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It was a very unusual occurrence that basically the entire community of heroes was in the Batcave and Bruce was not very happy about it but he knew it was necessary. Especially after all the dangers and risks they had all been through over the past few months.
Let's start at the beginning.
It all started when Bruce was in the Batcave, updating some reports and doing his best to ignore the sounds of sparring among his kids. At that time Bruce, Jason, Tim, Steph, Cass and Damian were there while Dick, on the other hand, was in Bludhaven. It seemed to be a normal afternoon until Alfred quickly descended the stairs leading to the cave with a more stoic look than usual.
That was the first wake-up call.
"Bruce, Superman's been shot."
Those words immediately silenced the noises in the background and immediately all the Bats approached the Batcomputer while Bruce stared at Alfred with a surprised look.
As they soon found out via local Metropolis news, Superman was completely motionless on the ground in the center of a crater and at his side were a terrified and panicked Lois Lane, several surgeons who tried unsuccessfully to operate on him, some policemen and many civilians who recorded the scene.
This was followed by a real hell of a situation. To their horror they discovered that Superman was not the only one who risked his life.
It had been a combined and carefully thought out attack.
Flash had a bomb attached to his wrist and if he had slowed down even in the slightest it would have exploded.
Martian Manhunter was injected with magnesium nanites that burn on contact with air: thus the Martian's body was completely on fire and these would never be extinguished, even if countered with a fire extinguisher or underwater. His agony-filled, heartrending screams made even vigilantes of the caliber of Red Hood and Black Bat shudder.
Wonder Woman was also injected with nanites that made her imagine she was fighting an endless wave of Cheetahs. She would never stop, and this would eventually cause her heart to collapse, leading to her death.
Green Lantern Hal Jordan had been led to believe through a variant of the fear toxin that he was responsible for the deaths of many civilians because of his own wrong choice. This would lead to weakening his willpower, making him believe that he was not worthy of the ring since fear is the enemy of will. Similarly happened to the other Green Lanterns present on Earth at that time, such as Guy Gurdner and Jessica Cruz.
Aquaman was also administered a variant of the fear toxin that would cause him to become hydrophobic, forcing him to stay out of any watery zone causing him to become weaker by the second.
Zatanna and Shazam had both been hit by a magical attack that gagged them and there was no way to remove the gag from their mouths, rendering them useless.
Red Tornado had been taken down by an electromagnetic pulse so strong that it completely shut him down and his programming had been largely changed.
Even Dr. Fate had been felled with fucking nerve gas, one of the most dangerous and deadly gases in the world, since the wizard is not invulnerable to gas attacks. It had been especially hard to see one of the strongest heroes like Dr. Fate near death.
Hawkgirl and Hawkman's situation was quite similar to Wonder Woman's since the Thanagarian and Amazonian warrior training were very similar in many ways and even they would not give up and eventually die of exhaustion, just as would happen to Diana.
Green Arrow and Black Canary were attacked together and by surprise and were overpowered: the former's injuries included the fracture of his arms, rendering him useless in his specialty as an archer, while the latter had been injected with a good amount of some substance that made her mouth fall asleep, robbing her of her canary scream.
Plastic Man had been completely frozen, and if anyone tried to break the ice it ran the risk of permanently destroying his body, even though it was nearly indestructible.
"What the hell is going on?" had shouted Red Hood.
Red Robin stared in horror at Batman, the realization dawning in his masked eyes. "Batman, those are-"
"Yes." growled Batman. "The Justice League is under attack."
"By whom?" had asked Alfred.
"By me!" Batman slammed his fist violently into the wall, creating an impressive hole. "Someone has stolen my contingency plans and used them against the Justice League!"
To their horror they soon found out from a somber phone call from Nightwing that the heroes of the JL were not the only ones who had been attacked and taken down but also heroes belonging to the Titans and Young Justice.
Jason literally saw green when he found out that Artemis of Bana-Mighdall and Bizarro, his teammates from the Outlaws, had been taken down.
Even John Constantine had been attacked and even he was barely alive.
The entire community of heroes had been completely taken down, and the only ones left standing were the Bats.
Before they could figure out who the hell had stolen Batman's plans, the Bats immediately took to the field to rescue the downed heroes but secretly to avoid detection and being shot down as well.
It took a long time and many hours of sleep were sacrificed, but in the end the Bats managed to save them all in the most secret and hidden way possible, managing to avoid being too exposed.
Eventually the heroes found out about Batman's contingency plans and were not very happy about it. They put aside their thoughts, however, to find out who had stolen them, and eventually the culprits were discovered.
The executioners of the near complete slaughter of the hero community were Ra's Al Ghul and Lex Luthor who allied with each other and with a great many other super-villains such as Sinestro, Black Manta, Cheetah, Bane, the Joker, etc.
Eventually the Bats, JL, Titans and Young Justice located their location, devised a plan and all together took them down.
And did everyone live happily ever after?
Of course not. Bruce thought with a grimace.
Because at that moment all the heroes were gathered in his cave for an explanation.
"How could you do this? It's a complete violation of our trust!" growled Wonder Woman, giving him a dirty look.
