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English
Series:
Part 6 of Red Hood "is the 1st Robin" AU
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DC Universe, Random Fics
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Published:
2023-12-11
Words:
787
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1/1
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19
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2,736
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22,626

Cackling & Fear

Summary:

A Robin's cackle will haunt your nightmares...

Notes:

I read somewhere that Joker pretty much hates Nightwing because he can't traumatize him. I just went a step farther with that.

Work Text:

The cackle had the hairs on Hal’s neck standing. He felt a cold, shiver of dread course down his spine as it echoed through the silent Hall of Justice. The cackle was unmistakable. It was something that still haunted Hal’s nightmares, though it had been years since he had heard it. The 1st Robin. The cackle of the 1st was something bone-chilling that not many in the Justice League besides the original founders had heard.

“What the hell was that?” Red Robin spoke, that’s when it hit Hal like a slap in the face. Red Hood is right here… but… that was definitely the 1st Robin… that means… The cold feeling continued slithering creating a pit in Hal’s stomach. 

“God damn. No wonder the fucking Joker is scared of you.” Wally. Wally’s voice comes in through the announcing system. 

“He is?” Nightwing. No fucking… Nightwing… My god… Hal and Barry make eye contact. Superman and Wonder Woman take in an audible breath. Aquaman and Green Arrow look like they're about to puke. The naked fear and awe were obvious even through the masks. Nightwing was Batman’s Demonic Robin.   

“No shit he’s scared of you. You didn’t know? They used to say that if Batman was a mystic, recluse, then Robin was a demonic spirit trapped in a child’s body.” Wally says, “And that same demonic spirit would occasionally be unleashed… only for Batman to have to reign it in….” Wally trails off. Nightwing laughs. He doesn’t cackle this time. He laughs. Horrified Hal realizes that there is a distinct difference. 

“Okay… I have to admit… that’s not completely wrong..” Not completely wrong? 

“Wait…. Are you actually a demon?” Wally’s voice suddenly sounds terrified. 

“What... no. Flash I am not going to steal your soul.” Nightwing was rolling his eyes. You could basically hear it. He takes a breath. “But he was right about Batman needing to reign me in… I’m pretty sure he’s sedated me a couple of times...” 

“Sedated you?!” Wally sounds lost, Nightwing sighs.

“Look Flash. We’re talking about an 8-year-old child that saw his parents get murdered… all I was thinking about was that I wanted the murderer 6 feet underground…” Nightwing’s parents were murdered… my god. “But it’s for the better anyway that the Joker’s scared... At least that means he’ll stay away from me and thus the Robins.” 

“Wait.. hold on… I thought Hood was Joker’s Little Robin?” Red Hood chokes on air, the ½ of Batman’s face that was uncovered looked suspiciously pale and Red Robin looked mortified. Hal had to admit that Wally could of worded that better.

“The only reason the Joker killed Hood was because he thought Hood was me…” Nightwing says, suddenly the temperature in the Watchtower drops by at least 10 degrees. 

“How.. how do you…?” Wally sounds appalled, 

“After Hood died I paid him a visit in Arkham… things got bloody… and I was almost insane with grief… The Joker was laughing and asking me what I would do now…I cackled… and Joker froze.” Nightwing says, his tone taking on a haunted note. “One second he was grinning at me like a madman, the next second he was saying that he killed me… so why did this feel like a nightmare.” Nightwing takes a breath. “It was a nightmare for both of us you could say… the thing that plagued the Joker’s nightmares was still alive… and I had lost a younger brother… You could say that day… we all lost.” There was silence as everyone soaked in Nightwing’s story. 

“You know it’s kinda ironic… younger brother who’s scared of clowns and the older brother who the clown is scared of,” Wally says, Nightwing lets out a chuckle at that. 

“Careful. If anyone heard you saying Hood is scared of clowns he’ll probably blow up your apartment.” Nightwing’s smile was in his voice, 

“Wait… do the others know?” Wally asks, tentatively. He doesn’t need to finish the question. They all know what he’s asking. Do the Robins know that the Joker is scared of Nightwing? 

“Nah… B and I don’t talk about those days anymore at least not the so-called demonic episodes… and as long as the Joker stays away it doesn’t matter why.” Nightwing finishes, 

“Do you… still have demonic episodes?” Wally asks almost cautiously. 

“What do you think?” Nightwing’s voice comes out with a tinge of darkness. And I thought Spooky was terrifying… he seems as scary as a haunted funhouse now…just little jumpscares… Wally stayed silent. 

“You think I could record that cackle? I wanna set it as Uncle Flash’s alarm.” Wally finally says, at that Nightwing cackles.

“Spooky better pay for our therapy.” Hal whispers to Barry as he whimpers. 

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