Chapter 41
Robin swung away from Barbara's apartment; he hoped that he had finally made her realize what a big commitment being a superhero was. He had realized that she didn't care about the danger; she just wanted to try and help people. But she wouldn't do it if it would hurt the person she cared about the most, her father. She would never lie to him, and Dick knew that.
He went to where the bat mobile was hidden and stood there leaning against it waiting for Batman. Silently Batman glided down behind him. Robin turned around knowing that he was there, Batemans disappearing and appearing act had stopped startling Robin a long time ago.
"You ready to head home" Robin asked
"Yes" Batman said getting in the bat mobile.
"So could I drive" Robin asked getting in the passenger side.
"Not today" Batman said starting the car "so how did it go with Barbara" he asked
"Pretty well I think" he said
"How did you change her mind" Batman asked
"I reminded her about how she would have to either keep a huge secret from her dad, or make him constantly worried about her safety"
"I figured it would take something like that" Batman said "from what you told me she seems like a very strong person"
"Well you could have told me that before" Robin said "you know before I started freaking out about what I was going to say"
"I wanted you to figure it out for yourself" Batman said
"Was I supposed to learn something from figuring it out by myself" Robin said
"Well did you" Batman asked
"Maybe" Robin said "your hidden tests can be very annoying you know"
"I'm aware" Batman said and smiled slightly "so do you have any homework"
"Yeah a little" Robin said "I have a paper due Monday and vie got some math"
"You have to finish that or you can't come out tomorrow night remember" Batman said
"I know" Robin said "ill finish it, math is easy, and the paper only has to be like four pages."
"Alight, just get it done" Batman said smiling at his ward
Meanwhile Barbara closed her window and flopped down on her bed. What Robin had said had really gotten to her. Her and her dad didn't have any secret. If she became a superhero she wouldn't be able to tell him about it. And if she did he probably wouldn't approve and he would constantly be worried about her. She wouldn't be able to live with his constant disapproval, and knowing she was the reason he was so worried. And if she decided to keep it a secret she would be hiding a huge part of her life from him. Barbara fell asleep with these through her mind.
Commissioner Gordon got home late; he walked in and hung up his jacket. He looked down the hall in their apartment and saw that Barbara's door was open a jar and her light was on. He walked down the hall and peered into her room. She was asleep on top of her covers. He came in and tucked her in. he kissed her on the forehead, and turned out the lights as he walked out.