A/N: I don't know about you, but I've always found the end of S1E24 ("Performance")… unsatisfactory. I was really hoping to see Batman's reaction to Robin's utilizing the team for something so "frivolous." And it's silly to think that Batman would have remained ignorant of the team's mission. As someone once said, "he's the goddamn Batman"… (I don't remember who, so if this is your saying, sorry..)
I know (and I'm sure Batman knew) that the mission wasn't frivolous to Robin, but considering that Robin could have inadvertently revealed his identity to the team through this incident… well, I'm sure Batman would prefer to have Robin's current secret identity remain that way rather than risk everything helping old friends.
Acting on this assumption, here is my new fic! (It's my first attempt at capturing both of these characters, so be nice) :)
Oh, and I don't own Young Justice. If I did, the second season would be veeery different… trust me….
…
Robin sighed as he dismounted his bike in the Bat Cave. He knew he would have to face Batman sooner or later; he just didn't want to do it now. Right now he just wanted to take a shower and head to bed. The last few days had been both physically and emotionally draining. Between the stress of trying to maintain both his tough Robin exterior and his Dan Danger alter ego, the high of performing again, the strain of being sick, and the overwhelming emotions he felt being back with the circus, he felt like a limp rag that had been used a few too many times. He could face Bruce in the morning. Probably.
Robin knew Batman would have some stern words for him after this. He had manipulated the team; used them to satisfy his own personal curiosity and feelings of indebtedness to Haley's Circus. Worse, he had led them to believe it was Batman himself who sanctioned the mission—something he knew would make Batman even less pleased with him.
Robin had just put his foot on the lowest step back up to the Manor when he noticed Bruce—and it was Bruce, not Batman—sitting at the Bat Cave's supercomputer. He sighed again, internally, and knew it could no longer be avoided. He had to face Bruce now.
He walked up behind Bruce. Without even turning around, Bruce asked, "How did it go?"
Robin didn't even try to pretend he didn't know what Bruce was talking about. "It was fine," he said, focusing his gaze on the screen, not Bruce. "Haley knew it was me, though."
"Anyone else?" Bruce asked, still not turning his head.
"No."
"Good."
They both said nothing for a while, just letting the slightly uncomfortable silence stretch on and on. Bruce finally let out a noisy breath and turned in his chair, looking Dick full in the eye. "I'm not going to yell at you. I'm sure you know that what you did was stupid and irresponsible, and you're definitely smart enough to realize that a group of teenagers could be figuring out your secret identity even as we speak. But, as I said, I'm not going to yell at you about that. I'm just going to ask you one question: was it worth it?"
Robin thought back to Parasite's plan to create a black hole in the center of the earth and the look on Haley's face after they had performed for the circus that last time. "Yeah," he said softly. "It was worth it."
Bruce turned back around in his chair. "Good. Now head upstairs and get to bed. You look like you're about to drop."
As Robin almost reached the top of the stairs, Bruce called up to him. "Oh, by the way, you and a toothbrush have an early appointment with the floor of the Cave tomorrow. I may not have yelled at you, but you're not getting off easy. You did implicate me in your crime, after all…"
Robin groaned to himself. Tomorrow was going to be a loooong day…