Author note: Chapter 4!! This ones a bit angsty! I thought it was important to add nightmares into the story, because you have to remember that at that age, Dick recently lost his parents, just a heads up. Thanks for the support on this book, you people seem to really like it so I'll definitely try to update at least once a week. Vote and/or comment if you enjoy. Thanks!

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Dick remembered their horror-filled faces too vividly. He remembered watching them fall down, down, and down... And then finally, they hit the ground with a splat. That's how all of his nightmares went. It was always the same memory. He didn't remember anything that happened after that, he was too traumatized.

Every time they fell, as he desperately climbed down the ladder as if he could still save them, the sickening crack noise seemed to get louder and their bodies seemed to bleed more than the last nightmare.

Then he would shake their lifeless bodies, even though he already knew they wouldn't come back.

And then?

The memory ended- ironically silenced by a single heart-wrenching scream.

Eight year old Dick Grayson woke, his forehead sweaty and his throat dry from the scream he let out. He was used to being covered in sweat at night with a raw throat. However, he would never get used to the reoccurring nightmare- no, memory.

Bruce or Alfred would always come into his room to comfort him. Some nights were worse than others. Some nights he could concentrate on Bruce's soothing words, and other nights he could only hear ringing in his ears. But he didn't have anyone right now.

Accepting the fact that if he were to fall asleep again he'd wake someone up, he turned on the lamp sitting on the bedside table. It was a dim yet comforting glow.

Sitting cross legged, the small acrobat withdrew from his senses, focusing on his breathing.

It was midnight. For five more hours he sat on the bed meditating, the light from the lamp giving him enough reassurance and security to push the horrifying thoughts of his past to the corner of his mind.

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Later in the morning
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When Megan walked into the kitchen she jumped a bit when she saw Robin sitting at one of the bar stools, kicking his legs back and forth. At six in the morning.

"Hi." He greeted, not moving his glance from his fingers which were tapping the granite counter top.

"Hi Robin..." Megan replied awkwardly.

After receiving no reply, the redhead cleared her throat as she walked towards the cupboards. "Do you want breakfast?" She asked kindly, giving him a warm smile.

"I already ate." He lied, his gaze still locked on his hands resting on the table. His legs continuing to swing back and forth casually.

When Robin finally looked up, it was hard to miss the sad expression plastered on the Martian's face. He gave a short sigh, and gave in. "I guess I'm still hungry. I do like to eat."

"Wonderful! Since I didn't get to finish the pancakes yesterday I have some leftover batter. How does that sound?" She offered, her face lightening up once again.

'Mmm. Those pancakes smelled so good yesterday...' The boy thought, his mind drifting elsewhere.

"Robin?"

'Maybe they'll be chocolate chip pancakes...'

"Robin? Hello?"

'She better not use that cheap knockoff syrup brand from Kroger, I would never put that kind of garbage in my mouth...'

"Robin?!"

Finally snapping out of his thoughts, Robin's eyes widened and he gave a small apology. "Sorry. I was thinking about pancakes."

"It's alright! I'm sure you have quite the imagination."

Just then, a plate of picture-perfect chocolate chip pancakes with the best brand of syrup and a little bit of butter appeared in his mind. They were golden brown, which reminded him of a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. And then, a giant beautiful rainbow appeared over the plate of yummy pancakes.

The pancakes and rainbow vanished when Kid Flash entered the room, announcing it as well, and then Robin realized that the flawless pancakes were just another figment of his imagination.

"You have no idea..." He mumbled.

"Mornin' Green-Cheeks! Plus Robin. What's cooking good looking?" The speedster flirted, waltzing over to the couch and sitting down with a plop.

"Just making pancakes for breakfast!" Megan replied, oblivious to the fact that Wally was trying to flirt.

"Smells yummy." Zatanna commented as her and Artemis entered the room, alongside Raquel.

The Martian laughed brightly. "Thank you! Any idea where Connor and Kaldur are?"

"Connor needed to talk to Kaldur, they said they'd join us soon." Raquel answered, followed by a yawn.

---

Connor and Kaldur stood in the hangar. Connor seemed a bit troubled, and Kaldur noticed. The Atlantean's face turned into one of confusion, his brows furrowing a bit.

"Is something wrong?" He asked the clone, who seemed stiff.

"With me? No. I just have a question for you."

Kaldur's head tilted a little bit, and Connor took that as his cue to spit out his question.

"Did you hear anything last night?" Superboy asked blankly, and Kaldur shook his head no.

"Sorry, my friend. Unfortunately I do not have super hearing like you, and didn't hear anything out of the ordinary. Perhaps you should ask the others?"

"No. It was probably nothing."