Practically all the heroes agreed with her and a confusing murmur of indignant shouts and mutterings was created in the cave, giving Batman a headache as he pulled down his cowl and pinched the bridge of his nose.
The whole mess was interrupted by the least expected person.
"Everybody shut the fuck up!" growled Dick Grayson-Wayne loudly and his sudden and unexpected outburst immediately silenced the commotion.
Bruce let out a sigh of relief, mentally thanking his firstborn.
And that's why Dick is my favorite.
"I know you're pissed off because Batman has come up with contingency plans to take you down or at worst kill you and you have every reason in the world to be but damn it, use some of your miserable brains!" growled Nightwing who began pacing back and forth as the heroes made room for him, intimidated by the vigilante of Bludhaven.
"Many of you are the most powerful heroes on Earth and possess enormous powers. But what if you end up under mind control or, God forbid, for one reason or another turn to the dark side? It is obvious and right that plans must be devised in advance to take down any of you." Dick raised a hand, effectively nipping any protest in the bud. "I know you are pissed off at Bruce for not telling you anything, and as I said before you are right.
"Bruce was wrong not to tell you, on that point there is no arguing." Dick cast a meaningful glance at his father who nodded slightly. "But Bruce was not wrong to make those plans."
"So you knew!" accused him angrily Lagoon Boy. "You knew and you never said anything to any of us! Not even the Justice League!"
"Of course I did. While I was still Robin for some of the early plans against the JL I even helped B make them." replied Dick coldly, catching everyone off guard by both the tone of his voice and the revelation. "I warned him over and over again, though, that he should have told you and that if he didn't sooner or later it would come back to bite him in the ass."
Bruce nodded. "That's true. Dick always insisted that I should have told you but I never did." he confirmed. "Before you accuse him again, I specifically ordered him not to reveal those plans or else I would have taken back his Robin mantle."
At the reminder of that Dick threw him a bat-glare at which Bruce actually shuddered shamelessly.
Bruce had long since accepted that Nightwing's bat-glares are scarier than Batman's.
"I bet Batman has made contingency plans against everyone but his own family!" accused Guy Gurdner.
Dick taunted him and rolled his eyes. "Please, we are talking about the most paranoid man in the world. It is obvious that he has carried out plans even against his own family. And I'm sure of that because I've seen the folder that contains those files, although I haven't read them because I don't want to know the full details of how to bring down my own family, thank you very much." Dick bit back more sarcastic than he intended.
He blamed all his lost hours of sleep. "So I can assure you that contingency plans also exist against all of us Bats, including me of course." Dick asserted, missing behind him Bruce's uneasy look that quickly disappeared and no one noticed.
"Then why couldn't they steal the files that contained the plans for how to take you down?" asked Cyborg without any judgment, questioningly tilting his head to the side.
"Because the defense of those files is higher than those containing the plans on how to take you all down." replied Dick simply and he ignored the sounds of indignation. "Now if you don't mind I'm going back to Bludhaven to catch up on all the lost sleep, so if you need anything call me in at least a week."
Most of the heroes did not understand whether the former Robin was serious or not but in any case they kept his words in mind.
Dick gave a general salute to all the heroes, climbed into his Wing-Cycle and exited the Batcave which closed seconds later.
Batman could not blame his son and for his recent behavior. Although all the Bats had been through hell the past few months the situation was far worse for Dick.
It was Dick who was literally the glue not only of the Bat Family but also of the entire hero community, and he had a personal bond with all the heroes, bar none.
Bruce did not know for sure how many hours of sleep Dick had had in the past two months and honestly did not want to know the answer.
For a brief moment there was an awkward silence in the cavern that was interrupted by a frowning and arms crossed Aquaman. "I'm sure we all at least deserve to read your files on how to take us down."
A general murmur filled the room and Bruce let out a pained sigh, reluctantly knowing that it was simply karma coming back to bite him in the ass.
Screw it, I should have listened to Dick many, many years ago.
And so the heroes began reading files focused on how to take them down, even permanently. Soon they noticed a common phrase present at the end of every single file about every superhero on Earth.
"If all plans fail, contact Nightwing."
"Hey Batman, why is it always the same phrase at the bottom of every file to contact Nightwing in case your plans fail?" asked Wally West genuinely confused.
All the heroes stared at Bruce waiting for an answer, including the other Bats. Tim muttered a "I swear that phrase was never in any file" that was completely ignored.
"Because that's what needs to be done." Bruce simply replied with a look that clearly indicated that he was thinking about how stupid that question was.
The Caped Crusader looked up as he saw confusion growing in the gazes of all the heroes, his kids included. Only Alfred was not the least bit surprised. "Nightwing is one of the most competent heroes ever. While I excel at planning ahead, a skill Dick fully possesses, he is the best not only at improvising but also at finding something I missed and using it to his advantage. He can observe situations from a certain perspective that I struggle to find."
The silence that followed was interrupted by a low whistle from Jason. "And then you deny that Golden Boy is not your favorite." he muttered with no real heat behind it.
