Robin Regrows His Wings

Author's Note: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to "Episode 4" of my Batman '66 continuation! I consider this part the best story that I've written to date, so I hope that you'll enjoy it! But first, it's review response time!

Hazel on Fire, I'm really glad that you're enjoying my entrance into the Batman '66 fandom! Be sure to stick around if you want to see more, because I'm planning on making this series weekly just like the show-in fact, episode five is done! As for Robin's time to shine, stay tuned!

staardiz, thank you for your compliment! You'll see the result of the cliffhanger soon, and I hope that you'll enjoy it!

Caadiz, I'm really glad that you enjoyed the first part! The second part is finally here, and I hope that you're as I excited as I am for it!

adelinealice0, I wish, but I'm unfortunately very low on money. Thank you for the offer, though! Now, on with the story!

In Gotham Police Headquarters, the atmosphere was noticeably somber as Batman stood alone in front of Commissioner Gordon and Chief 'O Hara and he explained what happened with Robin in the Batcave.

"Saints alive, Batman…" Chief 'O Hara exclaimed. "Gotham without Robin? It's unthinkable!"

Visibly shaken, Batman took out his Batkerchief from his utility belt and began dabbing at his eyes with it.

"He…he's been with you from almost the very beginning," stuttered Commissioner Gordon. "What's going to happen now, Batman?"

"I don't know, Commissioner," Batman said, still wiping his eyes. "I just don't know. Even the strongest of partners…can sometimes lose their way."

Meanwhile, back in Bonnie's apartment, Dick and Bonnie were once again sitting on her bed. They were watching television, and they had their arms around one another. On the television, an acrobat was in a circus, and they were doing a trapeze act. The camera panned down to a lion tamer, who gently cracked his whip on the ground as a lion roared. In another ring, a clown in makeup was driving a unicycle while juggling and pretending to be clumsy, which made the audience break out into hysterics.

Unlike in Stately Wayne Manor and the Batcave, Dick was laughing along with the crowd, and Bonnie did the same, her head against his shoulder. Suddenly, in the middle of the ringmaster announcing the next act, Dick's Bat-Cufflink went off. Dick looked down, staring at it for a brief second, but at last, he ignored it. However, Bonnie did not.

Bonnie stared at the cufflink as it continued beeping and flashing. "Dick…what is that?"

Robin paused as the Bat-Cufflink continued beeping, then finally stopped once Dick rolled up his suit. Bonnie, meanwhile, was still wearing her orange dress that she had on before their first interruption.

"I suppose it wouldn't matter if I told you now," Dick exhaled. "At least, not anymore."

"Tell me what?" Bonnie asked, confused. "Is this about when you ran off earlier? If it is, I promise, I forgive you."

"No, it's not that," Dick Grayson said, his head down. Bonnie placed one hand behind his back. "It's..."

"You can trust me, Dick," Bonnie said tenderly. "Whatever it is, I'm here to help you."

"I..." Dick paused, then he took a sharp breath and closed his eyes.

There was a moment of silence in the air, and Dick finally broke it. He lifted his head, his brown eyes meeting hers.

"I'm Robin," he said heavily. "Robin, the Boy Wonder."

"You're...you're Robin?" Bonnie asked with a slight smile, her eyes beginning to light up. "It's no wonder you ran off earlier. And that moment back when we were at the Root Beer À Go Go-?"

"Yes, Bonnie…" Robin said, holding back tears. "I'm so sorry."

"Dick, I understand now, I really do!" Bonnie reassured her boyfriend. "And your secret is safe with me, I promise."

"I was Robin," Dick corrected, looking at his girlfriend, sadness in his eyes. "Not anymore."

The sparkle in her eyes slowly vanished. "But why?"

"I'm just Batman's shadow," Robin said sadly, his voice cracking slightly. "He doesn't need me anymore."

Bonnie shook her head. "That's not true."

"Riddler said it was," Dick muttered, the villain's words echoing in his mind.

"The Riddler says a lot of things," Bonnie said firmly, "to get under your skin. You can't believe him."

"And..."

Bonnie stared into Dick's eyes, waiting for him to continue speaking.

"And...I love you, Bonnie..."

