Epilogue.- The begining is always dark.

"Wow. And there you had me thinking I had a great anecdote regarding some dorks at highschool and a flushed W.C..."

Robin smiled, lifting his head, letting the warm San Francisco sun hit his face. Several days had passed since he was rescued and a Titan's relax weekend was what he really needed to fully recover.

"I'm sure your anecdote will be far better than mine" He told Kid Flash.

"Better than being kidnapped by the Mad Hatter? But... how did it happened? I always thought you were unkidnappable."

"There's no such word, Bart."

"Yes, there is, with your picture besides it in the dictionary."

Tim rolled his eyes.

"There was a fire. Firemen seemed to have it all under control... but then I heard a baby crying... and entered the building... I can't remember anything else. In fact, I couldn't remember any of it for two days..."

"But, you are ok. I mean... He did not hurt you."

Bart was looking at his arm. Tim moved it to show him it was ok.

"It's just a scratch. "

The Kid Flash eyed him with a frown, but decided against scolding him. His curiosity stronger than his concern.

"I still don't get it, though" He confessed.

"It's really simple. In a twisted, insane and fucked up way, of course. He hoped he could make me hate Batman, that he could shape my unconscious self to that one idea, making me fight him. It was a good plan, really. He couldn't fight Batman, because he always wins... so... why not make Batman fight his own protégée?

"But he didn't count on you uncovering the whole thing?"

Tim shrugged.

"I just realized there was a pattern repeating over and over: How nice life would be if not for the Batman. And my conscience helped a bit. I could have been wrong. I took my chance."

Bart crouched, his gazed fixed on the blue sea.

"Do you believe it?" He asked.

"What?"

"That your life would be better."

"I don't believe it, I know it."

Kid flash turned, and Tim smiled sadly at the alarm in his brown eyes.

"I'm not on the job for my own sake, Bart. None of us is. All of our lives would be better, easier, if not for our second life. So what? It doesn't change the fact that we're doing the right thing."

Bart sighed.

"We can't quit, no matter what."

"No, we can't."

The two teenagers sat there in silence, the salty smell of sea and the warm sun giving them a sense of peace while they watched Cassie trying to convince Rachel to sunbathe nearby.

"Glad to know he failed, though." Said Bart finally.

Tim lay down on the hot pavement.

"For all you know, he could have succeeded I mean... if I hated Batman and were to hurt him, I wouldn't do it as soon as he rescued me from that laboratory. I'll wait to fully recover, to have a plan that he'd never guess... after all, I know all his flaws."

Bart lay besides him.

"You are scary."

"No, I'm smarter than the average psycho."

They both burst into laughing.

"Remember me to never piss you off."

"You're late."

Bart sat upright.

"It was an accident! Really! I didn't know it would blow up."

"It said do not touch".

"Well, it could be hiding some really interesting secrets."

Robin chuckled.

"I can see why we're not in Eden anymore."

Kid Flash frowned.

"You can't put a tree in the middle of a valley with red, round fruits and say: "do not eat". Even if you're God."

"Yes, you can. Especially when you're God."

"Ok, ok... you can. But it's not fair to get mad at the smart, curious human that wants to know more about everything."

"Are you comparing me to God? Or yourself to Eve?"

And while Bart decided which of these ideas was worst, shivering all over just imagining them, Tim closed his eyes. Life was not perfect, but it really felt good from time to time.

It was enough.

It had to be.

--------------------

Thanks to ScarabDynasty for her help!