Nightwing’s ears picked up each whiz and shing while his eyes kept his body in motion, ducking, dodging and flipping with all the agility of a swimmer in water. No one doubted Nightwing’s immortality in the field. He thrived on instinct and adrenaline. He didn’t think, he acted. Nightwing was a human alongside mortal gods, and in the chaos of battle, it was easy to forget what a weak cage human flesh was to the heart.
Icy gusts tore through the skyscrapers, around the silent, brooding form. His cape draped over his hunched shoulders, encircling him on the ground where the kevlar was immune to the wind’s barrage. Gotham blinked back at him, each flicker of light evidence of the life thrumming through his streets.
A whiff of amber, sandalwood and musk sailed on the wind. A dark, spicy and warm scent the detective would recognize anywhere.
“Nightwing.” His voice punctuated the air.
The figure snorted, one foot in front of the other as if walking a tightrope. “I knew the wind would give it away.” Nightwing’s weight dropped out beneath him with one leg suddenly hanging precariously off the building’s edge— an action that would look dangerous if it wasn’t being performed by a world class acrobat. “How’s it hanging, boss?”
Batman gave an unintelligible grunt. “Quiet night.”
“Sounds like I caught you in a conversational mood. How long have you been staking this place out?”
“Three hours. Four minutes.”
“Well, look, I’m here now,” Nightwing said. “Go stretch your limbs for ten. I’ve got it covered.”
Batman didn’t move, and Nightwing rolled his eyes. “How about some soup then?” He twisted off the cap, letting the wind carry the steam away. “Made it myself,” he continued, wagging the thermos as if enticing him.
A low, brief rumble through the man’s throat was the only reply.
“It was Alfred’s recipe. You know I had to bend an arm and a leg to get a hold of that?”
Batman held out a hand and Nightwing passed the thermos. “So that Sionis’ office?”
Batman grunted, the sound echoing against the metal tin.
Nightwing settled back on his elbows, a wry smile taking over. Batman passed back the thermos, and Nightwing took a draught.
“I think I’m the only person who’s seen you eat in the cowl.”
“You are.”
The blunt truth trilled a chill up Nightwing’s spine. “It does clash with the whole striking fear into the superstitious and cowardly lot thing.” His voice dropped several octaves to mimic the Bat.
An involuntary shiver wracked the acrobat’s frame. “Too bad soup doesn’t stay hotter when you’re traveling thirty-three stories by jump line.”
Batman spent a long moment in silence before shifting so that his arm extended outward, opening up his cape in invitation.
The brief hesitation didn’t last long before Nightwing scooted against Bruce’s side, the cape falling and enclosing around him.
“I thought you had your suit insulated.”
Nightwing momentarily wondered whether to go with the truth or not. “I do.”
Due to the nature of Batman and it’s fandom, every single AU has already been made, or thought of, at least once. Since I’ve recently seen a couple of Western AUs lying around on tumblr, I just wanted to share some of my little headcanons. Because I LOVE westerns. All fandoms require a Mafia AU and a Western AU, and that’s my rule.
First of all, if Robin (Dick Grayson) isn’t of Native American descent in your western au, then I just don’t know what to tell ya. I am mostly aware of Apache tribes, so I’m most inclined to have his father’s origin come from one of them. His mother would be American. He’d be able to speak a range of different languages and would serve as an interpreter (just sometimes, when BatMan just really didn’t know).
I don’t think BatMan would intentionally promote the idea that he has anything to do with bats – in the beginning. I guess it would be just something that caught on because he wore black. THEN, he would adopt the name. His horse’s name is ´Mobile´ and I don’t even care.
Furthermore, Batman would be, originally from a very rich family, but after his parents death all money was lost and frankly he didn’t care. He travelled a lot and tried to get revenge, but he eventually understood that helping people was the real deal.
I don’t see this AU working without the use of guns. It’s the WILD WEST, I think it would be unnecessarily complicated for him not to make use of guns. I don’t think that – in my story – he would hold a grudge against guns. Of course he wouldn’t shoot to kill, he would take criminals to justice.
Daintyfire 