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Chapter Text

Once upon a time there was a beautiful bird that flew higher and stronger than any of the others. The bird delighted in using her strength and beautiful wings to protect the others of her flock. She was happy dancing through the night, fighting off all who would harm those who she considered hers.

But then one day there came a time of great darkness and the bird found herself tumbling to be ground. Separated from the skies that she had loved and those she had once protected.

For many years she wandered the ground until she came to a new place and found new people to protect. Still though she did not return to the skies to dance upon the breeze once more.

But eventually the day comes when all birds must fly again…

Prologue

“Oracle, you have to turn on the television now.” Late evening was falling over New Gotham as Jesse Reese’s voice came over the comms.

“Okay, Reese. Give me a second.” Barbara maneuvered her chair over to the television. “Is there a particular channel I should have on?”

“Doesn't matter.” Reese sounded slightly frantic. “It should be on every channel.”

“Really?” That piqued Babs interest. She had been so absorbed in the project that she was working on that she hadn't been paying attention to what was going on in the wider world.

Curious, she turned her attention to the television.

As Reese had said, all of the channels were reporting on the same story. The screen showed a surprising tableau. Men and women, some of them barely appearing to be human, stood at the top of a barricade, a flag flying defiantly behind them. The words “TRANSGENICS DECLARE INDEPENDENCE” scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

Babs’ mind was running at a million miles an hour as she studied the image on screen. She had been meaning to look into these man-made metahumans for a while now, but, well, things in New Gotham were always so busy and Seattle was on the opposite side of the country. “The transgenics declaring independence? Is that what you wanted me to see?”

“Yes. No. Sort of.” Reese,’s voice sounded frustrated. “Look, the blonde woman on the left side of the barricade. Tell me if that's who I think it is.”

Babs turned her attention to the indicated woman. What she saw took her breath away. “Helena.”

She could hear the resignation in his voice. “That's what I thought. I wonder why she's decided to resurface after all this time.”

Barbara could understand why his emotions seemed so mixed. On the one hand Helena had left, walked away without even letting anyone know that she was leaving. On the other though, well, Babs would be the first to admit that they had all checked out a bit when the pulse hit. They had left Helena to carry the weight of all of them, completely ignoring the fact that she was hurting too. Really, it was a miracle that she had made it as long as she had.

“I don't know. I have no idea what she's thinking. But then, I don’t even know where she’s been all these years.” Despite her best efforts Babs couldn't quite keep the bitterness out of her voice.

“It doesn't matter.” The sound of Dinah’s voice startled Barbara. She hadn't realized that the younger woman was listening. “It doesn't matter where Helena’s been, or why she decided to come back now, or even why she left in the first place. All that matters is the fact that she is back, and she needs our help.”

“You're right of course.” Dinah’s reprimand left Babs feeling a little embarrassed, and from the sound of his voice Reese was feeling the same way. “But how exactly are we supposed to help? Seattle isn't exactly close to here.”

“Which is why we're going to Seattle.” Barbara tried to make her voice as businesslike as possible. Determinedly she turned to the one person who hadn't contributed to the conversation yet. “Alfred, get the plane prepared.”

“Of course.” As always Alfred was the consummate professional. (Well almost always. A treacherous part of Barbara’s mind whispered about the way he had disappeared back to Bruce’s side after the Pulse.)

“We need another person.” Reese’s voice cut through Babs’ thoughts. “No offense guys, but I’m going to need backup in the field, and I don’t think that you guys will cut it this time.”

“True.” Dinah agreed. “My powers are going to be worse than useless in this situation.”

Babs suppressed a wince. The thought of a touch telepath in a crowd like the one on the screen wasn't a pleasant one.

“If I may,” Alfred interjected. “I may have a solution to this dilemma.” Babs felt a sense of dread settle in her gut. He couldn't be about to suggest what she thought he was going to. “Perhaps Young Master Dick would be willing to go and provide some backup for Mister Reese?” And of course he had.

“Young Master Dick?” Reese sounded a little to curious for Barbara’s taste.

“He means Lieutenant Richard Grayson of the Bludhaven PD.” She heard herself say.

She could tell that he was having difficulty keeping the hero worship out of his voice. “Richard Grayson? You mean the man who almost singlehandedly cleaned up the most dangerous city in America?”

Babs wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. “Umm… Yes. Dick was Helena’s father’s ward when we were kids.” She tried to keep any traces of her history with Dick out of her voice.

