Chapter Text
A few nights later at the manor.
Dick's injuries had improved greatly and, with the help of Jason and Bruce, he was able to get around the mansion without too much discomfort. It would still be weeks before he would be unsheathing his escrima sticks and fighting crime, but he was able to last longer and longer before pain and fatigue (and Alfred) demanded that he return to bed or laid down on a couch.
Dick and his brothers had just finished eating supper, courtesy of Alfred's incredible culinary prowess, and were making their way down to the Bat Cave, where Bruce was waiting for them. Bruce, as usual, had elected to take his supper in front of his computer. But his sons, enjoyed their time together in the kitchen, eating informally at the kitchen's large, granite-topped island.
Tim was clearing the table as Jason helped Dick stiffly to his feet and helped him don his sweatshirt. His bullet wound and stab wounds were healing nicely, but his broken ribs and immobilized arm still troubled him greatly.
"Mmph, Dick groaned as Jason helped him to stand. "This would be so much easier if Bruce would hang trapeze or rings in every room as I suggested."
Jason rolled his eyes. "News flash, Big Bird," he said disdainfully, but gentle with assistance all the same. "None of your limbs are working properly and there's nothing rings or trapeze would do to remedy that. So quit your whinging and stop complaining, before I drop you on your ass."
Sadly, Dick knew that was true. "It would still be sweet though wouldn't it?" he asked fantasizing about the prospect of gym equipment at every turn.
"Not even a little," said Jason.
"Jay would prefer guns and targets," said Tim falling in beside them as the three made their way to the lift down to the Cave. "And pictures of motorcycles."
"Sure why not?" said Jason, griping Dick tightly and helping his older brother down the short flight of steps to the den. "But why have pictures when you can have the real thing, I ask?"
"Nooo," groaned Dick, remorsefully. "Can we please not talk about bikes? I can't ride for another two weeks. And Bruce is holding my Ducati hostage."
"Oops, sorry sorry," said Tim hastily. "Let's talk about pommel horses instead." He shared a wry grin with Jason.
"NooOooo," whined Dick again. "You guys are being so savage tonight."
The three stepped into the lift. It sped swiftly downward toward where the Dark Knight was waiting for them.
"I can walk on my own for a while, I think Jay," said Dick. "I'm feeling alright tonight."
Jason scowled at the comment. He knew that Dick was going to try to look healthy in front of Bats and try to wheedle his way onto patrol. "Goddamn, you're heavy," said Jason to Dick, ignoring the statement entirely. "Must be all that shit you're full of."
"Worth a shot?" asked Dick.
"Nope," said Jason and Tim in unison.
The lift came to a halt and the hydraulic doors hissed open.
The three made their way to the computer console and Jason gently deposited Dick in a chair and joined Red Robin in prepping for a night out on the town.
Jason would make his way to Blüdhaven tonight to 'check-in' on some of Nightwing's usuals while Tim would be joining the Dark Knight for a night patrolling Gotham. Nightwing was still direly out of commission.
After about ten minutes, Jason and Tim rejoined Dick as the Red Hood and Red Robin, and Batman finally looked up from his screen and acknowledged their presence in the cave with him.
"Men," he began in the gruff, terse voice of the Cape Crusader. "Before we go out tonight- Dick sighed sadly but Bruce ignored it- I want to share with you some final pieces that Red Robin and I were able to put together regarding Gavrilo and the Black Hand."
Immediately, each of Batman's sons gave their undivided attention to the display screen. Batman opened a file entitled 'Black Hand' and began scrolling through pictures.
"As you all know the terrorist group naming themselves 'The Black Hand' lured Red Robin to a remote location and tried to torture him for information about me. When Nightwing showed, allowed himself to be captured, and freed Red Robin, the group shifted their attention to him and resumed the torturing regiment that they were planning to use on the latter."
"Although with more zeal, I bet," Jason cut in. "I can't imagine they were too pleased to be met with ranting bullshit in place of stoic silence."
Dick grinned. "It's all part of my charm, little bro."
"And," said the Dark Knight, refusing to be interrupted, "it worked. Thanks to Nightwing's evasive comments and Red Robin's silence, the Black Hand was unable to achieve its goal."
"No shit, Bats," said Jason impatiently. "But how did they know Red would show? Why did they target him?"
Batman narrowed his eyes. "If you could shut your mouth longer than five seconds, Jason, I am getting to that."
The Red Hood folded his arms as his brothers sniggered, but he fell silent all the same. And listened.
"Red Robin was able to dig very deeply into the history and formation of the Black Hand and their leader. Perhaps it's best if he tells you about what he discovered."
Batman slid his chair over and let Red Robin take the reigns. Impressed, Dick and Jason watched as their genius younger brother shared photos and information he had collected and connected.
