Fic: Waking

[munnin]

Title: Waking.
Characters: Batfamily, Commissioner Gordon.
Rating: PG but with dark implications.
Disclaimer: All fun, no cash.
Summary: Finding his family is the only way to help Nightwing heal but can Gordon cross that line.
Author’s notes: sequel tonightwing_subs brilliantly heartbreaking story Nightmare. Posted with her consent, blessing and betaing.

 

Gordon drew a long breath, steadying himself as he reached for the doorbell. This was always the hardest part of the job but this one would be harder still.

Nightwing was safely delivered to the hospital with two of Gordon’s best officers standing guard over him. Broken as he was, the young man’s identity still needed to be protected. Gordon had stayed with him until the ambulance came, until they pressed a needle to his battered skin so each breath no longer came out as a sob. He stayed by the youth’s side, holding his still hand all the way to the hospital...

As a father should.

As Nightwing’s father never would again.

But somewhere he had family. Perhaps not of blood but family nevertheless. Gordon had watched the Bat too long to believe in his dark loner mask. Too many young men and women had stood at the Bat’s side, followed in his wake. Gordon had seen the figure of Robin change more than once. The Bat...clan? ...tribe?...whatever... had to been bigger than just the two who had fought for their lives tonight.

But now their eldest son was in need.

And Nightwing’s broken whimpers had given him the path to follow.

In all the years they had worked together, Gordon had never felt the need to find out Batman’s true identity. After all, what could it mean to him? He knew who the man was – he was Gotham’s protector, the darkness that confronted the darkness. How would knowing a name change that?

And yet for Nightwing – a name was everything. It was the help he needed. The family he needed.

With resignation in his heart, Gordon reached for the bell.

“Commissioner Gordon?” The Wayne family butler, Penny...something... answered the door, his graceful English eyebrow raised in inquiring. “I’m afraid if you’re looking for Master Wayne - he’s out at the moment.”

“Actually it’s you I need to speak to...” Unconsciously Gordon gripped the brim of his hat. “May I come in?”

“Certainly, sir.” The Englishman gestured him in, eyeing Gordon watchfully “Can I offer you anything sir?”

“Thank you, but no.” Who was this man to the Bat family? Uncle? Grandfather? Surrogate for the affection and protection they needed to do what they do? Gordon steeled himself again.

“There’s something you need to know...there’s been an incident involving Batman and Nightwing.” He watched the older man’s face.

“Sir?” The eyebrow rose a little further but nothing more. Clearly the butler was as well versed in maintaining the mask as the man himself.

“They were attacked by the Joker...” Gordon pressed on, knowing he would not easily get past the older man’s calm facade. This wasn’t about exposing the caped crusader; this was about reaching Nightwing’s family. “Batman...took him over the ravine.”

“And what of Nightwing?” a young voice asked as its unseen owner stepped out of the shadow of the stairs. Gordon knew him immediately as Timothy, the orphaned son of millionaire Jack Drake. Gordon was strangely relieved; he’d often wondered what had become of the boy after his father’s death but now he realised he’s known all along…

The confident young man who stood at the Bat’s side, his bright blue eyes hidden behind the domino mask.

But now he looked like an orphan once more...

Like a little brother...

“He’s...” Gordon dropped his eyes, recalling the broken sobs of Nightwing in his arms. “He was seriously injured. My men are with him at Gotham General. He’s safe but...” He couldn’t bring himself to put words to what had been done to the proud young hero, especially in front of the boy.

“I have to go.” Drake broke into a run for the door but the butler materialised in his path, dropping to his knees to hold the boy. “I have to go Alfred. He needs me!”

“I understand,” Alfred soothed, brushing a hand through the boy’s dark hair. “But Tim Drake can’t be at Nightwing’s side.”

The boy met his eye with a mutinous glare but his look softened as realisation dawned. “Yes. I see. Tim Drake can’t.” He stepped back out of Alfred’s embrace, nodded once to Gordon and walked very calmly back into the mansion.

Gordon watched as the boy walked away, his thin frame tight with the suppressed desire to run.

“Commissioner?” Alfred gestured him towards a side room. “If you would be so kind as to explain exactly what happened?”

With the dispassionate control of a cop, Gordon walked the old servant though the events of the past 24 hours.

