I Find It Funny Where In Both Comics And Fanfiction

Sometimes I feel like us as the bat family fandom forget how starry eyed people get about Nightwing canonically.

Because with the exception of early era Tim most of the Batkids are like. lol that’s my loser older brother or some variation of yeah…he’s some guy I guess? He helps me with homework?

And Nightwing is the canonically a center of multiversal light.

When Heroes meet Nightwing they do the vigorous handshake and the “it’s an honor to meet you sir, I have heard so much about you oh my god”

There are so many character where they are literally shown giggling and kicking their feet whenever Nightwing talks to them.

Even the people who don’t have the celebrity level worship of him respect the hell out of him and call him as soon as they need help.

From raven to Starfire to Superman to Superboy to all or the flashes there is so much respect and awe given to this one dude.

And it is deserved

But imagine you are Damian Wayne and you’ve been working with what 90% of the people you’ve met (all bats) have been calling an embarrassment to your father’s legacy.

Your mother hates him and your Grandfather doesn’t feel that strongly about him.

The red hood calls him an embarrassment and a coward and he couldn’t even keep Red Robin from running away.

Your father tells him that he never should have been Batman

And you’ve worked with him and you know what you think everyone is full of shit about him and you and him the new Batman and Robin are the best no matter what anyone says.

And fuck it the fact he keeps going in a suit that everyone tells him he’s not good enough for is scratching something in your brain that you’re refusing to acknowledge because why would you feel that way? You are the circus freak have nothing in common (shut up)

And then you meet the justice league and all the extended teams.

And people are falling over themselves to listen to a word out of your brothers, your Batman’s mouth. They wait for a nod or headshake and dictate decades worth of planning on it.

Both Drake and Todd’s hero teams ask him for advice with or without their designated bats presence.

The man of steel asks for child rearing advice and wonder woman cracks a joke about a spar

Newer heroes whisper about him in the halls

He’s literally your favorite hero’s favorite hero

And it’s breaking Damian’s Brain

Because well… he kinda gets slapped around in Gotham. He’s the butt of half the jokes the other Batkids make and Dick just smiles and takes it.

The rogues have a bounty on nightwings ass and he gets leered at by goons, rogues, civilians and anti-hero’s alike and he doesn’t say anything.

He lets oracle crack jokes about a pretty face and having to do everything herself

Let’s Jason run the alley despite the fact that apparently he knows how to take it back

Apparently he’s had 12 people tailing Drake since Paris and despite being the man Ra’s Al Ghul calls detective has yet to notice. (Because you can’t tell me Dick was just magically at the right place to catch Tim falling to his death on coincidence)

And necessary to peace talks because he’s the best they have at deescalation

Like imagine you are a child who was raised to believe power is this obvious, all consuming thing. That the ones who control the board are visibly larger than life figures who fought their way to the top and cling to power by even the thinnest hangnail if they had to.

People who ignore simpler morals or an overall greater goal or good

And then you’re taken in by the man who whispers the correct answers into the larger than life figures ear.

Like I feel like that would have such an impact because Dick didn’t take power from anyone to reach his goals, it’s why his siblings don’t really defer to him unless in crisis.

Dick didn’t take power, no people just looked at him and decided he was the best option to give it to.

Everyone basically looked at this kid and went, yeah you’re the future of all heroism.

And if that dude can’t even get Bruce Wayne’s respect what chance does Damian Wayne have

More headcanons bc I’m alone on new years

(Yes precrisis Dick became nightwing at 19 but too much shit happens and I mix timelines DONT YELL AT ME)

But I love the idea that Dick was just pint sized for all of his Robin run. Like he’s an acrobat we can fully utilize the fact he was mid waist sized for nearly every adult he interacted with until he was like 16-17.

Late bloomer Dick Grayson who can pass for 12 at 15

And then him and Bruce fight and Dick becomes nightwing and all that jazz

And finally FINALLY his growth spurt hits and he drops the baby fat and all that in like 4 months.

And then he becomes nightwing

And he went from like 4’0-4’10 during his whole Robin run and now he’s cresting at 6’0

And living with Wally means that the boy EATS SO MUCH VERY FAST bc u snooze you lose

So he packs on the pounds and skips that awkward gangly stage and all the adorable lil baby fat on his face is sacrificed to the puberty gods in exchange for a sharp jawline and sharper cheekbones

And the titans and the league don’t rlly get along in the early years so we can assume the only person from the league dick has seen or spoken to is Clark

And then they meet again

And the justice leagues BABY is now a like a full grown man

Like he’s GROWN

And Bruce is going through a crisis bc yeah he’s not dicks dad according to dick but he watched him grow up, he raised him?

He was there for every play, show, report card, every doctors appointment and his boy was so small

And now Dick his tiny little Robin is well he’s damn near Bruce’s height?

