I don't own Young Justice
Trust: Chapter one The mission
Robin's P.O.V
It had been a simple re-con mission, get in, find the information and get out. It was that simple. Aqualad had split us up in two teams, Artemis, Miss Martian and I were to infiltrate the building and receive the information for Batman. Aqua lad, Superboy and Kid Flash were to stay outside and be our back up if anything were to go wrong. We were able to get into the building easily enough and with the map that I was able to download from one of the fuse boxes that I had found in the vents we were able to find were the computer with the information was being kept. Funny how easy it is to get this info, I think they should reconsider upgrading their security.
"So does anyone know what this information is?" KF asked obviously bored with having to wait outside as backup. He was never one to sit still and wait.
"Not sure, other than it has something to do with what the league of shadows are planning." I replied attaching the lead from my wrist computer to the main computer to start hacking into the system.
"Well what ever they are planning it had better not have anything to do with monkeys, I hate monkeys." Superboy said. He really didn't like monkeys, though I didn't understand why. Maybe I will ask him later, I've been meaning to talk to him about his relationship with Superman anyway. I couldn't understand why Sups couldn't accept him, maybe it had something to do with the way he was created.
"What is it with you and monkeys Superboy? There isn't anything wrong with them." Artemis asked him curiously. Looks like I won't need to ask him.
"I just find them annoying and they seem to like attacking me for some reason."
"Hey that wasn't their fault! They were being controlled." Kid Flash replied.
"They still attacked me, it's annoying and I hate them!"
"Robin how's it coming?" Aqualad asked seriously, recently he's been acting too serious like he was concerned about something. Maybe he's just worried about failing and then getting the blame. That has happened a lot recently.
"I'm in. Just downloading the file, give me a few minutes and we can get out of here..." Just then the ground started shaking like we were experiencing an earthquake.
"What's happening?" Miss Martian, asked.
"It feels like an earthquake. Robin, you and the girls need to get out of there! It looks like the building could collapse." Aqua lad ordered.
"I can't, I still got fifteen percent to go before the file has finished downloaded..."
"How long will that take?"
"It will be completed in a few seconds, Artemis and Megan you go ahead and find a way out of here. If this map is right, there should be a route into the sewers in the third room down the hall, I will follow as soon as I have finished downloading..."
Boom!
Aqualad's P.O.V
As Robin was talking I watched as apart of the build collapsed. Fear filled me as Conner, Wally and I watched in horror as half the building crumbled to the ground in heaps of rubble.
"Robin, Artemis, Megan can you hear me!" I asked, fear clear in my voice.
"Yeah we're here, we're looking for the room that has the entrance to the sewers. Robin said that he will join us in a second." Megan replied. They searched the room until Artemis found the hidden entrance, they opened it up and heaved at the smell.
"Is Robin ok? It doesn't usually take him this..."
"What are you two standing around for jump in!" Robin yelled. He must have just ran straight into the sewers cause we could hear Artemis going 'eeewwww.'
"How can you stand walking in this? It stinks down here and yet you jumped in like it was a pool. Doesn't anything ever get to you?" Artemis asked.
"I was ready for this and brought air filters, here this should keep the smell out." Robin replied back in his usual way, I always thought it was funny how he could laugh at just about anything.
"Thanks, but how is it that you are always so prepared? Every time we go on a mission you seem to always have what we need." Megan asked.
"Hello he was trained by Batman. Of course he's going to be prepared." KF said like it was obvious, he was pacing around the floor annoying Conner and the thought on just tying his legs up to keep him still was tempting.
"Oh great now which way do we go?" Artemis asked sounding annoyed.
"Hang on a sec and I will tell you. Seriously hasn't anyone ever taught you patience?"
"Well hurry up, I can feel my feed turning into mould." Artemis complained.
"Ok I'm in. It says that both ways takes us to an exit. The bio-ship is to the east off us so I would suggest that we go right, it will be our quickest route." Robin explained with a sigh. Artemis' attitude is starting to get to him.
"Megan what's wrong?" Artemis suddenly asked.
"There's someone else down here with us."
"Do you know who it is? Can you read there mind for us?" I asked her curious about who would be down there following them.
