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Batman didn't want Nightwing to join the Justice League. He never verbalized it. Though he never verbalized many things it was particularly obvious this time that he didn't like the Bludhaven Vigilante for some reason. What Barry couldn't figure out was why.
Nightwing was easy-going, charming and always knew how to make everyone laugh and smile. He was charismatic and he was an exceptional fighter. Or at least that's what Barry had heard from Wally. Apparently the 2 were best friends.
"Maybe Bats is just jealous." Hal's voice interrupts Barry's inner monologue. "Nightwing seems like everything Bats is, except friendlier."
"Eh I guess…" Barry mutters back. He was antsy. This was both Wally and Nightwing's first day with the league. They would test their boundaries and skills. If they’re good enough they stay. Barry knew that Wally was more than ready. That still didn't help his nerves.
"Relax. Wally's got this." Hal pats Barry on the back just as the Trinity. Also known as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman come into view.
"Hey we were just about to head in." Green Arrow says, walking over to them.
"Nightwing and The Flash will be here soon." Aquaman says, as Batman opens the door to the Hall of Justice.
"Or maybe… they're already here…" Green Arrow trails off. Because there were 2 people who looked to be in their early to mid twenties already there. One of them Barry instantly recognized as his nephew. Wally was leaning against Batman's chair talking animatedly with the person sitting on it. The person had soft raven hair, and he had on a kevlar suit with a blue bird on it. The domino on his face concealed his identity. But it didn't take a genius to figure out who he was.
The young man sitting in Batman's chair was Nightwing.
"This is gonna be good…" Hal whispers, Barry was too stunned to speak. They all were. He probably doesn't know it's Batman's chair…but why wouldn't Wally warn him? Prior to Wally’s league invite Barry and Hal had each taken Wally up to the watchtower for different things before so it was kinda odd that he hadn't told his friend who's seat he was in…
"Nightwing." Batman interrupts the younger heros conversation. Nightwing turns and instead of shying away, locks his eyes with Batman's cowled gaze. Okay… that's a first…. Green Arrow and Barry exchange looks of surprise. Usually new recruits don't dare make eye contact with anyone in the Trinity let alone the Dark Knight.
"Batman." Nightwing responds almost snarkily. Barry got the distinct feeling he was mocking Batman. Wally looked between the pair who were exchanging icy looks. Then he hits Nightwing in the head.
"Come on Drama Queen, get off his seat." Wally grabs Nightwing by the arm and tugs him up. Nightwing's icy gaze turns warm as he grins at his best friend.
"Only for you Flash." He hops up, deftly avoiding Batman's hulking figure. They both walk to the other end of the table as the rest of the leaguers snap out of they're surprise and sit down in the seats. Both youngsters end up standing. Barry feels a bit bad. They both end up hovering behind his and Hal's seat.
"This is boring as fuck." Nightwing mutters,
"No shit. And my feet are killing me." Wally grumbles,
"You're constantly on your feet…. You're literally a speedster." Nightwing deadpans,
"So? Even a speedster needs to sit." Wally defends, "Hey. Uncle Hal. Can you ring up some chairs for us?"
"I don't know kid…" Hal mutters,
"Since when do you care what Bats thinks?" Nightwing says, seemingly reading Hal's mind. For a second his voice is right by their ears. Rich and melodic. Tantalizing, Distracting, Persuasive. Dangerous.
Let it be known that Hal Jordan and Barry Allen are strong men. Except when they cave like wet paper bags.
"Thanks Lantern. You're the best." They couldn't see him smiling, but they sure could hear it.
After the meeting was testing time. They had already voted Barry out for the testing considering he had a personal relationship with Wally. That left the younger speedster going against Superman.
"Don't worry. He's got this." Nightwing pops up forcing Barry to nearly phase through the floor.
"Yeah… I know." Barry takes a breath as both Wally and Superman walk into the training mats.
"You have to hit him 5 times before he hits you 5 times. You've got 5 minutes." Batman speaks into the sound system. Both of them give thumbs ups. Then in a quick second Wally's moving. They both move at breakneck paces. Soon they're both just blurs of red, blue and yellow. Hal lets out a low whistle.
"Are you getting anything from this?" He asks, walking over to where Barry was standing with Nightwing.
"So far Supes got 4 and Flash's got 3." Nightwing's eyes don't move from the blurs. Barry has no idea how he figured that out. Hal doesn’t seem to believe the vigilante so Barry nods affirming what Nightwing said.
"Flash got a 4th. A hook to the jaw." Barry confirms,
"Come on Flash…" Nightwing mutters quietly.
"10 seconds." Batman's voice comes in unexpectedly. That catches both of them by surprise. Both Superman and Flash falter and that falter causes both of them to go crashing into the floor. Barry winces as he stares at they're prone forms.
"You guys okay?" When did Nightwing get inside? Barry speeds over.
"Yeah… just wasn't expecting that…" Wally mutters holding onto the other to keep himself upright.
