Linda watches with interest and mild disgust as Wally pours the fifth packet of sugar into his coffee across the table from her. Dick hasn't arrived at the café yet, which makes for an awkward situation.

"I didn't know you had friends outside of the Titans, much less Richard Grayson," Linda says, trying to break the ice. Wally opens another packet of sugar.

"Uh, well it's been five months since we last talked so things have changed a bit. And well he's..a bit more than just a friend."

"Oh?" Linda says in surprise, "I'm glad you've..moved on. Not that I found you annoying or anything!"

"Nah, it's okay. Random guy with super powers shows up in a lightning storm claiming he's known you for years and is in love with you. That'd be weird for anyone," Wally says with a shrug.

"Does he know about the Flash thing?" Linda asks quietly.

"Yeah. I've known him since I was eleven. He knows that we know each other, he was just pretending not to yesterday."

"Is he..one of the Titans?"

"I..can't answer that. You know why."

"Right," She takes her laptop out of her bag and puts it on the table.

Dick arrives at the café, with a rushed, "Sorry I'm late."

Wally figures he might have been late on purpose, but it didn't really matter. Dick slides into the corner seat next to Wally and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. The redhead's pale cheeks flush pink. Public displays of affection were rare.

"It's okay," Linda says, opening her laptop, "Let's get started, shall we?"

"Hey, I'll go get you some coffee," Wally says, standing up.

"And-"

"A donut? Gotcha."

"Thanks," Dick smiles at how well Wally knows him. They both know each other's usuals off by heart.

"So," Linda holds a stylus up to her tablet. Unlike Iris, traditional notepad isn't her style. She jumps straight into it, "I'd like to ask you first about your parents generally. Who they were, how they met."

"Well, they were circus folk, obviously," Dick starts, "World-renowned acrobats. I remember people filling the big top every night just to see them preform. They met when they were both eighteen and fell in love at first sight. That's what mama used to tell me, anyways. It was probably more complicated than that, but I wasn't told the exact details as a kid. Mr. Haley told me later on that their two families had a rivalry and they weren't even supposed to talk to each other."

"Like Romeo and Juliet?"

Dick shrugs, "I guess so, but it lasted a lot longer than three days."

"They married quite young, correct?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I don't know the year, but their wedding anniversary is April fifteenth."

"1993, according to my research," Linda tells him.

"Oh? Nice to know."

Wall comes back and hands Dick his coffee and donut, "Okay, what's going on?"

"We're talking about how my parents met and when they got married. 1993. They were married for two years before I came along," Dick tells him, taking the two packets of sugar Wally had left on the table for him.

"That's nice. I'm pretty sure I was an accident," Wally says, then sips his incredibly sugary coffee.

"So what were they like as parents?" Linda asks Dick, ready to scribble down more notes on her tablet.

"Not boring, that's for certain. I was learning how to walk the tightrope not long after I learned how to walk normally. They taught me all of their tricks, including the quadruple somersault. They were the only acrobats who could do it," Dick tells her, grinning.

"So that means you're now the only person who can do it?"

"I guess. I'm probably a bit rusty."

Wally scoffs, "Yeah right, 'rusty.' He's crazy good. Could enter the Olympics if he really wanted to."

Dick blushes at this, "Thanks, Walls."

"I know this is probably hard to talk about, but..what do you remember of the night of their deaths?"

"Well, I kind of find it hard to remember exactly what happened from my own point of view. It was fifteen years ago and I was nine, so some things are fuzzy. I've heard other people's accounts and I've pieced together things over the years."

Linda nods and Dick continues, "It was mama's birthday. We were set up in Gotham, which meant more dangerous stunts to keep the audience entertained. I had been walking past the big top on the way to see the elephants when I heard Mr Haley talking to some men I didn't know inside. It was Tony Zucco and his henchmen, threatening Haley with an 'accident' if he didn't pay them protection money. Haley said no. I didn't really understand what was happening at the time, but I knew Zucco was bad news.

"Later, before the performance, my dad and I gave mama her birthday present. We took pictures with some kids outside. One coincidently happened to be Tim, who's now my adoptive brother.

