Problems and Solutions

December 1, 2014.

It was quiet. Dick sat by himself in the hideout, examining the trigger in front of him.

It was their third. After their first night out Catwoman had managed to locate and steal one, and Batgirl came upon one by happy coincidence when she was out the day before.

He held the small device in his hands. It was as he'd suspected. A micro-burst, long wave transmitter. Any other type of signal would be too unstable. It was after all a nuclear atom bomb. Even if
Bane threatened to blow up the city Dick very much doubted his wish of doing it while he himself was still in it.

Dick rested his head on his good arm, feeling a headache moving. They had three. But was there even a point in collecting them? Was the risk too great? If only Bruce..

"What are you thinking about?" Barbara's voice interrupted his chain of thoughts just before it became unhealthy. Dick turned around, offering her a small smile.

"Just wondering what the heck I'm supposed to do with these." he looked at her, as she pulled off her cowl. "Any problems?"

"No."

"How's your dad?"

She shrugged. "Fine, I guess. It's dangerous for him to meet me every week. I asked him if we could call off our meetings."

Dick smirked. "How'd he take that suggestion?"

She snorted, tossing the cowl on the table. "He disagreed, why don't we leave it at that? But it's every two week now."

"And the trapped cops? How are they holding up?"

The trapped police men was their biggest problem after the bomb. With no one to keep an eye out on the criminals and the scum of Gotham, everything had taken a bad turn. The police would be freed, in time. But it wouldn't do any good if they were half starved to death by the time they were freed. Or blind because of the limited sunlight.

"Dad says they are getting enough food. Apparently Bane has done some sort o deal with the government, allowing food and water into Gotham. It was only a matter of time."

Dick nodded, wondering. Barbara looked at him, her eyes calculating.

"Do you think that the League will try and contact you? Now that a small window to the world has opened?"

Dick returned his attention to the trigger which he carefully laid back on the table.

"I hope they won't. I'm not sure, but I have the feeling that Bane is getting help. From people who'd be able to locate a member of the League. Most of them aren't human, their biochemistry differs
from ours. And Bane has connections. Good connections. Sadly"

Barbara nodded her understanding, before looking at his shoulder. It was covered by bandages.

"How's your shoulder?"

oOo

Three days ago

"Robin!" Batgirl yelled, jumping over the unconscious goons, stopping in front of her partner, horror written all over her face.

Robin was still standing, clutching his shoulder.

"I'm okay." he said through his teeth, kicking away the gun. "The shoulder is okay, nothing vital."

"Don't you say that! You've just been shot, you idiot!" she was freaking out, when a voice cut through her panicked thoughts.

"Batgirl!" Robin all but barked, sounding suspiciously like his mentor. She clammed up.

"I'm okay. We can deal with this later. It's not serious, the bullet went straight through." Robin looked her in the eyes, his face calm but strained with pain. "Check him over, see if you can find the trigger! Quickly!"

Batgirl nodded, her heart still pounding. She kneeled down beside the unconscious bad guy.

"I think I have it." she pulled out a small device from one of the man's pockets. It looked harmless enough, safe the red button on the top.

"Looks like it. Now, take their weapons, money and other valuables." Robin ordered. She looked back at him. "Do I look like a thief? If you need a little extra cash why didn't you team up with Catwoman?"

"It needs to look like a robbery! If Bane hears about this.."

"Yeah yeah, I'm just teasing. My bad humour is more outspoken when I'm nervous." Robin walked over to the other guys he'd taken down before Batgirl interfered as she began to search their target.

"You better check these too. But be quick, we need to get out of here!"

"Then you shouldn't have gotten yourself shot!" she retorted, but picked up her speed.
A minute or two later she stood up.

"Done." Batgirl looked at her pale friend.

"Even if it isn't serious, don't you think we need to get back and check it out anyway? I've taken some first aid classes."

Robin nodded. "That would probably be a good idea. The only problem is.." he smiled weakly at her.

"I can't hold onto my line. I need to keep a pressure on my shoulder."

"Don't you have something we can use to stabilize the pressure in that belt of yours?"

"I'm fresh out."

She looked at him blankly. "So, you are saying that I either have to carry you, drive you or walk with you?"

"Looks like it. We better walk. Come, I know a shortcut!" he turned around, and melted away into the shadows.

Batgirl shook her head before following.

'I thought he was a pro at this. Turns out Dick Grayson is always Dick Grayson.'

oOo

He looked at the wounded shoulder. "Oh, it's okay. I'll be back in shape in no time." he looked rather embarrassed. "Go figure I get hurt on our first night out, huh? Who would've thought that"

"Everybody." she retorted.

"Hey!" he protested, but fell back at the look she gave him. "Okay, point taken."

Barbara looked over his shoulder, at the papers lying around. Drawings.

"What's this?" she asked, picking one of them up.

"Just an idea." he mumbled, taking the drawing out of her hands.

"Dick, that looks amazing! But, what of your Robin uniform?"

He didn't answer right away. He looked at the drawing. A picture of himself. An idea.

"Me getting shot reminded me of something important. That and something the guy said." Dick looked up at her.

