Nightwing - Heir to the Demon #6

As we all make our way down to the bunker beneath Wayne Tower, I can’t help but notice Barbra pause for a moment seemingly for no reason. It’s her wound. The painkiller I gave her is clearly wearing off. I walk back to help her, but she just rejects my offer.

 

Barbra: I’m fine.

 

Dick: I saw that Barb. You’re clearly not.

 

Barbra: We don’t have time to worry about that. We have to be ready.

 

Dick: We will be, and right now that means having Alfred take a look at your wound.

 

Barbra: I can look after myself, Dick!

 

Dick: I know, and so unfortunately so do you. But I made a promise to your father when you left Gotham with me Barb. I promised I’d look after you, and I’m not planning on stopping now.

 

Barbra pauses a moment before relenting.

 

Barbra: Alright. Fine.

 

Given how both Barbra and I stopped for a moment to discuss her wound, we have to wait for the lift to come back up to us from the bunker. During the interlude, Barbra can’t help but be curious as to how desperate Bruce is to have shared his identity with two people he hasn’t personally trained.

 

Barbra: It’s rather worrying to see Bruce reveal his identity to two strangers.

 

Dick: Well they’re not necessarily strangers. He’s known Roy Harper ever since he became Green Arrow’s sidekick, so to agree he has enough of a reason to trust him. It’s the girl that’s the anomaly.

 

Barbra: You mean the future Mrs. Todd?

 

Dick: A fair point. But still, I saw Bruce analysing her when he came out onto the balcony and saw her. He only does that with unfamiliar elements.

 

Barbra: You don’t need to tell me. He did the same thing to me when you brought me to the cave.

 

Dick: He certainly wasn’t happy that night.

 

Barbra: No, but Alfred was.

 

Dick: When isn’t Alfred happy?

 

Barbra: ….When he’s worried that Bruce is crossing the line.

 

Dick: He wasn’t in a good place then. Neither of them were.

 

Barbra: The worst thing is I can’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same thing in Bruce’s position.

 

Dick: Loss can drive us into the darkest of places. I should know. I almost crossed that line after what happened at the circus.

 

Barbra: But you didn’t go through with it.

 

Dick: And neither did Bruce. Funny. In many ways, he stopped me from making the same mistake he was about to make when he lost Jason.

 

Barbra: You two are more alike than either of you care to admit. You just like to put on a smile to hide it.

 

Dick: Please. Stop. You’re being too kind.

 

Barbra: And a large amount of sarcasm to boot.

 

Dick: All part of that lovable Grayson charm.

 

Barbra: Well….I wouldn’t say lovable.

 

Dick: Gee thanks. Would you rather I spent all my time brooding instead?

 

Barbra: At least you’d be quiet for a change.

 

Dick: If you want see me be quiet you should come to work with me.

 

Barbra: I will never get over when Malloy asked me if you were shy at home as well.

 

Dick: Well you are awfully intimidating, it’s little wonder I’m so shy.

 

Barbra: Shut up.

 

The joking tone of Barbra’s voice is pleasing to hear. It’s been a rather manic night what with her having a brief brush with death courtesy of the League of Assassins and then being called to Gotham so suddenly, it’s a wonder that she’s able to take a moment to laugh to herself.

 

Dick: Have you spoken to your dad?

 

Barbra: With all that’s going on right now, I think having to talk to me is the last thing he wants.

 

Dick: We both know he loves hearing from you. Who knows, when this is all over maybe we can spend some time in Gotham and visit him.

 

Barbra: Yeah, maybe.

 

The lift arrives and as we enter it, Barbra can’t help but smile.

 

Dick: What have I done this time?

 

Barbra: Nothing I just…I just think it’s sweet how after all he’s gone through. Jason’s found happiness. I can’t believe he’ll get married before me though.

 

Dick: Well it’s not like I proposed to you previously, now is it?

 

Barbra: And you wonder why I said no.

 

As the lift doors open, both Barbra and I begin to remove various parts of our costumes. Both of us remove our gauntlets and Barbra decides to undo her cape. I decide take off the holster for my escrima sticks and change into some pants.

 

Following our brief pit stop to remove some of the more cumbersome parts of our suit, Barbra and I rejoin the others as Tim appears to be showing the new recruits the vast arsenal that Bruce has acquired over the years.

 

Scarlett: I feel like a kid in a Candy store.

 

Jason: Most people have that reaction the first time they see the arsenal that Bruce keeps.

 

Roy: But guns as well? I thought he had a no killing rule?

 

Tim: He does, doesn’t mean he can’t use guns though. None of them fire bullets. What you see in front of you are several versions of Jason’s taser guns.

 

Scarlett: And those?

 

Tim: Batmobile armaments. That one on the right is the riot gas launcher, below it is the EMP magnet launcher, bottom left is the Batmobile’s tow cable and top left is the red sun grenade launcher.

 

Scarlett: Red sun grenade launcher?

 

Tim: For when he and Superman have an argument.

 

Scarlett: Do I dare ask who won?

 

Roy: Superman, obviously.

 

Jason: Well not really. Let’s just say that there were bruised egos on both sides.

 

I can vouch for that statement.

 

Scarlett: Sounds like a great story at least.

 

Dick: Oh it is, just not for either party involved.

 

Tim: Weren’t you there when it happened, Dicky bird?

 

Dick: I couldn’t possibly comment.

 

Never understood why people say that, it implies that you don’t want to confirm or deny something in the worst way possible. I know why half the thugs we bring in at Budhaven PD say it, half the time it’s because I’ve brought them in and sadly the words of a vigilante are meaningless in a court of law with proof to back them up. Sadly, the perpetrators know that as well. Fortunately, Barbra’s an expert at building case files around any one we go after just in case. After Marone walked free when I brought him in on my first night out as Nightwing, I’ve never been willing to leave things to chance again.

