Disclaimers: All characters belong to DC Comics. Batman created by Bob Kane. Green Arrow created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp. (I wish I owned Selina’s penthouse and the Batmobile.)

Just a little story idea I had floating around for a while and I'd like to give it a try. Because spandex does wonders for comics and little Dick Grayon as Robin is just too cute. First chapter is just to keep things moving and because I loved the idea of how Roy and Dick first met. Bruce and Selina will get more time soon.

A-A-A

A slinky figure stole through the murky streets of Gotham, jumping over rooftops and running through alleyways like a moving phantom. The moonlight cast a strange silvery glow over the person when she finally stopped to rest on a fire escape.

Twin scarlet lips curled into a smile as she reached for a small pouch slung over her shoulder. The woman dipped a hand into a bag and pulled out a string of exquisite cream-colored Chinese pearls. She purred contently to herself, rubbing the necklaces between her tapering fingers. “Beautiful,” she murmured in a throaty voice. “Just beautiful.”

The silent savoring of her sweet treat was cut short by a youthful perky voice.

“Hold it right there, Catwoman!”

The woman slipped her stolen jewelry back into its place before slowly standing up. The Feline Female’s mouth turned into a smirk when she saw the eager lad standing in front of her. His serious expression could hardly diminish the innocence of his few years in a costumed uniform. Her eyes flickered up and down the newcomer with amusement. Bare legs in small green pixie boots, a red tunic, and a childish face barely masked behind a black cloth over his large blue eyes.

“Oh my,” she cooed to him. “You are so adorably cute.”

The Boy Wonder’s face flushed from her comment. “Cute? I’ll show you cute, you evil psychopath freak! You’re going to give back what you’ve stolen or I’ll put you in a cage for life.”

Catwoman’s dark green eyes slimmed down from the insult. “No man speaks to me like that,” she hissed maliciously.

With a flick of her wrist, sharp claws protruded from her gloved hands. She lashed for him with the speed of a leopard. There was the ripping sound of fabric and Robin staggered back, noticing that the front of his tunic was shredded.

Catwoman’s claws clicked together tensely. “Now then, little boy. Should I scratch you a bit harder this time?”

He balled his small fists up to prepare for a good fight.

The threat was cut short by the flapping sound of leather wings. A black caped figure descended from what seemed like thin air before landing on his hands and knees between them. He slowly stood up, his lofty figure even more glorified in stark contrast to the silhouette of the moon behind him.

Catwoman’s rage melted away and her breath was caught in her throat. She glanced at the logo of a familiar nocturnal creature spread across his chest before drinking in the rest of him, her eyes unable to tear away from the tall strapping masked man before her.

“Magnificent,” she breathed out.

“I wish I could say the same,” his deep voice spoke from the cowl. “But it’s time to end tonight’s meeting.” He stretched out an open hand, beckoning for her to turn over the goods. She glanced down at his palm before lifting her head back up to his glaring eyes, all the while toying with the few seconds of patience.

“Mmm, no.” She stepped back from the Dark Knight.

“What’d I tell you, Batman? She’s just as bad as Poison Ivy.”

“Shut up brat,” she ordered Robin.

The boy’s mouth turned down into a frown. He punched a fist into his left palm. “Ok, that’s it. Nobody calls me a brat.”

“No. You’re just the Boy Blunder,” she added.

Catwoman somersaulted backwards and landed on the edge of the roof. “Catch me if you can,” she smirked before taking off. The boy’s bare legs took off into a fast run.

“Robin!” Batman shouted. Too late. His partner was already on the chase.

The Dark Knight growled in disapproval. He pushed the mechanism on his grapple gun and lines of cable burst out of the weapon. Batman swung off in search of the two feuding enemies.

By the time he had caught up with them, Robin was chasing the thief across the catwalk of the Acme Aquatic Shipping Warehouse. Batman shook his head in frustration. Ho noticed that the Boy Wonder’s cheeks were bright red from the cold and his face was tight in determination while Catwoman seemed to be amused with the chase.

