Nightwing

While Dick and Batgirl had an ongoing flirtation, they didn't act on it, perhaps due to concern over disrupting the dynamics of the growing Bat-Family. But when Robin joined the Teen Titans, a group of other young heroes, he found romance with teammate Starfire, an alien princess from Tamaran. As Dick grew older and more experienced as a crime-fighter and leader, leaving home for college, he ultimately chose to take on the heroic persona of Nightwing in order to more clearly forge his own identity. This created tension with Batman, which grew after the second Robin, Jason Todd, was killed by The Joker. But after the third Robin, Tim Drake, took on the role, followed by Bruce's own son, Damian, the two men managed to resolve their differences and are as close as any father and son.

Dick nearly married Starfire, but a brutal attack by their teammate Raven, who was possessed by her demonic father Trigon, prompted Starfire to undertake a spiritual journey back to her home planet Tamaran. After they broke up, Dick began a relationship with Barbara Gordon, the former Batgirl, who was now using the identity of Oracle after an attack by The Joker left her in a wheelchair. They even got engaged, but Barbara ended the engagement when she realized Dick's loyalties were torn between her and Batman, and they were not ready to settle down. They promised to return to each other someday.

At a time when Dick's relationship with Batman was stronger than ever, Bruce Wayne was seemingly killed by Darkseid. In his will, Batman asked Dick not to take on the mantle of Batman because he felt he had proved himself as Nightwing. However, after the resurrected Jason Todd began acting as Batman but killing criminals, Nightwing felt it necessary to step into the role of Batman in order to properly carry on Bruce's legacy. He took Bruce's son Damian as his Robin, and despite initial friction between them, Dick proved an excellent mentor. They formed a relationship much like brothers. Ultimately, Bruce Wayne returned, as it turned out he had actually been sent back in time by Darkseid's Omega beams. Dick gladly resumed his Nightwing identity as Bruce returned to being Batman.

Nightwing relocated from Gotham City to an economically disadvantaged nearby city, Bludhaven. He became its protector, ending the criminal Blockbuster's hold on the city and cleaning up police corruption. When Bludhaven was destroyed by the Secret Society of Super-Villains, he felt he had failed, but Batman helped him avoid being paralyzed by his feelings of guilt. When Bludhaven's toxic state was mitigated and it was restored, Nightwing continued to look after it, returning to live there and using his own money to help Bludhaven's homeless youth. While his base of operations often changes, Nightwing remains vigilant toward Bludhaven and its citizens.

More recently, Nightwing was targeted for assassination by the KGBeast. He was shot in the head but survived, though he lost his memory. Attempting to learn about his past, he was captured by The Joker and brainwashed to believe he was The Joker's sidekick, but he was rescued by Batgirl, who helped him regain his true memories and defeat The Joker. Ultimately, he learned that the assassination attempt was orchestrated by the Court of Owls, a secret cabal made up of Gotham City's elite families that had been operating in the shadows for many centuries.