The Watchtower was quieter than usual, its polished silver halls humming with the low thrum of advanced technology. Heroes from across the world filtered through the corridors toward the conference room where the Justice League’s monthly strategy meeting was about to begin.
Bruce walked through the station with his usual unreadable expression, cape trailing behind him like a shadow.
Beside him, however, skipped an eight-year-old boy.
Dick Grayson held a weathered spiral notebook tightly against his chest with one arm and a small cardboard box of crayons in the other. Every few steps the crayons rattled together, breaking the otherwise serious atmosphere. His domino mask sat perfectly on his face, and despite the bright green Robin uniform, he looked impossibly small beside Gotham’s Dark Knight.
Bruce glanced down.
“Remember what I said.”
Dick nodded immediately. “Be quiet.”
“And?”
“No running.”
“And?”
Dick whined dramatically. “No touching mysterious buttons.”
Bruce gave a single approving nod.
“This meeting is important.”
“I know.”
“You’ll sit where I tell you.”
“I know.”
“You’ll only speak if someone speaks to you first.”
Dick grinned. “I know.”
Bruce wasn’t entirely convinced.
Normally Alfred would have stayed with Dick during League meetings, but after years of faithfully serving the Wayne family, Bruce had insisted Alfred take a proper vacation in England. Alfred had reluctantly agreed, leaving Bruce with one unavoidable conclusion.
Robin was coming.
They reached the massive conference doors.
Bruce rested a gloved hand on Dick’s shoulder.
“Ready?”
Dick adjusted his grip on the notebook and crayons before giving an eager nod.
“Ready.”
The doors slid open.
Conversation immediately stopped.
Superman looked up first, then Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and the rest of the League.
Every pair of eyes shifted from Batman…
…to the tiny boy standing beside him.
Flash blinked twice.
“…Bruce.”
Batman remained perfectly calm.
“This is Robin.”
More silence.
Green Lantern frowned. “Your…Robin?”
“Yes.”
“You have a partner?” Superman asked, sounding genuinely stunned.
“I do.”
“For how long?” Wonder Woman asked.
“Two months.”
Another silence settled over the room.
Bruce simply gestured toward an empty chair.
“Robin will be attending today’s meeting.”