Authors note – Please keep the review coming I really enjoy knowing what you think of my stories. If you think I can improve tell me how. Please also check out my other stories and tell me what you think of them. Barbara will be joining the story in the few chapters time. She will not be main character remember that story is focused on Richard and my OC character Clarissa. Enjoy the chapter and remember to review.

Chapter 7

The next morning Richard woke up with red stained eyes and tear marks running down his cheek. He got into the shower hoping that it would make him forget everything that had happened since the training simulation particularly Batman's harsh words from last night. Every single time Richard thought everything was going okay something happened pushing him two steps back to the beginning of the line.

The shower helped a little but didn't get rid of the memories of last night's fight with Batman. Richard wished he could talk to Clarissa about everything that had been going on in his life but knew he couldn't without risking his identity as Robin. He needed to talk with someone who wouldn't judge him about his choices and just give him honest advice about what to do; between the fight with Batman, team shunning him and not being able to keep his promises to Barbara because of his responsibilities as Robin he just needed a break in his life.

Richard walked down the grand staircase silently as he thought about his troubles both as Robin and as Dick Grayson. Jack's words for some reasons continued to haunt him repeating over and over again in his head. Maybe it was because his parent's death's anniversary was coming up or all the stress he had been under recently but he couldn't get them out of his head.

'Maybe I should have died along with my parents I mean I am the reason why they died aren't I? If I didn't ask them to come to Gotham they probably would still be alive. And maybe both Bruce and Batman have finally released the big mistake they made by taking me in' Richard thought.

'Me dying wouldn't be such a big deal, I mean no one would miss me besides Clarissa and Alfred but they're both strong they'd get over it eventually' he contemplated over this thought for a few seconds, 'No, I won't become a coward, I won't run from my problems no matter how bad they become. My parents would be ashamed if they were still alive.'

As he thought about this he made walked over to the kitchen, opening the fridge and got out an apple and a milk carton. He poured the milk into a bowl and made himself breakfast before putting it into the microwave. Waiting for it to heat up Richard got out a spoon and began to hum a song under his breath not noticing Alfred standing at the corner of the room watching his every move.

Alfred was shocked to say the least when he heard the harmful words Batman had said to his ward. He raised both Robin and Batman and understood that what Batman was doing what he was because he was afraid that he would lose both Robin and Richard distancing himself to save him from getting hurt, but that didn't excuse his behaviour toward young Master Dick.

Despite Batman's good intentions, he was only creating a wedge between himself and his son. Distancing himself to protect himself from getting hurt was never the answer, instead he should be cherishing every moment they spent together. Before both Batman and Bruce realised it both Robin and Richard would be fully grown and every possibly an estranged men from Batman and Bruce.

Keeping these thoughts to himself, Alfred made his presence known, "Good morning Master Dick, I trust that you are fully healed from last night's encounter."

"Yea," Richard said wincing slightly in pain. To be told the truth he hadn't noticed the injury at all until he had come down to eat breakfast.

"Master Dick I am sorry on behalf of Master Bruce for say those words last night. While I am not responsible for the words that were spoken I want to say in my eye's you might be a hero, but you are human being first and fore most and no human can be perfect" and with that Alfred walked out the room.

Richard stared at Alfred's form, retreating out of the kitchen unable to take his eyes away. He just couldn't help but think of the words that Alfred had spoken. He wasn't perfect in any way, shape or form and it was nice to know someone realised instead of yelling at him. It was nice to know that someone that other than Clarissa still cared about him. With a little smile on his face, Richard turned around and began to eat his breakfast.

Alfred drove him to school that day and Clarissa was waiting from him at the gate. She had her backpack was slung over her shoulder and she was tapping her foot patiently.

"Hey!" Richard said running up to where Clarissa was standing.

"Hi! What's up? Did anything exciting happen last night" Clarissa said smiling brightly, wiggling her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

"Nothing much but I managed to finish my English essay early if that counts" Richard chirped as they walked towards the main school building with a slight limp in his step.

"Of course that counts, I mean what's more exciting then finishing a 5 paged" Clarissa said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

"Ha, ha you're very funny" Richard laughed slightly and just like that all of his troubles from last night were forgotten just for a single moment.

"Well something tells me that you're not telling me the whole truth judging by the limp in your step" Clarissa said looking distastefully at his injured leg with her lips forming a frown.

"It's nothing; I just pulled a muscle while practicing a new routine for gymnastics" Richard brushing it of his bullet wound pretending it didn't hurt at all, while on the inside he was freaking out no one could find out he was Robin not even Clarissa, at least not until he got to know her a little better.

