The icy-cold night seemed to last for an eternity for the little bird. At first, he was over the moon as batman had finally brought him on a mission. It had been so long ever since he had joined the young justice team, that he was able to get some personal crime-fighting time with the dark knight himself. Moreover, Kid Flash; as much as he was his best friend, was getting rather pesky and infuriating for the boy wonder. There was only so much Robin could handle. Robin gave a brief smirk as he gave a flying kick to his attacker on his right.

"On your left," a dark and ominous voice boomed over this thoughts. Hearing this, Robin gave a sharp head turn to the left to find another attacker sprinting towards him, almost in a maniac manner. The boy wonder quickly swerved away from the on-coming punch and proceeded to skillfully take the man down with a frontflip and punch combination.

'Man, im so going to get lectured after this,' thoughts raced through his mind as he glanced up to view Batman, who was in the midst of fighting. Batman was easily swinging and kicking down attackers from left and right. Batman almost made fighting crime look easy. Almost.

From the way Batman had commanded him, he knew that the dark knight was infuriated that his protegé was careless enough during the fight. Batman had high expectations for the boy; afterall, being powerless and human, they had to keep a high standard of fighting to fend off attacks. The mere fact that they live in Gotham, also stressed the importance of skill and precision to keep the Boy Wonder from getting killed. Robin gave a huff of anoyance. He wasnt mainly to be blamed. Their mission had lasted for nearly 16 was already so exhausted after the young justice mission a few hours before.

"Covert mission he said. It'd be over soon the said." Robin mumbled as the was tying up the last few goons that he had knocked out earlier. After typing up the goons, he assessed his wounds. The knife slash on his right torso was burning up. The glanced at it. It was bright red with blood and he could feel it pulsing. This chest hurt too. Probably cracked and bruised but doesnt hurt enough to be broken. Bruises littered his body and he was putting his body weight on this right leg and he had twisted his left in an awkward manner as he was fighting. As the placed his left arm over his right torso to conceal he pain of the knife wound, he though about how right Bruce was. He should have had his mind in the fight. Maybe he should get Alfred to check over his wounds later. His thoughts were cancelled almost instantly as he heard a grunt from across the warehouse.

The warehouse was dimly lit. There was barely any heat in the room as Gotham's electricity barely touched the abandoned warehouse. Well, most people thought it abandoned. Who knew, there was an illegal syndicate happening there. As there was barely enough electricity, the warehouse was extremely cold as it was a winter night. Robin shivered as he squinted his eyes to view the other side of the humongous warehouse. There, in the dark, Batman was just recovering from a punch in the face. Robins grip on his torso tightened and made a quick decision to run over and help his mentor and partner in justice. Robin was just like that. His willingness to help other people before himself would eventually be a bane towards him rather than a boon. This was one of the traits that allowed Batman to let the then 7 year old Dick Grayson to be the world-known Boy Wonder. His willingness to help the people that needed it without any intent to bring benefit for himself.

If anyone saw him run across the dark and ominous warehouse, it seems that hes limping rather than running. He knew he could never make it to Batman in time, so the witty Robin took out a batarang with his free hand and threw it at the last goon standing before Batman could get a fist into the man's face. A large grin was etched on Robin's face as the last of the goons fell face first on the cold, hard floor. Finally! They were done. Robin was so beat up and tired that he could just sleep on the floor of that warehouse itself. He felt so lethargic that he became so agitated to head home.

"Finally! Can we go now? I need to get home to finish up school work," Robin at this point wasnt even trying to hide the straight up lie he just told Batman. All because he was tired.

Robin gave his famous laugh as Batman stared at his protege. Robin could almost see Bruce's eyebrow raise up beneath his mask. The man with little words briefly nodded but said, "Give me a minute to find the other drug storage and inform Gordon where the drugs are located. Just go wait along the Bat-mobile. Be out in 5." How ironic.

Robin huffed and trudged slowly. As he walked away, Batman evaluated the boy. He was limping and there was blood. Bruce just wanted to treat his son's injuries but he had work to do. Afterall, the Batman doesnt show emotions but his face had the look of worry, hoping that Robin wasnt all too hurt enough. Robin is always fine. Hes always fine.

As the batmobile's engine roared and made its way to the cave, the adrenaline from the fight was slowly decrescending. The streets lights was made the atmosphere all so peaceful. Robin fell into a sleepy trance as he was looking out at the window. Dim orange lights from the streets lights kept on passing by. Robin was about to close his eyes when the voice from Bruce woke him up from his trance.

"What was that out there? You were not in your game. And look what that caused you. You could have easily avoided that man with the knife. You could have done better than that."

"Yeah, Im just really tired from the previous mission with the team at Metropolis. Got me really beat. You said that it was covert anyways. How come it ended with a fight?," Robin stated annoyingly. He just wanted to end the night, well, he didnt even know whether it was late night or early morning. Maybe it was 2.30am atleast.

The dark knight didnt answer the 13 year old boy. The whole drive was really quiet and it seemed to last years in Robin's perspective. Batman finally spoke,

"Does anything feel broken?"

