SaulyCermeno: one suggestion would be a sick Robin and a worried Batman. It all started on a night on patrol, suddenly the rain fell and the two masked men were trapped in it the next morning, the one who suffered the consequences of such a rainy day was none other than the dear and dear Robin.
Awesome plot, lots of people do sick Robin stories, but I've added a slight twist that I hope you enjoy!
We were about to head home after the long night's patrol. The skies of Gotham were looking even gloomier than usual, and that could only mean one thing.
drip
drip drip
drip drip drip drip drip drip
Rain. I've always loved the rain. It washes away dirt and unhappiness, and it is great when brooding with the gargoyles. Robin however hates the rain. He doesn't like it when his happily spiked hair is pushed flat against his forehead, and he was always complaining about how his exposed arms and face got cold.
"Can we go back now, we've already been out here for four hours and it's starting to rain harder" He may be annoying at times, but I still love him. I decided he was right, and we were about to hop in the Batmobile when we heard a scream. He looked up at me and I nodded, soon we were both at the source of the scream.
It was the Crime Doctor and his brother, Rupert Thorne's gang. The person who screamed was up against the wall of an Alley, and the doctor moved slowly and steadily forward, syringe in hand.
"Put the syringe away." My usually terrifying appearance was increased by the rain and the single lightning flash right after I spoke. Robin knew the routine, and before the Crime Doctor could do anything, Robin had gotten the civilian to safety while I began fighting the doctor and Thorne. Soon enough, Robin was back in the alley taking down the other men that were all around. After a short while, Robin and I were the only ones standing and that's how I liked it. I turned to keep an eye on the villains as I called Commissioner Gordon, telling him where to find them. When I turned around, Robin was totally drenched and slightly shivering, so we made our way back to the Batmobile and went home.
The next morning I woke up still tired from the previous nights activities and decided to go check up on Dick to make sure he showered even after all that rain. I knocked on the door and received a pained "Come in"
Dick was curled up in his bed with a frown plastered to his normally beaming face. "Dick, are you feeling alright?" I leaned down to feel his forehead the way Alfred would always do to me. I wasn't sure I would be able to notice anything, but I pulled my hand back when his face felt like it was on fire. "You must have a really high fever from the rain last night, why don't you stay home today and I'll have Alfred make you some tea"
He hummed a response and I left to find Alfred. Why didn't I let him into the Batmobile while I handled the fight? He was already cold and doesn't have the coverage I have when he wears his Robin suit. I also have no idea what to do with him if he has such a high fever. I guess I just need to be there for him and tell him how sorry I am.
Alfred handed me the tea and some medicine and I went back into the room, not knocking this time because I didn't want to worsen his headache. I helped him sit up slowly, putting plenty of pillows behind him supporting his head. After giving him the proper amount of the pink medicine which he happily swallowed, not even minding the flavor, he took the steaming mug of tea from my hands and held it close for it's warmth.
"I'm really sorry Dick, I shouldn't have let you fight in the rain, you were already cold." I told him in the softest voice I could muster. He took a sip and cleared his throat.
"It's fine B, but could you get me a trash bin or a bag of some sort, I think I'm gonna be sick" He said as he winked. It was reassuring to find him joking around even when he was so ill, but I gave him small trash bin which he threw up in right away.
"But Dick, you're really sick right now, I'm going to have to restrain you from being Robin until you are 100 percent better, understand?" He looked slightly saddened, but tried to nod his head. Tried being the operative word here because the movement was too much and he was throwing up again. "I'll ask Alfred to make you some soup. I have some Justice league business to attend to, but I'll be home for dinner." He wasn't talking, but gave me a thumbs up as I left.
At the Watchtower, Superman, Wonder Woman, and many other leaguers were waiting. We began the meeting easily enough, but part way through I got an alert saying Bane was running loose through the streets of Gotham. If it were any other day, or any other villain, Dick could deal with it while I finished the meeting, but even on Robin's best days, Bane was a challenging opponent. I would need to do this one on my own.
I excused myself from the meeting, Gotham business, and zeta-tubed to Gotham. Just as I pulled up to the street where Bane was located, he threw what looked like a piece of the road right at the Batmobile. I would have been safe inside, but I didn't want to be stuck, so I jumped out.
"Hola Batman, long time no see" Of course it had been a while, I put him in prison with help from Robin a few months ago, and that was long for a stay in any Gotham jail.
"What are you doing here Bane?" He was a few yards in front of me and I noticed that he was even bigger than normal, and that says something.
"Well, if you must know, I got some brand new formulas the other day, and thought to myself, wouldn't it be fun to kill Batman with this new strength?" Two questions answered, but why did those have to be the answers? We engaged in a battle quickly enough, neither of us speaking much because once Batman gets his answers, he only cares about taking down the villain.
He threw punch after punch, with me narrowly escaping each time. Usually he was slower than this. He aimed at my head, but I ducked and ran around to where the tubes on his back were completely exposed. I threw a few exploding boomerangs, but it didn't do anything. That usually worked. The brief moment when I let my guard down was all it took for him to get his first hit against my side. I was thrown into the wall, where a second punch momentarily left me breathless. I was losing, bad, but I kept getting up anyways even if it was just to fall down again.
Bane was about to go in for the final blow when, "Step away from ACHOO Batman!" What was Robin doing here? He was still so sick, he was barely standing! I watched as Bane looked over at my protege with a smile. Oh no.
"Little Birdie, Batman was fun and all, but I don't want to finish yet. Gracias for bringing my favorite kind of appetizer." Bane left me and was headed straight for Robin, but when he got to the spot, Robin disappeared.
"Come on Batman, I brought my R-Cycle, let's head home" But if he was, of course, he knew he wouldn't be able to take on the monster, especially in his current condition, but he thought it through like I taught him to and used a hologram. He lifted me up slightly, but the moment I was standing, he collapsed.
"You trying to trick me?" Bane was even angrier and was heading for us again. "You won't get away with that!"
Once I was on my own feet, it was easy for me to pick up the shivering bird and carry him to the bike. I could have stayed and fought, but Robin needed me, so I called Wonder Woman; the only person I trust to keep my city safe without me and to return the Batmobile in one piece.
When we arrived in the Batcave, Alfred helped Dick into a bed and by getting more medicine while I began bandaging my many injuries. "Dick, why did you go out? You are my son and I don't want you getting hurt or more sick because you can't seem to follow orders. What were you thinking?" My voice was soft enough for him to hear without feeling worse again, but he could also pick up on my disappointment easily.
"Honestly Bruce, I wasn't thinking. I didn't care about getting hurt, or getting any more sick. The same way I'm your son, you're my dad, and I couldn't just let you die too!" He was crying now, something he didn't usually do. All of these emotions must have been locked up for some time, and it took him getting sick for me to notice. At this moment, I knew exactly how to be the parent, after all I did have a different dad once too.
"I'm sorry Dick" I hugged him tight as he shivered and eventually fell asleep. Who cared if I got sick too, me and him both know it, I'm his dad.
Seriously, I started based on the prompt, but I've gotta say it really evolved from what it was in the beginning. I'm so glad school is out! Of course, this means I need to return the school laptop I've been using to type :( I'm going to get my own device soon enough though, and will continue to update, but starting probably at the end of next week, it will be harder to publish updates.
Well, thanks for reading, I hope your day is filled with Pure Wonderment!