Chapter Text
Tim used to think he knew what flying would be like. He would climb up fire escapes and buildings to take pictures. The wind rushing on his skin was probably how it felt for the birds that flew through Gotham’s smokey skies.
He was wrong.
The grapple shoots over at the next building and Tim jumps off the roof with no fear. He laughs in delight at the wind around him. This is one of the best things he has ever done.
Truly flying is making a place in the wind, pushing back against the thrall of gravity that threatens to pull you under. It’s pushing forward. It’s making space for yourself despite the push back.
Tim’s first year as Robin had been exciting and hectic at the same time. He helps save people and is a light to Gotham’s darkness. It is also difficult, the weight of the R on his chest weighs heavy sometimes when he can’t do as much as he wants to.
But he has his family to fall back on when it gets to be hard.
“There’s a robbery going on in the upper east side!” Dick calls out to him as he joins Tim on his patrol, the bright blue of the Nightwing suit catching the light of the street lamps.
“On it!” Tim responds and they switch routes to go after the robbers.
It is an uncharacteristically quiet night for Gotham. Usually there is a lot more rogue activity but since they are all back in Gotham since there was a break out a few days ago the streets are pretty empty.
That is also a good thing since Bruce and Jason are currently tied up at a gala.
Dick is still on a “college exchange program” since he broke his leg a few weeks ago and needed time to heal without any questions so he got a pass from attending. And Tim was able to get out of it because he helped Jason hide the fact that he snuck out to do surveillance on a new gang popping up in crime alley. He is as free as a bird tonight thanks to Jason getting caught.
The men robbing the store are tied up and waiting nicely for GCPD after only a few minutes of them being at the scene.
“You did good Robin.” Dick gives him a grin.
“Thanks ‘Wing.” Tim grins back.
A ping has Tim opening up his wrist computer with a furrowed brow. That specific sound is for when one of the Justice League shows up in Gotham. Tim sees a blinking red dot on the Wayne Enterprise’s building downtown.
Dick leans over his shoulder, curiosity on his face, “Who is that?”
“Let me check.” Tim taps on the dot and he gets a view of the rooftop where their guest is.
“Superman?” Dick asks with obvious confusion but there is a hint of excitement in it.
Bruce hasn’t revealed that Tim and Dick are working with him yet. He says that it is for security but Tim knows that Bruce wants to give them an out of this life if they want it. So Superman has no idea that they exist yet.
Dick has been a big fan of superman for years now and the name Nightwing actually comes from a Kryptonian legend that Superman told Clark Kent in an interview a while ago. Bruce was secretly displeased that Dick liked Superman more than Batman and Tim found it funny to watch Bruce scowl at the few pieces of Superman merchandise around Dick’s apartment.
“We should go if he is here-” Dick is already prepping his grapple line as he speaks. “-it could be important.”
Tim shoots him an unimpressed look, “You just want to meet Superman since he technically is your name sake.”
“I mean I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.”Dick shrugs with an all too innocent smile.
“We should wait for B.” Tim crosses his arms.
“Or… we could meet Superman?” If Tim could see under his mask he would see Dick’s puppy eyes that can get almost anyone to fold- the only exception being Alfred of course.
Tim looks up at the sky and lets out a frustrated sigh at his older brother’s disregard for the protocols that Bruce set up.
“Come on! It will be fun!” Dick begs him with his hands clasped together.
“Fine!” Tim throws his hands up, “But if this goes wrong I am blaming you.”
Dick’s grin widens in victory, “Let’s go Robin!”
“Sometimes you are more of a kid then I am.” Tim mutters to himself as they begin to move towards Wayne Enterprises.
When they get there Superman is floating rather awkwardly just above the roof. Tim lands first, letting his cape engulf him incase they need to fight him because he takes their presence as a threat. Dick definitely doesn’t do that-
“Superman!” He calls out as he lands, causing Superman to turn around to see them. “Fancy seeing you here.”
His eyes are wide as he looks at the two of them, “Who are you two?”
