On Wings of Steel 2: The Birth of Robin
Chapter 13 – Raising the Bar
When we last saw our Dynamic Duo, they had successfully taken out the Joker and his minions. The fate of Commissioner Gordon, however, remains uncertain, so let's check in with our heroes to find out what has become of him!
It was nearly an hour later when the police arrived and began rounding up the Joker and the rest of his henchman. They were still lying on the floor, but they had started to stir and grumble over the last ten minutes or so. It was making Robin a bit nervous, because he felt thoroughly exhausted. His high from earlier had faded, and he didn't know if he could go through another fight again.
Once the policemen began leading the criminals out, Robin could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He had told Batman once that he depended on adrenaline during his fight with the Riddler, and that was true now as well. Everything came so easy when he was in the heat of the moment, and he wasn't quite sure what to do when that burst of energy passed him by.
"Chief O'Hara," Batman said once the three of them were alone. He closed the gap between himself and the chief, and Robin followed him. "Have you received any word on the commissioner's condition?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, Batman," Chief O'Hara said. "I talked to the hospital, and they think he's going to be okay. He's still in serious condition, but he's stable. His wife and daughter are with him."
"Oh, thank heavens," Batman said in a heavy breath. He paused and turned to Robin, resting a hand on his shoulder. He didn't say anything, but his eyes were intently focused on Robin, and Robin knew what he was thinking.
A moment later, Batman cleared his throat and said, "Now, I believe, is the time for introductions. Robin, this is Chief O'Hara. Chief, this is Robin, who will be working as my partner going forward. He was the one who helped me get to the bottom of what the Joker was planning. Without him, we would not be standing here today."
There was that sensation in Robin's chest again, like a balloon inflating inside him. He fought to push it down, because he didn't think that getting too proud in front of the chief of police would be a wise decision. He clenched one of his hands into a fist to stem the feeling while he held the other out to O'Hara.
"Robin," Chief O'Hara said, taking his hand. "Thank you for what you did to help the commissioner today. It sounds like you may be an asset to us."
"I hope so, sir," Robn said.
"Rest assured that I trust Robin with my life," Batman said. "I'll hope you'll be able to do the same in time."
Chief O'Hara nodded, but before he was able to form a response, one of the other policemen suddenly called from the far end of the room.
"Chief!" he yelled. He had emerged from the door that led to the staircase, and he had his hand around a woman's arm as he led her into the room.
She was wearing red dress, and her golden hair was up in a bun. There was a little silvery barrette on top of her hair, almost like a crown. She wrestled against the grip the officer had on her.
"I found her trying to sneak down the stairs," the cop said.
"That's her!" Batman said, immediately darting over to them.
At first, Robin wasn't sure what he was talking about, but he took off after Batman. Behind him, he could hear Chief O'Hara following along.
Batman towered over the woman by nearly a foot, looking down his nose at her. "Bonnie said that someone fitting your description came into police headquarters today. You were the one who poisoned Commissioner Gordon, aren't you?"
Robin's mind was spinning. So much had happened since they had been at police headquarters, and the place had been in complete chaos. Robin wasn't even sure how Batman could remember such a small detail amongst the anarchy. Not for the first time, Robin was in awe of his guardian, but that was why he was Batman.
The woman tilted her head back, looking up into Batman's eyes. "Queen at your service."
Batman shook his head and asked, "That's all you have to say for yourself?" When she didn't answer, he said, "What did the Joker promise you for doing his dirty work for him? Money? Baubles? Because whatever it was, I can promise you it was not worth it!"
Queen shrugged, not really seeming all that concerned about nearly killing the police commissioner. She gently swung her shoulders back and forth, inching a bit closer to Batman. "Maybe I just wanted to meet you, Batman."
Batman's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "That's a pretty poor way to go about it."
Chief O'Hara went around them, pulling Queen's hands behind her back. He pulled his handcuffs from his belt, securing her.
"Let's go," the chief told her, grasping her wrist and leading her back towards the stairs.
"Poor deluded creature," Batman said as he stared after them. The he turned to Robin and said, "Come on, Robin. I believe a visit to Commissioner Gordon is in order."
Robin's heart was pounding as they rode the elevator up to the third floor of Gotham General Hospital. He'd never met the commissioner before. His encounter with Chief O'Hara had gone all right, but this was the police commissioner! Moreover, he was still waiting for someone to react poorly when they saw how young he was. Would they criticize Batman for allowing him to do this? Would they tell Dick that he should be at home, worrying about friends and schoolwork?
