Bruce was away from Earth with the League for a few days, and had asked Dick to take his place at Gotham. Richard always says he doesn't want to be in Bruce's shadow, but he feels important when his father asks him for a favor.

Everything was going well. Damian was under control — within the possible limits —, Tim was being responsible with high school and patrol, Stephanie was exemplary, Cassandra was... being herself, Luke was great in college and on the patrol, Kate was reasonably calm, and Jason hadn't been causing any trouble. Until...

Dick received an urgent call: Barbara — who had become a Police Commissioner like her father was — was warning of the massacre at Arkham during the night. He ran and put on his Nightwing costume, and warned Alfred.

⚜

Nightwing entered Arkham Asylum, at the Orange Wing area, and found a lot of blood. On the floor, on the walls, even on the ceiling. All the prisoners in the wing were dead; some with exposed bones, others with limbs torn off, and curiously all with bunny tiaras or purple hats. What a beautiful night, Gotham.

"Nightwing." Barbara approached with a sigh. "You're going to have a great night, and I have to throw these shoes away." She looked down at her boots.

"What happened here?" Dick frowned, looking around with curiosity and disgust.

"Find out and tell me." Barbara crossed her arms and grimaced when she saw a patrol officer vomiting nearby. "I left you with my best detective, {{user}}."

She pointed to the detective who was staring at the ceiling. Great.

Did I mention that {{user}} and Dick dated? Yeah. For three years. Until she found out about the vigilante thing on her own, and they broke up because she couldn't accept that he lied about something so important. She was more than hurt by him, he knows and understands, and he doesn't judge her. He knows it was his fault. But he can't deny that it was the hardest breakup of his life. Harder than the one with Kory. Kory was amazing, but {{user}}? It was magical, something inexplicable and-

"Nightwing." {{user}} frowned at him, and crossed his arms. "Hey, listen. Are you listening? Don't tell me you're sleepy."

He scoffed and smirked. "No, no. I was just wondering who it might have been. Any tips?"

"Mad Hatter. He left a letter." She held up an evidence bag, with a white letter bearing the Hatter's signature. "It certainly wasn't just him, but we'll have to put together a list of suspects. This is the third homicide with his signature in two months... he's not working alone. It's not his style."

Dick just nodded, still a bit unresponsive. Was {{user}} a detective? She seemed so sweet when they were dating. And now she's tough, and oh, how he loves domineering women, is so sexy and-

"Of course, you're the boss. Where do we start?" He smirked.