Disclaimer: I'm not saying it again. Nope.

Hero
Skillet

Wayne Manor, Gotham City
May 27th, 2011

About 12:30am Bruce and Jason get back from patrol. Bruce can tell something is bothering the boy, but he figured he would talk about it if he wanted to. The few people they crossed tonight were beaten more roughly than normal, but altogether it was a slow night with no injuries for the two vigilantes. It was surprising that is was so quiet, especially considering the Joker was still out there. They head out of the Batcave after changing out of their uniforms.

No, Batman was going after him as soon as he knew exactly what happened to his little bird.

The two vigilantes head towards the bedrooms, Jason to his own and Bruce to Dicks to check on him. Bruce had instructed Alfred to not bug Dick today, not when everything is so fresh in his mind. Stopping outside his wards door, he listens through the wood. He doesn't hear the movements indicating that Dick was having a nightmare, but he also cannot hear the sound of breathing. Suddenly alarmed, he briskly enters the room, eyes taking in everything. Nothing is broken, the window is shut, and there are no signs of a struggle.

But still there is no bird in the bed.

He scans the room again, trying to figure out where Dick could be. The only thing that is different about the room is the tray of untouched food sitting on his desk. He remembers Alfred sending Jason up with it earlier, before patrol. Maybe Jason will know something. He swiftly heads to Jason's room while trying to calm his racing heart. He just got his son back, is he really losing him again?

He enters his youngest son's room, not bothering to knock. Jason's changing, shirt still off and sweatpants hanging onto his hips. He looks at Bruce with narrowed eyes. "What the hell Bruce? You can't just barge in here like you own the place!"

"What happened with Dick?"

The boy visibly flinched, but didn't look away from his mentor. "Nothing. We talked, and I stormed out. How is that any different from normal?" He adds the last part bitterly.

"Jason. Dick is gone. I need to know this"

He sighs. "Fine. When I walked up I heard him muttering. I didn't catch much of it, but I caught a please at the end. I walked in and asked him about it, but he denied it completely. Acted like it never happened. Lied straight to my face. After that we started arguing. I left."

"Arguing about what?"

"I may have brought up his 'message' on his back. Said everyone knew it was true. I swear, I didn't mean to. He is just so obviously broken and it scared me. What if he doesn't get-"

"Better? Master Jason, you cannot always take your fear, or the fact that you care about someone, and transfer it to anger. Master Richard needs his family's help now more than ever." Alfred interrupts, standing in the doorway with a grim look on his face.

"I know, Alfred. I just can't help it. And do we know where he went?"

"No, we don't know yet. But we can probably track him." Bruce states. No emotion in his voice to any normal person. But the bats are not normal, and they alone could hear the strong worry. He turns and walks to the door, where Alfred is still standing. Stopping next to the butler, Bruce allows a small smile on his face as he looks back at his son. "And I do own the place. I can go wherever I want."

On that note, he exits the room and heads down to the cave to track his other son.

He stares at the computer in shock. Dick's bike was at the Docks. Why did he go there?

What is going on with his son?

Then again, Bruce knows that being isolated by nearly everyone could have pushed him away.

The team has not heard the end of this. But first, he must get his little bird back.

Again.

The Docks, Gotham City

Harley stared down at Dick with a sly grin, examining him closely with her masked eyes.

Dick frowned in response, returning the glare.

"What do you mean by that, exactly?" he growled, narrowing his eyes. She hopped down next to him gracefully, the smirk on her face never failing to disappear as she did.

"We knew you would be back. We just assumed that it wouldn't be the same night you walked out of here."

Dick bit his bottom lip, looking down. "Why would you think that? I didn't come back purposely. I was just out for a ride." Was that the truth? he thought shamefully.

Harley's grin widened even more, her eyes flickering like there was a secret only she knows.

"What is it?" Dick spat, stepping closer to her. She looks up, feigning innocence and clutching a hand to her chest.

"What? Don't trust me now? And here I thought we were family." She skips closer to him; ignoring the low growl he lets out, and wraps an arm around his neck. "Say, Robbie. You hear anything unusual lately?" He stiffens. How could she know that? There's no possible way. He forces his body to relax. He slides out from under her arm, grabbing it as he flips behind her, and holds it against her back. He forces his smirk onto his face.

"Nope. Nothing for me. It's kinda been a slow night. Guess that's what happens when you come back from the dead. Oh, and I am not Robin anymore. That name has been taken. Call me whatever you want until I make myself a new name. Just not Robin."

"Aww, hurt about being replaced aren't ya? You could always use puddins' old name Red Hood. I doubt he would mind."

"No I think I will pass on that one. Maybe the next person you fail to kill will take it. Speaking of the Joker, where is he? He should be out here by now."

