A/N: Time for another update! Enjoy!

Summer came to Gotham and with it came more time for Dick to spend with Roy. On his last day of school, the boy came home, threw his backpack across the foyer, and did a backflip so high he was over Roy's head; all while shouting "Freedom!" It made both Alfred and Roy smile. Dick was ecstatic that with school over he could spend more time with Roy. Although, Roy still sent many hours trying to get caught up on his education. He still couldn't shake the knot in his stomach when he got something wrong or couldn't do something. Alfred was patient though, He was willing to explain something three times if necessary. Roy found himself getting better slowly but surely. After a couple of weeks of successfully making his way through his work with Alfred helping him, he'd become determined to get caught up. Actually doing so was seeming more and more plausible after every day, making Roy more willing to work all day. Because it was summer though, Alfred, despite his equal determination to see Roy succeed, never allowed him to do schoolwork past 3 in the afternoon. As much as it overjoyed him to see Roy's confidence grow, he wanted the teen to have some fun during the summer as well.

So Roy spent his afternoons with Dick, doing whatever the younger boy wanted to do. Usually, this was watching Dick practice his acrobatics or playing video games. Both Dick and Alfred noticed that during the day Roy would relax more and come out of his shell a little bit. Unfortunately, he went right back in when Bruce came home, but seeing him relax for at least a couple hours was always worth it. Roy also found himself the victim of Dick's newest idea. Gold stars. Any time Roy did something that Dick deemed "recovering" or "worthy" he'd get a gold star.

Stop eating his lunch when he was full? Two stars.

Ask Alfred for help on a math problem? One star.

Sit outside in the sun? Three stars.

Eat a snack? Two stars.

Roy didn't really keep track of whatever he did that earned him the stars; instead just letting Dick put stars on him when he wanted to. Which was how Bruce came home one day to Dick pulling Roy into the foyer. The teenager's face was covered in gold star stickers. "Dick what did you do?" Bruce asked him.

"Roy did really good today!" Dick beamed. "This is the most stars he's earned in a single day!"

"In how many days?"

"Three weeks!" Bruce blinked, then gave Roy a sympathetic look. Roy just looked amused by Dick's excitement for the project. "Roy tell him what they're all for!"

"Um…." Roy stalled. He didn't know what they were all for.

Dick stood on his toes to reach the red head's face. "This one is because he asked Alfred for help. These two are because he asked Alfred for help again. This one-"

"You know Dick, I have some papers to go over," Bruce interrupted. "Good job on the….stars Roy."

"Thank you," Roy mumbled.

"Come on Roy," Dick said as he pulled Roy away. "let's go play video games."

Bruce shook his head. "Is he like this all day?" he asked Alfred, who'd come out to meet him.

"Yes," Alfred nodded. "Master Dick is very pleased to have Master Roy around to keep him company during the summer. He is also very energetic in his efforts to help Master Roy recover."

"Hmm. I'll talk to him later. We don't need him scaring Roy more."

"Indeed."

Elsewhere, Dick sighed when he realized Roy wasn't paying attention. He paused the game. "Roy. Roy!"

Roy jumped. "What?"

"What're you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"If you tell me I'll stop asking."

He had a point there. "I was just….thinking about my medals."

Dick frowned. "Medals?"

"Yeah. I started competing in archery tournaments when I was 6 until I was 12 and I…" His throat closed off, causing his voice to taper off. Luckily that part of the story didn't really need an explanation. "Anyways I have a lot of medals from my 6 years of competing." He suddenly ducked his head down. "They're all in Star."

"Oh? Oh."

"Yeah….I-I know it's stupid. I should be more worried about….surviving than stupid trophies but I didn't bring a lot with me from the reservation…."

"Hey." Dick grabbed his hand to get his attention. "I get it."

"You do?"

Dick nodded. "I only brought a couple of things with me from the circus." He smiled. "I'll tell Bruce and-"

"No!" Roy's hand jerked from Dick's grasp. "No, don't!"

"Why?"

"Bruce- I don't want him to think I'm ungrateful for everything he's done for me already because I'm not! I'm really not!"

"Roy calm down its ok. Bruce wouldn't think that. I'll tell him and maybe he can get them for you."

"Really?" He hated to get his hopes up, but the thought of having his possessions back was too exciting. "Would he really do that?"

"Probably. I'll ask him tonight. I'm sure he'll say yes."

—

"No Dick."

"Why not?!"

"I do think you'll need to give him answer besides 'I said so' sir," Alfred advised.

