DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THIS IT ALL BELONGS TO THE DC UNIVERSE. THIS IS A FAN FICTION CREATED PURELY FOR OTHER'S ENJOYMENT…. SO YOU BETTER ENJOY IT!
*** So I've never even tried to write a Fan Fiction before, but ever since the first time I saw Young Justice, I fell in love with it, so I've decided that I would write a Fan Fiction for it. I've played with several different ideas for a while, but I've finally settled on this one. I'm trying to keep it as close to the Young Justice show as I can, so bear with me if I get some facts wrong!
*** It's mostly about Robin, since he's my favorite character, so it'll be either from his point of view, Selena's, Batman's, or maybe even someone else. I worked on this for a while, so I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter One: The Missing Bird
Artemis flicked a strand of golden hair out of her eyes and quickly redid her ponytail, pulling the offending hair into it tightly. Her green shirt hung over her thin body loosely, while her black jacket hung open. Her sapphire eyes glanced towards the meeting room doorway as a tall, lean, red-headed teen sidled in.
"Whatca doing, Arty?" The teen ruffled his red hair with one hand as his green eyes locked gazes with her sapphire ones.
Artemis sighed heavily, obviously annoyed. "What do you want Wally?" Wally just grinned and stopped next to her, his button-up blue plaid shirt undone to show his white t-shirt underneath.
He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and said chidingly, "I don't think I need a reason to talk to you, now do I?"
Artemis rolled her eyes and scanned the room again, rubbing one hand on the leg of her black pants slowly.
"Waiting for someone? Or should I say some-girl?"
Artemis sighed again gustily. "You know as well as I do that we're all scheduled for battle training with Black Canary at seven, and its quarter to. She always gets here early, and she's not her yet. She should be here by now!" Artemis finished, her sapphire eyes narrowing anxiously.
Wally shrugged carelessly. "She a busy person; she has people to see, places to go. I think she can not come early for once."
Both teens turned as two more Team members strolled into the room. First came Kalder wearing his everyday blue sweatshirt and jeans, his pale blonde hair contrasting sharply with his dark skin. Zatanna was a step behind him, wearing a purple tank top and white pants, her black hair curly gently at her shoulders.
Zatanna rushed over and the two girls embraced, Artemis wrapping her arms around her tightly. Wally waved as two more members walked in from another door. Their two heads leaned against each other; one with short, jagged black hair, and the other had straight ginger hair.
Connor was wearing his normal black shirt and jeans, and M'Gann had changed up her wardrobe to wear a yellow tank top, black skirt, and black-and-yellow stripped stockings. Their interlocked hands swung back and forth as they walked over to their friends.
Kalder nodded to Artemis and Wally respectfully, then turned and began to talk to Connor and M'Gann. Zatanna beamed at Wally and Artemis, and said in a light voice, "Have either of you seen Robin?"
Artemis shook her head. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him all day. Maybe Bats has him tied up doing something for him."
Wally nodded approvingly, but Zatanna frowned, her black eyebrows scrunching together in confusion. "But that wouldn't make sense! He promised me he'd be here today because afterward he was going to show me around Happy Harbor!"
Wally snorted and said with a joking smile, "Oh yes, he likes you too much to break a promise."
Zatanna smiled shyly, her cheeks turning a rosy tinge, but her blue eyes betrayed her worry. Artemis elbowed Wally sharply in the ribs, causing him to double over in mock pain.
Kalder's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Zatanna speaks true; I've never known Robin to miss a training session, even if he didn't have to come." He looked around at the others as he continued. "I'm worried that something is amiss."
The other Team members glanced at each other nervously, clearly unsure of what to say as Kalder turned to face M'Gann. "Miss Martian?" He said curtly, using M'Gann's hero name.
"Yes Aqualad?" M'Gann in turn used Kalder's hero name, one eyebrow cocked in confusion.
"Will you search for Robin's mind and try to ask him why he is not here? I think that that is the best way to contact him at the moment."
M'Gann nodded consentingly, then closed her eyes in concentration. For a moment she stayed still, her chest barely even moving as she breathed. The others waited tensely, Zatanna biting her lip anxiously and Wally nervously shifting from foot to foot. Everyone froze as M'Gann cried out loudly, her eyes flying open. Connor was at her side in a moment, one hand on her back and the other holding her hand tightly. His concern shone through his eyes, his lips pursed in disapproval.
Kalder reached over and laid a comforting hand on M'Gann's heaving shoulder and said slowly, "What did you see M'Gann? Did you contact Robin?"
M'Gann nodded jerkily, still gasping for air. She managed to regain her breath as she said haltingly, "I – I had a hard time – a very hard time – locating Robin's mind. Something was…" M'Gann stopped for a moment to think for the right way to describe what she felt. "Something was blocking me… keeping me from fully connecting to Robin's mind or pinpointing his exact location. I was unable to speak with him, but I did manage to pick up one basic, overall feeling strongly emanating from him…"
M'Gann paused again, her eyes wide in fear at something the others could not see. Artemis walked over and shouldered Kalder aside, then winded her arm around M'Gann's.
"What was the impression you got?" Artemis said soothingly.
