SO I had another spurt of creativeness, this isn't a very long one but eh *shrugs...Let me know what you think, it's a bit cheesy. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice or any of the character's...sadly.

Nightmares

It had been a long and tiring night for the dynamic duo. After the Arkham Asylum breakout that had happened the previous week Batman and Robin had been putting everything they had into retrieving each of the escapees. It had been a particularly hard night for Robin who had found the body of a young girl only a few years younger than himself. Batman knew it had affected the boy but he put on a strong face as to not look weak.

The drive back to the manner was silent. Robin rested his head on the window looking out into the trees surrounding the dirt track. He almost didn't notice the smoke rising in the distance, I squinted.

"Bruce, isn't that in the direction of the manner?" He asked looking to be Bat, whose mouth stiffened. Robin felt the car speed up.

Bruce Wayne walked quickly up to one of the fire engines that were stationed outside the manner. The firemen saw him coming and cringed slightly at the angry look in Bruce's eyes.

"What happened here?" Bruce growled looking at the burned kitchen.

"It seems your butler had a little accident with the gas stove and a tea pot." Bruce's anger immediately vanished and was replaced with worry.

"Is Alfred ok?" he asked quickly.

"I'm fine Master Wayne, just a little annoyed at myself." Alfred's voice spoke from behind Bruce. Dick ran up to Alfred and gave him a hug. Alfred smiled at the boy and hugged him back. "I am fine Master Dick." Bruce came over and placed a hand on Alfred's shoulder.

"The paramedics want you in hospital tonight; apparently you inhaled quite a bit of smoke." Bruce said gently to the old man. Alfred nodded and walked tiredly over to the ambulance.

"What are we going to do now?" Richard asked his foster father. "We can't stay here, not with all the workmen around." He added in a whisper. Bruce nodded in agreement.

"It would be too risky. We'll stay at Mount Justice until the repairs are done."

"Dude, you're going to be staying here too?" Kid flash asked when Robin tiredly walked into the kitchen. M'gann and Conner sat in front of the Television watching its static crackle. Robin smirked at his friend.

"What are you doing here?" Batman asked the boy. Robin saw something flash across Kid flash's face that told him that Wally's parents where fighting again.

"Oh you know just working my magic on M'gann." Kid Flash said nudging Robin with his elbow. Robin chuckled at his friend's obliviousness to M'gann's obvious relationship with the clone sitting beside her. Batman grabbed Robin's shoulder and dragged him towards the rooms.

"You'll stay in here for the time been." Batman said opening one of the spare room doors. Robin's stomach dropped slightly.

"Won't I be staying in the room I usually do?" Robin asked. Batman was concerned by the obvious tone of worry in his partner's voice.

"I'll need my old room tonight; I have some work I need to finish up on."

"Hey Rob where neighbours." Wally laughed opening the door to his own room. Robin smiled weakly at his friend. When Wally closed his door, Robin turned to face his partner.

"Do we absolutely have to stay here?" Batman gave him a short nod.

"Get some sleep."

Robin walked into the room. Sweat had already begun to form on his brow. This room wasn't sound proofed, he wouldn't be sleeping tonight. Peeling of his uniform and pulling on a pair of sweat pants and a loose shirt. He kept his mask over his sapphire blue eyes; he was still under strict orders not to revel his identity to his team. Robin's heart was beating faster than usual. He began pacing. He had to stay awake.

He had always had nightmares, ever since his parents died; however lately his nightmares had been getting worse. Dick had seen too many horrible things since starting as Batman's partner, and now every bad thing he had witnessed haunted his dreams and plagued the night. Bruce would usually come to his aid when he would have a bad dream, waking him up out of his mental hell. The dreams would sometimes stop for periods of time. Dick loved it when he could have a few months of peaceful sleep, and he could tell that Bruce did as well. If there was one thing Dick hated it was looking weak, especially in front of his foster father—in front of Batman.

Dick could feel the drowsiness tugging at his eyes. He inwardly scolded who ever planted the bomb in Arkham Asylum causing the breakout. Groaning Dick sunk to the ground. He couldn't be feeling tired, he couldn't fall asleep, he wouldn't. Sighing Dick began doing push ups. He wouldn't fall asleep. He told himself that each time he pushed himself of the ground, determined. He didn't know how long he was doing this but after a while his arms gave out and he collapsed sweat dripping from his nose. Standing up and sitting on his bed drained the remainder of Dick's energy and before he could stop himself he was falling back into the pillows.