It wasn't like Batman had made this decision lightly; it sort of just happened that Batman had allowed him to be here at all. There were a lot of conditions on all of this, and Batman was making sure he was as safe as possible. But Robin worried that if other people voiced their concerns, it might make Batman reconsider his decision.
When the elevator stopped and the doors opened with a soft ding, Robin followed Batman to the nurses' station across the hall. One of the younger nurses sitting behind the desk immediately shot to her feet with her hands at her cheeks.
"Batman!" she screeched, then slapped her hands over her mouth when she realized she might have been too loud. She looked around at some of her coworkers, her eyes wide, and said in a more subdued tone, "Oh my gosh, it's Batman!"
The nurse next to her, a slightly older woman, stood up, smoothing down the front of her dress with her hands. "B-Batman. What, um…what can we do for you?"
"Ladies," Batman greeted, a small smile playing about his lips. "I was wondering if we might pay a visit to Commissioner Gordon. We were with him when he…took a turn." Batman's voice was low, trying to keep any passersby from overhearing.
"Oh, yes!" the nurse replied. "He told us how you saved him. He...said you gave him milk?"
"Robin did," Batman told them. He laid a hand on Robin's shoulder. "My new partner. You may be seeing a lot more of him in the future."
Both nurses turned to look at him in awe. He thought it was the first time they noticed him. They had seemed entirely too enthralled with Batman up until that point.
"Robin," the older nurse said, nodding at him. "Doctor Daly said that was a very wise choice. It helped to slow the effects on his system and bought him a little bit of extra time until help arrived. It very probably might have saved his life."
Batman's hand on his shoulder tightened, and Robin did nothing to stop the huge grin that spread across his face. Couldn't have stopped it even if he'd wanted to. Robin sucked in a huge breath and let it out shakily, and he realized how very tense he'd been since the fight in the factory had ended.
"May we see him?" Batman asked.
"Yes, of course!" the woman said. "Room 304, right around the corner." She pointed down the hall to the right. "His wife and daughter are with him."
Robin's hands clenched into fists as he followed Batman down the hall. He had already been nervous enough about seeing the commissioner as it was, but now he was about to meet his whole entire family. But it was okay, he told himself. He was with Batman.
Just as they approached the commissioner's room, they were greeted by an older woman with cascading red hair and a younger woman with short black hair.
"Batman!" the older woman gasped.
"Mrs. Gordon," Batman greeted her. "How lovely it is to see you again."
"I don't believe you've met my daughter, Barbara," she said, gesturing to the young woman beside her. "She'll be graduating from high school in May, and she'll be attending Gotham State University in the fall."
"Barbara," Batman said. "How exciting. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Barbara replied. "Yes, I'm very excited."
"How is the commissioner?" Batman asked.
"He's better," Mrs. Gordon answered. "He's conscious and he told us what you did for him."
"Thank you, Batman," Barbara said.
"You can thank Robin as well," Batman told them, his hand finding Robin's shoulder again. "He'll be working with me now, and it was his idea to give the commissioner some milk."
"Thank you so much, Robin!" Mrs. Gordon said. "I don't know what we would have done had you not been there!"
"Nor do I," Batman added, giving Robin's shoulder a soft shake.
Robin knew his face was turning red, probably a color bright enough to rival that of the bodice he wore. He ducked his head as he said, "You're welcome, ma'am. I'm glad I could help."
Mrs. Gordon and Barbara excused themselves shortly after to go to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. Before they rounded the corner back towards the elevators, Robin caught Barbara throwing one last glance back over her should at them. Her eyes were wide, but her lips were pursed in a thoughtful stare.
Robin followed Batman into the commissioner's room. It was dark, the blinds drawn and the lights off, except for the lamp by the chair in the corner. The commissioner appeared to be asleep, a heart monitor beeping next to the bed. He also had an IV tube taped to the back of his hand, and a nasal cannula under his nose.
Robin hung back by the door. He had never been in a hospital before, and he had certainly never seen anyone hooked up to equipment like this. It was intimidating, and Robin didn't want to disturb the commissioner on top of it.
Batman, however, approached the bed and whispered, "Commissioner?"
Gordon stirred, slowly opening his eyes. He stared up at Batman, but didn't seem to register what was happening at first. He glanced about the room, his eyes falling on Robin, on the light in the corner, then back to Batman again.
"Batman?" he asked, smiling. His voice came out a croak, like he hadn't used it in an extraordinarily long time.
