Sins of the Father [Bruce]

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Stepping in on the Batman's stomping grounds was a daring task to take on. Those the the League knew to leave well enough alone. The Bat wasn't exactly a people's person and the other members knew that. And those that ran into the Batman without warning him, well...little is said, but much can be done if that hero got in the way. Batman was not the type of person you would want to make enemies with, even Superman knew this.

Yet, this has not stopped many new vigilantes in the field to test the waters in this town. Many of them not even lasting the first week against the criminal activities in this town that were at Batman's levels.

Yes, there are levels. Those like Joker, Two-face, Mr. Freeze, to list a few, were on the Batman's level. Then you had those like Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Riddler, that cross into the lines of the Bat-family. And so on and so forth. Batman had a ranking system of the criminals. Ones of which he would allow his protégés at the time to take on certain missions on there own or under his watchful eye.

There was one who dared to challenge the rules Batman had for this town. Well....rules he made clear to those that work alongside him to help out. The actions and work of the father is passed on to the sons. At this point, the first of the protégés was proving time and time again of testing those waters. Nightwing.

The first of the Robins, who had set the bar rather high both in skill and abilities. Of course sidekicks tend to hide in the shadows of their mentors for so long before they start wanting to take on more work. And this was what happened with the first. Leaving Batman with a bit of an open wound over time regarding to the actions of each other.

Nightwing followed the ways of Batman, but would find ways to bend the rules in the town. That was part of it, being a family. Sometimes things had to be pushed for there to be any really change or growth in the ways of their actions.

This meeting tended to be off beat from that of their usual meet ups. Which were few to none as of lately. Dick left the mission talk between Batman and Arsenal when it came to the Outsiders. And the only other time they had a talk was when he would hand around or work with his 'brother' Tim, the current Robin.

Well, maybe it was about time to work it out in ways....in other words, Arsenal had gotten sick of playing messenger between the two and pretty much threatened Nightwing in their friendly manor. Lets just say it was enough with Kory being on Arsenal's side to get Dick to agree to this. Though he wouldn't tell Bruce what happened. Then again, he probably would figure it out. Bruce seemed to know everything and anything that happened through out Gotham and the hero vines.

So, Dick Grayson found himself on his day off, back at Wayne Manor. The first place he went for was the Batcave. Less of a chance of running into Bruce right off the bat. The motorcycle's humming engine was cut off as it was parker and Dick pulled of his helmet. He had his suit on, just had getting done a late night/morning patrol of his town and into Gotham. Kory possibly being the reason for the later start to what was suppose to be an early patrol.

Dick removed his eye mask, no need for it in the safe haven of the cave. Alfred was probably already alerted to the current occupant within the cave. And it wasn't the bats hanging from the cave ceiling.

All he knew was Bruce said a time and to be there on the matts ready to go. Maybe he was early...who cares. He walked over to the changing area, peeling his gloved off as head went. Within a few minutes, he was barefoot and in the workout gear that seemed to be a similar uniform between the bat boys when it came to combat training.

He walked over toward the matts, wrapping his hands as he walked. He stood there finishing off the wraps when he spoke up,"Hand to hand or combat with weapons?

Dick knew Bruce was lurking nearby and trying to have the upper hand on his former protégé. Wasn't going to work. Dick was already starting off a bit cocking, his tone reflecting his attitude as to having to be forced to show up. He had his reasons for caving and showing up. Kory could be quite persuasive.

[Deleted]

There was a new problem that Bruce now had to deal with. A new wave of vigilante's had entered Gotham City without Batman's permission. Without knowing what they were up to and who they were striking, it was becoming difficult to plan his attacks around the city. Bruce would spend weeks staking out a hide away for a criminal gang and then, just before would strike, some wet behind the ears troupe of "heroes" would enter and mess things up.  Weeks of planning would go down the drain and no-one seemed to care. And then there were the villains, they were a league of their own. One day, someone was going to get themselves killed. It was time to send a message.