He somehow turned around and missed his boy becoming a man

He might not be Dicks dad but Dick is definitely his kid

And his kid isn’t a kid anymore?

And then there’s the voice??

Because sure nightwing jokes around all the time but in comparison to the lil bobbin Robin with his “HOLY ——- BATMAN” and his bad puns and his habit of bat-ifying literally everything in existence

But when he’s in charge?

Of a team?

When he’s given responsibility

Yeah no he’s calm, commanding and authoritative. He’s who everyone in the titans looks to for orders even if it means turning their back on the bat.

And yeah?

He’s proud, so so proud of the amazing man Dick grew into both because and despite of him.

But hes also in misery because he feels like he missed that. He wasn’t standing by Dick through that. How could he be when Dick is too hurt to call and Bruce is too scared to ruin things by calling?

Dick Grayson was always his greatest pride and joy, his biggest achievement and now… his boy doesn’t need him anymore

Then Jason comes back

And he’s bigger and meaner and angrier than all hell and Bruce wonders if he’s cursed to never watch his boys grow up.

(Thank god Tim refuses to get taller)

-I am working on a fic for this but I am a bad writer so if anyone has recs plz donations

More opinions!

I love love love love love Jay and Tim brotherisms

(bad siblings dick Grayson/ Damian Wayne and everyone hates them and abandons them and they must protect each other EXCLUDED)

They are so bully each other brother shaped to me

Just imagine someone (Steph) being like I’m not fucking working with the red hood??? He hurt Tim????

And Jays like fuckkkk am I gonna have to apologize? Damn

And Tim is like “OKAY LISTEN IT WAS A FIGHT I LOST… NOT THAT BADLY BY THE WAY” (his poor ego)

Steph: HE WROTE A MESSAGE IN BLOOD ON UR WALLS AND TIRED BEAT YOU TO DEATH

Jay: okay first of all, if I tried to beat him to death he would have died

Tim: a) fuck you very much no I wouldn’t have B) it was fine I was fine it was a couple bruises not that bad C) I was too distracted by the party city costume

Steph: what party city? What are you talking abou-

Jay: SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH DRAKE

Tim: I HAVE THE PHOTOS SAVED OFF THOSE CAMERA TODD FUCKING TRY ME

Steph to Dick: should we intervene

Dick pinching the bridge of his nose: no I just think this is how Tim bonds with people

Damian wrinkling his nose: writing a message in the victims blood is so trite Todd

Jason who has been tackled by Tim and is now fighting him on the floor: SHUT UP DAMIAN OR YOURE NEXT

Damian: oh the horror

They’re the siblings when mom/dad yells at one for bullying the other. You both gotta start being like “dad no don’t yell at him we were just goofing around”

“Yeah dad it’s just roughhousing dwdwdwdw we good”

And then attempt murder on one another as soon as the responsible people are gone.

Now they can GO to each other for help and it ends with an awkward “you know I love you right? “yeah..yeah I do don’t worry” and like a weird shoulder hug that they never mention ever again

But they’d both prefer to go to

A) the biggest brother bc he’s too old to violently bully the way they do B) it’s less embarrassing C) he’s less likely to bring it up to mock you D) that’s kinda what he’s there for

B) the bestie gc: they have friends outside if it’s not a Gotham issue, Kon is hearing about it first (if he’s alive), Bizzaro and Artemis are now a therapy gc for Jay post Gotham visit

C) honestly and truly they’d rather die (again) than ask anyone for help so truly all of these are last resorts.

Fanon Tim Drake: everyone hates me, my entire family has abandoned me and they will all rue the day that they abandoned me. The only one who truly understands me is the red hood because he too was abandoned I haven’t slept in 3 months 2 weeks 11 days and 21 hours

Canon Tim Drake: wow this dude is hardcore goth

Also canon Tim: *fell asleep on a rollercoster*

Also canon Tim: *actually reaches out for help when he needs it*

Also canon Tim: *doesnt resent Dick Grayson for taking away Robin*

Also canon Tim:*mocks Jason Todd violently bc wtf was that Robin costume*

Listen any normal human should and would act like fanon Tim but I fear this is the bat family they try to murder each other and then go get burgers together.

It’s their deal

Canon Tim is a funny lil guy

I love canon Tim sm

Let him be happy

If yall RUIN CANON TIM FOR ME like Tom Taylor did canon Grayson I will never forgive you

“Tim Drake never got enough recognition in Gotham.”

ARE YOU JOKING???

HES THEIR LIL GUY???

There isn’t one hero from the main Batfamily who doesn’t canonically like tim???