He seemed so tired and out of sorts, and it made Robin uncomfortable. He didn't know what the commissioner was normally like, of course, but he doubted this was it. He would imagine the police commissioner to be commanding and authoritative. Robin shivered, rubbing his gloved hands over his bare arms.
"Yes," Batman replied. "I wanted to make sure you were all right. How are you feeling?"
The commissioner hummed in response, but it morphed into a groan. He closed his eyes again. "Everything hurts. My throat and chest most of all. But the doctor said I'll be all right." He opened his eyes and added, "Thanks to you."
"And thanks to Robin," Batman said. "I couldn't have done it without him."
"Robin?" the commissioner asked.
Finally moving from his place at the door, Robin joined Batman next to the bed. The commissioner stared at him for a very long time, eyeing him up and down. It seemed like the first time he had been fully awake since they had arrived. Robin was ready for Gordon to ask how old he was, or to ask why Batman was allowing this. No one had made it a point of contention as of yet, but he was sure someone would.
At long last, the commissioner spoke. "You're the one who knew to give me milk."
"Yes, sir," Robin said, relief rushing through him.
"I don't recall a lot of what went on," the commissioner said, "but I remember you saying that. 'He needs milk. He needs milk.'" He fell into silence again, his eyes closing. Robin thought he had fallen back asleep, but then he quietly added, "Thank you. Boy Wonder."
They rode back to the Batcave in silence. Even though things had turned out better than either one of them could have hoped, things still felt heavy. So very much had happened, and it had been difficult seeing the commissioner like that. He was going to be okay, but Robin couldn't quite shake the uncomfortable feeling that had overcome him. He stared out his side of the car, watching the scenery go by.
When they were rounding the last few bends towards Wayne Manor, Batman broke the silence. "Are you okay?"
Robin nodded, glancing at Batman before lowering his eyes to his lap. His gloved hands rested there, feeling almost like they belonged to a stranger. In the end, he only said, "We saved Barbara's dad."
The words hung between them like a storm cloud. Dick didn't elaborate on what he meant, but Bruce knew. He didn't reply, nor did Dick need him to.
When they pulled into the Batcave, Robin got up and jumped over his door of the Batmobile. He tugged his mask down, letting it hang around his neck. He rubbed at his eyes, because he didn't think he'd ever get used to wearing the itchy material around his head.
He headed to the little changing screen in the corner where he had left his street clothes, but Batman called him back.
"Robin, wait."
Robin stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Batman once again. His heart thumped uncomfortably in his chest. He hoped Bruce wouldn't prod him to talk about what he was feeling, because Robin doubted he could put those thoughts into words just yet. Bruce, however, was usually good at giving him time to sort those things out on his own first. It was something Bruce had learned very early on when Dick had first come to live at Wayne Manor – Dick would talk when he was ready.
But then Robin realized that Batman's tone was so serious, and his eyes were narrowed in thought. It almost made Robin think he was in trouble for something.
Swallowing hard, Robin asked, "Did I do something wrong?" His voice sounded small.
"No," Batman said, shaking his head and putting up a hand to try and calm Robin's fears. "Not at all. You did everything right. But I may have done something wrong." Batman hesitated, placing one of his gloved hands against the hood of the Batmobile.
He didn't elaborate any further, so Robin wasn't sure what he meant at first. Batman had said Robin didn't do anything wrong, but was he referring to letting Dick become his partner? For a very brief moment, Robin was scared to death that Batman was about to tell him he couldn't do this anymore. That his very brief stint as his crime fighting partner was coming to a very abrupt end. But everything had turned out fine, so Robin wasn't sure what to think.
"What do you mean?" Robin asked when Batman didn't offer anything else. Robin's voice shook with fear, anticipating Batman's next words.
"Not about you becoming Robin," Batman said almost immediately, because he always knew what Dick was thinking.
This was the one of the things that Dick loved the most about their relationship – that Bruce always knew what was going through his mind with so few words spoken between them. It was why Batman was able to communicate his plan to Robin in the first place back in the soap factory. It was why Robin thought they worked so well together – because they could speak volumes to each other without a single word.
"I promised you could do this," Batman said firmly. "Don't worry. As long as you are fulfilling your end of the bargain, then I will uphold mine as well." Batman paused, glancing down at the Batmobile, then back up at Robin again. "What I was wrong about-" Batman broke off, letting out a heavy breath. "It's very hard for me to admit this sometimes, but I apparently do need your help."
