Dick catches up with The Joker only to be intercepted by Red Hood. The antidote is finally ready and Bruce finally accepts his feelings.

"We have to find him." Damian sat arms folded watching his father's non-changing features. Robin followed him as the man's finger pressed a button on the dashboard and a map appeared showing the location of something or someone, Richard no doubt. "A tracking device?"

"Suit."

"You don't trust him?"

"Of course I do." Batman snapped slamming a hand on the steering wheel before gripping it tightly. Damian rose a brow at Bruce's reaction before turning back to the front. A few minutes went by with a silent duo before Batman pressed another button and Jason's voice flittered through the car.

"B, what's up?"

"I need you to intercept Nightwing."

There was a moment of silence before Jason replied.

"Where is he?"

"Heading North of where you are. I'll send you the coordinates."

"Are you sure about this Batman?"

"We need to inject the antidote. We can't risk The Joker finding out who Nightwing really is."

"Joker!" Nightwing shouted, hearing the icy chuckle all around him. His eyes flickered to a shadow and he flung himself to the residing building. "Come out!"

Another chuckle had Nightwing throwing himself at the voice and growled when he collided with the clown. Holding the resisting freak down Nightwing examined the man's features. He was gleeful, psychotically so which caused, even more, rage to flow through Dick's body.

"Nightwing." The Joker greeted. "What brings you to Gotham on such a beautiful evening?"

"When someone breaks into homes and hurts innocent people that usually gets my attention." Dick snapped.

"Oh you know me," the clown motioned with his hand. "I'm a killer for the innocent."

A spray suddenly sprayed into Dick's face and he jumped back crying out at the pain. The Joker was giggling away twirling around with delight not even making an attempt to flee. When Dick was able to focus again something caught his attention. There on The Joker's hand was a spec of red. Blood. More specifically Alfred's. Dick's brow furrowed and his whole body tensed. An angry growl emitted from him.

"Aww is the poor puppy angry?"

"Extremely."

The Joker was unable to get another word in when Dick bounded towards him and slammed his fist into the clown's face. Nightwing quickly followed the recoiling clown and threw him across the rooftop before picking him up and slamming him down.

"You don't get to hurt innocent people without consequences." Dick grasped the man's shirt roughly bringing the clown close. "I am that consequence."

"Oh, I'm so scared." The Joker mocked despite already bleeding from various places.

"You should be." Dick's whole aura went black and the Joker unintentionally shivered at the dark glare.

"Nightwing!"

Dick glanced up to see Red Hood standing on the opposite side of the roof walking towards them.

"What do you want Hood?"

"Step away from the clown," Jason announced throwing his gun up, aiming it at Dick without hesitation.

"Oh, my saviour." The Joker swooned, laughing hysterically silencing with a gargled noise at the punch that Dick administered which had even Jason wincing for the criminal.

"I can't do that."

"This isn't you Nightwing." Red Hood announced slowly inching forward. "You can't let your emotions cloud your judgement."

"Yes, he can." The clown laughed quickly turning his attention to the acrobat, his features turning deadly venomous. "I'm going to do it again. That butler has it coming."

When Jason saw all the light disappear from Dick's form he knew Joker had said something he was unable to hear.

"Wait, Nightwing!" Jason yelled as Dick picked the clown up and threw him over the edge of the building. Red Hood flew to the edge of the rooftop and peered down ready to see the clown splattered on the sidewalk. To his surprise he found The Joker hanging in midair by his foot upside down completely enraged with the outcome.

"I know who I am." Nightwing stood beside Red Hood as police cars began to invade the ally way. "This clown won't change that."

"You already called it in?" Jason was stunned turning to the smug acrobat.

"I called it in when I left the Manor."

"How'd you know where he was going to be?"

"I'm a detective. It's my job to know."

Dick knew under the helmet Jason was smirking and he let out a chuckle when the hooded figure nudged him playfully.

"Well, I better be going. Can't be seen with a goodie like you." He peered over the edge and called out. "Sorry Joke's."

The clown was speechless and Jason was astounded.

"You managed to shut him up."

"One of my many skills."

"See ya round Nightwing."

Dick watched as Jason leapt from building to building until he was out of sight before gracefully tumbling down to speak with the awaiting police.

"You were wrong."

"About?"

"Grayson."