Bruce suited up, ready for training. Donning the cowl, he transformed into Batman as he stepped out of the armoury and into the cave's training area. Dick would turn up early... he always did. And sure enough, the roar of the motorcycle engine came forth to announce his arrival.
Typical.
It wasn't a social call that he ex protege was making. Batman had asked, no demanded, Dick's presence so he could finally spell it out for him. Sometimes harsh measures needed to be taken in order to get the message out. As Dick got into his training gear, Batman observed him and saw that he was cocky, head-sure, full of himself. Whilst confidence was not a bad thing, it appeared that Dick had gotten a bit too confident.
"Hand to hand or combat with weapons?" Dick asked.

"This will be a simulation fight," Batman said, "You will defend yourself by any means necessary, either using hand to hand or weapons. I suggest that you suit up if you plan on defending yourself."

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

So maybe Bruce did get the upper hand for the time considering Dick hadn't though to check the training area first. Though he wouldn't let on that he didn't take notice til he had started heading over there. Big deal, not like Bruce was going to call him out on that.

Dick knew it would be wasted words between them if they had made a comment over it. A mere glance at Bruce suited up, was enough between the two to leave Dick cursing in his mind over the matter. One mark against him that night. His mind hadn't been all that focused on checking out if Bruce really had been there to begin with.

"Alright, skipping the warmups and right to the workout," Dick said as he turn away and headed back the way he had come. No real change to his tone.

Ok, so maybe a heads up would have been nice. Since when was Batman known for being nice and giving someone a warning. All came down to being prepared. Dick only knew he could complain of keep calm and carry on. And what was Dick best at? Rolling with what ever was thrown at him. He was quick on his feet if a situation changed and at else with communicating it as well.

Granted Bruce would know that after all these years, he was more up beat and light hearted when it came to tough situations most of the times. Bruce would probably sense a bit of annoyance at the sudden memo over the session. Bruce raise him after all. The two did not have a hard time reading each other...most of the time.

Within a minute, he was back suited up as Nightwing. Adjusting his gloves as he walked over. A bit of distance a way, he pulled out his escrima sticks and started spinning them in hand as he crossed over.

Stopping short of where Bruce was he crossed them in front and took stance. A neutral one at that, he was ready for either defense or attack.

"Anything goes? Cave and floors all access," Dick commented as to the limitations. "No tap outs. Not done til down on the ground. Sounds like my kind of morning workout."

Bruce may have built the cave and been there longer, but the young acrobat had been training in there since he was a kid. This would be interesting. He knew there were probably some new additions to the cave features he might have failed to check out the last few times he had stopped by to chill with Tim.

Dick would play favor toward the towering tunnels. A free fall was always good to build speed to an arial attack. Alfred would probably consider that to be on the Dick's adrenalin junky traits the young acrobat had never grown out of.

There was a good chance that Batman was going to use the shadows to his advantage of course. This was home field advantage for the two of them, but one had the insights to all the latest renovations. Nightwing was just going to have to keep Batman on his toes and not give him the chance to slip away into the darkness where he would have the chance to strike.

Nightwing was already analyzing the status of the cave and even Batman's positioning. A slight shoulder ducked could me a quick move from the opposite arm or the chance to strike and run. Not that Batman would make the first move to flee. Or maybe he would?

A simulation situation was a serious fight in their training. The Robins knew that their mentor did not joke when it came to these situations. It was often to prove a point. And Bruce still have the reigning title over his Robins for these battle situations. Often reinforcing a lesson they needed to learn the hard way. Dick was pretty sure he knew what this might be about. Being on Gotham turf had its boundaries. While the Outsiders were allowed to operate in Gotham under Batman's instruction and set limits, Nightwing had gone off track several times on side missions of his own.

This would be mildly entertaining for Nightwing. He hadn't had a session like this against Bruce in a long time. He may have broken off from the Bat-family in title of name, yet he still remained a member of the Bat-family. They were the only true family he really had in life. Sure they had their disagreements, but they had their ways of settling them such as now. Talking and having a conversation was not exactly how this family went about it without it turning into an argument.

Keeping that from happening, these training sessions helped prevent unwanted conflicts between each other. Even though they were about to fight now. Simulation fights, anything goes, a broken rib here or noise there was within the lines of fair game, but disabling someone with intentions of leaving them laid up for possible months might be crossing the lines.

Pain was part of the lesson, but not to the point of a senseless beat down with a crowbar.

They had a safe word, though the fights went on for some time before anyone would say the word. Even Batgirl had at time gone through these simulations. And the learning session ended to make the other went want to hold off from that word.

