-Hey Y'all, I'm soft launching this book for the The Batman(2004) fans out there-

"The real mystery is how he maintains that hair." Robin quipped. "Will you let me grow mine out like that when I'm older?"

It was a chilly night, the sky was surprisingly clear for Gotham, and they'd just  gotten out of Riddler's death-trap-of-the-week with nothing but a couple scratches.

"Ask again in eight years." Batman replied, cuffing Edward Nygma. "We'll escort the truck just in case, I need to talk to the staff at Arkham about something."

"Ugh! Errands!" Dick rolled back on the hood of the Batmobile. He was always very dramatic, maybe it was because he grew up as a performer but everything he did came with the double purpose of getting attention. It was why Batman used him as decoy so often. Batman slid into the driver's seat, Robin leapt in to the passenger seat. "So? off to Arkham?"

"Yes."

The drive was quiet, Dick tried to strike up conversation a few more times, but Bats was too locked in to his persona to reciprocate. In the end he pressed his cheek against the cold window and daydreamed the rest of the trip.

Arriving at Arkham, they escorted Riddler to his intake, and Batman left to speak with a couple of the doctors.

With nothing to do until his mentor was done, Robin found himself wandering the halls. Many of the residents were asleep, and he tread carefully to avoid waking any of the unfortunately placed, non-super-villain patients. He felt bad for them, he can't think of a worse place for a criminally insane individual to get treatment than a place with the Joker in it.

"You brought Mr. Nygma back in, did you?" A voice asked from nearby. "I knew he wouldn't be out long, he simply lacks the patience."

"What do you know about it?" He asked, striding up to Hugo Strange's door.

"A lot, boy wonder, but I'm always willing to know more, if you're ready to share with the doctor."

"I'm not supposed to talk to you." Robin replied curtly. He still hadn't forgotten last time, how hopeless Strange had made him feel, thinking he'd lost Batgirl, Alfred...

"You're clever," Hugo Strange replied, "just like the Batman."

Dick's heart skipped a beat. "I'm-- I'm not supposed to talk to you." He repeated half-heartedly, going to cover his ears.

"Humor me, you seem mature for your age, what do you think drives the Batman?" Hugo inquired. "Maintaining a sense of order? Deluding himself into this dream of superior morality?"

"Stop it!" Robin snapped, turning sharply and storming back over to Strange's holding room. "Batman isn't driven by selfish motives like that!"

"You're very loyal, aren't you? You follow his lead and believe in him, you're closer to him than possibly anyone in the world, aren't you? What do you think drives the bat?"

Dick thought for a second. "Justice."

"Ah, justice. Some might say what happened to me was unjust-- it's all point of view."

"No... I'm not supposed to talk to you." Dick turned away, going to cover his ears.

"Wait," Strange ordered; the boy hesitated. "How old are you?"

"I can't tell you that."

"No longer blindly following adults, but still listening when they speak... I'd estimate you're around ten."

"You could've made a living doing that on the boardwalk." Dick snarked, trying not to panic that Strange had hit the nail right on the head.

"Tell me, what makes a boy your age start crimefighting?" He asked. "Justice?"

"Yeah."

"You must have been treated very unjustly in the past." Strange said. "So have I, being treated unfairly gives people a stronger sense of fairness."

Dick swallowed, turning away. "I'm not supposed to talk to you."

The drive back to the cave was quiet too. Robin stared out the window, kicking his legs impatiently. He glanced at Batman. "So, what did you have to talk to the doctors about?"

"Work stuff." Batman replied.

"Meaning?"

"You'll see."

Dick huffed moodily. He was trying so hard, why couldn't he get Batman to respond?

"Hey, how about we put on a movie when we get in? We could make popcorn an--"

"It's a school night." Batman replied. "After I drop you off I'll be going out again."

"Oh. Right." Dick said, crossing his arms.

As the batmobile screeched to a halt, Dick reluctantly unbuckled. "See you in the morning?"

"If I have time."

Dick trapsed up towards the elevator. Alfred was inside when the doors open. Dick got in with him, watching the batmobile tear off again. "Alfred, do you ever feel like someone's not listening to you?"

"Constantly." Alfred replied. "For example, aren't you supposed to change before heading upstairs?"

"Oh, right." Dick got out of the elevator again, Alfred following him.

"Will you need any assistance getting ready for bed, Master Dick?"

"No." Dick sighed. "But can you wake me up before Bruce leaves tomorrow?"

"Bruce!"

"You're up early" Bruce remarked. "I'm just heading out."

Dick speedily descended the stairs via the banister. "Hey! Wanna do something after school?"

"I'm sorry, Dick, I've got a meeting from three to four-thirty, I probably won't get home before Dinner."

"Oh, okay." Dick replied, a little snuffed out. "Well, when you're free." He added, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "I'm going to get breakfast. See you later."