"Pretty thing," I call, holding a small piece of crab out to Pennyworth the cat. He comes for it quickly, sniffing first before gently licking it.

"Stop feeding him Perich. He is going to get fat," Damian complains from across the table.

I smile at the kitty, "Are you going to get fat? Fat like Damian?"

"I am not fat!"

Tim and Dick snigger as I straighten up.

"Neither is the cat so quit complaining."

We're at Wayne Manor, finishing preparations for the fourth of July gala to be held in a few nights. Really, Dick and I are eating fish cakes, Cass is quietly watching something on her phone with earbuds in, Tim is dozing off with two coffees in his hand and Damian is drawing while we wait for Bruce. 

"Did Mr and Miss Perich receive your graduation gift on time?" Alfred asks as he brings another plate out for us.

I nod, "Yeah, they haven't left their rooms since."

In the weeks we've been back in Gotham, Hallow and Gordon graduated. I was stumped on what to get them (since they have everything) until Dick offered to ask Bruce for two prototypes of the latest Wayne Tech gaming gear.

Tim fidgets, eyes open now. I wonder if he regrets leaving school?

"Where's Bruce?" Dick asks for the hundredth time. Damian gives him an irritated look.

"What part of 'Father got held up at work' did you not understand, Grayson?" The little man snarls.

"Adorable," I whisper.

"Why are you even here!?"

I grin back at him and he looks away, closing his eyes. So much like Ethan.

"Do you want to see where the kids will be staying?" Dick intercepts, looking hopeful to diffuse the non-existent situation. Following the night of the crash Damian and I have come to an understanding, but Dick doesn't need to know that.

"Sure."

I get up and he automatically latches onto my hand. 

As we head out towards the main staircase I can hear Damian rambling about the manor not being a 'Hotel'.

"Keep your hands off my sisters while they're here, yeah?" I shout back. The only response is an indignant screech. I love that kid.

It's Ignatier's first time 'leading the charge'. I had to do it, Demitri had to do it, Ethan had to do it, Fantasia, the twins, and now it's her turn. Essentially it's being the eldest Perich kid at an event we're attending without our parents.

Even though I'm there I'm technically a Grayson/Wayne, so she's it. Normally we'd wait until she's at least seventeen as the twins were, but with everything that is going on, we need good representation of the company everywhere.

Dick leads me up to the first floor of Wayne Manor. As far as I can tell it has four floors, a basement and an attic. There were rumors back in ARGUS that Batman's base is also here.

"What was it like growing up in this place?" I ask.

He hums before he answers, looking for the words.

"At first I hated it. It took me a few weeks to warm up to the place. And to Bruce. Then I started to enjoy it. I used to run from the end of the driveway to the tree at the very edge of the back forest to remind myself just how big this place is. Then Bruce installed a basketball court and a games room...It really felt like home for a long time."

I smile, "Until?"

He breathes in through his teeth, "It's a long story."

Probably a mask thing.

We head down a corridor on the right. There are paintings on the wall depicting parts of Gotham I can recognise by the shape. The curves and points of the islands are less eroded and the water made blue.

"Surely there's a painting of you and Bruce around here somewhere?" I grin. 

Dick actually blushes and slows his walk.

I stop ahead of him and turn around. He jerks his head towards the door between us.

"It...might be in here. This was my bedroom."

I can't hide my excitement. A voice in the back of my head tells me to stop being such a lovesick little girl. I rip that voice's throat out as I open his door and switch the light on.

My first thought is on how big it is. Even I didn't grow up with a room this big.

"I think you might have been a richer teenager than me," I comment, venturing into the scarce room. A few things remain, such as clothes, some photos, a couple of action figures and colognes. 

I don't say anything about it, but it's obvious that he stays here often. Or at least, he did. I imagine at the end of nights spent running along rooftops, this place feels like home.

He's watching me with a content smile. 

"The painting?" I tease.

His face shifts into something of a cringe and his eyes dart to the closet.

"Please don't. I look ridiculous. I was wearing these ugly boy shorts with a jacket and tie. And I had a bowl cut."

I cackle, "You think that makes me want to see it any less?"

I move towards it with an evil grin, but my phone suddenly buzzes in my back pocket. A single, echoing beep. A tone used only for one person.

Dammit. Worst timing ever.

"Lucky you. I've gotta check this first," I tell him. He looks relieved and hurries over to the wardrobe. He opens it (barely) and starts throwing things around like he's hiding something.

A special suit perhaps?

The message and the name read clear on my screen, truly shifting the atmosphere.

From Melissa: Gotham. Hoodwink bar. Fifteen minutes. 

I have not seen Melissa since we left the Marines. Occasionally she joins in on our group calls but other than that she prefers to be a recluse. I don't even know where she's living.

Her specialty was collecting information when we were on missions. I'd send her ahead to scout, plant her in organisations and help her build inside connections. She is able to disappear, blend in and pick up on the small things. It's why I've asked for her help.

