Percy sleepily watched the soft rise and fall of Dicks chest as he slept peacefully in the bed beside him.

He thought back to what had happened after the meeting with Chiron. It was late and everyone was weary and tired from the long day. Chiron had decided that as Dick had a habit of running away, rotating guards would be placed outside of the Poseidon cabin. Percy had sent Dick on ahead with Annabeth to see the cabin, while Percy stayed behind to talk to Chiron. "When do we tell him about the prophesy?"

Chiron watched as Dick jumped and flipped around, showing off for Annabeth. "Soon, but not yet. He has proven to be quite unpredictable and his story remains incomplete. He's hiding something." Chiron patted Percy on the back. "We'll continue this discussion another day, for now get some rest."

when Percy had entered his cabin he found Dick dangling from the roof by his legs. It took him ten whole minutes to get the young boy down, when he'd finally gotten tired of asking and flushed him down with a wave of water from the fountain in his room. Dick had seemed surprised but not angry by this action, and silently obeyed everything Percy said afterwards.

As Percy changed into his pyjamas he noticed Dick eyeing the scars that littered Percy's chest but did not comment. Percy was caught off guard however when Dick demanded he turn around while Dick changed. Percy chalked up Dicks extreme reaction to him simply being shy, although a little voice nagged at him telling him there was more to the story.

The two boys had gone to sleep in separate beds that stood beside each other, and Percy was happy that the evening hadn't been as much of a struggle as he'd originally thought it would be.

Around two in the morning Percy was awakened by the sound of mumbling and whimpers. He recognized these sounds as the beginning of another nightmare. Dicks whimpers began turning into weak terrified shouts, Percy tried to awaken Dick before he began screaming as loudly as he had in the car.

Percy managed to shake Dick out of his nightmare by partially waking him up, but was not prepared for what came next.

In his sleepy state Dick had mistaken Percy for Bruce. He'd wrapped his arms tight around Percy and had begun crying. Percy returned the hug but did not speak, not quite knowing what to say. Looking back he was glad he hadn't spoken or Dick might have awakened completely and realized his mistake.

Percy was not expecting what the young boy would say next. Dick sniffed and curled himself into Percy's chest. "Bruce, it was the Joker. H-he got you and I-I, I couldn't save you in time! Dick hiccuped as he tried to catch his breath. "Joker got to me again, and I couldn't escape!" Dick sobbed loudly into Percy's chest. Percy was confused and concerned but he rubbed Dicks back comfortingly trying to calm him down.

"Bruce it was j-just like that night! I c-couldn't move and J-Joker took out his knife." Dick started hyperventilating. "He was l-laughing, he wouldn't stop laughing!"

Percy tried talking to him in a soothing voice, he didn't care if he blew his cover he'd heard enough, he didn't want to know what happened next.

"He carved the J into my chest and it felt like it was happening all over again. It still hurts Bruce." Dick whimpered, he was calming down but Percy could still feel him trembling.

Percy remembered what Dick had said about Batman and Robin, this must have been one of the kidnappings that had led to him being saved by Batman. "Don't worry Dick Batman will always save you." Percy whispered reassuringly.

Dick whimpered again. "But Bruce, who will save you?"

Percy's face scrunched in confusion.

"You need me as much as I need you Bruce, we're partners."

No.

This was not going where he thought it was going!

"You may be Batman, but you'll always need your Robin."

No! No! No! No!

"You'll always need me to save you too."

...

This is what led to Percy watching Dick until he could be sure he was completely asleep.

Once he was sure that the soft rise and fall of his chest had evened out, Percy removed the covers and laid Dick flat on his back. He shivered as he remembered the fear in his voice as he talked about the joker. He had to see the scars for himself. If anything it would solidify the fact that he was really Robin.

Hesitantly, Percy lifted up Dicks shirt, exposing a small section of his stomach marred with angry red scars. Percy was horrified. This boy was nine years old and he already had more scars on his body than any other demigod he'd ever seen. Although he remembered that if Dick didn't have any of the other abilities of a demigod, he wouldn't have the accelerated healing that they did either.

However despite the horrifying scars he did not see any J. The worst scar on his body was still raw and red, fresh stitches were still blaringly visible on his stomach. This particular scar seemed to travel up his stomach onto his chest, which was still concealed by his shirt.

As carefully as he could, Percy removed the shirt from his chest completely and placed it aside.

Oh.

Now he could see the J.

The scar began up by his collar bone and traveled down below his waistline before curving back up again to finish at his hip. It was huge. Who would do this to a kid? What maniac would do this to a child who didn't look like he was more than seven years old! Percy didn't know much about the Joker, but suddenly the uneasy vibe he'd been getting from all of Gotham's citizens made sense.

But beyond the villain himself, what sane man would allow a child as young as Dick to fight crime? To fight criminals as terrifying as the Joker!

Percy fumed, if he ever met Bruce Wayne he would... He would...

No.

He clenched and unclenched his fists. From the way Dick talked, he had nothing but admiration for Bruce, and considering how the fight with Medusa went it was clear Bruce had trained him well.

Besides, Percy realized he was acting like a huge hypocrite. After all hadn't he gone on his first quest at the age of twelve. This was the life of a demigod. Sure Dick seemed to have started a bit earlier than most, and he wasn't necessarily fighting mythical creatures but his life was a battle all the same. One filled with tragedy and pain.

As Percy returned Dicks shirt and tucked him in, he was glad he'd found out. It helped him to understand Dick a bit better. Percy settled into the covers beside Dick and hugged his little brother, careful to steer clear of his injury. Dick was a demigod through and through.

Percy decided he wouldn't mention what had happened. When Dick was ready to tell him, he'd be ready to listen.