Just Robin Oneshots pt 4

9th day of christmas pt 2

CW/TW//MENTIONS OF MISCARRIAGE AND IMPLIED ABUSE//

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.gov.mb.ca/stoptheviolence/index.html

https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/how-we-help/helpline/

https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum/

There were plenty of times when Nightwing lost faith in his job. It was natural when every guy you put away was broken out after a few days or just went back to what they were doing before after an almost equally criminally small sentence. He'd been betrayed enough times that it felt like he could never offer help to those who needed it because it would just be used as barter. He thought about giving up on even offering plenty of times yet there was always just one in a hundred who actually took the help and turned their lives around. They made him keep offering, keep asking. Even when he had all the faith in the world, he never expected an offer he made at thirteen would be taken upon. 

Nightwing went on his usual patrol route having formed it after years of living in Bludhaven. It'd been a quiet night, something he'd learned would cause trouble for him later on in the week, so he took some time to practice some tricks and extra flourishes to add to his arsenal. They weren't necessary but he was a man in a lycra punching criminals, he could afford some flamboyance. As he practised his handstand on the edge of the building, he heard the sound of feet landing. He wasn't immediately worried. He'd grown accustomed to random family members or team members trying to sneak up on him or catch him off guard to confront him about something. He returned to standing upright and twirled around only to find Harley standing there.

Harley watched him carefully, a small smile on her lips but nothing compared to her usual one when they saw each other. They had a sort of friendship. He wouldn't really call it a strong friendship but there were times when they could meet without a fight and someone ending up in the ICU. Since that one truce years ago, she seemed to be more sympathetic to him although that wasn't extended to his family. Her make-up was smudged like she'd been crying and her outfit had been hastily put on as though she'd been in a rush. 

"Hey, Wonder Boy."

"Hey," he greeted, noting the cracking in her voice. "What brings you to Blud?"

"You," she replied. "I know Bats would never believe me. None of 'em would. Except you." He tilted his head in confusion. She didn't look hurt but it was hard to tell with the white paint and the jester suit. She usually switched between suits so he wondered why she wasn't in any of the others she wore more frequently these days. 

"Why wouldn't they believe you?"

"Because of what I've done. Maybe Bats would've before but I mighta burned that bridge." She fiddled with one of her gloves before licking her lips nervously. "Still doin truces?"

"Wouldn't be standing if I didn't. Any reason why?"

"Ya said if I ever wanted out, you'd help me. I really need that help now," she responded. 

Honestly, he was more than surprised. He'd made the deal with naivety and believing that everyone somewhere deep down, apart from Joker, wanted to be good. He grew older and started to lose belief in the idea but here was Harley asking for help to change. He wondered what the deal breaker was that made her change her mind. Nightwing took a deep breath. This could be a trap, something to lure him into a false sense of safety before she struck but he found that hard to believe. She sounded sincere and Harley never sounded sincere.