“You’re pretty good for a kid,” she said as she cartwheeled her way across the fragile metal bridge. Catwoman finally stopped in her tracks, slim feet standing up together in a flawless gymnastic stance. She turned around to face him and wondered what he’d do next.

Robin took a flying leap and threw his body into a backwards flip. Before she could move out of the way, his agile maneuver caught her off guard. One small boot hit Catwoman squarely in the jaw and she staggered backwards. The woman rubbed her sore jaw with the back of her hand, glaring daggers at him.

A whip cracked in the air. Robin saw it lash out like a snake and he nimbly jumped back to avoid the biting nip of leather.

“That’s the last straw, baby bird!”

Batman’s boots thumped loudly on the catwalk and it shook. He stretched out his arm in front of Catwoman to block her attack.

“Enough,” he ordered her.

“Your kid is getting on nerves,” she said.

“She’s the one who stole that jewelry,” Robin defended himself.

“I said enough.”

His looming voice was so profound and harsh that neither of them had the gumption to disobey.

“Gotham City has more to worry about than childish antics, no matter whose side started it,” he scolded them both.

Robin drew an arm behind him and rubbed his shoulder awkwardly. He lowered his head to avoid looking at his mentor in the face, somewhat ashamed of himself.

Batman turned around to face Catwoman. His stone-set face betrayed no sign of affection or sympathy for her.

“This is your last chance, Catwoman. Give over those pearls or face arrest.”

She shifted her weight from one foot to another casually. “Does that mean you’ll let me off the hook if I do?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“But you gave me a choice.”

“Because you’d choose wisely. I know you, Selina.”

Her mouth relaxed into a smile. “What else do you know about me?” she asked lightly.

The long stare between them cut off by an “Arrrgh!”

One very mad boy went charging for Catwoman—who was more prepared this time.

There was another crack of the whip and Robin’s wrist was encircled in her power. He tugged as hard as he could but he could not break free of the whip. She held nothing back this time and gave a good hard jerk, causing him to go knocking against the catwalk and topple over.

Batman raced to the railing. “Robin!” he shouted.

SPLASSH!

A-A-A

Two days later:

Dick groaned softly, turning over in his bed. Alfred wiped the boy’s flushed red cheeks and neck with a wet cloth. Behind him, Bruce Wayne watched in concern.

“Hot,” the boy mumbled. “So hot.” Dick broke out into a fit of coughing, a fist attempting to cover his mouth.

“I suppose that is what happens when certain crime fighters go out in a February chill,” Alfred said as he gave a reproachful glance at Bruce. “Without proper clothing.”

“I told him he needs to get leggings,” Bruce replied. “But the kid wouldn’t have any of it.”

“My parents wore those costumes,” Dick mumbled thickly from inside of his fever. “I’m wearing ‘em when we fight.” He couldn’t eat any of the soup that Alfred had cooked specially for him but at least Dick managed to swallow a spoon of his bright pink sticky medicine that tasted like peppermint.

Alfred placed the medicine bottle and spoon on his nightside table. The butler pulled the covers up to the boy’s chin and tucked Dick in securely. “Rest well, lad. You should get your strength back.”

After he and Bruce had left the room and the door was securely closed, Alfred looked at his master with tremendous scrutiny.

“What exactly happened last week?”

Bruce’s lips thinned irritably. “Selina and I got into a debate and Dick tried to intervene. Needless to say, she wasn’t pleased with my partner’s presence.”

The butler nodded. “Ah, I see. The Catwoman has a certain disinterest for birds.”

“Disinterest is putting it lightly, Alfred. She used her whip to knock him into a cooling tank of ice water. I never had such an urge to hit Selina right then and there, but Robin needed medical attention at once. So I pulled him out, got him home safely, and Catwoman and I haven’t crossed paths since.”

“Has there been an increase in her crime sprees?”

