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1.
Bruce knows that Dick, as Nightwing, will catch the eyes of the Justice League sooner or later.
His kid is good, really good, the best. Bruce raises him himself (albeit with occasional drama between them), Bruce admits proudly in the deep, secret corner of his heart.
The kid is also flashy, like a sun, or a spotlight, or actually, a disco strobelight. His Nightwing costume is destined to catch eyes. Those deep V-cuts, those yellow-gold... tassels? Ugh.
So naturally, during a Justice League meeting to discuss new recruits, Nightwing’s name comes up.
Currently, the JL has around 20 members, give or take. The number fluctuates. For example, Black Canary has been a member by proxy for a while, but she will be officially instated soon. Captain Marvel is not actually a member, but he somehow appears to help them in every major crisis, but quickly vanishes at the first mention of a meeting.
The current policy is that anybody can nominate any hero deemed remarkable. This system will likely need an overhaul in the future as the hero community continues to expand, both in and out of the League, but that is a problem for future Batman.
The current problem is: Nosey Oliver brings Nightwing's name to the table.
"There aren't many photos of him to show," Oliver shows Dick's blurry photo from the news to the screen. "Kid's pretty good at dodging cameras and other things." I saw him once because Roy asked him to help with something."
"You mean you lurk from afar and observe your son who is in the 'it's complicated as fuck' status with you because of your running mouth," Hal says.
"Shut up, you're the one with the worst brain-to-speech filter," Oliver tells Hal and scratches his goatee. "The kid is a baseline human, I think? Seems to have just popped up in Blüdhaven recently."
Superman eyes Batman when the location is mentioned, to which Bruce makes no response.
Oliver continues, "You see, the baseline human heroes are quite smaller in number compared to the metas, which is understandable. You must be crazy to be a superhero without a 'super' in you. There is me, and you," Oliver points at Bruce, "I'm still not sure if you really are a normal human. But the point is, while we're often weaker in many aspects—I admit it—the baseline human heroes have versatile skillsets that push them to be heroes. And in battles with intelligent enemies, they usually prepare for you guys, but overlook us puny humans all the time. Thus, we shine." He waves his hand.
Flash listens to what Green Arrow says and nods. "Have to admit, yeah. Oftentimes the non-meta heroes, which is often the Bat, saved me, not you though." He laughs.
"You shut up too!" Oliver throws the permanent marker at Barry, who easily evades, but actually Oliver aims it to hit straight into his cola, and it spills on his boots (and desk). "Gotcha! See the power of us puny humans!"
Diana leans to Clark's ear and says, "He’s got a point."
Clark nods. "Yeah."
Yes, it is a good point. Oliver is stupid but not actually stupid, unlike Hal Jordan.
But.
But.
No.
No way in hell he will let his precious baby, his eldest, his firstborn in all but womb face the danger of the world. Dick going solo in Blüd is already raising Bruce's resting heart rate enough that Alfred forbids him from taking more than two cups of coffee. If Dick is in the League, Bruce may need to take a beta blocker.
Clark eyes him again, probably noticing the raising heart rate. Calm down, heart. You are Batman's heart, you can fight against natural responses to stress.
"I'm against it," Bruce says with Batman's voice, and everyone quiets and turns to him. Ugh, the burden of the founders.
"Batman?" Superman says. "Why? Don't you at least observe, discuss, and trial first?"
"No observation," he insists. Anyone who has seen his kid fly with their own eyes will know he is good.
Hal raises his arms behind his head. "What, Spooky? You're the one who writes those protocols for new recruits!"
Of course, Hal Jordan, now you remember the protocol.
"At least let me meet him first," Diana suggests. This is bad. Diana has started her diplomatic negotiation and Bruce will not win against her. He needs to shoot this idea down, fast.
Sorry, Dick. I love you.
Sorry, Dick's reputation. But I love my son's safety more than you.
"He's shit," is what Bruce says.
The Leaguers become even quieter than before. Even Flash's constant vibration stops.
