La Revedere Chapter 3: Breakdown, a young justice fanfic

Another Week Later...
It seems things were going from bad to worse for Dick, for his condition has worsened when his heart had stopped that week ago. And because of that, he's been constantly watched by either a member from the Young Justice or a member from the Justice League. Bruce stayed with the boy as much as he could, only to leave when he needs to use the restroom, go to work as either Bruce Wayne or Batman, or when somebody drags him to his dorm of the Watchtower when he would doze off. Alfred wanted to stay and help the heroes watch over the boy as well, but he has business to take care of back at the Manor. However, he was able to have Leslie to go up to the Watchtower and help the other doctors take care of the boy they both think of as their own grandson.

Ever since the incident of his heart had stopped, the League didn't get the chance to hear the rest of what Dick has written in his journal and the only who has the black-book is Bruce, after Alfred had handed the Journal to him when the Dark Knight and green martian ran out of the Meeting Room that day. During the time of watching over the thirteen year-old, none has spoken about the Journal or bothered to mention about it. However, Bruce would feel his fingers gently stroking the black-cover and inch towards the edges to open it where J'onn has marked it.

Today, Both Wolf and Bruce are watching over the boy, while the rest of the Justice League Members were either taking care of villains in their hometown or going on missions. And as stubborn as both Clark and Conner, Wolf chose to stay with the boy and would growl at anyone who would try and get him to leave. The only times he would go is to head back down to Earth, and do his business. While food, water, and sleep are what he has in the room with Dick.

Bruce didn't actually minded if the genetically engineered-wolf stayed with his son, knowing that the white-animal is doing an excellent job on protecting the boy when he isn't around to watch over the child. However, whenever Wolf's golden-yellow eyes would come and stare at him, especially at his Navy-Blue eyes, the experimented-wolf would growl or snarl when their eyes would either meet or whenever Bruce would make any physical contact with Dick.

And today was no different, especially with Wolf laying on the same bed with the thirteen year-old and keeping his body warm while he still has massive Hypothermia. When the growling finally got on his nerve, Bruce decided to do one thing he never thought he was going to do the moment the white-wolf joined the team: Talk to the animal, even if he doesn't understand them.

"Alright, this has got to stop." He said, getting Wolf to cock his head to the side and to stop growling for the moment, except it didn't get the white-animal to stop glaring at him. "Whenever we make eye contact or whenever I make any physical contact with Dick, you would growl or snarl at me. You would even glare at me for just being in the room, mostly when I would leave to either go on patrol or do my civilian job." Wolf simply snorted and turned his gaze away from Bruce, obviously acting like he has no idea what the billionaire was saying, though Wolf is a lot smarter than any average wolf on Earth. "Even though I don't understand you, since you are an animal and I am a human, I want to know why you keep on giving me these treatment when I did absolutely nothing to you."

Wolf didn't hide any secrets when Bruce said those words. In fact, he gave the playboy a surprise: He stood on the bed, quickly got into a crouching position, and was soon on top of the man, who he has pinned to the floor on his back. From the way the white-wolf is snarling at Bruce, it was a clear red-flag that the billionaire has angered the wolf. Despite having to lift heavy weights many times for years, Wolf appears to be show not letting him off the floor and proves to be a lot stronger than he looks.

Then before he knew it, Wolf snatched the black journal out of Bruce's hand with his fangs and leap off of the billionaire to be back on the bed. "Hey!" He yelled, quickly getting to his feet and making his way to the white-wolf, who has gently placed the book on top of Dick's chest and curling himself on top of the boy's legs. As he laid down, he used his snout to move Dick's right-hand to be on top of the journal. "What's the big idea, you wolf?!" Bruce yelled, making a move to grab Wolf by the scruff of his neck and to pull him off the bed. Before his fingers could even brush against the soft-white fur, he stopped when he saw the journal on top of his son's chest and being limply held in his right-hand. Wolf then turned his gaze back to the billionaire, making a couple of growls and grunts, as he gently grabbed for the sleeve on Bruce's arm and pulled it towards the journal.

When Bruce's large, rough, and calloused hand made connection to Dick's smaller hand on top of the small book, his heart skipped a few beats when he felt how cold his skin was on top but how warm and actually soft his palms hiding underneath the cold-skins was.

It was said by many people who have made connections to animals, which also includes Dick himself, that animals are a lot like human and could actually be smarter than them. And to Native Americans and the Legend of the Ancestors of Canines, humans and wolves grew up together and made a certain connection on understanding each other. Though they've proven to not be tamed animals, they were to always help guide those who are lost back to where they are suppose to go or help remind them who they once were.

And right now, Bruce had a feeling that Wolf wants him to continue reading Dick's Journal and that alone will probably give him the answer on the secrets that Dick has been hiding from him and the rest of the team and League. And so, being absolutely gentle and once the white-wolf released his sleeve, the billionaire moved Dick just enough to make room for himself on the bed and took the book from the sleeping boy. He then placed his right-hand on top of Wolf's head, as a gesture of gratitude.

"Thank you, Wolf." He said, earning a small grunt from the white-animal and then felt a couple of blankets being pulled over his legs from the white-animal pulling the blankets towards the playboy. With the experimented-animal, blankets, and Bruce keeping the sleeping thirteen year-old warm and with things settling down, Bruce opened the book to the spot where J'onn had marked and began to read it a bit out loud to himself and Wolf.

The sun is gone and the flowers rot
Words are spaces between us

And I should've been drowned in the rivers I found of token lost
And I should've been down when you made me insecure

Saturday: May 6, 2005
I didn't head back to bed, nor did I feel anymore tired than I was before gaining that call... I'm also no longer at the Manor, for I had changed into some day-clothes and ran through the cold night. Before I was to head towards the hospital later today, there was something that was telling me to go to the Gotham Zoo. It was about the robins I drew, and my mind went into the thought about that robin I saw two days ago and that made me wonder why I drew it and a little robin injured. It was most likely a stupid idea on running back to the city, especially when I'm barefooted and didn't bother putting shoes on, but I didn't wanted to make anymore noises to wake Bruce or Alfred up. I could feel cuts forming in my feet, my muscles aching from doing the same procedure, the wind slapping me with its rain, and trying to frighten me with its thunder and lightning, but I wasn't going back to the Manor like a wolf with my tail between my legs.

After avoiding cars, crossing streetlights, and taking short breaks while walking, I finally made it to the Gotham Zoo in an hour and twenty-three minutes. However, the place is closed and the only lights that were on were the lamp lights outside of the front gates, a couple inside the animals' dens or cages, and the lamps acting like pillars to show hidden paths. I was beginning to doubt that my drawing and my uncle's... Passing were going to have any connection to the robin at the zoo, at first. However, even from the sounds of cars rushing and the rain continued to pour down with lightning strike, I heard a couple of birds screeching and chirping. That sound didn't mean good news at all, since I've been to many places on Earth and have studied a bit on birds behaviors.

The last time I ever heard that cry, it was when the circus and I were performing in Florida in January. While my family and I went out shopping, I heard two cries of seagulls screeching and it didn't sound friendly to me. They were in the air, one of them having a fish held in its beak, and the other swooping in and trying to steal the fish. If the first seagull didn't have that fish in its mouth, I would've thought they were just fighting to see who was the best flyer or the strongest seagull in Florida. Anyway, the first seagull was starting to carry scratch-marks on its from the second seagull from it using its talons, and I believe the second seagull had cut the first seagull's right-eye since it has that eye closed and a scar over it. In the end, the second seagull eventually gave up when the first seagull refused to let go of its catch, and flew off towards the sea to get his own. The first seagull, however, had lost its eye for not fighting back or giving up his food. Luckily, his left-eye isn't injured and should be able to see just fine with that eye once it gets used to it or until his right-eye actually recovers if it wasn't too damaged.

The screeching continued on, and I knew that whoever are fighting are going to get seriously hurt. Before I climbed up and over the fence, I did a quick look around and found no guards or security cameras guarding the place. Boy, security at the Gotham Zoo really sucks and I don't think they're the only ones who doesn't have great security. Once I was on the ground inside the zoo, I quickly ran down the light paths and made a beeline towards the Bird House. As I was running, the sounds of the other zoo animals let me know that not all of them are asleep and are also disturbed by the birds screeching.

The moment I reached the Bird House, I heard a couple of banging sounds being made from whatever was hitting the walls and I also saw the lights of the Bird House being turned on instead of turned off for the night flyers to enjoy and the day flyers to sleep until sunrise. Then without warning, I heard a crash and saw some of the lights being immediately turned off and slowly started to flash. I ran inside and when I was within the Bird House, I froze: It was a red-hawk and an adult robin fighting in the air, and below them is a tree. It was the the exact tree that I saw the little robin in, and the little bird was still in that tree.

More than half of the birds decided to stay out of the way and stay safe in their trees, while the rest seems to be trying to help the adult robin fight off the red-hawk and make it stop attacking for whatever reason it wanted to fight. The hawk then swatted the robin with its left-wing, sending the smaller bird to hit the hard-wall concrete, and then flew towards the tree that the little robin was in. Its talons, with some of its covered in blood, were held out and look ready to tear the small bird apart. However, just when the sharp claws could even touch another feather, something black and quick swooped down from the same tree the little robin was in and smacked the red-hawk hard in the head. While the red-hawk searched for whatever that hit it, the little robin tried to spread its small-wings and fly away, but its wings were badly scratched and the right-wing appears to be broken since its been held in a crooked angle and some of the feathers were either bent or teared off. When it launched itself out of the branch and tried to fly, it let out a small screech of pain and started to fall towards the hard-ground.

I immediately ran towards the fallen bird, avoiding tree branches and hopping on some of the bigger and stronger branches to increase my paste. Then, knowing that I only have one-shot, I held out both of my hands after launching myself once more in the air... I caught the bird, held it towards my chest to protect it from anymore further injuries, and rolled safely on the ground. Many of the birds, either by air or in the trees, stared down at me when they witnessed my rescue on saving the little robin. I pulled my hands away from my chest to stare down at the little bird, and saw it was alright. Its little light-blue eyes stared up back at me, as if surprised to see me in the middle of the night and not when people came to see them during the day. Despite that, it closed its eyes and rubbed its head against my chest, as if thanking me for saving it and feeling actually safe from the red-hawk. And speaking of the red-hawk, it seems to be still searching for whatever had hit it on the head. When it finally gave up and seems to have finally calmed down for whatever reason, it flew towards one of those wooden boxes with the doors that should be able to open and close automatically, which it isn't for some reason, and it didn't came out from the darkness of the box.

When I thought that the worse has finally ended, I was wrong when I saw some of the birds circling around something on the floor next to the wall and hearing a very low chirp... I knew it was the adult robin, and quickly took the little robin towards the injured bird who I believe must be its parent. As we neared the low chirp, the little robin in my hands began to chirp anxiously and tried to leave my hold on it.

When some of the birds saw us approach and backed away from the injured robin, I was certain that my heart has ceased to beat and my breath became nothing but heavy weights of gravity: There the adult American Robin lays, wings spread, scars and cuts covering its body from head to toe, and blood circling around its body. It was in the same position that I drew my robin as, and the scar wounds matched every detail I had placed on my drawing. I then bent down an inch away from him and lowered both my hands to the floor, allowing the little robin to hop out of my hold and to slowly limp its way towards the injured robin, who I knew was going to die. I didn't bring anything for injuries, and even if I did, there would still be a chance that the adult bird will die from blood loss.

The little bird, who was now standing next to the adult robin's head, turned its own head towards me and gave me the biggest plead in its blue-eyes. I only turned my gaze away from the bird. It was staring at me, giving me the look that reminded me of... Well, me. Another little bird, another broken wing bird, who had suffered from losing somebody close and will continue on suffering from the day of witnessing that loved one's death.

"Îmi pare rău...(I'm so sorry...)" I told the bird, letting a tear stream down my face. It seems that the robin understood what I mean, along with the others birds, because the little bird then turned back to the adult robin, who was still slowly breathing, and placed its small-head underneath the bigger bird's. After being in that position for seven minutes, the adult robin finally passed away and the little robin reluctantly pulled away from the bird when it knew the adult robin is D... Dead. I now feel like I can't say that word anymore, for it now sends shiver down my spine and cause my heart to ache. The only close word I can say that tells somebody has Di... Well, are 'passed on' or 'deceased'.

I didn't know how long I stayed there, along with the rest of the birds and night flyers, for I soon saw the sky starting to light up a bit through the black-clouds and knew that somebody who works for the Gotham Zoo will be here soon. I also needed to leave and head towards the hospital, knowing that Dr. Marcus is keeping my uncle's body ready for me to see him one last time. I slowly bent down one knee and slowly stroke the little robin's body, being as gently as I could so I don't cause anymore pain to it.

"La revedere, Puțin Robin.(Goodbye, Little Robin.)" My words seem to have struck my heart without warning, but I quickly brushed it off and quietly left the Bird House. It was still pretty dark and there was nobody in sight, which gave me the perfect time to head back to the entrance and get out the same way I got in.

Hours later, after waiting in an alleyway and actually falling asleep for six hours, I tiredly made my way towards the hospital, which was four blocks away where I slept at, which was next to a bakery. The rain numb my skin, and got rid of any dirt that was on me while sleeping in the alley. Once I reached the entrance, I saw Dr. Marcus waiting outside and gave me a sad smile when he saw me. He must've had a feeling that I would be coming here sooner than my other visits to the hospital.

"Hello, Richard." He greeted, placing a hand around my shoulder and to my right-arm when I approached him. He then stared down at my feet, noticing a small trail of my blood being left behind. "You forgot to bring shoes with you?" I knew he was trying to cheer me up, but it was pretty obvious to him that all I want right now is to see my Uncle Rick. "We left him in his room," he said to me. "I know it'll mean a lot to the both of you to be together one last time before we have to cremate him, like your..." Yeah, he was doing a terrible job on trying to cheer me up, but I did nothing to stop him from trying and allowed him to keep leading me to my uncle's room. "Would you like a blanket, Richard?" I only shook my head. He already knows how wet I am, but I guess he didn't think I would be this cold when his hand made contact of my bare arm. "Can I at least get you a towel to dry off?"

I didn't want anything at the moment; all I wanted is to be with my uncle. However, I did nodded my head, knowing that he was only asking for my well being and I could tell he didn't like the sight of my blood being left on the floor. He'll most likely want to bandage them once I'm all dried up, and will probably be calling Bruce to tell him that I'm here and not at the Manor. I didn't really care. Once we were in front of my uncle's room, I couldn't hear the sound of the heart monitor beeping or signaling a flat-line, which I'm glad to not be hearing. The machine that gives him air was also off, and I guess Dr. Marcus had some of the other doctors take those two machines out of Uncle Rick's room.

He then gently patted me on the back. "Go on inside; I'll be back with the towel... I'll also have to call Mr. Wayne and tell him that you're here." Yep, my hunch was correct, as usual. I only nodded my head, and felt his presence leaving me down the hall we came down from.

I don't know why I was just standing there, and yet I felt this strange barrier-like feeling keeping me from opening the door and to be inside Uncle Rick's room. I feel like a complete fool, an idiot! Here I am, barefooted and soaked in a hospital, and I'm just standing in front of my uncle's hospital room when I should be inside with him... But I guess, while I stood outside of his room, I didn't want to believe what the doctor told me or see the evidence in that room. I just couldn't stand to see him completely lifeless again with my family, especially when he should've been taken cared of by the doctors who promised to help him get better and wake up. But I knew Dr. Marcus and the rest of the doctors did everything they could to help him, and I know in my heart that Uncle Rick knew as well, even when he was asleep the hold time.

I suddenly felt something soft and a little warmth being placed over my shoulders, indicating that Dr. Marcus has returned and placed the towel on me. I didn't know how long I've been standing there, but my legs felt stiff and my feet were sore from walking and running on hard material of concrete and cement. I then felt a gentle pat through the towel.

"He's waiting, Richard." He whispered to me, as he kept one hand on my right while reaching for the doorknob with his left. The handle went all the way down from the force and pressure he put to the doorknob, and then he slowly pushed the door open. The room was dark, and it was besides it was still early in the morning, the light switch are off, or that the clouds our covering the sky. I swallowed over the lump that had lodged itself in my throat, as Dr. Marcus gently pushed me into the room with him. I thought I would be smelling the reek of death inside the room, but all I could smell and only smell in the room was the scent of disinfection. Despite the machines gone, the room has been left exactly like I've seen it yesterday... except for the bed, which has the cover pulled over a figure on the bed, which was most likely my uncle.