Robin blinked, then shook his head in surprise. A moment later, he let out of soft breath, scarcely believing what he had just heard come out of Batman's mouth.
"I know," Batman said around a chuckle. "I've operated by myself for so long, I almost think I've become accustomed to this mindset – that I've always done it by myself with no trouble, so I could continue to do it by myself indefinitely." Batman pushed himself away from the Batmobile, taking a few steps closer to Robin. "But you've proven to me that I do need help. I needed your help when the Joker left me for dead, and I needed your help today. I didn't know what to do to help the commissioner. And you did, just as I told the others. You heard what the nurse said at the hospital – that bottle of milk you gave him very probably saved his life and bought him some extra time until the paramedics arrived to help him. I don't know what I would have done had you not been there. We might very well be looking at an entirely different future right now."
Robin sucked in a breath, biting at his lower lip. "I just did what Mr. Marshal taught us. He'd probably be happy at least one of us was listening. That was the lesson on safety in the chemistry lab before we were allowed to touch anything. Everyone was bored and just wanted to get to the good stuff."
Batman took a few steps closer to his young ward. His eyes were intense, his tone serious. "Not for the first time, I'm very glad you are so diligent in your studies. And perhaps I need to trust you a little bit more than I have. I can't imagine how foolish I would feel right now if I hadn't listened to you and something horrible had happened to the commissioner. I can't believe I even questioned you at all."
"You didn't know," Robin told him. "You were only worried about the commissioner, and they did say not to give him anything. I'm not sure I would have been so quick to trust me either."
"Still," Batman said firmly. "Nor can I imagine where we'd be if you had followed my order not to help me when the Joker left me for dead." He shook his head, his eyes going up to the ceiling of the Batcave. "You're a lot more capable than I've given you credit for. You're my partner now, and partners trust each other fully." He met Robin's eyes, resting both hands on his shoulders. "I need to start doing that."
Robin grinned, his chest feeling like it was about to explode. It was something Robin didn't think he'd ever tire of.
"But the rule remains," Batman said, "that if I tell you to run…"
"I run," Robin finished for him, nodding. "I know. And I will do so." He paused for a moment before he said, "I still can't believe this is happening. This all feels like a dream. Like some crazy, fever-induced dream."
"It is real," Batman reiterated to him. "And speaking of which, I think we need to make a few adjustments to the Batcave."
Robin blinked up at Batman. "Like what?"
Batman gestured towards the Batpole at the far end of the Batcave. "Well, for one, we need another Batpole. And you need a place to hang your extra costumes…"
"But I only have one," Robin pointed out, looking down at his ensemble.
It was strange, but all of a sudden, Robin felt immensely attached to his costume. At the time, he had put it on out of necessity. He had even felt ridiculously stupid and silly wearing it, even that very afternoon on the steps of the police headquarters. But now, it felt completely right – like it was almost an extension of himself and he was supposed to be wearing it. Maybe it was because he'd worn it twice now and things had turned out really well both times, but Robin could scarcely imagine wearing anything else. He decided Alfred had been right – Dick's parents would have been very proud of him for using it for such a noble reason.
"You'll need to have more than one," Batman told him. "It's always helpful in certain sticky spots when one is being laundered or one gets dirty."
Now that Robin thought about it, he had no clue where he would get another costume. He wasn't even sure where Batman had gotten his to begin with, and Robin felt a little bit silly for never considering that. Bruce Wayne certainly couldn't put in an order for extra costumes at the local tailor. That would be something of a giveaway. Robin supposed that Bruce could have always used an alias when placing such orders, or he could even have Alfred place the orders, but that still seemed a little bit too risky for such a secretive activity.
"They're from the best costume-maker in Gotham City," Batman told him around a smirk. "I place the orders as Batman, and Mr. Weber has never had any problem with that. He's only too happy to fulfill orders for Batman, and I'm sure he would be glad to do so for my partner as well. Not to mention, Alfred is quite a fine tailor in his own right, and he's able to help out any time I've gotten holes or tears in my costumes."
"Oh," Robin said, suddenly feeling a bit dim.
Alfred had been known to mend the holes he had gotten in the knees of his jeans a time or two, so of course he helped out with Batman's costumes. Robin also didn't know why it seemed so strange for Batman of all people to walk into a costume shop for business; he supposed it was simply odd to imagine Batman doing something so very mundane.
