My take on Bruce Wayne/Batmans life. This is my first one, so hopefully you will like it.

Chapter 1

"I told you I would stop you", I say through clenched teeth as I grab him from the floor of the warehouse by his shirt and hoist him to his feet. I assess the damage I've created and know it's nothing much. A bleeding broken nose, a broken arm and bruises are hardly going to make him think twice.

"It's over Joker", I growl at him and push him out the door as I hear sirens approaching. His purple suit is dirty with mud and other various substances and his green hair is all over the place. My costume is ripped by various knife wounds in places, it's been a long night.

"Oh Batsy", he says and grins at me, but his grin disappears and his face turns serious, "I was counting on it," he says as I force him along. My expression remains unreadable but my mind is already analysing his words. He wasn't easy to catch, being as unpredictable as he is, and my nights worth of bruises and wounds can contest to that but he's probably planning something else, or has planned something else. His fascination with the church and various bombs and hostages left me busy tonight but I was still lucky enough to come back to him still tied up and unconscious at the time, was it luck or part of his sick plan? I grab him just before commissioner James Gordon pulls up and hoist him in the air with my right hand and bare my teeth at him.

"If this is part of some other plan or if you somehow get out of the Asylum again I'll be waiting joker, and there won't be a place on earth big enough to hide you from me!", I snarl in his face and throw him toward Gordon who is getting out of a police car. He laughs in my face as I expect him to and Gordon grabs him and cuffs him. I disappear and hear Gordon say "Hey Batman"- and turn around to nothing.

"That isn't funny," he yells into the night but I allow myself the tiniest smirk before my face goes blank again.

"Coming home any time soon Master Wayne"? A voice buzzes into my ear from the communicator. I call the Bat-Mobile and get in before I answer.

"I have to make sure a clown gets to the Asylum and stays there then I'll be home", I say as I check the time, 2 am.

BMBMBM

"Everything go ok sir?", a tall, thin elderly balding man with a slight moustache dressed formerly in a black suit and bow tie asks me as I get out of the Bat-Mobile. I'm in a giant cave with computers and all sorts of machinery, including a ladder that goes up that leads to the trapeze Dick often uses, most notable Is the noisy screeching of bats laying upside down on the ceiling. A door leads off to bathrooms that I never really use. A few tables full of various chemicals and equipment sits near the computers, the lab part of the cave.

"I stayed an hour to make sure Joker stays where he's meant to be", I say as I take off the black cowl/mask I'm wearing. Its 4 am, I make note of the time. He nods and points to a table that has medical supplies on a tray next to it. I nod and pull the Kevlar off my bruised body with a grunt. He takes my suit as I undress and he puts it away and I'm left in boxers and a shirt in the cold of the cave. Can I have the thermal parts of the suit back? I think as I sit on the cold medical table. He comes over and examines my left thigh that I was unfortunate enough to be too slow at dodging a knife and received a large gash.

I hate knife wounds, now there's no crime to focus on to ignore the pain. He puts antiseptic on it and I stare at the floor, my face as unreadable as ever. I doubt it fools him though. He stitches and bandages it up and I don't so much as hiss. He moves on to the rest of my body, checking everywhere for cuts which he cleans even though I protest on how unnecessary it is. I get up once he's done and go to the big computer monitors. He clicks his tongue in disapproval but retreats upstairs. I update a few files on Joker and see how I'm going on getting a new cure for scarecrows fear toxin that I carefully avoided a few days ago. Alfred comes back and hands me soft pyjamas and a drink of hot chocolate. No doubt trying to coax me to go to bed.

"How's Dick? I know he was angry with me because he couldn't go on patrol tonight", I say and sip the hot chocolate and grab the clothes.

"Master Dick is fine, in bed asleep, like certain other people I know should be", he says as I take off my shirt and put the pyjamas on and the pants.

"It's barely 4 am Alfred, I'll do this then go to bed," I say and turn back to the screen and save what I have done so far and open another few files. I stifle a yawn that nearly gets the better of me. As always, commander Alfred, as Dick once called him, doesn't miss a thing. The screen suddenly goes blank and my face turns toward Alfred who is holding up one hand with the plug and his other Hand is pointing to the stairs, his face stern.

"Plug that back in Alfred, you're lucky I saved the last document, this isn't funny!", I yell at him.

