Author's Note: Thank you so much for reviewing, Guest Reviewer Ashe as well as steelec1 and xSapphirexRosesxFanx, even getting one review per chapter would be enough for me. I almost thought nobody was going to respond until I saw your emails. (Smiles thankfully) It made me feel better. It just gets pretty hard to write when you don't get responses from others, so I have to thank you three for putting the effort into acknowledging my efforts. (Embraces warmly).

Once again, I am so sorry that it took so long to update. Writer's Block can be a real bitch sometimes.

In further response to your comment on Bruce, steelec1, I will just say that there was a divergent point before the story occurred, explaining Bruce's mixed behavior towards Dick (there have been moments in earlier chapters where Bruce tried to show his softer side, but we all know how bad he is at that) as well as to why our Boy Wonder is still grade-school aged instead of being in his twenties like he is at this point in the DCAU. The first time I tried writing this story in 2014, one of my favorite reviews from the first chapter was:

"Just one difference changes the entire universe."

Well, that's as close as I can remember, but it always stuck with me. After reading Team 8 (Naruto) and Morality Chain (Avatar: The Last Airbender) as well as recently watching Justice League: Flashpoint, I've begun to understand how history can be change from doing something as simple as stepping on a butterfly, otherwise known as the Butterfly Effect.

But please note that Bruce/Bamtan is not a typically nice person. Most writers on this website tend to portray him as a teddy bear, or Daddybats, which is simply out of character for him. He DOES care about Dick/Robin, but please note that watching your own parents get killed in front of you can mess you up emotionally and psychologically.

Batman: If you think I'm a jerk in this story, you should see how Frank Miller portrays me in All Star: Batman and Robin.

Flash (Cuts in front of Batman): Better known as Crazy Steve to Linkara from Atop the 4th Wall! (Whispers loudly into my ear) But between you and me, I think this guy's crazy enough without poor writing.

Batman: I heard that!

Me (Imitates a Scottish accent while whispering to Flash): This is the part where you run away.

(Red blur zooms past Batman)

Batman (Glares): Work on your Shrek accent. You put too much emphasis on the vowels.

Me: How the hell would you know, you're just words a document with no sound involved?!

I probably should have made that last part more clear...not to mention that there will be some deviations from the cartoon into unknown territory...

I'm not trying to sound like a jerk (and I apologize in advance if I am coming off like that) I'm just trying to explain that Batman is not really Daddybats material in the canon. Or to be more precise, this story.

Disclaimer: All Rights To Batman and the Justice League Belong to DC Comics and Cartoon Network.


"So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it."

Willy Wonka. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.


Chapter 10: Flashy Orientation

"I...accept those conditions."

Robin continued to feel all eyes upon him even after he finished speaking. He looked towards Superman, who seemed to be lost in thought as he nodded. When he looked up, Robin could see a smile on Superman's face, yet his eyes seemed to tell a different tale. It looked like there were many conflicting emotions swirling around those deep blues, mainly frustration and fear. Before he could think further about what Superman was really thinking, the older hero closed his eyes again, as if thinking further. When he spoke, he kept his eyes closed.

"Very well. The League will start arranging different courses for you to work towards. In the meantime, I recommend that you wait until you get approval to resume your regular training and patrol time with Batman before anything else. That includes recovery time." Robin nodded again. He could live with that. He looked towards Batman, hoping to gauge his reaction from what Superman was saying.

Where he had hoped to see some form of positive reaction from his mentor, Robin found an empty expression etched upon his face. Like always. Robin thought sadly. A blank canvas either waiting for the right paint to create a beautiful portrait or simply remain the way it is and can somehow still be called "art".

Feeling uncomfortable with the silence now filling the room, Robin spoke up. "So...what do we do now in the meantime? Play Twenty Questions?" He chuckled at his little joke, taking note of a lack of reaction among the other heroes. Maybe they were just as lost as he was right now?

"Meow!"

The new noise registered into Robin's ears, bringing back the smells and horrors of the Gotham sewers along with it. He felt something rub up against him and looked down to see a small, fuzzy creature covered with orange fur. It took several moments for Robin to remember why it looked so familiar to him in the first place.

"Why is this cat here?!" Several moments pass before Robin notices the varying reactions on the others and realized that he was thinking out loud. Unable to utter another word, Robin blushed and focused his attention on Mrs. Rose, bending down to pick up the small creature. He barely even noticed when Green Lantern started speaking to him again until he heard someone clear their throat.

