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Nothing But the Truth: The Whole Truth

Batman and Nightwing Bingo: Testifying 3/3

In dreams you transform A nightmare before me–twisted and a horror. But here–in this light all is made clear Truth illuminates the monster, showing that all there ever was was a broken man. –tonight, may I not check under the bed for a boogieman.

The break didn’t last.  It was a respite that Dick couldn’t feel.  So back in the room, he watched Leoni’s lawyer stand–papers in hand– crossing to the podium.  

“Officer Grayson, you are still under oath, and are required to answer questions as such.”  The Judge looked down at him not unkindly.

“Yes, your honor."  Dick nodded and took a steadying breath.  

“You may proceed, Mrs. Hawkens.”  

“Thank you, your honor.”  She smiled and tilted her head towards Dick.  

Dick had the unnerving impression of a panther looking at her prey.

“Mr. Grayson, you testified that you were friends with my client Aaron Leoni.  Is that correct?”

“I thought we were. Yes.” Dick frowned.

“Are you often friends with your supervising officers?” 

“Not particularly.”  Dick said slowly.  “I spend a lot of time with them, but I was– was closest with Leoni.”

“Did you feel it was a betrayal when your friend, your supervising officer wrote you up for reckless behavior on the job, and removed you from cases?”

Dick shifted in his seat.  “No, he is allowed his opinion on my performance.  Being in training, that is kinda the point of a training officer.”

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Nothing But the Truth: Under Oath

Batman and Nightwing Bingo: Testifying 2/3

You carved it out in red But no one can stop the truth None can not hold it back  Not when it’s purchased by blood -you’ve signed your own testimony with lead

Dick swallowed hard as the courtroom doors opened.  The distance to the gate wasn’t far.  There were only about two dozen people in the gallery, but Dick didn’t pay them any attention.  Aaron was facing forward, his posture rigid.  Dick didn’t need the grey jumpsuit or the handcuffs to know that it was him.  His salt and pepper hair still was cropped short and his posture was the same.  

Dick wondered what the man was thinking.  Did he feel regret? The last time they had been in the same room seemed both just like yesterday and an age ago.  Dick had been a different person.  Maybe Leoni had killed him?   After all the Richard Grayson who had walked into that hidden room hadn’t ever walked out.  Someone, something else had crawled out.  Something hurt and angry.  Was a bird with clipped wings even a bird?

Dick’s chest ached.  He could hear the ring of two bullets.  

Bang.  Bang.  

He could see it in his mind’s eye.  That same back he could see now, walking away from him–leaving him to die.  Leaving him drowning in a pool of his own blood. 

A hand clamped down on Dick’s shoulder. 

Dick blinked and turned towards the life line.  Bruce.  

Bruce was frowning, his face intently fixed on Dick’s eyes.  “Chum, you need a minute?”  

Dick shook his head mechanically and let the assistant–Anne–pull him into the room.  Bruce’s hand fell away and he slipped into a seat on the prosecution side of the courtroom.  Dick would have laughed if he could. It wasn’t funny, but for some reason it felt like that was the only sound he should make. 

 Better to laugh and put on a show.  Better than let on your nerves. Dick hadn’t thought of his father’s advice before his first show in years.  It seemed so long ago now. That too was another life he had lost.  

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Nothing but the Truth

Batman and Nightwing Bingo: Testifying

I live my life tracing out the Cooper Color Code Black and I’m coming undone, no one knows Red, push past the fray to get it done Orange and I’m halfway to home Yellow, you stand between me and the gun

“Mr. Grayson, you allege that my client threatened you and your family?”

Dick swallowed.  His eyes glanced towards the back of the gallery and swept over Bruce.  Bruce’s face hadn’t changed much over the last half an hour, but hearing this his eyebrows creased slightly.  

“I grew up in foster care, so not my family per say.  He stalked me and in the photos he sent it included a boy that lives in the home I grew up in, yes.”  Dick willed his face not to turn red.  He refused to look back at Bruce again.

“Yet you have no evidence of this.”

Dick raised his eyebrows at the defense attorney.  “Lack of evidence?  He admitted it to me before he shot me twice in the chest.”

Bruce shifted in his seat.  Even trying not to look at him, Dick was still highly attuned to his presence in the room.  It was grounding and nerve wracking at the same time. 

“Yet you didn’t have your body camera on?”  The defense lawyer, Dick didn’t remember her name, leaned forward and the smell of expired perfume wafted over him.  “So all we have is your word that my client, a decorated officer– the man you stayed with following this supposed stalking incident, the man you worked with, who trained you– stole evidence, assisted a serial killer to escape justice, stalked you for investigating the case and then shot you.”  

She laughed a little at the end of her speech.  Dick didn’t move, didn’t breathe.  He could feel Aaron’s eyes on him.  Dick looked back at Bruce.  Bruce’s jaw was clenched, but his eyes were locked on Dick.  They were kind.

Dick’s eyes snapped back to the lawyer as she continued “Forgive me for not taking your word. You have a track record of vendettas against your training officers and accusing them of misconduct, Mr. Grayson.”

“It’s Officer Grayson actually.  My camera wasn’t on because I was code 4 at the scene until I wasn’t.  Cameras back record two minutes.  Should it be needed an officer can turn his camera on after the fact and have recorded the prior two minutes.  It’s policy to put safety over camera function.  I was at gunpoint and quick movement is inadvisable.  I was then shot twice by a man I trusted.  He then walked over to me and took my duty belt, and camera.  I couldn’t hit record for the backlog.  I was lying in a pool of my own blood.  I was left there to die.”

Bruce sucked in a breath from where he sat in the gallery.  Dick hated that he was here, listening to this.  It was almost shameful to have to air the gory details–blood trails, mistakes and all.   But he had vowed.  He would tell the whole truth, and nothing but.