Robin one shot part 3!

Bruises from Bruce

"He did this to you?" He nodded. "We need to get the police involved and you to a hospital."

"It's no use. Bruce is a billionaire, you know he can just pay them off. If I go to hospital, he'll figure out where I went and make me come home," the teen argued. "You can't do anything."

"We can do something. I'm sure we have something to use as a cast for your wrist and you can stay with us for the time being," Lois stated. Her voice was stern and comforting. 

"You can't tell my brothers where I am either. No one can know. If Bruce figures out that I ran off and told someone what was going on I-I-"

"It won't come to that but I need to know what happened. How long has this been going on for? What else has been done?"

"Well, it all started around a month ago..."

Dick didn't know what was going on with his mentor but he was worried. Every night he was up with work and on patrol he was silent. He asked Alfred what could be happening but the butler told him just to keep his distance from Bruce. His brothers proved better for information and told him that Bruce most likely had some important business stuff going on. Each assured him he didn't need to worry about these things and just get on with his own things. Occasionally, Bruce would snap at him and call him something like stupid or idiotic but it wasn't enough to make him particularly worried. He knew when people were stressed they said things they didn't mean. Besides, he could escape to Young Justice when he needed the time away. Even on patrol, he didn't need to stay with Batman. The problems only got worse when he went on a mission with his mentor.

The mission itself was heading for failure before it even began. He and Batman were planning it out but if he were honest it was only Batman. He tried offering his ideas and suggesting ways that would give a better chance at success but he was told to either shut up or that he didn't know anything. Every piece of input was thrown out as quickly as he gave it. It got to the point where he knew this plan wouldn't work. Even if they followed it to the last letter it wouldn't guarantee success. He knew there was a better way to go about it but he wasn't being listened to. He got frustrated. "B, this isn't going to work! You're causing more damage this way but if we avoid the-"

"I didn't ask for your opinion Robin," Batman told him gruffly.

"No, but when lives are at risk, I have to say something" he snapped.

"You are far too naive to know that. I want to hear no more from you for the rest of the night unless I ask to, got that?" Robin scowled at his mentor but nodded all the same. If he protested further, he'd be benched but if he went along with it then he could step in when everything inevitably went wrong. He'd do more good saving the old man from his own stubbornness than arguing now. "Good. Now stop being bratty and get in the car." This had to be one of the first time his insults actually hurt. Batman had been open to suggestions before but now he was angry? It wasn't even warranted! Robin could admit that he could be a pain but he was voicing a real opinion here. Why was that now a bad thing? Maybe he just got too used to Kaldur's style of leadership. He was always open and willing to suggestion. Though Robin swore that his mentor had been the same, maybe he'd just been looking at the past with rose-tinted glasses. "Robin!" Batman yelled, making him jump. "Get your ass in the car. You better not be this slow all night."

"Sorry I just zoned out."

"If I wanted your excuses I would ask, wouldn't I?" Robin went to reply but closed his mouth, thinking better of it. He ran to the car and got in. He prayed his night would get better.