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When Bruce made Dick his partner, he thought about many things, but it took him a few months to really understand what it meant to have a partner. Before Dick came along, Bruce had always relied only on himself. But that was no longer the case, and conversely, this meant that Dick also had a partner he could turn to.
“Dick, can we talk about what happened yesterday?” Bruce asked cautiously. They were in the Batcave, but Bruce had deliberately not changed into his Batman armor yet. He hoped it seemed less like a scolding and more like a chat, since it was just Dick and Bruce, not Batman and Robin.
“What are you talking about?” Dick asked, but Bruce could see that he knew exactly what it was about. A couple of small fry had caught Robin after they landed a lucky hit. That was something Bruce didn’t like, but this conversation was about what happened afterwards. Bruce had been out as Matches Malone and had had to say some things he didn’t like in order to scare the men away without blowing his cover. Something about how he himself wanted to break the boy’s bones and wouldn’t let anyone beat him to it.
“It scared me to have to threaten you in front of those men,” Bruce explained, but felt as if he was explaining it wrong. Dick smiled at him anyway, as if he understood.
“You didn’t need to be scared. I knew you wouldn’t hurt me. You saved me!”
Bruce still couldn’t smile. “That’s true, but I should have acted differently.”
Dick seemed confused. “How? You couldn’t let your cover slip, and I messed up. That was the best option we had.”
Dick was still so young, and Bruce thought, not for the first time, that he had made a mistake in giving Dick this option of a superhero life. If Dick had just been a normal boy, he would never have gotten into this situation and would never have thought it normal for his own father to talk about hurting him.
“My cover as Matches Malone, Bruce Wayne, or even Batman isn’t as important as your life or your sense of security.”
“But I didn’t feel unsafe,” Dick explained, seeming so sure that Bruce believed him. It was a weight off his mind, and he could finally breathe a little easier.
“I’m glad to hear that, Dick. I still want us to come up with a code word. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe and want to get out as quickly as possible, you can use it and I’ll know that I have to prioritize it over our secret identities.”
“Do you get a code word, too?” Dick asked cautiously, as if he didn’t like the idea that Bruce would create this system just for him. But that wasn’t the case. Someday, even if Bruce never hoped for it, Dick may also need help to assess a situation. It was a system designed for possible futures.
“Yes. My code word is Mefistofele.”
That word actually made Dick laugh. “You’ll have to write that down for me, but there is no way you’ll use it by accident.”
Bruce nodded and then waited for Dick to think of something as well.
“Can it be more than one word?”
“Sure, chum.”
“I’ve got it! My code word is three-ring circus.”
Hopefully, Bruce would never have to hear that word. Hopefully, he would keep Robin out of danger. Bruce never wanted to feel that fear again.
Over the years, Dick had often thought about using his code word, but had always decided against it. And every time, it had turned out to be the right decision. There was almost nothing that would justify revealing their identities. Dick could handle pain, so this last resort was uncalled for.
Bruce never asked him why he hadn’t used his code word, and Dick was sure that meant it really wasn’t necessary.
As Robin, Jason had once cautiously used his code word “Ramsgate” when caught by human traffickers during a surveillance operation. Dick hadn’t hesitated for a second to give up his own hiding place to knock the men down. It had revealed their position, but they had made it out alive, and that was worth it for Jason’s safety.
Dick didn’t know Jason well, so he was unsure if the boy used his code word often. Dick didn’t ask Bruce, and Bruce didn’t volunteer any information. It wasn’t important, and all these years had proven that the system worked.
Then Jason died, and Dick wondered if he had whispered his code word before his death.
Tim Drake had always seen galas as a necessity. They were annoying, but he had never hated them because they were a constant part of his life, and even as a child he had understood that they would never cease to exist.
But today was different. Today, he hated this event, and he hated the people who were here even more.
Tim had snuck into the Wayne family, had taken on Robin’s mantle, but even after all these months, Jason’s death still felt fresh. It was an open wound for the Waynes, and these people here didn’t care at all.
“I heard Wayne is thinking about taking another orphan into the house,” Tim heard someone whisper from somewhere and shuddered.
“As long as it’s not another street rat and thief,” replied a high-pitched voice, laughing as if the whole thing was funny.
Tim’s hands clenched into fists, but he couldn’t say anything. Officially, he had nothing to do with the Waynes, and even if he did, it was his job as Tim Drake to act like a child who knew how to behave at these events. Tim was Robin, but Robin had no business being here. Justice rarely had any business here either.
“What’s much more interesting is how the last boy died. Toad, right? I asked a friend at the coroner’s office, and he swears the wounds don’t match the story.”
Tim forced himself to remain calm. All these people just liked to talk and felt important when they had something exciting to contribute. No one knew the truth, and they didn’t care.