The youngest cleared his throat. "Bats and I had a hunch that Gavrilo was planning to usurp his family's power in Vlotova and take control of the kingdom. But he needed outside help from more powerful factions. He made a deal with an international crime syndicate we've all heard of, The Light, and they agreed that if Gavrilo could get them information about one of their most formidable enemies, they would assassinate his niece and help him win a coup."
"But why would the Light deal with a lowly criminal like Gavrilo?" asked Dick, stroking his uncommonly stubbly jawline. "What made the Light so sure that he would be able to get anything about Bats that they didn't already know? Unless..."
"Didn't you guys notice anything strange about Gavrilo's tactics? How neither I nor Dick was able to see that the building he occupied was crawling with his cronies? My lenses didn't even pick up that there was a thug right behind the window I breached."
"Yeah," said Jason pensively. "And when I was trying to get Big Bird to the stairwell, that fucker vanished! He was attacking me and taunting me, but I couldn't even see the bastard. It was like fighting a ghost. I guess he evaded you too, Bats?"
Batman nodded.
"He's a meta-human," said Tim. "Like his half-brother, Count Vertigo, he possesses the ability to utilize low-level telepathy. Only instead of being able to give his victims the sensation of vertigo he-
-"He cloaks himself. And people," interjected Jason.
"And objects," added Dick.
"Exactly," said Tim. "He can make things invisible to his victim. But he can only victimize on or two people at a time."
"But why didn't Bats know about him?" asked Dick. "Bats has had the registry for years. Amanda Waller gave it to him so he could help Superman and Wonder Woman form JLA."
"He's not registered," said Tim simply. "He was born a bastard son of the King of Vlotova. His royal blood, although only half, was a threat to the royal line. He was exiled at a young age, raised in America, and lived his entire life as a refugee, nursing grievances and eager to return to Vlotova and claim his rights."
"What's with the army of assholes then?" said Jason. "Did you see the way his soldiers hung on his every word? They treated him like a God. How'd an exile bastard of a poor country come by them?"
"When he came of age, he returned to Vlotova and exposed and paraded his meta-human ability to his countrymen who were most desperate for glory, eager for riches, and most disheartened by the Vlotovan royal family. They were easy to sway and control. And it's not the first time in history a megalomaniac with a certain prowess has been able to acquire a fanatical following," explained Tim.
"Still doesn't explain why they targeted you, Baby Bird," said Jason.
"It's common knowledge that Red Robin is my current partner," interjected Batman. "And it's no secret what a skilled and diligent detective he is. The Vlotovan rebels spent weeks getting themselves arrested to draw my attention, assuming that I would dispatch Red Robin on a recon mission to find out more about them. They waited for a night in which the Batman had not been seen on the streets for a few nights, and decided to broadcast a lot of chatter and make it obvious that they were having a meeting in a remote location. Then they sat back and waited for Red Robin to come."
"Yep," said Red. "Gavrilo knew as soon as I was a mile out, and was using his meta-human ability on me from the start. I didn't even know what I was walking into."
"None of you knew," said the Bat. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."
Silence filled the Cave for a few moments.
"It's alright, boss," said Dick. "We prevailed."
"You did," said the Dark Knight. "Gavrilo, the Black Hand, and their allies all underestimated Batman and Red Robin's strong ties with Nightwing and Red Hood. I don't think they knew Red Robin would have brothers allied to and watching over him while I was away."
"Bigger and stronger and more experienced brothers," said Tim happily. "Joke was on them. Gavrilo was able to capture me, but in the end, all he got was 90% of his men in cuffs and incarceration at Belle Reve. The Black Hand has since disbanded following his arrest. He lost."
"He did," agreed Bruce. "Well done to you all. Way to stick together on this."
The three younger heroes all looked at each other astonished. Did the Batman just praise them? Collectively? Wow.
Bruce cleared his throat. "Now if you've all finished gloating, I suggest you get your head right for tonight. Red Robin, you're with me. Red Hood, good luck. Rendezvous with us at the Cave around 0300 if you can. I'm sure Nightwing will want to know how his city is doing in light of his-
"Laziness," finished Dick. "Bruce, I swear, I'm fine. I can run with Red Hood tonight."
Jason let out a bark of mirthless laughter as he made his way over to his bike. "You can't run with Red Hood any night," he said tauntingly, sliding his red helmet on his face. "I'll check on you in the morning, though Big Bird. I'll let you know how your thugs are doing after I help you pee standing up."
"You're staying in tonight, Dick," said Batman. "You're not even half-healed."
"Yeah, okay," said Dick mischievously. "I'm staying in."
