Spyral, but the Spyral headquarters is the Backrooms…
It allows the organization to easily travel the globe. It makes attacking their HQ very difficult.
The longer a person works for Spyral the easier they enter the Backrooms (intentionally and unintentionally). They start to become part of it.
After Dick leaves Spyral he still keeps finding himself There. Sometimes it’s something he uses and sometimes he looses time. He gets chewed out for missing a family dinner and doesn’t know how to explain that he walked through the wrong door in the manor and spend a week wandering endless hallways that looked like the manor but Weren’t. He doesn’t know how to explain that he hates being trapped there but itches to go back. He’s terrified that one day he will never leave.
Unfortunately the only other people who understand are other Spyral agents, Midnighter, and Constantine, so he just smiles and apologizes.
Alfred: And this is the main sitting room. It's the one the family uses most, so always make sure to keep blankets and slippers in this cabinet.
Danny: Yes, sir.
Alfred: It helps to drop off a plate of snacks on Fridays. The children love it.
Danny: Are there any dietary restrictions I should know about?
Alfred: Master Tim is allergic to shellfish, and Master Damian is lactose intolerant. Miss Cass tends to avoid gluten-
Bruce: Ugh? Alfred who is this?
Alfred: Oh, Master Bruce. I didn't see you there. This is Daniel Fenton. My great-grandson.
Bruce: I- your what?
Alfred: My great-grandson. You remember my daughter, right? She had a child when she was fifteen that I never knew about. She put the girl up for adoption under my ex-wife's insistence. That child was Madeline, who went on to have children of her own. Daniel, here, is her youngest.
Bruce: I see. It's wonderful to meet you, Daniel.
Danny: You can call me Danny. Thank you for letting me stay here.
Bruce: Oh, of course. *shooting Alfred a confused look*
Alfred: Danny is a a situation green four.
Danny: I'm a what? What does that mean?
Bruce: You're part of this household now. That's what that means. Want me to show you around?
Danny: ugh, no, Great-Grandfather is already doing that.
Bruce: Alright! Have fun! I have some work to do but let me know if you need me. *walks away*
Danny: Did he seem nervous to you?
Alfred: No, he looks like that all the time. Master Bruce has a reputation you can say.
Danny heard everything about airhead Brucie: I guess that makes sense.
Meanwhile in Bruce's office:
Bruce hiding under his desk calling Dick: I'm serious. Alfred called him a situation green four!
Dick: *horrified gasp* Are you safe?
Bruce: Probably. The boy is young. I think Alfred is going to sick him onto Tim or Duke.
Dick: B. Listen to me. Get out of there. Get out of there now. I'll warn Tim and Duke.
Bruce crying: I thought Alfred stopped trying to marry us off, and now he brought his own flesh and blood to trap us in marriage!
I know the BatFandom likes to paint Alfred as all knowing but I think it would be hilarious If he knows nothing about Danny being a hero. He just knows that Danny’s parents are mad scientists so he should do well with the families eccentricities.
I think the most out of character part of the Dick and Tim Spyral reunion is that Tim didn’t immediately get a blood sample to run tests on to confirm that Dick was really himself. (and whatever bevy of other tests one would do to confirm an ID in a world with shapeshifters, clones, multiverse travel, etc.)
Like somehow Bruce was able to convince Tim “I won’t accept Batman’s dead” Drake that Dick was actually dead -Which couldn’t have been easy- and Tim’s just gonna accept that this spy dude (I forget if Dick still had a gun on him at that point because if he did…) is his dead brother without question? I ain’t buying it…
Captain Marvel is good, but he doesn't pay the bills! That's how Billy starts a small side job as a vigilante
He acts as a detective, sells potions, spells to make hair grow, protection spells, removes karma, negative energy, etc
He's also a spyyyy!