"Oh does this thing serve some sort of purpose sir?", he asks in wonder and stares at the plug. "

"What if I hadn't of saved that, plug it back in Alfred, now!" I growl at him.

"Photographic memory, Master Bruce, and since you haven't slept in three days for various reason, I can't say I feel the least bit guilty," he says and points toward the stairs again. I sigh and raise my hands in defeat and he smiles in victory. I let him push me up the stairs and into the big library with my parents portrait hanging above the fireplace near the big black couches.

"That wasn't funny Alfred," I mumble and it doesn't sound anything like a whine as we go into the hall and then through to the main lounge room.

"I'm not laughing sir," he says and I can hear his amusement. He pushes me up the stairs and through the hallway and I pause at Dicks room. I open the door silently and I see the pale face and black hair of 11 year old is indeed tucked in the big bed asleep. I smile and close the door, walking on to the huge master bedroom.

I open the door to the big dark red grand bed that seems to be calling to me, but I walk past it, as well as the walk in closet and the balcony. There's also a big dark brown dresser on the door side of the wall with a mirror, made of the finest wood. I walk into the big bathroom connected to my room and grab my toothbrush from under the sink. The double mirror shows a pale young man with dark black hair and deep blue eyes, handsome but unfortunately it looks like he doesn't sleep much, as there are dark circles under his eyes. It shows his muscles and the way his shoulders slump from exhaustion. I look around at the bathroom as I brush my teeth, the huge shower to the right and the big bath to my left, both look finely engraved in patterns and swirls in places. I smile at the hot tub and remember not that long ago when Salina Kyle and I had taken baths together a few times and I grimace as I remember the fine toilet and the first time I got drunk.

"If you could hurry up, that would be great Master Bruce," comes a snappy voice from behind and I rinse my mouth out and put my tooth brush back. I don't even bother to reply, I walk in to the bedroom and find the covers already pulled back on the left side so I get in. The soft bed mixed with the soft pyjamas does wonders for my aching body. My eyes are already drooping shut, now having no real reason to stay open.

"Sometimes I wonder who's the boss in this manor Alfred", I say with a smile and I can already hear my words are slightly slurred.

"Sir you wouldn't last a week without me reminding you constantly to eat and to sleep," he points a finger at me and looks at me sternly, "go to sleep now Master Bruce", he says with a smile and closes the door, now satisfied that I'm going to stay put. My eyes are heavy and they finally shut. My last thought is how good it feels to be in a soft bed for once instead of a cold pavement somewhere.

BMBMBM

Wake up, Master Bruce. I grunt and roll over, ignoring the voice that I'm sure is at the door. I hope he goes away. Something shakes my shoulder and my hopes are dashed. "You are aware that Bats sleep during the day, they like the night Alfred", I say and try to roll back over.

"Unfortunately for this Bat he has a meeting in an hour and a half, it's 2 pm, I think it's pushing it", he says and shakes my shoulder again. I sigh and sit up.

"Why can't they arrange for a time that suits all staff members, particularly the owner of the damn company," I groan. Alfred hands me coffee and walks out of the room. He comes back as I finish it in record time and hands me a towel. I go to the shower and take off my bandage before I wash myself under the shower hoping it will wake me up a bit more. I barely notice the pain as the water splashes on the bruises. As soon as the showers off and I step out I feel the freezing cold air around me. I grab the towel to quickly dry myself off and walk into my room. A tight fitting black custom made suit is laid out on the made bed with a dark blue tie, along with boxers and a bandage. I re-bandage the wound and put the clothes on.

I can't help but look in the mirror across from the bed near the door. The magazines weren't lying when they said I look good in suits, especially with how tall and broad I am. The part about me sleeping with several people how ever is a complete lie. They also never realise that the 'several' glasses I drink at the parties are actually one untouched glass that I hold for the whole night, that seems to get me more and more drunk as I pretend to sip it. Either that or I usually just drink ginger ale that everyone assumes is champaign. The saddest part is they think the worlds greatest detective is an idiot, necessary though. It protects my identity, I'm just somehow good at business as well. I exit the room taking my wallet and accessories with me and make my way down the hall way and down the stairs.

