Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

41: Replaced Worlds I~

Prime Earth - New 52

"His real name is Richard Grayson."

With just 6 words-

There goes Dick's entire life!

The JLA was apparently defeated, the Teen Titans had done the crazy thing and attacked. 

Red Hood? No idea.

Owlman had tried to beat him over to his side, claiming that he was all that crazy man had left. 

Honestly he'd rather die than end up as his Talon!

Dick glanced down at the Murder Machine and sighed. There was no way he was getting out of this trap, he was pretty sure Batman hadn't trained him to get out of something like this but he had trained him to never get captured! 

The station shook a little, making him look around for a bit, trying to figure out what was going on.

After a while and some more tremors three people entered the room and gasped at him.

"Well Luthor, we found Nightwing! Now how are we going to get him out of that thing? Batman might show up soon and lose his mind." Catwoman turned to the villain.

Luthor was still in mild shock when the door behind them slammed shut and Bizarro started to hit it. 

Dick sighed. "It's no use, this room was designed to hold Doomsday." 

Luthor opened up a part of the timer and tried to disconnect it but he cursed when the relays repaired themselves.

Bizarro was watching him before he tilted his head. "Can't... Be... Hero..." 

Dick shook his head. "Not when the world knows who I am... Luthor, the only way to stop this is to stop my heart!"

The villain gaped at him. "Are you trying to give Batman a reason to rip my head off?!" 

"I'm not safe anymore! This whole goddamn world knows I'm Nightwing! Stop my heart and don't bring me back!"

The station shook again and objects from the ceiling fell on the ground, for once Lex was at a loss of what to do. Bizarro placed his hand on Lex's shoulder and pointed at Dick.

"New... World... Safe... To be... Hero."

"Good idea Bizarro, Lex probably has a motherbox and-" Catwoman said.

Lex froze. "I do have one! Grayson, this cardioplegia pill is going to paralyze the surrounding muscles around your heart. It will make you flat line and that is all we need to get you out of this machine! I will give you an adrenaline shot once you're free and we can use the mother box to send you somewhere safe!"

The determination in those blue eyes was breathtaking.

"Do it."

Lex covered Dick's nose and mouth, felt the pill disappear and then they waited until they heard the flatline. "Alright! Catwoman, get this box going!" He tossed it to her and while she activated it he gave the adrenaline shot and had Bizarro help Dick to the portal.

"Don't tell Batman..."

"And risk being gutted? These mouths are sealed, kid."

¤.¤.¤

New Earth - Batman Reborn

Dead Robin: Richard Grayson - Nightwing

Cause of death: Sword to the heart while protecting 5th Robin - Damian Wayne

Killer: The Heretic - Damian Clone

¤.¤.¤

A brightly lit portal opened up in thin air above a roof top and Dick stumbled out before hitting the ground, rolling onto his back as the portal closed.

He blinked up at the star lit sky and sigh.

*Let's see if I can start a new life here. Try to avoid the Bats the best I can if there's another version of me running around. Hope my tracker doesn't-*

"NIGHTWING!"

*-Work! Are you kidding me?!*

Dick noticed that he couldn't move but his whole brain wouldn't work when something small, yellow with a dark hood fell on his chest. The smaller body shook in tears as he lifted his face, smiling down at him and laughed in joy as the tears fell.

Damian?!

No... Not mine... Another.

"HOW THE FUCK DID HE-?!"

"THAT SWORD WENT THROUGH HIM!"

Jason… Tim...

Heretic?!

His version had been killed by The Heretic instead of Damian?!

"Y-You're a-alive." Damian sniffed and placed his head back on Dick's chest, gloved fingers digging into his bare upper body. 

Dick coughed a few times when R.H carefully sat him up. "Easy there, whoa... Look at you! What have you been through?"

"Don't... Remember..." Dick remembered, but with his identity out on his Earth... 

Maybe he had a chance here? 

"B... On the warpath?"

R.R grinned, taking off that funny looking cowl (pre-reboot look) and wiped his tears. "Course he is! Dick you... You died!" Tim laughed when Dick's eyes almost left their sockets in shock. R.H hugged him close while Robin buried his face deeper into Dick's chest, pressing his ear against his 'brother's' heart.

Dick sighed. "Full explanation when I wake up."

"Got it."

000

2 days later Batman sighed when the tests came back.

Richard Grayson - Sure

Their Richard? - Nope

Another one? - Positive

"I was sent here because my identity was revealed to the world."

