Hey, look! Two chapters within a day of each other (granted they were for two different stories and both chapters were at least halfway written, but whatever). I'm soo sorry to tydeerose who requested this chapter back in chapter five, I'm a failure at life (glooms). But here it is, I hope this is close enough to what you requested.

I'd like to mention, the ending is really shitty. Just saying. And I used a kind of mesh of Jokers, the one being most prominent is of course Nolan's Joker. I love him! He's just so crazy. I had fun finding nursery rhymes for this chapter too. :) And the whole Dat thing, I googled Romani dictionaries and this was the most consistent translation of dad so... I'm sorry but I refuse to use Romanian, I have no problem when other people use it, but...

Oh, this takes place around when Speedy is adopted by Ollie but before Sound of Arrows.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize!

The dark was a time for sleeping, it was a place where secrets were hidden and where people's true nature can be revealed if one wishes to look hard enough. Shadows are the home to many, whether they are good or bad. While they say your fears come to life after the sun falls one could also say that you couldn't see the stars without the dark.

Usually, Dick found the shadows to be comforting. They reminded him of the secluded corners he would watch the circus acts from while waiting for his own performance, and they also reminded him of Bruce, Batman, who lived in the shadows and the night. Tonight though, the shadows brought no such feelings to the table, tonight there were yellow teeth and red paint and stringy green hair. Every time Dick closes his eyes laughter would start up in his ears and a voice would whisper why so serious? His eyes burn and-

No, he is being stupid, Dick knows he isn't there. He knows that he is locked up in Arkham and will be for quite a while. He is the goddamn Boy Wonder, protégé to the goddamn Batman! He shouldn't be afraid of a monster hiding in his room.

But Dick is afraid. He is really afraid. He is afraid of the monster in his closet.

Because, that's what the Joker is, isn't he? A monster? No human could do something like that, could they? Could be as evil and as amoral as the Joker, right? The fact that Dick doesn't have an answer to that scares him.

He restlessly tosses and turns, trying to sleep, hoping he won't dream, and praying that he will wake up in the morning, alive and breathing. He finally drifts off to sleep with his covers pulled over his head.

"Why so serious, Baby Bird?"

Run, run, he had to keep running. If he stopped running, he would be caught. If he was then- well, Robin didn't want to think about it. He wanted to look back, to see if he was still behind him, but he couldn't risk it. His question was answered for him soon anyway, when his voice danced down the halls and kissed every corner.

"Here comes a candle to light you to bed/Here comes a chopper to chop off your head/Chop, chop, chop, chop/The last man's dead!"

Robin held back a whimper and tried to keep his tears at bay. He skidded around a corner and flew up a flight of stairs, tripping on the top one. He landed on his knees and he felt blood begin to stain his pants but he picked himself up and continued running. If he could reach the roof, he could signal Batman. He had to reach the top!

"You didn't like my nursery rhyme, Baby Bird? All children like their nursery rhymes! How about a different one, then?"

Robin could hear him getting closer; his breathless, wheezing laughter was getting louder. His footsteps echoed down the hall.

"Lizzie Borden took an axe/And gave her mother forty whacks/And when she saw what she had done/She gave her father forty-one!"

Robin could practically hear as his tongue flicked across his scars. He was so close now. The last flight of stair was drawing closer and Robin let a flicker of hope seep through his mind.

"Who killed Cock Robin/I said the sparrow/With the bow and arrow/I killed Cock Robin."

Robin stumbled up the steps and reached out for the doorknob. This door would lead to the roof! He was stopped by a hand catching his cape. He was dragged back into to unknown arms.

"Aw, Baby Bird? Why are you running from Uncle J?" A gloved hand caressed his cheek, "Aren't you having fun? Why," Red lips and dirty breath tickled Robin's ear, "So Serious?" Robin whimpered and felt a few tears slide down his face. A tongue tasted the red paint once again.

"Let's put a smile on that face."

"DAT! DAAATTT!" A scream breaks through Bruce's musings as he heads towards the study. He freezes momentarily before his instincts kick in. Bruce turns tail and takes off towards his son's room. He bursts in through the door to see the boy clutching his pillow tightly. His sobs fill the room and Bruce's heart stutters at the sight. Within seconds he has the young bird curled up against his chest.