"Bruce he only has a few things that are actually his."

"Dick I understand, but-"

"Not enough!"

"Dick!" Dick quieted down and Bruce took a breath. "We can't. Any member of the League going into Star is just going to provoke Oliver. I'm the only member of the League who could possibly do this without detection and if I do it then it could tip off Oliver to where Roy is."

Dick frowned. "That makes sense."

"I'm sorry Dick. I want Roy to be happy as much as you do, but we just can't risk it."

"I know."

Bruce suddenly remembered his conversation from earlier and decided to bring it up now. "You need to clam down around Roy."

"Why?" Dick asked as he snapped his utility belt into place. He checked to make sure all the security measures were working.

"I don't want you to overwhelm him."

"I don't know he seems pretty whelmed."

Bruce paused. "Regardless, I know you mean well, but try to remember that Roy recovering from the abuse will be a long process."

"He's been here for three months though!"

"I know, but we need to be patient."

"So I can't give him stars?"

Bruce smiled as he pulled on the cowl. "You can keep giving him the stars."

Dick put on his mask and whooped. He pulled his cape on, then did two backflips. "To the Bat mobile!"

— —

"Are you sure you are well?" Aquaman asked Kaldur. They were only going to the Watchtower and it had been over a month since Green Arrow attacked Aqualad, but the Atlantean King still worried.

"I am sure my king," Aqualad replied. "However if you wish me to stay behind-"

"No, not at all. Kid Flash and Robin will be very happy to see you I'm sure."

"I am looking forward to seeing them as well."

Aquaman nodded. Good. He was glad Kaldur'ahm was making friends with the other young heroes. "Come, if I'm late again I'll have to deal with Batman and Superman." The two of them swam over to the zeta tube and Aquaman authored his protege to get through.

"Aqualad, B02."

"Aquaman, 06."

They exited on the Watchtower and walked towards the meeting room. When they got there Aqualad had taken only two steps in when a voice from above said, "Hi Aqualad."

He looked up. "Hello, Robin."

Robin dropped down so he was hanging upside down in front of the Atlantean. "What's up?"

"It would seem you are."

"Did he just make a joke?" Green Lantern asked Aquaman.

"Uh…seems like it," Aquaman replied.

A yellow steak suddenly barreled into the room, knocking Aqualad to the ground. "Hi, Aqualad!" Kid Flash smiled.

"Hello, Kid Flash. Could you please speak quieter?"

Flash ran in and sighed. "Kid get off him." Kid Flash stood up and Aqualad got up once the younger speedster was no longer pinning him down.

"Are you alright Aqualad?" Aquaman asked.

"I am fine Your Majesty," Aqualad replied.

"We should start the meeting," Batman said as Flash sat down.

"That's our cue to leave," Robin said. He dropped down from the ceiling, did a flip on the way down, landed in a somersault, and ran out.

"So cool!" Kid Flash shouted running after him. Aqualad simply nodded to himself and followed them at a calm pace.

"I think Aqualad is calming enough to balance out Kid Flash and Robin," Green Lantern smiled.

"Good thing too, or we'd have a problem," Flash joked.

"First order of business," Superman said. He looked at Batman. "Has Green Arrow been in Gotham?"

"No," Batman said. "It's been nearly a month since the two murders, and there've been no sightings of him and no murders with his M.O."

"He hasn't been attacking our cities either. Think he gave up?"

"Hardly. He's not getting results from his plan, so he might just be changing tactics."

"We still need to keep an eye on the kids," Wonder Woman said. "Kid Flash and Aqualad have recovered, but that doesn't mean it won't happen again."

"It's not happening again!" Flash and Aquaman stated in unison.

"Superman, can you fly on the outskirts of Star or just above his house without being detected?" Batman asked.

The Man of Steel nodded. "Why?"

"I want you to listen in to his house. My bugs have picked up nothing, but they're only in two locations."

"Understood."

"Hopefully we can get an idea of what he might try next," Martian Manhunter said.

"Hopefully, but with Green Arrow, you never really know."

Elsewhere in the Watchtower, Robin was perched on a beam while Kid Flash and Aqualad sat on the ground below him. "Have you been feeling better?" the younger speedster asked the Atlantean.

Aqualad nodded. "I have. Aquaman has allowed me to return to my duties by his side."

"I heard Flash telling my aunt that Green Arrow murdered two people in Gotham." They looked up at Robin, who nodded.

