Nightwing’s Daughter – Chapter 7
Family meeting
I sat and sighed. That could have been one killer meeting. An hour and a half trying to justify to representatives of the Justice League why Aspen should be given a second chance. Batman was there, understandable and then you had my uncle and aunt - Flash and Artemis. So effectively it had been a family meeting. It was held in one of many Bruce Wayne’s conference rooms, not the cave, which surprised me. Although Bruce kept glaring at my proposed idea to reform a criminal. But on the whole, I think it went alright. All I had to do was pull on Artemis's heart strings and make sure uncle Wally had a load of cookies courtesy of Alfred, and I was set. But as it turns out I didn’t need to work nearly as hard as I thought I would.
-N.D-N.D-N.D-
When the door bell to the mansion went off I ran to get it, completely beating Alfred to the mark. I shot him an apologetic look as I went to open the door, he nodded in understanding. I opened it to find two adults about my dad’s age. The male a tall, thin, ginger man with the cheekiest smile in the world. The woman, just a bit smaller than him, with blonde hair dragged into a ponytail, a genuine smile she only reserved for the people she cared for the most etched on her slight features.
“Well, well,” started my uncle. “If it isn’t the Birdy busy trying to defy the League.” He hugged me tightly over the thresh hold. “Nice to see you too, Uncle Wally.” I moved my hand in order to try and make some kind of contact with my aunt. “You too Aunt Artemis.” She just laughed. I was released from the speedsters grip not long after. “So where’s your old man?” Wally questioned as I lead them into one of the living rooms. “Talking to Granddad, they’ll be through in a bit to take us to the conference room.” Artemis snorted, “He really doesn’t like this idea does he?” I shook my head sadly. “Well, just between us three and these walls, the League loves the idea, all for different reasons of course. The only one you’ll have to convince in there is old Batsy.” I grinned at my uncle.
We talked for a while about general things; they wanted to know how things were. Although we kept in regular with the two, I couldn’t deny that the phone calls and emails had been sparse to say the least, this of course was down to the fact that both of them were working again. I did the most logical thing I could think of, I asked about their son, my ‘cousin’ and one of my closet friends Chase. Chase had inherited his father’s speed talent, and his mother’s love of arrows, so the name ‘Chase’ fit perfectly, fit for both the running and hunting type. To my astonishment, they informed me that he had gone to Peru of all places! All in aid of hunting down his grandfather, Sportsmaster. “He must be getting on a bit though surely, I mean he’s older than my granddad, and Bruce is no spring chicken.” There were two nods of agreement. “He wanted to know as much as he could about my side of the family, and no amount of stories seemed to do his appetite justice... he’s been trained well though, he can look after himself." A look of purist horror must have been accompanying the sick twisting feeling in my suddenly hollow stomach. "That's what we feel like every day." She said somewhat shakily "and that's the way we'll feel until he comes home. He's been gone for nearly three months now." I just nodded, I was sure if I looked in the mirror my face would be some shade of green. What had he gotten himself into? How could he put either of them through this? Wally draped an arm over Artemis, I turned away. Brushing my cheek, I found that I had shed a tear in fear of what challenges faced my friend.
It wasn't long after this however Alfred - thank goodness - came to direct us to the conference room in which the meeting was being held. Although we were treating this informally, thus the lack of costume, I knew Bruce would be nothing short of horrified if I made this choice lightly and without proper consideration. Once in the room I looked around for dad. He wasn't there. "He'd only help you in making this decision, and you need to make it entirely of your own free will." I rolled my eyes at his words, "I came up with the idea Bruce... I've taken into account all the variables." He just glared at me, I thought maybe pictures would help, so I walked over to the computer, brought out my memory stick and began to click things.
The first thing that popped up was a picture of Aspen taken when he was out and about in civvies, he looked... Normal. Black skinny jeans and a purple top, clashing brilliantly with his burning curls. "Aspen was born Aspen, that's his birth name, the one Ivy gave him. So if you like," I gestured to the picture, "this is his secret identity." I raised an eyebrow waiting for criticism from the unmasked Bat. I got none so continued. "Corey Fletcher is a sixteen year old home schooled student. As such, there is no record of his home address or any personal details for that matter." Wally cleared his throat. "So what you're saying is this kid has never been to main stream?" I nodded, "The thing is he has been educated and my thoughts are that he has had multiple tutors. The Joker, Two face, Killer Croc, others..." Artemis was lent against the wall, eyes closed, taking it all in. "It will be hard to turn him." I turned to her, I knew that, I was prepared for it not to work, prepared for failure. "I know, but we've got to give him a chance..."