Screaming. Someone was in pain, terrible pain. Wally shot up trying to pin point where the screaming was coming from, and his stomach dropped when he realized the agonising cries from his best friend's mouth next door. Wally was out the door and standing over Robin in a flash. Robin rolled around, his sheets tangling around his sweaty body. The sheets where soaked...soaked with blood. Wally gasped when he saw Robin scratching at his neck. Blood seeped out of the deep cuts he had made in his flesh; the front of his top was stained red. Robin let out another pained scream, tears where streaming down his face, his brows creased in a fearful frown. Wally tried to pry Robin's hands away from his neck but was greeted with a kick to the stomach. Robin began pleading for Batman's help.

"Don't touch me," Robin whimpered into his pillow "Batman, please, please help me." Wally exited the room quickly making his way down to Batman's room. Banging on the door didn't take long to rouse the annoyed Bat. Batman reefed the door open and glared down at Wally. Wally wondered for a moment if Batman slept with his uniform but he noticed the lamp on and laptop open on a desk over Batman's shoulder.

"You need to come quick, its Robin!" Wally said quickly pushing all ridiculous thoughts about Batman and his uniform from his mind. Batman said nothing he just moved past Wally and down the hall. They got back to Robin's room, where he was still crying out for help. M'gann stood over the bed with Conner watching with wide eyes. Batman pushed them out of the way and crouched down next to the bed. He easily pulled Robins blood covered hands away from his wounded skin; Robin's kick was blocked easily by the Bat who pinned Robin's hands down next to his sides. He lent down and began whispering words into the boy's ear.

"Dick, wake up son." Bruce's voice spoke though into his wards ear. Dick flinched slightly but still didn't wake. "Wake up." Bruce said a little more forcibly. Robin's back arched of the bed as he let out a tremendous scream of pain. Batman stood shocked. Dick had, had many nightmares in the past, but Bruce had never seen one as serious as what he was witnessing now.

"Richard!" he called to the boy withering on the bed. Batman grabbed Robin's shoulders, lifted his hand and brought it down over the boy's cheek. The loud slap emanated around the room. The other teens watched on in shock as Robin's eyes shot open. He was breathing heavily in short breaths, almost as though he was hyperventilating. Batman knelt down next to Robin again putting a calming hand on his back. Robin's hand crept back up to his neck to feel the marks he left; he looked at the blood on his hand and let out a chocked sob. It was like a flood gate opened, the boys tears fell uncontrollably; his body slumped into his mentor who gave him a one armed hug. Batman's eyes flashed to the group watching on. M'gann had tears sparkling in scared eyes, Conner's arm draped around her shoulder. Wally was in shock, he had never seen his best friend who was so capable, so strong and brave in no control of his emotions. It scared him.

Batman scooped his crying protégé up in his arms and left the room to take him to the med bay, and away from the sympathetic eyes of Robin's team; Dick would never forgive him if he let them watch him break down.

It took over an hour for Bruce to calm down the terrified boy. Robin was now sitting on the medical cot, his hands still shaking slightly. Bruce inspected the self inflicted wounds on Dick's neck.

"Some of these are going to scar." He said absentmindedly to his protégé, who shrugged.

"They'll fit right in with all the others." He spoke tonelessly. Bruce worried for his companion. It was obvious to him the intensity of Dick's nightmares had gotten worse. But he thought they were in the middle of one of Dick's "clam stages."

"Why didn't you tell me your nightmares were back?" Bruce asked the boy who stared at the floor ashamed. Dick's shoulders slumped down even further.

"You were so worried about the Arkham breakout—I didn't want to add to your list of things to worry about." Bruce was taken aback.

"How long have you been having them?" Bruce could tell Dick was ashamed of himself. He sighed.

"Just after the break out." He whispered. Bruce groaned; that long?

"How did I not notice?" he scolded himself

"I soundproofed my room." Dick smiled slightly. Bruce let out a chuckle.

"Of course you did." Dick's figure looked small sitting on the medical cot. Bruce wrapped the boy's neck lightly in bandages, he watched as Dick would wince when he brushed a particularity deep cut. "They're getting worse." It wasn't a question but a statement to the boy. Dick nodded sadly.

"They're not just about mum and dad anymore, not even Two Face or the Joker." He spoke in hushed tones.

"What are they about?" Bruce asked softly. Dick was silent for a moment, almost as though he was considering not telling his foster father. "Richard, you can tell me anything. I'm not going to judge you for having nightmares, there a natural occurrence when you're in this kind of business." Dick looked at his mentor before nodded slightly.

"There about everything." He said finally. "Every bad thing I have ever seen or experienced. It all comes back, all at once. And I can't stop it, I can't wake up. I'm stuck there, I'm stuck there watching every death I could prevented, feeling every punch, kick or stab wound and listening to a million voices telling me I'm weak. It's like been trapped in Hell." Dick could feel the pressure behind his eyes and the burn in his throat. Bruce knew how he felt. He had experienced similar nightmares when he had first started as the Batman, but he had trained his mind to push past the horrific images he saw, and eventually they disappeared all together. However Bruce feared his young partner didn't have enough confidence to learn.

