Chapter Text
Being part of the justice league meant being ready for anything at any time.
It was a slow day, no villains attempting world or city wide destruction, no banks being robbed, nothing so everyone was just waiting and filing reports, well apart from Barry who was messaging his 11 year old nephew who moved in with him a week ago and is currently at his home, in central City, with Iris.
But it was safe to say, no one expected to see Superman look so alarmed randomly, so alarmed, may they add, that he knocked his seat over.
“Whats up, Supes?” Oliver asked, looking to the Kryptonian.
“I just heard like, a child giggling.” He said, making his way to the hallway out of the report room, followed by the others, minus Batman who just sat and sighed.
“Wait.” Batman said, stopping the group in their tracks.
They all looked at him mildly confused.
“Shouldn’t we check for intruders?” Barry asked, tilting his head slightly.
Batman just grumbled and pointed to the ceiling, the JL following his finger just saw a child, hanging from the metal support beam, in a traffic light outfit and domino mask, trying to suppress a smile.
“Who-“ “What-“ “How-“ the league all started at once, Superman flying up to the small boy.
“Oh! Suparman!” The boy beamed, mispronouncing the man’s name, pulling himself to sit on the bar instead.
“Hello,” Clark smiled, “now, who are you? And can I help you down from here?”
The young boy just grinned and jumped down into a roll, making each member of the league’s (beside Batman’s) heart drop. As the boy stood out of the roll and the kryptonian returned to the floor, where the rest of the JL stood, in shock.
“I Robin! B partner!” The boy grinned.
All eyes turned to Batman, who began making his way to the young boy.
“What you doing here chum? You’re meant to be with A today.”
The boy stuck out his tongue, “Bored.” He pouted, crossing his arms.
“Okay, does A know you’re here?”
The boy looked down at his feet, his hands dropping in front of him, picking at his cuticles.
The group was silently watching the conversation, waiting to see what happened next, would Batman yell at the boy?
Instead, Batman knelt down to the boys height and took his hands into his own.
“It’s okay, I’ll message A so he doesn’t worry and you can stay here, with me, until we leave. Okay?”
The boy lit up and started bouncing on the soles of his feet.
“Real?” The boy asked looking the the rest of the team who still stood there awkwardly.
“Really.” Batman said, and Barry could swear he could see a smile on the man’s face.
“Tank tu!” The boy wrapped himself around the dark knight, who stood with the boy attached to his torso.
“League, meet Robin.”
“Oh my Hera, you are sweet.” Diana stated, first snapping out of the shock
“Hi Miss Diana!” The boy beamed, “Hi Jwustic league!” He waved.
“Hello Robin, I’m-“ Clark begun.
“Clark Kent, Supraman, kryp- kyp- kryp-“
“Kryptonian.” Batman helped.
Robin stood for a moment, mouthing the word as the rest of the league wondered if this boy knew all their identities, as Clark just smiled.
“Kryptonian, alien, but amazing alien!” The boy stated, melting the kryptonian’s heart.
“You can’t go calling people aliens, Robin.” Batman stated.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He said, looking down at his feet.
“It’s okay, Kid, and Batman, it’s okay, I am.” Clark smiled, kneeling infront of the young boy, who still was looking at his feet, “and who are you, Robin?”
The boy looked up at the man in blue and back at his mentor in black and pouted.
“That’s secret.” Robin stated.
“Well then, it’s nice to meet you kiddo.” Clark held a hand out for the boy.
The boy beamed and ignored the hand completely, wrapping his arms around superman, shocking the man and the rest of the league, once he pulled away the young boy looked sheepish.
“Sorry, you kind.”
“It’s okay, you can hug me if you want.” Superman smiled, holding his arms out for a hug again, which the young boy accepted, and was picked up by Clark, who then stood to look at the bat for if it was okay, slightly surprised to see a fond look on his face.
“Robin is still learning to adapt to life as he has it now, he has tended to be adverse to physical contact. It’s good to see him being a bit more open.” He explained.
