Disclaimer: I don't own DC or any of their characters.
Dick age 8
1 Lost
Holding tightly to the black gloved hand, I walk beside Batman through the echoing gray metal hallways of the Watchtower.
This is my first time in the Watchtower, and so far I'm fairly disappointed not to see more heroes. I wanted to meet the people Batman works with.
It's not all bad though, I get to spend most of today with just Batman. That's always a good thing.
We stop in front of a door where Batman keys in a code on a digital pad by the door. There's a soft hiss then the metal door slides open, letting Batman and me walk into a large room.
On the right hand side of the room the entire wall is covered with computer screens all of them lit up with images, some showing people moving around busy streets and others showing vast stretches of the star filled vacuum of space.
The left hand wall has a comfortable looking overstuffed dark brown leather couch with a soft looking light blue rug in front of it, on the rug are a few of my toys from the manner and a coloring book and crayons.
I can't stop the smile that curves my lips upwards at the sight. I wondered why Agent A didn't pack me a bag to bring up here, now I know why.
Looking away from the area Daddy set up for me, my attention is instantly draw to the wall straight ahead, it's a wall of glass with an amazing view of a slowly rotating ball of green, blue and white set against the black velvet of an endless night sky.
Pulling my hand away from Batman's I run over to the wall of windows, pressing up against the glass to get a better look at the amazing sight of the Earth, it looks so small from up here.
Turning I grin at Batman, he's watching me with a faint smile just barely turning up the corners of his mouth.
"This is the best view ever." I tell him.
He just smiles a little wider, and I turn back to the window gazing once again and the softly glowing slowly rotating planet Earth.
I stand there fascinated by the sight for a long time, before finally sitting down on the rug and getting out one of the coloring books to play with I flip through the pages until I find a picture of a lion, while Batman watches the monitors with the rather boring images.
Turning my attention back to the book, now satisfied that Batman isn't doing anything interesting, I get started coloring.
I've finished up my picture of a lion, and just started on one of a zebra, when one of the screens lets out a shrill beeping sound.
I look up in time to see Batman wiping away the look of annoyance on his face and replacing it with an unreadable blank expression.
He click a button and one of the monitors changes from the boring image to one of Superman in a room with a red glowing column like thing behind him, and several wires and pipes hanging from a ceiling that I can't quite see.
"Batman, There's a problem in the main power core room. I need you to come check it out." Superman's voice is full of static and sounds kind of funny, I have to fight the urge to laugh at him.
Batman glances over at me for a split second before asking, "I'm a little busy at the moment can it wait?"
Superman shakes his head, "The cooling system isn't working and I can't get it back on."
This time I do snicker at how weird his voice sounds.
Batman sighs pretending like he didn't hear me, "Fine I'll be down in five minutes."
He hits a button and Superman's picture disappears before he has a chance to respond.
Batman, gets up and comes over to me his cape spreading out around him as he crouches down in front of me.
"Robin, I have to go help Superman," His voice is that soft tone that he only ever talks to me in, "I want you to stay in here. Do not leave, not even with another Superhero, even if they say I sent for you. Ok?"
I nod quickly agreeing, "Ok."
He ruffles my hair as he stands up, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
I watch him walk over to the door and leave, I hear the lock click into place and then turn my attention back to the zebra I'm coloring.
I'll make this one for Alfred. I decide, that mean's I'll have to be very careful to do a good job. Alfred like it when I color in the lines.
Getting back to work on my picture I barely notice as the minutes tick by, and my zebra slowly comes to life with colorful stripes.
The lock clicks open and the door hisses as it slides to the side allowing someone in. I don't look up assuming its Batman until I hear a loud intake of air.
My head jerks up, to see a man in a bright red costume with a yellow lightning bolt on his chest. I smile brightly as I recognize him, Flash one of the founding members of the Justice League. After the Superman incident Batman had me memorize all the current League members.
A blur of red and a gust of air, are the only warnings I have before the Flash is kneeling on the floor in front of me a wide smile on his face.
"Hello there, little guy. What's your name?"
"I'm Robin," I say tilting my head to side, "Daddy locked the door. How'd you get in?" I know I'm not supposed to call Batman Daddy in the field, but this doesn't really count as the field does it?
The part of his face that I can see turns a little red then he asks, "Why'd your Daddy leave you in here?"
"He had to go do some work." I answer.
"Why don't we go find him? He really shouldn't leave you alone." Flash says holding out his arms for me.
I shake my head, "No, Daddy said I had to wait here for him."
Flash laughs, "Come on Robin, I'm sure your Daddy wouldn't mind if he knew you were with the Flash."