"It was stupid of you to try and hide this from me." Bruce said in a firm voice. "Dick I know you're capable of protecting yourself in a fight as Robin but that doesn't make me any less worried about you. I'm fully aware of how brilliant you are at acrobatics but that doesn't mean I don't worry when I see you up on the rings training. The point I'm trying to make is it doesn't matter how strong you are or how brave you are, I'll always be worried for you. Whether it be crime lords, ridiculously dangerous stunts or nightmares you can't stop me from worrying about you." Dick shoulders were shaking again not with tears, but with laughter.

"Do you know how hard it is to take you seriously when you're still wearing your uniform?" he said with an ear to ear grin. Bruce let out an annoyed sigh.

"I was trying to make a memorable moment between us." This only made Dick laugh more.

"Oh trust me, I won't be forgetting this!" He laughed. Bruce let out a small chuckle, before pulling of his cowl and placing a hand on Dick's shoulder. Dick stopped laughing for a moment and smiled a quiet thanks to his mentor before giving him a brief hug. "You know you said my name in front of the others tonight, right?" Bruce tensed up. Crap, he'd forgotten about that. Dick noticed when Bruce went ridged and chuckled "Don't worry, I'm sure there all too traumatized to remember."

"I was too traumatized to remember that." Bruce muttered in response. The communicator in his ear went off and Bruce's voice turned into Batman's. "Right I'm on my way." He slipped his mask back on and looked to his protégé. "Superman needs some help at the Watchtower. Will you be ok here?" he asked sounding a little worried. Dick nodded looking at the clock.

"I should be it's almost six. Wally will be up soon and I think I owe him a bit of an apology for waking him up last night." Batman gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

"If there are any problems, call me."

"10-4." Dick said smiling at his mentor. Just as Batman went to leave the room he called him back "Bruce—would it be ok if I slept in your room while we stay here? I'll be really quiet and I'll stay out of—" Batman raised his hand to stop him talking.

"If I even hear wind of you planning a prank you're out." He said before leaving the room and eventually the mountain.

Robin walked out to the kitchen to find Wally already awake and shovelling food down his throat. He laughed, alerting the red head to his presence. Wally looked up at him and swallowed loudly.

"Morning," Robin said awkwardly. Wally rubbed the back of his head.

"How are you?" Wally asked looking at the bandages around Robin's neck concerned.

"Better than last night that's for sure." Dick joked light heartedly.

"Yeah, I'll say. Anything is better than last night." Wally smiled at his friend.

"Sorry you had to see that." Dick apologised, Wally simply shrugged.

"We all have nightmares...Not that bad of course." Wally added quietly. "You really scared us." Robin nodded.

"I bet...I'm sorry, there not usually that bad, last night was just—crazy."

"That's an understatement." Conner's voice said from behind them. He and M'gann walked into the room together both sending concerned looks to Robin. Robin inwardly cringed. He hated sympathy or people thinking he was a weak child.

"Yeah...look I'm sorry about last night, but I'd really appreciate it if we could just forget it happened. I'll be sleeping in Batman's room until I can go home so you won't hear me again." Robin said in a forceful tone.

"This happens to you frequently?" M'gann asked shocked. Robin shrugged.

"It comes with the business." He repeated his mentor's words to them.

"What does?" Kaldur asked as he and Artemis walked into the room. Robin shot M'gann and Conner a look. Conner shrugged it off.

"Doesn't matter." The clone said uncaring before walking and turning on the crackling static and watching intently. Robin smiled sending him a thank you glance. M'gann didn't say anything just floated across the room and sat down next to her boyfriend. Kaldur and Artemis looked at each other and shrugged before joining the two aliens on the couch.

Robin walked over to Wally who was still eating. He grabbed a handful of dry cereal out of Wally's bowl which got him a glare of his friend. Robin laughed eating the cereal. He was thankful that his friend's honoured his request even, and though he knew they were only doing it out of sympathy he didn't mind. As long as his embracement was forgotten he could deal with it. He would eventually open up to them about his dreams but now was not the right time. Not while they all still thought of him as a child. He would have to prove himself to them further, make them see that he is more than just a thirteen year old boy—He was Robin, Boy wonder—the other half of the Dynamic Duo and it was going to take a lot more than a nightmare to change that.

"Wait does this mean you're not going to be my neighbour anymore?" Wally asked a mocking tone. Robin punched his friends arm,

"Shut up KF."

End.

So what did you all think?

Too cheesy? It was wasn't it?

Thanks for reading it though :D