Heir To The Court

Chapter 1. Part 2: Breaking Away

Heir to the Court
Chapter 1: Breaking Away
Dick Grayson POV
Part 2

It seemed the torture was over. I was basically bleeding to death. Harley was going to move me yet again to another place. She stopped along the highway to get gas and food. Me and her talked rarely. I wasn't in a healthy condition to argue with her. I noticed the soon guilt in her voice when she spoke to me. I of course couldn't care less what she said. I noticed her pull over to the side of the road.
"Get out." She said to me. I only nodded and climbed out of the truck only to have my legs give out from under me. I landed in the grass and almost blacked out once more. She actually let me go. That was the first. Instead of her driving off she just stayed put. I turned on my tracker to see if the others were coming for me. I only had to wait now.
"Why didn't you turn that on back in the warehouse?" Harley leaned out the window and looked at me.
"If you forgot I was too busy bleeding to death to even think about doing so." I snapped at her and held pressure on my wounds.
"Are they coming for you?" She tilted her head to the side.
I shrugged and looked down thinking they probably forgot about me... Or thought I was dead.
I looked back to when I contacted Alfred to send help. Jason and Tim showed that day. But why weren't they out looking for me now?
Harley frowned. "I could give you a ride home if you'd like bird boy."
I didn't hesitate to take her up on that offer. She dropped me off at my apartment and I headed inside through the window after thanking her. I saw her take off and I closed the curtains. Stripping my suit and mask off, I tended to my own wounds and turned in for the night. I heard commotion outside my window and I growled in irritation. I got dressed and grabbed my police badge and gun before walking out towards the alley. Noticing Harley was getting harassed by Penguin's thugs, I walked over holding out my badge and aimed the gun at them.
"I'm an officer for BPD. I suggest you leave the woman alone before I call backup."
The men cursed and ran off leaving Harley shaking. She looked at me with wide eyes when she recognized my face and voice.
"Come on." I grabbed her by the wrist and lead her into my apartment questioning her with many questions as to why she hanging out near my window. She answered all the questions honestly and I sighed thinking this is useless.
I decided to head out and pick up some food before heading back. Me and Harley ate Chinese and just talked. She basically opened up to me about how much she thought Joker loved her and so on. I told her about my history with the circus. She said she used to watch me and my family perform for the crowd. When they died I told her I gave up the circus and became a police officer during the day and the vigilante, Nightwing, by night. The talk ended with a simple hug and I let her sleep on the couch while I took over my comfy bed.

A few hours into the night I heard Harley crying faintly. I climbed out of bed to go check on her. She told me it was just a nightmare and asked me if Joker was really dead. I told her her was dead for good and that he isn't coming back. That moment changed when her lips pressed to mine making me tense. I didn't know how respond until I couldn't help but deepen the kiss gently. When it broke, I didn't know what to say. Me and her just stared at each other before I managed to head back to bed telling her to do so as well.
What are you doing Richard? I thought to myself as I fully drifted off to sleep.

The next day was a bad day. I returned to the manor to give Bruce a piece of my mind. I walked to the front of the manor. Damian was on the porch reading a book.
"Hi Dami." I spoke as I headed inside.
"Grayson." He replied to me before he realized I was back. He close his book and ran in after me giving me a big hug. "You're alive!!"
"Yeah. I am. Where's Bruce?"
"The batcave as usual." I nodded to Damian and headed down only to glare at my adoptive father.
"Where were you!!? I was gone for two days and sent a signal for you to come for me. Why didn't you?!!" I was pretty pissed.
Bruce sighed. "Dick. You're alive. We've been searching for you. I couldn't risk the life of Tim and Jason. Tim barely made it out alive."
"So that's it? You gave up!!! What if I was dead Bruce?! What would you do then!!!"
Bruce flinched at my words and gave me a hug. I froze and just returned to the hug.
"Where's Harley?" Bruce asked me.
"She let me go. I don't know where she went." I lied and that made Bruce nod. "I'll send Jason out to look for her. She needs to be back in Arkham. Dick.. Did she learn your identity?"
I shook my head. "She dropped my off at my place and took off. She didn't come inside. She knows nothing." I lied again.
Bruce nodded once more. "Good. We don't need her knowing "
I headed back into the manor hearing Bruce welcome me back.
"Oh and Dick. Better go see Tim. He's not taking this well."
I smiled a little and nodded heading up to Tim's room. My adoptive brother was half asleep as I walked in. I sat on the edge of the bed and he looked at me in shock.
"Dick!!!" He sat up painfully and tried to hug me.
"No.. Lay down. You've been hurt badly." Tim frowned and did as I said. He held my hand and narrowed his eyes.
"What did that crazy bitch do to you." His voice held anger.
"She only tortured me... Then let me go." I sighed. Tim raised an eyebrow.
"She let you go? Why?"
"Guilt." I replied and looked away. Tim nodded and I gave him a hug.
"Rest bro." I stood up and headed to my old room only to run into Jason.
He looked at me. "Welcome back Richard."
I smiled and gave him a hug. He made a face and only hugged a little bit before pulling away.
"I'll let you rest." Jason walked away and I sighed laying on my old bed curling up under the covers. It was going to be a longggg night.