"Oh that!" She giggles. "He's out getting the commissioner tonight. Got bored without you around. He might even be getting the daughter while he is there too!"

Barbara! She was one of his only friends from Gotham Academy. She must believe he is dead too, but did Bruce tell everyone in their civilian life that he was dead? Joker never showed him anything about it, but the Joker also doesn't know his secret ID so he wouldn't have believed it would affect him. But it would be a little suspicious if Dick Grayson were to die the same time Robin did, especially since they were both gone for a month before.

Dick shoves Harley away from him and runs back to his bike, jumping onto it and starting it as fast as he could. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He shouldn't have come back here. He should've checked and made sure his friends were safe. Turning on the comm. on the bike, he contacts the Batcave.

"Master Richard? I do believe Masters Bruce and Jason are out looking for you."

Great. That means he tracked the bike and is coming to get me. "Alfred, you need to call them. I got information that the Joker is going after the Commish and I hate to say it but I can't take him down by myself."

"Indeed. I will tell them. Be careful."

Dick turns off the comm. and focuses of where he is going. He could make it to Barbara's with his eyes closed, but what if they're not there? He has to stay alert to see if he could find them in any places he passed, but it is hard to see when you are going top speed and he doesn't dare to slow down until he gets to the house.

Not even five minutes later he arrives, hating what he can see. The door is wide open with a smiley face and a question mark drawn on it in red. He slows the bike to a stop and jumps off with a flip, running into the house without a second thought. Instantly he hears the sound of psychotic laughter bouncing off the walls, and he follows the sound to the living room, where he can hear the soft sound of crying. Dick glances around the corner and spots Barbara and her father tied together in the middle of the room, with a broken TV on one side and an upturned couch on the other. There must've been a fight, probably from both father and daughter since Barbara is a black belt and the Commissioner is a cop.

A movement in the shadows outside a window in the room draws Dick's attention just before a small body crashed through it. Robin was here, and Batman was surely close behind. The Joker looks at the intruder before laughing. "Hey, I have a new Robin to play with! Where's Batsy?"

Robin growls and jumps forward, landing a punch on the clown. "I am not your play toy. And neither was my brother!" He attacks again when the Joker laughs once more. While the Joker was distracted, Dick slips into the room and begins to cut the bonds holding the Gordon's. Once he got them free, he led them by the arms out of the room. The Commissioner looks at him curiously, but only says thank you before walking a few feet away to call in the police. Barbara stayed focused on him, and he quickly grows nervous. If anyone can ID him with his glasses, it's her. Her eyes grow wide with recognition, and he groans and steps close to her.

"Come to the Manor tomorrow and I can explain. But don't tell anyone." He whispers into her ear, receiving a quick nod in return. He turns away from them and runs back to the living room, where Batman was handcuffing a laughing Joker and Robin was sporting a new cut to the stomach. He receives a scowl from both of them, but that is to be expected after what has happened. He looks to his previous mentor, silently telling him that he is going back to the Manor before anyone shows up and asks questions, and turns and exits once he gets a stiff nod in return.

Dick gets onto his bike and turns it on, scowling when his mind taunts him again. She's going to hate you for keeping this secret. She's gonna wish you were dead just like everyone else does. Give up.

He heads off down the road. No, giving up is not something he does.

Wayne Manor, Gotham City

Bruce pushes his cowl down once he returns to the Batcave. Commissioner Gordon had questioned him about the boy that got him out of the room, and he hadn't answered the questions at all. Robin was injured, and they had to get back.

Alfred led Jason to the Med bay while Bruce got changed and headed upstairs to see Dick. He listened outside the boys room again, and he quickly entered the room once he heard Dick muttering. It's dark, and the acrobat is on the bed sleeping restlessly. "No. NO. Shut up. You're wrong. Nu. Don't kill them. I can't."

He sits on the bed and pulls the little bird closer to him, talking quietly to him like he has done so many times before. Usually Dick curls into him, relaxing a little and waking up. This time, he pulls away, curling into himself and away from Bruce, and starts crying softly. Bruce tries multiple times to comfort his ward, but each time the boy just gets more distressed. Sighing, he gets up and exits the room, closing the door softly behind him.

His little bird is hurting and won't let anyone help him.

The voices won't leave him alone, even in his dreams. They taunt him as he watches his family fall. They laugh at him as he is forced to do what he swore he would never do. They encourage him to kill again.

He won't do it.

When he refuses, they attack him. How voices can attack him, he doesn't know. It makes no sense, but he can feel the pain as they stab at him. From somewhere he can hear Bruce talking to him, but he can't make out what he is saying and it makes him start crying. The tears make the voices laugh at him again, calling him weak and useless. Telling him he is better off dead.

No. He can help people by being alive. He's helped people before, he can do it again.

The Joker steps out from the shadows in front of him. "That's right, Boy Blunder. You can help me."