Robin refused to see any of his family members until he was fully rested and in the right mind to deal with them. No matter how many times Black Canary pointed out that they were just worried for him, he always said no. She didn't blame him. He was stuck between two groups of people that he loved dearly and recovering from a torture session was making him run thin on patience he so desperately needed when dealing with his family. 

His team stayed with him most of the time, only leaving to do the basics and then coming straight back so he was never alone for long. He slept a lot but when he was awake he chatted with them about anything other than the matters at hand. It made a world of difference to see him upbeat despite having no contact with his family whom they knew he was very close with. Even stuck in bed most days, he kept the conversation light and kept morale high.

After a few days, Robin decided he'd let his family visit on the condition that they were kind to the team. He was able to be in a wheelchair for a few hours at a time to avoid him going stir-crazy in sitting in bed all day and night so he decided that he'd use those precious few hours to figure this out. All he wanted was for both groups to be civil to one another. Nothing more, nothing less. If they got on well that was a bonus but Robin strongly doubted that would ever happen. 

Wally wheeled him into the living room and sat him so everyone could see him, making sure he felt included in the small circle. 

"Your family will be here in ten minutes," Connor informed him. He nodded and took a deep breath. This was going to be either a very long talk or a very short one but either way, it was going to tire him out. Their stubborn nature just burnt him out at the best of times but they could be particularly tricky when they couldn't fathom being wrong in any way. It was like trying to get water from a rock sometimes. Maybe they'd surprise him this time and actually be emotionally capable of expressing themselves and perhaps Nightwing might show some empathy for once but he doubted it. 

"You really mustn't waste energy on making them like us. If you need to rest more until this issue can be addressed that's perfectly acceptable," Kaldur mentioned. The bags under Robin's eyes were unmissable and he didn't want to exasperate them over something that could wait. 

"I'll be fine Kal. Besides, I can still take all of you in a fight even in this wheelchair," he retorted with a smile. It didn't have its usual impact but then again none of them expected it to. "How're you guys feeling anyway? Canary said she started therapy with you guys this morning." There was some silence which was all too telling. He knew they weren't going to bounce back as quickly as he did. This was their first time seeing torture so he couldn't even make a fair comparison. The first time he saw someone being tortured it was Red Hood. He'd been terrified for weeks after that. It took about a month to get him to stop following his brother around like a lost puppy. "I know it's hard but you'll get through it."

"How long until you stopped thinking about it?" M'gann asked. 

"It's going to be a while I won't lie to you but you're getting help and that's more than I did my first time round. Plus you have yours truly. I'm like the King of trauma."

"That sounds really sad," Wally pointed out. 

"Meh could be worse."

They chatted until they heard the computer announce the arrival of the Batfamily. The team tensed up when they heard the announcement. Despite the time since the blow-up, none of them was in the mood to be told they sucked again. Robin had their backs but it still hurt being told that from the pillars of the League. Red Robin practically ran into the room and engulfed his little brother in a tight hug. 

"How're you feeling? Did Canary give you enough painkillers? You can ask for more you know? Your pain tolerance is higher than the average person's and theres no shame in asking for more so you're comfortable," the older rambled. 

"I'm alright Red," Robin answered. He'd admittedly missed his brothers and guardian but it had to be done. They'd never learn their lesson otherwise. His other brothers filtered into the room, each giving him some sort of affection. Though Nightwing's affection was just a nod. Batman tussled his hair and visibly fought the urge to kiss him on the forehead. That would be too much affection to show in front of other heroes. The family sat down on the couch opposite the team aside from Nightwing who chose to stand menacingly. This was going to be tough. "Don't you guys have something to say to my team?" Robin prompted. 

"We have come to the realization that pointing out your very clear faults right after a potentially traumatizing event was the incorrect course of action," Nightwing stated.

"That just wasn't an apology," Robin said, clearly disappointed. 

"Well there isn't an apology needed when what we said was fact," the older responded. 

"Are you kidding me right now? You basically blamed us for Robin being tortured!" Artemis reminded him. Robin's brothers shrugged. They obviously didn't care that much about what they said and were only here to make sure Robin was still breathing. 