Dick looked back at the television as he saw the crowd clapping and smiling. He watched as a trapeze artist was doing tricks and flips in the air with his partner, catching each other's hands in mid flight. Dick sighed, the typically distant memory of his parents coming back to him.

"Dick…" she said softly, taking his hand in hers, "you don't have to choose between being Robin and being with me."

He blinked, Bonnie's words breaking him out of his flashback. "What?"

"You don't have to choose," she repeated. "We're a team, you and me-just like you and Batman used to be! And partners support each other, no matter what." Bonnie paused briefly, then continued. Maybe…I could even be a hero, too."

Dick shook his head.

"Thanks, Bonnie," Dick said, staring into Bonnie's eyes, "but it's not that simple. Being Robin is more than just a costume. It's a responsibility."

Back in Stately Wayne Manor, within Bruce Wayne's study, the Red Phone went off. Stealthily, Alfred snuck off and went to answer it.

"I'll summon him, sir," Alfred said to Commissioner Gordon. "But I must warn you—he's still a little…off."

"I understand, Mystery Attendant," Commissioner Gordon told him. "I would be too if something like this happened to me."

Alfred turned around, but Bruce was already waiting to grab it.

"The Bat Phone, sir," Alfred said, handing the Red Phone to him. He grabbed both of his master's shoulders and stood behind him.

"I know that everything will turn out alright in the end, sir," Alfred said soothingly. "I give you my word." Alfred then patted Bruce's shoulders, smiled encouragingly, then walked out of the study.

"Thank you, Alfred," Bruce smiled back, then in his deeper Batman voice, he said into the Bat Phone, "I'll be right there, Commissioner. Robin…is still on leave."

Minutes later, in Gotham Police Headquarters, Batman met with Commissioner Gordon and Chief 'O Hara.

"I'm..I'm lost in the clover, Batman," Chief 'O Hara said, confused.

"So am I, Chief 'O Hara," Commissioner Gordon agreed. "If only there was something—anything—that we could do..."

"Sure'n, I would love to help ye, Batman," added Chief 'O Hara.

"Robin's absence has left a void…" Batman remarked, "...one that the criminal underworld will be quick to exploit."

Suddenly, Batman's eyes narrowed as an idea came into his mind.

"What is it, Batman?" Commissioner Gordon asked hopefully. "Do you have an idea?"

"Desperate times…" Batman told them, "...call for bold measures."

Shortly after, an alarm went off in Gotham State Penitentiary. There was a huge breakout, featuring the most dangerous super-criminals of Gotham City!

The Joker laughed, the Penguin quacked, and even criminals such as Crazy Quilt, Shame, Killer Moth, and Condiment King were causing mayhem in Gotham City's streets as police closely monitored them.

"Hehehahaha!" the Joker laughed.

"Waugh, waugh, waugh!" the Penguin quacked.

"Now's the time for me to get revenge on this varmint!" Shame said, twirling his lasso.

"Batman's been quite moth ridden, eh?" Killer Moth smiled.

"I don't care about him!" Crazy Quilt said indignantly. "I only care about the Boy Blunder!"

Finally, one villain was running-or at least trying to-but he was nearly out of breath.

Batman-huff!-will feel the wrath of-huff!-the Condiment King!" huffed the Condiment King, completely out of breath. He was wearing a blue fast food uniform and a hat shaped like the top of a pickle, and he had a utility belt which was hooked up to containers of ketchup, mustard, and other condiments.

"Boo!" the Joker shouted back at him. "Nobody cares about you!"

"I do!" said a voice firmly. It was Batman!

"I care enough to put you right back in Gotham Penitentiary, right where you belong!"

At his appearance, the Bat-villains went all out on their attack of the Caped Crusader. Crazy Quilt flashed his rainbow helmet in Batman's eyes, knocking him off balance.

"What's the matter, Batman?" taunted the Crazy Quilt. "Without your Boy Blunder, you can't even see straight!"

"Looks like yer partner done skedaddled, Batman!" laughed Shame, twirling his lasso. "Guess even Robin's got better places to be!"

"Quite right, Shame," Killer Moth cackled. "Without Robin, you're just a bat with clipped wings!"

"I know that we will all relish this day!" laughed the Condiment King, squirting relish at a running Batman.

Thinking quickly, Shame twirled his lasso and tossed it straight over Batman! He was trapped!

