Chapter Text
Everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. Sure, there were thugs in Blüdhaven, plenty of them even, a lot of crimes too, including tonight.
So, yeah, nothing out of the ordinary. He had stopped a couple of fights already, nothing big and definitely nothing major. As far as he was aware, tonight would be a night where he might actually catch up on some much needed sleep.
And yet, as Nightwing stood there, perched on top of a building as he looked down on the streets below him, he didn’t feel the need to sleep. No, there was something going on that made him stand there, wide awake.
The night air in Blüdhaven was thick with tension, and the usual feelings of chaos felt just a little askew. His eyes scanned the dimly lit streets, instinctively tracking the movements of the city's underworld. The sounds of distant sirens blended with the occasional screech of tires, creating a symphony of crime that had become all too familiar.
Despite the routine nature of the night, Nightwing couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The city's heartbeat felt irregular, almost as if it got, what, electrified?
That felt right. Something made the city feel just slightly more alive than usual. Locating the source, however? That might pose more of an issue. He hadn’t heard anything through his ongoing investigation -which consisted of beating people up and making them talk- that sounded like the source of whatever this was.
A piercing scream immediately grappled his attention, especially with how close-by it sounded. Usually, that’s the sound civilians make when they’re caught up in business they don’t wish to be in.
Time for some violence.
Without hesitation, Nightwing leapt over some roofs before he somersaulted into the midst of the crime, moving as if he was one with the shadows. His first strike was a blur, a precise kick that sent one of the Freaks sprawling. The element of surprise was his best friend in situations like these, and after a quick scan he figured out which one of them would be the most useful to interrogate.
The Freaks, taken aback by the sudden intrusion, attempted to retaliate, but Nightwing danced effortlessly between them. He struck, and as usual, each strike was met with a satisfying thud as the Freaks crumpled to the ground, their faces contorted in pain.
At this point, the woman scurried out of the scene, getting away with hopefully no scratches. As the second to last of the assailants slumped to the ground, Nightwing stood amidst the chaos, the distant wails of sirens growing closer.
He had to be quick now.
He carefully dodged a feeble attempt at an attack from the last Freak standing before kicking him full in the face. The woman fell to the ground, shielding her face as Nightwing pulled her up. “C’mon, just tell me what’s going on around the city right now and I’ll leave you be.”
The Freak’s face fell as she sighed, knowing what her future looked like in this dank and dark alleyway if she didn’t give him what he needed to know. “Fine, fine, I’ll talk!” She spat out.
“Today.” Nightwing groaned as she paused.
“There’s no big plans that I know of.” She muttered as he tightened his grip. “There’s been a speedster sighting, multiple times tonight. It seems he’s looking for something.” She then confessed. When Nightwing didn’t let go, she rolled her eyes and kept her mouth shut.
So, obviously, he knocked her out.
Making his way to a nearby rooftop, he quietly watched as the GCPD showed up, taking care of his leftovers. A quick turn on his heels and a couple of jumps later, he started making his way through the city.
If anything, maybe the Flash had something worth not sleeping for?
Nightwing moved through the city like a bird flying through the night. Unremarkable, almost invisible, and if anything, his thoughts were racing as he processed the newfound information. A speedster sighting in Blüdhaven? The mention of the Flash immediately stirred his curiosity. What could bring the Scarlet Speedster to his turf, and would that be the explanation for this inexplicable air of tension?
As he swung from rooftop to rooftop, he kept an eye out for any streaks of lightning. The city sprawled beneath him, still looking like nothing’s out of the ordinary. Nightwing's mind went into overdrive, considering the possibilities and potential implications of a speedster's presence in Blüdhaven.
Reaching a high vantage point, Nightwing surveyed the cityscape, scanning for any signs of the elusive speedster. The neon-lit streets stretched out underneath him. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was a connection between the sense of something just being slightly off and the Flash's pursuit.