"Shh, Little Bird, shh," He murmurs, caressing the boy's head, "You're okay, you'll be fine." Tears are staining his shirt but Bruce can't find it in himself to care.

"H-he was after me, Dat, he was-he wanted to- he almost-" Dick sobs, his words slurring together through the tears, "He was after me. He caught me, he was going to- he was going to- He was after me and he caught me- he- he-"

Bruce's heart clenches at his son's words but he is also filled with anger, "He can't get you here, Dickie, I won't let you be hurt again," Bruce has never wanted to kill someone as much as he does now, not even when he realized that his parents were never going to get up, or when he realized there was another broken child somewhere in the world. He tries to calm himself though and reminds himself that the Joker is locked away in the deepest cells of Arkham.

Bruce sits there and rocks the child gently, willing the small child to calm, for that is what he was- a child. He was only a child and furthermore, he was Bruce's child, his Little Bird. His heart breaks over again and again with every shaking breath and painful sob his son releases. After what felt like hours later but was really only one, the young acrobat finally began to quiet down. His breaths went from quick and labored to shallow to soft as Dick drifts to sleep.

The Dark Knight holds the child and stares at his blotchy face. He sighs to himself and gently lays the boy down on the bed and draws the blanket to rest on Dick's small form. He slides off the bed cautiously and makes to move to the door. A hand grabs his before he can get any further.

"Please don't go," A weak voice pleads, and Bruce feels his heart break all over again.

"I have to Dickie," He replies mournfully, "You know the League can't do anything without me." He continues, hoping to cheer the young boy up slightly. Normally, something like this would cause Dick to laugh but he only grips Bruce's wrist harder.

"Please, if you leave, he might come back. He might-" The Boy Wonder whimpers and Bruce bites his lip.

"Suit up, Dick, I'll take you with me, you can sleep in the tower," Bruce and Dick both know Dick won't be able to sleep unless Bruce is right there next to him- protecting him- but they also know the tower is safe from all things evil and clown-like (even if their dreams aren't).

/\*0*/\

The whole League is on edge, they know something is wrong, that something isn't right. They were supposed to be having a meeting, but they couldn't because Batman wasn't there yet. He was supposed to have been there a half hour ago. This was worrisome as Batman was never late- unless something bad was happening. And even then he normally would've contacted them.

Scenarios were swirling around in each Leaguers mind, each worse than the one before. The whirl of the Zeta Beam brings relief to them all.

"Batman 02, Robin 10."

"Bruce!" Superman calls out, standing at the head of the table. He smiles when he sees both Batman and Robin enter without any obvious injuries.

Batman strides into the room, his looming form sticking out against the steel walls of the conference room. Robin trails behind his mentor, clutching the back of Batman's cape as if it was a lifeline. Flash blurs up to stand beside the Dynamic Duo and throws his arms around the Dark Knight. Robin flinches at the sudden movement and step closer to his mentor.

"What took you so long Bats? You shoulda been the first one here!" Flash exclaims, peering at his friend (though Batman would deny it) curiously.

"I had something that needed taking care of," He replies stiffly as he rests a hand on Robin's head. The Boy Wonder leans into the touch and all eyes are drawn towards the young boy.

"What's wrong with him?" Green Arrow asks bluntly and Black Canary elbows him. Flash's eyes scan the young hero worriedly and he takes in the boy's shaking hands and the barely noticeable bandage peeking out from the collar of his Robin costume. Black Canary and Wonder Woman share a look as they can't believe how vulnerable Robin looks in that moment.

"He's had a bad week," Batman snaps, drawing Robin closer into the folds of his cape. Green Arrow frowns at the sight.

"Bad week? Looks like he's had a bad life," He comments and ends up getting glares from several of the other League members. Robin, on the other hand, doesn't react like Green Arrow was secretly hoping he would. Obviously, this wasn't Robin, this wasn't the smart ass brat he always argues with- this was a scared little boy. This wasn't the calm, confident Robin the whole League had come to see as a member of their family (or at least tolerate in Ollie's case). Ollie doesn't want to admit it, even to himself, but he is worried for the brat.

