Robin's Need
Crumbs

He still didn't know how he felt about his biological father who – because of a time travel incident – was now younger than him by around three years, although in the back of his mind Terry thought Dick seemed much younger, particularly when the boy let loose how he felt finally. It stuck with him when he went to bed that night how much sticking around was important to Dick Grayson, yet he now found himself wondering who the Grayson family was.

Of course, during the night he found himself woken for a thorough physical examination by one Leslie Thompson, the personal physician of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, but now – apparently his own. She was an elderly lady who was a doctor, yet a crack about whether she and Alfred were dating led to her commenting about how he'd better be glad he had a head injury, otherwise she'd slap him upside the head for such a comment.

His head injury apparently wasn't as bad as that of one Dick Grayson, yet he heard mumblings of time traveling offspring being just as stubborn headed as their forebearers, which made him wonder how much he had in common with Dick, let alone the family he never knew. In the back of his head, he wondered if wanting to know was some kind of insult to Warren McGinnis, yet nobody was around for him to know. He at least was given a bill of health where he could roam the manor, although Leslie insisted, he kept his arm in a sling for a few days, but avoid crime-fighting if he could.

Grayson, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky, his head injury honestly worrying her. In fact, she'd shown up during the night and made both young men go into the hospital for things like an MRI to be on the safe side, yet she kept muttering things about how having two Grayson's around might be better than one if the social services ever came looking. She apparently caught a look in his eyes as he looked at her. "Apparently you're not aware of what I mean by that?"

"I..." He looked around, wondering if the room was bugged.

"It's not bugged if that's what you're wondering. Alfred and I can, given the fact this involves one of the cities shining lights, Bruce Wayne." She let out a sigh.

"He knows. He knows exactly who I am. Well, I mean, he doesn't know who my mother is."

"Figures. He's always been a bright child. He's skipped multiple grades while he was in Bruce Wayne's care, although..." Leslie placed a finger to her mouth. "I wonder if I should be telling you that. Ask the boy to tell you about the Grayson family."

"Isn't it a sensitive subject."

"You're also a part of the Grayson family. It's something..." She looked at him. "He might be slow in telling you things, but I think with you he'll be more willing to talk about these things simply because you do have the right to know."

"I don't like looking at it that way."

"Like father, like son."

"Oh, come on. He feels like an angel compared to my own self. I mean..."

"Just keep that arm in a sling for a few days, and stay out of trouble."

Terry let out a sigh, knowing he would eventually need to bring up his stint in juvi with the people around him. Doing so would likely make it harder for everyone to trust him at first, but better that then if it would slip later on and they do not find out. As such, he found himself in the kitchen the next afternoon, resting for most of the day like Leslie ordered, though Dick apparently had it worse, given the fact he had a habit of getting himself hurt worse because he still struggled with understanding his own limits without a bit of a guiding hand.

"Alfred, can we talk?"

"I am always an open ear, Master Terry."

"I've been honest with the Flash that I'm not really someone to trust, indicating that I do have a past."

"And?"

"I did a stint in juvi."

"Now pray do tell how dark did things got when there was no Batman in your city?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well."

"I don't think that's important."

"I admit my youngest ward comes across rather saintly, but Bruce – well, you likely heard rumors regarding his public behaviors, particularly when he's younger. There are things he did which would land a child without his family connections in the juvi for the first time, but I guess the real question is, is that life behind you?"

"It," A smile spread across Terry's face. "Yeah. I was acting out because of issues at home. Looking back, I think my father – the man who raised me, he was always worried about me going down that path again, particularly when I did get into fights at school."

"You've not finished your high school education."

"Yeah, no. Education's not my strong suit."

"Or is it because nobody believed in you?"

"My dad believed in me."

"That's a parent's job though, isn't it? You can't tell me, with the fact you knew full well he wasn't your father that you wondered what kind of intelligence you inherited from your real father?"

