Asuka02RedEva
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or Batman any of the characters used in this story…and alas, I do not own Robin…
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After jumping the gate, dodging the dogs…alright, no dogs, but one very high gate, and sneaking past the security cameras, Richard made his way into Wayne Manor…of course, he never was good at using the front door…
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Meanwhile, a dark cloud had settled over Titans Tower…
Beast Boy and Cyborg were fighting over Tofu or Meat (these people eat breakfast at all hours), Raven's nose was in her book, the door opened and all movement stopped as Starfire dragged herself into the room.
"Hello, friends who are present minus Robin." She stated in a flat voice as she flew slowly to the table.
All sweatdropped, maybe she was taking this 'Robin Leaving' thing a little harder than the rest of them were.
"…Um…hey Star, want some tofu?" asked BB, sliding out of a headlock.
"Hey, how about some REAL food, I've got bacon and eggs! How bout it?" questioned Cyborg, quickly holding up a frying pan of eggs and bacon.
Starfire looked at the pan of eggs with a bacon smiley being presented before her. Normally she would have eaten both of their meals, "I cannot eat…" she began, her head down, "for I do not know if Robin has eaten."
Cyborg and Beast Boy sweatdropped and Raven closed her book.
"Starfire, I am sure that Robin has eaten. He's a teenage boy…that's all they do…" commented Raven.
"HEY!" came two objections from the kitchen.
Cyborg grumbled and set down a plate in front of her, "C'mon Star, Robin wouldn't want you to starve."
"Cyborg's right, Robin will be back anyways, so no use wasting good food while he's away" stated BB placing some tofu in front of her.
"…Perhaps you are correct…but his note…"
"Robin loves crime fighting so don't worry, he'll be back, he just needs to sort out some things first," replied Cyborg, placing a fork in her hand.
Starfire mixed the tofu into her eggs, "But how long does this sorting take?"
"That depends on Robin…" answered Raven.
"A guy like that! It could take mon…" BB was cut short by Raven's elbow.
"I'm sure that it won't be long," intervened Raven, glaring at Beast Boy as he slinked away quietly.
Back in Gotham…
"Alfred, I'll have a pot of tea in my office."
"Right away, Master Bruce."
"Alfred, wait…have you been in my office?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
The owner of Wayne Mansion had taken notice that the door to his office was ajar. The door always remained locked when he was away. He slowly pushed open the door, the hallway light poured in the door way and led to his desk. His chair was back to…
"Show yourself…or I'll be forced to call the police."
"Bruce…what are you going to do? Have me arrested for breaking and entering? I have a key, you know…just because I didn't use it doesn't make any difference…windows are more efficient."
Bruce stood in the doorway as his chair turned, leaving Richard facing him, with a smirk plastered on his face.
"The young master has returned home," commented Alfred, "Welcome home, master Dick."
"Hey Alfred, what's up?" asked Richard as he stood up. He eyed Bruce wearily. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"…It's been two years Richard…" Bruce began as he slowly made his way towards the desk.
Richard winced, 'Oh boy, not even the nickname…' he thought as he waited for the rest.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was about you? You just show up after two years and…"
Richard's eyes widened in awe as he was dragged across the top of Bruce's desk and into an embrace.
"You didn't even call Alfred for a ride home…" he finished as he embraced his protégé'.
Richard took a step back and smirked, "Yeah, well…I never was really good at that whole waiting around for a ride bit."
Alfred shook his head and sighed, it looked like old times between them. Bruce had never forgiven himself for pushing Richard away after that incident with the Joker.
Meanwhile…
Starfire lay on her bed looking up at her ceiling. Silkie was busy drooling on her blanket.
"Oh Silkie, where is Robin's home?"
The drooling Silkie did not have any reply. He merely continued to drool and devour the corner of the blanket.
"…Perhaps Raven would know, I will go and visit Robin and then I shall bring him back…"
"I don't think that's such a good idea…" commented Raven, now standing in her doorway.
"Raven…why do you say so?" asked Starfire, sitting up.
"Look, I know that you want Robin to come back but there are things that he needs to work out on his own. Having you or any of us there would only remind him of his life in Jump City and would make it harder for him to make a decision," she explained, trying to make Starfire see her point.
"But Raven…perhaps Robin is lonely…does he not need friends?"
"…He has someone at home Starfire, I'm sure that…" Raven sweatdropped, and wondered what it was Starfire was doing.
'He has someone? SOMEONE? At home...' Thoughts of Robin and this 'someone' were going through her mind. She cut to the prom that Robin had taken Kitten to and gasped and fell over backwards onto her bed. 'Robin HAS someone he has a ….'
Raven realized what must be going through the alien girl's mind and her sweatdrop grew. "Um…Star…Robin has his mentor back home…his mentor is a guy…"
Suddenly a ray of sunshine appeared from out of nowhere as Starfire sat up, fully revived, the origin of the 'someone' had been solved. Raven shook her head and sighed quietly, could Starfire be any more obvious at times?
At Wayne Manor…
After the jokes and the reminiscing had died out, Bruce got right to the point.
"So, what brings you to Gotham?"
"…Just visiting…" replied Richard, noticing Alfred was eyeing him as well.
"I thought that maybe you and the Titans had a lead or something? Not that I'm not glad to see you, I just don't understand why you came back," explained Bruce, taking a sip of his tea.
"I guess I just realized that two years was long enough and I needed to put the past behind me."
"I want to apologize for pushing you away, Dick, but you have to understand that I thought …"
"It's alright, Bruce, I understand. I just couldn't give up crime fighting though…" he replied, "not at that time anyways…" he mumbled.
"Pardon?" questioned Bruce, arching an eyebrow.
"Nothing. Do you mind if I stayed for a while?"
"Not at all, you know that this is your home."
"Thanks Bruce, I'm going to go get settled in my room," he replied, standing up and walking towards the door way.
"Hey, not so fast, do you want to spar with me tonight after dinner?" asked Bruce, knowing that the old Richard could never resist.
"I don't think so, Bruce. I'll just see you at dinner," he continued towards the door.
"C'mon Dick, you could show me what you've learned while you were away."
"I said, no thanks."
Bruce caught him off guard and advanced, hitting him (with little force) on his shoulder. He was waiting for Richard's defense but instead, he watched what appeared to be a frightened young man stumble away from him.
Richard had been hit and his only thought was 'Slade!' He had stumbled back in fear of becoming his victim once more. Bruce on the other hand was completely bewildered.
"Dick…I…" he began, holding out his hand as he approached him.
"It's fine…I'm just tired…I'll see you at dinner…" he replied, walking out and closing the door behind him. '…What's wrong with me? Why can't I get over this?' he asked himself, leaning up against the door behind him.
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"I have never seen the young master like that…" commented Alfred as he placed the empty tea cups and saucers on a tray.
"…Neither have I Alfred…I merely touched him," replied Bruce, head down, looking at his hand.
"I do believe that the young master has come home for more than a visit."
"I believe you may be right Alfred…" began Bruce, "but what does this mean for the Titans?"
Back at Titans Tower…
Starfire held up one of Robin's boomerangs (Robin needs to learn to lock his door) and half smiled, "Robin will come back…Won't he?"
Short b/c I'm a busy girl! Sorry for any alignment issues or confusion… Hope you enjoyed! Please Review.
