Disclaimer: I don't own a thing besides my original thoughts, dreams, characters and settings. 'Kay?
A/N: I know it took sooooooo long for this but I hope that those of you who stuck with me through this will enjoy the end!
Robin's POV
My name is Dick Grayson and my friends know that.
They know…
I told them…
I had to and I'm glad that they finally know.
No more hiding behind a mask and cape…
No more hiding behind a silent facade and stoic behavior…
Of course they don't know everything, I couldn't bring myself to relive what I just had during my unconscious state, but they know the main points of my past.
My name is Dick Grayson. I am fifteen years old and have been training as Robin since I was nine. I grew up in with my family in the circus. After my parents died Batman took me under his wing and taught me most of what I now know. I left after being fired for a stupid mistake I made. I started the Teen Titans…
And I've made many mistakes in my life…
Mistakes…
I'm alone now…
Alone again, but this time it's only because I am forced to follow the doctor's orders. I'm not allowed to exercise, train, do any heavy lifting, climb stairs, or pull all-nighters anymore. I just acted like I didn't get the memo for the first week home. I strained myself to the point of collapse and they had to readmit me to STAR labs.
Well here I am…
Back home again…
After my second return home Starfire insisted that we talk about our pasts. She thought that might make me realize that others have gone through what I have…
Loss…
Pain…
Mistakes…
Well it didn't make me feel any better. It made me feel worse about myself.
No one had gone through exactly what I had.
No one understood what it was like to watch your entire family die in front of you.
No one knew what it was like to realize that you could've saved them but you didn't act…
I didn't act…
Have you noticed that people spend their entire lives searching for someone to understand them and when they find them they push them away?
Don't ask me why they do that…I was trained by the world's greatest detective not the world's greatest psychologist…
But am I right?
I know you know what I'm talking about…I pushed them away again but now I'm at peace knowing that if I want to tell them more of how my mind works I can.
I can tell them anything…if I want to…
Bruce and I keep in touch now. He calls right before I turn on the Tower's security and before he heads out for his night job. I like having him tell me what's going on in Gotham.
I learned that Bab's is still single and that Alfred misses all the dirt I used to track in the house. Commissioner Gordon misses me as Dick and me as Robin. He said he enjoyed seeing me in Wayne Manor, said I lightened up the dark area. He also said the Batman seemed less cold and more cheerful when I was around.
I miss Gotham…
I miss the trash and the pollution.
Jump City doesn't have much of that. It's clean and shines out like a lighthouse on the west coast unlike Gotham, which stood out as a huge smudge on the large map of the world.
Why do I miss the trash and pollution?
God I'm weird…
Better sign offline now. I guess Batman isn't going to send a message tonight.
Hmm… maybe he's busy with another case…
Oh well…
I move to shut off the computer trying to ignore the stabbing pain that I feel near my ribs. I've been getting used to that pain. Now it just hurts when I move.
A small popup window appears and words start scrawling across the screen. It says to go up on the roof before the screen flickers black.
Who would send that?
Should I go up on the roof or call for backup first?
Maybe it's a trap…oh well…
If curiosity killed the cat I wonder what it'll do to the bird.
I get up and unconsciously hold my hand to my ribs and go to the main elevator.
The sky looks just like it did that night when I was shot. We never did find those punks who did that…
Ok back to business… who wanted me to go to the roof?
"Anyone here?" I call out hoping for a sign.
"Nice to see you to my boy wonder," a voice said quietly from the shadows.
A voice I hadn't heard in a long time.
"Bab's?" I ask in disbelief walking closer to the sound.
"And others, may I add, Master Richard?" an English voice says quietly.
I know these voices…
I know them all…
I stare at the shadowy forms in shocked silence. Suddenly lights splash their brightness across the rooftop from a small black helicopter. I lower my hand from above my eyes as they get used to the brightness.
Then I see them…
There is Alfred just the way I remember him. His face is gently wrinkled and worn with creases made from many smiles. His white hair is lightly peppered and his eyes are soft. His tuxedo is in an orderly fashion and his shoes are shined to perfection. He is holding his white gloved hands in front of him and is has his head high standing tall in perfect posture.
Beside him is Barbara Gordon sitting in her wheelchair. Her hair is shorter than I remember and her glasses are a different shape but her eyes are still the same. They are smiling behind her spectacles. She still doesn't wear much makeup but as always looks splendid without it. Her blue v-neck shows off her eyes as they shine out to me. I used to get lost in them when I was younger. I notice that around her elegant neck is the small heart locket I gave her many Christmases ago. Inside there is a picture of both of us laughing. That was a good memory…
I tear my eyes from hers to see the next person standing atop the tower's roof and I have to take a second glance to realize who he is. I stumble backwards when I notice that it's not Batman but Bruce Wayne. His mask is off. He came to see me without his mask… his steel eyes are kind now and his dark hair is neat and his light brown suit is well-organized. I haven't seen him smile in years. It looks nice.