[Deleted]

Dick proposed that the contest have no rules and though this was often as accurate as it got when in the streets, Bruce had Alfred to consider. If the two of them got blood on the ceilings, or in places Alfred couldn't reach, he would not be in the happiest of moods. Best to contain the damage to at least one part of the cave so that the mess would be kept within a certain area.
"Anything goes but keep it to the training area," Batman instructed, "I don't want Alfred to have to clean the whole cave from top to bottom."

As Batman prepared himself for the duel, he noticed Alfred descend the stairs from Wayne Manor and enter the cave himself. Alfred was dressed in his usual attire of a suit and jacket, his round-rimmed glasses perched upon his nose. That and the grey hair made Alfred look like a wise librarian or teacher, not a butler. In truth, Alfred was more of a surrogate father to Bruce and a moral compass for Batman.

"Training with Master Dick sir?" he asked.

"Yes Alfred," Batman replied, "We'll keep it to the training area, don't worry."

"Thank you sir," Alfred replied, "I'm getting, dare I say, too old to be cleaning up blood and sweat from the ceilings. Now if you'll excuse me, I shall grab the first aid kit from upstairs. I daresay that we shall be needing it soon enough."

"Thank you Alfred."

And with that, Alfred walked back upstairs to fetch the medical supplies.

Batman turned back to the training area and prepared himself for the fight. Anything goes meant anything goes. Batman had trained Nightwing well and knew that he would throw everything he had at him.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"Sounds fair enough," Dick agreed with staying to the training area as a limit.

Alfred didn't need any more work than what was necessary. He already did more work than most household help did. He was also more involved with the family than most butlers would be. To Tim and Dick, Alfred could possibly be seen as a grandfather to them. He helped guide them in ways that Bruce had not when they were growing up.

At least for Dick, it at been a relief to have someone like Alfred there when needed.

Dick smiled a bit as the old man came down the steps as if he knew instinctively that he would possibly be needed. That was Alfred for you.

The smile turned to a slight smirk when the first aid kite was mentioned. And yes it was definitely going to be needed. Dick wasn't planning on going down, not without quite possibly a fight for his life.

Getting serious again, Dick followed suit to the training area. This was going to be a tough match. He'd worked against Tim many time and of course his own battles with the Outsiders. If you could survive a match against Starfire and Supergirl, Batman wouldn't be far off. Then again, those two never went to the extent to try and break a teammate's arm. Batman on the other had....Dick had ended up with a broken rib quite possibly before.

By the time they got over there Nightwing was already set. And he knew Batman would be as well. There wasn't going to be a start and end signal. This was their fight. Telling someone they were ready would defeat the purpose of a simulation battle.

Nightwing wasn't going to give Batman the chance to start it off. In this enclosed area, there was space to move about, but it wasn't like running around the city. And he knew Batman would know most if not all his moves. He was just going to have to sure more strength and speed to his movements. Not to mention strategy.

With that Nigthwing went on the attack first, someone need to start this off. He'd go hand to hand first before she pulled out the escrima sticks, just to chance it up for a bit.

Nightwing threw a few wingdings in Batman's direction, more of a distraction as Nightwing were to charge is as Batman would defend himself against them or dodge them.

Nightwing planned for both, so was set to change direction if need be. The first combo would be a series of quick but powerful punches with a mix of kicks being thrown at Batman.

And he was not going to leave himself open to a head blow of torso attack from Batman. He knew the force that a punch from Batman could bring if he got the right moment.

[Deleted]

Batman knew that Nightwing knew the cave almost as well as he did, so the idea of using the cave's natural formations as a hiding spot wasn't going to work. This was going to be a grudge match, pure and simple, and only fighting skills would decide who would be the victor. It would also be a good chance to see how well Dick had been training and if he had been keeping up to date with everything. Batman had trained Dick as a child and had taught him everything the former Robin knew, but he had not taught him everything that Batman knew. Batman never taught anyone everything he knew and always kept something behind for himself.

Dick sprung into action first with an obvious opening. With lightning reflexes that would have perplexed the average fighter, Dick grabbed and threw his projectiles at Batman with the hope of distracting him. But Batman was not an average fighter and the movement was slow. Very slow. It was easy for Batman to grab his cape and cover it over his body so that the projectiles bounced uselessly off the cape's leather plates and onto the floor. Then Batman threw forth his cape and waited for Dick's next move.

