Meet the Press

Author's Note: A couple years ago I wrote some stories involving interviews with a couple of DC characters, but I never got around to Dick/Nightwing.  Here's one.

*****

A simple set. A plain dark background with a small polished wood conference table and two chairs. There are coffee cups on the table in front of the two participants, both of whom appear relaxed.

Moderator: Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight we have the pleasure of speaking with Nightwing. (Camera pans right to guest seated at the table next to the host). For those of you who may not be familiar with him, he's one of our costumed vigilantes who has chosen to base himself in Bludhaven, though he's also seen in Gotham on occasion and has admitted to being a member of a new group of heroes called the Outsiders. He's not known for talking with the press, so we were pleasantly surprised when he agreed to join us. Welcome, sir.

Nightwing: Thank you for having me.

Mod: Which gives me an opening for my first question; you're barely known to the general public and have rarely, if ever, given interviews. Why now?

NW: Simply for the reason you just said. I have no need for personal publicity, but I understand that it's easy for what we do, we, the superhero community, to be misunderstood or misinterpreted.

Mod: So you want to set the record straight?

NW: More or less.

Mod: (smiling) More or less?

NW: (smiling) All things in moderation.

Mod: Well, first of all, your costume is dark, somewhat forbidding. I take it that's to intimidate anyone you might come up against?

NW: Obviously. It also helps me be less conspicuous at night, which is when I'm usually active.

Mod: There has been a lot of controversy lately about people such as yourself taking the law into your own hands. There have been calls for vigilantes to be banned. There have even been calls in the state senate to have the local ones arrested as working outside the law and being possible dangers to the community. Do you have any actual authorization to do what you do, any actual training-to make arrests and track down criminals?

NW: I'm a fully accredited and licensed agent of Interpol. I also have jurisdiction in several specific cities on the East Coast, and I routinely work with the CIA, FBI, and several agencies overseas when I'm asked to assist on a case.

Mod: But where did you get your training? You're obviously a young man; you look to be in your early twenties or so. You must have started quite young.

NW: I was trained privately and yes, I was young. I started when I was eight. I also had more conventional police training not so long ago.

Mod: Why so young?

NW:…(pause)…Personal reasons….(pause) Some of my family members were crime victims. That was what got me started.

Mod: Would you be willing to elaborate on that?

NW: No.

Mod: You're on record as stating that you'll never kill an opponent, but obviously your adversaries make no such promise. What do you use for self-protection?

NW: I'm trained in several of the martial arts, which-along with non-lethal weapons, I use. I also have body armor which helps.

Mod: Details?

NW: No.

Mod: Because the information could be used against you? (NW nods agreement)…All right. You told me that you're active in the group known as the Outsiders; is this the first group you've involved yourself in or did you work alone up until now?

NW: I used to work with the Titans-the Teen Titans and several of the later versions of that group and I still will collaborate on a case with them now and then, as well as with the Justice League. I also used to work with a partner, but that was a few years ago. I'm not a complete loner, by any means. I simply find that it's often more expedient for me to go solo, though I have no problem calling for help if I need it.

Mod: I see, but you have to admit that this is hardly a normal profession-and come to think of it, as a professional, do you get paid? You must have significant expenses to do what you do-all of you would, I'd think.

NW: It can be expensive, sure. I don't actually get paid for this, no. And-I don't know if this is publicly known or not, but most of the time, any rewards which may be offered for a particular case are either refused or turned over to a charity. Most of us have regular jobs of one sort or another to pay our way.

Mod: Really? You mean the person working next to you in Blockbuster Video may be a costumed hero when they leave work?

NW: (smiles) Could be.

MOD: Do you get a lot of fan mail?

NW: (laughing) I wouldn't call it 'a lot'.

Mod: According to a poll in People Magazine last week (holds up issue, the cover story is about costumed crime fighters), you were voted…let me get this right… "Sexiest eyes" and "Best Butt". Any comment?

NW: (still laughing)…God, no. No comment.

Mod: Does your work leave you time for a social life, a private life?

NW: Not much of one, to be honest. I work odd hours, it makes things complicated. I'm assuming that I'll have more time eventually; I hope to, anyway.

Mod: Do you get a lot of questions about your personal life?

NW: Yes, but I usually don't answer them.

Mod: Mind if I try? I take it that you're single?

NW: Yes.

Mod: Never been married?

NW: No, and that's as far as I'll go.

Mod: Is that the norm?

NW: (pause) Some are married, some have made it work, but it's difficult.

Mod: Because?

NW: The nature of what we do. It's not like it's a nine to five job or anything and there are a lot of separations for couples when one of them is a hero. There can be stress on a relationship because of that.

Mod: And the danger must be a factor.

NW: Obviously. Everyone who does this gets hurt now and then, sometimes badly. Sometimes people get killed. It's part of the job and we accept that, but it's hard to ask a spouse or partner or whoever-or kids-to accept that and to live with it.

Mod: Do you mean that if someone does this, they give up the possibility of a solid relationship?

NW: No, of course not. It's just difficult, that's all. Some have paired off with another hero and sometimes that has worked out since they both understand what it's like, but it's not easy for a civilian to live with. Some have, but it's not common.

Mod: Sort of like being married to a cop?

NW: Sort of, yes. (He takes a drink from the coffee cup in front of him then puts it back down.)

Mod: All right. I'd like to get back to something. Some of the equipment that you have-and things other costumed heroes have seem to be fairly expensive. (The camera shows some tools of the trade displayed on the table then a video shows short scenes of the Batmobile, NW's customized motorcycle, a customized jet with WW-Wonder Woman's-logo on the tail).) Do you mind telling me how you-and the others-are really funded? It's got to be pricey being you.

