#lateeeee

Gotham soaked in the cold of the night, like every other day. Two built figures were fighting each other from building to building. Screams could be heard below them as they jumped to the next roof. Bullets were flying near each other, bullets that they couldn't see were they ended.

Dick sat on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, eyes locked on the floor. The shadow of his 'prisoner' covering him, as the pale moon light was behind him. The two of them were silent, forcing themselves to not look at the other.

The two figures were familiar and their indentities were revealed as the giant flashlight from the police zeppelin glowed above them. Nightwing and Red Hood, fighting. The civilians seemed surprised but at the same time worried. Neither of them were tired, neither looked tired.

Jason wasn't so different from his older brother. The only difference was that he held a gun in his right hand as he leaned in the window frame. Eyes fixed on the city, only hearing the wood planks cracklings from his 'prisoner' trying to free himself. Jason had make sure to tie the ropes the best he could.

The two guys didn't talk to each other, didn't even scream to each other like other times when this had happened. There were many recordings of them screaming some non-sense to each other, which can be seen on many blogs and clips around the city. Nobody knew what to do when there was silence between them two.

"Care to explain?"

"What's to explain?"

"You are me. You are Richard Grayson, the Nightwing." His voice soft, as he looked up to see the big grin in his 'prisoner's' face. It creeped him out. "I'm also Richard Grayson, the Nightwing. What are you doing in my universe?"

"A boom tube problem."

It wasn't the Batman who stop them, it was the other members of the batfam and the outlaws who did it. Babs, Tim and Damian to stop Dick. Roy and Kori to stop Jason. The new-comers didn't talk to each other, just glancing every now and then but no talking involved.

"You were fighting Nightwing back there. Why?"

"I wasn't fighting him." Jason from the other universe pointed out, forcing himself to look at his counter-part. It was like facing a mirror, the only difference was that one was standing and the other tied to a chair. Although he was tied up, he didn't even try to force his way out.

"Sure he was."

"So this is who I would have become if Dick didn't do what he did."

Quiet.

Both teams guided their partner back to their safe house, giving them a lecture about fighting for the fifth time this week. Not one noticed the different scars on their faces, the way their usual glow wasn't with them and the way their quietness brought questions. For them, they were the originals.

"Maybe I could use a little explanation...since I know nothing about your universe. And you seem to know a lot about mine."

"Oh my, that'll be so much fun..."

...Ever since Jason died, everything tended to head South. The better their intentions were, the worst the results will be. It pissed everyone off so often it became a daily tradition...

"Great. Seems like I always have to die. In every freaking universe. Amazing."

...Dick was the most affected. Even more than Bruce himself, who was physically there with Jason's body. He had a mental break down and it hurt everyone around him to see the acrobat in his worst. He had began killing...

"Wait...Me? I-I don't...What?!"

...He was really in his lowest. He was so down he lost anything and everything he could grab. Far from sanity. Far from himself. Far from all he had ever believed, everything he was ever taught...

"That sounds so ridiculously familiar."

...Jason eventually came back to life. Tim was currently the Robin, so the oldest decided to take the name of Red Hood. Not leaving Bruce's side for anything, as it was the only thing that was stuck with him. He felt that was what he was meant to do and he loved it...

"Oh...So...?"

...Jason, as Red Hood, became Batman's right hand because Dick, Nightwing, decided to leave. He felt he needed to get rid of evil. He needed to do something and he didn't care for the consequences of his sudden actions...

"Okay...Great...Hum..."

...Compare to the current universe, Dick was the Red Hood in blue while Jason was the Nightwing in Red. Their suits were the same but their roles switched...

"Uh..." Dick was left without words. What can he even say about that? "Dick, well, it's weird calling you that...How about I call you Nightwing?"

"Perfect." He smiled, in a creepy way for his counter-part at least.

>>

"Jason, just let me go. I need to find my Nightwing...The boom tube will open soon and..." He pleaded with a tired voice, one his counter-part hasn't hear in a long time. His desire to be freed and locate his partner was greater than the emptiness that filled his soul, which was a lot to say about his situation.

"Why should I?" Words cold but clearly broken. This is who he always wanted to be but couldn't. He blew his chance up and no there's was no going back. Every single day he regret it. Every. Single. Day.

>>

"It will be better if you stay. With you here, he will come eventually. If what you said about your universe is true, then I trust him more with the talking." Dick, who was clearly concerned about his own safety, got on his feet to back away from his twisted counter-part.

"Worry not dear Grayson, I wouldn't risk having two Jasons after me." Laughter which made Dick uncomfortable, walking farther away from him. His hands were shacking so was his whole body.

>>

"Why are you sure he'll be at Dick's?"

"Babs, Tim and Damian took him when we first landed on your universe. I thought that'll be a better place to calm down instead of the manor."

"Well, we both know how hard it is gonna be if your Dick...Nightwing! Is in the manor...That sounds awful."

"Trying to get into the Wayne Manor or 'your Dick'?"

"Shut it."

>>

"Listen up, Dick. You knew from the beginning I was more than capable...Oh my goodness." Nightwing pressed the knife closer to his counter-part's neck. He could feel the pressure of his blade against the soft skin, which he forced himself not to keep pressing. "You knew all along! You played..." He stopped to chuckle at himself. His left hand, which held Dick's arms, pressed harder as he was getting mader. "Well played Dickiebird. Well played."