One side of the story I learned about recently; there was a guy who had a..soft spot for my mom, who had promised to protect her. His name was Richard, I'm named after him. He was in charge of checking the ropes and the bolts on the trapeze to make sure it was safe before every performance. Used to sit under the seats and keep an eye on things. However, he was too preoccupied trying to get a present for my mom to notice that someone had put acid on the ropes, weakening them. He had his eyes on the ring that Bruce Wayne's date happened to be wearing and he was trying to take it. Wanted to impress my mom."

"Woah, really?" Wally asks with interest, "Didn't know that before."

"He's the guy who told me I had my mother's eyes. Which was kind of creepy, really. Anyway, I was up on the trapeze platform, waiting for my turn to preform. There was no safety net while they were preforming, because it was part of the danger. It was always put up again before I came on," Dick takes a deep breath. Now the hard part, "I was watching them swing back and forth, like they always did. Then..the weakened ropes snapped and they fell to the ground. Mama screamed out my name. I screamed. So did everyone else in the tent. Parents covered their kid's eyes, but nobody was able to cover mine as I saw my parents hit the floor in the centre of the ring."

Wally and Linda are quiet. No matter how many times Wally hears the story, it's never going to not haunt him. He rubs Dick's back comfortingly. Dick quickly wipes his dampening eyes with his sleeve, "I'm okay."

"Sure?" Linda asks, wiping her own eyes in a similar fashion.

Dick nods, "There was a lot of panic, people were being evacuated out of the tent. Lots of rush. I just remember kneeling on the platform in shock. I waited a minute or two to climb down. I rushed over to them, but someone held me back. I looked up to see Bruce Wayne. I had no idea who he was, but he told me it was better not to look. His parents were both shot dead in front of him and he had to look at their bodies lying on the ground. Bruce didn't want me to go though that.

He says I struggled a bit, but he managed to calm me down. I supposedly asked him if they were going to be okay. Bruce told me that it physically hurt to shake his head. I ended up sobbing into his shirt, even though I had just met him.

He offered to let me stay at Wayne Manor. It was supposed to be only temporary, but I didn't have any living relatives to go to and hated the idea of being put in a care home so he ended up keeping me," Dick explains, "And honestly? If I could go back in time," he glances quickly at Wally, then back to Linda, "I wouldn't change what happened. I don't know what my life would be like."

"You're very lucky," Linda tells him, putting her styles down, "Most kids end up being passed from foster home to foster home and it's really damaging."

"Yeah, I am."

Linda goes back to her laptop, "So, I do have some photos and videos I found while researching. Do you want to see them?"

Dick and Wally both nod eagerly and Linda turns the laptop around. The first picture is of John Grayson when he was around Dick's age. The resemblance is striking, aside from brown eyes rather than blue. One thing that stands out is the blue, high collared and cleavage bearing costume he's wearing.

"I've seen that costume somewhere before..maybe with some alterations made. Yellow feathers perhaps?" Wally says, knowing exactly what it is, Dick's first Nightwing suit had been made out of his dad's old circus costume, "And I see he had a bad hair phase too."

Dick nudges him, "Hey, I looked great with long hair."

The next picture is of Mary walking on her hands with her back and legs bent, her feet almost touching her head. Wally has seen Dick pull it off plenty of times. There's a couple more picture of Dick's parents before, during and after they got married. Then, they click on the next picture and Wally gasps.

"Holy crap is that you? I've never seen any pictures of you before you were nine."

There's a baby in John's arms with big blue eyes and jet black hair, who is very obviously Dick.

"It's me, yeah," Dick confirms.

"You were a very cute baby," Wally says.

Linda agrees and adds, "He's still cute."

"Of course he is."

The first video comes after a few more pictures in which baby Dick is heavily featured, being an adored only child. Linda explains that she had to get it digitalised because it was on a VHS tape. In the video, Dick is about three. He's feeding one of the elephants watermelon and petting its trunk. Probably Zitka, by Dick's reaction to seeing it.

The elephant nudges him with its trunk somewhat affectionately, then accidentally nudges a bit too much and Dick tumbles back and lands on his bum. Mary runs over to see if he's okay, but little Dickie just starts giggling.

