Part 11

Taking down Doc Hastings didn't take long. Batman entered through the front, Robin in the back, their usual routine they knew so well. As usual, the fools didn't know what hit them. When would they ever learn. Using his eskrima sticks and the abilities of both Robin and Nightwing, Dick Grayson secretly reveled in taking out the men that tried to kill him. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Batman took down the other two and went after Doc Hastings. Robin followed after. He was glad to see his partner in full form once again. After all, protecting Batman's back was his job. Someone had to do it. Why not him.

Doc Hastings raised the electrified wand he would use to shock people to disable them when he would commit his crimes. Robin remembered that wand all too well, having felt its affects. As Hasting started to press the button that would send out an electrical current, Robin threw one of his eskrima sticks knocking the wand out of Doc Hastings' hand before he had a chance to use it on Batman.

"BULLSEYE! You should have seen the shocked look on your face."

"This isn't over Boy Wonder!"

"That's where you are wrong," Batman said, his fist connecting with Hastings' chin.

The man crumpled to the floor. Kicking Hastings' weapon out of his reach. Batman snapped on the batcuffs. Robin did the same for the rest of Hastings' gang.

"I'll call Commissioner Gordon," Batman said. "Fill her in. Looks like John Kober and Fred Tinney will be able to rest in peace after this."

"You only mentioned two of my victims. You didn't mention Wayne."

"I wouldn't boast about that," Batman growled. "With Wayne, you failed. Thanks to his son, Dick Grayson-Wayne. Your murdering schemes are done. They'll give you the electric chair for the murders you already committed. A fitting end to this whole shocking affair."

"Why Batman, looks like I'm finally rubbing off on you," Robin smiled. "You just made a pun."

"Really . . . shocking," Batman said with a straight face, though a slight smile appeared and there was a twinkle in his eye. "Let's go home."

"What about Jim Gordon's house?"

"We'll take care of it in the morning. I think we've earned a night off."

Robin felt the weight of Batman's hand on his shoulder and felt the affectionate squeeze. That gesture told it all. It was Batman's way in telling him thanks for saving his life. He sensed the weariness catching up to them, but it was a good weariness come from a job well done. The weight on his shoulder was reassuring and welcomed. At first, he thought he would never feel that weight ever again, concerned that he would be alone once again, fighting crime. The thought didn't appeal to him, not at this stage in his life. He was resolved with his position and it felt right. They were a team, Batman and Robin. Each needing the other. They're never the same if you split them up. Though Dick did his own time as Batman and he even had his own Robins. They had been a team as well, and yet. It just didn't feel quite right. He knew it would always be temporary. He knew that he could never fully fill Bruce's shoes completely. In his heart, he was Robin, and here he would stay, always at Batman's side.

'We've come full circle," Dick thought. 'We've started together we'll finish together. Batman and Robin forever.'

End

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A/N: I've enjoyed writing this story. My thoughts on it being that after so many years would Dick Grayson go back to his roots? Not to the circus, since he spent more of his life with Bruce and fighting crime than he ever did flying a trapeze. I played around with the idea. This could be on any Earth in any Mutlverse. I was also thinking that there are two people who are always meant to be together. This isn't a love story, though some may think of it in those terms. This is a story about two souls that are connected in such a way that they are more than partners, more than mentor and student, more than guardian and ward, more than father and son, they are brothers of the soul where they complete each other. They are more together than they are apart. They've reached that point where they fully understand each other and are accepting of it. Especially Dick Grayson. He's content to be Robin once again and there he will stay.