*Sorry for taking forever to write this chapter, i tried a couple times and it didn't seem right until now. more of a filler chapter, but an exciting one :) thanks for the reviews!

Raven knocked lightly on the door to Wayne Manor. She felt a little nervous. She had never been in such a big house. The whole estate had to be at least tripple the size of the small island the titans lived on. A kind looking old man answered the door, not the least bit surprised at Raven being there.

"Ah, yes. You must be Miss Raven. Come, I'll show you to the batcave." Raven nodded her thanks, and followed Alfred through a series of rooms.

"So, all this hero stuff... I guess it doesn't faze you anymore when you're letting an empath in through the front?"

Alfred turned around to look the girl in the eye. "I have been spending my life watching over a man who goes out at night dressed up as a bat, who trains young children to fight beside him, while maintaining a social life as a billionaire playboy. Nothing much fazes me anymore, miss." They stopped when thry reached an office with a large grandfather clock. Alfred simply turned the clock to a specific time, and the clock moved to reveal an elevator. Raven got in, Alfred following behind. When the doors opened, she was shocked beyond words.

"Whoa."

"Yes, it is quite 'high tec', is it not? But I'm sure you titans have similar tecnology in your hideout."

"Um, It's not really a hideout first of all, it's a giant letter 'T' on an island to the side of the city, and secondly, Cyborg, he's kinda the tec guy of the team, he would go into a coma if he saw this. He'd probably question why Robin ever left," she joked, trying to break the ice. She heard the kind butler sigh next to her.

"That thought, I'm sure, never crossed his mind when he decided to leave."

"What happened?" asked the curious empath. "I mean, Rob- Richard, is a good guy, he probably had lots of friends here, got to fight crime by night... I'm sure he had plenty of girlfriends," she said bitterly, and noticing the smirk on Alfred's face, she rushed to add, "uh, and live here, as an added bonus." she gestured around. "When I was talking to Bruce, he didn't seem too happy he was here. Did the two of them have a fight?"

"Not just a mere fight, more like many small fights just piled up until they all blew up into a big thing. You see, the fights went on for years. It all started when he was younger. He had gained many skills in crime fighting, but still wasn't adjusting to the double life."

"Really? If he was fighting crime as a superhero days after his parents deaths, I'd think he'd adjust quickly."

"In some aspects, yes, but in others, not well. He found it easy to learn the martial arts, and to train, because he was used to training every day in the circus. His acrobatic skills also helped. But going to school, that presented a different challenge. He had never been before, considering it was a traveling circus, and he was home schooled by a tutor that traveled with the circus to teach the kids. He was a very bright lad, and had many friends. He found it upsetting to see other kids being bullied, and to not be able to do anything about it. Bruce had made it clear that he needed to keep his life fighting crime very seperate from his life at school, so he had to sit back, and watch it happen. He always questioned why he couldn't help them. Bruce always told him that bullies would never resolve things with words, but with fists. He found that out the hard way.

"One of his close friends was always being bullied, and one day Dick decided to put a stop to it. He tried to just use words, and prevent a confrontation, but one thing lead to another..." Alfred shook his head. "The boy had it coming to him I suppose. He had called Richard a terrible name. Dick punched the lad out cold." Raven felt the excitement radiating off of Beastboy in waves.

Robin punched someone out? Dude! Raven tried not to roll her eyes, as to give away the other's presence. "What happened? I mean, Robin doesn't seem to be the type to punch people for no reason."

"He called the boy what Dick took as a terrible insult. The boy called him a 'crazy circus wierdo', and said he should 'go back and join all the other freaks'. Now, to you or I it may not seem to be so bad, but to him, the lad was insulting his family, his life. He took the insult to heart.

"Well, after Richard's little display, inevitably, he was sent down to the office. They had never seen such strength in the boy, and wondered just what was going on over here. We assured them it was nothing out of the ordinary, that he had gotten his strength from his days in the circus. He had been a trappeze artist after all, and showed a great ammount of upper body strength even before he started training with the Batman.

"When Bruce found out, he was very upset with the boy, yelling at him, and telling him he wouldn't be aloud to be Robin anymore if he couldn't keep his two lives seperate. Now, I didn't agree with Bruce's yelling, for it only angered the boy even more.

