<-- back to main or review this story Title: Taken Care OfAuthor: TheSecondBatgirl Recipient: Kristina Pairing: Roy/Tim Author's notes: Takes place post War Games/Post Outsiders 16. I hope you enjoy! "Don't get up." "Except he was never a junkie." Roy just kept replaying the words over and over in his head. They were up there on the list of phrases that he never expected to hear come out of Dick Grayson's mouth, somewhere tied with "I want to be Robin again" and "I don't care what Bruce thinks of me." Still, considering that Dick seemed to have completely lost his mind, had said (and done) those things, and was currently acting in a way that would make Bruce ashamed of him, Roy could only assume that at some point in the near future Dick would show up in those short pants and booties again. Roy decided that the only thing he could do was try to track down the other people who knew Dick well and see if they could figure out what was wrong with him. ~*~ So far, Roy was horribly disappointed. True, Oracle had been the one who had let him know where Dick was in the first place, and she was concerned about him, but she had no idea why he was acting like this. The Outsiders didn't know any more than Roy did. The former Titans were useless – Dick hadn't confided in them at all. Donna was still dead. And Roy certainly wasn't going to ask Batman for anything. That left Robin. Tracking down the current Robin was a lot harder than Roy had thought it would be. He didn't want to tip off Batman, and it took him a while to think of looking in Bludhaven. But when he finally did find the third Robin, he grew angry with Dick all over again. You could tell a lot from a Robin from how they moved, and this Robin was clearly in a lot of pain. Anger, hurt and fear simply radiated off of him, and Roy wondered exactly what could have happened to have done this to him. Really, he shouldn't wonder. From what he knew of the kid, Dick Grayson was on the very short list of people who could hurt this Robin that badly. And the Dick he knew would never have hurt Robin. Not after Jason. He cared too much. Roy resolved right then and there to find out exactly what he could do to fix this Robin. Dick would have to wait – he had changed. And the Dick that Roy knew, that Roy loved, would not want another Robin to fall apart. He started trying to figure out how best to intercept Robin, but he should have remembered that he was dealing with someone who had, after all, been trained by Batman. Robin appeared on his rooftop, fixing him with the same glare that had so terrified Roy when he was younger. However, years spent being friends with Dick, plus gaining some self-esteem broken him of his fear of the bat-glare. And Roy certainly wasn't going to be scared of a teenager. "What are you doing here, Arsenal?" Robin asked coldly, and Roy recognized the 'I am the Bat I take charge of this situation now' tactic immediately. "Came looking for you," he answered nonchalantly. "I had a few questions for you." Robin glared at him, and crossed his arms over his chest. "What do you want, Arsenal?" he asked again, his voice growing even colder, if that was at all possible. Roy sighed. Robin was supposed to be full of life – the light to Batman's dark. But this kid… instead he was more of a mini-Bat. There was almost no joy in him. There used to be, he remembered. Back when there had been Young Justice. Dick had been happier then as well, back when they had been on the Titans. "So, something is up with Nightwing," he said. No names on the rooftops. Roy knew that. Robin's eyes narrowed behind the mask. "You say it like you've had some firsthand experience." "Something is going on with him," Roy told him. Robin nodded. "I know," he answered. "He wouldn't tell me what was going on. Just blew me off." Although he said the words without showing any emotion, Roy had spent enough time around Robins to know that Robin was actually hurt by Dick's actions. "Want to talk about it?" Roy offered, not even thinking about it. Years of working with a Robin, his Robin… "Why should I trust you?" "I've been keeping Robin secrets for years," Roy pointed out. "And I can keep yours, if you'll let me. Sounds like you could use a friend about now." And Roy could use one as well, and a distraction from thinking about Dick. Robin just stared at him, and eventually his eyes softened behind the mask. "I guess," he said. "I'm going to patrol," he said finally. "Well, I'm always glad for the company, so I'll come along," Roy said cheerfully. They patrolled in silence after a while, all of Roy's efforts at conversation were failing. Robin just didn't want to talk. Still, Roy was never one to give up easily, and every now and then he would try. "Why are you still here?" Robin asked him. "I'm not going to leave you alone when you're in a bad mood," Roy told him. "I don't want you to get hurt." "I can take care of myself," Robin responded shortly. "Yeah, well, sometimes you need someone else to help take care of you," Roy told him, bitterly not trying to think about Ollie. "I guess," Robin said quietly, taking a seat on a nearby roof ledge. Roy took a seat next to him, and put a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Look, whatever you need. Even if it's just someone to trust…" "Dick doesn't care, so why should you?" Roy started at the kid breaking the no-name rule, he must be in worse trouble than Roy had thought. "Because the Dick I know would have helped you. And you know, you are a Titan now. That makes you family." "I guess," Robin said, but he didn't flinch away from Roy's touch. In fact, he leaned into it, and rested his head on Roy's shoulder. He had made a promise long ago never to let Robin fall. It may be a different Robin, but Roy would keep his promise. He would take care of this Robin now, and see what he could do about Dick later. "Come on," he said, getting to his feet and pulling Robin up with him. "Let's get you taken care of." Robin nodded, and mutely held out his hand. Roy took it, and led him home. And just hoped that he could fix this one. He didn't have much hope for the other one. <-- back to main or review this story |