Chapter 1 Out of the Nest
When Timothy Drake returned the latest data analyst that Batman had asked him to do to the Bat Network, he noticed that some values had been changed. Batman had fired Stephanie Brown as his Robin. Timothy had full access, and it didn't take him long to find out why. It took him even less to find actual footage. It troubled him. Then there were the patrols the couple days after the firing. It reminded him of Batman after his predecessor as Robin, Jason Todd, had died. He was getting reckless and judging from the report of his drop off of Penny Plunderer, violent. There really had been no need to break both legs of that third rate villian.
Tim was sure that if he'd done what Stephanie had, there wouldn't have been any problem. She practically saved his life after all. Insubordination to prevent potential death was quite acceptable, in Tim's opinion. This had not been fair to Stephanie, and he was not going to let the current Robin be locked out of the Bat Cave. That being said, he wasn't sure what to do. As a Robin, though, he knew that there was one person who was always willing to lend a ear to a fellow former or current Robin. He tapped a few keys and opened a call.
"Nightwing," came the voice of Dick Grayson over Tim's computer. "I've been expecting your call."
"Probably not for why I'm calling, Nightwing," Tim replied. "I've got a problem with Batman."
"I heard that you stepped out of Robin for a while. Is he asking for you back, or pressuring your father to let you come back?"
"Not yet, but I might have to. Did you hear that Spoiler insisted on taking up Robin's mantle?"
"Yes. I'd been meaning to stop by and get to know her better. I'm a bit surprised that Batman let her be her own Robin."
"I might have given her some pointers. Unfortunately they weren't enough. He's fired her, for saving his life."
There was a deep sigh over the connection. "I assume you have the video? Of course you do. Send it."
"I want to get her back on the job. I promised my father to step back, and I'm not going to break my promise."
"You also promised to provide Batman with a Robin. That being said, you could argue that you provided an adequate replacement in Spoiler."
"I so wish I could tell Batman that and get him to take her back."
"Why don't you?"
"Bruce locked her out of the Bat Cave, and told her not to come back. How do I convince him to let her back in?"
"You can fix the access issue. After all, I go to you when I lock myself out. Just reactivate it, and lock Batman out of access level changes for a while. Bonus if you can prank him in the process."
"Prank Batman?"
"Don't say you haven't thought of it. Every Robin has. Now, I haven't dropped in on the current Robin yet. Get her back in uniform so I can surprise her, like I did you."
"I think I can do that, I know where to find her most nights. The question is how to get Batman to accept her again."
"Don't give him a choice. I'll back you up. Oh, and get Alfred on your side. I'm going to forward the video to him later tonight."
"I'll call him next, and hit Batman after his patrol tonight. I may need to borrow an outfit."
"There is a Nightwing outfit in your size in Robin stash number four. It's a first generation one. I figured you might need it when I heard about your promise. I'll let you wear it just this once. Then we need to discuss your post Robin career."
"The irony that your daughter would be named Robin is quite funny," Timothy Drake said from right behind Stephanie Brown. She hadn't noticed him there, another sign that she wasn't quite ready to be Robin. She was perched up on a third floor balcony, dressed in an older Spoiler uniform. Batman had taken away her Robin uniform last week when she'd disobeyed his orders on a mission. Across the way was an apartment whose nursery bedroom window was slightly cracked. Stephanie could see Robin being held in her adopted mother's arms, as the soft sound of the mother's lullaby drifted across the street, words not making it, but the notes and soothing overtone did.
She spared a quick glance at Tim, before turning back to lock her eyes on her daughter. He wasn't in his Robin outfit either, though he had a grappling gun strapped to his right arm, as well as the traditional black domino mask, and like she did. It looked like he was wearing a Nightwing outfit. "The world wants to remind me that I'm not worthy but everyone else is," she said.
"No, you're worthy. Dad won't let me be Robin, and you stepped up. Yes, you're not perfect, but neither is Batman. I know he fired you, but I'm about to visit him and do a little reminding."