-N.D-N.D-N.D-
As I walked down the thick carpeted halls of the mansion thinking of how well that had gone, I was interrupted by Artemis coming to my side. "I can't believe you threatened to never speak to him again. That. Was. Brilliant. True bird style." I tipped an imaginary top hat in her direction. "What's the point in being in this family if you can't threaten somebody every now and again?" She nodded happily. "This time next week you'll be walking out of Arkham after your first session with him." I was drawn back into my thoughts of him. Not Aspen, but Corey Fletcher, I smiled slightly; I was going to change his life for the better.
We walked done the stairs side by side talking about normal everyday things; she asked how Tim was, how not being in college was working out. We laughed at each other’s personal lives and swapped funny stories. We were just at the bottom of the stairs when Wally came zooming towards us and skidded to a halt. He looked at Artemis, wide eyed and clearly bursting with news. "Chase has just landed in Central City, he wants to met us." They both looked slightly stunned, I took my aunt by the hand and began leading her to the door. "Well go!" They were both rushing down the front steps. "And tell him I'll see him sometime next week." Neither of them answered as my uncle scooped his wife into his arms and sped away.
I walked back into the house, walking into the kitchen to have a cup of tea with Alfred, two minutes after the tea was poured I received a text from Wally. "Will do." About ten minutes after that I got another, but from Chase this time, "See you Friday Birdy, need a catch up." I replied with such speed, Flash would have been jealous, "Darn right". I shook my head, what a hectic day. I looked up at Alfred, he was smiling. "Things seem to be going rather well for you lately Miss Grayson, even the media isn't hounding you with their usual twisted truths.” And it was true; thus far the media had had no input into the ‘Ivy incident’ as we were calling. I grinned up at him, signing slightly as I spoke. “That won’t last forever, especially when they find out about what is being planned for next week.”
The old man that I had come to see as my second grandfather looked at me thoughtfully, “The happening behind those walls have nothing to do with the outside world and its opinions my dear. The minimal amount of Arkham staff that have been informed of your plans made an oath not to break patient confidentially... even if that patient is a super criminal. And to break such an oath would mean that they would be fired almost instantly, not to mention, they would be kept tabs on because they worked in the Asylum.” I looked at him, he was level headed, he was fair and just, he was always there to talk to when i couldn’t talk to others, and he made the best scones. They. Were. Too. Die. For. This man practically raised the man that had become the Dark Knight; he knew what he was on about. “Not to mention if they did, Agent A would be sure to come after them with a broom handle, defiantly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that.” I heard him chuckle at his code name.
Bruce entered the kitchen with a harassed looking Tim in tow; he was busy mumbling about a media paper he had to do. Bruce had a slightly amused look on his face. Alfred and I smirked simultaneously at the lad’s misfortune. “There there Mr. Drake, would a buttered scone ease your troubles?” His eyes perked up so fast, it wasn’t even funny. “Please Alfred, this paper is going to kill me, it’s on ‘The influence of media in today’s society.’ I’ll need all the energy I can get, no going on patrol with you tonight Bruce sorry.” I almost chocked on the dregs on my second cup of tea, That was the same report I had done .I’ll give him Uncle Clarks notes, I didn’t need them anymore. “Everything alright Charlotte?” Asked Bruce as he sat on a bar stool to my right. I patted my throat, my smirk doubling in size.
“Oh yes, I’m fine thanks, just something struck me as funny that’s all.” He didn’t press the matter, Tim through me a questioning look, if possible my smile got even wider. I looked at my watch, “God is that the time? I better get going, It’s a long way back to Blüdhaven and I’m on patrol tonight. Well thanks for finally agreeing to everything Granddad,” he grumbled something about not having much choice in the matter, I gave him a hug, I hoped it would make up for threatening him and all, I pulled away to find the beginnings of a smile. I looked over to Tim pointing him, “Chase is back in town, you should get in touch, and also I have something for you, I’ll email it to you tomorrow. If I forget it text me, you’ll need it.” This just confessed him further as I left the kitchen behind Alfred. He walked me to the front door, which really wasn’t necessary, but I hadn’t said goodbye yet, so it was just as well. “Well Alfred, yet again your wise words have pointed me towards the right thing, thank you old friend.” He broke out of his professionalism as we hugged. “Not at all Miss. Grayson, I did the same thing with your father and his father as well.” I smiled at the thought for Alfred trying to advice an eleven year old headstrong version of Bruce. “Drive safely now, let one of us know when you have arrived.” I nodded, walking out into the now chilly darkening air.
Dad had been gone for several hours now; I thought it was only far to inform him of my departure from the manor, I sent him a message as I headed to my moped. I got on, put on the helmet and sped away down the drive. About two and a half hours later Nightwing and Starling could be seen having a roof race around the city of Blüdhaven, to see who could make it to the robbery of the main bank first.
