The collar was stiff and itchy, and Dick had decided he would burn it when he got home.

He'd burn down this whole courthouse if he could, but according to Black Canary he had to keep his goals realistic. So the shirt it was. And maybe the pants. They were pretty annoying.

The jury quieted, the courtroom settled and Dick eyed the microphone on the witness stand with forced worry. This would be easy. He just had to recount the night, the events, without breaking down. His testimony had to be enough to prove things right. It would be, how could it not be?

"first, please state your name and age for the record." Tony Zucco's lawyer said, and Dick wished he could add him to the list of things on the bonfire.

"Richard John Grayson," he said into the mic, gripped his hands together in his lap under the bench, his nails dug into the skin, "15 years." 16 in like two weeks but whatever.

"where were you the night of the incident?"

He had to be joking. Dick's face immediately fell into an annoyed façade and a camera snapped a picture before he could cover it back up.

"I was in the back of the circus tent, looking in on the performance. I saw it happen."

"could you recount the event for the court?" the lawyer asked, and he shared a glance with Zucco, Dick caught the tiniest glimpse of a smirk.

"where would you like me to start?" Dick asked, trying to force the innocent kid image that the media needed to believe.

"the performance, when you started watching."

"I peeked in before the lights came up, I was focusing on my parents up on the platform. I was only eight so I couldn't perform, but I knew everything about the act and how it should go down. When they started the performance I noticed there was something wrong with the equipment, I noticed some of the wires had been sabotaged."

"how did you know this?"

"would you like me to explain the intricacies of a trapeze and how it should be maintained?" Dick said, with a smile that allowed him to hide the angered clench of his jaw.

The lawyer's face dropped only long enough for Dick to notice, but he soon replaced the annoyance with a smile and said "no, continue."

"I didn't know what to do so I continued watching hoping the tampering wasn't that bad, eventually I noticed that it was that bad and I ran out to tell them. I climbed the ladder and my dad told me to go back, he swung out but I managed to tell him the wires were damaged before he was too far to hear. He caught my mother and was about to swing her to the platform I stood on when the wires snapped and the two fell."

His voice started to peter out, he cleared his throat as inconspicuously as possible once he was done talking. He'd recounted it before, plenty of times. He became less attached to the words with every telling.

"thank you, Mr. Grayson, for telling the court this." The lawyer turned to face the juror, "I must ask, however, how such an event incriminates my client to such a degree that there is no doubt he was at fault? My client was not even present for the performance. And he certainly has no knowledge of a trapeze and its workings."

Dick's hands fisted as he fought not to glare at the lawyer.

"Mr. Grayson, I understand you were young when my client was put away, but I must ask if you even knew him before the event." The lawyer said, "as you were too young to testify at the time of his persecution."

"I did not know him," Richard said, "but-"

"exactly. My client was never affiliated with the Grayson family, he has no motive. Why would he harm an innocent family of performers?"

The courtroom mumbled slightly as the lawyer's smug smile radiated. Dick took a deep breath. It was time for the truth he wasn't able to tell so many years ago to come out.

"Tony Zucco killed my parents as a financial blow to Jack Haley, the ringleader, because he refused to pay Zucco for protection from his gang." Dick caught the lawyer's eyes and held them, daring him to speak against him, "he organised the deaths of my parents as revenge. and I know this because I heard him arguing with Haley the night before my parent's deaths."

Zucco shot from his seat, "that's a lie!"

"it's the truth!" Dick yelled back.

"Zucco has no gang associations!" the lawyer yelled over them, "he never has!"

"I heard him threaten Haley! I saw him storm out of the trailer!"

"ORDER!" the Judge yelled over them, but Zucco did not listen.

"I never wanted Haley's dirt money!" Zucco said, pointing at Dick, "You're making shit up, boy!"

"Mr. Zucco, compose yourself or you will be removed from this courtroom!" The Judge threatened.

The courtroom eased as Dick took a deep breath and forced his shoulders to relax.

"Mr. Grayson, do you have proof of this accusation?" the lawyer asked through near-gritted teeth.

Dick said, "no."

"then how would you have this court believe your accusations?"