"I messed up, and he was right to fire me," Stephanie said. "I'm just not good."
"You're where I was six months into the job, and Batman needs to remember that Robin is a partner, not a subordinate. Also, I hired you, not him."
Stephanie turned back to Tim as Robin was lowered into the crib, asleep. "I don't remember that."
"I told him that Batman needs a Robin, and that I'd make sure he always had one," Tim said. "Dad's not letting me be one, and you're willing, and worthy. Tomorrow afternoon, be at Wayne Manor. Alfred wants to talk to you."
Batman wearily walked from the Batmobile to the Bat Computer. Solo patrol could be tiring, especially when you had to cover such a large area of Gotham. He'd broken up several robberies, assaults, and drug deals. It didn't help that they seemed to be each on nearly the opposite side of the city. He was pretty sure that he'd never put in so many miles above Gotham's streets. It was fortunate that none of the big name villains, or even third rate ones had been active tonight. Perhaps what he'd done to Penny Plunderer had got around.
The Bat Computer was already on, and the high-backed chair was facing the computer. Batman pulled off his cowl, moving to drop it in a basket that Alfred would later take to wash. Then he reached the chair and turned it, to discover Timothy Drake already seated there, a large mug of still steaming coffee in his hand. "Where is your Robin, Batman?"
"I fired Miss Brown for insubordination," Batman said. "I do not need a Robin."
Timothy's right eyebrow seemed to raise just a bit. "Let me review how I took the role of Robin. You were losing your way as Batman, lacking the balance you needed. I saw it. Dick saw it. Alfred saw it. You didn't want to see it at first. You didn't want to loose another Robin after Jason. I made you see it. We agreed that Dick could no longer fill that role, now that he was Nightwing, he'd outgrown it. It took me hours to convince you that you need a Robin, and that I could fill that role."
Bruce stepped back from the chair, but kept eye contact with Timothy. Timothy was right, he needed a Robin. Batman and Robin were a team, and he worked best with a Robin to balance him. Working with Tim as his Robin had proven that to him. He nodded.
"Tell me, Bruce, when Steph was insubordinate, was she actually right to do what she did? Would you be here right now, if she hadn't done what she did?"
There was a long silence in the Bat Cave. Bruce recalled that night, and a few other times that his latest Robin had disagreed with him, and done something against his orders. It grated on him when this Robin disagreed with him. She didn't have Timothy's intelligence and deductive reasoning, nor did she have Dick's athleticism. She fell short of what he'd grown used to with his Robins. Timothy was right though. He would have been dead if it wasn't for what she'd done on that patrol. "Yes," he said roughly.
"Steph's not me. She needs more training time, more experience, to get where I was as Robin last. I know. I've worked with her, Spoiler to Robin. She's a lot more determined, and is not afraid to share her opinion. She's not going to have the same balance with you as you had with Dick, me, or Jason." There was a brief silence. Bringing up Jason never was something you did in an easy conversation in the Bat Cave. Bruce had so many things that he'd seen as doing wrong with Jason that had led him to not want another Robin. They'd also led to him pushing Stephanie away. Timothy took a slip of the coffee
"I'm not letting you fire her," Timothy stated firmly. "Don't attempt to lock her out again, you'll end up locked out instead. You're comparing her to the end product of Robins. It's not fair to her. You've also forgotten the balance of the partnership. She's going to disagree, and if I know Steph, she's going to do it a lot more verbally then the rest of us did. Listen, trust, and build the relationship. Don't wait around for what you had.
"I told you that I'd fill the role of Robin. Father is not letting me do the job, as much as I'd like to. He actually wants me to leave Gotham. Steph stepped up, and she's the best Robin you've got available. She's Robin. She's coming to Wayne Manor tomorrow afternoon."
