A/N: I'm glad everyone's enjoying this story so far! Here's the next chapter!

Bruce watched as Dick finished suiting up. "Dick," he said, calling the boy over. Dick ran over, mask in hand. "You have extra bat-a-rangs?"

"Yes," Dick nodded. "And an extra grapple hook."

"Good." There was a breeze of wind and Superman landed next to Bruce. "Clark."

"Bruce," Clark replied. "Are we ready?"

Bruce looked at Dick. "Repeat the plan back to me."

Dick nodded. "I'm going to find Speedy and talk to him. Not about the abuse or anything about Green Arrow though."

"Good. If Green Arrow shows up?"

Dick pulled out a small device that was shared like Superman's 'S' shield. "I press this and Superman will come get me."

"I will be flying around just outside the city," Superman assured him. "If you need any help at all don't hesitate to press it."

Dick nodded. "He's serious Dick," Bruce said, leaning down so he was eye level with the boy. "Do not try to fight Green Arrow. It's not like sparring with me. He won't hesitate to hurt you. Understand?"

"I do," Dick assured his mentor.

"Remember that you can't suggest Speedy leaving yet. We need you to gain his trust before we do that."

"I will." He put his mask on and smiled. "I'm ready."

Bruce and Superman exchanged a glance and the former gave the latter a nod. "Bring him back in one piece."

"You have my word," Superman promised. Robin jumped up and landed comfortably in Superman's arms.

"Let's go!" he said excitedly.

Superman nodded and held Robin to his chest. Bruce watched as he flew up and left the Bat cave, gaining speed as he did. He turned back to the computer to monitor Green Arrow with security cameras. This way he could keep an eye on Robin and Speedy, and keep track of where Green Arrow was so that Robin could get out if he showed up. His mind kept going back over all the ways this plan could go wrong. Speedy could turn Robin over to Green Arrow. Green Arrow could show up before Robin can leave. Batman knew it wasn't productive though. He just had to trust that his partner would do the right thing and keep himself safe. Robin was a people person. If anyone could get through to Speedy, it was him. This still wasn't going to be easy though.

— —

If there was one thing Speedy loved more than his longbow, it was patrol. He loved being able to run and stretch his legs. He loved any chance to use his archery. More than anything though, he loved the freedom. Well, limited freedom. There was really no such thing as actual freedom with Green Arrow, but he got pretty close. He ran lightly across the rooftop and jumped down onto the next one. It had been a slow night for crime in the neighborhood radius he'd been given. He tried to feel something akin to happiness that Green Arrow trusted him enough to let him patrol the area alone. He couldn't mess it up though. His eyes swept over the ground, looking for trouble. He drew his bowstring back when he saw something move in the corner of his eyes. He moved carefully, keeping his arrow ready at all times. "Who's there?" he called. He heard an unnerving cackle and another shadow moved. Speedy flinched and moved quickly, following it. He ran to the edge of the roof top and jumped the gaped between buildings. He stopped and looked round. He heard the cackle again and saw something bright flash against the shadows. He followed the noise as it moved across the buildings. He stopped a couple of minutes later, looking around in confusion. "Where are you?!"

"Behind you." Speedy jumped and spun around, only to find his arrow inches from thin air. Underneath it, was a mop of black hair. Speedy stepped back in confusion. "You…you're a kid."

The kid, who looked 8, smiled. He was dressed weird, in bright colored clothes, with an 'R' on his chest. "I'm not just a kid! I'm Robin, Boy Wonder!" He did a flip and bowed after he landed. "At your service."

Speedy relaxed his bow since this kid obviously wasn't a threat. He was still panicking though. Just on the inside 'Oh my god,' he thought. 'Oh no. Oliver would tear this kid to pieces!' He swallowed nervously. "What're you doing here?"

"I came here to meet you!"

"Meet…me…?"

"Yeah! I love meeting other young heroes!"

"Other- wait you're a hero?"

"Kind of. I'm still in training. I work with Batman."

"Batman? Doesn't he work in Gotham?"

"We sure do!"

Speedy frowned. "Aren't you…kind of far from home?"

Robin seemed to consider it. "I guess."

Speedy put the arrow back in his quiver. The action drew Robin's attention to the underside of his arm. Specifically to the hand shaped bruise wrapped around Speedy's bicep. His mouth tightened, but he didn't say anything. "What're doing here….Robin?"

"I told you. I came to meet you. I've met all the other young heroes except you so-"

"You-you mentioned others."

"Yeah."

"So….there really are more kid heroes?"

"Sure! There's Kid Flash. He works with the Flash. And Aqualad. He works with Aquaman."

"Kid Flash and Aqualad."

"Yup!"

"And you're Robin."

"You got it!"

Speedy drummed his fingers idly on his bow. "I've never heard of you guys."

"Really? But you've heard of Batman, Flash, and Aquaman, right?"

Speedy nodded. "They're in the Justice League."

"They are."

