"A-P-R… is that an R?" Dick questioned.

"Yep, you got it right." Wally said, glancing from the guidebook to the text Dick was working on reading.

"I-L 2-0-0-9. April 2009." Dick finished the line. "I take it that's the publication date?"

"Sure is. Try the next line."

"F-R-R-... Wait… F-O-R-E-N-S-I-C… Are you still giving me articles about your uncle?"

Wally smirked. "Hey. At least it's in Braille." Dick punched him in the arm. "Ow! Your aim's getting better."

"Yeah yeah. Do you have anything that's not about your uncle I can work on?"

"Sorry. All I brought."

"What about the guidebook? Aren't there passages in the guidebook?"

"I thought you already read all of those."

"I did. But it's better than reading bragging pieces about your uncle."

"Hey!"

Alfred entered the room. "Master Dick, I found you another mathematical book in Braille."

"Sweet! Math!" Dick exclaimed. "Thanks, Alfred!"

Alfred handed him the book. "There are cookies in the kitchen. While your stomach may be a bottomless pit, Mr. West, please save some for Master Dick."

"Yes, sir." Wally agreed.

Seeing as Dick was immersed in reading his new Math book, Wally zoomed into the kitchen, grabbed the plate of cookies, and came back.

"Your cookies, Master Dick." He said in his best Alfred voice.

Dick snorted with laughter. "Thanks, Wally."

"Why must you call me Wally? I am Alfred. Posh British butler." Wally continued.

Dick was cracking up by now. "Okay. Stop."

Wally grinned. He was glad he could still make Dick laugh. It made a big difference, he knew.

Bruce had become super overprotective since Dick got blinded. He was forbidden from leaving the house/grounds and prohibited from wandering around by himself. Even school was no reprieve. Dick was being homeschooled until Bruce could find a school for blind kids with enough protection to ensure that Dick would be safe there. It wasn't quite a ridiculous reaction. Dick had somehow managed to knock himself out, earning a minor concussion, the first day by wandering around and it took them an hour to find him. Add on his potential as a target for kidnappings and it was easy to see why strict Bruce became a hundred times stricter.

Not to mention, Wally and Barbara Gordon were Dick's only friends who were allowed to visit whenever they liked. Any other 'friends' Bruce didn't trust enough to allow around his disabled kid. The team was puzzled when they were told Robin was banned from being Robin for an unknown amount of time. None of them had made the connection between Richard Grayson and Robin yet.

The person almost everyone was most worried about figuring it out was the Joker, having been the one to blind Dick in the first place. The criminal didn't seem to have put two and two together yet, but paranoia was amped up in case he did.

Dick perked up suddenly. "Bruce is home!"

Wally was startled out of his thoughts at that and checked the time. Was it that late already? Bruce entered the room.

"Wally? May I speak with you for a minute?" He said.

Wally was surprised that it was him Bruce wanted to speak to rather than Dick, but nodded and followed Bruce out of the room.

"What is it?" Wally asked. "Is it about Dick?"

"There's a gala tonight and the host is practically demanding I bring Dick with me. His argument is that I'm hiding him because I did something to him, even though the evidence says otherwise. Anyways, the public will be suspicious if I don't bring him and there is no way I am bringing him without someone to watch him. I can't spend the whole gala guarding him. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

"You want me to bodyguard Dick." Wally was amazed that Bruce was even considering it. It sure said a lot about how much Bruce trusted him now.

"Be on guard. Villains like to attack at events like these and I'm trusting you to make sure nothing happens to Dick." Bruce continued, obviously taking that as a yes Wally would do it. "Not to mention, Dick hates these events. He'll be glad to have a friend there."

Wally nodded. "Okay. I'm assuming you have an extra tux or whatever I'm supposed to wear."

Bruce gave him a 'well duh' look. He walked back into the room Dick was in. Wally followed behind.

"Dick, we have to go to a gala tonight." Bruce said.

"We?" Dick asked, obviously shocked. After all, he hadn't been to a single event since the incident.

"Yes, we. The public's pressuring me to take you along." Bruce said.

"What if a villain attacks?" Dick seemed nervous and upset at the implications of going to the gala.

"Wally will ensure you're safe." Bruce said.

"Wally's coming?!" Dick immediately brightened. "Yes! Maybe it won't be as boring as usual!"

"What's that supposed to mean? What am I getting myself into?" Wally piped up.

Dick grinned. "We can…"

"Best behavior." Bruce interrupted. "That means no pranks or running around like monkeys."

