Nightwing: Heartless

Part 19: Mugging

Dick held the door for everyone, falling into step beside Willa. He ran his hand up and down her arm. He knew she had been nervous for tonight, telling her friends about the two of them, but also because he knew she would be cold in the chilly Gotham night.

She looked over gratefully. Tonight had been a success. A quiet dinner with his girlfriend and her friends. If he wasn't careful, he would get used to the normalcy. Her friends were cool, so welcoming it was like they were his friends now too. He had never had regular friends.

"I don't know why I was so nervous," Willa said. They were bringing up the rear of the group, Abby, Chris, Matt, and Lia walking ahead of them. "I guess I thought it'd be weird to bring my worlds together."

"I get it," he squeezed her hand reassuringly, happy when she squeezed back. They had only been going out for a month but it felt like he had known her for forever.

A street light flickered as they passed it, making Lia look around and drop back to loop her arm in Willa's. "How far is the subway stop again?"

"Don't be a baby, Lia," Chris rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, we'll protect you," Matt held up his arms and flexed. Abby gagged and swatted them away. "Yo, Grayson," Matt turned around to walk backwards, "you grew up in Gotham right?" Dick nodded. "Have you ever seen Batman jumping from rooftops and stuff?" If only he knew, Dick thought.

"Please, Matt," Chris said, "Batman doesn't patrol Wayne Manor. I'm sure Bruce Wayne has all sorts of security."

"Something like that," Dick shrugged.

"Must've been nice," Chris grumbled. Dick studied the boy, noting the tension. He did a great job of hiding it, probably for Willa's sake, but Dick could tell he didn't like him.

"I grew up here too, Matt, and I've never gotten close to Batman," Willa interjected. "His whole shtick is not being seen."

Matt looked up into the sky as if he would see Batman above them. Ha, Dick thought, little did he know Batman was in the Watchtower. Batgirl and Robin were on patrol tonight. Matt cried out as he tripped over his untied shoe and fell to his knees.

Dick easily side stepped but Lia bumped into Matt and stumbled, sending her and Willa into a fit of giggles. Dick helped Matt up, laughing with everyone else when something caught his attention. He stopped laughing and looked around. A man walked from the alley they were close to, gun pointed at them, hood up. Dick heard the group grow quiet as they all put their hands in the air.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem, it would take him .2 seconds to take this loser down, but he had an audience tonight. Taking down gunmen was not something regular twenty one year olds could do, so he had to play along. He kept his gaze trained between the man's face and the weapon, making sure it stayed trained on him. He could tell this guy wouldn't have a problem shooting them, and Dick wanted to make sure Willa and her friends didn't get hurt.

"Evening, kids. Wallets and phones, please."

"Aw man, I just got this," Matt grumbled. The mugger heard and swiveled his weapon to aim at Matt, who turned white in fear.

Dick stepped to the side, putting himself in front of the gun again and keeping his hands raised. "Easy, we'll give you what you want. We don't want any trouble."

"Don't play hero, kid," the man said as Dick handed him his wallet. "As for you," he looked back at Matt. Dick saw him stiffen and lunged forward, hitting the gun towards the sky as the man pulled the trigger. He heard Matt fall back, probably expecting to have a hole in his chest. Dick twisted the gun out of the mugger's hand, hitting him in the nose with his elbow, sending him to the ground with a broken nose.

Dick disassembled the gun in his hands with disgust. He hated the fact any old Joe on the street could take a gun and point it at whoever they felt like. Such a coward's weapon. The mugger stumbled to his feet and ran into the darkness, nothing without his gun. Chris and Lia were helping Matt up, who was visibly shaken.

"How did you do that?" Abby asked, eyes wide and mouth open. She was trembling a little bit but trying to hide it.

Dick shrugged and made himself look more afraid. "Lucky shot I guess. I took a self-defense a few years ago. Guess it paid off."

"I'd say so." Willa met his eyes. Unlike her friends, she didn't seem afraid. "Can you teach me how to do that?" It seemed to lighten the mood and everyone chuckled nervously. They hurried the rest of the way to the subway.