Chapter 16: Where Are You Now

Rhyme of Another Summer Afternoon— comptine d'un autre été l'après-midi

"I'm looking for someone named Robin, perhaps you've heard of him."

Tony's first thought was why in the hell they would think Dick would keep the name Robin for five years, but of course, they didn't have any reason not to. His second thought was the yell, or scream or become angry with the family that hadn't shown up for Dick. Sometimes, Tony would admit quietly to himself that he was almost glad they hadn't come earlier because, if they had, Tony never would have met one of the best people in his life.

He moved forward, but Superman floated forward and raised his hand. "Is it human?" Tony heard the man mutter under his breath toward Batman. Ah, yes. The Ironman suit him appear as if he weren't alive.

"Of course, I'm human!" Tony replied, sliding open the mask on his face and using the repulsors to lower himself to the ground. "No worries, I'm a good guy. Name's Tony Stark, by the way. I know very well who Robin is. You can follow me in…," he paused a moment, glancing at the red ship. Something seemed off about it. "In your ship."

Tony suddenly felt a prodding in his head, a mind-numbing lull pulling him from his thoughts. He blinked harshly and shook his head. It was gone moments later.

Superman and Batman's eyes narrowed. And then suddenly, not a moment later, a green girl came floating out of the ship. She flew fast, toward Superman, and looked right at him without saying a single word. Superman frowned, made a gesture with his hands and the girl shook her head.

Were they talking with their minds? Yes but… amazing.

Superman glanced at Tony once more. "Apparently you're trustworthy. We'll follow you in Bio-ship. I'll fly next to you, if you don't mind."

The man walked forward, having landed on the ground when the girl flew back into the ship. When he stood over Tony, the red and gold clad man realized that this… superman, was not only taller and larger than Captain America, but seemed much more intimidating. However, the kind look in his face and the smile on his eyes told Tony that this man could be soft, but he didn't doubt that Superman could be very, very frightening. "Not at all," Tony replied, gesturing the way he had come. It had been early in the morning when he left and just now the light was starting to filter through the clouds and the buildings.

"This way." The mask slid back on and Tony pumped the repulsors full of energy, blasting forward and then stopping so abruptly that his head thumped against the side of the mask. He blinked and scowled. He was angry, it seemed. Angry and irritated and worried— would Dick go back? Surely not, he was too integrated into life here. He had graduated, he was working a full-time job, and he was training and training with SHIELD and Natasha. He couldn't leave. The thought, and action if that's what came out of this, would break both his and Pepper's heart. Not to mention Steve and Peter's.

Superman caught up with him and nodded, gesturing to the Bio-ship with one hand before looking at Tony expectedly. "We're ready." He looked so happy to be here, as if the thought of seeing Robin, no… Nightwing, made him happy.

They flew off up above New York, soundlessly going through the clouds with no problem. Occasionally, the sunlight would appear and fill the grey morning with pink and orange light. Twenty minutes later (Tony had taken the liberty of making a few extra turns) they arrived at Stark Tower. They landed on his "balcony" and Superman and he stood awkwardly as they waited for the Bio-ship to land and unload. Inside, there was only glass and dry wall (with a little steel) separating Dick from his old family. He had already notified Pepper, who was quiet for a while minute before replying, and she was standing in there behind those walls, making coffee. He could smell it from the open windows.

He turned to Superman, but before he could say anything, the larger man had already began to speak. "I hope Robin hasn't cost you too much trouble. I think that, of all the dimensions there could be, this one had got to be the nicest. I must say though, your New York is a lot different. Funny how it's still real though. When the kid was little, about eight (that's when I first knew him), he used to hack into the Leagues systems and play Darth Vader's theme song whenever Batman came down the hall. I… you know who Darth Vader is right?"

Tony wanted to laugh. Superman looked so helpless, his face was contorted to one of apology and confusion. He looked very much like Steve did when he wasn't sure how to use the Microwave. "Yes… Star Wars does exist here."

"Oh, that's a relief."

It was then that the Bio-ship landed on the balcony, a slight wave of air pushing out from under it. "Scan that ship, Jarvis, something seems off about it to me."

Superman cocked his head toward Tony, but the billionaire only smiled and hoped to whichever God existed that the man didn't have great hearing. "It's alive, sir." Tony paused a moment, glancing inside. He could really smell that coffee now, but the wind was beginning to pick up outside and the smell of the rain from the night before hit his nose.

"Alive? The ship is alive?" Tony turned away from Superman and the ship's crew as they began to unload.

"The ship is made up of completely biological materials. It's mostly carbon, though, sir. It can also think and respond to its controller. Should I save the rest of the analysis in your personal file, sir?"

Tony turned back around to study the ship for a moment before replying. "Hmm… oh yes, thank you Jarvis." The billionaire stepped forward and smiled. In all, there was about six people. All were costumed and looked eager to see their friend again. One boy, with very red hair and very green eyes, was grinning so broadly that Tony was convinced he would begin reflecting the sun, which was beginning to rise behind them. It was spring, new and fresh, and the air smelt of rain. It was warm out, about mid-sixties. The day seemed, overall, like it would have been pleasant but with this suddenly very big news thrown at their little family, Tony figured it would be a very disappointing day indeed.