Hell even Jason think Tim is “the best of us” (much to my chagrin, the beef between the two middle children is always so iconic to me) and JASON HAS TRIED TO KILL HIM

Like Jason?? If it was Jason??? Who never got enough respect I’d get it?? Not entirely bc in recent comics (Nightwing -specifically the 2021 annual for one instance but honestly anytime these two interact in rebirth and Gotham war)

Dick isn’t in Gotham bc he didn’t get any respect and he fucked off and became the justice leagues favorite lil guy and then turns out Bruce just sucked at people thing and he was actually secretly also his lil guy

Babs is literally depicted and omnipotent 1/2 the time and while I think fanon exaggerates her strengths a bit too much (or just leaves her out entirely) and canon disrespects the sanctity of her character all the time the CHARACTERS in the series don’t

Anyway

THE PERSON WHO NEVER EVER GETS ENOUGH CREDIT AND IS LOOKED OVER BY BW THE MOST

Is STEPHANIE MOTHERFUCKING BROWN

NOT ONLY WAS SHE THE FUNNIEST, MOST CHARMING AND LIKABLE BATGIRL (I’m right be quiet) SHE WAS AND IS ALWAYS JUST A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MUCH LATER STAGES OF BATMAN AND ROBIN (dick and Dami edition) SHE GETS DOGGED ON

BRUCE DOESNT THINK SHES GOOD ENOUGH FOR WAYY TOO LONG

JASON (fun mirror horror landcore but yeah they’re not friends)

DICK DIDNT THINK SHE COULD DO IT (he was wrong, he realized this like a good boy)

TIM GOD DONT GET ME STARTED ON THIS LIL SHIT (affectionate)

I'm still waiting for them to get back together....

Current Bruce Wayne meeting All Star Batman and robing Bruce Wayne

C! BW: …im- im sorry I must’ve misheard you bound to happen with the cowl… do you mind repeating what you said

ASBAR! BW: I don’t let Robin upstairs and make him hunt rats and bats for food in the cave

C!BW suddenly understanding why Jason kills people: … do. You. Now

ASBAR! Bat: yeah why?

C! BW about to turn into Joe chill and end that world’s Wayne’s:…. I see

Or

ASBAR! BW: I’m sorry what?? Did?? You?? Say??

C!BW: I gave Dick a hug and told him? I was proud of him

“He would not fucking say that” is a Schrodinger’s phrase when it comes to Batman. There is probably Batman run where he would say that. There is also probably a run where Batman would kill the other Batman for saying that.

Because I am gay (see name above) all of my favs are gay but because dc are cowards and refuse to admit that yeah having a character damn near exclusively date redheaded friends and then making both his male close friends redheads is a lil suspicious

I have simply decided that Dick is openly bi and no one has realized it in the universe.(Titans -core 9- and Clark Kent excluded)

So here picture this.

They’re all at a diner/batburger/ wherever they chill as civilians. Are they doing important stuff, working on cases, shooting the shit, your choice- I’m lazy.

And it’s practically empty bc none of them have normal schedules and so yeah you can have lunch at 4:45am that’s a normal time to eat.

And some dude walks in and Dick just straight up freezes for a sec before hiding under the table. The dude orders to go and fucks off.

Dick gets back up and does a cartoonish ‘phew’ bc he’s extra

Jason: yo what the fuck was that

Dick: what the fuck was what?

Tim: that- you hiding under the table of our booth??

Dick: oh that

Steph: no shit worlds third greatest detective

Jason: yeah you saw that dude and freaked, I once saw you laugh in banes face and use his forearm as a jungle gym? What gives?

Dick: oh come on! You’ve never wanted to avoid an ex??

*cue spit take from character of your choice*

Steph: AN EX?!?

Dick:??? Yes

Tim looks like he’s seeing god himself parting the clouds, giving him a view of the sun

Jason is just giving Dick the how did I not know this what the fuck dude how could you not tell me stare

Dick looks at each of them: what did you think I only dated babs and Kori?? I have a life outside of our night job?? Right? Like I’ve dated many people who still don’t know what I do at night?

Steph: no do how could you not tell us about H.I.M

Dick: I mean he wasn’t really all that…nice by the time we hit the three month mark and we didn’t have much in common outside of a shared hobby

Tim who was a closeted bisexual for 5 years realizing his first ever idol the first ever Robin also liked boys: .... you dated him for three months?? when?

Dick: I don't know we broke up like 2 months ago

Steph: How was I not aware of this information??

Dick: im sorry would you like detailed information about my sex life??

Jason, traumatised:.... so when I was Robin, you and roy weren't wrestling in the bathrooms..

Dick:.....

Tim:.....

Steph:.....

Dick: yeah Jay no shit?!?

Tim: so you and Wally... were not playing Jenga when I visited

Dick:... you are adults yes? you realise that I as an adult was not going to tell twelve year olds that I was getting laid?

Steph: Dickie DIckie baby.... we knew you were fucking

Tim: true

Jason: unfortunately

Steph: we just didn't know you were also fucking men

Dick:....

Dick massaging his temples: okay so.... you know I have a thing for redheads and I notoriously befriend my exes.