"Babs, you know the story of Batman and Robin. I've been doing this for years. With Batman. I forgot that Batman isn't here anymore. The suit of Robin is designed to draw attention so that the bad guys won't notice Batman until he knocks them out. But Batman isn't here anymore which has removed the true purpose of Robin." he held up his hand when she opened her mouth.

"I know you are with me! And I am very grateful to have you with me in this. But you are not Batman. And I hope that you'll never be." he looked down at the drawing.

"It pains me that it has to end this way. I always figured that I would one day outgrow Robin. I knew this. Batman knew this. But not like this. Not because a criminal forced me out." he put down the drawing and returned his gaze to the familiar uniform of his alter ego.

"But what happened yesterday proved it. Gotham is too dangerous for Robin when Batman is not around. The bright colours, they draw too much unwanted attention." Dick turned his gaze and looked
Barbara in the eyes. "For this to work, we need to be invisible. No more colours. No more laughter in the shadows. No more Robin."

Barbara stared, unsure of what he was saying. No more Robin?

"Then, who will you be instead? Don't tell me I'll be working solo from now on."

He smiled. Or rather, Robin smirked.

"I am so glad you asked that. Please follow me."

He walked her down the corridor, to their rooms. He opened his door and and let her in.

She looked around, rather curious. It was the first time she'd been in there. It looked much like the rest of the base, with few exceptions. A poster from Haly's Circus. A few photo's of what she assumed was the members of the young justice team.

Dick walked in behind her, turning on the light.

And Barbara saw it. The suit. The new suit.

"Oh." was all she could say. She hadn't even noticed it until the lights turned on.

Which is the point of course.

"You didn't see it, did you?" she didn't turn around, but she could hear the happiness in his voice.

The new suit was different. And familiar.

"How'd you make it? And when?"

"Oh, I've been working on it for the past year or so. Like I told you, I knew the days of Robin was coming to an end. Alfred has been of great assistance."

"Bruce doesn't know?"

"Nah, wanted it to be a nice surprise." Dick walked up beside her, a sad smile on his face.

"It's one of Bruce's suits, of course modified to my body. Great for resisting gun fire."

"That should come in handy." she then noticed one rather big difference, and turned to him.

"No R ? Or bat?" he shook his head.

"No. As I told you, Robin has got to go. His part in protecting Gotham is over as long as Batman isn't here. And I refuse to award myself the bat-symbol, just as I refused to give it to you. It just doesn't feels right."

She nodded her understanding, waling around the black suit.

"No cape?"

Dick shook his head. "You saw what happened the other day. The yellow cape made my body stand out, making it easier to target. I won't make that mistake again."

"And yet you are okay with me using a cape?"

"Yours is all black. It's different."

"You could use all black too."

He gave her a look. "I can't wear a cape as long as yours or Batman's – I won't be able to do my acrobatics if it's too long. I did try with a shorter cape. And to say the truth, it looked ridiculous."
Barbara laughed, turning to him.

"Really? After years of jumping of roofs in bright red and yellow sporting a printed 'R' on your chest, and the name Robin, a short black cape looks ridiculous to you?"

"Hey, Robin looked good thank you very much! I have many fangirls." he smirked. "I know you were one of them once."

"Sure sure, what ever makes you feel better." she stepped back, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"But, if you're not Robin anymore, what can I call you instead?"

"Dick? Or Richard if you really fancy it." he replied innocent.

When the only reaction that got him was a blank look and narrow eyes, he shrugged.

"I've been thinking of the name Nightwing." he then replied, sounding almost embarrassed.

"It's a part of a old kryptonian myth. Superman told me about him when I was younger."

"Nightwing.." she replied, thinking the name over. It sounded pretty sweet. But then again, a kid who could brag of having been told stories by Superman, was by all means cool.

"Will Superman be okay with you using it?"

"Sure, why would he care? The only person I think it would really bother would be Bruce." Dick answered with a laugh and a shake of his head.

Barbara looked at him, puzzled. "Why?"

"Bruce isn't the big Superman fan. And I don't think he's ever really forgotten or forgiven the fact that I liked Superman better than Batman. Which was, of course, before I got to know Batman. Then I learned how awesome he was. Once a bat, always a bat. It is just a name, I doubt Bruce will say anything against it."

"Sounds like a plan. When will you be able to use it?" she nodded towards the black suit.

"In a day or two. I need to make sure I don't pull out any stitches but then I should be good to go."

"Sounds good!" she grabbed him by his good shoulder and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Happy birthday, Man Wonder!"

He smiled at her, a smile that reached his eyes.

"Call me Nightwing."

An entire Dick and Barbara chapter. Oh my.
Just to be clear. While I adapt the persona of Batgirl from both the New 52 and Young Justice, her outfit is entirely Young Justice. No yellow boots or whatever.

And FYI, December 1st is Dick Grayson's birthday in the Young Justice universe.
He is now 18 years old! A man! An all, grownup man!

I'm sorry for the wait, but I've been busy.. with a lot of things. I hope to have the next chapter ready in a few weeks.