The robin's red breast

It was a slow month, nothing out of the ordinary was happening in jump city. That, in itself, was out of the ordinary. Robin sat at his desk, reading old news paper clippings of his most hated enemy. 'Heh, enemy… that's a thought. I wonder what Bruce would say…' his eyes narrowed in thought, and he mindlessly creased just under his spandex-clad left breast 'oh… haven't thought about him in a while. How WOULD he handle the whole 'Slade' thing? Would he try to fight with me? Would he finally trust me enough to fight? Trust me enough to know my own strength?' he snorted and stood up, dropping his hand and walked out "Titans, it's time for noon training, who's in?" all the titans were doing normal titan things. Raven was staring out the windows, BB and Cy were playing the latest video game, and Starfire was playing with Silkey. Obviously, he would be training alone. He walked into his training stimulation room, and spoke loud enough for the room to hear "Attack simulation five" an immediate response of moving targets came from his right side, and he let his thoughts start running as he went through the motions.

"Master Bruce is out today, young master Grayson. He said to train." Alfred smiled softly, almost sadly. A younger Richard looked down and clutched his uniform to his chest "is he with that woman again?" Alfred nodded "I believe so… Come, allow me to get you some cookies, and a cup of cocoa, you look absolutely chilled to the bone." Richard only nodded and fallowed. The man was doing his best to make him happy; he could at least play along. "Alfred?" the kind old man smiled "yes, young master Grayson?" He sighed and closed his eyes "tomorrow is my last Monday until winter vacation, right?" Alfred nodded, still smiling "three weeks to celebrate the holidays, young master Grayson." Richard smiled "In three days, please have a regular suit for him? My school is hosting a play, for all winter holidays. I'm going to star as Joseph! Bruce promised to come." Alfred grinned, "Absolutely! I'll ever iron a red and green scarf for him, how's that?" Richard nodded, delighted.

Robin snarled and hit the head off of a target "Attack Simulation nineteen!" he snarled, more targets fell around him, darts rained down around him, he dodged every last one, glaring. "Is friend robin well?" Starfire asked raven, who was staring at the door "yeah, Star, I'm sure he's just training a bit harder today, you know, he does kinda get restless when the city's peaceful." Starfire nodded

Richard looked out at the audience, not being able to make out anyone's faces, just shadows. As the light beat in his eyes he spoke his lines, did everything perfectly. Bruce was out there, watching him, he had to make him proud! The lights came on, the over head ones shutting off, he and the rest of the cast bowed, he was grinning as he looked out into the crowd again… and his grin fell. Alfred stood there, clapping enthusiastically "Bravo!" his kind old voice cried, full of joy and pride. Richard closed his eyes tightly against the tears.

Robin growled, snapping his eyes open "ATTACK SIMULATION TWENTY EIGHT!" he continued to fight, flinging himself into the air, sweat started running down his back and across his mask. All through this, his memories sparked. Oh, he remembered. Bruce never showed. And Batman wasn't busy that night. No. he was keeping his name as Bruce Wayne, playboy millionaire. He had completely forgotten everything. There was no time for a kid in his life. So, he couldn't be a kid. That was it. He could never have impressed Bruce; Bruce never paid much attention to Richard. But Batman always praised Robin for his work! He snorted. That one thought had cost him everything. That was the day Richard Grayson died. Right in his Bruce's arms, he died, cold, and alone.

He changed into his costume in the limo, Alfred looking sadly at him "young master Richard, it is late in the middle of winter. Would you not consider waiting for perhaps master Bruce?" Richard shook his head vehemently "no, no. I'm sure I can patrol alone tonight. Batman's busy tonight! Besides, I can handle a bit of work!" he hopped out of the moving limo, landing gracefully in the shadows and ran through the night. He hadn't heard the news, hadn't seen the bat signal in the sky. It was too late "ROBIN!" batman caught up with him, running at his side "what are you doing here?!" Robin smiled "patrolling." Batman shook his head "The Joker escaped. You shouldn't be out here alone!" robin glared "I shouldn't have been alone tonight at all!" batman snorted "what's that supposed to m-"he closed his eyes "…the play." "Yeah!" robin nodded, glaring slightly "but since SOMEONE was too busy, someone else had to do the work "Robin, don't say that! I am doing my best!" Robin's anger flared "YOUR BEST?!" he screamed, stopping in mid-stride "how about you just try?! You paid for my school; you don't care about my grades! I got all A's this year! You pay my health bill, but you never ask how I'm feeling, or what the doctor said. Well, I'm doing great, thanks for asking!" batman stopped as well "...Oh, robin, I'm sorry. Truly, I am. But what do you want? Do you want me to blow our cover? Do you want me to drop everything just to ask how your feeling?" robin glared "if you didn't want me, then why did you adopt me? Why didn't you let me die too?!" batman looked as though he'd been slapped, and was about to speak before a sadistic laugh filled the air "The Bird and the Bat, got in a spat, all on a winter's night!" they both looked up and glared "JOKER!" the man laughed again "You want me, Batsy? Come and get me!" he ran off. Both fallowed in hot pursuit. Batman got tired of chasing fast and threw a batring in front of the joker, who grinned like a fool "Missed me, Batsy!" batman smirked "I don't think so." The joker gasped and turned around. The batrang had cut straight through a light pole, making it fall, directly toward the Joker. He twisted out of the way and continued running, of course, the duo foolishly fallowed. Half a mile later, he pulled out a gun. Now, the joker was deranged, and sadistic, A complete nut case! But he would never kill Batman; he'd pulled so many guns on him before, one that shot bubbles, one that said 'bang' and one that even had a flag pop out that said 'pow'. So, naturally, neither expected the bullet to come out, or the crack, so much louder then thunder, to sound. Batman got out of the way just in time, Robin never saw it coming, and fell back with a cry. "Robin!"

Robin walked out of the exercise room, soaked with sweat, his hand gently place over his chest, just under his right breast "CY! BB! RAVEN! STAR!" they all turned to look at him "Training in three hours, no excuses. We are NOT getting lazy just because the villains are." "a..alright robin… you ok?" robin blinked and, realizing what he meant, dropped his hand "yeah, just an old injury acting up. Let's do at least one good work out today. Three hours, alright?" they nodded simultaneously. Robin trudged up and took a shower.