From the sound of Reese’s voice she failed. “Helena’s father’s ward? So what he’s like her older brother?”

“In a way.”

“And being that he’s Helena’s brother in a way, am I wrong in believing that he is also a vigilante of some sort?”

“Nightwing.” Barbara kept her voice monotone.

“Nightwing.” Reese couldn't quite keep the incredulity out of his voice. “You’re telling me that Richard Grayson the most decorated officer in the history of the BPD, is Nightwing.”

“Yes.” She knew her answer sounded curt, but she found that he didn’t care. “Helena’s father was Batman and Dick is Nightwing.”

“Right. Helena’s father was Batman.” The man had worked with them for over a decade. You’d think that he would be used to this by now. “And I suppose her mother was Batgirl.”

“No.” That answer sent a lance through Babs heart. “I was. Selena was Catwoman.”

“Wasn’t she a thief?” Of course he would know that. Never mind that Selena had retired before he was even born. The detective had probably read everything ever written on Old Gotham and its heroes and villains.

“Yes.”

“But… if she was a thief and he was Batman…”

Babs sighed. “They had a… complicated relationship.”

She could practically hear the raised eyebrows. “I can imagine.”

Alfred cleared his throat. “Excuse me, but I do believe that we are straying from the topic a little. We were discussing the likelihood of Young Master Dick’s assisting us in locating Miss Helena.”

Babs heard herself sigh for what felt like the hundredth time that day. “I’ll call Dick.” After all, he might actually pick up her call. The same couldn’t be said for Alfred. “The rest of you get packing We’ll meet here at the clocktower tonight for further planning, then head for Seattle as soon as all of the arrangements are made.”

The others voiced their agreement, and then headed their separate ways. Once she was alone, Babs turned to look at the phone. As she stared at it what felt like a million thoughts began to run through her head. How long had it been since she last spoke to Dick? 5 years? 6? They hadn’t exactly parted on good terms. Would he even pick up?

She needn’t have worried. Dick picked up on the second ring. “Barbara.”

“Dick.” The very sound of his voice brought back so many memories, good and bad.

“I assume you’re calling about what’s happening in Seattle?” He was all business. That was good. It meant that she could be too.

“You saw then.”

“Hard not to. It’s on every channel.” She could practically see him running his hand across his face the way he did when he was stressed. “Man made meta-humans Babs? How did we miss this? How did all of us miss this?”

“Helena didn’t.”

He laughed ruefully. “Given her current location, I guess she didn’t.”

“We’re going out to help her.”

“I assumed you were.”

“Will you go with us? I wouldn’t ask, but Reese needs back up, and Dinah and I don’t exactly qualify.”

“Whereas no one will look twice at the best detective of NGPD and the ‘Hero of the BPD’ temporarily transferring in to help with the transgenic crisis. After all, they should have plenty of experience dealing with the weird.” As always he had a perfect grasp of the tactical situation. Bruce had trained him well. (Not that Babs would ever voice that thought to Dick. They both had their issues with the Old Man that were best left unsaid.)

“Exactly. So will you come?”

“Of course.” He sounded insulted that she had even asked the question. “You’ll take care of the technical side.” It wasn't a question.

“Of course.” She would have been insulted if it had been.

“Then I’ll meet you at the clock tower tonight. Will you send me the new code?”

“No need,” She felt a flush of embarrassment paint her cheeks. “Your code will still work.”

“Babs!” A tone of mock scolding filled his voice. “How irresponsible. Whatever were you thinking!”

She stayed silent. What was she supposed to say? ‘Well actually I was kinda hoping that you would come home again and by not changing your code I was making it so you could’? Yeah that wouldn't be awkward at all.

At last he broke the silence. “So I guess I’ll see you tonight.”

“See you tonight.” As she hung up the phone she tried to force her heart to slow down. Damn that man and his ability to make her feel like an awkward 16-year-old.

Shaking her head she worked at forcing him out of her mind. She wasn't 16 any more and she had work to do.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Dick

Lieutenant Richard Grayson, Bludhaven PD, stared determinedly at a spot of wall right above the left side of the captain’s head. He knew that if he let himself look, the vein in her temple would give him a fair approximation of exactly how pissed she was at him. He didn’t look. It wasn’t like he didn’t already know the answer to that question.