"You seriously think Nightwing can take down any of us?" asked Hawkman in surprise, skepticism filling his tone of voice.
"Yes." replied Batman without any hesitation. Then he cast a sharp glance in the direction of all those who possessed superpowers or superhuman abilities. "Just because you are endowed with superpowers that set you apart from the rest of humanity does not mean you are invincible. All of you will die one day or another. And Nightwing knows all your weaknesses and will not hesitate to exploit them if the situation calls for it."
"Do you really think Dick can kill any of us?" asked Zatanna shocked.
"...It depends. If it is an extreme situation that puts many innocent lives, or those of his family, at risk, then it is likely."
"Nightwing does not kill." declared Cassandra Sandsmark confidently.
"Nightwing has killed the Joker in the past."
The revelation triggered a general shock. Only Tim, Alfred and Steph were not surprised.
"Dick did what?" blurted Jason aloud, staring at his father with a stunned and shocked look.
"I'll explain the details later." brushed Bruce off. "If the Joker is still alive, it is because I did not want Dick to carry a huge burden like that. He would not have been able to completely forgive himself."
Bruce knew from Jason's hard stare that they would talk about it as soon as everyone left the cave.
It was not a conversation he really wanted to have with his second Robin but he owed it to him.
"We're getting a little off topic." Blue Beetle helpfully reminded. "The other Robins know all our weaknesses too, so why is it different with Nightwing?" he asked.
"I'll answer that question later." replied Batman enigmatically, making everyone groan in annoyance. "Go ahead and read your files. I want you out of my cave as soon as possible."
Some giggled while others groaned aloud but still obeyed him. A little over an hour passed when finally everyone had finished reading Gotham's vigilante files.
"We deserve to read the files concerning your family as well." stated Conner Kent, crossing his arms with a frown.
"Absolutely not."
"But-"
"No."
"Think about it, Bruce." attempted Barry Allen to intervene in a more reasonable voice. "In the event that any of your family members become villains we have a right to know about their weaknesses and how to defeat them."
"If something like that should happen then it will be exclusively a matter of my family." Batman said in a cold and emotionless voice. "Only in the event that the threat increases in level then I will contact you, although it is unlikely to happen."
"Are you so sure that none of your people become evil, Bats?" snorted Oliver Queen.
"That and also the fact that we have Nightwing on our side."
A good portion of the heroes groaned. "You're too fixated on your firstborn, man!" complained Plastic Man.
"It is true that Dick is an extraordinary hero but he cannot have a solution for everything. He is only human and even he has limitations." Supergirl reasoned.
Bruce gave her a bored look. "Name me a better person than Dick who can get a Bat Family member who is at risk or has already taken to the dark side back on the right path."
Kara hesitated as did the rest of the heroes. "Point taken." she admitted.
"Regardless, I think we have a right to read your plans against your sons." Artemis Crock insisted, returning to the main topic.
Batman opened his mouth to protest once more but was interrupted by Spoiler. "Come on, Bruce! They're right and you know it too!" she asserted.
"Yeah, don't be overprotective about us, old man." Red Hood added with a smirk.
"And frankly, all of us are curious about your plans against us." Red Robin pointed out.
Black Bat merely nodded.
"And I wouldn't mind knowing the weaknesses of these imbeciles." scoffed Robin, getting annoyed but not surprised sighs and groans from his siblings in response.
Finally Bruce gave up and grumbling disgruntledly typed into the Batcomputer. Within seconds the file including contingency plans against the Bat Family appeared on the screen and opened, revealing a series of files. "I hope you're happy now." Bruce grunted, clearly showing his disapproval and displeasure.
The contingency plan against Spoiler stated that she was a fairly experienced vigilante, a good fighter, unpredictable at times, a good detective with good deductive skills and although she had overall good skills in some areas, she did not excel too much in any of them, which is why she would not be too difficult to take down.
Stephanie gasped dramatically once she finished reading her own file. "Tough, Bruce." she joked, showing no resentment toward her father figure.
After all it was the truth and she knew it.
At least in her defense Steph could say that she was the healthiest of all the Bat Family vigilantes.
The contingency plan against Red Robin praised his unique intelligence, his excellent skills as one of the world's best strategists, and his potential to become the world's best detective, surpassing even Batman himself. It thus showed both how Tim excelled in the areas of intelligence, strategic skills and being an excellent detective but also how the third Robin's weakness was hand-to-hand combat, despite the fact that he trained for some years under Batman and Nightwing and for a short time under Lady Shiva and Ra's Al Ghul. Certainly he was a great fighter but simply that was the indisputable truth.
"I can't deny that." Tim admitted. "Yes, I am very good at hand-to-hand combat but I much prefer intelligence."
"Pathetic." scoffed Damian, wincing when Cassandra slapped him on the head.
The contingency plan against Robin highlighted his training under the League of Assassins in his first ten years of life followed later by training under Nightwing and Batman. Although Damian has unquestionable potential in front of him his weakness, besides the fact that he was still a child, was his arrogance, his conceit and the fact that he often tends to underestimate his opponents.
