Fractured

Part 5

"Robin-"

"Okay, I know what you're going to say, 'I screwed up', 'you expect better from me', and 'that was a rookie mistake'. Yes I know, and I'm sorry. It was a fluke, BUT I checked parameter and no one was there."

"Did you get heat signatures?"

I froze. I had not checked that. I let out a frustrated sigh and shook my head. I was already disappointed in myself. How could I forget to check something so simple.

"Robin, I'm suspending you from seeing the team and missions for now. You need to refocus. We will be running drills and you will be patrolling with me until I think you're ready to go back to the team."

I could feel my face getting hot. I was already pissed and now just embarrassed. This wasn't fair. It was an accident. An honest mistake. I could feel my thoughts being clouded with emotion. No team? I can't see my friends? I'm human too, I make mistakes. Does Bruce even care about me? Why is he such a hard ass all the time? Before I could realize what I was doing, I turned and punched the wall.

I stayed there for a minute. It took every ounce of me not to scream out in pain. I closed my eyes shut tight and let some tears roll down my cheeks, but I didn't make a sound. I had bated breath as I removed my right hand from where it had made contact with the wall. There was an indent and cracks around showing where I had made my mark. My hand trembled as I looked at it. I turned and walked up the stairs out of the Batcave.

"Robin come back here. We are not done-"

"I'm gonna take a shower" I called back storming up the stairs into the Manor.

___

I had turned the water on and was waiting for it to heat up. I slowly took off my glove and the now sweaty/dirty athletic tape from my wrist. The bruising was now spreading out. The main bruises were now turning a dark bluish black. I looked at myself in the mirror and took off my mask. I had bags under my eyes and I was covered in browish/black dust from the smoke bomb I threw at Cheshire. I rolled up my pant leg and took off the gauze to examine my puncture wound.

___

I walked into my room with a towel wrapped around my waist. I had re taped my wrist and was digging in my drawers to find some pajamas. I heard a soft knock at the door.

"Master Richard are you alright?" "I'm fine Alfred." I listened until I heard the footsteps retreat. I continued my search to find clean pajamas. I heard another soft knock "Alfred I said I'm fine!" I called out. The door slowly opened and Bruce walked in.

"What do you want?" I said in an annoyed tone. I turned my back to him and continued to search. I also tried hiding my wrist from his view. "Watch your tone Dick." I bit the side of my cheek and stopped searching. I turned to face Bruce being aware to keep my hands behind me. "We start training at 0430. Don't be late." He turned to start to walk out. "Wait that's so not fair the team is training at 0530 why is mine earlier?" "Because I said so". He closed the door, and I looked over at my clock on the bedside table. 0136 it read. I groaned. It was gonna be a long week.