Pinned
"Prison? I thought you'd moved beyond this. I'm disappointed, honestly. You're still going by Batman's version of justice"
You know, people love to slap labels on me. Circus kid, Boy Wonder, Batman’s ex-sidekick, Nightwing—take your pick. I mean, technically, they’re all true, but none of them really sum it up. It’s like calling Bruce “just a guy with a car.” Sure, it’s accurate, but it doesn’t exactly cover the whole picture.
For starters, yeah, I grew up in a circus. The Flying Graysons. If you’ve never heard of us, I don’t know what to tell you—maybe get out more? We were kind of a big deal. Swinging through the air, defying gravity, making people gasp—it wasn’t just a job; it was life. Turns out, being raised in a traveling circus full of questionable characters prepares you really well for crime-fighting. Who knew? Acrobatics, showmanship, knowing when someone’s about to try and stab you? Basic skills, honestly.
And then there’s the whole “Robin” chapter. Or saga, really. Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it—working with Batman was... an adjustment. One minute, I’m living on the road with my family, and the next, I’m fighting psychos in Gotham’s alleys with a guy who growls more than he talks. Bruce isn’t exactly what you’d call emotionally available, but the man knows how to get stuff done. Say what you want about his personality (or lack thereof), but he’s good at what he does. Did I enjoy getting lectured about justice while dodging bullets? Not exactly. Did I learn a lot? Definitely.
But here’s the thing about being a sidekick: eventually, you have to stop being one. I’m not saying it was easy breaking away from Bruce—because, wow, it wasn’t—but I needed to figure out who I was without him. Enter Nightwing. New name, new suit, same sarcastic attitude. I ended up in Blüdhaven, a city that makes Gotham look like it’s trying too hard. It’s grimy, it’s messy, and it’s mine.
So, who am I now? Depends on the day. Sometimes I’m Dick Grayson, the guy who drinks too much coffee and still doesn’t know how to fold fitted sheets. Sometimes I’m Nightwing, the guy who flips off rooftops and pretends he’s got it all together. Most of the time, I’m just trying to survive the chaos and not fall on my face. You know, the usual.
See you on the other side, or not.