Chapter Text
"Don't come any closer." She warned.
Dick held his hands up, and took a few steps forward. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you, and I'm not mad. This stuff's already been broken. We can all relax."
The girl folded her arms. "I am relaxed. Kal-el, who is this?"
Superman rubbed the back of his head, and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, uh, he's Bruce's protege. The first, in fact. I should've introduced you two sooner, but things have been rather hectic. Nightwing, this is Kara Zor-El, my cousin."
"It's a pleasure, Kara. You can call me Nightwing or Dick — even Grayson." He told her, and extended his hand.
Her blue eyes flicked to his face, and then his hand, before she finally reached out, taking his hand in hers. "You're the Batman's protégé? You're a bit… scrawny."
"Kara." Clark admonished.
Dick shook his head, and laughed, taking it good-naturedly. "Yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before. But I'm actually quite good in the field."
Kara looked at him, and pursed her lips. She let go of his hand, and then folded her arms.
"Why don't you tell me about yourself, Kara? Your powers and things like that?"
"You'll just use them against me." She accused.
Dick blinked.
"Kara!" Clark hissed.
"What?" She huffed, turning to him, "I've only been here a day, and they're already trying to take my blood, and run tests. They want to take advantage of me."
"We don't want to hurt you. We're just trying to learn more about you. You're Kryptonian, and your biology is a lot different from humans. Superman's had tests and scans done on him before, an—"
A beep from one of the nearby systems saw Kara immediately jump in front of Dick, her hands raised and her eyes narrowed.
Clark was the first to speak. "Kara, it's fine. It's just the computer system. I think Alfred was going to start some repairs while Bruce and I were out, but he hasn't had the chance. It's nothing."
She didn't lower her hands, and instead, remained where she was. Her eyes scanned the room, and when the beeping stopped, the girl slowly lowered her hands, her expression a mix of fear and anger.
"We're not here to hurt you, or use you." Dick repeated, and he took a few steps forward. "Trust me, okay? I'm sure Bruce can explain better, but I'm a hero too. I'm trying to help."
Kara looked at him, and for the longest of times, she didn't move or say a word. "Okay." The look in her eyes was skeptical, but he was relieved she was at least willing to try.
"Thank you."
"Can we leave this place?" She asked, looking between the two.
"It's not the best idea." Clark answered, shaking his head. "We're underground, and out of public view, so if you accidentally use your powers, no one will get hurt. The... destruction you've caused already will be a hassle to explain."
"If it makes you feel any better, this place is kind of a mess all the time. Bruce isn't exactly the best at keeping things clean, and I'm not too great myself. So I get it." Dick added, smiling as he went to add levity and comfort.
"I want to go. I can't stay here." Kara insisted. "They're all strangers, and I can't... Kal, please. I want to leave."
Kara went off in her language, and were it not for the translation tech, Dick would've had no idea what was said. As it was, he had to admit he was impressed by how fast she could speak — her native language sounded more like a melodic string of syllables and words rather than whenever he'd heard Superman, rare as it was, speak.
Clark's response was much slower, and more measured. The two spoke back and forth, and though he could catch some of what was said, most of it was too quickly said or too fast for him to pick up on.
Finally, the man sighed, and nodded. "Fine. If we have to, we'll do it. I want you here, Kara." He looked at Dick with a mixture of conflict and a sense of sadness in his gaze. "Take her to the boom tube. The Watchtower has space, and everything she'll need. Goodness knows I've used everything there enough."
Dick opened his mouth to respond to Superman that there was much he needed to do before he left the Batcave, or the Gotham area as a whole, but with timing that only Bruce could ever have, a message was sent from his cell phone.
'Dick, you're responsible for keeping her calm, and bringing her up to the Watchtower. Aid her in adjusting, learn what you can, and help her adjust. Do not, under any circumstances, let her leave the Watchtower.'
Dick frowned. Superman's cousin or not, that seemed a bit much, but he had little choice. Especially if the damage done up above, and to the Batcave itself, was as bad as it seemed.
"Well?" Kara prompted.
"Sorry. I was checking my messages." Dick apologized, and then looked to her with the best smile he could manage. "I'll be taking you to the Justice League's HQ, the Watchtower. It's a space station. You can have your own quarters there, and all of this noise and whatever else that's bothering you should be lessened. And you'll have access to plenty of things."
"Space?" Kara echoed, her eyes going to her cousin as he nodded, and then back to Dick. "Kal-El? Are you coming with us?"
Clark shook his head. "I'm sorry, Kara. I have a meeting with the JLI, and then I need to go help the Titans. But I'll visit, and if anything's wrong, just send a message."
Kara frowned. "Promise?" The uncertainty in voice and gaze alike made it clear that she wasn't happy with his response, or the idea of staying alone, or with a stranger, up on a space station; her eyes flicked back and forth between the two, and then, her gaze lingered on her cousin.
Dick took a few steps back just to give the two more space, but he was able to pick up on Clark's affirmative.
Kara's lips pressed together, and she nodded. She turned away from her cousin, and those sharp blue eyes locked with Dick's.
