-It's part 69, can I get a NICE? Also. I couldn't find any good photos for bullying, so I chose this...-

-Warning: this part has some real harsh langueage-

Dick's day was already ruined on the drive to school, when he realized he could remember a word in English that he couldn't in Romani.

Eighth graders weren't allowed study blocks, but Dick had to take an ESL class, Dick knew Bruce wanted him to take it, because his handwriting was still a bit messy, and he was known to screw around with grammer and word-structure.

He snuck into the small classroom and immidiately plugged in his earbuds. He tuned out the teacher until she noticed and threatened to call 'his father'. Dick muttered that if she succeeded, she should tell him that his son missed him.

He only muttered it because he was in a bad mood, but it put him in a way worse mood.

Gym class was a pain. They were in the second gym, which had no windows and echoed noises. They were doing vollyball, every round some testosterone-fuled tween would shriek at the top of his lungs; that and the teacher's whistle were really freaking out his brain.

For the fifth time, a kid shrieked and the teacher blew hard on his whistle, echoing around walls in the harsh white light. Involuntary tears sprung to his eyes and Dick dropped everything, sprinting out the door. His eyes were leaking tears, and he was almost dry-heaving. the teacher came out again to tell him to go back in since he was mid game.

Dick went back to playing, doing literally everything in his power not to let a minor sensory overload control him.

This was all to say; Dick was already having a bad day when school ended.

Now, Aiden Floyed and his friends had been harrassing Dick since he'd started school at nine. At that point, Dick didn't know any better, he assumed that was                          How classmates treated each other. Several years and PSAs later, Dick realized that wasn't correct.

But there was nothing he could do... admin didn't give a shit. It was just 'he didn't hit you', 'there's no proof he hit you', 'it wasn't on school grounds'... and it's not like he could tell Bruce. 

They caught up while Dick was hurrying to the hallway where Barbra and her friends hung out; no freshmen would dare fuck with grade tens! But Dick didn't get there in time.

"Why were you crying in gym?" He kept walking. "Why Were You Crying In Gym!" He kept walking desperately, the yelling was almost bringing on an encore of tears. "Whatever, Fag." Aiden shoulder-checked him into the wall, something he did more and more every week. 

"STOP!" Dick shrieked, a couple more tears springing downhis face. He tried to shut up and keep walking like normal, to move on like normal, but it was too late, because he'd finally broken, and given Aiden the reaction he wanted.

He checked Dick again, slamming him into a locker, he tripped over a few girls. He didn't have time to apologize.

"Why?"Aiden observed that Dick was trying to shove tears off his face. "You're a fucking Retard, you know that? You probably don't." Another shoulder check. The way Aiden spoke, most kids assumed he was messing around, joking with a friend. They had no way to know Dick was so affected by it.

"Babs!" Dick shouted, desperately, hoping for her attention. She probably didn't hear.

Aiden clearly didn't want any witnesses. So in a friendly, joking voice, he said: "Oh shut up, Gyp." and hauled him into the sports closet.

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"You're late." Artemis observed as Robin stumbling throught the zetabeam

"I know." He said.

M'gann was fussing over a 3D puzzle."Where were you?"

"The library." He lied.

"Cool-" Wally looked up. "Dude, what happened?"

"What?" Dick uttered over a swollen lip.

Wally stood up, his exclamation had gotten everyone's attention. "What happened to you, you look like roadkill!"

Artemis looked up. "He's right, you look awful!"

"Thanks." He tried to sound light hearted and sarcastic, but he was tired. "Bats set me on a quick after-school mission, it was... brutal."

"Robin, please come to the medbay." Kaldur  suggested.

"Nah, I'm fine..."

Kaldur didn't like over-using his power as team leader, but he couldn't stand that Robin looked like he was in pain. "That's an order, please come." Dick sighed, following him. Wally also followed. "Kid, perhaps it woul be better if Robin came in alone." Kaldur knew that Robin often lied to look tough in front of the speedster; you can't  make a proper medical assessment if the patiant doesn't tell the truth.

Dick was actually glad for the option, Wally would freak out if he saw anything amiss. He nodded to Wally, and limped after Kaldur.

"I'm fine. I just got a little banged up. Batman didn't mind, so... here I am."

Kaldur didn't like the sound of that. "Did Batman make you come?"

"No, but I came right after the mission. He didn't care." 

Kaldur nodded, thoughtfully. He politely requested that Dick remove his shirt for inspection. Dick said he didn't feel very comfortable doing that; it was partially to hide his injuries and scars, partially because he was very insecure about his developing body. 

Kaldur expressed concern, reassuring Dick that this was between the two of them, and that the team wouldn't know about anything. He was basically just repeating what Black Canary always said. 

"Robin, please, I just want to ensure that you're alright. You're going to lead this team one day, but you need to let us help you. I just need to know you're okay, so I don't have to tell Black Canary." He was genuinely concerned that Batman was neglecting his protege's injuries. 

Dick shamefacedly removed his shirt, clutching it at his abdomin.

Kaldur forced himself not to panic when he saw all the scars, and sewn-up stab-wounds. He made himself focuss on the recent injuries; he was covered in  grey/yellow/red marks that would everntually become bruises.

"Please don't freak out." Robin choked a little, he was used to people WAY overreacting to his injuries.

The team leader made sure that no one was watching at the door, it was clear that Robin wanted this to be confidential. "May I ask how you got these?"

"On the mission." Dick quickly exclaimed. "It was just a robbery, but once the guy's gun was empty... I think he was on PCP or something, he just punched me and stuff." He fought the loosing battle of keeping his voice steady.

Kaldur politely pretended to ignore his teammate's panic. The kid was basically crying, trying to sound brave. Kaldur let him be until the hyperveltilating started. He'd assumed that Robin just felt overwhelmed by his job, but this was starting to seem a little much. 

He got his young friend ice and a cup of water, and asked if he wanted to be alone. He did

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Kaldur kept his word, he didn't tell the team what was wrong with their teammate. But, the team did loose it the second Batman arrived.

"Is Robin here?"

"Why?" M'gann was already a little standoffish.

"He hasn't come home since school and won't tell anyone where he is."

"Well, maybe he has reason not to tell you where he is." Conner stated.

"Is he here?" Bats was acting like he really didn't have time for this.

Artemis sat up. "Look, you don't give a kid a dangerous after-school mission, have the shit kicked out of him, and the LOOSE HIM." She tried to glare at him, but to Bruce, she just looked like an angry little blonde girl.

"What are you saying?" He turned to Kaldur, knowing he wouldn't dare lie.

"Batman, I'm not sure Robin is ready for another mission, he's still somewhat incapacitated from the last..."

"The last mission?" Batman asked.

Kaldur nodded frightendly. "The one you assigned him after school."

"YEAH," Wally exclaimed. "That mission you sent him on seriously injured him!"

"Where is he?" Bruce ordered.

Kaldur tried to object again. "I'm not sure-"

"I didn't assign him a mission after school." This stunned the team into silence as their brains tried to process. "Where is he?"

-Want a part two?-