Through the huge kitchens double doors and into the big and only dining room we seem to use. The dark brown wood of the hard, strong table engraved in beautiful patterns is at least a few centuries old as is the chairs that go with it. I sit and Alfred places a plate, knife and fork of fruit and pancakes in front of me. He then sits beside me as I bite into watermelon. We really have the best fruit on earth in Wayne Manor, I wonder why that is.

"I will come with you to pick up Dick today," I say to Alfred in between bites. Alfred smiles and nods.

"We have to leave in half an hour then sir", he says and I nod in silence. "Mr Kent called, said he wanted to do an interview about Wayne Enterprises", he says and I grimace. "Why can't you just admit that you like the man, that you even might consider him to be a friend"? I roll my eyes and get my phone out of my pocket. "Anything for the press",I mumble and dial Clark Kent's number, hoping he doesn't answer. I take a breath and then I hear it ring a few times before the unmistakable stammer of Clark Kent comes through the phone.

"Clark Kent speaking", he says. I manage to make my tone civil.

"Mr Kent, it's Bruce Wayne speaking, I just have one question, do you prefer hot dogs or sour lemons"? I ask. His reply isn't confused when he replies.

"I'm afraid I prefer sour lemons at the moment Mr Wayne", he says and confirms my suspicions that he is in a civilian environment and is unable to talk freely.

"Not a problem Clark, Alfred said you wanted to interview me about my company"?

"Yes, Perry wants the article as soon as possible. What time suits you"? He asks.

"Do you even have to ask"?

"Afternoon, gotcha".

"Three would be good, fly over to the manor tomorrow, Dick would love to see you again", I say the last part through gritted teeth but manage to keep my voice friendly. "I'm guessing you're over that dispute we had last week?", he asks and I just know he has a big grin on at the end of the line.

"I was trying to be nice, congratulations on ruining it, idiot"! I growl at him.

"I was just saying- I cut him off with "Goodbye Clark", and end the phone call with a cruel smirk. Alfred just shakes his head and I pretend not to notice, but I continue to eat. In all honesty I'm glad for Clark's friendship, you'll never hear me ever say it though. Dick likes him way too much, the traitor even wears superman pyjamas sometimes, maybe that's just to annoy me.

I finish the food and put the plate in the sink and I follow Alfred into the garage. He holds the door to a black limousine open and I get inside, wondering why he wanted to drive this car. I move across to one of the side seats to make it easier for Dick later and buckle up. I wish I could wind down the windows, I just like fresh air, not that there'd much in the other parts of Gotham. If I had my way I would be driving Dick myself in a Porsche or something, I like driving, but today he would have to stay in my office if Alfred isn't the one driving.

I stretch out my legs in front of me and turn to the mini bar. I grab water out and start drinking it. I think back to the last time Dick came to wayne Enterprises, the same reason I'm not driving to pick him up today. I left him in my office thinking it would all be ok but when I get back Dick had been playing with the fire extinguisher. Papers everywhere and a foamy ten year old with a huge grin on his face. I stood there trying not to laugh. Never again! I'm enjoying the trip to Dicks school even though most people would be bored. It's just nice to be able to relax for once.

Gotham isn't quite snowing yet but it's damn near cold, I'm glad I'm in the warm car. I hate the winter, the only thing good about it is the shorter days. Gee I wonder why that would be an advantage to someone like me. We stop at the large brick building and I manage to spot a small boy in a green shirt and blue jeans, he has black hair and blue eyes, people say he looks like me a lot. He's standing next go a girl with brown hair, black shirt and blue jeans on. Dick and Barbra. I'm glad the school is all years otherwise Barbra would be in high school and Dick would only talk to her on duty. He sees the limo, turns to Barbra and tells her goodbye before running toward the car waving. Alfred opens the door for him and he gets in and sits his bag next to him. He buckles up and turns to me.

"I was hoping to see you", he says and grins at me before he and he coughs into his hands. I look at him for a moment and see that his nose looks a bit red and his face is more pale then usual, I don't say anything however.

"How was school ?" I ask and his face turns sour.

"I nearly got into a fight. That Colin kid was making fun of my Romanian heritage and I got into an argument with him. I managed to use what I learned at the circus to get away, I thought it would be easier to explain since everyone knows, they don't however know how I learned to knock a person flat on their face or how I can dodge people with ease although that Timmy kid was looking at me weirdly but I think I saw him at the circus once", he says and I nod in approval.