"Yes but I will have to stop the mind link to do it."
"Then do it! Robin can you get a signal down there?"
"No, there must be something near by that is cutting of radio waves. Even the comp is losing it's signal." Robin said sounding annoyed.
"Ok you are in charge until communications can be re-established. We will meet you near the east sewer entrance."
"Ok we will see you there." Robin replied before it went quiet. I sat down on a nearby log again and thought about what Batman had said to me before leaving for the mission. He had said that he was concerned about Robin and wanted me to keep am eye on him. That's why I asked Megan and Artemis to go with him. I just wonder what it is that is worrying Batman enough to ask me to watch Robin.
Robin's P.O.V
Megan seethered the mind link and for the first time in thirty minutes I was able to allow my thought to run free. I know that Batman asked Kal to watch me, it's that time of year again and usually Bruce would keep me in the house and of missions, though that usually makes me angry at him and we end up in a shouting match.
"It's Cheshire. She's been sent down to find us to make sure that we don't escape with the information." I heard Megan talking to us and concentrated on her. "She is coming down the left passage."
"Well it's a good thing we are going down the right one then. Come on let's get out of here!" I said running down the passage. Megan followed behind me but I noticed that Artemis was just standing there. I hope she isn't going to do what I think she is going to do.
"Artemis what are you doing? Come on we need to go!" Megan shouted.
"I'll stay here and distract her to give you time to get out, I will follow when I have dealt with her." Artemis said getting her bow ready for the up coming fight.
"No we leave together, now come on!" I shouted grabbing her arm to drag her with him.
"This information is too important to lose, I will stay here and make sure that she doesn't follow you." Artemis argued pulling her arm free and running towards the left passage.
"Artemis get back here, that is an order!" I yelled running after her. Artemis pulled out an arrow from her quiver and shot it at the entrance above mine and Megan's head . It exploded causing the rubble to fall blocking the passage and trapping Megan and I in the dark tunnel. I stood up after dodging the blast and falling rubble and frowned at the mess on my once nice clean shirt.
"Artemis what are you doing?" I yelled angrily at her through a small gap, Artemis just ignored me and headed towards Cheshire who had just turned up, she pulled out another arrow and got ready for a fight.
"So here we are again, I wonder if you will be able to catch me this time?" Cheshire teased making Artemis angry. I tried to move the rubble out-of-the-way but found that it was too heavy, so instead I turned and ran towards the east entrance to meet up with the others, angry with Artemis for not listening to me and endangering our lives.
Artemis P.O.V
I stood there staring at my sister as I tried to anticipate her moves. I knew that she was here to give me my next assignment but I didn't want to hear it. Young justice had become my family and I didn't want to do anything that would hurt them.
"I think that they have gone now. Good acting by the way, we made the right choice in picking you for the job. Now this is what he wants you to do..."
"No! What ever it is I won't do it. I don't want to do this any more." I shouted at her angrily. Cheshire just laughed.
"It's too late for that, you already agreed that you would help us. You owe me remember for saving you from dad. Or have you forgotten what he did to you?" Cheshire asked taking her mask off. I shivered at the memory, the anger in his eyes, the sound of pure hatred in my voice as he beat me with his cain. I looked at Cheshire and sighed.
"I am grateful for what you did for me. But this isn't the life I wanted. Please isn't there anything you can do to get me out of this contract?" I asked her, my eyes watery from the memory. Cheshire thought about this for a moment and then smiled at me.
"I will see what I can do. Now here is you new assignment, he wants you to deliver an important parcel to this man at this address." Cheshire said handing me the information, I memorized the details and then tore up the evidence.
"What is in the parcel?" I asked hoping that she would tell me.
"I don't know, I just do my job and get paid. Now we had better make it look like you've been in a fight. We wouldn't want your team mates getting suspicious now would we?" Cheshire said before cutting my arm with her blades. I went to fight her but found that I couldn't fight her hand to hand. I managed to fire a few arrows at her but missed as she was too fast for me to get a good shot. After about twenty minutes of this I heard Megan talking to me in my head again.
"Artemis are you alright? Where are you?" She asked me in concern. I managed to dodge one of Cheshire's attacks and answered her.
