Kaldur nodded once, formally. "So it is decided. We shall be staying in Avenger's Tower."

As the hero known as Robin finally settled into his new state-of-the-art room, he couldn't help but breathe a deep sigh. As much as he wanted the others to believe otherwise, he simply was not okay. They thought he was past the point of showing his anger, but he was a Bat, and Bat's were experts at hiding things they didn't want to be seen.

His own teammates- people he had once considered family- cheated him. He trusted them with his life and apparently, it wasn't enough. They took his fragile and not-so-easy-to-earn faith then twisted until it was something unrecognizable. Batman- Bruce, would understand, after all, he was the one person to keep him from telling the others his ID (He needed Bruce).

How can you trust someone with your own identity if they don't even think twice about watching your mind?

Now that was question one; something he knew would take time and serious thinking to straighten out. Question two was a bit more urgent…

What am I supposed to say to Pepper when she walks in?

Which, if his calculations were correct- and they usually were, would be in three, two, one-

"We need to talk, Robin."

His trademark smirk turned nostalgic and when he answered, Dick found his voice was soft "I figured," He was done with the fidgeting around her, it was time Dick Grayson talked to Pepper Potts. Really talked.

She idled in the doorway, unsure if herself suddenly. Did she even have a plan? Besides, what was wrong with her? She wasn't the kid's mother, why did she think she could somehow demand answers from him and get an answer?

"...Can I sit down?"

He stumbled for a bit, not expecting that question of all things. Sheepishly, he raised a hand to the back of his head, "S-sure. Why not?" He grinned impishly afterwards to hide the stutter.

Pepper quirked her lips then moved to the small table separating them. This kid was certainly a strange one, "I know it may not be my place but.. what was wrong earlier? You seemed so upset at your friends."

"...Nothing you need to be worried about, Miss Potts. It's... it's not even that important, honest!"

"Oh really?" she put her hands on the table, inadvertently trying to ease the rising situation between them. It surprised them both. " I beg to differ, why don't you tell me what really happened? I won't judge you, sweetie. We all have our moments."

Dick had to suppress a whimper right there. It was all he could do to keep himself from opening up to her, what was up with him?

"I said I was fine, Miss Potts, really." He looked away from her, fiddling with the seam on the chair he was sitting on.

She leveled a glare at him, "I actually recall a certain bird saying something like, 'It's nothing I want to get into right now'. Now is better than never, Robin."

He couldn't take it, not anymore, "I said it was nothing. I'm fine!"

Robin's voice wasn't very loud, but it contained an edge to it that Pepper very much disliked. Her face pinched a bit at the corners of her mouth, why was he so defensive?

"Listen. I know I'm not your mother- "

The boy across from her flinched harshly.

"-but I think I know how to tell me when something is upsetting someone. Please, Robin, tell me what's wrong."

" I- fine." It was a lost cause, wasn't it? Slowly, he took a deep breath, the much needed air filling his lungs. He breathed out, preparing himself for what he was going to say.

Dick knew he wouldn't be able to tell her everything. As much of a social creature he was- and believe him, he was pretty social- he realized there were some things that were better left unsaid. Like telling someone their outfit is fine when it really looks horrible, little white lies, so to speak. You couldn't just walk up to someone, say: "Hello? Ma'am? Yeah.. guess what? You look almost exactly like my dead mother from another dimension!", then expect everything to be perfectly fine between the both of you!

As much as he hated to admit it, Dick knew he couldn't tell her the thing he most wanted to. There were just too many variables to take into the equation. Besides, what was he expecting from her anyways? This woman didn't need to associate herself with him, Pepper didn't need to get tangled up into his team's qualms.

And yet, she did.

He must have looked a bit panicky on the outside, for Pepper put her hand consolingly on his shoulder, it was warm.

"Are you okay? I- if it really is a problem I can leave.. you don't have to tell me."

He sighed again, but relished privately in the comfort the limb gave, "No- It's okay, I'm okay."

"If you're sure…"

Robin nodded once, but didn't make eye contact through his lenses like he usually did.

He began talking. He told her what his team had done and how they betrayed his trust. Surprisingly enough, he'd managed not to spill anything personal out- just the facts. It didn't feel good lying to her of all people, but it couldn't be helped. Robin didn't need her to ask questions he couldn't answer. Although, if it were Bruce, or Alfred, he wouldn't have really cared about details like that.

...Except as he was reminded harshly every day he woke up, they weren't with him, and he was in a different dimension.

The only people he could trust weren't even with him.

For the second time in his life, Dick Grayson felt alone.

Sensing his inner turmoil, Pepper patted the hand laying on the table, "...I may not know all the details," she sent him a bittersweet smirk, "but something I do know is that friends don't just do things without reason." While she agreed with the masked boy in front of her to an extent, Robin also needed to realize a few things. Everyone made mistakes; his teammates included; no one was perfect.

"I told you what they said! Miss Martian told me-!"

"She said what she said because she was cornered. But tell me this, Robin- have you really asked her what happened?"

So Pepper didn't believe him either, he knew what she said and that was that. End of story. (Somewhere- in the back of his mind- Dick knew he was over-reacting. The woman in front of him had done nothing wrong, she was only trying to help him.)

But see, it didn't matter to him, not anymore, "Miss Potts?" He asks slowly, because see, he's still not sure if he wants to do this, do this to her.

She paused, her hand ceasing in the comforting, circular motions it was taking, "..Yes?"

He took a breath of air, maybe it's for the best. Robin was in mission mode at the moment, and he didn't need emotions crowding his brain, not anymore. He had talked to her, wasn't that what he wanted?

"I think you should leave, Miss Potts."

Pepper stopped all-together, and her eyes got that sad look in them when someone was pitying you, he hated that. He never needed pity. But nevertheless, she nodded lethargically and pushed her chair out against the carpeted floor. Before she left the table for good, she put her hand on the suddenly solemn boy in front of her, "I'll leave, Robin, but just remember- friends don't do things with out reason to."

She left his room in silence after that.

He knew it wasn't over.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I needed to update? Can that be an excuse?

Ohmygosh! 11,045 views! Thanks everyone!

-Thwipity