Nightwing’s Daughter – Chapter 7
Family meeting
I sat and sighed. That could have been one killer meeting. An hour and a half trying to justify to representatives of the Justice League why Aspen should be given a second chance. Batman was there, understandable and then you had my uncle and aunt - Flash and Artemis. So effectively it had been a family meeting. It was held in one of many Bruce Wayne’s conference rooms, not the cave, which surprised me. Although Bruce kept glaring at my proposed idea to reform a criminal. But on the whole, I think it went alright. All I had to do was pull on Artemis's heart strings and make sure uncle Wally had a load of cookies courtesy of Alfred, and I was set. But as it turns out I didn’t need to work nearly as hard as I thought I would.
-N.D-N.D-N.D-
When the door bell to the mansion went off I ran to get it, completely beating Alfred to the mark. I shot him an apologetic look as I went to open the door, he nodded in understanding. I opened it to find two adults about my dad’s age. The male a tall, thin, ginger man with the cheekiest smile in the world. The woman, just a bit smaller than him, with blonde hair dragged into a ponytail, a genuine smile she only reserved for the people she cared for the most etched on her slight features.
“Well, well,” started my uncle. “If it isn’t the Birdy busy trying to defy the League.” He hugged me tightly over the thresh hold. “Nice to see you too, Uncle Wally.” I moved my hand in order to try and make some kind of contact with my aunt. “You too Aunt Artemis.” She just laughed. I was released from the speedsters grip not long after. “So where’s your old man?” Wally questioned as I lead them into one of the living rooms. “Talking to Granddad, they’ll be through in a bit to take us to the conference room.” Artemis snorted, “He really doesn’t like this idea does he?” I shook my head sadly. “Well, just between us three and these walls, the League loves the idea, all for different reasons of course. The only one you’ll have to convince in there is old Batsy.” I grinned at my uncle.
We talked for a while about general things; they wanted to know how things were. Although we kept in regular contact with the two, I couldn’t deny that the phone calls and emails had been sparse recently to say the least, this of course was down to the fact that both of them were working again. I did the most logical thing I could think of, I asked about their son, my ‘cousin’ and one of my closet friends Chase. Chase had inherited his father’s speed talent, and his mother’s love of arrows, so the name ‘Chase’ fit perfectly, fit for both the running and the hunting type. To my astonishment, they informed me that he had gone to Peru of all places! All in aid of hunting down his grandfather, Sportsmaster. “He must be getting on a bit though surely, I mean he’s older than my granddad, and Bruce is no spring chicken.” There were two nods of agreement. “He wanted to know as much as he could about my side of the family, and no amount of stories seemed to do his appetite justice... he’s been trained well though, he can look after himself." A look of purist horror must have been accompanying the sick twisting feeling in my suddenly hollow stomach. "That's what we feel like every day." She said somewhat shakily "And that's the way we'll feel until he comes home. He's been gone for nearly three months now." I just nodded, I was sure if I looked in the mirror my face would be some shade of green. What had he gotten himself into? How could he put either of them through this? Wally draped an arm over Artemis, I turned away. Brushing my cheek, I found that I had shed a tear in fear of what challenges faced my friend.
It wasn't long after this however Alfred - thank goodness - came to direct us to the conference room in which the meeting was being held. Although we were treating this informally, thus the lack of costume, I knew Bruce would be nothing short of horrified if I made this choice lightly and without proper consideration. Once in the room I looked around for dad. He wasn't there. "He'd only help you in making this decision, and you need to make it entirely of your own free will." I rolled my eyes at his words, "I came up with the idea Bruce... I've taken into account all the variables." He just glared at me, I thought maybe pictures would help, so I walked over to the computer, brought out my memory stick and began to click things.
The first thing that popped up was a picture of Aspen taken when he was out and about in civvies, he looked... Normal. Black skinny jeans and a purple top, clashing brilliantly with his burning curls. "Aspen was born Aspen, that's his birth name, the one Ivy gave him. So if you like," I gestured to the picture, "this is his secret identity." I raised an eyebrow waiting for criticism from the unmasked Bat. I got none so continued. "Corey Fletcher is a sixteen year old home schooled student. As such, there is no record of his home address or any personal details for that matter." Wally cleared his throat. "So what you're saying is this kid has never been to main stream?" I nodded, "The thing is he has been educated and my thoughts are that he has had multiple tutors. The Joker, Two face, Killer Croc, others..." Artemis was lent against the wall, eyes closed, taking it all in. "It will be hard to turn him." I turned to her, I knew that, I was prepared for it not to work, prepared for failure. "I know, but we've got to give him a chance..."
"What makes you so sure he'll want to change, want to defey who he is?"
I replied with a smile, "Because you did..."