"Sensible Dick, we don't want anyone suspecting anything ".

"Suspecting what"? He asks in mock confusion before his face scrunched up and he sneezes a few times.

"Exactly", I say. "I want you to go home with Alfred and do any homework that needs to get done, don't argue with me, if you don't do it then notes will be sent home and I'll eventually be called up to the school so just do it, besides you need to know all those things, especially with mathematics. I told you to apply yourself with everything you do or there's no point on being Robin, I've been there and done that. Then I want you to go over the five cases we have been trying to solve, try and think about everything I've taught you, think motive, think character, who is the person, what do the crimes have in common with one another, how to bring them down. I want that all done. Then I want you to train without me until tonight". He nods and I'm satisfied he will obey. "By the way there's a Clark Kent coming tomorrow for an interview about the company, is that name of any significance to you?" I ask and he smiles and nods eagerly. "I told him to come see you, my way of making it up to you for patrol yesterday, but I still go by what I said, I don't want you near the joker", I say sternly.

Dick hasn't read all of the reports yet on Joker because he's very new to the game. He needs to read all psych analysis on him to understand him better. If he doesn't then he's better left at home, on the field he's of little use to me where jokers concerned. He keeps grinning and it makes me wish Clark would just go back to Kansas, stupid Boy Scout. He reads my expression and frowns.

"You are never nice to uncle Clark", he say and my eyes widen at the nick name.

"And you like him way too much", I retort after having a heart attack. "Stupid Boy Scout", I mumble under my breath.

"Why can't you just admit that you genuinely like the guy"? He asks and I hear Alfred chuckling in the front, great.

"The day he admits that he considers Mr Kent to be a friend will be the day the earth explodes from something being so terribly wrong Master Dick", he says and Dick grins at me in the mirror.

"You can fool so many people Bruce but you can't fool us, or even Clark". I roll my eyes, cross my arms and glare at them. "Oh no a Bat-Glare, help me Alfred, I'm petrified", he says in mock fear before he laughs.

"That Glare has served me well, it frightens criminals", I say to him.

"Sorry Bruce, immune, try it on Barry though, he always seems to run away quickly", he says and smirks before his face scrunched up again and he sneezes and wipes it on his sleeve. I look at him in disgust. "Hey Bruce, can I go on patrol tonight? I would of last night but a psychopathic clown got loose and ruined my plans", he says and now it's his turn to fold his arms.

"I'll see, I think you're coming down with something, I don't want you giving away my position. You're of no use to me if you're sneezing and coughing every five minutes. You're mind must always be on the job, one hundred percent, criminals won't take us seriously, but if you take the night off it will help you with getting to know the criminals more, read the analysis on all of them, it will help on the field," I say in a no nonsense tone. We eventually pull up to Wayne Enterprises and I begin to get out as Dick says a sarcastic "Gee I wonder who owns this company" and just as I'm nearly out the door he sneezes on me, twice, right in my face. "Lovely Richard", I say in an irritated voice.

"Sorry, I've been sneezing And blowing my nose all day ", he says.

"Excellent", I murmur and get out. Two hours of mostly boring business talk later I can finally leave the big board room. I let everyone walk out first and just sit at the big black square table and stare at the big blank screen at the front of the room. This one was about the medical, entertainment and electronics side of Wayne Enterprises, so much more interesting then other parts of my company. I've started to bring in the cures to various toxins that the Joker, Poison Ivey, Bane and Scarecrow have been creating, but I give those to the hospitals wayne Medicine works with. I've also looked and approved all studies been done for cancer and the aids research, it's not that I don't trust them, it's just that I don't trust them.

Giving them so much equipment and things to be able to test can be dangerous in the wrong hands if they aren't doing the right thing, this is Gotham, the place that invented the Joker after all. I then had to explain the new direction I'm going with Wayne Electronics, why It would be in the companies best interest to manufacture a better type of battery. I think the most exciting thing I had to try and explain was why would I want to work in partnership with the Daily Planet and I had to explain that Wayne Entertainment already owns a bunch of stadiums in Gotham and Metropolis and that coupled with the movie and television companies it just makes sense to go in a new direction, to operate the media services as well. I didn't however mention that being able to control the media and being able to have those resources in different areas helps a certain Bat by night.