"I shall have her favorite studying snacks, then, Master Timothy," Alfred said. "Master Bruce, how many times must I tell you to put the costume in the basket?" Bruce looked down to discover that his cowl and the top of his costume lay on the floor beside instead of the in the basket, a basket that was not where he'd expected it to be.
"Sorry, Alfred," Bruce said, meeting Alfred's gaze. When he turned back, Timothy was gone.
It was very hard to argue with Timothy Drake. Bruce had known that for some time. Of all of his Robins, he was the most determined and logical. Dick had been more flexible and athletic, than Timothy. He tried not to think about Jason, but he'd been different than either Dick or Timothy. There was something about Stephanie that reminded him a bit of Jason, but as soon as that thought came up, Bruce pushed it down.
Bruce didn't plan on letting Stephanie back into the Bat Cave, no matter what Timothy said.
Stephanie Brown arrived at Wayne Manor at the front gate. It was not her usual way of entering. She usually used a side gate that was on the opposite side of the manor from Drake Manor. Tim had told her to come in the front gate. She suspected that was because he couldn't see that gate, but could see the front gate from Drake Manor. She walked up the front drive, her pace a bit hesitant. The idea that Tim could convince Bruce to take her back as Robin was a hope, but she wasn't quite sure he had the power. It was enough to get her to the front door.
It wasn't enough to raise her hand as she stood on the front steps.
The door opened without her doing anything but standing there for about three minutes. Alfred stood in the opening, in his usual suit. Alfred never seemed to change. "Miss Stephanie, Master Timothy said to expect you. Master Bruce is finishing up. Please come in."
Stephanie followed Alfred into the manor, across the large Great Hall and up the grand stairs on the right side. "It has occurred to us that we have been remiss in not offering a room for you." They turned to the right. Alfred pointed to the first door. "That is Master Timothy's suite, it used to be Master Richard's, but he's moved to the center suite. The bathroom is shared with all the suites on this side." He pointed to the next door, them moved into a slight alcove with two doors. "Master Jason's suite. Master Bruce has not gone into it." Then he opened the other door. "This shall be your suite."
Stephanie stepped through the door to discover a well apportioned room, with a sofa and a desk with a computer on top. The walls were covered with book cases and paneled wainscoting. There was another door, obviously to a bedroom. The computer looked like it matched the one that she'd seen Tim using. She didn't really need anything that powerful. She stepped through the door to the bedroom.
The bedroom was gigantic in Stephanie's opinion. It had a window looking out the front of the manor, and in between two book cases there was the canopy bed with gold drapery. The bed's covers however were in perfect spoiler plum. "Master Timothy suggested the bedding." Alfred said from behind. "He felt it might make you feel more at home. I agreed that plum was your color. If you wish any changes, let me know."
Stephanie looked over the room. "This is amazing Mister Pennyworth." She'd never had a place like this before. Her room at home was small, barely fitting a twin bed against one wall. This, this was a dream.
"Please, call me Alfred. You are a member of the bat family now. You will find that the left book case leads to the old nursery. Passages through the nursery lead to the old north servent's window. It can be opened by pushing the copy of Alice in Wonderland. The right book case conceals a pole down to the Bat Cave. We shall use it shortly."
Stephanie put down her bag on the trunk at the end of the bed's padded gold cushion. Then she took another look around her new bedroom. It would be hard to go home after she spent a nice on that bed, she was sure of that. She nodded at Alfred, who went over to the right book case.
"Master Timothy felt that the use of Casino Royale was an inspired choice," Alfred said, tilting the book into the room. "Personally, I find that Mister Bond is not a good representative the realities of Her Majesty's Service." The book case moved out from the wall, revealing a triangular cavity with a polished steel pole in it. "Shaken, not stirred." Alfred shook his head slightly, before getting on the pole and sliding down it. Stephanie took a deep breath and followed him.
She was going back into the Bat Cave, back into the hero's life again.