"I'm fighting with Cheshire, I nearly had her when you broke my concentration." I shouted making it look like I had nearly caught her. Cheshire noticed the way I looked and figured that I must be back in contact with my team. She gave me a wave and ran of towards the west entrance. I followed behind her.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you lose you concentration. Are you ok?" Megan asked upset for distracting me.
"Don't apologise to her! What does she think she's doing playing hero? Does she think that by doing this that she will prove that she isn't a failure?
"Yeah I'm ok, I'm heading towards the west entrance now, I will meet you at the ship." I said as a ran. The others were unusually quiet and I wondered how angry there are at me for disobeying the order that Robin had given me. I kept on running after Cheshire and 10 minutes later we came to a manhole cover.
"This is where we part. See you again soon little sister." She said before making her disappearing act, I still couldn't figure out how she was able to do that and thought about asked Robin to train me since he was a master at it. I thought that he might have heard my thoughts but he didn't respond to it.
When I got out of the sewers the bio-ship was waiting for me, Megan opened the hatch and I ran in sitting down in my seat. Aqua lad noticed my arm and asked me what had happened.
"She managed to catch me of guard. I nearly had her as well! Oh well maybe next time. So Robin have you figured out what the information is?"
"No. The information is for Batman and if he wants us to know it then he will." He replied sternly. The rest out the ride back was quiet, no one wanted to mention what had happened and the disrespect that Robin must think I have for him. I am going to have to try and make it up to him some how.
Aqua lad's P.O.V
When Artemis got on to the ship, Megan activated the controls and headed back to base. Conner was asking Megan if she was alright and she replied that she was fine.
"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WAS DOING? YOU COULD OF SERIOUSLY HURT HER!" Conner yelled at Artemis.
"Calm down Conner yelling isn't going to help anyone. Let's just give this info to Bats so that we can get a shower." Robin said. He had cut on his leg and I asked him if he was going to be alright.
"Yeah don't worry Bats isn't going to be angry at you for not looking after me. It's just a scratch anyway. I get them all the time." The others looked at me with a worried look, and I sighed.
"Batman just informed me that you was feeling slightly under the weather and asked me to keep an eye on you to make sure you was ok." I explained, Robin just huffed in response. We arrived at the cave and I was nervous to see Batman and Superman standing there waiting for us. The mission must have taken us longer than I thought. Thanks Artemis.
"I see that it was hard for you than I thought." Batman said observing Artemis' arm that she had bandages and Robin's cut on his leg that needed to be cleaned up from where he had dodged the rubble that Artemis had caused. Robin walked over to the computer and downloaded the information on it for Batman to look at later.
"We ran into some trouble. It seems that they were ready for us again." I explained annoyed that the enemy was ready for us again. Artemis spoke up then.
"I nearly caught Cheshire, if I had of done then we could have questioned her and asked how she knew that we would be there." She said angrily. Batman frowned at her.
"This was a re-con mission not a mission to capture and question the enemy. You and your reckless ego could have gotten Megan and Robin killed." I said disappointingly, Artemis frowned.
"I did it to give them a chance to get out with the information. What do you think would have happened if we had tbeen caught? Besides if Robin had of scanned the building properly then we would have known that there was a bomb in there ready to blow up with us in it." Artemis argued pointing an accusing finger at Robin, who just stood there and took it.
"You was the one that disobeyed Robin's order to leave Cheshire and to meet up with us. You blew up the entrance nearly causing it a fall on the two and just out right showed disrespect." Wally argued.
"And why should I have listened to him? He's thirteen and the youngest of us all. Why did you make him your second?" Artemis ask obviously jealous because I had choice Robin over her.
"I chose him because out of all of us he has had the best training and most experience. Now I suggest that you apologise for your actions..."
"ENOUGH! I Will not have other people talk about me whilst I am here. Batman whilst I was going through the files on the computer I found a file labelled Billy Marion. I know that you didn't want that information but thought that it might be useful. Have you heard of him before?" Robin asked his mentor. We all stood there shocked by the way Robin was talking to Batman, we had never heard him shout like that before. Batman didn't seem phased by it though.