He stepped forward toward the crowd. "I think that, before I go in, I should at least know all your names. I'm Tony Stark." He smiled. It was a very forced smile.

A girl with black hair and baby blue eyes stepped forward. She wore a sort of magicians outfit, with long black boots. She had a pretty face for someone so young but she looked very nervous and frightened. "I'm Zatanna, I ugh… I was good friends with Robin." She smiled at Tony, a genuine smile and not like the forced one he was giving them, and Tony figured that she and Dick were close. The age difference was startling though. There was a five year difference between them. Five years was a long time, and when Dick was thirteen she would have been eight.

After that each of them introduced themselves. The girl with the green skin had a very foreign name, a very odd one. But who was he to judge, really? The was Superboy (Son? Nephew? Fanboy?), and Aqualad and Kid Flash, both of which seemed quick to be done with the introductions. The girl with the bow and arrow and blonde hair said nothing, and she only crossed her arms and looked down. It took in all about five minutes, what with awkward exchanges and "who was going up next" looks in their faces. In the end, by the time Tony had gotten the Ironman suit off, ten minutes had gone by. (The suit malfunctioned, honestly this was an embarrassment).

"I'm going to go in, make sure everything is… alright. I hope that's fine with you." Before looking for an answer, Tony spins on his heels and marches into the living room of the home. Pepper had seemingly disappeared, but standing there on the holographic computers was Dick Grayson, suited up as Nightwing, going over case files for SHIELD.

Bad timing, really.

"Tony! Great, I've been waiting for you." Dick hadn't looked up. Probably hadn't for the past ten minutes. "I've learned a bit more about the Genesis leaders. We've got a lead and I think it's a good one." The younger man smiled and glanced up. He looked at Tony's face.

"What's wrong?"

Before Tony could reply, Superman's voice wafted through the home. "Are we allowed in now?"

Dick froze and Tony cursed inside before glancing at his surrogate son. Dick was staring at him, the color in his face rapidly fading. "Tony…" Dick's whispered reverberated through the halls for a moment.

"I was about to tell you just… just keep calm, alright? They still think you go by Robin. Can you stay calm? Can you do that for me?"

Dick shook his head for a moment and steeled his face, looking back at Tony with even a slight smile. "Of course I can."

Tony smiled reassuringly back and turned toward Superman, gesturing for the large alien to come in. Tony felt behind himself a few more presences. He turned slightly to find Natasha and Steve standing there, looking confused at these new quests of theirs. Dick turned and whispered something to Natasha, who quickly relayed the information to Steve. Out of the corner of his eye, Tony saw Natasha place a comforting hand on Dick's shoulder.

"Erm… this is Nightwing, Captain America and Black Widow." He gestured behind him and the team, as well the elder heroes, all nodded or waves in acknowledgement.

"If you don't mind, I have a few questions to ask you. You know, before you see Robin. We're not holding him or anything but honestly you can't blame me for being curious." Tony paused as he let the information sink in before he continued. "The kid, Robin, got here completely on accident. Are you telling me you developed the ability to travel dimensions only after one of your own got kidnapped?"

Batman stepped forward and suddenly Tony felt a lot more uncomfortable. But he was also glad it was this man, the man that had left Dick. It wasn't his fault, maybe developing the technology really had taken five years. Either way, they were here now.

"It's not that we didn't have the technology, or the means, or the time, it's that we had to do everything to get one of our own back. We've had theories, ideas and ways that could've possibly made it but we never had the reason to, or the way. So yes, it was only after 'one of our own got kidnapped.' Because suddenly, there was our means."

Before Tony could help himself, he said, "Is that why it took you so long!?"

"Stark!" Steve cried up, but suddenly there was a sharp, loud intake of breath. The green girl was standing there with her hands covering her mouth, as if she were in shock. She was staring past Tony, past toward…

"M'gann?" the boy called Superboy asked, placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her slightly towards his own body. She ripped herself away, slowly floating forward Dick. There was silence in the room but it was broken as suddenly she began to cry. She wasn't crying loud, sob-like tears. But it was soft, and the tears trailed down her cheeks. She murmured "no" multiple times and suddenly she was holding Dick by the shoulders, staring at him intently.

It was silent and all but the wind made noise.

Suddenly, she grasped him and began to sob. Dick looked down at her and frowned, for a moment unsure of what to do with himself. But slowly, slowly, he wraps his arms around her and rests his head on her own and lets her cry.

The realization grasps the room.

Kid Flash's eyes widen and he takes one step back, examining the scene in front of him. Aqualad's face his stoic, but his arms drop to his side. Superboy is watching with crossed arms and an angry face, like it's his fault. And Zatanna… Zatanna is sobbing right along with M'gann. The blonde girl does nothing and Superman looked like something just exploded. There is hurt, and pain, but most of all sadness. It is Batman though, that gets to Tony.

There is nothing.

There is not sadness, no pain, no fear, no anger. There is simply nothing.

M'gann, the green girl, is still holding on to Nightwing and it is he that is comforting her. Natasha has let go of Dick's shoulder and behind her, Steve is watching the children.

After a few moment, Dick speaks up.

"I'm sorry."

They didn't know what he was apologizing for, but M'gann shook her head and pulled herself from the hug.