"He can say words like 'shit,'" Hal whispers to Barry.
You're shit, Hal.
Bruce takes a deep breath and types on the console, granting it temporary access to the Batcloud. "Nightwing operates in Blüdhaven, Gotham's sister city, so I have observed him before. He won't do at a Justice League level, not at all."
And he pulls the .mp4 file up. It is from the folder 2K-ptp, which is gibberish, but Alfred often dubs this folder "Please Master Bruce, this is frankly a high-resolution baby album, not about their performance at all."
It is a pretty clean video of Nightwing on the dark Blüdhaven skyline, on the rooftop.
"How can you get this feed?" Oliver asks.
"As I said, I have observed."
"Is this... a newer generation fashion trend?" Aquaman says for the first time. "Is it inspired by a crossover between Devil Ray and Blue Jellyfish?"
Jason would like that remark.
"Have I met him before?" Clark ponders.
Yes, when he is a small tricolor menace. Shut up, Clark.
Anyway, the feed that is brought up shows Nightwing spreading his arms and jumping down from the rooftop majestically like an Olympian gymnast.
Until suddenly, while he was in the air,, his armpits started spewing golden glitter. It is... unsightly.
Which is Jason's idea for pranking his brother. "A peacock suit needs a peacock effect," the boy had said. "That I did not make it come out from the butt is already my mercy."
In the feed, Nightwing suddenly noticed the abnormality of his suit. He shouted in surprise, struggling in mid-air to feel what happened to the suit with his hand. It made him flop in the air like an airborne eel. Then he pulled his grappling gun and fired to another building, earlier than he had planned.
At the sight of the grappling gun, Clark turns to Bruce again. Bruce does not react.
The gun fired, and a party popper effect shot out with the line, with a banner coming out from the gun that reads "Blüd's #1 hero"—this time, it was bright blue. Dick was twice startled by the effects so that all his natural grace had vanished. He fumbled like a baby monkey until he reached the next rooftop.
The League watches the screen in silence.
Barry nudges Oliver. "This is the guy?"
Oliver nods. "Yes, but this is so different from what I've seen in Star City..."
Of course. This is Dick being pranked by his baby brother, not Dick being his generally competent self. He also has footage of Jason's Robin suit being dyed into reflective neon pink, electric yellow, and bright green as Dick's revenge. Jason shone like a beacon in the night. Gothamites who bicycle at night start wearing dupe versions of the Robin costume. Road accidents involving bicycles have plummeted.
"As I said, he is more flashy than skilled. We should drop Nightwing from the candidate list," Bruce insists, to which eventually Oliver relents.
"Man, I just want more non-metas in the roster."
"Admittedly, your logic is sound," Barry consoles his friend. "Maybe next time, eh?"
Bruce internally sighs. His son is safe, for now.
Superman is side-eyeing him suspiciously.
2.
Two months later, after another end-of-the-world crisis, he sees Captain Marvel and Superman talking after the battle battling the aggressive alien robots. The robots are round-shaped, like a thumb with a visor and stubby legs in various vivid colors, all lying around broken. Their comical laser guns are scattered around.
"Captain Marvel," the goody-two-shoes farmer Kryptonian is shaking hands with Captain Marvel, "thanks again for helping fight all these..."
"Crewmates?" Captain Marvel says.
"...Crewmates?" Superman repeats.
Captain Marvel shrugs. "Or Imposters, if they are evil."
Superman does not seem to understand what Captain Marvel says, but he continues, "Anyway, you are our very valuable ally, Captain Marvel. You can be my counterpart when we fight against magic. I hope you'll be around the League more in the future."
Captain Marvel scratches his nose. "Uh... well. I don't do well with strangers."
"Not strangers, friends," Superman corrects.
"No, I mean, yes, I understand. It's just... you are all... I need..." He suddenly blurts, "I need someone the same age as me!"
And he comically closes his mouth with his hands.
Superman's eyebrows shoot up. "Same age as you? How... old are you?"