"Party-pooper." Dick rolled his unseeing eyes.

"Dick…"

"Fine, we'll behave. Even so, it'll be more fun with Wally there."

Bruce nodded in approval. "Wally, inform Barry that you're going to be home late because of the gala. I'll leave your tuxedo in Dick's room. He might need your help getting ready. We need to leave in about an hour."

"Understood." Wally saluted.

Bruce smirked and walked away.

Wally pulled out his cell phone and dialed his uncle. "Hi, Uncle Barry. Bruce wants me to tell you I'll be home late. He wants me to go with him and Dick to some fancy schtick. I think it was called a gala?" He listened for a moment. "Okay. I'll let you know when I start home. Bye."

He hung up the phone.

Dick stood up. "Come on! Let's go get ready! I can't remember the last time I was excited for a gala, but I think this one will be okay since you're going to be there!" He ran off and slammed into the wall. "Ow…

Wally sped over to him. "You okay, dude?"

"I have to remember not to run in the house…" Dick mumbled, dizzily.

"The doorway's a foot to your right." Wally informed him. "Where's your walking stick?"

"Upstairs."

"You're supposed to keep it with you at all times."

"Who are you? Bruce? I'm fine."

"You ran into a wall literally five seconds ago."

"Fine… Help me get upstairs."

An hour later…

"This thing is kind of tight." Wally noted, pulling at his tuxedo shirt.

"Most tuxes are." Dick replied, combing his hair back. "Does my hair look okay? It's hard to style it without the mirror."

"Here. Let me." Wally said, taking the comb from him. "Is all the hair gel really necessary? I think it's kind of overkill."

"Yeah. So do I. But it's part of the image we have to uphold." Dick responded. "Kind of annoying really."

Bruce entered Dick's bathroom. Like Dick, he was wearing a lot of hair gel and a tuxedo. "You two just about ready? Alfred's taking us in the limo."

"The limo?" Wally gaped.

"You forget which family you're with for a sec, Wally?" Dick laughed. "Of course we're taking the limo."

Wally finished styling Dick's hair. "This look good, Bruce?"

"Yes. It looks good. Come on. We're going to be late."

"Only stylishly late." Dick grinned.

"By the way, the host doesn't want you bringing your walking stick into the party because you'd probably bump people with it. Although I personally disagree, we'll have to go without, which means Wally's your eyes. Stick together at all times. Understand?"

"Yes, sir." Wally and Dick chorused.

The three went down to the garage where Alfred was waiting with the limo.

The media was waiting when they arrived at the gala. Dick had to remind Wally three times that he was his eyes, because the older boy wasn't used to being blinded by camera flashes.

Vicki Vale was reporting nearby, speaking about Dick's reappearance as well as his new 'bodyguard'.

The attention made Wally feel nervous. He wasn't used to all the paparazzi and it reminded him of how important his newfound job was.

To his surprise, Dick seemed to be nervous too. "I can't see them. I know they're there but I can't see them…" The younger boy whispered, his voice shaking slightly.

Wally mentally forced himself to be brave. Dick needed him as more than a friend right now. He needed him to keep him safe.

The party was uneventful for the first half hour or so. Wally relaxed. Nothing was happening. Everything was okay.

Then… "Hello Richard. It's nice to see your abusive Daddy isn't keeping you locked away anymore." A snobby rich girl showed up unexpectedly.

At once, Wally was on alert.

"My dad isn't abusive!" Dick argued.

"Yeah right. You were always showing up to school with bruises and then you were suddenly blinded? I'm surprised child services hasn't taken you away from him yet." The snobby girl sneered.

"A lot of people attack me to get to Bruce! He does everything he can to protect me! It's not his fault!" Dick growled.

"Even more reason for child services to take you away. You'd be safer away from abusive Daddy and all the people who want his money." The snobby girl smirked triumphantly.

Wally grabbed Dick before he could start throwing punches.

"Leave him alone! Go pick on someone your own size!" He growled at the snobby girl.

"Oh. Your bodyguard seems to be under the impression that Mr. Wayne is a good guy. Such a shame." The snobby girl continued.

"Go away! It's clear you're just a good-for-nothing brat who picks on others out of jealousy!" Wally snapped. "You don't know anything. Leave us alone. Come on, Dick."

He pulled Dick away from the snobby girl. The boy was fuming.

"Why didn't you let me punch her?!" He growled at Wally.

