Vigilante Struggles

Chapter Four

Dick's P.O.V.
I wake up the next morning feeling refreshed. The pain in my shoulder had downgraded to a dull ache. I head to the bathroom to change the bandages and take a shower. After fifteen minutes I dry off and change into tracksuit bottoms, a black t-shirt and a half zip. I grab my bag and leave my room. I decided to check on Barbra before I go downstairs. She's still asleep. Who wouldn't be, it's 5:30 in the morning.....well I suppose Damien usually trains around now, but he is away with the teen titans. Not that he wants to be there. I visit him sometimes and I think he enjoys being with the titans.....though he won't admit that.

I reach the kitchen and pour some cereal. I sit there alone. It was a silence I'm used to now, but sitting in Wayne manor, it's strange. There was always something going on, good or bad......or mischievous. I chuckle to myself looking back on those times with Jason, then Tim and Damien. I miss it.
" Master Dick may I ask what has you up so early?" I look back to see the one and only Alfred.
" Well Alfred I, unfortunately have work. Work I cannot miss" I reply. He smiles. A smile so warm and contagious that I can't help but grin as well.
"Are Bruce and Tim up?" I ask. I haven't been able to speak to them properly since I stumbled into the Batcave.
" I'm afraid not Master Dick, they were out rather late last night trying to apprehend a strange man" Alfred informs me. I get up and rinse my bowl before putting it in the dishwasher.
" Well, could you tell them I said bye and why I have to go please" I ask Alfred while picking up my bag.
" Of course" he replied. " do drive safely"
"Thanks Alfred.....and driving safely is second nature to me. I am a cop after all" I laugh.
" I also took the liberty of washing your motorcycle, it was rather....dirty." He said while handing me my keys. How he knew what I needed was a mystery.
" Thank you so much Alfred, I totally forgot about the state of the bike" I say walking out of the kitchen.
" Bye Alfred!"
" Goodbye, Master Grayson"
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Bruce's P.O.V.
I sit up in my bed and rub my eyes. The sunlight seeps into my room through a small opening in the curtains. I pull over the duvet and swing my feet out over the bed. I can feel the headache start to hammer at my skull as I stood up. Today is going to be a long day. Thankfully a cup was left on my bedside table with some aspirin. Thank you Alfred. I graciously drink the water and change into day clothes.

I reach the bottom of the stairs. The sound of fine china clinking gently from the kitchen and a strong smell of Alfred's breakfast delicacy tells me that Alfred has timed and organised food on time, as usual. I walk in through the kitchen doorway while Alfred sets the table.
"Good Morning Master Bruce. Tea or Coffee?" I chuckle to myself, he says the same thing every morning.
"Coffee please Alfred. Still a bit drowsy" I admit. Alfred would know anyway.
" I thought as much Sir. You were out very late last night"
It was true, I had to catch him. This man proves to be very dangerous....and skilled. Though something about him screams familiar, then again how many maniacs have I dealt with? How many have evaded me? Not many but Deathstroke. He mentioned something about having a history with me. He knows our identities. Probably even Dick's and Barbra's.
" How is Tim doing?" I ask. He had gotten shot last night by the man in the red hood.
" He will be okay but he won't be Red Robin for a couple of weeks. I have supplied him with crutches and some entertainment in his room Sir" Alfred replied.
Flashback to night before
" It's him or me Bruce, you choose"

I glare at him. I let my eyes flicker down to Tim. He had his gloved hands on the injury, applying pressure. He nods at me telling me to go for the man. My mind wanders to what happened to Jason, what if he was trying to lure me away from Red Robin. What would I do if I lost another son? The logical side of my brain tells me that he knows our identities, he could attack us in public. My decision is made.

I press the button on my belt signaling the Batmobile while throwing a smoke bomb. I must do as much damage to this man so he won't get far and won't lure me away from Tim. I activate my inbuilt detective vision and begin my attack.
Aerial kick.
Duck, uppercut.
Backflip, land, lunge, punch.
The man is on his knees panting. He begins to chuckle.
" Still going strong old man" he stands and falls into fighting position.
"But you're gonna get tired and you WILL lose this fight....just like you lost the second Robin" he continues. I felt my anger spike. He knows what buttons to press.
He took my moment of shock as an opportunity to attack. A sharp hit to my jaw knocks me back.
I hear Tim shouting in protest. The rumble of the Batmobile engine in the background tells me to persevere.
I lunge forward attacking making sure the man had no time to dodge. A final punch knocks him to the ground. I won't be able to defeat him right now. He recovers too fast. I had noticed he was wearing an enhanced type of Kevlar that reduces physical contact by 50%. I throw three batarangs, he blocks two leaving the last one to cut his exposed skin on his neck. The batarangs were coated with micro-trackers. He won't know and I can track him.
The Batmobile arrives but my attention has turned to a cloud of smoke. He his disappeared leaving no trace he was there in the first place. I sigh and walk over to Tim. I gently scoop him up. Pity filled my eyes seeing him wince in pain. His hands were bloody and his knee was bleeding heavily. I put him in the Batmobile and wrap his wound. The bullet was still in there but there was nothing I could do now.
" Don't worry Tim, I'll get you help"
End of flashback.
" That's good to hear. It didn't look great last night" I say. Blood didn't bother me, but seeing it coming out of any of my Robins was unsettling.
" I agree Sir, the bullet was rare, custom build" Alfred said. I hadn't noticed that, the night was eventful.
" That is interesting" I say. This man meant business, but I have to keep Dick safe right now. I look down at the plates. I notice that there are only four, there should be five people in the manor.
"Alfred, why are there only four plates out?" Had he forgotten about Dick staying over.
" Master Grayson left earlier this morning for work" he states. I'm shocked by this. Did Richard not realise the danger.
"What do you mean he left the manor? Does he not know the danger he is in?" I speak out loud.
"What danger might that be Sir, he is only going to work. The job does come with dangers" Alfred said completely oblivious to what is going on. Did no one tell Alfred.....oh god. If no one told Alfred...no one told Dick. I put my head in my hands.
"What's going on Bruce what's wrong" I hear Barbra say.
"Dick is gone, and no one told him the Joker and Deathstroke are after him" I say. The room grows silent.
"Oh dear" Alfred breaks the silence.
"Oh my god" Barbra starts " I never told him because I wanted to let him sleep the whole night. I didn't think he would leave" I didn't blame Barbra for not telling him, I would have waited too.
"I'll try to ring him" I say, dialling his numbers. I put the phone on speaker to let everyone listen.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.....
"Hi this is Dick Grayson, I can't come to the phone right now but please leave a message after the beep. Thank you!"
Beep...
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Managed to get this written....snow days woooo.