A/N: Hello wonderful readers! Time for another update! I hope everyone is enjoying reading it.

It was three days before Roy could go on patrol again. He woke up the morning after getting shot to burning pain in his thigh. He sat up, wincing. His chest was still sore from Oliver kicking him, as was his jaw. He gently removed his shirt and looked down. Bruises in different shades of age dotted his ribs. The newest one was on the side and surprisingly big. He tapped it gently. He was pretty sure there were no broken ribs underneath. He put his shirt back on and got out of bed. As soon as he was standing though, he fell. He caught himself on his bed and breathed through the pain. He stood up as straight as he could, standing on his uninjured leg. He hopped to the bathroom, using his bed and bookcases to keep himself up. Once he made it, he sat on the edge of the tub to change the bandages. He examined the wound for a minute, satisfied that it wasn't infected. He quickly cleaned and rewrapped it, then pushed himself back up. He hopped down the hall, using the wall to keep himself up. By the time he made it down the stairs, somehow without falling on his face, his leg he could use was tired. He spent most of his day sitting to keep pressure off his injured leg and to not wear out his good leg. Luckily sharpening the arrows, every one of them in the arsenal, took hours and was a sitting down activity. Oliver had come home by the time he was finishing.

Oliver inspected a few arrows, making sure the points were sharp enough. Roy's heart was pounding while he waited. Eventually, his guardian grabbed his hand and slid the edge of an arrow against his palm. A thin line of blood appeared on Roy's hand. He didn't even wince because he was long used to Oliver's method of testing the arrow sharpness. Oliver nodded, satisfied "Good work."

Roy let out the breath he'd been holding. "Thank you."

"Come upstairs for dinner." Roy hopped his way to the kitchen, which Oliver noticed but didn't comment on. The two sat down for dinner, which Roy sat tensely, keeping part of his attention on Oliver the whole time. Oliver didn't talk at first, which was fine with Roy. Eventually, he looked at the teen. "You're staying home tonight."

Roy frowned. "I am?"

"Yes. You can't walk and you'll only slow me down."

Roy nodded. Normally he'd be upset about losing his one opportunity to get some fresh air, but he was in too much pain to care. "Ok." He waited a minute before venturing, "Oliver?"

"Hm."

"Can I- Can I have some pain medicine please?"

Oliver seemed to think about it for a minute. "Yes. I'll give you some before I leave."

"Thank you." Roy went back to his meal silently. After dinner Oliver gave him some medicine and he hopped his way back upstairs. He laid in his bed and stared up at the ceiling. 'I hope Robin doesn't come tonight,' he thought. 'If he does…' Roy shivered. 'At least without the ability to move a lot I can't piss Ollie off in any major way.' He drifted off to sleep, dreaming that he and Robin were running across the rooftops; free of the life forces that brought them down.

— —

"What if something bad happened to him?" Robin asked as he fixed his mask.

"I'm sure Speedy is….alive," Batman replied. He avoided using the word 'fine' since being practically held captive and beaten regularly by a sociopathic billionaire didn't seem to qualify as 'fine'.

"Then why hasn't he been out?"

"Maybe Green Arrow doesn't let him out to patrol every night."

"But he was out every night before last night."

"Maybe he was hurt after you left. We should never try to understand the mind Oliver Queen."

"You're telling me. He kills everyone! I followed him around, hoping to see Roy, and he even kills vandals."

"What, you- Dick I told you to keep your distance from him!" This is what he'd been doing the Green Arrow went into areas without surveillance cameras.

"I was in the shadows the whole time! He never saw me!"

"I still don't want you to go near him." Even if Robin had the skill to tail Green Arrow without being detected, which he definitely did, Batman didn't want his partner exposed to the brutality of Green Arrow's methods. He knew it was pointless, given what Dick had seen already in Gotham, but he couldn't turn off the part of his brain that argued to keep the boy safe. Robin didn't need to be that close to a deadly vigilante. "Stop tailing him immediately if you don't see Speedy tonight. Understood?"

"I can follow him without getting caught!"

"Robin…"

"Fine."

Superman arrived. "Are you sure you want to do this?'

Robin sighed. "You've been asking me that for three days."

"I can always hope that you'll change your mind. We're still doing this?" Robin nodded. "I was afraid of that."

"I'm not changing my mind."

"I'm afraid of that too."

"Let's go then!"

Batman grabbed Robin's arm gently. "Stay away from Green Arrow," he warned his protege. He looked at Superman. "Make yourself useful for once and make sure he doesn't follow Green Arrow all night if Speedy doesn't turn up."

'Is it better to admit I didn't know what he was doing?' Superman wondered. He nodded though for Batman's benefit. "I will." Robin jumped into his arms. "Let's get this over with."