Damian crossed his arms with a deep frown, unknowingly pouting. His frown deepened when he heard Drake chuckle and kick him in the shin, smiling contentedly when he felt him wince slightly.
The contingency plan against Red Hood highlighted his training under Batman for a few years -the shortest of all the Robins, Steph excluded- followed later by his training in the League of Assassins. His weakness is anger and the file explained that if Jason allowed himself to be controlled by the influence of the Lazarus Pit he would lose total control over himself, leading him to become more violent but also more reckless and risky.
Artemis of Bana-Mighdall gave Jason a mocking pat on the back, chuckling when he grumbled disgruntledly.
The contingency plan against Black Bat explained how she was the best hand-to-hand fighter in the whole world along with her mother, Lady Shiva. Her strength is her specialty in reading people's body language as if it were her first language. At the same time, however, if for some reason, such as magic, she were to lose this specialty of hers she would definitely be easier to defeat since Cassandra relies too much on it and thus would not be able to adapt quickly without this skill of hers. Another reason that would lead to her defeat was if she encountered someone capable of evading her and her ability to read others.
Cassandra merely nodded in agreement with what Batman had written and gave him a meaningful look.
With that look alone Bruce knew that Cass already knew who he was implicitly referring to in that second instance.
The contingency plan against Alfred Pennyworth explained that his greatest weakness was his advanced age. Although endowed with great intelligence, vast wisdom and experience, obviously Alfred would be at a distinct disadvantage in a direct confrontation, despite his training under UK's MI6.
"I can't believe it. You even have a contingency plan against your butler and father figure." Hal Jordan shook his head in disbelief.
Alfred stoically arched an eyebrow. "Do you think I would not be a threat, Mr. Jordan?"
Hal winced at the gaze of Agent A. "No no, it's just that..." he swallowed uncomfortably under the butler's impassive gaze and turned to Flash. "Dude, help me!" he whispered frantically, seriously fearing for his life.
"As if I'd stand a chance against Alfred." Barry taunted him.
There were contingency plans also against other members of the Bat Family like Oracle, Huntress, Batwoman etc who were a low to mid-level threat.
All of the contingency plan files against the Bat Family also contained the same final script that the contingency files against all the other heroes contained.
"If all plans fail, contact Nightwing."
The next contingency plan was about Batman and contained a single sentence.
"Contact Nightwing."
"I would have thought the JL was the plan against you." Superman admitted confusedly.
Batman gave him an unimpressed look. "After all the plans I've made against every single member of the Justice League?"
"Point taken."
"Why Nightwing?" groaned Booster Gold in frustration. "What is it about that boy that makes him so special?"
"Nightwing's complete training far exceeds my own. He is a far better hand-to-hand fighter than I am."
"Are you really claiming that?" asked Roy Harper. "People, tell me you're hearing this too or I swear I'm going crazy."
Bruce ignored him and explained himself further.
"As most of you know, I have been traveling the world for about a decade to become the best in every way. I have trained to make my body and mind perfect. I trained under the best and once I completed my training I started patrolling Gotham when I was about 21 years old, only two years before I took in Dick.
"Dick had circus acrobat training from birth from the best acrobats in the world for his first eight years of life. When unfortunately his parents died, Dick had immediately become the world's best acrobat and the only person in the world capable of performing a quadruple somersault. While I have been trained by the best warriors in the world Dick has an advantage over me: starting when he was eight years old he has been trained for almost a decade by the best of them all, that is by myself. There is the fact that he started patrolling the streets of the most dangerous city in the world when he was only eight years old, much younger than when I started.
"Not to mention how his Robin training was much harder, more intense, more efficient than any other Robin I've ever trained."
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Jason gruffly, not having yet swallowed properly the pill from earlier that his father had casually dropped.
Damn it, someone in his fucking family could have had the decency to tell him that his older brother had actually killed his killer by avenging his fucking death!
"His Robin training lasted almost a decade, the longest of any Robin, and he was the youngest of all Robins when he began his training. I could never have imagined that I would have any other Robin besides Dick, so I trained him in the hardest, most efficient, intense, vast and brutal way possible. While I required perfection from the rest of you, I required absolute total perfection from Dick."
"Bruce, what the hell did you do?" whispered Tim.
"I taught him everything i could. When Dick was young, he was taught by me all the arts of combat.
"And he mastered them all expertly."
"WHAT?"
His sons looked at each other shocked. They thought that only Batman knew all the martial arts in the world but they had just found out that their older brother knew them all too.
They certainly did not know them all.
And apparently Bruce had also literally taught Dick everything, which he definitely had not done with them.
"I taught him many things that I never taught you. I taught him moves that I never taught you. I made him repeat over and over again for many times every single training until his muscle memory had learned it permanently and he would never forget it. Dick trained under the entire Justice League. He trained for about six or seven years under Wonder Woman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Dr. Fate and others. All of them taught him things that I could not teach him.