Dick said, "I would ask the court to take into consideration the investigation lead by Commissioner Jim Gordon and his findings of Tony Zucco's affiliations with the Gotham Maroni Family mob."

Zucco gripped his cane and his lawyer cleared his throat.

The court room was quiet.

"this evidence has been taken into consideration, Mr. Grayson, and it is also known that the evidence of that investigation is shaky at best," the lawyer said, "due to the fact it was effected by interruption from the vigilantes known as Batman and Robin."

Dick forced his jaw to relax, "so it doesn't matter to you because it was found by people your government doesn't pay and arm to discover the truth?"

"evidence gained from vigilante forces like Batman can be tampered with, do you have any proof that is not under speculation?"

Dick swallowed, pursed his lips.

He found Bruce in the seats, trying to give a smile or some form of assistance, silently. Even still, he felt no support in his face.

Dick looked down, "no."

He didn't quite believe the ruling when he heard it. the ring of the judge's gavel resounded in his head, the view of the jury voting blurred in front of his eyes.

Bruce helped guide him out, Alfred at his other side. Bruce was asking if he just wanted to go straight home or if he wanted to go somewhere, Dick didn't answer.

Zucco was out. On parole. But out.

How in the name of-

How?

How could this happen? There was so much proof, so much that should put Zucco in jail for the rest of his short, evil, crappy life.

"Dick? You hear me chum?" Bruce asked, pulling him aside from the crowd, "it's gonna be okay."

Dick took a deep breath, "How can they let him out?"

Bruce's face fell, "sometimes-"

"no," Dick's hands fisted at his sides, "no 'sometimes bad things happen', 'sometimes bad people aren't punished', 'sometimes you have to live with it' speeches, I've heard them all already."

Bruce pursed his lips, "sometimes there is no reason."

"no, there is a reason," Dick said, held Bruce' eyes, "the reason is because Batman found the information. Batman and Robin ruined this case."

"Dick-"

"Whatever Bruce," Dick said, shoved his hands in his pockets, "let's go back to the manor."

Bruce sighed as his shoulders dropped, but he followed Dick out, glaring any reporters down who tried to approach.

Out on the steps of the court house stood people there to support him, but Dick found nothing in them except the need to cover up the real reason behind Zucco's freedom.

Selina gave him a hug, Diana offered a smile, Thalia lurked behind unsure how to approach this. Bruce shared an awkward look with all of them.

That tended to happen when you were standing with your secret wife, the fling from your early days and the person everyone shipped your alter ego with. Dick usually found it hilarious when they all had to be around each other, now it was just annoying.

"do you want to head home?" Selina asked, "or we can visit the cemetery? Or-"

"it's fine, I just wanna head back to the manor," Dick said, frowned at Diana, "you didn't have to come all this way."

"yes, I did," she smiled.

If he was like Bruce's adoptive son then Selina was like his adoptive mother. But Diana was the figure who'd taken him in when he became Robin, seeing as Selina wasn't quite in the picture yet. Dick still remembered the secret wedding, Diana had been a bridesmaid.

Thalia, however, was a bit more complicated.

Honestly Dick didn't know what she was to him. She'd had a thing with Bruce before he came into the picture. She'd had no real connection but when she met him she'd immediately started being less stony to Bruce and coming by Gotham more.

Nevertheless, she seemed hesitant to come forward. as they headed for the car Thalia walked by his side.

"I cannot pretend to understand what you must be going through," she said, "but I offer support."

Dick gave her a thin smile, "thanks," he sighed, "it's just... they were my only family. I'd thought I was over it but this has just brought it all back."

Thalia glanced at Bruce, "you never truly 'get over it', it just becomes easier to act in spite of the pain."

Dick nodded, "yeah," he sighed, "but, hey, I've got to count my blessings, right?" he tried not to be too spiteful, but the things people said in the media and all over the internet still got to him, "at least it all got me here."

Thalia shook her head, "the outcome of an event does not negate the initial or lasting experience."

They were at the car, Alfred opened the doors for everyone and Dick turned to Thalia, "it was nice seeing you. Thanks for coming."

"any time," she turned away, as Dick got in the car she hesitated, "your parents would be proud of you."

Dick gave a grateful nod and wave as she disappeared into the crowd. He ducked into the car with a sigh.

