A/N: Inspired by a search for Batman Beyond figures on eBay that resulted in seeing "Firewall Robin." It just escalated from there.
The news reports started off vague, barely mentioning a man in a mask protecting a woman from a purse-snatcher.
Then there were more:
Jokers arrested, thanks to masked vigilante
Drug deal thwarted by masked man
'Robin' saves little girl from high-rise
Robin.
Terry McGinnis stared down at the newest article to grace the front page of the Gotham Gazette: Robin helps police arrest crime boss Vic Lee and shuts down gang
Vic Lee, reputed crime boss for the last year in Gotham had been on Terry's hit list for almost two years now and here this kid gets him in less than two months on the job?
Chewing on his cereal, he mumbles to himself and ignores Matt when he asks, "What got up your butt today, Terry? Dana still dating that guy Charlie?"
Terry looked at the article again, then down at his cereal.
He wished he could just live with Bruce.
It had been nearly a year now since they'd decided to give in and be together, thanks in part to Dick Grayson (but not really because he couldn't stand the idea of being in debt to Dick for anything) and mostly in part to Terry getting hurt and Bruce getting very jealous.
You'd think an eighteen year old wouldn't want two men over sixty fighting over him but you'd be wrong.
Smiling to himself Terry narrowly missed his mother's comment, "Aren't you going to be late for work?" that had him up and running out the door.
Bruce was gonna kill him.
He was going to kill him.
Bruce Wayne sat in the lobby of Wayne Powers, tapping his cane on the floor and grinding his teeth. Ever since Terry graduated he'd become Bruce's full time chauffer and assistant, and he was a lousy one. But Bruce didn't trust anyone else, and in reality was so hopelessly infatuated with the boy he'd pay him to breathe if Terry asked.
Thankfully, Terry hadn't yet realized that yet. Give him time, Bruce thought.
Bruce sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"You look tired, old man."
He looked up slowly into the smiling face of Richard "Dick" Grayson, president of Knight, Inc, and his former protégé and partner. He hadn't seen Dick in nearly a year and they hadn't parted on completely friendly terms.
"Dick."
Dick sat down beside him, still smiling. "Miss me? I've been very busy the last few months but since I've finished I thought it would be nice to come visit Babs and check up on you and Terry. He move in yet?"
As if on cue, the car pulled up outside and Bruce stood up slowly to be sure not to wobble in the face of an opponent. "No, he hasn't. If you'll excuse me."
Dick still hadn't stopped his damned grinning and he called at Bruce's back, "Of course, Bruce. Tell Terry I hope no one has been 'robbin' him of the spotlight lately. Can't have that."
Bruce stopped short and turned around, only to find himself alone.
Of course.
He quickened his pace to the car, opening the door and sliding inside. Closing it softly he turned to Terry who had a guilty look on his face. "Sorry. I got up late and I was eating breakfast and I..."
Bruce sighed and fastened his seat belt. "Just drive. I have some news."
Terry raised an eyebrow and moved the car out of park, gliding along the ground. After about a minute he asked, "What news?"
Bruce sighed, closing his eyes. "I just saw Dick."
Terry's eyes widened. "Dick Grayson?"
"Do we know anyone else with that name?"
Terry grinned. "No, guess not."
Bruce opened one eye and looked at him. "He all but told me outright that Robin is his."
The smile disappeared from Terry's lips. "His?"
"He's bankrolling him. I should have guessed."
Terry put his turn signal on and moved the car to the left. "Why?"
"Because he looks so much like you."
He looked at Bruce. "He does not look like me."
Bruce smiled. "You can't tell me you don't see the similarities?"
Terry's face turned sour and he mumbled, "There are no similarities between me and that, that amateur."
Bruce's smile widened. "We're talking about looks here McGinnis, and yes, there are. He has the same black hair, same face structure, and his style is awfully similar to Batman's. I'd say Dick has been getting some footage of your work or just copying the similar teaching method I used on him."
Terry said nothing and drove, thinking. This "Robin" was nothing like him, no matter what Bruce said, but he should've realized that Dick was behind this.
But Bruce hadn't let him become Batman because of his detective skills.
He sighed and realized that Bruce was quiet again beside him.
Now might be a good time to bring up the same discussion they'd been avoiding for the last year. "So," he started, eyes on the road before him, "I was talking to my mom last night about moving out…"
"You're starting school in the fall and living in the dormitories."
"Bruce, c'mon!" he whined, turning to look at Bruce with puppy eyes.
Bruce glared back and grabbed onto the wheel of the car, "Eyes on the road, McGinnis."