If You Could Turn Back Time

Ch 18

Dick slipped into his Nightwing uniform, frowning when he noticed that the blue spot was still on his chest.

The spot was about the size of an apple, and it scared Dick to think of what it might mean.

A jazzy tone played from Dick's phone as his reminder for him to leave went off. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, his fingertips brushing against the staples Leslie had requested to check on earlier that day.

"Thank goodness for zeta tubes," Dick muttered as he climbed out of his window and headed to a nearby closed phone booth.

—

Leslie offered Dick one of her signature calming Doctor smiles as he sat in the exam room. She quickly found the line of staples, her brow furrowing when she saw the completely healed skin. "I... I don't know what to say..." she mumbled, taking a second look. "I know I just placed these staples yesterday, but it looks like your wound is already completely healed."

Dick's brow furrowed. That couldn't be right... he didn't have a healing factor... so how could he have healed so fast? "Maybe it has to do with something fate did..." Dick said.

"Uh... ya," Leslie agreed. "Well... I guess let's get those staples out for you then," she said, receiving a nod from Dick.

—

Dick swung around Blüdhaven, looking for any disturbances.

So far he'd only stopped a few muggings, not seeing much else, and he was about to call it a night when he saw the flash of gunfire on a nearby rooftop.

Swinging towards the action, Dick couldn't help but let out a sigh. So much for a quiet night...

Dick stopped and peered down at the gunfight that was taking place on the rooftop over. There was a group of 3 men and a group of four men firing at each other from their barricades of boxes. As he watched, the group of 3 advanced, the other group lowering their weapons and instead pulling out a few folders that seemed to be filled with something.

The folders were exchanged with something in a small black pouch.

That was when Dick made his entrance. He flipped onto the other roof and sent a series of bolas and wingdings toward the men, leaving all of them on the ground, either tied up, stunned, or knocked out.

"So gentlemen," Dick said, grabbing both the envelopes and the bag. "I hate to interrupt, but I'm sure whatever you were doing is probably highly illegal." He peered into the envelopes, seeing that they were filled with money, and the small pouch was filled with some sort of powder.

Dick grabbed a small vial from his belt and was taking a sample of the powder when he was hit over the head with the butt of a gun.

"That ain't for you pretty bird," a new man said, one Dick hadn't seen on the rooftop before.

Dick tried to stand, but was grabbed around the throat. He clawed at the strong hand that was closing around his throat as he gasped for air.

Black dots began to dance in front of Dick's eyes and his efforts to free himself began to weaken. His eyes drifted closed, opening slightly when he heard the click of the man removing his utility belt and tossing it over the edge of the building.

"Oh no. Looks as if I've dropped your little toy belt. You better go get it," the man said, dangling Dick's limp body over the edge of the building and releasing his strangling hold on his neck, letting him fall towards the ground below.

Dick's eyes snapped open when he realized he was falling. He reached for a grappling gun from his utility belt, breath catching in his throat when he realized he didn't have his belt anymore. There was nothing he could do to stop his fall.