Hello, I think one more chapter will finish this chapter up quite nicely. Plans have understandably changed since my last note. I do still intend to eventually give Dick his own starring Robin adventure. However, I think Tim could go for another round as well. Any thoughts?

The real deal is up and running right now. In the future I'll be moving that material to a blog of sorts.

Thank you for your reviews: sherlocksthename, otkcp, sambri, Guest, V. L. Crawford, lilyflower101, SuperHeroFan82, wanda marie, Nightingale1692, GuestG, batladiee and various guests (please identify yourselves some way next time)

Chapter 5

I woke up late, like way late, it was after noon. Last time Bruce let me sleep this late was when I was sick, normally we train a little in the morning even when I have school.

I started stretching when the soreness in my butt made me remember the night before. I rubbed it a little, Bruce was probably still mad at me. Dick too. Oh my god, Dick was so going to be pissed!

If only I could stay in my room forever. wanted to stay. But, I was hungry and knew eventually Alfred would come looking for me. Plus, I really had to pee.

My stomach dropped when I saw Dick sitting at the table. I braced myself, waiting for him to fun.

Dick looked up as I took a seat, "Look who's finally up."

"Uh, yeah…" I mumbled, unable to stop looking at the bandage on his head. That was my fault.

"How are you feeling, Boy Wonder?" He asked, taking a sip of coffee as he looked at his tablet.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" I blurted out without thinking. I wanted to take it back, it sounded so rude.

"Fair point." Dick put his mug down and tapped on his head. "But, other than a headache I'm good. Though, coffee might not be my brightest idea." He looked down as the mug frowning.

"So, you're not mad?" I asked hesitantly, sure that he had to be. Bruce and him were yelling a lot the night before, and it was my fault our patrol went wrong.

"Hm," Dick said dramatically and I just knew that he was doing it to teasing me. Even so, I felt like my heart was going to stop. "Nope, just promise me you won't do something like that again."

"I don't think I could if I wanted to." I admitted with a sigh. It had been a terrible idea from start to finish. "Bruce isn't going to let me leave the house ever again."

Dick set his tablet down and looked at me seriously, "He was just mad because he's worried about you."

"I know." I swallowed hard, I wasn't blaming Bruce or trying to whine. I did get it, we did crazy dangerous stuff all the time and I had just made it even more crazy dangerous last night.

"It's just…" I tried to figure out how to form the words I needed. "I didn't want any of that to happen."

"None of us did, but accidents happen, kiddo." Dick said softly.

"Ehhh," I mumbled, laying my head on the table. Why did I have to be so stupid?

"Head up Master Timothy," Alfred said, setting a huge warm breakfast of eggs, sausages, toast, and orange juice in front of me. How did he even know I'd be up now? Sometimes I wonder if he has super powers or something.

My stomach rumbled, "Thanks."

"If I share something with you," Dick watched him go, rubbing at the back of his head "Will you swear to never ever, ever, ever let Bruce know that it was me who told you? Actually scratch that, you don't know period."

"Of course," I had no idea what he could possibly tell me that was so bad if Bruce ever found out. I mean, he could get mad at a lot of stuff, but I didn't think he'd get that mad at Dick. After all, he was always comparing my skills to him. Sometimes it was a little annoying.

Dick leaned forward, "There was a kid who was Robin before you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, shoving some toast in my mouth. I knew Dick use to be Bruce's sidekick. From what they told me though, after a fight he had split and became his own hero. Now, they're allies.

"Jason Todd," Dick said, pausing. I hate when he does that for 'dramatic effect'. "You might've seen his name in the computer."

"I think so, he's dead though." I heard the words spill out of my mouth without even thinking.

I mean it was true though. Bruce keeps a lot of files and sometimes I maybe look through some of the bad guys. I mean I have to be prepared, right? Last time Bruce caught me, since I had figured out the password though he didn't spank me that time. He told me if I do it again I'll get it with the paddle.

Dick looked down at his coffee and sighed.

Then it hit me what Dick was getting to. "Oh."