"Are you alright? You've been staring at the screen off five minutes now", comes a voice from behind and I don't even so much as flinch.

"Yes, just thinking about what I have to do with the company", I turn to a tall African American much older man with glasses and black and grey hair, Lucius Fox.

"You usually leave all that to me, although I like where you're going with it, practical in my opinion even if some air heads don't believe so", he says and I smile at who he's referring to.

"I'd better get home.", I say and get up. He just nods as I exit the boardroom with him and we go down the hallway, passing various rooms including my big office and we go to the elevator.

"How's the nightlife"? He asks with a smirk.

"Leslie's mad at me again, apparently getting injured is a crime in her books", I say, referring to doctor Leslie Thompkins who my father used to work with and whom I've known for so many years as she took care of me sometimes.

"Wasn't that two weeks ago"? He asks with a worried glance, looking at me up and down like I'm hiding a gaping hole, wondering if he's missed something, his concern is irritating and not at all necessary, another mother hen like Alfred.

"The woman won't let it go", I say, hoping to reassure him. His expression turns to one of relief.

"Well, at least you know she still cares ", he says with a smile and I just nod. I walk out when the elevator beeps to signal the basement and make my way to the limo that's already waiting in a parking spot close to the doors. Alfred gets out and opens the door for me and I get in the back again after a mumble of thank you. I sit next to Dick who's now wearing a grey pair of sweats and a black shirt, that's good, it means he's been training.

"Did you do all five of the case studies I asked you to do?"

"Yes, but I had trouble with one of them, the Bentley case, I think I know who it is but the evidence doesn't match up, I think it's a cover up," he says and I frown in disapproval.

"In our job there is no room for 'I thinks' Richard, no room for opinions that's how you make mistakes. Review all evidence again, and do it properly this time. I have who did it but I still need you going over it, that's how you learn. This isn't just about punching people, it's about detective work as well, if you don't keep up then I'm not letting you out on the streets, are we clear?"

"Yes Bruce," he says and his face falls. I don't feel the least bit guilty, there is no room for mistakes in our line of work, I've told him that, if he can't handle it then he can quit. He sneezes a few times and that makes up my mind on him patrolling.

"No patrol tonight, I need you healthy, you will give away my position, I use silence and shadow and I don't need having to rescue you as another thing on my long to do list, review the last case study and read the analysis while I'm away, I need you to have more knowledge," I say.

"Come on, I missed last night, please Bruce, this isn't fair, I'll try not to sneeze, it's not like I'm sick yet or anything, I'm fine at the moment", he pleads with me.

"No Richard Grayson, you know not to argue with me," I say in a firm and final tone. He knows better then to argue a lost cause.

"Fine but tell Commander Alfred not to go over board with the mother hen thing", he says in a whisper and I snicker.

"Commander Alfred knows what's best for you master Dick", Alfred snaps in an irritated tone.

"Yeah right, I think you enjoy the fact that we do what we do, gives you a reason to complain and get worried", Dick retorts and folds his arms and I smile. Alfred just sighs in frustration. The gates open as we head into the manor grounds and the garage door opens as well. As soon as the cars parked I unlock the door and head for my room to get changed into sweats. I find them conveniently on my bed, a pair of black pants and a grey shirt and I smile, he's good. I walk back out into the main lounge room and find Dick standing, leaning against the couch. It's the biggest lounge room, with a to the side and big long couches making a U shape facing a large television screen. A long table with DVD player send other various equipment suck as a play station lay underneath of the Tv which is mounted to the wall. A long coffee table in in between the couches in the middle made of dark wood.

I nod to him and he smiles and follows me into the hallway toward the library. I suddenly turn around as we get into the library and punch him, not using much force, knowing he won't be ready, but that's the point, he must always be ready. It doesn't hurt him but he does have a sour look on his face now.

"I should of dodged that", he says and takes up a stance to face me.

"What have I told you Richard, what if I where under someone else's control? You would have to fight me, always be on guard, even with me," I say in disapproval. I put my hand up to say we will continue to the Bat-Cave and he doesn't so much as throw a punch back as we walk to the grandfather clock that leads to the Bat-Cave and down the stairs. I head toward the mats and I hear Dick cartwheeling and flipping in the air. I smile at him and point to the trapeze that goes across the Bat-Cave I know he's dying to get on while I start to stretch, he grins back and makes his way over to the ladder and starts climbing it.