I shake my head again but before I can say anything Flash has picked me up and everything turns into one big blur of many different colors.
Heart pounding now, I wriggle in Flashes grip, trying to squirm free but Flash just tightens his hold on me. Blood roaring in my ears, I press the button on my belt that Daddy told me to push if somebody grabbed me and I couldn't get away.
There's a buzzing sound, then Flash lets out a pained yelp and everything comes to crashing halt as Flash's grip suddenly vanishes and I tumble to the hard metal floor, banging my hands and knees as I try to catch myself from the sudden fall.
Jumping to my feet, I turn my head trying to figure out where I am, but everything looks the same, just the same metal walls and floor as far as my eyes can see, nothing to tell me where I am or how to get back to the room Batman left me in.
Biting my cheek I blink back the stinging sensation in my eyes as I turn around to see Flash laying on the floor behind me snoring softly. Walking over to him I crouch down beside his head, and start poking his cheek.
"Mr. Flash, wake up please. I need you to take me back to that room. Mr Flash?" Ignoring the slight wobble in my voice, I call his name a few more times before giving up, he'll probably be asleep for hours.
Looking around again, I really only have two options, continue down the hallway in the direction Flash was going or try to go back the way I came. My hand hoovers uncertainly over my belt and the emergency signal that will bring Batman to me. Shaking my head I drop my hand, This isn't an emergency yet, I'll try to find my way back to the room Daddy left me in. If I can't find it then I'll call Batman.
Decision made I step past Flash and start trying to find my way back to the room.
Walking down the many identical hallways and past many gray doors, I try to open all of them to see if the right room lays beyond, but all of them are locked and won't open for me.
I don't know how long I've been wondering around but it feels like forever. My feet hurt, my stomach has started growling, and I just want my Daddy.
When the stinging starts in my eyes again I don't try to stop it, I'm tired and lost and ready to push the emergency button, because that means Daddy will come and I just want Daddy to come find me and take me home, so that Alfred can give me chocolate chip cookies and milk.
"Hello Little One, why are you sad?" A flat formal voice asks.
Looking up I swipe at the tears on my cheeks with my hand as I stare at the tall green skinned man, with the blue cape and black tights with the red x crossing his chest. Martian Manhunter, my tired brain tells me.
"I'm lost and hungry and I can't find my Daddy." I answer his question.
He smiles at me a truly kind smile, one of those smiles that you feel in your heart and can't hide even if you wanted to.
"Well, I have some cookies, why don't you have some then we can go looking for your Daddy." He says gently, offering me his hand.
I hesitate remembering Batman's instructions, but that was not to leave the room, and I'm already out of the room, and I don't know how to get back. He wouldn't be mad at me for letting the Martian help me find him.
Slowly I nod and take Martian Manhunters hand.
His hand swallows mine but it's warm and his grip is gentle. We start walking continuing in the direction I was headed but we soon turn onto another hallway.
"What is your name Little One?" Manhunter asks.
"Robin," I say as I scrub my hand against my cheeks beneath my mask.
A moment later he stops in front of a door and punches in a code on a glowing blue pad next to the door instantly it lets out a near silent hiss as it slides back on its tracks.
Manhunter steps through the door with me at his side, the room we walk into is a lot bigger than the one Daddy left me in, there are tables and chairs covering the empty floor space and at the far end is a set of long buffet tables, there is another metal door behind the buffet tables, but everything is dark and empty.
"Why is it empty?" I ask as Manhunter leads me across the room to another set of doors.
"Everyone is welcome to eat in here at the same time but you have to do your own cooking. So I imagine everyone is either on missions or resting."
I nod thinking about that, as Manhunter opens the door and we walk into an extremely well stocked kitchen. It reminds me of Alfred's kitchen except it a lot bigger, which I didn't think was possible.
Straight back is a shiny stainless steel stove, and microwave, on the right hand wall is two big stainless steel doors, and even from here I can feel the cold radiating off of them so I assume they are either a freezer or refrigerator. Against the left wall is a sink and a black countertop set on top of dark brown cabinets, the same color cabinets circle the room offering lots of storage space. In the middle of the room is a big kitchen island matching the cabinets the island has black padded stools, pushed up to it.
Manhunter leads me over to the island and helps me up onto one of the stools, then he walk over to one of the cabinets and gets out two glasses. Reaching into another cabinet he pulls out a blue package of Oreos, then he brings them and the empty glasses over where I'm sitting, setting them down on the black countertop he turns and goes to one of the stainless steel doors. Opening it he reveals, a very full refrigerator, he takes out a jug of milk and then he comes over and joins me at the island.