“So explained to me exactly why I should send one of my best lieutenants to Seattle? Something which, I should point out he arranged without my agreement or permission. It is also worth noting that this likely a suicide mission, considering the current climate. It seems to me that sending any officer, even one so insubordinate, serves no purpose except costing Bludhaven an officer that it can ill afford to lose.”
Dick remained silent. When the Captain was in a state like this it was best to let her vent out all of her anger and frustration. Eventually she’d calm down and he’d be able to explain the situation.

“I asked you a question Lieutenant!” Of course eventually could still be a while. “I would suggest that you start explaining, as at the moment I’m less than inclined to indulge in your, admittedly well-developed, suicidal impulses.”

Okay now, that was a low blow, especially from someone who he was fairly certain knew the truth behind some of the… odder elements of his personal history. (If she didn’t know the truth she was not nearly as good of a detective as he thought, and considering the fact that the Old Man, and more importantly Commissioner Gordon, had always respected her, Dick rather thought that she was.)

Still, Dick wasn’t worried. She could bluster all she wanted, but in the end she would agree. Renee Montoya was a child of Old Gotham, same as he was. If anyone in the Bludhaven PD could understand why he had to do this it was her. She remembered full well what happened when Metas and Normal Humans went to war in the city streets.

“For the first time in its history Seattle is dealing with Metahumans. And these aren’t accidental, or caused by a chance of birth Metas either. These are deliberately designed Metahumans. There’s only a handful of cities in the country with any experience with Metahumans, and most of those are of the freak accident, or chance of birth variety. Loaning Seattle officers with actual experience on the subject seems wise.”

Of course the one part of that sentence that she fixated on was the part that in no way helped his case. “Exactly my point. There are other cities with metahuman populations. Why doesn’t one of them send someone?”

Dick tried to keep his voice reasonable. “As I already told you, New Gotham is sending someone. Jesse Reese is one of their best detectives, and is highly experienced in dealing with Metahuman affairs.”

That caused her to give him a look of triumph. “If he’s one of their best then why do we need to send someone? Surely he should be able to handle it. You’re not suggesting that the “Best Detective” of the vaunted New Gotham PD is incompetent are you?” Her tone suggested that she considered herself the winner no matter what his answer was. He knew she still felt bitter about the way that all of the old guard of the Gotham PD had been forced out following the Joker’s rampage and Jim Gordon’s subsequent retirement.

Dick grimaced. “You know why Renee,” he said, deliberately switching to first names in an attempt to remind her of their shared past. “You know as well as I do what New Gotham’s policies on Metahumans are. Reese is supposed to be better than most, but that might not mean much.” He sighed. The truth was he had issues with the New Gotham PD too. With all of New Gotham really.

He remembered the way that everything had fallen apart. Following the Joker’s rampage the city had turned on its Metahuman population. Normally there would have been heroes there to help stem the madness. Normally people like Batman and Commissioner Gordon would have been able to calm the city. Normally.

But that time it hadn’t been normally. Neither the Commissioner or the Old Man had been around to do anything. Both had been too wrapped up in their own grief and anger and self recrimination to do anything. And so it had been left to Dick and the cops like Montoya and Bullock, cops who were absolutely loyal to the Commissioner, to try and inject some kind of common sense into the situation. They failed. Miserably.

For years the people of Gotham had watched their city be turned into a battleground between Metahuman criminals and heroes. The city was a powder keg just waiting to explode. All people needed was a reason. The Joker’s rampage had provided that reason.

In the aftermath the people of Gotham had risen up in protest against Metahumans. Politicians ran on anti-Metahuman platforms. People were being sent to Arkham merely for having powers, even if they never used them. Soon laws were passed making it a crime to aid a Metahuman in anyway. And the few cops who tried to insert some degree of common sense into the mess were promptly forced out.

The problem was that no matter what the law said, there were still Metas in Gotham. And there always would be. No matter what the people in charge thought about the matter. Gotham was just that sort of city. All that the politicians had done was force the Metas who would have happily lived in peace into becoming criminals. Now New Gotham’s Metahuman population existed only underground, with only a handful of safe spaces remaining. (One of them, a bar called No Man’s Land, was located in the location that once was home to the Iceberg Lounge. Dick had always wondered how that came about. Maybe Babs knew, but she wouldn’t say. It made sense though. Place certainly had enough back doors and escape routes.)

“Yes, Detective,” the stress on the word told him that his use of first names had not been appreciated. “I am well aware of the shortcomings of the New Gotham Police Department. What I want to know is why you have decided to go along on this mission, especially considering your rather well known animosity towards Gotham. Surely you could ask someone from Central City or Star City to do it? You do still have contacts there, do you not?”

