Nightwing Issue 1

By George Jones

Best Wishes Part 1

Gotham City
"HEY! Shut your mouth and hand over the bag lady if you know what's good for ya!"

The cold steel of the knife pressed up against her neck, the heavy rain masking her tears.
The predator was out for all he could get but unknown to him his worst nightmare was watching him from above...

Destiny or is this just the way my life turned out? I wonder how my life would have been different if my parents hadn't of died, would I be working behind a desk instead of busting heads at night? This life as a crime fighter isn't what I asked for or what I ever wanted. It all kinda just happened. That night at the circus changed it all. There isn't a day that goes past I don't think about them. I miss the little things. People take for granted being able to embrace their parents before they lose them. I remember that first day at "WAYNE MANOR". I was intimidated when I saw it, the circus boy going to live in this huge manor fit for royalty. The sound of the tires on the gravel of the drive way stays with me so does the sound of the lashes of rain against the car window. From a shabby orphanage to this place, quite the culture shock. Alfred was the first to meet me at the door, the huge front door. Alfie is the most genuine and sincere person I have ever met. First Englishman I ever met. Alfie was great in the first few weeks, I was torn up about everything and I couldn't turn to Bruce.

"That's good, exactly what I want Bitch! Now the Pearls! Hand them over!"

The shadowy figure that watched from the rooftops had seen enough, now it was his turn.
The slender but muscular man came down to greet his new play pal.

How could I confide with a man that left the house every night dressed as a bat, then appeared in the morning, bruised and beaten like he'd gone 12 rounds with Muhammad Ali. Alfred became the person I talked to, about my time at the Gotham Orphanage and my parents. But when I was finally ready all the pieces fell into place. It wasn't long before I was throwing punches and kicks in the cave, training hard. Bruce wouldn't even consider taking me out on patrol before I was ready. He didn't want to see me get hurt due to me not being properly prepared, mentally and physically. I get why Jason's death ripped him up so bad.

"Now forget my face lady! Or I'll tear up yours next time I see it!"

The knife wielding man turned around to make his escape back down the alley, but all he was met with was his new friend face to face.

"Can I play? Or do you only mess around with girls?"

The first few years of me being Robin were the best of my life, however me and Bruce had very different agendas, we just didn't know it at the time. I was just up for the adventure and the rush of leaping of rooftops and punching bad guys. Bruce was there for very different reasons; Bruce devotes this life to being Batman in the attempt to create a world that doesn't need Batman. But there's always going to be another psychopath wielding a knife and a machine gun around the corner. The main difference between me and him is when the time comes I will face the facts and stop being Nightwing, he will never stop being Batman. Is Batman the mask or is Bruce Wayne the mask. I understand the pressure that comes with being the Batman. I can't begin to grasp how Bruce lives with that everyday. When I wore the cowl, I wasn't Batman, only one man will ever be the Bat and that's Bruce.

"...Da hell is this?!"

The sound of his newly cracked wrist echoed down the alley. The knife hit the rain soaked floor with a deafening thud. A sharp sudden kick to the ankle breaks it in seconds; a strong forearm to the temple takes the man to his knees.
A hail of punches come flying down, teeth and blood rained down on the alleyway floor.

I still feel bad to this day about the falling out me and Bruce had, that period of me quitting being the Boy Wonder and becoming my own man, Nightwing, happened so fast. He didn't understand that I couldn't do that forever, the Boy Wonder had grown up. I was no longer that impressionable kid. I grew up fast. To be honest I'm surprised I even survived the first few years as Nightwing let alone the years as Robin.

"Hey mister I think he's kinda hurt! STOP IT! YOU'LL KILL HIM! STOP!"

The furious assault stops. His minds not in the right place right now.
He needs to think.

But what does it mean to be Nightwing? I struggle to separate my lives. It's hard trying to grasp clarity between me as Nightwing and me as Richard Grayson. I have devoted my life; I have sacrificed my life to be what I am now. Trust me there's no greater feeling then punching out a gun toting maniac or a rapist but this life comes at a cost. Only people who do this understand the sacrifice.

The lashes of heavy rain block out the glimmer of light offered by the humble moons face. The constant hum of the city fills the cool night air; Nightwing sits slumped up against the roof ledge with his head between his knees atop a Gotham rooftop. His eyes closed, his nose pumping cold damp air into his lungs. His body shivers however he stays unmoved and calm. Others would call this attempting to catch pneumonia, he calls it thinking time. Dick's mind falls silent as the rain continues to pour down from the heavens; his time to himself has reached its end, back to work. Dick stood up and glared down onto the city he swore to protect.

"Nightwing" the thundering voice comes from behind

Dick turned sharply, surprised he was approached from behind his back without his knowing. The booming voice belonged to his old mentor, the dark avenger, the Batman, Bruce.

"Nightwing, meet me in the Cave tomorrow, 11:00. We have things to discuss"

"As ever the conversationalist I see. I'll be there"

Dick turned his back to face the city again, he knew once he turned back around that Bruce would be gone.

The next morning, Dick travelled over to Wayne Manor on his motor cycle. Greeted by Alfred on his arrival he found Bruce in the cave. Dick walked over, motor cycle helmet under his arm ready to greet his old mentor.

Bruce stood up and approached Dick holding a thick folder which he offered to Dick with an outstretched arm.

"Take this, all the details you need to pick up the trail once you're over there"

"Are we bypassing the old 'Hi how are you' completely then? And over where exactly?"

"London, I need you to follow up on a case. You can use my penthouse flat, the Bat Bunker there..."

"I'll take that as a yes then"

"I know you're no longer Robin and I can't tell you what to do but I need your assistance with this one..."

"Bruce its fine, I'm kidding. So what's this case all about then?"

"It's all in the file, there's also something else over there concerning Batman Inc I need you to check up on, it's nothing you can't handle."

"Yeah okay sure, it'll be good for me to get out of here for a while. This place has been driving me insane lately, might check myself into Arkham soon. Give me a couple of days to sort a couple things out and I'll get onto it"

A few days past and Dick was on Bruce's Private jet destined for London.
The flight gave Dick time to go over the case file; he opened up the file to discover a note stapled to the first page;

'Dick,
My recent travels to London with Batman Inc. lasted a short period however during my time there I came across several merciless slayings in the London area which all were connected. Through investigation and the help of Knight and Squire I found that all the victims were members of the League of Assassins. I left the case with Knight and Squire however after the death of Knight I fear the case has gone cold. I have collected all my findings and leads into this file. There is enough in here for you pick up the trail of the murders, I have heard little from Squire recently so make contact and report back. I need to know my Batman of England is still with Batman Inc.

I have faith in your ability.
Best wishes
B.W'