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Trust is a dangerous thing.
It can kill.
It can heal.
And it certainly was not willing on Bruce’s part.
That didn’t stop his children.
In his heart they were all his, regardless of their pasts, regardless of their sins.
However, that didn’t stop his migraines.
“Nightwing,” Batman said, barely managing to not do something ridiculous like hug him in front of the entire Justice League, “would you care to explain why you are in the Watch Tower?”
Nightwing, ever the ray of sunshine and mischief that would forever be the reason why Bruce started going gray early, smiled and held up a cat.
The cat had black fur and green eyes, but it was young still, probably still a kitten. Said kitten was trying to claw at his brother’s arms through the kevlar suit.
Damian.
Batman tried not to let out an exasperated sigh.
He failed.
“Nightwing.”
“Batman.”
Nightwing was still smiling, unaffected by the stares of the Justice League or the hissing of his kitten brother.
Superman cleared his throat. “I was unaware that Nightwing had access to the Watch Tower.”
Of course Clark would pick the one thing Bruce couldn’t explain away.
Nightwing’s smile sharpened, and Bruce resigned himself to his fate. “Access? What makes you think I didn’t hack in?”
Why did he think he could handle having children?
“Red Robin didn’t hack the Watch Tower for me this time,” Nightwing continued, unraveling Bruce’s sanity word by word.
“This time?” Green Lantern demanded, glancing at Batman. “Spooky, what’s going on here?”
“Hold on,” Green Lantern said. “You’re not concerned he broke into the Watchtower?”
Batman frowned. “Of course I’m concerned.”
“Good.”
“The security report is going to be a nightmare.”
Flash and Green Lantern shared a look.
“He used my access codes,” Batman continued.
“That’s the part you’re upset about?” Green Arrow demanded.
“Yes.”
Superman looked at Batman as well, clearly trying to gauge how much his friend was hiding.
If only he knew.
“Nightwing,” Batman finally said, trying not to sound resigned and failing, “give me Robin.”
He knew that revelation would affect the others, but it’s not like he could just reveal Damian’s name, even if his youngest was a cat at the moment.
Damian calmed the moment he was in Bruce’s arms.
He tried very hard not to melt or get emotional about his baby being so small and trusting in his arms.
Judging by Dick’s expression, he was failing.
“This is Robin?” Wonder Woman asked, looking at the kitten in Batman’s arms. “I assume that there was magic involved and is not simply a cat named after your sidekick.”
Nightwing grinned. “Exactly! And I figured I might as well return to sender while I was in the area.”
“In the area?” Flash asked, befuddled. “We’re in orbit.”
Unhelpfully, Nightwing shrugged. “What can I say? Daily commute is wild.”
“Nightwing,” Batman cut in, trying to sound gruff and not exasperated. “Report.”
Nightwing straightened, easily slipping into a report. “Incident in District 5 with a new magician, calls herself Oz. Red Hood and Robin were first to make contact. Oz was able to fire off a spell before she could be apprehended. Red Hood is still on her trail.”
“You have magic users in Gotham?” Green Lantern asked, confused. “I thought Batman didn’t deal with magic.”
Nightwing paused. “I mean, known users is a fluctuating number, we have more estimates than confirmations.”
“Why are you so unconcerned?” Flash asked. “Is this normal for Gothamites?”
Superman added on with a concerned frown, “how often does this happen?”
“The cat thing?” Nightwing asked.
Green Lantern looked at the younger vigilante, slightly incredulous. “The magic thing.”
Nightwing paused. “Define ‘happen’.”
Batman closed his eyes. “Nightwing.”
“Yeah, B?”
“Why did you bring Robin to the Watch Tower?” ‘instead of to the Batcave’ when unspoken.
Nightwing scratched the back of his neck. “RR is holding down the fort, Hood is tracking down Oz, the others are off grid for their monthly missions, and I have to get back to Blüdhaven.”
No.
Dick was not about to leave Bruce with this mess.
He refused for that to be the reality he lived in.
“And you brought him to the Watch Tower, because?”
Nightwing sighed. “RR and Robin got into a fight before patrol and if I leave them alone together we’ll have another Code 3.”
Where did he go wrong with his life?
That was a dumb question.
He knew the answer to that.
But why did his children have to have such strained relationships?
Did he need to find a therapist?
Well, the answer was yes to that-
But did he need a family therapist?
He could probably bribe Jason with Alfred’s cookies or a new novel of his choice, first edition.
Tim was always the easiest for Bruce to relate to, so he could probably present it as a reconstruction of information and data sharing.
