A/N: Thanks Blas, Owan, Carrie, Theweirdpartyer and Psyche Castle for the reviews of "Deception"! The plot for this story is, again, not mine. Thanks, Carl, for continuing to give me ideas!
For purposes of this story, the Batmobile is a convertible. :)
As usual, Batman and Robin are loosely based off the 1960s TV show but go back and forth between genres and are sometimes completely out of any characterization. I write it the way it enters my head, which is not always "historically" accurate. Italics usually represent thoughts to oneself but are sometimes used to add emphasis. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 1:
Batman was standing by the Giant Lighted Lucite Map of Gotham City, drawing small red circles in several different areas. "What's the pattern?" he murmured quietly to himself.
"How do I look?" an enthusiastic young voice rebounded off the walls of the Batcave, startling the man out of his thoughts.
Frowning at the interruption, Batman turned toward the boisterous sound coming from the direction of the Batpoles. He had to smile, though, when he saw his thirteen-year-old ward. The grinning boy was standing tall and proud – legs apart, hands clenched on his hips, chest puffed out, chin held high and excitement flashing around in his blue eyes.
"You look like a crime-fighter, Robin," Batman replied without hesitation. The Robin-suit was perfect for the boy – sufficiently colorful to match his energetic personality but not enough to make him stand out as a bright target in the dark. Except for the cape. The shiny golden material might be a bit too much. That would be something to work on later, though.
"Are you ready for your first night on the job?" he asked.
Robin's grin was enormous as he replied, "Yes, let's go! What bad guy are we going to take out tonight?"
Batman shook his head in amusement at the somewhat ridiculous inquiry, "I don't know yet because we haven't answered the Bat-signal." Chalking it up to over-excitement, he decided to let it go.
Robin quickly recognized the idiocy of that question and mentally rolled his eyes at himself. What a great way to start my crime-fighting career.
"Commissioner Gordon is waiting," Batman continued. "To the Batmobile, Robin!"
Robin raced to the passenger side and, seeing that the roof of the car was open, jumped over the door. He buckled his safety Bat-belt as swiftly as possible and waited impatiently for Batman, who seemed to be traveling at the rate of a snail. The man finally opened his door, climbed in and the Batmobile roared to life.
Robin carefully checked the gauges, his first important job. "Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed!" he shouted excitedly when he saw the readings.
Batman glanced over; Robin's excitement was contagious but Batman was, at the same time, slightly worried. Was this really a good idea? Should he be allowing a boy, barely a teenager, to fight alongside him against Gotham City's criminals? He had been training Robin for a little over a year and his ward caught on quickly. The young acrobat was already extremely athletic. All Batman had done was add several different fighting techniques that could easily be combined with Robin's speed and agility.
Robin was physically ready, there was no doubt in Batman's mind about that, but he wasn't emotionally or mentally tough yet. Batman would have to be careful about who he allowed Robin to fight, which is why he had made a rather lengthy list of "not yet" villains. They were the biggest threats to the safety of the young and inexperienced crime-fighter: Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face…. The list filled nearly an entire page and Robin had been a little disappointed when he had seen it. Actually, Batman reflected, a lot disappointed.
Four days ago:
"Are you serious?!" Robin exclaimed when Batman held up a piece of paper. They were in the Batcave and Batman was using Bat-tape to attach the document to the top of the table that was in front of the Well-Known Criminals File. Robin was frowning at the older hero in consternation, his young mind not fully comprehending the reasoning behind Batman's newest list.
"Yes," Batman replied in his strictest voice. "This is not optional. If you want to fight crime with me, you need to follow my instructions, especially ones that I give you to keep you safe."
"But," Robin began, "those are all the real villains…"
Batman quickly interrupted, "Every criminal is real, Robin, and you need to remember that. This list is for your own good."
"You created a list of villains titled 'Not Yet Villains' for my own good?" Robin exclaimed again. "I'm ready, you've said it yourself!"
"Ready, yes," Batman replied calmly, folding his arms across his chest. "Experience is what you are lacking and I will not allow you to take on the most dangerous villains until you have enough experience to know how to react to most situations."