Batman jumped when Dick appeared out of nowhere, looking at the screens before sighed again. "I hear places were reversed here during the Heretic fight." Batman frowned before taking off the cowl, feeling it might be better to talk human to human instead of human to bat.

"Reversed?"

"My version of Damian was killed... Here it's me. Don't tell them about this (he points at the screen), just let them think I pulled the impossible and survived or came back to life with a slight amnesia. I want to save people and I want to be Nightwing... Or Batman if needed."

Bruce frowned. "Stubborn?"

"Every damn cell in this body."

"Welcome home, Richard."

000

"How could you forget us?!" Stephanie pouted at Dick, who honestly had no idea who the two girls in front of him were. 

So he just played half amnesiac. 

"Sorry, I don't remember anything but being stabbed through the chest... And I should be dead!" He pulled up his shirt over his head and looked at the scars. Hoping this world Richard had had the scars on the same places.

The batkids gaped.

"Where are your scars?"

Dick looked again.

Nothing.

"...Jason, shirt off."

"What?"

"I died with my whole freaking body full of scars, I came back without a single one. Shirt. Off.”

Jason shrugged and pulled his shirt off, the Y was the one that made everyone cringe. Dick noticed a few other scars... Some looked fresh. 

"How long have I been gone?"

"3 months."

Dick put his shirt back on and rubbed his forehead as he sat down and suddenly Damian was attached to him again. He actually didn't mind that. "Well someone's become a cuddlaholic while I've been gone." He chuckled. 

Tim sat down on his left and wiggled under his arm. Dick smirked.

"And you're still a work aholic aren't you?"

Tim's blush was almost the same shade as Robin's tunic.

000

Bruce called Dick to the study on the 5th day.

"How are you settling here?" He asked. The house was empty save for them. Alfred was out grocery shopping and the Batkids had left for a day out, Dick had stayed behind claiming to need some more rest. 

It wasn't really a lie.

Dick sat down and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, interlacing his fingers together and pressed his palms against each other taking his time to gather his thoughts and think of the best way to explain it to a man who wasn't really his father. 

But he was sure the man would love to try.

"I'm getting there, going through every home video and albums that this world’s Richard had. Hoping it'd help me get in character here... But those girls are unfamiliar to me."

Bruce's eyes widened a little. "The blonde girl's name is Stephanie Brown, 4th Robin and current Batgirl."

"4th?! And Damian's is- Holy god how many Robin's are going to hatch?" Dick gaped and leaned back in the chair.

Bruce smirked. "She stole the Robin uniform."

"Pulled a Jason?"

"And she died, killed by Black Mask."

"Is she stubborn?"

Bruce actually cackled. "Her level of stubbornness rivals mine! Both her arms were broken and she was still fighting!" 

Dick was impressed. 

"Please tell me you let her be Robin for a time, I've noticed that it's a great beginners ID and then after a few years and experience that Robin makes its own ID, hanging up the costume for someone else in line."

"I did, and that's what got her killed."

Dick frowned for a moment. 

"What happened... To Richard? Was it Talia? Did she try to take Damian?" 

Bruce nodded and capped his pen, feeling that paperwork could wait. 

This Richard Grayson understandably had questions that he needed answered if he was going to stay here.

"Richard didn't like that, he made sure Damian hit a case of armor that made him black out for a moment and during that, Richard gave his life for us and took Heretic with him. Talia was shocked when Nightwing killed him so brutally without hesitation, just clean and utter hatred and anger. She gave up easily knowing she'd end up the same if she tried getting Damian... We haven't heard from her after that."

"Did you bury him?"

"I couldn't find him, I was still looking when Red Hood radioed in that they had found you... Alive and no trace of a stab wound in the chest." 

At that Dick stood up. "Yeah about that- When I was in that machine I had scars all over my body and here... Not a trace." Bruce stood up and examined himself, nodded a few times before leaning against the desk.

"I'm not all that familiar with alternate universes but it could be that the energy from the portal did that."

"Maybe... Is there something about this world I should know?"

"I think acting amnesiac is safest for now, having other people explain it for you and then act as if it rings a bell or two." Bruce suggested before he grew quiet. Dick saw something in those blue eyes that made the shy little boy in him resurface after years.

"You never got a chance to adopt Richard, did you?"

"You're as good at reading people as Cassandra, the Chinese looking girl. She's the second Batgirl but now Black Bat. And- yes, I never did get to adopt him... Laws had changed over the years so when I took in Jason I had to adopt him. It hurt to see the look of betrayal in Richard's eyes... I'll never forget that look of hatred he had for me... He didn't like any of the kids at first but he warmed up to them after some time. He was the first to trust Damian when he came."