"Remember what I said!" Batman yelled as Superman flew off with Robin in his arms. The Dark Knight had to resist the urge to follow. He had confidence in Robin, but he didn't like his partner going alone. 'I just have to trust Superman to keep him safe.' The thought made the Bat grimace.

— —

Once Superman dropped him off on the outskirts of the city, Robin had his grappling hook out. He grappled up the side of a building and took off across them. He put his hand to his comm. "Robin to Batman."

"Green Arrow and Speedy are out," Batman informed him. "I'm sending their location to you."

Robin looked down at his gauntlet computer. The map of Star City showed to blips, one green and one red, several blocks north of him. He nodded and headed for their location. He stuck to the shadows as much as possible. Star City wasn't quite as dreary and dark of Gotham; but the lights made the shadows even darker, which worked perfectly for him. 'It doesn't look like Green Arrow is as skilled with stealth as Batman is,' Robin noted silently. He crept along as he got closer. He peeked over the edge of a roof. Speedy and Green Arrow were down below in an alley. They had a man cornered, with both archers keeping an arrow trained on him. Speedy looked away suddenly, just as Green Arrow shot the man in the chest. Robin bit back a gasp as the man dropped to the ground. It still made his stomach turn to see life being taken; even if said life was a criminal. He looked at Speedy, who turned back to his mentor. 'Speedy still doesn't like killing.' He filed that away. The two moved and Robin followed from the rooftops. Luckily, they didn't come across any more criminals.

Eventually, the two archers also took to the rooftops. Robin hid himself silently in the shadows, watching them keenly. "You have these 10 blocks," Green Arrow said. "Don't-"

"Don't leave this neighborhood and don't stand around," Speedy finished. "I know."

Green Arrow grabbed his neck and Speedy gasped in shock. Robin's hand dropped to his utility belt. He wasn't supposed to intervene, but he wouldn't stand by idly and let Green Arrow strangle Speedy. "Are you talking back to me boy?!"

Speedy shook his head quickly. "N-no! Of course not."

"It sounded like you were."

"I swear I didn't!"

"Hmm." Green Arrow released him and Speedy stepped back a step. "Don't screw it up!" The emerald archer left. Robin smiled and stepped out from the shadows.

"Long time no see," he said.

Speedy jumped and spun around. "Why do you keep doing that?!"

"Doing what?"

"Just…appearing out of nowhere!"

"That's how we roll. Batman and I, I mean."

Speedy sighed. "You need to go. I got in trouble last time he found me on the roof he left me on."

Robin nodded, remembering the encounter very well. "Well…let's go then."

"Go? Go where?"

"Another building. Come on!"

"Wait-" Robin didn't wait, but instead took off across the rooftops. He left Speedy follow, certain the teen wouldn't let him roam the city alone. He finally stopped and Speedy gave him a glare. "Happy?"

Robin shrugged. His smile disappeared. "So…about what I saw earlier-"

"You didn't see anything," Speedy interrupted quickly. "Nothing happened."

"Green Arrow grabbed your neck! I saw it!"

"No he didn't!"

Robin crossed his arms. "What about what happened three days ago?" His eyes stared at the large, dark bruise on Speedy's jaw.

"What about it?"

"He punched you-"

"No he didn't!"

"Then he kicked you while you were down. Twice!"

"He didn't! Your eyes were playing tricks on you!"

Robin bit back a 'they were not'. He wouldn't get Speedy on his side by outright arguing with him. "Why are you covering for him? You know I saw. We both know you're lying."

"I'm not lying." Some of the conviction left his voice.

"Yes you are. Why are you covering for him?!"

Speedy took a threatening step towards him. "You don't know anything about him!" He glared at the kid. "You should leave. Now."

Robin sighed internally. Clearly he'd pushed Speedy too far. "If I drop it, can I stay?"

"Fine." The 'this isn't finished' hung unsaid between them.

"Where were you the last three days?"

"I got hurt."

"Did-"

"If you ask if Green Arrow hurt me I'm leaving."

"Ok, ok." Robin put his hands up in surrender. "So…what do you like to do for fun?"

"Fun?"

"Yeah. When you're not out here….catching criminals."

"Oh. I…I play video games. I watch tv. Practice my archery."

"I do those things too! Minus the archery of course. Batman and I are more hands on with our fighting." His face lit up with an idea. "Maybe you could teach me some time!"

"Sure…" Speedy doubted such a thing would ever happen. "Whatever you say."

"Whoo!" Robin did a backflip, which made Speedy smile. There was something infectious about Robin's joy and innocence. How he maintained it woking so closely with Batman, Speedy would never know. "Awesome!"

"You're very….acrobatic."

"I…uh…I used to be in the circus."

"Really? That's….actually pretty cool."

"You think so?!"

Speedy nodded. "It is. Way more exciting than growing up on a reservation like I did." He felt an ache in his heart for his old home.

"Do you like school? I like school. Except everyone is really mean. Even the teachers sometimes. I like learning though."