"T-T-Twenty, no, I mean, at least twenty-one so I can drive, drink, and vote!" Captain Marvel says rapidly. "Yes, twenty-one!"
Superman stares him up and down. "Wow, you don't look that young."
"Magic!... and hardship. Yes, hardship. But uh, you see, if there are more younger heroes, I may feel more comfortable. I heard that Green Arrow has brought up someone named Nightwing. Maybe if you invite him..."
"Superman," Bruce quickly injects, "there's a pile of robots that I need you to help evacuate out of the area over there," he points to the scene far away, "around 67 of them."
Captain Marvel snickers.
"Oh. Okay?" Superman replies and quickly moves away.
Bruce turns to Captain Marvel. "Captain Marvel," he starts.
"Umm. Yes, sir?" Captain Marvel slowly steps away from Bruce's approach.
"Twelve to sixteen years old," Bruce continues. "You are actually a kid."
He lifts both of his hands up. "What, no way. I'm an adult. An exactly 21-year-old adult."
Bruce reaches out, grabbing his shoulders and squeezing hard. "You talk like a teenager. You act like a teenager. I will keep your identity, which I will find out exactly who you are within three hours, a secret, if you stop suggesting Nightwing's name again."
Captain Marvel visibly swallows. "Say less, sir. His name is officially banned from my vocab. No cap."
3.
One year later, Nightwing's name is suggested again, by that damn boyscout and the holier-than-thou princess, who are... his closest friends.
Why is he befriending these pestering people?
Clark is an ENFJ, Diana is an ESFP. Bruce, a very extreme INTJ, should know better than to befriend those extroverts. He will vaporize from their positive energy.
And recently, Superman and Wonder Woman start pestering him again about his personal life. To be more open, to reveal his identity. Ugh.
Anyway, back to the meeting. Now the JL, with 25 members, starts to have regular meetings, and quarterly there is a new recruit suggestion, with the remaining months until the session comes again to be used as an evaluation.
And Superman suggests Nightwing.
"No," Batman says.
"Batman, it's against the protocol," Diana objects.
All candidates must be evaluated first by three of the members, with at least one senior member.
The protocol is written by Superman himself, and approved by Batman himself. He realizes that the farmer boy planned this from the start. Tied by his own rule.
Batman glares at Superman. "Why?" he growls.
"Same reason as Green Arrow last year," Clark says, staring back. Clark has known him long enough to be immune to the Batglare. "Last time his name was rejected before we even had a chance to evaluate him by ourselves. We should not just believe just by that, er, footage."
"Is my judgment not enough?" he growls.
The air gets colder by at least 5 degrees.
"Shit just got real," Hal whispers to Barry. Barry shushes him.
"Batman, don't be hasty," Diana touches his shoulder. "We trust your judgment. I trust your judgment, but I also trust Green Arrow, and Superman's reason to have a chance of observing him first."
Diana speaks like the ambassador she is.
"And a single footage cannot be telling of an entire person's character. Before we judge, we should give a look at every angle," Clark supplies, like the investigative journalist he is.
It is a good reason from good people. There is a halo starting to shine behind them.
But noooooooooo. If any of them see Dick in person, see how he is the best of them all, he will be recruited.
Bruce imagines Dick, as a spearhead, fighting Darkseid. No.
However, with their speech, if he objects further, it won't only make him look like a tyrant (which he isn't), it will also make Batman more suspicious of hiding something (which he is).
In the span of seconds, Bruce thinks of many actions, and various outcomes that can happen.
There is one. One way to shut both good people up.
"Fine. So, three observers: Superman, Wonder Woman, and myself."
After the meeting, he meets Superman and Wonder Woman. It seems they both want to talk to him in private, too.
"Batman," Wonder Woman says first, "sorry if it feels like we conspired behind your back."
Clark scratches his face. "It's my idea. I really want to know about this Nightwing. His name is like a Kryptonian legend. I wonder if it's a coincidence or something more."