"And in case you're thinking that you'll somehow stand up and walk over to the armory on your own steam, dress as Nightwing, and gear up, you're mistaken," said the Bat. "All your Nightwing gear is on lockdown."
Damn thought Dick but instead said "That's fine. I'll go out as Red Hood. It'll be easy, all I have to do cuss, chain smoke, and shoot at everything." He flashed Jason his most loving smile.
"Try it. Go on," said Jason icily, caressing one of the pistols holsters at his side. "You're so full of holes right now that even Timmy wouldn't notice if I peppered you with a few rounds and gave you a few more."
"That's actually not far from the truth, Dick," said Tim. "Please please please just rest tonight. I can't get that image of you bleeding out in the back of the Bat Mobile out of my head. Come on, Jay can handle it."
Dick huffed a tired sigh of concession. He was, after all, feeling very tired at the moment. "Alright alright." He turned to Jason. "The watch is yours, Jay. Take good care of her for me."
"Stop frowning, Big Bird, you'll get wrinkles. I got this," assured the Red Hood.
With that, Jason gave an overly dramatic salute to Batman and Red Robin. Batman nodded in return and the Red Hood went speeding out of the Cave.
Dick looked pleadingly from where he sat in his chair, longingly watching Bats and Red give their gear one last inspection before heading over to the Batmobile.
"Godspeed," called Dick, clutching at his sides and easing himself out of the chair. "I'll just... you know... stay here... and do nothing... by my lonesome self..."
Batman said nothing but Red Robin at least flashed him an apologetic smile. "Alfred's here!" called Tim over the roar of the Batmobiles engines. The car sped off and the two heroes disappeared into the night.
"Oh yay," said Dick dryly to himself, wondering where Alfred was and how long he had to sneak himself out of the mansion before the butler came looking for him to drag him off to bed.
"I hope that wasn't sarcasm that these old ears detected, Master Dick," said the butler from next to the computer console that Dick was leaning heavily against.
Dick jumped at the newcomer and the action hurt his aching body.
"Oh!" he sputtered. "Alfred? When did you ..." he was lost in a wave of fatigue and pain from his dozen healing wounds.
The butler's look turned from gentle admonishment to worry. "Come now, Master Dick. I think that was enough excitement for one night." He grabbed dick around the waist and placed the man's unbroken arm around his own aging shoulders. "Let's get you upstairs and to bed. I lit a fire in your hearth, just the way you liked it when you were an unruly child."
Dick smiled at the notion. A warm fire did sound so good right now, it almost took the sting away from being left behind. His old bed also sounded good too. And sleep. "The unruly child grew into an unruly man, I think," said Dick, allowing Alfred to guide him over to the lift.
"Indeed, he did, Master Dick," agreed the butler. "The unruliness grew too."
Dick smiled to himself as he thought about whether or not Alfred meant it.
Twenty minutes later, Alfred had helped Dick wash up and change and was helping the injured man to bed. Alfred gave each of Dick's wounds an exam and changed the dressing on a few of them. There still could be nothing done for the poor man's arm, which for about the next five weeks, would still remain fractured.
"You're doing well, Master Dick," said Alfred, mostly pleased with the result of his exam. "You'll be 100% before you know it."
"Yeah," said Dick appraisingly to the butler. "Thanks to you, Alfred."
Alfred smiled and turned to stoke the logs in the hearth.
Dick was already almost dozing by the time Alfred had the fire blazing again, but he still enjoyed the heat and the flicker and the smell of the flames.
"Alfred," he asked sleepily. "They'll be Ok tonight, won't they? You know, while I'm here... languishing in my old bed."
Alfred stored the fireplace poker on the hook on the side of the fireplace and made his way back to Dick's bedside.
"As much good as you do, Master Dick, I daresay they will be," said the butler taking a seat in the chair next to Dick's bed. "Your place tonight is here. With this tired old man."
Dick laughed softly. "Oh yeah? What does this tired old man need from this ailing younger one?"
"I, Master Dick," he began solemnly, "need you on your feet again and healthy. There are no words for what it does to me every time I see one of my boys so... beat up."
Dick felt a sharp pang of guilt.
"Oh don't feel bad, Master Dick, I've long since learned what consoles me in situations like this."
"What's that?" asked Dick eagerly.
"Knowing that every time one of my boys is knocked down, he comes back even stronger than before," said the butler. "I don't know how this thing is possible, but that is what happens. Can you do that for me, Dick? Can you rest and heal and come back stronger?"
Dick reached his left arm out and Alfred caught his hand in his own.
"I promise," swore Dick. "I will come back even stronger." He gave Alfred's hand a squeeze of confidence before drifting silently off into an exhausted sleep.
"I know," said the butler to deaf ears, still holding the hand of the sleeping man. "I know. Sleep well, Richard."
The End.