Damian might require a cat or two, or maybe just a visit to Selina’s place would do the trick.
“Batman,” Nightwing said, drawing him out of this thoughts, smirking. “Don’t tell me you can’t handle Robin.”
That was not his concern.
Damian required plenty of attention from Bruce on a regular basis, this would be more relaxing for both of them.
“You used my files to access the Watch Tower,” Batman said, unimpressed.
Nightwing smiled.
Bruce had once been young and naïve enough to think this boy was an innocent child.
After nearly two decades with Dick, he’d learned.
“Thank you for volunteering to step in for me while I am busy with Justice League matters next week,” Batman said simply.
Nightwing’s smile dropped. “Wait, B, I didn’t-“
“Be sure to remember Red Robin’s weekly check up,” Batman continued, “he always tries to get out of those.”
His son should have known better by now.
Dick was mischievous, but he’d learned half his moves from Bruce himself.
“Wait, Batman,” Superman stepped forward, “you’ll allow Nightwing to cover Gotham?”
Batman didn’t let anyone into Gotham.
Except for family.
But the Justice League didn’t know that distinction.
“I have worked with Nightwing before,” Batman said, scratching gently at Damian’s ears.
The kitten seemed very pleased with that.
“I mean-“ Superman floundered for a moment.
“Yes, we all have,” Wonder Woman agreed, “he’s been a great asset many a times when the world has been in danger. That is not wherein our confusion lies.”
Green Arrow was looking between Batman and Nightwing like he was trying to put together puzzle pieces.
Green Lantern squinted at Nightwing. “Since when have you been close enough to Batman to use his codes to access the Tower?”
Batman closed his eyes and tried not to sigh.
Was this really how it was all going to come crashing down?
A cat spell?
Nightwing glanced at Batman, deferring to him.
Of course.
As the father it was his job to clean up the messes.
Why had no one warn him about this part of parenthood?
“I trained Nightwing,” Batman finally said, turning to face the other Leaguers, kitten still in his arms. “He has worked closely with me for many years.”
“You trained him?” Flash repeated.
“Yes.”
“Like trained-trained?”
Batman looked at him. “What other kind of training would there be?”
Flash opened his mouth.
Flash closed his mouth.
“I was the first Robin,” Nightwing introduced cheerfully with a wave.
“The first?” Green Lantern squinted at him. “Wasn’t that squirt an angry and spiteful thing?”
Nightwing turned toward Green Lantern, offended. “Excuse me?”
Batman sighed.
The boys liked to call Jason the angry one, but Dick had been the very first. He’d been angry at the world, at the injustice of it all.
Batman placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Lantern talks before he thinks, he’s just upset from the pranks that you pulled.”
Nightwing crossed his arms, still slightly indignant.
“Pranks?!” Green Lantern seemed incredulous. “I nearly died! Twice!”
“Only one of those pranks was potentially lethal, and I stepped in before anything could escalate,” Batman reasoned.
Damian purred in his arms.
Green Lantern shook his head. “There is absolutely no way Mr Sunshine right here could be that little hellspawn-“
Damian hissed, loudly.
Green Lantern flinched.
Nightwing smirked, smug. “He doesn’t seem to like you.”
“Seems to run in the family,” Green Lantern grumbled.
Flash stared at Batman. “You let him hack the Watchtower.”
“No.”
“You let him cover Gotham.”
“Yes.”
“You taught him.”
“Yes.”
“You trust him with Robin.”
“Yes.”
“You gave him your access codes.”
“No.”
Nightwing coughed.
Batman narrowed his eyes.
Nightwing suddenly found the ceiling fascinating.
“While this crash course in sidekicks is fascinating,” Wonder Woman cut in, “Robin remains a cat.”
The room fell silent.
Damian meowed.
“Thank you, Robin,” Wonder Woman said.
Damian seemed pleased by her acknowledgment.
Nightwing glanced at Batman. “I already tried for Zatanna, she’s off world.”
That left Constantine.
Why?
Batman closed his eyes. “How close is Hood to tracking down Oz?”
“Last I checked in, he’d lost her in Bowery,” Nightwing offered.
Why did it have to be Constantine?
“Doctor Fate is also off world,” Superman added.
Not that Doctor Fate would have helped with a small incident like Bruce’s son being turned into a cat.
“I could call-“ Nightwing started.
“No.”
Batman pinched the bridge of his nose, unable to hide his exasperation. “We’re going back to the Batcave. We will proceed from there.”
