Author's Note: This is something I've worked on for a little while. It's an Iraq War fic that deals with complex issues, such as opposing the draft should it be reinstated and a young man who doenst really want to fight but finds he has no choice. This has nothing to do with politics and should not be seen as such. I hope that you guys enjoy the story and give some feedback.

The remote fell from Richard Grayson's hand as he sat on a couch in the living room with his mouth hung open. The boy froze in terror seeing the news report on screen as the remote smashed through the glass end table sitting before him.

"Oh my god." was all he said as Bruce Wayne rushed into the room a second later.

"Richard what...is it?" he trailed off looking at the tv and narrowed his eyes at the offending article at the bottom of the screen. Draft Reinstated. Richard looked back at his surrogate father his face white with fear.

"Bruce does that mean?" he trailed. The industrialist sighed.

"I'm afraid so. Your being called into service." he stated.

"I thought they did away with the draft years ago?" Richard stated as they walked through the mansion.

"They did. Up till now it was just volunteers who went into the military." Bruce said.

"So why would they bring it back now?" he asked.

"You've seen the news reports, they talk about it almost every night of soliders being killed." Bruce stated.

"But arent they supposed to be withdrawing troops from Iraq now?" he asked following closely behind him.

"They are, it seems as though someone in the house managed to get legislation through to restore the draft." Bruce told him.

"But why would they do it now?" Rich asked getting more concerned. Bruce stopped short and sighed before turning back to him.

"I dont know. But as much as I hate to say it, you have a duty to perform." he said.

"Cant you do anything about it?" he asked.

"No I cant, the draft is the law now. Your just going to have to live with that." Bruce said. The boy sighed and looked away.

"I wonder how everyone else is taking it?" Rich asked.

Across the city, and the country people were outraged at the restoration of the draft and took to the streets in protest with many burning thier draft cards in public. Others had taken thier frustrations out on cars, trash cans and local businesses with police trying to corall them. A bon fire had been started in the middle of the street with more throwing thier draft cards into the fire, while parked cars were totalled. In another section of the street a large group of protesters set thier sites on a police car, smashing windows and turning it over on it's side. While others jumped on top the toppled car in victory. On one street corner a female reporter and her cameraman stood away from the melee airing it for all the public to see.

"It is absolute pandemonium in Gotham tonight as people riot in restoration of the military draft. Which politicians have been petioning for it's return for years now. But now as an unpopular war nears it's end and thousands of soldiers having already died...people are outraged that the goverment would do this, even as President Barack Obama called for the withdrawl of troops in July. With the prospect of pulling out completely by this time next year. People are disgusted by this latest move and as you can see behind me. It's absolute bedlam out here. Gotham PD is trying it's best to restore order in what has otherwise been a hellish night. We could be out here for a while Chuck." the reporter stated as Richard continued to watch the television.

From his window at Wayne Manor, Bruce could the smoke clouds rising out of Gotham and the heat of the fires reflective on it's skyscrapers.

"What are we going to do?" Rich asked from the couch. His mentor narrowed his eyes as he leaned against the window pane.

"What we always do." he answered looking back at him. The boy silently nodded as the Batwing soared over Gotham a few minutes later.

Looking over the canopy at the city below he could see the fires burning brighter, consuming buildings at thier base. The Batwing boomed overhead releasing a fire retardant foam on the burning buildings, cascading them in white while people continued to riot. The residents looked up as the jet went on to it's next task. In the middle of one city square the Batjet idled overhead as Batman and Robin leaped to the street below. The rioting immediatly stopped as he landed and stood straight up but tensions were higher than ever. As they stood around in stunned silence, Batman surveyed the scene before him while Robin remained cautious.

"So now he comes out." a young man in his twenties snarled, provoking those around him.

"Stand down all of you." he ordered.

"Why should we listen to you?" the man yelled.

"Yeah!" a woman added.

"You going to take on all of us?" the man yelled spreading out his arms adding to it.

"I'm not going to fight any of you." he responded calmly.

"That's never stopped you before!" the woman replied inciting even more.

"I go after criminals not you. I dont like this draft any more than you do, becuase Robin's headed to Iraq as well." he stated suprising many.

"Wait a second. What do you mean?" a bald businessman in glasses asked.

"Robin's eighteen, which means he's going too whether he wants to or not. As a mentor I'm opposed to this as well." he stated taking the fire out of many demonstrators.

