Robins Flock Together
Disclaimer: If you recognize it then I don't own it. Just over here cherry-picking DC canon.
A/N: For Whumptober 2022 #14 Die a hero or live long enough to become a villain-I'll be right behind you
"Go!" Nightwing ordered. He had seen an ominous flash of black and it wasn't a bat. Someone had set that fire deliberately and it wasn't the thugs whose goods were burning up. It had to be a trap and he knew who was trying to spring it. He was determined not to head it off and not have his brothers caught in the crossfire, "I'll be right behind you."
"No, come on," Red Robin grabbed his arm trying to pull the bigger hero out with the group. The former male Robins had banded together to guard Gotham in the absence of Batman. Batman's network of allies, partners and associates that he allowed to operate on his home turf was a small list in the hero community. Somehow Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, and Robin had all ended up fighting in the same warehouse against the same thugs. Until a fire had broken out, consuming the far wall. The heroes had headed upwards, planning to escape out the window before the building went up completely.
"Grayson," Robin hissed out also stopping his progress out of the window and to safety. He grabbed his other arm, scowling up at the older hero. Smoke was rising, time was running out.
Nightwing would have corrected the use of names on patrol if he hadn't had bigger concerns on his mind. He needed to get his brothers out of danger and then he could neutralize the threat and all would be well. He did not want them involved in this, it was not their fight. He had been chosen before he had been born. The Gray Son. The Talons were the perfect weapon. They were stronger, faster, lacked basic human needs and desires. Without Bruce Wayne's timely save he would have been trapped among their ranks. A servant, a puppet to the whims of evil men. No longer a being that could think for themselves or choose what path they wanted to trod. A killer who killed for no other reason than that he was ordered and compelled to do so. Becoming a shell of a human being with no soul left to tarnish with the act of murder. Frozen in time but never remembering the past and having no hope for the future. A living death while his body would be used against the ones he loves. From all this and more, he wished to spare his brothers.
The Court of Owls watched all the time.
Their cold touch had reached him before and others had gotten hurt in the process. He had sworn never again to have others get in the way of the owls. They were after him, there was no need for anyone else to get hurt. He could handle anything they threw at him if he only knew his brothers were safe. He would make sure they were safe.
"What's the hold-up?" Red Hood ducked his head back through the window. Another wall had been consumed, and the structure of the building was compromised. His red face mask hid any emotions on his face but a slight current of concern rippled through his voice as he waited for an answer.
"Hood," Nightwing broke free of his younger brothers' grasp and turned away, "Get them out of here."
"Not so fast, Big Bird."
He was just mentally calculating his jump to the warehouse floor when a hand on his arm once again stopped him. With an annoyed huff, he turned back, surprised to find Jason had grabbed him this time. The menacing mask stared down at him. He tried to pull out of the tightening grip with nothing to show for it except bruises when Hood refused to release him. Nightwing had always been faster and more agile but it was an outright test of brute strength Jason always won, even when he was Robin. Dick had always been strong with a life full of acrobatic training but Jason had a completely different set of muscles. He hit hard and trapped his opponent while Dick would flip out of danger if he could in a hit-and-run attack. They fought completely differently but they had both been Robin. Red Hood had taken in the situation at a glance and was not going to let Nightwing go through with it. Dick had been the first Robin and still had a few tricks up his sleeves his younger brothers had not yet learned.
"Little Wing, you need to let me handle this," He hesitated a moment, he didn't want to hurt them. He looked at each brother, in turn, he mentally begged for their understanding and forgiveness.
"Nightwing, we can help," Tim practically begged. Dick had been such a constant support in the superhero world as a mentor, friend, and brother. The younger hero's quick mind was coming up with all kinds of worse-case scenarios and trying to figure out ways to avoid them. He couldn't help Dick if he shut him out. Batman did that a lot and he hated that. He could find answers if he didn't even know the question.
"Not with this," Dick tightened his muscles slightly and subtly in preparation. The flames had risen higher, the heat was almost unbearable. He had to move soon.
"Grayson, cease this, come with us," Damian crossed his arms across his chest. He did it to seem annoyed and indifferent but really it was to try to hold himself together. His short life had been full of violence and very little affection or fun. His father's ward had been the one to try and change that. Still a work in progress. He refused to admit enjoyment or pleasure at any of his antics but secretly he did. He didn't want to lose that. He and his father did not get along it would be trying if Grayson was no longer around to bridge the gap. He was ready to fight for those he deemed his.
"Sorry, Baby Bird," Dick's face fell in sadness as he denied Damian one of the few things he genuinely wanted, "I have to do this."
"Don't do it, Dick," Jason whispered into his ear, his voice breaking slightly. He felt the short man shift. He would make his move in seconds and Jason wasn't sure he could stop the more experienced hero without near-lethal force. The first two Robins had a rocky relationship from the beginning. Bitterness and jealousy had marred them. Feelings festered at words said in anger to wound the other the most. Things left unsaid remained unspoken when Jason died. Now that he was back they never resolved it. They could work together as vigilantes but they didn't know how to be brothers. Secretly they both wanted to be brothers. That would never happen if Dick left them now. All of the Robins wanted a place to belong. Under the wing of a Bat, they had been born but Robins were meant to flock together.
"I'm sorry," Dick broke away from them. He threw himself over the edge, leaping over the flames, and was gone.