Chapter 1463: Birds and Return (VIII)

After the DC Comics main universe New 52, ​​many Robin's origin stories were rewritten. For example, the history of Nightwing forming the Teen Titans was deleted. He was Nightwing when he first appeared. The background story was that he was adopted and taught by Wayne since he was a child. There was no specific introduction to how he became an independent hero and how he came back.

The same is true for Red Hood. When he appeared in the main universe New 52, ​​he was already Red Hood. Barbara's history as Oracle was not deleted, but the setting of paralysis became that she had successfully stood up through surgery. The two former Batgirls, Orphan and Troublemaker, returned to their independent identities and no longer had such a close connection with Batman.

But no matter how the background story is changed, the poor academic background of the Bat Family in the main universe is the same as always. Nightwing went to Hudson University in the single issue. Although he was expelled after a few issues, his academic background in "New 52" was similar to prenatal education. Not to mention the others, only Barbara was better.

The most successful member of the Bat Family is Luke Fox, the son of the CEO of Wayne Group. He is also a product of elite education and graduated from MIT with a double degree in business and engineering.

Judging from the background of Robin, this situation is understandable. If you are busy dying and living in the first ten years of your life, you really don’t have much time to read.

But this does not mean that this situation is acceptable, especially for Thomas Wayne who received traditional elite education.

When Thomas received education, what he received could not be called elite education, but aristocratic education in the old world. Simply put, as long as you don’t die from learning, you should study to death.

In addition to basic courses such as grammar and mathematics, etiquette classes are the top priority, talent is indispensable, art appreciation is a compulsory category, and sports such as horse riding and archery cannot be relaxed. It is best to be proficient in eight languages ​​at the age of four, complete a trip around the world at the age of six, be a big shot in the business world at the age of eight, be on par with Monet and Chopin at the age of ten, and stand at the top of the human pyramid before the age of fifteen.

Of course, this is an ideal state, and the final effect is weakened due to limited personal conditions. Thomas was not a good student when he was a child. He wanted to skip classes and go out to play every day, so he only learned 50% to 60% carelessly.

But even so, he is proficient in multiple languages, graduated from Princeton University Medical School, has three master's degrees and a surgeon's license, worked as a battlefield doctor, and came back to inherit a billion-dollar fortune. He has a wide network of contacts. If it weren't for the accidental loss of his son that caused him to be unable to recover, he would definitely live up to the title of a descendant of a famous family.

After Thomas came to Bruce's universe, he had already made many compromises in his heart. The self in this universe died early, and Bruce was stimulated, so it was understandable that the education he received was not comprehensive.

But then again, although Bruce's education of these children was occasionally flawed, it was generally no big problem. From Thomas's picky eyes, it was just a little lacking in the foundation that the Wayne family should have.

But it doesn't matter, Thomas thought, isn't he here? It's not too late to start cultivating interests and hobbies now. The characteristics of the children have their own emphasis. Dick has a talent for dancing, Jason is strong, Tim is smart and careful, and Aisha is extremely athletic and aggressive. Isn't the future of the Wayne family to a higher level within reach?

It is for this reason that Thomas turned a blind eye to Bruce's current idleness. He couldn't rely on his son, but at least he could rely on his grandson. It's the same in rounding.

Those who see hope will have endless motivation. Thomas was ambitiously planning to accumulate more resources for the Wayne family, but Dick from another universe in front of him gave him a blow.

So the situation in this universe is already good? !

When this thought flashed through Thomas' mind, he felt his heart twitch and his breathing rate became faster and faster.

"Master, tea." Alfred reminded him in time.

Thomas covered his chest and drank two sips of tea. He collapsed on the spot and gasped for half a minute before he finally recovered a little.

Just as Nightwing was about to speak, Thomas pointed at him with a trembling finger, signaling him to shut up, and then Thomas opened his eyes, sat up straight, looked into Nightwing's eyes and asked.

"You mean, the Batman in your universe is not only Batman himself, but also adopted many children, wanting to train them to be Batman, and therefore not letting them go to school, but learning fighting and rope skills, resulting in none of them having a proper job?"

"My proper job is to fight crime!"

"Then why don't you become a policeman?!"

"Is the identity of a policeman so important?"

"Then is the identity of Batman's assistant so important?"

Nightwing couldn't answer. If he really thought that the identity of Batman's assistant was important, then why did he become Nightwing? But if he thought that this identity was not important, why did he return to Batman?

This is a question that has been bothering him for a long time, and it is also a question that has been bothering members of the Bat Family-who are they?

Are they Batman's assistants, or themselves? Should they become Batman, or should they be themselves?

But if the answer is the latter, what should they be like? They have accepted Batman's teachings, so are the selves they have become really themselves?

And the ultimate question, will Batman like who they become? If he doesn't like it, is there any point in being yourself?

Nightwing sighed in pain. He stretched out a hand to cover his mouth, and then slowly slid it down his chin, letting the chaotic thoughts and contradictory thoughts swirl in his mind.

"I'm shocked by his neglect of your education." Thomas' tone was extremely low. Just as Nightwing was about to open his mouth to retort, he heard Thomas say: "This doesn't mean that he didn't let you get your degree, or that he didn't let you go It’s about learning talents, but the socialization part of his education is completely missing.”

Thomas pursed his lips and said, "Besides the people you know who are related to Batman, how many friends do you have?"