There is a slight midwestern accent to his voice that supports his theory that Superman is secretly Clark Kent. Bruce gave him the task of figuring out the whole Justice League’s secret identity. Tim has gotten almost everyone except for Martian Manhunter, who he is sure doesn’t actually have a secret identity, and Shazam.
“I am Nightwing,” Dick extends an over eager hand which Superman shakes. “And this is Robin. We work with Batman.”
Superman’s eyes widen, “There are more people who work with Batman besides Blue Jay?”
“B wants us to have the option to walk away if we want it but we are already too deep in this life to turn back.” Tim explains and relaxes a little since Superman is more shocked then defensive.
“It is good to know that he has more people in his corner.” He smiles warmly at them before his demeanor switches back to hero mode. “I need to speak to Bruce about a case, is he around?”
“He is at a Gala right now but we can take you to the cave and alert him about your presence.” Dick suggests.
“That should work.” Superman grins.
Tim doesn’t sigh but he releases a breath since he knows that Bruce will not be pleased about leaving him out of the loop on this. But this is on Dick and not him so Tim goes along with it.
⋆˙⟡
Jason, even after years of going to them, still hates galas. But he is stuck on gala duty with Bruce because of a stupid cover up Tim helped him with. He has to smile and nod politely at people who called him a street rat a few years ago like he doesn’t remember.
The champagne in his glass sparkles under the lights as he swishes it around in utter boredom. He wishes that Eddie was here, they would joke about dumb movies and he would feel more like himself then a Wayne heir.
One of his fellow seniors at Gotham Academy, a guy he thinks is called Tony, is talking about a new car his parents are getting him for his birthday.
Jason wants to stab out his eyes to make him stop. He really doesn’t know Dick or Tim get through this. It should be called torture instead of networking.
He scans the room after looking up from his glass, hopefully he will find something interesting to stare at while these guys brag about the money they have. His eyes catch on an open door near the front of the ballroom.
A head of dark black hair and bright light blue eyes stare at him. Tim is peeking in through the door and staring at him. Jason doesn’t know why- Tim isn’t one to gloat or at least not when he could be pulled into the gala if he is spotted.
Tim motions him over furiously.
Jason nods before turning to the idiots around him, “Looks like someone is calling for me! Check up with you later Tony.”
He smacks the guy on the arm before walking off towards Tim. Distantly he hears the guy grumble about how his name isn’t Tony but Jason couldn’t care less.
Tim practically pulls him out of the room when he is close enough.
“Superman is in the cave.” Tim doesn’t even bother to greet him or ask him how the gala is. “He needs to speak to B and I can’t go in there like this.”
Jason sighs deeply, “Fine but you owe me.”
Tim raises an eyebrow, “I think we are even with the amount of black mail I have on you.”
“Everyone thinks you're cute but you are secretly evil, Tim.” Jason narrows his eyes.
Tim smirks at him, “No one will ever believe you Jason.”
Jason, after feeling thoroughly swindled, walks back into the party to talk to Bruce.
He finds the man talking to a group of business men who all look like they would sue Jason for breathing wrong. Bruce looks like he is enjoying himself from the outside but Jason can see the tension in the set of his jaw as he makes jokes at the appropriate times.
Bruce looks relieved to see Jason as he approaches him, “Jason! What brings you to our side of the ballroom?”
“One of the caterers needs to speak with you, I came to get you.” He says and hopes his eyes convey that he needs Bruce to follow him now instead of later.
Bruce must see it because he nods.
“Well, that’s my cue gentleman. It was great to see you.” He waves as they start over to the door where Tim is waiting.
Bruce’s face turns from his usual “Brucie” persona into a more serious expression when they rejoin Tim in the hall. It is always interesting to see the switch from Bruce to Batman.
One of the biggest problems Jason has is distancing himself from his vigilante persona. He is working on it but after so long both Blue Jay and Jason Todd would do the same thing when presented with a person in danger.
“Tim, what is wrong?” Bruce asks and Tim straightens up on instinct before speaking.
“Superman entered the city and wanted to speak to you about a case. He is currently downstairs with Dick.” Tim explains and Bruce raises a single eyebrow at their decision to let Superman know about their identities.