"May we get on with the meeting? Isn't there a reason you called me here?" Batman growls, glaring at the room at large. He just wants to get the meeting over with and bring his son home. He doesn't want to be holed up in the tower all night.

Superman steps up to the Caped Crusader and begins to tell him what the rest of the Leaguers already know, while the others hover behind the Kryptonian and can't keep their eyes from straying towards the young hero who is firmly attached to Batman's leg. They eye each other, each daring the others to make the first move until Black Canary finally rolls her eyes.

The blonde walks over and kneels beside in front of Robin, "Hey, Dick," She says, giving the young hero a soft smile, "We should probably leave Bats to his meeting; we could go to the rec room?" She suggest, reaching out slowly to Robin. The acrobat shakes his head frantically and hides his face in Batman's cape. Dinah frowns to herself and glances up at her caped friend. Batman shakes his head slightly signaling that it was best not to ask yet.

"You might as well go, Robin," Batman rumbles, turning to look at his son. Robin looks up at him with wide, fearful eyes, "I'll just be in here, the whole time, okay? This shouldn't take too long and then I'll take you home," He murmurs, squatting down himself and running his gloved hands through the Boy Wonder's hair.

"You won't be too long?" Robin asks, tugging at his father's cape.

"No, not too long," He affirms and runs his hand through Robin's hair again before pushing him gently towards Black Canary. His teammates stare at him in various degrees of shock. They all knew he cares for the kid but they had never before then ever actually seen him so blatantly… paternal. It's unnerving but they wipe the shock from their faces as Batman looks up and gives them all a glare.

"Come on, Dickie bird, I bet I can beat you at Call of Duty!" Flash exclaims as he blurs past Robin. The young boy looks up in shock at the sudden words but his face flickers with a series of emotions before giving a small smile.

"I'd like to see you try," Robin murmurs without his usual vigor. His expression falls into an easy smirk anyway and he glides through the doors. Black Canary gives Batman a look before taking off after the two troublemakers.

Once the trio was out of sight, Green Arrow turns to Batman, "What happened?" He asks incredulously. The aforementioned bat turns a glare on the archer but for once he doesn't flinch.

"The Joker," He relents, turning back to Superman and giving the Boy Scout a glare, "Now are we going to finish this meeting or what?"

"The Joker?" Ollie repeats, staring at his friend with wide eyes. Batman ignores him but before he can try to redirect everyone's attention back to the meeting, Wonder Woman puts a hand on his arm.

"Bruce, what did the Joker do?" Diana asks; her voice comforting. Batman glares at her and she flinches.

"Joker, caught Robin. The Joker hurt Robin. Now Robin's having nightmares. End. Of. Story." He growls and stalks off, presumably towards his young apprentice. Wonder Woman makes a move to follow but Green Arrow holds her back.

"Nah, let him go, you'll only make her angrier," Ollie says firmly. The remaining members turn to stare at him in shock, "Let's just say, I know where he's coming from." Ollie says, shifting uncomfortably.

"Let's refocus, we should get back to the meeting," J'onn informs the rest of the League. The others turn back towards Superman reluctantly and Ollie nods his thanks towards the Martian.

The meeting eventually continues, but they all feel the absence of the Dynamic Duo weighing heavily in the air. Later when a scream rips through the air a collective flinch ventures around the room. It hits all of the heroes when they realize they can't do much to help. None of them sleep easy that night.

There you have it, there you are! As I said, shitty ending.

Okay, I had two people within three hours ask me when Wally and Kaldur are coming in. I'll cave and tell you this. I have a few more chapters planned out that are flashback chapters (ones like this that take place earlier in the series) and a couple other random ones. Then I'm gonna introduce Wally, then I've got several drama filled chapters, as in mini-series like Rockin' Robin. Then, after that, I'll bring in Kaldur. Then all hell breaks loose (in a humorous way, not dramatic.) After that, I'm thinking, key word being thinking, about doing a sequel with the rest of the team. But that's a maybe and not happening anytime soon. Is that okay?

Okay, Imma gonna toot my own horn here. Please check out my story Young Justice League if you haven't yet, I would really like some feedback on it. It should be noted it's more serious than this.

Now, please review! Comments, concerns, ideas, or even requests!

~Dawn