"So…I was reading this comic book…."
"Rotting your mind again with that drivel." Bruce made the statement, not the question.
"Well, actually Bruce, some people read for pleasure. You should try it sometime. Anyway, I was reading this comic about Spiderman and its where he decides to publicly announce his secret identity to help Iron Man and the government to-"
"Get to the point, Dick."
"Okay, okay, I can see I'm pushing your good humor already. In short, the government makes it law for metas and vigilantes to register with the government, but also meta baddies and all that because of a horrible tragedy involving masked peoples. It got me to thinking how it would really work."
"What's that?"
"Registration. If we were all 'asked' by the government and a few noteworthy allies to register what that would be like, how it would happen, who would be on what side."
"As in civil war amongst the world's greatest heroes?"
"Funny how you almost perfectly quoted the comic's tagline." Dick smirked as he crossed his arms and despite his mask Bruce knew very well what Dick's full expression was conveying.
"Research, Nightwing."
"Uh huh."
"It is an interesting notion. For some I feel the decision would be fairly easy, while others would struggle. Some might even surprise us as to what side they would choose."
"Us? You're pretty sure where I'd stand, huh?"
"As you probably have already surmised what my stance would be."
"Yeah." Dick sighed almost exhaustedly but with a smile as he leaned over Batman's shoulder for a better view of the large computer in front of them.
"Was this bothering you?"
"No, I pretty much know what would happen but still it's just guessing and assumptions."
"You feel many of your friends would register?"
"A few, yeah, but most of them would have to be in a specific situation to enlist with Uncle Sam."
"It would bother you." Another statement Bruce was sure of whether he was in the guise of Batman or his other self.
"I think so yeah. I mean, I guess I saw myself as Spiderman in the whole mess."
"One who was so certain of his position while not certain at all and eventually overturns his loyalty to the other side."
"Yeah, both sides had a pretty logical and strong background for what they chose."
"The greater good or personal?"
"No, their stance on how to protect people."
"Yes, very true. Do you….fear you would follow me in the path I chose and later regret it?" Bruce's weighted question hit too close to home for both of them and as his voice shifted from Batman's to Bruce's, Nightwing knew he had to answer as a son, a family member.
"No, I was kind of thinking the other way around. I was a little concerned I choose the opposite side just to spite you or something. I've gone the other way Bruce. I've tried to single-handedly control everything in Bludhaven and royally screwed up. I'd want to be held accountable by someone or something other than my friends and self to remain objective."
"But then you would choose liberty?"
"Probably, yes….because….well there's nothing you do without a good reason. I might not always agree but if you chose a side I'd have to seriously assess why."
"Harper has been a government ally, Wally is already a very public figure, and Donna is a well-known ambassador for her people, as well as several other of our allies. What would you do if Superman backed the registration?"
"I'd have to learn to understand his position when I think I already did and he'd have to understand mine. I would just hate to have to go toe to toe with him."
"Yes."
"But, luckily for me I'm sure you already have a contingency plan for something like that." Dick waved off the weighty subject with a lighthearted gesture and a sigh.
Bruce was thoroughly in his Batman guise now. He simply signaled a few commands on his keyboard and refocused on his earlier research for the case he was currently enlisting Nightwing's help with.
"And for the record, I can see the parallels of your likeness to Peter Parker."
"My great fashion sense, quick wit, and acrobatic excellence?"
"Yes….that amongst other things." Batman replied dryly as he spun his chair around and stood, signaling that Nightwing was to follow and the night of patrolling would begin.
As they made their way to the Batmobile, Batman's thoughts were elsewhere. He remembered vividly his quick read through of the Civil War story arc. He was fascinated by the trajectory of the story and finding he knew where he would stand while still struggling to uphold his position. Where many compared the fictional Captain America to his reality's Superman, Batman felt it would be unlikely that Superman would stand against the world he was sent to protect. He would be this reality's Tony Stark.
That line of thought was inconsequential because it was irrelevant. However, Batman remained fixated on the parallels between one Dick Grayson/Nightwing and Peter Parker/Spiderman. The sadder comparison was the loss of parents and untapped potential as a youth, but then there were far greater similarities as far as personality goes. Peter Parker was a highly intellect young man would struggled with his choices but knew right and wrong and worked strictly that power came hand-in-hand with responsibility. Also, he was highly involved with a sharp, strong redhead who knew all his secrets and protected his friends with a bear'' fierceness. He was a young man who worked with the world's mightest heroes and held his own while still being genuine enough to idolize them.
Dick had put himself, rightly so, in Spiderman's position because it was obvious. Dick Grayson would follow a close friend and ally into war despite risk to his own person but once others were involved that he loved and who were innocent he would speak truth to power and take on the world to right it. The boy was a damn saint.
"What are you smirking about?" Nightwing questioned as he sat beside Batman in the Batmobile.
"Simply a trick of light, Nightwing." He closed the overhead door and opened the cave to leave.