“How old is he, are you, Robin?” Barry asked, knowing to not exclude the boy on the question as past experience tells, don’t treat children like they aren’t there.
Robin pulled away from Clark’s neck, where his head had rested and looked at the man in black, who took a long sigh.
“He is nine.”
The room went silent for a moment, a long moment.
“FUCKING WHAT?!” Hal yelled.
“What.” Oliver stated.
“I nine!” The boy smiled, suddenly wriggling in Clark’s hold, until the man snapped out of his shock and put the boy down.
“Nine. HE’S FUCKING YOUNGER THAN BARRY’S SPEEDSTER NEPHEW AND WE ALL SAID HE COULDN’T BE A FUCKING HERO!?” Hal exclaimed, causing the boy to jump and look really embarrassed, which earned him a death stare by the rest in the room.
“Language, there is a child present.” Batman said, walking over to the boy and picking him up, where he hid his face in his father’s shoulder.
“Sorry…” Hal said, “but, Spooky, nine?”
“I, too, must say, while in my home we begin fighting young, we don’t force nine year olds to fight.” Diana stated, giving Bruce a narrowing look.
“No force. I wanted kill murder.” The young boy stated, whipping his head around to look Diana in the eyes, shocking the group.
“Yes, but we don’t kill, do we Robin.” Batman said, shifting the boy slightly higher on his hip so he didn’t sit directly on the bruise forming from his fight with the penguin yesterday.
“Nope!” The boy said, popping the p, “B help me control anger.”
Barry looked at the boy, this small, little kid, this nine year old and said the only thing in his head, “We could introduce him to Wally?” He squeaked, half expecting instant denial but instead was met with Batman and Robin looking and each other, seemingly talking with the minds.
“Why not, but Robin’s identity isn’t to be revealed.”
“Friend?” Robin mumbled, looking at Barry with wide, shining eyes.
“Yeah, I’m sure Wally would be very happy to be friends with you.” Barry stated, “and the identity thing is fine, he knows enough heroes to know that if they refuse to tell him their identity, he won’t push. Plus, I think it’ll be good for him, good for both of them.”
“I agree, it’ll be good for the two. Especially with Wally also being related to a hero, we may not know Robin’s origin but my guess is that he is somehow related to you, Batman?” Arthur stated, “And perhaps one day, when they are older, those two, and any other sidekicks-“
“Partner.” Robin mumbled, interrupting the Atlantean.
“Sorry, Partners, may choose to continue the justice league or start their own team.”
“Perhaps, let’s see how he and Wally get on first.” Batman said, then turning his attention to the boy in his arms who had been poking at his shoulder, “Yes?”
“Batman, când pot să-l văd pe Wally? Vreau un prieten! În curând, te rog! Poate mă poate ajuta cu engleza?!”(batman, when can i see Wally? i want a friend! soon, please! maybe he can help my English?!) Robin asked in a language unknown to the rest of the league.
“Lasă-mă să-l întreb pe Barry, apoi vom vedea. Va fi curând, bine? Ai răbdare.” (Let me ask Barry, then we will see. It'll be soon, okay? Be patient.)
“Okay.” The boy said, rolling his eyes, causing Batman to puff out a breath.
“He wonders when he’ll meet Wally. And he hope for Wally to try to help him improve his English.”
“Okay! Well, Wally is currently with Iris at my house, and he goes to school on the normal days, and at Star labs to do check ups with me on Friday evenings but any other time is good. And um, for context, what language was that?”
“Romanian. Robin was not born in America and only recently started to learn more than the basics of English, so, he currently has me and my butler who are teaching him, but I think I’ll be good to have a friend to help to. He understands English, it’s just speaking he doesn’t do so well at.”
“I could also help with his English, if need be Batman. I am a journalist with a degree in English and Journalism.” Superman interjected.
“That would be very much appreciated, thank you Clark.” Batman stated, nodding his head in thanks.
Robin gasped, making most of the room jump as the boy was previously silent.
“Supes gonna learn me English?” The boy said, beaming.
“Yeah, I’ll teach you buddy.”