Terry swallowed, folding his arms across his chest – well, one arm, leaning against the wall. "I don't know. I guess I did, given the fact, one of the snark ass comments I made to my dad before he died was being sarcastic that I'd be a big success like him. He wasn't a success, yet he always felt for some reason I could be one as if he knew..." His eyes narrowed. "Sometimes I thought he may have known who my real dad was but would have been more willing to tell me than my mom. I think – I think he didn't want to lose me, what with the fact he didn't know I knew and that he likely thought he was already losing me."

"Well, I personally think you should have more faith in yourself, given the fact you are a Grayson, although you don't yet understand what that means."

"Nope." His head turned away, the sound of the front door going off. "I can get that."

"I am the butler."

"I'm going mad doing nothing."

"Father like son as they say."

"It's rather unfair to use that when I know you're doing it because I don't know why you're saying that, so I can't even refute what you said." He walked to the front door, opening it. "Hell..." He didn't finish his greeting. "You're from Dick's school, aren't you?"

Standing in front of him were two girls in the Gotham Academy uniform. One of the girls – Terry swore she looked just like the girl from a rather annoying sitcom from the late seventies that Max made him binge watch just to see him cringe. He watched the girl elbow her friend in the ribs. "Hey, do you think he's related to..."

"Shut up Megan." Hearing the name from the first girl made Terry cringe, as he remembered the girl from that series was named Megan. The second girl spoke through her teeth, trying to smile at Terry while a slight blush spread across her cheeks. Her hair was blond, her eyes blue, yet despite her Caucasian features, there were also some Asian ones in there.

"Hello, Megan! This was Artemis' idea." Right there was the stupid catchphrase from that annoying show.

"Um, no. It was yours and you pushed me into this." By this, Terry guessed Artemis was referring to the delivery of cookies. Her eyes focused on his arm.

"Okay. This is Artemis Crock and I'm Megan Morse. Artemis was worried about Grayson not feeling well, and so we decided to make some cookies hoping he was starting to feel better."

"Thank god she's not called Megan Wheeler. I don't know if she found that annoying show on her own, given the fact Max says it is popular among the girls, or if her parents forced it on her, given the fact she does look like the character, but that would make this creepiness even more creepy."

"Um, you wouldn't happen to be Grayson's older brother?" Artemis shifted her weight nervously, still blushing, and looking at his arm.

"Oh, great. I've got a girl from the past crushing on me, yet..." He was still in his mind dating Dana Tan despite the fact he'd never see her again, meaning this was the last thing he needed. The words came out of his mouth without thinking, his hand reaching forward, his mind needing a quick explanation of his appearance. "Cousin." That word squeaked out, possibly giving the wrong impression, but hopefully, this girl – who looked older than Dick, wasn't going to show up that much. "I'm Dick's cousin, John Grayson."

With a slip of a tongue, he'd done exactly what he said he wouldn't do. The girl shoved the cookies forward, her words coming out almost as if she were a speedster, but not quite. He almost felt she wanted to ask why his arm was in a sling. "Um, these are for him. Got to go."

Megan watched her friend turn and hurry off, flying after her. Terry watched them leave. "Great." He headed into the kitchen. "So, is it alright if Dick spoils his appetite with some cookies some friends from school dropped off? It might cheer him up a bit?"

"Friends from school?"

"Someone named Megan Morse and Artemis Cook."

"Ah, Miss Artemis. She does have a habit of looking out for Grayson when some of the other students pick on him for being..." Alfred looked at the dish he was drying. "I think it's time you ask him about the Grayson family."

Terry flinched. "About that."

"I know you might not be comfortable with that, but..."

"No. I needed an alias quickly, so I said I was John when I said I wouldn't. The real reason I was hoping you'd let me give the cookies is I think I need to get on his good side."

"Then I'll tell you which room is his."

"No, I ran into him the night before when he was coming out of his room. And..." Terry smiled at the man. "Sorry for the trouble this is likely to cause."

Taking a deep breath, he headed up to Dick's room, knocking on the door. "Come in."

Terry opened the door. "I don't think..." His eyes narrowed. "Are you actually doing schoolwork with a concussion?" Dick hid the books behind his pillow. "I thought Doctor Thompson told you not to do that of all things? Am I going to..." He let out a sigh. "This is what they meant by you not knowing your own limits, isn't it."