"I trained him to eliminate the entire Justice League since he was nine years old. He beat the first Leaguers when he was only twelve years old. At about fifteen he already knew how to eliminate every member of the League. His brain had already perfectly memorized all their strengths, all their weaknesses and how to use them to his advantage. This is partially one of the main reasons why Nightwing is the contingency plan against a mentally controlled JL or in case any of its Leaguers went over to the dark side."
"Partially?!" repeated Artemis Crock with a hysterical cry.
The other Robins stared at each other still shocked and horrified, knowing full well that none of them had ever personally trained with the JL.
Batman ignored how he had just dropped such a bombshell on all of them and continued in a carefully hollow voice.
"It's not over from here. I trained him not only to take down the entire Justice League, potentially even on his own, but I trained him to take me down as well. He is the only one who knows all my weaknesses because I was the one who taught them to him until his brain memorized them to total perfection."
"Jesus, Spooky." whispered Hal.
All the heroes were completely shocked and horrified by the Caped Crusader's revelations.
"Why did you reduce the training of the other Robins?" asked Donna Troy even if she began to think she knew the answer.
Bruce stared at her for a few seconds before his gaze fell on his sons, especially Jason. "When he learned that I had taken in Jason and that he would soon begin training as Robin he stopped by the Manor not only to meet him but also to warn me."
"Warn you?"
"Dick told me that he loved me and that I was the best parent he could have wished for after his parents died." his voice cracked slightly, charged with emotion, but no one gently pointed it out. "But Dick threatened me that he would take Jason with him to Bludhaven if I trained him the same way I trained him."
A collective surprised gasp filled the cavern. Jason opened his eyes wide in shock and staggered backward as if he had been struck. It was Bizarro who grabbed him by the shoulders, fixing him with a worried look to which Red Hood responded with a vague gesture with his hands.
"And I immediately agreed to reduce the training of Jason and all future Robins. Because staring at Dick's face I realized what I had done.
"There in that moment I realized that I had begun to shape my son into the most dangerous weapon on Earth."
"Fucking Hell!" hissed John Constantine.
"Wait a minute! Begun?" Jessica Cruz repeated incredulously.
Bruce sighed, rubbing his eyes wearily. "I wasn't his only mentor."
"WHAT?"
The billionaire winced slightly at the collective cry and began to explain. "When he was still Robin he managed to impress Lady Shiva." Cassandra Cain gasped minutely. "She was impressed with his fighting skills and offered to train him. I know Dick accepted her offer months before he assumed the Nightwing identity. She improved his hand-to-hand combat, his ability to reading people and how at the same time not being read by other people. The fact that he could mask his emotions and read body language was an ability that Dick fully possessed thanks to his life in the circus. Furthermore, she trained him to master weapons such as daggers, scythes, shurikens and other less common weapons.
"Dick also trained under the Court of Owls. Apparently his great grandfather, William Cobb, is one of the best Talons and Dick was originally intended to be the best Talon the Court could ever have. Known as The Talon and like the Gray Son, Dick would have been the one to lead the Court of Owls to take over Gotham. That would have been if Tony Zucco had never sabotaged the trapeze wires."
"Are you telling me that son of a bitch saved Dick in a way?" Roy asked in shock.
Batman shrugged. "In a way yes, he did. That's because Haly's Circus was a cover for training acrobats who would later become Talons: ruthless, without free will assassins with superhuman physical abilities and massive healing factors in the service of the Court of Owls."
"Jesus Christ."
"While Dick was about thirteen he was kidnapped by the Court. It took me weeks to discover their main base where they were hiding Dick and I arrived just in time to prevent them from killing him and injecting electrum into his blood, a substance that it would bring him back to life but without a heartbeat, a pale face full of dark veins and giving him the superhuman abilities typical of a Talon, not to mention brainwashing him.
"In those weeks, however, not only did they torture him every day but they also trained him, teaching him extreme things: they trained him until he became the best in the world in mastering any type of knife, they made him learn, for example, how to decapitate a person, how to how to kill cleanly and without leaving traces and other things."
"I guess I'm not feeling well."
Bruce ignored the interruption and continued, this time his jaw settling.
"Dick also trained under Deathstroke The Terminator."
"Slade?!" cried the original members of the Titans in shock, knowing the mercenary's obsession with their former leader.
For all the heroes it was still inconceivable how Dick and Slade went from being rivals and arch-enemies to becoming some kind of friends, respecting each other.
"That's right. For those who don't know, initially Dick was forced to become Wilson's apprentice because he had injected nanobots into the bodies of the other original Titans and could kill them with the push of a button. Dick was then forced to become his apprentice under the codename of Renegade for about two weeks. Eventually the Titans figured it all out and Dick was able to get out of Wilson's control.
"But Dick's training under Deathstroke isn't limited to just those two weeks."
"What are you saying?" Garth asked fearfully what the answer would be.
"Wilson's original intent was to train Dick to be the next Deathstroke The Terminator." he revealed, shocking everyone. "But in the end he understood that Dick would never become like him. In any case he left the door open in case Dick wanted to train with him."
"Are you saying that despite the fact that Slade knew Dick would never become a mercenary like him, he still volunteered to train him?" Raven asked in surprise. "Why would he do such a thing?" she asked after receiving a nod of the head.
