Robins POV

"Why is it like this?" the raven haired vigilante asked, weighing a blade between his hands. "Its hard."

"What do you mean?" his mentor asked slowly, a deep rich voice that matched with the way he carried himself.

Blue eyes looked up at him, tortured and confused, wide with questioning and yet dark with frustration. "I remember every blow I've ever landed, every hurt I have inflicted on another...and it tortures me." He sat down, his head in his hands. "I know I have to do this...to protect the weak and the innocent, to do whats right...but why is it..." the young boy trailed off.

His mentor was silenced for a long moment, regarding his protegee with a stern yet fatherly gaze. Then just as his adopted son did, he sat down. "You do what is right, and yet right doesn't always mean easy"

He placed a hand on the wards shoulder. "Do you understand Robin?"

The boy lifted his head up slowly, and yet didn't look at his mentor, but stared straight ahead. Blue eyes flashed with cold comprehension, and for a flicker of a moment, his gaze softened, but only for it to turn back to stone as he stood up and picked up a utility belt.

"I understand"

"That was me" I thought. Wasn't it? It was a memory...It was. I remember that now.

I faintly realized the urgent voices around me as the lights dimmed and flickered inside my head. I heard someone shout my name, but I didn't recognize the voice. They sounded too far away. I felt the sensations on my arm of someones urgent touch. Someones warm touch on my shoulder, squeezing, trying to wake me. I felt wet tears on my neck, hot breath blowing against my skin as someone cried. I felt silken hair tickle my cheek, and I idly recognized the scent. I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't. Although I was surprised and relieved I wasn't screaming.

Everything was fading.

Icy cold tendrils of fear licked at my sides, crawling its way up inside me, and centered itself in my heart.

I felt like I was falling endlessly, and I couldn't scream, fight, or even breath. I was just falling. Just there.

I heard the beating of my heart, slow and steady. I held on to it, like an anchor, clinging to the sound.

I was familiar with fear, but not this fear. This fear was new.

I knew this was something that would torture me, killing me softly before it decided to finish me off. But I promised I wouldn't leave her, and I was planning to keep my word.

"Hey" she said, her blue eyes shining as she looked up at him under dark long lashes.

"Hey yourself" he smirked as he looked at her, dark shades glinting in the light.

"Zatanna" I choked out.

She slowly reached out to take his hand, shy and slightly afraid. He saw the look in her eyes and knew what she wanted. He looked at her hand, and grabbed it in his own and intertwined their fingers together before she could hesitate and lose her nerve. She smiled, a blush coating her cheeks.

And for the first time in a long while...the raven haired boy smiled back.

The blue eyed teen was shaking with suppressed fury, his hands trembling and knuckles turning white as he balled them tightly. He punched the wall, eyes closed as he could see nothing but red. Everything was red.

Red with anger. Red with hate. Red with malice.

He couldn't even feel the pain of the impact, senses high on rage, drunk on madness. Everything felt faraway. All the voices felt a long, long way away.

He slumped against the wall, his back resting against the cold wall as he brought his knees up as if to shield himself. His hands were still balled up, fingernails digging painfully into his palm. He didn't mind, the pain was a slight form of distraction for him. Something that helped him calm down.

"Robin" somebody whispered.

His head whipped up, blue eyes staring, still clouded with anger, into her worried face.

He took in her worried expression, frowning with guilt, as he said nothing and continued to stare at her. His eyes visibly softened at the sight of her, and the red slowly melted away.

She reached out hesitantly as if to touch him, and he didn't recoil or wince like she expected. She brushed his dark bangs away from his face, his eyes closing in content at her soothing touch. He breathed deeply, taking in her scent that seemed to instantly calm him.

He took her in his arms as she let out a surprised squeal. He chuckled lightly at this, burying his face in her hair as she let her head rest upon his shoulder. She smiled to herself a little, blushing like she always did. His eyes closed as he held her to his chest, deriving comfort and peace from her presence.

He noticed he could breath a little bit easier now.

She leaned against him, her head resting on his chest as he wrapped his arms from behind her comfortingly. His warm embrace soothed her, the steady drum of his heartbeat lulling her to sleep. She felt him kiss the top of her hair, his lips lingering on her hair.

"Goodnight Zee"

It was too late already, she had fallen asleep as soon as he said the words. He smiled, amused. He slowly untangled himself from her, moving cautiously as to not wake her. She sighed in contentment as he pulled the blankets to cover her form. He smiled as she gripped the sheets, balling them into her fists like a child. Her long black hair fanned out wildly on the pillow, her face relaxed as she held a sleepy smile on her face.

"Goodnight" he repeated quietly.

And then he was out the door as quickly as the wind, as if he had never even been there in the first place.