“Okay then, Barry, I will check my schedule and let you know next time I see you when the boys can meet, and Clark, when we have spare time I’ll bring Robin up here so you can help him. I appreciate it and will pay you.”
“Batman, that’s not necessary, just think of it as me helping a friend.”
“Nonsense, let me pay you. Will $160 an hour suffice?”
Clark’s mouth hung open.
“That’s far too much!”
“Oh well, $125 and that’s final.” Batman said.
“Are you sure?”
“Clark, I wouldn’t offer it if I couldn’t afford it. So, how’d you like to teach him some English now? He is a fast learner though, I’ll tell you that.” Batman insisted.
“Sure, what you think Robin? You want to come and learn some English?” Superman said, looking at the young man in his friend’s arms.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” The boy exclaimed, pushing against the bat until his was put down, to which he then promptly threw himself at the alien.
“Woah!” Clark said, catching the boy, “you are energetic aren’t you!” The boy smiled as he and Clark walked towards the table to start the lesson.
“He seems like a good kid.” Diana said, following Batman’s line of sight to the boy and Clark where Robin is listening intently to whatever the man was saying, and repeating a word every so often.
“He is, he’s been through a lot and still smiles, it’s admirable, honestly.” Batman said, voice fond in the way that they’d never heard before.
It did leave the league wondering, what happened to the young boy.
“He and Wally are gonna be unstoppable, I hope they end up being good friends.” Barry said, also looking to the older man and young boy, Robin’s face scrunched up in confusion as Clark spoke.
“I just hope he talks to somebody his own age, I’m new to this whole thing but he’s the light that Batman needs, that’s what he said anyway.” Batman chuckled… like actually chuckled, so, Hal and Barry looked at him, mouths wide open, “shut your mouths.” He growled, the two men doing as they’re told.
“It’s nice of you to do, help him. And it seems he’s helping you too.” Arthur stated.
“I suppose.”
“We should get back to reporting, I suppose.” Oliver stated.
“You’ve been unnaturally quiet there Ollie, everything okay?” Hal said, looking to his friend in confusion.
“Fine, just- I swear I recognise the kid. Batman, are you sure that I’ve not seen him somewhere before?” He turned his head to the dark knight who just glared at him.
“Who knows, maybe you have. I’ve only known him for about a year now, you may have seen him before that.”
“Okay… also, maybe I could bring Roy-“
“No.” Batman interrupted.
“But-“
“No.”
“He-“
“No.”
“Why?”
“I don’t need my… ward, hanging around two red headed, loud people.”
“Ward?” Diana asked
“He doesn’t wish to be adopted, but he still lives with me. The day he decides he wants to I will but until that day, he is his parent’s son and I am merely his guardian and mentor.”
“That’s…. Very sweet, actually.” Hal stated, “what’s the deal with his parents then?”
“They.. have passed.” Batman stated, not going into any more details.
“Oh, poor boy.” Barry said.
“Anyway, we should really get back to paperwork. Barry, if you’re done you can always go and help Clark teach Robin.” Batman stated, walking back to his desk.
“Yeah, okay!” Barry smiled, speeding over to the Kryptonian and the boy, helping Clark when he could, but Batman was right, the kid was a quick learner.
Later, both Barry and Clark landed having $1000 in their banks from The Batman, Clark’s saying ‘Thank you, Robin enjoyed the lessons and has been asking when he can come again, let me know when you’re free.” And Barry’s saying ‘My butler will bring Robin to Central on Wednesday after school is out, he will be wearing either sunglasses or a domino mask, do not attempt to remove it, he has permission to break your arm if you do.’
Both men, upon seeing Batman next rushed to say that he must have made a mistake, only for Batman to answer that there is no mistake, he just wanted to thank them.
On that Wednesday, Dick goes to Barry’s with Alfred and is met with a very smiley, very energetic redhead and for the first time in his life, he made a friend, and for the first time since the circus, he felt like maybe, everything will be okay.
Even if Wally can’t know his identity, even if he is out fighting crime at night, even when those he sees as family can’t truly know him, he feels at home.