Even though I'd done nothing wrong I felt horrible.

I guess I should be glad Batman waited until we were out of Starfire's earshot before he started berating me.

I should have defended myself, but I couldn't do it. At the time it seemed like just because Batman thought I'd.. Or that I even would. It was like I had done it. I felt guilty.

It was just too much. So Batman took me back to Gothem.

I didn't even say goodbye to the team. It wasn't in me.

I wish I had. And I really wish I hadn't glared at Starfire like that.

~Flashback Time~

The car ride was just about the most depressing thing ever.

"You've hardly spoken a word, young sir. Neither have you, master Bruce. Is there a problem?"

That was Alfred. I guess he'd wanted to see me too. Somehow that made me feel worse.

I couldn't answer I just nodded.

Batman didn't answer either. He was too angry.

Alfred had raised an eyebrow. "Might I ask what the dilemma is, sirs?"

Batman looked at me in the rear view mirror. "You haven't said much. Care to explain?" Even his voice was glaring.

"I-I don't know."

And that was all we said through the entire ride home. Technically I was still a minor so it's not like I was kid-napped. And the 'official' story was that I'd left to attend a good collage in Jump city. I had, but i'd done the corses online and had graduated a while ago. Good thing the Gothem press didn't check.

When we got to the mansion Batman pressed a button in the car and an entire mountain face moved upwards. We drove under and he parked. I knew the mountain we were in was usually teeming with blinking gadgets and weapons and giant computers.

Not today. Today there was only a lit path that lead into the regular mansion. It felt like I was marching to my exacution.

Alfred tried a few more times to figure out what was going on, but I didn't feel like talking. Neither did Batman.

Alfred sighed. "Dinner's in an hour. We're having soup."

"Your room's still upstairs. I'll be in the library." Batman said after Alfred had left.

Thankfully I still know angry Batman speak. He just told me to go to my room until I was willing to be reasonable. He said that a lot before I ran away.

In fact that's what he said, THE DAY I ran away. Only louder.

So I nodded and trudged upstairs.

My room had been cleaned from head to toe by Alfred. Something I hadn't let him do as a moody fifteen year-old.

I went ahead and pulled down the 'do not enter' sign I'd hung on the doorknob. It'd never stopped Alfred before. I knew he head going to come in and I'd end up telling him everything. That's what always happened and as far as i know he's never repeated an angry, irrational, childish word to Batman.

Never. Not even when I said I hated Batman or when I punched my best friend at school in the third grade. He let me tell Batman myself before my friends mom had called.

So when the door opened I expected Alfred. I didn't even look up before I started talking.

"I'm sorry about how I was acting in the car. I should have told you what happened."

"And that is?" Batman asked- well now he's Bruce. He becomes Bruce once we're out of the general Batman area of the mansion.

I looked up surprised. Then I shrugged and started to tell him. He'd have to find out anyway. Although I know Alfred would've been easier to talk to.

"Starfire an-."

"The girl?"

"Yeah."

He nodded urging me to continue.

"Starfire and I haven't been talking much lately."

The door opened again and Alfred walked in. He saw Bruce and looked as surprised as I had and started to leave.

"You can stay Alfred." Bruce told him.

I nodded. "Star and I haven't been talking much. While I was sparring today she came in and joined me, but we ended up just messing around."

Bruce and Alfred's eyebrows went up simultaneously.

"Not like that."

I paused. Having nothing at all I could think to say.

Then I took a deep breath. "She was tickling me."

Bruce did not believe me. "and she was yelling stop because?"

"I was tickling her. You only saw that much. I know it must have looked bad, I promise it wasn't."

"Why didn't you say that to begin with! If there'd been a misunderstanding you merely needed to clear it up upfront!" Alfred said seeming to get what was going on.

I fumbled for words for a moment before sighing and saying, "I didn't want to explain what was happening to Starfire."

"I do believe she had a right to know. Leaving without telling her is sure to have made the situation sorrier than before."

"Alfred." Bruce cut in.

"Sorry. Do continue."

"That's it." I said. I didn't think they would understand anyway.

"Well now that's a horrible way to be treating someone!" Alfred exclaimed.

"Alfred." Bruce said again. Then I had his full attention again. "Why did't you want to explain this to her?"

"I just don't."

"Why?"

"Because." It was starting again.

"Oh dear." Alfred said exasperatedly. "I do suppose I should check the soup." He then escaped downstairs leaving me with Brucr.

Bruce ignored him. "Robin." He said sternly.

"What?" I asked growing annoyed.

"Why don't you want to explain this?"

"Because I don't." Looking back, yeah I know this was immature, but it's exactly the attitude I left Gotham with. I'm not saying it was okay. I'm saying it was easier.

A lot easier.

"Richard." Bruce growled. My middle and last names weren't far away now.

"What?" I demanded.

"I'm not going to ask again Richard."

"Then I shouldn't have to answer again."

"Richard John Greyson." Yeah. I'd thought. There it is.

Even at the time I knew I was pushing the envelope. I just didn't care. "What?" I'd asked angrily.

Bruce glared at me and I glared back.

"I'll be in the library." He said sounding final.

When he left I felt bad all over again. He was my mentor I even if we'd had our differences I should've acted differently. I know that. I knew that.

I couldn't even feel angry at Bruce for prying. And trust me I wanted to.

After pacing a moment, considering every option including going to the library to talk to Bruce, or the kitchen to talk to Alfred, or even crawling out my window to run away again. I finally just sat down on the edge of my bed and held my head in my hands.

I stayed like that, thinking until Alfred announced dinner was ready.

Id told him I wasn't hungry, but he wasn't having it.

"I made hot soup. It's not hot soup if you let it get cold. Now stop brooding, master Bruce does enough of that himself and come eat your dinner."

Robin doesn't know about this conversation. Alfred and Batman had it at the base of the stairs.

"I doubt he will tell you, master Bruce. He'll only fight tooth and nail." Alfred had said.

"I know." Batman responded. "He needs to."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Alfred responded curiously.

"He's not really fighting me. He's fighting himself and he needs to lose sooner or later."

Alfred smiled. "That is rather cunning." He chuckled. "I'll go tell young Richard his soup is getting cold."

Sorry the ending got choppy. ^^'' that last conversation wasn't even in the plot and I almost had Alfred say, "How deep sir!" but it seemed too weird.

Anyway I know Robins name is Dick and not Richard. However I'm an awkward son'va bitch. So I just called him Richard, cool? If it bothers some of the more hardcore fans I'll change it.

One last thing, lol. Do I put too many seperations in between lines? Like should I have ugg I don't know how to describe it. Critic my writing style please if you will.