Disclaimer: I don't own Young Justice or the Batman series.

A/N I apologise if this seems rushed. I did edit it though. Would someone please tell me how to create breaklines?

xXx

Robin trained.

He trained a lot. He trained in multiple types of martial arts, weapons, phycology, advanced acrobatics (although he really needn't bother) and escape artistry, even going so far as learning how to dislocate his limbs to get out of certain situations- and this was all amongst other things.

It hurt, sometimes. But the thing was he didn't mind. As long as he learned, he told himself, as long as he got better so he would be able to bring Tony Zucco to justice, he would put up with it.

While Robin worked hard at becoming a suitable sidekick- partner? - for the Dark Knight himself, Batman would keep tabs on Tony Zucco.

Outside of training to really earn his place as Robin, Dick would spend time with his new family.

He learned to play sports with Bruce. His favourite was basketball. They would read stories on the couch together, although it would always be Bruce who read them out loud. Dick would meanwhile cuddle up against the older man's side and rest his head against chest, arm or elbow, depending on what position he was in. Bruce would ruffle his hair, and, if it was getting late and/or Dick was tired, would tenderly pick the tiny boy up in his arms and take him to bed.

Every night Dick would have nightmares.

Sometimes they would just gave him a small feeling of fear and he would wake up, sweating and panting a little before he would eventually calm down and fall back asleep without disturbing the adults living in the mansion.

Other times, though, the nightmares would develop into full-blown night terrors where he would wake up screaming, the blankets twisted around him like a strait jacket, constricting him and preventing escape.

Bruce would always be there whenever this happened. He would always be there whenever Dick cried, sobbing wordlessly into the older man's pyjama top. Bruce would hold him until his sobs eventually subsided and he would fall into a restless sleep.

It soon became routine, where Dick would experience his night terrors, take his time in getting over them, get up, get dressed, have breakfast with Bruce and Alfred, brush his teeth, put the Robin suit on, and train.

He would get to know Bruce and Alfred better. For example, he learned that Bruce too lost his parents at an early age and became Batman to fight criminals and prevent anything like that ever happening again to someone else, which only raised Dick's respect of the man he was starting to see as a father figure.

He learned all the rules that had to be followed around the mansion and what he could and couldn't achieve with the famed puppy eyes.

He learned how to cook, his favourite recipe being Alfred's amazing cookies, although he was quick to admit he could never quite hope to rival the butler's cooking skills.

In all this time, neither Dick nor Robin said a word.

So Alfred taught him sign language. It became quite useful around the manor, but Dick also became quite skilled at communicating with his new family via body language and expression, so he didn't really need to use sign language very much at all anyway.

XxX

That was until he met the paparazzi, and everyone who Bruce worked with at Wayne Tech.

It had of course been inevitable- being the billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne's ward would of course have some repercussions and some unwanted attention from the crowd and the rest of the world.

For the most part, Bruce would keep Dick away from the vulture-like media as much as was possible, which Dick was immensely grateful for. He didn't feel at all comfortable around so many people who seemed to only respect him for a good story and not as a person.

He would often cringe whenever something came up about him in the media or someone came up to him on the street and started asking questions.

So Dick quickly preferred to stay inside most of the time.

He learned to put up with it though. He would put on a false smile and would answer any questions to the best of his ability in sign language, which all the news reporters would then turn to Bruce Wayne to translate for him, and Dick would be grateful that not all of the attention would be on him.

Headlines were soon spread around Gotham city that Billionaire Playboy Bruce Wayne had adopted a circus boy of all available candidates. Some even called him things like a charity case.

Dick would frown unhappily whenever he heard of something like this. Bruce would simply tell him to ignore those people and tell him that they were mindless idiots and that they should all be rounded up and have some sense knocked into them.

Dick would smile at that, lift his head up and nod furiously, sometimes allowing a feral-looking grin to grace his features.

The people who worked at Wayne Tech however were a completely different story.

To make it short, Dick knocked their socks off with his charm and complete child-like adorable-ness.

Bruce chose to introduce Dick to everyone at once to save time.

Dick took one look at all the serious- looking people before him before signing rapidly,

'Hello, my name is Richard Grayson but you can call me Dick, hey I love that hat you're wearing what brand is it- hey is that a spinning chair I could try out please- wow would you look at the view this is so cool-'

It was obvious that no-one had any clue what the small boy was saying as he gestured frantically and gazed around with eyes that were oh so blue that their hearts immediately melted.

Dick was showered with praises and compliments the while time he was there. Dick fiddled with his tie nervously and looked at Bruce with an adorable questioning look whenever someone did so.

To be honest, all Dick wanted to do was ride that spinning chair down the hallway- and he did, eventually.

There would be no-more visits to Wayne Tech until Dick was substantially older.

xXx

It was several months later that Batman decided that Robin was finally ready to go out on patrol with him for the first time, to see if he was ready.