"Because Wilson saw immense potential in Dick and according to him it would have been a real shame to waste it."
"Are you implying that Dick has accepted his offer?"
Bruce nodded sharply at Kaldur's question. "Dick trained under Deathstroke for about a year until he learned everything Wilson knew.
"Dick learned to use guns with more than excellent and unerring aim until his body and mind instinctively and automatically learned to strike every single organ of a human being, from the most vital to the least vital, and now Dick knows exactly where to hit to kill or not to kill a person and knows exactly how long it will take for the person to die based on the area of the body hit.
"Wilson trained him to use sniping until he became a real expert. Again his aim is infallible and perfect.
"Wilson has improved his hand-to-hand combat, greatly increasing the limits of his body and further increasing his physical abilities. Wilson has also greatly improved his sword fighting started already from Wonder Woman.
"From the way I've seen Dick stare at his opponents necks and his hands clenching into fists, I assume Wilson taught him how much force it takes to fatally or non-fatally snap a person's neck or how to permanently lock the person's neck. Probably same thing for cracking ribs, bones and anything else. But above all, he taught him a very dangerous thing."
"As if what you just listed wasn't extremely dangerous or creepy." Cassandra Sandsmark drawled sarcastically.
Bruce ignored her. "I taught him not to get overwhelmed by anger that would make his moves sloppy, making him more vulnerable. But Wilson trained him to channel anger and use it to his advantage, making him even more dangerous and deadly.
"It should also be considered his training with Richard Dragon, one of the best fighters in the world, and Wildcat, the best boxer in the world."
"Anything else we need to know?" Hal asked sarcastically.
"As I told you before Dick has trained regularly with the entire Justice League and knows how to take them all down. But that's not all. Dick has also trained regularly for years with the Titans and with the Young Justice and again knows the weaknesses of the heroes who are part of them.
"This indicates that Dick has not only trained but also fought very frequently with gods, demons, Atlanteans, Amazons, shapeshifters, cyborgs, Green Lanterns, Martians, Kryptonians, aliens, sorcerers, speedsters and more.
"Must also be considered his time as Agent 37 and as a spy inside Spyral, one of the most dangerous organizations ever."
"You mean when you and Dick announced to the entire hero community and even the villains affiliated with Nightwing that there was going to be Dick's funeral so he could play James Bond?"
Bruce nodded to Jason's question, mentally thanking how well he handled things.
God only knows what would have happened if Bruce, due to his constipated emotionality, had decided to send Dick undercover without saying anything to anyone.
He shivered at the thought.
"His time as Agent 37 has only given him more experience and made him more ruthless and brutal when the situation calls for it."
"So how come the Crime Syndicate managed to kill Dick despite everything you described about him?" Starfire asked, teetering on the 'killing Dick' part.
Bruce sighed. "Because Dick would rather die than reveal what he is really capable of. I know to some extent that Dick is not entirely comfortable with the knowledge that he is the most dangerous weapon in the world capable of killing anyone he want. This is one of the reasons why he always carries himself lightly with a smile on his lips.
"The only time I'm sure he wouldn't be ashamed to show how dangerous and lethal he really can be is when a member of his family or a friend is seriously risking his life.
"Dick is also one of the best hackers in the world, better than me, and there is nothing he can't hack. He is the third best detective in the world. He is an expert in forensics and criminology. He was able to solve a riddle by the Riddler before I even figured it out before he was Robin. He was able to solve 4 cases in "America's Most Wanted" in a single morning quite casually. Dick is also an expert in medical, scientific and mechanical fields and more.
"Dick is also one of the best strategists and leaders in the world. He has led the Titans to victory countless times. He has even led the Justice League to victory a couple of times.
"Not to mention the countless gadgets he owns."
Silence.
"I was ironic." Hal scraped weakly.
Bruce cleared his throat. "I finished."
"How the hell did you know all this stuff when none of us did?" Tim asked mirroring the question everyone was asking.
"Every time Dick fights he almost completely holds back and hides his real abilities perfectly. However I managed to notice the few times he almost risked showing things that I never taught him. And there are few people from which he might have learned."
"Why has Cass never noticed any of this?" Stephanie asked, pointing to her best friend and practically sister.
"Because Dick managed to fool her too. Dick is so good at masking his emotions, his behavior and being a real actor because of his past in the circus where he was constantly performing with a smile on his face and managing to entertain the crowd of spectators and raise their enthusiasm.
"Plus he too is one of the best in the world at reading the language of the people around him and anticipating their moves, just like her."
Cass nodded sadly.
"I'm the person who knows Dick better than anyone else and I still had a lot of difficulty understanding all of this."
"I'm sure we all deserve to know how to stop a Nightwing from turning to the dark side." Artemis of Bana-Mighdall said crossing her arms.
An indecipherable look crossed Bruce's face before it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. He waved vaguely at Tim who was standing next to the Batcomputer and the third Robin nodded, starting to type.
The contingency file against Nightwing if he should turn evil opened. The heroes cried out in complete shock and there was a collective gasp of horror as they read the one sentence that filled that file.