A distant blur of red and yellow caught Nightwing's attention, and he zeroed in on the speeding figure weaving through the city streets. The Flash, barely visible with how fast he was going, was a streak of lightning against the urban backdrop.
Nightwing couldn't help but stare for a second, figuring out his plan. Timing his descent perfectly, Nightwing landed on a nearby building just in time to witness the Flash skid to a stop below.
Two things immediately registered in Nightwing’s mind. One, the usual Flash had a different build than this one. This Flash looked like he was, well, different.
And two, a wild mop of red hair stuck out from his mask. That was, well, new.
The speedster looked up, detecting Nightwing's presence with a quizzical expression. "Who’s there?”
Immediately, something felt amiss. Something about the Flash’s posture, his heavy breathing, the way he’s clutching his stomach. Nightwing dropped down, right in front of the Flash, who looked up at him.
"Nightwing," the Flash greeted, a hint of surprise in his voice. "What brings you out tonight?"
Nightwing, ever composed, replied, "I could ask you the same question, Flash. Blüdhaven's not your usual beat. What's going on?"
“Well I-” the Flash started before his head snapped to his left, right as Nightwing did the same. A van, graffitied to hell and back, making its way towards them at rapid speed. Before he could react, the Flash grabbed him and pushed him into an alleyway.
The van ever so slightly missed them, which wasn’t as fast as Nightwing heard the Flash could be. As fast as he knew the Flash was.
Then, the Flash looked at him, green eyes ever so vibrant. He blinked, took a deep breath and fell slightly forward. “Please, take me home.” He muttered before passing out, slumping against Nightwing’s chest.
Shit.
Nightwing caught him, feeling the rest of the tension slip out of the Flash’s body in the same moment that he picks him up bridal style. That last bit of resistance, the fight against passing out.
He knows about the Flash. He knows about his family. He knows he should probably bring him back to Central City, if anything.
But Central City is way too far to travel with an unconscious Mask in your arms. Especially with an unconscious Mask that has bright red -fluffy and soft- hair and -way too pretty- green eyes that stared at him as if Nightwing could give him the world.
Well, maybe not the world, but the least he could do is take him to one of his apartments and get him to eat.
Shit, yeah, he definitely had to get him something to eat. He could practically feel the fat being burned underneath his fingertips. The Flash was starving, and fast, too.
Slightly readjusting his hold on the man in his arms, he got them onto the rooftops. If anything, he figured, this would be the safest way of travel.
Nightwing looked around and located the fastest route to his apartment, getting there in record time considering the fact he was carrying a motionless body around with him.
But well, that was exactly the reason he kept his fast pace. He jumped through his window, immediately closing it behind him. Normally, he made sure this wasn’t how he entered the building. It was too big of a risk.
Bringing a Mask here, unconscious in his home, was too big of a risk as well, and yet he was willing to take it, too. He carefully put the Flash down on his bed, pulling the blankets around him.
Nightwing stared at him for a second, and then another. Even with the mask, he could see that this man came dangerously close to being his exact type. He allowed himself to stare for just two seconds more, brushing some hair out of the man’s face.
Yeah, that was a bad sign.
Rushing downstairs -he at least remembered to grab his coat- to the 24/7 pizza place close to his apartment, he didn’t allow his thoughts to wander. He wouldn’t think about the pretty man in his bed -that definitely needed more than one pizza, right?- nor the fact that this Flash was very different from the Flash he met a couple of months ago at that Justice league meeting.
He ended up ordering four pizza’s, and then he panicked and made it five. Just pepperoni would do, he decided. As far as he was aware, speedsters weren’t vegetarians. Or well, he hoped the one in his bed wasn’t.
There it was again, in his bed. Gods, why couldn’t he have put him on the couch or something? Okay, maybe it had been a while since he let anyone close enough to sleep in his bed, but this was a totally different situation.
