A/N:
“Baptism of Fire”
“I don’t make house calls, Nigma.”
Edward Nigma, still dressed in his trademark green outfit with a purple question mark tie, jumped at the sudden, grisly voice, which even he had to admit had become more growling in recent years. The man’s build, too, had changed, the Riddler noticed as he turned to greet his guest. The muscles slackened, if only by a little, though the eyes never lost their hardened exterior. And thank God for the cowl. No doubt gray hair had to be polluting Batman’s hair by now.
But this was Batman, the real deal. He knew there was a different man who wore the cowl now, but for a case such as this, Nigma needed the true Batman.
The Riddler narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like calling you, either—ever—but you said to tell you about Intergang’s dealings.”
That snapped Batman’s shoulders back. “What have you heard?”
“As you know, Intergang’s been hurting. Besides Johnny Stitches finally getting the death sentence, Tobias Whale was even marked last week, had a hearing and all. He’s looking at twenty to life. They’re scared.”
“Your point?”
A sigh. “That’s not the right
question, Batman. When Intergang took hold of
“What does this have to do with Nightwing?”
Nigma crossed his arms. “Or the man formerly know as such, but you’re still missing the riddle, Batman. It’s not ‘Nightwing’ Intergang cares about; it’s the new D.A. they’ve targeted.”
Batman said nothing, only turned and jumped over the railing, leaving Nigma standing alone on his balcony.
Nigma watched the man soar through the night sky and leaned against his railing. “God speed, Batman.”
*^*^*
“Are you sure he’ll show?”
Richard Grayson kept his hands stuff in his suit pockets, his trench coat flapping behind him with the gentle breeze. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and his bedraggled hair appeared like he’d ruffled it one too many times. His guarded eyes trained toward the Bat Signal lit for the sky, he shrugged “Depending. Sometimes I think he likes to stand us up for the fun of it.”
Captain Harper followed his gaze thoughtfully. “He’s only met you a few times, correct?”
“In costume.”
“And out?”
“Only God knows how many.”
Captain Harper smiled, and Dick let out a small sigh. He’d passed that one. She had been promoted to captain almost faster than any else in department history for a reason. Granted, Tim as Robin had helped her but almost as much as she helped him. She was good, intuitive, and she suspected his connection to the Bat Clan. She had no physical evidence, but it didn’t help how comfortable he acted around Batman when he arrived on the crime scenes.
Harper glanced down at her watch. “How long do we need to be out here?”
“You think he’ll call us?” Dick snickered.
Harper laughed dryly. “Yeah, I get his Twitter messages.”
His mouth opened to retort, but his head suddenly shot up. Without warning, he lunged at Captain Harper, grabbing her about the waist and dragging her behind the Bat Signal. Simultaneously, bullets mimicked his actions and pinged off the yellow and black bulletproof glass.
“What’s going on?” Harper shouted as she reached for her gun.
Dick shook his head, shedding his jacket. “We’re under fire.”
“That I got.”
A loud explosion rocked the building then, followed by the onslaught of war. His heart fluttered into his chest.
“Tommy…”
His son was asleep downstairs in Harper’s office, and if they attacked Dick on the roof…
He threw his trench coat over Harper. “It’s Kevlar. It’ll protect you.”
“Wait!” Harper snatched his wrist before he stood. “Are you insane? You can’t go out there! They’ll kill you.”
“No.” Dick smirked. “They’ll try.”
He saw the realization in her eyes now, which probably wasn’t a good thing. He gave her the same look the Batman did, which just screamed of danger and power unknown to a normal person. Sure, he had no powers, but there was an edge to him, to all the Batkids, that they were survivors and they could do what others couldn’t.
Harper released him then, her questions dying before reaching fruition. They would wait until later, and Dick leaned against signal. Waiting until the bullets stopped, he took off toward the edge of the roof. He didn’t question when he heard a shotgun round and the shooting never recommenced. He didn’t slow as he reached the end of the concrete, only planted his hands and dove into the free air. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a line he hid—now grateful that his father demanded he had one at all times—and swung through a particular window, shattering the glass.
