[Open]

[forceforlight]

Who: Dick Grayson/Nightwing forceforlight and YOU!
What: April catch all
When: During April
Where: Rooftops around the city; a park
Content Warnings: Updated as needed


He knows better than to complain, especially after the past few months in Blüdhaven. It's been a long time since he's had a quiet, even after coming to this world.

Which is why Nightwing sits on the edge of a high rooftop, a bag of bagels on the rooftop behind him and a cup of coffee warming his hands. After all, early spring isn't any warmer in Michigan than it is in New Jersey.

"I'm going to jinx myself if I say it," he says to whomever shows up, without looking their direction. He's just really used to listening for people coming up behind him. "But, damn, it's quiet."



The name "circusbrat" wasn't taken on TikTok. Not that Dick had any real plans of what to do with it. So far, he'd posted a few short videos of him at a local circus school, doing some tricks on the silks and the lines. There were also a few from the park, with him doing some simple, if impressive, gymnastics.

Which is what he's doing now: filming himself doing handstands.

However, every time he starts, he ends up in a heap of giggles as Haley runs in and hops up to lick his face. "Haley, no," he says, gathering the puppy up and ruffling her ears. "We really need to work on your stay, don't we?"

Comments

[robintohood]

Jason barks out a laugh.

"I could handle myself just fine," he grins. "Even if I had to hitch a ride with Starfire a couple of times."

Not that he's complaining about how she pitched in to help him.

[forceforlight]

[That has the corner of Dick's mouth kicking up a bit.]

If you have to hitch a ride with anybody, Starfire is one of the best. Even if she does tend to armpit you.

[robintohood]

"It's not any worse than literal piggyback on a Flash," Jason points out. "I know you've had to do that too."

[forceforlight]

"Still better than the bridal carry." Which...armpited was also still slightly better than bridal. As long as you were conscious enough to hold on, at least. "He never has an answer when I ask if you there's a better way. I mean, he's been to the future, right? He should know if there's a better way."

[robintohood]

Jason laughs again.

"You would think. Then again, maybe it's just all the same to them. What would you have preferred?"

[forceforlight]

"I don't know. Something that doesn't make me feel like I'm five years old?" Dick shakes his head with a huff. "I mean, it's Flash, it's not like the ride lasts long, usually. But how would YOU like to find yourself in front of Mr. Terrific clinging to Flash's back?"

[robintohood]

"Probably like I'm back in the green shorts again," Jason replies, amused. "Bet you Big Blue had to haul B at least a couple of times like that."

[forceforlight]

"Oh, I've had a piggy back ride or two from Big Blue. Admittedly, I WAS in the green shorts at the time, myself." It's a little easier, somehow, to accept it when it's Superman. Also, when he was 12. "But yeah, he's definitely had to do it to B and I'm sure you can imagine what B's face was like when he got home."

[robintohood]

"I've probably seen it a couple of times when he came home," Jason smirks. "The man can make a dozen contingency plans during a mission but sometimes not even he can escape the awkward ask for a last-minute flight or superspeed ride."

[forceforlight]

"Happens to the best of us. Plan for everything that could happen during a fight, then realize the one thing you didn't plan for was a way to get home." Not that Dick's ever had that problem. Mostly because he never has had a problem with asking for a ride back.

[robintohood]

"And you could only have so many places to park the car or the plane," Jason laughs. "He's just a grumpy bastard as he gets carried all the way to the cave."

[forceforlight]

"He absolutely is and you know there's only one person who remembers to thank Blue." Which is Alfred.

Or was.

It's weird that the memory is fond rather than painful at the moment. It's nice, for once.

[robintohood]

Jason still makes a small smile, knowing who Dick means. He misses their surrogate grandfather.

"Someone's gotta. God forbid B does it, unless maybe it's after saving the world."

[forceforlight]

Dick smiles, too, and nods. "Best not to pick up any of his worse habits. We've all picked up too many of them as it is."

[robintohood]

"Says you. I think we're perfectly well-adjusted and normal. Practically boring. Oh and by the way, we need to restock on smoke bombs and flash grenades," Jason says in a purposely overly cheerful voice.

[forceforlight]

"I mean...sometimes, it all depends on your definition of normal." Dick shakes his head, nudging Jason a little.

[robintohood]

"Don't think any of us were ever normal even before the capes and tights, circus boy," Jason says, lightly nudging back.

[forceforlight]

"The circus is perfectly normal," Dick replies mildly with a grin. "It's the rest of the world that is weird."

[robintohood]

Jason snorts in amusement.

"Guess so. Spending part of your childhood hanging out with elephants and knife throwers does sound better than what's 'normal.'"

[forceforlight]

"See, that's what I say. But people always seem to think that's odd." Dick shrugs, the grin widening. Because, yes, he knows it's not 'normal', but it probably made him a better Robin at the time.

[robintohood]

"Why settle for normal anyway when you got 'exciting' as an option?"

Painful as it is to look back at some memories, even Jason has to admit that being Robin made him happy.