Nightwing: Heartless

Part 42: Adam Hangout

"So the aliens making a sports drink are actually intergalactic conquerors?" Willa asked as she read the blue holographic screen over Dick's shoulder.

"Yes," he answered, "Tim just led a recon mission into one of their facilities."

"And they work with a group of secret supervillains called the Light?"

She was taking this better than Dick had expected. What had started as him telling her not to buy the Reach drink had evolved into a debrief on two of the Team's biggest enemies at the moment. It was a lot of information, and Dick still wasn't telling her everything, for security reasons.

"And Lex Luthor is working with the Reach?"

Dick nodded, "we think he's part of the Light, can't be sure though. Part of Aqualad's mission is to find out who exactly makes up the Light."

"Is Tim alright? After his mission?"

Dick smiled, "better than okay, actually. He did a great job leading beta squad, adapted to changes, and ended up taking out the facility."

"But don't they have dozens of facilities?"

"Unfortunately. Only a few are public. If we could find the location for all of them, as well as find out what Lex wants with the Reach, we could plan a coordinated attack." Dick waved the screen off before Will could ask any more questions. He felt bad about still keeping things from her, even if she said she understood. "Hey, I'm going to go on a run later, do you want to come?"

Willa gave him a look, "Dick, whenever I try to workout with you, I feel completely inadequate."

"Give yourself more credit, babe."

Willa gave him another look but a knock at the door stopped her from replying. She peered out of the eyehole then opened door excitedly. "Adam!" She hugged her brother. "What are you doing here? What happened to your eye?" She let her brother in.

He did in fact have a black eye, Dick noticed, fighting a frown and plastering on a smile instead. "Hey, Adam."

"Dick," Willa's brother nodded then turned back to Willa, "mom said I'd probably find you here." He glanced at Dick again, a little accusatory. He didn't take it personally, it was a natural reaction from a big brother, and Willa had spent a lot of time here since school got out, never overnight of course.

"I'm glad you came by, now what happened to your eye?"

Adam laughed, "I tried to pick up skateboarding again."

"Idiot."

"You always were the smartest in the family."

He was lying. Dick could tell but he wasn't sure if Willa could. He watched her brother, studying his movement. Along with a black eye, Dick was sure he had an injured rib, which wasn't good.

"I was wondering if you two wanted to catch a movie or something," Adam offered.

Willa beamed, "of course. Let me get my jacket."

"I think you left one here a while ago, Will. It should be in my closet."

Willa nodded and left the room, leaving Adam alone with Dick. They each pretended it wasn't awkward and Adam walked over to lean an arm on the counter, "I'm not a huge fan of Willa spending so much time in your apartment. Alone."

Dick wanted to roll his eyes. He didn't, but he wanted to. "How much do you need?" Dick whispered instead of taking the bait. Adam was taken aback but tried to play it off. Dick held up a hand, "I heard you on the phone with Will, when you asked her for money. And that eye didn't come from skateboarding. Neither did the bruise on your ribs."

Adam opened and closed his mouth like a fish, but he didn't try to lie. He had the courtesy to look away in shame though. "A few thousand. I borrowed from some shady people, and the interest... I can't keep up."

Dick nodded and stood up, finding his checkbook in a desk drawer and getting a pen. Adam looked even more shocked, but he didn't try to stop Dick, especially when he saw $10,000 written on the check. Dick tore it off but didn't hand him the check yet. "Don't ever involve Willa in this again, got it?"

Adam gritted his teeth, "she's my sister."

"Then you should know better."

Adam took the check and put it in his wallet right as Willa came back out. "Hey, I didn't find my jacket."

"Oh, sorry, it must be in the front closet, sorry, I forgot," Dick gave her a charming smile but she just stared at him, knowing he wouldn't forget something that silly. She let it go though and grabbed her jacket out of the closet.