Bat-Family Oneshots

I...dont want to be Robin anymore

"You have been standing there for almost an hour. Is there somthing you would like to say?" Bruce saud from where he was typing away at his computer. Dickk swallowed "Bruce...I think we need to talk" Bruce instantly turned to face his son hearing the seriousness in his tone. 

"What is it, chum?" 

Dick walked closer sitting down in front of his father, eyes tearing up slightly with unfallen tears. "I...with everything that happened with Aqualad, Mantra and the team..." Bruce nodded understanding all the strain the young man had been under during the time. Dick cleared his throat trying to get rid of the lump that had suddenly formed at the thought of his crisscrossed emotions "Kaldur and I have decided it is time I took over as leader" he trailed off unsure exactly how to continue.

"Are you unsure of your ability to take over the team?" Bruce asked calmly. "No, no I think I am ready," Dick said nervousness taking over his face. Bruce fall silent a look of concern taking over his face but let Dick think for a moment. "I don't want to be... Robin anymore" Dick said finally spitting the words out and recoiling in fear like the words had physically burned him. 

Dick looked at his mentor and father, the man that had cared for him and continued feeling the need to explain his decision. "It's not that I don't want to be Robin anymore, its that I need a change, I have changed. We all have and not nessicarly in a bad way. but I have more experienced, been in situations that have changed me. I love Robin, robin in mine and will always be mine but im older. Robin... Robin to me is a child. which I no longer am, I have outgrown it. when created robin I wanted it to mean something, represent something that the younger me was hanging on to. the Robin he represented the child innocents of the hero of the world and to bring light to the batman's darkness. I no longer carry the innocents that Robin was created to preserve and look over.  I need to be someone else, i need to be my own hero. I need to exit the shadow of protectiveness that batman holds over him. Robin eventually needs to spread his wings and explore the world on his own. " 

Bruce took a deep breath turning away from the son he had raised, trying to gain some kind of composure as he thought over everything he had just heard. after about ten miniutes of awkward silence Bruce turned back around "Your right" Dick froze in shock he was expecting to be disowned, Bruce was never one to let go of his control. "you have grown, you have changed and you have certainly matured and I know that Robin is the child's... yours child representation of innocents. and you are right every robin needs to spread his own wings and find his own hero. You'll do great things in your life, Dick" 

Dick allowed a few tears to fall from his eye before saying quietly "You will always be my hero I need no other." Bruce smiled before continuing "Since my parents death I have tried to control everything, so that I wouldn't lose another person I care about, I dont want to loose you Dick. Letting you be independent means letting you a little further away from me and a little more in danger. "

Dick smiled softly at his fathers show of emotion, "Bruce you are my family, no matter what costume I wear, you wont ever loose me. I'm like a god damn leech you know that." the pair quietly laughed "I know...what will you call yourself?" Bruce asked slightly scared of what his some what insane kids could come up with.

"Uncle Clark told me a Kryptonian legend once about a man on Krypton a hero, a god hero...People called him Nightwing" In front of him Bruce let out a pained dry laugh "For that statement only, I should wrap you up in bubble wrap and lock you in a padded room. A name superman gave you, Is this some sort of twisted revenge?" 

"Yes" Dick said instantly smirk playing in his lips at the look of horror on his fathers face. Bruce took a moment to think over the legend his son was referring to having heard it on multiple occasions. Bruce softly smiled "Nightwing...It suits you, I'll have to over look the Kryptoian issue just this once." Dick nodded,"Yeah I guess you will" 

Unknown to the two men there stood an on looker, just peaking around the corner stood there old friend smile on his lips as he watched the two men he raised. Silently he sent a thank you to the heavens above that this pair of dark pasts had found eachother allowing a little extra little light to the world around them, Silently, secretly healing each other to somthing more.

I never really like the way it went down between the pair, I believe that over the years Bruce grew to understand what dick needs of himself and others. Understanding on a personal level what it is like to be at conflict and lost within your own heart and mind. I like to believe that bruce as able to understand this, seeing that although hid boy was growing up that this was not the end of there bond, that together they could continue to grow and become better people.