Disclaimer: I may write letters of protest as long as I want, but nothing I say will get me rights to young justice. DC owns them, nuff said.

Yes, Robin is brilliant isn't he. I'm pretty sure everyone's noticed by now that I like to sneak Tim into these stories as much as I can. I think that's the only time he'll be mentioned in this one. Been working on what should have been a one shot where the kid really is there, so just ignore the fact I haven't been working that hard on this one for it. Still need a scenario to get the League out of the mountain peoples. only got 6 more updates before I have to have it. =/ help?

Oh, fluff scenes ahead. Lets see some more tears. *cackles evilly*

Without Me

Ch. 10 – Just a Small Moment of Peace

Robin's ears didn't stop burning even when he made it to his new room. He quickly entered the room then shoved the stack of books onto the dresser, hoping to take a quick shower and change before crashing. Exhausting himself was his goal so he didn't have nightmares again. He just hoped it was enough.

Before he could dig out a Batman shirt like he planned to use for sleeping, he spotted a few more bags on his bed. His uniform was freshly pressed and hanging on a hook on the closet door, much to his surprise. Curious, Dick took off the sunglasses and dug out his mask from his pocket, placing them on the bed stand before opening the bags. In one was a set of blue cotton pajamas and in the other two sets of blue acrobatic workout clothes. All were the same shade as his eyes and were just the right sizes.

Dick bit his lip. He knew who left them there. Though he doubted this Batman knew what his favorite color was, he could get Alfred to match his eyes. These were even the same patterns as the ones he wore back home. Those two… even in another world, they would unconsciously spoil him.

The last bag had hygiene products inside, making the boy realize this place didn't have any waiting for him beyond hand soap. Grateful beyond words, Dick grabbed what he needed that night and went straight into the shower.

It felt good to be clean again. The pajamas were a familiar comfort. Even the sent the shampoo he used gave off made him feel at home. Feeling much calmer, Dick turned off the light and laid on the bed, letting himself sink in and drift off to a peaceful night's rest. Only then could he believe everything was right in the world again. Only when he dreamed.

Though he knew he didn't need to, the dark knight came into the boy's room about two hours later. Batman had guessed right it appeared. Or rather, Alfred did. He told his butler and oldest ally about the boy and asked him to fill in the holes Allen had forgotten about. Shoes, pants, underwear, socks and shirts (though not all of them to the Bat's liking) even a set of sunglasses per special request, were taken care of. A belt and jacket were as far ahead as the speedster thought. But after Batman had looked through it, he saw a few problems. The kid's original clothes would need cleaning. He needed something to wear to bed. He needed personal care items to remain clean. It wasn't until he saw the video link of the kid doing his acrobatic stunts did he think of exercise clothes. Thankfully Alfred was still out and able to pick something up.

Because Alfred was the one to choose each product, Batman had hoped they'd be the same as what the boy used in his world. As many familiar subtleties as possible would lessen the kid's nightmares, and in turn make him more complacent and easy to talk to. Though the kid was clearly uncomfortable talking directly to him at the moment, he could talk to the others. All he had to do was ensure the kid slept peacefully. That's why he was checking on him right then.

Batman looked over the kid, reading his body movements as he slept. He wasn't as restless as last time. The previous night the kid tossed and turned until this nightmare took full flight. It wasn't even ten minutes after the boy woke from it that he passed out again. In Batman's arms no less. He'd start twitching and moving again as soon as Batman left his side, so the dark knight had stayed there the entire time the kid slept.

This night though, the boy seemed at peace. There was enough familiarity around him and his subconscious that he didn't fear a thing. The kid stirred slightly when he entered the room, but made no moves since. As if the man entering his room in the middle of the night was perfectly fine and normal. How in all the worlds did this boy's Batman raise him?

Trying to understand it better, Batman took down his cowl and watched the boy sleep with his real eyes. The boy laid on his side, one arm barely concealed by his pillow. The blankets entangled his legs snuggly, sure signs of the boy moving as he slept. His expression was content, almost perfectly so. The innocence he detected in the boy's voice earlier that night was clear as day on the kid's face. He seemed to remain a carefree child when he slumbered.

Bruce didn't know how long he just watched the boy before a slight shift brought him back to reality. He had to get back to Gotham. He couldn't watch this kid sleep all night, not for the second night in a row. He was about to replace his cowl when he spotted the boy shifting again, a slight moan coming from his throat. Slowly he put a hand on the kid's exposed shoulder, wondering if he should wake him before the nightmare took off. Then the boy seemed to relax again, a slight smile coming to his lips. The man let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Slowly he pulled the blankets up to the boy's chin. Maybe keeping the kid warm would stop the nightmares from coming.

"Bruce?"

The man stopped, looking straight into the boy's barely opening eyes. He nodded. "It's alright Dick. Go back to sleep."

"Mhm hmm." Dick shifted onto his back before drifting back to sleep. Bruce let out a small sigh before adjusting the blanket again and letting go. He looked down on the kid, then placed a hand on his head. The boy automatically smiled.

Batman readjusted his cowl as he quietly left the room. He couldn't understand why he did any of that, but found no shame in having done it. At least not until he spotted Superman watching him down the hall. Judging by the expression on the man's face, he saw the whole thing.

"Not a word Kent."

The Bat strode by the alien, hoping to avoid any comments on his behavior, but he caught up with him, a grin on his face.

"I'm just enjoying not being the only surprised father here."

"He's not my son," Batman stated flatly. Dick was from an alternate universe for one thing, and would be the Grayson's child for another. This boy couldn't be his.

"Your actions say otherwise." Knight glared at boyscout, more out of annoyance than anything else. Superman continued. "Have you ever considered adoption Bruce? Not to get a partner to fight crime with, but just for your own sanity's sake. Ever thought about sharing your private life with someone outside all of this? From what I see, it looks like you'd enjo—"

"I can't bring anyone else into this." Batman's statement seemed final and cold, but after so many years knowing the dark knight, Superman could hear the pain in his voice. He had considered it. He had considered marriage, family, even putting away the cowl for a normal life. But he knew the risks this life would bring, and he couldn't bear losing another person because of him. Alfred being by his side was enough. He could protect him easily enough, and the man could protect himself just as well. Anyone else was out of the question.

"But Bruce," the alien insisted, "this kid's proven you don't—"

"I can't Kent. End of discussion." With that, Batman launched himself into the Zeta-tube, back to Gotham and the dark world he could handle. Far away from that calming light that boy provided. Far away from the one moment he felt peace.

A/N: So here we have Daddybats rising, but also fighting the dark knight's need to be alone. While our Bats gradually warmed up to the idea in Robin's world, here he's been slammed with a kid and is trying to just deal with another person. Internal conflict of paternal instincts with his reasoning and rules. Fun times.

yeah I realized earlier that I was missing things in Barry's shopping trip. This was the fix. Not too shabby. Batman won't be appearing again for some time. He's kinda scared of what Dick's presence will do to him. =P YAY FLUFF!