Fic: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (14/22)
Title: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (14/22)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Lana Lang, Lionel Luthor
Genres: Angst, AU, Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Bruce and Dick get caught up in political intrigue during a business trip to Washington City.
Chapter Summary: Bruce and Dick are under surveillance.
Date Of Completion: April 26, 2020
Date Of Posting: May 19, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1224
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
XIV
Spies
"in Washington City, someone's always watching you."
Senator Dillard Pixley (D-RI)
June 6, 1853 C.E.
Dick paused on the steps of the Library of Congress. He felt a little nervous about entering such a center of knowledge. His own schooling had been informal at best, but his parents had taught him to read and write. He had been able to pick up other languages as they traveled all over Europe. His mother had said, "French and German are very useful, but pay attention to English. The New World will overtake the Old in your lifetime." Dick took a deep breath and entered the building.
He was impressed with the marble and gilt of the lobby and found the Main Reading Room with its circular pattern of desks around the Librarian's Desk. Stained-glass windows and marble pillars surrounded him as Dick noticed the desk was unattended.
The librarian's probably helping someone else.
He spied an enormous card catalog and went over to it. He started searching for the subjects he wanted.
The quiet of the vast library was soothing. He liked it and wished he could spend more time here, but rehearsals were doubled because of the fund-raiser. He wrote down the call numbers and went over to the desk.
Are all librarians redheads? he thought amusedly as he referenced Barbara Gordon in Gotham. He smiled at the pretty redhead with the nameplate Miss Lana Lang.
"Good morning, Miss. I need some help."
"Certainly, sir."
He showed her the call numbers and titles he wanted. "Thank you."
"Code-breaking and Abraham Lincoln? Those are interesting subjects."
"I'm a wide-ranging person."
She laughed. "We appreciate such intellects here. You can find these books here." She gave him directions for each section.
"Thank you, Miss Lang."
"You're welcome, sir."
Dick went to the section for code-breaking first, then found the section with numerous books on the 16th President. He brought the books to the Main Reading Room and found a desk.
He read through the code-breaking book and was fascinated by the concepts and techniques. He quickly skimmed through the Lincoln books and decided that they were worth checking out. He brought the books to Lana Lang's desk.
"I'd like to check these out."
"Oh, I am sorry, sir. Books can only be checked out by Congressmen and Senators."
Dick produced a letter. "I have something here that will allow me to check them out."
Lana read the letter. "President Roosevelt asks that you be allowed to check out materials?" She smiled at him. "Now that's name-dropping!"
Dick laughed. "Guilty as charged."
"All right, I'll just have you sign these cards."
Dick signed the cards.
"Boning up on Lincoln before the 100th anniversary of his birth?"
"I didn't know that."
"Yes, February 12, 1909 is the date. Next year there will be all sorts of hoopla. A lot of new books will be published, too."
"Good for your business."
Lana laughed. "True. Well, Mr. Richard Grayson, enjoy the books."
"Thank you."
Neither Dick nor Lana had noticed a reader in the first row startled at the mention of President Roosevelt's name. He had listened carefully and watched Dick leave. He finished reading and returned his book to Lana, then left the library. He went to a drugstore and went inside a telephone booth for privacy and made a call.
& & & & & &
Lionel Luther had rented a palatial estate in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was going to stay for at least a year, so he had decided renting was better than buying. The phone rang in his comfortable library and he answered while eating a snack of cheese and crackers.
"Hello?" He listened to the caller. "Interesting choice of subjects. Thank you."
He hung up and finished his cracker. It paid to have informants.
Why would a ballet dancer be interested in a book about code-breaking? He obviously had political pull if Roosevelt had authorized the books' release. What was he missing?
He reached for a stack of newspapers on his desk and riffled through them. There, just what he was looking for, a story about Bruce Wayne's arrival in the city. It had coincided with the Gotham Ballet Company coming to town. Both Bruce and the company's star, Richard Grayson, were staying at the Willard Hotel.
What are you up to, Bruce?
Bruce Wayne had been a dissolute partier at Harvard. Roommates with Lex, they had 'cut up' frequently, and Lionel had been forced to write checks to the university's alumni fund to keep Lex from getting expelled.
The death of Bruce's parents sent him into a tailspin. He acted out for years but seemed to straighten out during his tour of the Continent. Now he's on the special Cannon Committee. Always knew the boy had potential. If he's anything like his father, he's sharp. I will definitely keep a tail on him and now include Mr. Grayson.
Lionel washed down his snack with an excellent French wine.
& & & & & &
Dick sat at the table in Bruce's suite. The library books were spread out on the table. He was studying the code-breaker book.
"This is fascinating stuff," he said.
"Yeah?" Bruce picked up the book. "You're right, interesting stuff."
Dick sat back in his chair. "What do you think Lionel is up to? Why so chummy with the committee? Is it just a power thing? Or does he get something tangible out of it?"
"Good question." Bruce put the book down. "Lionel could be accumulating information for a future power play, though something more specific could be his agenda. Perhaps knowing the details of the weapons research is what he wants."
"We'll have to keep an eye on him."
Bruce nodded.
"You know, I have a question."
"Shoot."
Dick was momentarily puzzled, but suddenly realized what the slang meant. "Won't someone realize the absence of the Raven and the Nightingale in Gotham matches up with our absence?"
Bruce smiled. "Alfred is taking care of it."
"What, is he dressing up as the Raven and patrolling the city?"
"He could with his theatrical background, but it's more having our urchins spread stories of Dynamic Duo sightings."
"Our urchins, huh?"
Bruce grinned. "It's good to have a network of street-savvy urchins."
"Dynamic Duo?"
"The Gotham Gazette's appellation for us."
"How quaint."
"Aren't you sarcastic?"
"Not really." Dick tapped one of the Lincoln books. "Quite a man, that Lincoln."
"Yes, he was."
"How does your uncle measure up?"
"'I'd say pretty well. Lincoln's Number One on the list, but Ted's up there. He's accomplished a lot of things. We can eat meat again without taking our lives in our hands."
"I thought that was the result of Upton Sinclair's muckraking?"
"That, too."
Dick stretched. "I've got afternoon rehearsal. I'll be glad when this fundraiser is over."
"Double duty, huh?"
"Yes, though it's not dampening Donna's romance."
"She and Patrick hit it off?"
"Like peanut butter and jelly."
"You're getting more American every day."
Dick grinned. "Thanks." He stood. "I better get going."
He kissed Bruce. "See you later."
"You bet."
Dick put on her coat and hat and hustled out the door. He hailed a cab and climbed aboard. Another cab followed him.
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