Dick smiled. "Yeah, that little rascal doesn't need encouragement anymore, he's clinging to me all on his own. The second I come into a room he's suddenly glued on me." Bruce's jaw fell and then snapped close.

He wasn't complaining.

"Do you have the adoption papers?" Dick asked. He couldn't go back to his world, he wasn't safe there. He always wanted to be adopted by Bruce but it never happened.

This Bruce was different.

The billionaire nodded and went through his drawers until he found them.

"I don't think Richard will mind... Just being happy that someone is taking care of you all." Dick said as he stood up and grabbed a pen. Bruce nodded and sat down feeling lightheaded as Dick sighed the papers.

Fulfilling both their wishes.

Chapter Text

New Earth - Batman Reborn

Dick had been there for 2 months now.

The people he had met had been shocked, overjoyed and slightly baffled that he was alive.

There was some confusion at first which he blamed on hazy memory for being dead for 3 months, after that they would just kindly correct him and didn't think about it too much. They didn't see him often as he was still resting in the Batcave.

Dick frowned at some of the villain names he was going through.

"That's Pyg."

"AAH! Oh holy feathers!" Dick almost hit the cave ceiling and kept a hand over his out-of-control heart while Damian was beside the chair on the floor, squirming in tearful laughter. 

Bruce ran in from the gym and blinked at the scene before shrugging.

"Guess things are back to normal."

"Having two of you in different sizes running around is not normal!" Dick shouted and was surprised by the responding deep laughter.

He liked this world.

"What do you say about Pig?"

"Pyg. It’s spelled with an Y."

"What's his deal?"

Damian cringed and looked at the half empty tray beside Dick, thankfully the elder caught on fast. Judging by how he moved his lips like he was about to whistle. "Oookay… Don't tell me."

"Good answer."

Dick tapped a few keys and his brows almost hit his hairline. "Is it good that I don't remember any of these guys?" He asked.

Damian all but grabbed his short black spiky hair. "Yes! Thank god you don't!" He exclaimed. 

Their commlinks suddenly crackled and Alfred asked them to join the rest of the family for lunch. Dick, being the ever annoying brother, hoisted Damian over his shoulder and dipped his head inside the gym.

"Lunch before we found out if Alfred is human or not." He grinned when Bruce's head turned towards them and was hit by the swinging sand bag. Bruce grunted as it hit him in the chest. 

"Yeah, be right there..." He said, rubbing the bruised spot as he made his way to the showers.

He smiled seeing Damian upside-down over Dick's shoulder.

000

"Holy… God."

Dick was completely lost staring at the new suit that was in the case before him.

The gray and black body suit was designed for his acrobatic use, the cape was of light material and of course bat wings themed. The suit had blue details like the palms of the two finned gloves, the blue bat spread over the chest and the finger stripes going from the shoulders down to the two middle fingers, the elbow-knee pads and the sole of the boots.

He was definitely going on patrol tonight!

"I think he likes it." Bruce smirked. The kids had been worried he wouldn't like the suit but his face told them others wise- He loved it.

"I'm forced to do some training first right?"

"If you don't mind, you're still a little weak on your legs."

Dick snorted and pointed with his thumb to the case. "From that or the injuries?"

Bruce's eyes widened before he sighed. "Oh crap." 

Dick grinned as he went to change into gym clothes.

000

"How is he?" Superman asked one night. Floating beside the Dark Knight who was perched on a gargoyle. 

Batman was scanning both the city and his kids on the rooftop close by, smiling proudly as Nightwing practically became the shadows. "He's healing, his memories are still hazy but he's getting there. Sleep is a bit of a problem as he keeps seeing his dying moments."

Superman frowned. "There is something different about him."

Batman's eyes widen a little behind the cowl. "Well Red Hood wasn't the same when he came back... Nor was Batgirl." 

The Kryptonian studied the Batkids a few more seconds before sighing. "Maybe you're right."

Phew, dodged that bullet.

000

"Sweet! So the bat-computer is linked to that and with you all the time?!" Dick and Tim were close to drool on the new tech Bruce showed them, so far there was just one.

"Yep and with the way you two are acting I better make more of them."

"YES!" They both shouted, Bruce swore the boys' eyes were blue sparkling hearts. He sent the blueprint to Lucius and heard Tim leave the cave, Dick remained behind. 

"Something on your mind?"

