Vigilante Struggles

Chapter Five

Deathstroke's P.O.V.
The night before.
"FOOL!!!" I shout, anger coursing through my veins. I usually have a calm composure but that Clown will ruin everything!
"Oh Deathy, why must you over react?! I just wanted some fun" Joker replied. His laid back nature annoyed me. His carelessness and insanity will ruin everything.
"You nearly killed him!" I growl, stating the obvious. I know that he won't care if he ruins the plan, he doesn't know what is at stake, however he also doesn't know that I will kill him if he repeats this mistake.
" Come on now, don't get like that, haHA! I knew he would get out. Plus there's no harm in ruffling him up a bit. Toughen ol' Robbie up for the big bad world." He laughs.
" I've been going against that brat for years now, I know what he can do" I sit there listening to him continue.
"If you know what he can do, why has he taken you down alone so many times?" I question. Nightwing has defeated joker many times, even as Robin. I'd hate to admit it but he has beaten me a few times and he hasn't reached his prime yet. He must be destroyed now or forced onto our side before he becomes too much of a threat. I would rather the latter, he holds untold skills and secrets that would prove to be very useful.

I return my gaze back to Joker. He had fallen silent and I take it as my que to discuss my plan.
" Due to your bad decision on trying to blow up Nightwing, he most likely returned to Gotham leaving Blüdhaven unprotected. This will give us the opportunity to cut off all communication networks with Blüdhaven and the rest of the continent. We will need the assistance of Nigma. By now Batman should know of our involvement, plus he likes secrets so it is likely Nightwing is unawares of his impending doom. Manipulation of mind will leave Batman and Nightwing on bad terms. Then we will hit hard. Got it?" I look at Joker my mask hiding my soul searching gaze. His face holds a wild and menacing smile.
" Perfect and, as luck would have it, Riddler owes me a few favours" he replies.
" Get started on the plan, I have a few matters to attend to" I say while leaving the deranged man alone in the room while I go to contact our associates. I open the metal door and pull out my communicator.
" Phase two is in effect" I state. The device crackles for a bit before I hear a response.
"Perfect"
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Barbra's P.O.V
Current time
"Hi, this is Dick Grayson, I can't come to the phone right now but please leave a message after the beep thank you".

I look to the ground, this is all my fault...if I had told him he would still be here. I shut my eyes and hold my face in my hands. I hear Bruce place his phone the the marble countertop, the sound is followed by a warm hand on my shoulder.
"Don't blame yourself barb. We couldn't have known he had planned to leave early this morning" Bruce reasons. I sigh, he's right but I can still feel the worry in my stomach.
"I'll ring him again just in case his phone wasn't on him....Alfred could you help Tim down here." Bruce speaks again, his confident voice was hiding his worry. I here the numbers dial but the phone makes a noise indicating no signal. I look up at Bruce, his eyebrows knitted in concern. His eyes displayed deep thought as scenarios played through his mind. He suddenly looks up as a soft clacking noise is heard in the hallway. Tim's tired face makes an appearance through the door. He stumbles clumsily into the kitchen on his crutches and sits at the table. He rests his head on one hand while using the other to grab the remote and switch on the TV.
"We wish to inform our Gotham citizens that all transport routes and communications links are currently unavailable between Blüdhaven and the rest of the continent. Both services were ceased last night, however officials declare that it is only a city project to further advance Blüdhaven....There are also reports of a man reeking havoc around Gotham, perhaps he is a new villain for Batman and Red Robin...." Tim turns off the TV and looks back to us.
" Ten dollars that Blüdhaven didn't close itself off to upgrade infrastructure."
_______________________
Dick's P.O.V
I open the door to my apartment and step inside. Truthfully, I don't have work till later today but I thought it would be easier to get out of the house while everyone was asleep. I also found it hard to be around Barbra. I do love her but she only sees me as her friend, that and the fact that she is in a relationship already. Perhaps I should move on and find someone for myself. I sigh and look down. There was a notice on my floor. I frown at it before picking it up and reading it.
Transport services and communications temporarily unavailable, in aid to support further advances in Blüdhaven's infrastructure.
There is definitely more to this than city advancements. The mayor wouldn't be foolish to close down both necessities at the same time, not to mention the costs. Nightwing will have to wait until tonight, but officer Grayson can leach info from BPD.
Note to self, stop referring to yourself in third person.
It's still only eight in the morning so I decide to go out for breakfast. I grab my keys and my phone and head out once again.

There is a coffee shop down the road from my apartment block, so I decided to walk, thankfully I did as I heard screams coming from an alley. What thug would be out in the daylight? I sprint into the alley just in time to see a man trying to pry a handbag from a young girl around my age.
"HEY!!!" I shout, successfully attracting the mans attention. His head snaps to look at me while the girl takes the opportunity to grab her bag. She turns as well to see her saviour.
"Go" I tell her. She nods a silent thank you before running out of the alley. I turn my attention back to the man.
"Playing hero can get you hurt, little man" he sneers. I chuckle.
" Really, you think so?" I smirk, I didn't need to be here anymore, the girl is out of danger." It's been nice, I must say, but....there is coffee and waffles in the cafe up the street that are calling me"
" I don't think so. I'm pissed, during the day I only have to worry 'bout myself, but at night, freak shows in tights be trying to break ma bones"he growls." Looking at you kid, calms me down...there is just something about breaking bones and easy picking that just make my day" he continues. Pathetic.
" Let me tell you this, I'm not easy pickings and if I catch you in the wrong again there will be consequences" I state. I turn around and start to head out of the alley. Of course things aren't that easy as I am forced to turn around as the man yells. I turn just in time to catch the man's fist. I use his weight and his momentum to throw him over my shoulder. He lays on the ground before stumbling to his feet. He puts his fists up to his face.
"I could do this all day buddy" I say. I stand confident waiting for him to engage first. The man yells before throwing a sloppy punch. I catch his fist. I smirk at him his eyes widened anticipating his fate. I pull his arm behind his back and push him into the wall.
"D..don't hurt m..me" he begs.
" Don't. Let. Me. Catch. You. Doing.ANYTHING. Like. This. Again.CLEAR!" I growl
"Y...yeah. Crystal clear" he stutters. I roughly let him go before making my way to the cafe.

I let my body sink into the chair of the cafe. A strong coffee smell fills me with a warm and comforting feeling. I look over at the couple across from me. The girl was laughing at something her boyfriend said. They were both leaning over the table, their hand connected. That could be Barbra and I but I wasn't fast enough.
"Excuse me sir, may I take you order" a voice asks.
I look up at the voice's owner to see a girl. A clipboard hiding her face.
"Emm...yeah could I have a regular coffee and waffles please"
The clipboard suddenly snaps away from her face, her green eyes wide with surprise.
"You..." I look at her confused. " You...saved me, in...in the alley from the man" she says. I let my mouth open a bit. I didn't get to look at her properly in the alley, but she was pretty. She had soft brown hair, it came past her shoulder and curled slightly near the bottom. Her eyes were a vibrant green, like Barbra's, but her eyes held an innocence, like she had never seen the evil in this world. Her freckled cheeks held a slight pink colour as well as her lips.
"Uh..yeah it was no problem" I say rubbing the back of my head. She puts her hand out towards me, I take it and give it a light shake.
"Lorna Fitz" she smiles.
"Richard Grayson,but you may call me Dick" I reply.
"Well, Dick I hope to see you at eight tonight at this address" she says while giving me a scrap of paper.
"Coffee and waffles then was it?"