"Dick, put the net up, I've told you too many times to count, if injury can be avoided then it should be, disobey me again and I'll band you from it", I say as I do the splits and start stretching on the ground. He climbs back down and pulls a rope against a wall near a door that leads to the bathrooms. I continue stretching and then do some push ups, one hand behind my back. After a few minutes I switch to sit ups as I see Dick leap into the air and laugh, I can't help but smile, the kids been well trained. It was his natural acrobatic and athletic ability that finally convinced me to let him become Robin but my training is only for the elite, those who have not only determination but talent. His detective skills are not yet up to my standard but in a year he should surpass even those with years of experience ahead of him. I don't waste my time on those I don't believe can not complete the training. I get up and slowly bend backwards, my hands meeting the ground and I just hold it for a few seconds before doing a hand stand then a few back flips just for the hell of it and then I shake it all out. I watch Dick for a moment as he swings from bar to bar, he flips through the air in some parts and swings in others, just doing it out of sheer joy. "Come on Dick", I call him down and he let's go of the bars and falls into the net with a squeal of delight, and I just shake my head.

He coughs a bit before stepping onto the mat and I let it go. As soon as he gets onto the mat I'm all business and he knows it. He takes up a stance with his legs apart and his fists up just as I taught him and I do the same. I attack first and swing my fist, making sure to only put half strength in so I don't injure him if it lands. He quickly ducks at the last minute and tries to land a kick at my stomach. I grab his foot and yank him toward me so he inevitably falls on the mat and I let go. He gets up and grits his teeth, and I can't help but feel proud that he doesn't complain like most children his age, then again he's not like most children. He looks like he's going to punch me but at the last second he uses my shoulders to flip behind me.

I roll instinctively and dodge his move easily and turn around to face him again. I move at him quickly and aim a kick at his stomach (nothing that can seriously hurt him). It lands and he's knocked to the floor and winded. I grab him by the shirt and aim a punch at his face but he blocks it just in time. He kicks me in the stomach a few times aggressively and I throw him onto the mat again. This time I push him against it and hold him there by my hand on his small shoulder and glare at him. He grabs my hand like I've showed him a dozen times and twists it and tries to pin it behind my back. I grab him by the arm and he let's go of me and I kick his knees out from under him (not to hard, he already gets enough bruises from criminals) and I pin his hands behind his back. He struggles to break free but I tighten my grip on him.

He uses one leg and tries to kick me a few times and eventually head buts me so that my hold loosens and he flips around onto my shoulders and then behind me again. This time he manages a kick before I turn around and punch him in the stomach. He kicks my left leg a few times and I grit my teeth a bit from the pain. I punch at him again but he dodges it and flips around then aims at punch still my stomach which I block. The door to the cave opens and I put a hand up, signalling that we stop. He obeys immediately and focuses on catching his breath as I do for a second.

"To the showers if you please , then come in for dinner, I'll have your clothes waiting for you when you come out", Alfred says and I motion for him to come to me.

"Dick hit the showers, I have computer work to do", I say and he nods and heads toward the Bat-Showers in the cave. Alfred raises an eye brow but heads toward me and I wait until Dick is gone before I speak.

"Can you get me another bandage, Dick kicked me in the place I got stabbed last night". Alfred gives me a concerned look and I go to the medical table and pull my sweaty pants off and for once welcome the chilled cold of the cave. The bandage is indeed red and I begin to unravel it. Alfred pushes my hands away and I don't bother to fight with him. He takes it off and clicks his tongue in disapproval.

"The stitches have reopened", he says and goes to get more medical supplies. I growl in irritation. He comes back with clean rags, antiseptic and things to stitch my leg back up. He cleans the wound while I remain stone faced again, then he stitches it back up. Dick comes back when Alfred starts to bandage the wound.

"Hey what's going on", he says before he notices my leg and a look of guilt comes over his face as he realises that it was him that did this.

"It's okay Dick", I say before he can say a word. " I know you didn't mean to", I reassure him.

"I'm so sorry Bruce, I didn't even know you where injured", his voice turns from worried to anger quickly. "You tell me not to spa when I'm injured, and here you are, hypocrite!"

