And this is the second chapter, yeah there's totally gonna be another one and maybe even two more. We'll have to see. It's late so I may have to write some of the next one and then finished it later, we'll see. Enjoy

Robin's eyes snapped open as he heard his door open and lept to his feet as someone entered, not closing the door behind them as then walked inside. Robin backed up against the doorway and peeked around the corner to see who it was. He couldn't see them very well in the dark but he could see they where in a full suit and had a cape, a villain, but why were they in his apartment? Unless somehow they knew it was him? But that wasn't possible! Robin grabbed his baseball bat and stepped into the main room of his apartment, holding it to strike.

"What do you want?" he demanded, the figure whirled around quickly and put their hands up. Robin narrowed his eyes and turned the light on, almost dropping the bat at the sight of Red-X in his living room. "What the hell? Aren't you a villain from Jump City?!" X gave a funny shrug and chuckled. "Why are you here?!"

"Relax, I'm just looking for something. Well, someone," he corrected thoughtfully. "A friend of mine." Robin's eyes narrowed in disbelief and his grip tightened on the bat as a warning that was amplified by his step forward. X took a step back and took a more defensive stance just in case. "Whoa, whoa, easy. I just wanna ask you a question, ok? I don't want to hurt you, I promise. Now, do you know where Robin is?" Robin completely froze and it took all of his willpower not to beat him to a pulp right there. "Ya know, boy wonder?"

"I know who he is!" Robin snapped, surprising Red-X and making him jump a bit. Robin took a deep breath through his nose. "You're really not here to hurt anyone?" X shook his head slowly and Robin sighed, putting the bat down at his side. "No, I don't know where he is. Why do you want him?" X looked him up and down a moment before relaxing his stance with arms crossed over his chest comfortably.

"I don't want him for anything. I just want to know why he left," X told him. Robin huffed. "So…why did you live kid?" Robin tensed and stared at him. "I know it's you, why do you think I broke into this apartment? I'm not stupid."

"Could have fooled me," Robin snapped at him. X didn't respond, just stared at him. Robin knew that he wanted an answer and rolled his eyes as he hopped up onto the counter, sitting on it, X tilting his head at him. "I left because I was done fighting. I was done sleeping with bruises and cuts all over my body and having to pretend that they weren't there. And I was done with my friends treating me like I was insane every time I mentioned Slade or got passionate about something." X stared at Robin as a strong emotion entered his voice that had Robin stop talking as he gripped the counter he sat on tight.

"You didn't like playing the hero," X said softly, getting Robin to turn his head to look at him. "I know what you mean, you can't fight forever can you? Hell, someday I'll stop to just not anytime soon probably." X shrugged to himself. "But I gotta ask, why so soon? You're only…what? Fourteen?"

"Fifteen," Robin corrected him in a hiss. X shrugged it off and said nothing about it. "And I've been fighting my whole life, for as long as I can remember. Being taught by batman, fighting with him, then I went to Jump City and fought there day in and day out and for awhile it was fun and I loved it, I loved the thrill of a job well done. But, as strange as it sounds, I want to be ordinary and I'm done being extraordinary." X sighed and nodded, heading for the door.

"I understand," he said softly, Robin staring after him. "Gotta tell you though, you're missed. And not just by your friends, the villains even miss you. There's a lot of talk about how boring crime is without having to outsmart the famous boy wonder." Robin blinked and X shrugged, though it was a smaller movement then normal. "And…I miss you too, it's hard to go on without my rival." X huffed as he turned away. "And you didn't even say goodbye, I'm hurt." Even though X was joking Robin swore he heard a bit of hurt in the thief's voice. "Anyway, by kid. Take care."

The door shut and locked behind the other teen as he left and Robin was left staring at the door. Robin could hardly even bring himself to blink, it was as if some part of him somehow believed that X would come back through the door and try to talk sense into him but it never came, the door stayed shut and the apartment stayed completely silent. What he said wouldn't change Robin's mind of course, he wanted to be normal now and that was that, but at the same time he felt a deep guilt well up in his chest at having just upped and left them all.

Robin sighed and pulled his legs up so the middle of his feet rested against the counter as he leaned up against the wall, chin resting on his arms as they rested on top of his knees. His eyes closed as he remembered how amazing he felt after running around on the park that night, his body tingling with each movement and his heart pumping loudly and quickly to keep up with his movements, it was a wonderful feeling. With these thoughts Robin fell asleep on the counter.

AΩ

"You don't look so good." Robin looked up tiredly at Rachel as she headed towards the bench and sat next to him with a frown. "Almost like you didn't sleep at all last night. Nightmares?" Robin sighed and looked away with a soft nod. "About the past?" Robin nodded again and Rachel sighed softly, leaning back against the bench and staring upward. "What was your life like before? Were you brave, courageous, and adventurous?" Robin stared down at the ground and sighed, getting a very small smile.