His little brother just shrugs at Bruce’s silent question, “It was Dick’s idea in the first place.”
Bruce closes his eyes, probably doing the breathing thing that Dinah taught him.
It was still amazing to Jason how Tim managed to trick Bruce into therapy. A couple well placed comments about how Tim just wanted them all to be mentally healthy. Then him bringing it up when Bruce had been working on a case and hadn’t slept in three days so he was too tired to argue Tim on it. The next day Bruce looked at his schedule and saw that was booked for a session with Dinah the following Monday.
Tim is an evil genius but he is their evil genius.
“Alright- let’s all go down to the cave since I was about to tell guests to leave anyway.” Bruce says and quickly walks back into the ballroom.
Jason and Tim decide to leave Bruce to make the guest start to head to the door and begin the walk to Bruce’s office. The first group of people out of the ballroom don’t really question why they are walking to the office since they are far more preoccupied with the latest gossip.
Jason closes and locks the door just in case any nosy rich people try to sneak in. Bruce has a key on him at all times so he can get in but Jason just feels a little paranoid when they have galas at the manor.
He has picked up a few of Bruce’s bad habits- or at least so he is told by his friends. But they have no room to talk about his paranoia about identities since they aren’t good at keeping theirs, except for Zach.
Eddie can switch between his demon form and his human form at will but he sometimes changes out in the open. And Jason doesn’t know about Rose since she was kidnapped by Slade so she may be legally dead after being missing for this long.
Tim opens the door to the cave and they begin the descent to the cave.
⋆˙⟡
Clark knows that his friend has many secrets. Bruce is a very secretive person and it has taken years for them to get to the level of trust they currently have with one and another. But he does wish that he told Clark about the two new vigilantes that have been operating in Gotham.
Nightwing, Dick Grayson and Bruce’s eldest, is currently sitting cross legged in the chair in front of the batcomputer. He is writing something down on a note pad as he hums dancing Queen to himself. Bruce had mentioned wanting to adopt him years ago but then he was gone and Bruce was devastated.
Now that Bruce has adopted the young man it makes sense that he would follow in his adoptive father’s footsteps.
Robin, Tim Drake and Bruce’s youngest, on the other hand seems to take after Bruce in his secretive nature. He looked at Clark with suspicion that mirrored the first time Bruce talked to him. It was rather cute to see a boy who is trying so hard to mimic his father.
He just wishes that Bruce would have trusted him with his boys but he understands the protectiveness. Jon is only four and Clark would move heaven and earth to see him safe.
Tim and Jason walk down into the cave.
Jason is in a suit but is currently trying to get out of it as fast as possible as he walks down the stairs. Tim has long since changed into civilian clothes and walks ahead of him, more relaxed and comfortable than he was before he left to get Bruce.
“Hey Supes!” Jason greets as he practically rips the tie off of himself.
“B should be down in a minute, Superman.” Tim gives him a small nod before walking over to Dick.
“Please just call me Clark Tim.” Clark corrects him and Tim seems to re-evaluate him.
“I was right.” Tim smiles brightly at Clark before calling up at Bruce who is currently entering the cave. “I was right!”
Clark is… confused.
“You have two more to go.” Bruce tells Tim and approaches Clark. “What do you need me to look at?”
Clark is then too wrapped up in telling Bruce about a deal Luther is wanting to make with Black Mask to smuggle weapons from Metropolis into Gotham to think about what they were talking about.
Bruce and him set up a day to take care of it then Clark goes to leave only to see Bruce’s sons hanging out in the cave in different places.
“I am sure that the league would like to meet them. The Titans are also bringing in some new members soon.” Clark tells Bruce as the other man looks like he is considering it.
“I will let them know and we will go from there.” Bruce nods at him with a thoughtful expression and his arms crossed.
Clark pats his friend’s shoulder, “Good.”
⋆˙⟡
Mornings after big missions are always quiet. Everyone slowly limps into the table at different times and nursing different wounds. And depending on the mission’s severity they don’t eat breakfast and skip straight to lunch.