He likes to spy, especially against bad people! So, he casts a spell that hides his presence and takes embarrassing photos of rich people and villains. He sells some of them to heroes, rivals, or gossip columns
He has already provided information to the Rogues about the whereabouts of a dangerous villain who was hiding from them after injuring a child on centralcity
Some embarrassing photos of rich people. Or even unmasking some petty people… Black Adam taking a bubble bath with a rubber duck. Sivanna polishing his bald head
He also does revenge on demand! Just silly things, like making a jerk TV host repeatedly trip live in a very ungraceful way after he said some very impolite things about Wonder Woman's suit on TV
That sort of thing and much more
He showed Lois Lane photos of Lex Luthor doing all sorts of silly, embarrassing things, his mural of adoration-- i mean, hatred, of Superman, a wig he wore when alone that copied the alien's little hair thing, things like that because it was really hard to catch him red-handed committing crimes
Her colleague, Clark Kent, became very interested in them. He even tried to warn Batman about this new source that had emerged on the streets of their cities, but the Dark Knight didn't pay much attention to a spy taking gossip photos
UNTIL a photo of Bruce Wayne getting a artificial tan was sold to Vicky Valle, Batman became completely obsessed with finding out who that person was, since the photo was taken from his third-floor balcony window in the mansion and no alarm went off. This could only have come from a stealth genius or something, and Batman couldn't cope with the fact that he didn't know who it was
Batman: We need someone to work undercover and find a potentially dangerous suspect
Cap: Well… I know a young little guy who would do a great job, I highly recommend him. He charges a bit, but it's cheap and his work is well worth it -wink wink-
Batman: Good, we need your contact to find out who this mysterious source is who's selling photos and personal information of targeted individuals. It's extremely important for us to know who this person is, given that their skills have surpassed the mediocrity they initially displayed, clearly trying not to draw attention
And then the gears in Billy's head start turning. He realizes that the person Batman wants to get is HIM, and he gets kind of angry… like, his vigilante persona has been brought up in Justice League meetings a few times. Even Superman said it seemed important and that they should go after who it is.
But NOW, when Bruce Wayne is the target of attacks, when Gotham was involved, Batman admits that maybe it would be good to know more about this person? As if no one else had ever told him that before? Billy doesn't like that
It's a behavior he saw many times in adults when he was still in the system. The problem is only a problem when it's a problem for THEM… type of shit
Cap: Ahm, mister Batman sir, why are we on him? now? Nothing he has sold or done so far has shown any indication of being malicious or dangerous, as you yourself have said on other occasions that this suspect was brought here to the league
Batman: It's different this time; he clearly demonstrated dangerous abilities for the future, having aimed to attack Bruce Wayn--
Cap: The billionare? Capital B of Big-Bad-Billionare? He took a picture of the guy getting a fake tan, what's malicious or dangerous about that?
Batman: Bruce wayne is just a civvi--
Cap: Rich people are rich people. Even if they seem ridiculous and silly, the mere fact of having so much economic power concentrated in just one family is malicious in itself. Besides, Bruce Wayne isn't the first rich person this guy has targeted, so what's different?
Billy knows what's different, but he's already on thin ice just for continuing to talk over Batman and going against his ideas
Batman isn't silly tho, he narrows his eyes, noticing the defensive tone in Marvel's voice
Batman: your contact is our target.
It was a very direct statement. Billy knows that denying it wouldn't work, so he resorted to another strategy. Perhaps not a very intelligent one
Captain: I find it very funny how you didn't care about what he did when he only did these things in other cities. His actions were mentioned in several meetings and you barely gave them any importance. Just because he went after the billionaire in your city, now that's a top priority for you?
This causes Marvel to receive not only a very NASTY look from Batman, but also several confused expressions from the other members of the League. Because what? Our boy scout is angry and irritated with the dreaded Batman? And not only that, but he's talking to him LIKE THAT?
Well, he's already angry and speaking his truth. There's no going back now. The gods in his head are screaming at him to say MORE, use the CHAIR, BOY, they even made popcorn
Marvel: Yeah, I know who it is, but I don't think this will do you any good. You know what would be good? You going to a therapy to deal with these control issues of yours
It's not easy being the new Batriarchy of the family ╮(╯▽╰)╭
Dick Grayson Anniversary Week 2023 || @dickgraysonweek
Day 4: Abuse | “In every iteration, it’s Dick who remains the light of the world.” | Batman!Dick
Nightwing 60th Anniversary || @nightwing60thanniversary
Dick Grayson Bingo: New Experiences
Bonus horror: when Jason’s life is on the line in the warehouse as Bruce is rushing to save him he is aware of the audience voting if Jason should live or die. It’s part of why Jason’s death messes him up so bad.
Imagine the kids only realize Ace is a service dog when he starts alerting for Jason, and Bruce is just like, “I…are you okay?”
Jason, “Tf? I’m fine.”
Bruce, “Ace is alerting.”
Jason, “…what?”
Bruce, “Is it a panic attack? Jay, come sit down, please.”
And Jason gets tugged onto the couch before he even knows what’s happening. Ace lays across his lap, keeping his eyes on Jason the whole time, and the weirdest thing is that, yeah, he was about to have a panic attack. Damian was scuffling w Tim and the sound of Damian’s sword dragging against the ground had made him freeze. But…what the fuck?
Jason, after he’s calmed down, “So…since when?”
Bruce, w Jason’s legs across his lap, “Hmm?”
