I’ve gotten several variations on this question since I posted the last installment of 81:
I’m confused, in R&D-Innovation,Damian was Dick’s sidekick when he was Nightwing before Dick became Batman and Damian became Robin?
So I decided to address them all at once in this post.
As I said in my author’s note on R&D - Innovation, I’m taking many liberties with the canon storyline—more than just the fact that everyone’s gay for everyone else. For example, Bludhaven, as you probably noticed, is not condemned, but very much alive and well. Because Final Crisis didn’t happen. Or at least the major aspects of it didn’t.
When Damian is introduced, Bruce is still Batman. All the way through Batman and Son and into the Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul.
In 81, these events may or may not happen, but the fact that Damian is still around and Bruce is still Batman is a fact. Canonly, Bruce actually says he can’t work with his son.
So in 81, Dick takes him off his hands and trains him. Hence, we have Little Wing.
Also, Bruce never dies in 81. There are other circumstances that lead to Dick becoming Batman, but it’s not his death and all the crazy time traveling what the fuck. When Dick does become Batman, Damian becomes Robin. Tim adopts Red Robin later for various reasons.
I hope that clears up the confusion.