"Let's hope that never happens."
The silence that was created was almost immediately broken when a video began to load automatically. Seconds later the dark screen was replaced by a Batman with his cowl down staring at the camera with the saddest look anyone has ever seen on his face.
"If you are watching this video, it means that one of my greatest fears has come true. So the day I've most feared has arrived. If Dick has truly gone evil and no longer cares about his family and friends, then we're all doomed.
"There's nothing we can do to stop him. It doesn't matter if we run and hide. Dick will always find a way to find us and take us down permanently.
"My biggest regret isn't that I'm the main reason that started molding him into being the most dangerous weapon, even though I probably should have been. Because no matter what, Nightwing will always remain my greatest achievement and nothing can change that.
"The only thing I regret is not warning you in advance. You will probably be completely terrified of whatever Dick has caused. Or maybe no one will ever see this video because Dick has eliminated everyone even before anyone can blink. I wouldn't be surprised at all." he let out a wry, dark laugh.
Bruce sighed. "No one will be able to resist a completely dark, pissed off and without any moral Dick Grayson. You can try to stop him but I assure you that all your attempts will be in vain. He will annihilate and destroy anyone he wants. There is no escape, resign yourself and accept.
"For the last time, Bruce Thomas Wayne aka The Batman, out."
The video ended like this. The heroes were shocked and Bruce swore many of them turned pale.
Even before any of them could say anything, more videos started one after another.
"These are the videos that show what Dick is partially capable of without even being serious." Bruce warned as the first video played.
It showed Dick as Batman preventing an orca from biting him thanks to his physical strength. "Orcas have an estimated bite force of 19.000 PSI or 1.335.832,0128 kg/m2. And they have the strongest bite force of any living animal." Bruce explained.
The heroes dropped their jaws. "Is that boy human too?" cried Oliver Queen on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "Because I don't think a human can do that! Even if he's a fucking peak human!"
"Believe me, I have repeatedly subjected him to all the tests to see if he has any meta-genes but the tests have always come back negative." Bruce answered.
The next video showed Dick casually lifting 6 half-tires. "These are from 653.17kg to 816.46 kg. The world record is 492 kg. One US ton is 907.185 kg and since he seems to be doing it casually I'd estimate him as easily being in the 1-ton."
"What the fuck?"
The third video showed how Dick as Nightwing managed to violently take down several Talons at the same time. "He snapped the Talon's knee tendons. All of them." the video then showed Nightwing, who had five knives in his stomach, defeating another Talon. "This Talon is William Cobb, his great grandfather. And Cobb caused me trouble."
"How the fuck did he survive being stabbed five times in the stomach?" Shayera Hol whispered in horror.
"An angry Nightwing defeats Raptor, a skilled fighter, brutally." Batman explained in the next video.
Most of the heroes shuddered when Nightwing violently broke Raptor's arm.
"Better him than me." Wally joked weakly.
The next videos showed Dick easily taking down the likes of Ubu, regarded as Batman equal, David Cain, Blockbuster, a group of meta-humans and more.
"Here are two battles that testify to his excellent swordsmanship."
Nightwing who easily defeated Ra's Al Ghul in a sword fight, or how Nightwing stalemated Azrael in a sword fight.
"Here is Dick who easily holds his own with Bronze Tiger who is considered to be on my level and giving me trouble."
"Dick easily defeats Ravager with no problems and just as easily takes down Mother who had already defeated Red Hood, Red Robin and Robin."
The next video showed the Batcave and Dick and Bruce, without suits or gadgets, getting ready in combat positions. "Before I could send him to Spyral I had to make sure he was ready. So I proposed a fight without gadgets and suits between him and me. Only hand-to-hand combat without potentially deadly and lethal moves. Other than that, none of us had to hold back. After a couple of hesitations Dick agreed."
That video showed all the heroes a bloody fight and how Nightwing had actually outmatched The Batman in hand-to-hand combat.
"The next video instead shows the deadliest and bloodiest fight between Nightwing and Deathstroke. And Nightwing wins."
The heroes gasped at how brutally Dick was battling the world's deadliest mercenary. And it was even more amazing how Dick actually managed to win against Deathstroke The Terminator. It was obvious that Dick was holding back less on this occasion.
"In this video during Dick's time as Agent 37, he managed to defeat with intelligence and cunning Midnighter, a formidable meta-human who possesses a battle computer that allows him not only to anticipate his enemy's moves but also to fight the battle in his head a million different ways."
"Fucking Hell."
The next video showed Cassandra Cain as Batgirl running towards Deathstroke intending to kill him but Nightwing managed to take her down via pressure points.
Black Bat flinched involuntarily at the memory.
"I can't believe it! He even managed to defeat Cass!" Jason shout in surprise.
The next videos testified to his great stealth skills: pulls a Batman on Batman, pulling away from Superman without Clark noticing, sneaking up on a Batman with Superman powers and dealing damage to him -here Dick's intent in the battle was not to bring him down but play a big part in the emotional factor to have Bruce realize he was going too far and that Superman's powers were driving him insane- and more.
