Chapter Text
Dick groaned as he woke up, his head pounding. His mouth tasted like hangover (it was a real taste and he hated it), which didn't make sense, he had too much going on to be drinking. Not when Damian needed him and Robin was missing. Even if Bruce's death might have been enough to drive him to the bottle, he couldn't afford it. Not if he was going to find Robin and keep Damian safely in Gotham.
Dick groaned again as his hand went to his ear and he muttered a curse when he realized the comm wasn't in it. He groped around blindly until he found the comm and slipped it in. "Oracle, any sign of him?" Dick asked, the way he did every time he woke up.
"Any sign of who?" Babs' voice was distracted, with a hint of irritation, the way it was when he interrupted her focus.
Dick heaved himself upright, his own annoyance growing. "What do you mean who?! Rob-" His dry voice cracked as he trailed off.
This wasn't his apartment... or rather, it was... once... it hadn't been his apartment for three years.
"The kid?" There was an undercurrent of anger in her voice that hadn't been present for years. "Not yet. Though he's probably going to be at the Cave soon since Batman has seen fit to unbench him." Dick was taken aback by her scorn as his mind scrambled for an explanation. "I'm signing off. Good luck at work." He winced at the crackle as she cut the connection.
This was wrong. This was some strange stress dream. He sent an empty bottle rolling away as he shoved back the chair he'd been sleeping in. Paper crinkled under his hand as he steadied himself.
It was the notebook. The one he'd taken off Robin years ago. The one that had been destroyed along with a chunk of Blüdhaven a year ago. He grabbed his phone and squinted at the too bright screen.
That wasn't the right date.
But it was the only thing that made sense.
He was four and a half years in the past.
"Roy, I need a favor." Dick said, struggling to pull on his shoes.
"Now? Are you okay? You sound kind of wired." Roy said, nervously. Dick winced at Roy telling him that. Thankfully, he'd landed in one of his friend's sober spells. Roy managed to stay sober for months at a time before slipping back into bad habits until Lian fell into his lap and gave him the strength to stay clean permanently.
"Yeah, I mean, no. I'm kind of freaking out." Dick scrambled, searching for his keys. Fuck, he'd need his mask too. This was at least a year before Robin let slip that he knew who Nightwing was (and started breaking into his apartment) but Dick knew how manic Robin could be about them knowing that he knew, especially in these early days. "I need someone to look at the League of Assassins. It's important, Roy. " He stressed, a little desperately. "Bring Cheshire. Heck, if she says no tell her that I'll pay her to come with you." This was one thing he was willing to dip into that untouched trust fund for. "Whatever you can negotiate. I will cover it." Cheshire and Roy were the best people for this job between their connections, contacts, and skills (and Roy knew Jason, maybe he'd see him while looking for Damian there, maybe they could reach him before his mind was completely scrambled). If Roy found out about Lian during the mission, Dick would consider that a bonus. "I'll tell you everything you need to know later, but can you get things rolling now?"
Roy sighed. "Yeah. Yeah, Anything for you, Wing. Just... stay in touch. We've been worried."
"Will do." Dick promised, rushing out the door and fumbling with his keys. "I'll call you tonight with more details." He grabbed his motorcycle and tore down the street.
Dick knew he wouldn't really believe any of this was real until he saw, and hugged, Bruce. But he was going to act like it was.
Getting Damian out of the League was a priority, but it was also a threat to losing Robin.
Robin resigned twice. First when Spoiler became Robin. He had only returned after she'd dramatically and publicly quit (after she'd realized why he'd left them). Then again when Damian arrived and claimed he was rightfully Robin. (Dick was growing to love the kid, but it was hard not to resent him.)
The only word that Dick had gotten from his missing little brother came after Bruce died. It was a letter, insisting that Batman was alive, and a promise to investigate while Nightwing took care of "Robin 5". The letter was accompanied by a photo of Dick as Batman on patrol with Damian in a Robin uniform, whom Dick kept trying to convince to take a different name and color scheme. It was maddening to know his little brother had gotten that close without Dick noticing him and dragging him home.
If this was the past, then Robin was in reach too. Dick just had to work out how to keep him and bring Damian (and maybe Jason) home at the same time.
Dick gunned the engine.
First he had to get home.
He needed to get to Gotham.
Dick skidded into the Cave and ripped off his helmet.
Bruce.
He stood next to the Batcomputer, cowl down but a domino on for the sake of comfort while hiding his identity from Robin.
