Don't Fear the Reaper

76) The Computer is From the 1930s So... Might Need an Update or Two

Nico sat in the common area, very much against his will. If he had it his way, he'd be in the temporary room they'd given him, but it was lunch time and he feared Alfred's wrath more than he hated interactions with the team.

It had been an adjusted for all of them—Nico 'willingly' being there for a meal—but the team had gotten used to him. They'd grown accustomed to seeming him at lunch and rarely ever outside of that, but that didn't mean they were used to him.

"Hey Ghost," Wally said, entering the room with a casual smile. "What brings you to the common room? Last time I was here, you were living up to your nickname."

Nico didn't even look up from his book as he said, "I've been here for most mid-day meals recently. If you showed up more than once a week, maybe you would know that,"

The members of the team present laughed at that, joining in on poking fun at the older speedster. They should have been used to his sassy remarks by that point, but, without fail, they always reacted like it was the first joke he'd ever made.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Wally said, rolling his eyes and plopping down on the couch a foot or two away from Nico. "Sorry for being an actually adult with an actually job."

Artemis and M'gann sent him twin looks of annoyance. "Both of us have jobs and we're still here."

Wally shrugged. "Yeah, but neither of you are considering retirement."

The senior members of the team just shrugged, accepting that answer, but the newer members all looked tense at the idea.

Nico didn't care, he was already back to reading his book. The others' conversations disappeared into background noise as he did his best to disappear into the background himself. 

"Ghost," Kon called, taking Wally's seat—who had apparently gotten up while Nico wasn't paying attention. "You're close with the bats, right?"

Nico let out a breath of annoyance, looking away from his book to shoot an annoyed look at the clone. "You know, social etiquette dictates that when someone is reading in a public place, it means that they want to be left alone."

Kon just chuckled as if he'd been joking. "This is quick, don't worry."

Nico just frowned with annoyance for a long moment before grumbling a 'fine' as he put his bookmark in the open book that now sat in his lap. "I would say that they have some sort of affinity towards me, but I am vaguely neutral towards them."

Kon hummed for a moment, seeming to take that in. "Okay, but you spend a lot of time with them, right?"

"I guess?" Nico said, looking at him in confusion about where he was going with the conversation. "I mean, it's against my will, but yeah, I'm around them a lot."

"So you know their secret identities?"

Kon had an artificial casual tone as he asked the question, but the speedsters and Artemis all stiffened.

"I'm not telling you," Nico said simply, looking back to his book.

"Come on dude, please," Kon tried, looking desperate. "I'm in a bet with Red Robin about if I can figure out his secret identity and I'm losing... badly."

Nico let out a small laugh at that. "You should have known you'd lose going into that bet. Red Robin is considered smarter than Batman himself—meaning you're never gonna fucking get it."

The team all looked at him in shock.

"Wait... Red Robin is smarter than Batman?" Jamie questioned.

Nico just shrugged. "I mean, it's a layered thing. Batman obviously has more experience, but Red Robin's raw intellect is considerably to be on par with, if not surpassing, Batman's. His's natural ability with technology gives him an edge against the Bat as well. In a fight, Batman is better—he has more strength and training—but Red Robin is a more balanced opponent. If he could use his surroundings and some gadgets, he has a decent shot at beating the Bat."