Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"LIQUID FEAR! YOU DON'T DRINK THIS, YOU'RE NOT A MAN!"

"Good hell," Dick Grayson muttered. That was the third time that night that one of the TV at the restuarant he was in played that comercial. He took a sip of soda and turned to his dinner partner, Wally West. "That has got to be the lamest advertising compaign I've ever heard."

Wally smiled and took a bite of steak. "Of course. Cater to the testosterone crazed super jocks. Make them doubt their manliness, and you've got an instant sale."

"Good old fads," Dick laughed. "Next thing you know, it'll be back to fruit smoothies."

Wally laughed. "It's been too long Dick. We need to get together like this more often. It's been since... uhm..."

"Forever ago?" Dick asked, cutting his chicken. Wally laughed and nodded.

"So how's... business here?"

Dick took a bite, chewed thoughtfully then swallowed. "Really pretty good. With the exception of a resident crime lord- who's wanted to kill me a lot lately."

"At least you don't have anywhere between five and ten guys banding together constantly to kill you." Wally took a bite of rice. "Now that sucks."

"Yeah, you got me there," Dick replied. "It seems like my bad guys are just in it for the money, but yours have a vendetta."

"Seems like! It's the truth!" The two laughed. Wally stopped and grinned at Dick. "How's the love life?"

"Well..."

"No luck lately, eh? That's fine. Seems like I had lots of problems until Linda and I finally got it together."

"No," he replied. "It's not that. It's this." He pulled a small velvet case from his pocket and set it on the table. Wally picked it up and opened it. Inside was a diamond engagement ring. It had a simple gold band, with one diamond centered in the ring and two smaller gems to each side.

"Holy crap Grayson!" Wally looked up at Dick, his eyes wide.

"It's my mom's ring," he said. "She always said Dad had good taste."

"That's cool and all, but who's she?"

Just then, Dick's phone rang. He grabbed it from his jacket pocket and looked at the caller ID. Oracle. He hit send to answer it.

"Hey gorgeous," he said. "What's cooking?"

"Hey Dick," Barbara laughed. "What're you doing right now?"

"Eating dinner with Wally," he replied. "Why?"

"Well, I hope you're almost done," she said. "Bruce has a lead for you to check out and he wants it done now. Might as well take Wally along with you."

Dick mouthed "Grab our check" to Wally. He nodded and waved to the waiter. "Okay. What is it?"

"You heard of Liquid Fear?"

"Yeah, apparently I'm less of a man for not drinking it."

"Think of the name. Concentrate really hard on it."

"What do you me-" Dick stopped and cursed under his breath. "Scarecrow."

"Bruce heard an interview with the drink's creator on TV. He recognised the voice so he ran a check. It matched Crane perfectly. The address for the plant is there in the Haven. I'm going to upload it to your PDA right now."

"Okay, we'll get headed right now." He nodded to the waiter as he dropped off the check.

"And Dick?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful. I love you."

"I love you too." He pressed end and looked at Wally.

"Oracle?"

Dick smiled. "Just shut up and pay for your food. We've got a supervillain to take care of."

"This is it?" the Flash said. "A dumpy old factory? This is where they make Liquid Fear?"

"What did you expect? A large neon sign saying 'supervillain hideout'?"

"Touché," Wally said. "So what do we do?"

"You wanna run recon quick?" Dick asked.

"Fifteen armed guards," he replied. "Three large vats of Liquid Fear. Five pallets of fifty pound bags that I'm guessing is fear toxin. The Scarecrow overseeing it all."

"I'll never get used to that Wally." The Flash just grinned and shrugged.

Johnathan Crane stood over a vat of liquid. It had worked perfectly. The first phase of the Liquid Fear plot was complete. The marketing plan was hugely successful. Liquid Fear was hugely addicting. Once someone got a taste of it, they were always back for more. Some couldn't get enough. Exactly to Crane's plan.

Phase two. Crane nodded to the man next to him. He picked up a large bag of white powder and threw it into the vat. The bag was made of sucrose and would disolve in the vat of Liquid Fear. The powder would also disolve, but it wasn't as harmless. The powder was fear toxin. Crane had developed the toxin years ago while working at Gotham University. When he was disgraced by the faculty of GU, he turned his discovery on them. The Scarecrow was born that day.

"Are we almost done with this?" asked a voice behind him.

"Yes," Scarecrow said. "And once mass fear and panic is spread throughout the nation, we can free your wife Mr. Payne."

Preston Payne narrowed his eyes. He was one of the men who carried the name of Clayface. He had the ability to disintegrate matter with a mere touch. He had married the woman known as Lady Clay and had a child- Cassius. He was eager to be reunited with his family, and have revenge on Batman, the man who had separated them.

"This is taking too damn long!" he roared. "It'll be weeks before this fully takes effect. I want Shondra back now!"

"Good things come to little boys who wait," Crane said. Payne roared in anger and grabbed Crane by his lapel. He flipped the glove off his other hand.

"If you ever insult my intelligence like that again," he growled, "I'll reduce you to a pool of sludge. Savvy?"