“TOMMY!” he screamed into the darkened office.
A sinister, rasping voice greeted him. “Gone.”
And all went black.
*^*^*
Dick grunted when the gun hilt struck his cheek, awakening him with the sudden strike of pain. His bright eyes blinked furiously for a few moments while he shook his head and promptly stopped that. Pain thumped through his head with every movement, and when he tried to reach up to rub his neck, he realized he couldn’t. He wasn’t shocked. After being tied up so many times, one just got used to it.
When he thought about it, he decided that wasn’t a good thing nor was the shoes before him—one white, one a reddish brown.
Great. He’d known this was coming. He just wasn’t sure when.
“Time to face the blind woman with scales, District Attorney Grayson.”
Heaved into a kneeling position by two thugs, Dick grunted once more when his wrists pulled, but at least he wasn’t constricted by his jacket. Thankfully, the thugs had enough wherewithal to take off his jacket and roll up his dress shirt sleeves.
“Couldn’t let Intergang get a hold of you,” Dent said smoothly. “Apparently, you’re not too popular with them, so I had my boys take them out before they took you out. The Bat happened to be in the way, and I figured—ah, why not two birds with two stones?”
Defiant, Dick raised to his narrowed eyes at the man before him. “Just what are my crimes, Dent? And don’t tell me they’re of fashion because I have so much better fashion sense than you.”
Dent chuckled and then lashed out, scarping his hilt across Dick’s cheek once more. The momentarily break of concentration allowed Dick to see where they’d taken him, and his heart jumped into his throat.
Not here. Anywhere but here.
“Almost twenty years ago, I put a young bird through a similar baptism of fire. I killed him. I know I did, but somehow he came back. Trust me.” Dent bent down to be even with Dick, a sinister smirk upon his malevolent features. “This time, I won’t make the same mistakes.”
“Second time’s always a charm for you.”
That gained him another hit, but this time without a gun and by a sixty-something year old. Yeah, Dent definitely hit harder all those years ago.
“They’re starting to call you my old title, ‘The White Knight of Gotham.’ The savior of the day while the Batman takes care of the streets at night.” Dent threw up his arms as he retreated to the curtain, and Dick didn’t want to face what was behind there a second time. He knew already, but this time, it wouldn’t be the judge awaiting death.
“But I want to expose you for who you really are.” He pulled back the curtain, revealing twin gallows. To the right stood a man in a Batsuit with a hood over his head, and by his build—a little over six feet still with muscles to match—Dick realized who it was. To the right, though—to the right stood a young boy, barely eight, with hair of the night and eyes belonging to the supernatural world of gypsies. Duct tape muffled his frightened shrieks while tears rolled over his brightened cheeks.
“It’s okay, Tommy,” he soothed calmly, even though his throat restricted and fought to keep his voice steady. “It’s going to be okay.”
Bruce never showed him his fear; Dick wouldn’t to his son.
“Oh, don’t lie to the boy,” Dent climbed the stairs to the gallows to place an affectionate—though grotesque—hand upon the boy’s head. “Tell him the truth. Either he or the Bat’s gonna live.”
Dick’s face
hardened at his son’s trembling. “Why, Dent? At least tell me that. I’ve done
nothing to you, and I’m making progress in
“Because you are order and I am chaos.”
“And I thought you were the complete package,” Dick laughed. “What happened to Harvey Dent, Two-Face? Lost him somewhere?”
Dent rubbed
his hand down the boy’s flushed cheek. “Oh, good ol’ Harv didn’t want this
happen, you know. He’s actually quite proud of what you’ve accomplished in
Two-Face
slapped Tommy’s across the cheek, leaving his fingerprints in the boy’s face.
Dick held his anger in check for the moment while Two-Face motioned toward the
second person. “What’s it gonna be, Grayson? Who will you choose? Your son, your
future and your legacy? Or the Bat,
Dick kept his face neutral.