Arriving at the base of the pole, Alfred was waiting, with no real sign that sliding down the pole had affected him in any manor. It was a part of the Bat Cave that she had never been before. Along one side of the corridor were three poles, and on the other side there was an opening to the cave itself, that allowed you to look down to where the vehicles were parked. A trapeze swing was secured in the opening.
"Master Richard set that up," Alfred said, spotting her glance. "None of the others have used it."
"I might some day," Stephanie said, falling behind Alfred as he led her down the sloping corridor to the main cave's Bat Computer platform.
"I advise speaking with Master Richard before doing so," Alfred replied. Batman was sitting at the Bat Computer, his back to Alfred and Stephanie. "Batman, your Robin has arrived."
"Thank you, Alfred," Batman said, turning around Alfred bowed slightly and retreated. There was a brief silence, as Stephanie didn't want to be the first to speak. The silence didn't become uncomfortably long, however. "I have spent the last few hours examining the events that led to my firing you." The screen above him suddenly turned to display multiple angles of the event.
"Upon further review, it appears that your actions were more correct that I gave you credit for. Batman and Robin is a partnership, and I was wrong to hold you to such a strict level of obedience. I was wrong, and as your immediate predecessor has rightfully told me, I need give you more freedom of action, to build a relationship of trust, make Batman and Robin a partnership again.
"I'm still in charge, but I've been informed that you are my Robin until the other Robins tell me otherwise. Which means, no more considering you as a fill in. Minor alterations to the Robin outfit to fit your form are not enough. Every Robin has grown and changed the outfit to fit them. Tonight, we will be making your Robin. We will also be updating your Spoiler outfit to meet Bat standards. There may be cases where the second identity will be useful.
"Tomorrow afternoon, your predecessor has offered additional training in the detective part on afternoons after school at his residence. Speaking of your residence, I have spoken with your mother. It seems that she is aware of your identity as Spoiler."
Stephanie shook her head slightly. She'd long believed that her mother only pretended not to know.
"She is apparently quite glad that you've been 'taken in by the Bat Family', her words, and are getting more training and protection in the job that she 'knows better than to stop you.' I was treated to quite a rant about how you are quite determined to prove that Browns are heroes, not villains. There are some additional items that have come up, but that's for another time. For now, she expects you to spend a regular schedule here. Now, what's your first problem with this outfit."
"It's still a bit too tight."
The next school day after her return as Robin, Stephanie was surprised to find Tim waiting for her on a motorcycle in front of her school in his Alvin Draper identity. "Steph!" he called out.
She rose her hand, just in time to somehow catch his spare helmet. It made quite a bit of sense for Tim to pull out his old alias to pick her up, not that she'd expected him to pick her up. After all, it was as Alvin that he'd taken her to many appointments when she had been pregnant. He was a familiar sight to her classmates, even though it had been a couple months since his last visit.
Stephanie was used to calling heroes by various identities, so she had no hesitation calling out, "Alvin!" She put the helmet on, and adjusted her backpack so it was over both of her shoulders. Then she climbed on board the motorcycle. It didn't take long before Tim was up to full speed and they were on their way to Wayne Manor.
The speaker in Stephanie's helmet went off, as Tim asked her. "So how was getting back in the Robin suit?"
"Much better, now that it fits again," Stephanie replied. "We didn't get to patrolling last night, but I think it will be better when we do. You were right, Batman needs a partner, not a minion, and I'd let myself be a minion."
"Don't let it happen again," Tim said. "I think Batman reacts to loss by trying to take more control. At first I thought it was in reaction to Jason's death, but after talking to Nightwing, I think it started further back. It hit the partnership when the first Robin became Nightwing, but Batman exists because Bruce Wayne lost his parents and wanted to take back control."
"So, don't let him think it's gotten out of control?" Stephanie said.
"Oh, it's going to get out of control, and he's going to know it. The question is how you're going to handle the next time he needs saving. Think on it, and be ready."