"Nah, my ribs are probably bruised or cracked. Twisted my ankle too. The knife slash is nothing that Alfred cant fix."

"Ok. After Alfred gets you fixed up, go up to rest. I need to evaluate the drug syndicate from today. Seems as though they are creating a new drug from the few documents i have gotten from tonight."

As they arrived at the cave, Alfred was already waiting. It almost seemed that Alfred knew that at least one of the Bats was going to be injured because he was already prepared with medical aid. Maybe Bruce has called in beforehand to say that Robin was hurt. Or maybe Alfred was just so used to seeing the two boys that he raised, come back to the manor, hurt. Either way, this family was far from normal.

It seemed like hours that Alfred tend to his injuries.

"Maybe, Master Richard, you could stop squirming so that i may stitch your wound in a faster manner," said the old man.

Dick at this point, was still in his Robin costume. He was just so eager to change into his civvis that it was distracting him from the pain he felt from getting beaten up an hour ago. However, his eyes was focused on the man that was just a few feet away from him. Bruce, was sitting infront of the batcomputer, typing and investigating the whole way ever since they arrived. This cowl was removed and he was intently focused on the screen, but he was also distracted. At times, he glanced in the direction where Dick was sitting on the metal medical bed, still worried for the young boy.

Times like this Bruce questioned himself for his decision to allow the boy into this business. Yes, it was only right for the boy to receive justice towards Zucco for killing his parents. Bruce did not want his son ending up like him. His driving force to stopping crime was just out of anger and revenge. It was the only thing that was fueling him. Robin on the other hand, thankfully did not have the urge to seek revenge and justice. He gave Zucco another chance, instead of killing him. And that was the difference between the bat and the bird. Bruce didnt know if he made the right decision to allow him to fight alongside him. The main reason was because it was Gotham. Gotham never treated young,innocent boys like him well. The only way he could survive this rancid place was for Bruce to gear him up and prepare him for self-defence. Ofcourse, the crime-fighting duo would not even occur if Dick wasnt willing to join in. It was his choice afterall.

Bruce knew that Dick will be the better Batman or superhero he ever was.

As Bruce continued to type and investigate, the zeta-tubes brightened and announced the arrival of the man-of-steel. It didnt occur to him that Superman had arrived. It was rather, a norm as Superman loved to come by the batcave to either discuss about certain crimes or just to have a conversation with Dick. Dick loved this uncle. Clark certainly loved to boast to Bruce of how Dick viewed Superman as his favourite superhero. Bruce would always ignore the man, but deep inside he was extremely jealous.

At this point of time, Bruce wanted to reprimand Superman for coming at such a late hour. Furthermore, his arrival distracted him from his investigation. He much rather preferred a quiet cave, not a constantly mumbling Clark Kent in the way. As his swiveled his chair around, mouth opening, the sight infront of him shocked him.

"Uncle Clark? Are you okay?"

Superman was in his full costume. However, the way he was standing was really weird and somehow disturbing. The man-of-steel did not speak a word. He was standing so still, it almost seemed as though was a statue. His eyes, were looking pass the 3 men infront of him. What made it worse was this his usual blue eyes were replaced with a dark ominous red.

The intense screaming in Dick's head was constantly warning him to run. There was something really off about the man infront of him. He was just itching to run into Bruce's arms. Oh, just the wonderful safety of the man he trusted. It was a standoff and Bruce slowly made eye contact with Robin. It was a silent coversation between each other, Batman telling Robin to get to him. Robin slowly got up from his bed, and made his way carefully to his mentor. All signs of tiredness was gone as danger was lurking.

"Alfred, initiate plan 025. Call the justice league," Bruce said, making a few steps forward to the man-of-steel, and ensuring that Robin was right behind him.

Almost instantly after the command that Batman said, Superman came flying at the duo, forcing Batman to roll to the left and Robin to the right. The cave had changed atmosphere froma peaceful serenity to a whole lot of danger. Robin noticed Superman's eyes. They were completely souless and seemed like he was being controlled. Almost instantly, Robin whipped out his batarangs and flung it towards the direction of Superman.

The batarangs hit the target dead on the chest,but Superman barely flinched. Rather than hurting the man, it only enraged him. Superman focused on the boy 3 meters from him, about to leap onto the small boy when the batarangs exploded. It obviously did not do any harm but it distracted the man-of-steel. Distracted just enough for Batman to attack him from behind, pinning the man's head in a headlock.

"Clark, get a grip of yourself," Batman roared as Superman struggled against the tight arms that were squeezing him.

Superman easily got out of the headlock, and slammed Batman onto the wet, cave floor. Hit after hit, Batman endured. Superman's strength seemingly punching the man with full intent of hurt. Bruce managed to defend another punch with his arm and used the momentum to push Superman from himself.

At this point of time, Robin flew in and straight kicked the man from the back before throwing more batarangs. Robin knew he had to change tactics as his batarangs were completely useless. Robin and Batman needed to distract the Superman long enough for Alfred to retrive Kyptonite from their impenetrable vault just across the cave, and inform the Justice League. Who knew, Batman would have a plan to defeat Superman. Wait, ofcourse. Its Batman and he always has a plan.