NW: (small laugh) It can be, sure. Different people have different solutions. Some can personally afford a lot of the things, some have benefactors or mentors, some simply make do. And like I mentioned, most of us do have regular jobs for at least some income.

Mod: May I ask which category various people fit into? Are you independently wealthy?

NW: That's-no comment.

Mod: I had a feeling that would be a dead end, except, you mentioned 'benefactors'-would you care to elaborate on that? It's a big word.

NW: Just what it sounds like and no, I don't care to expand on it. I can say that, to the best of my knowledge, it's all completely legal and declared to the IRS.

Mod: Fair enough. Moving along; from what I've gathered here and there, it seems to me that a good number of people in your business get started because of some sort of personal trauma-friends or family who are crime victims, for instance-cultures destroyed, even planets dying for some reason. Do you think that having a lot of extraordinarily empowered people running around is a good idea? I mean, they could be a little obsessed, traumatized or have a personal ax to grind. You've got a lot of empowered people in stressful, highly charged positions. That could become a problem, don't you think?

NW: It could if someone flipped out, except that we still have to work inside the law and we do tend to self-police ourselves pretty closely. If someone were to get out of control, they'd be dealt with pretty quickly.

Mod: Has that ever happened?

NW: Once or twice.

Mod: Expand on that?

NW: No, other than to say it's not a problem. If it were, we'd be shut down by every nation on the planet-well, most of them, anyway.

Mod: I suppose that's probably true, as far as it would be possible. So, moving on; how long do you see yourself doing this? I mean, do you see yourself still in spandex when you're fifty?

NW: (laughs) God knows-I'd probably have to change to something with more support by then. Spandex isn't too forgiving to love handles.

Mod: (laughing) Seriously though, is this a life long career for you?

NW: (slight pause) I've thought about it, of course and-I don't know. I can't really see myself still doing this in twenty or thirty years, but I also can't see a time when crime fighting won't be a major part of my life. I'd think that eventually I'll probably end up in some other end of it, a little less front line.

Mod: Behind a desk?

NW: Maybe. Maybe in a squad car, maybe in a courtroom or as a police detective or something like that.

Mod: There's no retirement home for costumed heroes?

NW: Not yet, anyway. (smile) We may have to think about it in a few years, though.

Mod: If you don't mind, I'd like to touch on something you alluded to just now; we don't see older people in your field. There's a fairly high mortality rate, isn't there? Thoughts?

NW: (pause) This is an intrinsically dangerous thing to do, so, yes; people get hurt. Sometimes they get killed. It's one of the facts of this life and, unless you're stupid, you know that going in.

Mod: You've lost friends, co-workers?

NW: Yes.

Mod: And you accept that it could be you some day?

NW: (hesitates) I don't have a death wish, if that's what you're asking, but I know that I'm as mortal as anyone.

Mod: Do you expect to get killed doing this?

NW: I-don't expect it, no. I know it's a possibility and I accept the risk. Most of us do.

Mod: But you wouldn't be surprised to-I'm not trying to be indelicate here, but if it happened you'd chalk it up as an acceptable risk of the job?

NW: Pretty much, yes. I'd be naïve if I didn't.

Mod: Do you expect to ever look in the mirror and see gray hair?

NW: Probably not.

Mod: And you're okay with that?

NW: If I weren't, I wouldn't be doing this. And I could be wrong. Who knows? I could end up with twenty grandchildren one of these days.

Mod: Do you consider being so dedicated-some would say 'obsessed'-with something like this to be an unhealthy thing? That it can lead to problems, accidents, people getting hurt, rash decisions. Would you agree with that?

NW: No, I wouldn't. The risks I accept are my own and my choice to make. I'm neither rash nor impulsive when it comes to my work and-as I've said-I don't have a death wish. I also work very hard to stay in shape physically and otherwise to make sure I'm as well prepared as possible for this. I simply see and understand the reality of what I do.

Mod: Do you believe that you, and the others in your line of work, are making a difference? So you think you're accomplishing anything?

NW: Of course. If I didn't believe that-if I didn't see results, I'd have stopped a long time ago. I think most of us would have, but we know that we are effective and that what we do is important. We know that if we weren't working there would be more problems than there are now, that people's lives would be worse off. Because what we do matters, we matter.

Mod: That could be called arrogant.

NW: Or the truth.

Mod: But couldn't that confidence become dangerous if it was taken too far? I mean, we're dealing with people here with abilities beyond the norm-if they should decide to misuse those abilities…

NW: If someone turned to the dark side of the force, as it were? Sure, if, say, Superman or Aquaman went nuts or became megalomaniacs or something, sure there could be problems, but, like I said before-we do police ourselves. They'd be contained and we all operate knowing that we have to maintain perspective.

Mod: So it's not something we should be worried about?

NW: I'm not worried about it.

Mod: Do you have any regrets about the sacrifices you've made to do what you do? Any second thoughts?

NW: None that matter.

Mod: That's a dodge.

NW: (NW looks annoyed for a moment) The only thing I suppose I regret is the fact that what we do is necessary. In a perfect world, I'd be lying on a hammock on a tropical beach somewhere and wouldn't be needed.

Mod: Do you think you'll ever win the war?

NW: (pause) I think-I hope that we win more than we lose.

Mod: Fair enough. We're almost out of time; when you leave here, what will you be doing?

NW: (laughs) Actually, I'm meeting a friend for dinner.

Mod: (laughs) The normal side of life? And after dinner?

NW: (evasive, laughing) No comment.

Mod: Well…all right, then. We've been talking with Nightwing. Tune in tomorrow when we'll address whether or not Michael Jackson can get a fair trial with the media circus surrounding…

3/10/05

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