"You've grown…," she inquired, stepping away momentarily to get a better look. Dick laughed, as if he wasn't surprised that would be the first thing she would say.

"I have. Thank God I'm not short anymore, I don't think I could handle being shorter than Wally at this age."

Even though there were still tears, M'gann, and the rest of the team, cracked smiles. The redhead, whom Tony guessed was Wally, walked up and gave his friend a big hug. Dick was at least a head taller, maybe more and it took Tony to realize that that scrawny thirteen year old was no more. Dick walked, with the green girl in tow, toward his friends. Still, neither Superman nor Batman moved; they only watched intently.

Dick almost immediately let go of the girl to hug Wally, the red-head in yellow and red. They stood there for a few moments. When Dick let go and stepped back, he looked confused.

"You haven't aged…" he muttered, but everyone heard him. He looked over them all and then back at Batman and Superman. "None of you. How long have I been gone in that world?"

Tony noticed how he didn't say "my world" or "our world". He said "that world". For a second, Tony thought he saw the others catch the word but they made no acknowledgment toward it. Dick glanced around for a moment and then looked down at his outfit. He was still fully decked in his Nightwing gear with his escrima sticks sticking out tauntingly. Tony figured the man desperately wanted to change his clothing.

"Robin… erm," Zatanna looked out the windows. The sun was up now. "Nightwing, sorry." Dick laughed and waved her off.

"It's fine."

"Well, it's only been five days… how long has it been for you?"

Dick pursed his lips a moment. "Five years. It's been five years—," he paused. "So you didn't give up."

"Of course not!" Wally inclined, jumping up and swinging his arm up across Dick's shoulder. He had to stand on his toes though and you could see the smile on Dick's face. "We'd never give up on you Robby!"

"Nightwing, Wally. It's Nightwing."

"You're always going to be Robin."

Dick laughed for a moment, shrugging out from under Wally's arm. He turned toward the rest of the team and held his arms open, looking straight at the blonde girl.

"Come on Artie… you know you want to give me a hug."

For a moment, the girl looked like she was going to murder him. But her arms fell down to her sides and she smiled. They stood there and then she rushed into a hug. He was much taller than her now. They heard a mumbled "damn you're ripped" from her and Dick's laugh. He looked so happy, so pleased and that fear and panic of the sound of Superman's voice had faded and fallen into the spring winds. Dick let go of her and turned to Aqualad and, with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, said, "So, do you think I'm mature enough to lead the team?"

"Before you can lead any teams, you first have to learn to lead yourself into doing something useful around here." Everyone turned around to see a tall red-headed woman with a mothers face.

"Pepper!"

"So… is this them, the team?"

Dick looked back and forth between the two. Steve walked down and stood with Dick, smiling at the team pleasantly. Tony stayed back, observing everything. Pepper walked by Superman and Batman, sending them a pleasant but slightly frightened smile. Superman waved cheerily and Batman did nothing. Pepper walked toward the team and smiled.

"I'm Pepper Potts. Rich-er, Nightwing has told me a lot about you."

Batman spoke up. "You told them your name." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

Dick hesitated before turning around. "Yeah, I did. Yours too."

"That wasn't yours to tell," Batman inquired. Dick's hands clenched into fists and Tony felt this wasn't the first time he'd been pushed around. Maybe a child, at eight years old, he would have felt ashamed. Now, Tony could tell that Batman telling him what to do, especially after five years of nothing, was old.

"Not like I expected you to show up here anyway!" he yelled, taking a furious step forward. Looking back on it, Dick had told Tony that it was an overreaction. But in the here and now it could've been seen as completely called for.

Everyone paused and there was horror on Dick's face, as well as Wally's and M'gann's. Within seconds, Dick had hung his head and was standing there with loose hands and arms. Batman, for a moment, looked taken aback but soon he stood there with a straight line on his face. Still, there was little emotion. Tony could bet, 100%, that under that blackened cowl and those white lenses the man was full of unbridled emotion.

"I… I'm sorry. That was uncalled for."

"Robin…" Zatanna stepped forward, her face sad. "Did you really not expect us to show up? To come for you?" It was almost like she was asking where he was. This is not the boy that had left them. Where are you now?

I'm here…

Behind Dick, Steve was staring at the young man that he could see as his almost nephew. He looked unsure of what to do but stood there anyway.

"No," Dick admitted, looking ashamed. He sighed deeply and looked over out the window. "I didn't. Year one you know, though… I didn't give up. It was the hardest, out of all of them. I didn't do anything but hurt myself, physically and mentally. I completely disregarded all of my training. And now I've got a reason, but it's still no excuse. Year two was almost just as hard. I began to do things, pick myself up. I had been going out as Robin for a while. I couldn't see any reason not to. I felt that, if I was going to be stuck here… I should at least do something with it. Year three and four… things picked up. I was happier, I was definitely a lot healthier. And I began to have to have the mindset that I didn't miss my old universe. I mean, I missed it and I thought of you guys. But, and I regret to admit, that it was less and less and fewer in between.