"I wasn't either. You did good though." Superman smiles, and Barry feels pride well in his chest. Wally's face turns the color of his hair. "If SOMEONE hadn't interrupted us you probably would have got that last hit." Superman throws a pointed look at Batman. Batman ignores him, and hands him the tablet instead. Superman takes it rolling his eyes.
"Sit down and relax." Nightwing starts to stretch as he calls to Wally.
"You're going against Batman and you want me to relax? Please." Wally rolls his eyes,
"Wait… he's going against Batman?" Green Arrow walks up to them.
"Yeah it has to be someone who's a non-meta." Hal responds,
"Yeah but why not me or Dinah? Bats is gonna obliterate him." Green Arrow continues,
"Ok. First to pin the other down in 10 mins." Superman speaks into the mic. Both nod in acknowledgement.
"I don't know… you haven't seen Wing fight." Wally responds to Green Arrow.
"Yeah but it's Batman." Hal says, "We better hope your friend isn't in a stretcher after this…"
"Shush, they're starting." Barry hisses, the other 3 turn to watch. Surprisingly Batman was the first one to make a move. Starting out with punches. Nightwing deftly dances out of his way. Throwing a kick at Batman's face. Batman catches it pinwheeling him. Instead of falling Nightwing slips easily into a cartwheel before diving back in. The pair trade blows. For every punch there's a block and for every trip there's a jump.
"Goddamn." Aquaman says, loudly enough for all of them to hear. The match had been going on for almost 6 minutes and neither of them were budging. Batman goes to sweep Nightwing's leg. Nightwing leaps going to jump over Batman when Batman grabs him by the foot slamming him onto the ground.
"Oh fuck." Green Arrow mutters, as Nightwing writhes in Batman's grip.
"Wing's still got 10 seconds." Wally snaps, Apparently 10 seconds is all Nightwing needs. Because he does the unexpected. He reaches past Batman and yanks his cape throwing the older vigilante off of him before solidly landing on his back. There was pindrop silence.
“I gotta send this to the groupchat. Everyone’s gonna lose they’re shit.” Wally mutters to himself pulling his phone out.
Barry could care less. He finds himself blindly following Wonder Woman and Superman out into the training room.
"How about I make you a coffee to make up for kicking your ass?" Nightwing holds his hand out to Batman. Batman surprisingly takes it. Barry doesn't know how to react to that.
"Language. And your coffee is shit." Batman responds, What the fuck? He just reprimanded Nightwing for his language… and hold up.. How does Batman know what Nightwing’s coffee tastes like?
"At least my coffee isn't bitter like your personality." Nightwing snarks back. Superman hides a snort as Wonder Woman smiles.
"Wait, you 2 know eachother? Like know-know eachother?" Hal interrupts the bantering. Both vigilantes turn to him. Batman glaring, Nightwing looking amused. But then his amusement turns to mild annoyance.
"Don't tell me..." Nightwing looks between Batman and the rest of the league. "You didn't tell them!?"
"It wasn't relevant." Batman seems to squirm under Nightwing's gaze. But Barry had to be imagining that. Batman squirming… please.
"HOW THE FUCK WASN'T IT RELEVANT FOR ME IF IT WAS FOR FLASH?!" Nightwing retorts, turning to face Batman completely. His face a mask of annoyance and even a bit of hurt. "Wait... you're telling me they don't even know the real reason why you don't want me on the JLA...?"
"I never said I didn't want you on the Justice League." Batman interrupts Barry's inner panicking.
"It was pretty obvious Bats, even I could tell." Wally slings an arm around Nightwing's shoulder as he sits down and hands him a water bottle. “Congrats. That was one hell of a fight.”
“Wait. Hold on. So what…. your Bats' nephew?” Hal breaks in, pointing at the 2 vigilantes. Nightwing snickers and to Barry's horror Batman smirks. Batman smirking is never a good thing.
“He’s my dad.” Nightwing says, Barry’s mind freezes to a halt. WHAT THE FUCK!!??!?
“He’s your… your what!?” Green Arrow looks between the 2 of them.
“Nightwing’s his oldest son.” Superman elaborates, as he takes Nightwing’s water bottle from him.
“Wait.. you know him too?” Hal asks, slack-jawed. “And what do you mean by oldest?”
Oldest implies he has more children. Jesus Christ.
“Not just us. You guys have met him before too.” Wonder Woman walks over, “Well he was much younger then.”
“And I was going by a different name.” Nightwing adds, there was a pause. Nightwing is best friends with Wally. Wally’s known him for years. Superman and Wonder Woman are Batman’s oldest friends. We’ve met Nightwing before.
“YOUR ROBIN!?” Barry shrieks, voice way too loud for the training room. Wally starts laughing as Barry wills the floor to eat him alive.
“YOUR the psychotic manipulative demon child that Bats used to hide in his cape?” Hal stares at Nightwing as if he’s seeing him for the first time.
“Yeah. But he still hides in his cape sometimes.” Wally snickers, Nightwing elbows him sending him toppling off of the bench.