DC: The Brave and the Bawdy

Nightwing & Robin: New Bird in Town

"Hm," mumbled Barbara as Dick rose out of bed, "Going already?"

"Not yet," said Dick, "I'm just getting some stretches done now that I'm all limber."

Barbara scoffed and rested her head on her hand as she watched Dick rise from the bed, take a few steps away, and bend over. She smiled at the sight of her naked, slender boyfriend bending over. The soft light of a streetlamp shone through Barbara's curtains across his body. It was nice having him visit Gotham. He had done so infrequently since joining the Titans, but things were a little different in Gotham now. As pleasant as Dick was to look at, Barbara knew she had to tell him the news before he went out.

"Hey Dick," said Barbara nervously, "There's, uh, something you should know."

"What's that?"

"Are you going out as Nightwing tonight?"

"Probably. What is it?"

"You should know that there's a new vigilante working with Batman."

"You're kidding," scoffed Dick, standing up straight and turning to Barbara, "What's their name?"

"...Robin."

Dick stared blankly back at Barbara. Barbara shrugged uncomfortably.

"He... replaced me," said Dick.

"Dick..." said Barbara, getting up and walking over, "It's not like that."

"I came up with Robin," said Dick, "That identity is mine."

"I guess Bruce thought differently."

"Yeah, no kidding."

Barbara reached out to Dick, but he instinctively pulled away. After a moment of consideration he walked over to his duffle bag and began digging through to get his Nightwing equipment out.

"It was one thing when he forbade me from being Robin," he muttered, "but to give that title to someone else..."

"Dick," said Barbara, "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to have a chat with Bruce," he said, "Does he know I'm in town?"

"Probably."

"Right," sighed Dick, "If he still takes the same patrol route, I know where to find him."

"Are you sure you want to do this now?" asked Barbara.

"Yes," said Nightwing, putting on his mask.

***

Nightwing stood atop the gargoyle and looked down on the building below him. There was Batman, right on cue. He hadn't changed his Saturday night patrol route. Nightwing hooked his grappling gun to the gargoyle and began his repel down the side of the building, eventually swinging out and leaping down in front of Batman.

"...nice costume," said Batman dryly.

"Thanks," responded Nightwing in kind.

"I'm to call you Nightwing now?"

"You certainly didn't seem to want to call me 'Robin.'"

"Hm."

"Speaking of which, Batgirl mentioned your new sidekick."

"Did she?" frowned Batman.

"You don't seem surprised," noted Nightwing, "Did you know I was coming?"

"I guessed you would one of these nights," said Batman, "In fact, I was counting on it."

"What are you talking about?"