"Wouldn't he be exempt since he's with you?" the businessman asked.

"Unfortunatly no. I'm as powerless in this as you are." he said emphasizing with them. This really took the crowd by suprise as they looked at each other confused.

"At this rate there's nothing any of us can do about the draft. Other than to write your congressman and tell them your opposed to the draft. I wish more could be done about it, but taking it out on the police and the city is no way to deal with it." Batman told them.

"Cant you...I dont know, talk to the president or something?" the businessman asked.

"Unfortunatly I'm not sure he'd take the word of a vigilante." Batman stated.

"So you really are against this?" the man confirmed but didnt get a response.

The flames of outrage extenguished as people dropped thier arms and protest signs and slowly walked away. Robin looked up at his mentor having defused the problem without raising his voice. As protesters left the scene, part time sidekick Batgirl sat on her motorcycle with her helmet in her hands having watched the exchange. And was herself stunned at what she'd seen. As more and more people departed Robin had to ask.

"How did you?"

"There's a lot of ways to defuse a scene Robin. Not all of them involve violence." Batman stated.

A few days later, Richard was packing up his room when a knock at the door caught his attention and saw Barbara standing in the doorway.

"Hey." she said.

"Hey." he replied.

"So I guess this is it huh?" she said folding her arms and looking off to one side.

"Yeah..."

"You looking forward to this?" she asked.

"Not really." he replied softly as she made her way towards him.

"I'm glad your doing this." she said.

"Yeah well, it's not like I have a choice." he muttered.

"Yeah I know. But look at it this way, you'll be doing alot of good over there." she said touching his shoulder.

"Even more good than here?" he asked unsure.

"Totally. You just wont be wearing the spandex. You'll be saving the world as Richard Grayson instead of Robin. And now that Batman revealed that your going, you'll be inspiring more people. Which will making fighting this war worth even more." she said standing infront of him.

His eyes drifted away from her as she embraced him and sighed.

"It's ironic, I go out every night as Robin against lunatics and criminal psychopaths without fear. But...I dont know this is...different. I just feel like I'm in over my head and out of my element. I dont know what to do." he said as Babs kissed him midsentence.

"You'll do great. You adapt well to situations, it's what makes you who you are." she told him. He smiled and kissed her back.

"I cant tell you how long I've wanted to do that." he said embracing her. Alfred cleared his throat as he stood in the doorway.

"I do hate to interrupt but we're ready when you are." he stated. Dick and Babs looked at each other and broke away in embarrassment.

30 minutes later they arrived at the airport where other soon to be soliders were about to be sent off. Grabbing his bag from the trunk he stood at the back door of the limosine where Bruce and Barbara stood.

"Bruce." he said as they shook hands.

"Good luck Dick." he said softly.

"You too." he said patting his shoulder and turned to Babs.

"Babs." he added and plowed into him a little harder than she intended.

"Good bye Rich." she muffled in his shoulder, kissed his cheek and then his lips.

"Good bye Babs, hope to see you soon." he said hugging her.

"You too." she replied before kissing him one last time, ending with him ruffing up her ponytail.

"Take care." she added before pulling away as he turned to Alfred.

"Alfred." he said holding out his hand once again.

"Master Richard, it's been an honour serving you. I'm very proud of you sir." he replied shaking his hand.

"It's been an honor too Alfred. Thank you." he said hugging him. The butler patted his back gently in response.

"All recruits front and center." an older army officer stated.

"I guess I better get going." he said picking up his bags as Barbara hugged him once more.

He sat down his bag and put his arms around here and guestured to the others.

"Bruce, come on get in here old man." he teased. Bruce merely smiled with arms folded.

"Dont push your luck." he said.

"Fair enough." he replied picking up his bag and headed towards the plane.

"I'll see you around guys." he said walking backwards and then continued on to join the others.

"There he goes. He's off on another adventure sir." Alfred stated.

"Let's hope he gets back from this one." Bruce replied before turning to his car.

"He'll be back. I know he will." Barbara said standing behind the car door and got in as the limosine took off.

AQuthor's Note: All right so what'd you think of that? I kind of feel the need to apologise for the more serious author's not at the start. I've never done a fic like this before so it's a little difficult for me to explain. I hope you guys like it and that you look forward to more. Cause I'm not done with this story yet. If you have any suggestions for what he should do in the military or anything else. Let me hear it. Hope you guys liked it and be respectful.

Please review,

Green Gallant