In the Shadows: A NightWing

11

The Bludhaven skyline didn't comfort Dick, he couldn't get what he saw out of his head. Where had she come from? Who was the messenger? What had Nycole gone through? Could he ask her? Did Vega know? Was Nycole friend or foe? Was Nycole Nycole?

His phone buzzed in his pocket, he turned around to face the apartment. The place was neat and tidy, almost perfect, nothing like Vega's house. He could still imagine the smell of that morning's breakfast and the dips in the chairs, the scuff marks of movement. The imperfect perfection of it all. Somehow his apartment didn't feel like home.

His leg buzzed again. He ignored it again.

He grabbed his computer and sat on the couch, he opened google and started to type Nycole before pressing enter he slammed his computer shut. Closing he threw his head back.

He was back in Nicole's room, she was bent over her clothes wearing very little. Her body was spectacular, he thought, he shook his head, who says spectacular? He was looking for clues in his memory, Her back arched and seamlessly transitioned to her butt he thought, he shimmed a little on the couch. He tried to think of the funeral, the hem of her skirt was pretty short, he couldn't think of blemishes on the contours of her legs.

He ran his hands through his hair, the ways she smiled, how she spoke, the ways she moved and fearlessness. She had that ability to look flawless at all times, it was almost intoxicating. Dick gave up on the idea of finding something on her and walked over to the kitchen. Once again his phone came alive, this time he looked at it.

Wally West.

He sighed, "Hey."

"Bro you're on a gossip site," Wally spoke smoothly, "Did you and Barbra split up? Who's the new girl?"

Dick opened his computer, "What are you talking about?"

Wally grunted, "Look at any gossip site your face is plastered."

Dicks eyes opened when he saw the picture of himself and Nyx holding hands at the funeral, pictures from outside her window of their argument and the one he felt was most intrusive. A solid picture of the moment from the concert where she recognized him, her eyes large and vulnerable, a slight half smile that was either caused by him or the words of the song. Dick quickly read the article.

Dick said with certainty, "She is an old friend, from the circus."

"She's hot," Wally was insensitive.

"So is a desert, what's your point," Dick was already annoyed that they were even having this conversation, he clicked the blue click.

A new article appeared. The photo under the head was a picture of a very close Jason Todd and Nycole "Nyx" Kospa. The article went in depth about their date. Dick's jealousy flared, "I gotta go." He immediately opened the text conversation from the day before.

Nycole was sitting on the stoop with her guitar, she saw the screen of her phone light up but she chose to ignore it. She had some she was working on nearly complete.

The apartment felt so small, Dick kept looking at his phone. Running his hands through his hair, he kept walking trying to keep himself sane. Leaving the apartment Dick Grayson felt as though he needed to express a level of anger and frustration he hadn't felt in years.

Nycole had lost track of time, when she looked up to see Jason Todd watching her. She let a smile fall on her lips but she closed her eyes again and kept strumming. She felt when he sat next to her. Putting the guitar next to her she opened her eyes and smiled at him, "hey."

"Answer me next time,"Jason gave her her phone. she looked down to see a text message from him and Mark.

She raised one eyebrow, "Or not you know it's up to me, right?" 

~*~*~*~*~*~*

This is not edited...well none of this book is. I'm still figuring out where this is going.