7 Relax time. Or not.

[Gotham City, Joe Arcade, 5:30 PM]

The two kids had spent their time playing at the arcade, carefree of any sort of problem. They're playing a co-op fighting game.

"And then he's like "I'm Bruce Wayne, I don't have time for reporters." And goes on his own without a care, then he wonders why the press doesn't have anything positive to say about him." Dick.

"Classic Billionaire move, the high and mighty talk and walk-off." Ben.

"Yeah, when he arrives at the manor, he focusses on his hobbies and leaves me outside of everything." Dick.

"Dang, you'd think a man without childhood would do his best to ensure one to another kid." Ben.

"Right?! Grenade throwing thug, right up corner. He can be so irritating sometimes." Dick.

"I imagine. Thug's neutralized, beware the mutant with the skull face. Then again, I've never had any proper foundation with people raising me, crooked orphanage and all." Ben.

"Guess so. Final boss, get ready!" Dick.

"On it, throw the Molotov cocktail!" Ben.

"Done, attack the limbs first to render him neutralized!" Dick.

"Can't, explosive minions defending the legs, I don't have enough space to maneuver my jumps!" Ben.

"Stop getting so close, I can't see myself!" Dick.

"Just focus on the arms, my cocktail is almost ready!" Ben.

"Throw it at the minions, not the boss! We need space!" Dick.

"No shit!" Ben.

The kids spend another 5 minutes dealing with the boss before defeating it and taking a break from all the gaming.

"Man... I don't remember the last time I played that much." Dick.

"Yeah, my eyes are burning." Ben was gently massaging his eyes.

"Yeah, wanna go for some ice cream?" Dick.

"Yeah, you invite." Ben.

"What? Why me?" Dick.

"For being a Dick." Ben giggled.

"Haha, very funny." Dick.

"And also, because I've got no money whatsoever." Ben.

"How did you even managed to arrive here at Gotham?" Dick.

"Well...." Ben.

[FLASHBACK]

Ben was flying with his newly improved van, courtesy of Upgrade of course, when he realized that, he forgot that he's been transformed into Upgrade for a while now.

Soon after, the cursed beeping of doom began to resound on the van as Ben began to decrease the altitude to NOT get destroyed from the fall.

Alas, he failed and transformed himself back, making the van revert to its previous state. Fun fact: Did you know that altering technology and making the changes permanent is a technique that Galvanic Mechamorphs have to learn via training.

And now you, and Ben, know.

As ben was free falling, he exited the van and began to do some skydiving without a parachute or those flying suits. After a few seconds more of falling to his death, the Omnitrix glowed green and he transformed.

He went Stinkfly and flew where his van crashed. It would take a miracle for the van to survive, and it did not. Ben was scavenging for parts when he found out that he crashed near Gotham City.

He waited, went XLR8 and is now waiting for a crime to happen and "borrow" some tools and parts to fix his ride.

After arriving Gotham, he went towards the nearest comic shop due to some "priorities", he still needed a guide but, almost everyone here's sketchy. And that's when he bumped into Richard.

[End Flashback]

"Let's just say that, you should never fall asleep on someone else's truck." Ben.

"You're kidding." Dick.

"Your choice to believe it, or not." Ben.

"We...we should go for that ice-cream." Dick.

The two kids went towards the ice-cream truck and sat on a bench.

"You know, I needed a guide to show me the ropes here, but I ended up playing the whole afternoon." Ben.

"Time flies when you're having fun." Dick.

"You think your father will be mad at you?" Ben.

"Honestly, I no longer care. I feel that, if he's not capable of seeing what's wrong with his behavior, then I'll just act like a brat." Dick.

"Yeah, you're ten so, he owes it to you." Ben.

As the two kids were eating ice-cream, Bruce was having quite the blood pressure rise.

He's been driving around the Monarch Theater for hours, trying to locate Dick. Once he couldn't find him, he went all out and began searching the whole city upside down, too bad he started on the opposite direction the duo was.

As he drove through Gotham, he called Alfred.

"Alfred!" Bruce.

"Master Bruce, what's gotten you this riled up?" Alfred.

"It's Dick, Alfred, he's gone!" Bruce.

"Gone?! As in…" Alfred.

"Yes! As in no longer traceable. I tried following his trail and even the small tracking device in his clothes, there's nothing on him." Bruce.

"Oh, my. Shall I assist you on the matter?" Alfred.

"No, prepare the Batwing for a dropout, I'll manage to cover more ground as Batman." Bruce.

"Noted. I do hope that you realize that this is mostly your fault, Master Bruce." Alfred.

"How's this my fault? I made time for his piano recital, I agreed to spend time with him afterwards." Bruce.

"You also shifted your attention to your vigilantism once the radiation was detected, have been pushing him aside ever since you adopted him and never truly been a paternal figure to the young master." Alfred.

"...…" Bruce.

"On a side note: Green Arrow and Red Tornado have arrived at Gotham City." Alfred.

"Understood, be their guide and tell them that I'll rendezvous with them when I can." Bruce.

"Noted. Best of luck, Master Bruce." Alfred hung up.

[Bruce's internal monologue]

Why did I allowed this to happen? When did things went out of control? I thought I did the right thing, to give him a place to lean on when he was all alone, but all I did was hurt him.

He lost his parents right before his eyes, just like me. He lost all sense of innocence, just like I did. The life he once enjoyed turned grey and painful, just like mine.