"Really because it doesn't look like nothing" Clarissa rolled up his grey school pants. His leg was wrapped in a bandaged from his knee to his mid shin by Alfred's master hands.

"Really it nothing just a muscle I'd pulled during practise" Richard said almost begging Clarissa to believe him.

Clarissa sighed in defeat, "Well if it starts to hurt too much promise me that you will go down to the nurse's office".

'Damn Richard and his adorable puppy eyes. They could probably get the most dangerous people out there to do anything he wanted them to do. The military should really rank that to be a weapon of mass destruction' Clarissa thought as she gave into Richards puppy dog stare.

Though Clarissa still had her doubts about the extent of Richards's injury she let the matter pass and changed the subject. She promised herself that she would keep an eye on her friend throughout the day making sure that he was okay.

The day went perfectly and no one bothered Richard at all. His English teacher was so impressed with his essay that he mentioned that he would receive full marks for it and was sure to get an A plus on his report card. To add on top of that his gunshot wound had played up only once and he only had to take one Panadol for the pain to go away.

As the school day ended on a great note Richard met up with Clarissa at the school gates, who was looking downcast at her shoes while sitting on the pavement.

"Hey Clarissa what's wrong, you don't look very traught" Richard said moving to comfort his friend. He hadn't known her for too long but it broke his heart seeing the girl who had managed to lighten up his world look so defeated.

"Nothing, it's just . . ." Clarissa mumbled trailing off, "It's just that my parents texted me saying that they're not going to be able to have dinner with me like we had planned tonight because a sudden meeting they have to attend apparently. And I know we've just moved to a new city and everything but can't they take some time out of their so busy schedules just to come to spend some time with me? And I realise that they work so hard so I have a better future but. . . "

"I get where you're coming from. It's like you know they love you and everything but they tend to forget about the important things like meetings, performances, award ceremonies" Richard said gentle. He understood where Clarissa was coming from, from personal experience.

"And what hurts more is the fact that I have 5 older brothers all who've graduated from Collage and exceling in each of their fields. This might sound stupid but it just makes me feel like I'm a failure in some way compare to them and that's why my parents don't really spend any time with me. That's why I try to act perfect in every way I can and try to get the best marks at school. You probably think I'm acting really dumb crying other this because there are people with really problems out there in the world" Clarissa said looking miserable with tears swelling up in her dull eyes.

"Not in a thousand years. You are the most brilliant, fantastic, awesome friend a guy can ask for. Don't every think you're a failure I mean do you know how fantastic you are. You managed to stop those guy's from beating me up after only knowing me for not even a full day and befriended the weird geeky kid not care about what anyone else thought of you" Richard said incredulously telling the absolute truth making Clarissa smile shyly.

"Thanks for the pep talk I really needed it." Clarissa murmured blushing bright pink "You know if you have nothing planned this afternoon why don't you come to the mall with me?"

"Sure I don't have anything planned but if something comes up I might have to cancel on you" Richard warned after mentally checking his schedule.

"Cool why don't we meet back here at 5pm" Clarissa said with a smiling holding her hand out.

"Deal!" Richard said shaking her hand.

They said their goodbyes quickly before walking off to their separate directions. Knowing that Alfred wasn't going to pick him up today and Bruce was probably still angry with him Richard headed off to Wayne Manor. Richard arrived at the Wayne Manor sweating badly to see Bruce standing in front of the door with his arm crossed.

"Where have you been? Do you know how long I've been waiting here for you to get here?" Bruce yelled transforming into his Batman persona.

Noting wanting to be yelled even more Richard just kept his mouth shut.

"Well I'm waiting what do you have to say for yourself? You know what, just go upstairs and get changed you're needed at the mountain for a mission" Batman snarled.

Richard ran as fast as he could up the stairs before locking himself up in his room and got out his phone to text Clarissa saying he couldn't meet her because of a unexpected family emergence. She responded say that it didn't matter and that could meet up some other time. Thanking god he got dressed into his Robin uniform before walking down to the Bat cave and before heading off to the nearest zeta beam.

Meanwhile downstairs Alfred was telling off Bruce.

"You're too hard on the young boy. He was late because I couldn't pick him up from school today and probably thought you were going to pick him up like the night of his gymnastics' performance which you forgot. I understand that you have responsibilities as both Batman and Bruce Wayne but you also have responsibilities as a father to that young Master Dick' Alfred said uncharacteristically angry. The British Butler was normally very even tempered and it certainly took a lot for him to get angry.

Before Bruce could say anything in response the man walked into the kitchen leaving Bruce to only gape after him.

'Maybe I have been too hard on him recently . . . ' Bruce thought feeling guilty before shrugging the emotion, 'no I'm doing this for his own good, he needs to learn that they are consequences for his actions.'