Chapter 11: Nightwing

AN: Dick is becoming Nightwing now. This is a month or two after the Slade incident. Jason will not be a full time Robin. He has been in his Red Hood disguise since the age of 10 but he has adopted the Robin identity when Dick was injured or needed a break. He will be using it now as a part of the team fro another 2 or so years till Tim is old enough to be part of the team. Tim is helping Bats take down small crime in Gotham. So he is Robin part time but Bruce won't let him anywhere near any of the Rogue Gallery. Jason and Dick help with that. Even though Damian is more than ready he will not be Robin for another four or five years. He's still six. Bruce won't let him into the streets of Gotham that young. In this AU Dick did start training at 6 and a half or 7. He wasn't allowed on the streets till age eight.

The League and team were assembled to welcome Robin back to active duty after the Slade ordeal. (Read Authors Note) Superman eagerly suggested a party which was organized despite Batman's protests. Now everyone was just waiting for the Batfamily to arrive.

"B10: Batgirl" announced the computerized voice to the Watchtower. (I know she's really B16 but this is an AU and she joined the team earlier.)

"They'll be here in a few minutes. I was told to come ahead because Batman needs a few more minutes to make sure he's ready," Batgirl said as she arrived.

They assumed she meant Dick Grayson AKA Robin but they were in for a surprise.

"Designation 02: Batman" was the next to arrive.

"Where's Robin?" asked Wonder Woman.

"Is he not coming? I thought you said Dr. L and Agent A cleared him for active Duty?" Superman said.

"He wants to make an entrance," Batman's mouth twitched in a rare show of humor (in costume at least).

"B15: Robin B01: Nightwing" the voice announced.

Two people exited the Zeta Tube. The first was dressed like Robin but he wasn't Robin. He was shorter and the costume was different. There was more black and red in the costume, and his pants had green down the sides. He was more broad and muscular as well.

The second was somehow just as familiar looking but at the same time not. He wore a mask similar to the one he always did, yet it was more pointed and angular suiting the older look of his face. Actually everything about him seemed older, maybe it was how they had seen him last lying vulnerably on the floor as J'onn got ready to repair his mind, but this was not the boy they knew.

His hair was slightly longer and shaggier and he seemed to stand taller. Or maybe his prescense just filled the room and exuded confidence. His outfit was all black reminiscent of Batman but there was no cowl or Bat symbol on the chest. Instead he had a blue bird. He wasn't lacking the utility belt though it was black and hardly noticeable. So were the escrima sticks strapped to his thighs.

As soon as they materialized the League, bar the Bats, was in defense mode.

"Robin, welcome back. May I ask who this is?" Aqualad spoke up taking responsibility as team leader.

The blue and black suited man chuckled but Robin just scoffed. "You guys didn't notice the different designation number? You should be submitted to the Old Man's training regime."

"Jay?" asked those who knew Batman's second son. He was the only one who would dare call him 'Old Man'.

"Where's the real Robin?" Troia asked in annoyance. She had always liked him and looked up to him as a mentor (and maybe a little more).

"I am the real thing sweet heart," replied the new one. That earned him a disapproving look from Batman and a whack on the head from Batgirl.

"Wow. Do I really look that different?" the blue and black man asked.

"Robin?" gasped everyone. This man couldn't be their little bird.

"Yes?" replied the boy in the Robin suit.

"I think they meant me Little Wing," the taller ruffled the smaller's hair.

"This must be super confusing for you all. But I was Robin now it's this guy who you might know as Red Hood. He took my place in Gotham while I was with Slade and I didn't think I could really go back to being Robin anyway. Robin is a kid, some one full of innocence and laughter. I'm not really a kid anymore. I need to be my own hero now."

"Batman, did you know about this?" asked Green Arrow.

That earned him a "how stupid are you look". Batman knew everything.

They were all trying to grasp this. Robin had been there since just a little after the League's formation. Batman would have been kicked out of the League before Robin because of his darkness but he was needed. That is until Robin came and the Bat had a light he never had before. Still the League not having Dick Grayson as Robin would be something they hadn't seen since their first months as a team.

"Why didn't you tell me dude?" Kid Flash asked.

"The idea has been in my head for a while. I have to spread my own wings and let the little birds step up. I only let Agent A and B know that I planned to do this before the incident. It wasn't definite then but it is now."

"What do we call you? You're no longer Robin, are you?" M'gann asked with a hint of sadness in her voice. Their little brother was growing up.

"Robin will always be a part of me, but I'm no longer him." The masked vigilante looked to the two Kryptonians, "You can call me Nightwing."

Superman smiled. Superboy fondly remembered the times the first Robin told him stories he had heard from Superman about Krypton before Superboy was acknowledged by his mentor. The story of Nightwing and Flamebird was always Dick's favorite.

"I let you babysit too much," Batman grumbled.

"Someone want to clue us in?" asked the Flash.

"Nightwing was a hero of Krypton. It's a story I used to tell our Nightwing when I babysat. He set out from his family to make sure justice was carried out throughout the planet. "

Smiles spread across the room upon hearing Superman's answer. It was a name perfect for the new independent bird. A high soaring hero who couldn't let a crime go unpunished or let someone continuously cry for help.

He was Robin.

He was the Last Flying Grayson.

He was the First Son of the Batman.

He was the First Sidekick. (Wally: We're not Sidekick's! Robin 1: I was Batman's first partner, get it right. Yeesh!)

He was a leader.

He was an inspiration.

He was hope.

He was Nightwing.