If Souls Return (Then Tell Them I Say Hi) - Tony Stark's Daughter in Gotham

Chapter 13: Offering Olive Branches

Hi! Just want to say thank you, I hope you enjoy!

There are some implied references to child abuse in this chapter. My heart really goes out to Amberly who just wants her dad to come rescue her. Amberly's as stubborn as ever and I think it's going to take some real persuasion and heart to heart conversations from people that care about her for her to see that it's okay to ask for help.

Happy reading :)

Spider-Woman chased after Joker, a series of crashes following in their wake.

Dick worked on getting Tim free of his restraints cursing under his breath the whole time. He knew the Joker was holding someone hostage, but he never imagined it would be Tim.

"Reckless much?" he sighed once Tim's hands were loose. "You should have told someone where you were going." It didn't have to be Bruce, he could have told anyone, he could have told Dick.

Jason could never know about this. Dick already had an uphill battle ahead of him repairing the relationship between Jason and Bruce. Tim's capture would only put salt in old wounds.

"I didn't want to waste time. Batman would do the same." Dick didn't miss Tim's passive aggressive tone. Really how could he blame the kid? "Plus, what do you care? It's not like you've ever believed me when I had a hunch."

Okay that hurt. Dick had tried his best to hold down the fort when Bruce was presumed dead for a year, taking on the mantle of Batman and stepping up for Damian. Tim's insistence that Bruce was alive was insanity that he didn't know what to do with. He had to shut that down, for Damian's sake. They were already going through so much and he thought false hope would destroy any progress that had been made.

Looking at Tim now though, bloody and broken, Dick wondered if there was anything he could have done differently.

He didn't say anything else as he got Tim up. They left the room behind, following the trail Spider-Woman had left. Just outside the two came across Duke and Stephanie who were checking on one of the bodies on the ground.

"They're not dead, but close," Duke informed them, having checked for a pulse.

"A girl who doesn't waste time," Stephanie said approvingly. "My kind of woman."

Dick had an arm under Tim's shoulder, supporting him. "Will you be okay if I leave you with them?" he asked wanting to follow where Spider-Woman had gone.

Tim nodded without really looking up, and Dick eased him over to Stephanie who scolded Tim gently.

"You're the smartest idiot I know."

Dick told them to stick together before running off. It looked like Spider-Woman had followed Joker towards the roof where Batman and Robin were supposed to be.

He pushed through the door at the top of the stairs, catching the moment that Spider-Woman jumped onto a hovering helicopter. Bruce had Joker pulled up by his arms and Damian was cuffing the man.

Bruce must have seen the look in Dick's eyes, shouting, "Don't!" just as Dick shot his grappling hook at the bottom racks of the helicopter. There was nothing he could do to stop him.

The craft shook, almost throwing Dick off. He swung dangerously through the air, trying to focus on climbing up. Another sudden drop, and Dick was looking at an oncoming wall. He had no choice but to let go, rolling to a stop if he didn't want to splat into it.

He hit the ground hard, twisting his ankle in the fall. "Damn it," he said catching Oracle's attention.

"Nightwing what's your status?" Barbara asked concerned. Their relationship had been complicated for a while, especially with him stepping in to be Batman for a short time span.