"What were you thinking Dick! Are you trying to reveal your identity? You are supposed to punch out the Joker's henchman as Robin, not a kid at school while as Dick Grayson!"

"John Rancid isn't just some kid, Bruce! He's been bullying my friends almost the whole school year!"

"That doesn't change anything! You should know better than to settle things with your fists!"

"Should I? You're the one training me how to knock people out with a single blow or hit or jab or whatever!"

"So you're saying this is MY fault?"

"It isn't always about you, Bruce! Just becuase you're Batman, and rich and famous, and all those other wonderful things people think of you, doesn't mean the world revolves around your head!" Bruce was slightly stunned by the outburst, but didn't let it show.

"That'll be enough out of you, young man!"

"You're not the boss of me!"

"I'm your father!" Dick let out a dry laugh.

"No, Bruce. You may be my gaurdian legaly, but you were never my father. I already had a father! Just because he's dead doesn't mean you can replace him!"

"I'm not trying to replace your father," Bruce said, tone softening. "No one could ever replace your father. I'm only trying to look out for you."

"I don't need you to be looking out for me! I'm not a child! I'm twelve!"

"Well you're acting like you're about five." Trying to calm down, Dick took a breath. He didn't want to anger Bruce. All he ever wanted was his stupid approval.

"Sorry. It's just..." he shook his head. "If our job is to help people when in costume, then what's our job supposed to be out of costume? You have your whole act as a billionare bachelor, Barb has been training for the olympics since she was three. What am I supposed to do? Are we supposed to not help someone we see in trouble just to keep our secrets? Am I supposed to let Jonny beat me up every day, and not fight back? Let him bully my friends?"

The ensuing silence was enough of an answer. Dick glared up at him. "Of course I am. All you care about is your precious secret." He started to walk away.

"Dick," Bruce called out, trying to settle the argument. Abruptly, Dick spun around.

"That's Richard to you! Only my family can call me that!"

After that the boy stormed out of the room. Now, Bruce immediately became angry with the statement. He knew there was a point in what Richard was saying, but didn't want to confront his thoughts."

"So, is that why Robin left? Because he couldn't stand the double life? In Jump City, he's Robin 24/7." Raven voiced the question for both herself and the green imp hiding in the folds of her cloak.

"Miss Raven, I wish it were that simple." Alfred said with a sigh. "That incident happened when he was merely twelve years old. He left a few months after he turned fifteen. It was the Joker's doing that drove the two appart."

"What happened?"

"You see, ever since Richard had turned fourteen, he had been wanting more freedom in his crime fighting. Bruce, whether he'd admit it or not, was very protective of the boy. And of Miss Barbara Gordon, the Batgirl for she is only a year older than Richard. Neither found the jobs they did to be fair, calling it 'gruntwork' believeing that Batman would always get the glory. For years, no one took either of them seriously. They would only be aloud to patrol in some of the worst parts of town with thier communicators on, and they were forced to check in on the hour. This drove both of them mad.

"One night while patroling, Robin forgot his communicator, so Batman had no way of contacting him. Later when the boy got home, he got yet another lecture.

"What were you thinking, not bringing your communicator? You could've gotten kidnapped or something, and I wouldn't be able to find you!"

"Not true." Robin said with a glare. "You are the world greatest detective," he said sarcastically. "Besides, you really think I wouldn't notice the tracking device you put on my belt?" He asked, pulling the bat shaped chip off of said item. "And I can take care of myself."

"Can you? What about the time you were kidnapped by Joker?"

"I was nine!"

"Or the time you were tied upside down above a pit of acid?"

"Batgirl was tied up too! And we only got caught so you coud trace their hideout! We were the bait. Besides, we untied ourselves."

"Or the time when you were under Ivy's mind control."

"She took me by surprise! And you were put under her mind control the first time she caused trouble!"

"What about the time when-"

"I get it Bruce! I screw up alot! You mess up sometimes too, so don't go around thinking your the great and mighty Batman! Barb and I have saved your sorry but dozens of times!"

"I'm not denying that. And that'll be enough of the back talk!"

"Says who?"

"Says me!"

"Who? My dad?" he asked, glaring at the man.