"You brought cookies." Dick sprung from the bed almost as if he were going to cartwheel towards Terry, stopping in his tracks, a huge grin on his face. "Yeah, she'd kill me if I did anything which would make my head move around a lot, so I'd better not summersault."

"Okay. Worse than cartwheeling. What's with this kid." He cleared his throat. "Technically, your friends from school brought them. Megan and Artemis."

"Oh. Miss Martian and Artemis. I'd hoped they wouldn't, given the fact you were here." The smile didn't falter. Dick gracefully grabbed the cookies and plopped down onto the bed crossed legged. "Join me."

Terry narrowed his eyes. "First off, you're doing way too well for someone who I know is grieving..." He watched Dick's facial features falter and his hands shot up. "Look, if this is your way of dealing, to put on a mask, fine. I'd tell you it's okay to cry, but maybe that should wait until your concussion is not an issue anymore." He then lowered him. "However, I need to apologize."

"Seriously. I'm the one who should be apologizing for what happened last night. The way I acted..."

"No. I told them I was your cousin. You know, the one you freaked out about when you first saw my face." Terry's hands clenched. "They'd suggested it, and it was the first thing to pop into my head."

"That may be why they told you to use it."

Terry felt his blood run cold. "Aren't you going to be more upset?"

Dick set the plate of cookies in front of him, now unwrapped while speaking around a cookie. He started reaching for the schoolwork he'd hidden, only for Terry to hurry forward, snatching it away. "Yeah, no. Not allowed, but we're having a conversation."

"I wasn't trying to..." Dick let out a sigh. "If I don't keep busy I go nuts. But, I guess we do need to talk. I mean, you didn't know any of the dishes last night were..."

"You don't have to force yourself."

"That's not fair to you." Dick's mouth pushed together.

"Well, there's something else I want to be honest with you about, since I'm taking on the role of Batman, at least until you're ready, though..."

"Don't wanna be Batman."

"You said that much last night." Terry let out a sigh. "Look. We're partners, so I'm going to tell you I'm only sixteen, but I did a stint in juvi just before taking on the mantel of Batman." He watched Dick's robin blue eyes, something he was starting to become more comfortable about looking him in the eye. "Well?"

Dick removed his cookie from his mouth. "I got stuck in the juvi facilities after they all died, so I guess that's a good starting point."

"Wait? You?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I am a loose cannon." Dick leaned back on the palm of his hands. "Though, I get what you mean. It was because there was no room in the foster care system, which was when Bruce came in. Social services is a pain, so I guess this is where I bring up the fact the Flying Grayson family was a multi-generation family of trapeze artists for the circus. That was my life before coming to live here, but we Grayson's love flying."

Terry thought back to what someone else said. "That's why I was told the suit was more likely designed for you than Bruce."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't get around Gotham using the Batmobile."

"You mean it lets you fly?"

"Yeah, you seem a bit too excited about flying."

Dick pushed his hands out, cracking his knuckles by pushing his hands out palm first. "Yeah, well, I don't remember a time I wasn't up on the trapeze, but even there I'm allowed to still fly. Bruce brought in gymnastics equipment for me, though it's honestly not the same."

"Oh. I've used that. He got pissed whenever I pulled off a quadruple summersault."

One of the younger teen's eyebrows lifted up in amusement, but he leaned back. "Well, not surprising."

"What do you mean. It took a bit of time to get to that point when I first started doing parkour. It kept me out of trouble, but I wouldn't have dared tell anyone – family or girlfriend about it, though I think my dad – Warren, the man who raised me suspected I went out and did that."

"Yeah. You're definitely a Grayson, but if he suspected, he might have realized himself." Dick took a deep breath. "Look, technically John should be a name that belongs to you, given the fact I'm named after John's father and he's named after my dad. I'd like to think I'd have broken the tradition, but you know – who knows."

"Yeah, but pretending to be your dead cousin."

Dick pulled up his knees to his chest. "I admit, I don't like it."

