This came during the second half of "Lab Rat: Running Scared"; as part of the first version to Ch. 46. If you haven't read this story, Bruce and Dick (He's dressed as Robin here) will seem rather out of character. They're not! At least they aren't for this AU, but it took a while for them to arrive at this point where they could talk openly and easily about "feelings" and stuff. It was a painful struggle to reach it, so reading this out of context and before you learn the history will make it sound wrong or off to you.

Lab Rat: Running Scared - "Goodbyes"

No Warnings . . . Rating "K+" (for this scene - the story itself is a "T")


Bruce stood on the roof with Robin. The boy's mask was back in place and the Lars disguise was still being worn. He wished Dick had been able to get more sleep than he had, but time was short. Haley was due to arrive in Bruges sometime late this afternoon, and Bruce needed to leave right away if his own plans were to work. Robin and the team needed time to practice their act as well.

He handed Robin a small disk with a tiny bat emblazoned on it. Robin tucked it inside of his belt.

"That's an emergency call button," Bruce told him.

Robin frowned. "Don't you already have a one of those inside my belt?"

"Yes, but didn't you say that Miss Martian will be changing your uniform to a circus costume with the exception of your weapons? I assumed that included your belt."

"Yeah, I won't have my belt with me to perform," Robin confirmed.

"This will stay with you throughout," Bruce instructed. "Whether or not you are wearing your belt. It is small enough that it won't be noticeable when you're performing."

Robin smirked. "Isn't that a little bit overkill?"

Bruce slid a hand over his son's head; his fingers tunneling through the messy black hair while he still could. "No," he assured him. "My staying would be overkill."

An expression passed over Robin's face. It wasn't difficult to read despite the mask.

"What's bothering you, Robin?" Bruce asked.

"I-I barely got a chance to see you and you're leaving again," he complained. "Can't you stay, too?"

Bruce hesitated for the barest of seconds, and then shook his head regretfully. "This is a team effort, and a chance for you to stretch your wings. You'll be in charge of this mission," he reminded the boy. "I know you'll do fine. And I won't be far away. The zeta tubes will ensure that I can get to you in an emergency quickly."

"You'll be a world away . . ."Robin complained.

"It's all relative," Bruce reminded him.

"What will you be doing," he asked.

"Will it make you feel better if I said I will be waiting for your call?"

The edges of Robin's mouth quirked up. "Yes," he grinned suddenly and wrapped his arms around the man. "Thank you for this again, Bruce. It means the world to me."

A flash of pain was there and gone before the boy noticed. "I know, son. Believe me, I know." He pushed Robin to arm's length. "Now, you need to get going. You don't have much time to practice."

Robin waved as he tugged out his grapple gun. "I'll miss you, Dad."


This is why I love this AU so much . . . I can write this wonderful relationship between Bruce and Dick that you can't really find in other universes (unless Robin is actively bleeding out, that is).