Robin stood with his arms crossed in the training room, impatiently tapping his foot.

Right now, Artemis and Wally were sparring and surprisingly enough, they were actually taking it seriously.

Robin glanced to his side where Kaldur was leaning against the wall.

He was watching with a fixated stare, likely taking notes in his head.

Always the dedicated leader...

Robin couldn't help but let out a humorless chuckle which resulted in a sideways glance from Kaldur, but Robin just ignored him and glanced to the other side of the room.

Connor and M'gann were talking about who knows what...

No... Robin had a feeling he knew.

M'gann has been... rather unsure of herself since the simulation.

She blames herself, and of course Connor doesn't want that.

Well, neither does Robin.

Because he knows who is really to blame for their trauma.

He looked back over to the sparring match and his mask lenses narrowed slightly.

They all do, he was sure of that.

"All right, that's enough."

Black Canary spoke up, confusing both Wally and Artemis.

"But neither of us have failed yet?"

Dinah nodded and smiled a little.

"That's my point, you two have been going at it for about twenty minutes now. Time for another pair to spar."

Both Artemis and Wally shrug and go off to the sidelines, stretching out their arms as they move.

"And next time, don't just do hand to hand combat. I should have mentioned this before-- but it's time you use your abilities against each other. But knowing you two, you'd both be in the infirmary by the time training would be over. Now let's see..."

Her eyes scanned around the room, deciding on the next pair.

"Superboy and Robin. You're up. And remember, this time you're training with your full abilities."

Connor looked away from M'gann and looked at Robin, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you... sure about that?"

Robin turned his head towards him and walked to the sparring floor.

"What?"

Wally looked between the two and Black Canary.

"Rob you haven't exactly been yourself lately. You've been kinda off. And to go against Connor's abilities--"

"I can handle myself KF."

Something changed in Robin's face and he suddenly smirked in a challenging manner.

"Let's do it."

Connor gave one last glance at M'gann before standing across from Robin.

"Full abilities guys, you need to be able to train with them and also have self-control. So do not purposely harm each other."

Robin's smirk widened and he nodded his head once.

He slightly spread his legs apart and bent his knees, his arms rigid and ready at his side.

As soon as Black Canary gave the word, Robin ducked, already anticipating Connor's move, and jumped and flipped off of Connor's back, landing behind him.

He swiped his foot at Connor's legs but he was able to catch himself before he fell.

Connor ran at him but Robin skillfully side-stepped him and jumped onto his shoulders.

"What the--"

Robin grabbed ahold of his neck, and applied pressure at the base of it.

Connor immediately dropped to the floor, gasping.

"Fail: Superboy"

That move wasn't enough to make a Kryptonian unconscious but since Connor had some human DNA in him, Robin knew it would do at least something.

Everyone, including Black Canary was speechless.

Black Canary blinked and looked at the time.

"Forty-five seconds..."

Connor slowly got up and rubbed his neck, all the while giving Robin a reproachful look.

"We were supposed to hold back!"

Robin's smirk went away and his face became blank again.

"I was holding back..."

He puts a hand on a square container in his utility belt.

"I have a shard of kryptonite encased in lead in here."

He looked away from the gawking faces when they heard someone clear their throat.

Batman was standing at the entrance, a hint of a proud smirk playing across his face.

"Robin, it's time to go."

Finally!

Without even glancing at his teammates, he followed his mentor out of the training room and towards the Zeta tubes.

Batman stopped just short of them and looked down at his protegé.

"Well done."

"You saw that?"

"Every bit."

With that they both left out of the Zeta tubes.
_______________________________________

Robin shut the uniform case door with a sigh and straightened his blue polo shirt.

"Go get something to eat Dick, I'll be up in a bit. And take your medicine."

Dick groaned and looked back at Bruce.

He had changed too but he was working at the Batcomputer.

"Do I really have to take that stuff?"

Bruce sighed and turned the chair around to look at Dick.

"Dick... I'm not taking any chances after that simulation. I know you haven't felt the need to do "it" yet but I--"

"Yeah, yeah I know. You're worried I'm going to start cutting again, I get it! Look I know I've been kinda depressed lately but don't you think that's kinda normal given the circumstance?!"

Bruce didn't say anything, he just stared at him for a moment more and turned back to his work.

Dick threw his hands up in the air and stalked over to the elevator, rolling his eyes.
_______________________________________

When he entered the dining room there was already a tray of fresh cookies sitting on the table along with a glass of milk.

He practically jumped into his chair and started devouring them.

"This is why I always insist you eat your breakfast, Master Dick."

Alfred came into the room carrying a freshly made chocolate cake.

"Yeah well... it was Bruce's fault today. We just had to wake up at the crack of dawn to go to the Mountain for training."

Alfred set the cake down and Dick practically drooled over it.

"Now I don't want you getting sick, Master Dick. So is it the cookies or a slice of cake today?"

Dick immediately pushed the tray of cookies away.

Alfred's chocolate cake was his absolute favorite!

Alfred chuckled and grabbed a clean plate from a nearby cart and set down a white, oval-shaped pill in front of Dick.

"I thought as much. And how was training today?"

"Well, I kicked Superboy's butt."

Dick smirked and took a quick sip of milk.

"Indeed? Well somehow I'm not surprised. Now, take your medicine."

That last part was gentle but firm, leaving no room for discussion.

With an irritated sigh he popped the pill in his mouth and took a longer drink of milk.

Alfred nodded in satisfaction before grabbing a large knife and began to cut the cake.

Dick's eyes widened slighty and he set his glass down after wiping his mouth.

Time seemed to slow as he watched the knife slowly sink into the cake.

Slowly... precise... letting some of the melted frosting drizzle down the side. Just like his own blood used to do on his arm--

"--ick, Master Dick! Are you alright?!"

Dick jolted slightly and glanced at the big slice of cake that was now on his plate then looking up at Alfred's worried eyes.

"Oh... yeah. I just spaced out. Guess I'm a little tired from training today."

Alfred looked at him skeptically for a moment before glancing down at the knife on his hands.

A shadow seemed to pass over his face and he straightened up.

"Well, then may I suggest you finish your snack and then take a nap? I do believe you still have chemistry homework to finish before patrol tonight."

Dick sheepishly nodded his head before taking a bite of cake.

"Sure thing Alfie. And thanks for the awesome cake!"

Alfred smiled warmly at him.

"Of course, Master Dick. I shall go clean up the kitchen then. Enjoy."

He left the cake and cookies on the table...

But Dick couldn't help but notice how Alfred made a point of taking the knife with him.

Dick frowned and swallowed.

He watched Alfred enter the kitchen and then shook his head.

"I'm not going to do it again..."

He took another drink of milk and enjoyed the cake before walking up to his room and taking a much needed nap.

The only sleep he's had since the simulation that hasn't been filled with nightmares.

It was a dreamless sleep, but right now, that's all Dick could have asked for.