Dick's POV

Running through a burning building was never something I thought I'd do.

But look where I am, not laying on the floor of my cell that's for sure.

"R, you need to get out of there, that building is ready to collapse."

I put a hand to my ear, "I'll be out in a sec, B. I can hear a kid."

Running through a burning building to save a little girl was also far from the agenda. But here I am, a cape attached to my shoulders, a utility belt around my waist, and ash and dust in the air.

Also, Batman was yelling in my ear, so that's new.

I kicked down a door, coughing as a new wave of smoke smacked me across the face.

"Yell again, kid!" I coughed, putting my arm over my face to try and block out all the ash that was starting to fill the area. The floorboards groaned beneath me (and just saying, jeez rude much? I'm not even heavy) as I ran through the halls when the girl screamed again.

I kicked another door down, and the walls creaked. I really need to get out of here.

The little girl screamed again and looked a mess. She had pressed herself into the corner of the room and squoze herself into a small ball. She was lucky that there wasn't a lot of fire down this hallway or else this would be a lot harder than it needed to be.

I ran over to the corner she was in and she pressed herself farther away. "Hey, hey, kid, I'm here to help." I almost fell back when she immediately jumped on top of me, I grabbed her and started to look for a way out.

"Hold on tight, kid, we're gonna have to make a run for it." I felt her nod against my shoulder, and I looked over towards where the door used to be. The fire was too close, I'd never make it anywhere if I tried to go back through the hallway. 

"Is there a window in the room next to this one?" She nodded again. I really hope she's right, because if she's not I'm gonna have to use explosives in an unstable building.

Not fun.

I ran out the doorway, the heat of the fire had increased three-fold and the creaking of the floor had become worryingly louder. The door to next room was already open so I was able to get in easily.

You know what else I never thought I'd have to do? Jump out a window with some kid clinging to me.

But here I am, reaching for my new grappling hook so we didn't hit the ground like bugs on a windshield.

"R! You need to find them and get out, now!" Goodness, Batsy, can a guy get a second?

"I need you to hold on really tight kid, can you do that?" She nodded again and I moved my cape, so it was around and protecting her. She clung to me almost painfully tight just as I got my grappling hook in position.

I took a step back and ran for the window, kicking right through it.

The girl screamed when she felt us start to free fall and kept screaming when I shot my grappling hook. The fear of waiting for the hook to catch the building besides us was something I wasn't all that prepared for.

But I finally felt it pull my arm when it caught the ledge (and OWW! FOR SHIT SAKE IF THAT DISLOCATED MY ARM!).

"Ok, were almost on ground, you're ok." I said to her, squeezing her with my other arm. Why is she still screaming and crying? I'm the one trying to hold us both with one arm and a torn-up leg, you're not that special girly.

I all but dropped her when I finally got us down to the crowd that had surrounded the building. A woman, her mother I assume, ran over and grabbed the girl into a bear hug. I recoiled the grappling hook and put my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

"Thank you," The woman said, I didn't look up, but it sounded like she was crying. "Thank you so much."

I waved her off, still looking down at the ground. "Yeah, yeah-" I coughed "-All in a day's work and all that." 

She gasped, "Your leg-" No shit Sherlock. "-The fire department is still here, let them help you."

"That isn't necessary," I said, clenching my teeth as I rolled my shoulder. I aimed my grappling hook towards the top of another building. "I'll get help later."

"I'm glad you were able to help that little girl, but was jumping through a window necessary?"

"I mean probably." I winced as Agent A pulled another shard of glass from my leg. "It was all pretty much heat of the moment thinking." I chuckled; B just sighed at the pun.

To say Batman looked surprised when I stumbled onto the rooftop with glass sticking out of my leg may be an overstatement, but there was definitely some sort of surprise on his face.

But hey! Saving people is fun! If I get some dust in my lungs or a screwed-up leg because of it, I'll be fine! It's not like I haven't felt worse.

"Always try to look for an option where you and who you're helping stay safe. You're both a priority in dangerous situations."

"That's really awesome, B. But can we save the lectures for when there isn't a needle in my leg?"

Batman sighed again with a small smile, before leaving the infirmary.

"He really cares about you." Agent A said, still stitching my leg up. I didn't respond. "Even though it has only been a little while, he is glad that you accepted the offer to at least try to be a hero."

