The depravity evident in the crime scene wasn't unlike that of Gotham. Blood coated the walls, spelling out what, at first glance, appeared to be a smattering of nonsense words. Whether the reality lived up to appearances remained to be seen.

Detective Richard Grayson carefully stepped around constellations of broken glass and a crime scene photographer to reach the opposite wall, where a CSI was swabbing one of the wetter writings.

"About time you showed up," said the CSI, with as much humour as was appropriate in such a setting. His hair was a vibrant red. Dick... had a bit of a thing for redheads.

"I had to bake a cake," Dick replied, mentally shaking himself. "Then I got stuck in traffic."

"Been briefed already?"

"Yes." Dick surveyed the damage; most of the glass had come from a broken coffee table. The murder victim had been dragged to the bedroom. Even if he hadn't been told, the blood smear would have been a dead—heh—giveaway. "Victim's name is Katiana Rosenkov. Lived alone. No signs of forced entry. The victim either knew her killer, or they had access. Or both."

The CSI turned around, putting the swab in a tube. "Wait, you're the transfer from the GCPD. Grayson, right? I'm West. Uh, Wally West. CSI guy. I'd shake your hand, but, well..."

"No hard feelings."

"So, what do you make of this?" West gestured at the writing.

"Nothing. Yet. I assume photos have already been taken?"

"Yeah, they got that out of the way right after the body."

Dick scribbled down the words in his notepad so he could start puzzling them out without having to wait for copies of the pictures. "I'm gonna look around."

"And I should get back to swabbing. Nice meeting you."

Dick offered him a parting smile and made for the kitchen, snapping on a pair of gloves.

"Uh, hey."

Dick turned around.

Wally had another swab out and was twirling it in his fingers. "Did you, uh... never mind. Bad time."

Dick swallowed a very inappropriate laugh, and went about his business.

***

West found him again back at the precinct at the end of the day. Dick hadn't made any headway with the writing, and had had to put it aside to pursue other cases. The Central City Police Department wasn't as overworked and underfunded was Gotham's was, but it still wasn't ideal.

"Hey, found ya," said West.

"Well done. You heading out?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Just tying up a few loose ends. What's up?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you this earlier, but it seemed a bit inappropriate at a crime scene." West scratched the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. "I was wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee sometime?"

Dick wanted to say yes. He really did. "I'm flattered, but I don't know..."

Wally raised his hands. "Hey, no pressure. We could do something else if that's more up your alley."

God, he was tempted. But after everything that happened in Gotham, he wasn't sure he was ready to have a social life again.

"I..." Dick sighed. "I'm gonna have to say no. Sorry. It's nothing against you. I just... yeah."

"Intriguing." Wally pasted on a smile, but it didn't take a detective to notice the strain. "Would you mind if I walked you out anyway?"

"Oh, go ahead." Dick shut down his computer, checked his desk for any sensitive material he shouldn't leave out, and grabbed his jacket. "Shall we?"

Wally helped him into his jacket and they left the building together. Wally chattered happily as they headed for the carpark, and Dick wondered if he'd made the right decision turning him down. Wally was the friendliest person he'd met in the city—not that his other coworkers didn't try to make him feel welcome or anything. There was just something about him that Dick liked. And it wasn't the hair. Okay, maybe it was a little bit the hair.

By the time they reached Dick's car, he'd made a decision. "You know what? I've changed my mind. Coffee does sound great, if the offer's still open."

A real smile lit up Wally's face this time. "Oh? I mean... okay. Yeah. Sure. Let me grab your number and work this out."

Dick could feel Wally's cheer fill him up. Maybe he was ready to start seeing people again.