Shaking his head to clear his mind and get back to the topic at hand, Robin asked, "Do you think this is all right?" He gestured down to his costume. Yes, Robin now felt completely comfortable in what he was wearing, but he wanted to get Batman's opinion nonetheless. Batman was the experienced crime fighter after all, and if he thought that Robin's costume needed to be changed, then so be it.
"If you do," Batman replied carefully. It was almost like he was asking if Robin felt comfortable wearing the costume that had once belonged to his family and his family alone.
Robin nodded his head firmly. "I do. It's hard to explain, but it feels right."
"Then that's what you should be wearing," Batman said, smiling.
"I…I really like the cape," Robin said. He grabbed at the bottom of the garment and let it slide between his gloved fingers, the satin material gliding effortlessly across them. "It's like liquid gold."
He let the cape drop to his sides then and twisted back and forth, watching the material swing around his hips. He wondered if it looked as nice as he thought it did when he took off running or dropped down from somewhere. Like a streak of lightning behind him.
"That was mine once upon a time," Batman told him. He reached out a hand, fingering the very edges of the satin material. "When I was quite a bit smaller than I am now and I hadn't yet settled on the colors of blue and grey." He paused, his eyes going down to Robin's shoes. "I see you have my boots on too."
It was strange to think that Batman hadn't really had a chance to thoroughly look his costume over yet. Whenever he had worn it, they had been in too much peril to have time for such things. Or else they had been involved in a shouting match.
Robin stared down at his boots, deep green with the little wings on the back. "When I first put them on, I told Alred how crazy it was that I was filling Batman's shoes." He raised his eyes to his guardian, reconsidering his next words for the split second before he blurted out, "He told me there was no one better."
As if on cue, the doors to the service elevator opened and out stepped Alfred.
Batman turned, eyeing Alfred as he joined them. "Encouraging the boy, Alfred?"
"Me, sir?"
"Yes, you."
Robin knew Bruce was mostly joking, because they were well past the point of Dick needing to be encouraged. Still, Dick didn't wish for Alfred to be thrown under the bus, so he said, "I didn't need much encouragement." He stared down at the floor of the Batcave, then lifted one of his feet up and pressed his toe into the concrete. "I would have done it whether Alfred let me or not."
"Indeed," Alfred agreed. "As I've told you before, young men like Master Robin are entirely too headstrong for any amount of discouragement to have much of an impact." He raised an eyebrow in Batman's direction, as if daring him to argue.
Batman's lips morphed into a smile and he said, "I know." He took a deep breath and nodded his head. "It's why we're here. Because I'd rather we do this together than for you to go off on your own. And you've proven to be an asset so far."
"So everything is okay, I take it?" Alfred asked.
"Yes, Alfred," Batman replied. "The commissioner is in the hospital and will be…out of commission for a while, but the doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Chief O'Hara going to be in charge for the time being, and the Joker and his gang are on their way to the Gotham State Penitentiary. All is well."
Batman turned to Robin next and said, "That being the case, perhaps we'll be able to go on that fishing trip I promised you. Next weekend, chum?"
Robin's face broke into a smile, and he wondered if his day could possibly get any better. "Gosh yes, Batman!"
"We'll plan on leaving Friday after school then."
Oh please, oh please, oh please, Robin thought. He knew there was still a chance that something might come up, so he tried not to get too excited, but it felt like it was bursting out of him nonetheless.
"I'll drop your outfit at Mr. Weber's first thing Monday morning," Batman said. "I'll have him follow the design to the letter and make you some duplicates."
Alfred cleared his throat. "If I may make a small suggestion to Master Robin's ensemble, sir," he said.
"Certainly, Alfred," Batman said. "Your input is always welcome."
"Well," Alfred explained, "it occurred to me that since Batman has a logo, then Master Robin needs one as well."
Robin looked down at the large black bat outlined in yellow on Batman's chest, then he looked down at his own blank bodice. Leave it to Alfred to immediately be able to pick out what seemed to be missing.
"What do you suggest?" Robin asked.
"I took the liberty of going through the odds and ends in my sewing basket while you two were out," Alfred explained, "and I put something together."
He plunged his hand into the pocket of his suit jacket and withdrew a round patch of black fabric. In the center, Alfred had neatly painted the letter 'R' in yellow.
"I thought it might suit you," Alfred said. "I know it seems a little plain. Perhaps the outline of a bird would have been-"
"No!" Robin exclaimed, taking the patch from Alfred's outstretched hand. "I actually really like it," he said, grinning up at Alfred.