And yet Tim found himself next to Dick at the buffet. Dick had put on his smile, and Tim didn’t want to know how hard it was for him to pretend that everything was fine, even though no one was acting like he had suffered a loss. Bruce sometimes still got pitying looks, but Dick was seen as someone who was rightly happy to be the sole heir again.
“Bokeh,” Tim whispered, and Dick immediately stumbled clumsily in his direction and spilled his glass over Tim.
“Sorry, kid,” Dick muttered, then nodded toward the exit. “Let me pay for the damage.”
Tim said nothing, and when they were alone, Dick didn’t scold him for not putting on a show for the rest of the room.
Tim felt bad that he hadn’t found a way out of the situation himself, but that feeling quickly disappeared when Dick pulled him into a hug.
Bokeh was a term used in photography. It referred to point sources of light in the background that were blurred, while the subject was completely clear. Dick’s face looked very clear, while Tim found the background and everything he had heard today blurred. It didn’t matter at that moment.
Jason had miscalculated. He had believed that his feelings over the past few years since his resurrection would be enough to carry out his plan. He hadn’t considered for a second that his arrival in Gotham would stir up other feelings.
At first, it had been easy. He had revealed himself as Red Hood, scared the right people, killed the right people, and protected the right people. But with his first fight against Batman and Nightwing, it became more difficult. Jason suddenly remembered that the two of them were part of his family. He was angry at the world and trapped in how unfair everything was, but that didn’t change the fact that he had once loved them and still did.
Jason forced the feelings back and continued to fight his way through Gotham’s drug dealers, but he should have known that no plan in the world was perfect. And his plan had never included fighting Nightwing.
Dick didn’t hold back for a second as they fought each other on the rooftops of Gotham, trading blows. He seemed angry, and all the comments Jason had made during their last encounter seemed to be enough to further fuel his rage. Jason hadn’t gone into detail, though, just mentioned a little dead Robin. Nothing bad. Nothing to freak out about.
Nightwing obviously saw it differently.
Electricity shot through Jason’s body, and he gasped as his knees buckled beneath him. He tried to keep Dick at bay by swinging his gun in his direction, but Dick was quick, and it wasn’t long before he felt a blow to his head.
Jason rolled to the side in pain and tried to get back on his feet, but Dick really didn’t want to give him a break. And suddenly, Jason was just tired. The last time someone had beaten him like this, he had been fifteen and felt alone. Now, Jason was barely three years older and still felt alone. Jason didn’t want to fight his brother, didn’t want to feel that way anymore. It just hurt, and a big part of him just wanted to be held. Just to experience a gentle touch. It had been so long since anyone had hugged him.
“Ramsgate,” Jason said with his hands raised, and Dick froze. His escrima stick should have hit Jason’s upper arm and would have broken it. But now he paused in his movement and stared at Jason as if he didn’t know if he had heard correctly.
“Ramsgate,” Jason repeated, clearly seeing Dick swallow and take a step back.
“How?” Dick asked, and even though Jason had hoped he would put his weapons away, it had to be enough that he no longer held them ready to attack, but let his arms drop.
“Did I ever tell you why I chose that code word, Dickie? Some people say Jane Austen didn’t like that place, and it felt right to choose a word like that for a situation I wouldn’t like either.”
“Jason?”
Dick put his weapons away after all, and before Jason knew it, he was pulled into a hug.
“I don’t want to fight you. Can we forget our identities for a moment?” Jason asked, unwilling to move, but so incomprehensibly happy to feel something that wasn’t designed to hurt him.
“Of course. That’s why we have our code words,” Dick murmured, and Jason could hear that he had tears in his eyes. Jason felt the same way.
“Hood, can you help me?” Tim asked via a private communication channel, and Jason groaned. It was a universal law that Tim never asked for help, and if he did, it was only to annoy someone or because it was really important. Jason dreaded both situations, but the threat was too serious to overlook.
He could count on one hand how many times Tim had directly asked him for help in recent years, instead of being a mysterious ass and slowly manipulating Jason into working with him.
“On my way,” Jason said, letting Tim give him the location. It was only three blocks away from where Jason was, which annoyed him. It wasn’t in his area anymore, but it was close enough that the family usually let him know when they had a case.
“Talk,” Jason demanded as he swung himself onto the roof next to Tim. Tim was crouching so that no one could see him from the streets. It was obviously observing someone, but it wasn’t clear why he needed help.
“I want you to get Dick out of the club.”
Jason frowned, aware that Tim couldn’t see this, but his silence should be enough to get Tim to come up with more information.
“He went undercover as Dick Grayson an hour ago to get information about the new drug Frigid. We currently know no sellers or suppliers, but we do have three victims who describe the effect of the drug as being unable to access their emotions.”