I hummed, who would have thought Mr. Doom and Gloom had a heart?

"I like it, too." I did like it. Yeah, some little girl screaming in my ear wasn't ideal, but her jumping towards me instead of away is just as good as being on a trapeze.

I never thought I'd be able to compare anything to preforming and being on a trapeze. But doing this every night is almost as good.

And if I make this gig permanent, Gotham city will become my circus ring. If I make this permanent . . . I can be this happy every night.

"You already have a costume," Agent A said. "All you'd need is an official name."

"You think, Batsy would accept Your Majesty?"

He wrapped the bandage around my leg, "You'd have to ask him." I hopped of the bed and tested how much weight I could put on my leg. It stung, but I could manage.

"I presume you'll be heading back to the mountain for the evening?"

I nodded. "Yeah, running through a collapsing building took more out of me than I thought it would." He smiled.

"Do try to stay off your feet to make sure none of those stitches pop, Master Richard, and have a good night."

"Yeah, see ya, Agent A."

I walked out of the infirmary towards the Zeta-Tube. Batman must have been somewhere else, but I made it through without a hitch.

The cave was dark, probably because it was some ungodly hour of the night. Coming and leaving the cave when that mini league was here had become a habit.

I made it to my 'room' and took off my cape and mask. I folded them before setting them at the foot of the bed that had been added to the room.  I flopped down onto the pillow a stared up at the ceiling.

If I made this whole vigilante thing permanent, I'd need a name. And I refuse to have a name like Kid Bat, or Bat Kid.

Who takes another person's name and just adds kid? (*cough cough* Kid Flash *cough*) Nah, I want something cool or something with a double meaning.

I doubt B would accept Your Majesty, or Your Highness, but that's pretty much all I got.

There has to be a name that I like, has some 'profound' meaning, and doesn't make me sound like some costumed dork.

What did my mom use to call me? That would be a good name.

No, that's stupid! No hero calls themselves their old nickname. That'll make me sound like an idiot for sure.

It was Robin wasn't it, though? That's what she called me, her little Robin.

Robin.

Definitely has a double meaning. But now that dumb double meanings got me spiraling down memory lane and I don't like it.

Do I even deserve to call myself that? After all I've done how can I let myself be called my mom's name for me. That just seems rude and disrespectful.

But, I could use it in a respectful way.

I am doing this is for redemption, to make up for what I've done. Maybe this can be me working up to being able to call myself Robin.

Am I really sticking with the name Robin? What if Batman asks me why I picked that as my name. Its so random and out of context.

What am I even supposed to say? 'Hey Batsy! I picked the old name my mom used to call so my redemption arc is super deep and meaningful.'

No. Just no. I'm not doing that.

But I do like the name.

And Batman and Robin doesn't sound to bad.

"Do you want to keep doing this?" I almost choked on the sandwich Agent A had brought when Batman dropped the question casually. Yeah, I knew it'd be coming soon, but answering it was a different story.

The fact that Slade and the League were still out there doing . . . something, was really the only thing stopping me.

They had to be out there, doing who knows what? And the fact that they haven't done anything was more than a tad bit concerning.

But I love this. I love this almost as much as I loved preforming. You're not supposed to just leave behind the things you love.

Fuck Slade and the League (Sorry Author) I'm gonna do what I want. Screw them, screw them 10 times over.

"Yeah," I said, a wave of confidence washing over me. "Yeah, I really do."

"I'm glad to hear it." I kid you not the Batman freakin' smiled! "Do you have a new name in mind?"

"Robin." Oh my gosh he hates it, he's gonna question me already. That's such a stupid name. Why did I just say that out loud? I should've just gone with something stupid like Batboy. God, I'm-

"I like it." He nodded. "Batman and Robin does sound nice, too."

I stopped and smiled.

I guess it's finally official.

So, where do I get my costumed freak pin?

Look who freaking updated!!! *squeals because I updated!*

But I'm trying something new so I can start updating more frequently, watch my conversation page for updates on when stories are supposed to be updated. But I'm glad I got this out and I'm ready to start writing more frequently for you guys!

HAVE A STAR STELLAR DAY WEEK MONTH AND YEAR!!!