M'Gann shivered, then her brown eyes scanned the room apprehensively. "I – I'm not sure how to explain it… Here –" M'Gann reached out and connected to the other Team member's minds. "I'll show you how it felt." In the moment that the Team was exposed to the stray thought, all of them reacted as if struck with an iron fist.
Panic.
An all-consuming, heart-pounding, fear inspiring surge rushed through their minds. While Robin's exact thoughts were impossible to make out, his fear, pain, and absolute terror were unmistakably evident.
M'Gann quickly released the feeling, but the Team took a moment to unfreeze from their shock. Connor had tightened his grip on M'Gann till he was almost crushing her, while Zatanna was cowering at Kalder's behind Kalder. One of Artemis's hands were clenched onto Zatanna's hand, while she had the fingers of her other hand wound through Wally's. Wally had stepped in front of Artemis, as if to protect her from some unseen force.
As the moment passed as suddenly as it had begun, Artemis took a shuddering breath, releasing Zatanna's hand and untangling her other hand from Wally's death grip. Wally unfroze, then moved away from Artemis awkwardly, shaking his head vigorously to hide his embarrassment. Connor realized that his arms were around M'Gann as she slipped out of his grasp. Zatanna inched out from behind Kalder, her face clearly revealing her fear.
Kalder surveyed the group quickly, taking in their expressions which confirmed that they had felt the same as him. "Something is terribly wrong with Robin…"
Wally cleared his throat nervously. "You don't say." He smiled thinly as he attempted to make the others smile.
As Artemis slapped him over the head, Connor glanced at Kalder worriedly. "We have to find him – right?"
Kalder nodded as Zatanna pressed herself against him. "Don't worry," As he spoke he put his hands comfortingly on Zatanna's shoulders. "We'll find him."
At that moment the Zeta Beam Tubes turned on, blue light emanating from them as two adult forms appeared.
Recognized – Green Arrow – 06
Recognized – Black Canary – 11
Kalder turned to the two adult heroes, nodding courteously as he did. Wally became a blue and white blur as he zoomed over and skidded to a stop next to the two newcomers. He started to say something, his greens eyes flashing with distress, but he stopped as Black Canary laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.
Green Arrow slowly scrutinized the Team as he began to speak in a low, exhausted voice. "There has been an… accident… concerning one of the Team's members and –"
Artemis cut him off quickly, her sapphire eyes gleaming with irritation for her mentor. "Yeah, yeah, we already know. So get to it; what happened to Robin and where is he?"
Green Arrow looked taken aback for a moment at the hostility in his protégée's voice, then he resumed speaking. "Earlier today, around 3pm, Batman and Robin went on a routine patrol of Gotham, just as they always do before Robin leaves to come here for training."
Green Arrow took a deep breath as if to steady himself, then he pushed onwards, his face clearly showing his grief. "Batman and Robin were unexpectedly attacked; sneaked up on."
Connor shook his head, his fists clenching and unclenching spasmodically. "That's impossible, no one can sneak up on a Bat! Not even a Leaguer!"
Black Canary sighed dejectedly. "Well, someone did this time. By the time Superman and the Martian Manhunter arrived on scene in response to Batman's distress call, the culprits had fled the area." Black Canary took a shuddering breath then looked away, unsure of what to say next.
Green Arrow quickly picked up the story where she had left off. "Batman was soon found, seriously injured, but he has yet to awaken and tell us what transpired."
M'Gann reached out with her mind, sensing what was coming from Green Arrow's thoughts. She collapsed to the ground with a cry, sobs already racking her thin frame. Connor bent over, attempting to console her, as Wally stepped forward, face pale and eyes wide, and asked the dreaded question:
"Does that mean that Robin's… dead?"
Green Arrow shook his head. "Miss Martian would have sensed that with her mind. But be comforted that this is now top League priority."
Artemis looked at her mentor closely, her eyes clearly displaying her fright. "What is top priority? What happened?"
Green Arrow watched the Team for a moment, then he looked away, head low. Black Canary's eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she leaned against Green Arrow sorrowfully. After a few moments, Green Arrow turned back to the group and finally answered Artemis's question, his eyes darkening with regret.
"We searched everywhere. We combed through every place in Gotham. We tracked down every thug, every criminal, and every supervillain who's ever fought Robin, or Batman or any member of the League. We searched for four hours straight and we're still looking but…" Green Arrow broke off, his voice cracking at the 'but', then he continued.
"Robin is missing."
*** Was that a good enough cliff hanger for ya? I'm not so sure about it, especially since the chapter is so short… but don't worry the other ones are DEFINITELY longer…
*** So how was my grammar? My spelling? Any DC facts I got mixed up on? I couldn't remember what GA and BC's code thingies were, so I just gave them random ones. If someone knows the real ones and could tell, that would be AMAZING! (Especially since I'm planning on entering this in a Fan Fiction contest.)
*** Help would be appreciated! Also, were the hints about what's to come subtle enough? Did the Team seem to get too ancy about Robin not being there too early? Feel free to tear this to shreds! Like I said, 'Help is appreciated'! Also, what do you think about a possible love interest for Roy/Red Arrow that is mysteriously involved in Robin's past?