For Batman, fighting was not about movements but calculations. It took many years to learn from the world's greatest fighters, but Batman was able to predict the movements of nearly anyone in a fight. Watching Dick throw his projectiles, Batman knew there was only one move he could make afterwards and that was to attack him head on. And sure enough, Dick charged forward and threw several punches and kicks that were designed to knock Batman off balance.

Batman was able to anticipate every punch and kick, moving with just the right amount of movement needed to dodge them without leaving himself open. Dick didn't leave himself open for a head blow or torso attack, which was something. He had been training, but so far his moves had left Batman unimpressed. When the next punch was thrown, Batman dodged it and thrust forward with two fingers aimed directly at Dick's Collar Bone. This was a simple martial arts strike that would force Dick to the ground if it struck...

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Damn, just as he had expected. Batman avoided every single one of his attacks. Figures. ...

Ok, distraction time for the front running was up now. He knew better. Batman taught him all this. He was going to have to use his mixed skills to follow through on his attacks. The main advantage Nightwing had against all the Robins, Batgirl, and Batman was his acrobatics. Batgirl could prove sightly impressive with her background in gymnastics of the Bat-family. Though Dick was raised in the circus....he had them all beat on that.

Every attack, Batman dodged with easy. Knowing Batman had figured his strategy on not leaving himself open, he knew a contact attack was to come.

On the last punch, that was the move he had anticipated. He saw the slight shifting of Batman's weight to another foot in the blink of an eye. Not something easily caught since it was so subtle. Batman was there coming at him pointing two finger.

Nightwing eyes caught this quickly, knowing what would happen if he made contact. And at the last second Nightwing didn't have time to stop short his shot he had taken. So thinking on his toe, almost literally.

Nightwing punched off on the spot to perform a side areal move to dodge of from in front of Batman. He had enough strength and training to perform the most advance gymnastics moves from a standstill. A running start is nice to get more power, yet he got enough height to escape it.

He landed not too far behind from Batman. Not a good place to be on a last second avoidance. Time to take it to the defense after his next possible attack. He knew Batman wasn't going to give him a second. So turning his body with one foot forward and one back, he pulled out the escrima sticks to attack and defend himself as soon as Batman were to turn an strike if he did. If not attack, Nightwing would strike.

[Deleted]

Nightwing didn't seem surprised that all of his attacks had been dodged or dismantled. It was almost as if he was testing the waters with Batman, not going full out until he was absolutely sure he would succeed. In truth, Batman was doing the same thing. His attack was a simple one and only a master would have been able to detect it and move away. Nightwing threw a punch that was easily deflected by Batman opening up his palm and letting the punch hit him. Nightwing used the momentum to move beside Batman and out of the way.

For a moment, both combatants stood there facing each other. Batman knew Dick's greatest strength was his ability to think on his feet and his acrobatic skills. Those skills were what caught Bruce Wayne's eye when he first laid eyes on Dick Grayson, twelve years old. And those skills had been honed to perfection, to the point where Batman was confident enough to declare Dick the greatest acrobat in the world. And it was those skills that Dick would be using in order to attempt to get the upper hand over Batman. Attempt being the operative word, Batman also had some tricks up his sleeve. By taking out his Escrima Sticks, Dick had brought weapons into the fray. Though he didn't draw any of his weapons, Batman began to formulate a plan in his mind to at least make Nightwing sweat.

The two combatants stared at each other. Batman shifted his stance into a Wing Chun defensive stance, ready to deflect the Escrima Sticks. Then with one hand, he beckoned Nightwing to take the first move. Training was over. Now the real fight began.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Ok, the warmup seemed to be over. Though this was no game that was about to start. The stance Batman took was enough to hint at what reflexes would be against a straight on attack.

Batman would be able to block his hits. This would also allow for Batman to try and leave an opening for him to grab an arm and pull him forward. Being pulled toward Batman was a lethal move. The attacks he could use being one to actually do some damage. Nightwing's goal was to avoid a contact blow to the chest or neck in this stance.

He wasn't going to resort to the trickery of the electric devices built into the escrima sticks. Not this soon. Testing was over. And doing so would be an open invitation for more trickery.

