Part 5

Dick's POV

"I see," Wally said, thickly," why you need a place to crash for the night. "

"Thanks Wally, " I said.

I did not dare to go on patrol that night, in case Bruce was looking for me. I slept in the guest bedroom at Wally's house, having thankfully kept a spare set of clothes and pajamas there in case of emergencies. I was exhausted from all of the emotional trauma that day, but my mind was too full of thoughts to sleep.

I couldn't stop thinking about Damian and Bruce. I wondered what Bruce had thought when he found out and if he was angry with me for lying to him about my surname for all those years. I wondered what emotions he felt, if any, and what his opinion of me now. I wondered if he had told the others, Jason, Tim, Alfred, Babs and if Damian now knew that I was actually his brother. I wondered how I was ever going to face speaking to Bruce again.

I eventually fell asleep, my eyes drifting closed, but it was a restless night.

Bruce's POV

I looked at my son's sleeping form through the window, my own flesh and blood, with my DNA coursing through his veins.

I wondered why he had lied about his surname all those years ago, but i suppose that I wouldn't have taken him in if I knew of his parentage. Al Guhls were known to be hard, ruthless killers, a description which didn't suit Dick at all. I supposed that that was why Dick had run away in the first place. Being the oldest son, he was supposed to be the League's heir, but he didn't want to be an assassin in the first place, so he ran.

He obviously hadn't known I was his father either, until Damian had told him who he was. I supposed it had come as quite a shock, as it had for me, and explained why he was currently sleeping in Wally's guest bedroom.

I sighed. I had always loved Dick as a son, even when we argued. Now that I knew that he really was my son, I wasn't sure how I was ever going to speak to him again.

Dick's POV

I awoke the next morning feeling as though I hadn't slept at all. I phoned my office to say that I was sick, and they didn't mind as I hadn't taken a day's sick leave since I'd started two years ago.

I grudgingly got changed and went downstairs to find Wally in the kitchen as usual, eating a bowl of cereal. I made another one for myself and when to sit down next to him.

"You know," Wally said, managing to smirk with a mouthful of cereal, "You do actually look like Bruce, especially when you're grouchy."

I shot him one of my fiercest glares

"Not helpful, Wally."

"Alright, alright," he said.

We both sat in silence for a bit.

"So," Wally said, eventually, "Artemis is coming over later and she'll probably ask you why you're here. What should we tell her?"

I thought about it for a minute. Artemis, Wally's girlfriend, was very perceptive. She would notice that something was up.

"You can tell her," I said, " she'll realise something is up anyway."

"But what about your secret ID?" Wally asked, "in order for her to understand, we'd have to tell her."

"It's fine, Wally," I assured him, "it's about time she knew anyway."

When Artemis arrived later that morning, she was indeed surprised to find me there. She glanced between Wally and I, her eyes narrowed.

"What's going on?" She asked.

Wally gave me a look, as if to say, 'How did you know?'

"It's a very long story," I told Artemis

"I have time,"she replied

We all went and sat down in the sitting room, similarly to the way Wally and I had been the day before.

"Okay," Artemis said, "what happened?"

I explained my past to her, the same way I had to Wally, adding in the parts she didn't know.

"So, your mother's an assassin?"

I nodded.

"I mean, I get it. You should see my parents."

I glanced at Wally. He nodded, telling me to tell her.

"I think I should tell you," I said to Artemis, "that I actually do know about your parents."

She was stunned, "How? Did Wally tell you?"

She glared at him. Wally sunk lower in his seat.

"No," I said, giving her a small smile, "Wally didn't tell me."

She took her gaze off her boyfriend

"How then?"

"Does this explain it?" I asked, removing my mask from my pocket and showing it to her.

Her eyes widened in realization, "You're…"

"Nightwing," Wally finished for her, impatiently , "I know! Now can you please let Dick continue?"

Artemis nodded slowly.

I continued with the story, explaining to Artemis about my mother. When I told her her name, Artemis managed to choke on air.

"Are you being serious?!"

I nodded.

"Is he?"

She turned to Wally

"Yep."

"And that's not all," I told Artemis

"You mean there's more?"

"Yes," Wally replied for me, "a lot more."

I continued explaining to Artemis, Wally adding in his two cents every once in a while. When I had finished, Artemis was almost speechless. Almost, but not quite.

"So yesterday, you found out that you're actually Bruce's biological son, and neither of you knew about it?"

"Pretty much." I replied.

"And one last thing?"

"Yes?"

"Bruce is Batman, isn't he?"

"I smiled at her, "how did you guess?"