"I can't get over how small you are, oh my gosh," Wally says, "I mean, when we were ten you were tiny, but wow.."

"Pretty fun part of the research," Linda comments.

There's a video of the flying Graysons about to perform. There is a net this time. Mr. Haley introduces them, standing at the edge of the ring below, 'The Flying Graysons! The greatest family of acrobats in the world! John and Mary with, for the first time ever, their talented son, Richard!'

The spotlight lands on them. John and Mary smile and wave, earning a massive cheer from the crowd. Dick looks about seven and is pretty overwhelmed. After brief hesitation he waves to the crowd too.

"My first time performing. I didn't know anyone had filmed it," Dick says in surprise.

He remembers the bright spotlight shining on them. Dick had been practicing for months but was still nervous when he saw the large crowd that had filled the tent. He had temporarily froze in shock, but knowing his parents were by his side, he made it through the performance.

"Wow," Wally says at the end of the video, "You've told me about your first performance but it's amazing to actually see it."

"I screwed up that last somersault, it was supposed to a triple but I only managed a double," Dick says, pointing it out.

"Dick, I can barely do a single somersault," Wally laughs, "And only because you taught me."

"I can do a roly-poly on the ground and that's about it," Linda adds, "I was the one girl at school who couldn't do a cartwheel."

"I still messed it up though," Dick says, causing his boyfriend to sigh.

They look through the last few more photos and videos and finish up their coffee. Linda offers to pay as a way of saying thank you for the interview. Wally is broke and can't reject the offer. When Dick offers to pay instead she insists on paying it, so they end up letting her.

"Thank you so much for the interview," Linda says, "I'll email you the final draft to read before its published on the anniversary."

Dick nods, "Thank you for showing me those pictures and videos. Really, it means a lot."

"Hey, you know Dick is gonna be performing with Haley's at the Gotham fairgrounds on the anniversary. You're welcome to come along," Wally tells her as they get ready to leave the café.

"Oh? If I'm available to come to Gotham I think I will," she looks at Dick, "If you were that good as a kid I'd love to see you perform now."

Dick blushes a little at the compliment and says, "Well, I've got a lot of practicing to catch up on."

After they part ways with Linda, Dick says, "That went well, don't you think?"

"Actually yeah, it did," Wally nods, "Linda is a great woman, but I'm mostly over her."

"Mostly?" Dick frowns.

"It's kind of hard to forget about someone you remember having kids with -"

"Wally, I know. I'm joking," Dick nudges his boyfriend and smiles.

"Oh, right. Your face was pretty damn convincing though. In another life you could have been an actor."

"Maybe, but like I said, I'm happy with the way my life has turned out. Besides, If I was an actor I wouldn't have met you."

"True. There would be a gaping hole in your life," Wally jokes, "Still. Imagine you being a movie star. You could do all your own stunts."

"I've got a taste of fame being Bruce Wayne's son. It's not all its cracked up to be. Although if I was an actor it would be cool to be on Broadway."

"Musical theatre? Dick, that's gay," Wally says, expression serious. Dick looks at him with an equally serious face. Then they both snigger.

"What musical?" Wally asks, "Wait, no. I know already. Mamma Mia."

Dick had been convinced to see it live with Barbara when they were teenagers. Ever since, Wally has been dragged into watching the movie version several times. He, Garth and Roy usually sit on the couch while Donna, Lilith and Dick sing (and dance) along to every song.

"ABBA is one of the greatest pop bands of all time and you know it. Oh, I could be Sky."

"Or you could be his friend, the one who has a thing for older women. Sounds more like you."

"I do not -" Dick starts, but Wally raises his eyebrows, "- Well...maybe, but not by much."

"Or just older people in general, I'm a year and four months older than you."

"Doesn't make you more mature though," Dick says as they arrive back at his apartment building. The café isn't very far from it and it had been nice to slow down and walk for a while. Wally walks fast without even realising, however. He has long runner's legs and moves at a swift pace even when not using his powers. Dick has to walk faster to keep up with him, but it isn't too hard considering he too is blessed with long legs. Kory had been disappointed when he ditched the green leotard and pixie boots for that reason.

