Nightwing: Heartless

Part 21: Post Abra Kadabra

Abra Kadabra laid on the ground, unconscious. Once the Flash had arrived, it had given Nightwing and Robin an opening. The destruction caused was more an annoyance than a threat, since no one was injured. Unfortunately, it was another interrupted date.

"Why was Abra Kadabra here?" Robin asked. "He usually only pops up in Central City."

Nightwing looked around, "there's nothing worth stealing at a carnival. I wonder..." he ran a quick search, his frown deepening.

"What is it?" Flash asked after he zoomed Abra into a police car.

Nightwing showed his hologram screen to Robin and Flash. It was a police report, filed less than ten minutes ago. A compound had been stolen from STAR Labs. A little hacking revealed security footage. Shadows. "This was a distraction," Nightwing declared.

"And I fell for it," Flash said, "what did they steal?"

A little more digging and Nightwing was through the firewalls. He leaned back, shocked. From what he could see, it was a synthetic compound, using particles pulled from alien tech and battle sites, when combined and run through a fusion splicer... "I think it's synthetic kryptonite."

"Why was Star Labs making kryptonite?" Robin exclaimed. They all knew how dangerous it could be. That's why Batman had the only remaining fragments. Until now, Nightwing guessed.

"I'll find out. And then I'll get it back." No sooner had Flash finished the sentence was he gone, a red streak the only visual. Nightwing hadn't even had time to tell Barry it wasn't his fault. He was doing what any of them would have.

Nightwing sighed, surveying the trashed carnival grounds. He started walking to the spot he had stashed his civilian clothes. "Everyone made it out alright?"

Robin smirked, "everyone, or Willa?" He dodged Nightwing's swing and laughed, "yeah, everyone made it out alright." They walked in a comfortable silence but Dick could tell Tim was holding something back. He shot Robin a look. "She was the same girl you were with when Freeze attacked." Nightwing didn't answer, since there wasn't a question. "I like her."

"But?" Nightwing raised an eyebrow.

Robin hesitated, "but you're always the one going on about how seriously we need to take our jobs. I just want you to be careful, she really likes you."

Dick sighed, "I really like her too."

"Then try not to hurt her."

"Shouldn't you be worried about her hurting me?"

"Only one of you is trained to avoid that sort of pain."