"Dick, first of all don't you ever raise your voice at me, ever. Second it's a scratch, I'll get over it, I'm not going to bleed to death, it barely hurt", I say as Alfred finishes. I get up off the table without another word and pull my pants back up, heading for the kitchen.

"I thought I told you to go to the shower Master Bruce", Alfred says. I change my direction and go to the showers, thinking one would be good now that I'm all sticky and sweaty.

BMBMBM

"I said your not coming Richard and that's final, now go do the case studies and then the psych analysis and do not under any circumstances follow me", I say to him as I put on the mask. His face turns to the floor.

"Fine, just come back in one piece", he says and then looks at me in slight pain and worry. The look of someone who doesn't wan't to loose anyone else. I sigh and crouch down to his level and put a hand on his shoulder.

"You did well today, I'm", I force the words out, " I'm proud of you, you're doing so well as robin, and you'll be back on the streets before you know it", I say to him and he gives me a big smile which I can't help returning. I turn around and head for the Bat-Mobile, aware of his eyes on my back. I get in and speed through the cave, now completely focused on what I have to do next. I park in the centre of town and grapple hook up to the nearest building.

"Sir, you may want to hear this", Alfred says in my ear.

"What is it Alfred"? I ask and he patches me through. A voice comes into my ear. "Well, well, well Dark Knight, it's been a few months hadn't it"? "Guess who's gotten out of Arkham, not that those fools could of kept me there anyway. If someone like joker could escape then there was no chance that they could contain someone with my supreme intellect", comes the unmistakable voice of Edward Nigma. "Riddle me this Batman, If an electric train is travelling south, which way is the smoke going?" It's not, it's an electric train, I think.

"Alfred, get a trace on where it's coming from, I'm going to the train station," I say to him. "Yes sir ", he says and I'm off already. I call the Bat-Mobile to me and get in, driving as quick as I can to the south side of the subway. I park in the car park nearest and run the rest of the way. Before I'm even down the stairs I notice a green question mark in the brick of the train station lit up by the street lights. I feel carefully along the wall until it becomes a hollow point and I smash it in with my fish to reveal a hallway with a green door at the end. I quicken my pace, having only some idea of what to expect. I open the door to reveal a small balcony, and a giant screen with a green question mark on it. As soon as I walk forward to the edge of the balcony it comes to life with Riddlers top half of his body on it. A man in a green suit with question marks all over it, a hate with a purple strip on it and a green question mark and he is carrying a cane with a big golden question mark on it.

"I see you've got my message Dark Knight, long time no see", he says.

"Nigma! This has to stop", I say to him through gritted teeth.

"It will stop, if you will indulge me in a little research, that is. Pretty soon we shall see who the true genius is here", he says mockingly.

"What is it this time Nigma", I growl at him, loosing patience.

"There is a hostage somewhere in Gotham, if you can solve three riddles, I'll tell you of their location, get one wrong and they die," he says with a smile and flips his cane in the air and catches it.

"What are the Riddles Nigma," I ask in anger.

"Oh I'm so glad you asked," he says to me. "Ok, What comes down but never goes up?," he asks me and I don't even think about it. "Rain," I answer, trying not to loose my temper at him.

"Do you google search these just so you'll be ready to face me? I'm flattered," he says with a smile. "Alright brooding bat, that's correct," he says and I almost snort, of course it is.

"Next Riddle Nigma," I command.

"Throw away the outside and cook the inside, then eat the outside and throw away the inside. What is it?"

"Corn," I say through gritted teeth. "Two out of three, not bad for the worlds greatest detective, but can you solve this last one?"

"Hurry up Nigma."

"What is the center of Gravity?"

"The letter V," I say after taking a breath.

"Very good Dark Knight, you may have more than half a brain after all," he says in mockery.

"Just tell me where the hostage is Nigma, I'm loosing patience," I say and glare at him.

"Not long ago there was a little boy who witnessed some thing horrific, his parents falling from their deaths from a trapeze, do you remember where that was?" I run out of the room at top speed and dash to the car, knowing exactly where the hostage is. An open park where a circus performed a year and a half ago, Dicks circus. I speed toward the park, hoping that nothing else has gotten to them.

"Alfred, did you get a trace on Nigma?"