"Wouldn't someone figure it out?"

"The circus is far away, but they're family and are more likely to realize it's there to protect me, though..." Dick seemed to become even smaller. "Uncle Rick would know you're not John."

"Where is he?"

"Where is he. I'd like to..." Dick shook his head, wincing. "Not time for my usual jokes. I'd offer you a cookie, but what I'm going to say, that needs to be said – I want to tell you before I do so."

"Tell me what."

"Could you bring me that stuffed elephant on the nightstand?"

Terry turned his head, now noticing the room contained a lot of circus memorabilia, yet he'd chalked it up to Dick still being young if a bit eccentric. He reached for the elephant and brought it over to the boy. He watched Dick wrap his arms around the toy for comfort.

"That night – the event that led me to come and live here. Well, there was a man who blackmailed our ringmaster, but Haley wouldn't have anything to do with it. In the circus, if you back down to people like that, it can lead to disaster. He gave me this when I was born, so don't you think I hate him. Not when I saw something and could have said something."

"What happened?"

"The rigging was sabotaged and gave way during the final act when they did their final stunt. Every single one of them is in the cold earth except for Uncle Rick, but he..." Dick took a deep breath. "He's not a problem. On top of being paralyzed from the waist down, he's not yet woken from his coma. It's been five years now. People think it's been only four years since I started working with Batman, but it's actually five. He made me train for an entire year before he let me out on the streets."

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Yeah, well, you kind of did tell Artemis and Miss Martian you were my cousin already. I don't have actual friends at school, by the way, though they are friends on the team. Artemis is one of Green Arrow's protegee, while Miss Martian is – if you guessed it, Martian Manhunter's protegee."

"Please tell me she didn't get her name from that annoying show."

"Well, sort of. Her Martian name is similar, but I get what you mean. It is creepy."

"Wait. Artemis is actually someone you're going to run into more."

"Yeah, well..." Dick took a deep breath. "She's likely to blab what happened to Wally whose also on the team, so there's that. She's not per se a friend at school, though she doesn't hesitate to stand up for me when she sees some of the guys picking on me. Kind of makes things worse."

"Because you skipped multiple grades?"

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Doctor Thomson."

"Well, sort of. On paper, I've only skipped one grade. Bruce spent an entire year getting me caught up to where someone my age should be, although in some regards he didn't need much work. Circus schools can be a bit haberdasher and all. Basically, you get what you get." Dick swallowed. "No. There's the fact I'm from the circus, but gypsy brat's a common one."

"I know that gypsy..."

"Don't use that word. Use Roma or Romani instead."

"I'm not following."

"I'm guessing you were going to say that Roma are typically associated with the circus."

"You mean the Romanian people?"

"Oh boy." Dick swallowed. "Roma and Romani are not the Romanian people, but gypsy is considered by many Roma to be a racial slur."

"What does..."

"The Grayson family is a Roma family, so them calling me gypsy brat isn't without merit, but if I wasn't I would likely tell them I wasn't gypsy. Though, technically I'm only half. My mother, she's an outsider. Don't know much about her family."

"Why..."

"It's your heritage. Those foods last night..."

"They looked..." Terry grimaced, remembering the cabbage rolls. "I mean, it was good, but felt exotic."

"They're Romani foods. Well, technically the tradition is to take on foods and adapt them as we travel in different areas, but – yeah. That was Romani food last night. Well, sort of. Alfred worked very hard with me taste testing to try and get the food close to how I remember it being."

"You're starting to ramble."

"I'm not."

"Yeah, you are. You didn't have to tell me all of that, all at once you know." Terry let out a sigh, before flopping onto the foot of the bed, folding his arms behind his head.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure you follow the doctor's advice."

"Shouldn't you be out patrolling."

"I want to be out patrolling as I'm quite restless, but I'm also under doctor's orders." He then said, "We'll get through this, okay?"

"I guess."

A gust of wind blew in. Terry's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the red-haired speedster and let out a groan, wondering how he'd managed to get through his new life as Wally said, "Cookies!"