"What if my versions of you all suddenly appear? If we can make those lenses so that they dull my eyes..." Bruce perked up at the idea and looked over to a wide empty area, he didn't know what to do with it. 

"I think I know where you're going with this... You want to trick them into thinking that you belong here but you're blind and the only way you can see is by using those lenses, we could make this hovering device and make them think you're paralyzed."

Dick thought for a moment. "Maybe getting hurt is better."

"I was trying to avoid that!"

Chapter Text

New Earth - Batman Reborn - 3 years later

Bats fluttered back into the cave as the Batmobile parked in its usual spot and a large blur shot out of it and landed before walking towards the computer banks.

Dick angled his head a little.

"You're early."

"I know. But you worry me." Bruce claimed as he removed the cowl and hugged his eldest from behind. "How are the lenses working?"

"Good... Ugh... If I don't use it so often, it doesn't exactly cure blindness." Dick rubbed his eyes before opening them again, showing a mix between gray and light-blue.

Dick had lost his sight about 11 months ago during a fight with Dr. Light and then he had been snatched by Langstrom, who claimed he was helping Nightwing.

If now ‘helping’ was making him slightly part-bat.

Now Dick could navigate just like a bat. And for some scary reason he had managed to tame all the bats in the cave so if he was fighting they would call out from some point and then the thug was down. 

Bruce made special lenses that were actually linked to the Batcomputer but he thought Dick needed it more.

Then Tim started making these small cameras that he attached to the Bats, claiming they would be Dick's eyes through the lenses and the scary part was-

It had worked!

The animal bats snuck in everywhere, listening and recording everything. They became Dick's eyes when out on patrol and if the human bats needed a layout of a place they would scan from the air and inside, the info was sent to Dick's eye lenses and his wrist computer.

Many heroes thought it was creepy how they worked like that.

The Batkids were over the moon every time they had missions like that.

"Are you getting headaches?" Bruce knelt down beside the chair and angled Dick's head so he could look at himself. 

"Yeah... Maybe I should use the lenses during patrol. Give my eyes a break during the day."

Bruce nodded. "Or we could let the magicians lose on you, just so that the lenses don't give you these headaches... Maybe we need to change the settings in the lens itself too." 

Dick yawned and carefully took the lens out. "You fix that, I'm going to bed. ( Whistles) Ace, Titus!"

Both Great Danes came up and Bruce guided Dick's hands to the collars on the dogs and they headed towards the elevator while Bruce sat down to fix the lenses.

000

"Headaches again?" Jason asked as he helped Dick change to his pajamas.

"Mmhmm... The kind that makes me wanna take the pills and then just sleep for the next 48 hours." Dick said and did just that. 

Jason hugged him tight before turning off the lights and closed the door.

"Is Dick asleep already?" Tim asked, balancing a stack of case files, a thermos of coffee, a candy bag and bowl of fruit salad. He was going to have one of those nights. Jason nodded and explained about the headaches, Tim looked at his arms, frowned and then headed inside his room and came out again, with the food but without the files.

"I'm gonna go help dad, see what I can do."

Jason nodded and went to tell the rest of the family.

000

‘Headache huh? Well those lenses weren't made for constant use but I'm glad Dick has informed us about this. You said he was resting?’

"Yeah, clocked out about 5 minutes ago and Jason said he'd be out for 48 hours... Can't really blame him." Tim confirmed, leaning one elbow against the chair and downed coffee from his mug with the other, Bruce holding an equally big mug in his hand while typing with the other.

At least he had changed out of the suit and showered.

Lucius rubbed his chin.

‘Let's see what we can do then and-’

:: Oracle to Batcave! ::

Bruce sat up straighter in the chair. "Batcave, what's going on, Oracle?"

:: Remember that energy spike 3 years ago? The one that appeared out of nowhere and the boys found Nightwing in that same spot? ::

"Yes?"

:: It's happening again, just 4 roofs from where Nightwing was found. ::

‘I'll keep working on the lenses. You check out the spike.’

Bruce ended both calls and then turned on the intercom, remembering to turn off the one that was in Dick's room. 

"Suit up, the energy spike from 3 years ago is back. 4 rooftops from where Nightwing was found." He then started to upload the coordinates to everyone's wrist computers and then ran over to his suit to put it on again.

He briefly wondered if he should check on Dick before he headed out.

What if it was Dick's Batman?

Had he found a way here? Had he come to take Dick home?

They both knew that Dick didn't belong here, but in his world he was dead and his identity was out...