Bruce gave him a smile, his face clearly asking if he was okay.

'fine' he tried to answer back, but he knew it was a lie.

Wally was extremely annoyed he couldn't be in court on the day to support Dick. He was also annoyed he wasn't able to be home to watch the case on the news so he could immediately console/help his friend when they met up instead of waiting for a recount.

But that was a downside to moving out of your parent's house and into your uncle's, sometimes schedules got messed up.

He was at Mount Justice, catching up with the case. The team didn't know why he was adamant that he watch, but eventually they were all with him in the lounge room. They figured it must be important, so therefore they should be there.

"ouch," Artemis said, wincing as the ruling was given, "Robin won't be happy about this. If he was involved with the investigation and that's why it was thrown out."

Wally grunted an acknowledgement but he was too busy figuring out how to best breach the topic with his friend.

"it happened years ago, maybe he'll be okay?" Megan asked.

"robin or the guy in the court case?"

"both, I guess," she said, "maybe I'll make cookies to cheer him up."

"do you want help?" Artemis asked, maybe to keep herself busy, maybe to make sure the cookies weren't burnt. Probably a mix of both.

"I'd leave that for later," Aqualad said, "We have a mission today."

Great.

The case had happened the day before. Wally had tried to text Dick, call him, he'd even gone to Discord. He got no answer. He was worried. Extremely worried.

But now he was caught up on the case thanks to the news, and Dick would be in the mountain soon. even though they had a mission.

Why would Batman give them a mission the day after such a crazy event for Robin? That just felt wrong.

Either way when the zeta-tubes lit up Robin stepped out and so did Batman.

Wally sped over, he wanted to hug Dick but he knew that sometimes Dick preferred space. He gave his friend a smile and a low "how are you?"

Robin walked straight by him, "dealing with it."

Wally walked along at his side, Batman took his place by the computer, and Robin sighed.

"We'll talk later, this mission's pretty important."

"what is it?" Wally asked.

Robin nodded to Batman as the rest of the team gathered, "you'll see."

Robin had not moved in a good hour. For the third time since she sat Megan shifted her weight.

"how are you doing that?" she asked, voice low.

"doing what?"

"you're still as a statue," she said, "how are your legs not screaming?"

He shrugged, "practice? I've staked out a lot of places."

He didn't know why they'd decided on M'gann being stuck on the roof with him. Artemis seemed like a better choice. Robin had nothing against M'gann's ability, she was great at what she did. But what she did often didn't include sitting on roofs for long lengths of time.

"so what are we supposed to be doing other than waiting?"

"not talking."

"oh."

She looked away, cringing as she trained her eyes back on the warehouse below. Gotham was full of these abandoned/not well kept warehouses, and Dick didn't know how the police hadn't decided to just have them all bulldozed. Everyone knew they were frequented by the Gotham mobs and their ilk.

After a few minutes of comforting silence M'gann turned her face back to him.

"so... how are you?"

Robin sighed through his nose, "fine. Why?"

"well, Wally was watching this court case and-"

"what?" his head whipped to her. Had Wally told them?

"there was this guy, he was trying to win a case against someone? I don't remember it too well, there was a lot of legal jargon. But it turned out the guy was given parole because the evidence couldn't be taken as it as from you and Batman."

"oh," Robin turned back to look at the warehouse, "yeah, I'm fine."

"are you sure?" she said, "it mustn't be great to know you're involvement in a case meant someone couldn't be brought to justice and instead got out of jail early."

"I said I'm fine," He reiterated, tried not to scowl.

"okay," M'gann said, clearly seeing he didn't want to talk about it, "just wanted to make sure. You know, I'm here if you need help."

'I don't need anyone's help.'

He swallowed, kept his eyes on the warehouse, looking for any movement.

'all fine up on the roof?' came Artemis's voice over the mind link.

'fine,' Dick answered. and privately thought 'everything's. fine.'

It was times like these he was glad he knew how to create mental shields, the team did not need to be privy to his mental state.

'we're good on the north side,' Wally stated over the link, 'nothing happening. Kal, what's happening from the water?'