"You will all rue this day!" said Batman firmly as the group of Bat-villains laughed while surrounding him.

"The only roux here is in my gravy!" said the Condiment King, squirting Batman with his gravy gun. "You're in quite the pickle now, aren't you, Batman?"

"It sure is too bad that Robin isn't here to save you, Batman," cackled Killer Moth, "but it means revenge for us! Sweet, sweet Bat-revenge!"

While all of this was going on, Dick and Bonnie were still in the apartment, and the two of them were watching the chaos unfold on television.

"Look, Dick!" Bonnie gasped. "Batman's trapped!"

Dick Grayson watched as Shame trapped Batman in his lasso, and he clenched his fists as the Riddler slapped Batman on the head with his question mark cane.

"Holy unfair battles!" Dick exclaimed. "Batman's outnumbered! He needs…me."

Before he could leave, Bonnie stopped him, her eyes sparkling and filled with determination. She gripped Dick's hand lovingly, and Dick gripped hers. They stared deeply into each other's eyes.

"Wait-!" Bonnie said softly, her eyes filled with determination. "I have a plan!"

The chaos was only growing at Gotham Penitentiary as the villains continued teasing Batman. The Caped Crusader was completely exhausted, and could barely fight back. Just when all hope felt lost for Batman, however, he heard a very familiar voice nearby.

"Guess who's flying now?"

The super-criminals looked over in the direction of the voice, and they saw Robin accompanied by Bonnie Linseed! Bonnie was wearing a Robin-themed scarf, as well as a homemade costume, and she was holding her purse in her hands. She reached into it and pulled out a hastily made mask.

"Oh ho!" the Joker laughed, rubbing his hands together. "A junior jester joining the party! Is this Gotham's newest gag-or just the punchline?"

"Riddle me this, Robin," the Riddler grinned. "What's red and green, and about to be black and blue?"

"Waugh waugh!" the Penguin quacked. "Robin's back, and he brought a ladybird! What's next, a batty brood?"

"You think a paint-by-numbers partner can save you, Robin?" Crazy Quilt questioned. "I'll have you both seeing red—and every other color in the spectrum!"

"Looks like the Bird Boy brought a Butterfly…" Killer Moth grinned, "but you're both about to get caught in my web!"

"Let's go, Bonnie," Robin smiled.

Bonnie looked down at her mask, then up at the group of arch-criminals. "I may not have a cape like Robin," she thought, "but I can't stand by while Dick—and Gotham—needs me."

"Looks like it's time for an encore," she quipped, tying her mask into place.

"Attack, Bat-villains!" the Penguin exclaimed as everyone walked towards Robin and Bonnie.

"I'll wipe yew varmints off the map!" Shame exclaimed, but Bonnie swung her purse at him, knocking him over.

"Well, well," Crazy Quilt smiled, "my number one enemy finally decided to show himself! This oughta be colorful!"

Crazy Quilt reached for his helmet and nearly blinded Robin. The super-villain taunted him: "Without you, Boy Blunder, your precious Bats is just a blank canvas!"

"You're right," Robin said, gritting his teeth, "and that's why it's time to draw the line!"

Shielding himself from Crazy Quilt's lights, he punched at Crazy Quilt, causing him to get knocked off balance.

"I'm pretty sure that with my condiment guns," the Condiment King said, "I will mustard a response out of you!"

Squirting mustard at Robin, the Boy Wonder tripped on it, only for Bonnie to come to the rescue.

"Looks like you're in a real pickle, Robin," Bonnie said, helping Robin up from his fall. "Good thing I'm here to ketchup!"

"We make a great team, Bonnie!" Robin remarked.

"Just like ketchup and mustard!" Bonnie smirked as she and Robin double-kicked the Condiment King, sending him flying into a nearby sundae cart.

OOF!

"You're no sidekick," Killer Moth quipped indignantly. You're just bait for the Boy Wonder!"

"Funny…" Bonnie smirked, "because you seem more like Batman's bug zapper than his nemesis!" She readied her purse, and Robin smiled at her.

"It looks like your wings are clipped, Moth!" Robin said as Bonnie tripped him with her purse strap, causing him to get tangled on the ground.

SPLAT!

"You may have clipped my wings," Killer Moth said, dizzy, "but this Moth always comes back to the flame!"