Today is one such day.
Tim, Dick, Jason and Bruce all were trying to track down Poison Ivy as she planted large Venus fly traps in the gardens of all the rich people in Bristol. Jason had suggested that they leave them there but Bruce had decided to be a massive killjoy about it.
Now Tim is all scratched up from the plants where they kept snapping at him and sore from all the running he had to do since most houses in Bristol are at least a mile apart.
He shuffles into the dining room without changing because it is a Sunday and he plans on sleeping a little more before they patrol tonight. Tim can barely keep his eyes open as he falls into his seat at the table.
“Good morning Tim.” Bruce greets and looks the same level as exhausted as Tim is.
Tim makes a noncommittal noise as he tries not to face plant into his eggs.
“You're very talkative this morning.” Jason says as he tries to eat with his left hand since his right arm was broken last night.
“You try running through almost all of the Bristol mansions to set up the explosives to get rid of the plants.” Tim grumbles at him.
“Good morning all!” Dick greets them as he walks into the room, he rolls his shoulder then winces before pushing down the pain.
“Good morning Dick, are you staying here or heading to your apartment?” Bruce asks and takes a sip of his coffee.
“I think if I tried to leave Alfred right now he would tie me down to a bed.” He jokes and sits down in his usual seat next to Tim.
“Only because you are a danger to your own health Master Dick.” Alfred says with an imperious look on his face, Dick slides down in his seat a little under it.
Tim finds it hilarious that the Batman and a former Talon both are cowed by Alfred. He is as well but it’s still funny to watch his brother and Father look so uncomfortable.
Breakfast is spent most in silence since everyone is exhausted from last night.
After breakfast Bruce looks around at all of them at the table which Tim knows is his ‘I want to say something but I don’t know how to get your attention’ look. Dick also seems to notice the look and starts talking for Bruce.
“What’s up B?” Dick asks with obvious interest, leaning his head on his folded hands.
Bruce clears his throat and sits up a bit, “Right, since Clark now knows about your identities he asked whether you all want to be introduced to the Justice League.”
Tim blinks in surprise. He could meet the Justice League? Like soon? Apparently his brain has never thought that Batman would introduce them to the league even though he is a founding member and Jason also knows them.
It looks like Dick also hadn’t thought about this, “You would let us?”
Bruce nods, “The both of you have been kept a secret from the league a lot longer than most people since I wanted you to be ready. Superman finding out about you was unexpected but a good way to begin introductions.”
“How long do we have to prepare?” Tim’s brain is now back online after the shock to his system and is starting to make a plan of how best to approach the league.
“You can do it on your own terms. The league trusts me to handle my city so if you don’t want to meet them then you don’t have to. They would just expect me to give reports that you all are following my lead.” Bruce explains to them.
“They are pretty laid back,” Jason chimes in after Bruce is done. “Aunt Diana and Uncle Clark probably just want to meet you both officially. But you will be able to meet the Titans which will be fun. It has been horrible not talking about my brothers for years now.”
“Titans?” Dick prompts.
“The cooler generation of heros.” Jason gives them a grin. “The first Wonder Girl founded the team so the sidekicks could have more freedom outside of their mentors. It has become a lot bigger now with more young heroes joining.” Jason’s grin turns a little fond at the edges. “Donna’s great, I think you guys would like her.”
“You two actually could use the interaction with other kids your age.” Bruce nods. “I will see if Diana wants Donna to come to the league meeting when I inform the league of your existence.”
Tim turns to Dick, who was already looking back at him.
A silent conversation happens within seconds. They have always been good at talking without saying a word to each other since Tim first met Dick. He understands his expressions and what they mean. And Dick can also look through Tim’s expressions to the real emotions underneath it.
“We’ll go. It has been enough time for us to get our bearings.” Dick speaks for the both of them.
“Good.” Bruce nods, “I will let the league know.” He gets up and walks out of the room to send a message to the league.
Tim feels less anxious about making a good impression but more excited because they are going to meet the Justice League.