The hand motion a clear invite to attack. This was going to be a true challenge. Nightwing was going to have to go on border line survive mode, life or death simulation fight.

This was going to seem like an all out war.

Nightwing gave a slight smirk, lowering his own stance. He was going to charge. Going in head first, Nightwing had his arms back, leaning slightly forward and literally on his toes.

When within striking distance, Nightwing subtly shifted his weight and swung with his right arm aiming for Batman's head. At the same moment, he punched off into a front tuck as his right arm lead. Bringing his chest more upward rather than forward. He wanted height.

Knowing the hit would be deflected, he would be quick enough to perform the tuck and in the turn he would bring down his pelf leg down to meet Batman's shoulder. At least that was the goal. Nightwing could land pretty much in the same spot at which he had started.

[Deleted]

Dick smirked when Batman invited him to make the first move. He was always cocky and always joked around... sometimes too much for Batman's liking. It was also his weakness and one that Batman would try to exploit, although there was no doubt that Dick would anticipate that first. Nightwing ran forward and threw a punch directed at Batman's head. It was easily deflected, but it was a punch designed to stall. Nightwing jumped up and performed a still forward tuck, using the momentum to power another attack. Another predictable move that Batman had seen time and time again and one he would punish Nightwing for using.

Batman twisted his body 90 degrees so that the kick missed and went through the air. During the movement, he grabbed a fistful of smoke pellets from his utility belt and threw them to the floor. The pellets exploded and created a thick, foggy cloud of smoke that was almost too dense for a normal person to see through. Then the lights of the cave turned off, leaving both Batman and Nightwing in the darkness...

The sound of the grappling gun could be heard as Batman swung above the arena and hid in the darkness, bracing himself against two stalactites that naturally formed on the cave ceiling. And then, after a few moments, Batman pounced and aimed himself at Nightwing, intent on grabbing the former boy wonder and slamming him to the ground with enough force to shatter at least a few ribs.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing recovered quickly as the smoke pellets went off before his feet met the ground again. As soon as the right touched, he did a back handspring to get to a slightly clearer area.

That wouldn't happen been that they were in the enclosed training sector of the cave. Then the lights went out. The night vision took effect immediately in the mask. The cloud of smoke was just another set up.

The night vision would not pick up through the dense fog of smoke within the cave. Nightwing would rely on his other senses to determine where Batman was.

The grapple line was the first hint. Though Batman was unlikely to be where it had echoed at this point. And Batman was beyond the point that you'd be able to hear any movement. And climbing...he knew where every loose stone was in this cave. Batman had that in his favor.

Nightwing was left fighting blindly as he stood still for a moment, tucking the escrima sticks away for the time being.

He knew an attack was coming soon.

It wasn't long after, he heard the whipping of the cape coming in quick. Nightwing was just barely able dodge off the the right. That was the downfall of the cape, more sound and easy to catch hold of. And that's the attack Nightwing went for next.

Putting himself in striking distance of Batman as he grabbed and jerked hard to the left, trying to bring him down a bit and quickly swinging into another kick. Either he'd get lucky that Batman would become off balance by his cape being jerked with as much strength as Nightwing could exert at a last minute. Or Nightwing was going was being set up for this one as he was driving Batman towards his kick. As he pulled an escrima stick and aimed for the back of Batman's knee to try and bring him down as he twisted with the motion of his kick.

[Deleted]

Batman could only watch as Nightwing barely dodged the dive attack. Batman tucked into a roll and rose up from the ground to find that Nightwing had grabbed hold of his cape. Nightwing pulled down hard, trying to bring Batman down to the ground. An escrima stick hit the back of Batman's knee and caught him off guard, forcing him down on one knee. Knowing he had to react quickly, Batman rotated to the right and swung his elbow out at Nightwing's temple, hoping to knock his attacker off guard and on the floor.

If Nightwing got him on the floor then this sparring match was over. Fights were lost when someone was on the ground, defending themselves. However, the opposite also applied... if Bruce could get Nightwing on the floor then he would have a chance of winning this sparring match.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing combination had work. Well at least he got the better of Batman on that one. That was the only way to fly when it came to fighting. Always watching for the next opening. And he was taking very chance he was given to return his attacks. There was no way he was going down with out a hardy fight against his mentor. He didn't need to prove himself to Batman.