"No I haven't but I will look into it, maybe he's a man they have hired. Any way I am a little disappointed with the way this mission went. It should have taken you thirty minutes to get in there find the information and get out again. It took you an hour and in the process you got the building blown up. Again!" Batman said annoyed.
"I am going to be talking to your mentors and suggesting that they all talk to you individually about your attitude in a team. I also suggest that you all sort out any issues that you may have. These are dangerous missions and one mistake is all it will take to cause something to go drastically wrong." He stood there and let us take in what he had just said.
"Robin we are going home, I want to get that cut looked at." Batman suddenly said.
"We have a medical bay here, it's still early for him to leave." Wally said.
"He's filthy and has no change of clothes here." Batman simply stated. Robin silently followed him not bothering to say good-bye.
"Robin?" Artemis asked quietly Robin stopped and turned to face her. "I am sorry for not listening to you but I thought that I was doing the right thing." She said.
"Yeah well I guess that it can't be easy taking orders from a thirteen year old. Maybe next time Kal can appoint someone else to be his second." Robin said bitterly before going through the transporter back to Gotham. I looked at Superman who also looked surprised at Robin's attitude and gave him a worried look. He looked back and gave me a nervous smile.
"Will he be alright? I've never seen him act like this before?" Wally asked the man of steel who nodded in reply.
"Batman will talk to him, though it looks like it's that time of year again. I'd expect some changes in his behaviour in the next few days." Superman warned before realising that he had said too much.
"This time of year? What do you mean? Has something happened to him? Come on we're his team mates and yet we know nothing about him. Even bay watch over there doesn't know anything about the boy wonder and he's his best friend." Artemis said wanting to know what was wrong with the kid, he had never been like that towards any of the team before, even if we did do anything to offend him or upset him he laughs it of and we're forgiven. Superman looked at us uncomfortably, it was obvious that he wanted to tell us but had been ordered by Batman to keep his mouth shut.
"I'm sorry but unfortunately Robin needs to keep his identity a secret because of Batman, they are both connected and if their identities were to become revealed everything they have could be destroyed." Superman explained.
"We understand that but it isn't like we're going to go and tell anybody who he is, we understand the code and would never do that to a fellow cape." I said trying to convince him to give us something. "You know Batman's secret identity and yet you didn't tell anyone. He trusted you to keep his secret."
"I wasn't told his identity. I found out by my own means and he's still angry about that even now, though he hides it really well." Superman bowed his head in shame to his confession. The boy scout, which Batman calls him had done the one thing that no one else has ever dared and used his powers to find out his secret. We stared at him in disbelief, there seemed to be a lot that we didn't know or understand about our elders.
Now entering Green Arrow...Now entering Aquaman...Now entering Martian Manhunter...Now entering Flash.
"Hey I hear that Batman wasn't too happy with the mission he had assigned you and by the looks at Robin he wasn't too happy either. What happened?" Green Arrow asked in his normal worried. I always wondered how Speedy...wait sorry Red Arrow could have grown up to be so grumpy when Robin was so happy-go-lucky all the time and he's with Batman. It just didn't make any sense.
"Yeah little miss I'm so perfect decided to disobey one of Robin's orders on the mission and nearly crushed him and Megan by blowing up half the sewers they were in." Wally said quick to explain to everyone that it was Artemis' fault.
"Hey hang on a minute, didn't I already point out that Robin was the one that didn't scan the building properly and didn't find the hidden bomb that was ready to explode. How come he isn't taking any blame for this?"
"Because he had already found you all a safe route out and had got the info the Bats wanted, by may I add hacking into a highly encrypted file. That thing was so heavily encrypted that it would have taken someone else an hour to get in. It only took him minutes. Face it he was ready for anything that could have gone wrong and what did you have to do? Risk everyone and the mission so that you could prove that you could catch Cheshire. So yeah I would say that you are to blame and that you shouldn't be on this team." Wally said angrily, he was still angry that Red Arrow had decided to not come on the team and blames Artemis for it.
"The plan wasn't perfect, I should have sent him in alone and have everyone split up and guard and search different areas to make sure that everything was secure. But I felt that I needed to have someone there with him for protection. I guess it's difficult because he is the youngest of the group and because I'm the eldest I want to make sure that he is kept safe." I admitted.
