Chapter Text
Amy studied the extensive menu behind the barista. She was still in the queue of the latest dog friendly cafe, Barks and Brews, and she wanted to make sure she ordered the right size and she also needed to check that they had her preferred drink, a vanilla cold brew, which they thankfully did.
She had spotted Dick in one corner of the cafe already, Lucky in his bright red working vest laying across his feet. Her former partner was wearing sunglasses, indoors, which didn't really bode well. He had waved at her when she entered but had decided to stay put, his hands wrapped around a mug of undoubtably warm coffee loaded with a ton of blueberry syrup.
Finally it was her turn and she ordered the biggest vanilla cold brew they had and two muffins, one blueberry (for her) and one chocolate chip banana (for Dick). The barista offered to send it to her table, which she readily agreed.
"Hello Dick," Amy greeted with a gentle smile, shrugging off her long coat and hanging it over her chair.
"Hi Ames," his voice was hoarse, his brows furrowed.
Doesn't look like a good day today.
"How are you feeling?"
The man across her sighed deeply, a hand reaching up to rub at his forehead. "Not too well. The new dose is messing with my head. At least it's not a migraine, otherwise I'd have had to cancel on you."
She scoffed, "we could have rescheduled or I could have come to your's instead. You didn't have to go through all this trouble to meet me here."
He shrugged, giving her a boyish grin. "Well, you had been raving about this cafe for a while now and I didn't want to miss out on it. I know how busy you are with work and family. We had planned this for weeks now."
The barista had come over with her drinks and the muffins, they both thanked her and waited till they were alone again before continuing.
"Still," she huffed, reaching over to hand the chocolate muffin to Dick before picking up her own blueberry one, "this is just a cafe, I'd rather we both have a good time."
"Who says I'm not having a good time, Ames?"
She knocked his foot with her own, taking care not to hit the dog, who wuffed at the movement but didn't move.
"You know what I mean, Rookie."
He laughed, taking a small bite of his muffin. "Not a rookie anymore."
"Yeah, but you'll always be my rookie."
"Oooh, possessive much!"
"You bet your ass, I am."
They both enjoyed their muffins and their drinks, taking the time to just enjoy the ambiance of the cafe and the other dogs sprawled about. Dick asked about her family and they both ignored the obvious interest in how her work was going, or how the precinct was doing with a new commissioner, who may or may not be corrupt.
"And what about you, Dick? How are things with your family?"
Lucky had migrated from the floor to rest his head on Dick's lap, his body leaning against the man's shins. The dog was being spoiled with pets, but still attentive and quiet.
"Alfred and Damian are doing well. Dames is over the moon at the fact that I now have my own dog. We went to the dog part together with his own dog, the Great Dane Titus. I saw Jason right after that trip because of, you know," he gestured to his head, an overall forceful movement.
Amy shook her head slightly, unhappy that Dick still harboured some anger at his condition. Dick noticed and tried to shrug it off, a sharp grin on his pale face.
"But things are better with Jason. It's been civil, we had dinner together the other day and reached an understanding about some stuff. He's not as mad at me as before which is nice."
Amy noted the lack of an update with a few family members. She took a sip of her coffee, giving Dick time to continue but he didn't. Still not on good terms with his younger brother Tim and nothing about his sisters.
"So, what's this about a new dose? Did the doctor say why?"
He slumped further back into his seat, Lucky grumbling at the shift but was appeased with a quick pet. There was a loud thump under the table as the dog's tail swished back and forth.
"They want to see if the new dosage will help with lengthening the time between episodes. The longest I've gone without one is nine days, we want to see if it'll be possible to either maintain a nine day schedule or extend the periods even further."
"That sounds like a good thing."
He nodded, looking a little less stressed. "Yeah, the less seizures I have overall the better for my brain. It just sucks that the side effects are acting up again as I get used to the increase."
"Hence the sunglasses?"
"Yep," he pops the 'p', "light sensitivity sucks with a headache on top of everything. But going out was just what the doctor ordered. It's been good, visiting a new place."
"You sure?"
"Of course I am, Ames. Going out as good ole Dick is fine."
"What about at night time?" What about as Nightwing?
He shook his head, a deep sigh leaving him. "No, not as much anymore. Especially now with everything."
The conversation slows and dwindles after that, their muffins and drinks long finished. They cleared up their table, picked up their coats and left the Barks and Brews café. The cold autumn air slammed into her face, waking her up some after the warmth of the cafe.
And then, it all happened so quickly.
"Hey, if you like, I could give you a ride ho-"
Suddenly, a black van roared down the road. Its tires screeched loudly as it came to an abrupt stop right beside the duo, its side door sliding open and revealed three masked men, guns in each of their hands.
"Get in the car, both of you!"
They both hesitated but the gunmen were jumpy and agitated. Without waiting, two of them leapt out and grabbed them, shoving the two of them roughly into the van. Lucky was hauled in by the collar by the third man, and pushed closer to Amy.
"Hey! He's just a dog!"
"Quiet! If either one of you doesn't want a bullet hole in you," one growled, waving his gun, safety on thankfully, around, "I suggest you keep your mouths shut."
Amy tried to calm down her rabbiting heart and racing thoughts. Why were they both kidnapped? In broad daylight? Was it her connections to the BPD?
"Search him. We've only got a little bit before we need to dump the rest."
Fuck, it was for Dick Grayson.
"Hey, hey! What are you going to do?"
He didn't fight them as they pulled his jacket off and searched his pockets. They took his phone, his wallet, belt and even his shoes. "Look, I don't have a lot of money but I need my wallet-"
Dick was slapped across the face, the hard thud of the gun impacting him was loud in the cramped space. Amy lunged forward but the other man bodily stopped her. "Stay still!" he hissed.
Blood dripped down his chin from his split lip and he grit his teeth together, staining it red. His sunglasses had also fallen off his face, showcasing his dilated eyes.
"Mind the head!" Amy yelled, struggling against the hold they had her in.
"Shut the fuck up. We need him for Wayne's money. Just throw everything out with the bitch and dog. We only need him!"
"No, wait-!"
They tied her hands, shoved a gag in her mouth and blindfolded her. She can only assume they did the same to Dick because not another word came out of him. The van was moving fast; it swerved around corners and cut through lanes (from the sounds of sudden honking). She had no idea where they were heading or where they even were.
It slowed to a stop and the door closest to her slid open. She was unceremoniously pushed out of the van, landing hard on her knees and shins. Ow. Damn kidnappers!
"Don't you dare move until you don't hear the van anymore or else we shoot pretty boy here."
She nodded her head, keeping her breathing calm as she strained to hear what was happening. There was a muffled protest from Dick but it was quickly covered up by the sounds of Lucky whining and hopping out of the van, a bag thudding onto the floor close by.
She heard the van door slide shut and the roar of the engine as it drove away. Amy took a moment to gather her wits before she moved. Thankfully her hands were tied in front of her and she pulled the blindfold off and took out the gag.
She was in some dirty alleyway, it was unclear if she was still in Blüdhaven or not. It was only her, Dick's medical alert service dog and his belongings. Fuck.