Every minute that ticked by, Nightwing’s anxiety grew. He hoped, no, he desperately needed the speedster to be okay, but he also hoped he hadn’t woken up yet and tried making his way home on an empty stomach.
His own stomach growled at the smell of pizza being prepared. A couple of minutes later, his order was ready and he sped off, leaving a good tip for their service at this hour.
As well as possibly frightening them by running in while in costume.
Oops.
He managed to make his way home without being seen or at least recognized. Everything was still dark when he opened the door. Just the way he left it, at least so it seemed.
Dropping the pizza’s on the table, he tried to listen for any irregularities. No footsteps, no rummaging around, nothing. Which meant that the Flash was still in his bed, hopefully.
Nightwing carefully took off his coat and threw it over a chair, as dramatic as always. He grabbed one of the pizza boxes and made his way to his bedroom, hoping that the smell of fresh pizza would wake the pretty stranger in his bed.
A million thoughts ran through his head and the more he tried to focus on just one, the louder the others became. Thoughts of hoping he was on time, amongst others. And yet, when he opened the door and his eyes fell upon the man in his bed, Nightwing hesitated for a moment, torn between the urge to memorize every detail of the Flash's face and the realization that this was not the time for such distractions.
Setting the pizza box on the bedside table, Nightwing took a step closer. The Flash lay there, completely vulnerable, and for a moment, Nightwing found himself staring again.
This stranger should not be this captivating, not with everything he knew about speedsters. Especially all the things Batman disliked about them.
Nightwing knew there were more speedsters than just the Flash, hell, he knew about most of the group, but this one was wearing a suit recognizably the Flash, but ever so slightly different.
Maybe there was another speedster in training Nightwing didn’t know about. Maybe this one was new? He certainly would’ve gotten an update about that, though.
Well, one thing was for certain. He wouldn’t get answers until this guy woke up. So, Nightwing sighed to himself as he opened the pizza box.
“Hey, sleepyhead, wake up.” Nightwing said clearly as he started shaking him. The guy didn’t budge at first, not even a little. “There’s pizza.”
The Flash seemed to react to that, a low growl stuck in his throat as his eyes fluttered open. “What?” He brought out, slurring his singular word.
“Relax, you passed out. Here,” Nightwing said as he reached over to the box. “Have a slice.”
“Pepperoni?” The Flash asked as he sniffed loudly. “Fuck yes.”
The first three slices were gone before Nightwing had time to put the box on his lap. Another two slices disappeared once he did. “There’s more, if you’re still hungry after this one.” Nightwing offered a half-smile.
The Flash finally looked up from his pizza, tomato sauce stuck to the corner of his mouth. “Oh my gods, I’m in heaven.”
“Blüdhaven, actually. You asked me to take you home, but since I don’t know where you live, I took you to my apartment. Are you okay?”
“Starving, still.” The Flash smiled brightly at him. “But I’ll be okay. I guess I didn’t manage my food intake well today.”
“It seems so.” Nightwing gave the man -who was sitting up, in his bed- a once-over. The red hair fell into his face just the right way for it to be called cute and his green eyes were big as they stared at him.
He stared back.
The Flash was the first who broke eye contact. There was a little something inside of Nightwing’s mind that made him feel proud, as well as made him think it wasn’t just because of the pizza slices he was currently devouring.
“So, uhm,” the Flash started as he closed the lid of the box, looking up at him apologetically. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”
Nightwing smirked as he got up. “You can make it up to me by telling me why you’re here in the first place.” He winked before he walked out of the room.
Returning with two other pizza boxes, the Flash’s face lights up. “You’re amazing.”
“There’s more if you need it.” Nightwing said while taking a slice for himself. “Now, spill?”
“Right, well, my uncle asked me to investigate around here. There’s been-” The Flash started, but Nightwing cut him off.
“Your uncle?”
“Shit.” The Flash laughed. “The guy who usually wears this suit, yeah.”
“So you’re not the Flash?” Nightwing raised a brow.