Oh. Clark wants to know if Nightwing is a fellow Kryptonian or not. The last time Bruce shot it down entirely, so he has to push back this time.
"And the last time, admittedly, it was a bit unlike you," Diana says. "Anyway, we're sorry if we seemed aggressive earlier."
His (only admitted inside his head) best friends are really nice people, to say sorry and consider Bruce's feelings, even when they don't really know the reason.
Bruce sighs. That is why he chooses this. This outcome will bar Dick from joining for quite a while.
"Clark, Diana. You already know this Nightwing," he says. "You have met him in the earliest time of our... friendship. You remember Robin?"
They both gasp.
"That kid," Clark says. "The tricolor kid that kept sneaking to help in the middle of the fight?"
"Ah, the young, fierce warrior with exceptional skill," Diana reminisces. "He stopped... intervening in our missions for how many years? Since he was thirteen?"
"The missions outside of Gotham keep getting more and more dangerous. It's not just helping with other heroes' missions anymore. They're world-ending scenarios, so I barred him from appearing outside Gotham," Bruce explains. Then, the rebellious phase happened, which he doesn't say.
Diana nods. "That's understandable, so he has grown up into your footsteps into a fine young man."
"Yeah... I may have told him many Kryptonian tales when he flew with me," Clark touches his chin. "Wow, time does fly. But, Batman, with how much experience he has, he will—"
"No," Bruce cuts him. "Nightwing will not join the League."
"But Batman," Diana objects, "I know he will be a valuable member."
"I am not asking you as a fellow founder. I, I am asking you two as a father," and Bruce does what he thinks he should do for a while. If secrecy won't work on his two best friends, it's time for the alternative.
Bruce lifts his cowl and looks back at both of them.
"Clark, Diana, I am not ready to let him face the worst of the world."
As a result of that revelation, Bruce has to bring Clark and Diana to meet Dick again. Bruce is weary but also secretly glad, because he has some reason to meet his rebellious son. Of course after he made them swear they will not tell Dick about what he has said in the League.
"But Batman, I mean, Bruce," Clark says to him later, "you can't keep barring him out of the League for his safety. That boy is going to be a man soon."
"Just a little bit more," he says.
4.
With the Trinity deciding Nightwing was "not suitable for the Justice League," no one recommends Nightwing again. It becomes a gossip of Nightwing the Thrice-Rejected.
Bruce actually almost forgot all these shenanigans in his earlier days of the League. Lots of things have happened... Jason, or the lack of Jason. His estrangement with Dick from not telling him about Jason's death and funeral. Bad years. Then, Tim is now Robin.
Things start to get better again. He and Dick are reconciling.
Of course, this harmony is being disrupted by no one else but Hal fucking Jordan.
"I know you three have deemed the guy not qualified once," Hal is sitting with his legs on the meeting desk, "but recently I had a chance to join on a Galactic mission with the not-teen-anymore Titans. Yes, I'm still better than those youngsters."
Don't you dare compare yourself to my child.
"But well, long story, but do you know he can use my ring?" Hal grins.
Bruce's internal alarm blares red.
Since Dick has reached his maturity, he always suspects Dick can be the GL candidate if something happens to Jordan. This is one reason he has to let Hal Jordan be whatever he wants to be, or else risk his kid getting kidnapped by a ring to space.
Occasionally getting kidnapped by the alien princess to space is bad enough. Being a cop is bad enough. Being recruited by an alien to be a space cop will be the worst.
Bruce's internal alarm is so loud he misses Hal explaining whatever circumstance that happened, but he hears the man conclude, "—that's what happened. It's only temporary and the ring returned to me. But it does mean the kid has guts and talents, guaranteed by cosmic power. I do think having a kid like that in our roster doesn't hurt."
Barry, who is there every time someone nominates Nightwing, glances at Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. "...I have to say what Hal said should be considered. If I understand correctly, if something happens to Hal, the ring will go to the nearest intelligent being that has no fear, which has a high chance to be this kid. It would be nice if the next GL is integrated in the League from the start."
