Nightwing: Heartless

Part 2: Gotham University

Willa was early for her Human Rights Politics class but she was always early. She had a fear of mixing up the start time and missing class. Freshman year she had done that and almost missed an introductory chemistry class. She cringed just thinking about it.

The other students filed in, taking their usual seats and pulling out their laptops. A minute before class started the professor entered, plopping his bag down and starting the computer, not wasting a minute. The class quieted as the projector warmed up.

"Good morning," their professor greeted, "so who did the reading?" The class raised their hands. "Alright, what did Mill believe the purpose of laws should be?" The hands dropped.

"To promote overall human happiness," Willa called out. The professor nodded in her direction.

"Correct. But what does that mean?" Silence. "Well, it means laws should choose the path to promote the most happiness of the people. Simple, right? What are your thoughts?"

"It seems like a pretty good philosophy to follow," a boy in the front row answered. "Common sense, y'know?" There were murmurs of agreement.

"I think it's too simple," a girl called from beside Willa. "If you cater to the majority you forget about the minority."

"Very good," the professor stated, "what does his harm principle add to his philosophy? Jayden."

"His harm principle states a person can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt others," Jayden read from his notes.

"Aren't those ideas juxtaposed?" The same girl asked.

"Maybe," the professor answered, "philosophers are fickle beings." The class chuckled. "To make this discussion a little more lively, or relatable, whichever you choose, I thought we'd talk about it in modern terms." He pressed a button on his computer and the screen at the front of the classroom came to life, displaying a picture of the Justice League. "Is the place of the Justice League to promote utilitarianism?"

"Yeah, their job is to save people," Jayden said to laughs from the rest of the class.

"Okay, but what about when their battles destroy cities? Cause casualties? Endanger innocents?" He clicked through pictures of destroyed neighborhoods, families hiding while battles raged around them.

"Wouldn't the damage be worse without the Justice League?" A student from the corner of the class asked.

"Maybe," the professor stated simply. "But what about this?" A picture of Batman and Robin settled on the screen.

"Robin was my hero when I was a kid!" Jayden exclaimed and gave his buddy a high five. "Dude's awesome."

"As awesome as a kid can be," the girl from earlier pointed out while rolling her eyes.

"Kid holds his own against supervillains, that's pretty cool," Jayden threw back.

Willa watched as the class dissolved into the familiar defense of everyone's favorite League member. She smiled, it was always interesting to see how much people cared for their heroes. Jayden would die defending his love of Batman and Robin. He even claimed Batman saved him once as a kid.

The professor patiently waited for the conversation to calm down and raised an eyebrow when it was quiet. "While entertaining, that wasn't the purpose of my bringing Robin into the conversation. It was actually Mill's Harm Principle." He clicked on a video of Blockbuster throwing Robin into the side of a building, the kid falling to the ground before Batman punched Blockbuster in the face. "Mill states anyone can do whatever they want as long as they don't harm others. This is a human rights politics course. How do the pieces fit together?"

"Professor, are you saying employing children to be heroes is a type of child abuse?" Willa asked, her mind hurting from processing the question. The presence of heroes seemed unambiguous. They were a pure force for good. The notion that the concept was more complicated seemed to be bursting a bubble in everyone's minds.

"Am I?" The professor answered. "I am merely posing a question on the ethics of allowing young people to participate in these activities," an old video played of Kid Flash dodging Mr. Freeze's gun, but getting his shoulder iced before knocking Freeze out.

"But they're heroes, it's their job... right?" Jayden asked.

"But should it be their job?" Willa asked.

"No one's forcing them to do this," another student pointed out to a lot of nods.

"And yet, our country does not allow children to vote, drink, smoke, drive, or go to war, for many reasons," their professor pointed out. "Are their superhero counterparts harming them by putting them in danger? And should society put a stop to underage heroes?" No one had an answer. "Think about it. It's the topic of your first paper. Five pages due in my mailbox by the 23rd."

It was obviously a dismissal. Willa put her laptop back in her backpack and headed out the door. One major difference from high school and college were the teachers. College professors did whatever they wanted, class isn't over but they've said everything they wanted to? Get out. You didn't finish your paper? Give it to me tomorrow. Are you on your phone? I should be less boring. It was a positive to this whole college thing.

She headed to the dining hall to kill some time before her next class, spotting two of her friends already there. Abby and Chris saw her walking towards them and waved her over.

"Hey you," Abby said and wrapped her arms around her waist in a hug, "you're not usually here this early."

"Class got out early. Are you guys staying for a little bit?" When they nodded, Willa headed to the buffet and got an apple and a carton chocolate milk.

On the walk back to her table her phone buzzed. Willa switched the apple to the same hand as the chocolate milk and pulled her phone out of her back pocket. It was from her mom, a picture of their dog. She started walking again, texting her mom back with one hand and didn't notice the guy making a beeline for the cereal bar. She gasped as he cut in front of her, unaware or not caring of the inconvenience. She spun to the side to avoid a collision but couldn't stop her momentum and collided with the person in front of her.

Well, kind of. She fully expected to collide, even closed her eyes and dropped her apple in preparation but she only felt pressure on her arm, steadying her. She opened her eyes, confused, but there was no one in front of her. They were actually beside her, still holding her arm.

"Um, sorry," Willa said.

"All good," he answered and let go of her arm, holding out her apple in his other. She blinked in surprise, and took it back, about to thank him but he just nodded and walked towards the exit. She made her way back to her table.

"That was like a trainwreck I couldn't look away from," Abby said.

"I thought I was watching in slow motion," Chris added.

"Felt like that on my end too," Willa laughed, "thought for sure my apple was a goner. I didn't even get to thank that boy. Did you see how fast he moved?"

"Pity, if you got hurt running into him, you could sue him for like a billion dollars," Chris said which made Abby laugh. Willa just sat still, confused. Chris rolled his eyes, "that was Dick Grayson, Willa. Son of Bruce Wayne? Gajillionaire-"

"I know who Bruce Wayne is," Willa snapped, "I just didn't know his son went to GU."

"I think that's the point. I don't know anyone who's friends with him," Chris continued, "probably lives in a fancy apartment off campus or at home in his mansion."

"I'd like to be his friend," Abby said, wiggling her eyebrows. Willa gave her a look and Abby laughed, "what? He's hot."

Chris scrunched his nose up, "you think he's hot?"

"It's an objective fact. Right Willa?"

"My eyes were actually closed through our whole interaction, Abby."

"You're no fun."