TITLE: BROKEN HARMONY

AUTHOR: Natasha Bennett nbennett@islandnet.com

RATING: Pg-13

SUMMERY: Nightwing tells Robin why he left Batman

DISCLAIMER: Everything here belongs to DC comics and Time Warner Productions, and anyone else who holds rights to this show. This is purely for none-profit.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This a slight sequel to my last story, but you don’t need to read it to understand this one.

Nightwing returned to the place where it all began.

It was an alleyway-simple, dark. Nothing too exclusive. But it was the only place in Gotham City, the only place in the entire world where a part of him had died two years ago.

Originally, he was Robin, Batman’s partner in crime. He was also Dick Grayson. Now it felt like he was neither anymore. He was only Nightwing. What that meant, he was still not really sure.

Nightwing jumped to the ground, and his trained eyes could immediately see the blood stain on the ground. The place where Batman had shot him right under the heart, almost killing him. He touched the dried blood with his dark glove as memories resurfaced. He closed his eyes painfully. He had spent most of those two years out of Gotham City and around the world, coming back only when Batman had personally asked for his help. No, not asked. Commanded. And so Nightwing had come. And almost deliberately killed Batman’s new partner. No particular reason, just to see if he could. In the end, he had saved Robin, a.k.a Tim Drake from a very gooey death with bare seconds to spare. That simple act had raised more conflict inside of himself, more questions. Questions that needed answering.

He suddenly heard a sound. Voices. Nightwing looked up, and he was instantly gone just as the eight men stepped into the alleyway.

Underworld contacts. Drug deals. Safely on the ledge meters above, Nightwing debated whether or not to just leave, then decided against it. He fell gracefully back to the ground. Word had apparently gotten out about him, for the eight men attacked without question. Nightwing dodged the first one’s clumsy fist, and kicked one of them in the chest. His body was constantly moving and twisting, avoiding their pitiful blows easily. He ducked, tossed one goon into the air, and turned and faced a man with a gun pointed straight at him.

Nightwing’s eyebrow raised slightly at the irony. Maybe he should start calling this the bad-luck alley.

All of a sudden Nightwing heard a sharp whistle through the air. His head jerked to the left as a Batarang shrieked past him, scratching his forehead and hitting the man’s gun in a ricochet of sparks. The man fell with a started grunt.

Nightwing whirled around to face the newcomer, just in time to see Robin jump down from a ledge. “What are you doing here?” Nightwing asked coldly. “You’re not really the first person I expected to dash to my rescue.” His blue eyes instantly scanned upwards for Batman, but saw no sign of him.

As a result, he was, for once, caught completely by surprise when the boy wonder’s fist smashed against his face. He stumbled back a few steps, then glared at Robin in fury.

“I wasn’t,” Robin snapped, his voice just as cold. “I was answering the bat-signal when I saw this underworld meeting. Small coincidence to find you here!”

“Oh, you think I had something to do with this!?” Nightwing demanded. Two men instantly rushed towards Robin and Nightwing. As one they both punched both of them in the face.

“Why not?” Robin demanded. “It’s not like you haven’t played both sides before.” He flipped backwards, striking a woman in the stomach.

Nightwing threw another one another his shoulder. “Oh, are you still mad about me using you to get to Two-Face a weeks ago? Tough. Get over it.” He turned and gave a man a vicious uppercut.

“That’s just our problem, Nightwing! I don’t know you. You’re clearly not the same person Bruce described to me. You manipulate every...” he paused to dodge another blow. “..every situation to your advantage, and I never know which side you’re on! And neither does Batman!”

Nightwing turned to Robin. “Don’t even mention that freak to me again.”

“Why not?” Robin demanded, glaring at Nightwing. “What did he do you? Huh? What could have happened between the two of you that broke up eight years of friendship?”

Nightwing smiled thinly. “Must have been something really terrible. But I don’t discuss my personal life with anyone.” He glanced down at Robin in disgust. “Especially frauds.”

He turned to move away, but Robin intercepted him. “You know, sooner or later Batman is going to hunt you down no better then a common criminal, and he’ll lock you away.”

That thought seemed to amuse Nightwing to no end. “He can try,” he said.

Robin’s scowl deepened. “And if he doesn’t, then I will!”

Meanwhile, oblivious to either Nightwing or Robin, two thugs were quickly trying to assemble a very large gun.

“Then do it,” Nightwing said with a raised eyebrow. “Come on, Robin. Daddy’s not here to protect you, and I’ve been dying to give Batman a piece of my mind about his choice of replacements.”

The gun charged.

Robin swallowed. “So that’s it, then,” he said softly. “You’re going up against Batman. And Gotham City.”

The gun aimed at Robin and Nightwing.

“Might be interesting to see how it plays out,” Nightwing said with a dark smile.

Robin’s fist flew at Nightwing. Nightwing blocked it.

The gun fired a electrical discharge at them. It struck Robin in the chest and he collapsed to the ground, tiny blue bolts of lighting dancing along his red armor and convulsing his muscles.

Nightwing whirled around in surprise.

The gun fired again. It hit Nightwing’s chest and bounced into his blue eyes. With a cry of pain he collapsed to the ground beside Robin in a smoking heap.