Hopefully they wouldn't stay long and that Dick slept longer than 48 hours...

"Alfred! Go drug Dick so he's sleeping longer than just 48 hours."

000

"Looks like Gotham. But some things are... Unfamiliar..." R.H frowned under the iconic helmet.

"Like those skyscrapers?"

"Yeah."

R.R looked at Batman. "How'd we get here?"

Batman grunted. "Magic and ray gun."

Robin crossed his arms. "So we're stuck here?"

"I hope not because one set of you is enough!"

The Bats turned to see two girls land close by, one with blonde hair, a yellow bat on her chest, purple sides on her costume and the underside of the cape was also purple. The other girl had short black hair, a yellow line of a bat, a tattered looking cape that seemed to move by itself.

Both girls had utility belts with a golden Bat-buckle on them. The blonde girl had a thigh belt on her left leg and a collapsible staff hanging from her belt. Behind them landed their counters but one of them had a different cowl but the insignia on the crossed belts told them who it was.

"Definitely the wrong Earth." Robin said as he took out his katana, not caring one bit about the batglare he got from his father.

The blonde girl turned to her Batman. "Do we have the tech needed to send them home Dad?"

The traveling Bats' jaws hit the ground.

Dad?!

000

"They're yours?" Batman asked once they arrived in the batcave.

Bruce chuckled. "Every one of them. The girls sometimes take a weekend off to spend time with Selina, claiming she's like a mother to them... Which is understandable since Cassandra's mother is Lady Shiva and Stephanie's parents tried to kill her."

The look on Batman's face made Bruce still for a second. "You don't know them in your world?"

"No, I'm not sure they even exist. I only have f-... Three boys."

"You were about to say four..."

Batman's shoulders slumped. "Robin was killed by the Heretic and just 6 months before I got him back... I lost Nightwing to the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3... That was 3 years ago."

So... This was Dick's Batman.

"His identity was revealed to the world but Manhunter changed into Dick and Jason ran around as Nightwing for a few nights so we have diverted people's beliefs and are convinced that Dick is not Nightwing.

No!

The kids came back in, bickering and Robin looked close to murder Damian.

"You said Robin was killed by the Heretic?" Bruce asked.

They all stopped.

"Here it's Richard who was killed... And he took Heretic with him."

Batman gaped. "He murder Heretic?!"

Bruce just shrugged like it didn't bother him. "Talia was dumb enough to try take Damian, that act was enough to make her step down from her attempts... Though she has agreed to call and check up on Damian once in a while."

Robin looked at his counterpart. "She didn't disown you?"

"Richard broke Deathstroke's spine and took his remaining eye after the radio-controlled-spine transplant, she wanted to but thought otherwise." Damian said as he jumped up on Jason's back, he wanted to be on Tim's but he was still too thin. R.H quirked a brow and whistled.

"Your version of Dickie-bird sounds like a monster."

"Dickie-bird?" Tim blinked.

R.H snorted. "His nickname!"

Stephanie looked at her siblings. "Ours goes by Richard."

"He seriously went by his full name here?" Bruce mentally sighed in relief when no one else seemed to notice that Stephanie had said 'goes' .

Batman turned back to Bruce. "Did you attempt to bring him back with a Lazarus pit?"

Bruce flew up in rage. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?!"

Bruce's kids took cover inside the Batmobile and Batman's dove inside the flying Batmobile, thinking that if their counterparts took cover that fast then Bruce's rage must be bad.

Batman actually took a few steps back and was about to speak when-

"Dad?"

Every single head whipped around to the stairs.

000

Dick rubbed his eyes as he sat up and smiled when he felt Ace sniff his hand. "Hey boy, still acting like I'm a newborn puppy?" He asked, rubbing the Dane's head.

Ace barked gently.

"You are aware that I'm a bird right?... Or a Bat-bird." Dick smiled and gently tugged Ace's blue collar. "Think you can help me down to the Batcave? I feel better now so I can help Dad and the others."

Ace barked again and they walked to the elevator, Ace guided Dick's hand to the buttons and he traced his fingers over the dots to find the right floor. 

Alfred had made sure to install these kind of things the first night when it was clarified that Dick was blind.

When the doors opened he frowned hearing several voices, some identical, talking and suddenly he heard his father scream in rage.

"Dad?" Dick called out, felt Ace's head nudge his stomach telling him to stop walking because they were close to the first stair step.

There were a few gasps and then someone ran over to him, taking his arm gently. "I thought you were sleeping?"