"Hey Dick," his words are spoken quietly and without his Batman tone in place. They remind me of mornings in the manor with hot cocoa and chocolate-chip pancakes.
I lower my head and slowly lift my hands to my face to remove my mask.
Who do I need to hide from now?
I hold it in my hands looking at it remembering way back when I had been shot and Bruce threw his mask on the floor. In my memories I had wanted so much to just be able to pick up that forgotten mask and hold it like I'm holding mine now.
My eyes widen as I realize something. Bruce hadn't thrown off his mask to show that Batman was over or that Batman was weak…it was to show that behind the mask Batman was human.
So does that mean that behind this mask Robin could just return to being human? That by just taking off my mask I could be normal again?
Who am I kidding?
I was never normal. Even back with Haley's Circus I was never normal. I mean how many kids do you see doing quadruple back flips in mid air? Not many huh?
I could always try and leave this water-surrounded tower and return to being Bruce Wayne's ward Richard Grayson but do I really want to. Could I ever live with myself after making a decision like that?
Knowing that there are so many people out there who need my help just like Tim and Mary did…
Knowing that there are kids out there losing their parents everyday just like me and Bruce…
Knowing that the Titans need me…
After realizing all that could I live?
Could I really live?
I've had enough guilt ridden dreams to know that I couldn't live with myself knowing that I gave up whom I was born to be.
A hero never runs…
And you don't need to be a hero to stay and fight for what you know to be right.
I know what's right…
I don't know how long I've been looking at my mask. I don't know how long I've kept my head down but I know it's long enough.
I look up and see all their smiles and their melting eyes.
I almost break.
Almost…
"Hey Bruce," I whisper slightly.
Barbara looks like she's going to burst into tears so I run to her as fast as my sore body can and hold her tightly.
"How's it going Babs?" I whisper into her red hair.
She pulls away and looks at me gently.
"I've missed you Boy Wonder. I've missed you so much…"
"And so have I, Master Dick."
I turn to the old man and he holds out his hand to me. I ignore it and wrap my hands around his small frame.
"I've missed you all so much…"
At first he doesn't seem to know what to do but then he lifts his arms around my shoulders. I look up and his eyes sparkle.
I turn to my mentor, but what is there to say? I open my mouth to say something…anything but he holds up his hand.
He knows there is nothing to say.
Finally no feuding words between us…
He holds open his arms to me and I come to him. He pats me gently on the back as if welcoming my home after being away for so long.
"We've all missed you…"
"So what's this I hear about you and another girl?" Babs asked comically from behind me. "I've heard that she's a redhead also…"
I turn blushing profusely to see her laughing features. I shrug slightly.
"Well I say Master Dick…"
"What can I say, I have a thing for red." I tug on my red tunic as if to present a point. "I am a robin after all..."
We all burst out laughing.
I look out at the harbor and realize something.
Hiding isn't worth the trouble.
Secrets aren't worth anything.
But friends and family are worth everything and more…
End
Thank Yous:
I have to thank all my reviewers exspecially my first ones. If it weren't for them I was going to delete this fic or just stop on chapter three. Who here is ready for a very long list of my reveiwers? I am: TTReveiwer,Raven-Yumichick, KatzEye, Spazzfire, TrigunChic, Elizabeth Aiken, Lost Inside, Terra18, Poopy Penguin, J Potter, Blue Jedi, Jgurl, Gecko Osco, RobinStarfire, Darth Hobbit, Chibi Lauryn, Tigerlily-2250, Kate, Jays Arravan, RobinRox13, TheLivingGhost, Talum, Yukigata, Chris, Titanfan, Britannica Moore, Itoshii Haruko, Insanity 101, TeEn TitAn 14, Aris Witch, BatThing, Smileyfacedudet, CelticHeiressFiona, Tonianne, Closetwriter, AriesFalcon, SeverineFlower, Saynt Jimmy, TigerHelix, haley, KatzEye, Roi-Tan, coldfiredragon, Yersi Fanel,andZerath. I love you all and thank you so much for your inspiration and comments on this! But i must mention the following as VIR's (Very important reveiwers) for this fic because they were my first reveiwers and had me continue this: A lil' like Raven, maroonedpirate11, Rose, Kat, Papaya, Secondchild02, Kaliann, andClouded leopard. Many many thankies go out to them!(and if i missed anyone tell me and i'll be sure to put you up here!)
Ok well it's over. Finally over and even though its sad I'm kinda relieved that i'm not once tied to another serial fic. I already have too many out that i must finish...
So many thanks and I hope I'll see you all reveiw for new TT fics i may post! ;-D
Thankies and until next time...
TheDudeLordOfFantasy a.k.a. Kathleen