"Mask on, Nightwing." Bruce called. "You don't need to be in full costume, but Robin is coming and he isn't ready to- oof!" Dick slammed into him. He was there. Solid. Warm. Alive.
Bruce was alive.
Bruce's arms wrapped around him in a tentative hug, though Dick could practically feel the tentative confusion radiating through his frame. They'd probably been fighting the last time Bruce saw him. About Robin or something petty that didn't matter. None of it mattered once Bruce was gone. (He'd probably change his mind a little at some point, but he would never again wonder if it was worth it to even try maintaining a relationship with Bruce. It was worth it. It was worth every fight and miscommunication. He'd missed him so much.)
"Did you run into Ivy on your way here?" Bruce asked, his arms tightening a bit. Dick choked on a laugh. Damn, had their relationship really been bad enough that he needed a reason to hug him?
"Nightmare." Dick muttered into Bruce's shoulder. "Bad one." Bruce held him closer, resting his head against Dick's.
"I'm sorry, chum." He said, quietly. It felt like he was a kid again.
(Why had he denied himself this the first time around?)
Bruce wasn't the only one he was there for though. Robin was coming. So Dick reluctantly pulled away from Bruce after another moment and snagged a spare mask.
"Rob- the kid's coming soon?" Dick asked, remembering his long refusal to call Robin by name a second too late. The corner of Bruce's mouth twitched up at his slip.
"I'm going to pick him up shortly." He confirmed. Dick could see how much he was looking forward to seeing him again. "I know that you aren't happy about my decision to end his benching early after what he pulled in Blüdhaven," Ah fuck, he was that early in their relationship? How was he supposed to be that indifferent to his little brother? Robin still thought it was impossible for Nightwing not to hate him at this point! There was no way he would trust a sudden change in attitude from him. "But he's been laying low while benched." Bruce continued, unaware of Nightwing's internal turmoil. "And, even though he wasn't supposed to be there, he did good work." Of course he did. His little brother was brilliant. Nightwing just wished he'd gone a little bit farther back where he could change his impression of NIghtwing and- and...
An idea occurred to him and he fought the smile spreading across his face. Bruce was eyeing him warily. "Where are you picking him up?" He asked, excited as he planned.
"Dick... I don't want you intimidating him on his first day back." Bruce objected. If Bruce had said that to the Dick of yesterday/four years ago, Dick would have exploded, but today Dick just lost his battle with his growing smile.
"I won't." He promised. "I just want to see what the kid is like when Nightwing isn't around."
His little brother had always, always had a weakness for Dick Grayson that he didn't have for Nightwing, even knowing that they were one and the same. Robin wouldn't question Dick Grayson reacting differently to him (whether as Robin or Alvin) because of their secret identities and the lengths they would go to maintain them.
Dick was going to use that to older brother the heck out of his kid brother.
(And find out who he actually was under the mask so that he could never run away resign without a way to contact him ever again.)
Bruce didn't tell him where he was going to pick up Robin, but that was okay. While it did sting a bit that Bruce didn't trust him not to harass Robin, he understood it. Dick had a rough idea of usual pick up spots from the future when he'd been to one to meet Robin and bring him to the Cave. Dick didn't really want to leave Bruce, but he needed to get his plan in place as soon as he could. So when he got the chance he ducked out of the Cave and tried to beat Bruce to West Gotham where Robin usually preferred pick ups (when he wasn't being a mischievous little shit and picking Tricorners or the docks to simultaneously keep them on their toes and raise their blood pressure). Dick just needed to find Robin first and waylay him as Dick Grayson for a little while so that he could start to build a rapport with him.
Dick circled the neighborhood, eyes open and ears sharp for the 'tat-tat-tat-tat' of a skateboard on sidewalk. Batman was due to pick up Robin in an hour. Robin was sure to get there a little early and that was Dick's chance.
Just as he was starting to worry, Dick spotted him. He was dressed as 'Alvin Draper', maskless to avoid attracting attention before Batman was close. Dick was seized by the desire to rush over and trap his little brother in a hug that he couldn't escape. He got himself under control, fondness filling his chest as he watched Robin, Alvin, do an ollie.
"Al!" He called, hurrying to catch up with him. The kid hopped off his board, kicking it up to his hand and turned. He was instantly star-struck when he saw Dick Grayson coming towards him, just like he was the first time they'd met. Dick was a little disappointed to see the wariness come back a moment later, but he would fix it. "Hey, it's Al, right?" Dick grinned as he slowed down. "I don't meet a Flying Grayson fan all that often so you were kind of memorable." He added before Alvin could deny it.
