Chapter Text
“No. No. Are you kidding me? This is a HORRIBLE IDEA!” Hal shrieks, apparently Red Hood’s idea of the Ringmaster was Nightwing. The protector of Bludhaven, a popular and respected figure in the superhero community as of late. Newbie, but a total badass who could lead like the most experienced of heroes, and not at all prepared to deal with the likes of Joker. Emphasis on not at all prepared for this shit.
“That’s crazy! The Joker will eat him alive!” Barry exclaims,
“Eat who alive?” Nightwing walks up to them. The Joker was still in his interrogation room. They were all standing outside of it arguing.
“WHY DID YOU CALL HIM??!” Oliver shouts,
“Uh.. what’s going on?”
“Red Hood thought it was a good idea for you to interrogate someone.” Diana explains,
“Interrogate who?”
“He’s not interrogating ANYONE.” Clark stubbornly blocks the window so that Nightwing can’t see inside.
“Look I was told it’s urgent.”
“It IS urgent.” Red Hood insists,
“Okay then let me do it.” Nightwing walks up to the door. Barry blocks it.
“Kid don’t. This isn’t your typical villain.” Barry says, “We’ve tried to get him to talk but he doesn’t!”
“What do you need him to say?”
“We need what they’re attacking.” Batman responds,
“SERIOUSLY?!”
“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?”
“YOU WANT TO SEND HIM IN!?” Shouts overwhelm the room, in the chaos, Nightwing slips past Flash and into the room. Locking the door behind him. Fuck he’s so screwed.
All of them anxiously watch through the glass. It’s not that Nightwing was a horrible hero or anything. If anything he was one of the best of his generation. But Joker was the devil. He’d drag Nightwing down to hell with him.
"Batsy stop sending in representatives. You and I both know that they'll never... oh it’s you." Joker's words trail off and his face twists into a scowl as Nightwing steps in. That’s… unexpected…
"Yep its me." Nightwing grins sunnily.
"What are YOU doing here?" And did the Joker sound annoyed? Was that even possible?
"I was called in for an interrogation. If I knew it was you I would have brought a Joke Book with me." Nightwing chuckles sitting down. Joker's still glaring at him. "What didn't think it was funny? Joke Book for the Joker? Batman thought it was."
“I want a lawyer.” He what? Barry could barely believe his ears. He exchanges looks with the others to confirm they were seeing what he was.
“That’s the best line you got? What happened to your puns?” Nightwing smirks, “Or did you just realize I’m funnier than you?”
“YOU ARE NOT-!” Joker stands up slamming his fists into the table. Nightwing just grins wider. What the FUCK is going on? How the hell is Nightwing so chill? This is the JOKER. BATMAN’S long term NEMESIS. And here Nightwing was acting as if he was some runaway circus clown trying to make it big. Joker takes a breath and sits down, a smile stretching across his face. It looks considerably more forced than it did earlier. “You think you’re so smart trying to get a rise out of me, when you forget who you’re dealing with, Little Birdie.” Little Birdie? Does Joker know Nightwing? How?
“My my Joker. Are you jealous? Green isn’t a good color on you. How about you stick to the jester look?” Nightwing teases, Holy shit he’s teasing him. He’s so dead.
“Why would I be jealous of the LIKES OF YOU?!” Joker snarls, standing up so that his face is right in Nightwing’s. All previous easy-goingness and laughter gone. It was baffling and horrifying. This was the most emotion besides glee that the Joker had shown since he had been dragged to the Watchtower. And here was Nightwing not only taking it, but smiling at the madman. The smile on Nightwing’s face could only be described as blood-curdling. It was every single interrogation from earlier flipped. Instead of Joker laughing and smiling, it was Nightwing. What the FUCK.
“I think you know why you’re jealous of me.” Nightwing smirks, not backing down. “You want me to say it? Might be a little embarrassing for you in front of your one true love.” All of them cringe when he says that. They all know he’s talking about Batman. Even Batman looks ready to throw up. Nobody blames him.
“I will kill you one day Birdie.” Joker’s voice is dark with promise. If there was chills before, this was like a bucket of ice down the back of their suits. The temperature in the room seems to drop.
“One day. Not Today.” Nightwing chirps, and holy shit. How the HELL can he be so nonchalant about this? Has he not heard the rumors? Has nobody told him about Joker? He’s gonna be dead once this is over… rest in pieces Nightwing… “Plus. You really think that killing me will make him more tolerant of you? It’s like you don’t know Batman at all, Jokes. Honestly.” Nightwing’s flippant tone only enrages the Clown Prince of Crime.