“Oh, come on now, Grayson. A lawyer can never be silent,” Two-Face coaxed and pulled out his coin. “Let’s make a deal, shall we? Heads, the boy goes. Tails, the Bat.”
“No,” Dick affirmed. “No games.”
Anger immediately contorted Two-Face’s already tense mug. “Everyone plays.” He pulled out a double-barreled gun and aimed it directly at Dick. “EVERYONE!”
As the gun
went off, Dick slammed flat to the floor, avoiding the bullet. He tore off his
binds, dropping his batarang he’d used, and connected a foot to each of the
twin thug’s knees. As they collapsed to the floor, Dick turned to see
“You’ll make your choice now. The boy or the Bat?”
“You don’t know who you’re dealing with, Two-Face,” Dick growled.
“I don’t?” the mad man cocked his head to the side. “Then, pray tell. Just who am I dealing with?”
“Me.”
Two-Face glanced over his shoulder to see the figure emerge from the shadows, flinging two batarangs to knock out the guns. Batman then punch Two-Face in the chin, tossing him over the gallows. Dick rushed up to him before he could finish standing and kicked out, drawing blood from Two-Face’s mouth.
“You
believe beating a thirteen year old to mere moments before death is a high?”
Dick shouted, backhanding Two-Face. “You think kidnapping an eight year old and
putting his father on trial is just?” He kneed Two-Face in the stomach, sending
the older man crashing to the floor. “Let me give you a little piece of
advice.” With a roundhouse kick, Dick sent Two-Face slamming to the wall, the
older man crumbling to a heap on the floor. “Know I won’t tolerate it in
With that, Dick turned back to the gallows, where Tommy jumped down after being cut loose by the second Batman. He immediately leapt into his father, his arms clamping around Dick’s waist. The father shushed his child and placed a gentle hand on his crown.
“It’s all right, kiddo. It’s all right now.”
“DICK!” the second Batman screamed, and Dick raised his head. He whirled in time to see a third gun in Two-Face’s hand.
“How did you know I beat the boy?” Two-Face demanded. “I said I almost killed him. I didn’t say how. You wouldn’t know unless—unless—”
To the criminal’s surprise, Dick’s voice lowered more than octave and resembled a biting wind growling over gravestones. “You have no idea with whom you’re dealing.”
Confusion wiped over Two-Face’s faces as he looked between Dick, the first Batman, who was now free, and the second one. Finally, his anger returned, and he flipped his coin. “I don’t care how many of you there are. I’m at least taking one of you with me.”
Dick moved to stand in front of his son as the coin landed flat in Two-Face’s hand, but a batarang shot out, knocking the gun out of Two-Face’s hand. A fist followed, hitting Dent against the wall unconscious.
*^*^*
“It was stupid.”
“It was necessary.”
“Yeah, like he’ll see it that way.”
Perched on the edge of an ambulance, Dick balanced his son’s straddled legs on his own and fought to open a band-aid. “Look, Dent’s almost sixty to begin with. He no longer has a gang other than Frick and Frack back there, and if I have my way, he’ll be on his way to Blackgate, not Arkham.”
“That won’t make Dad feel any better.”
Talking to seemingly no one, Dick still looked up at the figure cloaked by the shadows, but he could just make out the pointy-eared figure crouching on the roof of the van. “You know, you used to take my side.”
“I am, but telling Dent you’re Batman was dangerous.”
“And you’re Batman.”
“So?”
“So, he saw you and Dad. That made him think there were two. This way—YES!” He finally managed pull open the wrapper and apply some A and D to the band-aid before placing it on his son’s cheek. “At least Dent thinks there are three, and he won’t be so prone to try to destroy us.”
“Daddy?”
“You hope.”
“I hope.”
“I’m telling you! Grayson is Batman!” Across the compound carried Two-Face’s voice as the police escorted him to a car. “There were three of them, and he’s one of them!”
“See what I mean?”
Laughter echoed across the crime scene.
