Young Justice: Robin Centric

Hide the Pain

Category: Angst
Warning: Self harm

A/N: I promise the next one will be fluffy:)

***

He began to crave it. It became an addiction that must be fed. He found himself doing it more often. Every time he got upset, every time he was about to break down, he had the urge. The urge to cut.

He hated himself. He felt so guilty when he did it, but it felt so good. He could let all his anger out.

KF looked at Robin. "You idiot! What were you thinking?"
"I-" The youngest member started.
"You could have gotten yourself killed! You abandoned your team!" The ginger continued to rant.
"I'm sorry, okay? I just didn't think." Robin replied quietly. He didn't need this right now.
"I just worry about you Rob. Please don't do it again." Kid Flash told him.

Robin walked towards the door. "Okay."

***

I'm an idiot. Even Wally thinks I am. The little bird thought to himself.

His tears ran down his cheeks. His shades had hidden his red eyes from his best friend. As long as his eyes were hidden and he plastered on a fake smile, no one could see the real him. The real Dick Grayson.

His wrist was littered with old and new scars. He held up the razor and cut into his skin. The trickling blood was so refreshing. His anger melted away with each cut he made. Once he finally finished, he was left with 6 new scars.

He his night time routine. He cleaned them and bandaged them. If he kept his sleeves down, no one would notice. He could keep his secret to himself.

***

M'gann burnt the pancakes. Again.

"It's okay, we don't need to eat!" Artemis said, bored.

"What a relief! I don't think I could take anymore disappointing pancakes." she replied.

Artemis groaned. M'gann would never understand sarcasm even if it hit her in the face.

Robin blurred everyone out. No one seemed to notice him. It's like he was part of the furniture.

"Rob?" Wally tapped him on the shoulder.

The bird looked up. "Yeah."

"You okay? You're looking a little down." he said.

"I'm fine." Robin put on a fake smile.

"Listen," Wally paused, "about yesterday,"

"Don't worry about it." Robin said.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said you're an idiot. You did what you thought was right. I just care about you. I don't wanna lose you." he apologised anyway.

"I am an idiot." Robin said bluntly.
Wally frowned. "No, you're not."
"I'm useless, pathetic, worthless," he stopped himself. He didn't realise he was pouring out all of his feelings.

Wally held Robin's wrist in an attempt to comfort him. However, he hissed in pain and pulled it away.
"I'm gotta go." he told him.
"Where are you going? You can't just go off!" Wally exclaimed.
"I'm going for a ride."

The team watched him leave, speechless.
"What just happened?" Connor asked.
Wally stood up. "I need to have a little talk with the daddy bats."

***

Wally stood nervously in the kitchen.
"Your tea," Alfred handed Wally the cup.

He was about to drink it when Bruce Wayne walked in.

"Wally?" he said surprised.

"We need to talk about Dick." He told him.

"Go on." Concern grew in the man. When it came to his son, nothing else mattered.

"There's no easy way to say this." Wally hesitated. "I think he's hurting himself."

***

Dick quietly shut the door. It was late. Bruce was probably on patrol and Alfred was probably up cleaning.

He walked into the front room. Standing there was his best friend, mentor and of course, his butler.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Dickie, we need to talk." Bruce said.

Uh oh. Dickie? He only called him that when something was wrong.

Wally cut straight to the chase. "Pull up your sleeve."

"What? Why?" The bird played dumb.
"Show us your arm Dick." Wally demanded again.

There was no getting out of it. Dick pulled up his jacket's sleeve. It revealed a bloody bandage. Wally looked down. He was right.

"Happy now?" Dick avoided their eyes.

"Why?" Wally managed to say.

Dick sighed. "Every time I get upset, I cut. It helps me."

Bruce cleared his throat. "How long have you been doing-"

"A few months." Dick quickly answered.

Bruce rubbed his forehead. He didn't know how to react. He didn't know what to do.

Wally seemed to be handling it. "If you ever feel like doing it, tell me. Tell Bruce, tell somebody! This is not the right way to cope."

"Oh yeah? And what is the right way to cope. Cry? Hug my pillow?"
"Dick!" Wally shouted. "Listen to me. This is serious! Please let us help you."
"How?" Dick asked them.

Bruce hugged him. "Tell us. Tell us if you feel down, if you feel like hurting yourself."

"We will always be here." Wally added.

Dick took a deep breath. There was no point in arguing. He wrapped his arms around his mentor and cried.

***

The temptation never goes away. When he fails a test, a mission or gets in an argument. It is always there. But, he never does it. When ever he's about to, he just thinks of that night. That night when he was reminded that he is loved and needed - just like everyone else is.