Before We Grow

Future's Fight

Patrol had become a simple fact of life. We did it every single night, and every single night I loved it more and more. This night in particular was one of the few nights where Bruce was absent. He had hurt his back on the last mission, and Alfred was making him stay in. That left the night to Barbara, Dick, and me.
    That night was particularly quiet. Barbara had ran off just ten minutes prior on a mission to stop Harley Quinn three blocks over. Harley was an easy villain, especially if she wasn't with Joker or Poison Ivy. Barbara would be back in twenty odd minutes.
    Dick and I sat on the battlements of one of the buildings. We had the perfect view of Gotham from that height. We could see as far as The Harbour. It was the perfect night for thoughts to fester.
    "Hey, Dick," I furrowed my eyebrows, "Do you ever wonder what the future will be?"
    Dick smiled, "Of course, who doesn't?"
    "What do you think about?"
    "What?"
    "Like, what do you want your future to be?" I glanced at him, "Do you want to be Robin forever?"
    Dick hesitated, "No, I don't think so, but I don't think I could give it up either. I think-maybe-I'll move on from being the sidekick and become my own hero."
    I soaked that in. He glanced at me and asked, "What about you? Do you want to be Blitz forever?"
    "I don't know," I frowned, "I don't think so. Honestly, I think I might retire. Go to school, get my degree, maybe even become an engineer like my Mama."
    Dick smiled, "Retiring sounds nice. Could get a wife, maybe a few kids, have a normal job."
    "It would never work for me," he continued, "I could never give up this life. It's a part of me, I don't know what I would be without it."
    I smiled, "You'd still be Richard Grayson."
    "Yeah, but I'm not sure who that is anymore," Dick shrugged, "I've been Robin for so long, they seem like the same person."
    We were silent for a moment. I gazed out over Gotham, "You don't have to wear a mask to be a hero. I want to be an engineer, and make the world better with my inventions. You don't have to bust bad guys to be a hero."
    "Yeah, but it's a plus," Dick chuckled, "I like the idea of becoming my own thing," his grin widened, "I'll be Nightwing!"
    I side-eyed him, "That is the most ridiculous name I'm ever heard of."
    "Says the girl who considered Electric Death."
    "I don't know, have you considered Batman?"
    Both of us laughed. Sirens wailed in the distance, and people chatted on the streets below. The rooftops above were practically silent, except for the occasional bird and bat child.
    "One thing's for sure," I rolled my head to look at him, "No matter what: no matter where we go or what we become, we'll be best friends forever. Right?"
    Dick smiled brightly, "No matter what."
    That right there was enough to let me know. I may not have the best upbringing, or the best grades. I might have a new broken bone every week and scars I can't quite explain, but I had a family. No matter what happens, no matter where I go, no matter what I become, I'll always have Dick, Bruce, and Barbara. We'll always be together, no matter what.
    And that was enough to bring a smile to my face.

Lucille Brimsey will return