'nothing I-' his voice faltered over the link, 'wait, there's a small ship coming in to the warehouse's dock.'

'I think I can see it,' Dick said, eyeing a small fishing boat slowly getting closer. If Batman's information was right they must be the mobsters coming with the shipment.

'affirmative,' Dick took out his small binoculars from his belt, 'that's it. I can see Falcone at the wheel.'

'how do we want to play this?' Artemis asked.

'we let them dock, begin the process of the trade. Once we have confirmation of what they're buying we alert Batman. we follow the buyers and back up Batman when he decides to move.'

'and the Falcone's?' Wally asked.

'they're not a part of the mission,' Richard said.

They all watched as the ship docked, people started filing out, only a group of 10. They lugged several large metal boxes out of the ship and onto the dollies kept at the dock, then wheeled them closer to the warehouse. Three men slunk out through a door and chatted with them. Eventually Falcone decided to grace them with his presence.

His men parted like the red see for him, he fixed the lapels of his jacket and flicked his wrist to check the time.

'what are they saying?' Robin asked over the link.

M'gann changed something in the link with Superboy and played what he was hearing over the link.

'it's almost one, can we perhaps get this done with before five? Last time you all spent far too long for my taste.'

'we'll try our best, sir.'

They rolled up the warehouse door high enough to let the dollies in, the men filed in and Falcone strutted along at a leisurely pace.

Robin gave M'gann a nod and they started to make their way to the mezzanine inside via the hallways and ducks. They knew that Artemis and Kid Flash would be doing the same. Superboy sticking to the main exit on the other side of the building, Aqualad would come out of the water and sit by the door the men had just gone through.

Superboy kept the sound over the link as Robin and M'gann snuck through the rafters.

'Everything is present, I'm sure," a new voice carried over.

'everything your boss man ordered, my boy, no troubles. The usual price, the usual compromises.' There was an audible smile in Falcone's voice.

'I'm sure you understand my men checking, regardless.'

'of course, no problem, do what you need.'

There was one thing Robin couldn't fault the Falcone's for, and it was that they did their business with a degree of class.

Finally he managed to find a spot on the mezzanine where no one could see him easily but he'd still have a good view. He watched Falcone light a cigarette and lean on a shelf, the other guy's men began searching through the crates, making sure everything was there. It was a mix of fire arms, ammo and explosives, a few other things here and there.

Now they were in the warehouse with a decent spot Superboy didn't need to send what he overheard through the link, Robin could hear the voices below with ease.

"so how's your mother Pino, she good?"

"great, she got those flowers you sent for her birthday. She and pa have been flat out lately, she appreciated it."

"ah, that's good. Lovely woman she is, her pumpkin Gnocchi is," Falcone held his hand to his chest as his eyes strayed to the sky, "a blessing from god."

"ah, that it is, that it is." The man, Pino, said.

"will there be some at the reunion, planned?" Falcone said, "I understand you've had someone high up come back in from the watch house, definitely terms for celebration."

Robin zeroed in, no longer paying attention to the men going through the crates, he ran the name Pino through his mind, something wasn't right he had a hunch.

"yes, the case was settled just yesterday. There'll be gnocchi and my Aunt's famous champagne trifle."

Aarrrgh, darn Gotham's Italian mobs and their inability to stop talking about food.

"well I'll have to make sure my schedule is empty, I can't miss that."

Aside from the food, they were talking about someone important enough in Pino's mob that a 'welcome back' party had been planned. and apparently the case was settled just yesterday.

There was a mobster's case that immediately came to mind.

Robin finally remembered where he knew the name Pino from. The Maroni's.

That was Pino Maroni down there. Doing business with Carmine Falcone, a member of a crime family that had been an enemy of the Maroni's for years.

Robin told himself that the need to interrogate Pino came from needing information, but deep down he knew exactly why he wanted to wring the man's neck. He was a Maroni, he'd probably paid off the jury, probably organised the lawyer and definitely would reap the benefits of his parent's killer being free.

Robin shifted, he needed to see Pino's face. He had no solid proof other than what had been inferred. If he could see the man's face he'd recognise him. Batman would understand.

Robin uncoiled himself from his position and slowly crept along the mezzanine.

