So, yeah, sorry if this stinks. I was at girls camp and broke my wrist and-enough of that. Long story short, I'm writing one-handed.
So...yeah, time for the worst part.
Disclaimer: You idiots think I would own this?
Fall.
It's such a simple word, and used all the time. But still, he hated it. He hated the way he cringed just slightly when it was said. He hated the way that memory would replay when he fell. He hated being suppressed by that childish fear.
Some didn't know.
Some tried.
Some knew just how much it hurt.
The team didn't know, couldn't know. He trusted them with it, but Batman didn't. They wouldn't try to hurt their little brother, never. Just the thought of that would horrify them. The little bird was theirs. They wouldn't intentionally try to hurt him, he knew that, but sometimes he just wanted to scream.
Wally and Roy knew, but sometimes they just...forgot. He knew they wouldn't try to hurt him either, but he knew for them, sometimes, it was so easy to just...let it slip.
And Bruce. The one person who understood what it was like to watch them die. He knew what what it was like have their faces haunt his dreams. He knew what it was like to have wounds that wouldn't heal. He knew what it was like to have pain that's so...real. He knew what it was like to have something that time wouldn't erase.
He was grateful for the team, for not knowing. Because if they did, they might not see Robin, they might see an orphaned circus freak.
He was grateful for Wally and Roy, for pulling him back on his feet, even when he didn't want to stand again. He was grateful for their teasing smiles, and Wally telling him that it's okay to be different.
He was grateful to Bruce, for taking him in. He was grateful for Bruce, because he cried, Bruce was always there to to wipe away his tears. He was grateful to Bruce because when he screamed, Bruce fought away his fears. He was grateful to Bruce for holding his hand, and staying with him until he slipped into sleep.
But some small piece of him couldn't believe they were gone. How could they be gone if they still held part of him?
All of him?