Two sets of eyes is fine by me, but this is my case. I'll be the one to deal with him. He'll get what's coming to him," Nightwing said. His tone dropped on the last part. A hint that he was taking this to more of a personal level.

Nightwing was slightly hesitant toward the next subject. He had long known the identity of Selina Kyle as well. Only he kept it quiet all this time. Maybe a stupid mistake.

Ok, yes...a very stupid mistake. Not the knowing, but the hesitation. A false move against Batman's ability to read people like a book.

"What's next? Asking her to move in with you," Nightwing made a smart alec remark.

First it was a on and off relationship it seemed, then the companies, and now the identities. Seemed logical enough to say it out. Though he wasn't suggesting it. Nightwing was being a flat out jerk on that remark.

[Deleted]

“Do you really have to ask if I’m keeping tabs?” The Bat dryly replied. Once the download of digital information into Nightwing’s database completed, Batman gave his stoic response to the questions and comments that followed.


“No visual contact. Only snippets of survellience captured by security cam feeds and social media postings.” Batman grew silent upon hearing the darkened tone present within Dick’s solemnly vowed reply.


He was very well aware of the sensitive nature the topic held for Dick, very well aware in knowing the weight of importance it carried for Dick, and very well aware of the possibility for Dick to lose control by making a terrible mistake that could never be undone.


“We’ll see. Don’t forget, this is my city.”


And with that? The topic of Tony Zucco was dropped, but not without the Bat taking notice of the young man’s hesitation before making one of his trademark wisecracks.


“That’d be a conflict of interest. And it’d make things awkward for whenever you come over to visit, considering you’d have to constantly keep pretending that you don't know anything about her active nightlife as Catwoman.” His graveled voice sliced through the cool night air with a finely sharpened guillotine ease.


He knew Dick was aware of Selina Kyle’s secret identity, he had been aware for some time now. He had decided to let the young man tell him this fact on his own accord when the information had first been learned. But, Dick never did. If anything, Bruce had seemingly let the situation drop… In truth however, he didn’t let the fact that his relationship with Dick had so deteriorated to the point where the young man, whom had been raised since childhood by Bruce, now deliberately kept secrets from Bruce by shutting him out of his life.


It hurt with the type of raw pain that would never truly be dulled out – the pain of truth. And it was a pain he’d never express to anyone but himself – the pain of silence. Considering the cat was out of the bag (he could feel Selina roll her eyes at that pun) he decided now was the time to finally confront Dick.


“How long did you plan on keeping up the act?” Batman now faced Nightwing with that unsettling bone white razor shard shaped gaze. His tone colder than ice, darker than night.


“More importantly, since you kept something like that from me for so long – what else have you been keeping?”

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing knew the answer and didn't need to state it. There wasn't a time when Batman didn't know what was going on in Gotham. And with the Outsiders in his town, he had more reason.

A group of vigilantes and aliens was something to watch. And with one being as strong, maybe even more so to that of Superman was one valid reason to. That and that he doesn't trust any of them. There were times if Dick even wondered if Bruce truly trusted him.

Ok course he trusted him. But there were many levels to Bruce's trust. And the vigilante of Nightwing had not struck the right cord right off the bat when the decision had been made.

They didn't see eye to eye. But in many ways were similar. No matter what had been going on, the events and the lives they lived still followed the fine line of a father and son.

Even behind the mask, those who had figured out that Nightwing was the first Robin still made the comparisons. He was seen more as the White Knight of Bludhaven. A comparison to the Dark Knight of Gotham. It was almost mocking in ways to hear this. But if it was word on the street in similarities, it was a fact to be aware of. Nightwing could be just as much of a threat as the Batman in his own town. Didn't all vigilantes want to reach that level?

"Seems we have a ghost among the scum," Nightwing replied.

Before he was given the chance to respond to the last comment, Batman had ended the discussion. He hated when he did that. And for once he had held his tongue against it. But the next subject had caught him slightly off guard.

