Chapter Text
Dinah didn't come back to Gotham often.
It was a conscious decision. When she'd moved away for university she had known she wouldn't go back, and frankly she didn't want to.
Gotham was weird. And honestly unsafe, and a little scary.
However, she did return to the city she'd grown up in from time to time. Oliver's business deals and public image had him attending meetings, parties and galas in the city, and Dinah was happy to tag along to support her husband. Hence the fact that she was now walking down the streets of her childhood, hoodie pulled over her casual dress.
She'd been attending some party, hosted by one of Ollie's rich friends, and had stepped out for some air. Her instincts had taken her down to the lower city, feet treading the same paths she had walked as a teenager.
A shadow shifted behind her.
She span around, looking for her tail. There was no one there. Not even a heel disappearing into an alley.
Dinah stood there, for a few moments, before deciding she had imagined it. Gotham had always put her on edge. The city seemed alive at times, and it unsettled her.
There was a strong gust of wind, and she jumped. Her gaze shifted up to see a figure standing on the rooftop.
She blinked, and they were gone.
That had been real. Hadn't it? She wasn't sure anymore.
She reached into her pocket for her mask, intending to slip it on and head to the roofs to investigate.
The shadows stirred in the alleyway next to her, and she turned to see a hulking figure.
He was… a dark figure. That was all she could see, as his black - outfit? - blended perfectly into the darkness. She could only make out a vaguely human shape, and where its face should be, white ovals like eyes. Staring right at her.
She shifted slowly into a defensive stance. As she did, a growl came from the figure.
"𝔫o҉ h҉𝔢r҉𝔬e҉𝔰 𝔦n҉ g҉𝔬t҉𝔥a҉𝔪" It said. And then it vanished.
She hadn't even blinked. One second it was there, the next it wasn't, melting into the shadows as though teleporting away.
No heroes in Gotham, that was what it had said. How had it known? Her mask wasn't even out of her pocket. Did it know her secret identity, or had it just been a general warning to a non-Gothamite?
Did it know Ollie's identity as well? Roy, Artemis, Cissie? Were they in danger?
Dinah took a deep breath, and headed back to the party.
When she got back she was immediately accosted by her husband, who thankfully only seemed a little drunk, dragging along an absolutely wasted looking Bruce Wayne.
"Hey, Di!" Oliver called out as they walked over. Bruce was staggering, clearly putting most of his weight on Ollie, so it was a slow process.
She smiled as Bruce put out his hand for her to shake, giving her a dazzling grin. "M'name's Bruce. Bruce Wayne. An'you are?" He slurred.
"Dinah Lance, Oliver's wife. I believe we've already met, but it's nice to see you again." Dinah replied, shaking his hand with an amused smirk. His grip was surprisingly firm given his drunken state.
"Oh, course I h've! Jus' checkin' in, I hope y'dint need s'ving by th' Big Bad Bat wh'ile y' were out!" He spoke slowly, taking surprising care with his words for how drunk he was.
Oliver's face scrunched up in confusion. "The Bat?" He asked, giving Dinah a clueless look.
Bruce seemed to straighten up slightly. He took a gulp of the drink in his hand that Dinah now suspected was water, as he had stopped leaning on Ollie and looked a little more sober.
"Yeah, the Bat. Gotham's protector, I'm surprised the rest of the world still hasn't noticed him." He said, words only slurring slightly. He raised his hand about a foot above his head. " 'Bout yay tall, made of darkness, white shapes for eyes? Commu'icates in growls and grunts?" He explained, looking directly at Dinah.
"Oh…" She said softly. Bruce grinned at her.
"Yeah, y've seen 'im. Bu' don' tell an'one I told you. S'posed to be a Gotham secret." He whispered, putting his finger to his lips.
Then he turned around and sauntered off towards the bar, stumbling slightly as he waved at a woman with short black hair.
Oliver turned to her. "Don't worry about Bruce, he's just weird. But did you really see what he said?" He asked.
"Yes. I saw a shape on the rooftops, and I was just about to get my mask out and investigate when he just… appeared. And he said something to me." Ollie looked concerned now.
"He said, "No heroes in Gotham.""