Author's Note: First off, I will be concluding the Mary Sue arc soon. I just had to post this for my promised Flying Trapeze arc. What does it signify? You'll find out.

Second off…

Cricket chirps

Is anyone there? Am I just entertaining an invisible audience? Was last chapter crappy? I knew I could have done better with it, I'm just not sure what you all thought of it.

Happy first day of Spring, everyone!

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Recognize: Robin. B02.

Zatanna's greeting died on her lips when she saw Robin walking slowly out of the Zeta tube with his head tucked between his shoulders. His sunglasses were sliding off his face and his face looked pale.

"Robin, is…is everything alright?" She asked as he passed her.

"No," Robin said quietly, not looking her way, "Just give me some space today, okay?"

Without waiting for a response, he went towards the couch near the TV and sat down next to Conner and Wally as they played a video game with princesses and plumbers. Wally immediately wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulder and Robin leaned against it as though it were a lifeline.

Zatanna ignored her first instinct, which was to go over and ask her boyfriend what was wrong. She knew he kept secrets, and she respected that. There were still things that Zatanna hadn't told others on the Team yet, either. If Robin told her anything, it would be because he wanted to.

But that didn't stop her from at least suspecting what the matter was with him. His cheeky persona was gone and the boy that took his place was emotionally drained. Something must have happened today and he must have wanted to be around people. Not to interact, but to fight off the loneliness for a time. That was what Zatanna went through after the first anniversary of her mother's death.

She decided to tell the rest as they came in to give Robin some space.

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M'Gann knew something was wrong when Robin went past Zatanna without so much of a kiss on the cheek or a cheerful smile in greeting. His sorrow, while controlled, still radiated off him like heat. It didn't overwhelm M'Gann, but it still made her shiver.

Zatanna caught her eye a few moments later and walked up to her.

"Let's give Robbie some space," she suggested.

"Alright," M'Gann nodded, keeping her expression calm.

"And M'Gann?"

"Yes?"

Zatanna looked over to where Robin was, watching idly as Wally and Conner played a video game.

"Let's include Wally in the Don't-Ask category, too."

M'Gann nodded again. She didn't pressure Artemis to talk about her personal life and was rewarded for her patience with some insight in December. As did the rest of the Team. If Robin was comfortable enough to say something, she would take it as the ultimate sign of trust.

She summoned her cookbook from the countertop and looked over the page she had thumbed earlier. Garfield had proven to be a picky eater, so she had to work at making things that he would like and were vegan.

A small smile crept her face, a hint of mischief on it, as she pondered how her little brother would enjoy brownies with avocado in them.

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Wally didn't need to say anything when Robin came to sit down next to him. He offered physical support like Uncle Barry or his father would on bad days and Robin accepted it. Neither one of them was typically affectionate, wishing to maintain a level of manliness while demonstrating sensitivity.

He knew Robin wouldn't burst into tears, not after four years. The boy had told Wally that he wouldn't cry on this day ever again after a spectacular meltdown at some party. All Robin asked for from his mentor and everyone else was some space. If anyone in the know wished to comfort him, it couldn't be overbearing, or else Robin would see it as pity and not support.

If all he could do was give a one-armed hug and sacrifice his ability to play Mario Party with two hands, he would do it.

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One by one, other members of the Team filed in after their day of schooling or personal pleasure in the case of Kaldur.

And Zatanna and M'Gann made sure that they all knew to give Robin space, even when he stood up from his place on the couch and walk down through the Cave on his own.

At that point, though, even Wally was beginning to look a little lost, but didn't move from his seat on the couch. Was it out of respect for his friend, fear of making things worse, uncertainty on how to act?

All ears perked up when they heard the speakers,

Recognize, Batman. 02.

No one was expecting Batman to arrive in the Cave so suddenly. Usually, he'd announce his presence over the speakers about a new mission. What was so different about his presence being announced?

"Where is he?" Batman said suddenly.

Zatanna caught M'Gann's eye, who was looking just as lost.

"Uh…who?" Garfield spoke up from the kitchen.

"Robin," Batman said simply.

Wally shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable, "Um…he's somewhere in the Cave. By himself. And we're not bothering him about it."

"Why didn't you go after him?" Batman glowered at Wally.

Wally blinked, "Um…because Robin told me to not push it on…certain days? And because I respect his wishes…? And know he wouldn't be overdramatic or reckless when all evidence has pointed to the contrary?"

"You know how he gets on this day," Batman marched towards Wally, silently daring him to speak up again.

"Yeah," Wally said slowly, sounding confused, "He gets quiet…and reserved…and quiet."

"What's so special about today?" Garfield asked out loud. Wally frantically waved his hands in the air, gesturing for Garfield to drop it when Batman started to answer him,

"This is the day that Robin lost his parents."

Wally palmed his forehead while Zatanna's eyes widened at the revelation. He was just like her.

"What a surprise," Robin's voice came from the other side of the room. Wally looked in the direction it came from and gulped. Robin's stance wasn't defensive, but stiff with his fists clenched at his sides, "I leave for a few minutes just to get some air and I come back to this."

Wally shot a glare at Batman that told him he screwed up, but it went unnoticed.

"Batman?" Robin kept his voice firm, but cool, "Can we talk for a minute? In Black Canary's office?"

After a moment of silence, Batman nodded and followed his sidekick.

Conner broke the silence,

"What just happened?"