"Not to mention that Bats would have your tail if anything did happen to him." Conner said finally deciding to join the conversation.
"I think that you all just need to get to know each other a little better and learn each others strengths and weaknesses. You will find then that you team work will improve." Flash said standing next to Wally.
"Yeah but how do we do that when not everyone isn't being honest and keeping secrets? I mean I trust Robin with my life but I still would like to know what happened to him to make him become Robin. Is he Bats son or something?" Wally said obviously hating the fact that Robin knows everything about him but he knows very little about Robin.
The adults in the room looked at each other as if trying to make a decision and then smiled at us. "How about we suggest to Bats that you all have a sleep over here over the week-end? I know that Megan and Conner is it? Stays here any way but it will give you all a chance to relax and have fun, learn more about each other. I'm sure that there are a few things that Robin is allowed to tell you.
On the way back to Wayne manor Robin's P.O.V
"Why can't I tell them? Wouldn't it make it easier on them so that they know what to expect this time of year? You know that they will be asking questions and Superman will be itching to tell them something, if he hasn't already." I whined, yes whined. I was angry with having to miss out on things because of my secret identity. Bruce just stayed quiet as he drove us home, hoping that eventually I will shut up wining and except things his way.
"Come on, ok so I won't tell them my name but I could at lest tell them..."
"No Dick."
"You don't even know what I was going to say."
"Yes I do. You was going to say tell them your favourite food and music and colour."
"And what harm will that do? I mean everyone likes the colour red, it's obvious that I like that colour cause it's on my costume."
"I thought your favourite colour is green?" He said still watching the road, I couldn't believe it even he didn't know anything about me.
"What's my favourite food?" I asked him wondering if he knew. I mean how could he not know Alfred makes it every Friday night as he knows that mum used to make it for us after a Friday night show.
"Pizza." Did he really say pizza? I mean Yeah I do like pizza but it isn't my favourite food. I folded my arms and shook my head showing him that he was wrong and that he was digging himself a very large hole, one that he will find hard to get out off. Bruce sighed and leaned back slightly in his seat, this meant that Bruce Wayne was in the car with me now and not Batman.
"I'm sorry Dick, I guess that things like that doesn't really matter to me. It never has."
"And neither does attending my school activities, I hope that you remembered that I have my gymnastics competition next week. I know that Alfred has been leaving you reminders."
"I'm sorry Dick but I can't attend. I have..."
"A very important meeting that you have to go to at Wayne tech. Of course you do." I said angrily, why was it that he only ever found time for me when he didn't have work, which he owns, and when he's not cleaning the streets of Gotham? We arrived home and Alfred was dusting around the computer.
"Hello boys I see you are early tonight, does that mean that your mission was a success?...Master Dick are you alright? Your costume is all dirty and you are bleeding." Alfred asked noticing the massive stain that was on my nice red shirt and the cut that was on my leg.
"Yeah thought I'd have a swim in the sewers, best time of the years for it you know." I joked, I always seemed to joke about the most weirdest of things. Alfred of course knew something had happened, Bruce and I could never fool that old guy no matter how much we told him we was fine.
"Well in that case I suggest a hot bath before dinner, I picked up your favourite pudding today. I thought that you might need it." Bruce looked at Alfred and gave him a funny look. I took off my uniform in the changing room and changed into some jeans and a red t-shirt. I placed the dirty clothes into the hamper and headed up stairs. I could hear Alfred asking Bruce what was wrong but I was too annoyed and upset to sit and listen like I would usually do. I just went upstairs to my room and shut the door, I checked the clock and noticed the time was seven O'clock.
"Well mum, dad I guess it will just be me and Alfred again. I wish you was here I know that you wouldn't miss anything that I did at school. But Bruce isn't you is he and I guess he never will be." For the first time that day I allowed myself to feel the emotion that I had been feeling all day, tomorrow was the anniversary of the "accident" that killed my parents and each year it never seemed to get better. I just hoped that the rest of the team wouldn't get too suspicious cause that would course trouble that I just didn't want. After five minutes I went down for dinner and pretended that everything was alright. Just like I did every year.