Tim: yep

Jason: mhm

Dick: and none of you thought for a second that my two redheaded best friends who both have a type aka Dark haired and can do a backflip... and just decided we were totally Hetero besties

Steph: yeahhh I mean...

Tim weakly: you guys just seem

Jay: like friends

Dick deadpan: Lian still calls me dad sometimes and Wally and Linda keep asking me to swing or join a throuple.

steph: fully believed they were joking high key tho

Dick: okay, okay... so the way that I talk about Joey Wilson... just didn't tell you anything?

Jay: okay that one... was my bad actually y'all were hella gay

Tim: hey! that's no fairrr we werent there

Dick: you broke into my house Tim, you literally stalked me

Tim: that's not the same and you know it.

Birthdays

Dicks starts a tradition, for every first birthday one of his loved ones spends with him, he gives them a part of his heart.

Jason: Dick isn't there for Jasons first birthday at the manor because well... he isn't exactly welcome at the manor but he snuck Jason his number weeks in advance to make sure Jay would be at his crappy apartment the day after his birthday. And he gives Jason a collection of poetry his mother had written while they had traveled around the world. He had memorised all of them many years ago but he wanted to give Jason something tangible to connect them together. He might not be related to Bruce, he might not be Jason's brother by law or blood but Jason carries the robin name and Mary Graysons words so he is Dick's brother no matter what Bruce wants to say about it. Some of the poems aren't in English but they all flow beautifully and are written in the same black swirling script. Jason cries real tears and clings to Dick because this isn't something he can say he's had before. When Jason died, Dick took it from Jays room because he didn't allow it to be part of a mausoleum for his brother he wasn't going to let it be part of one for his brother.

After Jason comes back to life, and he's left Gotham he finds that familiar notebook in a safe-house he was sure Nightwing didn't know about with a post-it note on top reading.

I'm so glad you're back little wing

-DG

Tim: Dick and Alfred celebrate Tims birthday alone and Dick knows that Tim is struggling with who he is and his place in the family. Jason needed connection Tim needed purpose. Tim needed something to do to prove his value so on Tim's 13th birthday Dick teaches him the quadruple summersault. he teaches Tim the Full-Twisting Shaposhnikova his mother's favourite move on the bars and the moors. They spend all day practicing together until Tim can do a loose approximation of as many of his parent's signature moves as they can squeeze into one day. And every time Dick sees Tim for the next two months he asks for a spotter and they spend two odd hours practicing the moves. Tim never ends up incorporating the Flying Grayson's moves into his fighting style but he starts to follow Dicks habit of getting up high when he's stressed and working out all his frustration by practicing those moves over and over again until his body is pleasantly sore. Sometimes when Dick is on undercover missions, Tim will do one of the routines to help with the fact he cant reach his brother.

Damian: canonically Dick gave Damian a trapeze bar but that was long into his Robin tenure I believe it was after the Lazarus island debacle. So I think that by the. time Damians 11th birthdays rolls around, Dick and Damian have a pretty solid relationship and the first thing Dick would have given Damian was his father's unfinished sketchbook which contained the original designs for the robin costume. This book is Thick and its not like a modern sketchbook no, John Grayson found this leather bound monstrosity in Egypt and paid pennies for it. Its so dense that its filled with about 3 years of drawings and still has more the half of its pages a yellowed blank canvas. Damian, who is naturally talented at art and was encouraged by Dick to try and find non-vigilante methods of enjoyment has already taken up drawing months prior but this gets him to start practicing with fervour. He tries hard to mimic John Grayson's art style before eventually giving up at trying to create identical pieces and just incorporates various techniques the man used. For Dicks birthday that year he gifts him a portrait of his late parents but unlike the ones he's made for the manor, Dick's parents are in motion, with his John Grayson's grin stolen right off his sons face and Mary Grayson's boisterous laugh as she crashed into her husbands side could be heard in the famous cackle of her son.

now I wanted to do Cass or Steph or (maybe even Babs or Kori if I wanted to pivot from family to romance) but I genuinely the girl who has Mary Graysons wedding ring would

Donna Troy: Dick Gave it to her when they were still wonder girl and boy wonder. They were 14 and it was right after they had started the titans, back when it was a kids club more than a hero organisation. It was accompanied with a whispered confession of his identity, an identity the rest of their team wouldn't learn for another to 2 years. She wears it around her neck with a simple gold chain. She didn't take it off during her wedding or funeral, she was buried in it and came back with its barely there weight a comfort against base of her neck.

Broke: Dick has no degrees and dropped out young

Woke: Dick has like 7 fully completed bachelors bc he keeps taking college courses to keep busy/ learn new skills as nightwing and ends up just having a fuck ton of credits. He simply doesn’t tell Bruce to make Bruce sad that none of his kids have graduated college.