Chapter 18

Curled into a chair, Dick watched the fire. The fireplace had been running all day and the library was warm from the heat. The boy knew he had made a mistake. No one had asked for an explanation. No one demanded to know where Dick had found the Robin suit or why he had worn it to confront Two-Face. Dick had wanted to prove that he was still capable, even though he wasn't an adult. Instead, he had proved that he didn't belong out on the streets. Bruce had been right. As he sat, watching the fire twist and turn, he wondered if Wayne Manor would be better off if he left.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear the sound of someone entering the room, until the person stood by his chair. Dick looked up and saw Bruce.

"We need...to talk," said Bruce.

Dick nodded. He wondered if Bruce would send him away rather than allow Dick to quietly leave. Bruce sat in a chair near Dick. Dick turned his eyes to the fire. Bruce stared at Dick's profile.

"I..." said Bruce, but stopped when Dick interrupted.

"If you want me to leave, I can be gone in a few hours."

"NO!" said Bruce.

Dick jerked his eyes from the fire to look at Bruce.

"I don't want you to leave, Dick," said Bruce. "This is your home. Always."

Dick took a shuddering breath. His eyes filled with tears. He blinked his eyes rapidly, not wanting the tears to fall. With a sigh, Bruce reach out and scooped Dick from the chair and sat back down in his chair, holding Dick on his lap. Dick leaned against Bruce, placing his head on the man's shoulder.

"I'm not good with expressing my...feelings," said Bruce. His eyes were on the fire, rather than the boy in his lap.

"What changed?" asked Dick.

"What do you mean?" Bruce looked down at Dick.

"You didn't have a problem with showing your feelings when I was...younger," said Dick.

"A lot has changed, Dick," said Bruce. Bruce looked into the fire. "I know you feel like you're 8, but you're not. You haven't been 8 in over fifteen years."

The boy said nothing. Bruce took another breath. "I was worried about you. I wanted to keep you safe. I was...afraid for you and what would happen to you if..."

"If I went out as Robin?" ask Dick.

"Yes," replied Bruce.

"If the city is too dangerous for a child to be a hero, then why is Damian...Robin?" asked the boy. Dick's eyes had returned to the fire.

"Damian is not like you, Dick," replied Bruce. "He's..."

"He's more like you," said Dick.

Bruce nodded. For a moment, neither say a word, then Dick shifted and looked up at Bruce. "Do you regret me being Robin?"

Bruce closed his eyes. "Sometimes."

Dick nodded his head and looked away. Taking another deep breath, Bruce reached a hand out and took Dick's chin, forcing the boy to look at him.

"But I have never regretted taking you into my home," said Bruce. "Or adopting you."

"Adopting me?" asked Dick. The boy frowned.

Bruce smiled. It wasn't a big smile. In fact, Bruce's lips were barely lifted. The older man nodded his head.

"You adopted me?" asked Dick. His eyes were wide.

"Yes, Dick," said Bruce. "I only wish I had done it sooner."

Dick smiled. It wasn't his normal grin, but it was a happy smile nonetheless.

…...

The device was ready. Everyone gathered in the 'cave. Since they knew that the clothes wouldn't change in size, Dick wore a large robe. Tim looked over the device. Even though everyone expected it to work smoothly, there was tension in the 'cave.

"Maybe Dick could just stay a kid?" asked Jason.

"Would you like to see Grayson's teen years firsthand?" asked Damian. The question had quickly ended any conversation about not trying the device.

Bruce walked over to Dick and knelt next to him. "The beam is going to hit you in the chest. It may hurt or knock you down."

"I'm ready," said Dick, as he nodded his head.

Bruce nodded once and stood up. He walked over to where Alfred stood. Jason and Damian stood on the other side while Tim stood directly behind the device.

"On the count of three," said Tim.

Dick took a deep breath. "One. Two...Three." He closed his eyes.

A burst of green energy shot out and slammed into Dick's chest. Dick grunted and was thrown back a few feet, only to land on his side. Quickly, Tim turned off the device and everyone rushed toward Dick.

Bruce was the first to reach him, though soon everyone else had gathered around. Before their eyes, Dick grew older.

A minute passed before Dick opened his eyes. He looked up and saw everyone looking down at him. He frowned.

"What?" he demanded.

"How do you feel?" asked Tim.

Bruce reached a hand down. Dick took the hand and Bruce pulled him up. Dick wobbled a little, as he gained his balance. Bruce kept a hand on Dick's elbow and examined his oldest. The swelling around Dick's nose from the damage done by Two-Face was gone. While Bruce couldn't see the fractured rib, he assumed the damage was gone there also.

"Weird," Dick replied. He placed a hand on his chest and rubbed. The robe, which had been huge on him as a child, barely covered his torso as an adult. "And my chest aches."

"What do you remember last?" asked Bruce, as he dropped his hand.

"The warehouse," said Dick, with a frown. "We went there to stop a scientist. Kale. He was experimenting on people."

"Anything else?" asked Bruce.

"He used his device. A beam hit me," said Dick, as he continued to frown. He stopped rubbing at his chest and looked at Bruce. "Is that why my chest hurts?"

Bruce nodded. "Anything else?"

"No," said Dick, as he shook his head. "Why?"

Bruce sighed.

"Have we got something to tell you then," said Jason, a grin split his face.

Bruce walked away from the small group. He sat at the 'computer. Just as he turned it on, he heard Dick ask...

"Whose clothes was I wearing?!"

THE END

…...

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you to all my readers – especially those who have left me a review throughout the last few months as I wrote this story: Nightwing2013, TrioF, Rachel, Elliot Ray, turquoisenoise, PrincessMagic, Huggani16, AndAnotherOnesBitesTheDust, JasonTKD, Ashlin Night, Guest, Marmite Hogaboom, Justnaomi, BlackHreat, Narya Anima, DarkPhantom101.