Summary: Takes place pretty much right where the previous chapter left off. Aftermath of YJ S1 Ep 17

Disclaimer: I don't own DC

"I...I don't wanna be...the Batman...not anymore."

Dinah looked incredulously at Dick as he admitted this. She thought for a moment about his words before responding.

"Why don't you want Batman to know this?"

"Because...he's-he's done so much for me. He's been there for me ever since I was 8 years old. A-and this just feels like I'm...betraying him or something. Like, I'm going against everything he's ever wanted for me, and I don't know how I could tell him that. I-I don't want him to...to leave me for this." Dinah noticed Dick was tense at this point, and she thought carefully before speaking so as not to scare him any further.

"Robin, Batman cares for you more than anyone else. I'm sure if you truly believe that you no longer want to be like him, then he will be okay with your decision. Don't feel scared to tell him. The longer you keep this bottled up away from him, the worse it will end up for you both." Dick nodded slowly. He wanted to tell Bruce his decision, he wanted Bruce to be in his corner and support him. But what if he didn't. What if Bruce felt betrayed by Dick's decision, and cast him out? Dick couldn't live knowing Bruce was disappointed in him because of this decision.

"O-okay. I...I'll think about it." Dinah nodded as she let Dick out, knowing he had a lot on his plate and he should get started with it. Dick Zeta'd to the cave, thankful that Bruce was not at the Batcomputer at this time. He wasn't ready to tell him just yet. Dick made his way up to the study to find Alfred dusting. He knew Bruce was in his office working on WayneTech work. He didn't really feel like talking with Alfred about this either, so he tried to sneak past him to his room. Alfred, unfortunately, had other plans.

"Master DIck, if I didn't know any better, I would say you are trying to avoid me." Dammit. Knew I couldn't have gotten past ninja butler here.

"W-whaaat? Why-why would y-you say that?" Alfred raised an eyebrow.

"I may not be on the Batman's level of observation, but I am no fool Master Dick. Something is troubling you, and you do not wish to tell me or Master Bruce. Why?"

Dick sighed. He thought back to Dinah's words and decided to tell Al. Can't keep this bottled up forever. Might as well tell him. "I, uh, I have a problem, Al."

"Does this have to do with the training simulation Master Bruce told me about?"

"Y-yeah. That." Dick told Alfred the whole story, including the part where he found out he no longer wished to follow in Bruce's footsteps, and Alfred listened quietly as the boy spoke his mind.

"And I know it's going against everything he ever wanted for me, but I just...I can't be Batman ever again. I tried yesterday, and it was horrible. What do I do?" Alfred sighed as Dick prepared for the butler to scold him for his decision.

"Master Dick, do you know why Master Bruce took you in?"

"Because he saw himself in me and wanted to help?"

"Indeed, but also something else. It is a question that has been brought up at many League meetings and dinners. Why would the Master allow you to dress up in a silly costume and allow you to fight hardened criminals in the dangerous streets of Gotham City? It does not at all seem like a safe way to raise a child."

"...because he knew I would go out anyways, so there was no point in trying to stop me?"

"Well, partly true. The reason the Master is okay with your less than safe nightly duties is that he wishes to preserve the good inside you. When your parents passed and you came to us, you were broken. Master Bruce noticed that you were just as broken as he was at the time. And so he didn't want your childhood to be plagued by the same darkness that his tragically was. Master Bruce allowed you to go out and be Robin because he wanted to ensure that you never lost your joy and happiness. Looking at you now, I would say he did a splendid job."

"But what about the whole heir to the cowl thing? I thought Bruce was training me to one day replace him as Batman." Alfred chuckled.

"Master Dick, he never wanted you to become the Batman. Look at him now. Master Bruce spends his good days in a cave under this very manor obsessively pondering how to best defend the city of Gotham. He does not allow himself to have a life outside the mission. He has friends in the Justice League, but they are not enough to bring his light back. Look at Miss Diana. Master Bruce has finally taken her as his mate, but even now they hardly spend any real time together as a couple. For the Batman, the mission comes first. He never wanted that for you. He wanted you to be better than him. To have a life outside the mission, and to have true friends who could help you in that pursuit." Dick looked incredulously at Alfred. "You must have this conversation with Master Bruce. He should know that you have finally understood what he has been trying to do for 5 years." Dick nodded as he went off to find Bruce. He had to know, from his mentor's voice, that he was making the right choice rejecting the Bat-mantle. He needed to know if Bruce would have his back with this.

Dick found Bruce in the study, just as he suspected. "H-hey Bruce." Bruce looked to him.

"Hey. You do your session with Dinah?"

"Y-yeah. I wanted to talk to you about that."

"What's up?"

"I, uh, I've come to a decision. I've been holding off on telling you, but Al and Dinah both said I should, so...here goes..." Bruce looked interested to hear what Dick had to say. "I...I don't wanna be Batman anymore. Wh-what I mean is, I don't want to ever take up the mantle from you. I..I tried to act like you would in the sim, but everything went wrong. I got my friends killed for the sake of the mission, and it sucked. I don't know how you do it, and I'm not sure I want to learn. I'm sorry if I'm a disappointment to you for this, but I just...can't do it. I can't push my emotions to the side and focus on the mission like you can. I'm really sorry."

Bruce looked on incredulously. He thought he was hearing things right now. He never had any intent to pass the cowl down to Dick, and he never thought Dick wanted it. Being Batman wasn't exactly the most appealing job, given the stress and obsession that comes with it. He didn't think Dick would see him as a role model in this way. "Dick...I, uh, I was never gonna give up the mantle to you."

"You weren't?"

"No. And it was never a question of can you do it. You're the only person I could ever trust to be Batman if I needed to. It was just...I didn't want to give you the burdens and difficulties that come with the cowl. When I put on that suit, I become a person who can't have a normal life. The only thing important to the Batman is his mission. I've tried living a separate life outside the mask, but I could never really...bring it up to the same level of importance as the mission. I didn't want that for you. I wanted you to stay...happy. And about the sim. I'm seriously sorry you had to do that to your friends. But you did the right thing. You led them into a war and came out on top. It sucks that everyone died, but you won. I know it's not the outcome you wanted, and you never should have been forced to act like a leader in that way, but you did the right thing. I'm not mad at you for that, either."

Dick let out a shaky breath as Bruce finished. "Heh. I was worried sick that you would hate me for not wanting to be Batman." Bruce chuckled.

"I always wanted you to get your own life, your own identity. I know that, eventually, you'll want to leave Robin behind, to be your own man, outside of Batman's shadow. I hope you know that when that day comes, nobody will be more proud of you than I will be." Dick smiled brightly as he embraced Bruce. "So, we on the same page now?"

"Yeah...yeah we are. Thanks, Bruce."

I was gonna include Wonder Woman and Superman giving Dick advice, but I thought that would be out of place since this is primarily something that happens with Bruce and Dick. Superman already is the main reason Dick will choose the name Nightwing way later, so I didn't think he had to be here as well. Sorry if it was shorter than normal, but I hope it turned out okay. I'll try to post the next chapter today as well. Next chapter is ep 18 of S1, which is also on the smaller side but I'll try to make it interesting. After that is ep 19, which is where Zatanna joins the team. From there it'll open the floodgates for a lot of other Chalant-based ideas, which was the initial reason I started the book. Feel free to review and leave suggestions or thoughts. Next chapter up soon.