"Flash thought that it would be a great idea if we decide to let that furball stay in the Watchtower until we can find it's-"

"Her." Flash whispered loudly. Green Lantern shook his head at the Speedster.

"Does it matter?" Batman frowned.

Green Lantern gave Batman a warning glare. "Please don't start this again..."

"Actually, it's a he." Robin had to stifle a laugh when he saw the look on Flash's face as he said this. His mouth was starting to look reminiscent to the reactions in old cartoons. "I just saw the cat's...you know."

"Um...TMI..." Flash could barely get out while Hawkgirl struggled to contain her laughter at his side.

Wonder Woman frowned. "I do not understand...what does TMI mean?"

"Too much information." Green Lantern struggled to hide the small grin on his face.

"That will do, Robin." Superman directed his attention towards the boy again with a small grin on his face. "There are a couple of things I need to go over with your mentor right now in private with the others. Why don't you explore the rest of the Watchtower? I doubt you were able to see much the last time you were here and all."

A gust of wind blew through his hair and Robin blinked several times to make sure he wasn't seeing things. The red blur that was now obscuring his vision from the rest of the League in front of him crouched down to eye-level, and Robin found himself taking a few steps backwards from the close distance between himself and the Flash. He understood that he was on good terms with the Flash, but did that mean that the older man (or young adult, he sounded pretty young) had to act like a...teddy bear?

"Yo Supes, do I have the honor to give Rob the grand tour of the place? Now that he's a member-to-be?"

Superman kept his eyes on Batman as he spoke. He chose his words carefully, trying to gauge how the man beside him would respond.

"You'll have to clear that up with his mentor first, I'm afrai-"

"Don't care. Bye!"

Another gust of wind swept throughout the room, with Flash and Robin vanishing out of sight.


Hawkgirl blinked several times, trying to regain her composure. Wasn't she sitting down just two seconds ago? And wasn't John sitting right next to her? She felt an arm around her waist and looked down to see who it belonged to. The moment the color red came into view, Hawkgirl turned to face its owner with a sweet smile.

"Flash, what did I tell you about touching my person without permission?"

To his credit, Flash returned the smile with great vigor. Although his tone carried a hint of concern in it.

"Never get any more physical than a pat on the shoulder or you'll hurt me?"

"Exactly." Hawkgirl felt her grin grow wider as she spoke in a dangerous tone showing her teeth for an added effect. "Now please unhand me before I make with my promise."

Flash let out a girlish scream and dashed several meters away from the enraged Thanagarian. Hawkgirl never thought a man would be capable of reacting in such a way until she meet the Speedster. Strange indeed. But still lovable in his own way.

But lovable or not, Flash had the attention span of a hatchling sometimes. And then there was the kid - Robin - who barely a good impression on her the last time the two were in the same room. Her eyes trailed to Flash's other arm, where the Robin boy was tucked underneath. And looking equally as uncomfortable as she was but not as vocal.

Hawkgirl cleared her throat and gestured to the boy. Flash followed her eyes and jumped, seemingly forgetting that there was a third person among them.

"Could you please put me down?" Robin blushed. Flash chuckled nervously and unceremoniously dropped the boy onto the ground, who landed like a cat on all fours. Hawkgirl corrected herself when she saw that the boy kept one hand away from the ground, probably the one that he injured last week. Robin threw a glare at the Speedster, who backed up slowly at the comically growing hostility.

"Whoopssorryaboutthatbuthawkswouldkillmeifieverheldherlikethat."

"What?" Robin blinked in confusion.

Hawkgirl sighed. "He basically said that I would castrate him if he tried to carry me out like he did with you."

"Wait a minute, you can understand him?!" Robin looked incredulous now, gaping at Hawkgirl like she was a well-known intellect that deserved all of the attention.

"Not really hard to do if you hang out with the guy for a few months." Hawkgirl chuckled. "So yeah. I guess you could say I dabble in Flashnese."

"Pretty sure I didn't use the word 'castrate' in that sentence." Flash grumbled in the background. "And ITS NOT LIKE I'M SPEAKING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE!" Even with his voice raised, Flash still sounded childish with his words going up an octave or two.