“You don’t even… you don’t know!” Joker shouts, slamming his hands on the table. “You’re just a replaceable lego to him! Annoying as hell to step on and easy to throw out and replace!”
“A Lego? That’s the best you got?” Nightwing retorts,
“I DID YOU A FAVOR BY KILLING HIM!” Joker roars, for the first time since Nightwing walked in, his posture stiffens. “AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?” It didn’t take a genius to figure out which death he was talking about. But what the HELL does Nightwing have to do with any of this? Why does Joker hate him so much?
“Watch you’re fucking mouth Court Fool.” Nightwing’s voice is dangerously low. Darker than any of them have ever heard before. “I don’t have a fucked up sense of duty to make you a better person like Batman does. I CAN and I WILL make sure that you become a meaningless pile of bones and dust if you don’t shut the fuck up.” Holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck. “But you already know that…”
“He would have gotten rid of you anyway. NOTHING beats his concern for me.” Joker seethes, but his previous anger was gone. Replaced by something akin to fear. There’s no way The JOKER is scared right now… “You act like I’m crazy for him when you refuse to admit that it’s a two-way street.”
Clark had no clue what was going on. Joker was being defensive, he was attacking, reacting in ways he never had even with Batman. Clark looks over to Batman, he was watching the exchange silently, his frown deepening the longer they talked.
“Oh it is a two-way street. You’re both obsessed. Almost codependent. It’s toxic as hell.” Nightwing’s chillness is back. “But concern? I wouldn’t call it concern. Batman is concerned about people he loves. He doesn’t love you. Love and obsession are two different things.”
“Right and he loves YOU now doesn’t he?” Joker sneers, Batman loves Nightwing? WHAT?! “The light to his darkness, his little Birdie, the one who RUINED him. Turned him soft. Turned him into something he wasn’t.” SOFT?! THIS IS SOFT BATMAN? Oliver thinks flabbergasted. Light to his darkness? Is this that light that Joker’s all but admitted to being afraid of? But why is the Joker afraid of Nightwing? Diana contemplates the Joker’s prior reaction to Hal saying he was afraid of light. Yes Nightwing was a relatively light-hearted and cheerful hero. Known as hopeful and loving. It would make sense that Joker wouldn’t be a fan of him. But this? This was a lot more than dislike. This was hatred at it’s highest point. Disdain. Diana’s mind supplied.
“That’s literally how love works. Man I knew you were dumb but seriously?” Nightwing gives him a disinterested look.
“You’re trying to rile me up. Get me to spit out the truth to you. But that won't work Birdie! You won’t ruin my plan this time. Not like all the other times. I REFUSE to let you ruin this like you have everything else!” Joker hisses, Ruined everything else? WHAT?! Barry and Hal exchange wide eyed looks.
“I haven’t ruined anything Jokes. You still run around trying to piss off Batman just like the others do.” Nightwing’s eyeroll is obvious through the domino.
“JUST LIKE THE OTHERS?! I'M THE JOKER! I’M BATMAN’S WORST ENEMY! I’M THE THING HE GOES TO SLEEP AT NIGHT THINKING ABOUT! YOU THINK YOU'RE SO GREAT DO YOU? BUT BEFORE YOU WERE THERE! IT WAS ME! ME AND BATMAN!" Joker yells hysterically. All of them are getting antsy. Clark goes to interrupt them to make sure that Nightwing makes it out with all his limbs intact.
“Wait. Hold on.” Red Hood puts a hand on Clark’s arm to hold him back. Clark looks to Batman, who just chews his lip. This was definitely not going the way they expected it to go. They were expecting Joker to laugh Nightwing off or make fun of him. This was almost the other way around. Nightwing’s making fun of Joker…
“You really hate sharing don’t you Jokes?” Nightwing responds, voice and body language a picture of calm.
“HATE?! I DESPISE YOU WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING! YOU WERE THE ONE HE CHOSE! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! YOU! A NOBODY! TOOK EVERYTHING!” Joker shrieks, Woah woah woah. What?!
