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The roar of the car had everyone’s gaze snapping to Batman.
“The Robins were patrolling. They just got back.” He dismisses, Batman’s about to continue his monologue when the backdoors and the passenger doors open. Red Hood comes from the passenger seat with Robin and Red Robin coming from the back seats… Wait… so who's driving? To everyone’s shock, the Driver’s door opens to reveal… Nightwing. NIGHTWING!?! Clark’s mind screams at him. They all stare dumbfounded as the protector of Bludhaven pulls keys out of a hidden pocket and locks the car. Red Hood walks out behind him taking off his helmet.
“You know… since I’m the OFFICIAL oldest… I’m pretty sure I should be the one driving when B’s MIA. Not you.” Red Hood snatches the keys from Nightwing’s hand. Red Robin sighs, looking like he had heard this argument many times.
“You wish Little Wing.” Nightwing does a neat flip, vaulting over him so his back is to the group and grabs the keys out of Red Hood’s hand. Little Wing…. “To the world, you may be the oldest… but in the cave, you're still a middle child.” Red Hood scoffs as Red Robin and Robin snicker.
“He got you there Hood.” Red Robin grins, Cheshire-like.
“Shut the fuck up Replacement. You're a middle child too. The only difference is that you actually get some privileges of being younger too..” Red Hood snaps,
“Privileges of being younger? Excuse me?” Red Robin kicks Red Hood in the knee.
“I gotta agree with Red. B basically treats him like a personal secretary.” Nightwing laughs,
“I concur with Nightwing. Father treats Red Robin marginally better than a trash collector treats his garbage.” Robin comments, there was silence as everyone absorbs what Robin said.
“DID YOU JUST CALL ME TRASH!?” Red Robin yells, in disbelief. Both Red Hood and Nightwing start howling in laughter.
“Yes, I did. Seems like all that coffee really has slowed down your processing abilities.” Robin says with no remorse.
“YOU LITTLE SHIT!?” Red Robin reaches and yanks Robin by the hair sending them both tumbling to the ground.
“GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF ME!?” Robin howls, they both wrestle on the ground.
"Quit it.” Nightwing doesn’t yell. He barely raises his voice. But his command is heard and there is a weight to his words that have both Red Robin and Robin stop their brawling. They both look up.
“We’ve had a relatively quiet patrol. Don’t ruin it with your fucking fighting.” Red Hood says, from where he was standing next to his older brother. They were both facing away from the group. Wait a sec... Nightwing is Red Hood’s OLDER brother… Clark felt something click inside him at the realization. No wonder it seemed like Red Hood had a personality change since he was Robin… we never met him as Robin… we met Nightwing.
“But-”
“Hood’s right. We’ve had a good night. Let’s not ruin it with needless bickering.” Nightwing’s voice had a finality to it. Just like his dad… how did we never notice that before? “Now come on… I believe Alfie made some cookies for us for after patrol.” He holds at hand to Red Robin pulling him up. A smile crosses the younger vigilante’s face. Robin glares daggers at his predecessor.
“Come on Gremlin. I can basically see you drilling holes into RR’s back.” Red Hood hoists up Robin onto his shoulders when the younger one makes no move to get up.
“YOU PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!?” Robin shrieks, Red Hood makes no indication of hearing him instead he turns around and freezes. Or rather all of Batman’s kids freeze. They all had varying looks of horrification on their faces. Robin glared daggers at them from where Red Hood was holding him on his left shoulder. Red Hood’s face changed into something mimicking disappointment. Nightwing was standing on Hood’s right and his face was slowly blooming into a smile. Meanwhile, Red Robin who was standing to Nightwing’s right, looked like he was getting ready to bolt. Sensing that, Nightwing put his arm around his younger brother’s shoulders. A normal person wouldn’t have noticed it. But Clark did. Red Robin ever so slightly, relaxed.
“Fuck… I owe Arsenal $50.” Red Hood finally speaks,
“Forget that… Arsenal owes me at least $100. Not to mention Flash and Tempest.” Nightwing sounded positively gleeful. “I think even Don owes me $30 now..”
"How the fuck do you always lose bets?" Red Robin smiles, shooting a teasing look at Red Hood.
"Fuck if I know. How does Wing win them all the time?" Red Hood retorts dryly. "Oh, I know because he's basically Light and Hope incarnate and-" Red Robin and Nightwing verbally groan and Red Robin starts tugging Nightwing out of the area where they were.
Yeah, Red Hood is definitely a middle child.