A/N: I know, I'm late, but it's Christmas for goodness sake, and I'm having a bit of a block. Here goes, anyway. I already warned you not to read this unless you like fluff---plus I couldn't find a reason not to attach this to the story. You've been warned.
I own nothing. I don't even think Santa could help with this one.
Chapter 15: Epiloge
"He's being completely unreasonable!"
"He just wants to make sure you don't hurt yourself," Bruce said calmly for what felt like the millionth time. His ward was currently sitting in his bed in his old room in Wayne manor, looking absolutely mutinous.
Alfred, though usually very accurate in the diagnosis and treatment of his two charges, had forbidden Richard to move from this spot until further notice. Richard, despite Alfred's incredible track record of being right about these things, did not want to give in quietly. Not that anyone expected him to of course.
Much to Richard's annoyance, Raven (with the whole-hearted agreement of the rest of the Titans) had said point-blank that Robin needed a break. The same was said to Terra (who also met this with a full arsenal of arguments). Neither of them won their respective battles.
No matter how hard Robin or Terra tried they could not gloss over the facts: getting over what happened was going to take some time. Though for a few days after they awoke, Terra and Robin seemed fine, it wasn't long before the others noticed something the two weren't telling.
It was at the most random of times as well. Terra would be sitting and laughing at Beast Boy's jokes, and suddenly become very quiet, staring into space for minutes at a time, and just as suddenly begin to laugh or talk again as though nothing had happened. Even her powers seemed to be on the frits. She could only lift small rocks, and anytime she tried anything bigger, it either remained motionless, or lifted a few feet and exploded.
Robin, who anyone had only seen trip a handful of times if any, nearly fell down three flights of stairs and didn't even remember walking down them. Raven had finally drawn the line when Cyborg and Starfire found him standing over the kitchen sink, bleeding heavily from one hand, staring blankly at a broken glass on the floor with absolutely no idea why he was in the kitchen in the first place.
Terra eventually consented, however grudgingly, to taking a short break, "At least for Christmas," as she had said, "After New Year's, no promises."
Robin on the other stubborn and defiant hand, saw absolutely no reason not to at least be training. After he nearly decapitated himself on one of the Titan's obstacle courses Batman got another call about his ward.
Thus, Richard was spending Christmas at home. And, though he and Terra (Robin made a call to the Tower every evening) were steadily showing improvement (much to Raven's relief, for this meant it was only short-term damage) there were occasions when most thought it would benefit both their health to just stay in bed.
Alfred had this exact thought about an hour ago when Richard had another clumsy episode, again at the top of the stairs. Richard hadn't fallen the whole flight this time, but he still didn't manage to catch himself till the half-way mark. Alfred had, unfortunately seen the whole thing (according to him Richard had another zone-out-moment, then tried to walk down the stairs in this state) and sent Richard straight to the safety of his room. Bruce was called up a moment later to keep him in there.
"He's treating me like a little kid," Richard mumbled now, leaning back on his pillow.
Bruce sighed, deciding to just drop it, "How do you feel?"
Richard threw him a look that clearly said I wish people would quit asking me that, "Fine."
"Good," Bruce said and sat down on the edge of the bed, "You still having any memory trouble?" he asked vaguely.
"No," Richard said through clenched teeth, "I can tie my shoe-laces all by myself too."
It was Bruce's turn to give a look, "So then you remember what day it is?"
Richard sighed, resigned to answering stupid questions, "It's December 24."
Bruce nodded, "Christmas Eve . . ."
"Bruce," Richard punched his pillow into a more comfortable position, "are you trying to lead up to something here, or are you just going to start your annual tradition of complaining about the holidays?"
It was true. Bruce made a specific point to remain as secluded as possible during Christmas. He would only participate in decorating the manor after Richard and Alfred, dragged, begged, threatened, and blackmailed him into it.
"I was not about to complain," Bruce said while pulling something from behind him, "I just wanted to give you something . . . you know . . . for Christmas and all that," he finished awkwardly.
Richard stared at his guardian for a moment, stunned. Obviously Bruce had never failed to give him something for Christmas, but Bruce had always saved his gift for the very last on Christmas day. Richard suspected so as to hold off the moment Richard would thank him by saying, "See, Christmas isn't nearly as bad as you make it out to be Scrooge. I bet you'd planned this one for weeks . . ." or something along those lines in order to annoy Bruce to no end.