"Yeeee-haaaaawww!" Robin laughed, jumping on Shame's back as he ran towards him. Covering Shame's eyes, he shouted, "Let's ride, buckaroo!" He bonked him on the head, causing him to get knocked out.

POW!

"Riddle me this," Robin smirked, turning around and staring straight into the Riddler's eyes. The Boy Wonder's smirk began to grow as he remembered his insult from earlier. "Who's about to take a one-way trip back to Gotham State Penitentiary?"

There was a brief pause as the Riddler desperately tried to find an answer to the Boy Wonder's question.

"Answer…you!" Robin smiled as the Riddler swung his cane at Robin, only for Robin to push him backwards and send the Prince of Puzzles tumbling to the ground.

As the number of Bat-villains began to dwindle with Bonnie's help, his smile grew, and he got increasingly more into the fight.

"Waugh, waugh!" cried the Penguin as Robin punched his nose.

"This joke isn't funny!" the Joker said, exhausted as Bonnie hit him with her purse.

At last, the only villain standing was Crazy Quilt. He looked down upon Robin and Bonnie and chuckled. He adjusted his helmet with a smile.

"So," Crazy Quilt sneered, "the Boy Blunder finally returns. I must say, I quite missed your presence, you know. Now it's just me, you…and your little plus-one."

"I am not a plus-one!" Bonnie cried, her eyes flashing and beginning to have fire dance in their centers at his insult as she swung her purse at him. "I'm a wildcard!"

"Holy hidden talents…" Robin blushed as he felt his heart begin to race. Bonnie winked at him, and he grinned at her. Before Crazy Quilt could adjust his helmet, however, the Boy Wonder joined in, knocking him out with a swift punch. "Looks like the only one seeing stars now is you, Crazy Quilt!" he smirked.

With Crazy Quilt defeated, the Gotham City Police, including Commissioner Gordon and Chief 'O Hara, rounded up the arch-criminals and placed them straight back into Gotham State Penitentiary, right where they belonged.

"This wasn't funny—but next time, I'll write the punchline!" the Joker called out to Batman, Robin, and Bonnie.

"You may have bested me this time, Robin," said Crazy Quilt as he was being taken back into Gotham Penitentiary, "but next time, I'll paint the town…in your colors!"

About half an hour later, in Gotham City Hall, an awards ceremony was taking place. Both Batman and Robin were in costume, standing beside each other, as well as Bonnie Linseed, and they were all standing on a small stage. Mayor Linseed, an African American with black hair, was beaming with pride as he was extending an award towards Bonnie.

"We now present this medal for the service of my very own Bonnie Linseed which she provided at the help of the breakout at Gotham State Penitentiary!" Mayor Linseed beamed, putting the medal around her neck, and she smiled at Robin, who grinned back at her.

"I guess I'm not just your plus-one now," she whispered to Robin with a chuckle.

"H-Holy…honorary heroes!" Robin blushed. "O-or I mean…uh…dynamic duos?"

The crowd clapped, and Mayor Linseed extended his hands to the crowd to quiet them down. Right as he was about to hand the remaining medal to Robin, Batman interjected.

"May I do the honors, Mayor Linseed?" he asked him.

"Why, of course, Batman!" Mayor Linseed said, handing the medal to Batman.

"To my wonderful crime fighting partner," said Batman, holding back tears, "there for me as long as I can remember…" He paused for a second. "You deserve this medal, Robin."

The crowd broke out into whistles and clapping as Batman placed the medal around Robin's neck. Robin looked around, and Bonnie stared into his eyes and waved at him, causing him to shyly wave back. After acknowledging Bonnie, Robin turned to Batman.

"You may have had your doubts, old chum…" Batman said, patting his sidekick's shoulders, "but Gotham will always need its Boy Wonder."

"I promise to never leave you again, Batman," he smiled at his mentor as the crowd cheered even louder and the two of them hugged one another. The crowd cheered even louder as he could have sworn that he saw Batman subtly wiping a tear from his eye.

Author's Note: Well, there's the conclusion! What did you think of it? I really tried to capture the classic Batman '66 feel while having it feel fresh. Feel free to leave a review or favorite if you want and stay tuned sometime next week for the next "episode"!

Until then,

Gabe S. :)