"Yeah…" Dick nodded, looking a little upset. I wasn't sure if it was cause of what I said or not though. "I was still fighting with Bruce back then. Striking out on my own, trying to prove I didn't need anyone." He gave a short chuckle, "I might've been a bit wrong on that."

I wanted to ask him more about that. Everyone pretty much keeps quiet when I do though. I think it's cause Bruce is worried I'll be like that too. I won't though. I've been learning a lot about listening lately.

"Anyway, Jason was a pretty good kid." Dick continued, "Bruce caught him trying to steal the Batmobile's tires. Jason came from a bit of a messed-up life, and Bruce was a little worried he's be on the wrong end of the law if someone did not intervene. Seeing as he was an orphan too, Bruce adopted him."

I guess I was a little luckier than them in that. Not by much though.

"Eventually, Joker got to him." Dick mumbled, stirring his coffee mindlessly. "Bruce tried so hard to save him, but even he wasn't able to do the impossible. From the body it was determined that he was beaten before the bomb went off."

Guilt started to eat at me again. I shouldn't have been so stupid when that's who we were after. Bruce had told me some of the stories of what he's done, the danger he's faced.

"If you ever notice, there's a Robin costume that's not my old one hanging in the batcave. His death had hit us all very hard."

"I get it, that's why Bruce gets so worked up." I said chewing my food slowly. Suddenly I didn't feel much like eating.

"Yeah." Dick sighed, pushing his tablet away with one finger. "You know, Jason and I didn't get along the best. But, I miss the kid."

"I'm sorry Dick."

"Hey, it's okay." He reached over and patted my head. "No one got too badly hurt last night."

"Because of me, you got knocked out!" I cried, not understanding why he didn't get more upset with me. I mean he was pissed when I had done that like a week ago. And he didn't even get hurt then. "They got away."

"Tim, that was a mistake."

"A big one!"

"And, did you learn from it?" He leaned forward, starting at me intensely. Sometimes he acts so much like Bruce. It was terrible when he got like that. "Did you learn anything?"

"That I'm not good at being Robin." I finally muttered.

"No, no, no." Dick shook his head, looking like he wanted to kill me. "And no, you're not going to talk like that."

"But it's true."

"You want hear about some of my blunders?" Dick asked, his voice climbing to the point that he was nearly yelling. "Once I ignored Bruce and chased after Catwoman, who was just the decoy."

"That doesn't sound that bad." I started.

He cut me off quickly though. "Yeah well, after our fight when I woke up I was in Africa and had to phone home."

"Oh." I mumbled.

"It doesn't end there." He got up and started pacing, "We never did get the diamond back that Ivy stole that day. I don't think her save the planet idea worked that time." Dick said, waving his hands about. "Bruce spanked my ass pretty hard for that one once he got me back home."

I winced. Sometimes I forget that Dick did have to deal with Bruce being uptight way longer than I have. Although, I guess he did deserve a spanking for that.

"I've done stupid things too kid," Dick said, looking at me kind smugly. "Anything you can even think to try, I've done it and it ended worse than you. You know why? Because I trained Bruce."

"What do you mean?" Bruce was older, he decently trained Dick. Well maybe not the acrobat stuff, but still the crimefighting.

"I trained Bruce how to deal with kids, which is why he's so strict." Dick said with a little smirk as he got quieter. "I'm the reason for the rules."

I held my hands up, "Okay, I guess you win."

"When do I ever lose?" Dick challenged, with that stupid laugh of his. "I even kicked your ass in Halo last week."

"Dick!" I whined, it totally wasn't fair to bring that up. My controller sucked.

"Oh-ho, can't tell if that's my name or an insult."

"Your face is an insult."

Alfred walked in right then and just gave us both the look. That one where we knew he's annoyed with us but isn't going to say anything if we stop right now. "Master Tim, it seems your presence is needed in the study."

I looked over at Dick, the little mood boost I had gone now. "Do you think he's still angry?"

Dick rubbed is chin dramatically and hummed loudly, "I'd say you have a fifty-fifty chance of leaving alive."

"Great." My stomach twisted into knots as I followed after Alfred. I know Dick was joking, but Bruce wouldn't be. Worse yet was that my butt still hadn't totally recovered.