𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍, DICK GRAYSON

─ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐎𝐍𝐄

A weak groan escaped from my dry lips as I woke up to my brain harshly pounding against my skull. "Fuck," I cursed under my breath, tasting the aftermath of last night's drinking.

"You are finally awake," I heard a familiar voice as I rolled onto my back with eyes closed, trying to deal with the effects of a hangover. "Per your special request, everyone stayed away from your affairs yesterday and kept eyes on the developing situation."

"Hmm," was my response while I recalled everything that had happened last night.

I went to a nightclub in Lower Manhattan, drowned myself in alcohol, and met a very handsome stranger whom I took back to the penthouse for sexual pleasure. It helped me to release all of the pent-up stress and anger from the past couple of months.

"What happened to the man from last night?" I asked, finally sitting upright on the bed as I ran my fingers through my messy hair, carefully detangling any knots at the ends.

"He woke up not long ago, so I sent him away," Lady Shiva explained, standing up from the couch and picking up the glass of water along with two aspirin from the coffee table. She walked over and then handed the items to me.

I put the drugs into my mouth and gulped down the water within seconds. "Thank you," I muttered, placing the cup on the nightstand. "And enough with the look. This is what I asked for when I had no choice but to accept my miserable destiny."

After the attack on Nanda Parbat, five years ago, I became the only person who bore my late father's blood. This automatically named me the next successor in the League of Assassins, making the last couple of years meaningless.

I returned to the place where I was set to be...forever.

"It was your birthright, the reason behind your life's purpose. Your father brought you here to follow his footsteps," she strongly prompted, "whether you liked it or not."

I still don't like it and can't do anything about it, I thought.

In order to pass down the title, I have to make my own heir, which is impossible when you've been infertile for years. I did this on purpose so that in the future, a child of my tainted blood wouldn't live in such misery.

"Tell me about the developing situation," I cleared my throat, changing the conversation's topic. I rather save it until next year where I will do the exact routine as yesterday's pathetic celebration to my family's death.

"It seems everything is falling into place, just as you planned," the Chinese woman reported as I climbed out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor. "The Court is nearly done with their assigned job and will be waiting for your signal."

"Excellent," I said, pulling a smile.

Months in the making, I'm about to achieve my father's failed desire, but with a small twist.

"We also received the police report of the homicidal maniac's latest victim."

Walking over to the small couch in the bedroom, I picked up the black folder and read its' content. "I was right about hiring him to do the dirty work," I chuckled in amusement, flipping to the next page where a gruesome picture of the deceased police commissioner was.

"Indeed," Lady Shiva agreed. "His destruction helped to accelerate our plans."

"Do we still have tabs on that clown's location?"

"No. He disappeared after the murder, but we believe he'll resurface."

"Inform me when he does," I requested, tossing the folder back on the coffee table. "You may go now and ask someone to bring my meal in thirty minutes."