"I made a few new friends too. Year five… man… year five was brilliant. I am having fun, and I did then. I got a job, I'm going/graduated from college. I've got a new name, new skills, and new missions in life. Year five… I moved on. I haven't thought about you guys… about that universe in months. Not really anyway, not for the long periods of self-pity that I used to. Year three, I gave up. Year five I finally realized that I had."

Dick's revelation left the room quiet, with nothing but the spring winds moving everything toward new paths. The room was not tense, nor was it awkward in any sense. The late spring months seemed melancholy in that moment. A sad realization forming in everyone else's mind, a realization that they had come too late. Of course, there was nothing that could be done. Had they waited a day to get things going, or if they had succeeded in a day, it would not have mattered. A year would have past. Minutes were hours, hours were months, days were years. The realization though, that nothing could have been done, and these five days had passed, hit them all hard.

Friends, brothers and sisters, an uncle and a father— a family. They had failed.

They did not blame Robin, or Nightwing rather, for giving up. If years had passed then they understood. They didn't want the details, not really, because it frightened them. Even if he had been safe and sound with Tony Stark, he wouldn't have been with them. They felt selfish— furious, angry and selfish. What sort of family is as selfish as to wish their sibling or son be alone?

It was then that Nightwing stood tall and turned away. He walked into a narrow hall, stopping at the entrance and looking behind his shoulder. "I'll be back… I've got to change."

He disappeared by the walls and it was silent. And soon tension and awkwardness had arrived, settling like a layer of dust on the ground. Steve looked apologetic toward the team of heroes. They all looked sorry, as if they hadn't tried hard enough on a test.

"Don't blame yourself," Steve told them. "It is by no means your fault."

M'gann looked up at him, her face stained with tears. She looked sorry, but so for Steve it seemed, than it was herself. "You're out of place here too, like Robin was."

Steve hesitated, like her knowledge seems surprising. For a moment, he wasn't sure what to say but he figured it would just be best to answer. It didn't seem like she was asking him, more like stating a fact and waiting for him to confirm it out loud. "Yes, I am. But I don't think we are anymore." Steve had decided, a long time ago actually, that Dick belonged here. Steve Rodgers was a man of faith and he'd be damned if he didn't believe fate and God had something to do with bringing Richard Grayson here.

The girl nodded and, looking somber, stared back down toward the floor. Steve felt pity for a moment but turned away. He hadn't really realized that, like himself, Dick had left behind a whole life. He knew it, Dick had talked about it in passing. But they were alike, so similar in the way of how their lives turned out. But, Steve found, that they belonged here now. In this time and place and century. It worked, it really did.

Nightwing came back, but this time as Dick Grayson. He wore a white t-shirt with a sweater thrown on precariously. And he wore a pair of jeans but he was barefooted. He had no mask on his face, but Steve and Tony were sure that under those pants and that jacket there were at least two or three weapons.

The entire team stared at him for a moment.

"I know, no mask. I think you guys can handle it." Dick glanced at Batman. "I'd like to talk, please." Batman gave one stiff nod and followed Dick out onto the balcony. It was then that Pepper finally spoke up again and offered the team a few drinks. Steve helped get it with her. No one dared look outside toward the balcony.

Bruce was quiet for those few moments that they stood there together. It was windy, the spring afternoons were slowly fading into summer evenings now. It was still early in the morning though, and crisp air hit their faces and theirs bodies with chills. It was late, late March now, but it felt like May. The type of day where May forgot what time of the year it was a decided to bring June in early. It felt too cheerful, too happy, and too… spring to be the day were he saw his family again. For some reason, their presence brought in a melancholy storm that twirled the spring winds as if they were small childish dancers.

"You have grown taller," Bruce inquired.

Dick wanted to laugh at Bruce's statement but he didn't. He smiled and leaned on the railing with his arms crossed. "Yeah, I have. Five years is a long time."

"We worked every day," Bruce said, turning to face him. Slowly, he took off the cowl and for that Dick was grateful. He didn't want to be looking into those cold white lenses. "We really did Dick, I'm sorry."

Bruce normally didn't say sorry. It was usually one of those things where he showed you he was sorry, even if he didn't realize it. Dick smiled at him, a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. "I forgive you, Bruce, I really do. This is a surprise to me too… to learn that… these past five years you know, that is hasn't been five years."

He sighed and turned away, looking out over the skyline. Below him, the people walked and went about their ways, unaware of the reunion above them.

"You've grown Dick. You're no thirteen year old anymore. You're a grown man."

It took Dick a moment to realize the hurt in his voice. He looked over and saw a man who hadn't seen his surrogate son raised into a man. He looked over and saw a man who hadn't helped his son through puberty, through high school, through girls and college. He looked over and saw a man who had been ripped of not only his mother and father, but his son as well. They had never said it and quite often if someone asked if they were father and son they would deny it. They would say "your father" or "your son" or "who's the mother", "who's the wife".

"I'm not his son."

"I'm not his father."

Dick Grayson forever and always would be John and Mary's son. And Bruce Wayne would never be his father. Still, he treated him as such and often saw him as such. And their relationship could easily be seen as a father and son relationship and even brotherly in some ways.

"I know. I've got a girlfriend. Jodi."

"Jodi? Sounds Irish."

Dick laughed for a moment. "She is. She's not Barbara though… but… she's Jodi."

