I do not own the Justice League.
Robin walked in the door and glanced at the grandfather clock that stood in the entryway. It read six-fifty seven; Alfred should be almost done with dinner by now he thought. As he walked further into the house the smell of roast chicken wafting throughout the house, so it was roasted rosemary chicken with garlic potatoes for dinner; a true Alfred classic Robin thought. When Robin walked into the kitchen he saw Alfred pulling the chicken out of the oven while Bruce sat reading the newspaper. Without looking from the paper Bruce said,
"Enjoy your day out?" He sounded as if he didn't care, which he probably didn't. It was probably the presence of Alfred that he had said anything at all. Alfred had always pushed for Bruce to act like more of a father towards Robin; he had felt it was something Robin had needed. He was probably right, because if he had grown up with Batman twenty-four seven he probably would have turned out like Slade.
"I guess you forgot about the whole League member watching me no matter where I was." Robin was chuckling, realizing no League members had show up all day. The mighty Batman rarely forgot anything, and nothing as important as this.
"I'm disappointed in you Dick; I thought I had trained you better." Bruce had put the paper down and was now looking at him with a disapproving gaze.
"What, to never call you out when you make a mistake," Robin was chuckling. Bruce had always gotten defensive when he called him out on a mistake, no matter how small it was.
"No, I meant I thought I had trained you to study your surroundings closer. Martian Man Hunter was following you all day using his shape-shifting abilities to disguise himself. By the way, did you ever get the name of that little red headed girl?" Bruce was the one smiling now while Robin's face was turning a deep shade of red. The fact that he hadn't realized he was being tailed was a waking factor that he needed to start training again, but the fact that Bruce would ask for personal information from the person tailing him was the most shocking part. He had thought that he would be fine doing his daily stuff without Bruce having to know every little detail of what he had done, that was crossing the line.
"You had no business learning every last detail of what I had done today! It is uncalled for, what is the point even?" He had turned his embarrassment into anger, something he had learned from Batman; turn one emotion into another, more useful one.
"Good use of my technique," Bruce commented, not missing it. "But yes, it is my responsibility to know every detail, because one detail could decide if you deserve to be a hero again, or go to jail for the safety of the people. So, I will ask you again. Did you get the girls name?" He was staring at him with an icy stare that demanded an answer.
"No, I was going to ask her tomorrow," Robin mumbled, hanging his head in defeat. Bruce smiled, this was a good sign. Robin was actually interacting with people willingly; this would help his case with the League. Most of the members didn't want to let Robin continue his life of heroism because they had strong moral values; it had been the same way when the Titans had let Jinx join, most of the League had wanted to go to Keystone to apprehend her. They would have if The Flash hadn't stopped them, and with good reason. She had become an extremely useful member of the Titan's and some of the league members had even gotten to know her on a friendly level. Of course some of the League members, cough Superman cough, still didn't trust her, but that was just Superman. He was a stubborn and hardheaded and nothing would change that. Of course most of the League already knew Robin and were friendly with him, so this wasn't the same thing. They were watching him for any psychopathic tendencies, because after all, someone who goes through that much trauma can develop such things. Bruce himself was an example of that. He was a psychologists dream, not much better than the Joker mentally. The difference between him and the Joker was that he could control and funnel his aggressive, mental problems into being a hero rather than a villain. But since Robin had murdered someone, he was now under extreme scrutiny; and it could possibly make things worse. Having a League member looking over his shoulder every hour of the day would be an annoyance, but it was required. He had to make sure the public had a sense of security while also giving Robin a chance, so this is what had to be done.
"You realize that John won't be able to watch you every day, you will have other League members watching you; and they won't do their best to keep hidden. It's more likely they will be obvious to the general public and you will be swarmed with fans, just a heads up." At this Robin was looking like he was going to explode, he did not want to deal with fans.
"Just great, that's exactly what I need, people mobbing me with questions or their grubby little hands pushing pieces of paper in my face to sign." He sat down and started eating the chicken off the plate Alfred had fixed him. The chicken was bursting with flavor, the sweetness from the rosemary being a nice contrast to the tanginess from the garlic and onion on the potatoes. The skin of the chicken was crisp and delicious, while the inside was moist and tender. Robin had forgotten how great of a cook Alfred was; he had to admit he had missed that when he first got to Jump.
"Thanks for the meal Alfred, it's really good," he said this as he put a piece of chicken in his mouth, savoring the flavor.
"Thank you for the compliment Master Richard, but I am just doing my job," the butler replied with a smile, he had missed Dick. As they ate Bruce cleared his throat. Both Robin and Alfred looked at him confused, it was very rare he made an announcement at dinner.
"I know I don't usually do this, but I would like to say a few things. First I would like to thank Alfred for an excellent meal, and secondly I am giving Robin chores and a curfew."
"Why do I need a curfew? I get the chores but why a curfew? I'm almost eighteen!" Robin was annoyed; of course Bruce would do this. Try and control his life, manage everything about it; after all he is Batman
"Two reasons, one: you can't be trusted out after dark in the eyes of the public; and two: I don't want you out after dark because someone could try and kill you. That is why you have a curfew." Robin began to open his mouth to protest, "And I don't want any complaints." Robin closed his mouth.