Dick didn't know where Bruce was so he just looked ahead. "I was but woke up just a few minutes ago and thought I'd help out with the lenses." He felt Bruce lead him to the chair and Ace laid down beside him.

Bruce opened a small box. "These should make things better and hopefully you won't get those headaches."

"Still going to use them during patrol."

"He's blind?!"

Jason?

Dick frowned and turned the chair a little. "Did Jason hit his head on patrol?" Bruce chuckled as he turned Dick towards him. 

"No, alternate versions of me and the boys. Hold still now I'm going to put in the lenses." Dick held still and blinked a few times and heard Bruce tap on the computer.

Batcomputer link up complete. Nightwing: Lens - active, connection to wrist computer - complete, link up to cave bats - complete, link up to Watchtower - complete

Dick opened his eyes and suddenly he could see everything. Small cross markers fell on a few items and their names would appear in a small box with a line connecting the two (that was new) and he could zoom in and see the Bats in the ceiling (also new).

"Are you okay?" Bruce asked, checking both the computer and looking into Dick's eyes, that now had their clear sapphire color back.

"Yeah, my head doesn't hurt now." He turned the chair around and his jaw dropped. "And one set of you is enough!" 

"That's what I said!" Stephanie said as she dived out of the car and into Dick's lap. He chuckled and placed his chin on her head. "Poor you, but that gives you more victims to prank."

"Sure, I prank them and Cass cuddles them while you walk around Bat-glaring at everything."

"We both know Dad is better at that than me."

Bruce snorted and ruffled Dick's hair. "Think again chum, I'm starting to get rusty on that." His kids collapsed in a fit of laughter while Batman's eyed him nervously.

He wasn't anything like their Batman.

"I thought you said Heretic killed him, and when I asked if you brought him back you lost it." Batman said. 

Dick frowned a little. "I don't remember how I came back... My memories of certain things are hazy... But the portal closed above me so... Heh, I guess I fell from the sky- Again!"

Dick got up and took off his shirt, turning his back to them all and showed them two large scars just by the shoulder blades. 

Batman gaped, R.H fainted, R.R and Robin screamed that it was point blank impossible. 

Bruce just chuckled as Dick's head popped out from his shirt as he put it on again.

"I keep telling people he's an angel, but others keep saying he's a minion of the Reaper."

"Hey! I'm not the only minion!" Dick held his index finger up and then pointed at his siblings.

While they all bickered lightly Batman studied Richard closely...

...There was something about him that seemed...

...Familiar.

Chapter Text

New Earth - Batman Reborn

Bruce hit the mats for the 4th time that round, grinning up at his blind eldest. "Okay- Now I give up!" He confessed, taking his son's hand and pulled him down for a head lock and tickle attack.

Dick squirmed in his father's hold and his laughter echoed in the cave gym. He gasped for breath as Bruce kissed his temple and forehead lovingly.

Batman stood by the door watching the scene and felt his own broken heart ache.

If only he had done that to his version while he was alive.

If only he had cared more about the boys...

Maybe this was his punishment for pushing away those he loved with every cell in his body.

"Dad! Haha I'm not a little kid!"

"Really? To me you're still the same size as you were at 8!"

"I'll tell Grandpa!"

Bruce chuckled. "You do know Alfred would agree right?" 

Dick groaned and yelped when Bruce kissed him again. "You need to shave!"

"I can tell, you've got red marks on your forehead." Bruce agreed while running his hand over his stubble. He hadn't shaved for over 4 days.

Dick used his acrobatics to escape his father's hold and cartwheeled to the door, but since he was blind he didn't know Batman was there. 

The Dark Knight grunted when they collided and Dick panicked. "I'm sorry! I didn't-"

"My fault- Should have told you." Batman said, rubbing his shoulder where Dick's ankle had hit. The young bird was rubbing his arm nervously before he felt Bruce's hand on his shoulder. "Go take a shower, I think Alfred made his chicken dish tonight."

"With garlic bread and salad?"

"He stated that it would be a crime to deny you that, and if he did you were allowed to throw him in Arkham."

Dick giggled. "Arkham was destroyed, remember? Dr. Light's cannon blew a crater in its place, the inmates with it and took my sight too." 

Bruce frowned before he slapped his forehead. "Why do I keep forgetting that?!"

"Well Gotham was known for having a crazy asylum... Now the interesting thing is if we are vampires."

"Tim is proof of that! Alfred opened the curtains in his room and he hissed the moment the sun hit him and he shot into your room!"