"That's good Dick. I'm proud of you. You've… you've made some good friends here," Bruce inquired.

"You should meet Peter, I think you'd like him. He's nice, two years older than me but he's great. We're best friends."

Silence and then. "And Wally?"

Dick frowned. "Wally… we were best friends Bruce. But…"

"You realized you moved on, right," Bruce sighed. "And I take it you're not coming back?"

The question caught the younger man off guard. He hadn't expected the question so soon and, come to think of it, he hadn't given it much thought. Their arrival had been sudden and quick and Dick had never thought about going back. He always assumed that, if they would have shown up and if there were no time difference, he would have. But certainly, with this revelation of five years and five days… surely Dick Grayson could not leave thirteen one day and come back five days later at eighteen. It wouldn't work. The portal would not revert his age, or else the team and the two older heroes would have accelerated five years in age if the ages adjusted. He frowned even further.

"I… Bruce, I don't think I can."

There was a soft, forlorn sigh. "I know… I know why—," Bruce rarely stuttered. "But I want to hear it from you, please."

It pained Bruce to hear Dick say it, but it happened.

"I have a life here, Bruce."

"You had one there too," Bruce cut in, turning to look at the younger man. Dick was staring at him. It wasn't anger or frustration on his face, there was nothing.

"Dammit, don't argue with me Bruce!" Ah, yes, there was the anger. But had Bruce really argued with him? He'd simply state a fact. Looking back, Dick had just let everything out at that moment, all of his anger toward a man whose fault was worrying. There was something in his eyes, in Richard Grayson's eyes, something that was different and new and foreign that wouldn't have been there otherwise.

"I'll argue with you, Richard. Because I know you're not just going back because you have a life here. What about the team? School? Barbara? What about Alfred and I? Your parents? You can't just abandon that Richard! You had a life! You're not going back because you're afraid, you've done something haven't you? What've you done, Richard?"

Dick flinched at the mention of his parents but said nothing, gripping the railing with trained hands.

His eyes looked like steel.

Bruce's face became angry. "You've killed."

There was nothing. Stoic, mechanical movements and breathing. There was nothing.

"You killed someone. You're afraid of going back, aren't you? Of what I might think of you. You're afraid. You're afraid that you won't fit into our world again? Why'd you do it? Why would you betray—."

"No!" Dick shouted, slamming his fist on the railing. A small dent was left in his wake. "Do not come here, five years later, to judge me! You have no right to judge! You know nothing! I've changed Bruce, I've grown! You said it yourself. You don't think I don't miss you all? I might not think of you guys often, I might not wallow in self-pity of what I've lost, like you've done, I've moved on. I have grown and changed and became a man. I am skilled and ready and myself. I don't kill to kill, Batman. I've killed once. Once! Do not judge me. I am not the child that left five years ago. I am not the child that left five days ago. Because if I was, I would have already left with you. No, Bruce, I'm staying. I have a life here. I've been here five years, the same amount of time that I had been with you after my parents' deaths. This is my life and dammit, I'll live it how I want doing what I think is best. You don't have to like it, you don't have to accept it, but don't come and tell me how to live it!"

The wind had suddenly stopped, dropping off tension and anger. It was silent and the ringing all around them of church bells filled the air suddenly. Sharp clangs and dongs, piercing the air and stiffening their bodies. The two men stared at one another. Dick was breathing sharply, heavily, like he had just ran a marathon. Bruce was silent, his breaths were long and hard.

"You killed someone."

Dick jabbed a finger at the older man's chest. "And you're a stubborn ass. Doesn't change anything. You don't know under what circumstance I did it. I'm not going back, not because I'm afraid, I'm not going back because I'm doing what I was meant to do. I'm staying Bruce. I'll say good bye, and you can leave. I'm sorry to waste your time."

Bruce's reply was softer as he replied, "You were never a waste of my time. Ever. I could never regret doing everything I could for you."

Dick sighed, his anger fading, like sunlight was burning it away. "And for that, Mr. Wayne, thank you." A goodbye it was, then.

They go back inside a few minutes later in silence.

Tony turned to see Batman and Nightwing walking back in. There was tension between them, but nothing thick. There seemed to have been a compromise and an air of resolve had settled about them.

Dick walked right up to Wally, smiling. The now-younger redheaded boy grinned and began to talk with his elder friend. Batman, now with his cowl off, went to talk with Superman. They discussed them in hushed tones, stealing glances at Tony, Steve, and Dick. Batman, or rather Bruce, looked unsettled and strained. Superman looked upset.

It was then that Tony realized; Dick was going to stay. For a moment, he was so swelled up with pride a grin spread across his face. A smug, haughty grin that could only find itself on the face of Tony Stark. He wiped it off though at the M'gann worried look at him. She seemed upset and it was then that Tony remembered she had some mental ability. She turned to glance at Aqualad, a dark skinned boy with gills on his neck (what sort of world did Dick come from?), and Tony found he was staring at her. He shrugged his shoulders at her look and then they both turned away. The girl with the blonde hair, the one Dick had called "Artie" (must be short for Artemis then, especially if she was an archer) and saw that she too was looking at M'gann with an odd look on her face.

They were communicating… with their minds.

For a moment Tony was so unsettled with this revelation that he almost took a step back but then he sighed. This meant they probably figured it out too.