"You lead." She told him, "And if you hurt me, or betray me, I'll—"
"Kara." Clark sighed, and Dick just gave a sheepish smile and wave of his hands.
"I'll be the best guide you've ever had. Don't worry." Dick took a few steps in the direction he'd come from. "We can get something to eat, if you're hungry."
Kara's expression shifted to a frown After what he swore to be momentary interest, and she shook her head. "I'm fine. Lead." She didn't even make to bid her cousin a farewell as the pair of them sought the stairs leading up.
The way she walked with such purpose and confidence, and the look on her face reminded him a lot of Bruce, albeit a bit more emotive and expressive.
"What're you staring at, Nightwing?" Kara demanded, looking up at him.
"You remind me of someone, is all." He told her, "Come on, the boom tube isn't far. Do you want to hear about the Watchtower?"
"Yes."
So he told her what he could on their walk. The tubes, the Zeta Tubes, the various floors and sectors, and how things were organized. He made mention of the food, the training facilities, and most important of all given her personality, the fact that they'd not be totally alone. Other members or those close to the league could often be found up there.
"Will we be alone?" Kara asked, her voice small and quiet as she looked at him; maybe it was dawning on her, and the idea of being up in a space station without anyone familiar around was a bit unnerving, at least until she became used to her surroundings.
Then there was the cousin she didn't truly know all that well, and the sheer volume of destruction and damage she had caused.
Dick smiled at her, and very nearly rested his hand on her shoulder. "Not a chance. There's always someone around, and I'm sure you'll meet new friends. Besides, I'll be around too."
"You're as my guard." Kara huffed.
"Well, yes, but… I'm also as your friend? Or, I mean, I could be." Dick paused, and rubbed the back of his neck. That certainly wasn't the smoothest of answers.
Kara didn't seem all too thrilled, but at least she hadn't immediately turned him down. Instead, she looked down at the ground, her gaze fixed.
"My friend?"
"That's right. We could get to know one another, and I could show you a lot about Earth."
"I suppose that would be acceptable. Especially if Clark means to leave me here." Kara sighed, and looked at him.
"So we're friends?" Dick asked, and reached out to pat her shoulder.
The girl pulled herself away. "We're acquaintances. Not friends. You could prove yourself. But don't think I'm easy. You might have the same… stuff that the Batman had." Kara didn't seem fond of the name Batman.
Dick chuckled. "That's a fair deal. Come on. The tubes are this way."
"Lead." Kara told him.
He did, and as they approached, he took the necessary steps to get the system ready, and when he was finished, Kara looked around, and frowned.
"How do we know it's working?"
"Well, you have to get closer, and stand inside the tubes." He instructed, and did as much.
"There's no way out, right?" Kara asked, her tone wary and suspicious.
"Not really. Only a few people know how to make these, and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work — but it will." Dick activated it, stepped forth, and the moment the light had surrounded him, the young man vanished.
Kara's eyes widened, and the blonde's hand reached out, but her fingertips just barely touched the field before her, and she was whisked away.
"Did you miss me?"
She was surprised by his sudden appearance, and took a step back. "You were only gone for a second. Now lead me to quiet — I hear voices."
"The Watchtower has a lot of people. It's the hub of the league." Dick explained.
"Hub?"
"Where everyone's meant to gather, or meet up, and stuff like that." He added.
"More guards." Kara huffed, and with a minor little flick to his arm — one that made him have to pretend she was weakerthan she was — she stepped forward, and past him.
Dick contained a groan, and instead, followed. "We can go get some food, and I can lead you to your quarters, so you can rest and relax."
"I am not tired." Kara said, folding her arms. "But food is good."
"Alright." Dick nodded; he could work with that.
Dick was shaken from his thoughts when a hand waved in front of his face, and the young man blinked. "Huh?"
"I've asked you three times if the eggs are done. And where's the toast you spoke of?" Kara asked, frowning as she hovered near the oven.
Dick smiled when he saw the earmuffs over her ears, and the sunglasses covering her eyes.
Superman had said she'd have to grow accustomed to the many sounds and sights the planet would offer her. Even here in the kitchen, there was much that could overwhelm her.
"Just a bit more. I can bring it to your room if you'd like — just let me finish cooking it." He told her, and reached out, slowly for the sake of her, as he grabbed a plate and the bread, and began the process of making it ready.
Her eyes narrowed at the words. "I'll remain and see you cook." She sounded suspicious, but Dick didn't comment.
Instead, he focused on his work.
It wasn't long before the meal was ready, and though he was quick about plating the meal, Dick did his best to be neat and careful, and make it a presentable thing like Zatanna or Babs would like.
When it was finally done, he smiled, and set the meal out for her. "All finished. Here you are."
Kara pulled off the glasses and earmuffs, and the look on her face was almost… excited. It was kind of adorable, actually.
She was kind of adorable; everything was new to her, and she was trying her best to learn, and figure things out, and her curiosity was both endearing and admirable.
He just wished she'd be a touch more… polite.