Dick almost hit the floor in his laughter. "That's why he was cursing in Romani?!"

"You're the one teaching them that!"

"Cass wanted to learn a few words and then all of them were in the room!"

Bruce whistled and Batman jumped when both Danes appeared out of the shadows.

They were up to his chest!

"I take it Damian feeds them?" Batman asked as Dick took hold of their collars. "Are they guiding dogs?"

"No one taught them, they just did this to me when I was discharged from med bay." Dick said and soon they were gone.

Batman felt that odd tug in his stomach again. It was Dick but not his version.

"I thought I'd never see him again."

Batman looked at his counterpart who was standing by the wooden staff rack, keeping his hand on one of them. His shoulders were slumped and slightly shaking.

"After the Heretic fight we looked for him but only found part of his costume and one of his sticks. We looked for him for 3 months, taking shifts on scout patrol and observing the clean up at Wayne Tower thinking he was somewhere under the rubble... They found Heretic with the second stick in his head, the end with the tasers had a blade at the tip. It was used to stab through and set on the highest setting...

He gave his life to save us and he took that monster with him, Damian-clone or not... Then 3 months later Oracle found an energy spike close to the tower and alerted us. I sent the boys to investigate while I kept patrolling and the girls were at the Tower site. Jason called us frantically but I only heard 'Nightwing is alive' before I bolted over.

I found the boys huddled around Nightwing, he was covered in scratches and bruises. His upper part of the uniform was missing but... He was alive. No scars... No hole in his chest... He was warm and breathing."

Bruce turned around, tears visible in his eyes. "First thing I did after he was discharged was show him the adoption papers. I never thought of doing it before because I thought he was okay just being my ward by then the laws changed... They could take him away from me even though he was an adult and I... We needed him here! He's been my son for 3 years now. About 11 months ago... Well Dick told you what happened at Arkham Asylum."

"So no Joker?"

"Bastard lost his man-part anyway when Dick found out he killed Jason, they let every inmate see Nightwing drag Joker to his cell. Joker was screaming in horror trying to claw out of Nightwing's grip around his throat."

Batman's jaw dropped and he spun around looking at the door and then back at Bruce. "Is that boy human?!"

Bruce shook his head. "Nnnope! That was proven when Stephanie was almost sold to a rapist by her parents. Dick lost all known control and it took every hero and some reformed villains to restrain him. He clobbered Clark and Diana without breaking his hands."

"Then what's he like if someone takes you down."

Bruce shrugged. "No one will tell me, they just dodge it and ask something different... I think he gets so out of control he must have stepped over the line and actually killed someone, since we're against killing they must have thought I would disown Dick and wanted to protect him from it."

"He always thought you were disappointed in him."

Both adults jumped and found Bruce's version of Tim by the door, holding a big mug of coffee. "And yeah, he did lose his mind and nailed the guy. Why do you think Gotham and Blüdhaven's crime rates have dropped?"

"So we're out patrolling for nothing?"

Tim crocked his head. "Didn't say that, since some completely ignore rumors and have to experience them first hand. Then they realize it's a bad idea to show up in the two mentioned cities. I had to call Conner to take me and Damian to Metropolis for some action."

Bruce chuckled. "Blame your brother! I'm still trying to get over the fact that he shot Joker's manpart off."

Tim had taken a swing of his coffee which he spit out and howled in laughter, bringing everyone in the gym. "He shot off what?!"

"Joker's manpart, clean off. And he was still in the body cast Nightwing had put him in before Arkham blew up."

R.H gaped in shock before he too crashed on the floor rolling in laughter, Jason wasn't sure if he was going to laugh or hug the crap out of his older brother. Dick was a beast when he protected those he loved.

Damian was curled into a ball laughing while Tim was trying to hold his mug steady and laugh at the same time.

"So it's not Batman the bad guys should fear? It's Nightwing!" Steph snorted trying to keep her sister on her feet but soon she let her crash on the floor with their brothers and their counterparts.

000

Dick spun in the computer chair, smug smile and eye-lenses in place. "I'm not regretting anything!" He cackled in Batman's face.

"Good to know what we should put on your headstone next time you decide to die." Jason snorted.

"What makes you think we're not immortal after we die the first time?"

"Are you kidding?!"

"Alfred hasn't aged since last I checked." Dick grinned, in his ‘childish’ mind he saw that Batman's eyes almost flew out of his skull, if the cowl hadn't been in place they would have. "I think he might be a vampire?"

"Master Dick!" The butler exclaimed in mocked anger.