'Robin what are you doing?' M'gann asked over the link, 'what's wrong?'

'I just need to check something.'

'what's Robin doing?' Artemis asked.

'he's moving.'

'Dude, careful, you could be caught,' Wally said and Robin's jaw clenched.

'I know what I'm doing, chill,' Robin said, finally finding another position where he could see Pino's face. There was no doubt, that was Pino.

'we've got a complication, Falcone's men are leaving,' Aqualad said and Robin whipped his head to the men who had brought the crates in.

'what? But Falcone is still there,' Artemis said.

But nevertheless, when Robin looked to Falcone's men they were filing out, leaving their boss alone with a rival crime gang.

'why would Falcone let his back up disappear?' Robin wondered.

'aren't they supposed to leave the boat here, seeing as it's not theirs, and head out into Gotham? Isn't that what the tip said?' M'gann asked.

'obviously Batman's information was a bit strayed from truth,' Robin said as he shifted more to get closer to the main entrance, the mezzanine creaked and he stilled.

'are you good?'

'rust in the beams, I didn't notice,' Robin cursed himself as he eyed the mezzanine's structure, trying to find a path without making noise. It was hard when he couldn't move anything but his head without shifting his weight, 'I'll figure something, go camo and keep track of Falcone's men.'

'Artemis is tailing them, I'll help you out,' M'gann said, creeping closer.

'no don't, you'll shift something.'

'it's fine,' M'gann turned camo and floated over. She grabbed Robin's body mentally and started to float hi off of the mezzanine.

'M'gann, don't, it'll-' as he lifted off the steel it creaked and groaned, his weight was taken from the metal and it shrieked as it settled.

And all of the gangsters below looked up to them, not able to see them easily, but Pino and Falcone simultaneously ordered their goons to go up and investigate. The particularly trigger happy ones took guns and fired up into the mezzanine.

Megan dropped Robin and he scampered away, the steel thundered. He had no time to worry about stealth.

There was nowhere to go but the rafters, and he'd be a sitting duck.

'Rob!' Wally shouted over the link, and suddenly a yellow blur shot through the warehouse, confiscating the guns from the firing squad below and then zipping up to the mezzanine.

"what are you doing?" Robin hissed.

"getting you out of the way!" Wally said as he picked Robin up and zipped off the mezzanine, "you're welcome!"

He set him down in the open part of the warehouse, near the crates, and all of Falcone and Pino's men who hadn't gone to the mezzanine turned to them.

"I'll give my thanks when it's called for," Robin grumbled as he took out his escrima sticks.

"oh well," Wally grinned, "I was hoping for a bit of action anyway!"

'Superboy and I will take the men outside the warehouse,' Aqualad said.

'Megan and I have those up in the second level,' Artemis said.

'which leaves us with this lot,' Wally said.

Falcone and Pino ordered their remaining men at the two. Robin rushed in without hesitation. At least now he had an excuse to beat up a Maroni, that would take some stress out.

He moved between all the men easily, Wally sped through them and took them out with ease. They were all down in no time at all, and Robin launched himself at Pino.

'Dude, we gotta get out of here!' Wally said.

'we can't let them get away!' Robin answered.

Pino pulled out his own gun and fired, Robin dodged and sprung for him.

He was not watching Falcone.

He heard the bang before he felt the bullet. The pain took a second to recognise in his head, but when it did it was a fiery punch to his side.

"Rob!" Wally yelled, before going after Falcone who had turned tail.

Pino landed a hit as Robin hesitated, the bullet wound made his side spasm.

Once it registered he was back to his A-game. He'd been shot before, and at this point it was a familiar feeling that spurred him into action. He flung himself at Pino, who had gone for one of the crates.

They traded blows for a few seconds, but Pino was no match. Robin delivered a kick that had him flying back to a crate.

Robin stalked after him, breath heavy.

"Rob, let's go!" Wally came back from going after Falcone.

Robin wasn't listening, he grabbed Pino by the shirt. He'd got something from the crate, probably a gun. He turned to point it at him and Robin whacked it away. As he landed a punch on Pino's stupid face the Maroni fired up whatever it was he'd grabbed and robin barely noticed the glow of metal before he felt it punched into his side over the torn fabric of his bullet wound.