"But how am I supposed to get experience if I can't fight anyone?" Robin practically shouted and immediately regretted the tone.
"I never said you wouldn't be able to fight," Batman sighed with frustration sliding around the edges of the words. "You are a crime-fighter so of course you will be fighting crime. Just not…that kind of crime." He paused for a long moment. "Please, Robin, just trust me," he lowered his voice. "Can you do that, can you trust me?"
"Fine," the boy muttered, dropping his eyes to the ground. "Of course I trust you," he nodded and sighed in defeat.
Present time:
Batman shook his head at the memory but knew he was in the right. He hoped the Bat-signal was for something that his new partner could help with: a small-time gang or a mugging in a dark alley or a warehouse full of idiots who thought they could be called villains because they had stolen something. Robin would be really upset if he had to return to the Batcave without fighting a bad guy or saving an innocent person.
"Come on, Batman, let's go!" Robin was surprisingly demanding and Batman was startled out of his thoughts again.
"Okay," Batman chuckled, "roger, ready to move out." The Batmobile zoomed out of the Batcave and they were on their way to Police Headquarters.
Robin was practically bouncing in his seat. He was going on his first mission, finally! He had been working so hard for this moment and couldn't wait to take on his first bad guy. Who was it going to be? The one man he didn't want to meet yet was Joker. He had heard stories about that crazy villain from not only Batman but also from other kids at school. One of his friend's cousins had even been kidnapped by Joker! Robin shuddered at the thought of being held hostage by a psycho who dressed up like a clown, although a clown was nicer to look at than a man with two different faces.
Riddler had always sounded fun to him. Robin had a knack for solving the villain's riddles and had been helping Batman with them since discovering the Batcave. Penguin would be the easiest of all of them; he couldn't even run away! Robin suddenly hoped it was Penguin so that his first job wouldn't be too difficult. Even though he was excited, there was a little tingle of nervousness fluttering around in his stomach and he knew that taking down a slightly less intimidating criminal would calm his nerves. He grinned as he pictured himself standing over a Bat-cuffed Penguin. This was going to be so much fun! Then he frowned – Penguin was a "not yet" villain. Shrugging, he grinned again. He was about to become an official crime-fighter, even if the person he took down was just a purse-snatcher.
Three hours later:
"That was so awesome!" Robin exclaimed as they returned to the Batcave and got out of the Batmobile. "Did you see me take out that guy that was trying to escape? SWOOSH, KA-POW!" He punched the air in front of him with his right hand and followed it with his left, emphasizing the last two words.
Batman shook his head and attempted to contain his laughter. "That guy" had been a slightly-older-than-Robin teenager who obviously had absolutely no fighting experience.
"You've got a bloody cut above your eye, Robin," Batman stated, a nearly undetectable chuckle flowing through the words. "Let's go take care of it before Alfred finds out."
"Before I find out what, sir?" Alfred asked as he rounded the corner of the tunnel that led to the service elevator. The slight smile on his face turned into a frown when he saw the thin line of blood just above Robin's right eyebrow.
"Alfred!" Robin cried exuberantly. "I just arrested my first, second and third criminals!"
"Well done, Master Robin," the butler praised with another smile. He glanced over at Batman and, upon seeing the mirth in the man's expression, did his best to remain composed. "Now, please come over here so I can clean you up," he added, directing Robin to the medical area with a sweep of his left arm. "Whom, may I ask, were your challengers?" Alfred continued in order to distract the boy from the slight stinging sensation that would accompany the cleaning of his wound.
Robin paused thoughtfully then glanced at Batman with a questioning look. Batman, who had just removed his cowl, raised his eyebrows. Robin needed to know the criminals of Gotham City and Alfred had unknowingly given the boy his first mental test.
"Um, there weren't very many of them and…" Robin scrunched up his face in concentration, "…I know they didn't belong to any of the major villains."
"Please relax your face, Master Robin, so I can apply the bandage correctly," Alfred stated. The boy attempted to obey but Batman was staring at him and expecting an answer. Alfred quietly sighed and resigned himself to waiting for the conversation to end. The blood had stopped, the bandage could wait.