**************************

Robin’s head jerked up with a gasp as air rushed into his lungs. He was in a brightly-lit prison cell. With a groan he tried to stand. His skin was a light shade of blue, and there was a very large bruise where the blast had hit him. He walked up to the bars and shook them. They were locked electronically. With a sigh he turned around and saw Nightwing sprawled on the bench, apparently lifeless. Robin slowly limped to his side and felt for a pulse. It was very faint.

With some misgivings, Robin shook Nightwing’s shoulder. “Nightwing, wake up.” Panic set in and he shook it harder. The last thing he remembered was Nightwing threatening to tear him to pieces, but they were both trapped here together.

Finally, Nightwing stirred and opened his eyes. Robin’s head drew back in astonishment. Nightwing’s blue irises had faded to a very dim shade of blue, and his entire pupil was now milky white!

Nightwing lifted himself up into a sitting position, then stared left and right. “I can’t see,” he said.

Robin waved his hands in front of Nightwing’s face. Nightwing’s eagle-blue eyes didn’t register the movement. “It’s just temporary,” Robin said confidently, barely able to hide the doubt in his voice. And the fear.

“Where are we!?” Nightwing demanded sharply, in a commanding voice.

Robin swallowed, startled by how much he sounded like Batman. It was hard to believe that Nightwing had once been Batman’s very own partner once. Very hard. “In a prison cell of some kind. Controlled electrically.”

Robin moved away to examine the lock just as Nightwing reached for him. His dark gloves grasped empty air. For a moment, Nightwing’s face was an expression of panic. Then it hardened. “Obviously someone wants to keep us alive. For now.”

Robin sighed. “Why can’t they ever just shoot us?” He glanced at the lock one final time before folding his arms and turning to Nightwing. “I think I can get us out of here.”

“Oh?” Nightwing said. “So why don’t you?”

“Why should I help you?” Robin retorted. “Why shouldn’t I just leave you here?”

“Because you’re a weak sentimental idiot who won’t leave Batman’s ex-partner ex-friend to die,” Nightwing replied bluntly.

Robin’s eyes narrowed. “You think you know me,” he said. “You hate me. I get that. But you don’t know a damn thing about me. I’m not going out that door to help a man who, by all accounts, could easily kill me whether he was blind or not.”

Nightwing smiled. “So you don’t trust me? Aw, I’m shocked and hurt. Batman’s undoubtably told you some very bad stories about Dick Grayson, hasn’t he?”

“So why don’t you tell me your version of what happened?” Robin persisted as an idea suddenly struck him. “Tell me why, after eight years, you hate him so much?”

Nightwing was silent for a long minute. “Does my entire chance of escape hinge on you knowing!?” he snarled.

“It does,” Robin said. “Because right now I don’t know whether or not to trust Batman.” A pause. “But I trust you even less.”

Nightwing smiled a little. “Huh.”

“What?” Robin demanded.

Nightwing’s smile grew, but it was full of bitterness. “When I had first heard that Batman had another Robin only three weeks after...well, after I left, I had assumed that Batman had done that just to punish me. That he grabbed the first garbaged rat he could find out of the gutter and pinned a costume on him. Maybe the rat does have teeth after all.”

Robin folded his arms. “Batman never once asked me to become Robin. I decided that all for myself.”

“Did you?” Nightwing sounded unimpressed. And doubtful.

Robin let that pass. “Tell me what happened,” he said.

Nightwing was silent for the longest time. “I didn’t spend all of my life as Robin, Tim. I had another identity, another life very different from Batman’s partner. I was also Dick Grayson, a college student. I know what you think of me now-a bitter, hateful person, perhaps even a dangerous criminal. Well, I suppose me almost killing you would give you that impression. It might surprise you to know that I was very different....” Nightwing smiled, and there was no trance of unhappiness in it. “...a lot like you, in fact. I was young, enthused...most of all I had choices, even back then.”

“With my fellow students and teachers I never got too close. In college there were only two types of people-those that resented me for Bruce’s money, or those that sucked up to me. I wanted neither. Besides, my separate life of Robin...all the crime, hate, and pain that I had experienced on a daily basis isolated me from the rest of the people who, in my mind, lived in relative ignorance from the real world. In my eyes I didn’t see other people, but rather possible targets for the Joker, Two-face...Catwoman. I wasn’t bullied. No one would dare upset a millionaire’s ward. It was much worse then that. I was ignored. I was like a shadow to them, just as Robin would have been.”

“But there was one exception to this-a woman. Her name was Barbara.”

Robin lifted his head when he heard the tone in Nightwing’s voice. “You had feelings for her?”

A long pause. “Yes,” Nightwing replied. “She was...very beautiful, and very popular. Everyone in college loved her, and every man in the school wanted to be with her. She was bright and intelligent and...beautiful. Most of all she had a lot of spirit. She cared for her school teams with a passion you wouldn’t believe. And she was also Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, Batman’s friend.”

Robin was interested in spite of himself. “So how does someone like that hang out with shy bookworm Dick Grayson?” he asked. “It sounds complicated.”