"When he was brainwashed by the Joker, Dick managed to take down Jason and Tim single-handedly. It is therefore easy and obvious to think that Dick would be able to take down the other ex and current Robin by himself, even excluding the factor emotional."
"Thank you, old man." Jason said impassively while Tim, Steph and Damian snorted but did not contradict the Dark Knight.
"As Agent 37 he survived 10 days in the desert on minimal food and water. He lasted longer even than Midnighter. All because he wanted the baby to live."
"Always while his period as Agent 37 Dick had to face together with Agent 1 aka Tiger King an enemy named Paragon, a robot with the ability to copy any superpower and ability. Dick was fighting Paragon who had the abilities of the Justice League and instructs Tiger King how best to fight to defeat the enemy."
The video showed Agent 37 fighting Paragon who assumed the powers of the JL. The heroes gasped at one particular phrase of Dick.
"I've fought beside the Justice League. Trained to fight against them. They've got weaknesses. So will he."
The next video showed Dick as Batman taking on literally a group of dangerous super-villains at once: Sinestro, Deathstroke, Bane, Cheetah, Gorilla Grodd, Solomon Grundy, Vandal Savage and more.
"Dick was able to single-handedly fight a large number of super-villains and rivals of the greatest members of the Justice League. They were holograms of the JL training facility but a Cyborg Superman has leveled it up to lethal mode, a mode that doesn't even exist.
"It is true that they were holograms but it must be thought that with this mode activated they were no less lethal than the originals. And despite this, Dick still managed to manage them all by himself.
"Dick accomplished the impossible: handle a threat that would have required the entire Justice League all by himself."
Bruce stopped the playing videos and turned to all the other heroes who had completely shocked, horrified and frightened looks. "There are many more videos that testify to Dick's abilities but I think we can finish this before any of you get a heart attack." he said seriously.
"I agree." Barry scraped weakly.
"I have always been aware of Richard Grayson's true competence and effectiveness." Dr. Fate suddenly declared, receiving confused looks.
"And why didn't you ever say anything?"
"Because it wasn't for me to say." the sorcerer spoke. "I've always seen great potential in Richard and one of the best at wearing the helmet of Nabu."
"Not on my watch." Batman growled protectively.
"Calm down, Batman. I'm not making Grayson put the helmet on. At least not now and not any time soon." Dr. Fate spoke solemnly. "I just hope for the sake of Earth and the Order that Grayson never turns evil otherwise, just like Wayne has announced time and time again, no hero and super-villain would be able to stop him."
"Shit. And if Dr. Fate says so then we're screwed." Hal swore under his breath.
"Don't let Dick know what knowledge you've acquired. Don't treat him any differently. It's true that you have just discovered that he was molded to be the perfect and supreme weapon, capable of taking on anyone and coming out on top, and in the end he could kill anyone without any hesitation.
"Just because he's been trained to be the most dangerous weapon on Earth doesn't mean that he will actually one day become evil. In fact, it's very unlikely that he will. And we all know that the real Dick Grayson is the person and the hero that we all aspire to be, me first and foremost. So don't let what you've just learned sway you. Dick will still remain the same boy we all know and love." Bruce stated giving everyone a steely look and a full-blown bat-glare.
"You are right." Clark Kent nodded and straightened his back. "Our opinion of Dick will not change at all. Indeed, now our respect for Dick will rise even higher than it already is now."
"You are right." Diana Prince agreed and there was a general murmur of assent.
"Good. Now out of my cave."
Bruce was signing some Wayne Enterprises paperwork in his office when the phone rang. He smiled briefly when he saw that his firstborn was calling him and answered immediately. "Dick." he greeted.
"Hey dad." no matter how many times Dick called him dad, Bruce always felt like the happiest person in the entire universe. "I have a question and I hope you can give me an answer."
"Tell me."
"Do you know why I get weird looks from all our friends and colleagues?"
Bruce had a nervous twitch and let out a pained sigh. "For example?"
"Well, definitely Timmy's best friends." Bruce would have a long chat with his third Robin and his Team. "But sometimes I see the looks my best friends give each other when they think I don't notice."
Bruce would have a long chat with every member of the Titans as well. "Somebody else?"
"Also my honorary uncles and aunts and other friends in general."
God, kill me now. Bruce groaned inwardly and rubbed his temple, already feeling a good headache.
Apparently he would have had a good chat with the Justice League and the other heroes as well.
He would have to deal with the entire hero community another time.
Simply fantastic.
"Did something happen after I came out from downstairs about two weeks ago?" asked Dick, the fucking detective he was.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of them all." Bruce reassured him by not directly answering his question.
Dick let out a murmur of recognition that presented a slight suspicion but the acrobat chose not to linger too much, much to Bruce's pleasure. Father and son chatted quietly for a few minutes until Dick announced that he should end the call.
"All right. Be careful, Dick."
"You too. I love you, dad."
"I love you too, chum."
Bruce put the phone down and pinched the bridge of his nose irritably.
"They're all fucking idiots and incompetent. If Dick won't kill them all soon, then I will."