He hadn't even given any thought to a logo of his own, and it made him feel special that Alfred had seen fit to give him one. This was the first thing that Alfred had dreamed up, and Robin couldn't imagine anything different. Couldn't imagine wanting Alfred to redo it. He loved the fact that it was in yellow and black, just like Batman's own logo. Not to mention, Batman was the main hero of their partnership, so Robin also liked the fact that it didn't seem to steal any thunder from Batman. The bright yellow 'R' was almost subdued and secondary next to the bat, just like it should be.
Robin held up the patch to the left side of his chest, right over his heart, and he looked down at it. It filled up the blank space perfectly, and it seemed to fit there. Robin could scarcely imagine it not being there now.
"There, do you think?" Robin asked. "'Cause I'm going to put my whole heart into this."
Batman's eyes narrowed under his mask, his lips forming into a smile. "I know you will."
Robin handed the patch back to the butler and said, "Would you do the honors, Alfred?"
"I would be delighted to, sir," Alfred said, nodding. "Once you get into a change of clothes, that is."
Nodding, Robin began pulling off his gloves and that felt nice – the cool air of the Batcave hitting his sweat-damp hands. Alfred took them from him, smoothing them out and laying them in a pile on the desk.
"Robin, when you're done changing," Batman said, "I want you to come up to the study. We still have a few more things we need to discuss if you're going to do this."
"Oh," Robin replied, a little bit caught off guard. He thought they had already worked everything out, so he wasn't sure what else they needed to talk about. "Okay."
Batman turned and crossed the Batcave to the Batpole, pressing the button on the wall that would take him up to the study. Once he was gone, Alfred and Robin were left alone in the cave.
Grabbing the mask that was hanging around his neck, Robin intended to pull it off, but he stood frozen. He blinked at the now empty Batpole, overcome with that feeling again – the same one that fallen over him when they had first arrived home. Bruce's voice had been hovering on being stern, and it made him feel like he had done something wrong all over again.
"Do you think I'm in trouble, Alfred?" Dick asked.
Alfred's smile was warm. "I shouldn't think so, Master Robin," he said. "Crime fighting is a very serious business after all, and I'm sure Master Bruce simply wants to lay some additional ground rules. That's all."
Robin nodded, but he bit his lower lip as he disappeared behind the screen to change his clothes.
Alfred rode the elevator up with him to the study. Once they emerged, Dick saw that Bruce was sitting in one of the chairs before the fireplace, the fire roaring. It was nice, even as Dick's heard thundered in his ears.
"Sit down," Bruce said, gesturing to the opposite chair.
Dick did as he was told, dropping down into the armchair and squeezing the edges of the cushion. Why did he feel like he had when he came to Wayne Manor for the first time, when he hadn't known Bruce that well and wasn't sure how he was supposed to act?
"May I bring you two a snack?" Alfred asked. "Milk and cookies perhaps?"
"That would be nice," Dick said.
"Tea for me please," Bruce added.
Alfred nodded once before he excused himself from the study, leaving Bruce and Dick alone. Everything was still and quiet, except for the crackling of the flames in the fireplace.
"Relax, Dick," Bruce said, watching him closely. "You're not in any trouble."
Dick let out a heavy breath, forcing his fingers to release the cushion. He kept his hands there, ready to grip it again if the need arose.
"First and foremost," Bruce said, getting up from his seat, "we worked together amazingly well today." He leaned back against the edge of his desk, his hands resting on the edge of the polished surface. Tilting his head back, his expression was one of pride. "I didn't even have to speak to you. Not directly anyway. You knew exactly what I wanted you to do."
Dick grinned. Some of the tenseness left his body, and he sank comfortable into his chair, content that he wasn't going to be admonished for something he had done. "Because we know each other so well, I think," he said. "You knew exactly the right words to drop and…the Joker didn't catch onto it at all."
"No," Bruce agreed. "He was too caught up in his own success to even stop and think about the fact that we may have been colluding. Do you see what I mean now when I say you can't let your triumphs cloud your judgment?"
Dick nodded. "Yes, Bruce."
"Moreover, you were able to execute my idea flawlessly, even though you had the Joker's henchmen on your tail. You held your own against the three of them," Bruce said, "and that's no easy feat."
"For the most part. Until they got the best of me. Twice." Dick lifted one of his hands and balled it into a fist, bringing it down on the chair's cushion out of frustration.
"Three against one," Bruce reiterated, one of his eyebrows raised. "Even I would be hard-pressed to come out of that without a slip-up. Add the Joker into that mix and the outcome could be deadly. As we nearly saw." Bruce was silent for a moment, his eyes going to the Batphone.
