Grief was difficult to manage when there was nobody to rely on for comfort and reassurance. Richard and Bruce had been fighting since he was eighteen, and now, twenty-three, it was like he had forgotten how to reach out to the old bat. He had no issues calling Alfred, checking in, discreetly asking how Bruce has been, but he refuses to directly ask.

He attended Jason's service a year ago, said his goodbye to his baby bird and now.. he still felt like a mess. Richard had lost his father through some petty arguments, his brother through his fathers lack of care, (which he chose to believe due to his stubborn nature) so what family did he have other than his old butler?

The new Robin. The shadow that had been following him through his patrol.

When Richard turned and spotted them, knee and shoulder pads, the familiar yellow cape and red tunic, the little black mask, he called at them. "It's rude to stare."

They didn't answer, instead opting to run over, a big grin on their face. "Hey, hey, hey-" He protested as they tightly clung to his leg. He stared down at them, younger than Jason and he when they started.. what the hell was Bruce thinking..

Richard crouched with a sigh and returned the hug with a small pat, staring at their little face. "Hey, sprout.." He murmured, fixing their twisted cape and bulky belt.

No names on the field, an easy rule to follow when he didn't even remember their name.

"I had to meet my brother." Robin beamed, reaching up for another hug.

Richard's heart squeezed, brother, he missed being titled that. Once Jason was.. well, he figured he would've never heard the word in referral to himself. But here his sibling was, the one he never made an effort to visit, loudly granting him the title.

They were his baby sibling, his baby bird just like Jason once was... maybe, just maybe.. he could let somebody in again after years spent without proper family. Maybe he could talk to Bruce again...

"We have to get you home, baby bird.." He mumbled against their messy nest of hair.