Big Brother

Slam!

I slam my bedroom door hard behind me as I storm through the manor towards the batcave. For the first time in my life, i was actually getting some damn sleep when Father called through some hidden device in my room. He'd said to come down to the Batcave immediately, without any question. He didn't say it was a mission. He didn't say it was urgent. Just to get down there.

Even though these people are my family, they irritate me to no end. Father is commanding, Alfred is too non-chalant, and Grayson-where do I even start with Grayson? He's too easy-going, joking, laid-back, irresponsible, bossy-the list could go on and on. If it wasn't for being loyal to my father's way, I probably would have killed him by now.

I've gone soft.

I flip the hidden switch and wait for the entrance to be revealed to me, then storm down the stairs, scowling as my family comes into sight.

"What do you want now?" I start. "I was actually trying to-"

I stop dead in my tracks and cease speaking when I take in the sights around me. Alfred is looking solemn, Father looks sterner than usual, and Grayson...Grayson's on a dark motorcycle wearing a costume that resembles his old Nightwing one sitting in a display case against the wall. The only thing different is that he no longer has stripes flowing down his arm to his fingers and the symbol across his chest is now a crimson red. Then engine is purring, ready to go, and Grayson has what I would call a sad smile on his lips.

"What's going on?" I ask. They all glance at each other before looking back to me.

"It's um..." Grayson's trying to find his words. That never happens. Never. "Well...it's been decided that you and Bruce will be Batman and Robin from now on."

Crash!

I think Alfred's dropped some fine china onto the cold cave floor but I realize that's not it; the sound came from deep inside me.

"What?" I don't know why I'm so shocked. This doesn't happen to me. A tightness rises into my chest and I try to push it down, but it's not working.

"I said-"

"I heard what you said, Grayson. I just..."

"It's for the better," Father cuts in. I feel myself glare at him though I have absolutely no control over it. "You need a sterner hand and there are things you must be taught that Dick cannot teach you because he is still learning himself."

I know his words are true but they still...hurt?

"So what happens to-" The realization hits me-and hard. I turn my gaze back to Grayson and his smile has shrunken just a bit. "You're leaving?"

He nods. "Yup."

"For how long?" I see him grip the handles of his ride tighter.

"Dunno."

It's silent for a while. None of the others try to speak. I don't know the reason for them but for me, I'm struggling to keep this newfound pain from forcing its way out. Being raised by a group of deadly assassins, I haven't actually had time to form bonds or miss anyone. Now that I've moved here...these people have become near and dear to my heart and the thought that one won't be around for who knows how long saddens me, pains me, and depresses me. Grayson may be one of the most annoying peple on the planet but he's also good at cheering people up, looking on the bright side, and he's my big brother. He was there for me while Father was gone, looked after me more than Alfred did, and understood me when I felt noone else could.

He can't be leaving. He can't, he can't, he can't-"

"You're not going."

,I feel their gazes bore into me. I don't care. The words just slipped out of me but now they won't stop.

"You're not going, Grayson. You can't go. You can't." My gaze has shifted to the stone floor beneath us because I can't let them see my face. My eyes are stinging with tears I never thought would surface. The engine grows silenct, there's a light thud, and then footsteps echoing through the hideout coming closer to me. I still don't look up. I refuse to.

Then I feel two arms wrap around me and pull me into a strong chest with a comforting warmth.

"It's okay."

Grayson.

Grayson's hugging me. I never let him hug me. I don't go for that sentimental crap. I don't. I don't...

My arms rise up and my tiny hands clutch onto the fabric at his back as the tears stream out of me down my hot cheeks against my control. I try to keep my sobs silent but slight gasps and chokes still break through. This is pathetic. This is humiliating. This is...

"It's perfectly natural."

Stop talking, Grayson. Stop it. It makes things worse. I'm going to miss you, okay? I'm going to freaking miss my big brother. I wish he could just read my mind because I can't say this out loud; I could never say this out loud.

"I'll miss you too, Little D."

DAMMIT.

A sob chokes its way out again and Grayson just holds me, patting my head gently as I let all my feelings out. At one point I think I feel his body start to quiver too, almost see the few tears I know are crawling down his face too, but I just can't stop. Because I'll miss him too much; my mentor, my friend-

My big brother.