Hal slaps Barry's shoulder. "You're implying I'll be dead soon!"
"Just as a backup, man."
Clark and Diana side-eye him. Damn Barry to give a reasonable angle from this. And now the League is BIG. The three of them blatantly vetoing recruiting Dick will raise suspicion, or even worse, distrust in the League.
Think, Bruce. Think. How can you get your child out of this situation? (Even though he'd probably be fine, Bruce is not fine. Damn it.)
Suggest another ring-worthy candidate that is a JL member? No. Hal won't accept his suggestion. And honestly, his detest for Hal Jordan aside, he would prefer the ring to choose a baseline human in the future (which the ring tends to do).
Disregard the ring's candidates? No, that won't do. The ring did choose several (admittedly) remarkable individuals: John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Jo Mullein, and, if he has to say, which he will never say, Hal Jordan.
Oh. Yeah, he can use that person.
"He won't do," Batman speaks through his interlaced hands.
"Again?" Hal throws his arms up. "The ring guarantees his qualities, Spooky!"
Batman takes a deep breath. Sorry, Dick.
"He's basically the other Guy Gardner."
There are collective groans from half of the League, while the other members look dejected.
"For real?" Barry clutches his head.
"Honestly, that man irritates me," Hawkgirl comments. "Sometimes I just want to punch him before he speaks, because I'll end up wanting to punch him either way."
J'onn speaks. "His mind is like... what can I describe? A festival in a German village that is so... loud."
"Wacken Open Air?" Dinah suggests.
J'onn nods. "Like you are standing in the middle of it all day all night. It's quite an acquired taste."
"He's good, but..." Arthur crosses his arms. "Infuriating. Brash."
"You all can say he's an asshole. Or an asshole-er version of Hal," Oliver nods to Hal.
"Hey! I'm a swell guy. Not like... yeah, not like him." He sighs dejectedly. "Man, and I thought I found a good kid."
Clark and Diana are looking at Bruce with hidden horror in their eyes. Understandably, since he compares his own son to one of the most difficult heroes to team up with. (The other one is Batman himself, which should tell Bruce something, but he ignores it), while Dick is actually one of the best heroes to team up with.
"The ring does choose from willpower, not from personality," Dinah comments.
"If he's like Guy, we should only invite him when he really becomes the Green Lantern. Inviting him before will only cause everyone a headache. I just get a headache from thinking about him," Barry groans. "I think Hal is my upper tolerance level."
"Hey!" Hal objects again. And that's that.
5.
Time passed. Jason is back again. Cassandra, Damian, many more. Bruce is so busy with his family drama so he almost does not notice it until it happens.
Of course, he has two Titans as JL members now. Of course, it is bound to happen.
When Bruce reads the name that got nominated in his tablet, it is Nightwing, nominated by Wally West, Flash number two, and Victor Stone.
He cannot make the nomination reach the meeting this time. Any false excuse he makes, it will be disputed by the two of them, and all the League will know he has been, in Jason's words, talking bullshit.
The last time, the disappointment Clark and Diana gave him later was quite already crushing enough. Bruce may not show it, but a double-disappointing parent glare from paragons of virtue is mentally damaging.
Bruce uses his batbrain to find the solution. The plan.
Hmm. If he cannot win against them...
Next day, when Wally is in the JL lab alone, Batman appears behind him, at the same time the lab door locks tight.
"Wally West."
"What the fuck, man," Wally jumps. "You're giving me a heart attack!" He notices the locked door, and turns to face Bruce. "You ain't gonna kill me, right?"
"Hmph," Bruce grunts. "You have nominated Nightwing as a potential JL member."
"Yeah? I think it's time. Vic is in. I'm in. Only Gar and Raven are still full-time members. Dick is a valuable team player—"
"No real names in the League."
"Sorry, Titans habit. Hey! You also said my real name!" Wally counters.
Bruce crosses his arms, looking as intimidating as he can. Wally steps back until his back hits the console.
"You will withdraw that nomination," he growls.