And oh shit, it hurt.

He jumped back with a yelp and held his side, Pino took the chance to stand, rolling his shoulder.

"pretty cool, huh?" he asked, as Robin regained his bearings, "the latest."

It looked kind of like a defibrillator, but streamlined for easier use with one paddle, which had heated up white hot in seconds, rather than delivering a shock.

Robin didn't bother to look at his side, he just jumped back at Pino, avoiding the brand with every move.

Wally ruched in and tugged it away, "thanks for that!" he grinned as he joined Robin by the side. Robin kicked him in the head, right on the temple, and Pino crumbled.

Once there was no enemy to beat up Robin's adrenaline started to leak out of him. His side ached and the bullet was either still in him or had shot out the other side, Robin wasn't sure which he'd prefer.

"You good?" Wally asked as Robin hunched and held his hand to his side.

"fine," he hissed, winced, scrunched up his face, "ooowwwww."

"I got you," Wally said, picked him up again and sped off towards the ship. Robin was starting to wonder if his speedster friend was just looking for excuses to hold him. If Robin was being honest he didn't mind, but it was frustrating to be carried back to the ship when he could have walked.

He sat down in his seat. Aqualad was filling Batman in on the situation. He told them to head to the mountain and that he'd clean up their mess. Robin could hear the anger in his voice and he knew they were in for it when Batman got to the mountain to debrief them.

"are you good Robin?" M'gann asked.

"I'm fine," he said, clenching his jaw. Could people stop asking him that question? The answer wasn't going to change. "is everyone else okay?"

"Artemis got shot, too," Superboy said.

Artemis gave Robin a smile and thumbs up from her seat, which she was leaning heavily in, she said with a mild laugh "bullet buddies."

They got to the mountain, Canary was already there. Artemis got patched up and then Canary turned to robin.

"where's the bullet?"

Robin pointed to his side, just under his ribcage, and Canary said, "shirt off."

He took the armoured overshirt off and then pulled the black undershirt up to his chest, Canary winced and muttered a "yikes," as she analysed the brand and the bullet wound.

"holy shit," Artemis, hyped on painkillers said, "that looks like shit."

Robin snorted and grinned back, "it looks cool though."

That it did. It still hurt but his dose of drugs was ebbing away at the pain pretty quick. The brand had hurt where his shirt was but where the fabric had been cut by the bullet it had managed to properly burn skin. There was a round puncture where the bullet had sunk in and stayed in, and around it in jagged blood covered black-skin was a brand. It would definitely be one of his more unique scars.

Canary awkwardly took the bullet out, being as careful as possible to not irritate the brand. She staunched the bleeding, made sure there was nothing left inside then stitched it together. She applied something to the injury then bandaged it up.

"how are you guys?" Megan asked as she poked her head in.

"peachy," Artemis said.

"feeling the aster," Robin grinned. He'd gotten to beat up a Maroni and now he had morphine in him, he was doing great.

Wally zipped in, "wow dude, that's whack." He said as he eyed the bandages, "cool scar?"

"hell yeah," Robin said, giving Wally a high five.

"that is certainly one way of looking at it," Aqualad said.

"so what happened up there on the mezzanine?" Conner asked.

"uh..." Robin began, but the drugs were making his brain woozy.

"Robin gave us all away," Artemis said, held her arm out for a fist bump, "pretty asterous."

Robin accepted the fist-bump and Kaldur stood between their two beds to make sure she didn't roll off trying to give someone a high five.

"no fair!" Robin said, "I got caught on rust!"

"you didn't see it?" Wally asked, "that doesn't sound like you."

"what, so I'm supposed to know everything?" Robin muttered as he crossed his arms.

"it was my fault," Megan said, "I lifted him off the mezzanine when he told me not to, and it caused the noise."

Aqualad sighed, "well at least we all got out without too much trouble."

"yeah," Robin said, "and Arty and I got to do drugs."

"wooo!"

Once Batman was done cleaning up the mess and fixing everything he headed to Mount Justice. By then Artemis and Robin had come down from the hard drugs and just been put on something to ease the pain but not space them out too much. Even still, they had the debrief in the med room, so Artemis and Robin didn't have to leave the beds and risk pulling the stitches while they were still fresh.