“I am!” The Apparently-Flash started defending himself. “I kinda took over, I do most of the work now.”
“Since when?”
“Long story.” The Flash laughed again, and something about his laugh made Nightwing smile as well. “But that’s not why I’m here.”
“I’m sorry, please do continue.” Nightwing rolled his eyes, a playful smile on his lips. Then he realized that because of his mask, he wouldn’t have been able to see him roll his eyes anyway.
“I could feel you roll your eyes at me. That’s not nice.” He pouted, making Nightwing stifle a laugh. “So, well, there’s been a string of murders, only connected by the fact that they’re former or current college professors. We figured we’d look around here, too. See if there’s anything that connects them.”
“Interesting.” Nightwing muttered, moreso to himself than to the Flash. “I can look into it as well, if you want.”
“Oh, well, I, uh-” The Flash stumbled over his words, looking like a deer in the headlights. “I mean, if you’re not busy investigating anything else? I can only assume there’s always something going on here.”
“Ha, funny.” Nightwing leaned back a little. “Not really. Nothing that needs my immediate attention, anyway.”
Nightwing felt himself stare a little too intensely at the way the Flash’s cheeks colored a slightly darker shade, barely visible with the mask. Gods, he’s cute.
He looked away, concentrating on taking a bite out of his slice. “I mean, I wouldn’t mind the help, and you certainly know the city better than me.”
“Dude, you don’t need to be so formal with me.” Nightwing laughed. “Relax, I’m not gonna eat you.”
“I- Sorry. Force of habit.” The Flash looked away quickly. “It’s not every day a hot guy offers his help and you can actually accept it, y’know?”
Nightwing raised an eyebrow at that. “A hot guy, hm?”
“Pretend you didn’t hear that. I’m gonna eat your pizza now.” The Flash proceeded to do just that, getting another laugh out of Nightwing. He smiled at that.
“My pizza? It’s all yours, if you want it.” Nightwing said. “I am requesting we move to the couch for the other two, though.”
“You got five pizza’s?!” The Flash exclaimed. “You’re spoiling me.”
“I was worried.” Nightwing almost-muttered as he got up. “You good on your own?”
“One way to find out.” The Flash quite literally flashed him a smile as he swung his legs over the edge of the -his- bed. Something about the sight of the pretty boy leaving it made him ache with a feeling he wasn’t going to explore further tonight.
He walked after him just fine, a little fast if anything. Nightwing let out a sigh, glad to see that he was feeling better. Or, perhaps, he just really liked pepperoni pizza.
Either one of the two was fine with him.
“So,” he started as he walked towards the kitchen, grabbing two glasses for them on the way. “College professors have been getting murdered?”
“Yeah, basically.” The Flash smiled at him. “We don’t know much, though.”
Nightwing opened the fridge, trying to figure out if he had any soda that hadn’t gone flat. After what barely felt like two seconds of looking, he felt a presence behind him.
“What d’ya have?” The Flash asks, standing just a little too close. Nightwing turned halfly, giving him a look that apparently didn’t look too intimidating, considering the Flash stood there, smile unfaltering.
“Not much, I fear.” He said as he turned back to the fridge, grabbing a bottle that seemed unopened. “Will this do?”
“Fine with me!”
Nightwing stepped back to close the fridge, bumping directly into the Flash’s chest. A hand appeared on his waist to stabilize him and -much to Nightwing’s dismay- the hand disappeared when the Flash seemed to realize he didn’t need it.
A pity.
And another thought Nightwing was not going to think about tonight.
“Sorry,” the Flash muttered, moving away from him. When Nightwing turned around to look at him, he was pouring them both a glass, a soft flush on his cheeks. “But yeah, we uh, mainly figured out that them being college professors is the main thing that links them. There have been five murders, as far as we know.”
Nightwing hummed as he moved to the couch, expecting the Flash to follow him, which he did. They settled down, two pizza boxes stacked on top of each other on the table.
