Authors Note: Sorry my updates have been so few and far between, but that's the way it's going to be for awhile! School is in and I am loaded down! However, I have the last week in November off, so look forward to a new chapter or two then.

ALSO- You may not know, but I have another Batman fanfic going that is somewhat similar to this one. If you want to check it out, it's called "The Last Joke". It is rated M, but there is nothing explicit (just heavy subject matter).

P.S. Happy belated Halloween, everybody!

Chapter 8

"I don't recall Master Wayne ever telling me that you had permission to walk about at night." Alfred face was calm, but his voice was accusing.

Robin stood frozen in place, holding her breath. "There's no getting out of this one," she thought with dread.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Robin cringed; Alfred accusing voice reminded her painfully of her mother.

For a moment, neither Robin nor Alfred said anything.

"Nothing? Well then, since you are Master Wayne's guest, I suppose I should let him deal with you." And with that, Alfred seized Robin's forearm and pulled her back up the stairs.

He half-dragged, half-pulled her back up the stairs, down one hall, up another two flight of stairs , and finally down the hall. She was steeling herself to be locked in her room for the rest of the night, but Alfred stopped halfway down the hall. He rapped once on an oaken door. "Master Wayne, I think Miss Grayson would like a word with you."

"Come in, just open the door. I can-" there was a flurry of hurried movement- "finish this later."

Alfred swung the door open and pushed Robin into the room. Bruce's room was nearly identical to hers; the only thing out of place was the foldaway work bench at which Bruce was sitting. Spread out on the table was a sautering iron, screwdriver, and work gloves. Whatever Bruce had been working on was out of sight.

Alfred pushed her forward. He scowled at Robin and set his hands on his hips. He looked at Bruce, and his smug look suddenly disappeared. "Master Wayne, it took me weeks to get the last oil stains out of the carpet! The last thing I need is another bit of carpet to clean."

Bruce looked sheepish. "I'm sorry, Alfred. The earpiece was falling out again, I was just setting it back into the ma-" Alfred cleared his throat loudly. Bruce looked at him, confused; Alfred looked sideways at Robin.

"The tourist here decided to take a walk, and discovered the passage behind the bookcase in the parlor."

"You mean- the one opened by the piano?" Bruce looked skeptical.

"Yes, the one opened by the piano." Alfred sounded royally impatient.

"Well then why didn't you just send her back to bed and tell her that room was off limits? She certainly seems more afraid of you than me," Bruce replied with a chuckle.

Alfred glowered. "Master Wayne, that area of the house is extremely private, and so I assumed that you would want to reprimand her yourself. Particularly since you seem so intent on protecting Miss Grayson." Robin heard the scorn in this last statement loud and clear.

"Me? What do you have that could possibly hurt me?" Robin looked at Bruce inquisitively. He sat there for some time, just looking back at her. Robin wondered if he was looking at her or through her; he didn't seem entirely aware she was still standing there. Just as Robin was going to suggest she return to her room, Bruce rose and walked over to the nightstand beside the bed. His back to Alfred and Robin, he pulled something out of the top drawer. He hesitated a moment, and then turned back to them. The expression on his face was serious.

"Robin, I've decided to let you in on my greatest secret." He held out to her the object he had pulled from the drawer; it was a mask. Robin squinted at it, not entirely sure she was seeing it right. "That looks like the mask Batman wears." What, exactly, was Bruce trying to tell her?

"Actually," Bruce replied, "it is the mask Batman wears. I am Batman."