There will be no more leniency, no more chances. This is it Richard."

Dick knew that. He was well aware.
"Yes master....."
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Chapter 18: Bittersweet Endings with Not So Bittersweet Results

Dick turned his back reluctantly on the man he had grown accustomed to calling master. He could run again, back to what he had come to see as his life now. He could easily slip into the shadows and there was nothing Bruce or the others could do about it until it was far too late to find him. It would be so easy, all too simple...but he had made a promise.

"I have nothing left to fight for in the end anyway, so this little courtesy of yours will seem like nothing but a blur in the grand scheme of things right Master?" Dick scoffed at the man before he took off and made his way back to Wayne Manor.

He landed gracefully as he entered through the his bedroom window. He had not expected Bruce to be sitting on his bed waiting.

"You didn't expect me to come back did you?" Dick asked bitterly upon seeing the nervous state the man he once called a father sat in.

Bruce sighed "Honestly? No..." the older man said in a near whisper "However I was hoping you would." the second statement was warm and dick could tell he truly meant it.

Dick sighed. "Look.... I know I messed up pretty bad okay, but you guys left me in that situation Bruce. It was a hopeless battle and I got tired of fighting it." Was the blunt reply.
"You guys think I wanted my life to turn out this way!? Well I didn't! I'm tired Bruce, tired of fighting, tired of being the perfect golden boy, and I'm tired of the pressure everyone puts on me." Dick ranted.

Bruce gave him an understanding and sympathetic look. It was foreign to the usually stoic expression of both Batman and Bruce Wayne, it looked so out of place across his features. But Bruce had learned a lot since dick had been gone hadn't he? He was more fatherly in a way, something dick had never truly gotten to experience from the infamous playboy that was Bruce Wayne. "I should have been there dick, I'm sorry. I know that sorry does not make up for anything you went through, but it's the least I can offer you......" Bruce looked sad as the words came out, yet another thing that was new to dick when it came to Bruce.

"Don't worry about it Bruce. Really it's fine. I just want to live the rest of the time I have with everyone as Richard Grayson. Dwelling on it won't fix it, and nothing anyone does can fix it either. This is just how things are now. I'm not cut out for the hero stuff anymore, even if I am, I don't want to do it anymore. Call it abandonment of duty or whatever else, but I just can't Bruce.." He was telling him straight and simple as he always had with Bruce.

Bruce shook his head. "If anyone deserves to quit dick it's you. After everything that's happened I don't think anyone would blame you for not wanting this life anymore."

While part of it was that shade had straight out told him he wasn't allowed to be a hero or have any part in the community if he chose this path, if he were being honest, dick didn't want to return to his heroic ways if he truly thought about it. In a way he was almost grateful and thankful that things had turned out the way they had.

Before dick could say anything else Bruce handed him a piece of paper. " I never got the chance to tell you, but you have officially been Richard 'dick' Grayson-Wayne for a while.... If you want to lead a civilian life dick I will make sure no one stops you" Bruce offered a smile with the encouraging words.

Dick couldn't help but offer a small smile back. "Thanks dad...."

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ITS FINALLY DONE, IM SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT. WRITERS BLOCK SUCKS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY LOVELY READERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR READING THIS FIC. IT REALLY DOES MEAN A LOT TO ME THAT SO MANY OF YOU STICK AROUND FOR THE FINALE OF THIS FANFIC.
UNTIL NEXT TIME - AUTHOR CHAN