At that moment, Pepper had begun talking to M'gann.

"—seen you somewhere before."

The telepath looked confused for a moment, and cocked her head to the side. "Really? I don't think—."

"No," Pepper interrupted, looking apologetic for a moment before continuing. "No, I know I've seen you before. In a dream, you told me that I wasn't Robin and sent me away. You were… you were very angry, I believe."

M'gann sighed a moment, looking down with a frustrated face. "I… I think so. Maybe, I was trying to contact Robin in this dimension. I felt a mind, someone that had seen him. I thought maybe it was his but it wasn't. It was yours. You just knew him so well…" M'gann's voice had faded sadly.

Pepper smiled. "I guess. I'm sorry to have caused you any trouble."

M'gann smiled then, cocking her head to the side. "No, none at all. You're fine. More frustration than anything else really." They both laughed and Pepper began to ask what Robin had been like. M'gann explained vividly and soon a few more people began to join.

"Wait!" Dick called out, pulling out his phone. "I'll contact Peter." When asked later, Peter had never gotten the text.

"Peter? Who's Peter?"

"A good friend of mine," Dick replied, shooting a text toward the older boy and then sticking his phone away. "He was supposed to come later today anyway, but I think he'll manage coming earlier."

The team nodded, glancing between themselves. "Tell us about your stay here, Robin," Zatanna demanded, turning to face him on the bar stool. Dick pursed his lips and furrowed his brow.

"Well, I've only been living with Tony for about a year and a half. Took me a lot of convincing to get me here."

Batman and Superman had joined them and this time, the large alien of a man spoke up. "And where were you before that?"

Dick looked at his former surrogate uncle with a smile. He was hiding something, they could see it, but he was letting them see it. "I moved around a lot, really."

"You said you went to college, what'd you major in?"

Dick almost laughed. "Criminal Studies and Law. And some science stuff. Smart people stuff."

"Kid's a genius," Tony interjected, holding up his glass of scotch. "Should've been in college a lot sooner in my opinion."

Dick laughed and scrunched up his nose. "I think the College Board agreed with you. Oh well, either way I'm done with that."

"Ooh oo 'ave uh url-end?" Wally put in, blurting the question out with an apple in his mouth. (Where'd he get an apple? Well, no one really knows)

Everyone laughed.

"I'm sorry, you're going to have to repeat that," Dick replied, laughing. He had missed this… he missed Wally's eating habits and their midnight x-box game nights. He missed messing with words and being told not to.

"Ooh oo…," Wally gulped and finished his apple. "Have a girlfriend?"

Dick smiled and looked in Wally's eyes. He ignored Zatanna's stare and Artemis's smirk. "Yeah, I do. Her name is Jodi."

"Scoring big in alternate dimensions I see! Man how do you do it?" Wally exclaimed, smacking his friend on the back. Dick grinned and shrugged.

"Maybe it's my superpower," he replied and Wally laughed.

"I doubt it," the red-head supplied heartily.

"Hey, I'm not thirteen anymore I have whole-heartedly developed the ability to single-handedly look at a woman and attract her. And likewise actually—."

"Okay!" Pepper exclaimed loudly. "We are moving on now!" She turned to glare at Tony and then at Dick, who was laughing quite loudly. As she walked by Tony, she smacked him in the arm and hissed "stop being a bad influence!"

Pepper walked over to Dick and smiled at him before turning and walking away. She disappeared down the hall and the moment she did so, Steve and Natasha followed suit, albeit with saddened looks on their faces. Natasha's looked more neutral though, than anything else.

Dick watched them leave and then turned to Tony. For a moment, Tony saw a young man who was certain about himself but frightened of his next words, of his next confession. He was shaking slightly but not of fear, really, but of nervousness, of rejection. The look in his eyes as he stared at Tony was begging him to stay, but Tony could that Dick didn't want him there. He nodded and set down his glass.

"Well," he announced loudly, "I need to get some things done in my shop. I'll be… back in a bit, I guess."

They watched him leave and he could see the confusion on some of their faces. Doesn't he want to say goodbye to Nightwing?

When Tony left, Dick sighed and turned to Wally. The red head was watching the place where Tony had disappeared, down the hall and into the doorway. He looked nervous, skeptical even, for someone who had no clue what was about to be said.

"Wally," Dick inquired, looking at the floor while furrowing his brow. "Do you remember what I told you when I was twelve?"

Wally looked up, surprise on his face. "You're going to have to be more specific, you never stopped talking when you were twelve."

Dick almost laughed for a moment. He felt it in his throat but he pushed it down and sighed. "About my name, Wally, remember that? About where I came from?"

Wally suddenly became somber. "Yeah, I do… why?"

Dick looked up and frowned. "It's been a year hasn't it?"

Wally frowned, cocking his head to the side in thought. "Yeah, it has but… you said I could only tell them after you've been gone for a year. And really it's only been a few days man—."

"Wally, it's been five years. I gave you permission to tell them, you know, everything. I want you to do that."

Wally looked away for a moment in confusion, his face incredulous in a single second. "But… can't you tell them?"