Without the help of Dr. Marcus to push me, I slowly stride towards the bed. The towel over my shoulders' like a cape and has absorbed the rain off my skin, but had done little to give me warmth or to absorb the rest of the waters soaked through my clothes. Once I was at the head of the bed, I stared down at the face being covered by the white-sheets. At that moment, it was only me and my Uncle Rick, and Dr. Marcus and those who may enter the room are no longer here. keeping a hold of the ends of the towel with my right-hand, I used my left to move towards the sheets. Even from the slightest touch of the fabric made me want to pull away and runaway from this nightmare. I restrained myself from even thinking on doing that, and then clench my hand on the fabric. I then heard scribblings sounds, but I don't know where it was coming from and I could care less while I wondered if I should pull the sheet or leave it be. I didn't wanted to see my uncle's frozen-face, and yet I didn't wanted to see him covered. Besides, I wanted to see for myself if he truly did die peacefully.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Dr. Marcus, or that I believe he just lied to me in order to make me feel better... I never gotten the chance to see my parents or relatives' faces when they died, because I was crying and my tears made my vision blurry that day. I never gotten the chance to see if they passed on peacefully, but I somehow think that they didn't pass on peacefully. However, because it all went by so fast, I think they didn't feel any pain before they hit the ground. And Dr. Marcus told me that Uncle Rick passed on peacefully, and doctors don't keep secrets to their patients or the patients' family, no matter what.

Before I knew it, my hand slowly and gently pulled the sheet back and was finally able to see my uncle's face... He didn't look to be in pain and his mouth was left a bit open, as if he's still trying to breath and is actually asleep still. I smiled sadly at my uncle, happy that the doctor didn't lie to me but upset that I've been lying to myself and was pretending that he wasn't d... I let go of the sheet in my hand and placed it on his head, slowly stroking the familiar raven-black hair like my father, cousin, and my own. My throat felt heavy, making it very hard for me to either breath or to give me the moment to speak to him. Tears formed in my eyes, as I slowly pushed my uncle's body to make some room for me on the hospital bed. I'm very small for my age and I don't take up that much space or room, which I'm very grateful for. I curled myself beside his cold-form, laying my head on his right-shoulder and placing my right-hand over his very still chest. He makes me feel cold to the touch, but I didn't care and was actually used to the cold feelings or feeling cold.

I soon heard footsteps and felt a hand being placed on my shoulder, getting me to slightly turn my head to see Dr. Marcus standing beside me and the clipboard being held in his left.

"I'll go see if Mr. Wayne has arrived," he told me. I was soon alone with my uncle once I heard the door opening and closing when the doctor went out, and being alone is just what I want and needed right now. I then recalled something that Mr. Haly had told me when telling a story to me and my cousin about my great-grandfather, who was my mother's grandfather and the one who ran away to the Haly's Circus.

It was something that he told my mother before he passed away, and that was long before I was even born. He told my mother, right before he died, "Dacă voi muri, voi aminti mereu de mine?(If I die, will you always remember me?)" My mother told me, while we were about to go to sleep one night, that when her time of passing was to come, she wants me to answer her honestly, so that she will know that I will know her love for me will always be within me, even if she's no longer there.

And so, I slowly nodded my head against my uncle. "Da... Voi...(Yes... I will...)" I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I were finally answering the question to my mom or was recalling her words and was telling that to Uncle Rick. Either way, I didn't care and just wanted to sleep. And so, after being beside my uncle for however long I was with him, I finally feel the drowsiness kicking in.

As sleep was pulling me in, I faintly heard the sound of footsteps coming from outside of the door. I guess it was Dr. Marcus and Bruce, or Alfred, since Bruce could've most likely have work today. Oh well, I don't blame him for having to work. Besides, it wasn't like Uncle Rick and I are actually his family and he's only keeping me until somebody decides to adopt me... And yet, I don't really want to leave him or Alfred. I don't know why myself, but there's something about them that makes me feel safe and I can actually be free to be myself instead of having to hide in a room or inside of myself and be afraid all the time. I now feel too tired to continue writing in my journal, and I'm hearing the footsteps coming closer.

And so, as I end the writing of today, I lean towards my uncle and gave him a final kiss on the forehead. "Te iubesc...(I love you...)" I whispered to him, and then allowed one tear to fall from my right-eye and let it glide down to my uncle's cheek. To me, it almost look as though he was the one who made that tear, even with his eyes closed. I could actually imagine him clearly upset on leaving me here, with no Haly's Circus to watch over me or to help raise me the acrobat I am. I now lay my head back on his shoulder, and finally allow sleep to take me over.

Bruce slowly closed his eyes after reading the last sentence of that day, feeling his heart banging against his chest in pain. Wolf, though he couldn't read, could sense and hear the sadness the billionaire held within him from his voice when he was reading the journal. The white-animal then turned his gaze to the sleeping thirteen year-old and laid his head back on Dick's lap, where he gently nuzzled the boy's right-hand. While Wolf went into comforting the unconscious boy, Bruce was simply lost in thought.

'Why have I not been there for him? Why didn't I told him myself, instead of having him to hear the news from the hospital?... And hearing it through the phone!...' He then clench his left-hand into a fist, as if trying to control the rage and fire inside of his heart. Once he was able to remain calm, he continued on reading, after gently pulling Dick closer to him.

So break me down, if it makes you feel right
And hate me now, if it keeps you all right

You can't break me down, if it takes all your might
'Cause I am so much more than meets the eye

Wednesday: May 10, 2005
It's been four days since I last seen my uncle's body, and it's been three days since his funeral came. Time seems to be going fast and it seems to be increasing its paced, as I laid in bed inside my room. It's been so long since I seen the sun, but now I don't care if I'll ever see its shining orb or feel its warmth presence spreading throughout the sky again... I just don't care anymore, don't care about anything at all.

Right after his funeral and instead of heading back to the Manor with Alfred and Bruce, I stayed at the Cemetery with my deceased family. It was raining, actually pouring down very hard, but I gave it no acknowledgement and simply laid against my father's tombstone. When nighttime finally came and with the sky still crying heavily, Alfred returned and easily collected me back to the limo to take me back to Wayne Manor. I must've been light for him to pick me up, but then again, I've always been light for a very long time. After helping me get change into some warmer and dryer clothes, which are basically my pajamas, Alfred helped me to my bedroom and got me to bed before leaving me in the stormy-dark. I didn't go to sleep immediately after he left, despite my eyes feeling a bit heavy, I actually got out of bed and ran towards the window. I then opened the right-side of the window, allowing the wind and some of the rains to enter my room, and then took a chance to jump out of my room. Luckily, I was able to stop myself from falling towards the ground by grabbing for a tree-branch from a tree underneath my bedroom-window, and soon landed lightly onto the wet grass.

I've been doing that for three days straight: Silently leaving the Manor by day or night and heading back to the Cemetery, where my deceased family are all gathered and laid to rest. By day, I had to quietly leave the house by leaving out the front-door or the back-door. By night, I simply jump out of my window and don't have to worry about Bruce or Alfred to check up on me. However, every time I stay at the Cemetery, either one of them or even both of them will come by and take me back to the Manor.

I must be worrying them, for I have been refusing to eat and they could tell I'm not getting enough sleep on finding me sleeping against one of my family's tombstone or deathbed grass. I'm also sick again, from staying in the pouring rain with no raincoat to keep me warm and only wearing a T-Shirt and sweatpants. I didn't bother on putting any shoes on, for I'm more comfortable on being barefoot and feeling the earth from my touch. Back when I lived in the circus, I only wear shoes when performing, practicing, or when out of the circus and in public. Even if my feet were to go numb and were get cold feet or may never feel with them anymore, I would still go barefooted and feel the wind, grass, and earth than wearing something to block out my connection with Mother Earth.

I know Bruce understands how it feels to lose your family right in front of you, but I just feel more alone than I ever felt. I guess it's because Bruce didn't actually lose all of his family, for having Alfred there for him and having the butler raise him as his own. While I had to lose my family, and be taken away from my circus family in an instant. I practically lost everything, and Bruce still has everything left behind from his parents... I'm actually jealous of him and some times wished that he was in my shoes, but I don't truly want that to happen to him. That makes me sound both selfish, and a real cold hearted person. Besides, he does make donation and is trying to help Gotham be a better place to live because of his generosity. I, on the other hand, believe that I'm becoming more of a burden and a mistake. However, it'll soon be a matter of time before I'm to leave or perhaps pass on and rejoin my family in the Afterlife. For now, I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the future for me.

Though it may didn't sound like a suicide attempt, it still horrified Bruce from the information.

'Even back then, he still thought of death...' He then tried to focus on the next part of the journal.

And I'm the one you can never trust
'Cause wounds are ways to review us

And yet I could've tried and devoted my life to both of us
But what a waste of my time when the world we had was yours

Saturday: May 20, 2005
I've completely cut myself off from the world outside of the Manor, including Bruce and Alfred. I don't smile anymore, my dreams are filled with nightmares of my family's death, I rarely came out of my room, and the only time I would get out of bed is to use my bathroom to empty whatever is left inside of my stomach. I kept my bedroom door locked, letting both Alfred and Bruce know that I want to be alone. At times I would hear them knocking on my door, asking or some times begging for me to come out. I simply shut out their voices, and kept my gaze at the window and see what the outside world is playing, whether by day or night. I barely eaten anything and the last time I ate, which was three days ago, Alfred and Bruce held me down to the floor and force-fed me when I came out to get a cup instead of having to lean over the sink to get some water from my bathroom sink. I hardly talked, for I've locked my voice box. My sickness was doing its job, a very good job on what it does best: Making me warm and cold at the same time, forcing food or water out of my stomach, and making it very difficult on walking or to even lift my head off the pillow. It seems that death will soon take me, and will allow me to rejoin my family... However, today has prove to me that I had a role to complete until my death could come.

It was around five in the afternoon, which means Alfred will be making dinner and Bruce is most likely working. I'm guessing they're going through their usual routine before I came along, which I hope made it very easy for them to do. Just as I pulled the covers over my head to get more trouble sleep, the doorbell echo throughout the house. I let out a small-groan, as I pulled myself out of my bed and stumbled my way towards the window. Down below, I saw a police-car, and to what I can see on the car, it seems to belong to Lieutenant Gordon. I haven't heard from him lately, and I guess it was because of trying to catch the bad guys or solve a cases that will be impossible to solve until Batman comes and helps out. I then heard two sets of footsteps coming up, causing me to think that Bruce has called Lieutenant Gordon to take me away... I was scared, and deeply upset from that thought. However, I pushed that feeling behind and slowly made my way back to the bed. The set of feet soon stopped at my door, and I then waited for the knocking and voices to come, only for me to simply ignore. Instead of waiting for the sounds of knocking, all I heard was two set of people breathing against the door and was then replaced by the footsteps leaving my bedroom door. That quickly caught my attention and curiosity, making me wondering why they simply paused outside my door and why the Detective is here. Before I could stop and remind myself of mom and dad telling me to never listen in on people's private conversation, I made my way towards my door. I unlocked the door, quietly opened it, and slowly made my way to where I believe they're in Bruce's Study. The door was left mostly closed but a crack big enough to cover me and let me see the two talking.

"I dropped by to let you know you might not have to keep the boy much longer." That was Lieutenant Gordon.

"Oh?" From the sound of Bruce's voice, he was clearly confused. I was also confused; I thought he would immediately be relieve and anxious for me to pack my stuff and get out of his house.

"We've just started putting these up, and already we got a few bites." I was clearly confused on who they were talking about, until the Detective seem to have answered my curiosity. "Zucco's been spotted on the lower East side." My eyes widen in shock from the name of the man who took away my family and life. "Off the record, we hear he's trying to skip town."

"How soon?" Bruce asked, making me wondering as well.

"Could be tonight. Cause this Batman got Zucco real spooked. Zucco's friends too. Nobody will touch the guy." Sounds like Tony Zucco is being turned away from his allies, which was sort of a mixture of a surprise but something that I had a feeling would happen if it's Batman that's hunting you down. I then heard footsteps in the room, but the sound of footsteps weren't coming anywhere close to the door I was hiding behind.

"And if Zucco gets away?"

"Hmm, we could lose him for good." I didn't like what Lieutenant Gordon just said. If Zucco does get out of here scot free, then my families death will never be avenged. I felt rage building up inside of me, making me much warmer with the help of my sickness. However, I simply ignored my sick feeling, and quickly made my way back to my room before either one of them or Alfred finds me out of my room.

Once I was back inside my bedroom and quickly re-locked my door, I immediately made my way towards my dresser before getting to my knees and pulled out the bottom third-drawer. My third-drawer held personal stuff besides some of my clothes when I lived in the circus. I quickly pulled it out, holding it out in front of me: It was the costume I worn that night when they fell, which was also a costume my mother had made for me for Halloween last year. Surprisingly, I haven't grown an inch or two and I can still wear my old-clothes when I was six years old. It was a red-Tunic with black-short sleeves, black-tights with black-shoes that comes with the tights, and a yellow-'R' on the left-topside of my tunic surrounded by a black-circle. It seems that Alfred had washed my costume, for it was still covered in my family's blood when I was packing to leave the circus. I reached in for something else in my drawer and pulled out a domino-mask and a black-cape with a yellow-underbelly, which both used to belong to my cousin when he dressed up for Halloween as a mysterious masked-rider when he was around my age.

Four years ago, we used to have a bareback-rider and a couple of Anglo-Arabians traveling with us. However, she and her horses had to go back to her homeland, California, and move back with her parents in Santa Rosa after her youngest horse nearly broken its ankle and almost had to be put down because the horse jumped at the wrong time over the poles. Though we miss Maggie and her special four Anglo-Arabians: Tucker, Hudson, Vilano and Sienna, we were happy and glad to have her and her horses to come along and join our travels. We also heard that two years ago, she and her horses are doing well and that she gotten married and now have thirteen horses to train with. Turns out her husband also trains with horses, with a few cows and bulls for rodeos, and our both very happy with their lives and are going to be teaching their two year-old son and their three month-old daughter how to take care of them. If only Maggie and her horses had stayed with us until Halloween was over, then John would've became as a mysterious masked-rider on one of her horses instead of a mysterious lone-riderless horseman.

I then changed out of my pajamas, put on my costume, and wore a white-sweater and skinny blue-jeans over my suit. I then placed the domino-mask in my left-pants pocket, and quickly grabbed for a couple of more item out of my drawer. Right before I went to my family's funeral, I was able to find a newspaper that held a picture of Zucco on it and quickly cut it out to hide it inside my suitcase. I also grabbed for my bag of marbles, my cousin's slingshot, and some wires that I would use whenever I would miss grabbing for my parents and need to stop myself from falling. I placed all the items inside the pockets of my costume, the marbles and wires in my left, and the slingshot in my left. I knew they may come in handy, especially Zucco's picture, for I'll be needing it in case nobody clearly knows what he looks like if I just only ask about his name.

I waited until I could Lieutenant Gordon finally left and when it was dark, for if Alfred and Bruce catch me sneaking out through the window, they won't be able to see me in the dark. Luckily for me, I eat a lot of carrots back at the circus and strengthen my eyesights to see things in the dark. It was now nine in the evening and that was the perfect timing for me, for Alfred would send me to bed at that time and both he and Bruce will probably think I'll be sleeping. Instead of hopping down towards the tree-branch like I usually do, I went to the left-side of the window and swung towards the roof. I began to realize that my landing has been causing a couple of feet-markings to appear to the ground and the grass was very wet that it could make a sound of splashing. However, near the front of the driveway, was another tree with no puddle that would give me off and both Alfred and Bruce's room are at the right-side of the house, which makes it the perfect spot for me to secretly leave without getting caught. Once I was finally at the front of the house and saw the tree down below, I took a deep breath and flung myself down. Even in my sick-state, I was still able to grab onto the branch and swing myself down to the ground. When I was finally on the ground, I turned to gaze at the Manor one last time. To me, it'll probably be the last time I'll ever see the place once I get Tony Zucco and turn him to the police, I'll be living on my own in Gotham. Though it would be wise for me to take my things, I don't want to lose any of my stuff and I know both Alfred and Bruce will keep them safe. And so, with my mind made up and once I put on a brown-hat to hide who I am to the citizens of Gotham, I made a run down the street. It was hard for me to run straight, for me being sick and not having anything to eat for a while, my stubbornness was able to help me keep moving forward and to continue on my way towards the direction of Gotham.

I'm very lucky that the bus had came by and that Wayne Manor was very close to one of their stops, which was the Gotham Cemetery. Because not only was I able to get some rest and let my feet take a break from running, but I was also able to get to the Eastside of Gotham in just twenty-minutes. Once the bus pulled up next to the curve, I slowly got out of my seat and made my way out of the bus.

"You sure you want to get off here?" The bus-driver asked, looking and sounding very worried for me, for the Eastside of Gotham is not only where a lot of homeless people live, but it's also where dangerous criminals like to hide and harm people. Though I thought I would never have to use my voice, I knew I'll have to answer him.

"Yeah," I said. Once I was off, I quickly took out the picture of Zucco from my pants-pocket. "Hey, ever pick up this guy?" The bus-driver's blue-eyes stared at the picture, until he shook his head.

"Can't say as I have," he answered. I sigh in disappointment, and put the picture back into my pocket. "Who is he? Your old-man or something?" I almost wanted to vomit or even yell at the man for ever thinking that I would be related to that sick bastard, who took everything away from me. However, I held in my anger and chose to lie. I know that my folks wouldn't want me to lie or to even swear, but it seems that Gotham has a way for turning nice children into a trouble-maker.

"Yeah, something..." Was all I told him, and then decided to leave the bus and not waste anymore of the driver's time. The bus soon left its stop, and I was soon inside a grocery store.