"I said basically not word-for-word." Hawkgirl threw back with a cheeky grin etched on her face. A noise resembling a choked motor engine registered into Hawkgirl's ears, putting her on alert. When she looked in the direction of where the noise was coming from, she saw that it was Robin clamping his mouth closed, struggling to contain giggles.

The little that could be seen of Flash's face grew red. "How 'bout you be around the blood-thirsty, mace-loving warrior for more than five seconds and then we'll see if you'll still giggle like a school girl." The last part was thrown with a teasing grin that Hawkgirl was all too familiar with.

Robin felt his body tighten in anticipation for attack - as if being teased at school wasn't bad enough - when he saw the smile on Flash's face himself. He wasn't being malicious. Robin reminded himself. Flash is a nice guy. As far as I know, he's not the type to hurt people on purpose. A smile crept onto the boy's face as he prepared to throw his retort back. His voice radiated coolness as he spoke.

"Well I'd rather giggle like a school girl than scream like one. But no one's judging you, Flash."

He heard Flash start to laugh almost as soon as he began to relish in the joke with another onslaught of giggles. He's a nice guy. Robin thought. Flash has got to be the bubbliest person I've ever met.

Hawkgirl watched the spectacle before her and smiled. If Flash could stand being around the brat for more than five seconds, then maybe she should give him a chance too...

"Alright Flash, munchkin-"

"If I'm a munchkin, then what does that make you?" Robin's face was still red from laughter, which might have been mistaken for fury considering the expression on his face.

Robin's defiant look altered as Hawkgirl bent down and gave him a sickly sweet smile two inches from his face.

"That makes me your orientation leader."

Flash mumbled uncomfortably in the background. "Chill it, Hawks, I don't think he knows if you're teasing him or not."

"I thought Flash was going to show me around."

"Fine, Flash can show you around, but we're going to do this tour on my speed." Hawkgirl huffed. "Come on, let's get this show on the road."


"I do not understand how Flash was able to take Hawkgirl out of the room with Robin, but not bring the cat with him." J'onn looked at the furry creature curiously before backing up as the cat hissed at him.

"My theory is that he thought I'd hate the cat and left it here to spite me." Batman replied blankly.

"If that's the case, Batman, then how come you're holding it?"

"I never said that Flash assumed correctly, GL."


The first time that he overheard Batman telling Superman about the blueprints for the Watchtower, Robin assumed that there wouldn't be much to expect from the then-future space station. He could only assume because Bruce never let him look at the plans at all. But after twenty minutes, he had already seen a TV room that was as large as three trailers, a small swimming pool that could become a hot tub with the push of a button, as well as an two additional kitchens that were clearly meant for cooking meals rather than snacks.

And the way Flash conducted himself on the tour was...interesting. He'd always have something to say, even when there was nothing to see. It was almost like being on a tour of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory except less Oompa Loompy-ey. And nobody was getting sucked up a river, bloating like a blueberry, going down a garbage chute, or becoming as small as an ant.

"Here's Training Room B. I'd prefer to think of it as Training Room Batman cause of the training course from Hell in here."

"That's our medical bay. Since J'onn's the only one with real medical experience, he's sort of our doctor. Don't ask him how Martian anatomy applies to ours cause he won't give you a real answer."

"This is our landing dock for the Javelin 7. Never really knew why we added the 7 on it, it's the only ship we made."

"I prefer to think of this as GL's - and mine, but I still ask him first - personal man cave. GL always watches sports in here or watches these videos he recorded of each of us practicing. Beware the day when he looks at your training videos, because he is the drill sergeant from Hell. Or at least the Jerk with the Heart of Gold, cause he's helped me improve my hand-t-o-hand combat skills a LOT."

The only other tour that Dick had ever been on wasn't as pleasant. Grim tour guides and large mansions were never a good combo. Maybe if Bruce actually put effort into saying things that didn't involve what not to do or touch in a room...but it was too soon after the funeral. He must have assumed that it wasn't a time for smiles. The only positive thing that he put some effort into was at the end when he was showing Dick...his new bedroom.

"Richard, I know this is a bit much for you. But I just want to let you know that you have a home with us here. Just take it a day at a time if you need to."

Dick remembered how painful it must have been for Bruce smile like that. He had seen the man smile before, but they looked better. Maybe that was the first honest smile he had given in a long time?

"Feeling overwhelmed?"