The Flash eyed them, and then Nightwing, and then the pizza boxes again. After what seemed like another second of thinking, he grabbed a box with a shy smile.
“I haven’t heard B talk about it yet, if anything. I could look in the database, see if anyone has anything worth noting.” Nightwing said, almost talking to himself.
“B?” The Flash asked, because of course he would.
Nightwing sighed. “Batman.”
“Batman?!”
“Batman.” Nightwing sighed again. “I’ll let you know if anything pops up.”
“Because Batman will tell you? Batman?” The Flash had paused eating pizza entirely from the shock.
“You should really go to justice league meetings, y’know?” Nightwing teased. “Yeah, or someone else, really. I have my connections.”
“Ominous.” The Flash rolled his eyes -totally not cute- at him. “And I go to justice league meetings!”
“Do you now?” He teased again.
“Whenever my uncle doesn’t feel like going, yeah. Or when it’s an emergency.” The Flash continued eating his pizza. “So more and more, lately.”
“Ah, that explains.” Nightwing laughs. “I’ve been going less and less.”
“We’ve noticed Batman is also, well, pulling back. Any reason as to why?” The Flash pried, almost setting up puppy dog eyes.
Nightwing would be lying if he said he didn’t almost fall for it. “Nothing I’m allowed to tell you, no. But it’s nothing major.”
His face fell, some of his red curls landing in his face. He moved them away rather quickly, glancing at a clock. His face turned from puzzled to shocked. “Shit, I should’ve been on my way home right now.”
“Plans tomorrow?” Nightwing asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
“Something like that.” The Flash gave him an apologetic smile. “Thanks for the pizza. How much do you want for them?”
“Wait!” Nightwing exclaimed, putting a hand on the Flash’s leg without thinking about it. “Do you really think I’m going to let you run back with your condition right now?”
“Well, I can’t exactly take the trains, can I? And you didn’t answer my question.” The Flash didn’t move his hand away. In fact, after a beat of silence, he placed his hand on Nightwing’s.
“Let me drive you.”
The Flash stared at him for a second. “What are you suggesting?”
He stared right back. “Let me actually take you home, in return for the pizza’s.” Nightwing smiled at him. A soft, almost shy smile, one he didn’t feel like wiping off his face yet.
“That’s not what I meant!” The Flash immediately started laughing. “That’s not how it works.”
“It is now, if you’ll let me?” He didn’t hide the hopeful undertone. The Flash was allowed to know he liked his company, that he didn’t want them to part just yet.
“It still takes hours to get to Central City by car, y’know.” The Flash said, leaning back a little. He didn’t seem opposed to it, not in the slightest.
Nightwing chuckled. “Not exactly what I had in mind. C’mon, I’ll show you.”
He got up from the couch, motioning the Flash to follow him. Then he sent Batgirl a quick message, just because he could.
“No way, you’re not thinking of-” The Flash started, then shook his head. “Fine, sure, alright, cool.”
“Scared of the batcycle?” Nightwing snorted. When the Flash didn’t respond, he turned around, hand still on the doorknob. “Wait, really?”
“No!” The Flash exclaimed. “Okay, maybe a little.”
Nightwing laughed at that, and luckily the Flash laughed with him. He opened the door, fastening his coat as he spoke. “Don’t worry, I’m decent at handling it.”
“Decent?!”
Nightwing laughed again as he called his batcycle, the invisibility layer shutting off only a second after he heard it arrive. “Relax, I’m joking.”
“If I die like this, it’s your fault.” The Flash laughed. He waited for Nightwing to get on before he carefully got on himself, gently placing his hands on Nightwing’s waist.
“Hold on.” Was all Nightwing said before they sped off. The Flash’s arms wrapped around his waist in an instant.
He had to focus on the road, which was a good thing. That way, he wouldn’t think about how nice the body heat of the speedster behind him was, or how much this guy brings out his smile. Hell, his laugh, even.