“Actually, it was very simple,” Nightwing corrected. “She loved mysteries.” He sighed. “Okay, so I too had a big crush on her. But I wasn’t so dumb enough as to not know that I couldn’t expect a relationship. Need I even mention the complications? Besides, the last thing I wanted was a relationship! Barbara, for all of her intelligence was just as deluded as the rest, believing in a perfect world on a daily basis. I didn’t wanted to expose her to my life....a life of blood and misery and the possibility of death every single moment. It would ruin her, or harden her soul to the hardships that walked unseen around her in the shadows. I had no right to do that to any person. Bottom line, we simply remained on and off friends for four years of college. Even though a part of me was deeply in love with her.

Besides, she hated Batman and Robin!

**********************

(2 years ago)

“I just think that it’s ridiculous for two grown men to dress like a bat and a bird every single night to pick a brawl with the local criminals,” Barbara said flatly. “Men who choose to wear costumes have something to hide more then their identities. Perhaps they’re disfigured.” She lifted her eyebrow. “Perhaps they’re woman in disguise.”

I said nothing for a moment, the glass of red wine in my hand. “I think that...Batman believes that the image of a bat will inspire fear into the hearts of criminals,” I said carefully.

“And by doing that, is he not causing more harm then preventing?” Barbara asked.

“Huh?” I couldn’t help but say.

Barbara brushed away a lock of red hair from her green eyes. “It’s also a challenge. Batman, the supposed avatar of truth and justice, is openly daring criminals to destroy that symbolism. It encourages criminals rather then repelling them, causing some to dress up as ridiculous as he is.”

Did I mention she was studying psychiatry? Oh yes, she was. And, ironically enough, her prime interest was sitting right across the table from her eating leftover turkey!

Barbara was playing with her fork. “Nevertheless, Batman has won the spirit and imagination of the whole Gotham city. As much as I would hate to say it, Batman or Robin’s death would crush that spirit, paving the way to plunder and chaos.”

The prospect played on my mind a little too. “Batman is also an incredible fighter. I don’t think that he will die of nothing less then old age.”

“No man can last forever,” Barbara pointed out.

I had to grin. “Then maybe he’s a superman.”

Barbara returned his smile. “I’m sorry. One week till our graduation and I’m still trying to think about our studies. Did you know that the entire issue of Batman was studied for half the semester?”

“Really?” I asked, with my eyebrow raised. Undoubtably it would have been an interesting class to have attended......

“Some say he’s the avenger of justice. I don’t think so,” Barbara said, taking a bite. “But I’m sorry. I’m ranting. Enough about that. Are you nervous?”

“About what?” I asked her.

“Leaving college? I’ve only been here for four years, but you’ve been here for how long?” She asked with a shrug.

“Seven,” I replied.

She shook her head, mystified. “You’ve had so many degrees in science that I’m not entirely sure what job you want to take.” She stared at me intently with her green eyes. “So what’s ahead for Dick Grayson? You have all the brains, and all the money anyone could have in the world. You have so many options...and yet I haven’t heard you speak one word about what you want to do.”

“Still trying to be a psychiatrist?” I asked jokingly, but my voice was a little nervous.

“I’m trying to be a friend,” Barbara said with a smile. “How’s it working out?”

To be honest, I didn’t know that answer any better then she did. What was my future? To tell you the truth, Tim, the possibility of leaving Robin behind...at least for a while, and to work on Dick Grayson’s life, appealed to me more and more. I was about to speak, when I saw the bat-signal flare up in the sky. I had no idea how long it had been there. “Crap,” I whispered.

Barbara’s eyes widened. “What?” she asked.

I closed my eyes and groaned.

***************************

(Now)

Nightwing was silent as he heard a small, constant scratching sound. “I didn’t know that electronic lock-picking was your specialty,” he remarked.

“Please. I once broke into Wayne Manor without tripping any of its fifty-three alarms!” Tim said. “Keep going. I’m finding this really interesting, and strangely un-biased. For now.”

Nightwing had to smile. “You expect me to entirely blame Batman for what happened?” he laughed. “Years ago, I was a reporter. I believed in the truth. I wasn’t entirely blameless in this. I openly admit that.”

Tim nodded.

“But it’s still all his fault,” Nightwing added.

**************************

(2 years ago)

So yet another dinner ruined.

I was driving Barbara back to her house, my blue eyes burning up at the sky at the traitorous bat-signal. “It’s too bad that you have that final term paper,” Barbara said gently, her voice forgiving. “Sometimes I think you work too hard-” the last of her words choked out of her as I slammed the car to a skidding stop. Not easy to do in the middle of December when the ground was made of ice and snow.

For once, her cool expression was completely shattered. “What the hell did you do that for!” she demanded.

I didn’t reply, but my eyes were scanning the rooftops. Yes, I was right. I had seen a shadow jump from one ledge to the next. Not something people usually did. I glanced at Barbara, but had no time for explanations. “I’ll be right back!” I said. I opened the trunk, grabbed my folded costume and slipped it under my blue jacket before she could see. Dick entered the building to change.