"No sir, I couldn't find where it was coming from, sorry sir," he says and I growl in frustration. I speed up the car even more, swerving the car around bends in an effort to get there faster. After what seems like an eternity, I finally drive up to the park and look around for clues of where he might be. I switch to night vision in the areas where the light is thinned due to lack of street lamps and walk over to where the Grayson tent would of been. I look around and find a man around my age with blonde hair and dressed in sweats as if he where jogging, sitting down tied to a tree and gagged. I walk over and examine him. Unconscious but no signs of injury so the hostage must be asleep. I walk over to him and tap him on the shoulder as gently as I can. He wakes with a start and gasps as he sees my outline.

"It's ok, I'm here to help," I say as my technology in my mask notes his increase in heartbeat. I pull off his gag and grab my tools to break the chains.

"Wow it's really you, Gotham's protector, not many people see you," he whispers in wonder as the chain break and I pull him up.

"I'll get the police to come pick you up, you'll have to answer some questions, do you remember anything?" I ask softly.

"I was walking into what my friends call crime alley, near the old monarch theatre, do you know where that is?"

"Definitely," I reply, a little more harshly then I meant to. My parents where murdered there, I'm hardly likely to forget it.

"Well I was walking down that alley because it's a short cut when a man in a question mark costume came up and said you'll do perfectly and he must of knocked me out because I woke up here," he says and my fingers go into a fist in frustration. He doesn't know anything.

"Ok, I'll phone the police, stay here," I say and go to walk off.

"You're leaving me? After what just happened," he says in a whimper.

"Lightning doesn't strike twice, I have work to do, you'll be fine."

"Wait!" I hear but I'm gone when he turns around.

"Alfred I need you to contact the GCPD, I found the hostage Riddler left for me, he's in the park where Dicks circus was."

"Yes sir, right away." I get back to my car and drive around for a bit, hoping for a crime where I can beat some one up that deserves it. An hour of grappling across rooftops and waiting for nothing and I'm forced to retreat back to my car and go home for the night.

"I trust you will be retiring for the night sir?" Alfred asks as I exit the Bat-Mobile.

"Its only early, barely 1, I need to find the cure for the new scarecrow toxin," I say in frustration and walk to the computer. I set my mask down and get to work as Alfred grabs my mask and puts it away then goes upstairs. I type on the computer the various components of the original toxin and the few parts of the added ingredients I know and try and think of others. I go to the lab part of the cave and take more of the toxin in order to study it. I put it on a microscope and identify the parts I already know. What is the last component though? Alfred silently puts a cup of what I hope is coffee down on the table and I nod in thanks.

"Ever heard of a good nights sleep fixes everything," he asks me.

"Not now Alfred," I say and grit my teeth in frustration. I've been doing that a lot lately, I think to myself. "

"As you wish," he says, knowing not to push this time.

"Master Dick has been rather sick half an hour ago, I doubt he will be able to go to school tomorrow."

"Thanks for letting me know, I'll check him soon," I say and return to the microscope. I try and test it on the computer again but it only comes back with what I already know. Maybe if I where to know the symptoms... No that's rediclious, I'm not injecting myself with this. Maybe it has nothing to do with fear, maybe it's an additive that creates another effect as well as fear, I muse for a while. After another hour of getting nowhere I quickly change and make my way out of the cave and go to check on Dick. I open his door and sneak in. His room is quite big, although of course not as big as mine. A king size bed with green and red covers for the bed (I wonder why that is) a book case against the wall in the corner, a walk in closet, a door that leads to his bathroom, and a desk and chair with his bag near it.

"Bruce?" He asks and turns on the bedside lamp, he must have been awake. He's pale and he looks feverish, an ice pack behind his neck. I hate it when he's not well. "Hey Dick, I just came to check on you, heard you where sick," I say to him softly.

"I really don't feel good Bruce, I did the last case study you told me to do, I figured out that it was Mary Dawn when I thought it was peter," he says and I nod in approval, he's getting better.

"I couldn't read the analysis though, I got dizzy," he says to me.

"That's alright Dick, you got it right so thats the main thing, good job," I say to him.

"Just try and get some sleep ok? I'll get Alfred to get you some water. If you're to recover, you need fluids, you'll get over this quickly don't worry" I say and he nods as I go an get Alfred. "Alfred?" I say and he comes up behind me. "Get Dick a Drink, make sure he drinks most of it," I say and I go to my room to brush my teeth and go to bed.