Alfred nodded slowly, taking it all in. “Thank you Commissioner. You’ve been very helpful. I believe...” He took a slow steadying breath, revising whatever he was about to say. “Thank you.”

The mask slipped silently back in place.

Robin stepped out for the shadows as Gordon reached for the door of his car. For a moment they watched each other, assessing where they stood now that the line had been crossed.

“Do you need a ride, son?” Gordon asked carefully, making the first move.

“Thank you, but no.” The boy’s voice was steady and controlled, almost too tightly. “Nightwing left his bike. I’d like to take it to him.”

Gordon couldn’t bring himself to explain that Nightwing wouldn’t be riding anytime soon.

“But I would appreciate you letting your people know I’m coming.” Robin granted Gordon a tiny, painful smile. “I’d hate to be shot by Gotham’s finest while visiting my brother.”

“Of course.” Gordon nodded. It was the least he could do.

 The youth stepped back into the shadow, about to vanish just as the Bat would but he paused. “Commissioner?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you,” Robin said, his tone edgy but genuine, “for letting us know. It means a lot to me.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

Robin considered his offer carefully. “Can you keep your men out of the gorge tonight?” There was the slightest crack in the young man’s voice. “I’ve...contacted some associates of mine. They’re offered to confirm...to retrieve...” Gordon stepped closer, rest a hand on the youth’s shoulder but Robin pulled away. “Forgive me, Commissioner. I need to go."

This son didn’t need comfort; he needed to be the comforter.

Maybe, just maybe, there was hope.

 

Comments

[glymr.livejournal.com]

Wow. I really, really liked this. It was an absolutely appropriate follow-up to "Nightmare" in every way, and really explored the emotions of each character effectively. Alfred's, Tim's and Gordon's reactions all rang true, and there was a subtlety I appreciated. Bravo!

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’m very new to this fandom and worry I haven’t found the characters right yet so I’m glad to hear you liked it. Thanks.

[sin-of-pride.livejournal.com]

This is an excellent follow-up to 'Nightmare', I loved to see more of this storyline. Tim's reaction was spot-on, as was Alfred's controlled reaction to such news. Hopefully you'll keep going? Or maybe nightwing_subs will? It'd be great to see Nightwing get the support he'll obviously need after all this ♥

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

Thank you and I’ve very glad you enjoyed it. I hope it continues too but we’ll wait and see, Nightwing_subs has created such a beautiful and heartbreaking idea it would be lovely to see it through to some natural conclusion. Thank you for commenting.

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Being new to the fandom I’m so glad the characterisations were alright.

I have nightwing_subs consent to continue and hope to be updating soon but as I’m T-3 days and panicking on my end of semester essays it may have to wait a few day.

Thanks again for commenting.

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

*wibbles*

I just read the fic before this and this one and oh god. Dickie bird! Timmy! Alfred! ;-;

I hope Dick is okay.

Why yes I am going to read all your fic, expect comment spam ^_^

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

I know – Nightwing_subs is amazing! I really fell in love with the story she wrote and ended up begging her consent to write a sequel. I have two more chapters but I’m waiting to hear back from her before I post them.

SPAM ME

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

NEED MOAR. I haven't read any of nightwing_subs stuff. I think she's posted on titans_together before but it was a pairing that I didn't like so I avoided it.

I read all your DC fics! Quick write more so I can spam you

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

Nightwing_subs has incredible range as a writer – she’s turned her hand to pairings that I would never have thought of or squirm wildly at reading but usually in the best ways.

*cringes under the whip* I will! I promise! I have a couple of WIPs filed on my desktop I need to get back to at some point.

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

I will have to check out some of her stuff.

Do it! Do it right now. Oh don't talk to me about WIPs, I have at least 20 that I need to work on. And 5 or so of them are chaptered fic that are still a few chapters away from being finished ^_^;

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling. Let me know if you want another set of eyes or someone to bounce ideas off. I can’t spell or check grammar to save my soul but I can help in other ways should you ever need it.

[faile-neume.livejournal.com]

Will do ^_^

And feel free to head my way if you want to talk fic plans or get a beta. My spelling/grammar isn't perfect but it's pretty good and I've done beta work for others so if you need help I'm happy too/