“None whatsoever. I think she’s trying to stay out of Batman’s way this once.”

“But I thought you two were quite fond of each other.”

Bruce frowned in thought. “She seems to enjoy Batman’s company enough, but meanwhile Bruce Wayne is just a bore to Selina.”

“The pressure of a duel lifestyle does put a clinch in romantic relationships,” Alfred noted aloud. “But do you believe that Ms. Kyle could suspect your alter ego altogether, Master Bruce?”

The billionaire thought this over carefully. “Selina’s no fool, Alfred. But she’s complicated. And having Robin in the situation only makes it more complicated.”

“I presume Master Richard would not even consider dismissing his nighttime activities.”

“Nor will Selina. Robin will keep fighting and Catwoman will keep stealing. And as flattered as I should be that they’d argue over me, this is hardly helping the current situation in the Narrows.”

“The drug runners, I presume?”

“Handsome profits for the crime lords, Alfred. More money means more power for them. I can’t afford another week to go by wasted on family disputed time.”

“Speaking of time, Master Bruce,” Alfred pointed to the clock. “Mr. Queen will be arriving within the hour.

Bruce glanced at the brass clock on the wall and groaned when he saw the gold-tipped handles edging closer to 11 o’clock.

“Damn.”

He pressed his fingertips to his temples and began to massage them, hoping to suppress a migraine. “I almost forgot about Oliver.”

“I will lay out the brown blazer and there’s still enough time for a hot shower,” the butler offered. “Perhaps coffee in the lounge for you both will allow enough time to converse at ease.”

“Thanks Alfred.”

Bruce headed for his quarters where he shed his clothes and stepped into the marbled bathroom. He turned on the water as hot as it could go and allowed himself a rare moment to relax his overworked muscles. The beating beads of water and steam caressed his body while he pressed a hand to the glass, mulling over the past recent events.

Only Alfred knew how much of a difference having the newly christened Boy Wonder around was making in the life of Gotham’s grim vigilante. Dick Grayson was a welcomed blessing after years of isolation, exhaustion, and melancholy dreams. Even though Bruce had scolded the boy from time to time, he was inwardly glad to have someone else around. It turned the burden of crime fighting into a rewarding challenge knowing that such a bright and enthusiastic person like that circus boy was willing to follow him.

Batman was more than just a vigilante now. He was a mentor. A partner.

A father.

However, the new role for Bruce also gave him further responsibilities. Dick was still just a child. And children do not always understand all of the complications in an aphrodisiac relationship. To Robin, the world was always seen in black and white, good and evil. Cut and dry. In his large baby-blue eyes, Catwoman was no different than any other criminal.

In the eyes of Batman, however, there was much gray.

Catwoman’s heists were always smaller and far more personal than other psychopath freaks and corrupt businessmen. She stole but she didn’t kill. She could tease but not be ruthless. Never did tormenting the innocent turn up as her MO. And sometimes she even secretly return priceless artifacts back to the museums, as if the challenge was just the thrill of the chase to show that she could get away with bending the rules.

There was also much green in his eyes. Green as in a pair of enchanting slim green eyes that would gaze at him with spellbound interest until he himself would be staring back at her breathlessly. He would find himself in an overwhelming desire to helplessly surrender to that side of the vigilante that was still a man. Still wanting to fall into that vulnerable moment bordering between the law and love.

But in this case, love makes war.

A-A-A

Ten minutes later:

“Remember, Roy.” Oliver reminded the perky redheaded boy as they came up the steps to Wayne Manor. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He paused and added “Or anything I would do, for that matter.”

“Gotcha,” Roy nodded with an elfish smirk across his face.

“I mean it, kid. Wayne’s a Boy Scout compared to me so don’t go running around his house,” the blonde haired man warned him. “If you so much as unscrew a doorknob I’ll hang you upside down in the old well for a week.”

“Cool!”

