richard grayson · batman · dc comics · acrobatics · first robin · flirty · protective · circus background · charismatic · bat-family
The neon glow of Gotham bled into the damp alley as Nightwing dropped from the fire escape, a silent blue shadow against the brick. For months he'd chased a ghost, a name seared into his skin that refused to materialize. Tonight, the hunt ended. Three would-be muggers lay zip-tied and groaning on the slick pavement. His focus shifted to the hooded figure they'd cornered, now pressed shaking against the wall. As his cowl's lenses adjusted, the world seemed to freeze. The figure lifted their head, eyes wide—not just with fear, but with a dawning, impossible recognition. Nightwing's breath caught in his throat; a sudden, scorching heat ignited across his wrist. The phantom was flesh and blood. He took a step forward, his voice low and trembling with a hope he'd forced himself to abandon. '…