“Woah, woah, woah! Hold on!” Flash protested. “You can’t just lore drop like that and then dip! You still haven’t explained anything!”
Batman gave him an unimpressed look, one that the kitten in his arms mirrored. “Nightwing was previously my sidekick, Robin. He is now an independent vigilante.”
Bruce felt that explained plenty.
It was already more than he was comfortable with, but he knew he couldn’t get out of this.
Nightwing smirked. “I don’t know why you’re acting like B-man will reveal everything to you just because a bit of information slipped.”
Flash blinked.
“Hold on.”
Nobody liked that tone.
“You said Red Robin.”
Batman remained silent.
“And Red Hood.”
Still silent.
“And Robin.”
Silence.
Flash slowly turned toward Nightwing.
“How many of you are there?”
Nightwing looked at Batman.
Batman looked at the ceiling.
“Nightwing.”
“There are several ways to answer that question.”
“None of which are important right now,” Batman cut in.
“Not important?” Green Lantern was incredulous. “You have a secret vigilante kid army and that’s not considered important?”
Bruce scowled. “Not an army,” he corrected with a growl.
They were his children first.
Always first.
Green Lantern began counting on his fingers. “You already have Nightwing, apparently; Red Hood, who is in fact a wanted criminal; Red Robin, who leads his own team of vigilantes; and Robin, who is a literal child!”
He didn’t expect Dick to defend him.
“Excuse you,” his voice was sharp, not the light and playful tone they were used to from Nightwing. “You presume to know a lot of things, but you don’t know. You don’t know where any of us were before we had Batman. He was ours before he became yours.”
Bruce’s chest tightened.
Superman stepped in, trying to mediate. “We’re not attacking anyone. We’re simply curious.”
Nightwing softened slightly at Superman’s assurance.
Superman had always been Dick’s favorite.
But he didn’t back down.
“Batman has a right to his privacy,” Nightwing said firmly. “It is not your right to know every personal detail of his life.”
Damian meowed in agreement.
Bruce’s chest felt warm. He probably shouldn’t encourage this behavior. Infighting wasn’t beneficial for anyone.
“Nightwing,” Batman said softly, “stand down. This isn’t a fight, it’s a communication issue. We’re all allies here.”
And maybe Batman wasn’t supposed to be this soft or reasonable, but Bruce couldn’t afford be anything less than the father his sons needed, even when they were masked.
Superman looked at Nightwing.
Then at Batman.
Then at Robin purring in Batman’s arms.
Then at Batman’s hand still resting on Nightwing’s shoulder.
Clark’s eyes widened slightly.
“You raised them.”
Silence.
Bruce suddenly wanted to be anywhere else.
“Well,” Green Arrow said slowly, “that explains a lot.”
Flash spun toward him.
“What does that explain?”
“Everything.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Look at them.”
Green Arrow pointed at Nightwing.
“Acts like a sunnier Batman.”
Nightwing looked offended.
Green Arrow pointed at Robin.
“Judges people like Batman.”
Damian meowed.
“See?”
“That was a meow.”
“It was a judgmental meow.”
Martian Manhunter hummed thoughtfully.
“It was.”
“You can tell what that meow meant?” Flash asked.
Martian Man tilted his head. “I spent several years living as a house cat.”
Silence.
“You what?”
“It was a productive undercover operation.” He nodded to himself.
Batman considered asking J’onn about that later.
“You know what?” Green Arrow crossed his arms. “I suddenly understand why Batman’s always so tired.”
“Because of crime?” Flash guessed.
“No.”
Green Arrow pointed at Nightwing.
“That one.”
Nightwing looked offended.
Green Arrow pointed at the cat.
“And that one.”
Damian hissed.
“Especially that one.”
Batman pinched the bridge of his nose. “Can we not antagonize young adolescent vigilantes?”
Nightwing squawked. “B! I’m not adolescent!”
Batman looked at his son. “You’ll stop being an adolescent when you’re 30.”
Dick would never stop being his first baby.
Nightwing threw his hands up. “I came up here to give you Robin, not catch strays!”
“I think that’s what Batman’s been doing,” Green Arrow said with a snort.
The joke was not lost on Bruce.
He just didn’t think it was funny.
“I will be in contact within the week,” Batman said as he turned on his heel, cape swirling dramatically around him.
Bruce considered it one of his better exits.
Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Flash all started to protest.
He ignored them.
Nightwing fell into step behind him, probably sticking his tongue out at the Leaugers or something equally as petty before he joined Batman.
Bruce sighed.
He loved his children.
Why did his children have to love chaos?