For five hours I've been walking from store to store and people to people non-stop, and asking them if they seen Tony Zucco. However, each answer was always the same: 'No', 'Haven't seen him', or 'Never heard of this man'. I even went to places that I would think Zucco would hang out, that includes the adult places like Fat Paulies Pool Hall and Old Buck's Bar. I'm just lucky that those drunk at the bar decided to drink away and leave me alone. I'm even lucky that the bar-tender didn't kick me out and gave me some water after answering my question if he seen Tony Zucco. The pool house, though, I thought I was going to suffocate inside the building because of the smell of cigarette and tobacco lingering in the air. However, just like in the bar, the owner of the place kindly answered my question and didn't kick me out of the place.

I was beginning to lose hope, as I kept on pushing forward to find another person or shop that I haven't been to for any word of Zucco. The wind blew at me from behind, as if helping me to keep moving forward. I pulled my sweater closer to my face and placed both hands in my pocket, with my left keeping a firm grip on Tony Zucco's picture.

I grew tired, and for the first time, hungry. My feet were killing me, and it almost felt like they were going to bleed if they kept on walking on imaginary nails. I then stopped, and noticed a person walking towards me, wearing a dark-grey trench coat and a dark-grey hat to match the coat. Instead of going up and asking the person, I simply kept my head down and walk passed him, with him doing the same. Right then I was about to knock on a rundown apartment, I suddenly heard a high-pitch wind coming in.

The man I passed by gasped in shock and then he began to run. I then noticed other people, mostly those wearing trench coats, were also running from the sound coming from above and hiding in the buildings or in the alleys. Those who hid in the buildings immediately turned off their lights, as if trying to hide themselves from a monster and hoping it'll leave them alone. The only lights left were the street-lights... And, a moving light coming from the sky, as if looking for something, or someone.

Feeling the need to hide, I quickly ran towards a building that had an awning, and was glad that the moving light passed by. When the was light no longer around this area, the people finally came out of hiding and the lights inside the buildings came back on. I let my head out from the shadows of the awning, and saw the moving light was coming from a bat-like jet... Which most likely belongs to Batman.

After brushing off the passing of Batman, I continued on my way further into the lower East Side of Gotham. I ended up at at a hotel, with a sign on the light-pole from above. It said, 'MABARY'S ROOM and BOARD $5.00 A DAY'. I was just about to go inside, when I heard voices from the right-side of the building.

"Who do you think taught you how to grift, Chi-Chi?" The voice sounded very mad, and that voice alone got me away from the hotel-door towards the alley, where I saw two shadows standing at the other end of the building. "You don't go skimming money from me!"

"But-But I ain't, Lennie. Honest." The second voice, who I believe is to be Chi-Chi, tried to reason with the first voice, who was now known as Lennie. From the sound of her voice, it was clear to me that she's scared of the man.

"Oh, yeah? We'll just see about that." Before Chi-Chi could react, that man quickly snatched her purse from her left-arm.

"No! Wait!" Chi-Chi cried, trying to get back her purse from Lennie, who pulled open the material and digging in for whatever he could find. He then held up a wad of cash, with a fifty held out in front of the bill from where I could see. My eyes widen in shock when I saw the money, knowing that she was in big trouble. "Lennie, look-look. I-I can explain." She was more scared than before and was slowly backing away from the man.

"We're beyond explanations," was all the man said. He then grabbed for her right-arm and was pulling her towards the back of the hotel. I soon gone from shock to anger, feeling the rage boiling up inside of me, as I watch the man trying to force the woman into following him. Mom and Aunt Karla told me to never talk to strangers, but my dad, Uncle Rick and Cousin John told me if I see anything that is wrong, I go and get help. However, I knew that if I did get the police, it'll be too late for Chi-Chi and Lennie could get away at any moment. Knowing very well what I must do and despite me in my ill condition, I quickly came in.

"Leave her alone," I told him. Lennie finally stopped pulling on Chi-Chi and turned to where I am, where I slowly came out of the shadows.

"This kid belong to you?" He asked Chi-Chi, who was struggling on freeing herself from Lennie's grip on her wrist.

"Let go of me!" She cried, as his grip tightened even more on her wrist. My rage went even higher and finally got me to snap.

"I said leave her alone!" I yelled and kicked the man in the shin, causing him to let go of Chi-Chi and to now grab for his right-leg I just kicked. He was now hopping on his left and was going backwards, while I took a step towards him. Once his leg has most likely recovered, he let go of it and slowly made his way towards me.

"You little creep!" He yelled. "When I get my hands on you..." I slowly backed up against another building, with two trashcans behind me and a fire-escape ladder above me.

"Get away, kid. Jump!" Chi-Chi cried, worried on what Lennie would do to me. At the moment she told me to jump, I launched myself in the air and grabbed for the ladder. At the same time, Lennie jump towards me, but ended up crashing into a couple of trashcans. I looked down from the ladders and watch the man gathering himself off the ground. In an instant, I went up the first floor of the ledge, while Lennie grabbed for the ladder and climbed towards me. I simply backed away from him, with both of my hands grabbing for the next ladder above me, as he pulled himself over the bars to get on the same floor that I'm on. I could hear Chi-Chi gasping when Lennie advanced towards me, which means she doesn't know that I have a way to get rid of him. Before he could grab me, I lifted myself up and kicked him with both of my feet, sort of like a kangaroo would do when fighting against a predator or with another kangaroo. He then fell backwards and went flying down towards a dumpster. The lid closed down after his body went crashing down to the bottom and Lennie was now trapped inside, not being able to get himself out of the dumpster. I then climbed myself down. "Come on!" Chi-Chi called out from below me, who looked very relived that Lennie won't be able to get her now he's trapped inside the green dumpster. I gently floated down next to her, though I did lost my balance from my sickness, but quickly straightened myself. I then held her left-hand and we both walked away from the alley, leaving Lennie and his cries behind us.

"Hey! Hey, let me out!" We heard him call out from the inside of the garbage can and was already starting to scream like a frightened child. "There's roaches in here! Roaches!" We both simply ignored his cry, knowing that the garbage-man will take him to the dump once it arrives or somebody will get him out and perhaps take him to the police station.

To show her thanks and gratitude, Chi-Chi took me to the Time-Out Café and treat me to some food. I had a small-steak and water, which I actually wolfed-down in seven minutes flat. Chi-Chi laughed at me attacking my food, as she drank some of her coffee and had some chocolate-pie.

"So when was the last you ate, kid? Christmas?" She joked, as I finished the rest of my meat and washed it down with the rest of my water. I wiped whatever food that laid on my face with the sleeve of my sweater.

"Sorry, but I'm kinda in a rush." I told her.

"Hey, you can't expect to find this uncle of yours at this hour." She told me. I actually lied to her about Zucco being my uncle, since I grew tired of people asking me constantly all the time if he was my old-man or relative of mine. She pointed at the picture of Tony Zucco, that I left on the table. "This is the only place around that's still open. Right, Berty?" Our waitress came by and refilled Chi-Chi's coffee.

"Mm-Hmm," she answered. Before she left to head back to the counter, she stopped. "Hey! I know that deadbeat!" She said, laying a hand on the picture to get a better look at the picture. I gasped in shock, for I have finally found somebody who knows and had seen the murderer.

"You do?!" I asked quickly, hoping that I didn't mistaken what she just told me.

"Yeah. He's been here." She explained, who clearly dislikes him. "Always barking orders, never tipping. Heh! I seen him come from that building across the basin." She pointed towards an old warehouse across the waters through the window.

"That place has been condemned for years, right?" Chi-Chi asked, as Berty turned to leave.

"Yeah, and may it fall on his head, that louse!" I actually like Berty, because she dislikes him and doesn't even know what he does or what he did. I quickly put the picture into my pocket. I then quickly got to my feet.

"Anyway, thanks for the meal." I told Chi-Chi, as I head towards the exit of the Café. She look clearly worried on me leaving on my own.

"Wait, are you sure you'll be alright?" She asked, who must've noticed my flushed cheeks and the way I was having trouble standing up straight without having to hold onto something to keep me up. I simply gave her the best smile I could muster.

"I'll be fine," I told her. "I took care of that jerk for you, didn't I?" She smiled at my words, and nodded her head. I stood there for a few minutes, with my smile still held on my face. "Hope to see you again, Chi-Chi... Someday." And with that said, I went out the door. Once I was as far away from the Café, I took off into a the fastest sprint I could go. My head was killing me from the headache, and yet it was full of thoughts and memories of Zucco threatening protection money from Mr. Haly and what he did when he didn't get his money. My heart was full of hope, but it was also full of rage and determination. 'Mamă, Tată, mătușa Karla, unchiule Rick, John... Eu voi răzbuna moartea dvs, și să-l plătească pentru a lua voi toți departe de mine și de familia noastră circ!(Mom, Dad, Aunt Karla, Uncle Rick, John... I will avenge your deaths, and make him pay for taking you all away from me and our circus family!)'

It took me twenty-minutes to get to the abandon building and three minutes to change out of civilians clothing to now show my old-costume, with the cape and domino-mask as an extra touch. I hid my civilians clothing underneath a car, which looks like it can still work. I quickly placed all the items I brought with me into my costume's pocket, except for the picture of Tony Zucco, and then left the car to guard my clothes. As I made my way closer to the building, I noticed to my left the waters behind the fences made of old-pipe, which look as though they could actually break if somebody were to put too much pressure on them. Now I could see why Berty hope that the building would fall on Zucco's head, because there was a bunch of cracks and holes in the walls, that it seems the building could collapse at any moment if somebody were to add anymore holes to it. I'm just surprise that their lights from inside still works, while their streetlights are bended and broken.

I soon heard the sound of wood breaking and furniture being destroyed. I turned to my right, where an alley and some light coming out of a window with wood boards covering the inside of the room caught my sight. The noise of furniture and wood breaking continued on, as I quickly and yet quietly made my way towards the window. Because of my small-height, I had to use a couple of crates to help me up. Once I could see inside the building, my eyes widen and my breath quickly froze inside of my lungs... For I saw Tony Zucco, tossing a couple of his shirts on the bed and yanking a drawer box from the drawer and dumping more of his stuff into his briefcase. He then tossed the drawer box at the wall, causing it to break, and turned back to the drawer to grab more of his stuff. I then turned to my gaze to the left, and saw a gun that looks to be an AK-47, leaning against the wall.

I don't know much about the kinds of guns, but both Pete and Connie did tell me about them when I asked how they seem to be great aimers when throwing knifes at each other. It turns out the main reason why they ran away and joined the Haly's Circus was because of their father being so cruel and abusive to them and their mother did nothing about it and was barely around to even notice. According to them, their father was a gunner and their mother was a lawyer. When they both became eleven years old and when they heard that the Haly's Circus came to town, that's when they took their chances and took whatever they could take with them before sneaking out on a Fall night and joining the circus before they finished packing up all their stuffs. Since they actually got their perfect aiming from their father and decided to try out on becoming knife throwers, they became so good that they could actually throw knifes at each other or aim at each other while running and jumping or even when blindfolded and throwing behind their backs.

I know every well on how dangerous guns are, but I didn't seem to care if he would try and shoot me and it's all thanks to my rage and sickness from making me think clearer. I placed my right-hand in my right-pocket of my costume and slowly pulled out my pocketknife, which I had kept inside for good-luck whenever I preform with my folks... It was a gift from my cousin, who gave it to me when I just turned eight. I flick the small-blade open, staring down at my tired and unwell reflection.

'Moartea ta va fi răzbunată, familia mea... Promit...(Your death shall be avenged, my family... I promise...)' I thought to myself, as I flip the blade back inside the pocketknife and put it back inside my pocket. 'Ei bine, e acum ori niciodată...(Well, it's now or never...)' Before I decided to make my appearance noticed, I needed a distraction or something to gain Zucco's attention. So, I grabbed for my slingshot and reached for one marble from my marble-bag, which was a small light-blue, and loaded the small pebble into the sling. 'Se termină aici în seara asta, Zucco.(It ends here tonight, Zucco.)' I then released the marble from underneath the top wood covering the inside of the room, causing the window to shatter. I aimed the marble towards the light hanging on the roof, which destroyed the light bulb and caused a bunch of sparks to spray down on top of Zucco. Some of his clothes were starting to smoke and the cover of the blanket looks ready to be on fire, but Zucco quickly caught the sight and just slammed his now closed briefcase onto the covers. Smoke began to form on his briefcase, but he was able to stop the fire from starting. Once the sparks were no longer visible and has turned off the light switch to stop anymore sparks from coming out, that's when I decided to head into the building from the front door. I then slammed the door, allowing the man to hear that there's now somebody else inside the building with him.

"Great, now what?!" He yelled, as I heard the footsteps from above moving towards the direction of the staircase. It was a good thing he didn't turn anymore lights on, or he may have seen me moved and perhaps hiding behind an old-couch. "Alright, who's there?!" He yelled, as I heard something that makes me think of soldiers on movies preparing themselves to shoot their guns. His footsteps grew louder, which means he's in the living-room with me and is out for blood. "I swear that whoever is in here, better come out before I blast you to Hell!" I grew angry at his words, and allowed my anger to take control. So, I quickly pulled out another marble and aimed it at his head. The red-ball hit him in the forehead, and caused him to shoot at the chair on his right. "Where the hell are you?!" Again, I aimed a marble at him, only I quickly rolled away from my spot and hid myself behind the chimney. He must've heard my steps, because he aimed the gun at the couch I was just hiding behind and had some of the bullets scratching against the brick of the chimney. "I'll give you to the count of three to come on out, before I come over there and blow you off the face of the bloody Earth!" Instead of just one marble, I put in five marbles into the sling. "One!" He yelled, as his steps slowly made their way towards the chimney. "Two!" The sound of his gun preparing to shoot made me prepare myself to release the marbles at him. "Thr-" Before he could completely say three, I quickly jumped out of my spot and released my marbles. Hoping that one or two of them would get into the hole of the gun and stop it from firing, I quickly shifted my body and ran towards the direction of a wood-covered window.

I heard him yell and bunch of more cursing, but I kept on going and didn't bother to turn back, because I heard and felt a hard *Thump!* from behind. I'm positive that he must've tripped on some of my marbles when one or two of them hit him at the forehead. "You're going to pay, runt!" Right when I leap towards the window and shielded my face with my arms, I actually heard the first bullet or two that came from his AK-47 before I went crashing throw the window and wood. I then curled myself into a ball when I neared the alleyway ground, and then ran off before Zucco could try and shoot me much clearer. "Get back here, you Creep!" As I ran as fast as I could, my sickness was starting to fight back my rage and adrenaline, and I was already slower because of my sickness winning the fight.

'No, not now!' I thought to myself, as my vision began to go a bit blurry and being covered by dark-colored spots. The sound of bullets caught my hearing, and I could've sworn that I felt some of them almost cutting into my costume and limbs.

"Why bother trying to escape? You know you can't keep running away forever!" His voice was getting closer, and my strength was already reaching its limits. I was now losing my balance and had to keep leaning against the wall to keep myself steady, but I struggle to keep on running. I was only able to make it to the phone-booth when I tried to get out of the alleyway, until I felt something fast and burning digging itself into my left-leg. The sudden pressure caused me to fall to the ground on my left-leg, and the unbearable pain coming from my leg coursed itself throughout my entire body. Trying to fight the urge to scream, I bit down on my lip, hard. Because of that, I bitten through and caused blood to appear. Now with a new wound to add and when I couldn't fight it any longer, I screamed, which more sounded like a dog wailing at the night. I curled myself into a ball, grabbing for my leg and putting pressure where I found the bullet-wound from the small-hole on my costume, right at the Fibula area.

The sound of heavy footsteps caught my hearing and before I could react, a foot suddenly kicked me right at my back. The sudden pressure and movement caused me to roll and hit myself at one of the phone-booths, where I hit the back of my head against the glass and forming a couple of cracks to form on the glass. I lifted the upper-half of my body with my hands, struggling to get to a kneeling position with my right while my left was protesting on moving by aching and pulsing the pain throughout my body.

I turned my gaze towards Zucco, who stood above me and with the AK-47 pointed at me. "Alright, runt, party's over." He told me, glaring back at me. "Take off the mask; I wanna see who decided to pull a stunt like that on me before I blow your guts out." I didn't listen to him, for I simply glared at him and allowed the blood from my lip to glide down my chin and to fall onto the floor. When he saw that I wasn't going to do as he said, he raised the gun in the air and whacked me with the nozzle of the gun. My head was forced to turn on the left from the force and pressure of the gun, making me collapse on my left-arm to its elbow and having my right to keep me up. "Now!" He yelled, who appears to be losing his temper by the seconds.

I slowly turned my direction back at him, having the right-side of my face to be decorated by my blood from the gun causing a painful scratch to appear near the temple. I knew it would be best to listen, and so, despite the rage building up again and yet in my weak-state, I slowly raised my left to my mask and gently peeled the domino-mask off of my face.