"I'm only trying to-"

"Look out for me, I know. I know. That line worked great back in the sixth grade. Not anymore." Robin said, folding his arms.

"That's it. I've had it up to here with your attitude!" Batman raised his hand up to his neck. "You're grounded!" Robin rolled his eyes.

"Oh, I'm grounded, how terrible! Whatcha gonna do? Take away my video games? No after school activities? Oh, wait, I'm not allowed to participate in any, becuase apparently playing sports will draw too much attention to myself!" Robin said, sarcasm oozing from his lips.

"No. I'm grounding youu as Robin." He said in his Bat-voice. "No patrol for a week."

"When he was told that, something snapped within the boy. He didn't argue, or fight. He just nodded and dejectedly went up to his room, staying there for the rest of the night and the next day. Bruce never realized how much crime fighting really meant to the boy. They didn't talk all week.

"On the last day of his grounding, Richard left to take a walk. He stumbled upon a note meant for Robin, from the Joker. It implied that Batman had been kidnapped. He ran home immediately, and tried calling Bruce, finding the signal had been blocked. The thought that it might be a trap never crossed his mind. He thought that Bruce wouldn't mind that he disobeyed him, for he was trying to save his life. The thought that it was a trap never crossed his mind. When I came down to the Batcave and saw a picture of the message, I immediately called Bruce, realizing Dick had walked into a trap, but still couldn't get a hold of him. He was on the trail of the Joker.

"While he was looking for the Joker, Robin went to the place Joker frequently used as his hideout, finding the clown to be there. There was a fight in the dark, which was abruptly ended with... literally, a bang.

"By the time Batman had found Joker, it was too late. He heard a laugh, and started to persue Joker."

"Give it up clown! You know you aren't going to get away with whatever your planning!" He said, chasing down the clown.

"Planning? Why, I've already planned everything, Batsy! In fact, the plan has already been finished and done with!"

"What did you do?"

"Why don't you ask your sidekick, Birdboy! Hahahhahahahahahah!"

"He wasn't on patrol today, Joker. Enough games!"

"Oh, but he was! Bird brain came to a little party of mine! But you'll find I did you a favor! You were much better off without him..." Batman caught up with the Joker, and slammed him into a wall.

"What did you do to him?" he snarled, glaring at the Joker.

"Ah ah ah, I can't give away the surprise. He slipped out of Batman's grip, and started running. "You'll find your birdie in there." he said, pointing over at a building. "But you'd better hurry up Bats! You can either take me back to jail, or go save your little bird! hahahahhaha!" Believing Joker was only trying to trick him, he followed the Joker. He knew Robin had stayed home. After about ten minutes, Batman had caught the Joker. As he was being given to the police, Joker talked to the Batman, Commisioner Gordon and his daugther Barbara nearby.

"Wow, Bats! You must really hate your sidekick, picking me over him!" he screamed, with a laugh. Batman didn't answer. "Tell me Batsy, how long does it take for a kid to loose enough blood that they'll die?"

"Why so curious?" asked the commisioner, a little worried.

"Because, Bats! Your little bird boy has been lying in his own blood for nearly twenty minutes! Hahahahhaah!"

Barbara let out a a gasp, eyes widening. She knew her best friend was under that mask. As Joker was being taken to jail, the commisioner abruptly turned to Batman. "What's he talking about? Robin lying in his own blood?"

"I have no clue. Robin stayed at home tonight."

"Well, maybe you should call and check? To be sure?" asked Barbara, nervously wringing his hands. He nodded, and placed the call.

"Robin? Hello? Robin?" Only static came from the other side. The three found their hearts beating a lot faster. Batman turned to the other two. "He was mad at me earlier. He's probably just not answering."

"If he was mad at you, wouldn't he just disobey you and go out on patrol? Joker could've tricked him." Barbara pointed out, still worried. Batman nodded.

"I'll go check where Joker said Robin was supposedly at. I'll let you know what happens." He looked directly at Barbara as he said this, and she nodded, tears coming to her eyes. What had happened to her best friend?

Yea, uneventful chapter. i'm gonna be mean and leave it at a cliff hanger tho :) I'm sure many of you know what happens anyway :) if not, you'll find out soon! the more reviews the faster i write! wink wink nudge nudge!