"I...I was just wondering." He tried replying, but the air in his lungs was low. The longer he was in that position, the harder it became to breath. The lack of air made him forget the blade against his neck, but soon felt fresh blood.

"You didn't plan this, did you?"

"Now that...You mention it...No. No I did not...plan it."

"You do mind not killing him...? Like, seriously. That's my job." A deeper voice could be heard from the window in front of the bed where Dick was held down. The man didn't enter the apartment, not yet.

Nightwing clicked his tongue, still maintaining his position. But soon let go went the sound of heavy boots landed on the wooden floor, he knew who it was. No need to look back. He knew, all along that they were going to come. At least the timing was perfect.

"Don't be mad, Jaybird, just because I'm doing a better job than you doesn't mean you are that bad." He teased, looking over the Red Hood's shoulder in front of him. No more words were needed to tell that they had beef. They were going to have a fight when they had the chance. They knew it.

"Should I be scared or worried?" Dick struggled to get on his feet but managed. Quite quickly he avoided Nightwing and his Red Hood to get to his own Jason Todd, whom he just pulled to the bathroom.

>>

"Are you crazy leaving them out there?" Jason complained before Dick had a chance to explain, because of the cut and the blood. The youngest suddenly noticed the blood from Dick's hand, which was holding his neck. Soon he went to look for a first aid kit or something similar.

"They know if they do, we are after them." Dick managed to say before letting his hand dropped to his side, before lifting it again to pull his suit's collar down for Jason to help with the cut. It wouldn't be of much help doing it himself with his left hand. "We know each other like mirrors. There's no way they can hide from us, from themselves."

>>

"Doesn't matter what we do or where we hide, they will find us." Red Hood said, pulling Nightwing's arm back and away from the window. He forced his partner to look at him, even with the masks on both faces, their eyes meet. "This is their city. It's not ours. We might know the streets but we have no knowledge of their people. Do you understand me? The Bat is there too. Don't be stupid. You know he will find us."

"Whatever." He pulled his arm back, freeing himself from his partner's grip. For whatever reason he felt watched. Watched by their counter-parts but he knew they were to busy with the cut to care about them. Even though the door from the bathroom was only half close, he felt how they talked about them.

>>

"We get this done, then we go back to our usual business?"

"It's always been that way Jaybird. Do you want it to change?"

Quiet.

-

"Are you sure it's gonna be here?" Dick questioned, eyes checking their surroundings for any inconvenient guest. The coast was clear, for now.

"Yes. It's something weird that happens with the boom tubes in our universe." Red replied, clinging into his jacket. "Once it's open, it tends to re-open a few times before closing forever and ever. It's an anomaly but now, it's a miracle." He's not nervous. He's calm.

"For the love of...I should take your Jason and you stay with mine." Nightwing declared, annoyed to the extreme. He was standing a few steps behind his partner, but could hear everything clearly. "You guys are made for each other." He's not mad. He doesn't care.

"...You can't take my Jason." Whispered Dick, now with eyes fixed on the roof. For a second he lost himself in a shower of thoughts and old memories. He's not scared. He's brave.

"Like hell I'm going to your universe." Jason wasn't frighten to show his disagreement to said idea. Despite hearing what his partner has said, he decided to ignore it the best he could. It was better than caring. He didn't felt safe. He faked safety*

"I'm just saying, since our beloved partners seem to have such a confident mouth for each other. Plus they aren't the same person so they could be easily be dating or whatever he hell they want." He continued, words still harsh and intended to hurt his counter-part somehow. His anger grew and his hands were fists ready to punch.

Silence. No one talked for five solid minutes. Tension covered them like a blanket and fear and anger were chains to pull it down.

It wasn't hard not talking. Not giving the other some big piece of their mind.

"If I didn't know myself better, I'd bet you're jealous. Tell me if I'm wrong." Dick stated, eyes on his counter-part now. Neither of them showed any expression but soon the other one looked away, frowning. "I'm not."

"Wait, jealous of another Nightwing? Jealous of themselves? You got to be kidding me." Jason was surprised to say at least, or that's what he pretended to be when the news were revealed.

"You are the last person to judge me, street rat. I can assure you that you are feeling exactly like me or worst." Nightwing's words weren't friendly, to Jason they were a total different side of his Grayson. One that he wondered if he should meet. "Call it jealousy but we both have it right now."

Both Nightwing and Jason pulled their partners back, to talk*. Neither were actual talks, just demands for answers that no one knew. The partners weren't surprised but pretended to. Maybe they could play it off a few more weeks. Maybe they could brush it off somehow.

The boom tube opened, both guests left exchanging few words beforehand. Then Dick and Jason were alone in the rooftop. Now there was no more reason for them to be together, nor to treat each other nicely. But maybe they could do it for the night. Maybe until things sunk back to normal.

"Jay?" Dick called, rising his gaze to meet the other's eyes. A weak, almost forced connection was made. Dick's lips curved into a grin, his usual look. "Wanna come over to my apartment? It's late." He offered, secretly hoping he wouldn’t be brushed off insignificantly.