Hey guys! Hope you enjoy this new story! HOWEVER, before you read, please read the following:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Young Justice, but Young Justice owns me. :p
WARNINGS: mention of rape, mention/possible description of sex, suicidal thoughts/attempts.
You have been warned, and if you take me to court, because something in this story triggered something for you, I will calmly refer back to the AN. Just letting you know.
ANYWAY, onto the story.
Chapter 1
"Before we begin with what we have on the list for today," Superman said, one evening at a Justice League meeting. "Does anyone have anything they want to address that is not on the list for today?"
Before anyone had a chance to say, or do anything, Robin, AKA Tim Drake's hand flew up. Superman glanced over at Batman, but the Dark Knight seemed as surprised as he was.
"Yes...Robin?" Superman asked slowly. Robin licked his lips, sitting up straighter in his seat, before speaking.
"Nightwing's not a member of the Justice League, right? I mean, I know his old team is, but he's not, right?"
"Does your...comment relate to Nightwing?" Superman asked. Robin nodded.
"No," Batman answered. "He elected to remain with Young Justice and train the new heroes."
Superman nodded in agreement, turning back to Robin.
"What is it you wanted to bring to the League's attention, Robin?"
Robin took a deep breath, before speaking quickly. "Is Nightwing high on something?"
Everyone in the room shared wary glances, before Kaldur finally spoke up.
"What gives the impression that his is?"
"His eyes," Robin answered. "I noticed it four years ago actually."
"What about them?" Wally asked, fear for his best friend welling up in his chest. Robin bit his lip.
"They're dilated," he answered. "Like...really dilated. And every time I've talked to him, he seems distracted. Like he's thinking about something else. And he never goes on patrol anymore," Robin looked over at Batman. "Have you noticed that?"
Batman nodded, though he remained stoic as ever. "I have, yes. Have you asked him why?"
Robin shrugged. "He just ignores the question, and tries to change the subject. I usually let him, just because...I don't know, actually. I've also noticed a slightly orange ring around his irises."
"I've seen that before," J'onn said suddenly. "The orange, and the pupils…"
"Where?" Batman asked, fear for his first protege making him consider every, and any angle.
"It's a symptom of brainwashing," J'onn answered. "Specifically, Psimon's brainwashing."
"You think Psimon brainwashed him?" Artemis asked, leaning closer to Wally, her fiance of two years. J'onn shook his head.
"Only one way to find out," he sent Batman an uncertain look. "We'll need someone to hold him down, so I can go inside his mind and find out. Only with your permission of course."
Batman nodded. "And you have it."
"How are we going to be able to get that close?" Robin asked. "Wing doesn't let anyone touch him anymore after his too close run in with Joker a few years back."
The League shuddered at the memory.
"That's why someone is going to distract him so the rest of us can get him from behind."
Before anyone could even look at him, Robin sighed, getting to his feet.
"I'll do it," he said, walking over to the door. "Where is he anyway?"
"Should be in the gym," Wally answered instantly, blushing when everyone gave him confused looks. "He's always in there," Wally admitted.
Batman nodded over at Robin. "Distract him as long as you can. Don't let him get suspicious."
Robin nodded, and disappeared towards the Zeta Tubes.
In the gym a short time later
"Hey wing!" Robin said cheerfully, as he strode calmly into the gym, and watched his brother swinging on the rings. He waited calmly for Nightwing to land next to him, sweat pouring down his face. He was dressed in only sweatpants, and a t-shirt, no need for a mask, since everyone knew the identities of the Bats. Dick smiled, accepting the water bottle his little brother handed him.
"Hey Tim," he said, breathing heavily. Tim tried not to stare, Dick's dilated pupils scaring him slightly. "What's up?"
Without even thinking, Tim spoke rapidly. "Are you high?"
Dick froze, his water bottle halfway to his lips, as he regarded his brother with a confused look. After a few seconds, he smirked, taking a quick drink, before ruffling his brother's hair.
"High on what?" he asked, laughing slightly, though Tim could tell he was trying to hide something. "Zatanna broke up with me four years ago, so it's not like I'm high on love. And I most certainly don't do drugs, so that rules out the two main things that would make a person high. What even gives you the assumption that I'm high in the first place."
"Your pupils," Tim said, trying not to let his eyes wander, when he saw the League getting into their places out of the corner of his eyes. "They're dilated."
"Yeah," Dick said slowly. "Because I have a concussion."
Oh, he's definitely hiding something. Tim thought, directing the comment to J'onn. How would he get a concussion if he hasn't been on patrol in months?
So, rather than keeping his mouth shut, Tim voiced that very question.
"How do you get a concussion, if you haven't been on patrol in months?"
Dick sighed, rolling his eyes. "Normal people get concussions all the time, Tim."
"Yeah, but you're not normal," Tim said. "No offense," he added, at the hurt look that crossed Dick's face. The twenty-one year old rolled his eyes again.
"What are you hiding? He asked, and Tim couldn't help but tense.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice raising an octave, like it did when he was lying. "I'm not hiding anything."
Dick raised an eyebrow. "Your voice got higher," he commented, and Tim mentally cursed himself. "It only does that when you're lying."
Thinking quickly, Tim blurted out, "What do you do in your free time?"
Dick stared at Tim for a few seconds, before breaking out laughing. After a few solid minutes of nothing but his signature cackle, he calmed himself down.
"You ever been in love, Tim?" he asked, and Tim wasn't sure where he was going with the conversation.
"I don't think so," Tim said slowly. Dick nodded.
"You get this feeling in your chest," Dick explained, tapping his heart. "Your heart flutters whenever you talk to them, or hear their voice, or their name."
"Okay," Tim said slowly. Dick smiled.
"I'm actually seeing someone," Dick said slowly, before shrugging. "Secretly, of course, because Bruce wouldn't approve, by any means. But my point is, I love them, Tim. That's why I haven't been going on patrol. I've been spending every night with them."
"Who is she?" Tim asked. Dick laughed darkly.
"Who said it's a she?" he asked, smirking slightly, before walking around his little brother, and towards the door. "Gotta love the assumptions society puts on everyone, right Timmy?"
Tim's eyes went wide, and he looked up at the rafters, where Bruce was.
What do I do now?! He asked fearfully, sending his thoughts to J'onn. Before the martian could answer, Bruce dropped silently from the rafters, throwing himself at his first foster son.
Hope you enjoyed! Sorry to leave you on a cliffie (not really. HAHAHA) anyway, please please please review. This tells me people like my story, and want me to keep writing. It makes me feel good too! I love you all, and be sure to keep an eye out for another chapter, hopefully tomorrow! Also, any guesses as to what's going on with Nightwing?