“Maybe then I was a nobody. But now I’m Nightwing interrogating a criminal.” Nightwing responds unfazed by the screaming. Hal would of shit himself by now, Nightwing’s calm reflected a person who’s dealt with this before. But how could he have dealt with Joker before? Did Joker even come to Bludhaven? But that still doesn’t explain why Nightwing isn’t even remotely riled up. “And if you think I’m scared by your threat, then you’re further gone than I thought. I’ve dealt with two-bit thugs more intimidating than you.” Hal’s jaw is on the floor. He can’t believe what he just heard. All that’s running through their minds is static as Joker loses whatever was left of his collective shit.
"TWO-BIT THUG? I WILL HAVE THE WORLD AT MY MERCY ONCE THAT TOXIN IS EXPOSED TO THE WATER RESERVES!" Joker screams, "AND YOU DARE! YOU OF ALL PEOPLE DARE-"
But Nightwing wasn't even looking at him anymore. He was turning around and walking away.
"NO! GET BACK HERE! YOU CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM ME! HOW DARE YOU IGNORE ME! I'M THE JOKER! I'LL KILL YOU!" Joker howls, yanking at the chains, jumping out of his seat like a feral animal, ready to pounce and rip Nightwing to shreds with his bare hands. “YOU CANNOT IGNORE ME! ROBIN! YOU DUMBASS FUCKING BIRD! I’LL DRAW IT OUT! I’LL RELISH YOUR SCREAMS! I’LL-”
"I'd love to stay and chat Jokes, but we have a world to save. Thanks for the info by the way." Nightwing interrupts the ranting. Joker’s mouth abruptly stops moving, all sound ceases to exist.
I need a stronger word than fuck.
With the tidbit about the water reserves the League was able to notify and warn most governments of the imminent contamination. Some reserves that were already contaminated had to be flushed out with the Atlantians help. The members involved were easy to find, but once their plans got leaked they immediately went on the defensive, stating they had nothing to do with anything. And without proof they were allowed to walk free. Once everything was handled on the global scale, and all the chaos settled, that left everyone with that last interrogation.
“I can’t believe Hood was right. Nightwing actually got Joker to talk.” Clark says, they were all congregated in the Founders’ lounge about a week after the interrogation.
“More like he got the Joker to express another emotion besides his weird deranged happiness.” Hal retorts,
“Was it just me or did they seem too close?” Oliver asks,
“No they were. It’s almost like Joker KNEW Nightwing.” Diana agrees, “Like actually know, know him, beyond the fact that he’s a famous hero.”
“Yeah I gotta say, some of those insults seemed way too personal if they just met for the first time.” Barry sips some of his soda.
“I mean he consistently called Nightwing ‘Birdie’.” Clark pipes up, all of them shudder. “I mean the only other person he has a consistent nickname for is Batman.”
“Yeah.. Batsy.” Hal mimics, all of them feel something slither in their gut at the nickname.
“Can we talk about the amount of times he called Nightwing replaceable? What was that about?” Oliver asks, dragging their attention back to the topic.
“Forget that, can we talk about the point that Nightwing said that Joker was jealous of HIM!” Barry exclaims, “I feel like that needs to be brought up.”
“I mean you could argue a lot of people are jealous of Nightwing. I know I am sometimes.” Hal responds honestly.
“Yeah but you’re a hero. The other people who get jealous of him are heroes or civilians. Not psychopaths like Joker.” Oliver counters,
“And what about that thing he said about being there before Nightwing. Like… that was weird right?” Diana adds,
“I mean, arguably Joker has been there around Batman longer than Nightwing..” Clark trails off,
“Yeah but it seemed so… personal when he said it.” Oliver says thoughtfully. “Like Nightwing’s entire existence was a problem for him. Remember when he started screaming at the end?”
“How could I forget it?” Hal shudders,
“Yeah that’s a recurring nightmare right there.” Barry agrees,
“Oh definitely. But Joker said that Nightwing was the one Batman, quote on quote chose.”
“Wait you’re right… he did say that…” Clark says thoughtfully.
“And what about when Nightwing went all scary on him? Like bro. I almost shit my pants.” Hal exclaims,
“I think even Batman almost did.” Clark chuckles, “His pulse was through the roof.”
“Well I mean… Nightwing did tell Joker that he’d basically annihilate him.” Oliver says leaning back on the sofa next to Barry. “If I heard some newbie, sunshine hero say that to my longtime enemy and get it to actually scare him, especially if he was as deranged as Joker… I’d be pretty fucking scared. Like can you imagine if he did that to Reverse Flash, Sinestro or Luthor? And those 3 are at least relatively sane.”