"Would punching her have done any good? She would've just said something about Bruce being a bad influence on you and that you proved her point." Wally reasoned. "She's completely wrong. The best thing to do would be to ignore her."

Dick took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "Yeah… You're right… I still want to punch someone though. Especially since I don't get to go out anymore."

Wally sighed. He knew what Dick meant by that. The boy was having a hard time controlling himself without the ability to cope with his anger by fighting bad guys.

"Can't help you there. Come on. Let's get some food."

"Okay. Don't take too much though. Can't have anyone figuring out your mega metabolism." Dick teased gently.

They walked over to the buffet. Two blondes were standing near it. Wally did a double take. One of them looked strikingly familiar.

"Um… Dick? Is there any reason why Artemis would be here?" Wally whispered in Dick's ear.

"Artemis? She's friends with Bette Kane, so I wouldn't be surprised."

"Why's she in Gotham in the first place?"

"Tell you later. Can you get me some food? I can't tell what it is without touching it."

"Oh! Right." Wally collected what he judged to be a normal amount of food on a plate and handed it to Dick. "Hold on to that while I get some for myself." He then got himself a little more food than he'd gotten Dick, but not a suspicious amount. "Come on." Wally led Dick to a table and they sat down.

Wally ate as slowly as he could force himself to. Even so, Dick was still eating when he finished.

"Hey Richard." Someone said.

Wally went on alert again, but relaxed when he saw it was Artemis and not the snobby girl from before or anyone like the snobby girl from before.

"It's been a while. I found out about what happened over the news. Barbara hasn't been as upbeat without you to banter with her at school." Artemis directed her attention to Dick, her eyes flickering over to Wally every once in a while. She slid into the seat next to Dick.

"Yeah. It's been hard. Only two of my friends are allowed to come over, so I don't really see, well, not see, talk to, a variety of people. Plus, Braille is difficult. It's not as easy to learn as the other languages I know."

"The mathletes lost their last competition. They're not as good without their captain."

"Yeah. I wish I could help. I'm still keeping up with math. In Braille, that is. Numbers are easier to figure out than letters. There's less of them."

"Um… who's this? I haven't seen him around before."

"This is Wallace. Bruce hired him to be my bodyguard tonight. You know, since I can't take care of myself that well anymore."

"It's nice to meet you, Wallace. My name's Artemis." Artemis stuck her hand out for a handshake. Wally was still stunned to see her there, but shook her hand anyways.

"So you been to many of these galas?" Wally asked for conversational reasons.

"Yeah. Bette likes dragging me to them." Artemis rolled her eyes. "Boring. She's in the restroom right now. I'd better head back before she realizes I'm gone. It was nice seeing you again, Richard. I'm glad you're doing okay."

"Later, Artemis!" Dick smiled.

Artemis smiled and walked away.

"Spill. What's she doing here?" Wally whispered.

"You just met her, remember?" Dick replied.

Wally groaned. "Fine. But you'd better explain later."

There was the sound of shattering glass as gunmen swung into the room.

Wally stood up quickly.

Chaos ensued.

"Okay. First and final step. Let's get you out of here." Wally said, pulling Dick out of his chair and towards the exit. They didn't get far. Several of the gunmen blocked them and herded them into a group of people at the center of the room, guns at their backs.

Wally faced the gunmen and shoved Dick behind him, determined to keep them from getting him. It was what he was here for, after all.

He took in the gunmen's attire. Before he could guess at who the villain they were facing was, however, a laugh rang through the air.

"Why stop the party? Don't you want to have some fun?" Wally located the villain and glared up at him as Dick started shaking.

"It's Joker." The younger boy whispered.

Wally gritted his teeth. Joker, the person who had blinded Dick. This wasn't good.

"Where's Batsy? Is he still mad about what I did to his little bird? I am sure he can see even better now. Hahaha."

Dick's breathing sped up. Wally squeezed his hand, assuring him that he wouldn't let Joker get him.

People around them were whispering. Dick started chewing on his lip again. Wally knew what he was thinking. If this continued, people would figure out the connection between Dick and Robin.

"Where are you, Batsy?" Joker taunted. "Do I need a little persuasion to make you come out? Hahaha. Maybe I should play Marco Polo again. Eye had so much fun with that last time."

A few people were watching Dick's reactions suspiciously now. The boy stiffened and tried his best to put up a brave front even though he was clearly terrified. Wally knew he was trying not to prove their suspicions right.

"Stand down, Joker." Batman growled, swinging in through one of the broken windows.