"Oh, and by the way. Tomorrow Captain Marvel will be the member watching you." Bruce smiled at the dumbstruck look on Robin's face.
"Captain Marvel, Seriously; why him of all people? He is one of the most popular League members; we're going to be surrounded by fans in a matter of seconds."
"It was him or Vigilante, your choice," Bruce countered.
"I'd rather have Captain Marvel, at least he doesn't question everything everyone does." This was going to be a long three months Robin thought.
"So who's all on the list to watch me? I might as well know who all I'm going to have to deal with for the next three months."
"There's me obviously, then there's Martian Man Hunter, Captain Marvel, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Vigilante, Zatana, Captain Atom, Flash, and Superman. That's who is all willing to watch you, though there may be some others if necessary."
"Superman," Robin deadpanned. "Really, the guy who is probably the most stubborn of all the League members except for you, and probably will do his best to convince everyone that I need to be put in jail. Smart idea Bruce, just brilliant." Robin stormed off, hating what was happening. Of all the people, why did he have to sign up? It was now eight twenty-four, and Robin was dead tired. A day of running from crazed fans and hiding in odd places really took its toll on you. He walked into his room and collapsed on the bed, tired and ready to sleep. As he turned over to sleep he smelled a foul odder, it was him.
"Wow, I stink," he grumbled, grabbing some sweatpants and a t-shirt before trudging into the bathroom. He stepped into the warm shower, letting the water run across his skin. He started to wash himself, watching the dirt and grim flow down the drain. He wished he could do that with his actions, wash away everything that he had done and start fresh and clean. But life didn't work that way, he had to live with every thing he had done, the stains of the past affecting the choices and options he had in the present. Why did his life have to be such a mess, why did every thing have to be so hard? It wasn't supposed to be this way for a hero. He was supposed to save people, help the innocent and discipline the unlawful. It was supposed to be black and white for a hero. But when you throw shades of grey into a hero's life, it gets a little messed up. He remembered what had happened when Jinx had joined the Titans. It had been split on whether or not she could be trusted, he had not trusted her. He had looked at the black and white of it, and found grey. It had confused him, puzzled him. How could someone who had been evil suddenly be good? In the end she had proved herself to be trustworthy, but she still had her grey patches.
Was it the same with him? Did he have grey patches? Was the fact he had been a criminal in the past affect how he had been a hero?
"AGHHHHH!" He punched the shower wall, and broke through it. He pulled his hand out of the gaping hole, it was bleeding profusely. He heard the bathroom door open.
"Master Richard, are you all right?"
"No Alfred, I'm not. I just punched through the wall and my hand is a bloody mess." Robin turned the water off and grabbed a towel. He stepped out and followed Alfred to the medical cabinet.
"My word Master Richard, what could have possibly made you so angry you would do such a thing?" There was worry in the butler's voice; he knew he had to answer truthfully.
"I was thinking about everything that had happened, what's going on, why everything is just so confusing. I don't understand why I act the way I do, but I hate it sometimes." He flinched as Alfred began to clean his wound with an alcohol swab, he had been beaten to a pulp, bloodied, burned, frozen, and just about killed on multiple occasions, but this was still one of the more painful things he had felt, he didn't know why. He looked at his hand when Alfred was done, and it was a mess. It was cut in multiple places and had pieces of drywall stuck in it. Alfred pulled out the shrapnel and wrapped his hand in a large, cloth bandage.
"There you go sir, now all it needs is time to heal."
"Thanks Alfred, can we not mention this to Bruce, I don't want him prying."
"If you wish, though may I make a suggestion?"
"Sure thing Alfred," he had always listened to Alfred's advice, it was usually good.
"I think instead of bottling up your feelings you should find a way to let them out so things like this don't happen." He looked at Robin with a serious stare that said I suggest you do this or you will regret it.
"I'll think about it Alfred, good night."
"Good night Master Richard."
"Robin hadn't told the Butler that he already had made plans with the red headed girl to talk about things; of course Bruce probably already knew that, and Alfred would too if he asked Bruce. Robin once again lay down in his old bed, but this time he slept through the night without a single nightmare.
…
Alfred was taking a tray of tea down to the Batcave, using the elevator of course. If had tried to use the pole he would have found himself spilling the tea all over the place. He walked up behind a very busy Batman, who was typing away at the Bat computer.
"Busy night Master Bruce," Alfred asked, noticing the look on Bruce's face
"Very, Harley Quine has been spotted, and where she is…"
"The Joker will be also, that is very disturbing news; tea for the nerves?" Alfred hated seeing Bruce this way, so wrapped up in a case he couldn't sleep.
"No thanks Alfred, I have to focus."
"Very well, oh by the way, I think Dick needs some sort of therapist to talk to about his feelings. He seems to be very emotional lately."
"He's found one Alfred, not a therapist, but it's just as good." Bruce wasn't going to tell Alfred all the details, but he would ease his worries.
"Well good for him. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to retire for the night." The butler yawned and walked away, leaving the paranoid Batman to his work.