The Hero, The Cop, And The Lantern

It's a Copycat (Dani Chapter 2)

As soon as I walked into my apartment something felt off. Instinct lured me to the bookshelf where I keep the gun that my sister, Sybil, got me for my birthday. I began to scope out my apartment, and after I had cleared the living room and kitchen I moved on to my bedroom. I opened the door and saw a figure standing next to the window. I could tell who it was just by the way he was standing.

"You know, it isn't a very good idea to break into the home of a cop." I said as I put my gun down and propped myself up on the door frame. "For all you know I could have not recognized you and you could be dead."

"I knew you would recognize me so I was never in any danger."

"I should shoot you anyway." I said squinting at him. "Why would you risk it?"

"I didn't risk anything. You should really find a better place to put your gun, detective." I looked at him with a confused expression. "Check it." He said with a smug smile. Realization washed over my face and after I had checked the ammunition clip I found that he had removed all my bullets.

"Richard John Grayson!" I yelled. "Give them back now!" He reached into hours pocket worth a laugh and handed me my bullets. "I don't think it's very funny." I said leaving the room to sit on the couch.

"C'mon Dani it was a little funny." He said sitting next to me.

"So there had to be a reason for you risk your neck at this hour." I said turning to look at him.

"I already told you that I knew I wasn't in danger. I know you well enough to know that you'll sense something is wrong."

"Whatever. Why are you here Dick? You must have a reason." I asked beginning to get annoyed.

"No need to be rude. I just wanted to see how you did on your first day with the GCPD."

"Well that I can't tell you. I'm not allowed to discuss ongoing cases."

"So it's true." He mumbled to himself.

"What's true?" I asked. "What do you know?"

"Bruce asked me not to say anything, but I guess it's too late now." He said with a sigh. "Someone was trying to recreate Scarecrow's fear gas but they messed up. Now they have a very powerful mind control solution."

"So it isn't Scarecrow, it's just a copycat."

"Dani listen to me, I need you to let me and Bruce handle this case." He looked at me with so much concern in his eyes that it was hard for me tell him no but I had to.

"I can't do that. It's my job to protect the people of Gotham. I'm sorry Dick."

"At least promise me that if it gets too dangerous you'll let me catch them."

"Fine, but keep in mind that we have two totally different ideas of what's dangerous. Just because you think something is too dangerous for me doesn't mean that I'll feel the same way."

"Fair enough. Now, did you actually think that Scarecrow was behind the robbery?"

"I hadn't ruled it out completely. I thought that maybe he was branching out a little bit."

"This is why I didn't think it was a good idea for you to become a cop." I looked at him with an offended expression.

"Excuse me?" I asked hearing the attitude in my voice.

"That's not what I meant. I just meant that you don't know these guys the way Bruce and I do, they don't leave their comfort zones, Dani."

"That's fine but at least I'm trying to figure this out. It's only my first day. I definitely didn't expect to have to deal with one of Gotham's many villains today. You have no idea how much I wanted the robbery earlier to just be a robbery, but of course it had to be someone trying to be the next super villain."

"Listen Dani, I wasn't trying to upset you. I just wanted to help."

"And I get that, but I'm just really stressed out right now Dick."

"I know you are and I was just trying to make things easier for you."

"I appreciate it but I really don't think there's anything you can do. Thank you for trying though."

"Anytime. I think I'm going to go now, to give you time to relax. I'll see you later Dani."

"Okay, bye." I gave him a half-hearted smile walked him to the door. "Have a good night Dick."

"Goodnight." And with that he left.

I couldn't help but to feel bad for the way I had treated him. He was trying to help after all. I'll just have to apologize the next time I see him.