"Now why would I do that? Harley, be a dear and show Batsy why we don't need to stand down."

Dick's wrist was yanked out of Wally's grasp. The former yelped while the latter spun around quickly and growled. Harley Quinn was holding a knife to Dick's neck.

Batman shot a batglare at Harley before turning said glare on Joker.

"I've got you all figured out, Batsy. Two little black-haired boys, both brutally blinded on the same night. Who knew there could be such a coincidence? Easy. There isn't. Little Grayson over there is Batsy's little birdie. Isn't that right, Batsy?"

Many people gasped.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Batman ground out.

Joker kept grinning.

Wally didn't know what Batman wanted him to do: wait or take action. So he did the latter. He charged at Harley Quinn at a normal human speed and kicked the knife out of her hand, freeing Dick and engaging in battle with Harley.

Dick dropped to the floor and crawled away, frantic. He knew if he fought back, he'd prove Joker right. Plus, he couldn't see a thing. What was he supposed to do? He could hear several of the gunmen approaching him. Batman had launched into a battle with Joker and Wally was occupied with Harley. There was no Robin to take down the gunmen, as Robin was out of commission thanks to the very villain being fought right now.

So Dick did the only thing he could think of right then. He reached into his pocket and found the device Batman had made him to call for league help should he need it. Feeling the buttons with the imprinted symbols, he swiftly analyzed who would be best to call. Flash or Superman would get there fastest, Wally was already here, so Flash would probably be nearby. Flash it was then. He quickly found and pressed his finger against the lightning symbol. A split second later, he was grabbed from behind by a gunman, who dragged him towards the exit. At least, Dick assumed he was being dragged towards the exit. That or being dragged towards Joker. Exit probably made more sense to the gunman. Two seconds after that, the gunman was knocked away and out as Flash joined the fight.

It took a few minutes for all the criminals to be taken down. Dick had managed to locate a table and had taken refuge under it, the tablecloth keeping him hidden. He waited for all the noise to stop, and for Wally to start yelling for him, before crawling out.

Of course, the gala guests formed a crowd around him, asking questions about Joker's little 'announcement', immediately after he crawled out.

"Richard! There you are!" Wally exclaimed, pushing to the center of the crowd. Dick was still on his knees, not having bothered to stand up since he clearly wasn't going anywhere with the crowd around him anyways. Wally pulled him to his feet. "Come on. Alfred's waiting outside." He turned to the gala guests who showed no sign of moving anytime soon. "Move! Get out of our way!"

He then pulled Dick out of the crowd towards the doors, the crowd trailing behind them.

Outside, the paparazzi were waiting. They shoved microphones in Wally and Dick's faces and repeatedly took pictures. Wally did a better job of ignoring them this time. He shoved through them and helped Dick into the limo, then climbed in after him. Alfred shut the door, walked around to the driver's seat and drove off. Bruce had already been in the limo when they got there.

"That was a disaster." Wally grumbled.

Bruce grunted, obviously distracted. He was looking out the window.

They were nearing the manor by the time someone spoke again.

"What's going to happen now?" Dick whispered.

"We're going to do everything we can to prevent Joker from being proven right. And hope that not many people believe the rumor." Bruce replied.

Dick dipped his head. "I'm sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" Wally asked.

"If I hadn't let the Joker blind me…"

"Excuse me, I highly doubt you let the Joker blind you. You fought back with all you were worth and it wasn't enough. It was not your fault." Wally snapped.

"Wally's right, Dick. There was nothing you could've done. It's my fault you got blinded. I didn't get there fast enough." Bruce said.

"Not you too!" Wally exclaimed in frustration. "The only person to blame for Dick's blinding is Joker! Neither of you are to blame! You weren't expecting it to happen! No! It just happened!"

Silence greeted his words. It seemed both Dick and Bruce were still blaming themselves.

Wally sighed. So much for convincing them not to wallow in their guilt.

Barry was waiting in Bruce's study when they arrived back at the Manor. He was dressed in civvies and clearly worried. Bruce told Dick and Wally to go hang out in Dick's room so he could talk to Barry.

"Status report?" Bruce asked once they were out of sight.

"It's all over the news." Barry replied. "And someone got the actual announcement on camera."

"Damn it." Bruce growled. "Well, you're gonna have to take the Zeta Tube out. No doubt they'll have the house surrounded soon, if not already."

"Bruce, I hate to say it, but Dick is no longer safe here." Barry said hesitantly. "Besides the obvious villains, Child Services will come after him and probably try to take him away."