Now with my eyes revealed to the murderer of my family and though I could see him perfectly fine with the mask on, it was clear that Zucco was completely startled to see my face. "Well, if it ain't the Circus Boy?" He said, pulling the gun away and tossing it to the side carelessly. While tossing the gun away, I placed my mask into my right-pocket with my pocketknife. "My little material witness..." He then chuckled, as he got down on his right-knee and grabbed me by the collar of my uniform and pulled me off of my hands. I slightly winced from the movement of my legs and when he now stood up to his height when he grabbed me, but I fought back that pain. "What are you doing here?" He asked, though it was pretty obvious that he knows why I'm here. Nevertheless, I answered his question.

"I'm here to make you pay, Zucco." I whispered, as my hands clench into fists. My words seem to have surprised him, for I guess he thought that I could only speak in Romanian and not English. But the shock quickly left him, and he snickered at my answer.

"You're here to make me pay," he repeated my words. "And just how were you going to stop me? All you have is your ridiculous costume, marbles as ammo, a slingshot to shoot..." He then dug his hand into my right-pocket, with me trying to pull out of, and then saw him bring out my pocketknife. He then smirked at the sight of the red-oak pocketknife. "Well, who would've though you had it in you to actually try and kill me?" He then flipped the knife open, staring at the small-blade in satisfaction. "It's man-made, and yet appears to be strong enough to be used for carving... Or better yet, it could be used for better things..." He then flipped the blade towards me. "Like skinning, or even killing." I stared at the knife in fear, as I tried to get myself out of the grip of his left-hand. "I was just about to run out of town because of you..." His smile soon vanished, to then be replaced with a frown. "Looks like I'm going to have a change in traveling, once I'm done with you." He then guided my pocketknife towards me, aiming to where I believe is my neck.

In a quick act on instinct and fear, I grabbed for his left-hand and leaned forward, where I bit his wrist as hard as I could. That action work, because he then screamed and let go of the collar of my uniform and my pocketknife. I then quickly let go of him and fell to the ground, wincing a bit from landing on my right-thigh, but quickly recovered from it and grabbed for my pocketknife. Right when he tried to grab for me, I lunged at him and got him to lay on his back and me crouch on top of him. Before he could make a move to grab for the AK-47, I placed the blade at his neck clench my left-hand at the collar of his shirt.

"Don't. Move," I told him. As if to make a point, I made a small-cut to appear on the left-side of his throat. However, I didn't draw out any blood from his flesh. Knowing that I will end his life, Zucco pulled his hand away from the gun and make things a bit easier for the both of us. "Tell me... Why did you do it? Why did you kill them? They did nothing to you!" I already knew why he did it, but I want him to tell me himself. He simply laughed at my question, causing me to push the blade onto the cut and causing a few drops of blood to come out.

"It's quiet simply, really: I wanted to prove a point to that old-man on what happens when those who don't pay, ends up paying the price for their mistakes. And when I saw the poster of you and that happy family of yours, 'The Flying Graysons', I decided to have the old-man lose his most prized stars in the circus." My rage seems to have double, and that was when I forced his head off the ground and then slammed it back to the hard pavement of the ground.

"And for that, you took away my family?!" I yelled, and then I let go of his shirt to simply punch him in the face. Though in my weak condition, I was able to cause a bruise to form on his right-cheek and get him to bite at the side of his cheek. "You made me lose everything I once had!" I then pulled him back up, so that he could see the fire and anger burning within my eyes. "You made me lose everything!... You made me lose my life!" I then shoved him back to the ground, and then tightened both my grip on his shirt and my pocketknife. "And now that I have you, I'm going to make you pay!" Before I could ready myself to pull across his skin, something black and yet sharp came out of nowhere and made me let go of my pocketknife. I yelled in pain and forced myself to let go of Zucco to grab for my hand that has a couple of scratches and blood gliding down my skin.

I then heard another pair of footsteps coming out from the darkness, gaining both mine and Zucco's attention. Tony's eyes widen in shock, while my rage made me glare at who just intervened into my fight: It was the Protector of Gotham, the Dark Knight himself... Batman. I turned my gaze to the right, seeing a boomerang that was in a shape of a bat with sharp edges, recognizing it as the black-figure that made me drop my pocketknife.

I quickly grabbed for my pocketknife and closed the blade back inside, putting it into my right-pocket, while keeping my eyes on the Dark Knight who slowly made his way towards us. "What are you doing?" I asked, feeling my hate coming at the Dark Knight for not being there when he should've stopped Zucco when he came to the circus or when he was plotting on taking my family away. His gaze, hidden under the cowl and the white-lenses, simply narrowed a bit at me but seems to be glaring mostly at Zucco underneath me.

"You don't want to do this, boy." He told me, his voice rough and sounding as if it should give me nightmares. However, I wasn't fazed or scared from the tone of his voice and it seems to me that it only fueled my rage for the man being held underneath me.

"Do what? Something that you failed to do?" I asked, as I slowly got off of Zucco and stood in front of him, to keep him away from Batman.

"I mean trying to seek revenge, and taking it out on him." He answered. I almost snickered at his words, but my hate prevented me from doing so.

"Why? Don't I have the right to get justice, and punish the man who took away everything I had?!" I then turned to Zucco, who was trying to back away from me but stop from the metal-fence preventing him from going any further and falling into the waters.

"You do, but not by killing." He honestly thought that I was going to kill that bastard, when I know perfectly well of the consequences of killing and taking a life? Geez, and he was suppose to be the World's Greatest Detective. However, I decided to play along.

"And you came to take him away, when this is something I need to do?" He didn't say anything at all, which got me to continue. "You know, this wouldn't had happen if you had been there when they fell or when he came to finish what he started." I was now going to take out my anger on him, because he was the one who should've stopped him and he failed to do that. "So it wasn't just Zucco who ruined my life, but you also made my life a living hell!" I then pointed a finger at him. "Because of you, I now have no one left on this Earth! I've been force to stay behind, be taken to a Detention Center when the Orphanage refused to take me in, had to live with a stranger and a butler who's gone most of the time, and I just found out that my uncle passed away!" Tears were already streaming down my face, but I just kept going. "You don't understand what I had to go through: This pain, the helplessness, the unbearable feeling that I'll never see my family again and will soon die alone!" My teeth and hands clench into fists, with both my tears and my blood gliding off of my skin and landing on either my costume or the ground from down below. My left-leg was trembling from having the bullet still inside and having weight be put on it, but I simply ignored its request to remove some of the weight off of it. "Why do you care if what I do may cost me my freedom and sanity? Or better yet, why should you bother on caring what would happen to me or if Zucco actually tries to kill me?!" Before I could see it coming, Batman came over to me and then grabbed me by the collar of my costume, just like Zucco just did. Only his grip was much tougher, and seems to not have any problem on holding me in the air. I curled my legs close to my chest, just like a pup would do when its parents would pick it up by the scruff of its neck, and grabbed at his wrist with both of my hands to keep me from being strangled from being hung in the air.

I thought he was going to toss me like Zucco just did to me earlier, but his grip felt like they weren't going to let me go, no matter how much I should struggle or if I were to bite him. His gloves, instead of feeling rubber or tough-cloth like other cloths would feel, his felt much harder and tougher. I could also feel his fingers causing small holes to come through the fabric of my costume, making me realize the tips of his fingers have claw-like nails to the gloves and the edges of his arms appear to be much more sharp than razorblades.

It felt like an eternity since I've been held up high in the air, but has actually been two minutes and that's when he finally and slowly put me back to the ground. This time, I put most of my weight on my right, just until my left-leg could hold what little weight it could hold to keep me standing.

"Do you ever wonder why I became who I am right now?" He asked me, but it sounded in bit of a softer tone. "Do you ever wonder why I became 'The Night' itself, or why I stop crooks like him?" He then pointed a finger at Zucco, who got into a sitting position and was leaning against the fence-bars. I simply have no answer to his question, for I have no idea to why he became Batman in the first place. "You know, we have something in common than you think." Now his words confuses me even more, and that alone caused a headache to form. "And you should know, that you're not truly alone. Bruce Wayne seems to care an awful lot about you, and so does Alfred." I simply shook my head at his words.

"They don't really care about me," I told him. "They only pity me and because Bruce simply feels sorry for me, even though he knows how it feels to lose those close to you. Besides, he'll soon be glad that I'll be leaving once Zucco is taken to Justice or when he leaves Gotham."

"How right you are, Brat." Batman and I turned our gaze towards the direction of Zucco, who was standing and has a handgun in his hand. His smile was half a smile and half a frown, which makes him look between being mad and being happy at the same time. "Once I'm rid of you and the Bats, I'll soon be a free man and can finally put this all behind me." Instead of aiming the gun at me, he was aiming it at Batman. "I think I'll start with you, for having my uncle banning me from the family and having the police gaining on my tail." My eyes widen when he placed his finger at the trigger and seeing the fire burning in his cold-grey eyes. I know Batman can defend himself and could most likely dodge , but those thoughts alone didn't convince me enough... For before I could stop myself and despite risking on having my leg getting infecting or having the bullet digging further into my muscle and bones, I ran after him. Zucco saw me running at him, but he didn't have enough time to get a good aim at me when I leap in the air. However, he was able to pull the trigger and have him shoot at the left-side of my stomach. I felt at least a rib or two cracking or breaking from the force of the bullet, but I simply ignored it and had two of my hands grabbing for his neck. Zucco fell backwards from my weight, causing him to fall against the fence that gave away from our combined weight, and we were soon in the rushing waters. I couldn't hear Batman's voice when we went under, and yet I could almost make out that he was calling out my name.

The moment we went under, I thought we just fell into a river of knives. That's all I felt instead of water: Hundreds, maybe thousands, of knives stabbing me with their sharp blades and are trying to either dig out whatever air I have in my lungs or are ripping me into shreds of meat to feed the sharks. Zucco struggled within my hold, trying to yank my hands off of his neck and to swim to the surface. However, I simply tightened my grip gave him a good kick in the stomach with my right. He let loose a bunch of air bubbles from his mouth, and was now desperate on trying to get air. He was already getting weaker in my grasp, the grip of his hands slowly releasing my writs and his legs kicking less often. I would've wanted to kill him, but there was no way that I would become a murderer like him. And so, I pulled him up to the surface when he seems to be turning a bit blue and got him to the surface to breath. Because of the water, I could actually pull his weight much more easier and could still move around with just one leg. Unfortunately, though it should've been good news to me, he's now unconscious and won't be able to hold his own. And what's worse, the water was taking us to a waterfall underneath a bridge and there was probably a chance that we may hit our heads once we reach the bottom and could die from lack of oxygen while unconscious if we face down into the water and not on our backs.

I had no choice but to have him be placed on my back, while I quickly grabbed for the wires and wrap his hands around my neck. Luckily for me, I still have a lot more of the wire and then tied the end of the wire around my pocketknife after I opened it. I knew either this shot or my second shot if I miss may be able to save us, or else we'll be sleeping with the fishes if I missed two of our chances. As the waters pulled us closer to the bridge and towards the roaring of the falls, I quickly twirled my pocketknife in fast-circles above my head.

'Mamă, tată, mătușa Karla, unchiule Rick, John... Te rog, ajută-mă să fac...(Mom, Dad, Aunt Karla, Uncle Rick, John... Please, help me make it...)' I prayed to my family, hoping that their wisdom would help me save both mine and Zucco's life. Right before we went under the bridge, that's when I immediately threw my pocketknife towards the bridge. As it went higher, the wires held in my hands slid from my fingers. As the lines kept going, I tried to pull Zucco and I towards one of the stone-pillars of the bridge. I made an immediate grab for the center-pillar, hoping that I could hang on until my pocketknife could snag whatever it could grab for from above. 'Te rog, apuca ceva!...(Please, grab something!...)' However, even from down below, I saw it clash against the concrete-walls and falling back down to the waters. I quickly caught my pocketknife with my right, while my left struggles to keep us in place and hold off against the rushing waters.

However, the water kept on splashing me in the face and my hand, causing my grip to slowly slip. My nails were soon leaving scratch-marks onto the cement, which soon dug into my skins and drawing out blood. It was very difficult on doing four things at once: Keeping Zucco on my back, winding the line and pocketknife in my right, keeping my left-hand onto the pillar, and keeping our heads above the waters. My hand was losing its grip onto the pillar and before I could try and pull us up, the water splashed me and my hand at the same time and made me let go of pillar. Swimming against the current was out of the question and seems impossible to do when having an adult on my back and having an illness taking away more than half of my strength.

However, that didn't stop me from once again swinging my pocketknife in the air. 'Aceasta este ultima mea șansă, așa că am face mai bine acest număr.(This is my last chance, so I better make this count.)' The roars of the falls caught my hearing, which was a warning that I'm reaching the end of the line. And so, as I felt the waters getting stronger and feeling it pulling us down, I leaned back a bit and with all of my strength, tossed the line up. I felt gravity pulling both me and Zucco down, even as I struggled to stay up until my pocketknife could grab something. Sadly, I had to use only one arm to keep me up, as I kept my right-hand up to allow the line to unravel itself from me to go out and grab something.

When I couldn't continue on fighting and with Zucco's body pulling me down with the water, I had to cease fighting and allow both gravity and water to pull us down. Even when I had stopped fighting, I still kept my arm up and putting my faith into my pocketknife that it'll save us. Water then splashed into my face, causing me to bang heads with Zucco and make my vision and focus blurry. The good news, Zucco is now too knocked out to wake up anytime soon. The bad news, now it'll probably be hard for me to pull us both up whether or not my pocketknife clings to something to hold us up. Right when I thought we might as well fall to our faiths, the line around my hands tightened and stopped both me and Zucco from falling. I looked up, and saw that my pocketknife has snagged itself between two concrete-polls from above the bridge.

I sighed in relief, smiled tiredly that my prayer has been answered. "Mulțumesc...(Thank you...)" I whispered, thanking those from above, especially god and my family, for sparing us. However, I knew weren't out of the woods, or out of the waters, yet and knew the hardest part has finally came. So, I swung my left until it grabbed for the line and began to pull ourselves up. It was very hard to pull ourselves up, especially with Zucco's heavy weight trying to pull us back down and my hands slipping because of the water spraying at us. It was getting harder for me to pull us up, and it nearly took all of my strength to stay awake from having my head bang with Zucco's. I was losing my grip onto the line, and it was clear to me that the waters was winning. Even if I could pull us out, either the line would snap from the heavy weight or my pocketknife will most likely break from our combined weight.

I was thinking on quitting and letting go, knowing that Zucco may have a chance to get out of here once he wakes up or when help comes. And hey, they would most likely recognize him and call the police or maybe it would be the cops that would rescue him and take him to the station. And if Zucco manages to pull himself out of this mess, he'll most likely get caught and get turned in anyway. Either way, he'll be put behind bars and my family's death shall be avenge... And hey, it'll be all because of me. I smiled from the thought on how I avenged their deaths on my own, and was now hoping that I would soon be joining them once I let go. Tears formed in my eyes, but they weren't of sadness. No, they were of joy.

"Am făcut-o(I did it)," I whispered. "L-am prins, în cele din urmă am prins.(I caught him, I finally caught him.)" My fingers began to slip and my head began to slide out of the hold of Zucco's bound hands. "Ești mândru de mine, familia mea?(Are you proud of me, my family?)" I know that they'll be a bit mad that I went after a madman and acted like I wanted to kill him in front of Batman, but I have a feeling that they are indeed proud of me for capturing this man when the police has given up on finding.

That made me very proud of myself, and yet I'm very sad when my mind went to Alfred and Bruce. "Îmi pare rău, Bruce și Alfred.(I'm sorry, Bruce and Alfred.)" I whispered, lowering my gaze to the raging waters inches away from me and Zucco. "Dacă aș avea o șansă, aș spune atât că îmi pare rău pentru că nu-ți spun cât de mult amândoi m-ai fi ajutat.(If I had a chance, I would tell you both that I'm sorry for not telling you both how much you had helped me.)"

I then felt my left hand letting go of the line, which left me dangling on the line with my right and I didn't bother on trying to raise my left to once again grab for the line. "Aș vrea să-ți spun cât de rău îmi pare pentru a pleca, în special fără a spune la revedere pentru a vă amândoi.(I wish I could tell you how sorry I am for leaving, especially without saying good-bye to you both.)" Then I felt one of my fingers slip off the line. "Dacă aș putea să vă spun, sau chiar să vă amândoi știm, cât de mult vreau să-i mulțumesc pe amândoi.(If only I could tell you, or even let you both know, how much I want to thank you both.)"

Another finger slipped off. "Deși nu am trăit în Manor pentru foarte mult timp si, desi am putea părăsi cel mai probabil atunci când Zucco a fost de a fi prins sau de a părăsi Gotham, amandoi au deja a devenit casa mea.(Though I haven't lived in the Manor for very long and though I may most likely leave when Zucco was to get caught or leave Gotham, you both had already became my home.)" It was already getting harder for me to stay awake now, and the rest of my fingers were getting ready to let go. "Și hei, nu va trebui să vă faceți griji despre mine, Bruce. Eu voi fi în curând plecat, și atât tu cât și Alfred poți trăi viața așa cum a fost înainte am venit.(And hey, you won't have to worry about me anymore, Bruce. I'll soon be gone, and both you and Alfred can live your life as it was before I came.)"