No sooner had I slipped on my costume did my entire personality change. I was no longer Dick Grayson, a rather insignificant college student. I was Robin, the very defender of justice. I was a hunter, and all thoughts of Barbara and my social life disappeared within that very instant.

I kicked open the door to the roof with my boot, surprising the criminal. I instantly recognized the pearl-white skin, the hideous eternal grin, those mischievous green eyes. “Joker!” I snapped.

The laughing Prince of Crime wasn’t so festive now. “Do you caped clowns follow me EVERYWHERE!?” he bellowed.

I stepped closer. It was snowing heavily, and my red armor was already glittering with frost. “Just pure luck is all I need, you pathetic joke.”

Somehow, the Joker’s grin widened even further. “Yessss....” he hissed. “Pure luck..for me!” He beckoned with his white glove, holding a bag of loot in his other hand. “Follow me then, little bird, if you can!” He turned on his heels and ran straight towards the ledge of the rooftop with a sadistic laugh!

I moved to stop him, but it was too late.

Miraculously, somehow he managed to jump from one roof to the next! My eyes narrowed as I saw the springs on his feet glint in the moonlight. I took a deep breath, and ran towards the edge. They didn’t use to call me the flying Grayson for nothing. I jumped off from a five-story building to the next. I made it, but unfortunately I had seriously underestimated how icy the roof was. My body skidded across the rooftop straight into the Joker’s waiting goons. All five of us sort of crashed into one big heap. The Joker thought it was a hoot. I didn’t think it was quite so funny, especially when two of them managed to get their hands on me and threw me over the side of the roof.

You ever read the comics where the hero finds some last minute way to escape, Tim? Well, this isn’t a comic. It’s real life. I fell from the rooftop with no way of saving myself. Only the snow blanketed my fall, and that wasn’t much. It hurt like hell. I couldn’t move, and I was pretty certain that I was going to die. Guess this Robin couldn’t fly, after all. And, to add to my list of problems, my head hit against something and my mask came off. It fluttered to the ground beside my hand.

The next details are sketchy, but I remember a car suddenly driving to a stop, the snow skidding on my body. A felt a soft hand grab me, shove me into the backseat, and the rest was lost in a lot of hazy pain. Who was it, you wonder?

Take a wild guess.

**************************

When I next opened my eyes, I was in a bed inside an apartment of some kind. I remember it being...warm. Soft. I opened my eyes, and saw Barbara Golden sitting on the bed next to me. Her green eyes were looking at me half in concern, half in horror.

“Hello...Dick,” she said cautiously, sitting at the very edge of the bedside. She was holding my black mask that had a dark green glitter to it. “I mended your mask as best as I can...I wasn’t sure if I got all of the fabric repaired....” she lost her voice and looked down. “Why??’

I instantly put my hand to my chest. I noticed that my ribs were expertly repaired. “Did you do this by yourself?” I demanded.

Barbara nodded, tears forming in her eyes. “My Father taught me when I was very young. If I took you to a public hospital...people would know.”

I leaned back and breathed a big sigh of relief. “Thank you,” I honestly said.

She smiled a little, her green eyes shining brightly. “When I was also very young I used to believe in superheroes. That they would be Gotham City’s shining knights in armor and protect us from every monster in the dark.” She looked down and coughed. “Of course, that was before I thought they were crazy!”

“I’m not crazy,” I said quietly.

She looked up, wiping away tears. “Then why do you do it, Dick? Why do you wear that costume and risk your life every single day!?”

I got out of bed and sat near her. “Barbara, I risk my life every day because I like helping people. I can’t really explain why-I guess it’s just in my nature. I wasn’t always a millionaire’s ward. I lived on the streets, eating from trash cans. I guess I don’t want others to live the same life that I was forced to. As for the costume...” I touched my Robin costume, and sighed. “Others simply can’t know my true identity or the people I love will be killed. But it’s more then that. When I put this costume on....I fight criminals. I save lives. I prevent disasters. But with Robin I’m always so focused on staying alive that I can’t feel anything else. Whereas with Dick Grayson....it’s the only thing that I have that’s truly mine....and it’s like I don’t want to share it with anyone else.” I smiled a little. “If that makes any sense at all from a crazy person.”

Barbara seemed to smile at that, but only for a moment. “Nothing about this makes any sense,” she replied. “Does...does my father know?”

I shook my head. “No.” I took a deep breath. “Barbara, believe me when I say that the last thing I wanted was for you to get involved-”

“It’s all right,” Barbara said quietly. She touched my cheek with her hand, making me look up. “Wow. And here everyone felt sorry for loner Dick Grayson...when in reality we should be thanking you ten times over. Dick..what you’re doing...I may not agree with it, but you’re still incredibly brave for trying to make Gotham city a better place then it deserves.” She stood and looked out the balcony. “So I suppose Bruce Wayne is Batman?” she asked.

I nodded.

“The millionaire. It makes sense,” Barbara said. She took a deep breath. “Is my life in danger?” she asked bluntly.

I couldn’t help but nod again. “Very probably. If anyone saw you....or if you told anyone....” I let my words drift away. “I can’t let anyone carry that burden from me.”

Her eyes narrowed at my silent words. “Not unless they choose to, correct?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied.