Dick arched an eyebrow at Batman. “See what I mean?”
“Daddy, where’d Grandpa go?” Tommy asked suddenly, to which Dick ruffled his crown. “He went to go deal with Intergang. He’ll be back shortly.”
Deliberate footsteps sounded in the gravel, and Dick heaved his son onto his hip as Captain Harper approached. She put her hands on her knees and bent to look into Tommy’s wide eyes.
“Hey, kiddo. How are you after your
first meet-and-greet with the
“I like Harley Quinn better.”
Dick laughed shortly and stood, turning his son’s face into his shoulder. “The clown aspect. He’s got circus in the blood and all that.”
“Yes, which makes it very interesting how a carnie boy would grow up to become a district attorney.” Harper nodded and straightened her back.
“I was raised since I was eight by Bruce Wayne. I think that’s a little interesting in itself, Captain.”
“I had an interesting conversation with Dent. There’ll be probably a more interesting one at the station.”
Dick offered a half-smile. “I wouldn’t believe everything you hear, Captain.”
“You mean about you being the Batman?” She leaned close to Tommy again. “What do you think of that, kiddo? You’re daddy being Batman?”
Oh, going for the kid—that was low.
Tommy sent her an ecstatic grin. “He’s the chairperson for the Justice League! That’s way cooler!”
“Kids and their wild imaginations. Next thing you know he’ll be saying his uncle is the prince of the League of Assassins or king of Atlantis or—”
“I’m sure he could tell me such fascinating stories, but he can’t explain to me why I see you on many a crime scenes as well as our unofficial deputy side-by-side.”
“Sure, I can! My uncle—mphm!”
Dick clamped a hand over his son’s mouth. “You’re right. He can’t.”
“Figures.” Letting out a sigh, Harper headed
off toward her squad car but stopped just short and turned just enough to meet
Dick’s eyes. “For the first time in a long time,
Batman gave her some distance before snorting, “Told ya.”
“Shut up, Tim.”
*^*^*
SHATTER!
Manheim hardly jumped from his chair, only swiveled about calmly as if seeing another client. “To what do I owe this pleasure—JLA?”
Before his desk hovered Superman, with salt and pepper hair; Wonder Woman, in body armor and a golden sword; Green Lantern, again with the graying temples; Red Arrow, pointing an arrow directly at Manheim’s chest; Vixen, her nails clenching and unclenching to tear through his skin; and Black Canary, her mouth open to slam him against the wall.
Before all of them stood Batman, the man’s back completely straight, his eyes never more frightening.
Still, Manheim simply crossed his legs. “I’m not a mind reader. Perhaps you could give me some insight.”
“The new D.A.”
“Ah, Richard Grayson. We have spoken, but I’m sorry to say we haven’t met in person.”
“Lay off him.”
“Are you implying that I have been on him?”
Fists pounded his desk, shaking its very foundations. “You had a contract out on him, which Two-Face stopped. You retract that, and leave him and his family alone.”
Manheim
wasn’t one to be intimidated and instead stood, walking over to his espresso
maker. “Batman, if I may—Grayson knew what he was getting into when he ran for
this position. If he can’t take the heat, he should have stayed in
“If you can’t take the heat, you should have stayed in Metropolis.”
Manheim stopped stirring sugar into his coffee and glared over his shoulder. “You can threaten, Batman, but nothing can stop me from—”
“Richard
Grayson is now a member of the Justice League, Manheim,” Superman affirmed,
unfolding a Daily Planet to show the next day’s headline— “
An arrow zinged Manheim’s sleeve, dragging him against the wall and shattering his coffee cup against the floor. Red Arrow cocked his head to the side. “Capiche?”
*^*^*
“Oh, don’t ‘Babs’ me, Grayson! I told you this was a bad idea!”
“But it’s working.”
“It almost got you and our son killed tonight! How can you call that—”
“Barbara, I didn’t want my son growing up in this world. I wanted a better one for him.”
“So do I, but you can do this another way.”