"Yeah, I was. I did a lot of crazy stuff with my friends, it was a lot of fun. But I'd rather be normal now," he told her. Rachel looked down at him quietly, unsure how to respond but luckily she didn't have to. "I had fought my whole life and at the beginning when I wasn't I was being taught how to and even then I was fighting myself and my adopted father. I've always been fighting something and I was just…done. I couldn't do it." She put a hand on his shoulder.

"I understand," she said softly. "You needed a break but I know you'll go back someday, being extraordinary is something we all crave. I know I do, I'm just normal and I don't do anything exciting. I go to school, hang with a few friends sometimes, do homework and yada yada yada. It's very boring. I'd give anything to be amazing." Robin looked over at her.

"What about those moves I saw the other night?" Rachel shrugged softly. "Taught yourself?" She sighed and nodded. "I see. Well, you do really good for someone who never had lessons. And if it helps I don't think you're ordinary, you could be anything if you really wanted to. With moves like yours you could save the world." She chuckled without humor and gave him a weak smile.

"No I couldn't. But you could, gymnast boy. You've got a light in your heart like none-other I've ever seen," she said with a real smile growing on her face. Robin sighed and looked away, making Rachel frown in response. "Hey, what's wrong?" Robin shook his head and stood.

"I don't think you'd understand." Rachel scowled and grabbed his arm just as he started to walk away, getting him to look down at her. She yanked him back down onto the bench.

"Try me," she challenged. Robin stared at her, not speaking. "Hey, come on, I'm all you've got right now." Robin sighed and looked away again, thinking it over in his head. He closed his eyes, pretending that he was talking to Starfire to help the words come out.

"Have you ever been so afraid of yourself that you wanted to hide?" he whispered and Rachel was silent, not responding. Robin cursed himself, he knew he shouldn't have said that. She couldn't understand that, no one could, he was the only one who truly knew what had happened in his mind with Slade and what effect it had.

"Yeah, I think I have." Robin looked at her to find she was looking at the grass again with a thoughtful stare. "Maybe not in the way you feel but I do know how it feels to want to hide because you're scared or hurt. Whether you're hiding to protect people or hiding to try and fix yourself, it doesn't matter, what matters is that you're scared and maybe it's not such a big deal to ask for help." Robin looked away. "You don't have to ask my help, you don't really know me and you dont' trust me very much, I know you don't. But you need someone, Richard. Someone that can help you." Robin watched as Rachel got up and left him sitting alone on the bench, thinking over what she had told him.

AΩ

Robin punched the air and delivered a high kick to the air as well, trying to shake off what Rachel had said to him earlier. He didn't need help, he could handle this on his own and he would be right as rain in no time. He let his body rest as he panted slightly in the empty living room, heading into the bathroom and wash the sweat off his face. Once done drying he turned to the mirror and stared at his reflection, it molding into the Red-X suit and he frowned deeply at that. He had liked being Red-X, committing crimes and fighting against the power, doing what he had been taught was wrong all this time and going against what Batman had told him just like when he left Gotham.

"You sure showed your true colors then, huh?" he muttered to himself, his reflection grinning at him as he glared at it. "You liked it, you may never admit it but you liked playing the villain and rebelling against all you had been taught by your mentor. No, you didn't like it, you loved it. You little slime, you little liar, you little bitch, you little piece OF SHIT!" Robin punched the mirror with his bare fist and it shattered under the pressure his fist had delivered. Robin shook without removing his fist as blood covered the glass it was pressed up against.

Robin fell to his knees and stared at the ground as he trembled, arms wrapping around himself as he ignored his throbbing hand that held his left elbow. He was a hero, he was taught to save lives and protect those that needed it but when he started to fight against his teachings he felt such a thrill for breaking the rules that it started to become a drug, like how X always told him it was. Robin started to shake uncontrollably.

"It was a thrill, wasn't it?" He held in his scream as Slade's voice filled his head and he gripped himself tighter in his arms, his whole body tensing as he resisted the urge to scream in agony and burst into tears. He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed, finding it hard to do so suddenly.

"I'm scared," he whispered to the air around him. "I want to be a hero but I'm scared that I'm not, I'm so scared that I'm really just a villain in a hero's mask." Robin felt the tears trail down his face and passed his tightly gritted teeth, falling off the rim of his chin and to the floor silently. Robin felt like he might puke right then and there, his stomach wanting to get rid of the sickness in side of him that couldn't be cured.

"It was a thrill…wasn't it, Robin?" Robin couldn't hold it in as he screamed in his painful agony but forced himself to keep the volume down, he didn't need someone calling 911 and him having to explain his hand to the police. Robin fell onto his side, arms still wrapped around himself, and didn't even try to stop himself from shaking in his terror. Robin's mouth moved, trying to form words but only soft whimpers escaped his mouth, but then…

"It was…it was a thrill," he whispered quietly to himself and gave another soft scream. "I'm terrified of myself…what will I become…?" Robin's jaw set as the teeth continued to flow down his cheeks, sobs coming out quietly between his clenched teeth as he lay on the cold, tile floor of the bathroom. Robin didn't hear the window open or it softly thud shut or someone walking through his apartment as he cried, curled up tightly around himself.