Oliver Queen frowned and tugged on his short beard. Then he cleared his throat and knocked twice on the heavy oak doors. There were footsteps heard inside and then the doors parted revealing Alfred.

“Mr. Queen I presume,” he said.

“You’ve got it,” Oliver said.

“I trust your trip from Star City was safe?”

“Safe and uneventful. Not that I’m complaining.”

Roy looked up at Alfred. “Wow, you look a different than you do in the papers, Mr. Wayne.”

Oliver nudged the boy in the ribs. Alfred chuckled softly. “I am Alfred Pennyworth, Mr. Wayne’s personal butler.”

“Oops, sorry. I’m Roy Harper. Pleased to meet you, sir,” the boy said.

“Now will you say ‘I’m sorry’ to Mr. Pennyworth for acting like a big shot?” Oliver asked him.

“I’m sorry to Mr. Pennyworth for acting like a big shot,” Roy announce to a tee. Oliver didn’t seem amused but Roy noticed a smile on the butler’s face.

He gestured behind him. “Do come in, sir. Master Bruce has been expecting you.” Oliver and Roy walked into the house and Alfred shut the door behind him.

Roy’s eyes flickered all over the mansion, noticing the elegant pine green carpets, oil paintings in gold frames, and marble statues. None of that tacky artsy stuff or dreary neo-looking furniture that looked like vintage junk to him. If only he kept the curtains open a little more for sunlight, this place would look fit for a king.

“Wayne sure likes the creepies. Rich, but creepy.” Roy bent over to examine a polished suit of armor. “Hey, can I get one of these, Ollie?”

“Sure, kid. Right after you build me that space rocket you promised.”

“Aw…”

The doors of the lounge parted. “Oliver! Good to see you again,” Bruce beamed, walking towards him.

“Likewise,” the playboy of Star City nodded. They accepted a friendly handshake before Oliver turned to his young friend.

“Roy, I’m proud to introduce you to Bruce Wayne, Gotham’s First Son and the only man who can beat me at tennis. Bruce, this is my faithfully annoying ward, Roy Harper,” Oliver said.

The playfulness of Roy’s twinkling eyes was noticed by Bruce and he shook the boy’s hand firmly. Roy looked up at Bruce in awe.

“Wow, you’re bigger than you look on television,” he breathed out. “Do you play football, Mr. Wayne?”

“A little. But I can’t stand the bruises.”

“I can’t tell you how glad I was to see you at that conference in Metropolis last month,” Oliver said to Bruce as they started to head into the lounge. “All those head honchos jabbering about ‘development PR’ makes me want to string them up like Christmas lights.”

“You don’t approve of Lexcorp’s broadening branches?” Bruce asked.

“Oh sure, when I approve of nesting vipers in the bathroom.”

Bruce laughed heartily and slapped Oliver in a friendly manner on his back. “We’ll brew it over some coffee.”

“Great!” Roy beamed.

“You don’t drink coffee,” Oliver reminded him.

“How about some hot chocolate?” Bruce offered him. “I’ll have Alfred make you a cup if you like.”

“Thanks Mr. Wayne.”

Bruce knew that someone like Roy Harper wouldn’t sit still for two minutes in a business meeting. “While we’re talking, how’d you like to look around the house as well?” he offered.

The boy’s eyes grew big as plates. “Would I ever!” Roy blurted out.

“Bruce, I wouldn’t recommend it,” Oliver started to protest.

“Don’t worry, there’s nothing that can break and not be replaced,” he was reassured. “Go ahead, Roy. I’m sure you’ll finding something to your liking.”

Roy took off in a sprinting run up the steps of the grand staircase.

“Don’t expect a green light,” Oliver still warned Roy from downstairs.

“Noted,” Roy called over his shoulder.

“And leave those mallets alone!”

“You’re no fun, Ollie.”

A-A-A

Roy spent twenty minutes mimicking all the serious stature on the second floor. It would’ve been more fun with a friend but he managed to pass the time all right. There were a ton of books in the library but he didn’t know which ones to read so he just spun the globe as hard as it could go and jumped on it to give himself a little merry-go-round ride.

