Nightwing and Oracle have all the time circled one another romantically, whilst different potential suitors have made strikes on each of them. A brand new story even highlights how lengthy they have been quietly an merchandise, and the way a lot Batman helps that improvement.
“A Night time Off” from DC Saved by the Belle Reve #1 (by Andrew Ayoin, Nelson Daniel, Dee Cunnifee, and Ferran Delgado) reveals the complete circumstances of Dick Grayson and Barabra Gordon’s promenade date again in highschool — and the lengths Batman went by way of to make sure that they had no less than one regular night time collectively.
“A Night time Off” takes place years earlier than the trendy day, again when Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson had been simply youngsters in highschool, with Barbara nonetheless the one Batgirl and Grayson having adopted his position as Nightwing. Already conscious of one another’s secret identities however lengthy earlier than they’d attain the romantic degree they’ve achieved within the modern-day, Grayson finally ends up awkwardly asking Barbara to go to promenade with him “as associates.” Regardless of their superhero histories, their help system does their greatest to offer an everyday expertise. Commissioner Gordon and Grayson share an ungainly silence whereas ready for Barbara to hitch them, they usually even get a limo — naturally pushed by Alfred.
However when Mister Freeze and a number of henchmen perform an assault on the freeway, the 2 don variants of their costumes to assist save lives and battle crime. However to their shock, Batman arrives — and needs none of their assist. Whereas combating towards Freeze, Batman holds his personal towards all of his henchmen with ease, and yells on the pair that it is their promenade night time, and they need to get again to it reasonably than assist him. It seems he simply desires them to “do… promenade,” and revel in an everyday night time of dancing and being younger. Arriving on the promenade, they’re too late for Barbara to be named Promenade Queen (and it is hinted one among Barbara’s associates employed Freeze to hold out his assault solely to achieve the title herself). However finally, the 2 youngsters are high-quality with the event and spend the night dancing collectively.
It is a candy story, particularly on reflection now that Oracle and Nightwing are kind of confirmed to be again in a romantic relationship. However “A Night time Off” additionally highlights an vital factor of Batman’s relationship along with his sidekicks. Over time, Batman’s efforts to assist youthful individuals develop into heroes has been revealed to stem from a hope that they’ll develop past him as individuals. With Bruce’s assist, the fashion inside individuals like Dick Grayson might be harnessed — however they’ll get an empathetic understanding that helps hold them from happening a darkish path. Batman has struggled to make sure his sidekicks get to be common individuals, and has preached classes that he himself cannot all the time adhere to about disconnecting from their “work” lengthy sufficient to have lives.
With that in thoughts, it makes loads of sense that Batman can be prepared to danger his life if it meant guaranteeing Nightwing and Batgirl obtained an opportunity to only be common youngsters for an evening. It additionally makes his eventual choice to easily marry them forward of Dark Knights: Loss of life Metallic’s closing battle all of the extra becoming. Bruce Wayne is somebody who has seen each step of their relationship and risked his life towards one among his most harmful villains, all simply to verify that they had time collectively as a pair. Batman’s insistence that the pair get pleasure from their promenade speaks to Batman’s dedication to his sidekicks past their costumed identities, and the way a lot he desires to see them discover the happiness that so typically evades him.