Dick grimaced. The truth was he did have contacts in both cities, and he knew that if he asked Wally would be more than happy to help. But, well, this was a family matter. And as much as he loved Wally, he wasn’t a Bat. And that mattered.

Dick caught the triumph look in Montoya’s eyes at his grimace and sighed. This had gone on long enough. He decided to play his trump card. “Barbara Gordon asked me to.”

That deflated Montoya, just like Dick had known it would. There was something hardwired into those of them who had come from Gotham that made them unable to not obey any request made to them by one of the Gordons. Montoya understood that he was no more able to refuse Babs then Montoya herself would have been able to refuse Commissioner Gordon back in the day.

“That was a low blow Detective.” Montoya’s voice sounded rather petulant. “Fine. You may go off on you suicide mission if you feel you must. I’ll call the Seattle PD to let them know you’re coming. Just make sure to report in at least once a day. And Dick,” she added before he could leave, “try to keep your extracurriculars out of the papers. I know that you lot tend towards the melodramatic, but really, I think there’s enough melodrama in this situation already, don’t you agree?”

It took every ounce of the not inconsiderable training that the Old Man had drilled into him to keep Dick from flushing. Stiffly, he nodded then left the office. Stopping at his desk he retrieved the few items that he would need to prove his identity once he reached Seattle, then headed for his apartment. He’d shower then get a bite to eat before grabbing his suit and a few changes of clothes. He had the time. Babs wasn’t expecting him until tonight and it wasn’t like it took that long to make it to Gotham. That was half the reason he had chosen Bludhaven in the first place after all.
Still, this wasn’t like the days when he was young, before Jason, before the Joker, before the Pulse. He wasn’t just going in to help with some emergency, or to just enjoy spending the night patrolling with his family. This trip didn’t have the same feeling of homecoming that the previous ones had. Maybe it was the absence of the Old Man, maybe just the experience of age, but this time the trip felt different. He wasn’t sure how, but Dick had spent enough time in the cape to know in the pit of his gut, that something big and dangerous was on the horizon.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Babs

Barbara was the only one in the clocktower when Dick pulled into the garage. She felt a brief moment of panic when she saw him arrive, which she quickly tried to suppress. They were professionals, damnit. Not sixteen year olds trying to sneak in a makeout session during their patrol. Well, not anymore anyway. Not that her body seemed to recognize that that was a not anymore sort of thing. Damn it.

Still, she was an adult and she could handle this. Really. Truly. She hoped. Now if only her hormones would get the message.

She forced her 16 year old self into the background and barely managed to pull herself together by the time that the elevator arrived in the penthouse. Somehow, though she never would be able to tell you how, she was able to appear professional when Dick stepped through the door.

“Dick.” She nodded at him, and decidedly did not notice the fact that he was still as handsome as ever in his jeans and motorcycle jacket. “Glad you could make it.”

“Babs.” He returned her greeting. “Of course I came. My sister needed me. How could I not?”

Gods, Babs hoped that he was referring to Helena as his sister, not her. Because the feelings he brought up were decidedly not familiar.

An awkward silence descended upon the pair.

Dick broke it. “So, how you been?” Barbara remembered that he had never been good at silence. Nice to see that hadn’t changed.

“Alright.” She answered. Truth was she had never been all that good at silence either. Not as bad as the Robins or Steph, but definitely bad enough to drive Bruce nuts. “It was rough for a while after the Pulse, but we adapted in time.”

“”You’ve been working with the new Canary and Hawk, right?” He asked.

She nodded, pleased that he at least knew that much. “Dinah Lance and Jesse Reese, yes. Dinah has the Cry, as well as touch based telepathy. Reese is a mundane, but considering our family that’s not really much of a handicap.”

Dick snorted. “No, I don’t suppose it would be.” He paused, “Still seems weird to have a Hawk and not a Dove though.”

“Hawke is actually the last name of his biological father.” She explained. “The man was a mob boss, and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. Reese feels like he’s thumbing his nose at the man’s memory by using the name when he saves lives.”

“That makes sense.” The awkward silence returned.

The pair were saved from it when the elevator opened once more, disgorging Dinah, Reese and Alfred.

“Master Dick!” Alfred said, clearly surprised at the other man’s presence. “You’ve arrived.”

