A weird change from what I've been doing lately, but I've been watching the old Batman show from the 60's. I decided it would be fun to take the setting from the end of the Dark Knight and throw the Robin from the 60's show into the mix. So as you read you can picture Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and the modern, dignified Alfred, but cast young Burt Ward as Dick Grayson. Odd enough for you? I didn't think it quite qualified as a crossover. :p I don't know if I'll continue this or not, but here it is.

When Dick Grayson was safely tucked away in his bed for the night, Bruce Wayne and his loyal manservant Alfred slipped down to the Bat Cave to discuss weighty matters.

"He's going to be a problem," Bruce declared.

"I'm sure your new ward will accept the explanation that you are often called away suddenly on business," Alfred assured him.

"Yes, but I won't have the freedom of movement that I have in the past. If I'm working on something in the Bat Cave, I won't be able to just run upstairs and check something in my files or grab a snack…"

"I can do those things for you, sir."

"It's very inconvenient."

"Mr. Grayson was one of your father's closest friends."

"I know that," Bruce said, shielding himself from the lecture he knew was coming.

"That you take care of Richard was his dying wish."

"I know that, too."

"The least you can do is be a bit more optimistic."

"He'll be in the way."

"He's a good boy."

"That's kind of what I'm worried about. You know, he was top of his class in that ivy league high school of his… hey, maybe I could send him to a boarding school. That would take care of things."

"Master Bruce, I'm surprised at you. The boy just lost his father. Right now he needs the companionship of his older male guardian."

"We don't even know each other, Alfred. He can bond with other kids in his study hall."

Alfred frowned and shook his head. "If that's the way it must be, sir. But I would urge you to remember how you felt when you lost your parents at a young age. Would you have wished to be sent to a boarding school full of strangers?"

"That will do, Alfred. We need to worry about clearing Batman's reputation now that Gotham City is out from under the Joker's reign. And Commissioner Gordon told us he received some mysterious threats; we can work on unraveling those."

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair. Once or twice Dick asked Bruce a question about Wayne Manor and Bruce broke himself out of his thoughts to answer. At last, Dick took the bull by the horns.

"Do you have something on your mind, Bruce?" he asked. "You've been really distracted."

"Very distracted," Bruce corrected absent-mindedly.

Dick frowned. "Actually, I think 'really distracted' could be correct. Because you truly are distracted."

Again, Bruce shook free of more important matters and focused on his ward's face. "Sure. I'm distracted."

"Well… can I ask what's—I mean may I ask what's distracting you?"

"Just a riddle I heard the other day."

"I'm good at riddles. What is it?"

Bruce gave Alfred a look. Then he shrugged. "The riddle is 'when is a horse not a horse?' I thought it might be when it's a fly. You know a horse fly. Or a sawhorse. Or pommel horse."

Dick shook his head. "It's simpler than that, Bruce. The answer is, 'when it's a chestnut.' And frankly, I think that riddle's a chestnut—an easy one to see through."

Bruce was very ruffled. Dick was acting quite superior. The little nerd, he thought. "OK, then, how about this one: when is a dog like a Japanese number?"

Dick thought scarcely a moment. "When it has fleas," he said. "Because it's itchy. Ichi is the Japanese number one."

Bruce blinked. Darn him, he's right again! "One more," he said. "What is not a baby, not navy, not in the sky or in a nest, but might mean someone important is vexed?"

Dick took a bite of eggs Benedict and thought carefully. "Got it," he said when his mouth was clear. "Royal blue. Baby, navy, sky and robin's egg are all shades of blue. And 'Royal blue' could mean someone important who is unhappy."

"Well done, Master Richard," Alfred congratulated.

"Thanks, Alfred. And Dick is fine."

Bruce was at a loss. He'd been puzzling over the riddles all night. He consoled himself that they were too simple—that was why he hadn't been able to solve them. "OK, now can you tell me what those three have in common?"

"Hmm. Chestnut, fleas and royal blue. Well… no, I don't think I can. I'll keep thinking about it though… Hmm. A chestnut horse belonging to royalty, with blue silks and—wait, horses don't get fleas, do they? I know they can get a certain kind of lice…"

This kid really is a nerd! Bruce thought with annoyance. If I keep him around he's bound to figure out my double life…

"Perhaps it has something to do with the presence of the royal family from Lorandia," Alfred suggested. "They are arriving in Gotham City tomorrow night."

Bruce drew in a breath. "Wait… didn't they say that the annual Gotham City Flea Market was on their itinerary?" he said.

"Yes, and the princess has chestnut colored hair," Dick said. When the others turned to stare at him, he blushed. "I… I've been an admirer of hers for a while…"

"That must be it, then," Bruce said. "The princess."

"What—the princess is the answer to the riddles?" Dick asked.

"Uh—yeah."

"Who asked you those riddles, anyway?"

"A stranger, actually," Bruce said, searching for a way to change the subject quickly. "So, you know quite a bit about horses?"

"I used to play polo once in a while. And I sometimes like to watch races."

"I own 51% of a racehorse, actually," Bruce commented. "My father always wanted to name a horse Waynebow as a play on our family name, so… I decided to do it for him."

"Wow, that's keen."

"Keen? Hasn't that word gone out yet?"

"Well yeah, but not at the school I was going to." Dick shrugged.

"Speaking of school…"

Alfred sighed.

"I've heard there are some really good ones around here," Dick said. "I don't care if they're not ivy league or anything. I liked the look of that Woodrow Roosevelt High that's just a few miles from here."

"Really? You don't want to be with kids on the same social standing?"

"It'd be kind of nice to go someplace I can relax and not worry about living up to such snobby expectations."

"Oh. Well, I'll keep that in mind."

"I think it would be good if I could visit a couple of schools, though. To make sure it's what I'm looking for."

"An excursion this afternoon, Master Bruce?" Alfred suggested.

"Good idea, Alfred. Make sure you take him to at least three schools so he can make a good comparison," Bruce instructed.

"I meant, you, sir."

"I'm sure you'll do a fine job," Bruce said, glaring at Alfred in a way that clearly said "I have more important things to do, like catching that riddler."

"I do think Woodrow Roosevelt is the best choice," Dick told Alfred when they returned home that evening. "Do you think Bruce will enroll me there?"

"It is possible," Alfred said.

"Gosh, I hope so. Alfred… Bruce doesn't like me much, does he?"

"I wouldn't say that, sir. What makes you think so?"

"It always seems like I'm in his way or taking up time he could spend better somewhere else."

"You've been with us only a few days. I'm sure things will get more comfortable later on."

"I hope you're right. What I don't get is why Bruce spends so much time in his business and just entertaining himself. Sure, he makes donations and stuff, but it seems like he could be doing a lot more to help people. He is a pretty smart, powerful person."

Alfred smiled. "You're quite intelligent yourself, Master Dick."

"Thanks. Hey, does Bruce like chess?"

"Very much."

"Maybe he'd play a game or two with me sometime."

"I'm sure if he had time, he would be delighted."

"Yeah. If he has time." Dick sighed. He headed for the library to find a book to occupy himself. Boredom and loneliness made a bad combination.

Poor Robin. Er, Dick. :p I actually thought up the overall plot for this story long before Batman Begins began ;) Even started writing it in a notebook. But that version was long overdue for an update. Anyhow, maybe I'll continue this if the fit takes me. Thanks for reading.