"You're giving me my gift a day early?" Richard asked, "Are you sure you feel all right?"
"I'm fine . . ."
"Bruce, my second Christmas here I had to get you to come downstairs to open presents by jumping on you while you were still asleep, and keep jumping until Alfred finally dumped a glass of cold water on your head."
"Yes, well . . ."
"The year after that I had to tell you the Joker was on the loose again, just to get you out of bed."
"That doesn't . . ."
"The year after that . . ."
"Well this year is different, okay?" Bruce said over Richard's recount. When Richard didn't show signs of interrupting again (though Bruce saw the corners of his mouth twitch), Bruce continued, "Besides, you only get to find out what it is on one condition."
"Which is . . .?" Richard asked with an air of not really wanting to know.
Bruce leaned towards him a bit, "Tell me what happened."
"We've been over this, I told you I don't remember," Richard mumbled. He suddenly wasn't looking at Bruce anymore.
Bruce watched the boy for a moment. Richard didn't meet his eye, which only made Bruce that much more worried. He sighed, "Yes, you do Richard."
Richard glanced up at him, but still didn't say more.
"Do you think I'll be mad at you?" Bruce asked, wishing Richard would look up, but his ward continued to stare at his blankets. "Come on, Rich, talk to me. You've never had any trouble with it before," Bruce said trying to make Richard at least smile. It didn't work.
Richard just sat there, unnaturally quiet, for the longest time Bruce could remember. Finally, when Bruce was ready to give it up as a lost cause Richard said, so quietly Bruce wouldn't have believed it was him except he saw his lips move, "I'm not worried about you getting mad."
Bruce waited for Richard to go on, but when he didn't, Bruce asked, "Then what in the world were you afraid of? I think you've pretty much established the fact I can't keep you from being Robin."
Again it took Richard a while to answer, when he did he shrugged, "Just being stupid I guess," the boy made a brave attempt at a dismissive smile, but it faltered when he tried to look at Bruce again. "He said I could start over," Richard said a little suddenly. His voice sounded strange, mechanical.
"Start over?" Bruce repeated, again wishing Rich would look at him.
Richard nodded, "He said none of it would matter anymore. My parents, Batman and Robin, Slade . . . the . . . the reason you fired Robin . . ." his voice trailed off.
Again Bruce waited for Richard to continue, and again when he didn't, Bruce said, in the most bracing voice that didn't sound fake, "I thought that might be it."
Richard finally looked up from fiddling with a thread on his sheet, "W-what do you mean."
"Well, your friend, Raven, mentioned that you, and Terra of course, were picked because you felt guilty over something," Bruce looked at Richard and lowered his voice, "You felt guilty over what happened with the Joker."
Richard blinked and when he opened his eyes again they were back on the thread, "I . . . I didn't . . . It was my fault for believing him . . . just like nearly getting killed was my fault . . . I just . . . I'm sorry . . . I'm so sorry . . ." Richard sat there, frozen, his blue eyes trained on the thread, apparently the only thing safe to look at.
Bruce had had enough of this. He finally reached up and put a finger under Richard's chin, lifted it up so Richard was no longer staring at the sheet, but at something over Bruce's shoulder.
"Richard, you are probably the smartest, most promising kid I have ever met, so much that it worries me sometimes," Bruce said steadily, "But every once in a while, and please don't take this the wrong way, but sometimes I wonder whether you've suffered too many head injuries."
At last Richard blinked and met his guardian's eye, "What?"
Bruce sighed again, "Richard there is somebody to blame for what happened, perhaps a long list of people, Joker being at the very top of that list. But trust me you are not in fault here, and I can't figure out how you came to that conclusion. . . . Well, actually I have a few rough ideas but none of them hold water . . ."
"If I had been paying better attention . . ."
"To what? Joker's extra gun that I didn't even realize was there . . ."
"I should have reacted faster . . ."
"You were in the middle of a fight with Joker's men! You didn't have time to react. Now stop it," Bruce said as Richard opened his mouth to argue, "This was not your fault," Bruce paused, and watched Richard for a moment. At least the kid was finally looking at him. "We're both idiots, aren't we?" Bruce said quietly.