Barry, Hal and Clark all visibly recoil.
“Yeah in that case I think Spooky’s reaction kinda fits.” Hal says, running a hand through his hair.
“But why did Joker say he was doing Nightwing a favor by killing… you know…” Barry trails off,
“I really don’t know. On one hand he kept saying that Nightwing was expendable. And on the other he said that killing Red Hood was for the best. I’m assuming he meant expendable to Batman but like… why would that matter? They barely interact.” Diana scrunches up her face in thought.
“Are you sure about that though? Because if Joker knows Nightwing so well… doesn’t it mean that Batman probably does too?” Oliver counters, “I mean why ELSE would Joker keep mentioning that Nightwing was dispensable to Batman? Why would he keep talking about Nightwing ruining his plans and making Batman soft?”
“Wait so you’re saying that Nightwing actually does have some sort of connection to Batman?” Clark asks,
“I mean what other explanation is there? Joker despises his guts! Joker is obsessed with Batman. The only thing that could possibly make him hate Nightwing so much, is if Nightwing was getting in the way of his obsession.” Hal responds,
“That would explain how chill Nightwing was. He barely raised his voice, except when he said that thing about Hood and that was pretty uncalled for.” Diana agrees,
“Everything Joker says is uncalled for.” Barry retorts, all of them chuckle in agreement.
“Okay so Nightwing has some sort of secret, deep rooted connection to Batman and Joker. Which means he has some sort of connection to Gotham as a whole.” Clark says,
“You don’t think he’s like… related to Joker or something right?” Diana suggests, all of them stare at her.
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
“WHERE DID YOU GET THAT FROM?!”
“I.. I can’t even..”
“YOU GUYS SAW HIS SMILE! The one Nightwing gave Joker! That wasn’t normal!” Diana snaps, “You heard what he said about being funnier than Joker! What if Nightwing used to be on Joker's side but then Batman actually found Nightwing funny, so then Joker got all jealous and kicked him out or something?”
There was a long ass pause as they all digested the idea.
“So you’re saying that Nightwing used to be like what? A Joker Jr? And then Batman actually took a liking to him, which pissed off Joker…”
“And then Joker probably tried to kill him, Nightwing got saved by Batman and Batman helped rehabilitate him” Diana finishes Clark’s statement.
“Call me crazy but like… that would explain why he wanted Red Robin to become a Joker Jr though… because he lost his original to Batman. He might have seen it as a fair trade.” Oliver says, there was still something not quite right with all of it.
“It would also explain how Nightwing’s so happy and cheerful.” Hal says, feeling something uneasy coil in his stomach. “It’s like residue habits from when he was with Joker.”
“But like… Joker’s so…” Barry trails off,
“Burnt from the pits of hell?” Oliver offers,
“Yeah that.” Barry agrees, they sit in silence.
“It feels wrong doesn’t it?” Diana says,
“You brought it up!” Clark exclaims,
“Yeah and I’m saying that it feels wrong.” Diana amends glaring at the kryptonian.
“But like… what other explanation is there for Joker being so angry and terrified of Nightwing? Besides the fact that Nightwing used to be like him but changed.” Oliver says,
“Joker seems to find comfort in his madness. So the idea that someone similar to him could do such a 360..” Barry trails off,
“It still feels wrong. Like… in your bones or blood stream wrong.” Hal frowns in thought.
“Why don’t we ask Red Hood?” Clark offers,
“Red Hood? Why would we ask him?” Oliver arches a brow at him.
“Because he’s the first robin and probably knows about what happened between those 3. Not to mention if Batman really did rehabilitate Nightwing, than Red Hood probably knew him or knew of him before he died.” Clark says,
“Now that’s a thought… Red Hood knowing Nightwing growing up, because he used to be Joker’s apprentice.” Hal jokes,
“When you say it like that it sounds even more wrong than it did before.” Barry’s frown deepens,
“Yeah well either way Hood was the one who suggested we bring Nightwing in. Why else would he suggest Nightwing if he didn’t know something?” Diana replies,
“Plus he was right! Nightwing did get Joker to talk. It’s one thing to suggest someone and another thing to be right about the suggestion.” Clark says thoughtfully.
“So Red Hood definitely knows something.”
“Yeah and we’re gonna find out what.”