Work Text:
It's not simple to say
A weary looking Dick Grayson puts on his suit and mask.
Most days I don't recognize me
Approaching the window of his apartment, his reflection is briefly seen on the glass before he opens the window to the fire escape.
That these shoes and this apron
Focus shot on his hand gripping one of his escrimas, cuts to a shot of the symbol on his chest.
That place and its patrons
Nightwing looks towards the Gotham skyline in the distance, the Batsignal flickers on as he watches.
Have taken more than I gave them
Scene flickers to similar shot featuring young Dick in his family’s colors, staring at the Big Top circus tent as the bodies of his parents are carried out, covered in sheets.
It's not easy to know
Cuts to a shot of Nightwing’s face close up, eyebrows scrunched and mouth downturned.
I'm not anything like I used to be
Cuts to a picture of young Dick’s face, smiling and happy.
Although it's true
Young Dick’s smile fades to a horrified stare.
I was never attention's sweet center
Camera zooms out to show Dick kneeling on the trapeze platform, one hand reached out towards his parents’ bodies. Scene freezes in black and white as the front page of a newspaper.
I still remember that girl
A colorful magazine is thrown onto the newspaper, a picture of young Dick posing at the circus with a smile on his face. One of the taglines reads ‘Haly’s Child Star- What Future Awaits Him Now?’
She's imperfect, but she tries
Start of more flashbacks, begins with young Dick at the Youth Center getting beaten up, already with a black eye, he swings at the bully and misses.
She is good, but she lies
Dick alerts a guard to the bullies going after a black kid, cuts to him with the kid, the kid has a question mark over his head, Dick’s hands are up in a defensive pose. A speech bubble shows the Romani flag crossed out as Dick denies his heritage.
She is hard on herself
Dick swings a punch, glass breaks, Dick is seen standing over a sink, staring at himself in the cracked mirror.
She is broken and won't ask for help
Blood drips from his knuckles, Dick pushes away from the sink and stalks out of the bathroom as another kid walks in.
She is messy, but she's kind
Dick spits blood onto the floor as one of the guards hovers over him worriedly. He looks up at her and smiles reassuringly, one of his teeth missing.
She is lonely most of the time
Dick sits at a table and looks up as Bruce walks into the room.
She is all of this mixed up and baked
Side by side image of Bruce and Dick facing each other, their black hair transitioning as a gradient into gray, faded images of their parent’s deaths.
In a beautiful pie
Dick is pressed against the window of Bruce’s car, eyes sparkling as Bruce smiles behind him. Cuts to a picture of little Dick standing in front of Wayne Manor.
She is gone but she used to be mine
Dick sits at a table with Bruce, a wide grin on his face as he decorates cookies with Bruce, they’re both splatted with bright, colorful frosting. In the background, Alfred smiles as he watches them.
It's not what I asked for
Young Dick stands alone in the imposing halls of Wayne Manor. He peeks into Bruce’s office and sees him enter the secret entrance through the clock.
Sometimes life just slips in through a back door
Dick peeks around a corner in the Batcave, eyes wide and awed as he sees Bruce pull on the cowl.
And carves out a person
Quick succession of shots of Batman in action, ending shot freezes.
And makes you believe it's all true
The shot of Batman distorts into a same posed shot of Robin, then shuffles through shots of him pulling off similar moves. (With some added ~flair~ of course!)
And now I've got you
Shuffled photos show Dick start a flip/kick as Robin, in the middle of the flip, his uniform changes into his uniform as Slade’s Apprentice (complete with swords), as he lands the kick, his uniform switches into the Nightwing uniform.
And you're not what I asked for
(Flashbacks over.) Nightwing stands stoic next to a classic CRASH sound burst. Camera closes in on him. His posture is rigid, his face is set in a deep frown with his brow furrowed. (Eyebrows angled down, not up.)
If I'm honest, I know I would give it all back
Nightwing approaches Red Hood on a rooftop, holding his hands up and stepping away as Red Hood wordlessly points a gun at him..
For a chance to start over
Switches to a scene of Dick trying to talk to Tim, reaching a hand towards him. His shoulders slump as Tim walks away.
And rewrite an ending or two
Nightwing watches with despair as Batman and Robin patrol together.
For the girl that I knew
Nightwing closes his eyes, a tear dripping down his face, half the screen shows a little memory bubble of Dick holding Damian on his shoulders, Dick grinning as Damian laughs.
Who'll be reckless just enough
(Imaginings of a different Reality) Robin (Dick) fights with the Titans, blocking a shot that would have hit Starfire.
Who'll get hurt
Dick backs away from Mirage as she melts away the illusion of being Starfire in his bed.
But who learns how to toughen up when she's bruised
Dick sits on a couch, holding a cup of cocoa, a small, sad smile on his face while Wally and Kori try to cheer him up, Roy sits nearby, holding a newspaper with the headline ‘Catalina Flores, FBI Agent, Imprisoned.’
And gets used by a man who can't love
Nightwing stands in the Batcave, eyes wide as he stares at Batman, the Batcomputer’s screen is filled with intel on Spyral.
And then she'll get stuck and be scared
Dick shakes his head, refusing the mission, backing up as Bruce steps forward and his shadow falls over him.
Of the life that's inside her
Dick flies back from a kick to his stomach, hitting the wall of the cave hard and doubling over as he coughs.
Growing stronger each day
Dick continues to shake his head as he straightens up. Batman’s frown deepens.
Till it finally reminds her
Shuffles through multiple pictures of Batman hitting Dick. His costume tatters, Dick’s mask falls off.
To fight just a little
Dick lays on the ground, dirty and bruised and bleeding. His hand clenches into a fist.
To bring back the fire in her eyes
His face tilts up to glare at Batman, his disheveled hair covering one eye. A cold blue flame burns in his visible eye.
That's been gone but used to be mine
Dick screams his refusal, “NO!” at the ground, pushes himself up and launches at Batman. Shuffles through scenes of them fighting, Dick gaining the upper hand.
Used to be mine
Batman lays on the ground, unconscious with his hands bound. Dick’s knees buckle where he stands a few feet away. Tim catches him as he falls, eyes wide and worried as he calls for Alfred.
She is messy, but she's kind
(Back to Reality) Nightwing, dirtied from patrol, helps a victim to their feet, smiling.
She is lonely most of the time
Nightwing walks home along the rooftops, a lone figure backed by the moonlight. Entering his apartment, he finds Damian waiting for him.
She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie
A question mark forms above Dick’s head as he peels his mask off, and Damian huffs “Tt,” as he walks forward and hugs his brother.
She is gone but she used to be mine
Dick’s eyes well with tears as he hugs him back tightly, the animatic ending as their image fades into one of them hugging with Damien as Robin and Dick as Batman.