He fills up the two glasses, then he opens the package of Oreos and silently we both start munching on the Oreos, dipping them in our milk and just enjoying our treat in silence.
The silence ends when Manhunter asks, "Why are you on the Watchtower, Little Robin?"
Swallowing my bite of Oreo I answer, "My Daddy brought me, but then he had to go help Superman. He told me not to leave the room but then Flash came in and took me out of the room so I did what Daddy told me too do then I got lost."
"Who is your Daddy?" He asks as he dips an Oreo in his glass of milk and stirs it around.
Tilting my head to the side I smile proudly as I say, "Batman,"
Manhunter freezes his cookie halfway to his mouth and dripping milk onto the countertop. Ever so slowly the cookie finishes its journey to his mouth and he bites into it nodding his head a thoughtful expression on his face.
Then he smiles at me, "So you are the source of the light I've been sensing from him."
I don't have to think about it I just nod firmly, Batman smiles more now, at least that's what Alfred says.
Manhunter nods then starts telling me stories about Mars and some of the mission's he has been on with Daddy.
His story is interrupted by the door suddenly opening and a very frantic looking Flash bursting into the room his mouth moving before he even comes to a full stop.
"J'onn have you seen him. Bats is going to murder me if I can't find him," His panicked voice is high and squeaky as he looks over his shoulder, "I've never seen him so scary it's ten times worse than that time GL insulted the Batmobile."
Frowning I try to figure out what he's talking about, Batman doesn't kill, and he's not scary.
His babbling comes to an abrupt halt as he spots me sitting beside Manhunter. Flash instantly sags against the wall, the relief clear in every line of his suddenly relaxed muscles.
The door opens again, without hesitating Wonder Woman and Green Lantern walk in, both pause when they see me.
Wonder Woman is the first to start moving again, she smiles and walks up to me, crouching in front of my stool she asks, "J'onn who is this little angel?"
Manhunter smiles, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he says, "This is Robin, his Dad brought him to the Watchtower with him."
Wonder Woman nods still smiling, but it's Green Lantern who says, "Who's your Dad Robin? I don't think Batman will be too happy about someone bringing their kid to the Watchtower."
"I don't think that will be a problem," Manhunter says in that monotone voice of his.
Blinking I look around at the heroes and say, "Batman is my Daddy."
Suddenly everyone just freezes like deer caught in the headlights of a car. It would be funny if it wasn't confusing. Why do they keep reacting like this, what's so hard to believe about Batman being my Daddy?
"Batman has a kid," Green Lanterns voice sounds like something is choking him.
"Batman, has a little angel," Wonder Woman's is a couple octaves higher than it was a moment ago.
Whatever anyone else would have said is interrupted by the door opening again this time letting in a dark shadow that sweeps across the floor on silent feet, to come to a stop beside me, his hand resting on my head. I lean into his hand enjoying the familiar feel of the strong hand, gently rubbing my head.
"I've been looking for you Robin." His voice is that deep rumble he always has when he's Batman.
"Sorry Daddy, I tried not to leave the room but Flash wouldn't listen to me and then I couldn't find my way back and I got scared," Then Martian Manhunter found me and he let me eat Oreos and told me about Mars and some of the missions he's been on." I babble letting out all the words in one long almost unintelligible stream. Daddy nods, and just like that I know everything will be ok because Daddy will take care of me.
"I know Flash and I have already," He looks over at Flash his eyes narrowed into tiny white slits, Flash audibly gulps, "Discussed what happened and have reached an understanding." Turning his gaze back to me his expression softens a little, "Come on, Agent A probably has dinner ready."
"Ok," I say with a smile as I hop off the stool, I start to dart for the door, but then I stop and run back to Manhunter giving him a quick hug around his legs.
My voice muffled as I say, "Thank you for helping me Uncle J'onn."
His hand pats my back as he says, "Your welcome Robin."
Letting go of him I skip over to Batman smiling up at him as he puts a hand on my shoulder. "Don't forget Flash I expect this watchtower to be spotless and all the paper records transferred to the computer by morning." Batman says his voice taking on an icy chill.
Flash hurriedly nods his head before disappearing in blur of red and yellow.
Batman guides me out of the door before scooping me up into his arms, and whispering in my ear, "Next time use the emergency beacon so that I can find you."
"Ok Daddy I will," I promise him, knowing he needs to hear the words.
His arms tighten around me just little, and I snuggle into his hold, resting my head at the base of his neck and shoulder.
Letting out a contented sigh I close my eyes and just relax knowing that as long as I'm with Batman everything will be ok.