My tears fell into the roaring water, now becoming my own death sentencing once I let go. "Dacă fac pieri și va reintra familia mea în Rai, mă duc să găsesc părinții tăi și spune-le totul despre tine și cât de mult te mai dor de ei.(If I do perish and rejoin my family in Heaven, I'll go find your parents and tell them all about you and how much you still miss them.)" My vision soon gotten blurry, and I soon felt my fingers slowly letting go their hold on the line. Everything began to go into slow-motion, but I didn't seem to care at the moment. I simply smiled sadly at the dark sky, as the water engulfed me into its rapids and once again administering its knife-like cold to me. "Nu știu de ce, dar amândoi au devenit o parte din familia mea. Și pentru asta, trebuie să dor de tine foarte mult, atât atunci când eu nu trec pe la această viață.(I don't know why, but you both had become a part of my family. And for that, I shall miss you both dearly when I do pass on from this life.)"

I didn't bother on closing my eyes when I went under, because they were already closing from the lack of sight I was having for them. Once again, gravity pulled me down and I have nothing to pull or keep me up. The moment I felt the water leaving my face, that was the moment I decided to deliver my final words and messages to those I had known, even if they won't hear them themselves. "Și acum, la prieteni am făcut și pentru familia mea, am ajuns să cunosc și iubesc, spun la revedere mea și să vă lăsați tot iubirea am pentru voi toți...(And now, to the friends I had made and to my family I have come to know and love, I say my good-bye and leave you all the love I have for all of you...)" And after I had spoken the last of my words, I finally stopped fighting for consciousness and allowed the darkness to bring me into a now peaceful emptiness, knowing and yet hoping that I will pass on without feeling myself drowning. Though my death won't be like my family, at least I'll be falling to my death like they have experienced.

By the time I opened my eyes, I was surprised on what I see. I really thought that I would be seeing white and maybe was suppose to be laying on a cloud, but I wasn't. Instead, I found myself laying in a bed with a pillow placed underneath my head and couple of warm blankets piled on top of me. They weren't suffocating me, and weren't too thick at all. However, my body and limbs felt like lead and it was hard for me to move around without feeling the need to vomit. I was so cold, and yet I was so warm at the same time, and I wanted to stay within the covers for a long time. I thought I was in Heaven, but even I know that in Heaven I shouldn't feel any pain or sickness at all. Which comes to a conclusion that I'm still very much alive. Even in my tired-state, I still wonder what has happened and where I am right now. Even with my eyes open, it was still a bit hard for me to see because the room was completely pitch black and my vision still need to recover. However, my hearing picked up sounds somewhere near the bed I laid in, which sounded like voices.

"Will he be alright, Leslie?"

"He will, as long as you both keep him warm and get some food into his stomach."

"We've been trying to get him to eat for the last couple of days, Leslie, but the boy simply refuses to eat anything that we offered that we had to even force-feed him nearly four days ago."

"Well, if he doesn't eat anything or wakes up by the end of the day, you'll have to insert an IV into him and keep him on bed rest until he's well enough to stand up on his own. And once he wakes up, you have to get him to eat."

"Right, thank you, Leslie."

"Just doing my job, Bruce. But, please, I ask of you to keep a better eye on the boy. Be glad that you swung by and caught him when you were Batman, otherwise he would've most likely died or could've actually killed Zucco."

I was completely startled from the news that I heard from the adults and if it weren't for my voice being as dry as a desert, I may had scream or even said a word that would've warned the adults that I'm sort of awake... And I'm completely shocked, startled, and literally speechless from the information I just gained when never would've guessed he was the Dark Knight himself. But, then again, it would explain all the times he would be gone without a trace and why he and Alfred would vanish without having any of their vehicles gone...

I can't believe on how stupid I was on not knowing, or putting two and two together, when I would see Batman on the news while Bruce would be gone at the exact time and during the time when crime would come to the city! I feel like a complete fool! An idiot!... An imbecile... A weakling... A pretender, and a fake... I can't believe that I didn't realize he was the Batman, the World's Greatest Detective, the Dark Knight, the Night itself... The man who should've been the Dark Knight when Zucco came to finish what he started and save my family, not as the billionaire playboy to watch the performance without knowing of the gang leader and drug dealer would take away nearly six lives in one night... I now completely hate myself, for thinking that Bruce and Alfred would actually want me in their family!... They don't seem to have time for a child in their lives, especially with a playboy who lives a double life as a billionaire and a vigilante. I'll only be in the way, just like I was tonight. Heck, I should've listened to my guts from the very start that he isn't like the citizens of Gotham or like anybody back in my circus family... He's an Outsider, the shadow himself. I am also an Outsider, but only for being a Romanian Circus Acrobat, which would also make me an Outcast. And apparently, Outsiders don't mix with normals or any other standers from others' status. They also don't mix with other Outsiders or Outcasts, which proves on how completely different we are from each other.

I now feel completely so lost and confused, that I now don't want to be near around Bruce or Alfred anymore... In fact, I don't think I want to be around with anyone in Gotham anymore, for it proves to me that I can't truly trust anyone and that I should trust nobody at all. I soon heard the sound of footsteps coming my way, which made me shiver in fear on what's Bruce and this person, who I believe is called 'Leslie', are going to do with me... But why? Why should I care, or even bother on wondering what they would do to me? I obviously deserve what's coming to me, especially that I now know who the Dark Knight really is and where he lives. Hopefully, if they decide to dispose of me, then it would be quick and easy.

However, the moment one of them laid a hand on me and felt me shaking to have the hand be pulled back, that person didn't pull me out of bed or didn't get mad at my sudden shaking. Instead, the hand simply went to my back and begin to gently stroke my spine underneath my skin, as if to comfort and reassure me that I was safe and that everything was going to be alright.

"I'll come by and visit later on today, Bruce. I'm going to need some rest after working at the clinic and you'll need your rest after another night of crime fighting... Only, this time, you seem to have also rescued a little crime fighter."

I then heard a deep chuckle, which most likely belongs to Bruce and from the feeling and the size of the hand still rubbing my back, it was also him.

"It seems that Gotham will soon have another crime-fighter protecting her and her people by not just the Batman, but it seems she'll also be protected by this Little Bird."

Little Bird, huh? The name makes me think when my mother would call me her 'Little Robin', and it seems that my nickname will been changed from 'Little Robin' into 'Little Bird'... I actually like the new nickname, though I doubt it'll last once I have to leave Wayne Manor and the GCPS, the Gotham Child Protective Services, will find me a family who will foster or adopt me... And, to be honest, it was quite fun catching Zucco and being a silent hero of the city for one night. I felt sleep pulling me back, and with Bruce still stroking my back like a cat and the warmth of the blankets, was helping it win and I didn't bother to fight back... I still feel insecure and uncomfortable with Bruce with me, but maybe someday I'll once again trust him and allow him back into my heart... When I can forgive him for not rescuing my family from death and for keeping his second life a secret from me, even though he has to keep the Batman a secret from crooks.

'And not only was Tony Zucco taken into Justice, but a young hero has been born...' Bruce then turned to Dick, who hasn't made any movement or sound, besides him breathing and the rising of his chest with each breath he took. 'And from that day on, Robin came into our lives and you became part of my dark-world ever since.' He then sat the book down on his lap and place his right-hand on Dick's back, while having the left to stroke the boy's head. 'I should've told you about my secret life sooner. I should've told you the moment I gotten information to where Zucco was at... But I didn't, and simply made you go astray.' He then bent down and placed a kiss on the boy's forehead, before he pulled the child's body on top of his lap and having both of his arms to circle around him. "I'm so sorry, Dickie." He whispered, placing his chin on top of the boy's ebony-hair. They stayed like that for a good while now, with Wolf slowly crawling to where Dick just laid and placing his head on top of the boy's legs, as the billionaire continued to hold his precious cargo until he reached for the journal and turned it to the next part of the next chapter.

So break me down, if it makes you feel right! (So break me down)
And hate me now, if it keeps you all right! (So break me down)

You can't break me down, if it takes all your might
'Cause I am so much more than all your lies

Tuesday: June 20, 2006
It's been a whole month since the whole Tony Zucco incident, and I've grown distance from Bruce and Alfred since then. During the first two weeks, my fever has finally broke. Within another week of rest, all of my wounds had finally recovered. However, I'm afraid not all of the wounds are forever erased off of my skin, mind, or heart.

For my skin, it held a couple of markings that the bullets implanted on me, especially the one that entered my leg. My mind has decided to keep the memory of Tony Zucco trying to get rid of me by shooting me and has been playing that memory throughout my dreams thoughts for a while now. And my heart... Well, it now feels wounded and I could've sworn that somebody just slammed it hard with a hammer to make it feel so shattered.

The moment I was able to move around and my hearth was finally perfect, I immediately went into hiding from Bruce and Alfred. In mornings, around three to six in the morning, I would head towards the staircase and launch myself into hiding up in the chandelier. Though I have gained some weight back into my body, I'm still very light for anyone over the age of seven to pick me up with no problem at all. I'm so light, that the chandelier didn't make much of a squeak when I landed in its hangers. I would curl myself into a ball and hang onto the chandelier, as it would gently rock itself in the air and its glass would at times gently clash against each other.

By the time midday would come, at least around twelve, I would launch myself off the chandelier when Alfred and/or Bruce weren't around and quickly head to my room to crawl under the bed and hide within the shadows. Back at the JDC, the spaces underneath our beds were too small and cramped for anybody over the age of nine to get under. However, the space underneath my bed seems to let anyone between six to possibly seventeen year-old to get under and can actually get comfortable if someone were to take a nap.

When six in the evening comes by, I would go out my bedroom window and stay on the roof of the Manor to watch the lights from the sun or the lights coming from behind the clouds until the sky would become pitch black and head back inside the house to sleep, which would be around nine to ten at night.

Oddly enough, the rain has only came for at least twice a week and only stayed cloudy for most of the day. The clouds had even decided to allow the sun to come out and spread its warmth the moment the day reached its end to continue on its cycle of life passing by. Out of the whole heat spread within the house by the fireplace or the heater and the numerous blankets that Alfred and Bruce has placed on me, the sun is the only source of heat that can truly warm me and bring back hope for me of the future that will await for me.

I'm starting to eat again, but only once or twice a day instead of the three meals a day rule. I'm also refusing to eat with Bruce and/or Alfred, and will only eat in my room. Even though it may seem harsh, my heart and soul has already been broken enough already. From them keeping the secret of Batman from me and forcing me to eat food last month, I deserve to have some privacy to enjoy eating as much as I want or can stomach it into my own.

I've been avoiding all kinds of psychical contacts from the butler and the playboy, only getting a couple of glances of their appearances when hanging on the chandelier or when watching Bruce coming back home from work when on the rooftop. I would at times hear their voices, even from afar distance, but I mostly try and ignore their words. Even if I could hear their voices, doesn't mean that I understood what they're saying, besides that I would at times hear them say either one of my names. All I do know, is that tone of their voices told me that they're not very happy: Alfred's tone sounds as if trying to calm an angry man down, though he sounds a bit mad about something. While Bruce, to my obvious discovery, was the angry man and sounds as though he wants to hurt someone at any moment...

I'm afraid he plans on hurting me, for sneaking out and taking on Zucco without having anything that would protect me from his weapons. Though he doesn't seem the kind of person who would hurt anybody, especially to children. When he isn't Batman, that is. I'm not saying that he may hurt a child, especially with no reason to do so, but to only punish them or if they aren't innocent children that they claim to be... And I'm most likely one of those children.

But, hey, I should've seen it coming. Besides, I've always been the one that many people at the JDC would go to when they want to take their angers out on me or when they want to see me breakdown like the little kid that I am to them... Well, when that time comes and once Bruce can find me, I'll take whatever he has at me and face it like a man, just like my father, uncle and cousin.

Bruce had to stop reading and put the journal down to calm his crumbling, and yet beating, heart.

'How could he even think that I would want to hurt him, especially when I wasn't anywhere near mad for wanting to avenge his family's death?' He then stared down at the boy laying on top of his chest, with his head nestled underneath his neck and curled up near his chest. Wolf, who seemed to have fallen asleep from Bruce's reading, lifted his head and turned his gaze towards the door. The door quickly slide open, and coming into the room from behind the door came Alfred, with a tray held in both of his hands. The sight of seeing the white-wolf and Dick laying on Bruce and the black-journal sitting on the lap of the billionaire, the butler didn't need any explanation whatsoever, as he made his way towards the bed.

"I see the three of you are getting yourselves comfortable on the Young Master's hospital-bed, Master Bruce." He stated, as he placed the tray on the small table next to Dick's bed and pulled the lid off of the tray. "I have brought you your dinner, Master Bruce, since it has been at least three days since you had eaten anything." On the tray was a rare-cooked Filet Mignon, with two medium-sized garlic-breads and a couple of fruits on the side. There was also a cup full of water sitting a few inches away from the plate of food, which was above the fork and knife that laid on a neatly folded napkin. The billionaire stared at the tray of food beside the bed he's laying in, his stomach growling and demanding for food as his eyes gazed at the precious food that Alfred has made for him. However, his gaze then turned back to the boy laying and sitting on his lap, sleeping within a coma he can't wake up in and could only get nutrients from an I.V. injected into his right-arm. Bruce then shook his head.

"Sorry, Alfred, but I won't be eating tonight." Alfred let loose a long sigh and simply shook his head in dissatisfaction of the young man rejecting his food, as he watch the billionaire lean back against the pillow and pulling the boy closer against his strong and hard figure. Nevertheless, the butler placed the lid back over the tray to prevent any bugs, insects, and other contaminated elements to get on Bruce's food.

"You may claim that you are not hungry, Master Bruce, but I'm afraid that your body does not agree with your decision." And as if to agree with the butler and help prove his point, Bruce's stomach roared in demand for food. The billionaire simply brushed it aside.

"I can't eat right now, Alfred... Not with Dick in a coma and not being able to eat, himself."

"And you think Master Dick would want you to starve yourself as a punishment, so that you may end up on the hospital bed with him?"

"I should, for all the time I had neglected and ignored him when he needed me to be there for him." He then placed his left-hand on the boy's head, keeping him close to his presence, as he moved to lie on the bed. Wolf sat up a bit to allow the billionaire to get himself into a laying position, and then went to laying on top of him and place his head on Dick's left-arm. "I'm going to get some sleep, Alfred. Can you call Sarah, and let her know that I'll be off from work for a few days?" Alfred head towards the closet of the room to grab another blanket, since Wolf is sleeping on the covers and wouldn't be able to pull the covers all the way over Bruce and the boy.

"Of course, sir." He replied, placing the blanket over the three on the bed. However, before he did that, he gently took the Journal off the bed and sat it next to the tray on the small-desk. Before Alfred prepared himself to leave the room, Bruce's words stopped him.

"And if you can, Alfred, will you read me the next part on what Dick has written in the Journal? My voice is getting tired." Alfred was completely at a loss. Though he has heard what Dick has written in his Journal by J'onn, he has never read or saw what the thirteen year-old has written within it. To him, it was best to leave other people's property and personal stuff, especially when it involves himself and his family. However, he knew that reading Dick's Journal is the right thing to do, in order to find out how to help him once he wakes up from his coma and is well enough to leave the hospital bed.

And so, as if reading a child a bedtime story in bed, Alfred pulled up the chair from the small-desk to the bed and brought up the Journal. He then opened the book to the bookmark Bruce has placed it in, cleared his throat, and began to read.

...Guitar Solo...

Wednesday: June 28, 2006
Bruce appears to be more restless as the days past by and I don't think it's because of his job as Bruce Wayne, Owner of Wayne Enterprise, nor could it be from being Batman, the Dark Knight. Not only that, he seems to be looking for something, or better yet, someone, like a hungry wolf scouting for its prey. I'm most likely the prey he's looking for, though I doubt he would actually eat me and he seems to be hungry for something that doesn't involves with food.

He also appears to be worried, now making me think of a wolf searching for something it forgot and regrets on leaving it behind, almost on how a wolf would at times be forced to abandon its pup because of lack of food or can't raise it properly... If I'm that pup he regretted on rejecting and casting aside, why would he be worried when he should know where my hiding spots are and can just meet me face-to-face if he wants to talk.

Anyway, I'm up in the chandelier and Bruce was heading towards the staircase, after having to be in the kitchen and the living room for at least ten minutes. I also saw Alfred slowly following after Bruce, who appears to be calm but from the nervous glance of his eyes alerted me that he knows where I am and will most likely tell Bruce where I am. In an act of instinct, I leaned forward over the chandelier and launched myself off of the chandelier, which caused its small diamonds to dangle and clash with each other. The sounds alone caused Bruce and Alfred to turned and watch me falling towards the ground, as I curled myself into a tight ball and doing a quadruple flip before I uncurled myself and landed on the floor with both of my feet at the same time. Pressure immediately build up within my muscles, but I simply ignored that sudden pressure of pain and quickly got to a standing position. I then turned my attention to the two adults, who simply froze from continuing on up the stairs.

