"You are forever a saint in my mind now. I'll consider that a favor owed," he said with a grin. Because really, the disappointed look Bruce could give him was still the worst thing ever.
People didn't ask much why Dick was how he was. Dick loved what he did, loved the danger, the edge of figuring out how to escape death. It was fun for him. He'd jumped around as a kid in bright colors, cracking jokes, skinny and not truly menacing looking. He still smirked and poked fun in serious situations. So no, he didn't come across as Batman's menacing little shadow and protege. And that was entirely the point.
Alfred, for his part, did nothing to interrupt but started more coffee, aware of how far they were tipping their cups back, then went back to sifting flour into a bowl.
"Ah... Ah!" There were pieces clicking together for Dick. It could practically be seen in his blue eyes. Click, click, click. "Hang on, hang on..." He got out of his seat, pacing restlessly, then hopping on the end of the bar so he was facing its length, sitting cross legged and setting his cup down on the polished surface. (Alfred looked on the verge of saying something, but settled on frowning disapprovingly.)
"So... I'm Hydra," Dick announced. "I start gathering my old chemists. Some aren't coming willingly. Bang. The faithful ones start their old work on the serum. I start kidnapping people. Easy to do in Bludhaven. Disappearances there don't raise too many eye brows. But I get stumbled on. No worries. Staying cool. Move to a new location. I obviously have a string of them ready, just in case. So the next stop is Chinatown. But things get hot there. No one is selling live bodies and the local gang is cracking down on anyone kidnapping people. So I move again, with some of the local capes making things difficult. Still, no worries. There are still enough subjects. Just have to lay low.
"But beginning of August, Nigma happens. He touches something. An exposed nerve, something that could bring it all to light. I move in a hurry. Unfortunately, the Red Hood spots me. Careless. He takes out my new hidey-hole before I've even put out the 'Go Away' mat. I need some new leverage. Now..." Dick pointed at Maria, index bouncing in thought. "Now this is where the narrative gets shaky. They did something that caught the Captain's attention or some other event caused him to start exploring in civvies rather than in uniform on Gotham's West side. Did he know already or did he just want to track down the person who took out the Hydra plant personally, without SHIELD? At any rate, he winds up in Red Hood's safe house. Miraculously, he leaves without any bullets planted in him and with somehow a good enough rapport to work with him later."
Dick was missing the puzzle piece that was Bucky. But, Maria would learn, not the Winter Solider entirely. "But Hydra gets a break here. It takes a while for Red Hood to track down their next hide out, and Captain has to leave because the Winter Soldier has to take priority. Was that by Hydra's design, some other agency? Were they just eager to have Winter Solder start removing secret keepers and opposition or did they just want to keep him and SHIELD busy?" He was wondering aloud, but looking to Maria for input. While doing so, Alfred beckoned for his cup and Dick held it out absently seeming for a refill.