The 1st Robin almost fell out of his chair cackling when all the bats almost jumped into the ceiling as the butler appeared out of nowhere. Batman had a hand over his heart and Bruce was using the back of the chair to steady himself, muttering something about his eldest son and his father-figure not being human.

"Okay, how about we find a way to send them home?" Dick asked once he could breath and turned back to the computer.

Batman felt the tug again.

000

2 days later Dick was scanning his findings on the computer through the eye-lenses when Batman approached him. "You're my version... Aren't you?"

A moment passed, a sigh and the windows were saved and closed. A slow turn of the chair and grayish/light-blue eyes looking a little down on the floor since he couldn't pin-point where Batman was.

"I had hoped you wouldn't figure it out."

"Why?"

"My identity was revealed and I wanted to save people. I was sent here and have been living here since and- I have no intention of going back. This is my home now."

Batman clenched his fist. "We faked it, made the people think you were kidnapped and posed as Nightwing. Whenever Dick Grayson needs to make an appearance we have to use a shapeshifter... Come home. "

"I'm just a soldier to you, a ward... A sacrificial lamb you throw to the predators." Dick's hands clenched fistfuls of his far-to-large shirt. "Let me live out my life here. Only this Batman knows I'm not this world's Dick Grayson... I've blamed hazy memories ever since I came here and no one has bothered me about it since... They're just happy I'm around."

Batman felt his throat tighten. "Come. Home." He grinds out. "Your brothers..."

"You never adopted me."

Ice dagger twisting in Batman's heart.

"This world's Batman regretted it so much, and all I ever wanted was to be called your son... Here- Both those wishes were made real and I'm not leaving. Back there- In your world... Stephanie and Cassandra might not exist and they are my little sisters, I love them and everyone here…”

Dick got up. “Don't drag me to a world where my life is over." and Ace stood up as well but Batman got in the way and the Great Dane growled, back hair standing up and teeth visible. 

"Move." Dick ordered.

"You will come home... And I will drag you back if you refuse!"

"Yo B! What's goin' on?!"

Everyone entered the cave along with Clark, Diana and Alfred. Batman threw them a glare before turning back at Dick. "This is our Dick Grayson! He's been alive for 3 years."

The counterparts gaped.

"We know," Clark stated and Dick's head wiped at him... Or where he thought he was... Lenses off and all. 

"You knew?!" 

Diana stepped forward and gently held his chin and guided his head towards her. "Blue Beetle discovered it after that fight that put you in a 3 days coma, but we decided not to say anything when Batman told us the full story... We're sorry we didn't tell you."

"You've known but... You kept me here anyway?" Dick's unsure side resurfaced again after 3 years and the counterparts' jaws lowered even more. 

"We couldn't send you back to a world where you weren't safe and- We all loved Nightwing. We know he would be grateful knowing his family and friends were in safe hands." Clark placed a gentle but strong hand on Dick's shoulder.

Cass looked at Batman. "Let him stay..."

"Bring back your own." Robin hissed.

She shook her head. "We can't because no body was found. We love him... You killed him."

Batman gaped and his sons’ jaws must have reached past Earth's core by that point.

"Cassie, I may be blind as a bat (few laughs) but I can still beat the snot out of bad guys." Dick smiled when she slammed into his chest. "You've chased them away, we had to go elsewhere for action!"

R.H shook his head and raised his hands. "Okay, our version is you... Their version was killed by Heretic instead of the Demon Brat?" Dick nodded and R.H sighed, before he grabbed his gun and fired at Dick.

Who caught the damn bullet in his bare hand!

The 2nd Robin blinked as his gun fell out of his slack hand and R.R fainted. Robin and Batman just stared at him as he opened his palm and the bullet just laid there, slightly bent where the fingers had been.

"...I'm not going with you."

With that he left the cave.

000

Hours later Bruce knocked on Dick's door, waiting until either he left to leave Dick alone for another hour or Dick gave permission.

He opened the door when Dick called for him to enter. "They left a few hours ago, agreeing to go without you after all." Dick nodded as tilted his head where Bruce sat down on the bed.

"I feel better... Knowing I don't have to lie to everyone anymore." Bruce smiled as he sat against the headboard and gently guided Dick to lean his back against his strong chest. "Glad to hear it... And I'm proud of the strength you've shown these past 3 years."

Dick smiled a little. "I belong here now... This is my home... I'm your son... Your Robin."

"Yes... Let us fight your fights with you from now on."

"Okay... Dad."