"Um. Why?" Wally says. "He's not gonna like that, you know?"
Wally does know who Bruce is. All Titans know each other's identities and subsequently their families' identities, which Bruce doesn’t like at all. The Titans operate with friendship first, professional later. The JL operates with professionalism first, the friendship happening after.
It’s risky. And now the kids that know who he is start trickling into the League. Admittedly, both Victor and Wally are very professional and never act like they know who he is, but still.
Anyway, if Bruce cannot win against them, then he must make them join him.
"Nightwing should not involve himself with the League," Batman says, looming.
But Wally is not the Kid Flash that can really be intimidated by his presence alone anymore. His brows furrow. "That's absurd, especially coming from you. Care to explain why?"
"Nightwing is capable. He should be one hero that operates independently of the League, in case the League is compromised."
Wally shrugs. "Eh. That's maybe true, but there are more heroes that are capable and suited to operate outside the League. D—Nightwing is more valuable in a team setting. I know it. You know it."
"He already has his hands full. It will hinder his capacity to operate."
"You say that, like he won't lend a hand when a world-ending crisis really happens. If he can juggle between Blüd and Gotham and Titans and, honestly, you, he probably can handle the League. It's not like he needs to be a full-time member," Wally counters.
Damn. The kids grow so fast. They are adults that can fight and push back with him now. He is 10% proud, 90% concerned. Seeing Wally, who he has known as a gangly teen in a yellower suit than his son's, now fighting cosmic entities is worrying.
"The threats the JL faces are lethal. While what you have faced in the Titans is dangerous, the threats here do not just involve sheer power. Mind manipulation. Espionage. Coercion. He's just a baseline human—" Bruce stops mid-sentence.
Wally is snickering.
"Man, all you have said reminds me of when I decided to join the Teen Titans. Uncle Barry said things like this too, but not to anyone else. He said it to me," it is said with fondness, tinged with the sadness of Barry's sacrifice. The reason that made Wally become the Flash and is in the League. "If you worry for him, you should say it to him, not keep barring him from the world. I don't wanna listen to Dick's one-hour call to complain about you again."
Batman crosses his arms.
Wally sighs. "You know what, I will pull Nightwing's name out, for now, because I know you're just concerned for him. But don't say I never warned you. You know how Dick is. And you will never, ever punish me for arriving late again. Bye, pleasedon'tcornermelikethisagain!"
And Wally disappears. For a second, then he has to slow down to unlock the door with retina scan, then disappears again.
+1
The League is scattered across the globe. This time, the aliens come with a plan and heavy armaments. The heaviest hitters, Clark and Diana, are battling the giant robots and the mothership in... the last signal from them is in Papua New Guinea.
Bruce and the others are fighting the six alien armies across the world. Batman, paired with, sigh, Hal Jordan, almost reaches the general that commands above the ground, but he gets intercepted and thrown flying backward from a 400-foot drop. At least Hawkgirl catches him in time, but the remaining impact, unfortunately, lands on Batman's weakest spot: his back.
Now he lies on the ground, can't move, and can't execute any plans that are in his head. The heroes who combined their power to reach the general are dispersed across the battlefield. This is bad. They need to regroup.
He raises his arm through excruciating pain to reach his comm. "Green Lantern. Can you redirect the field agents below to form a formation?"
Hal, despite his attitude, is still a former military man. "Negative. I'm occupied with controlling these flying aliens."
Other alien specialists, like John Stewart and Martian Manhunter, are fighting another battle away from here, protecting civilians.
Flash is trying to dismantle the field armies as fast as he can, but Wally, while reasonably a good team worker, cannot fully utilize his power if he needs to slow down. Green Arrow should be in the backline as support, so as Cyborg. Dinah is too reactive, so is Hawkgirl.
…He has to admit that it is time. Two of the Titans are here. He will do great. Bruce knows.
Through the pain, he clicks the comm again. "Flash, I need you to bring him in to operate in my position. He right now should be in Gotham Bay, pushing the aliens back."