"Bruce?"
"Yes?"
"When you said you'd give your life for me…" Dick trailed off, not able to finish his words against the lump that had settled in his throat. In the end, he didn't need to.
Bruce met his eyes again and said, "I meant every word."
Dick hung his head, wringing his hands together to try and catch the wave of emotion that swept over him. "I guess I don't fully comprehend sometimes…how much I mean to you."
Out of the corner of his eye, Dick could see Bruce push himself away from the desk. He crossed the room, his loafers sweeping across the plush carpet in soft brushing sounds. A moment later, he had knelt next to Dick's chair until he could look up into Dick's eyes.
"Do you understand now?" Bruce asked, gripping the arm of the chair. "Do you see why we have the rule we do – that you must run and save yourself if I tell you to do so? Your life is worth far more to me than my own."
The lump in Dick's throat sunk down, enveloping his chest in a tight feeling. He met Bruce's eyes before he said, "But you're Batman. You have a duty to Gotham and its citizens. I know how important that is to you. You can't just…" Dick broke off again, waving his hand.
"It is important to me," Bruce agreed, "but you outweigh all of that. Easily. Just like you put your own life in danger to save me, I would do the same for you. A million times over. Without question." He took Dick's hands in his own, gripping them tightly. As he spoke, he shook Dick's hands gently for emphasis. "I would never be able to live with myself if something happened to you, certainly not because of my double life. So I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you as safe as possible in all of this. You are my number one priority. Nothing else."
Dick pulled his hands from Bruce's, wrapping his arms around his guardian's neck instead. Bruce returned the gesture, and Dick squeezed his eyes shut. "I'm sorry I ever doubted that."
"Don't be," Bruce replied. "I've given you a lot of reasons to question that." He pulled away, glancing up into Dick's eyes once more. "I'm sorry too, because none of my other commitments ever matter more than you do. A lot of them are just…more critical." Bruce smirked, because it was the word Dick had overheard Alfred using for such matters. "When they require my attention, I have a duty to answer."
"I know," Dick answered, the words coming so much more easily than they used to. What once was bitter and angry was now understanding and sympathetic. He knew how important Gotham City and the safety of its citizens were to Bruce, and Dick would never want to get in the way of that. Dick sniffled before he added, "I see that now, and I'm not angry about it anymore. You were there to save my life when I needed you, and there are a lot of other people who do too. Like the commissioner today, and I'm okay with sharing you for such a noble reason."
Bruce didn't say anything, but he cupped Dick's cheek with his hand. A tear had formed in the very corner of Dick's eye, and Bruce used his thumb to wipe it away. Bruce's eyes were so very steady on his, and Dick couldn't quite place the emotions. He thought it was a little bit of pride, but there was something else there that was escaping him.
Just then came a knock at the door. Bruce stood up and turned away, clearing his throat as he went. It was like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Dick could see him wiping at his face, and he wondered if Bruce had been tearing up too. He couldn't quite tell, but it was very rarely that Bruce ever did. That feeling was back in Dick's chest, full and overwhelming.
"Come in," Bruce said.
Alfred entered a moment later, carrying a silver tray with a teapot, a teacup, a glass of milk, and a plate of cookies balanced on it. He placed the tray on the coffee table before standing up straight, his eyes going back and forth between Bruce and Dick.
"Is everything okay, sirs?" Alfred asked, realizing for the first time that the silence in the room was palpable.
"Quite so," Bruce said as he turned around, his usual authoritative tone returning. "Just addressing some of the various areas of concern in crime fighting with my new partner." He leaned back against his desk again, crossing one leg over the other.
It was so casual, but amazing to Dick at the same time. It was like a light switch; Bruce could shift so easily into someone who was stoic, like that unyielding metal table Dick had been tied to in the steel factory. It was like a mask that Bruce could put on. Dick briefly wondered if he would have to start doing the same, but he knew that now was not the time to ask.
"You were right, Alfred," Dick said instead, smiling up at him. "I wasn't in trouble."
Alfred winked at him before he excused himself from the study, closing the doors behind him.
Bruce cleared his throat again. "Now where were we?"
Dick didn't know. He wasn't sure if Bruce was speaking about where their conversation had meandered to, or about the rules of crime fighting that Alfred had said Bruce probably wanted to talk about.