She then smiled, a very tiny smile as she joined me. Her eyes were sparkling with a quiet strength. “In that case...I choose to keep your secret. You’ve probably saved my life a hundred times over, and it’s the least I can do. No, it’s what I want to do. And I’m not afraid of might what happen because of it.” She gripped my hand tightly. “I swear that I will never tell anyone your secret,” she said solemnly.

It was good, and true enough for me. I nodded.

She squeezed my hand. “Now tell me everything.”

******************************

(Now)

“So for a few long hours I sat by Barbara’s side and told her everything about myself-my adventures, my pains and sorrows, my joys. It felt good...just letting it all out. Barbara rarely spoke, and she always held my hand,” Nightwing said. “You’re probably wondering, Tim, that I’m being more then a little presumptuous for trusting Babs, a stranger. Remember that she wasn’t. I had know her for many years, and had known her for being true and honest, and she wasn’t the least bit intimidated by massive jocks that wanted their way with her. She always had a strength to her that probably came from her father. I honestly just knew that she wouldn’t betray me.”

Tim nodded.

“At any rate, I soon had to tell Batman what happened. I was like you once, Robin, only more so. After eight years of fighting side-by-side with the same man you learn to trust him as easily as you trusted yourself to breathe. Batman probably told you that my parents died in the circus. Executed in front of my eyes. If it hadn’t been for Batman, I probably would have led a different life of crime and hatred. What I’m saying, Tim, is that we had a very strong friendship based on many years of trust and gratitude. Few people could understand Batman. I honestly thought I did.” His blue eyes lowered. “But I’m jumping ahead of myself. Anyway, I hadn’t seen Batman in many months. College life kept me busy, and until yesterday I never even used my Robin costume. But the next day I drove three hours to Wayne Manor and explained my situation. I thought that, you know, Barbara being Commission Golden’s daughter he would approve. I had never been so wrong in my life. To say that he was mildly surprised was a bit of an understatement. Actually, he was downright furious.”

**************************

(2 years ago)

“You did what!?” Batman shouted. We were in the Batcave, so his voice echoed quite a bit around the cavern. I had visited him as Dick Grayson for the first time in weeks, my green backpack slung around my shoulders. He didn’t even say hello.

“It’s not like a had much of a choice in the matter, Batman,” I said half-jokingly. “I fell from the rooftop and would have probably died if it wasn’t for her.”

Batman glanced up from the computer he was rewiring. “Who might have taken off your mask the moment you were unconscious for all you know!”

“No,” I said. “That’s not what happened.” I distinctly remembered the mask ripping off. “She could have taken me to a public hospital if she wanted to reveal my true identity. She didn’t.”

Batman sighed heavily. “That’s because she probably wants to reveal it to the press herself and receive the credit. Or, worse case scenario, she’ll try to sell that information to the underworld!” I was astonished. “Batman, this is Commissioner Golden’s daughter we’re talking about! Not some street scum like I was!”

Batman looked away. “Maybe it’s not too late. We can give her a drug to erase her memories. Seritum Pepersone should do the trick-”

“What?” My eyes widened. “Batman, no-”

“She’s a stranger,” Batman snapped at me, whirling around. “Are you willing to risk your identity and your life to trust her?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Yes,” I said.

Batman leaned closer. “And would you also be willing to risk the stakes of the people who know our identities? Lisa? Eric?” He raised his eyebrow. “Alfred?” He moved away without waiting for a reply. “I’m not.”

“Batman, let’s be realistic,” I persisted, struggling to keep after him. “Even IF word somehow got out about our identities...who’s going to believe that a spoiled millionaire who throws fancy dress parties every month and his college ward are really the caped crusaders? Especially with our doubles around Batman and Robin all the time?”

Batman whirled to face me. “They won’t!” he snapped. He raised his finger. “But they’ll be watching us, Dick. They’ll be watching Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson very closely. And sooner or later, no matter how careful we are, one of us will eventually make a mistake. One tiny slip from either of us...and it’s over.” He snapped his fingers angrily in my’s face. “Just like that!” Batman stormed away.

I stared thoughtfully in the darkness for a moment. “We could always destroy the Gotham press buildings,” I said.

Batman glared at him, obviously not in the mood for jokes. “Dick, this is not a debate. For our very safety, and the lives that we care for, I’m ordering you to give that woman that damn pill.” He jumped into the Batmobile and stared the engine. “And that’s final!”

He was gone in a explosion of flame before I could reply.

***************************

(Now)

“I’m guessing it wasn’t final,” Robin said.

“You catch on quick,” Nightwing answered dryly.

***************************

(2 years ago)

O.K, sure I knew the stakes. But I knew I could trust Babs! All right, Robin, even blind I know the way you’re looking at me. Fine, O.K, I admit it. I was also resentful that Batman was always the one to choose who knows our identities and who doesn’t-without even consulting me, I might add. But what everything boiled down to was the fact that this woman could have chosen to divulge my identity, and she didn’t. That makes me want to trust her. That, and the fact that she only saved my life. At the time, I strongly believed in repaying important debts, not manipulating people as Batman did.