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Batman had ignored his first instinct, which would have been to ignore Robin's request and continue lecturing the Team on how apathetic they were acting towards his son. As he followed Robin down into Black Canary's office, Batman mused at how controlled Robin was acting compared to several months ago. Instead of making harsh accusations at his mentor, Robin contained himself rather well.

They entered the office, but Robin didn't immediately start talking like Batman had expected him to. He glanced at the room. Whoever was in charge of the décor – Batman couldn't remember, it was so long ago since the Justice League used it as headquarters – must have been on to something when they went for the stone walls in here specifically. The water flowing down one wall gave it a more tranquil feel to it, giving the impression of being outdoors with the lighting. Meanwhile, the furniture looked appropriate for a nice living room to read a newspaper or drink tea.

Robin took a seat at the furthest couch, which Batman took as a signal for him to sit down on the opposite end. He sank into the cushions, ignoring the urge to yank his cape so it wouldn't drape over the furniture like it typically did. He was typically the one who started and ended conversations, but Robin's glare almost sent chills down his spine. So, Batman waited.

"You promised," Robin whispered harshly, his voice sounding more brittle in private, "You promised you wouldn't do that."

"Do what?" Batman asked, already knowing the answer.

Robin didn't rise to the bait like he would typically do. Instead, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his expression nearly matched Batman's stoic one, the small frown ruining it.

"You promised you wouldn't tell them anything about me without my permission," Robin continued, "You told me to wear sunglasses around them, not give them my real name, insisted I keep your identities safe too. And suddenly, what you had drilled into me since I was nine went out the window. Why?"

"I felt that the Team could be trus –"

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT BULLSHIT!" Robin stood up from his seat. Batman stayed where he was, "YOU NEVER TRUST ANYONE WITH ANY OF YOUR SECRETS! NOT EVEN ME! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?! WHAT PROMPTED – NO, INSPIRED YOU – TO DECIDE TO TOSS OUR SECRET IDS OUT THE WINDOW?!"

"Today's the anniversary," Batman said coolly.

Robin scowled, "No shit, Sherlock. That still doesn't answer my question."

Batman fought the urge to sigh. Even after four years, he was still making rookie mistakes when it came to Robin, somehow.

"What I meant was," Batman started again, "that I felt that you deserved to be able to talk to the others about your past."

"So why didn't you give me that chance?" Robin countered.

Batman gave no response.

Robin continued, "So, instead of saying something like Robin, you can tell the Team about yourself if you want or Dick, you don't always have to follow my orders to the letter or even Alfred told me to tell you that you can open up to the others now, you just decided to handle things yourself. Because we both know how great that's been in the past.

"Why did you decide to start talking about my past all of a sudden?"

"You were isolating yourself –" Batman began, but Robin cut him off.

"Who told you that this wasn't a healthy thing to do?"

Batman sighed, "Dinah."

"Did she say that I was keeping too many secrets, or did she tell you to tell the Team about my past behind my back?"

"The first one."

Robin fisted his hair and started pacing, "You think I'm a walking mess, don't you? You think I can't do things on my own."

Batman could hear his inner-Alfred telling him I told you so and sighed. He tried again,

"Do you want to tell the Team?"

Robin stopped pacing and looked at Batman suspiciously, "You serious? Or erious?"

"I take it that you're asking if I'm joking?"

"Well, are you?"

"No," Batman said, surprised at how quickly he answered, "this is your call. It should have always been your call. Do you want to tell the others?"

Robin chewed his lower lip for a moment before saying quietly, "Yes."

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"Alright," Wally looked at everyone harshly, "Remember what we talked about. No one pushes the issue, no one becomes overly sympathetic."

He held his gaze on Garfield for a few moments longer, "And no one talks about what Batman just said because that wasn't his place."

"I suggest you not say such disrespectful things about our leader," Kaldur said calmly.

"He's right, Kid Flash," Wally felt shivers run down his spine, "You never know when I'm listening in."

He turned around and tried not to yelp as Batman loomed over him.

"Forget what I said earlier," Batman said simply, "You didn't hear it from me."

Then he walked back to the Zeta-tube.

Recognize: Batman. 02.

As the flash of light faded, everyone stared at Robin, who was awkwardly shifting in place.

Robin sighed, "You want to know about me?"

No one moved.

"You can be honest, guys," Robin smiled sadly, "I know you want to."

A few heads nodded in agreement. Wally saw that Zatanna was one of them.

"Alright," Robin gestured everyone over to the couches, "Make yourselves comfortable, cause this is gonna take a while."

He waited until everyone had sat down before he sat down at the furthest couch available.

Wally couldn't help but gasp as he watched Robin take off his sunglasses. It was quick, no fanfare, no dramatics. He saw Artemis's eyes widening, knowing that she and Robin went to the same school together.

"First off," Robin began, "My name is Dick Grayson. And I'm about to tell you how I became Robin."

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Author's Note: And so ends the first part of my tackling the overused "Dick Grayson's backstory" cliché. Some YJ fics, for some reason, have Batman telling the Team behind Robin's back because of some Fear Gas or injury or nightmare and no one ever calls him out on it. I also feel like he didn't really need to go into such detail into explaining something that his mature thirteen year old could have done on his own.

Plus, I wanted to avoid "Dick becomes a crying mess on the anniversary of his family dying" because that isn't really in character for him. Considering how it was four years since it happened, he would be more reserved and would only want space. Nothing dramatic.

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