Batman studied his young partner's face, a little annoyed that Robin had to think this hard about the characteristics of the men they had fought. They were obviously from Big Johnny's mob; Robin should have this memorized.
Robin now had his eyes closed and was becoming frustrated. Batman's going to kill me! I'm supposed to know this, I DO know this!
"Robin," Batman frowned, "who were those men? You have been studying the Bat-book of Criminals, right?"
"Yes!" Robin's eyes flew open. Batman was going to get mad at him because he couldn't remember anything about that particular mob. He didn't even remember which mob it was!
"So," Batman continued as he folded his arms across his chest, "who were they?"
"Uh, they were from a mob…?" Robin replied timidly. Batman was now glaring at him and the man was intimidating even without his cowl.
"Are you asking me?" Batman's voice was rising and Robin was startled at the tone.
Robin dropped his head miserably. He was in big trouble now. Batman had never used that voice with him.
Alfred saw the boy's expression, the man's posture and the possible outcome of the situation. He made a decision and stepped in to stop it before Batman went too far.
"Try to remember, Master Batman," he said calmly, "that enthusiastic young boys are often only able to focus on one thing at a time. Perhaps Master Robin will be better prepared for this question after the excitement of capturing his first criminal has worn off a little bit."
Batman looked over at Alfred and opened his mouth to disagree but shut it again when his faithful butler gave him a warning look. He sighed, of course Alfred was right. Robin had just done something that, to Batman, was routine and Batman suddenly remembered the first time he had handed a criminal over to the police. He decided to give the boy a break, but only this time. Robin was going to be studying that book for several hours tomorrow.
Robin had cautiously lifted his head and was staring at Batman, his eyes hopeful but nervous. Give me a break, please, come on, give me another chance.
"Get changed and go to bed, Robin," Batman commanded. "You will be reading the entire Bat-book of Criminals tomorrow and taking an oral test when you are done. These are things you have to know. They could mean the difference between life and death."
Robin exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Batman! I won't let you down; I'll memorize the whole thing!" He ran to the Batpoles and pushed the "Robin" button on the Compressed Steam Batpole Lift, shooting himself back up to the study of Bruce Wayne.
Batman rolled his eyes in amusement when he heard his ward sliding right back down. The boy really was too excited to remember the little things. Robin had obviously forgotten to flip the Instant Costume Change lever on his way up. Exiting the study in Wayne Manor as Robin would certainly cause a lot of questions.
Glancing at Batman when he reached the bottom, Robin gave a sheepish grin and shot himself back up. This time he remembered to flip the lever, becoming Dick Grayson before leaving Bruce Wayne's study.
Batman gave Alfred a tiny glare, "I shouldn't have let him off the hook like that. He has to know…" he stopped when he saw Alfred's version of the Bat-glare.
"Master Batman, he is thirteen, he just had one of the most exciting nights of his young life and you were about to get mad at him for it. Everyone needs to be 'let off the hook' once in a while. I seem to remember doing it for you several times when you were younger."
Batman's glare turned into a smile, "You're right, Alfred. I can't expect him to notice details right away. It was only his first night."
Alfred nodded, "That is an excellent observation, sir. Is there anything I can do for you before I return to the Manor?"
Batman was sitting down in front of the Bat-computer now and he shook his head. "I'm just going to finish some work that I neglected earlier. Thank you, Alfred."
"Good night then, Master Batman," Alfred turned around and walked toward the elevator. He paused for a moment then looked back at Batman, "I suggest you get some sleep, sir. I know a young man who is going to want a lot of your attention tomorrow, even if he is supposed to be studying." He smiled, went into the elevator and returned to the Manor. The small bandage that was supposed to already be above Robin's right eye was still in Alfred's hand and, sighing in relief at the prevention of the imminent storm, he went in search of the brow of Dick Grayson.
Batman chuckled as he began typing on the Bat-computer. Alfred was right again. Robin was going to want to go over every tiny detail of the fight because that was the exciting part for him. Batman would still make sure he memorized that book, though.