I stood on her balcony as Robin, hidden in the shadows and paralyzed with indecision. She was inside, brushing her beautiful red hair wearing a green nightgown. Everything that was common sense told me that what Batman said was true-for our sake, we had to erase her memories. Yet after spending only a few hours with this woman I could feel a very powerful strength from her. A strength I knew that couldn’t be broken easily.

Barbara lifted her head. “Robin?” she whispered, her voice sounding very tiny.

But I was already gone.

*************************

(Now)

Tim would have loved to hear more, but at that moment the last tumbler clicked into place. “I think I got this door open,” he said.

A pause. “Aw, what a pity,” Nightwing said, his voice lightly sarcastic. “Now I don’t get to tell you the intimate details of my life.”

Tim grinned. “Don’t celebrate just yet. We still have to figure out a way out of here.” He helped Nightwing stand, and they both walked out of there.

Tim peered around. “No guards,” he whispered. “How’s your eyes?”

“Not getting any better,” Nightwing said.

Tim shook his head. “Well, you’re not missing much. It’s dark and creepy. No lights...yet I don’t think we’re underground.”

“We’re on the thirty-eighth level of a technical building, probably the one we were just on when we knocked out,” Nightwing said flatly.

Tim glanced at him. “O-Okay, I’ll take your word for it. Do you need any help?”

Nightwing smiled. “Please. The first thing Batman taught me was how to walk blindfolded.”

“You mean the hazard course?” Tim said. “And how you had to go through the wires and the lake night after night after night-”

“-without seeing a damn thing-” Nightwing added.

“-and how Alfred always made those annoying animal calls to distract you-” Tim said in excitement.

“-while Batman was shooting at you with blanks!?” Nightwing finished. “It was a damn pain in the ass! It got to a point where I wanted to throw Alfred in the damn lake!”

They both chuckled. Instantly both realized what they were doing. An awkward silence followed.

“Look-” Tim began.

“You’re not me,” Nightwing interrupted flatly. “You’re some kid I barely know. But your association with Batman makes you a pretty inviting target to express some grief, and the only reason I don’t express it now is because of our bizarre predicament. Any other time, and I would gladly throw you in a pool of boiling acid again without shedding a tear or a second thought. Understood?”

Tim paled, then swallowed. “Understood.”

“Good,” Nightwing said, and walked past him.

**********************

(2 years ago)

I went back to Wayne Manor, where I found Batman and Alfred waiting somewhat impatiently for me. I put the pill on the table and told them in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t going to do it. I expected Batman to be angry at me, or at least be seriously disappointed in my decision. Instead Batman simply nodded and said that it was my choice. It was a very welcome surprise at the time, and I remember never being more grateful to Batman for trusting in me.

Later that evening I went up to Barbara’s apartment as Dick Grayson. I wanted to discuss the situation in more detail and lay down some new ground rules and security precautions. But on the whole my future, for once, wasn’t looking so terribly bleak. In my deepest hopes I thought I could actually try a relationship with Barbara Golden, my first one where I didn’t have to constantly lie.

Barbara opened the door, and her eyes lit up with welcome surprise. “Dick! I didn’t a visit from you, and certainly not three o’clock in the morning!”

“Did I wake you?” I asked, coming in.

“No, no,” Barbara said with a small laugh, sitting down on the sofa. She lifted a glass of water from the table. “I’m a night person. I’m studying for my exams right now-”

I sat down on the chair opposite from her. “Barbara, we have to talk,” I said.

She lifted her eyebrow and leaned back. “About what?” she asked.

“About us,” I said. “About my life as Robin.”

“Robin?” Barbara echoed. She stared at me in puzzlement. “Dick...are you actually looking for a psychiatrist to talk to?” She laughed. “Oh, I get it. Someone set you up to test me.” She coughed and tried to put a professional face. “Very well. Tell me why you wish to be like the caped crusader.”

I was getting rapidly confused. “No, I’m-” I began, and suddenly stopped. She was fingering a glass of water in her hands. With my trained eyes I could see little bubbles dancing along the bottom. Bubbles that only came from something being added.

She smiled. “You know, it’s a strange coincidence. Mr. Wayne came here earlier this afternoon to discuss funding for the school. I told him that he had the wrong person. Were you looking for him-”

I grabbed my jacket and got out of there.

***********************

It was snowing outside as I kicked the doors to Wayne Manor open. It was below freezing and I was only wearing a flimsy jacket overtop of my school clothes, but I didn’t notice in my anger. “BATMAN!” I shouted, my voice choked in rage. My burning blue eyes couldn’t see him anywhere, though. The manor was surprisingly empty except for Alfred, who was putting glasses on a tray.

“I’m afraid that Master Batman is out on patrol tonight. There has been a string of rash murders now, Mr. Grayson, if you haven’t heard already.” He was starring at my in sympathy. He had raised me for as long as Batman had.

I stormed into the manor without replying.

Alfred followed me calmly. “Sir, you have to understand that Master Bruce did what he thought was best. Not just for himself, but for your own safety as well...”

“I don’t want to hear it, and I don’t give a damn about his intentions,” I snarled, grabbed a Batarang and a utility belt from the counter. I headed out towards the door.

“Sir??” Alfred protested.

