The Gymanstics Kids from Nightwing 1996 Issue #126: “Payback”
Dick Grayson had dealt with a lot things in his life: crime bosses, metahuman threats, alien invasions - so many. He’d fought against assassins and warlords, juggled hero work with civilian duties, lead an entire generation of crimefighters, and somehow still managed to stay on his feet despite getting barely 3 hours of sleep per night. His greatest achievement? He’d even survived being raised by Bruce Wayne. He turned out alright!
But nothing - and he meant nothing - had prepared him for this.
Dick barely had time to react before a body slammed into his, arms wrapping tightly around his torso in an iron grip. Years of training were the only thing that kept him from toppling over. He instinctively braced himself and refrained from Judo flipping the thing that collided into him, instead looking down to see a face that was somewhat familiar...
“...Alex?” His voice came out in disbelief. Wait, was this the little teen he'd taught when he was working at the gymnastics gym 10 years ago?
He pried himself free from the boy-man-Alex(?)'s-clingy grip just in time to catch sight of the rest of them. 7 men and women. Each and every one of them. He was staring at a lineup of old memories. And little terrors.
10 years ago, when he was still settling into himself in Bludhaven, Dick had taken a part-time coaching job for the gymnastics team thinking it would be a relatively low-stress gig. He could pass on his experience, brush up his skills, have fun teaching some kids, and, for once, avoid getting shot at (unlike his previous job where it had practically been a job requirement). That had been the plan.
Now, all of his past decisions came back to haunt him.
There they stood. His old students from his time coaching in Bludhaven’s gymnastics club years ago. The very same students he had fondly trained when he was still trying to balance being Nightwing and holding down a ‘normal’ job. Each and every one of them was now standing in front of him, dressed in Team USA’s official leotards and tracksuits, grinning like wolves.
“You didn’t tell us you were coming back, Teach,” Reina, the one he had once nicknamed ‘Menace’ (affectionately), pouted. Her piercing green eyes gleamed with something that made the hairs on the back of Dick’s neck stand up.
“I wasn’t exactly expecting to see you guys here,” he admitted. “At the same time. In one place. In my apartment building.”
“We’re national-level now,” Alex said proudly, ignoring his last words and still bouncing on his heels like an overexcited puppy. His blonde hair only added to the image of his being a golden retriever puppy. “Thanks to you.”
“That’s… great,” Dick managed, already mentally preparing his exit strategy.
“Oh, don’t think you’re getting away,” Reina cut in smoothly. “We missed you, Teach. And you left without saying goodbye.”
Layla nodded, the black braids in her ponytail swinging with every moment. "We were so sad. It's almost like you didn't want to spend the time we wanted to with you.”
Dick tensed. He did not like the way she said that. It sounded like an accusation, which was technically fair. He had left rather abruptly when his Nightwing duties had gotten in the way. But in his defense, he had not expected all of them to become Olympic-tier gymnasts and then hunt him down like a pride of lions who had finally found their lost cub.
“It wasn’t personal,” he tried. “I had… other responsibilities.”
“We know,” Kai, an ever-smiling boy replied sweetly. Only this time, his smile didn't have the same heart-warming quality as it had 10 years ago. “That doesn’t mean we’ve forgiven you.”
Kai hooked an arm around his neck, dragging him into a headlock while Reina pinched his side in a way that made him twitch. More joined in—Sora, the quiet one, was suddenly behind him, tugging at his jacket like a child with a toy they refused to let go. Caleb, the one he distinctly remembered having difficulties with anger when he was younger, pulled the grocery bags from his hands with a smile and with a sharp jab of his leg, broke the handle on the door, slowly letting it swing open on its own. He then stepped to the side and waited politely, all the while still smiling.
Dick felt a shiver running down his spine. What's a house? Who needs their old things, huh?
Forget it, it's time to start new anyway. Dick turned around at once.
Tomoe, who had once been his shyest student, smirked as she executed a perfect flip over his head, landing gracefully in front of him just to block any potential escape route.
“We have so much to catch up on, Coach,” she said with a smile that was anything but innocent.
Dick took a slow breath. He had fought crime lords, outmaneuvered Slade Wilson, and stared down the barrel of countless guns. And yet, looking at the familiar, determined faces of his old students, all united in their goal to reclaim their beloved ‘Teach,’ he felt something he hadn’t felt in years.