Batman loomed, merely stated "report," and waited for an explanation.

"our presence was given away and we had no choice but to engage in defence. We incapacitated Falcone, his buyer and their men before back up could be called in."

"I also managed to identify the buyer as Pino Maroni," Robin said, and Batman gave him a look.

'did that have anything to do with your cover being blown?' His demeanour asked.

'no. I'll tell you later.' Robin answered.

Wally also shot Robin a worried look. Robin gave him a small smile in answer.

"this was a simple mission." Batman levelled a disappointed stare on all of them, "I expect a thorough report of the night explaining why and how your cover was blown and how you will do better in future."

Batman looked to Canary, she gave him a nod and Batman said, "Robin, come with me."

Robin gave his team a mock salute and marched off with his mentor to the zeta tubes.

Once they appeared in the cave and Robin sat down at one of the chairs by the desk Batman turned to him.

"explain yourself."

Robin frowned as he turned to him, "explain myself? It was an accident."

"you should know better."

Robin's face turned incredulous, "I didn't notice the mezzanine was rusted so it creaked-"

"and you alerted them?"

"no, I stopped and assessed the situation I'm not an idiot," Robin said, "Megan thought she could float me away and I told her not to, she tried it and the shift in weight made the whole think creak."

"so you're blaming your mistake on M'gann."

"you asked me to explain, so I did!"

"I asked you to explain, which requires taking responsibility for your actions," Batman said, "you should have noticed the rust of the platform and taken it into account."

"and that was my mistake, I can take the blame for that," Robin rolled his eyes, "but it was a mistake, I didn't do anything on purpose, and I wasn't the only one at fault."

Batman let a small glare take over his face, he knew there wasn't much point putting too much energy into glaring, that stopped working on Robin a long time ago.

"and you identified the buyer as Pino Maroni."

"yes." Robin held Batman's stare.

"and did that have anything to do with your mistake?"

Robin had no qualms levelling his own glare on Batman, sometimes it worked just as well as his mentor's would, but it was rather hit or miss.

"no, it didn't."

"Aqualad told me you seemed determined to attack Pino Maroni once the skirmish began."

"because he was running around with a branding iron, which he attacked me with by the way!"

"I am aware," Batman said, as emotionlessly as Red Tornado, "but you were distracted by him. You let your personal life interrupt your ability do the job."

"it wasn't my fault," Robin said, "what's your problem? It was an accident!"

"I don't think it was, you were distracted and you let your emotions get in the way."

"that's not what happened." Robin threw his hands in the air.

"that what happened?"

"I told you it was a mistake!"

"and I don't believe you."

"are you not listening to me?!" Robin yelled, "just because you're too stony and robotic to experience emotion doesn't mean everyone else's mistakes are because of our humanity! It was an accident and it won't happen again!"

"no, it won't." Batman turned to the computer, "because you're off the team and you'll no longer be going out on patrols till you can prove your emotions won't be getting in the way."

"What?!" Robin shrieked, "You can't just bench me for one accident."

"it's not one accident, you've proven yourself to be unable to work past your personal issues while in the field before. It makes you a danger to the team and yourself."

"and patrols? What, am I endangering you?!"

"yes, you are a hindrance in the field for as long as you are distracted." Batman turned from the screen, "leave your uniform in the cave and go upstairs. You have school tomorrow."

Robin's jaw almost dropped, "you can't just fire me and tell me to fuck off! This is ridiculous! I have the most experience and skill on that damn team, you've said it yourself!"

"which means you should be above on-mission distractions like this," Batman said, "cool off. This conversation is finished."

"No it's fucking not!"

"yes! It is!" batman yelled, "and if you don't go upstairs now you'll be grounded on top of being taken off the field!"

Robin glared at his mentor, fists clenched at his side. He knew this was unfair, everything about this was unfair. And he knew Batman was being unreasonable. This was why he didn't want to be him. Gotham's Knight had no room for compromise or empathy.

Robin took a deep breath, stood straight and raised his chin, "fine."

He turned on his heel and marched off to get out of his uniform.

If Batman wanted his distractions gone then he'd get rid of them.