Jason, “Ace. Since when did he know how to do that?”
Bruce, “Oh, well…he’s my service dog.”
Jason, “…what?”
Bruce, “Funny enough, Harley recommended I get one, and when Ace showed up, it just…made things easy.”
Jason, “You’ve had Ace for years. How…how did we never know?”
Bruce, shrugs, “I never said anything about it. Didn’t seem important.”
Jason, “‘Didn’t seem important’, my ass! Oh my god, it makes so much sense now.”
Bruce, “I wasn’t hiding it…”
Jason, “B, hiding things is like second nature to you. You do it even when you don’t mean to. It’s why Dickie stresses open communication so much, and that includes things you ‘don’t think are important’.”
One time Red Hood and Batman are arguing and Red Hood calls him Dadman.
His goons find this hilarious and have been referring calling him as that whenever Red Hood’s not around.
Jason does, in fact, know and seriously considers faking his death after his sibling find out and start using it.
Dick is the master of odd jobs in the comics. He’s been a bartender, a cop, a personal trainer, a gymnastics instructor, a museum curator, etc.
But if we do not get a story line where he’s a substitute teacher or a daycare/preschool instructor or something like that, I’m going to lose. My shit.
You’re telling me Dick Grayson, man who taught 10-YEAR OLD DAMIAN WAYNE THAT STABBING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, would not absolutely kill it in a childcare setting.
The man who has single-handedly MENTORED 2/3 OF ALL SECOND GEN HEROES.
Honestly substitute teacher Dick would make so much sense. He only accepts jobs the day of because then if he has a bad patrol night he doesn’t have to work.
Kids are fascinated by him. He has taught class walking around the room on his hands. He always has the most insane anecdotes that he sprinkles into lessons. His students have Theories.
He is super good at connecting with kids who are struggling.
Teachers have mixed feelings on him. On one hand he almost always deviates from the lesson plan and there is always an increased chance of kids trying stupid stunts after he visits, but on the other hand the kids have always learned something and are so happy after having him.
Grayson/Spyral AU where instead of Bruce sending Dick undercover and acting as his handler, it’s Alfred.
Honestly, I think this would be so much more interesting because:
We could see Bruce having to mourn another (his third) Robin, who was also his first kid, whilst dealing with the fact that Dick’s identity was publicly leaked.
I think it would be such an interesting take, putting Alfred in focus. With his own history in the military/MI6, combined with his past tendencies to view the Robins primarily as soldiers instead of children, I think it could be super fun to purposely disrupt the very fanon cuddly grandpa Alfred characterisation and remind everyone that this is what Alfred was trained in and he can be ruthless with it.
This actually sounds super interesting. Given that Alfred was canonically the one to give Tim the Robin suit (and Damian in some iterations, I think) as well as the one to put Jason's suit in the case with the "Good Soldier" plaque, went along with Bruce's kinda cruel Birthday test of Tim, and manages to keep at least one gun in the manor despite Bruce's aversion, I could actually see it. The man can be pretty ruthless.
I would be really interested to see how it would go down. I can't really imagine Alfred fighting Dick like Bruce did, but I do feel like he'd be harder to say "no" to. He strikes me as the type of person who would know exactly what to say to get what he wants.
I also feel like he would do a better job hiding that he knew Dick was alive than Bruce would.
The dynamic with Alfred as the spymaster to Dick would be pretty interesting as well as the family's reaction (especially Bruce's) when the truth is revealed.
Was talking to a friend about how, in a body swap situation, I think Clark (who only has experienced pain under special circumstances) would not do too well in Bruce’s body (who on average has a couple stab wounds, a couple bruised ribs, and chronic back pain)
Batman suspecting that Captain Marvel is a kid so he starts dropping modern slang to prove his suspicions except Billy's chronically offline so their conversations go like this:
Batman: The reports conclude that about six or seven magical artifacts were stolen.
Billy, who has an apartment, a job, pays taxes, and goes on social media at max half an hour a day to update things for Whiz Radio: Golly, Mr. Batman sir this sounds serious, maybe we should get more people on the case!
Like at most he has a social media account as Whiz Kid for radio updating purposes but I firmly believe someone else manages that for him, that boy does not care about the latest trends and he has no idea what’s going on on the internet ever
He's a child from the 40s. The internet straight up didn't exist for most of his existence, and even when the time bubble popped + the 90s hit, he's a little boy who does not need to be online. He's had a library card literally forever, so when they updated to have computers, he occasionally uses them to play Minecraft at Freddy's request.
Batman: Why did you go MIA for a week? I sent an email about needing to check in at least every 48 hours.
