Dick had seen his (adoptive) father in a range of situations most people couldn't even imagine Batman in. He's seen him drowsily walk in to doors after long days and longer nights of non-stop work, he's seen him scream himself awake from the occasional nightmare, and he's seen him sheepish after a scolding from his own father figure, Alfred. He also knows that Bruce doesn't need the cowl to look authoritative and commanding, and that there's nothing more that he cares about in the world than Dick.

Which is what makes this argument so seemingly hopeless.

"You're off the team."

Dick was used to fighting with Bruce about what he could do outside of the Manor. Whether he should be homeschooled or go to public school, who can know about his sickness and who had to stay in the dark. Most recently, it was the team. They agreed that it would be good for Dick to join the Young Justice team on the provision that Wally (and Dick, but more so Wally) report fully back to Bruce everything of concern. His breakdown the night before counted as "concerning". Bruce was allowed to pull the plug if he thought the team wasn't good for him. Nobody did overprotective like The Bats did.

Thankfully Dick was on his side with this one, and vocally so.

"The psychologist said I need to be away from home with friends my own age. This is it, this is what I need! You can't take that away because of one bad episode!" Dick pleaded.

"One bad episode in the middle of a mission. You could've gotten captured, or killed. No go." Bruce shot back. He was right, in some ways, but the two were not willing to concede defeat so early. Besides, he knew what Bruce was really worried about. The YJ team never goes anywhere that Dick would be in any real danger, even if an episode struck. Bruce was worried about M'Gann.

"They wouldn't treat me any different, you know. Wally didn't." There was a long pause before Bruce answered.

"Not everyone knows you like that, Dick. Trust me, it will only hurt you in the end."

And Dick thought that was it. That was the last he'd see of his friends because of one stupid slip one. One moment of weakness. He'd go back to being Batman and Robin, only seeing Artemis at school and the others in passing.

"Two weeks to see what happens. Call this episode a test, and see how the team reacts. If by the end of the two weeks you still want to stay with the team, we can talk."

Dick leapt at his father, hugging him tightly in the way that always caught him off guard.

"Thanks" he mumbled as Bruce attempted to return the hug.

Bruce did he best to accommodate his new son and his affliction, though some of the psychologists take exception to his methods. When Dick shared his fear of other people in the overly large mansion, Bruce shared his surveillance equipment. Dick was afraid of being attacked and Bruce taught him to defend himself. Others used the word "enabling", but others did not have to deal with his son's sleepless nights and reluctance to walk the streets alone. He helped his son to help himself, and he believes Dick to be happier for it.

Of course, that was simple. That was helping his son to fight his own demons, something Bruce had much experience with. Now Bruce was putting his faith in the hands of teenagers – exceptional teenagers but youth nonetheless – not to hurt his son. His son's fate was out of his hands this time.

And that was really not something he could stand for.

Dick was sitting on his bed in the mountain, legs hung over the edge and facing the door. He fiddled with his cape between the pads of his bare fingers, gloves tossed on some other side of the room. He crossed his legs at the ankles, then remembered what Bruce had taught him about body language and uncrossed them. He even let go of his cape and sat up straight for a minute or two before returning to his previous ministrations.

Dick was, for the most part, prepared for this inevitability. His behavior the night before had compromised the mission, everyone knew. He clenched his fist, digging crescent shaped craters into his palms. His disease ruined the mission. And now everyone knows.

And someone was coming. Bruce may have conditionally allowed him to stay on the team, but Bruce was not the only one with the power to oust him. Really, anyone could. Anyone on the team, if they were convincing enough, could expel him.

M'Gann would tell them about what she saw. She'd say she was confused, maybe even worried about his safety. She never could refuse a piece of gossip.

And of course Artemis would jump at a chance to take the spotlight off of her own issues. Kon probably couldn't care less, but Kaldur would just love it. He would act the responsible adult, the leader, and take the "hard choice". He would be commended for "putting the safety and wellbeing of the team over his friendship".

Friendship. The only friend he had was Wally and he… he would be able to have his life back. If they kicked him off the team, KF would have ample excuses to stop hanging out with him. He would find new friends – he was good at that – and he wouldn't have to baby them like he does Dick. Besides, he was the one that told Bruce about what happened during the mission. He almost got Dick kicked off the team.

He started to feel liquid on his palm and cheek both, but he pushed past.

He would never find a better friend. If he were a better man, he wouldn't try. He would release Wally of his obligation and find somewhere more… alone.

It was on that thought when a knock sounded on the door, startling Dick into standing. He didn't respond, didn't disengage the automatic lock but the door slid open anyways. Dick gave Wally the code for his door seconds after he came up with it himself and Wally knew he was always welcome.

Suddenly the dual wetness came to the front of his mind. Stupidly, he tried to wipe the tear off of his face but in his haste only succeeded in smearing the blood.

Wally just walked him to the bathroom and used a damp washcloth to clean his face. He turned his face away from his friend, opting to stare at the tile floor, but Wally just dabbed his chin with the cloth silently. Dick protested when Wally went to give his small wound the full first aid treatment (antiseptic and gauze wrapped around the heel of his hand) but Wally just dismissed it with a completely inaccurate claim of "it'll heal faster this way."

It was actually a pretty common ritual. Wally felt that concealing what he did would stop him from trying it again. Maybe it did help, but it was more the fact that he was willing to that calmed Dick. He couldn't stop the stray voices telling him that it was all for show, that it was only so Wally could praise himself for taking care of his poor unfortunate soul.

"I talked to M'Gann" Wally spoke, apparently expecting a form of acknowledgement from Dick. He continued anyways.

"I… I had to tell her something, and I really didn't want to lie but I would, for you. You know that, right? I wouldn't tell anyone unless I had to, not without your permission." Dick gave a slight nod as acknowledgement and Wally took it as his cue to continue on.

"I said it was just something some humans do. I told her not to tell anyone else, said it was private. She was just confused, you know? She didn't know if something was wrong with you ." Dick tensed at the last few words. Something wrong with him. He knew there was, but it didn't feel wrong. He never could find any difference between the things other people saw or heard and the things only he did. There was no marker, no clue that he shouldn't react to a certain stimuli. It was like he was split between two worlds and he was the only one who could see in to the second.

"Dick?...Hey, Birdboy, I'm talking to you. Still with me?" Dick looked up at him, startled out of his reverie.

"I said there wasn't. There's not anything wrong with you." They were still standing in the bathroom, Wally holding his injured hand even though he had finished wrapping it long ago. Wally gathered him up in his arms and held him tight to his chest. He was just tall enough to be able to hook his chin over Dick's head, forcing Dick to rest his head to Wally's neck.

"Just, remember that, Okay? There's nothing wrong with you"

A/N: Well this entire chapter was unexpected. I liked the idea of Bruce giving him security camera control for his paranoia, so I wanted to start with that but then Batdad decided to kick Dickie off the team and I didn't know what to do.

I'm trying to make it clear the times when Dick is in control (with Bruce) and the times where his illness starts to influence his behavior. I really didn't want to only show Dick as "a character with schiz-like symptoms" but to maybe even explain some of his personality traits with it.

Anyways, comments? Do you like my Batdad? What about Dickie's POV? Also! I'm looking in the reviews for ideas on where to take this so if there's something you want included, let me know!