I then let loose a deep sigh and crossed my arms in front of my chest, knowing that it was time for me to say something, despite me not wanting to talk to them. "Is there something you wish to speak to me about?" I asked, giving Bruce and Alfred an annoyed look on my face that only comes up whenever something is wasting my time or if I get tired on waiting for something I was suppose to know to come. Bruce simply stayed put to where he stood, while Alfred immediately came towards me and did a quick check-over in case I was injured from the fall. My muscles in my legs were simply sore and aching from having to withstand that much impact and I have a feeling that my right-ankle is probably sprained, for I actually landed on my right-foot much more than my left-foot. Other than that, I'm perfectly fine. Alfred let loose a sigh of relief when he found no psychical wound on me, but his expression soon turned to a stern look.

"Master Richard, you mustn't launch yourself off the chandelier like that." He scolded me, and then waved a finger at me like a teacher would do to a student who did something bad or made a mistake. He then paused his actions, as if rethinking on what he just said to me. "On second thought, you shouldn't have been up on the chandelier in the first place." I simply shrugged at his words.

"Can't help it if I wanted to be high up," I told him. "Besides, I've been to higher places than that, along with landing from afar distance." I then noticed Bruce coming down the stairs, and slowly making his way towards me.

"Do you mind if we talk outside?" I turned my gaze outside, seeing that the sun was trying to release its light through the clouds, but has simply lightened the clouds and summoned more to cover its figure. I simply shook my head and with his hand on my back, he lead us both towards the front door and down a small path in the direction of his mother's garden.

I now only see her garden whenever I go up the rooftop, and haven't bother to go down there to pick anymore flowers or to simply marvel the varieties of plants Mrs. Wayne has grown herself. But even from afar distant and at a very high spot, I could still smell the scent of many flowers and their scent alone actually makes gazing at the sunset much more pleasant and soothing.

By the time we made it to the garden, we head towards an oak tree that was shielding the green house that held delicate plants and sat down on a bench underneath the oak tree's branches. The bench was surprisingly dry, which was probably because the many branches has shield it from the downpour of the past rains, though it sort of feels cold to the touch of my skin. I could tell that Bruce is having trouble to what he wants to say to me, though he seems to know what he wants to say. I then recalled the conversation he had with Lieutenant Gordon before I ran away to capture the murderer of my family, and that's when I thought he was going to tell me I was no longer part of the family and will soon be taken to either foster care or to the orphanage. I guess he wasn't so sure how to tell me without having to hurt my feelings, and for the fact he didn't know I was eavesdropping on their conversation.

And so, before he could get a single word out, I decided to get it over with. "It's alright," I told him. My words caught him a bit by surprise, either that I finally spoke to him or that I spoke in English instead of Romanian. Nevertheless, I continued my words. "You don't have to say it, I already know about it." That time, he raised an eyebrow.

"About what?" He asked, as if trying to act confused when he know exactly when I'm saying.

"Your talk with Lieutenant Gordon, about not having to have me here any longer... And, about you being Batman." I heard rustling from above and wings flapping, which indicated that the birds heard in our conversation and must've decided to leave us in private. Bruce was no completely paralyzed from the news, and seemed to have trouble getting air into his lungs. He then turned his gaze away from me and towards the direction at the mountain behind our house, as if now having to change what he was going to tell me. I simply let loose a deep sigh from his reaction, and then decided to wrap up our conversation by standing from the spot on the bench. "I won't blame you for wanting me to leave, especially now that I know your secret and how much of a burden I've been to you for the two months I've lived with you and now that Zucco is taken away for what he did." I then started to make my way back to the Manor. "I won't tell anyone about you being the Dark Knight, nor will I tell the social worker on why I'm no longer living with you." I felt my heart being constricted from every word I just told Bruce, but I had to be brave and ignore the feeling on leaving Wayne Manor. I should've also been happy, because Zucco will no longer be able to harm anyone or take a family away from another child again, now that he's in prison for life with no chance of parole. Besides, Bruce simply agreed that he would only keep me until Zucco has been captured or if he were to leave town and become a free man. I didn't get far, for after taking thirteen steps away from the oak tree and the bench, a hand on my left-shoulder suddenly stopped me from continuing on to the Manor and pack my things. I didn't have to turn and see who it was, since Bruce and I were the only ones out and Alfred is inside cleaning the Manor.

"Who said that I wanted you to leave when Zucco has been captured?" I lifted my head from staring at the ground from his words, while my heart actually skipped a couple of beats from his words. I then turned my head to the left, to see the calm expression on his face but to also see worry and concern in his Navy-blue eyes. I then turned my gaze towards the Manor, not sure on how to answer him when I had thought he would want me to get out of his house and both he and Alfred could live they way life was before I came around. I then heard Bruce let out a deep sigh. "Dick... I'm not mad of you for knowing my secret, nor am I mad of you running off to get Zucco." His hand on my shoulder tightened. "I was worried that something bad has happened to you the moment I found you gone, no longer in your room, and in danger within Gotham City." I placed my left-canine teeth to my lip, but I knew that it would eventually be a force of happen if I keep biting my lip, so I went to clenching my teeth together.

"I'm sorry if I made you and Alfred worried," I told him. "But Zucco is my responsibility, and I needed to take him down myself and take him into justice, for my family." I then felt the hand on my shoulder move itself over my chest and pulling me back, which was towards Bruce. He then had his other arm over my right-arm and around my chest, encircling me in an embrace.

"He wasn't just your responsibility, Dick." I knew what he means by that, but I don't know why or how Zucco could also be his responsibility. As if he read his mind, he continued his words. "If I had known about Zucco, if I had known he would come and ruin the show, I would've been as Batman that night and taken him to the police and made sure they kept him in a cell that he wouldn't be able to get himself out of... But I didn't, and Zucco took away your family... But most of all, your life." I immediately knew where this was going to, and that's when I turned within his hold and wrapped my around around his neck.

"It wasn't your fault, Bruce. None of this was your fault at all," I replied. "It was my fault. I should've warned my folks, but we were already on and they wouldn't hear me from the crowd if I told them while performing. I should've-" Before I could continue my words, I felt and heard something rumbling, which makes me think of how the animals at the circus would make whenever they were mad or were getting very protective of me when it comes to strangers visiting the circus. I realized that the sound was coming from and made by Bruce. I wasn't sure if I was suppose to be afraid by his growl, or if I should feel safe.

"This isn't your fault either, Dick." I hid my smile into his dark-brown coat, his words bringing so much comfort and relief that he wasn't blaming himself anymore.

"So, I guess it's neither one of our faults, huh?" This time, Bruce let out a chuckle, which made me feel more happy to know and hear that he's happy.

"I guess so," he answered. Bruce then pulled back and stared down at me, which I believe he was checking to see the psychical condition I'm in to him. "You've gain some weight back." I blushed from his words and lowered my head to the ground, which got him to chuckle at my shy behavior. "That's a good thing, Dick. You were losing so much weight, Alfred and I were having trouble to believe how you're still able to walk by yourself." Now I feel very offensive, for it wasn't the first time somebody commented about my weight and for me being skinny.

"Well, excuse me for having to become an acrobat, because that's what we're suppose to be: Light and skinny." Bruce smirked at my words.

"And strong, don't forget about being strong to the list." I simply shook my head.

"I can't be strong, the only reason to why I was able to get Zucco was because of my adrenaline, is all." Bruce shrugged his shoulders at my explanation.

"It's more than from adrenaline, chum." I was actually taken back from the new nickname he just called me. "I'm more referring to your will and your determination, not by brute strength." He then slowly lead me towards the direction to the Manor, with his right-arm wrapped around my shoulders and having his hand on my right-shoulder. "You know, Dick, I've been thinking for the past weeks on what just happened with Tony Zucco... Though you nearly lost your life on capturing him and pulling the both of you out of the waters, I can see hidden talents within you. Talents so great, that I believe the City of Gotham should come to know and embrace it, either by day or night." My heart rate increased its rate from his words, which was getting me very excited and having to know what he was going to tell me. Nevertheless, I needed to ask him to be sure I wasn't going to mistaken what he was getting at.

"What are you saying?" Instead of just answering, he reached for something from the back of his pants pocket, stopping us at the front the garden. In his hand was what I never thought to see again: My cousin's Domino-mask he wore, which I had worn that fateful night with Zucco. It didn't seem damaged at all, and somehow new. I then took the small-mask into my right-hand, staring down at the white-lenses staring up at me.

"You've proven yourself strong enough to face tough opponents, along with standing up in a fight and never backing down on your goal," he explained. "Your fighting tactics may seem a bit rusty, but with good training and the right proper equipments, you'll most likely be ready within a few months. Possibly sooner, even."

I now knew he really means what he's saying, and decided to cut to the chase. "You wish for me to fight and protect Gotham with you?"

"Not just Gotham, Dick... The Earth, with me and the rest of the Justice League."

When I still lived at the circus, we would at time see the heroes in their hometowns or passing by a city by flying. I also found out that they actually formed the Justice League team when I was around five or six years old, which was possibly two or three years ago.

Yeah, I'm really shocked and a bit surprised that he would want me to fight, especially when I just left without saying a word and how I nearly gotten myself killed. He then placed his left-hand on my left-shoulder.

"I won't make you fight, if you don't want to. The choice is yours and yours alone, Dick." Even from afar distance, I turned my gaze towards the woods, where it would lead to the Gotham Cemetery... To my family and Bruce's parents' graves.

Even though I've finally avenged my family's death, I still don't feel satisfied. It's not that I wished that I had killed him, it's just that... There's something deep inside me that's crying out for freedom, and the chance to live... The chance to fight, and to protect. My body felt the need to feel the adrenaline rush when soaring through the air, and my soul is crying to fly like a bird once again. It was my heart and mind that weren't sure what to do: My mind wasn't sure if I should fight, especially when I need to be in school soon. While my heart appears confused and hurt if I were to make the wrong choice and decision, to fight and perhaps mock Batman's image on suddenly becoming a big softy or to not fight and become a complete burden to the Manor.

The decision was really tough for me to decide, and I hardly could imagine Bruce wanting help from a kid who's only eight years old and has been raised in a circus. I was about to tell him 'I can't', until...

*Chirp, Chirp!*

I turned my head towards the direction of the chirp, which was a Robin sitting in a tree to my left... An actual wild Robin, not a caged owned bird like at the Gotham Zoo. Unlike the Robins at the zoo, that Robin has an interesting red-chest that was in a shape, almost like a birthmark, and it didn't have a white-underbelly. Its underbelly was grey, like its wings, and the red-chest area was shaped like an animal... A bird, with its wings spread to the midsection between its shoulders and neck. The Robin cocked its head to the side, staring down at me and Bruce, but seems more interested at the domino-mask held in my hand. The bird then ruffled its feathers and then spread its wings, holding out its silver-like wings as if to mimic its marking on its chest.

*Chirp, Chirp!... Chirp!*

The bird then launched itself out of the branch, its wings being tucked against its body when it dived down, and then released its wings to lift itself up in the air. It may seem like it was leaving very quickly to Bruce, but to me, its image was going actually slow. I don't know why, but I think at that moment, that Robin was giving me the answer... And, a sign.

"Prihor(Robin)..." I whispered, now knowing exactly what I wanted, or needed to do. Bruce turned to me, giving me a confused look.

"What was that?" I simply continued watching the Robin flapping its way higher into the sky, flying to wherever it pleases. I then turned my gaze to the domino-mask in my hand, and then slowly placed it back to cover my eyes.

"By day, I shall be known as 'Richard Grayson'... By night, I shall be known as 'Robin'." And that's when I knew, that from this day on and for the rest of my life, I shall be a protector of the night. Not as a bat, though, but a robin. Because, to me, the is more than just a plain bird or a nickname that my family would call me when I perform on the trapeze... It was a sign, a sign that hope never truly dies and continues on through the eyes and hearts of every life on Earth.

Alfred ceased his reading when he heard deep breath of snoring at the bed, knowing that Bruce has fallen to sleep from the butler's reading on Dick's Journal. He let loose a deep sigh and closed the book, so that he could wipe away the small tears forming in his eyes and to get a hold on his emotions.

"And from that day on, Robin has been born and his life has been changed forever, just like Master Bruce." He then turned his attention to his two charges, one of which is sleeping to regain energy to wake up and be with his child. While the other, unfortunately, is sleeping within a deep sleep that was very possible for him to may not pull through or ever wake up again. As his two charges slept, the white-wolf kept his golden-yellow eyes on the butler, but would ever so often turned his gaze down at the boy who was both a brother and the pup of his new pack. Alfred leaned forward and placed his hand on top of Wolf's head, gently stroking the fur on top of the large animal's head. "You have been there for Master Richard when we had ignored him," he told the white wolf. "And for that, I thank you." Wolf lifted his nose to gently push the hand off of his head and gave Alfred's left-hand short and gentle licks. Once Wolf finally ceased his licking in accepting the elder's gratitude, Alfred then leaned over to his two charges and gently wrapped his arms around the both of them.

For so many years, even when Thomas and Martha were still alive, he has come to see Bruce as his own child. And when Bruce has first brought in Dick into their world, the child immediately became a grandson to the butler. When one of them were to get injured from patrol or League Mission, he would stay up all day or night in worry and hoping to see one of them to comeback safely. However, if both were to be injured, his worry would double and the thought of both of them injured would mean bad news, which would mean they faced a tough opponent that they wouldn't be able to beat. But even if he were to tell the two to get help from the Justice League or to not go back out into battle in either injuries or terrible health, they've always proven to the butler that they will rise again in victory and they would accomplished that promise by defeating that opponent who has last beaten them. This time, however, isn't the cause from a powerful villain, nor is it a virus created by a villain. No, this was caused by themselves and is now trying to take away both Alfred's grandson and Bruce's son from their countless neglect and the boy's own depression created by there lack of appearance to the thirteen year-old.

The sound of doors opening caught the white wolf and Alfred's attention, which both turned and watch J'onn coming in with another bag of water with nutrients inside.

"It is time to change the boy's I.V.," he told the butler. "He will need all the nutrients and strength he could get, in order to fight his way out of the coma." As he hooked the bag onto the I.V., Wolf slowly and gently wagged his tail onto the bed, as if greeting the martian and happy to see another who has tried to help Dick deal with his pain through depression.

Alfred noticed the white-wolf was only giving J'onn the special welcome, which he usually doesn't give to the rest of the Justice League or the Young Justice, even and especially if it were Conner, Kaldur, Wally or Roy that came to see him. Though Wolf hadn't growled at the butler when he would enter the room, Alfred would see the white-animal narrow his eyes at him and slowly flatten his ears before turning his attention back to the boy on the bed.

"Do not take it personally, Wolf is just simply being overprotective over the child to those he believe has hurt the boy." J'onn's voice brought Alfred out of his thinking, who has finished installing the bag onto the I.V. and was done checking on the needle that was still implanted into Dick's right-hand.

"I do not truly blame him, Master J'onn, for what we had done to Master Richard and for not being there for him when he really needed us." Sensing the hurt from the elder, J'onn used his Psychic Powers to quietly summon a chair into the room and land it silently on the other side of the bed.

[If you can tell me, why didn't you or Bruce noticed his changed behavior?] J'onn

Although Bruce had told Alfred about the Martian's Mind-Link, he was still surprised to be hearing J'onn's voice without having the Martian Manhunter to speak. Hoping he was doing it right, the butler spoke within his mind, so that they wouldn't wake Bruce from his sleep.

[To be honest, I don't truly know why, myself, and I doubt Master Bruce knows as well.] Alfred

Alfred then leaned forward a bit and placed his left-hand on top of Dick's head, slowly gently stroking his raven-black hair.

[I may be getting old, but I am still young to remember what I am suppose to do and it is much too soon for me to be forgetting things, for I am starting my sixties and should be forgetting things somewhere between the seventies and eighties.] Alfred

During his seven years living on Earth, J'onn learned that humans are very different then the martians on Mars: They look different, think differently, act different, and they don't even have superpowers to defend themselves if enemies were to attack them. The first, yet second thing that truly makes the humans more different than the martians, is the way they age. In human biological equivalent, J'onn would appear to be somebody in his mid-fifties, though he would actually look like somebody in his early-twenties or late-thirties, and M'gann looks to be in her teen years, but both are much older than they look. Chronologically, he is actually 135 Earth-years old and his niece 48 Earth-years old. When J'onn was in his eighties, he was starting in his twenties on his home-planet. Though he was young during that time, J'onn can literally feel how hard aging must be for the butler.

The martian turned his gaze at the boy on the bed, who was being held by a sleeping Bruce, a white-wolf laying over him to give the thirteen year-old extra warmth, and a butler who was stroking his hair in a soothing gesture.

[He doesn't seem to like you referring to him as 'Master', and yet, you continue on calling him and Bruce as your 'Masters'.] J'onn

He then lifted his gaze towards the elder, who had a smirk on his face from his words.

[You also call me 'Master', when I am really not your master. You even refer to any guests by 'Master' or 'Mistress', though they are not your superiors.] J'onn

Alfred let out a deep sigh.

[Old habits die hard, I'm afraid. I'd been serving Master Bruce's father for many years, long before he had met Mistress Martha and even long before his parents had passed.] Alfred

A wave of sadness and grief formed around Alfred's soul, though J'onn could easily withstand negative emotions much more than his niece can.

