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An alien race seeks alliance in a galactic conflict. They are mistrusting of earth, as allies have abandoned them in the past. They request that the Justice league offers up a prisoner as collateral. “If the alliance succeeds the prisoner will be returned, if you betray us the prisoner will be executed.”
The league began to debate who to send when the head councilman stopped them.
“We do not want just any prisoner. We require someone of great value. Someone who you will be sure to come back for. We require one of you to offer your first born child as the collateral.”
A chorus of anger and indignation began to rise up amongst the league. Superman silenced them with a hand. “Will you promise that the child sent with you, is well cared for until they are returned.”
“We will make sure their needs are met. They will be kept safe and unharmed.”
Batman cut in, “and they will be returned promptly upon the success of our mission in the same state which they entered your care.”
“Of course. You may take a moment to decide.”
Flash spoke first, “we can’t seriously be considering this.”
“They have been trusted allies up to this point. They said that the child will be taken care of and returned,” Wonder Woman reasoned. “I don’t see how we have a choice. We need their help to win this and I am certainly not planning on betraying them. Anyone else feeling treasonous?”
With that reasoning behind them, they began discussing in earnest whose child would be the best candidate. “Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Flash all have infants so we can’t send them.” Green Lantern began before suggesting, “We should send the oldest.” Murmurs of reluctant agreement traveled around the circle.
“Who else has at least one child?”Wonder Woman went around the circle to take stock. Nightwing, Green Lantern, Cyborg, Zatanna, and Hawk Girl all shook their heads and Martian Manhunter shared that his child had already been killed several years back. Batman had simply answered with his typical grunt which the others took to mean no, though Nightwing refused to look away from him since the moment he spoke.
“That leaves just Superman and Green Arrow.”
Superman spoke first, “Jon is 12.”
Green Arrow spoke up with resignation, “Connor is 14. He’s the oldest, it should be him.”
“Jon at least has his powers to protect him,” Superman tried to reason since Connor was a normal non-meta human.
“What if they remove him from the yellow sun. He’d be just a powerless little boy. At least Connor knows how to take care of himself.”
While Superman and Green Arrow argued, Batman and Nightwing had a silent conversation with their eyes. Nightwing trying to suggest to Batman, “You know Damian would be the best choice” Batman remained reluctant. This is the exact reason why he never told anyone about his kids, so they couldn’t be used against him. Batman turned away from Nightwing back toward the conversation.
Nightwing slipped away and approached the foreign council. “I have a question.”
“Go ahead child.”
“Does it have to be a blood related child or would a child that you raised and loved as your own count?”
“We will accept a child of the heart if not a child of the blood, yes.”
Nightwing squared his shoulders and announced loudly, “we will offer Batman’s oldest son as collateral.”
Silence fell over the League as they all turned toward Nightwing before they all broke out into bewildered discourse.
“What are you doing?”
“We did not agree on that!”
“You can’t just offer up someone else’s child!”
“Nightwing!” Batman bellowed silencing the rest of the discord. To everyone else he looked to be seething, but if you knew him you would see that the man was a bevy of emotions: terrified, angry, confused, betrayed.
“You heard what they said,” Nightwing spoke in a calming tone as if trying to soothe a wild animal. “They said they would take a child who wasn’t a blood relation.” The league was shocked that the younger man would stand up to the older vigilante, yet there he stood shoulders back standing strong with determination in his eyes.
“You have the oldest child B. That’s what we agreed on. It’s only fair.” Nightwing was now face to face with Batman. His voice softened as he leaned in. “I know you’ve already lost one son and losing another one feels like it might kill you, but I’m not going to send a child if we don’t have to.”
He knew Dick was right. It was always going to be one of his children in the end. Either because Damian was the most capable or because Dick was fully grown. If he really thought about it he probably wouldn’t be able to look any of his teammates in the eye again if he put them through the all too familiar pain of losing a child, knowing that his kids had been the more reasonable choice.
“Nightwing,” Batman spoke his name with reverence and resignation.
“I know, but I’m not marching to my death,” he reminded Batman, as the prisoner would only be executed if the Justice League betrayed their allies. “All you guys have to do is not fuck it up.”
That earned a few giggles even as many of the others remained confused. Batman quirked his mouth up in the closest approximation you could get to a smile out of him most of the time in costume.
“I’ll be OK, don’t worry about me.”
Batman sighed and placed a hand on the back of his neck, pressed their foreheads together, and whispered,“I’m proud of you, Chum.”
Nightwing closed his eyes and took a slightly shaky breath, losing his composure for the first time since negotiations began. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Son.” Nightwing’s eyes began to water, he hadn’t really expected him to say it back in front of everyone let alone fully acknowledge their relationship as father and son. Regardless he stood up straight as the two broke apart.
He walked toward the foreign council with confidence and determination back in his steps. “I am Batman‘s oldest child and I will go with you as collateral.”
The room was silent as they waited for the others to deliberate.
“Your collateral has been accepted.” The leader motioned for two of the guards to take Nightwing into custody. The league watched on as Nightwing was led away into the alien space craft.
Batman prayed that would not be his last view of the child he had cared for, loved, and watch grow up to be one of the best heroes of them all.