Alrighty, here is a small master list of Nightwing/Dick Grayson-centric fics I’ve read. I’ve already spotlighted a couple on my page but there may be some overlap. I have said before but I’ll say again, I haven’t been able to read the comics so all of my knowledge of DC comes from fanfic and fandom spaces.
There is going to be a variety of tags, themes and genres throughout so be sure to double check tags and summaries before you read. Most of these are going to be angst but there will be no MCD. That being said, some handle hard topics like SA and negative mental health. Some fics will have different relationships/characterisations of debated characters - Slade/Deathstroke. The fics are on here because I enjoy the writing and the storyline, but it may not be what you like do again please check everything before you continue to read.
I maintain the don’t like, don’t read mentality, so if there are any fics on here that you do not like, please don’t make any comments about not liking them. On the other hand, I am willing to look for more in a specific tag to add to this if anyone has recommendations that are similar to the fics on here.
Happy reading! 🩵🖤🩵🖤🩵
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Title: A Robin’s Song
Author: TheFakeFan
Summary:
Desperate to keep Batman’s identity a secret, Nightwing has to reveal the secret he’s kept for the last year and half. Unfortunately, he’s not sure how his family’s reaction is going to be about all of it..
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/3756211
Title: I Am Walking the Tightrope For You
Author:Mysterious_Aud_Lou
Summary:
Remember that episode in Teen Titans where Slade forces Robin to become his apprentice? Well, what if that happened, but with the Batfamily instead? (Can be read without seeing the episode.)
“This isn’t about your family, Nightwing. It’s about you. It’s always been about you. For some time now I have been searching for an apprentice–someone to follow in my footsteps. And Nightwing, I’ve chosen you.”
Dick Grayson will sacrifice everything to keep his family safe, even if it means becoming the apprentice of the man he hates the most in the world. But is his family willing to let him go without a fight?
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/43012110
Title: Unspoken Truths
Author: A_Concerned_Citizen
Summary:
“They tried getting Superman in here earlier. Went down like a lead balloon.”
It's a painful endeavour, trying to keep his face as neutral as possible when Dick wants to smile, “That was always a doomed attempt.”
Slade has no such issues, a snort of amusement coming easily from him, “Well it's a good thing they finally realized you needed to be the one talking to me.”
AKA Slade has information the League needs, Dick goes to interrogate him and ends up revealing the fact that he and Slade are friends.
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/51937099
Title: Hey, Brother, There's an Endless Road to Rediscover
Author: TheSilencer
Summary:
"Someone needs to go with him." Diana said. "She's a goddess of family. Her blessing will come from the strength of his familial ties."
All the more reason I should go. Damian thought.
Bruce and Dick shared a long look. Perhaps to the others in the room, it was a fast, indecipherable look, but Damian caught the pull of Dick's mouth and the tightness to his father's jaw. However, it was Bruce that said "Red Hood and Red Robin."
Damian's eyes widened.
Grayson was as good as dead.
Or the one where Dick's brothers manage to royally piss off an ancient deity that sends them careening through memories he'd rather they didn't see.
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/33156766
Title: i see you as an equal (with our equally dubious morals)
Author: faithms
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47001916
https://archiveofourown.org/works/47001916
Summary:
Dick… is aware. He’s aware that he’s not doing well. He’s aware that Tim isn’t doing well. Hell, he’s aware that Alfred isn’t doing well.
What with Bruce being… well…
He’s aware.
But, as he stares at his little brother telling him that Bruce is alive, he can’t help but feel anything but relief. In fact, he feels a lot of bad feelings about it, and then very quickly adds guilt to those bad feelings since he can’t think of anything positive to say.
Because he’s aware that he’s not well. And that Tim isn’t well. And that Alfred isn’t well.
But they weren’t well before Bruce died, either.
Title: Thirteen Years
Summary:
When Dick Grayson is de-aged by thirteen years, Batman is eager to find out who is behind it and how to cure the condition while the other Batboys learn that their ever-smiling, peace-keeping older brother was not always like that.
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/62055460
Note: this Fic requires an AO3 Account.
Title: White Lies Save No Bird
Author: UnnamedDodoBird
Summary:
“Do they bring you joy?” she asked.
“What?”
“The lies.”
Dick thought for a moment. It wasn’t hard to answer that. Not really. The lies only brought destruction with them. But they were necessary. They weren’t supposed to bring joy. Not to him anyways. They were meant to protect. Not bring joy.
The woman took a step closer to Dick. She was now hovering just in front of him. “Lies do not protect”, she said, “They destroy.”
“So does truth”, Dick countered.
Or Dick Grayson finds himself unable to lie. Secrets are bound to spill out, one way or another.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/66718828
Title: Haven't I Given Enough?
Author: Valpalmalec
Summary:
There was only one thing Scarecrow wanted to inflict. Fear.
In his head, Dick was grateful he was the one in the hot seat. He always had a harder time watching his loved ones be in pain than taking the pain himself. That face was one of the leading reasons behind almost everything he does. Furthermore, he and Bruce have been testing his level of resistance to Scarecrow's fear gas, and compared to the others- even Bruce- he was the best option for this. Right?
OR: Scarecrow makes a fear toxin specifically for Nightwing, who seems to be immune to his normal batch. And maybe Dick could handle a newer version of the gas... if there wasn't also a device attached to his head that analyzed his thoughts to make him face his greatest fears...
What's worse is that his family, who have basically shut him out since his return from Spyral- from the dead- is there to witness his fall.
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/71247716
Title: Code B
Author: MyHero
Summary:
It started with a group text from Garth, between him, Wally, Roy, and Donna.