I whirled around. “What!?” I demanded.

He pointed. “Perhaps a change of costume?” he inquired.

I realized that I was still dressed as Dick Grayson. But I shook my head. “I don’t care anymore, Alfred.” And then I rushed out into the storm.

************************

(Now)

Tim stared at the picture in front of him. “It’s a map,” he said.

“Which floor are we on?” Dick asked him.

Tim looked away. “The thirty-ninth,” he lied.

A pause.

“Liar,” Nightwing said with a hint of amusement. He waited for a moment before his blind eyes narrowed in annoyance. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

“I’m studying the map,” Tim said. “The first thing Batman always teaches is to gather whatever intelligence you can get your hands on.”

“Did he,” Nightwing said flatly.

Tim looked at him uneasily. “Yes,” he said before returning to the map.

Another minute and Nightwing became restless again. “Look, we don’t have time to study the technical details of this place! By now they know that we escaped! There’s an exit, we’ll find one!”

Tim turned on him. “We’re not going to get out of here by punching our way through the walls!” he snarled. “We don’t know how many of these guys are out there with those kind of weapons!”

“I don’t care!” Nightwing snapped back. “It’s sure a hell a lot better then staying with Batman’s lackey!” With that he stormed away.

Tim looked up. “Nightwing?” he whispered, but didn’t see anyone. He sighed and trailed after him. “Nightwing, wait up! We have to stick together!”

“Do we!?” Nightwing snarled, turning on him.

Tim drew himself up. “Yes, we do!” he snapped, gritting his teeth. “We have a better chance of getting out of here together!”

“Oh, did Batman teach you that too?” Nightwing hissed sarcastically.

“Nightwing, you’re blind!” Tim exploded.

“You’re the one who’s blind here, not me!” Nightwing shouted in his face. “You live with that..that thing and you help him fight crime and you were just like...like...” he paused.

Tim looked up and blinked. “Like you,” he finished.

Nightwing became silent and looked away.

Tim struggled to speak. “What could have happened...between two men who lived together for so long...what could have torn them apart?”

Nightwing’s blind eyes became unfocused. “A gunshot...in an alleyway....” he struggled to speak. “It wasn’t supposed to be me....it was all because of a lie.” He blinked. “It had to be a lie,” he whispered. “I just couldn’t believe it was true.”

*******************

(2 years ago)

Alfred opened the door and his blue eyes widened in surprise. “Miss Golden!”

Barbara peered in through the door. “Hi....Alfred, right?” Her face looked very dazed and confused. “Can I come in?”

Alfred opened the door wider. “Of course. Come in, young miss.” He stepped aside, permitting the nearly frozen woman to enter the house.

Barbara looked around. “Wow. Dick wasn’t kidding when he said his father was a multi-billionaire.”

“I’m afraid that Bruce Wayne is not Dick Grayson’s father, Miss Golden. Nor is Bruce Wayne a multi-billionaire,” Alfred corrected gently, removing her wet coat. “If he was, then I’m sure he could afford better help then myself,” he added dryly. “Here. Dry yourself by the fire.” He led her into the study, brushing off the snow from her coat. “You must have traveled a long way to get here-over three hours, I imagine?”

“Yes. Is Dick here?” Barbara asked impatiently.

No one but the most trained of eyes would have noticed the slight twitch in Alfred’s jaw. “No, young miss, I’m afraid he isn’t at the moment. Perhaps you would like to wait-?”

“I’d like that,” Barbara said, smiling a little. She carefully lifted a glass plate from the mantle. “1848 china. Woah. I never thought that these were still around!”

“Master Bruce likes to collect odds and ends,” Alfred said with a smile. “And how is school?”

“It’s great,” Barbara said, studying her reflection in the glass. “Just great. Dick talked to me earlier. He seemed upset about something.”

“Was he?” Alfred murmured, his voice perfectly innocent. “I hadn’t noticed.”

She turned to face him. “I’m a psychiatrist, Alfred. I can tell things. I can tell that Dick was in some emotional distress, and that distress was tearing him apart.”

Alfred turned away. “Whatever it is, then I’m sure Master Grayson can-”

Barbara smashed the plate against the butler’s head. He fell wordlessly to the ground, already unconscious.

Barbara dropped the shattered remains from her hands, and began to drag the faithful butler into the closet by his ankles.

**********************

(Now)

Robin stared at Nightwing in astonishment. For a moment, Nightwing looked so lost and confused....Robin couldn’t help but feel so sorry for him. Nightwing cleared his throat. “That’s what I managed to get from Alfred, anyway. I wasn’t there to witness it. I was busy jumping from rooftop to rooftop, trying to locate Batman. And, eventually, I did find him. A bat and a bird on a rooftop of Gotham City. Except to the best of my knowledge a bird never ranted an endless dictation of swear words to a bat before!”

*********************

(2 years ago)

I finally had to pause for breath. It felt like I had been calling Batman every vile name imaginable for hours, which actually wasn’t too far from the truth. I gasped in a lungful of cold air, the frost biting at my cheeks.

All this time Batman hadn’t spoken a single word. He just stared at me with his even blue eyes.