-N.D-N.D-N.D-
As I walked down the thick carpeted halls of the mansion thinking of how well that had gone, I was interrupted by Artemis coming to my side. "I can't believe you threatened to never speak to him again. That. Was. Brilliant. True bird style." I tipped an imaginary top hat in her direction. "What's the point in being in this family if you can't threaten somebody every now and again?" She nodded happily. "This time next week you'll be walking out of Arkham after your first session with him." I was drawn back into my thoughts of him. Not Aspen, but Corey Fletcher, I smiled slightly; I was going to change his life for the better.
We walked down the stairs side by side talking about normal everyday things; she asked how Tim was, how not being in college was working out. We laughed at each other’s personal lives and swapped funny stories. We were just at the bottom of the stairs when Wally came zooming towards us and skidded to a halt. He looked at Artemis, wide eyed and clearly bursting with news. "Chase has just landed in Central City, he wants to met us." They both looked slightly stunned, I took my aunt by the hand and began leading her to the door. "Well go!" They were both rushing down the front steps. "And tell him I'll see him sometime next week." Neither of them answered as my uncle scooped his wife into his arms and sped away.
I walked back into the house, walking into the kitchen to have a cup of tea with Alfred, two minutes after the tea was poured I received a text from Wally. "Will do." About ten minutes after that I got another, but from Chase this time, "See you Friday Birdy, need a catch up." I replied with such speed, Flash would have been jealous, "Darn right". I shook my head, what a hectic day. I looked up at Alfred, he was smiling. "Things seem to be going rather well for you lately Miss Grayson, even the media isn't hounding you with their usual twisted truths.” And it was true; thus far the media had had no input into the ‘Ivy incident’ as we were calling. I grinned up at him, signing slightly as I spoke. “That won’t last forever, especially when they find out about what is being planned for next week.”
The old man that I had come to see as my second grandfather looked at me thoughtfully, “The happening behind those walls have nothing to do with the outside world and its opinions my dear. The minimal amount of Arkham staff that have been informed of your plans made an oath not to break patient confidentially... even if that patient is a super criminal. And to break such an oath would mean that they would be fired almost instantly, not to mention, they would be kept tabs on because they worked in the Asylum.” I looked at him, he was level headed, he was fair and just, he was always there to talk to when i couldn’t talk to others, and he made the best scones. They. Were. Too. Die. For. This man practically raised the man that had become the Dark Knight; he knew what he was on about. “Not to mention if they did, Agent A would be sure to come after them with a broom handle, defiantly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that.” I heard him chuckle at his code name.
Bruce entered the kitchen with a harassed looking Tim in tow; he was busy mumbling about a media paper he had to do. Bruce had a slightly amused look on his face. Alfred and I smirked simultaneously at the lad’s misfortune. “There there Mr. Drake, would a buttered scone ease your troubles?” His eyes perked up so fast, it wasn’t even funny. “Please Alfred, this paper is going to kill me, it’s on ‘The influence of media in today’s society.’ I’ll need all the energy I can get, no going on patrol with you tonight Bruce sorry.” I almost chocked on the dregs on my second cup of tea, That was the same report I had done. I’ll give him Uncle Clarks notes, I didn’t need them anymore. “Everything alright Charlotte?” Asked Bruce as he sat on a bar stool to my right. I patted my throat, my smirk doubling in size.
“Oh yes, I’m fine thanks, just something struck me as funny that’s all.” He didn’t press the matter, Tim threw me a questioning look, if possible my smile got even wider. I looked at my watch, “God is that the time? I better get going, It’s a long way back to Blüdhaven and I’m on patrol tonight. Well thanks for finally agreeing to everything Granddad,” He grumbled something about not having much choice in the matter, I gave him a hug, I hoped it would make up for threatening him and all, I pulled away to find the beginnings of a smile. I looked over to Tim pointing him, “Chase is back in town, you should get in touch, and also I have something for you, I’ll email it to you tomorrow. If I forget it text me, you’ll need it.” This just confessed him further as I left the kitchen behind Alfred. He walked me to the front door, which really wasn’t necessary, but I hadn’t said goodbye yet, so it was just as well. “Well Alfred, yet again your wise words have pointed me towards the right thing, thank you old friend.” He broke out of his professionalism as we hugged. “Not at all Miss. Grayson, I did the same thing with your father and his father as well.” I smiled at the thought for Alfred trying to advice an eleven year old headstrong version of Bruce. “Drive safely now, let one of us know when you have arrived.” I nodded, walking out into the now chilly darkening air.
Dad had been gone for several hours now; I thought it was only fair to inform him of my departure from the manor, I sent him a message as I headed to my moped. I got on, put on the helmet and sped away down the drive. About two and a half hours later Nightwing and Starling could be seen having a roof race around the city of Blüdhaven, to see who could make it to the robbery of the main bank first.