Chapter Text
The League was in a meeting, one of the longest in the month because they still were going to be nominating new members.
Batman was, of course, in charge of this meeting, taking his time discussing all of his beloved protocols. One. By. One. Some of the leaguers, like Superman and Martian Manhunter, were paying full attention to the boring stuff, while Green Arrow and Green Lantern were thinking that the Dark Knight was doing it in spite for their little prank two weeks ago, Flash, on the other hand, thought Batman wasn’t that petty. Well, he was wrong. Batman raised a lot of children, he knew well how to be petty and do some payback.
The prank had involved a training simulation, three strategically placed buckets of water, and an amount of laughter that Batman had apparently deemed completely unacceptable.
Nobody had expected consequences, and yet here they were. Listening to Batman explain, in excruciating detail, the correct procedure for requesting authorization before using the Watchtower’s teleportation systems.
Green Lantern was slowly losing the will to live. Green Arrow had started staring at the ceiling. Flash had already eaten all the snacks within his immediate reach and was considering whether leaving the room at superspeed would be worth whatever punishment Batman would inevitably invent for him.
Superman, meanwhile, was taking notes. Of course he was, even the Martian Manhunter was doing the same.
Batman continued without mercy.
“Protocol forty-seven.”
Groans echoed around the table.
“Is there a problem?” Batman asked, taking a pause to stare at them.
“Nope,” Green Lantern answered immediately.
“None whatsoever.” Green Arrow nodded solemnly.
“We love protocols.” Said Flash a little nervous to be in the end of the Batglare.
Batman stared at them for excruciating seconds, letting the silence stretch.
“Good.” And he continued.
Flash bit the inside of his cheek to keep from sighing in relief.
Yes.
Batman was absolutely doing this on purpose.
When they finally reached the end, the Bat asked what new superheroes the leaguers thought could be joining in the JL.
“I would like to nominate Nightwing” Flash was the first to speak “He’s a good strategist, a great leader, with good insight in battle that leaded the Titans to great levels of skill”
No one noticed how Batman’s shoulders seemed to tense at the young hero’s name. He was a superprotective dad who didn’t want his children in the streets in the first place (they just didn’t give him a choice) let alone that they joined the Justice League and fought all kinds of dangerous threats not just to the streets, but to the fucking galaxy. His eldest being nominated as a possible member did make him proud, but he couldn’t on his right mind let his son join the League without a fight.
Batman had spent years trying to convince himself that his children would eventually choose quieter lives.
It was an absurd expectation. He knew that. He knew they were heroes because they wanted to be. Still, knowing that didn’t make it any easier.
Nightwing had already survived enough, had built a life of his own. He had his own city, his own team, his own responsibilities. He was no longer the boy Batman had once pulled from the circus.
He was a grown man. An exceptional hero. And that was precisely the problem.
Because Batman knew exactly how capable Dick was and how easily the League would see it. He also knew exactly how dangerous the job could be. And putting his eldest son in the Justice League meant exposing him to threats on an entirely different scale.
“Nightwing has other responsibilities as the leader of the titans, teacher of the Young Justice and the only vigilant in Bludheaven” Batman argued.
Some of the others seemed to buy this blatant diversion, except Wonder Woman and Superman who knew him and his “paranoia” all too well.
Diana’s eyebrow lifted slightly and Clark’s mouth twitched, neither said anything. Because they knew that tone.
It was Batman’s version of absolutely not.
“I think Nightwing can be a great asset to our cause,” said Superman.
“I agree with Superman, all of us have responsibilities outside of the League” Diana also said.
“Yes, I’m the King of Atlantis, for exemple, Diana is the Princess of Themiscyra, even you has Gotham to take care off, Batman” Aquaman added.
Batman knew that if he continued to go against their reasoning they would get suspicious of his relationship with Nightwing, and he couldn’t have that.
No.
Absolutely not.
The League did not need to know.
Not yet.
In the end The Dark Knight only had the option to accept.
“All in favor of nominating Nightwing?” The majority of the members agreed, sealing the decision.
Batman would have to rely on his eldest saying no to the League’s invite.
…
“I would be honored to accept your invitation” Said Nightwing a few days later to the world’s big three looking them in the eye, especially Batman.
Batman stared back. There was a very particular look in his eyes. A look Nightwing knew very well.
It was the same look his father had given him when Dick had announced he was leaving Gotham. The look he’d received when he’d first decided to become Nightwing. Or the look he’d gotten every time he had returned from a mission with a bruise Batman hadn’t known about.
A mixture of pride, worry, and the desperate desire to lock his son somewhere safe until the universe stopped being dangerous. What a joke.
“We would be glad to receive you in the League, Nightwing” Superman said with his kind and welcoming smile that earned him the hearts of the whole galaxy.
“Yes, we will hold the ceremony in a few days, you’re welcome to join” Diana completed with a smile of her own while the Dark Knight kept scowling at the younger hero. Nightwing seemed unaffected by his sour mood so did the other two leaguers.
Dick simply smiled. It was the bright, confident smile of someone who had already made his decision.
Batman knew that smile.
He hated that smile.
Not because he disliked it.
Quite the opposite.
He loved it. It reminded him of the child Dick had been before life had taken so much from him. It was a reminder of what his son had survived. That he had grown into someone strong enough to stand beside the greatest heroes on Earth.
And that made the situation considerably worse. Batman’s jaw tightened.
He knew Nightwing would do everything expected of him and more.
He knew his eldest would become one of the League’s strongest assets. He knew Dick would protect the others with the same determination he had always shown. And, despite every instinct telling him to object, Batman was proud.
Terribly proud.
He simply wasn’t going to say it out loud.
Not here. Not in front of Clark and Diana. Because some secrets were worth protecting. Even from the Justice League.