Richard finally laughed and nodded, "Alfred was probably ready to kill us," he said, referring to the thousands of times the loyal old butler had walked in on their arguments, and tried time and again to talk since into them. "Now what about this present? It must be good, if even the Batman couldn't wait till tomorrow."
Bruce suddenly felt very apprehensive, "I guess it just depends on your point of view . . . My lawyers nearly had a heart attack."
And with that he handed a very confused looking Richard a flat, wrapped gift and watched as the boy tore off the wrapping paper to reveal a large manila envelope.
"You're not suing me are you . . .?" Richard asked as he undid the clip and read the top of the first page. Again Richard was quiet for a very long time. "Bruce, these are adoption forms," he said finally, looking up with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, well," Bruce cleared his throat and said, "It's just . . . something I wanted your opinion on. I figure . . . and Alfred agrees with me . . . that it's well over due . . . and you know it being the holidays and all that . . . couldn't think what else to get you . . . Stop grinning like that!" For Richard's smile seemed to be stretching with every word Bruce spoke.
"You old softy!" Richard was laughing now, "I knew it! Even you can't resist Christmas . . ." The rest of his sentence was lost as Bruce grabbed an extra pillow and chucked it at Richards head.
Richard caught it with a practiced hand as Bruce said, "I only wanted your input. There's no need for false accusations." He said it with a scowl but Richard was still smiling as he replied.
"I think it sounds like an excellent proposition, Mr. Wayne," He said in a very business-like tone.
The corners of Bruce's mouth twitched a bit, "I'll go and call the lawyer, then."
"Wait right there," Richard said as Bruce reached the door.
"What?" when Bruce turned back around Richard had a very mischievous smirk on his face.
"Don't you remember what day it is?" the boy asked.
"I think we've already covered this territory, Rich," Bruce said as he sat back down on the bed.
"Yes," Richard nodded in a very matter-of-fact way, "But you're forgetting a very important Christmas tradition. One that I personally hold very dear." When Bruce still looked rather clueless he continued, "Oh, come on. You remember."
Bruce thought and when suddenly dawned on him he got up immediately and said, "Oh, no. Not again . . ."
"Yes, Bruce. Our annual Christmas Eve movie; and I have a good one picked out this year," Richard got off the bed too, and took hold of Bruce's arm as his guardian made a break for the door.
Richard always managed to make Bruce sit through the corniest Christmas movies every year on Christmas Eve. He said it was his way of getting Bruce into the Christmas spirit, but Bruce swore the kid only did it to drive him crazy. Bruce didn't even think Richard really enjoyed these movies either, because usually about half-way through he would join Bruce in heartily making fun of it.
"Richard, is this really necessary?" Bruce asked as Rich locked the door and tried to make Bruce sit down.
"Yes! And don't worry, it isn't even a cartoon this year," Richard picked up the remote and flicked on the T.V. on the other side of his room.
Bruce didn't think that would make it any better, "What is it then?"
"A Christmas Carole Musical," Richard said as he plopped down on the bed next to Bruce.
"What! You mean I have to sit here and listen to a bunch of bad actors sing?"
"Yep."
"You know what? I've changed my mind." Bruce said grumpily.
"What do you mean?" Richard glanced up at him as the opening credits started.
"I'm sending you back to the circus," Bruce leaned back on Richard's pillows as the boy laughed.
Roughly an hour later Richard was asleep. Bruce figured Alfred was right to send him to his room; it was only eight o' clock. The movie had ended (Finally) and Bruce slowly got off the bed and pulled the covers over Richard. Then he noticed something.
Richard was still clutching the envelope with the adoption papers in his hand.
Bruce smiled to himself, then glanced at the door to make sure Alfred wasn't lurking there, leaned down and said, "Merry Christmas, little guy." He got up and walked out, but before he closed the door behind him, Bruce could have sworn he heard a muffled, "'Told ja so, dad."
Yeah, no way was he living this one down.
A/N: Okay, I'm finished with my little cutesy moment, just needed to get that out of my system. Hope you enjoyed it, and a Merry Christmas to all of you, or Happy What-ever-you-celebrate!
Please remember to review!