Chapter Text
Dick Grayson rubbed his eyelids, a deep sigh escaping him as he looked at a mountain full of paperwork left by his assistant, Nancy, who left a note about how these are all due by tomorrow.
Since moving to Bludhaven several years ago, Dick had obviously been searching for a cover to explain why one of Gotham’s most famous individuals would move to a city that was essentially as bad as Gotham had been before Bruce had begun crashing skulls…so becoming the head of Wayne Enterprises’ charity division in Bludhaven was the perfect job for him…except when it wasn’t.
Because the former first Robin had to actually work in what essentially a full-time job and…barely get any sleep because he was operating as Nightwing at night. This made it a bit difficult to have any semblance of a social life, but that wasn’t the issue…the issue was that he was slipping a bit and was becoming noticeable.
Dick was distracted from his thought when he heard a buzz to his desk and it was his assistant, Nancy. “Mr. Grayson. You have a visitor.”
The brunette sighed deeply as he pressed to buzz back, “Who is it, Nancy?”
He didn’t get an answer as her door was swung open and revealed Kara Kent, better known as Supergirl. One of the most powerful people on the planet and arguably the most powerful woman on Earth….and in addition, his ex-girlfriend and well, as with most of his relationships, it didn’t end particularly well.
“Hi”, Dick said, standing up immediately, “How have you been, Kara?”
The blonde-haired Kryptonian gave him a look. “Bruce sent word for me to come get you and bring you to Smallville, so let’s get going.”
Dick almost cringed at her glare at him, obviously not happy that she was being forced to work with or come get him or whatever Bruce was wanting her to do here. Dick took in her appearance, realizing she was letting her golden locks grow out longer than he had seen before, which suited her very well…as did those bibs that made her look very “farm girl” and he did always think that scowl expression was cute….
But, on the other hand, there was the issue of why Bruce needed him in Smallville right at this moment. It concerned him, added with the fact that Bruce was actually in Smallville apparently and was involving Kara and presumably Clark. Willing working with Superman was not really something his adopted father was known for.
Dick sighed. “Give me five minutes.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You have three”, as she exited.
After gathering his things, including his Nightwing costume, grabbing the bag and going over to his secretary, the older woman giving him an unimpressed look. He shrugged.
“Family emergency”, he said with a sheepish grin.
“Uh huh. A pretty blonde comes in and a few minutes later, you’re leaving”, Nancy said, adjusting her glasses.
“That’s unrelated. She’s a friend. That’s all”, he said, making his way outside to his vehicle where she was already waiting for him. As he got in his Ferrari, he felt it being lifted above him and sped into the sky, which made him sigh again, as he sat in silence for the next several minutes as she flew him to the Kent Farm, placing his car on the ground.
The brunette got out of the vehicle, seeing Bruce and Clark standing by the barn, the two heroes watching with a bit of interest. Clark gave him a friendly smile and Bruce just watched him, giving a look that told Dick all he needed to know about how serious whatever was going on was.
Clark spoke first, looking at Kara, “Ma says she needs help with the meatloaf” as Dick watched the blonde Kryptonian slip past him, and he felt a strange solemn feeling at her demeanor towards him and for whatever was actually going on here.
Bruce walks up to Dick, nodding for him to follow. The younger man felt frustrated at just this small action, hating how Bruce could still treat him like he was still wearing red and going by Robin.
“Why am I here?”
Bruce doesn’t respond for a moment, but eventually does as he stops by fields of corn on Kent Farm. “I need another set of eyes.”
“That doesn’t explain why you needed me specifically, Bruce. You could have gotten any number of others you trust.”
“Tim’s taking a break from being Robin and Cassandra is working on something unrelated-“, Bruce said, “but regardless, I don’t need a protégé. I need someone who knows exactly what they’re doing and doesn’t need guidance about how to proceed.”
Dick felt a bit of pride at the admission that Bruce saw him as essentially an equal. It also made him feel a bit uneasy about whatever was going on and why Bruce still hadn’t told him what was actually going on.
“Bruce, what is happening here that has you so spooked?”
“Look at the crops”, he said.
The younger man did, his eyes drawn to dustry look of the crops. Now, Dick certainly wasn’t a encyclopedia of knowledge on plant life or farming, but this did strike him as unusual. He pressed his hand to the plants, feeling the substance.
“The crops are dusty?”
“Crops don’t get dusty and that’s not dust. It’s a substance that’s closest match to anything I find is similar to multiple poisonous toxins, but no exact matches.”
“Someone is trying to poison the Kents?”, Dick said, looking at his mentor and father expectantly.
“The poison isn’t of this world”, Bruce says, frowning, “And the Kent don’t even know what’s going on. Clark just noticed something and asked me to check it out, which is why you’re here. Because Kara has been infected.”
Dick let the words sink in as he saw blonde woman step out of the house and looked back at Bruce, Dick’s frown obvious now and his eyes narrowing, as he breathes out.
“Is she aware?”
Bruce watched her as well, putting his hand on Dick’s shoulder. “Not yet. No one does but you, me, and Clark. And we’re going to keep it that way.”
“This poison…how will it affect her?”, Dick asked.
“It’s a poisonous substance, Dick. You know how that ends.”