Jason knew nothing about the drug himself, but that was because very few drug dealers were interested in starting their business in his territory. Jason could only imagine that there were some people who wanted to freeze their feelings, but it was certainly not the desired effect that they didn’t come back at all.
Even so, it was apparent that Tim and Dick had started this mission as a team. Jason had not been part of the original plan.
“Did Wing say his code word?” Jason asked, relieved but confused when Tim shook his head. “Then why should I get him out? If Red Hood specifically takes Dick Grayson, it could jeopardize his identity.”
Jason wouldn’t have hesitated for a second if Dick had assessed the situation as harmful or threatening to him. The identities weren’t that important to Jason. But Jason trusted Dick and wouldn’t interfere if that meant bypassing him. Jason was upset at the mere thought of his family doing this to him. He wouldn’t do that to anyone else, especially not Dick.
“Then take off everything that identifies you as Red Hood, or just kidnap him and demand ransom! I don’t care, as long as you get him out of there.”
“Timbit,” Jason began, but was cut off when Tim tapped something on his wrist and showed Jason the live footage from one of the few cameras in the club. The hologram flickered a little, but Jason could clearly see a woman grabbing Dick’s butt and laughing. Even though Dick was laughing too, Jason recognized it as one of his fake laughs.
Jason’s throat went dry, and he cursed as he pulled his helmet off his head.
“Why the hell isn’t he using his code word?” he muttered as he placed most of his weapon next to his helmet and took off his leather jacket and the upper part of his armor. He didn’t like walking into a club wearing only his pants, his hidden weapons, and a tank top, but if Red Hood showed up, it would definitely disrupt the operation. At least this way, they had a chance to come up with another plan for another day.
“I’ve never ever heard him say his code word,” Tim whispered, and Jason clenched his jaw to keep from cursing loudly and drawing unwanted attention.
Jason couldn’t remember ever hearing Dick’s word either, but he hadn’t been on many missions with Nightwing and had been dead for a few years. It was difficult to believe Dick never used it in the entire time.
“Watch my stuff,” Jason ordered before swinging himself onto the fire escape and crossing the street. The bouncer glanced at him briefly because of his missing jacket, but had no problem letting him in after Jason slipped him fifty bucks. He probably would have let him in without bribe, but Jason didn’t have time for that crap.
The music was loud, and even though Jason found the spot where he had seen Dick earlier, Dick was long gone. Some people bumped into him, but most seemed to inevitably shy away from him. Jason was grateful for that, because he hated places like this, and he hated being touched by strangers even more.
As Red Hood, only children dared to approach him, and even they knew when enough was enough. Jason couldn’t necessarily say the same about drunk adults, which was one reason why he wanted to find Dick as quickly as possible.
Jason knew that Dick was attractive and that many people were eager to go out with him, but that didn’t give them the right to touch him at every opportunity. It was disgusting.
Jason found Dick in the hallway leading to the restrooms. A woman had her hands around his head and was pressing her lips against his, while a man stood behind him and ran his hand under Dick’s shirt, over his abs and up to his chest.
Dick didn’t seem to be resisting, but his eyes were open, and Jason didn’t like how resigned he looked. Without hesitation, Jason put his hand around the woman’s neck and pulled her back.
“Hey! What the hell, you jerk?” she snapped at him, but flinched when she saw how big he was. Jason was glad when she turned away with wide eyes and hurriedly disappeared back into the dancing crowd. The man behind Dick didn’t seem to get the memo. He still had Dick in his grip and looked at Jason as if he were an annoying distraction.
“We’re busy here,” he said, even having the audacity to grin before putting his mouth to Dick’s neck. Dick looked at Jason, and this time he seemed to be a little more clear-headed.
“Three-ring circus,” he whispered, and the man behind him leaned his head back in confusion.
“What did you say?”
Jason didn’t let him hear the code word a second time. He swung his fist at the man’s nose and forced himself between him and Dick as he staggered back. Before he could recover, Jason had struck twice more and only stopped when the man slumped unconscious.
“Let’s get out of here,” Jason said to Dick, who nodded and then pointed his head toward the emergency exit down the hallway. Jason was glad that Dick was sane enough to know that it wasn’t a good idea to disappear into the crowd. The woman had probably alerted security, and they would likely come looking for them.
“Thanks,” Dick said as soon as they were out in the fresh air and on their way back to Tim.
“That’s what code words are for,” Jason replied, because Dick had helped him so many times before, and there was no way Jason wouldn’t respond when his family was in danger. Still, that didn’t change the fact that none of them hoped to hear or say those words.
Still, it was good that they existed.
Jason had to admit that it was one of the few good things Bruce had thought of for his Robins, for his family.