[It seems that Bruce isn't the only one whose parents had passed away, is he?] J'onn

Alfred shook his head.

[Though he did not witnessed their deaths, Master Thomas lost both of his parents when he was half the age older than Master Bruce and Master Richard were when they lost theirs.] Alfred

[Which means he was sixteen when he lost his parents.] J'onn

Alfred nodded his head. J'onn then turned his attention to the black journal that was on the small desk, which next to the tray of food that Bruce has refused to eat.

[Would you mind if I see the book, myself?] J'onn

Knowing that he was going to read the book himself, Alfred simply shook his head and handed the black journal to the martian. He then sat from his spot.

"I'm afraid that I must leave now," he whispered. "I must get myself some sleep, for I will need my energy to get Master Bruce to eat." He then picked up the tray of the playboy's dinner with both of his hands and quietly walk towards the doors. Right before he went out, the butler ceased his walking and turned his blue-eyes at J'onn.

[Thank you, for being there for Master Richard... I know that you'll do whatever it takes to bring him back to us, for he is the main reason to why we still exist and are working together as a family.] Alfred

The moment Alfred was gone, J'onn opened the black journal to its stopping point made by the bookmark and began to read the next part of Dick's writing.

Hate me, break me down!... (So break me down) Down! (So break me down)

Friday: July 28, 2006
It's been a full month since I've decided to become Bruce's partner, and a full month since that bird left me that sign. Ever since I declared myself to become Robin, Bruce has taken me to the Batcave and had trained me to become his protégé.

I was really surprised on seeing the Batcave, and more surprised on how I never thought it was underneath the house or the entrance had been hidden behind the grandfather clock. Now I know how Bruce was able to get out of the house without letting me know, and how he could get back without having to make a sound. The Batcave was very big, though it wasn't as big as the Manor from above. The cave seems very dark and gloomy with no lights on, even though the lights are on when we came out of the elevator. And what's a Batcave without bats? I have a feeling that the cave has been a home to the bats before Bruce found it and they seemed used to having lights in the cave, for they stayed hanging in the ceiling and seemed to stare at us from below.

Some of the bats had already spread their wings and flew in the air, with some of them flapping in front of Bruce and me, though I think it's me they're staring at. I was a bit scared when they came down and I quickly reached for Bruce's hand by instinct, though I shouldn't had been scared of the small creatures. Bruce simply chuckled and removed his hand from my own to wrap his left-arm around my shoulders and keeping me close by him. The bats seemed to have understood Bruce's physical reaction when he had me wrapped in his arm, because they suddenly came up close to me and sniffed my hair before taking off into the ceiling with the rest of the bats.

Bruce showed me around the cave and all the technology he uses to find the bad guys and whatever information he needs to know of them, which was mostly the Batcomputer and his vehicles. He also had his own training area, which seems more of a survival obstacle course program than an average training area. He also showed me his use of weapons and his vehicles, which some blueprints on some other ideas for new use of technology of his weapons and vehicles. It was amazing, truly amazing to be the first- Well, the second, to see the Batcave and to be working within it.

It took some adjusting for us to make it official, but we were able to make the weapons and a couple of vehicles for me to use, along with my own utility belt and holographic computer glove, once I was ready to take my first flight in the night. Bruce seems to like my costume and its design, but he had to give it an upgrade and some armor in order to protect me from the bad guys and crooks. I don't really see the reason why I would be wearing armor, when it could possibly slow me down.

Back when I lived in the circus, I wasn't just known as 'Little Robin'. To my father, uncle and cousin, I was also known as 'Swift Wolf', for I was always on my toes and I show no sign of getting tired. Not to mention that I'm very quick for my age, and have been gifted for my speed and stamina. To be honest, I thought they only called me Swift Wolf, because the wolf is both my favorite animal and my birth animal.

I may not look much, but I'm actually part Native-American, from my mother's side. My father and uncle are Romanian, while my aunt and mother are white, with both sides having something else besides being white or Romanian. Though my aunt and mom aren't related to each other, they actually share some origins with each other: French, German, Irish, Spain, Scottish, Portuguese... Especially, Native-American. And to every Native-American, whether we are born Indians or not, we're all born with an animal symbol.

My father was born on October 18, which is the day of the Raven. My mother's birthday is on April 10, the falcon. Aunt Karla is on July 7, the woodpecker. Uncle Rick is December 1, the owl. My parents, aunt and uncle's birth are the sign of birds, four out of the five Birds of the Birth Animal Symbols. I thought I would be the only one to not be a bird, for my birthday is on March 20, which is the first day of Spring and the last day of the wolf. Luckily for me, I was proven wrong that I would be the only Grayson to not be born as a bird. My cousin John's birthday is on September 11, which is the sign of the bear... Also, the day of 9/11. If he were to be born between December 22 and January 19, he would've been born of the fifth bird of the Animal Symbol: The goose.

Anyway, my other nickname tells others that I'm actually as swift as the wolf, which is no lie, and I can't have armor to slow me down to have my second nickname to be a joke. However, the armor that Bruce has added to my suit wasn't as heavy as I thought it would be. In fact, I can't actually feel the armor at all, though my chest would feel thick from the material of the armor from inside the vest. My shoes also had some metal underneath them to make them much more quiet, but to also inflict a lot of damage to my opponents once I implant a kick at them. My suit also contains Kevlar, like Bruce's suit, but not that much as he uses. My pants could still be torn, but Bruce had it made with special cloth, so that it wouldn't tear if I were to fall to the ground or stretch myself beyond my limits. Though my gloves had been upgraded with special picks and identity palm-matcher, they could still be teared and destroyed very easily.

Despite some downfalls to my suit, it was still perfect for me to use and to fight in. I'm actually doing very well for my age, even Bruce admitted that I was a lot better than he was when he trained all over the world as a teenager, which was somewhere between being fourteen to sixteen. He also claimed that I would be able to go out on patrol within a week or less, three days at best if I keep showing improvements to my skills and training.

However, since August was coming its way, I had to take some tests to see which grade I would be in. Though I should be going into fourth grade, Bruce believe that I would actually be in an upper grade. However, he was certain that I'm not ready for high school just yet. Luckily, I only need to finish two tests and then we'll get to see the results on which grade I'll be in before school starts on August 22. More than half of the questions are actually easy, but the rest are hard and the English Test has got to be one of my hardest to do, since I'm still learning English and actually started to read English. I could also tell that I need to work on both my Language Arts Test and my English language, because I would see Alfred or Bruce's confusion or disappointment on me messing with the English speech.

My first made up English word is 'Whelmed', which was suppose to be the opposite of 'Overwhelmed' and 'Underwhelmed'. My next word was 'Turbed', which is the opposite of 'Disturbed'. 'Traught' was my third word, but it's really an important word for me for being the opposite for 'Distraught'. The opposite for 'Disaster' is 'Aster', which is suppose to be a word to lift somebody's spirit if their plan didn't go as planned but has completed the mission, anyway. Though they may not be actual words to Alfred, Bruce or anybody else, they're real words to me and had been created by my ideas of trying to brighten moods or gain attention for either good or bad. However, it's not just my English or language that needs some more working on.

A few weeks ago, on the 11th of July, there was a Charity Night for stopping Animal Abuse & Slaughtering and many people wanted to greet me. So, Bruce had decided to take me to the charity night and had Alfred dress me into a similar suit that almost matches Bruce's clothes. The clothes very much made me feel uncomfortable, like the suit is trying to strangle me around the neck and have me gasping for breath, but I was able to calm myself and actually get as much air I could get through the suit. I rarely wear nice suits at the circus... Actually, I don't have any nice suits at all at the circus, just average clothing and a circus costume, which probably answers to why I feel like I'm wearing a monkey-suit costume than an actual suit.

We actually went to the Gotham Zoo for the charity night, though the zoo looks to have been completely cleaned out and the both the cages and animals appeared to have been given a bath. A lot of people came to for the charity night, who were many of Gotham's other billion or millionaires like Bruce or important people who get to come. I couldn't see any children around my age or teens who came, which probably meant their parents didn't let them come, a lot of these people are single or are planning to have their own children in the later future. I knew it was going to be a long night and a complete waste for me to be here, with many photographers taking pictures of all of us and the way everyone would help themselves to the buffet table for food or drinks. A lot of people prefer wine, because I could smell the scent of alcohol in the cold-air and it was already getting me lightheaded the moment I set my first step on the red-carpet.

Bruce held my right-hand the moment we got out of the limo and I'm very grateful that he decided to hold my hand, though I could tell he was getting odd and confused gazes from people who would see me holding his hand like a toddler would do with its mother or father in a crowded store. Some of their gazes were at me, which made me feel uncomfortable even more in my suit and wanting to hide behind Bruce's legs. However, I had my stubborn pride to prevent me from hiding and try to act and be like Bruce. Acting is what I'm good at, besides doing the trapeze or showing off my acrobat skills on the high-wire at the circus. I mostly stay quiet as the adults talked and only spoke when some of the adults would talk to me or ask me a question, but Bruce told me to not talk to photographers, those having notepads in their hands, or are acting friendly and asking me about my life with him or before I lived with him.

We've been walking and talking to people for an hour and a half, until something caught my attention. Even in a crowded people and loud voices talking, I could still detect and hear an odd sound that was more animal than human. According to my hearing, the sound was coming from the back of the party and somewhere deep within the zoo. I turned my attention to Bruce, who was too busy talking with a couple of men and having a few women holding his arms for attention. I knew he would be too busy to notice me gone, and so, I quickly and quietly made my way towards the back and through the adults. They didn't bother to notice I slip by them and when I made sure nobody was looking, I took off into a full sprint into the dim lights of the zoo's trail. My mind was so much calmer and clearer once I was away from the charity party and the people, and I was able to hear the sounds around me.

It turns out that the animals couldn't get any sleep from the grown ups' talking, the scent of food and wine, the bright lights that the zoo keepers set out for the people to have for the night and that many strangers came to the zoo in clothes that don't seem like visitors would wear while at the zoo. I could tell how much the party was bothering them, especially when the charity party and people were keeping them from getting any sleep at all and I was also surprise to see the nocturnal animals were trying to get some sleep that night.

The lions in their dens were moaning and are having to place both of their paws on top of their own ears to cover the sounds, the bears in their cage and cave were growling and scratching the concrete floor with their claws, some of the tigers in their den were pacing near the waters and the rest were snarling whenever their stomachs would growl from smelling human food, and the wolves in their cage and den were whimpering from the scent of cooked meat and the scent of whine making them dizzy. For the rest of the animals, like the reptiles in the Reptile House and the insects in their own building, seemed to be alright and are sleeping away the night. The zebras, antelopes and giraffes, however, seemed to be trying to block out the sounds and try to sleep, but they would at times move to another spot and try to sleep while standing or laying down. The flamingos appeared to be burying their faces underneath their own wings pretty hard, the elephants were getting a bit stressed from hearing the noises because of their strong hearings, the alligators and crocodiles seem to be very close on losing their patients and swimming underwater to block out the sounds doesn't look to be working, and the hippos tried to cover their ears with the mud underwater or try to bury their faces into each other if they couldn't use whatever they could find and when the water wasn't helping.

Just as I was heading towards the other felines and monkey enclosure, I stopped to where I haven't been to the last time I came to the zoo: The Bird House. The lights were on, but it looks to be only one-side of the building was lit-on and the other side was completely dark. There were a couple of sounds being made inside, but they don't sound like they're in danger or in a fight. My mind then went to the fight the red-hawk and Robin had, which ended with the red-hawk to retreat and the adult-Robin to die, leaving the little-Robin to mourn for its death and injured from the bigger-bird trying to hurt it. I was really worried that the hawk could had possible attacked the little bird again, and has taken its young life with its guardian and protector gone. Without a second thought to think, I immediately ran into the Bird House. The door was unlocked like last time, which makes me wonder if the security in the zoo is actually terrible or if the guards had forgotten to lock the doors. I worried if they had forgotten to lock the other animals' doors or cages, even though they had the front gate and exits locked to prevent them from actually getting out of the zoo.

The moment I pushed the doors open and took the five steps into the Bird House, I was kind of surprised when I heard and saw something in the tree that I felt belonged to the two Robins and couple of the other small birds of the zoo: In a nest with leaves on top of the branches, was the little Robin that was attacked by the hawk... The same, and only little Robin, who lost its guardian and was left to mourn for the adult Robin's passing. The small bird looks to be doing alright, though I could still see a couple of scars on its small-body that the feathers weren't able to cover, especially a curved-scar that went over its left-eye and ended at the top of its head to the edge of its beak where the mouth would open.

I smiled at the sleeping bird, glad to see the small bird still living and that the hawk isn't out of its cage to harm it again. I then noticed something black hanging over the little Robin and its nest, which almost appears to be like a black-fruit with two-pointed edges on the bottom. I then noticed that hanging onto the limb of the branch was feet and when it shifted, I then realized that it wasn't a fruit. I then slowly made my way towards the tree, wanting to get a closer look at the black-figure and the little Robin's nest, since the tree was shielding them in its shade of branches from the light. Right when I reached for the trunk of the tree with my hands, my fight-foot stepped on a twig and caused it to break. The sound woke up some of the birds in the trees or bushes, especially the little Robin and the black-figure, for I heard a couple of soft chirping in the nest and a bit of a groaning from the black-figure. I then watch the black-figure opened and stretch its wings into the light, which I then identified it as the black-figure that attacked the red-hawk that exact night: It was a bat, a completely black bat that was a black as starless night skies. When it finally caught me in its sight, I stared back at the small-creature and saw that its eyes were Navy-Blue, a lot like Bruce's eyes. The black bat let out a screech when it saw me and then released itself from the branch, flapping its wings and heading towards my direction.

I should've ran from the small-creature that was charging itself full-speed at me, but something in the back of my mind told me to stay put and that the bat wasn't going to attack me. My heart rate increased from seeing how fast the bat was going and I was beginning to doubt about my mind's judgement about the bat not going to attack. Right when I placed my left-foot back and was about to shift myself to a full-sprint towards the exit, the bat let out a startling screech and pulled itself back, flapping itself in mere inches away from my face. My heart was beating so loud in my hearing, that I didn't hear the little Robin chirping at the bat until my heart finally calmed itself and was able to realize that the small bird has probably told the bat to not harm me.

The bat cocked its head to the side, staring at me in confusion and concentration, until it finally broke the gap between us and actually went to sniffing my head. Though I'm an animal person and know a lot of things about animals, I had no idea to why bats are sniffing my hair or why they insist on smelling me in the first place. After a couple of sniffing and a squeak or two from the bat, it pulled away and then did something I never expect it to do: It leaned its head forward and rubbed its small head against my cheek, actually embracing me as if I were a long-lost friend or relative. I don't really think bats can smile, but I'm pretty certain that the black-bat just smiled at me when it pulled away. It then turned itself towards the tree and flapped itself up, to where the nest laid in a strong branch and where the little Robin made a couple of its chirping. The bat then flew itself around the nest and over the small bird, before it actually settled itself into the nest with the bird. It then turned its head back to me and gave out a couple of screech, which made me think it wanted me to come up with it and the Robin.

Being an acrobat, also meant being an experienced climber, especially when it involves trees. Cracking my knuckles a bit and rolling my shoulders back to get them a bit warmed up, I give myself a short jump and grabbed for a branch above me. It appear to be as strong as the tree the bird and bat are in, but it was strong enough to hold my weight and keep itself together to the tree until I launched myself to the next tree-branch I was certain I could grab for. It took about six leaps from getting one branch to the other and a few scaling up the trunk, until I finally reached the branch that held the nest. Not only did it look strong, it also felt strong to my touch and seems like it can also hold Bruce's weight, whether he's as Batman or just himself. I then laid on the branch and began to slowly crawl my way towards the branch, while walking on all fours to keep my balance better and to not risk jostling the nest out of the branch if I were to shake or use too much strength to cause the branch to shake too roughly with my feet.

By the time I reached the nest, I folded my arms to lay my chin on and stared to a sight that had touched one or some of my heart-strings: The little Robin and the black-bat laid together in the nest, with the right-wing of the bat covering the little bird's body and the little Robin nuzzling its little head against the bat's chest and neck. I smiled at the sight before me, for it appears that the bat is now the Robin's new guardian and parent. I never heard of a bat adopting a bird, let alone seen an actual bat looking after a small bird. But now, I finally get to see something that many people may never believe, even if they were to come and see it for themselves.

When the little Robin turned its small head towards me, it gave me light chirps that sounds to me that it was happy to see me. I smiled at the bird, hearing its happy song-like chirps, as I slowly and gently unfolded my right-hand from underneath my left and brought my fingers slowly to the bird and bat. The black-bat sniffed at my fingers when they were inches away from their faces and then rubbed its head against my fingers, which possibly meant he trust me to be close to it and its new young, who is also known as a 'pup' to bats. I gently stroke the Robin's head with my pointed-finger, at the same time stroking and gently scratching behind the bat's ear and head, which they both seem to like a lot. The little Robin then sat up from its laying spot and gently brushed the bat's wing off of its body, as it slowly and lightly hopped its way towards me when I ceased the petting. I laid my right-hand down and without having a second thought or hesitation, it jumped right in the center of my hand and laid itself down.