I shoot a simple Confirmed back to her. This is my first step into taking the Relaysian leak as seriously as possible. Not that I wasn't before, but this time I'm taking every path available.

"Something wrong?" Dick asks, looking worried over his shoulder at me. I stare back, scrambling for an explanation. 

"Something's come up at work." It's one of the lines he often throws at me. I hurry up to him, grab his head and kiss him. "Love you. I'll be back later okay?"

I turn and hurry out the door. Fifteen minutes to get across town. It might not be enough. If I don't get there before or on the dot she'll disappear.

"Wait! Will you be back in time to pick them up?" Dick shouts after me.

"Don't know!"

I jog down the stairs thinking about Dick picking up Heather, Mai and my youngest siblings. It's a thought I cringe at- Unfortunately there is more at stake than their comfort for a thirty minute drive. We took my car here. He'll have to take one of Bruce's to get them. And his cars are little sports.

I'm sure they'll work it out.

When I step outside I'm greeted by a purple-pink dusk. Not quite night, then. 

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I start to search for my keys.

Cyan and Amethyst twist on my arms, alerting me to a possible danger. I whip my head around to the forest surrounding Wayne Manor. The leaves and branches shift softly in the warm wind, dim light creating all sorts of shadows. My senses go on high alert and I quickly glance over my shoulder to make sure I shut the door. Then, I slowly approach the edge of the woods.

Fearing for the family inside my mind goes to the worst possibilities. Could it be Grotesque? Has he somehow found me? Or is it an enemy of their's? Have they finally been found out?

"Something wrong?"

Amethyst flares up and I spin around ready to blast the intruder's head off.

Luckily, I notice that the culprit is Jason before I can kill him. Or is that unlucky?

"Where the fuck did you come from?" I ask, stepping behind the car to hide the glowing. His bike is behind him and he's leaning on it coolly, doing his best to look like he's not interested. But I can see his eyes investigating my odd stance.

"Been here a while."

Brushing the slight off I turn back to the woods. 

The serpents have relaxed. Whatever it was has retreated. An animal maybe? Fox?

I'm startled by my phone buzzing in my hand. I look at the screen and see Melissa's response of Don't keep me waiting. 

"Shit," I fish my keys out of my pocket and open the car, ignoring Jason as I race out of the  courtyard.

◊

◊

The Hoodwink bar is a shitty little alley chunk. My car feel unsafe in these streets, so I park it somewhere secluded. Hopefully it's safe for the next few minutes.

As soon as I walk in, I nearly trip on some drunk lying on his stomach in a puddle of piss. I step on, then over him, taking in the scene before me. 

In the corner to my right, there are some guys gathered around a table excitedly watching something I (don't want to) can't see. The opposite corner, several tables are strewn with bodies in varying states of injury and nakedness.

Straight across the place from me, with drunkards swaying in between us, a hooded figure sits in a booth with a bottle of whisky in her hand, head down.

I make my way towards her calmly.

Even as I sit, she doesn't look up.

I roll my eyes, "Enough with the dramatics."

Before she responds she puts the bottle to her lips and tosses her head back. Even the cloak she's wearing can't hide honey golden curls or the pretty face between them.

"Good to see you boss," she says sarcastically. Her voice is much the same. Husky, deep and mysterious. 

"I won't ask where or how you've been."

"Thanks."

"But you still agreed to meet."

As she shuffles further back in her chair, her eyes remain glued to the table. She swigs again.

"I help you, you help me."

I had a feeling it would be this way. Righteous as we are, we still have to look out for ourselves. If investigating means she sticks her neck out for me then I must risk the same.

"What do you want?" I ask.

She finally looks at me, staring me in the face before her eyes wander down my body, then over my arm. With one hand she tugs my sleeve, dragging it towards her before she pulls it down over my wrist.

Sensing the presence of the Citrine serpent, Amethyst slithers up to my palm. Not a second later, Cyan appears beside her.

"Eric told me," she explains, "I didn't believe him."

It hadn't even occurred to me that the two might be talking. They were always close. It was always Eric who'd extract her from her solo missions. Even though he had a thing for me I was sure they were at least sleeping together.

"You should go and see him," I say without thinking about it.

She recoils from me like I'm burning hot.

"We're different people now," is all she says. She drinks again before holding her hand out. 

I do not nod to what she says because I can't say I agree. Perhaps I would have months ago, but certain additions to my life have given me a different outlook on love.

From my jacket, I produce a thumb drive.

"Everything collected so far," I tell her, putting the small device in her hand. "I'll be interested to hear your conclusion. Now what do you want in return?"

All in a second her fingers snap shut, she gets to her feet and sweeps around the table. 

"For now, pick up my tab will ya?" She says, "I come here often."

Well, now I know where she has been hiding.

"And for later?" I ask, also standing.