That’s what he told himself while he was thinking about just that, at least.
The night air was crisp as Nightwing and the Flash zipped through the city streets, the hum of the batcycle's engine and the wind rushing past them made Nightwing feel right at home. The skyline of Blüdhaven gradually faded into the rearview mirror as they headed towards their destination - Central City.
As the city lights blurred into streaks of color -speeding up made Flash’s arms tighten ever so slightly- he felt free. Sure, there was a need for this ride -there wasn’t, he was just worried- but it also felt like he was just taking the pretty more-than-stranger on a joyride.
It took a while, but not as long as he expected. Nor as long as the Flash expected, it seemed. He let the Flash get off, then turned his body to face him. The Flash stood there, Star Labs in the background, an awkward smile on his face. “Uhm, thanks.”
“Of course.” Nightwing smiled back, a little less awkward. “Text me when you get home, okay?”
“I don’t have your number?” The Flash half-asked.
He laughed softly, allowing himself to stare for just a second longer. “N-W, in your contacts. You better text, or else I’ll come check if you’re alive myself.”
“Wh- Hey! You don’t need to do that.” The Flash blushed, very visibly so even in the streetlight.
“Not if you text, I don’t.” Nightwing chuckled. “I’ll see you around, Flash.”
“I hope so.” The Flash said before he took off, into the deep dark of the night.
Gods, how late was it, even? Not like it mattered, really. He would’ve done it even if the Flash wasn’t injured -though he doubted he’d let him- if it meant spending more time with him.
The Flash, the new Flash with red hair and green eyes and a smile that was intoxicating. He was warm and bubbly and everything Dick craved right now, even as he made his way back to Blüdhaven.
The Flash was dangerous, and not because he was a Super. No, he was dangerous because already, Nightwing knew he’d be returning to Central City soon. And who would’ve guessed? The Flash actually did have something that kept him from sleeping after all.
College professors, huh?
02:43am NW: BAAAAAAAAAAAAAABS
02:43am BG: what.
02:44am NW: so cold :(
02:44am NW: can you put my number in the Flash's phone
02:44am NW: not the normal Flash the new Flash
02:44am BG: there's a new Flash?
02:44am NW: red hair, green eyes, help me...
02:45am BG: oh Dickie
02:45am BG: I knew it from the moment I saw him lol
02:45am BG: how bad is it?
02:45am NW: absolutely terrible
02:46am NW: he's funny he's cute he's a redhead
02:46am NW: can you do it?
02:46am BG: already done
02:47am NW: you're the best
11:38pm NW: *image attached*
11:38pm NW: it's so quiet tonight
11:38pm NW: I'm boooooooooored
11:38pm NW: save me from this misery
11:43pm Flash★: I can't believe you took your phone with you on patrol
11:43pm NW: except I didn't
11:43pm NW: it's connected to my suit baby oh shit oh wait no cancel speech to text no oh my gods no stop
11:46pm Flash★: smooth
11:54pm NW: shut up exclamation point
11:55pm NW: I can't type while I'm jumping from rooftop to rooftop
11:55pm Flash★: then don't text me!!
11:56pm NW: sad emoji face no wait emoji sad emoji oh fine
11:56pm NW: :(
11:57pm Flash★: text me when you're home?
11:59pm NW: deal
10:11am Flash★: Update
10:11am Flash★: My uncles and aunt are freaking out
10:11am Flash★: About you
10:11am NW: oh??
10:12am NW: worrying, tell me more
10:14am Flash★: Something something getting help from you and you’re connected to Batman
10:14am Flash★: Can you please promise them Batman won’t show up at our house all of a sudden?
10:14am Flash★: No scratch that
10:15am Flash★: Can you promise me??
10:15am NW: wish I could
10:15am NW: I can’t control my dad lol
10:16am Flash★: You’re WHAT
10:16am NW: your*
10:17am Flash★: I hate it here.