Dick didn’t so much as glance the butler’s way. “And who might you be?” He said, turning his most Richie Wayne-esque smile on Reese and Dinah.

Babs took that as her cue, “Dick, I’d like you to meet Jesse Reese and Dinah Lance. Reese, Dinah, this is Dick Grayson, a very old friend of mine.”

“Good to meet you,” Dick said, still with that same airheaded smile on his face. Babs had always loathed that smile, though not as much as she had loathed Bruce’s bubble-headed persona.

“Were you really Nightwing?” Dinah burst out, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Dick’s smile grew a little more genuine. “I was. And you must be Carolyn’s daughter.” Seeing Dinah’s small nod at that he continued. “I worked with your mother several times, and I was always impressed. The Black Canary really was one of the best.”

“Thank you.” Dinah blushed, still unused to hearing people praise her mother. 

Unseen by Dinah, Dick gave Babs a questioning look. Their long years working together allowed Babs to hear the unspoken ‘Is she Ollie’s?’ as clearly as if he had said it aloud. Babs could only give him an unamused glare in return. Of course, Dinah was Ollie’s. Who else had the Canary been close enough to to have a child with?

 Seeing her reaction, Dick gave a slight grimace of distaste. As far as bad parents/superhero mentors went, Oliver Queen might have been the only one worse than Bruce. Dick had never forgiven Oliver for the way he had treated Dick’s best friend Roy Harper. The fact that the two had never completely reconciled before Roy’s death only made it worse. Truth was, Dinah was quite possibly better off having been raised in foster care than she would have been in Oliver’s custody.

None of this was said aloud, and Babs really wasn’t sure that any of the others even caught it. Well, Alfred probably had, but he had spent enough time around the Bats that he was as fluent in their unspoken language as any of them. But he was also enough of a professional not to say anything.

‘At least,’ Babs thought, ‘He’s professional about that.’ Even if he hadn’t been about other things.

Barbara determinedly did not let any of her thoughts show on her face. Her anger wasn’t Alfred’s fault. Yes, it had hurt, but his first loyalty had always been to Bruce. If Bruce called, he was going to answer. Just like the rest of them. (Not that Babs would ever voice that thought in front of Dick. Dick was justifiably angry at Bruce and the fact that he would still go to his father’s side in a heartbeat if he were summoned had never sat well with him.)

While she had been thinking, Dick had turned to Reese. “Jesse Reese, right? I’ve heard good things about you.”

Reese starred, clearly a bit starstruck. “Lieutenant Grayson, sir. It’s an honor.”

Dick laughed. “None of that. I’m just Dick. And really, the honor’s mine. I understand you’re making great strides in cleaning up this city, which is more than I ever managed to do.” Babs thought she could detect a hint of a flush to Reese’s cheeks at the compliment from his hero. 

Introductions made, Dick instantly became all business. It had always impressed Babs how easily he could flip the switch like that. His ability to do so was a big part of what had made him so great at leading the Titans. “So what’s the plan?”

“May I?” Alfred said, stepping forward. Babs moved back to allow him access to the computers. With a few keystrokes he began to pull up information.“The jet is ready and waiting at the Gotham airfield. When everyone is on board we will depart. Flight time will be approximately 6 hours.” He switched to a new screen, “I’ve procured a penthouse for our use while in Seattle. It was recently abandoned by its previous owner, so I was able to acquire it cheaply.”

“Thank you Alfred,” Babs said, moving to take back the keyboard. “In Seattle we will attempt to make contact with Helena and determine what we can do to assist her.” She pulled up digital copies of two police transfer orders, “Dick, Reese, the paperwork has already gone through loaning the two of you to the Seattle Police Department for the duration of the Transgenic crisis. Officially it’s because of your expertise in regards to metahumans.”

“Sounds good.” Dick turned to the two younger members of their group. “Are you ready to head off?” He didn’t need to ask her or Alfred. Their stuff was already waiting on the plane, and he knew it.

“Give us 5 minutes to grab our bags and suits, and we’ll be ready to go,” Reese said. Beside him Dinah nodded her agreement.

“5 minutes,” Dick said. Barbara felt a rush of nostalgia as the two ran off to collect their things. “Alfred?”

The aged butler was already heading for the elevator. “I shall prepare the car.” He turned back to look at Dick. “And Master Dick? It’s good to have you home.”

“Good to be home, Alfred.” Dick said, tiredly closing his eyes. “Good to be home.”