Robin jumped at the sound next to him and looked up. Hawkgirl looked at him with an odd expression on her face. Realizing that she had asked him a question, Robin chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his head.

"Not really used to getting tours by a Speedster. Kind of weird."

"Between you and me, I thought this station was weird the first time I walked through it. But I got used to it." Hawkgirl grinned, as if recalling the memory fondly. "I'm sure you'll get used to it eventually."

Robin felt himself smile weakly when a red blur zoomed right between himself and the Thanagarian.

"I was walking down the hall for the past five minutes when I realized I was talking to no one. Who do you think I am?" Flash's mouth sagged deeply in the corners. Robin had to stifle a laugh as he responded.

"Guess that makes you Issac Newton." He frowned at the lack of reaction he was receiving. "You know, Issac Newton? Scientist? Had this habit of giving lectures at universities even when there was no one in the room?"

Flash's eyes widened with recognition. "Oh yea-hey, wait a minute! Are you calling me crazy?"

"Naw. I'm just calling you Issac Newton." Robin chuckled.

Flash turned to Hawgirl. "Hawks, help me understand what he's saying." He backed up at the glare he was now on the receiving end of.

"I'm an alien from another world, I barely even know the cuisine here. How do you expect me to know who the fuck this-"

"Language!" Flash scolded, wagging his finger for added effect.

"We're adults-" Hawkgirl threw back.

"With an impressionable minor in our midst." Flash added, gesturing to the 'impressionable minor' before them.

To prove Flash's point further, Robin grinned maniacally. "You wouldn't want Batman to know that you're teaching me swear words, would you?"

To her credit, Hawkgirl merely frowned at the statement before walking away, muttering under her breath. "Why do I always get stuck babysitting?"

"On with the tour then!" Flash declared dramatically.

The next room that Robin found himself being lead into appeared empty aside from a circular pad in the middle of the floor. He frowned. The boy looked up to Flash and asked ironically. "Are we moving on to the storage closet stage in our tour then?"

Flash merely smiled. "Wait for it..."

As if on cue, the floor pad started glowing until something square-shaped materialized out of nothing and landed on the pad, the light now fading away from it. Robin blinked as his readjusted to the new sight before him in the form of a medium-sized wooden crate.

Flash zoomed up to where the crate was and placed one finger in a cracked. Suddenly, his finger became nothing but a blur as it started making a whir! sound, similar to a drill. Within seconds, there was a small pile of wood dust on the floor and a small hole within the crate. Flash dug his hand into the hole and ripped open the top, tilting it at a forty-five degree angle as he did so. Inside of the crate was a large amount of boxes; Robin recognized some of them as cereal, others he noted were filled with pasta or freeze-dried food.

"Tada!" Flash declared dramatically.

"So this is how you get food onto the Watchtower?"

"Yep. Every hour or so, we get supplies for the Watchtower. There's a room that brings up exercise equipment and one that has medicine. This room gets twice the amount of crates each day. Donations from Wayne Enterprises too. It's our only donor...well, the only one we really need. There are other companies in other cities that give donations. Ahem...for a price, at least." Flash dug into the box and pulled out a box of Oreos. "Somehow, there are always a couple of these cookie boxes put into the crates. Guess someone knows our little Martian friend has a sweet tooth for them."

"How are you able to transport this stuff up here, anyhow?" Robin asked.

"Batman set it all up with the company. It uses this new energy called Zeta. Don't ask how we get an endless supply of this stuff because Batman won't tell me. All I know is that we've been experimenting with Zeta energy for a while now, we even created fuel out of it for the Javelin 7. That's how we're able to get down to Earth or some distant planet so quickly."

Robin scratched his head for a moment, lost in thought. "You know something? I think Batman is using Zeta energy in his Bat-Plane too."

Flash stumbled as he heard this. "Are you serious?! So that's how he's able to get here so quickly." As he said this, Flash shook his head in shock at the prospect of his colleague applying their technology to his own gadgets.

"Anything else around here that's worth seeing?" Robin asked.

Flash frowned at this. "Not really. That's pretty much everything worth seeing - you know what? Why don't I show the private quarters everyone has?"

Hawkgirl shook her head at this. "Flash, as much as I enjoy you trying to prolong the inevitable, I think this is where the tour ends and we all go to the gift shop so-to-speak."

