#fics please

Think of it like this. The people of Gotham barely know Batman exists, he’s sort of this urban legend that everyone’s 87% sure is real because they all know someone who knows someone who knows someone that’s been saved by or put in the hospital by Batman. There’s been random shit about this fucking kid? What the hell, Batman? And it isn’t until the Justice League is it like totally confirmed Batman exists.

Now, Robin still isn’t really out there. Depending on canon, he might’ve founded Young Justice, he might’ve founded the Teen Titans, some neither of those exist until later or not at all. If he was on a team, even if he was regularly seen, motherfucker dips at some point but Batman is still seen with a child in the same outfit, with the same shit. Maybe he got grounded. Some goons say that Robin’s kinda different, speaks sort of weird, he’s got a happier personality, but sure, if he just spent a while with friends, of course he’d be happier.

This hero pops up in Blüdhaven. Not unheard of, not unknown. Maybe he joins/founds the Titans, seems to work his way through to the top. He seems cocky and well loved. Not secretive like Batman and Robin. He’s a hero of the city, usually.

And then Robin dies. It’s known in Gotham because Joker is a bragger, and Batman’s seen without Robin. Robin isn’t on any teams. Nobody but Batman’s closest confidants (and people who are way too into superheroes *cough cough Tim Drake*) would know there was two.

But now there’s another? And then a girl for a moment? Oh the first another is back. Nevermind. Oh that one for sure is a different guy, he’s got a goddamn sword. Nightwing seems to be around on occasion, sure, but he’s literally a city over, makes sense. Batman’s paired with weirder people.

So, the extended hero universe probably thinks the first Robin’s dead, or, he’s retired. Which, yeah, totally. Understandable.

So imagine this interaction.

Random JLA member: Damn, Nightwing. Sweet moves out there. How long have you been doing this for?

Nightwing, mentally calculating: Uhhh about twenty years?

JLA member: YOU’RE FORTY??

Nightwing: ??? No?? Oh God do I look forty?? I had my twenty-eighth birthday like two months ago!

JLA member: HUH??

Nightwing: ????

I want to read more about these two

(mini latenight rant below)