Speedy thinned his lips. Green Arrow always had a few choice words to say about the Justice League. However, none of them were words Speedy felt he could repeat in front of a… "How old are you?"

"10." If Arrow showed up this kid wouldn't stand a chance! The thought made Speedy glance over she shoulder. The action caused Robin to see a dark mark on Speedy's neck. "How old are you?" Speedy looked at him. He didn't know how was possible for someone to look so innocent with their eyes covered by a mask, but this kid could pull it off pretty good.

"I'm 14."

"Cool." Speedy thought he heard something move behind him and jumped. "Everything ok?"

"Yeah. Yeah." He turned back to Robin. "You should leave. Green Arrow doesn't like other heroes coming into the city. Even small ones."

"What Green Arrow doesn't know won't hurt him."

'No but it will hurt me when he does find out,' Speedy thought bitterly. "Look, you seem like a really nice kid. If Green Arrow finds you here, he's going to hurt you. Trust me you really don't want that."

Robin crossed his arms. "If I leave can I come back?"

"I'd prefer that you don't. If Green Arrow catches you-"

"He won't. I work with Batman, Green Arrow doesn't scare me." Speedy was pretty sure if Batman was anything like Green Arrow then he must be terrifying. His heart stopped as a thought occurred to him. How much trouble would Robin be in for coming to see him? Green Arrow wouldn't even let him out of the house, let alone out of the city. He shivered and felt a stab of pity for Robin. Poor kid would probably be feeling this for a week. "Besides, I want to be your friend."

"My-my friend?"

"Yup!"

"Why?"

"I like to be friends with all the heroes."

"Green Arrow isn't exactly friendly."

"That's why I came to you."

Speedy just wanted this kid to leave. For both their sakes. "Please, just get out of here."

"I'll leave if you say we can be friends."

Speedy sighed. "Robin-"

"Come on! Please?"

Speedy rubbed his hand over his mask. "Fine. We're fiends."

"Awesome!" Robin leaped at Speedy and wrapped his arms around him. Speedy flinched and pushed Robin away.

"Why would you do that?!"

"It-it was just a hug." Robin was confused at the way Speedy almost seemed to be trying to make himself smaller. "Sorry."

"No, it's fine. I just….just leave."

Robin nodded. Part of him didn't want to leave, knowing what was going on, but he knew he had to. He remembered Batman's words about how they needed to do this delicately. "Bye Speedy."

"Bye Robin." Speedy made sure the boy disappeared before going back the way he'd come. He was relieved every step he took that he didn't see Green Arrow. If he could just make it back to his patrol he'd be golden. He'd just pulled himself up onto the building where Robin had first appeared when something grabbed his arm. His heart stopped when found himself face to face with Green Arrow.

"Where were you?!" Green Arrow demanded.

"I-I- patrolling."

"You left your neighborhood."

"What? No I- I would never-"

"This building is the edge of your neighborhood!" He shook Speedy's arm, causing the teen to lose his balance. "Don't lie to me boy!"

"I'm not! I-I didn't know I swear!" Speedy waited tensely as Green Arrow stared him down. The older archer released him and he felt himself relax. Only to gasp in pain ad stumbled when Green Arrow backhanded him.

"Next time pay more attention to your surroundings. Understood?"

Speedy nodded. "Understood sir."

"Come on, we have work to do," Green Arrow left and Speedy followed, staying close to him as they took off into the night.

— —

Bruce would never have admitted that he let out sigh of relief when Superman dropped Robin back off at the Bat cave. "No complications?"

The Man of Steel shook his head. "Thankfully."

"This was only day one."

"Baby steps." The Bat gave him a glared and he put his hands up in surrender. "I'll go. Good work tonight Robin. Make sure you get some rest."

"I will!" Robin smiled. "By Superman."

"Bye. Batman."

"Superman." Superman left and Robin took off his mask. "Report?"

"Speedy was jumpy and very concerned about Green Arrow finding us. He was really nervous."

Bruce nodded. He'd been expecting as much, "Getting him to trust you won't be short or easy."

"I know, but I really want to help him."

"I know you do. Go get changed and go to bed."

"Ok." Dick paused and looked back at his guardian. "Bruce?"

"Yes?"

"Do….do you think Speedy misses his parents?"

Bruce considered it. "Probably."

"I don't think Green Arrow is a good replacement."

"I'd agree with you on that."

"But, Roy does deserve someone who would do a good job of helping him miss his parents less. Right?"

Bruce nodded, unsure where the conversation was going. "Sounds reasonable."

"Ok." Dick went to change, ending the conversation. Bruce turned back to his computer, feeling as though he was missing something about it. He pulled up another still of Speedy. He knew it was bad to let emotion get involved in a case, but try as hard as he might, he couldn't stop thinking about a vulnerable chid who'd been looking for a home, but had fallen into a lion's den instead. 'I will get you away from him Roy,' Bruce promised silently. 'I won't won't let your name join his list of victims. I promise.'