"Indeed my dear Mr. Clay," Scarecrow said calmly. "You're perfectly clear."

"Of course," said another voice, "he'll never get the chance if he's thrown back in Arkham. Right along with you." The pair of criminals turned to the sound of the voice. Nightwing saluted them. "Evening boys. Welcome to Blüdhaven."

"Another Bat-boy!" Clayface yelled. He lept at Nightwing, his exposed hand held out. A super speed punch knocked him to the ground.

"And the fastest man alive," said the Flash as he slowed down next to Nightwing.

"You got Scarecrow, I've got Clay," Nightwing said.

"Gotcha." Wally sped towards the thin costumed man. He reached into a puch and drew out a handful of the same white powder he had mixed into the vat of Liquid Fear. He blew it at the Flash. Wally stopped his trajectory and quickly ran around the powder, creating a small whirlwind. He spun quickly around until the toxin harmlessly dispersed itself. He then ran towards Scarecrow again and punched him squarely in the jaw. Scarecrow fell to the ground.

"You know, that was cake, and even if I didn't avoid it, my metabolism would have had the toxin run its course before you blinked."

"Blinking is long enough." Scarecrow threw another handful of powder directly in Wally's face. The Flash froze. He couldn't move. If he did, he would lose his speed. He had to stand perfectly still.

Clayface clawed at Nightwing. Dick dodged back. He couldn't let Payne touch him. Bruce had once told him how painful Clayface's touch was. He didn't want to experience that.

"Preston, listen to me," Dick said. "This isn't the way to get your family back!"

"My name is not Preston!" he roared. "I am CLAYFACE!" He charged Dick. He lept over him and kicked his back. Clayface hit the catwalk and melted a piece of it away. Dick grabbed a small canister from his belt and threw it at Payne. It contained an adhesive that would hold Clay for a few moments. It exploded and trapped the villain in goo. Clayface cried out angrily again. Dick turned towards Scarecrow and Flash. Wally had curled up on the catwalk and was muttering something. Scarecrow stood above him, a metal bar in his hand. He raised it over his head to strike the Flash. Dick grabbed a batarang from his belt and threw it at Crane's chest. It hit him hard. He stumbled back and hit the edge of the catwalk. He started to lose his balance.

Dick somersaulted towards Crane, landed on his feet, and grabbed his shirt just before he fell into the simmering vat below.

"You ready for a one-way trip back to Arkham?" Nightwing growled.

"Only if you're ready to meet your maker!" Scarecrow cried. He started to laughed. Dick turned quickly but Clayface was knocked backwards by the Flash right then.

"You owe me some Twinkies for saving your life now," Flash said, standing over an unconscious Clayface. "And it did take more thank a blink for that toxin to wear off."

"Than-" Dick's gratitude was cut short by a strike to the gut. Scarecrow turned and jumped into the boiling vat of his energy drink. Nightwing reached out trying to catch him, but it was too late. Scarecrow disappeared deep into the liquid.

"DAMMIT!"

Chief Jared Morillo watched the STAR Labs team load the restrained Clayface into their van. Payne struggled against his restraints, spewing curses at the police and scientists.

"Sorry to hear about the Scarecrow," he said. Nightwing nodded.

"His body never bobbed up to the surface," he said. "He's alive."

"Sorry to hear that also," Morillo said.

"Story of your life when you're in the superhero business," the Flash said. "Seems like the bad guys always survive somehow. Even if you do find a body."

"Remind me to never wear a costume then," he replied. "You'll never find me rising from the dead."

"Thanks Chief," Nightwing said. The two heroes disappeared. Morillo shut his eyes and bowed his head.

"Why did I ever take this job?" he muttered.

"You're probably right," Oracle said as she poured herself a glass of milk. "I don't know how many times I've thought someone was dead and they turn up six months later." Dick smiled at her as he leaned against her counter.

"Crane's not one I'd expect to be a resurrection guy," he said, "but I've seen worse."

"Very true," she replied. "So tell me Wonder, what's happening?"

"What do you mean?"

"Barbara Gordon and Richard Grayson."

"Well..." Dick reached into his pocket and felt the jewelery case. "I... I... want to be with you. More than anything else in the world."

"I do too," Babs replied. She wheeled over to Nightwing and took his free hand. "And if you feel that case in your pocket one more time without pulling it out, I'm going to punch you."

Dick blushed deep red. She'd caught him. "Babs..."

"Just shut up and kiss me Romeo." Dick crouched down, leaned forward and kissed Barbara deeply on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck. They kissed for several minutes. He pulled back for an instant.

"Babs, will you-?"

"We'll see Wonder. We'll see."

Author's Notes

Well, I'm leaving the next Nightwing writer with a can of worms, ain't I? As you may or may not know, this is my last issue of FDC Nightwing. The series has been a trip, and my personal favorite of all my fanfic work. I'm sorry to be leaving, but I'm moving on in the fanfic world.

Thank you for those who have read this series. Please stay tuned for what's coming next, because with what I've left for the next writer, Nightwing will still be great!

THANKS!

Tony Thornley