Changed: The second installment to Protected

~Changed~

The leaves seemed to dance in the late autumn sky, with various shades of red and orange magnificent against the darkened sky. A single leaf graced the headstone, making the dull grey slab have a splash of color on top.

A hand slowly retrieves the leaf and turns it over, examining it. Sighing, the hand droops to the ground, and the young man can see his reflection in the grave stone. His hair was a bit longer, though still as black as the night. His face was no longer a child's, but was becoming the face he had see in so many photos of his father. His hands were callouses and blisters, and his eyes, one bright and full of innocence, were the color of a stormy sea, dulled by the dark clouds.

Dick looked away and stood. The guilt started eating him from the inside.

Eight years.

Eight years of constant regret for wanting to go on a patrol against Bruce's wishes, the thought of what would have happened if he didn't go, the pain of stinging death that caused tearful nights and depressed days.

Eight years of  wishing for the person that was no longer there.

Jason, I'm so sorry.

A gloves hand weighed against his shoulder. "Dick, it's time for us to go." Looking up, he saw Tim's clouded eyes, and possibly the same pain that he wore in his own eyes.

A curt nod as a reply, Dick stood up and straightened his pants. "What do you think Jay would say right now?"

Tim shook his head with a faint smile, "I imagine he would say that he thought dinner parties were pointless, and try to figure out which window was the quickest escape out of the house."

Dick laughed, "I'm pretty sure the kitchen window would be his route," and in that moment the two shared a moment of light in the world of dark. "Tim?"

"Yeah?"

Dick shifted his weight from one foot to the other, "why?"

Tim looked across to the trees and clouds, big, soft and white, taking up so much space the sky was hardly blue. "It's a question I'll never be able to fully answer. But I can give you a fraction of the explanation." Tim looked back at his brother, and Dick noticed the tears stinging his eyes. "It was because he loved you." *establishing the brother love*

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It's just a normal patrol tonight. The only thing to be vigilant of is the fact that this week constant calls of a suspicious man who's been leaving victims in his path. There doesn't appear to be any connection between any of the deaths, but we haven't had much time to investigate."

"So besides that... Nothing out of the ordinary?" Tim questioned as he slipped his mask over his face.

Bruce shook his head. "No. I'm taking the northern part of the city. Tim, you take east, Damian west, and Dick you go south."

Dick groaned. "All this on the south side of town is the senior center and the pawn shop. You always send me there Bruce, can't I go east?"

He wasn't sure why he even asked. "No."

"But Bruce-"

Bruce slammed his hand onto the table, making everything on it shake. "I said 'no' Dick! For once just do what I tell you without any defiance!" He slipped on his cowl and walked away. "Now get going."

The boys slowly went their separate ways. "Maybe someone's grandma is trying to break in somewhere," Tim laughed. "You can go stop them."

Damian didn't think it was funny. "This is no time to be lighthearted Drake. Father doesn't want Grayson in the east because of what happened to Todd. Next time, so as you're told." He stomped away without any further comment.

Tim put his arm around his youngest brother. "We just don't want you getting hurt," Tim said in a somber tone. "You can understand that right?" He ruffled Dick's hair, "don't be stupid, ok?"

Dick huffed, "nothing ever happens there. Just because Bruce doesn't trust me to be alone, doesn't mean I'm not experienced enough."

Tim sighed and squeezed his shoulder. "Just don't die, okay?"

~~~~~~~
Dick stood. And stood, and stood, and stood some more.

"I've checked everything three times over Batman. There is nothing happening over here."

Batman scoffed into the com, "I've told you Robin, we all stay put until I say so. Talk a walk," and like that the conversation was over. Dick slowly started sauntering away, listening to the simple sound of silence. Absolutely, incredibly dead silent. He felt like falling over onto the sidewalk to take a nap. His silence was shattered when he heard the shuffling feet and someone gruffly say, "look man, I thought we were good with your people.." The sound of fist on shattering jaw was enough to sound an alarm in Robin's mind.

Rushing over to where he now heard the clattering of a garbage can, he found himself running down a dark alley, finding a man lying on the dirty street. Robin ran over, "sir? Sir can you hear me?" Then he took notice of the thin line across the man's neck, and the stench of the blood encircling his head. No heartbeat. Robin stood, the feeling of consuming nausea starting to eat away at him.

"This is Robin to Batman, Red Bird and Nightwing. I need backup."

Red Bird snorted, "did granny get away from you with her stolen goods from the pawn shop?"

Nightwing sighed, "Drake..."

"There's a dead man here in an alley on the corner of South and Granger," Robin saw a flicker of red, and heard someone trip.  "I'm in pursuit."

"Robin don't-" Dick flicked his ear piece off. It was time for Batman to realize he wasn't a child anymore. He took off after the runaway killer. A left, a right, another left. He caught a glimpse of a red jacket that ducked into another alley way.

Robin skidded to a halt. The suspect was standing still next to the wall, a red hood covering his features. Heavy breathing was the only sound. "Why are you doing this?" Robin cried out. "Why are you killing these people?"

The red hood covered the man's eyes, but not his smirk. "Stay outta things you don't understand kid. Back off before you learn what it feels like to end up like that guy in the alley."

Robin's hand went to his enigma stick. "If that's how you want to play, then that's how we'll play."

His blood thrummed in his veins as the smirk turned into a intimidating smile. Robin knew that his brothers weren't going to get here in time to help him, but this was the opportunity he needed to show he wasn't a child.

The hooded figure simply clenched his fists and started walking over. Robin prayed that he would make it out of this fight.

Yay or nay? Comment please! Tell me what you think!

Sorry I'm so mean for not finishing here :) but I like reading how you guys react.