I lifted my hand up a bit as I sat up from the branch, staring into the bird's small-blue eyes, especially to the one that held the crescent-like scar. I gazed sadly at the scar.

"Îmi pare rău," I whispered. I'm positive that animals don't understand human speech that much, but the Robin seemed to understand what I was saying, because it turned its face towards my fingers and gently rubbed against one or two of them, as if showing a sign of forgiveness or was simply telling me it wasn't my fault and there was no need to apologize. I then had my left-arm up and gently held the bird to its back on my right-hand, gliding gently through its feathers to see the scars and checking to see what the gender of the bird is. It was a male bird and judging by its size, he seems to be in his twelfth day of life and surprisingly, has actually conquered the challenge of flying at a very young age. The bat in the nest kept its eyes on the Robin in my hand, with the look of worry held within its eyes when it saw both my hands on the little bird's body, but knowing that I wasn't going to harm its new pup, even though the Robin isn't really a bat at all.

I then turned my attention to the bat in the nest and then let the little bird back into the nest, only to gently pick the bat up from the nest and to see what the gender of the bat is. I honestly thought it would be a girl, since male bats don't help raise their own pups or even interact with them, but it was the size of the bat that caught me off guard since it was a lot bigger than a female bat would be. At first, the black-bat tried to get itself out of my grip, possibly thinking that I was going to harm it, but it eventually calmed down when it realized that I was gently stroking its fur and when the Robin was using his chirping sound, as if telling its new parent that I wasn't going to harm it. After a quick check, I was completely shocked to find that the black-bat is also a male. The bat was very big, actually bigger than both of my hands combined, which got me to think it could actually be somewhere between six to nine years old.

I then set the bat back into the nest and watch as the black-bat gently wrapped both his black-wings around the Robin, as if giving the little Robin a hug, and then would nuzzled his head against his newly adopted pup when the bird would chirp and rub his small-beak underneath the chin of his newly adopted father. I actually never thought I would get to see a male bat actually care for his own young, or even interact with them, but it seems that I actually get to see that day, even though that Prihor isn't a bat at all.

I've decided to call the little Robin 'Prihor', since the zoo hadn't given him a name and I can't really think up a name besides Prihor. As for the black-bat, I heard that the zoo called him 'Shadow', because of the way he would move like a shadow. Even though he has one, I'm going to give him a Romanian name as well and call him, Umbră(Shadow). It also seem that the zoo hadn't given names to the other birds or animals of Gotham Zoo as well, and that's when I had the idea of giving them all my own special name for them.

I then noticed how Prihor's eyes were starting to close, indicating that he was falling asleep, but he seems to be having trouble with some of the nocturnal birds' calls that was keeping him up and some of the day birds. Umbră seems to be trying to lull the bird to sleep by making a purring-like sound from his throat, but the sounds of other nocturnal creatures were louder and even with Prihor's head leaning in, Umbră's purr has been overpowered. It took me awhile for me to come up with an idea to help put all the birds to sleep, until an idea came to me from a time I had trouble sleeping back at the circus.

Besides having my circus family and biological family at my side, hearing, playing or singing a song always comforts me. My family and I are not the only greatest acrobats, but we're also the Circus' best music players and singers they have. In fact, every time we travel, we would all gather in one of the carts of the train and then we would sing or play music to pass the time. Our last music we played together and for the circus while we were heading for Gotham from performing for New Orleans in Louisiana, we called it "Wep'keer", which means "Old Stories" in Japanese. To me, it sounded like a person or an animal traveling all alone in a terrible blizzard, but kept moving forward. When our song gets heated up, it now made me think that the person is now running through the snow and is being led, protected and guided by hidden guardians in the Land of Snow.

I then reached into the two pockets on both sides in the inside of my pants, which were two pieces of a flute that had belonged to my mother, who she got it from her grandfather. On the last second of getting ready, I took the two pieces of the flue with me in case I would get bored and had hope to play it in private. I then connected the two pieces together and making sure that it was in perfect condition, I gave it a gentle blow. I didn't want to play a sad song like "Wep'keer", even though it is beautiful and I'm very well good on playing sad songs. I then chose another song that I used to play with my family, which was one of our best happy songs. We called it "Waka", which literally meant "Japanese Poem", which we named after playing some instruments in Japan five years ago. The song would've sounded wonderful with the rest of my family and their instruments playing with mine, but the song would still be perfect with just one instrument and that's all I needed to play the song.

When either my folks and I or myself play "Waka", it makes me think of an arrival of a mystic bird that came to greet me. Then, gentle gush of wind will come up and when the bird would arrive, flower petals and healthy leaves would surround its slender form and the sun's ray of light would make the bird to be created by sunshine and star dust. Then in the center of the song, the majestic bird would spread its shining feathers and dance, either by air or on ground. And whenever the bird were to touch a tree or lay a single toe of its talon in the waters, their colors would lighten and life would magically appear out of nowhere. Somewhere in the part of the song, I would imagine the bird wanting me to dance with it and we would both be dancing with the Earth and wind. And the song itself would have me imagining the bird chirping or even whispering the song, itself, to try and put me to a lovely sleep in Paradise.

As I continued my music, some of the birds had joined in the music and would chirp in with the song, while other birds would actually fly gracefully in the air in harmony with the song. I turned a glance to Prihor, who seems to be very close on going to the Land of Dreams within the folds of Umbră's wings. The black-bat, though seems to fall for the song to sleep, seems to be gently screeching within the song for the high part. Some of the birds, at the moment, had already fell asleep or had already entered the Land of Dreams. For the animals would weren't that high of singers, they would either peck or scratch at the hard surface of the trees or earth, or would even bang against the hard-metals of the Bird House.

I was so caught up on playing the song over and over, that I hadn't realized that our song had been echoed outside of the Bird House and all the animals could hear our song playing, nor that I would eventually get lightheaded from using so much air for the song. I was too busy imagining myself playing this song with my family at the circus instead of the birds singing with me, and how I would use to dream of dancing with that majestic bird. I didn't even know that they were either singing with us, or had falling asleep from the song... I didn't even know that the humans had heard my song or the animals' singing in tone, until I heard a voice that brought me out of my word.

"Dick!" My eyes snapped open from the call of my name and when I had stopped singing, those that were still awake had sharply cut off their singing and ceased the noise making. The animals from outside also stopped and I could tell to what all the animals of the zoo were thinking: Why had I stopped playing the lovely music that they'd loved? There was a simple answer to that one, and the answer was standing down below or at the entrance of the Bird House. My cheeks blushed a sort of small-medium red color when I saw Bruce and the other humans staring up at me, more than half of them gazing at me in confusion. Other gazes were either in disgust, disappointment, or ashamed. The remainders were actually surprised and appear to had loved the song I had made, along with the birds. Bruce, however, didn't seem to be thinking of what I just played. He made his way towards the tree I was sitting in, and then held out both of his hands in the air. "Dick, come down from there!" I didn't like the tone of voice he had used to speak in, and that's when I quickly parted my flute and placed them back into the pockets they were in moments ago, while I made my way down the tree. Knowing that I should get out of the tree sooner than later, I leap down to two tree-branch and then launched myself out of the third branch I leap to, while doing three flips in the air and landing perfectly on my feet.

I most likely gotten them even more startled from my daredevil stunt, because some of them gasped and a few even slowly took a step back when I landed, even though I was still far away from them. The moment I was on the ground, Bruce immediately went by my side while on his left-knee to kneel and check me over for any sign of wounds or injuries. I wasn't hurt in the least, even though my landing should've had most likely sprained one or both of my ankles, but I was still alright. When he finally ceased his checking and found me completely unharmed, except for my suit having some parts of wood sticking and a bit wrinkled, he let out a sigh of relief and then pulled me to a hug. I actually thought he was going to yell or scold me for disappearing and running off without him knowing, nor did I ever thought he would be embracing me in front of the other billionaire or millionaire of Gotham. I slowly and gently wrapped my arms around him, though my arms didn't make it even halfway towards his back, and returned the hug back to him. I then laid my head on his left-shoulder and let my eyes closed, feeling guilt and shame rushing throughout my body and mind for what I've done: I possibly ruined the Charity Night, embarrassed Bruce in front of the people, and had worried him for vanishing without letting him know.

"Sunt(I'm)-"Even though I was whispering and only Bruce would be the only one to hear me, I quickly caught myself speaking in Romanian in front of people. Bruce and I had talked about speaking in English when out in public, and I didn't want to disappoint him even more than I probably had that night. So, I tried again. "I'm sorry." A bit of guilt left me when I had finished my short apology to him. Instead of replying back, I heard him let out another deep sigh and then pulled me closer to him, as he went to standing. I let out a short yelp and instinctively had my arms wrap around his neck, with my legs wrapping around his waist to keep me within his hold and not slip away from his grasp.

He then led us towards the exit of the Bird House, where the adults quickly backed away to allow us through, and then took us out of the zoo and towards the black-limo that Alfred had dropped us off to the Gotham Zoo. I then thought that I was going to be punished in private, but was proven once again. The only thing he told me, while we were heading back to the Manor, was on how much I scared him when he realized I wasn't with him after talking with his old-friend, Lucius Fox, and doesn't want me to wonder off without letting him know. I promised him that I would tell him next time, and that was when I realized on how tired I was when I noticed my eyes were getting heavy and how warm Bruce was with his arms still around me. At first, I didn't want to sleep on him, for I didn't want to cause anymore trouble and ruin his best suit, but he didn't seem to care about the suit or what just occurred that night. In fact, he pulled me out of my spot and sat me in his lap, having his right-arm wrap around my small-form and using his left-hand to have my head lay on his left-shoulder for a pillow. I was so tired and felt warm and safe, it didn't take long for me to fall asleep throughout the whole drive back to the Manor and for Bruce or Alfred to take me into bed.

Although he didn't tell me on how he thought the adults from the Charity Night thought of him and that he didn't care that they saw our little 'comforting' moment, I could tell that he didn't seem please to have them see me in a tree with zoo animals and playing music with them. I can't really help it if I have circus-blood in me or having old habit still implanted in my minds. I just miss my animal friends back at the circus, along with my circus family, and just being with the animals and playing to them just made me happy. Still, I know that I need to stop and try to act like other children or the children of the other billionaire and millionaire of Gotham behave.

Yeah, I still have a long way to go and with school quickly coming its way, I could tell it was making Bruce and Alfred worried on how I would react with other students at Gotham Middle School. With only two tests left for me to take, we'll be having the results to which grade level I would be in. The only ones left for me to do are Science and Math. I wanted to do them last because both of those subjects are my most favorite and easiest subjects I can do and to learn. My cousin had already finished schooling, which he had finished at the age of fourteen, and he was really good in Vocabulary and History. I'm also good with History, but I always have trouble with Vocabulary and would need either my mother, aunt, or cousin to help me understand it. I'm just glad to have finished the English and Language Arts tests, or I would've been stuck with them for last and would be bothering Bruce much more. Alfred helped me understand it before I had to take the tests, but there were still some hard words that I hadn't understood just yet.

Anyway, I better get some sleep before Alfred or Bruce comes in and sees me awake instead of getting some sleep to finish the Science and Math test. I just hope that I don't disappoint Bruce anymore than I just did, but it's going to be very hard for me to be like everybody else in Gotham, when I'm a complete stranger and Outsider of the city.

So break me down, if it makes you feel right
And hate me now, if it keeps you all right

You can't break me down if it takes all your might
'Cause I am so much more than meets the eye...

J'onn ceased his reading when he saw that Richard had underlined the word 'Outsider', as if the line is suppose to be a reminder of something that he shouldn't or mustn't forget at all. His red-eyes then narrowed when he recalled and had read about Dick thinking himself as a disappointment to Bruce, when it seems clear that the billionaire had never thought the boy to had been a disappointment to him at all.

The Martian recalled back Bruce would come up and talk with the other members of the Justice League about their young protégés or family members, back when Dick was still young and when some of the members had started on having their own partners to stop crimes. Whenever the Dark Knight would bring up about Robin or Dick, most of them, or perhaps all of them, are positive things. He would discuss on how Dick's grade would be in school, how his training as Robin had been scaling and had been improving the young child... But most of all, Bruce would talk on how much the boy had changed his life and that he can't ever think of a life without his son in his life.

J'onn let out a deep sigh and shook his head from recalling those pleasant memories he had, back when the Justice League would ask Batman to bring over Robin or Dick to the Watchtower and have them spend time with their newly adopted nephew-figure.

'Perhaps that could be one of the reasons to why he hadn't thought of adopting the Young One,' he thought. 'Even though it shouldn't had been that much of a surprise that he would forget to remind himself that Dick isn't really his, no one would even think that he would forget to remind himself of the obvious about their traits.'

It was pretty clear that Bruce hadn't been thinking about adopting the thirteen year-old all those years ago, because he most likely had forgotten about the most important thing that makes Dick and him very different: The boy looked a lot like him when he was a child, think like him when solving hard problems in school or coming up ideas for Wayne Enterprises, act like him whenever they were as Batman and Robin while facing their toughest villains, and even had experienced the same tragic moment of losing their family at a young age. However, no matter how much they wish that they should be, the Justice League, especially Batman, has to face the facts and the truth... Dick has never been, and will never be Bruce's true-son. At least, not by blood, that is. It could be likely that Bruce thought that Dick is actually his true-son, that he most likely forgotten that the boy carries none of his genes in his entire being and had forgotten to adopt Dick to legally make him his son.

J'onn then turned his gaze towards the two on the bed, with Wolf still laying on top of them and is sleeping soundly. Both of the humans were dreaming but both were also unconsciously holding and carrying similar emotions that could most likely stop an army of Martians if they were to sense their combined feelings: Pain, regret, sorrow, loneliness. But most of all, they both felt the dying feeling of craving. They craved for their pain to be taken away, the sudden heavy burden grasp in their hearts to release them, and they craved for the nightmare to finally past. The Martian also noticed that both of their hearts and soul were begging for something that the other possess. It was clear to what they both want from the other.

'They both wish for the love they have for each other to be returned, and for their bond to be restored.'

There was a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but it seems to J'onn that a single expression of emotion is worth a thousand questions and answers. And now, there were some questioning that doesn't seem to make sense: Who was the cause of the sudden sadness to befall on Dick? What was the cause of his pain to have increased, instead of to decreased? Where did this all happen? When did all the sadness begin that Dick has been holding for so long? Why was this happening to the boy? But most of all, how are they going to fix him before he can truly heal?

The only and possible answer that the League and the team have for those six questions, are the words of what Dick has written in his Journal that they must read... And, which may as well be the most important, the emotions and feeling held within the boy's own heart and mind. And so, J'onn turned back to the Journal and continued on reading, in hoping on finding the answers to the solution on helping their Little Bird and bringing him out of his coma before he goes with the second choice: Going inside the boy's heart and mind.

TBC

If I have anything to add, I wished that they would've continued the first season of Young Justice, since I think they went too fast and too early on making them older and starting season two. They should also at least have some episodes shows some of the past, especially on when the team began to 'split' and when Tula died... And to me, I think they should've had it be five weeks or months instead of years, and the Young Justice Team should've went to space instead of the 16 hours. I mostly want to see when Dick became Nightwing, because in the other Batman shows, he became Nightwing somewhere when he was almost starting his twenties and I believe they made him Nightwing somewhere in his teens in season two... Although, in the comics, he was around 16-18 years old when he became Nightwing.
Anyway, also wish that they would stop having to pause putting the new episodes of the Young Justice on Cartoon Network, since they should've had or made more than just 2 or 3 new episodes when they stopped making new ones during Summer.
Also, some of the journal stories in these and in chapter 2 are actually some mixtures from the other Batman shows, like the Animated Series, while most are made up...

And for those who are wondering or asking why I made this story... Well, I'll try and explain to why: A lot of us are hurting, even when we seem all happy and cheerful on the outside and to others, from small children to young or old adults... We're all really hurting on the inside and wish that others could see or know how we feel, but we're just afraid to tell them or express how we felt as we grew older and when the pressure from our troubles (family/school/work/drugs/hormones/illness/life/et c) are pulling us down and are making us change from people we used to be into a complete wreck opposite that others wants us to be. We no longer think straight, understand what's right or wrong with us and we try to fix it, but we at times ended up making our lives much worse when we don't tell anybody or express how we feel. And so, when we think we're just a mistake to the world and our family, we all think that killing or hurting ourselves will make it better and seemed like the perfect punishment to us all, but it's not. If we keep this up, then we'll be hurting those who do care about us, rather than ourselves.

And so, I ask of you to never cross that line. To not go down that path. Because if you take that step to that path or the other side of that line, you'll most likely never come back and you'll lose who you truly are. So, for those who are having trouble, I want you to tell your family and find the help you need to find the right path again, for the sake of your lives and those who care and loved you... Don't be afraid to speak up and tell somebody you trust on how you feel, it'll really help you and is actually the first step into healing... I'm one of those who're hurting and are having trouble with the life I'm living in, but I'm going to go on with life and fight to live a better life than quitting and throwing away the towel to make my family's life horrible if I were to do something that would scar them for life... Thank you...

R&R