"Well he was with you when the attack happened and you had no business being in Gotham," Red Robin responded. 

"We were ambushed," Connor spat.

"Indeed you were. You were unable to deal with an ambush-"

"I'm going to stop you right there Nightwing," Robin interrupted. He seemed tired and completely done with everybody's shit. "I invited you guys here to apologize but if you're going to just be rude all over again consider this visit over." 

"Robin, they are sorry. It may not be for the right thing but they have apologized. Let's just take you home and we can have a reasoned discussion in private," Batman explained, stepping in. He could see this meeting going south and he didn't want to jeopardize any more time with his son. They were all just a little emotional on having been called so late into a torture session and granted, that was most likely due to Robin being too stubborn to set off his distress signal, but it didn't make them feel any better to see him all bandaged up. He'd be so much better at home rather than in the Mountain. He'd be able to relax instead of constantly being Robin in front of his friends. 

"I'm not going home when my friends need me. I won't leave them because you lot can't stop acting like children," Robin replied. 

"Robin, your recovery is more important than our egos," Kaldur commented. 

"It's not your egos they're hurting, it's you. You're all capable of doing the exact same as us but whenever you mess up, they attack who you are not what you did. It's not fair!" 

"Rob," Wally called, taking the acrobat's hand. "Deep breath."

"I-I wanna go back to bed." The ginger nodded and stood up, moving to the back of his wheelchair. 

"Are you alright?" M'gann asked. She already knew the answer but she thought it still better to ask him. 

"I'm fine. Always will be. Just need some rest."

Wally helped Robin back into bed and helped him get comfortable. He knew something was up but he wasn't sure what the reason was. Sure Robin cared about family but that couldn't be the only reason. There was something the teen wasn't saying. He heard a soft sniffle as he searched for another IV drip of medicine. 

"Dickie?" he called, turning to face the younger. The hero was on his side facing away from him but the shaking of his shoulders gave away what he was trying to hide. "Hey, what's with the waterworks?" Wally asked. He sat on the side of the bed and waited for Robin to turn to him. Eventually, he did and the ginger could just see it in his eyes that he needed a hug. He carefully wrapped his arms around the younger and rubbed circles on his back. 

"Sorry," Robin muttered into his chest. 

"No need to say sorry. What's up?" 

"It's probably because I'm hopped up on pain meds and I'm tired but I can't sleep so everything is raw and I'm overemotional but they're so judgemental of you guys. You're both my family but they have to judge everything I decide to trust that they don't agree with. Makes me feel...bad." He couldn't think of the right word but he didn't need to. He was understood without it. Wally hummed unhappily and gave him a light squeeze for comfort's sake. 

"It doesn't matter what they think."

"But it does matter. They've raised me for the last five years. Is it so bad that I want a big family again?" Robin asked quietly. He was tired. Really tired and crying wasn't helping. He nuzzled up the speedster and tried to relax. 

"It's not wrong at all. It's just what you're used to." He pulled away a little so he could see Robin's face. He wiped away a few of the stray tears and gave him a comforting smile. "Don't let them get to you. We'll still be your friends even if they don't like us."

"I know. I guess I'm just a little emotional. Meds will do that. Joker kinda got to me too this time," he said sadly. "Maybe that's why they don't trust me. Maybe I'm just a shitty Robin." 

"That's it. I'm getting them in here, I'm not having you think that," Wally stated. He was completely serious and Robin knew it but he didn't let go of him. "Dick, you can't do this to yourself. I know I won't be able to knock some sense in you without them. So let me get them. You'll be better for it."

"But what if they agree? Joker knows there hasn't been one Robin all those years and he did that in front of you! I'm the Robin it ended with!" The ginger shushed him gently before lightly pushing him off so that he was lying on the bed. He hated this. He hated seeing how much being Robin was putting a strain on him. It wasn't so bad when he was younger because he was new to it all. Now Robin was a teenager with the weight of the world on his shoulders and painfully aware that the legacy he needed to carry on was going to be difficult. It didn't help that Batman constantly compared his kids to one another and himself whether negative or positive it wasn't right. 