Dick felt the Teams stares on his face as he sighed, looking up at the white ceiling. He had never thought that this moment would come. When we was younger, he had always assumed he would have gone back with them and now looking back he could only ever wonder how? If he'd only have had been here a year, it would have been different. One year's age different wouldn't have mattered, people wouldn't have known. Two years maybe, three yes. Four and five it was certain. Dick Grayson could return eighteen years old when he only previously been thirteen. It was not possible. And he was here now. It was final. "No, I can't. I won't get the chance. I want you to do it."

For a moment, Wally looked neutral and confused with Dick's statement, as if it hadn't registered in his head as to what those words meant. Dick and Wally were staring at each other. Wally looked, for a moment, for one single moment, horrified and if you had blinked you'd have missed the expression entirely. Dick looked saddened as he stared at the now younger man.

"You're not coming back, are you?" Zatanna whispered, but everyone heard her. Dick was still staring at Wally.

"No, I'm not. I can't."

Zatanna sucked in a hard breath and nodded, blinking rapidly. Aqualad and Superboy were staring at Dick, and the elder (physically though he was only a year younger than Aqualad now) by experience could tell both of them, especially Aqualad, respected his decision. They were not angry, sad yes, but they could not be angry. Artemis had silent tears, but you could easily tell she was trying to hold it in. This boy, no… this man, was leaving them. He was staying here. It was almost, in reality, like they were leaving him. The ending of this story, of Nightwing's story, is him letting go, and them holding on. Which is ironic, because he thought they let go and they were certain he'd hold on. Artemis was losing her little brother, almost, and he had let go. Wally was the only one who had not done anything. Superman had, hesitantly, put a comforting hand on M'gann's shoulder, who was sucking in shaky breaths.

"Why not?" Wally stated angrily, his hands curled into fists. "You gave up on us so you can just stay here and not think of the consequences."

"No," Dick cut in fast; "Wally, that's not it at all. I gave up, but not because I just felt I had to stay here, but because I needed to. Now… now I've got to stay, yeah. I can't return to civilian life at all, I can't leave on day thirteen and come back five days later five years older. I have to stay here. But now I want to, alright? This is my own choice, I'm staying."

Wally was angry, frustrated but his fists unclenched and he let his shoulders fall. He knew Dick was right, of course Dick was right. The man named Tony had said it, the kid was a genius. He always had been, even when he'd been thirteen. Wally sighed, looking up with tears in his eyes. "I just… I never got to see my best friend grow up."

"I know… Wally. I grew up without mine too, I didn't like it very much."

For a moment, Wally let out a laugh. It was loose, carefree, but you hear the tightness in his voice. "Damn… this Peter guy better do a good job of taking my place. I'll be hard to top."

Dick smiled. He had told himself, for a while… for a long time now, that Wally wasn't his best friend anymore. Peter was. And it was, technically, true. Peter was a wonderful friend, a brother. They truly were best friends. But they were different best friends, Wally would always be there. Peter had by no means replaced the red-headed fifteen year old. Peter had just added a new place next to Dick.

"Wally, Peter could never take your place, alright? I want you to remember that, please." Dick's voice was melancholy, but he smiled wholeheartedly as he said it.

Wally nodded. "I will, I promise."

"So is this goodbye?" Aqualad said, staring at the young man. Dick furrowed his brow as he thought. Goodbye had already happen, but it's never too late to say it again.

"Yeah, I think it is."

The atlantian nodded. When he looked at this young man before him, he saw the face of the boy of thirteen being engulfed in yellow flames and pulled into a green vortex, his arm outstretched as he pleaded for help. He saw the boy who screamed until suddenly he was gone, and his cries echoed in their ears. He saw the boy they searched for, he saw the boy they cried over. And when he blinked, he saw a man, because that boy had been let go. It was time Aqualad did the same. He held out his hand. "It was an honor, Robin, truly. I wish you…" he hesitated and then continued; "I wish you great fortune."

Robin, or Nightwing rather, shook Aqualands hand with a smile on his face. "You too Kaldur, you too. Thank you."

Hugs and tears were exchanged and soon they were outside, standing by the ship. Artemis and Superboy were standing near the ship with Aqualad and Superman, watching as M'gann and Zatanna said their goodbyes. Wally was still standing near Nightwing, with Batman behind both of them. Zatanna was crying (the girls' heart had probably been crushed) but she hugged Nightwing and hurried away to the opening of the ship. It was just Wally and Batman now.

"When we get back…," Wally began, his voice fading a moment before he brought up more courage to continue. "When we get back, a year later… you'd have died, haven't you?"

"A day is a year… yeah… yeah I guess I would have," Dick admitted slowly, the thought momentarily stumbling him. Wally nodded for a moment and then gave Dick a hug. It was returned and, for a moment, they stood like that. It was like Dick was dying, which he was almost, and so Wally did not want to let go.

"I'm going to miss you man…"

Dick chuckled. "I've missed you too… and I'll do the same, Wally. Just remember all right?"

"You too… if we ever see each other again for… for some reason you know? Our life is so messed up anyway." His laugh was hollow. "Anyway… just remember me too?"

Dick smiled. "I've managed so far."

Wally nodded. "Right… I'll… bye man, I…" he choked a moment and sighed. "You're my brother you know? I… I… bye."

"You too Wally, goodbye."