The mood grew darker at that time. Batman was honing in on something. And that something was Nightwing. Not a good situation to be in. But the subject was bound to come up sooner or later.

He was hold rather later. Maybe even never. But that was an unlikely situation.

How had Bruce picked up on it. Of course he did, he was Batman. Sometimes it was just eerie how he picked up on these things. Then again, he had raised him. So, Dick knew it was not very likely to get away with much around Bruce and Alfred. When it came to others like Barbara and Tim, that was another matter.

And the look he was getting now and the tone, was still enough to reduce him back to almost the days he used to train along side of Batman. He hated those days in more than one way, but he wouldn't regret them. It hadn't been all that bad, but there are things that caused the tension between them.

The look he gave was enough to make any grown man reduced to tears that the Bat interrogated. Which happened often with the thugs. A surprise to some, but this was Batman you were talking about. But this was Nightwing, not some street thug. He had been taught to resist such things. Though even the others that were at levels with Batman seemed to reduce to a smaller self when facing him. Even the strongest heroes in the world respected him.

"I never planned on it. It was something that just happened. I never expected what had happened for this to all begin," Nightwing spoke up.

He still stood firm, but his tone slightly off from what it had been earlier over the content of Zucco. But there was a bit of regret in his tone. Sure, it had been rough to keep this from Bruce, but he had to.

Maybe he didn't. Maybe it would have been better to tell him what had happened that while back between him and Selina. The motorcycle accident and there being no time to get to a hospital without risking the identity of Catwoman as well.

At the next question, Dick was feeling more cornered. Yet again the feeling he had gotten a lot when working under Batman's rules. Always restricted. Always watched. He had had to report on everything. Batman always had to know everything.

And the secrets. There were many. Many more than what he'd ever tell Bruce. He was a grown man. He had his own town, his own name, and his own life. Bruce couldn't keep up with him.

"It was never my information to disclose. Just like you wouldn't with the League," he replied at first. His tone growing slightly more tense.

Maybe the League was a bad comparison. But it was a point. And one he realized might call for him to strike back over the League being a business matter.

"You know since we're being so honest it seems...what do you think? What do you think I've been keeping from you? You know I don't disclose every little detail regarding files, cases, murder that has gone on in Bludhaven with you over some crooks that came from your town to mine at times. Just like you didn't always disclose important information regarding others identities at times with me or events and cases."

Dick wasn't about to bring up the whole issue with Barbara again. They had been down that path too many times. Yes, it was still annoying. Yet, he had gotten over it. But there were other times.

His frustration only on the rise now under being pressured. There was still more than just the issue with Batman. The later developments over Donna a bit, stuff with the Titans, the Outsiders, his friends, his life. And not to mention the recent events of helping Selina against Dr. Crane. Now Dick wondered if Bruce knew about that. Even the pressure of only Roy, Kory, and Alfred all knowing of the situations that have been going on between Dick and Kory. Yes, that weighted heavily on his mind at times. In fact every time he returned home. Though he didn't seem to stray far from Kory at times. He still loved her, but this had drawn some tension in their relationship the secret between them. Possible the first to concern both of them.

Dick was known for not disclosing his feeling all to Kory. There were so many times he just went off on his own. When he needed to be alone.

But the questioning was only putting him up on defense now against it all. Secrets he was keeping from Batman. The list was long. Just as he was sure Bruce kept a longer one against him.

[Deleted]

Dick went there. Dick decided to bring up his Justice League affiliation. Was Dick possibly jealous or resentful over that fact..? Truth be told, Bruce never wanted to actually join the League - that was more Clark’s “kumbaya Boy Scout” kind of thing. But given the special type of circumstances the Justice League handled, Batman reluctantly joined – only as a silent partner, though. He was minimally involved with most of the League’s activities, only making an appearance when deemed absolutely necessary, while keeping a plethora of intricately detailed information on each League member and every Justice League mission. Someone had to, right? His partnership with the League wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it also wasn’t something he openly shared with any of the Bat Family – unless it was strictly on a Need-to-Know basis.