He was like a reflection of myself, but there was a difference. I had Alfred, he acted like my guardian and took care of me. Dick's co-workers were good with him, true, but none knew how to actually educate a child.

Which is why the moment I asked for Dick's adoption, they didn't flinch and accepted right away, all so that Dick would have a better home after the incident.

It's been over two years since that day happened, and I question myself: "Did I took the correct choice?"

I gave him the best of anything he could need, but only referring to the materialistic side, I've never truly contributed on the emotional side of him, which in my experience, tends to be even more important.

And then over a year ago, he found out I'm Batman.

I was so surprised about him managing that, but also felt a strange feeling of proudness for him. His demeanor was also an amazing quality, he begged me that very next moment after finding out that I train him to become a vigilante of justice, just like "me".

I was flabbergasted.

Was it really okay for me to guide this child into the violent world of crime fighting?

Was there anything else I could do for him?

I rejected his plea. But that didn't stop him. Day after day he begged me to train him, to help him bring the man that caused his parents deaths into justice.

In the end, I ceded and agreed to train him, a decision that I regret today.

Batman and Robin, that's how we began as a duo. I would defeat the stronger foes while he tied the loose ends, we've been unstoppable. Perhaps it was that raw talent and ability of his that made me forget that he's just a kid.

Perhaps this whole partnership was what divided us in the first place, unless my inability to cope with my grief had already done so.

Maybe they're right about me never being a good parental figure. Perhaps I only adopted him to feel better about my own situation, perhaps that was Dick's only purpose, to be a reminder of what I've accomplished.

But I don't want to believe that.

I wanted, and still want, that Dick grows like a just man for society. He deserves better, I should've been better.

When all these thoughts clash in my head, the guilt of hiding behind my grief only intensifies. It's been over 10 years; I should've let their deaths off my consciousness years ago.

Yet, the mere reminder that I was the one of the main reasons they died prevents me to do so.

It's curious, I'm fully aware of my shortcomings about the matter, yet I don't do anything about them.

It's fine if you hate me, Dick. It's fine to resent me for not being there for you. I know I'm selfish but, please be safe. I may not be the father/guardian you deserve, but hell will freeze before I let anyone hurt you.

[End of the monologue]

[Back with Ben and Dick]

The two kids are now eating on a food truck while talking about "important" subjects.

"Ok, so, if The Straw Hat Pirates find the One Piece, and it turns out to be one of those "friendship or the journey is the treasure" shit. I'll win 500 dollars." Ben.

"Fine, but, if the island gets destroyed by the marines and we never find out what the One Piece was, you'll owe me the 500." Dick.

"Deal! Can't wait to be rich!" Ben.

"Dude, they're only leaving the East Blue, it'll take a while until it finishes." Dick.

"Curse the weekly publish…! If only they could do it daily." Ben.

"Dude, you're telling the writer to die right now from overwork." Dick.

"Am I?" Ben.

"Yep." Dick.

"Yeah, I am. Well, I'm bored talking nonsense, when will our burgers arrive?" Ben.

"Be patient, it's only been 10 minutes." Dick.

"Yeah, but, this whole place's empty." Ben.

"Ok, granted." Dick.

The two kids stand up and walked towards the food truck.

*BAM*

The two of them heard a loud noise behind them and saw a car smashed against the pavement.

"The hell?!" Ben

Both of the kids get near the car and see that the driver is still inside. They try to open the door but's shut tight.

While Ben keeps pulling the door, Dick looks around and found a pipe on a nearby garbage disposal. He took it and alongside Ben managed to rip the door open and take the driver out of the car before it blew up.

"Is he alive?" Ben.

"Barely, do you have a phone?" Dick.

"No, what about your rich phone?" Ben.

"I left it so that Bruce wouldn't track me down." Dick.

"Damn… you rich guys do have all the bases covered, huh?" Ben.

"Shut it, we've gotta call an ambulance." Dick.

"That might be difficult." Ben.

"Why's that?" Dick.

"Because, while you were checking this guy's injuries, I've spotted what threw the car." Ben pointed on the distance as Dick looked back.

*BOOM*

A giant green monster was destroying everything on the distance while two people were fighting him.

"Weird, I didn't hear anything until now." Dick.

"Right?! I was like, why's so quiet." Ben.

"Alert the food truck guy. I'll treat this guy's injuries however I can." Dick.

"Medical skills, gaming skills, and gambling skills, are you sure you're not a superhero?" Ben.

"Do you see me with a mask and a cape fighting bad guys?" Dick.

"Not yet and we better pick this up later." Ben.

Ben rushed at the truck but found no one inside, seeing that the truck had a back exit, Ben assumed that the driver saw the monster on the distance and escaped, leaving two kids by themselves without even alerting them. Classic Gotham.

Meanwhile, Dick was looking at the driver who had various internal and external injuries. He tore his clothes apart to put pressure in some of those injuries but he doesn't have neither the professional skills nor the equipment to help any further.

"Hey, Dick! The driver of this thing skedaddles without telling us a shit. I can "borrow" his truck to get us to the nearest hospital." Ben.

"Can you drive?!" Dick spoke as he started carrying the man.

"Do you mean legally? Cause, no. If you meant technically, then yes, I do know how to drive. BTW, need a hand?" Ben.

"Would've appreciated it sooner but I'm already here." Dick spoke as he arrived at the truck.

The two kids put the man aboard the food truck and Ben did his magic.

"I have no idea where I'm driving so, you'll be my google maps." Ben.

"Fine, just don't—" Dick.

Ben pushed the pedal to the max and began to drive.