"No." Batman stood, as he watched the acrobat speak to the detective in charge. "I wasn't."

When Batman returned with Robin to the cave Alfred was clearing away the shattered glass. Bruce was about to call out when he noticed the butler wasn't alone.

"I'm really sorry Alfred."

"It's quite alright Master Dick." The man patted him on the shoulder in comfort.

"I can do this myself. You need to rest."

"As do you sir, but your bullet hole doesn't seem to stop you."

Dick chuckled and stood to empty his dustpan in the bin. Turning around he found the duo watching them and he waved.

"Hey, guys. Where have you been?"

"Patrolling Grayson, since you did our job for us," Damian smirked with a small sense of pride for the acrobat.

"Dick come with me," Bruce ordered heading over to the computer not joining in with the greetings. Dick sighed and followed, peeking over the man's shoulder at what had the man's undying attention.

"What's up Bruce?"

"Here." Bruce offered the liquid filled syringe to the acrobat. "The antidote is done."

"Oh." Dick's eyes lost their shine for a moment before quickly taking the syringe with eagerness. "Thanks."

Richard injected himself and placed the syringe down before he began to walk away not wanting to interfere with the man's clear disinterest with him. An arm stopped him abruptly and he was forcefully twisted around and brought into the Dark Knight's arms.

"Bruce wha-"

Dick was cut off when the older male pressed his lips against his own and Dick almost instantly melted. Bruce pulled away and cupped Dick's cheek to which the acrobat leant into savouring Bruce's every touch.

"I haven't been here for you recently." Bruce started. "I apologise."

"Bruce you don't need to apologise."

"Yes, I do." Bruce sighed. "You managed to capture the man behind all this in one night where I couldn't in three weeks."

"You're welcome by the way." Dick grinned playfully, placing a hand on the bat symbol on Bruce's chest. He carefully outlined the bat's wing and fluttered his eyes up to meet Bruce's own. "You know you should have included me in the first place."

"And have The Joker know you are. I don't think so."

Dick pouted causing Bruce to smirk and press a kiss to the man's forehead. They stayed that way for to moments too long and Bruce had to remove himself from Dick's alluring aura. The acrobat noticed Bruce's hesitation and decided to lighten the mood.

"Come on I think Alfred's making Lobster Thermidor." Dick pulled away yanking at the man's wrist. "You're favourite."

Bruce finally smiled warmly and let Dick lead him towards the locker room. Undressing from the bat suit came with ease now, after many a night or morning of patrol the bat suit was like a second skin. The odd sensation, however, was not the cool air on his exposed skin that he was so used to now but the set of hands roaming his back.

"Dick, what are you doing?"

"Come on Bruce." Dick pressed a kiss to the man's neck, flicking his tongue over the older man's pulse point. "You know you want to."

Dick circled Bruce and stood before him placing his hands on Bruce's pectorals and slowly traced the man's taut body stopping at the hem of his pants. Dick glanced up biting his lip seductively almost asking Bruce to comply. The acrobat thought he could resist but watching Bruce remove the suit, exposing the muscled shoulders, the faint bruises that littered that body and what was held between the armoured legs had Dick urging forward. Bruce glanced down as Dick played with the hem dancing his fingers lightly over his abdomen causing an ever growing burning sensation to start in Bruce's body. He couldn't oppose his feelings any longer, Dick caused one too many fires and the only way to extinguish it was too finally let himself immerse in his lust for the acrobat. Bruce inched forward and pushed Dick against the wall, boxing him in with his body. His eyes had glazed over with lustful hunger and Bruce dived for the acrobat's neck only to snap away at the sudden voice of Tim echoing around the cave.

"Bruce? Dick?"

"Talk about bad timing." Dick sighed running a hand through his hair. He straighten himself and headed to the door opening it to find the younger male relieved to see him.

"There you are. Where's Bruce?"

"Changing," Dick smiled, "What's up?"

"Alfred sent me down. Dinners ready."

"You hear that Bruce, dinners done," Dick called behind him.

"Go on ahead, I'll be up in a moment."

Dick took a quick glance behind at Bruce and internally groaned in sexual frustration finding the older males behind bare and aching to be touched.

"You coming?" Tim called from the stairs and Dick forced himself to look away and nodded catching up with the teen throwing his arm around his shoulders rubbing his hair affectionately as they went.