Tuesday 8:37pm
Fish-R-Us: Code Burgundy - D
It ended with Roy starting to realize just how far he has wondered from his family due to misguided anger.
And maybe he starts to do something about it, the first step is to find out find the missing pieces. He along with Jason (who was first reluctant then determined) are on a mission for the truth to the "death" of Dick Grayson.
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/30794750
Note: an AO3 account is required
Title: When it Rains
Author: sElkieNight60
Summary:
Jason's return to 'life' (and the Wayne family) is the hot topic of the minute in Gotham. Every reporter wants an interview. Jason's siblings decide to do an interview together with him, in which Dick gets asked a rather personal question:
“What about yourself, Richard?” asks the reporter, widening her own insincere smile to match as she turns her torso half an inch towards him. “As the eldest I am sure you are simply overjoyed to have your brother back but, might I ask: why is it, do you think, that you are the only one of Mister Wayne's children that he hasn't formally adopted?”
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/22842739
Title: the long walk
Author: pocketofsky
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/43704451
Summary:
His brothers don’t want to see him. No one does. Not after Spyral. Not after the lies. And Dick wants to scream that it’s not his fault; it never was. But he can’t.
So he doesn’t. He’ll be fine alone anyway.
OR: Post-Spyral. Secrets are revealed. Traumas are addressed. No-one is happy.
Title: The Fishbowl
Author: LordLuxury
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36052258
Summary:
Dick’s goal for Thanksgiving (code named Operation F.I.S.H.): A family outing to the aquarium.
It feels achievable - everyone has been getting along better lately, Jason is spiraling closer, Cass is coming home. But there is a lot of unspoken hurt in every direction, and Dick’s own position in the family is shakier than ever since Bruce returned.
If Dick wants to realize his dream of family bonding, there will have to be many painful conversations between all parties. Dick’s own secrets will need to surface, the ones he has long kept submerged, the ones he will fight to sink forever.
(Or: Where Bruce is just a bit darker, even less emotionally available, and treats everyone a little worse, and how they all fix their family anyway.)
Title: Ranking Robins
Author: Beauty_In_Her_Darkness
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/25229746
Summary:
Bruce sighed. "I wish you all were more competitive about being good sons instead of heroes. Maybe I'd have less gray hairs that way." As four sly looks were directed his way, Bruce sighed again. "Don't even think about it."
"Bruce—" Dick started in an too-sweet voice.
"No."
"Come on—"
"Absolutely not."
"Just this once?"
"I'm not ranking my sons. What father would agree to that?"
Buzzfeed has been cranking out quiz after quiz about Gotham's Bat-themed superheroes. When Jason shows them to his family, him and his brothers decide that not only should their adoring fans get to rank the Robins: Bruce should too.
Title: The Whole Truth
Author: Samuel_Walker
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/50051371
Summary:
So, when Dick replied with a calm “I had specialized training Batman deemed unnecessary for the rest of you.” Jason knew he was telling the truth, but he also knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth.
Five times Dick revealed a "new" skill and one time the family found out why.
Title: A Bird, a Boy, a Talon, and a Toy
Author: Spooky_Ginger
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/56814955
Summary:
Four versions of Nightwing find themselves trapped in a dimension where they don't belong. For some reason, they think Jason is the only one who can help them get back home. Jason has enough trouble tolerating his OWN Dick Grayson, but now has to collaborate with versions of his brother from worlds very unlike his own. Unfortunately, the one common thread across multiverses happens to be Dick Grayson's uncanny natural talent to annoy his brother.
Title: take my love, take it down
Author: muchadoaboutsometing
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55716379
Summary:
“—told the attendees that Wayne’s donation would be used to increase opportunity for those in foster care.”
Jason laughed.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Tim asked.
“We’ll never see a dime.”
Dick Grayson and his foster brothers have fallen through the cracks. Living with a parent only interested in the checks, Dick’s taken on the responsibility of making sure his little family stays fed and together, no matter what.
But when the sun goes down, he dawns the domino mask of Robin. While Batman plays hero with the city's kingpins, he helps the little guy.
Bruce Wayne’s newest philanthropy project is focused on children's services. But handing over check after check doesn’t seem to give him the feeling that he’s doing anything.
At least there's Batman. But it’s lonely work, living by the moonlight.
At least it is until he meets Robin.
The vigilante is like a breath of fresh air. Eager, friendly, and surprisingly good company, even for a patented loner.
As their interactions on the street grow, Bruce’s walls begin to crumble. But once he starts asking questions, he can’t stop, and he can’t take personal stake in the affairs of Batman.
Or can he?
Title: Goldie
Author: Spooky_Vanilla
Link:
https://archiveofourown.org/works/47222884
Summary:
“I should have been there. I should’ve.” He sobbed, but oddly enough he sounded furious. “I should’ve protected him.”
And, what? Jason’s eyes snapped at his brother, lips parting slightly. He heard Tim mutter under his breath, no doubt wondering what Dick was talking about too.
“It’s my fault.” Dick stammered, digging his fingertips into Wally’s shoulder blades. “I should’ve protected him, he’s my brother! Now he’s dead!”
Or: after being dosed with a new toxin, things Dick wished to keep buried were dug up. Jason's having a wild ride, that's for sure.
Title: Fly Through The Air
Author: hopelesslyseshat
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/64465294
Summary:
Arguably, the only thing more alarming than stumbling into Scarecrow’s fear toxin is unexpectedly stumbling into Scarecrow’s fear toxin.
With the last of his mental faculties, Dick pressed the panic button on his escrima stick and allowed himself to fly.
