"I can't let him do it anymore Alfred." Bruce looked away from Dick's bed. Away from Dick's injured form. Bruce sat on the edge of Richard bed, watching and waiting. Dr. Leslie said he would be fine but when he had raced the unconscious teenager's form back to the back cave yesterday night he had not been so sure. He was recovering but he looked so frail.
"You must, Sir" Alfred replied quietly.
"I just can't. How can I let him go out there night after night? He is in danger. There are so many evil criminals, so many dangers. Evil is around every corner. He is in jeopardy every time he goes out there. What if he loses his life, what if he loses a limb what if he gets poisoned? I worry so much. I know fighting is what he wants to do, but I want him safe."
"He does it because it is who he is, Master Bruce. The pain of his parents' deaths has affected him so deeply he must fight the evil to repel the pain." Alfred replied solemnly.
"But I don't want him to feel this pain." Bruce motioned to Richard, who was asleep but clearly in pain. The grimace on his face was pure evidence.
"Without, Robin, Master Richard would not be himself, just as you would be missing a piece of yourself if you were no longer Batman."
"You don't understand Alfred. I may not be his real father but I feel like he is my son and how can I let my son face those evil every night with the chance that he might not come back to me He is like a son to me. I can't let him face the dangers. I worry so much. It pains me to see him in pain."
"I do understand" Alfred replied. Bruce glanced up at Alfred and saw a look that shadowed the pain in his own face. He suddenly realized the truth that had been reveled in his conversation about Richard. Alfred did understand. Alfred had raised him since his parents died. Alfred's surrogate son went out every night in a costume and faced the evil. Alfred's surrogate child had been hurt and in danger so many times. And Alfred felt Bruce's pain when ever he had been hurt. Alfred wished he could take the batman out of Bruce so that he could stop worrying about Bruce. But he knew he could not. Batman was a part of Bruce and taking that away from him would kill him, worse then the criminals. Bruce stood to face the aged butler. He realized the pain he had put this man through and respected the fact that Alfred had never left his side.
"Oh, God, Alfred, I am so sorry," he said as he wrapped his arms around his father figure. He placed his head down in the crock of Alfred's neck and breathed slowly. "Thank you" He whispered. Alfred placed his hand on Bruce's back and neck and squeezed in support.
"Hey what about me?" Squeaked the voice from the bed. "I'm the injured one." Richard smarted. He grinned at the two men in his life hugging. He knew he had caught them in a very embarrassing moment.
"Dick" Bruce did an about face. "You're supposed to be out for another four hours"
"How am I supposed to sleep with all of this mushy stuff going on"
"I will go get his some soup" Alfred quickly replied and left without another word.