As she walks away, she holds her arm up in the air. The arm where Citrine resides.

Only then do I understand what she is asking for in return for her service.

◊

◊

For some reason they end up at Gotham domestic airport instead of the private terminal. Dick's leg is bouncing and Jason gives him an annoyed look.

"Did something happen last time?" He cringes as he asks, the topic of Cleo and her family a sensitive, but also emotionally fueled one. Not things Jason enjoys discussing. Especially with Dick.

"They don't like me. Ignatier, maybe, but the younger ones think I'm there to take their sister away from them," Dick explains. He stands up from the waiting seats and starts to pace. His movements are clearly annoying the people around them- apart from the girls smiling and giggling at them.

"Aren't you?" He's pushing it, he knows.

Dick turns a scornful eye on him, "They like me more than Mai likes you."

Jason flips him off, right as the doors slide open and Business class are allowed through first. 

Mai leads the party with Heather. Ignatier follows closely behind, then the twins, Logan and their nanny Sandy.

When Mai sees Jason she rolls her eyes and mutters something to Heather. Whatever she says makes the other woman grin, then wink at Jason.

Dick greets them awkwardly, but Mai and Heather seem less inclined to torture him like the past and instead greet him kindly. 

He leans around them and smiles at Ignatier, who returns the expression happily. 

"Long time no see," she says sarcastically.

"Where's Cleo?" Logan suddenly interjects.

Dick feels the nerves scrambling in his stomach. His mouth goes dry.

"She got caught up with something," he says, trying to smile as normally as possible, "So Jason and I are here to take you to the manor. Is that okay?"

Logan seems to favour his father in looks, Dick thinks, but his hair is the same colour as Brittany's. The boy looks up at Klover and Jeremy who have on tight smiles, doing their best to keep things civil.

"Well it's alright with me," he proclaims. Sandy gives him a smile. Dick only remembers meeting the nanny once at his wedding.

"Eight, nine, you want to ride with me and your brother-in-law?" Heather asks, "Seven, ten, Sandy and Mai can stick with this one here." She nods at Jason and Mai seems to have steam coming out of her ears. 

Klover glares at her, "We have names you know."

Heather hums back and starts to push them, "Do you though?"

The protests of Mai and Sandy about the arrangement fall on deaf ears as the group shuffle through crowds of people and head out to the busy parking lot.

If Dick's nerves were shot before, they're desolate now. Cleo's best friend and two siblings who don't like him, stuck in the car for the ride back to the manor.

Meanwhile Jason gets silent Mai, respectful Sandy and nice Ignatier. In the much bigger Jaguar, no less.

Not fair. 

One of Bruce's Porches looks out of place between a beat up buggy and a Honda. The more startling sight is how the twins do not bat an eyelid at the luxury vehicle. Dick has seen kids lose their minds whenever he drives the thing through the city. 

They're used to it.

As Dick helps the twins squeeze their luggage into the small car, he catches Heather watching Jason and Mai interact. One acting cold and the other defeated because of it. There's an intrigued smirk on her face, something he can't quite decipher..

He realises he's staring when they lock eyes over the top of the car.

"Ya know," she says, slowly, "he kind of reminds me of Jack."

The statement is startling, to say the least. The longer Dick stares at her, and the longer Heather watches Jason closely, the larger the suspicion grows inside him.

"Why are you here?" He asks plainly.

Heather doesn't seem to be surprised by the querie.

Her eyes shift to him first, then her frown, "This might shock you, but Cleo had a life before you came around," she swings her backpack into the car, "I miss her. Is that so hard to believe?"

Dick doesn't let up, "She's under a lot of stress. If you tell her Jason is like Jack, she's gonna think it every time she looks at him."

He realises his words have different implications after they come out. Of course, she latches on immediately and a smirk grows on her face.

"Don't be jealous of a dead guy."

"I'm not," he snaps irritably. All thoughts of being civil fly out of his head. "Talking, even thinking about him only causes her pain. She doesn't need that right now. If you're here to cause trouble you may as well get back the plane."

A few cold seconds of silence pass between them. The twins don't make any snide comments as he had expected them to. There are no voices nearby indicating that Jason's group are either sitting in the car, gone, or watching in silence.

"I was right."

Suddenly, the smirk vanishes from her face, replaced by a warm smile. It strikes Dick like a lightning bolt because he was sure they were about to have a most volatile screaming match over the car.

"About what?" He asks quickly, still confusedly on the defense.

Heather turns with her eyes still on him. She hums quietly to herself, like she's delighted by her thought.

"You, Dick Grayson, are perfect for my commander."

With that stunning revelation and complete shift of character, Heather disappears into the car, laughing to herself over the blush that spreads across the idiot's face.

There's no need to protect Cleo, it seems, for she is already guarded by a knight.

Y'all might remember in Sinner and Sadist during a gala Jason and Venus ran off to his old room to have a gala of their own? Shall I repeat here? lmao