"The hell?!" Robin didn't even respond as X ran over to him, sitting him up and looking at his injured hand as he shook. X started to ask what happened but stopped when he saw Robin's eyes. "Kid?" His voice was strangely soft, almost concerned. Robin looked down and his shoulders shook with silent sobs, X looking him over frantically in worry. "Whoa, kid what's wrong?"

"Just because I don't like to play the villain. Doesn't mean I don't know how to," Robin whispered slowly and X seemed to know exactly what he meant as he hugged Robin as tightly as he could without crushing him, a hand over his head to hold it against his chest protectively. "It was a thrill…Slade was right…" X tensed and held Robin a bit tighter at the mention of Slade.

"Since when do you listen to Slade?" he murmured. Robin growled and shoved X off of him, ignoring the pain shooting through his entire right hand.

"I always have!" he screamed at X, startling him. "He's right! He's always been right! He haunts my dreams and my every waking moment because he's right! Just because I like playing hero doesn't make me one!" X stared wide-eyed at Robin, shocked beyond words at seeing the boy wonder breaking down with tears in his eyes. "I was a villain once, remember? I made that suit your wearing and used it for the exact same reasons you are and I liked it! Hell, I loved playing the bad guy and fighting against the power. How do I know that I'm really a hero? How do I know I'm not a villain in a hero's mask?"

X said no words but instead just hugged him tightly again, not letting Robin break his grip as he held him there without fail as Robin screamed for him to let go and pounded against his chest. After a few moments Robin gave up and sat there in the embrace, sobbing quietly until he passed out from exhaustion. X sighed and picked Robin up, lying him down on his bed and looking for a first aid kit to fix his hand.

AΩ

Robin groaned as he came to, the world slowly coming into focus as he rolled up to sit on the edge of his bed. He rubbed his head and winced as his hand ached at the sudden movement and looked down at the wrapped body part with a sigh, remembering the night before and all he had said to X. He got up and put his leather jacket on as he walked into the living room, freezing in his movement as he entered the room. X was still there. He glared and continued to put his jacket on.

"Sit." Robin glared at the command but X didn't say it like it was ordering, more like he'd like it if he did sit down. Robin huffed and walked over, sitting across from him on the floor. "You're not a villain, Robin. If you were, trust me you'd know. It's a thrill, yes, but it's not your drug." Robin looked down.

"You're wrong," he whispered softly and X raised a brow. "I've always thought about it, dreamed about it and pretended and I loved it. It was when I became Red-X that I realized just how deep the longing went." X frowned and hummed thoughtfully. "I can't ever go back, being so close to being able to cause mayhem and being a villain makes it harder."

"Slow down there partner, let's not get ahead of ourselves." Robin looked up and found that X was smiling at him. "I think I know how to help you out with this, without breaking the law. See, I don't think this is you wanting to be a villain, I think it's just you wanting to be rebellious. Think about it, you were taught all your life who to fight and how to do it and when suddenly you go against that it's a thrill because it's rebellion. Go on, tell me I'm wrong." Silence. "Exactly."

"You said that you knew how to help me." X nodded and put a hand up for patience. Robin glared and leaned forward a bit, as if pressing him to talk.

"I'm getting to that. The fact is that you want to rebel and that is perfectly normal, I just take it a little to far honestly. Anyway, to the point you want me to make. To help you without breaking the law, I prepose that you and I keep close in-touch. I'll let you know where I live and if you ever need to blow of steam, rebel a little, or even just need a break from playing hero you can head on over." Robin stared, was he serious? "And yes, I'm perfectly serious. I've been there man, I still am in fact, but like I said I might have taken it a little far. No regrets though."

"All right." X grinned. "But if I find out you're playing me I will kill you." X burst into laughter and his grin grew in size as they shook hands.

"You got yourself a deal, kid," he agreed. "Now, pack up your stuff and I'll go get mine from my tree. Meet me at the exit of the complex after leaving and we'll be on our way." Before Robin could say anything X was already out the window and leaving.

AΩ

Robin had easily snuck into Titan's Tower after trading info with X and put his stuck back in his room. He had changed into his Robin suit and let out a content sigh as he felt his feet inside his comfortable combat boots then, with a deep breath and whole lot of mustered up courage, he walked down the hall and into the main room to find them all talking about tracking down a criminal. Robin cleared his throat and they all turned, staring.

"Am I allowed to join?" he asked nervously. Starfire squealed and hugged Robin tightly, nearly knocking him over and Robin finally found himself at the bottom of a huge dog pile and they all agreed that they should celebrate after catching Mumbo, who had stolen some magic wand. "All right, let's track this crazy down and then head out!" They all cheered and Robin gave a found smile, happy that they were happy.

And that's a wrap!

Thanks for reading, please review, and have a bow chicka bow wow day

Petchricor, QotG, signing off ;)