-In which the doctor conducts basic reprogramming on the patient-

Alfred was waiting when they got back. He nodded in acknowledgement as Dick stormed past him up to the elevator.

"Dare I ask what happened?" The butler asked, voice echoing off the cavernous walls.

"I didn't let him handle the chemicals," Bruce muttered, sweeping off his cowl and making for the computer. 

There were a few seconds pause, in which the clicking of Bruce's fingertips on the keys filled the cave.

Alfred stepped forwards. "I'm afraid Master Robin feels you've been excluding him of late, sir."

"Excluding him? No, I'm just busy," Bruce returned, still typing away, not even turning around. "Besides which, I used to do this without any help at all, I don't need him for everything."

"I'm just concerned that since you've also been so busy in our personal life, that Master Dick might think you're been avoiding him."

"What? That's ridiculous," Bruce said, still distracted by the task at hand. "Alfred cancel my... thing tomorrow, I'll spend that time with Dick."

"I will cancel your dinner appointment with Ms. Starr, sir." Alfred replied. He'd known Bruce was just leading that poor girl on anyways.

"Mr. Grayson!"

Dick shot up off his desk. "Yes?"

"If you need to take a nap you're welcome to go to the counselor's office."

Dick felt himself blush. "No-- no, sorry. I'm here."

"Good, now can you please tell us whether water turning to steam is a physical change or a chemical change?"

"Uh," He stuttered. "It's-- uh-- Physical change! because when the steam condenses, it turns back into water! No new substance is formed."

"Very good, now please try to stay awake the rest of class, will you?"

Bruce was there for dinner that night, actually there, not showing up halfway through and then running out. It was a chilly fall evening outside, so they'd sat across from each other to make the long table feel smaller and more intimate. "So, how was school?"

Dick shrugged. "I got a B+ on my book report."

"Impressive since you only read half of it."

"I got busy!" He replied.

"Yes, but personal life has to come first, Dick."

"Yeah, first." He sighed. "Bruce, I feel like you--"

He was interrupted by the sudden alarms from their smart phones.

"First National Bank," Bruce said, standing up. "Get changed, we'd better handle this."

The fight was kind of a lot, even for him. Dick was the only one who could fit in the ventilation system to chase Ragdoll out, and he'd gotten absolutely covered in dust in the process. At least the battle itself was short, once you get ragdoll out in the open his options were pretty limited.

After sneezing until his eyes teared and he had a headache, Dick slumped into the batmobile so they could escort the rogue back into the proper custody.

"Back already?"

"It's Ragdoll." Robin said without thinking.

"I know." Strange replied. "I was expecting you'd catch him soon."

Dick, again, stooped, flipping open the meal slot so he could watch strange. The man was sitting closer than last time. "Aren't you going to probe me for info?" The preteen asked.

"I don't need to ask any more questions. I know that you've suffered great trauma, you latched onto the ideas of Batman and justice as a point of security."

"Yeah, sure." He scoffed, masking his defensiveness.

"What was it? An injury? Bullying? A loss in the family?"

"Stop!" Dick pulled away.

"Wait!" The boy hesitated, hands not quite covering his ears. "I just want to know what makes you tick."

"It's none of your business."

"Oh but it is," Strange replied. "You're my patient."

"You're not a doctor anymore!"

"They may have stripped my license to practice, but have you noticed that every time you're here you find yourself wandering to this hallway?" He continued. "Have you noticed that every time you return you are a little more open to talking? Yes, we've been making excellent progress."

"I'm going to tell Batman."

"No you will not." Strange replied. "I've been watching you, I know that things are tense enough between you and your mentor; you wouldn't tell him you've been confiding in someone he disapproves of." He stood, pacing his isolation room. "No, you'll scurry home I expect, curl up in the arms of someone you trust and pretend you're just tired. You'll try to hide your guilt for a few days, until we see each other again."

"What do you want?"

"Just to talk, to peak into your mind."

"You want to know who Batman is."

"I am curious, yes, but that's not relevant here, I'm interested in Batman and Robin, the dynamic between them, the influence they have. The Batman may be fueled by Justice, but you are fueled by the Batman. You so badly want his attention, it's obvious." Dick was stunned, kneeling by the door as he listened. "You're obsessed with him. You love Batman, but what is he? what does he do?
"I'll tell you what he does: he bends rules for the greater good, or rather, to fulfill something inside himself-- either way, Batman bends the rules."

"He has to" Robin argued. "Batman only breaks the law when it's the right thing to do."

"Then we agree," Strange said. "We both agree that Batman bends the law when it's the right thing to do."

"Robin!" A voice called from just around the corner, causing Dick to nearly jump out of his skin. 

"Session dismissed."

Robin leapt to his feet. "Coming!"

-CAN I PLEASE JUST GET ONE (1) COMMENT TO TELL ME THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN THIS?? THE BATMAN 2004 FANDOM IS SO SMALL I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER SURVIVORS OUT THERE-