He had his own town he was protecting and doing a fine job at that. Even his friends did little to step in on the work over there that Nightwing was handling. And that the way he wanted to keep it.

Taking another swing at him right a way, Nigthwing was aiming for Batman's back this time and shoulder. That's when he hadn't been quick enough to catch Batman shifting and swinging his elbow right at his head. Nightwing was already in forward motion, to late to pull back from the attack. And too late catching that attack from Batman.

He barely had time to dodge it, pulling upward trying to get out of the way. His attempted did not prevail against the quick action of Batman's elbow as it made contact with his jaw. It was better than where Batman had been aiming, though it was enough to knock him off kilter a bit.

The force was enough to send Nightwing off to the side almost into a roll to catch himself as he was left kneeling on the ground. His jaw sore as ever from that hit. There was blood starting to trickle down from his lip.

Nightwing narrowed his eyes at Batman. That was a lucky hit to the jaw. He knew he had to get up and attack right away. Nightwing pushed off the ground once he was on his toes and pushed up with his hands as well as he turned grabbing both of his escrima sticks as he lunged up and attached them together to create a bow staff.

Whether or not he was quick enough to get out of the way and attack was only a matter of moments as too if Batman would strike back of block him again on the defense.

[Deleted]

And would be in that very heated/emotional lunge that Nightwing performed which proved to be ineffective. The Bat merely shifted to his right with extreme speed and accuracy, showing Nightwing he had been anticipating such a personal blow.

“That’s what I mean, Nightwing.” The Bat now growled out. Indeed the Bat had once more referenced his young protege as his truest stance in the vigilante crime fighting world. He gave Dick status as an equal... A huge first time and yet, so subtle at the same time.

With a swift maneuver that utterly and brazenly showed off his strength and skill, he caught Nightwing in sheert lunged propensity and used such oncoming force against the young man, to throw him harshly back into the ring’s triple corded boundaries. “You attack with ALL emotion. Never with logic.” Batman then growled, allowing his opponent to ready himself once more.

“If you use logic, you can always end up as last man standing,” The Bat hissed out. “Rather than last man dying - should you keep using emotion…”

He then shifted with the liquid metal steel that a predator would use in the wild, leaping unexpectedly towards Nightwing’s legs. Muscled arms reached out, physical form of sheer strength and agility stretched. He aimed for Nightwing’s very stance with intend to knock him down...

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Nightwing's attack had failed yet again against his mentor. This was going to be more of a challenge then he thought. Bruce was definitely bringing back all memory of his fighting style and skills. Bruce had trained him after all. Even with the acrobatics of his history, Bruce had seen and practiced through all of it.

Dick had just grown older and stronger. He carried on many of the old skills yet with a refined determination to them. New skills were acquired over the years. And Batman was reading him like a book. This pissed Dick off all the more, he knew better than to think Batman hadn't been observing his fighting even while being a long side of it at time with the Outsiders.

Nightwing had tried with the bow staff, only to face Batman countering him once again. This time sending hime flying backwards further as Batman had lunged in return with his own brute strength. Nightwing caught himself was quickly returned to his feet without flaw.

And Batman's words rang out and taunted the young man standing before him. The annoyance building as his mentor talked. Yet, for once, the younger man had no response to the words from his mentor. Either he knew it was true or he was too focused. He wouldn't let on during this match. Though it was distracting non the less.

Nightwing was about to shift into another combo when Batman came full force at him shortly after the last attack. The shear speed of his mentor was over the top of what he had seen in the field before. Nightwing was known in the field for out doing his mentor in the speed an agility when it came to the combination with his acrobatics. Though when it came to strength and speed, Batman had it down to a fine art of course.

This gave him little to no time to actually get out of the way. Nightwing was about to dodge out while at the ready to strike with the bow staff. It had been too late. Batman had Nightwing's legs locked within his grasp. Batman had managed to restricted his movements finally. That was the key to shut him down at the moment. Take away Nightwing's ability to escape how ever was another case. Nightwing was waiting for the slightest change in Batman's grip on him at that second. He knew he would have to shift to spare himself from taking on some damage from his own attack. The seconds seemed to pass like minutes as Batman was trying to take down Nightwing.