Bruce's POV

Alfred treated R– treated Richard. Saying it was only a minor reaction that was cured with another dose of epinephrine.

Richard continued to stare absently at the wall, stuck inside his own head.

"You're all done." Alfred smiled, taking off his gloves. Richard pushed himself off the cot and started to sway back and forth. Alfred grabbed him by the shoulder from behind, catching him before he could fall.

Alfred pulled Richard back to the bed, "Where do you think you are going?"

"I just– I need– I can't–" I can't stay here, it was clear as day that the boy was on edge. Apparently Richard Grayson was different than his alter ego.

"You just had an allergic reaction, young sir. Your body needs to rest." Alfred stated sternly.

"But I–

"Lie down." Alfred instructed, starting to put supplies away. Richard blinked at him before slowly climbing back into the bed.

Alfred turned towards me, giving me a pointed look before turning towards the door. "Would either of you like something to eat?"

"No." Richard said quietly, Alfred gave me another look before leaving. I turned to leave, to find more on Richard. I searched for him, but I couldn't look forever. I'm ashamed to say I stopped looking. If I'd just kept looking longer I may have found him with the League, could've helped him. He wouldn't have to be here, sitting on a medical table, no doubt as lost as me. He could-

"So when are you throwing me in jail?" I turned to look back at him, he was still staring at the wall.

"Why would I do that?" I came back into a room, sitting in one of the chairs. Richard looked over at me, with a look that screamed 'really?' "Do you really think I'd have kept you in the mountain for so long, even bring you to the Batcave just to put you in jail?"

"That's what heroes do, don't they? Get answers, lock up the bad guy?" Richard scrunched his face up, I could only assume in thought.

"Do you think you're a bad guy?"

"Of course I'm a bad guy! I've killed people!" He sounded so sure, but a small shake in his voice gave him away. He didn't want that to be the answer.

"But you've told us that you don't like to kill, that you were forced to." Richard continued to stare at the wall, but he sank into the bed some and let out a long breathe. "That doesn't seem like such a bad guy to me."

Richard crossed his arms over his chest. "Well it should. I'm just as bad as all your little villains."

"You willing helped the team not long ago. No one forced you too. You helped them all by yourself."

"That–!" Richard all but shouted, sitting up. He held up a finger which soon flopped back down, unable to think of a comeback.

"I'm not a good guy." He said, "If I'm not a bad guy, then I'm just . . . I'm just a guy."

"You can be just a guy." Richard didn't respond, "Or you can be use your skills to work with the team, it's your decision." 

Richard stayed quiet, lost in thought for a while. 

"Well . . ." He said out of the blue. "I do technically work for you. What do you want me to do?" 

Dick's POV

To be a hero, or not to be a hero . . .

That is the damn question. 

How does one just choose to become a hero? Do I sign some form? Save a civilian's life and start getting praise and backlash from the media? Or just throw on a cool costume with some odd name? 

OR! 

Or does someone just go, 'go and become a hero, kid! You got the gusto!' 

That doesn't seem likely. But the authors running on fumes and is trying her hardest, so I'll cut her some slack. 

But just deciding, just like that? 

I could say yes, maybe start, or attempt, to make up for the things I did. Save some people, help some people, make sure people don't get killed. 

Or I could say no. Because I do have a reputation. And what hero would want to work with me? What civilian would want to be saved by me? Everyone will be to scared I'll slit their throats or stab them before I get them out of a burning building. 

And what if Slade and the League find me out there saving people? They'll be livid! The complete opposite of asterous! DIS-asterous, super heavy 'dis'. They'll snatch me up in an instant and I'll have to work for them again. 

But I work for Batman now. He can tell me what big things I have to do. He can make sure I don't make bad decisions like Slade and the League did. 

Batman can decide if I become a hero or not. 

"Well . . ." I said, slouching a bit. "I do technically work for you. What do you want me to do?" Batman looked at me closer, some look on his face I couldn't decipher. 

"Richard . . ." He said, I fought back the urge to correct him. "This is your decision. I can't force you to become a hero." 

"Then just tell me what you think I should." I blurted. 

When had I become so indecisive? 

Batman sighed and looked towards the wall in front of us. I played with the sheets on the bed in the stagnant silence. 

"How about you trial run with me." He said, turning back towards me. I looked up at him with a confused look. 

A trial run with the famous Batman. A trial run, helping people. A trial run in Gotham city. 

A trial run. 

Not a life long sentence, just a test. And Batman is allowing me to say no. I have power over my big decisions, but there are less options now. 

Less bad options now. Less likely to make the wrong decision. 

More likely to make the right choice. 

"I'd need a new suit, and name too." I thought aloud. "Then the famous Batman's got himself a partner." Batman nodded, and maybe a tiny smile was pulling on his lips. The twitch on his face was gone in an instant so I couldn't be sure. 

But maybe Batman was . . . happy? that I chose to do the trial run. Maybe. 

So maybe this'll end up being the the right decision. 

Hey!! Feel free to throw tomatoes I know its been awhile and I deserve it XD

Am I gonna promise you guys the next chap will come soon? No. But I will definitely try.

And I am so sorry, this chapter was in the works since the chapter before it was posted I just now finished it though. 

If Time Management was a class I'd take it twice and fail it every time. 

But I am sorry again, but I am doing work on other stories (which isn't excuse) but you guys are always in my head. 

So I'm sorry again, but here's your update!

HAVE A STAR STELLAR DAY WEEK MONTH AND YEAR!!