"Gone? What do you mean he was gone?" asked Raven. "What happened?"

"Well, they found a note, if you'll let me continue..."

Batman raced over to the bedside table, seeing a folded up piece of paper. He read it aloud so the nurse could hear it as well.

"Hey. Uh, not sure who'll find this note first, a nurse or Batman, but either way, tell the guy I'm gone. Well, kinda obvious, but... anyway, I've thought it over for a while. If I can't be Robin here, I'll be Robin somewhere else. There are other citys that need help just as much as Gotham. I'll go to Bloodhaven, or Steel City, or maybe even Jump, over in California. I'm not sure, but... crime fighting's my life. I'm not gonna give it up 'cause another guy in costume said I couldn't. Did anyone make you quit when Bane broke most of the bones in your body, Bats? No. I don't wanna leave a bunch of loose ends, but I can't say I'm sorry for things you've gotten mad at me for in the past. I've got no regrets, and this was my choice. Try to bring me back or find me, and I'll just run again. Maybe I'll even talk to you eventually. But not yet. I just can't. I'm not just running away to be a brat, or to act like a stereotypical teen. (You know for a fact I've never had that chance) I've really thought this over. A lot. Not just in the past week, but more like the past year. Whatever. Have fun saving your precious city.

"Well, that's a little harsh..." mumbled Raven.

"Harsh, but true. You see, Miss. Gordon and Master Dick would often confine in each other, and in me. Over the years, they had realized just how much displeasure Batman took in putting them in danger. Though, they mistook it for having more to do with Batman not wanting partners. They'd often complain about his actions to each other, and half the time I had to agree with them."

"What do you mean?"

"Batman did hold them back, which they often complained of, and sometimes he'd try to do things on his own. Batgirl and Robin often had to remind him that they were his partners, not his employees."

"But what did that last line mean? He sounded almost... resentful that Batman helps Gotham."

"That he was, Miss Raven. You see, when it came to certain situations, Batman would pick Gotham and crimefighting over Richard, often ignoring the lad."

"What do you mean? Like, save the city or save him kind of thing? Or-?"

"Oh, nothing that serious. But for example, Richard was very upset when Bruce missed his graduation because he was fighting crime, but Bruce just shrugged the boy off, not bothering to appologize, because he found it not to be that big of a deal. Another time, when he was much younger, they were going on a trip to Metropolis, but instead of spending time with Bruce, the poor lad spent all his time with the Batman, as Robin instead of Richard. In his mind, an illusion formed that Master Bruce liked Robin better than Richard, and that he only kept Richard around as a sidekick, and not a son. He never expressed these feelings, so it sort of built up inside of him, until he could no longer take it."

"Oh..."

"I'm sure you and your friend could get better answers from him though."

"Friend?"

"The green one sitting in the folds of your cloak." Beastboy immediately morphed back to human.

"How'd you know I was there?"

"Like I said before. I keep house for a man dressing up like a bat. I've learned some observation skills." Suddenly, the Batmobile zoomed into the Batcave. "Perfect timng on their part, our story is complete."

"But what happened after Batman found the note?" asked Beastboy.

"Well, I suppose he went to Jump city and met all of you," said Alfred, an ammused smile coming to his lips.

Beastboy smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I knew that..." The three watched as Batgirl and the second Robin came out of the Batmobile, trailing Batman. Batgirl turned around to help Richard out, who, to the surprise of everyone, was in handcuffs.

"Were the handcuffs really nececary, sir?" asked Alfred, disaproval in his tone. "He is your son, afterall."

"It was all I could do to prevent him from breaking out and leaving."

"Yea," said the second Robin, smirking. "Barb practically had to sit on him."

"I was never told exactly what happened to cause Master Dick to return home...?" trailed off Alfred, looking for answers.

"He found out about Zucco's release." Batman summed up, pulling back his cowl, revealing the face of Bruce Wayne.

"Then me and Tim found him, before he did anything stupid," finished Batgirl, also removing her cowl.

"Who's he?" asked Tim, pointing at Beastboy.

"Another Titan, I'll assume," mumbled Batman, clearly not happy that yet another person knew his secret. "Probably came with the demon."

"They have names, you know." Richard spoke up, for the first time. He dropped the handcuffs on the table, having gotten them off.

"How'd you do that?" asked Tim, facinated. "And what are their names?"

"I'm from the circus. My best friend was training to become an escape artist. We taught each other a few things," he briefly explained. "And that'd be Beastboy and Raven. And when did you get here Beastboy?" he asked, confused by the changeling's presence.

"I overheard Raven talking to Cyborg, saying she was going to Gotham to find you. Gotham's suicide by yourself, so I came with her." Richard now turned his confused gaze to Raven.

"I didn't know he was on my cloak till after getting here," she explained.

Batgirl broke the ensuing silence. "So... what now?" she asked, not sure what would be going on.

"Now, we find out exactly why Richard came here in the first place."

"Already explained that. Zucco got out, even though he murdered my parents. I came to give him what he desserves, for killing two completely innocent people."