“I have no reason to disclose any information about the League to you or anyone. They protect the world, I protect Gotham. Different jurisdictions handled very differently.”


His razor white gaze now shifted from peering out over the bustling city-life below to focus squarely at Dick.


“And when my jurisdiction boundaries intersect with yours – I.e. Gotham scum seeking refuge in Bludhaven hideouts, then I’ll expect to gain access of all information pertaining to that isolated case from you. I don’t have time to keep detailed tabs on your city’s current activities. Not my problem. You’re in Gotham. My city. Now you’re my problem. I don’t miss much in knowing about what activities are happening here – everyone leaves some sort of trail in this city…”


His last words were ominous and cold. Almost as if he was giving Dick a hint about something… Then, in a single subtle shift, Batman procured his grappling gun from its utility belt harness. He took aim and then silently fired the grappling hook into the darkness ahead; the faint metallic “cling” of steel hitting brick once the hook took grasp of its scaffold target was lost amidst the sounds of nightlife cacophony. His gritty, dark voice was heard once more to give a rather grim answer to Dick’s loaded question.


“What I think is that the Batcave’s a better location for the privacy needed when talking about the recent miscarriage I know you’ve been keeping from me.  And now I bet you're thinking the same thing, too."

And without missing a beat, the Bat leapt off the rooftop ledge and gracefully dove into a silently arc swoop, swinging from the grapple line off into the gaping maw of the city lights twinkling just beyond.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Bruce's words were sharp and clear. No getting by that. The war was the most important to him. It always had been. Their secrets were a priority to not be compromised.

Something Dick had made the choice time again trust those closest to him. Something Bruce lacked. The ability to work with a team. Sure he had partners, but that didn't mean they always work well together.

Tim was still a kid. He had a good head on his shoulders. And the past events that Bruce had faced against Dick and Jason was sculpting a new path that Tim was being led.

Tim had Dick there for support as well. Not only as another mentor of training, but as a brother.

Bruce's retort did not catch Dick off guard. It was the same lines, just different words at a different point in time between them. Their face-off becoming more frequent since their times as Batman and Robin.

But Bruce's next words was cold and calculated. Weren't they always?

Dick was a bit surprised that Bruce had heard of this. He wasn't so sure Alfred would say anything. Unless Alfred thought it was a possible cause for concern in his actions.

And before another word could be said, just like always, Batman was leaving. Always the one that wants to end the discussion.

Well, not this time. Nightwing glared at Batman as he swung off. He had watched from the corner of his eye, the aim of the grapple. And the range of motion Batman would get from it once the there was tension on the line.

Nightwing could be just as calculating, just in a way that will more so turn the tables on Batman this time. And before he would have the chance to get away, Nightwing took off with a running jump with a slightly adjusted line of direction.

He fired off his own grapple line in a calculated measure of time and his own speed. Using his free fall rate to affect his momentum to get to that rooftop first.

As the hook gained it's target, Nightwing didn't wait for the tension to come to him like he knew Batman would. Nightwing increased the tension on the line with his own body motion, pulling himself into it as he fell.

And with that he gained more momentum and speed. And the angle would bring him a greater distance of 'flight' when he would release from the line.

Not long after and what might have been a block further, Nightwing landed on the rooftop adjacent from where Batman would land. Though he had gotten there first. And with the expected arrival time of Batman, he'd have five second to state his reason for his pursuit.

And he knew it would have to be a good one to keep Batman on that rooftop. Otherwise he might every well be chasing after him all night if he had to.

And when he landed, Nightwing did not give him a beat of landing and recovery.

"You know what...you're so wrapped up in yourself and in your work lately that your the one running away from what is right in front of you," Dick growled as he walked toward Batman. Or better yet as he was stating it towards Bruce.

"We either talk now, or I'll keep this up all night. And you know I will and can," Dick said.

Before he'd go off on a rant, he'd give Bruce the chance to chose.