"Yep, Al. That's me." Alvin forced a smile. "Wasn't expecting to see you here. In Gotham, Officer Grayson."
"Call me, Dick." He grinned. "I actually am glad I ran into you." Alvin tensed, ready to bolt. "What you would think about some acrobatic lessons?" Alvin visibly startled and elations replaced his wariness.
"Seriously?!" He blurted out. "You're offering me lessons?!"
"I've been thinking about a career change." Dick answered breezily. "Maybe trying my hand at teaching gymnastics and acrobatics, but I want to see if I have a knack for it first. Since you already know what I can do, I thought you would be a good student to see if I was any good at teaching. I mean... if you are interested in learning from me-"
"Yes." Alvin actually darted a few steps forward. Score one for Nightwing Dick Grayson! "I mean, yeah. That would be cool." Alvin caught himself again and backpedaled on his excitement. "Learning from Richard Grayson. Totally-" Alvin suddenly stiffened, his eyes narrowed. "This is a trap." He muttered, taking a step back.
Dammit.
"Why would I need to trap you, Al?" Dick asked, feigning innocence with a confused smile. Alvin frowned at him uncertainly. He knew that Dick was Nightwing and he knew that Nightwing knew that 'Alvin Draper' was Robin. The only cards in Dick's hand were that Alvin didn't know that Dick knew Al knew about his secret identity and the effect that his normal identity as Dick Grayson had always had putting stars in his little brother's eyes.
Alvin's frown softened into an innocent smile. "So you don't think I'm some kind of runaway?" He continued their charade of 'he doesn't know that I know that he knows' of their identities.
"Like you said last time, you don't need a shower that bad." Dick teased with an exaggerated sniff. (Thank goodness he still remembered their first meeting as Alvin and Dick Grayson so clearly. Being recognized as a Flying Grayson really imprinted on his mind.)
Alvin rolled his eyes, fighting a little smile. "So, you see I'm fine and you don't have to waste your time with me." That had Dick's face falling a little. He understood why his little brother felt that way about him. He had no one to blame but himself for the kid suspecting that he had an ulterior motive when Nightwing approached him as Dick Grayson to spend some time with him.
"I get why you think that." He said, attempting some damage control. "I'm," Nightwing "a cop, and even if you aren't in some kind of trouble, you're clearly friends with kids that are." Alvin's eyes skittered away from him in a nervous tell. "I just want to teach you some acrobatics. It's something I love that I want to share with someone. So, the question for you is... are acrobatic lessons with a Flying Grayson worth the risk of whatever you think I'm up to?"
"Yes." Alvin's answer was automatic and reflexive. He didn't even think about it. Then he flushed bright red as his own answer registered to him.
Dick, on the other hand, beamed. "Great! Got any place in Gotham in mind?" He generously decided to let Alvin pick the location, which would also help bring Alvin's guard down.
Alvin hesitated. Then he threw caution to the wind. "If you give me your number and keep your Saturday afternoon clear, I'll let you know where."
"Awesome!" Dick opted to scribble his number down on a scrap of paper in his pocket rather than give Alvin one of his Blüdhaven PD business cards. "I'll drive to Gotham first thing Saturday morning so you don't have to wait too long."
Alvin's eyes widened a bit. "You don't have to waste your time like that!" He protested, horrified at the thought that he'd be waiting on Alvin.
"It's not a waste of time. I'll be here Saturday!" Dick assured him cheerfully. It all but guaranteed that Alvin would call him. He would never let himself use up someone else's time like that only to bail on them.
Dick Grayson had successfully gotten a hang out with his little brother! Now he just had to make sure that Alvin had enough fun he'd ignore his suspicions about Nightwing and keep meeting with Dick Grayson.
Dick didn't go back to the Batcave after he let Alvin go. He couldn't be Nightwing around Robin right now. He couldn't fake that anger and coldness when all he wanted to do was wrap Robin in a hug and never let go. Nightwing couldn't do that. It was too sudden a change. Bruce would test him for toxins and it might actually scare off Robin from his lesson with Dick Grayson. His civilian identity was the key to regaining the relationship he'd had with Robin before his little brother disappeared. And while it would be faster than had happened the first time, when Nightwing was stubborn and cold in his grief, it wouldn't happen nearly as quickly as Dick wanted it to.