 

Man does that make me sound like Bruce.

 

Jason: First time for everything.

 

Scarlett: Settle down, Moody.

 

Jason: Please stop calling me that.

 

Dick: This may be one of the proudest moments of my life.

 

Barbra: That’s pretty sad.

 

Dick: Hey! You’re supposed to be on my side.

 

Barbra: Welcome to the real world, Wing Ding.

 

Barbra thinks she’s smart using that stupid name that Jason gave me. Sadly for her, I know just how to get under her skin. With the name she now regrets calling herself.

 

Dick: No problem Batgirl.

 

That name worked well for her when first met going on ten years at this point, but now that she’s matured and is almost 26 years old? She hates it. She’s tried rebranding herself since we left for Bludhaven. But unfortunately for her, Batwoman just doesn’t have as nice a ring to it as Batgirl. My insistence to keep calling her Batgirl when we’re out on patrol doesn’t help either.

 

Scarlett: Where did you guys even come up with your codenames in the first place?

 

Tim: Inheritance.

 

Barbra: Mine’s the result of a 16 year old’s lack of creativity.

 

Jason: Do I even have to explain mine?

 

Dick: An alien told me a story.

 

Roy: Wait, that’s where you got Nightwing from?

 

Dick: Yeah….where do you think I got it from?

 

Roy: Ollie thought you were just trying to be edgy.

 

Dick: Oh? What else did Mr. Queen happen to think of us then?

 

Roy: Well he thought Bruce was a massive asshole.

 

Dick: ….I’m not inclined to disagree.

 

Most people have that reaction when they meet him in the field. About the only person who have him the benefit of the doubt was Superman. Typical really. Of course it’d be Clark who has the patience to not get annoyed at Bruce’s at times abrasive personality. What does that say for us if we’re so quick to dislike one our own but an alien isn’t? Then again, Clark is an alien in biology only. In terms of personality, he couldn’t be more human. Quite scary really.

 

Scarlett: Wait, Ollie knows that Bruce is Batman?

 

Roy: Yeah, he told me it almost immediately after he got back from his ‘business’ trip to Gotham city a few years back-

 

Bruce: And he wonders why the Justice League keeps declining his applications.

 

Roy: He actually tried to join you guys?

 

Bruce: On a few occasions. You can tell how successful they were.

 

Barbra: As successful as Dick is at staying quiet.

 

I won’t respond to such childish insults. Todd is trying to taunt me into a response so I can’t give him the pleasure.

 

Tim: Peace and quiet. How unusual.

 

Alfred: Master Bruce, Mr. Fox needs to speak with you.

 

Bruce: I’m on my way.

 

Evidently Lucius has finished analysing what ever it is that Jason stole from Jay Greene’s mansion. Just how this will help us against Ra’s and his forces I can’t be certain. But if Bruce believes it can help, chances are it’s worth looking into.

 

Bruce: Make all your preparations and get some rest. We’ll need all our energy when night comes around.

 

With that, Bruce turns and walks away to the lab with Talia.

 

Scarlett: Not one for small talk is he?

 

Roy: It comes with the job. When so many people’s lives depend on you, you do tend to forget decorum at times. Ollie was the same when he felt stressed.

 

Scarlett: Well, here’s hoping that doesn’t happen to either of us.

 

I doubt hope can prevent something like that. The only comforting thing is that it’s not every day the fate of an entire lies on your shoulders. Well…..unless you’re the Justice League of course. Then you have the fate of the world resting on your shoulders almost daily. I couldn’t imagine anything worse.

 

Barbra: Does your arm always do that?

 

Roy: Do what?

 

Barbra: That twitching it does whilst you’re not doing anything.

 

Roy: Yeah. Apparently, it’s just the arm stimulating the nerves in my stump to make sure it’s still connected to me.

 

Barbra: I think I can do something about that. Come with me to the workbench.

 

Just like that, Barbra walks off with Roy leaving both Tim and I to third wheel Jason and his fiancé. Thanks Barb. Just what I always wanted.

 

Dick: Ditched for a man with a robot arm. Great.

 

Tim: I’m sure we can find a way to give you two if you really want to one up him.

 

Dick: Thanks but no thanks. I’m content with the two arms I have. They haven’t failed me yet.

 

Tim: Yet.

 

Someone’s getting a little too big for their boots.

 

Dick: Settle down, Third Bird. Remember who’s the adult in this situation.

 

Tim: What do you mean? Barbra just left.

 

Well. If nothing else. At least he’s a Robin that’s more similar to me than he is Jason. I suppose I should be honoured in some regards.

 

Dick: Thanks.

 

It’s then that I see Jason and Scarlett both looking into one another’s eyes intently. Unless you’re as young little Timmy here you know exactly what’s going on, and I absolutely do not want to see that. Kissing is always ugly if you’re a spectator. So naturally, I want to get out of here. Immediately.

 

Dick: Hey Tim, how’s about we see if there’s any spare gauntlets around here that we can replace yours with.

 

Thankfully, Tim’s quick to pick up on my hints and after a quick glare in their direction, he quickly agrees.

 

Tim: Yeah, these things haven’t been right since my encounter with the League’s agent.

 

Dick: Does Bruce still keep a reserve of them in the suit vault?

 

Tim: I can’t recall. Let’s go check.

 

Without hesitation, we both race off towards the vault, the work bench, or the lab. It doesn’t matter exactly where, just somewhere that’s not here. At the same time though, I can’t help but feel a little bit proud with how similar Tim’s reaction was to mine when he realised just what was going on. He’s definitely A grade Robin material. This must be what parents feel when they see their children all grown up. I definitely made the right choice helping Tim meet Bruce.

Done