Bruce's eyes fell upon the bust of Shakespeare, the very thing that had led Dick on this crazy roller coaster ride to begin with. It was so strange for Dick to even think about the fact that he was sitting in Bruce's study like it was completely normal. Not so very long ago, this room had been forbidden to him.
"You did very well today, Dick," Bruce said after a while. "If you hadn't, I might not still be so open to this idea. But you're strong, and you're only going to get better and more experienced in time. So we will continue on with this…but aside from what we've already discussed, there are three things you must to agree to without question - the three unbreakable rules of crime fighting."
Pushing himself away from his desk, Bruce crossed back to his chair again. He sat down, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. Folding his hands together, he stared at Dick intently. "Breaking any one of these rules will mean the end of this for you. And perhaps for me. No second chances."
Dick had never seen Bruce so very stern and serious in his life, not even in any of the arguments they'd had thus far. It was a little bit frightening, but Dick reminded himself how important this was to his guardian. Dick swallowed, a sound which seemed to echo in his own head, broken only by the crackling flames in the fireplace.
Bruce raised his index finger from where his hands were clasped together. "Rule number one: You must never speak the words of our secret identities to anyone. I know that seems obvious, but it's perhaps something I should brought up with you sooner, because it's essential. No one must ever know. Not your Aunt Harriet, or any friends at school, or anyone else you may speak to. No one. If the secret ever got out, it would mean the end of our careers as crime fighters. Do you understand me?"
Dick nodded. "Yes, Bruce."
Bruce nodded in return, now raising two fingers. "Rule number two: You must never speak the location of the Batcave to anyone, nor bring any outsider into it. This goes hand in hand with rule number one. If anyone were to learn where the Batcave is, they would know who Batman and Robin are. No one must ever be made aware of this information."
"I promise," Dick said firmly. "Not a word to anyone. Ever."
"Okay." Bruce paused and stared intently at Dick for a very long time before he spoke again. "The third rule is the most important. It is something I will not tolerate, and the one you must not break under any circumstances. It doesn't matter what happens. It doesn't matter who you encounter or what they've done. Not even if you come face to face with those responsible for the death of your parents, and you feel with every fiber of your being that they deserve it." He spoke his next words slowly, enunciating each of them in turn. "You will not kill."
Dick wasn't entirely surprised. After all, Bruce had already talked about this with him, but Bruce's tone and demeanor were so intense and focused, it sent shivers down Dick's spine. He almost didn't hear the flames in the fireplace anymore; all of his attention was directed at his guardian, waiting for his next words.
Bruce seemed to search Dick's eyes, as if looking for any signs of an argument. When he seemed satisfied, Bruce's voice was low as said, "I told you, once upon a time, I was intent on avenging my parents' deaths. Alfred stopped me, because he told me my parents wouldn't have wanted me to stoop to that level. Wouldn't have wanted me to become the very thing that made me an orphan to begin with. I've realized more and more how very right he was, and how grateful I am to him that I never went down that road. I doubt your parents would have wanted that for you either."
Dick didn't even have to stop to think about what his parents would have wanted, because he knew. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons they had left him with was that he should always be kind. That wouldn't have changed even if they had known what fate awaited them. In fact, they would have probably said that that was all the more reason to release good into the world instead of more negativity.
"No," Dick agreed. "They wouldn't."
Bruce nodded once. "Say it."
"I will not kill."
"Again."
Dick sat up straighter in his seat, his palms flat against the cushion. His heart pounded, but not for an entirely unpleasant reason. When he spoke again, his voice was firmer, louder, unwavering.
"I will not kill."
We are almost at the finish line, Batfans!
Will Dick talk to Bruce about everything he's feeling?
Will they get their long-awaited fishing trip?
For the answers to these and other KILLING questions,
Tune in next time…
Same fan site…
Same fan channel.
Author's note: The very last part of this is inspired by a similar scene between Alfred and Bruce in the TV show Gotham.
This chapter was a doozy to write. I was so focused on getting Bruce and Dick's conversation perfect, I reread it a million times and changed so many of the details. I hope it turned okay!
Also, god help that police department if Chief O'Hara is in charge. God help Batman if he thinks that means all is well. Anyway, in the same vein as its predecessor, the last chapter of this story will be a nice little fluffy one to tie things up. A large portion of it is done, so I hope to see you with it soon!
Oh, and please don't get excited that Barbara appears here :P I just thought it would be a fun Easter egg to throw in (just in time for Easter!), but I don't plan on including Batgirl in this series at all. My heart belongs to the Dynamic Duo.