"If you insist. I suggest we head to breakfast before the others get impatient."

Connor nodded, and the duo left the hangar and started towards the recreational room.

Superboy heard a scream and he knew it was Robin's. All his thoughts about young Robin being an egotistical little brat had been replaced with worry. The walls were very thick; but not thick enough to block out Connor's super hearing. The boy's scream was so vivid, it was almost as if he could see the pain he was going through.

It broke the clone's heart... And his heart couldn't be broken easily.

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"Who wants the first serving?"

"Ooh! Me! Me!" Wally said like a child, jumping up from the couch.

Artemis rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "What a surprise." She mumbled sarcastically.

Megan used the spatula to move two golden brown pancakes to Wally's plate. He grabbed it eagerly, without a thank you, and went to sit at the bar stool. He grabbed the syrup bottle and downed his pancakes in it, adding a big hunk of butter on top. Robin awkwardly sat beside him, watching the speedster eat the giant pancakes.

"I think you're scaring mini Robin with your eating habits, Wally." Raquel said pointing at the boy sitting next to the speedster, who's face represented one of disgust.

"Nmph... I'm not!" Wally said between mouthfuls.

"You eat like a pig." Zatanna commented.

"He eats like a pig that hasn't ate in 10 years." Artemis added, with a devilish smirk.

Before Wally could argue, Superboy and Aqualad entered the room. Kaldur had his usual welcoming smile on his face, and Connor- as usual- had a scowl on his face. Everyone couldn't help but notice that Connor seemed a bit more uptight than usual.

"Hello, everyone. How is breakfast?" The team leader greeted.

"Wally seems to enjoy it." Artemis said as she grabbed her serving of pancakes.

Megan was happily cooking the pancakes in the kitchen, flipping pancakes and being cautious not to burn them. "Hello, Connor! Want some pancakes?" She offered sweetly.

Connor blankly replied, "no."

The Martian's smile turned upside down, the sadness evident in her face. Connor didn't say anything about it. He went to sit on the couch as he listened to the clanking of forks and plates, and the occasional burp from Wally. Every few seconds he would glance at Robin, who was seemingly perfectly fine. So why did it seem like something was wrong last night?

After Robin cleared his plate, he took it to the sink. He casually cartwheeled over to the couch, making it look like it was the easiest thing in the world. He plopped down on the green sofa next to Connor, giving him a smile.

"Hi Connor." He said casually.

"Well you're being awful nice today. What a shocker." Connor replied with a scoff.

Connor saw the way his head went down a bit and how a small frown formed on the little boy's face. But then, anger washed over.

"I just said hi! Why do you have the right to say I'm rude, when you're the first person who treated me like dog crap the second I walked in this room yesterday?! Maybe if you weren't so stuck up and uptight things would get through your thick Kryptonian skull! You're lucky I haven't shoved a piece of Kryptonite up your-"

"Robin! Enough!" Kaldur interrupted, before the boy said something he regretted.

But the truth was that Robin didn't regret any of it. This asshole had made a comment about his parents, without even knowing what had happened to them. He had a right to be rude back... Especially after he tried to be nice to the clone.

Wally, Artemis, Megan, Zatanna, and Raquel watched the scene awkwardly, surprised by the youngest's outburst. Kaldur's arms were crossed, and Connor's scowl was worse than usual. His fists were clenched so tightly that Kaldur swore they were turning white.

Robin's face was blank- barely any expression. It was as if the anger had just disappeared. "I'm sorry." The boy said, even though he wasn't sorry at all.

"Bipolar much?" Raquel groaned, and Robin rolled his eyes.

"I'm not bipolar. I just told him what you all wanted to hear. I'm still angry." Robin snapped back, but somehow he did it calmly. The others still watched, feeling more awkward than ever.

Robin got up to leave the room, but Connor quickly stopped him. "Could you try to keep it down tonight? Some of us actually want sleep."

The others gave each other confused glances. Robin pushed Connor away, and continued out of the room. A few seconds later, Connor realized what he had said- and done.

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The Batcave
---

"Master Bruce?"

"Yes, Alfred?"

"Have you checked up on Master Richard this morning? He is still at Mount Justice."

'Shit.' Bruce thought. He was too busy with his work as Batman that he didn't even check in on his protege, who was probably going through a lot.

If he was only eight, that meant he had recently lost his parents and just finished his training. He was probably still traumatized. Who wouldn't be?

"See if you can figure out anything Alfred. I'm going to Mount Justice." Bruce Wayne then changed into Batman, and headed towards the zeta platform.

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To be continued...

If you're looking for another book to read, try my other stories.

Regarding Robin

Suspicions

Survival of the Fittest

Behind the Mask: Rogue