He studied the long corridor lined with polished oak doors. So many options, so little time. Each room had a different colored floor and bed. Gold, blue, green, and pink. Who slept in these places? Did Wayne use this place as a hotel sometimes?

Then he’d need some plastic pink flamingos in the front, Roy thought to himself.

Looking into bedrooms was getting boring after a while. He decided to randomly pick a new room.

“Aright, lets see…Eenie.. meenie… miny… moe!” Roy pointed to a door.

He reached for the doorknob when he heard a sound coming from two doors down. It sounded muffled through the wood but he certainly detected some living behind it.

With gleeful anticipation, Roy twisted the doorknob and opened that door. The room was cool and dark. The curtains had been pulled shut, blocking out nearly all of the bright sunshine from outside. But the sight of a rumpled bed with one small lump sticking out of the mattress was quite different from anything else in that mausoleum of a house.

Roy tiptoed forward and peered into the bed. A boy, just about his age, was tossing in his sleep. His sweaty skin was a flushed crimson color, a surefire sign of sickness.

“Wayne collects little boys?” Roy smirked. “Or maybe this is really his kid that he’s hiding from those stupid reporters.” The thought was so amusing to him that he began to chuckle to himself.

Dick heard somebody laughing—certainly not Alfred or Bruce. His blue eyes fluttered open before wearily resting on the newcomer.

“W-Who...who are you?” he asked between parched lips.

“Roy Harper,” the redhead announced. He made himself comfortable at the edge of the bed and offered his hand but Dick just starred at it without moving an inch.

“Oh right. Germs.” Unfazed, Roy put his hand down. “And you are?”

“My name is Dick Grayson.” The boy coughed twice after introducing himself.

“So, what’d Wayne do to make you get the specks?”

“Specks?”

“The coughs. The sniffles. I call them the specks because you tend to see specks in front of your eyes when you’re sick.”

“Makes sense.” Dick coughed again. He reached for a glass and took a sip of water.

“What’s a kid like you doing in a place like this anyway?” Roy wanted to know.

“I’m Bruce’s ward. I live with him.”

Teal eyes widened with delight. “Cool. Sounds like me and Ollie.”

Dick rubbed his forehead sleepily. “Oliver Queen? He’s here?”

“Yakking with Wayne downstairs about some boring business shtick they’ve got coming up.” Roy swung his legs back and forth reluctantly. “Does Wayne get company all the time?”

“Sometimes. But its worse at his fancy parties,” Dick said, putting his glass back.

“Let me guess. All the ladies pinch your cheeks like you’re a pincushion.”

“Yes. How’d you know?”

“Ah, I used to get it all the time. They simper and try to kiss you and say how smart you are for your age even if you’d yell that you were 75. And what the heck is a cummerbund for anyway? Don’t these people even hear of blue jeans?”

Dick couldn’t resist cracking a smile. This guy was pretty funny and down to earth. He had a feeling that he and Roy were going to get along just fine.

Roy saw several thick books stacked up on the nightstand.

“Please don’t tell me you actually read those,” he said with a wrinkling nose.

“I try. But it’s really the pictures that are cool.”

Roy raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Dick pulled up a huge book and opened it up, offering to show him. Roy moved a bit closer to see.

“See that man? He’s supposed to be this immortal legend called ‘Demon Head’. The book says that he’s over 700 years old and had an army that stretched across the globe.” Dick pointed to the portrait of a tall gray-haired man on a horse, his hand brandishing a sword and the bodies of his enemies trampled under his feet.

“Gross,” Roy whispered softly. “Cool but gross. Hey, checkout those daggers. They’re all crooked!”

“That’s a kris, Roy. It’s crooked to vibrate the opponent’s weapon and throw off stability. The book says that some of them have spiritual powers that make them loyal to their masters.”

“Boy, you know a ton, Dick. Tell me, what’s that behind them?”