"He killed two civilians on opposite sides of the city," Robin confirmed. "We haven't seen any signs of him in a month though."

"It has been quiet lately. Maybe he finally gave up."

"Batman doesn't think so."

"How has Roy been, Robin?" Aqualad asked.

"He's better. His bruises are all gone and Agent A says he's not skin and bones anymore."

"Does he know Green Arrow is looking for him?" Kid Flash asked.

"Yeah."

"Is he scared?"

"Probably. Wouldn't you be?" There was an awkward silence when Robin realized that yes, Kid Flash probably would be scared because Kid Flash had been in Roy's position.

"I am sure you and Batman will protect him," Aqualad supplied, trying to ease the awkward silence.

"Of course we will. Green Arrow can't touch Roy as long as Batman is there. I just wish we could get his medals."

"Medals?"

"Apparently, Roy spent 6 years competing in archery tournaments and he has lots of medals from them. They're some of his few possessions."

"I thought you said his room and lots of stuff."

Robin scowled. "Stuff Green Arrow bought to keep him under his thumb. These medals are actually his."

"So why don't you go get them?" Kid Flash asked.

"Batman says it's too dangerous. He's the only member of the League who's capable and if Green Arrow finds out then he could figure out where Roy is."

Kid Flash nodded, then stopped. His mind started racing and he smiled. He started vibrating. "Are you ok?"

"Just lot's of energy. Uh…We were fighting the Rogues earlier today. They tried to steal something out of the Flash museum."

Robin smirked. "We had to put Riddler back in Arkham last night." He jumped down, landing in an easy crouch. "Come on, let's go find a gym so Kid Mouth can run before he vibrates through the floor."

"Dude I wish!" Without asking for permission, he scooped Robin up in his arms. "You're so tiny!" Then zoomed off.

Aqualad couldn't help but chuckle as he followed them.

— —

After the meeting was over, Superman couldn't help but notice Batman was a little preoccupied. He flew over to the Bat, landing next to him gently. "What's up?"

"What do you mean?" Batman asked, hoping to dodge any questions the boy scout was about to throw at him.

"I know that face. You're thinking about something. What is it?" Batman didn't answer. "Come on, you know I won't stop asking until you tell me."

"I want to teach Roy how to fight."

Superman blinked. "What?" There was no way he heard that right. "You-you want to teach Roy how to fight?"

"Yes."

"….why?!"

"I have reasons."

"You want to share some of them?"

"Not particularly." Batman moved to leave, but Superman put up his arm, blocking his exit. Batman glared at him. "Move the arm, or lose it, Clark."

"No." That surprised Batman. League members never said 'no' to him. "Tell me why you want to teach Roy to fight."

Batman glared even more. "I think it will help him if he knows he can defend himself against an attacker."

"Can't he do that already?"

"No, I don't think he can. As far as I can tell Green Arrow was only concerned with reaching him archery."

"Don't you think this might be a bad idea?"

"No."

"No?! Batman, he was abused! You taking a swing at him isn't going to make this better!"

"I know what I'm doing Clark. You entrusted his well-being to me, now I get to decide how to help him."

"We also won't stand by and let you do something that will make him worse."

"I know what I'm doing Clark. Do you honestly think I would purposefully do something I know will make him worse?" Superman didn't answer. "I didn't think so."

Superman sighed. "Just….please be careful."

"I know what I'm doing." He shoved Superman's arm away and swept past him. Robin was waiting for him by the zeta tube. "Let's go."

"To the Bat mobile!" Robin flipped through the zeta with Batman following right behind him. "Hey Batman," he said as they drove towards the Bat cave. Batman grunted. "Can Kid Flash come visit us again?"

"…Why?"

"Because it would be good for Roy."

"Mhm. This would the nothing to do with your being friends with him?" After the visit from the speedsters, he'd noticed Robin messaging Kid Flash online and had been monitoring them.

"….No?"

"Nice try."

"Please Batman?"

Batman sighed. "Maybe."

"Yes!"

"I'm not saying yes Robin."

"You're not saying no either."

They pulled into the Bat cave and Robin hopped up. He went to go get changed while Batman sat down at the Bat-computer. Bruce pulled back the cowl and opened Roy's file. He wanted to check the surveillance footage he had of Roy's patrols to see if he could get a better idea of Roy's current fighting ability. He watched one of the videos, making close observations. Roy was decent at dodging bullets, better than Bruce expected him to be and he always seemed to engage criminals from afar, which made sense.

