Silence

Chapter 34

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Dick's POV

Every day was torture.

Hardly a minute went by without Dick thinking about Willow. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her face after he'd unmasked her, saw her flying off into the night.

Every instinct told him to go straight to the Team and tell them what happened, but he'd made a promise. Whenever Dick was on patrol, he couldn't help but hope he'd see her again. He couldn't decide if he was proud of her, or terrified for her. Maybe it was both, maybe it was something else entirely.

Dick was thinking about all of this as he descended the steps into the Batcave. Bruce didn't usually ask him to come here, so Dick knew it must be serious. Then again, when wasn't that the case down here? The cave was drafty, as usual, which was the reason Dick had donned a red jacket despite the warmer weather outside. It was early in the morning, so Dick was still exhausted from last night's patrol.

"You're late," Bruce said as Dick approached the Batcomputer. He didn't bother turning around.

"Never a 'hello Dick' or 'how's it going, Dick'? Always cut to chase, huh?"

Bruce ignored him. He was still wearing the suit, though he'd taken the mask off. Dick looked at the computer screen, and let out a deep sigh.  On the screen was a mugshot of the Joker.

"Last night, the Joker broke into the new art exhibit at the art museum. He vandalized the paintings, but didn't take anything."

"So he clearly wasn't looking for money," Dick inferred.

"No," Bruce agreed. "According to Gordon, he was sloppy. Left a trail for them to find him. He wasn't exactly trying to hide."

"He wanted you to find him."

"He didn't get what he wanted. Poison Ivy was causing trouble at S.T.A.R. Labs on the opposite side of the city. By the time I'd gotten there, he was already gone."

Dick glanced at Bruce. The Joker was a rare rogue that occasionally slipped through Batman's fingers.

"You want me to help you find him," Dick offered.

"I'll let you know if I need backup," Bruce answered. Dick knew that translated to "no", but kept listening. "But there's something else."

Dick looked at the screen as Bruce pulled up photos of the museum. Bruce had likely taken these himself. Dick winced at the desolated artwork.

"I thought you might like to know that someone else showed up last night."

Dick stiffened in horror. The warmth drained from his body. He couldn't breathe. On an empty wall of the museum, was a familiar scorch mark.

"Oh my-," His voice caught in his throat. "No. No."

"Dick," Bruce said, brow furrowing. "What's wrong?"

Dick looked at Bruce. He knew something was up besides what he already knew. Dick's mouth went dry. His mind raced as his body froze. He promised not to tell. He'd sworn not to.

"Do you think..." Dick started. "Do you think she got away?"

"Against the Joker and the henchmen he was sighted with, it's not likely."

Dick's breathing quickened. He'd made a promise to keep her secret. But what was more important: Willow's secret, or her life?

"Dick." Bruce stood up. He stared at Dick with those calculating eyes that suddenly narrowed. "You know something."