"It was a stupid myth to begin with and your family won't agree with you. You're the youngest Robin, even Nightwing didn't start till he was nearly eleven. Let's say they're all concussed and agree with you, it doesn't matter. I'm proud of your work as Robin and so is your team."

"You promise?" Robin asked, the fear of rejection clear in his voice. 

"I promise. Now let me get your idiot brothers and your idiot dad." That got a little giggle which eased his worries.

Wally returned to his team and the batfamily bickering. Typical. He wouldn't tell Robin that, the poor boy had enough on his plate. 

"Hey!" he announced, taking everyone's attention. "If you're done being jerks to my team, there's a situation you need to sort out."

"What is it?" Red Robin asked. 

"When Robin was tortured, Joker revealed he knew there was more than one Robin and because you put so much pressure on him to keep up this dumbass myth he's got it in his head that he's a bad Robin since he got found out. I swear to every superhero on this planet if you even think to agree with him on that, I will make sure every single leaguer who holds that boy dear knows about how much stress you put on him for no good reason," Wally answered, a fierce glare set on his features. He wasn't in the mood for them to make matters worse.

"We would never do that," Batman replied, offended at the notion. 

"Mhm, sure because your parenting just screams healthy self-image. Oh and the comparative thing? Totally great please keep it up," the speedster commented sarcastically. "Look at your kids and think over that. In the meantime, all four of you in that medbay and you tell that kid he isn't a failure because right now that's how he feels. You being dicks to his friends isn't helping either just so you know."

"Feel good about yourself now you've told us off?" Red Hood huffed.

"I'll feel good when you tell Robin he's a great hero." They scowled at him but were quick to go to the medbay to sort the situation out. 

A knock at the door caught Robin's attention. Wally would've just come in so maybe it was one of his teammates or Black Canary. He quickly wiped the tears away and glanced at himself in the reflective metal close to him. He looked like he'd been crying but it would do. 

"Come in," he called. His voice was a little crackly but he could pass it off as coming down with something. Batman walked in, tailed by Red Robin, Red Hood and Nightwing. Robin tensed up upon seeing them and his gaze suddenly averted to the blanket he'd pulled over himself. The medbay got cold sometimes. Nightwing locked the door before the family took their seats around the room. Robin didn't have the energy to yell at them anymore. He was too tired and everything ached too much. He didn't want to deal with much more stress. 

"I know I'm probably not the best dad out there and I should've said it sooner but you've been a great Robin," Batman said. 

"I'm not," Robin argued.

"What makes you think that?"

"You guys hate the people I put trust in, I'm not as fast at hacking as Tim, I'm not as good at fighting like Damian, I don't think quickly like Jason and I'm not as good at problem-solving as Steph is. All I am is a circus kid in borrowed clothes." 

"That's not true at all," Nightwing responded. "None of us are as nimble as you are. You can get into spaces and escape places that we never could."

"But the Robin Myth ended with me. Now Joker knows we're not all the same person so there's no mystery and now my team knows and now everyone will know and-" a firm hand rested on his shoulder making him aware of how quick his breathing had gotten. 

"Joker has always known and perhaps...perhaps the myth should end," Batman stated. "It's too much pressure on top of having a secret identity and I'm sorry I didn't notice how much it affects you sooner. But there's no best Robin and there's no worse Robin. There is just Robin."

"We're sorry we've been kind of a bunch of dickwads lately. We know how much a big family means to you and we'll try to be kinder," Red Robin added.

"That's all I ask from you. If I'm honest, I missed you guys and I would've liked to see you sooner but my team needed time. This is the first time they've ever seen torture like this and it doesn't help that it was me." They nodded in understanding. They'd been too protective and only pushed away the youngest when all they wanted to do was pull him close. "I have to stay here to recover. I need to be there for them."

"We understand. Can we at least visit you?" Batman asked. 

"Yeah, I could never stay mad at you guys for that long. Though if you say anything to my team again I'll break your legs."

"I don't doubt you would," Red Hood chuckled.