I glared at him. “Did you even hear a word I just said!?”

“Most of it I could understand, yes,” Batman said calmly.

“You deserve every word of it, you slimy disgusting-” I looked away angrily, trying to rationalize my thoughts. “Why!?” I demanded. “Why couldn’t you have just trusted me!?”

“You were too compromised to make that decision,” Batman said coldly.

“You mean love!” I snapped at him. I had to laugh. Bitterly. “One of the many emotions you can’t understand.” I glanced at him, and saw him as he was-a shadow. A cold executioner of justice. At that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if the horror of seeing his mother and father killed in front of his eyes was the last feeling he ever had. “You’re a monster,” I said, realizing that for the first time.

“Robin-” Batman began gently.

“You know, I really don’t understand the fine line between us and criminals anymore!” I shouted at him. “If after eight years this is all we do...manipulating and twisting lives of Gotham City, then I might as well team up with the Joker!” I sat down heavily on the ledge of the roof. “At least he understands how to feel,” I muttered. Tears were gathering in my eyes, but I angrily blinked them away.

A long pause. Then I felt Batman’s hand on my shoulder. “Robin, I do understand. Unfortunately, you have to understand something as well,” Batman said, his voice surprisingly soft. “We’re not monsters, but neither are we exactly human. We fight criminals, and the forces of evil, and yes, we make a difference on a daily basis. A good difference. But the cost of doing that is very great, because unlike most people we do not have the luxury of caring for other people. Sometimes we don’t even have the luxury of being human either. We’re weapons, Robin, and after eight years of fighting crime it’s a miracle we still have our very souls. We have to make hard choices, Robin, and that’s the way it’s always going to have to be. For our benefit as well as there’s.” A pause. “And if you think that’s unfair, Robin, tell yourself that every time an innocent person dies because you were busy with your own personal life.”

I stood. Slowly. “You’re wrong,” I said softly. “I could have shared something with Barbara, I...I could have had a life with her. Before, that didn’t even seem possible. Now it does.”

“Robin,” Batman said patiently. “I know it hurts, but you can’t have it both ways! I’m sorry-”

My fist suddenly connected with Batman’s face. Stunned, he staggered and fell into the snow.

I crossed my arms. “Listen to me, Batman,” I said calmly. “Despite what you think, you’re not all-powerful, you don’t have all the answers, and you have no right to dictate my own life to me. I can’t have it both ways? Fine. Then I’ll make a choice.”

Batman rubbed his bruised jaw, his blue eyes growing very cold, and very dangerous. “You can’t live the rest of your life as Dick Grayson and expect to turn your back on every single cry of help. And...not many superheroes who live by their emotions....going rogue, in other words...survive for very long,” he added softly, dangerously.

“We’ll see,” I said, just as softly.

Batman would have said more, and I probably would have said more, if Batman’s wrist hadn’t suddenly beeped. Batman looked at the watch, then looked up at me. “Wayne Manor. It’s been broken into.”

My eyes met his, all thoughts of our squabble gone in an instant. We were still furious at each our, but it easily subsided in fear of the mansion being broken into, and fear of Alfred’s sake. We had both disappeared into the night in the time it took to blink.

*************************

(Now)

“That was the last conversation I had with Batman,” Nightwing said.

“And that’s when you left him?” Tim demanded, his eyes very wide.

Nightwing shook his head. “No,” he said. “Even then I thought that we could work things out. But I-”

“Hold on,” Robin said.

Nightwing instantly became silent. Robin gently nudged him back against the wall. No, it had not been a trick of his ears. He heard a gentle hum from the next corridor. A security camera? Motion-activated weapons? Robin instantly did the sign language to wait, then cursed silently when he remembered that Nightwing couldn’t see. Robin settled for pressing his palms gently against both of Nightwing’s shoulders.

Nightwing nodded.

Robin took a deep breath, then tucked and did a frantic roll to the other passage. He held his breath, his heart beating frantically. Nothing happened. He slowly stood and peered around the corner.

In front of him was a massive, complex web of green lasers.

“It’s O.K,” Robin called out.

Nightwing joined him. “What is it?” Nightwing asked. “A security alarm system?”

Robin studied the green network carefully. “No,” he said. “They’re heat lasers. The slightest touch could poke a hole straight through your body.”

“Ah,” Nightwing said. “That’s going to be a bit more fun, I suppose.”

His hands on his hips, Robin finally sighed. “They’re not too far off the ground. I think I can clear them and get safely to the other side, though it’ll be a little nerve-racking.”

Nightwing was silent for a moment. “But a blind man might have more trouble,” he said.

“Just a little bit,” Robin said.

Nightwing was silent for a minute. “Is that the only door out of here?”

Robin mentally rechecked the map. “Yes,” he said. “All right, my turn.” He took a running start, and flipped into the air. He landed safely on the other side.

Nightwing’s face was very calm. “All right, you go and get out of here. I’ll find another way out.”

“What!?” Robin said. He shook his head. “I’m not going to leave you here, Nightwing!” he said.

“I can take care of myself!” Nightwing snapped at him. “I don’t need your help!”

Robin said nothing for a moment. “Yes, you do,” he said flatly.