"I don't go to school."

"You don't?"

"No. I'm homeschooled." Technically. When you were as rich as Oliver you could pretty much do whatever you wanted with your ward's education.

"Wow. Is that fun?"

"It's ok. I only have to do work for a few hours. Then I can play video games all afternoon."

Robin gaped. "That sounds amazing! Learning and no bullies!" He frowned abruptly. "Does that mean you don't have any friends."

"I have friends. I have you." That made him smile again.

"What about Green Arrow?'

Speedy grimaced. Green Arrow was definitely not his friend. Guardian yes. Friend no. "Not exactly," he said eventually. "My relationship with GA is complicated." Robin nodded. A thought occurred to Speedy. "Are you friends with Batman?"

Robin nodded. "Of course! We're partners! Aren't you and Green Arrow partners?"

'Partners….' Speedy was certain Green Arrow would never use an equal term for him. He wasn't even sure he was the man's sidekick as much as he was his punching bag. 'If Batman is all bad, how can he consider this kid his partner? Maybe Robin is just exaggerating. I hope not. This kid is way too small and young to be the punching bag of an adult. Especially if that adult is well trained like Batman.' He shook his head. "It's complicated." He shifted on his feet. "You should go. I have to go to work, or I'll be in trouble."

Robin nodded. "Ok."

"Are you- are you coming back tomorrow?"

Robin thought about it. "Probably not. Day after that though."

Speedy nodded. "Ok."

"See ya." Robin took out his grappling hook and swung from the building. "Robin to Batman. Where's Green Arrow?"

"Green Arrow hasn't left the same three streets," Batman informed him.

"You won't tell me where?"

"No. Meet up with Superman and come straight home."

"You got it boss." Not knowing where Green Arrow was, Robin had to stay deep in the shadows until he reached the outer reaches of the cities. He leaped onto the ground and ran to where Superman would be waiting. "Superman." He stopped just outside the city limits. He looked back. 'I hope you don't get in trouble tonight Speedy,' he thought.

"Robin," Superman said. The small bird looked at him. "Ready?'

Robin nodded and vaulted up into the Man of Steel's arms. "Ready." Superman took to the air, automatically tightening his grip on Robin. Not enough to hurt him, just enough to keep him from falling so that Batman didn't kill him. The young vigilante was silent on the flight back to Gotham. It wasn't just because he wouldn't be able to hear Robin at these speeds. 'I wish Bruce would just give up this crazy plan,' he thought. Silent Robin was never good, but Superman was more concerned about Robin being emotionally affected by the situation than causing trouble. They finally entered Gotham and he made a beeline for the Batcave. Once he set Robin down, the boy went to report to Batman.

"Well?" Batman asked.

"Green Arrow grabbed Speedy by the neck." Robin reported.

"What?!" Batman and Superman demanded in unison. If the circumstances had been different, it would've been funny.

"What do you mean he grabbed Speedy by the neck?" Batman growled. His eyes narrowed and he clenched his fist.

"He thought Speedy was talking back and he grabbed his neck."

"Did he choke him?" Superman asked. If the answer was yes, he was flying back to Star and punching Green Arrow in the face. Subtlety be damned.

"No, I don't think so. He was pretty scared though."

Batman slowly unclenched his fingers one at a time. "Anything else?"

"I tried to bring up what happened last time, but Speedy kept saying nothing happened."

"He's defending Green Arrow."

Robin nodded. "That's not good, right?"

"No," Superman said. "It's not."

"I just makes our job a little harder."

"I think I'm doing good-"

"Well," Superman corrected. "You're doing well." Two bat glares were thrown his way. "I'll show myself out."

"Do that," Batman nodded. He looked at Robin to continue.

"Speedy asked me when I was coming back."

"That's good. Although starting with the blatant abuse you saw is a good start, try to stick to…lighter topics. Once we're sure he trusts you, I'll go over how you should address this topic."

"Ok. Are we going on patrol?"

Batman looked at the time. "No, you have school."

"Aww man! Please?!"

"No. Bed."

Robin huffed. "Fine. But patrol tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow we're going to the Watchtower."

"Patrol after though, right?"

"Bed Robin."

The boy cackled and ran off to change. Once he was gone. Batman allowed his anger to creep back in. The more he heard of Oliver's treatment of Roy, the more it made him want to beat the man to death. He reeled his anger in. That wasn't a path of thought he could go down. 'Screwing him over as Bruce Wayne isn't enough,' he thought bitterly, going to the Bat mobile. It was late, but he needed to blow off steam. There were very few problems that he faced where Bruce Wayne could do more than Batman, but Batman could do practically nothing at the moment. The League was barely scathing the surface on the difficulties of this case. 'It's going to take a lot more than Dick's social skills to help Roy. It's going to require both our masked and unmasked selves.'