Disclaimer: I don't own anything.


Once a Robin

"You can come out now." Jason said without removing the binoculars from his eyes.

Dick, wearing his Nightwing uniform, stepped out of the shadows. "I see you haven't lost your touch, little brother."

Jason stood to his full height and turned to look at his predecessor; the first Robin. "Don't give me that brother crap. It doesn't change a thing between us," Jason spat out.

"No, I guess it doesn't." There was a moment of silence between the two. Only the sound of the streets of Gotham below could be heard. Dick gave the younger boy a once over. His outfit had changed from his Red Hood costume. Now Jason was garbed in a red and black suit. Over his face was a cowl and in between his arms and his torso were what looked like wings Dick was finally the one to break the silence. "I see you've changed your outfit."

"You like. Picked up some pieces here and their and finally put them together. I go by Red Robin now. I figured I was giving to much homage to the pale faced freak by using the Red Hood persona. And you know what they say; 'Once a Robin, always a Robin'."

Silence overcame the two once more. The Gotham night air was cooler for this time of year; enough for each of them to see their breath. The two brothers looked at each others faces "What happened to you?"

"I grew up Grayson. I saw what this city needs and it needs someone to protect it."

"Yes it does, but not by someone who plays judge, jury, and executioner. You've taken all Bruce has taught you and twisted it; mutilated it. Don't you see what you're doing?"

"Yes, Dick, I'm making this city safer."

"No, your making it worse!"

"How!" Jason snapped. "I'm what this city needs!"

"No. Gotham needs heroes; guardians. Not a vigilante! All you are doing is trying to control crime. Not stop it."

Jason gave a cold laugh. "You can't get rid of crime! Can't you see that! You and the others are trying to do the impossible! I'm doing what can be accomplished!"

"All you're doing is becoming another criminal!"

"Maybe I don't see it that way. Maybe I'm not really the bad guy."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm starting to think you and the rest of them might be the criminals. Sure, you may stop a crime, but all you do is hand them over to the police. Then those thieves, murderers and rapists are put before a judge. They get a 50/50 chance of being set free. If they are found guilty, all that happens is that they are put in jail. That's not stopping crime; that's postponing it!"

"It's not our right to act as an executioner!"

"Maybe not, but it is your job to stop that scum from doing what they do. And the only way to stop it is by eliminating them from the picture."

Dick stared in a mixture between anger and horror but slowly composed himself. "If you truly believe that, then you are lost."

"Maybe you are the one that is lost." Jason said and turned, sprinting to the edge of the building and leaping off. Dick simply stood there as he watched Jason stretch out his arms, allowing the gliders to unfold and carry him across the city. At that moment, Dick's memories of Jason came flooding back to his mind. Jason; the second Robin. Dick shook his head. That Jason was dead. Now he was Red Robin. But, then again.

"Once a Robin, always a Robin." Dick whispered and fired a grapple line to an adjacent building and took off to finish his patrol.


See my profile to learn about my Batman AU. It also gives my explination for Jason becoming Red Robin. If you have any questions or comments, maybe even some suggestions, feel free send me a PM. Please R&R!