Failure!
By
AJ
He failed. He failed to protect his back, and now Batman was giving him the cold shoulder. Why was this happening? He couldn't keep his mind on what he was supposed to do. Between splitting his time at Hudson University, The Teen Titans, and being Batman's partner, his energy seemed to be failing him, and because of him, Batman was hurt. Not severely, but enough to warrant a lecture, reminding him what he had signed on for, that he had promised to watch his partner's back. There were no excuses. Rather than face the lecture, he took off his uniform and handed it to his partner. The disappointed look in Batman's eyes was enough to let him know he had failed, and failure wasn't an option.
Behind his mask, Bruce watched with an aching heart. He knew Dick was struggling, but he didn't know how to help him. And with Robin's costume in his arms, he also felt like he failed the boy. Perhaps if he gave him some time, allowed him some space. He didn't need to lecture him right now. Batman turned away and placed the uniform in the vault. It would be there for him when he returned, but something in his heart was breaking, and he didn't know why.
Alfred watched the slumped shoulders of the young master. Something happened while they were out in the field, and the youth wasn't happy. He recognized the moods the young man was going through, having seen it with Master Bruce. Master Richard was having growing pains. He was going to have to face the fact that all young men grow up, whether they want to or not. Failure was a part of that, and how you handled that failure showed maturity. For now, he would allow the young master his space until he was ready to talk about what happened. It was the least he could do.
Dick Grayson woke up from the nightmare covered in sweat. It was still the middle of the night and he had barely been asleep for two hours. Bruce and Alfred were probably asleep and he didn't feel like talking about what just woke him. The dream was so vivid. It was his fault and he knew it. He couldn't stop it from happening. And he couldn't face it again, the disappointment, the anger, and the fear. Bruce, lying bleeding at his feet and Alfred accusing him of murder, even though he hadn't done the deed, he still felt like he failed him. The room felt stifling. Dick realized it was Sunday and he would have to return to the University. Finals would be coming up and lately he hadn't been doing well in his classes. There had been just too many distractions. Rather than face Bruce and Alfred, once the sun was up . . . no pun intended . . . though he could never really be called Bruce's son either, he might as well pack his bags and leave early. He couldn't face the disappointment he knew would be there. He was already punishing himself for what happened, turning in his Robin uniform, which he felt he didn't deserve to wear. He could hear Robin's voice in his mind.
"You idiot! What's wrong with you? Why didn't you protect him?"
'Because I can't do it any more,' Dick screamed back in his mind. 'I'm worn out! Burned out! I need time.'
'Will you come back, will you let me out again? You shut me away! Don't leave me here!'
'I'm sorry.'
Dick packed his bags and fled the house, trying to get away from the ghosts of his past. And inside Robin's heart was breaking.