Needless to say, Robin was excited. He was determined to make this night a success, he wanted to make Batman proud of him- and, needless to say, he did.

The pair now known as the Dynamic Duo stopped several muggings and a robbery. While doing so, Robin would laugh that same, ghostly cackle he had done so on his first day at Wayne Manor, before his night terrors began.

Only this time, it came out sounding hoarse and raspy.

The Duo were about to finish for the night when they came upon a man threatening to rape a young woman in an alleyway. He held a gun.

Surprisingly enough, the Boy Wonder got there first.

Robin didn't laugh. His face remained emotionless as he charged the criminal, lashing out with a flying kick.

The man un-expectantly looked up, noticing the Boy Wonder about a meter away from his face. He brought his gun up out of pure instinct and fired, just as Robin's foot connected with his face.

The bullet tore right through Robin's shoulder, and the boy grimaced in pain.

Batman arrived seconds later, making sure the criminal was unconscious before turning to make sure Robin was alright.

Robin was gritting his teeth against the pain as he pressed one hand against his shoulder. Blood flowed out between his fingers. Damn, getting shot hurt more than he had expected. He would need a new and better Kevlar suit after this. Oh, he was so in for it when they got back to the cave.

Barely noticing that the woman had run off, Batman quickly turned to his partner and inspected the wound, checking to see if the bullet had hit anything vital. Fortunately enough, it didn't seem that way, but there was still too much blood flowing from the wound to make Batman feel uncomfortable.

Robin's face was pale, his expression taut with pain as Batman reached into his utility belt for bandages. He tried to focus on calming his breathing as the Dark Knight set to work on bandaging his shoulder.

Batman finished quickly, but not before checking that the bandages were on tight. "Let's go," he said curtly, holding the small boy in one arm before firing his grappling hook into the night. Robin held on to Batman with his one of his arms and both of his legs wrapped around the Dark Knight's torso, his heart heavy.

Batman flew quickly and silently.

XxX

Once back at the Batcave, Robin stood, turning to Batman with a crestfallen expression. He fully expected the Dark Knight to reprimand him on how he should have been more careful and wait for Batman before he attacked the criminal.

There was a pause in which Robin swallowed heavily and looked down at his feet with tears bubbling up in his eyes, certain he was about to get scolded.

He was certainly surprised when he felt a pair of gentle hands on his shoulders, prompting him to look up.

Bruce Wayne stared down at him, his cowl down so Robin could see his eyes.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Bruce said quietly.

Bruce led Robin into the med bay and propped him up in a sitting position on the bed. Robin removed his mask, becoming Dick. He then gingerly took off the upper part of his costume, and allowed Bruce to get to work on removing the bloodied bandages.

Dick tried not to flinch or wince in pain every time Bruce's fingers accidently aggravated his wound. It hurt like hell, but he was determined not to show pain. He had been taught not to show pain, not to show weakness of any kind, and most of all he wanted to make both Batman and Bruce proud. He would show them…

A horrible throb of pain went through his shoulder and Dick couldn't help but flinch, tears of pain and regret bubbling up in his eyes. He shut them tightly.

Bruce spoke quietly, "The bleeding has slowed, but I am going to have to apply more bandages, more carefully this time. Hold still."

Dick did as he was told. He did his best, but he couldn't help jolting upwards slightly when his shoulder was half wrapped up tightly in the bandages.

Dick felt horrible, like he had failed.

So he was very surprised when he felt gentle arms wrap themselves around his small form, making sure not to aggravate his wound. He jumped at the contact, but he eventually melted into the embrace.

Bruce stroked the raven locks of hair as the young acrobat cried into the older man's shoulder.

"I'm really sorry, Dickie-bird," Bruce whispered.

Dick looked up with red, tear-filled, disbelieving eyes at Bruce.

You're not mad at me?

Bruce shook his head slightly and sighed.

"I was, but I'm not now. You worried me, Dick. I didn't like seeing you hurt like that I want you to promise me that you won't rush into things like that again, okay?"

Dick sniffled, and nodded. He understood.

xXx

Bruce let Dick sleep in the medbay that night. He looked on silently with a grim expression as his young ward slept.

The boy looked peaceful in sleep, his back carefully elevated slightly, his expression untroubled by nightmares for once. They would probably come later as he had only just fallen asleep.

Bruce was scared. He was scared that Dick could have died that night because he wasn't there to help him.

The kid had been shot on his first patrol. And yet, he had acted unlike any other kid his age would have in his situation by for the most part refusing to break down.

It made Batman feel proud of his young partner, but it scared him because Dick was so young and so innocent. He really shouldn't be going through the whole vigilante phase, but should be enjoying his time as a child while he still could.

Bruce sighed, and shook his head. The sooner Dick could get better, he decided, was the sooner they would go after Zucco.

And after that, the sooner Dick could have a relatively normal life.

If he wanted too, that was.

A/N I edited this to make it seem a bit more realistic. It still sucks though. Wally soon.

Reviews are always appreciated.