“And what if everyone said that?”
“Then our kid wouldn’t have almost been—”
“We’re not normal, Barbara. Even if I stopped being Batman and the DA and you Oracle, we’d still have people who would wish to harm us. At least this way, we can stop them before they stop us.”
A snort. “Tim told you it was a bad idea.”
“He didn’t
really say that. He just foresaw
“Even Bruce—”
The door to the conference room opened. “It’s all right, Oracle. I can take it from here.”
The little boy in Dick’s lap jumped down from the JLA Round Table and leapt into the newcomer’s arms. “GRANDPA! You’re okay!”
“As are you, for which I am grateful.”
Pushing off his cowl, Bruce glared at the younger man sitting upon the JLA’s table, his feet on his chair. He wore a similar outfit but with dark blue trim and a solid black bat on the chest. Dick slowly eased off the chair as Oracle, on the hologram-like screen above Dick, shook her head.
“Fine. You can have your five minutes to ream him out, but I get him again when you’re done.”
“Of course.”
Then, Oracle’s face brightened considerably. “I’ll see you later, honey.”
“Bye, Mom,” Tommy said with a wave, and the hologram disappeared.
Bruce gently placed Tommy on the ground and petted the boy’s crown. “Tommy, I believe your uncles Wally and Roy are in the kitchen. Perhaps you would wish to see your cousins?”
The boy immediately whirled toward Dick. “Can I, Dad? PLUH-ZEE!”
“Sure, but I’ll have to pick you up early tomorrow for school.”
The boy rushed to Dick’s waist once more, hugging his father tightly before running to Bruce and doing the same, and then dashing out of the room.
To Dick’s credit, the door shut
before he threw out a hand. “You never said this wasn’t a good idea, only a
conflict of interest, which is why Tim’s Batman in
“You think I’m angry with you.”
Dick blinked. Wasn’t it obvious? “Uh…aren’t you?”
Bruce took a deep breath and let out reservedly. “I am…concerned for you, your wife, and your son’s wellbeing but no. I’m not mad.”
“But—But you hated that I went to work in the D.A.’s office. You—”
“—once again thought you were taking an unnecessary risk, but you made your decision. It was honorable.”
Dick crossed his arms and gave Bruce a sideways glance. “You like how the crime rate’s fallen, don’tcha?”
“Your position has some advantages to be certain.” Bruce took a step closer and laid a hand on his son’s shoulders. “However, what you did tonight with Harvey Dent was reckless. Even if you do not believe him to be much of a threat, telling anyone your identity is careless.”
“He thinks there are three Batman.”
“He knows one of them is you.”
Dick averted his eyes. “No one will believe him, and Harper won’t let it hit the papers.”
“We shouldn’t have to rely upon someone out of the family.”
“Oh, we’re starting to sound like the Mob—”
A hand clamped over his wrist. “Listen
to me, and listen well. This isn’t just about you or Barbara. It’s about Tommy,
Tim, Jason, Damian, Selina, Leslie, Alfred—we are a family, and I will not lose
any of them over a flippant comment in attempt to stop
Dick’s lips twitched into a smirk. “You are angry at me.”
“Concerned.”
“And you’re happy. We’re…We’re really a family now, aren’t we?”
As the doors to the JLA conference room opened and Jai and Irey rushed in with Tommy on their heels, Bruce’s lips perked into a genuine smile. “Yes. Yes we are.”
He then slapped his son on the shoulder. “By the way, Snapper Carr will be calling you in the morning.”
Dick perked up an eyebrow. “Do I want to know why?”
“You’re part of the Justice League now.” He was out the door.
“I’ve been chairperson for three years!” Dick called after him and gave chase.
“Not Batman. ‘Richard Grayson.’ You’re the JLA’s new lawyer.”
“New lawyer?” Dick gave chase. “Wh—What do you mean by—Dad? Dad, I see you getting into that boom tube! I’m not fighting Carr’s battles! I am not—DAD!”
The End