"Killing him isn't the answer." Growled Bruce, bat-voice on.

"Oh yea? Listen to this, Bruce. What would you do, if you found out who killed your parents, huh? You're telling me, that you would just cuff him and take him to jail?" The silence was all the answer he needed. "You're such a flippin hypocrite."

"I'm the hypocrite? You're the one who was always saying I ran from my problems, but when something came up that you didn't like, you ran away!"

"Something I didn't like? You took my identity away!"

"Robin's not your identity! Richard is!"

"Not anymore! You know, this is the second time I've been in my civilian identity since I left Gotham!"

"Wait, when was the first?" asked Beastboy, totaly confused. He didn't remember Robin ever out of uniform, well except for the incident with-

"Slade." The two titan's eyes widened in surprise, as the other four looked on at the exchange, confused.

"But... when did he-? How did-?" apparently, Raven had lost the ability to form coherent sentences.

"When I got back from the robbery at Wayne Industries."

"What robbery? I never heard of one."

"Of course you didn't. Because no alarms went off, and the property was returned."

"How was a thief able to not set off any alarms?" asked Barbara. "Not many are smart enough to get past security. Besides, they'd need to know the codes..."

"Becuase you're looking at the thief," Richard said quietly, head bowed.

"My word!" exclaimed Alfred, dropping a tray. Tim, Barb and Bruce just stared, confused.

"I stole from you Bruce, and some other places, because... because I was forced to work for Slade. A mad man, and a criminal."

"What do you mean forced? You always have a choice," asked Bruce, voice hardening in disapointment.

"I mean forced, as in the alternative was him killing my friends with nanoscopic probes he put in thier bodies with the push of a button!"

"Well how'd you get into that mess in the first place?"

"He was obsessed with catching this dude," voiced Beastboy, sensing his friend would rather not talk about it.

"You know obsession isn't good-"

"Shut up! Okay, Bruce? Just shut up! You have no clue what it was like! He didn't just threaten my friends! He knows about you, and Babs, and Clark, and everyone! He threatened to give away your identities! He threatened to kill my friends! And then to top it off, he did exactly what you did! He ripped the god damned mask right off my face!" Richard shook his head, laughing a little psychotically. "You know Bruce, there were a few moments when I was Slade's apprentice that I seriously wondered if him and you were the same person. Both slightly crazy, both smart, both always one step ahead of me... both so manipulative..." He slumped down, head in his hands.

Barbara stepped foreward, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Dick. It's over now. He can't hurt you anymore."

"But he can!" he shouted, pushing her hand away. "He already tricked another of our friends. Tricked her and then in stopping him, she was killed!"

"Terra..." Beastboy murmured, upset. He was still mad that Slade had lived while Terra had died saving everyone.

"He know all of our weaknesses, our fears! Everything about each and every one of us in the titans! And when Terra killed him? He didn't stay dead! No, not him. Instead, he just had to be revived by Raven's d- uh, Trigon."

"What about Raven?" asked Bruce, further suspicious of the girl, who just rolled her eyes in responce.

"Trigon is my father. He tricked my mother into falling in love with him, and I was the result. I ended up with a destiny of ending the world, became a portal, then while Beastboy, Cyborg and Starfire faught Trigon, Robin went literally to the pits of hell, and found me. Brought me back. Then together we all defeated Trigon. So no need to worry about him. That's about it."

"Oh... well, that's that... So Robin, why were you holding a knife up to Tony Zucco's throat?" Bruce didn't catch his mistake. Richard did.

"I knew it! I knew it! You never wanted me as a son, just a side kick!"

"What? Where did you get that from?"

"My name is Richard! Remember? You just called me Robin! I'm not even wearing a uniform!" it then hit Bruce how bad what he just did was.

"Richard, you know I didn't mean it like-"

"No, save it, Batman, I'm done here. Come on, Raven, Beastboy. Lets go home."

"Dick... please! Don't leave!" begged Barbara, desperate to at least see her friend for five more minutes, have one new possitive memory.

"Sorry Barb, some other time. I just gotta go... get away... away from him!" As he stormed up the stairs, Beastboy and Raven shared a look, shrugged, and followed, unsure of what else to do. They left the manor in silence, and were about to leave, when suddenly Batgirl ran up behind them.

"Wait!" she called, and surprised, the three titans turned around. She slipped a piece of paper and a photo into Richard's hands. The photo was of the two of them, and the paper had her phone number and email on it. "Keep in touch this time, circus boy."

He smiled and replied, "Sure thing, Babs."

"Wonder Breath."

"Batbrat."

"Bird boy."

"Gym rat."

"Pixie!"

Ginger!"

"Traffic light!" The two just looked at each other, and started cracking up."See you around." she called, hugging him. She then walked back into the manor, looking back a few times. Richard had the ghost of a smile on his face.

"Come on, let's go home." And Raven transported them back to the tower.

"Back to Jump, eh? Can't hide forever..." Thought a man in the shadows. He had a plan, one that would save his hide.

*So, love? Hate? Please tell me!