'Oliver really didn't train him before taking him out on the streets.' There was that murderous feeling again. He took a very deep breath and squashed it back down.

"Sir, watching old videos of Roy and Green Arrow won't make them anymore horrific," Alfred informed him.

"I don't think Queen gave him any street training."

"He took an untrained child crime fighting?!"

"Not exactly. From what Roy's told me and from what I see he gave Roy….extensive archery training." If making the boy shoot until his fingers bled counted as extensive and not just horrific. "Queen took some precautions. Roy fights at a distance, so maybe he thought there was no need to teach him hand-to-hand. He can swing his bow, but he could be a lot more effective with a bow made of the right material in strategic moves. The right fighting style could blend well with his shooting; especially given his speed. Something fast, but with an easy transition to his quiver."

"If you don't mind my saying sir, I thought you were just going to teach him self-defense?"

"I am." Alfred gave him a look. "I am, but this won't be easy. Convincing him I'm not just doing this so I have an excuse to hit him alone will take time. If I can connect it to something that he already knows that should make it easier for him." Alfred was still giving him a look. "It's the truth."

"Of course it is sir." Dick came running back, doing a handspring over Alfred's shoulder. "I am not a springboard Master Dick."

"Sorry Alfie," Dick replaced as he perched himself on the back of Bruce's chair. "What're you doing?"

"Working out what fighting Roy already knows."

"And?"

Bruce glanced up at him. "He knows his bow can shoot arrows and occasionally hit people in the head."

"Well if he's just learning self-defense his bow shouldn't matter too much."

"That's like saying your acrobatics shouldn't matter when you're fighting." There was no response so he glanced up again and found a horrified look on Dick's face. "Thought so."

"One question, if you're not an archer, how are you going to teach him to fight with a bow?"

"I think it's time for you to go to bed."

"You're avoiding the question."

"We'll discuss it more tomorrow. Now go to bed." Dick left and ran upstairs into the Manor. He was passing Roy's bedroom when he heard yelling. He immediately detoured into the room and turned the light on. Dick crept up on the teen, who was twitching and mumbling. Another cry escaped his lips and Dick shook him gently. "Roy. Roy wake up." Roy just kept twitching. "Roy. Roy wake up!"

"Ah!" Roy sat up and Dick quickly backed up, remembering what Bruce had told him about giving Roy space.

"It's ok Roy. It's ok you're safe." Roy's breathing was erratic and sounded more like gasping. "In. Out. In. Out." Dick guided Roy's breathing like Bruce would do until the teen could breathe on his own. "You ok?"

"Y-yeah…" Roy stammered. He curled up. "I'm fine." One look at his place and sweaty complexion had Dick doubting that. "Did-did I wake you up?"

"No, we just got home."

"Oh." Roy buried his face into his legs. It didn't scare Dick the way it used to given how often Roy did it. He sat on the bed patiently, waiting for Roy to emerge. He watched the teen carefully. He was clutching his pants like they were a lifeline and he was shaking. Unable to sit by, Dick gently slid up next to Roy and wrapped a small arm around him. Roy didn't acknowledge him, but he didn't move away from him either. Dick leaned his head against his friend. Eventually, the shaking stopped and Roy's hands released his pajama pants. Dick turned the light off, then slipped back under the covers with Roy. "I'm sorry."

"Why do you keep apologizing?"

Roy shivered. "Oliver didn't like it if I disturbed him because I had a nightmare. He'd get really mad at me."

"Oh…" Dick couldn't see him in the dark, so he assumed Roy couldn't see the shocked look on his face. Even when he'd been new in the Manor Bruce would comfort him after a nightmare. Then again it shouldn't have surprised him given how Oliver; had treated Roy. He reached out blindingly until he found Roy's hand and squeezed it gently. "You don't have to apologize here." He only got the sound of Roy's breathing in response. Dick watched Roy's back in the darkness. His heart hurt over how unfair this was. Roy was scared of Bruce, scared of asking for help, scared of getting in trouble… He hadn't deserved to be treated the way Oliver had treated him, but he was stuck with the consequences. Dick moved closer to his friend, burying his face between the teen's shoulder blades. He could never shake the cold feeling he got in his stomach when he thought about what had happened to Roy. How easily it could've been him in Roy's position if he hadn't been taken in by Bruce scared him sometimes. He knew there were bad people out there, but he hadn't really thought anyone could take in an orphan only so they could use them.

"I'll be right here Roy," Dick promised as he fell asleep. "I'll be right here."