"Why don't we show Rob the...bathrooms? Show him the brands that we have in the stalls?" Flash started to look a little nervous. Robin wondered if the man was starting to like being a tour-guide too much at the moment to take a break.

Hawkgirl rolled her eyes at the spectacle. "Flash, you know those are a part of the bedrooms, which are off limits! Let's just go back and-"

"No, wait!" Flash dashed in front of the Thanagarian. "We could make milkshakes."

"GL banned you from the kitchen until further notice." Hawkgirl deadpanned.

"Come on!" Flash whined. "I don't wanna go back to the stupid meeting! It's boring as hell!"

"Flash, please remember that you brought this upon yourself when I say just pay the two dollars!"

"Aw!"

And in that moment, Flash swore to himself never to show Ziegfeld Follies to anyone else ever again should they use a quote to make a point against him


By the time the trio had returned to the conference room, the other League members inside were beginning to walk out. Flash sighed loudly in relief. Those meetings were too boring; he'd do anything to avoid them. Maybe if he offered to hang out with Robin, he'd be able to avoid even more meetings. Flash took one look at Robin and Hawkgirl as they both laughed at a joke together and thought against it. The last thing that kid needed was other people taking advantage of him.

As the heroes filed out of the conference room one by one, Flash started having a feeling that he was forgetting something. Did he leave the water running at home?

"Meow!"

"Hey, Mrs. Rose!" Flash brightened at the sight in Batman's arms. "I knew I was forgetting someone!"

"You do realize that the cat's a male, right?" John raised an eyebrow as Flash took the cat from Batman's arms. He flinched as he heard that cat hiss within Flash's rough embrace.

"I'm so sowwy I weft you!" Flash rubbed the cat against his face, ignoring claws unhinging from the cat until they sunk into his skin. John sighed as he heard his friend yelp in pain. This was why he preferred a dog as a pet. Too bad his landlady isn't too keen on animals to begin with...

"I believe that he does not like you that much." J'onn observed. "Perhaps if you handled the kitty more gently."

Superman face-palmed himself. "Flash, please don't get attached to him. We have to return the cat to its owner eventually."

"Alright then, Robin. We'll have a schedule set up for you within three to four weeks' time." Diana spoke to the young hero while the others dealt with the cat now attempting to claw Flash's eyes out.

Robin noticed Batman looking at him and merely stated. "Thank you, Wonder Woman."

"Please, call me Diana."

Robin nodded at this and realized that Batman was now walking away from the small crowd. "Hey Batman, Flash wants to know where that Zeta energy comes from." Robin managed to gain the attention of his mentor and started walking behind the man.

"The stork." The Dark Knight replied blankly.

"I'm serious!"

"Well I'm Batman."

As John succeeded in freeing Mrs. Rose from the grasp of his handler, Hawkgirl winced in sympathy as Flash rubbed the small punctures where the cat's claws had made entry. She sighed with relief as the small holes began to close up.

Flash noticed her staring and smiled at Hawkgirl. "So Hawks. You think Robin's a headache worth having?"

Hawkgirl looked over her shoulder to see Robin still failing to get a real answer about Zeta energy from his mentor as the two figures became smaller in the distance.

"Yeah. I think he's worth the headache."


Author's Note: There you have it folks. I remembered I had an audience. Or I think I do. I'm not sure at the moment.

In case you haven't been noticing, I've been trying to establish a friendship between Hawkgirl and Flash in my story. And since Hawkgirl is Flash's friend (and because we all know that Dick's a sucker for redheads) I decided to reel her into a friendship of sorts with the Boy Wonder as well.

At least I'm trying to. I don't know how to make the chemistry between the characters feel real because I haven't really had no one else's help in that department. I'm trying to avoid the whole "Everyone loves Robin immediately" cliche that seems to pop up in a lot of "Daddybats" stories.

So does anyone have any ideas of how to bring conflict into the group pertaining to Robin? Anything you suggest can help make the story more interesting if you do. Sharing thoughts about the story can help me improve my writing even further, so please don't be shy.

My next update will be on one of two dates: The earliest will be April 25th and the latest will be April 30th.

Please review. Is this a good story? Are there other things to note aside from how mean you think Batman is? Are there ways that I can improve the story if it isn't good?

Hopefully, you will see another chapter come up later on this month.

Happy Readings!