"Not to escort you to the medic?"
"No. Bring him here first."
A staticy sound, then the Flash says, "...Roger. Five minutes tops," then there is a line of lightning zipping out of the battlefield.
"Bat, who are you bringing in?" Oliver says in the comm. "How powerful is he?"
Bruce, with his spine screaming in pain, stares at the skies filled with flying aliens. "He's a baseline human."
"Huh?"
"One day he will be better than me and beyond." He hears a zap, and Flash is putting Nightwing down from a bridal carry, panting.
Nightwing, in the modern black-blue spandex, looks around, then his eyes land on Batman. "B, sitrep?"
"I'm not in the capacity to fight currently, but stable," Bruce groans when Dick sits on one knee and checks his pulse. "The army general is flying above. That is our priority. The JL members are dispersed across the field from the last attempt to subdue him. You should—"
"Okay, I get it," and his son has the nerve to pull his comm from his ear. Bruce sighs. "Hello, Ms. Hawkgirl, can you be the one to pull this dark, tall, and incapacitated man to the designated medbay?"
"Wait, not me?" Wally objects.
"You are the most effective ground crowd control, Wally. Victor, my guy, you need to go up front and be the flyer. From the fight in Gotham, I think the cybersecurity of these aliens is linked. Oracle can handle it remotely," Nightwing directs his friends with ease.
"Okay, Nightwing," Cyborg answers, and starts his thrusters, pushing himself into the sky.
"Wait a minute... that Nightwing?" Hal Jordan blurts, still fighting mid-air.
Nightwing, while pulling his escrima sticks out, tilts his head. "That Nightwing?"
"The one that dresses comically and acts like a peacock," Green Arrow says.
"The, I don't know, four or five times rejected Nightwing? The shitty one," Hal follows.
"The one with a worse personality than Guy Gardner," Hawkgirl adds, while slowly scooping Batman up.
Nightwing's face is filled with flabbergast. "Worse than GUY GARDNER?! ME?" He turns to his close friend.
Flash, after regaining his breath, makes a pointed nod to Bruce.
Dick turns to Bruce, face filled with shock first, then with fury.
Damn it. Dick will not talk to him for at least a year.
He tries to speak, but it is a wet, bloody cough. His ribs probably are broken.
Dick takes three deep long breaths, then sighs. "If it was five years ago, or you weren't in this much of a sorry state, I would be so mad." Then he clicks the comm. "If I'm shit, it's because this man here, who raised me, is doing a shitty job."
"Raised you?!" Green Arrow shouts.
Nightwing sighs. "Hawkgirl, please send my stupid dad to the designated medbay now."
"Dad?!" Hal joins the shout.
Hawkgirl still makes a face of does not compute. Batman grunts in pain. "Do what he says." He turns, straining, to look at Dick, who still glares at him borderline murderously.
He makes a grunt. You exposed our connection.
Nightwing shrugs. "You summoned me to substitute you. The call is mine now. Time to stop being your paranoid self and do it my way."
He turns to the battle, escrima sticks ready.
"You'll pay for whatever shitshow you did to satisfy your anxiety later. Just... don't worry and get well so I can take my revenge."
Looking at Dick's back, maybe it really is time for Bruce to let his son do whatever he wants, he thinks, as Hawkgirl carries him away.
When his back is stabilized enough for him to walk (or for Doctor Mid-Nite to allow him to walk), the battle is over. Everyone is back in the Watchtower. Some who are hurt are in the medbay with him, but most of the hungry heroes are in the cafeteria.
When he opens the door, as expected, there is Nightwing, sitting with Flash and Cyborg, and many other members. Dick has piles of food. Wally has bigger piles of food.
"So to summarize, you all think I'm some incompetent hero because B kept saying it, huh."
"Yeah, kid," Hal Jordan says while trying to steal food from Dick's plate to no avail. "But you're really his son?"
"Hmm. In a sense. I am his firstborn."
"You mean he has more kids?" Green Arrow shouts.
