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Nightwing's Biography

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"You are lovely, Kory. Not just beautiful. I don't think I tell you enough how I feel about you. I'm just not as free with my emotions as you are. Which is probably why you're good for me � I spent my first eighteen years living with Batman, learning how to contain my feelings. Three years with Kory's changing all of that. I used to crack jokes, but now I actually find things funny�.

"Hard to imagine me without the Titans, either. I think the Titans helped define me. I was always the bottom half of Batman and � Now I'm Nightwing, myself. No junior partner. Whatever I do from now on is my choice. It's scary sometimes. But it's always a lot easier to let others tell you what to do. Don't quite feel like an adult yet, but I think I've grown up � I certainly don't make decisions rashly anymore. And I wouldn't quit college today just to rebel against Bruce. Fortunately, some mistakes can be fixed�.

"Yeah, I'm grown up, but I still don't know what I'm going to do when I'm really grown up�. Doctor, lawyer, indian chief? They all sound good to me. What do I do when I take off my costume? If I were Batman, I'd become Bruce Wayne, professional cypher. I think he'd give up being Bruce in a second if he thought Batman could go out during the day. I can't. I need my normal life. Bats need the night. Robins need light." -- Dick Grayson (The New Titans # 71)

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Dick's final months in the Titan's were ones of pain and tragedy. The criminal organization known as the Wildebeast Society began to stalk the Titan's at every turn. Finally they struck out hard -- and the Titans would never be the same. Several members and reserve members were killed, or at the very least had their lives irrevocably altered forever. Like any good leader, Dick couldn't help but blame himself. The team was in disarray and their steady stream of image problems were making the Titans increasingly unpopular in New York as they seemingly garnered negative headlines at every turn. Feeling besieged at every turn, Dick felt his life increasingly spiraling out of control. His relationship with Koriand'r suffered as well, especially after he was tricked by Mirage, a woman from the future, into sleeping with her, and in a last ditch attempt to gain some control of his life, he asked Kory to marry him. But that too was not to be. Their wedding was rushed, with even their closest friends thinking it was ill advised. But they plunged on ahead, at least until the ceremony was disrupted by their once teammate Raven. By the end of it, Kory and Dick were torn apart forever, and Dick soon found himself replaced as the leader of the Titans by Arsenal. Angry, embittered and confused, Dick left the team to return to Gotham�

But Dick's homecoming to Gotham was not all that he could have wished. Bruce's long running battle with Bane finally proved too much and the monster broke his back. With few other options, Bruce left the mantle of Batman to Jean Paul Valley who proved to be more then a little unstable in the role. Finding the situation unacceptable, both Dick and Tim interceded and when Bruce finally returned to Gotham, he took the mantle of Batman back from Valley

But Bruce was still not yet able to function permanently as Batman. So for a time, Dick donned the mantle of Batman, coming full circle in a way. For far too long he had wondered if he could ever equal his greatest mentor, ever manage to walk the path in Batman's boots. And he found his answers. While his methods might be different, he was at last the equal of his teacher and father figure. Likewise during this time period he put to rest many of his personal demons involving the beating he received at the hands of Two-Face as a youth, confronting him and bringing him to justice. But far more important, Dick and Bruce's strained relationship finally began to heal and solidify. Dick was no longer the student, but a teacher in his own right�

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"I don't think until now I ever truly accepted what a good life I've had. Most people tell me they're content with maybe one close friend or two. People you can trust, friends you can confide in, tell your fears to, cry beside. But I've had so many good friends who held my hand when I needed them to, or gave me my space when I wanted it. And I've grown up still knowing and loving them even when they went their own way. They trusted me. They let me lead them. I only pray I did right by them.

"Hard to tell sometimes. We've been through so much, seen so much, done so much. Maybe more than anyone should. Most of the people I knew in high school just graduated from college. Each day brings them something different. Getting out on their own, moving into that new apartment � They're looking forward to life. And I've seen so much death�.

"I've been trying to ignore their deaths instead of remembering them. Because when I remember, I also remember my parents. And I remember being so alone when they died � sitting in the Batcave, in the dark, crying for months until I didn't have any tears left to cry. And I was so angry with myself I promised I wouldn't ever cry again. But it's not weak to cry or to feel or to miss those I love. And God, I miss them all so much.

"I � I was their leader. I shouldn't have led them into battles they couldn't win. I shouldn't have let them die. But I did. And I didn't admit how much their deaths affected me, so I pretended they never happened. But of course they did, and hiding it from myself didn't change that.
"So I got crazier and I got more demanding, and I ordered everyone around and I went � I went nuts. It's as simple and as complicated as that. I must've acted like a real jerk around Kory. Then that Mirage thing happened. I was so self-absorbed I didn't even know I wasn't with Kory. No wonder she left. Kory's always been strong. She knew what was right for her even if I didn't know what was right for me. But I have a better idea now�.

"Parents, friends and lovers, you taught me, helped me, nursed me and cared for me�. Nightwing's got his act together. He's still going to do what he can to keep the world from spinning into chaos � but Dick Grayson needs some time to figure out what he wants. I want you to be proud of me, but even more important -- I want to be proud of myself. It may be a couple of days or weeks or even months, but I'll see you guys soon. Till then -- I love you." -- Dick Grayson (The New Titans # 114)

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Once Bruce was well enough to resume his role as Batman, Dick gladly handed it over, busying himself by travelling overseas to find Alfred and convince him to return to Gotham. With that done, Dick decided that it was time to make some changes to his life, the foremost of those being giving up being Nightwing and concentrate on just being Dick Grayson. He no longer had any doubts about his role as a masked crusader for justice, but still felt the need to discover what Dick Grayson was like -- and if he was capable of leading a normal life.

rFor a time Dick was successful - but only for a time. For all the pain inflicted upon him by his dual existence as Nightwing and Dick Grayson, Nightwing was still a very important part of him that he could not give up so easily. When papers turned up providing new possibilities regarding his parents murders, Dick took up a new Nightwing costume and resumed his dual existence. Discovering that 'Boss' Zucco was undeniably responsible for the crime forced him to look back on his life and realize what an odd path it had taken. Certainly he had suffered, but he had gained many gifts as well. Gifts that allowed him to protect others. Gifts that he had to use. With a new outlook, Dick took up the mantle of Nightwing again, this time for good�

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