They let go and smiled and Wally turned and walked away. He had let go… and they had held on… such irony.

Dick turned to Bruce and behind the shrouded man he could see Tony, Steve, and Nick Fury. "Get a new Robin." Bruce looked taken aback, like he hadn't expected such and abrupt demand. "Get a new Robin, Bruce. Batman needs a Robin and I can't be there anymore. I need you to find a new kid, someone who'll help you like I did, maybe better, who won't leave you. Alright? Get a new Robin, please."

Bruce wanted to argue that he didn't need a new Robin, that Batman could survive on his on but it was Dick's last request, so he would honor it. His nod was firm and Dick knew he would follow what he'd said. "I want to give you this, Richard," Batman said, pulling out a flash drive. "It has schematics of Zeta Technology and things from the League. You might find it useful."

Dick took the drive in his hand and nodded. "Thank you, this might be useful."

"I figured."

Silence.

Dick took a step forward and hugged Bruce, who hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around him. "Thanks, Bruce, really."

"You don't need to say anything," Bruce replied, but he knew it had been great to hear it either way.

Dick pulled away. "Tell Barbara I love her, please. And my parents… I wrote a note… for them, you know in case anything happened. Can you put it on their grave? Please?"

When Bruce nodded, Dick sighed and nodded. "Alright yeah… and tell Alfred I love him and I miss him. Jarvis is nice but he can't make scones, which I really miss." He laughed for a moment and then took a deep breath. "Bye, Bruce."

Bruce nodded and smiled, shortly. He couldn't be angry. "Goodbye, Richard. Thank you too."

Dick nodded and Bruce turned away, walking into the opening of the ship. The team stood there, staring at him. As the ramp began to close, Dick shouted out; "Richard! My name is Richard!"

He saw smiles and waves and he waved back and it was done. They were gone. They flew off and Dick saw in a flash of green light and it was, finally, done. He smiled and looked down.

Behind him he heard footsteps and he turned around. It was Tony and Fury, with Steve in suit behind them. "Are you alright?" Tony asked, putting a hand on Dick's shoulder.

"You know what?" Dick asked, a look of wonder in his eyes. "I think I am." He turned to Fury, glancing at the manila folder in his hands. "Is that a mission?"

The man smirked and tossed the folder to the young man, who in turn opened it and began to examine it. He was alright, it seemed. Sad, but alright.

"We want you to go undercover, Mr. Grayson, to England. With Miss Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis. You'll be going in under Miss Lewis' intern. You're name, Richard, will be Ian."

And that's where the story ended, and the new one began. And yeah, he was alright.

EPILOGUE: EARTH 16— THREE YEARS LATER, WAYNE MANSION

Bruce was sitting at his desk when it happened.

There had been no ring, no dial tone, and no notice of anything. One moment the light was off, and the next the phone was blinking, telling him he had a message. He set down his pen and stared at it for a moment, confusion taking its place on his face. Slowly he picked up the receiver and pressed the button to go to messages. There was only one. When the voice began… Bruce froze.

"Um… hey Bru… Bruce. I just… Hi. Um, I'm stuck in um… well you probably know. It's an alternate dimension. Um… sorry it's just been a while; I've grown up now. Um… please come get me. Please I need you and I was so lost. I've gotten better, getting better but… I need you. Tell um… tell Mom and Dad I say Hi and, Bruce—." But Dick's voice cut off and there was a long beep and the phone asked him if he wanted to save the message.

He must have called him in the other dimension… three years ago (or would it be six now?) and here it was… he listened to the message again. Dick sounded older than thirteen, his voice a little deeper but he was definitely younger than the man Bruce had left.

He saved the message and listened to it one last time. That was it, it was the only thing he has left of Dick. He was dead in this other dimension, it had been years now for them.

Bruce slowly set the phone back down in its place. The message light had disappeared, and it was now saved there forever. And he lowered his head, and cried.

Dick's adventure had ended, but his still went on.

Fin.

Hi there, everyone. I'm Fighter1357, the author of this (which come to think of it, I would hope you would know). I hope you enjoyed my story, despite the mistakes and constant Doctor Who references. I couldn't find a way to do it, but this is what happened after they left. When they got back to Earth-16, Bruce told Barbra what happened and why Dick had stayed and that he felt he loved her. Barbra cried a lot but she moved on, like Dick, but she thought of him a lot and helped train the second Robin, Jason Todd, in honor of Dick. Bruce had gotten Dick's letter from a compartment behind a tapestry in his room and read it. It was six pages long, telling them about everything and Bruce wrote Dick's last words there for them. Two months later, after he was officially declared dead by the Gotham Police, they had a funeral where the note was buried in the casket, right next to his parents. Two years later, Alfred has passed and Jason is gone. Bruce is there, training Tim, and a year later after Jason has returned he gets the message from Dick. The result is above. Thank you, I hope you got all my references: Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock, Disney, Artemis Fowl, and mentions of other Marvel Characters in the Earth Prime Universe. Hope you got all of them. ;)

Thank you for your support, I love all of you very dearly and I seriously appreciate all of the reviews you got. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! This is my gift to you, a crappy one I mean I almost cried writing it but yeah… thank you, very very much. This adventure has ended, but the others will still go on.