"Oh, so many. He has like, gazillions of kids. He has the money and means to take in like half of Gotham's orphans."
Oliver is pulling his beard. "Sounds like someone I know..." He squints at Dick. "Wait."
That’s not good, but before Bruce can announce his presence, Dick beats him to it, "You owe me. So. Much," he says in a cold voice.
Bruce lets out the Batgrunt.
"Whatever. Wait for my revenge." Then he looks at Bruce's torso. "Your wound okay?"
He lets out another disgruntled Bathuff.
"That's good. So, if you're okay, first revenge!"
Suddenly, Dick jumps from his chair in a complicated flip and lands on Bruce's shoulders. At that moment Bruce knows what he is going to do, but he is still too hurt to intercept it. The former Robin expertly undoes the clasp of his cowl, and pulls his cowl up.
Oliver Queen curses, while several other Leaguers shout in surprise.
Nightwing, still standing on Bruce's shoulders, pulls his own mask out. He bends 180 degrees until he can look his father in the eyes upside down. He grins the Robin's mischievous grin.
"First revenge," he says. "It's time for you to make some friends. Might make you less of an overcontrolling helicopter mom."
Dick Grayson flips down to the floor, waves goodbye to everyone in the cafeteria, and walks out of the room.
"I’ve warned you," Flash the second says while stuffing all the food into his mouth.
Unexpected revelation, and a personal screaming show from Ollie aside, things quickly return to normal, with the new knowledge that Batman is Bruce Wayne. It's not like knowing who Batman is will make Batman less intimidating, which Bruce is grateful for his hard-earned reputation.
Nightwing has also joined the League. Superman and Wonder Woman welcome the once-little Robin that has grown to be a capable hero. Bruce can't help but feel proud of it (and a lot of anxiety).
Dick, being the everyman he is, already has his plate quite full, so he only appears in the League when summoned, focusing on Blüd and Titans and his extended family. So Bruce does not see him here often, which is a relief.
"Let's begin today's meeting," Batman says, and clicks open the gigantic screen in the conference room.
"B, it's not dramatic enough!" a staticky kid's voice comes from the screen, which shows Bruce—more than a decade ago—being filmed by a camcorder.
The young, innocent father on screen faced the camera. "Still not enough?"
"NoooooOoooooOooo," little Dickie's voice can be heard from the screen. "Not intimidating at all! You know how Gotham's rogues are: dramatic. How can you draw the eyes of the goons to you when you need to if you are less flashy than their boss?"
Bruce Wayne on the screen huffed. With that baby face, it's not as intimidating as it is now. "Okay," then the camera zooms out, showing him in an early Batman costume. The earliest one. The grey stretchy one.
Young Batman on the screen lifted his cape up to cover half his face, and growls in a lower, not-that-practiced voice, but of an introvert man trying hard at being a theater kid. "I'm the night… I am vengeance… I AM BATMAN!" He turned and swooped in a double circle. Wave his arm to make the cape flutter. That time the cape was just a thick fabric, not some smart clothes that can move as he desires.
You can hear the child chuckling and doing a one-hand clap happily. "That's better, Bruce! Darkness! No parents!"
Bruce looked at the camera, or the child that was holding the camera, endearingly, unknowing that this is the devil in disguise. "You satisfied, chum?"
The screen shows the Oracle's symbol before it goes dark.
Bruce does not turn to look at the members in the room, but he does hear lots of giggling and cooing. And also the sound of phones recording the event.
"Meeting adjourned," he says, and walks toward the Zeta.
"I really have warned you. You know how Dick is," Wally says through his suppressed giggling. Bruce should consider that the Dick that Wally knows is not the responsible-leader Nightwing, but the tiny Robin that formed a team of tween heroes just because "I'm bored, B!"
"I take a one-month leave. Please do summon him to do the meetings in my place," Batman says when he reaches the Zeta.
"A01 - I'm the night. I am vengeance. I AM BATMAN!" the Zeta-Tube announces his departure in his own voice.