"Kid at heart," Wally says, putting a had to his chest, "Bye babe. Call me when you're almost done patrol so I know you're not dead."

"I know," Dick says, then kisses Wally on the lips quickly, "Can't promise I won't have a few bruises."

"Okay."

"Don't get yourself killed, frozen, trapped in any mirrors or whatever the hell else happens in Central City. You're fast, not invincible," Dick reminds him. Wally nods, then dashes away so fast it's almost like he just disappeared.

When Dick opens the door to his apartment he's greeted by a rather unwelcome intruder.

"Grayson."

"Slade," Dick hisses, trying to release the grip the mercenary has on the front of his jacket. His feet aren't even touching the floor. It is at times like this Dick really wishes his height didn't start with a 5.

"Long time no see kid," Slade Wilson says.

"Last time the Titans saw you, you had kidnapped Flash and Kid Flash with the intention of stealing their powers," Dick scowls, "That was four months ago."

Deathstroke puts him back onto his feet, "I'm not here to fight. You and Flasher are together, I notice. How cute."

"That's none of your business," Dick says, turning around to grab his Nightwing suit. He takes off his jacket.

"I'm not judging, just pointing out the fact you're interested in men."

Dick pauses halfway through taking his t-shirt off, sensing eyes on his bare back, "Your son Joey is older than me. I know you're a creep but it's like you're actively trying to make me feel uncomfortable."

"Am I now?"

"What the hell are you doing here Slade?" Dick pulls off his t-shirt quickly and slips on the top half of his suit.

"I have business in Blüdhaven. I know this shithole is your own little Gotham, so I'm here to make sure you don't interfere with my work."

"I'm not going to let you kill someone in my city for couple thousand dollars."

"That's kind of how the mercenary business works, kid. Guy's gotta make a living somehow. Let me do my job and you won't have to get hurt."

"You know I'm not going to agree to that."

"It was worth a shot," Slade says, walking towards the window, "Stay out of my way, bird boy."

Great, that's all Dick needs. Now he has to find out who killed Chief Redhorn, who is hiring Slade, who Slade is trying to kill, keep an eye on Tarantula, find out what Blockbuster is doing, go to work and try to maintain his relationship with Wally. The world apparently has it out for him.

-----------------------------

At work the next day, Gannon is distracting another officer while Dick sneaks into the evidence room to look at chief Redhorn's murder file. It's a difficult task, considering Gannon can see Dick scaling the shelving like a monkey through the window over the other officer's shoulder. He's relieved when his partner returns and leads him away.

"When you said you were having a look in the records I didn't expect you to sit on top of the shelves," Gannon tells him as they head out to the patrol car.

"Ah, sorry about that. Got the info I needed. You kept her distracted, right?"

"Yeah. She used to have some thing with Redhorn actually. Didn't want you to know because she's got a crush on you."

"Ah."

Dick happens to glance upwards at the roof of the building next to the BPD and sees Desthstroke setting up a gun. Shit. Shit shit. He runs away from the patrol car and Gannon with a rushed, "Be right back!"

His partner is confused, "Wait, what?"

Dick jumps and grabs the fence separating the car park and the grounds of the building next door and swings his legs up and over it. He lands on the other side with ease, leaving Gannon standing by the car in shock.

"How did you..?"

He shakes his head, remembering the circus thing and then sets off, running around the fence like a normal person.

Dick bursts into the building and sprints up the stairs. He needs to stop Deathstroke, who is clearly targeting another officer. It takes him a minute to chase Deathstroke away, but not without injury. When Gannon catches up to him, he asks if he's alright.

"Who the hell was that?"

"Pretty sure he was an assassin. Targeting a BPD officer."

"Well whoever he was, he shot you," Gannon points to Dick's upper arm, which sure enough, has a nice bullet hole in it. Dick had been so caught up in the moment and so determined to stop Slade he hadn't even comprehended it himself.

"Oh shit, he did."

"You didn't notice?!"

------------------------------

"Any news? On Deathstroke or otherwise?" Wally asks over the phone. He's making a sandwich in the kitchen at the tower. Donna is at the table not far away, trying to organise her photo album. Wally had been helping her (because he has nothing else to do) and is taking a break to call his boyfriend and feed himself.