A/N: this chapter is short, but I promise some important ones are coming soon!

Bruce knew there was something wrong based off the way Dick twirled a cookie on the countertop. The boy usually never let Alfred's cookies go uneaten for more than a minute when put in front of him. Alfred noticed as well, giving Bruce the 'you're-his-father-now-deal-with-this' look. The billionaire nodded and cleared his throat. "How did it go in Star tonight?"

Dick made a face. "He wouldn't come." He sighed and looked at Bruce, setting his cookie down. "I don't get it, Bruce! I saw Green Arrow hit him! He can't deny that I know! Green Arrow terrifies him, I can tell!" Bruce nodded. "So why does he stay?!"

"This is a difficult situation, Dick. There isn't going to be an easy answer."

"Green Arrow has him convinced that the Justice League is…bad or something! I mean, I get that he could believe that about you," Bruce really didn't have an argument against that. "but Flash and Superman? Who could ever think Flash and Superman are the bad guys?!"

The innocence Dick brought to this case made Bruce so very sad. "Roy is ignorant to the truth and Green Arrow prefers to keep it that way. It makes him easier to control."

"Why does he want to control him though? Why would someone as mean as him care so much about Roy?"

"First, Oliver doesn't care about Roy. I'd be very surprised to learn that Oliver cared about him even a little bit. Second, Oliver keeps Roy around because it's convenient. I think he's aware of how mortal he is and he wants someone who can carry on his work if he's killed."

Dick of course, and already over heard this conversation, but Bruce was always saying you can never be too sure about your intelligence. "So….he's training Roy to take over after him?"

"Yes."

"Does Roy know?"

Bruce considered it. "I don't think so."

"If Oliver wants Roy to take his place someday, why doesn't he make Roy kill?" Bruce briefly wondered when his son got so observant.

"Most likely, Oliver was weary to force Roy to kill while he was still so new to this. Once Roy was older, and under his control, he'd make him start killing directly."

"So he's been biding his time."

"Exactly." Bruce took a sip of his hot chocolate.

"Why is Oliver controlling him so important?"

"It makes all of this easier. Once he has Roy in a place where he won't disobey him and will do what he says without question, then he'll be able to order Roy to kill without worry."

Dick nodded. "Does Batman handle cases like this a lot?" He was observant enough to know there were cases Batman worked without Robin.

"Handle is a stretch. Usually, Commissioner Gordon just tells me that there's a dangerous person with a history of abuse on the loose and I bring them in for him."

"In one piece?"

"In one piece. One very bruised, very unconscious piece." That made Dick smile a little bit. "Why do you ask?"

"I just wondered of there was something Batman has done before that could be useful in this case." Damn, he was proud of his kid. He was so smart.

"I don't think there are any cases that can help. This one is very unique."

"Bruce, I want to tell Roy my identity."

"No."

"Bruce-"

"Dick no."

"I have to."

"Why?"

"Roy thinks he owes Oliver for taking him in."

It simultaneously made Bruce's blood boil that Queen would guilt Roy into staying and made his heart ache that Roy, who was no doubt already vulnerable, felt a forced loyalty to him. "That's terrible Dick, but-"

"If I can show him who I am, he'll understand that he doesn't owe Oliver anything!"

"Or Oliver will find out who you are and now I'm worried about your safety along with Roy's."

"Bruce-"

"Dick, I know you just want to help, but we can't. Maybe we can tell Roy who we are once we've gotten him out, but you can't for now. I'm sorry, but it's not worth the risk."

"But-"

"I'm confident that you will find another way to win him over."

Dick slumped down in his chair. "No I won't," he muttered. "He told me to never come back. I'll probably have to wait for him to use the beacon-"

"Wait, what?!"

"What?"

"What did you just say?" Dick looked down and mumbled something. "Dick."

"I said I'd have to wait for him to use the beacon."

Bruce blinked. "What?!"

"I meant well!"

"Dick if Oliver sees that he'll know! He'll know and Roy will get hurt!"

"Roy needs it! If Oliver is attacking him and he needs help he can contact me!"

"It's still not safe."

"Bruce, Roy will keep it hidden."

"Dick-"

"And it makes me feel better."

That made Bruce pause. "It does?"

"I….I hate thinking that he's all alone in Star. I just-just thought that it'd make me feel better if he has a way to get help."

Bruce sighed. "Dick-"

Dick looked at him in earnest. "I know it's risky….but I had to."

Bruce shook his head. "Regardless, it's done now. While I wish you had consulted me first….I'm proud you took the initiative to further solidify your relationship with Roy and find a way to keep him safe."

Dick looked shocked. "Really?!"

"Yes." The look of pride on the boy's face was worth letting the issue go. Dick was still young, but he needed to be confident in his decisions if he was going to be a great hero someday. Dick at a bite of his cookie and took a sip of his hot chocolate. He paused for a moment and looked at Bruce.

"If we don't get Roy to leave Star, what will happen to him?"

Bruce swallowed. He knew the statistics, hell even Flash could spout them out. He couldn't tell Dick though. "Best case scenario Roy grows up and leaves Oliver on his own when he's 18."

"I don't think he'd do that."

With another 4 years to terrorize the poor kid, no, Bruce didn't think he'd do it ether. "Then he'd probably grow up and change up his M.O. after Oliver dies."

Dick shot him a suspicious look. "That's pretty optimistic of you."

"Well…the other option is that Roy becomes a killer."

"He wouldn't do that though."

"I'm afraid he might not have much of a choice."

"Is that the worst thing that can happen to him?"

No, it wasn't. Not by far, but there was no way Bruce was telling him that. He drew the line at telling Dick what the odds were if Oliver killing Roy if they didn't help. "I think it's time for bed."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Yes, I did. Bed."

Dick sighed and slipped out of his seat. "Fine."

Bruce watched him go apprehensively. "You really shouldn't lie to him sir," Alfred said, picking up the half-full plate of cookies.

"I'm not lying."

"Withholding information then, however you choose to phrase it."

"I can't tell him. I refuse. He's too young to know things like that."

"I understand sir."

"I just want to protect him, Alfred."

"Of course sir."

Bruce stood up, mind trying to comprehend how he'd gotten into this situation. He didn't regret getting involved, if it meant Roy could be safe. It was impossible to deny that the was taking him into uncharted waters. He didn't directly deal with cases like this a lot, especially since Robin came up. There was a reason for it too. It was probably an illogical explanation at best, but in his mind there was a line between Robin taking on the Joker and Robin seeing other children beaten by their trusted parents. There were somethings in this world even young vigilantes shouldn't be seeing. He made a stop by Dick's room to make sure the boy actually went to bed. He opened the door and found Dick was already laying in bed. He crept in and ran a hand through his son's dark hair. Dick stirred a little and opened his eyes. "Bruce?" he asked sleepily. "What's going on?"

"Nothing chum. Just came to say goodnight."

"Oh. Night."

"Night." He hugged Dick and ran a hand through his hair again. He crept out, making sure to shut the door quite behind him.

Dick meanwhile, was staring up at the dark ceiling. Moonlight glanced through the window, lighting up sections of the high ceiling. He remembered something Roy had told him earlier. 'Green Arrow would kill me….' It made his stomach churn. 'Green Arrow wouldn't really kill him,' he tried to reason. 'He hurts Roy, sure, but that's- He wouldn't. No. He can't.' Dick had dealt with people who had no problem killing children before— literally every crazy in Gotham— but this was different. Oliver Queen was supposed to take care of Roy. It was bad enough he was beating him up, but he wouldn't go that far. He rolled over and tired to think about what Roy might be doing. 'I won't let that happen Roy. I promise I won't.'