Just as Nightwing was about to speak, Thomas interrupted him and said, "I mean it is related to your crime-fighting career, but in reality, I have been with you, communicated with you, and shared common interests with you in your life. , a friend who has provided you with emotional comfort.”

"This is a false proposition." Nightwing pursed his lips and said, "My friends in the Bat family have done this. They have always been with me. We have common interests and hobbies, and the relationship between us is very deep."

"Then what is the topic you talk about most?"

Nightwing was silent and stopped talking, because he understood that Thomas's ability to ask this question proved that he already knew the answer, and this answer was to the point. Obviously, the central topic of the Bat Family was Batman.

It's not surprising to form a social group around another person, as is often the case with groupies, but it's a big problem if you don't have any social interaction outside of the social group around that person, or even don't participate in this society at all.

Thomas shook his head and said: "I really can't imagine that he brought a bunch of children back, and let them not study, work, or go out to socialize, but surround him every day."

Suddenly, Thomas narrowed his eyes. He stared at Dick's face and said, "Are you sure he doesn't have any other intentions in adopting you?"

Nightwing was stunned for a moment, then anger arose in his heart, and blood rushed to his cheeks. He raised his voice and shouted angrily: "How can you think of Batman so much?! The Dark Knight of Gotham is not so dirty!"

"I'm just raising a possibility that is common among the upper class." Thomas took two more sips of tea and said, "Even if it wasn't the case, what he did can be called a crime."

"I don't advocate free and happy education at all." Thomas curled his lips and said, "Children are naughty and lazy by nature, but if they are allowed to be like this, what will parents and society do?"

"I didn't like going to school when I was a kid. I could run away from the classes my father arranged for me. But if there weren't those parts that I couldn't escape from, then when I faced the mess of the Wayne Group in this universe, I would only be able to escape. I can look at the ocean and sigh."

"Then, I will miss the most important part of this universe's mission to save Gotham, and watch the opportunity to fulfill my dream slip away. I will regret it for the rest of my life."

Thomas looked into Nightwing's eyes and said, "I am a very authoritarian father. I have never fulfilled my requirements for my children. It is best to let them challenge the limits of education that humans can accept mentally and physically, just so that one day, even if something happens, If they regret it, they definitely can’t blame me.”

"Aren't you worried that they will hate you for having such a childhood?" Nightwing asked.

"You understand." Thomas' somewhat old eyes contained a determination unique to Batman that made Nightwing unable to look away.

"Responsibility and happiness, I will only choose responsibility, because I am Batman."

Yeyi was right as he said.

"This is exactly what I can't understand about your cosmic Batman. Regarding your education, he chose to make you happy instead of making you capable of being responsible. This is not like a Batman choice at all."

Nightwing was obviously lost in his thoughts. After a while, he took a deep breath and said, "Maybe this is not without reason."

"What's that?"

"He might... feel guilty."

"Why?"

Nightwing shook his head and said: "We have each experienced some bad things. We all feel in our hearts that it is not entirely Batman's fault. The difference between us and others is that we will not criticize a god for making mistakes. , but understand that a person always has omissions.”

"But Batman doesn't think so." Nightwing's eyes were covered with mist, looking either sad or sleepy: "He always seems to be responsible for all the tragedies in the world, not to mention Is it our tragedy?”

"He never asked us for anything. He just chose to turn around and tell us that everything would be solved." Nightwing shook his head slightly and said, "And we all know that he paid a lot for being able to say these words firmly in front of us. How much.”

"Because he felt guilty, he chose to push himself instead of forcing you." Thomas' lips completely pursed into his mouth, and his hands tightly grasped the handle of the tea cup: "So, you really Become a simple bird under the wings of a bat, never have to accept the invasion of real suffering, never have to fly far from the nest.”

"Dick." Thomas called Nightwing's name for the first time. When his wrinkled eyes also became moist, it was like the tenderness and calmness of the river of time accumulated in the old rain tree nest.

"One day you will understand what an enviable wealth it is to be able to stand proud in the most vivid stage of life, without having to bow to reality and society, without having to learn to be mature and steady."

Nightwing's hand clutched his own wrist tightly, and his lips were pursed until they turned white. He said in a trembling tone: "And this means that the person who prevents us from having to do this will always be related to this, or Even more...suffered from it."

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"But now that you have left your own universe, you are finally completely free from the shadow under his wings, aren't you?"

Nightwing opened his eyes slightly. He looked at Thomas almost as if he was asking for help and said, "Yes, of course, he won't know what we did here, and he won't feel guilty about it."

"So what are you going to do here?"

Nightwing seemed to be choked and didn't breathe out for a long time. After a long time, he turned his head and whispered: "We originally wanted to go back as soon as possible."

"Then continue to hide in his arms, take advantage of his guilt, and let him face the powerful enemy alone?"

Nightwing's face turned red with anger, and he raised his voice and said, "Of course not, we never thought of doing this!"

"But the truth is you can't help."

Nightwing took a deep breath, glared at Thomas and said, "As if you can."

"Of course I can, because I'm Batman."

Nightwing hammered the sofa hard, but quickly calmed down, then looked at Thomas and asked tentatively: "We can learn something from this, right?"

"Of course, I don't feel guilty about you. Why don't you go out to school and find a job?"

Yeyi swallowed and asked with some uncertainty: "Then, what should we learn?"

Thomas reached out and looked at his watch and said: "It's too late tonight. I have to arrange the class schedule. First, follow me upstairs to check Dick's French homework."

"Uh, why should I go?"

Thomas said with a smile.

"Because then tomorrow is your French homework."