“I think it’s the Red Sea, but it might be a little more north towards the Mediterranean. Look at those camels! And on the next page…”

“Hoot-cha cha cha! Dancing girls!”

A-A-A

Meanwhile…

“Well I prefer to keep the circle of contacts closely knit and then branch out further,” Bruce pointed out.

“Like that Dr. Laurens who’s heading STAR Labs solar energy program?” Oliver suggested.

“She’s a very clever woman, Ollie.”

“Then date her, Bruce.”

“Just to close a deal! I should be on my guard.”

“And in charge. Don’t let someone like Luthor boss you around, Bruce.”

“Pigs will fly before Lexcorp will put Wayne Enterprise into the ground.”

“Or Dr. Laurens dates Lex Luthor himself.”

They both laughed aloud.

Oliver glanced at the clock. “It’s been fun, Bruce. But I have to round up the cavalry and head out.” He brought cupped hands over his mouth and called out. “Roy! Where are you?”

No response.

“He must be glued to the big screen television,” Bruce suggested.

“No, that’s too easy for someone like Roy.”

The two men went upstairs and began to search in all the rooms. Nobody was found in the game room, library, pool area, or gym. They checked downstairs. Alfred’s prepared mug of cocoa remained untouched in the kitchen.

“Where have you gone you little…” Olive muttered.

The sound of two people talking was heard back on the other floor. They went up the steps and followed the sound just across the hallway. Oliver pushed open the door and he and Bruce looked inside.

“So then they lower the body in the pit and it starts to glow all slimy and green.”

“Cool.”

“I think they perform the ritual out in the open for that reason.”

“Figures. Woah, he sure looks mad at getting demon glop all over him. Check out those markings on the ground. You think they were contacting UFOs?”

“Hey yeah, it says right here! Listen to this: ‘Believing that they could communicate with forms of life from outside the planet, the natives used their writing to leave permanent messages in their field crops.’”

“Who’d ever think of that? Oh man, I need to get me some of that stuff.”

“Deerskin underpants?”

“No, the body paint. Looks great for Halloween.”

The boys burst into giggles.

“Ahem!” Bruce cleared his throat.

Dick and Roy looked up at the billionaires. Dick shut the book.

“Oh, hey Bruce! Mr. Queen! Roy’s been reading with me. He also collects Crimson Avenger comics too. How cool is that?”

“That’s great, Dick. It’s nice to see you’ve got someone to spend time with.” Bruce looked at Roy. “And thank you for taking care of a sick friend.”

“Just doing my job, sir.”

“I think I’ve underestimated you, kid,” Oliver shook his head.

“S’ok, Ollie. You can buy me an ice cream sundae on the way back.” Roy said. “Is it time to go?”

“Yes.”

“Aw man, and just when we were getting to the good part!” Roy handed the book back to Dick and nimbly jumped off the bed. “Thanks a ton, Dick. It’s been fun.”

“Can Roy come back sometime, Bruce?” Dick begged his guardian.

“He’s welcome whenever he pleases,” Bruce promised him.

“You hear that, Oliver? I’m going to be invited to a celebrity’s house!”

“You already live with one, kid.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot.”

Oliver put a hand on Roy’s shoulder and they started to head out. The boy turned his head back and waved cheerfully. “See ya later, Dick. Lose the specks, ok?”

“You’ve got it, Roy.” He gave his new friend a thumbs up which was returned with another thumbs up and a wiggle of the ears. The boys grinned across the room as if they had already known each other as life long friends. Oliver and Roy walked out and were escorted back downstairs to their car.

Bruce turned to Dick. “The specks?”

Dick sat back in his bed and picked up his book. “Oh, just something between Roy and I,” he said slightly.

“A secret, hmm?”

Shining sapphire eyes peered out from the top of the book with mischief. “You’re not the only one who can hide things, Bruce,” Dick replied.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Dick just went back to reading.

To be continued….