Bruce glared at Barry, who raised his hands in mock-surrender.

"All I'm saying is that you need to send Dick away with someone you trust before he gets taken away by someone you don't trust. I know that's not what you want to hear right now, but you can't deny that you don't have much to convince the court to let you keep him. Money can only go so far in a case like this."

Wally ran into the room at a normal running speed. "They're here."

"Who?" Barry asked.

"Child Services." Wally answered, the worry obvious in his eyes.

Bruce pushed past him and ran into the foyer, where Alfred was trying to talk the child protection services officials out of removing Dick from his and Bruce's care.

"You had your chance!" One of the officials burst out. "The child will be placed into protective custody for 72 hours. Unless you can prove that you are not responsible for what happened to him, he will then be taken to a licensed foster home until further notice. Resistance will only make things worse for you."

Alfred went silent and turned to look at Bruce, an expression of 'do something' clear on his unusually distraught face.

The CPS officials turned to Bruce as well, explaining to him what was happening and showing him the documents that ordered the change.

Upstairs, Wally had returned to Dick and was trying to comfort him. Both could hear everything that was happening in the foyer.

"It'll be okay, Dick. Bruce will figure out something. Even if they do take you, it won't be for good. Bruce will do everything in his power to get you back."

"But what if he can't? What if he fails?"

"Then we'll see about taking you in. I'm sure my family wouldn't mind."

"But I want to stay with Bruce…"

"I know you do. He'll figure something out. I'm sure he will."

The voices from downstairs got louder as the CPS officials came upstairs to get Dick, Bruce and Alfred trailing behind them..

Wally shoved Dick behind him once more as they entered Dick's room. Both boys were still dressed in the tuxedos they'd worn to the gala.

"Richard, we're giving you ten minutes to gather what you want to keep and change out of that tuxedo. After that, you're coming with us with or without your belongings." One of the officials told him.

"Uh-uh!" Dick shook his head defiantly.

"I'm sorry, Richard, but you don't have a choice in the matter. Mr. Wayne has abused his rights as your guardian and put you in more danger than necessary. You're no longer allowed to stay with him. He can't legally keep you." The official told him.

Dick felt tears come to his eyes and he fell to his knees, sobbing.

"Ten minutes." The official repeated softly, leaving the room with the other CPS officials. Alfred followed them while Bruce knelt down and pulled Dick into a hug.

"I'm sorry, Dick." The man said. "They wouldn't listen to me. I'm going to do everything in my power to get you back. I promise."

Dick leaned into him, still weeping.

"L-let's get you out of that tux." Bruce stammered. "And I'm not going to let you leave this house without some form of secret communication device, okay?"

Dick nodded.

Wally helped Bruce gather Dick's most prized possessions and picked out the clothes Dick would be taking with him.

Bruce disappeared for a brief minute to grab some stuff from the Batcave to give him. Wally used the time to help Dick change into some more comfortable clothes. He made sure the device to call the Justice League was nestled safely inside Dick's pocket, deep enough that he wouldn't lose it, but close enough to the opening of the pocket that he could use it if he needed to.

Bruce returned and they had just finished packing the bag when the CPS officials came back upstairs to take Dick away. Dick clung to Bruce, forcing them to use all their strength to yank them apart.

Even then, Dick refused to go willingly, digging his feet in and fighting tooth and nail in an effort to make them change their minds.

It didn't work. The CPS officials took him to the police station and then to a home where he would be kept for three days. When Bruce failed to prove he was a responsible parent within that time, the CPS officials took him to the train station and then on a train to Metropolis where a man had agreed to adopt him. By then, Dick had run out of juice to fight back with. He just sat curled up on floor of whatever home or on the seat of whatever vehicle he was in at the moment.

It wasn't until he got to the center where they would be meeting his new adoptive father that the fight came back.

After all, there was no way he was going to allow Lex Luthor to adopt him.

His mind raced for an excuse as he begged the CPS officials not to leave him with the evil businessman. He was making quite a scene, but he didn't care as long as he didn't have to go with Luthor.

The CPS official spoke to him in a sickeningly sweet voice, telling him Luthor would take good care of him and that no harm would befall him under Luthor's care. Dick didn't believe those words one bit, but he couldn't successfully flee without his vision, so he continued screaming and struggling, attracting a large crowd.

Finally, Luthor and the CPS were forced to give in to the boy's demands. No one could adopt a boy who refused to be adopted.

He was instead sent to a nice orphanage in the outskirts of Metropolis.