I, RozBen, do not own Young Justice, or its charaters; all rights to their proper owners. :)
This is a one-shot (maybe) about Dick Grayson on a certain day. Enjoy.
The day stated out as any other, so the team figured it'd be like the saying, 'Different day, same shit.'
The only difference was that it was raining lightly outside, dark clouds rolling in.
Wally was hovering around Megan as she cooked, and the smell of burning cookies wafted from out of the kitchen. Wally was making passes at her, like normal, and she was drowing in ignarant bliss, not realizing what he was trying to do. Artimis had become sick of it rather early, having been sitting at the island, trying to work on her bow, and had snapped at him venemisouly. They shouted nonsencical bullshit for about five minutes, before Conner began shouting at them. The three were snarling at each other in a nother five minutes, Megan having floated away from the scene.
Kuldur had walked in, book in hand, saw what was going on and considered turning around, head back to his room and blare his music into his ears and pretending he never even left that room. But, sighing, he sagged, knowing it was his duty as leader to stop all of this. "Alright. Everyone! Everyone!" It wasn't working. They all ignored him, like normal. Megan gave him a worried look as the smell of burning cookies became more noticable. Kuldur set down his book, same spot as always, and marched into the kitchen.
The shouting was getting worse, and it looked superboy was about to put some dents into some heads.
It was then the teleported announced Robin's arrival. 'Reconize Robin 002'
Thunder crackled outside as a flash of lightning illuminated the room.
Everyone stopped shouting as the Boy Wonder stalked into the kitchen, dripping wet and very pissed looking. He went to the fridge and grabbed a water bottle, about to close the fridge.
"Uh, dude? It doesn't look like you need any more water." smirked Wally from inside Conner's headlock.
"Fuck you!" he shouted, slamming it shut and whirling around, his teeth bared. Thunder boomed again as another flash struck across the sky, giving Robin a murderous look. "You think you're oh so damn smart, don't you? Any pre-schooler could see i'm went and find it funny that i'm getting something to drink! You're a damn teenager, growing up. Act like it!" The sudden outburst, from the normally collected young bird, shocked everyone. Plus, Robin wasn't one to curse. They stood, looking stupidly at him, in a stunned silence. Conner let go of Wally, Artimis pulled out of Kuldur's slack grasp and Megan just stared.
Lightning flashed.
"Dude...harsh..." Wally looked like he was just sucker punched by Conner, slapped by some randome hot chick, and had his puppy get run over right in front of him.
"Its the truth." Robin mumbled, taking a sip of his water. Most of his anger had vanished at the sight of his friend's broken look. Not sure what to say, and knowing he couldn't take it back, he just turned on his heel and left the room and its shell shocked occupents.
List of things to do later:
1) Take Wally to an all you can eat resturant and pay for all of it.
Robin sighed when his door shut automatically behind him. He peeled off his water loged cape and shirt, dumping them at the foot of his bed. He should put them in the hamper, but right now, he was tired, angry and filled with a rageful storm of agony. Sighing again, he rummaged through his drawers, in search of dry clothing. He pulled on a rage red shirt, and black pants. His converses were scuffed and ratty, but he didn't care. Suffing his feet into them, he snatched up his water bottle and guzzled the rest of it, wiping his lips with the back of his hand as he waited for a call.
...
"Wally, will you stop your pacing?" snarked a pissy Artimis from her seat on the couch. She had claimed the sofa and TV after the Robin Incident.
"How can you just sit there?" replied Wally without any heat. Artimis didn't answer, only quirked an eyebrow. "Dude! Robin totally just spazzed on us and you're worried about just sitting around and not finding out what's wrong?" Wally nearly shouted, catching everyone else's attention. Megan, Conner and Kuldur had stayed in the kitchen, trying to scrap off the burnt remains of Megan's latest batch of cookies, while talking about Robin.
"I agree. Something is wrong." Kuldur walked in, his hand cupping his chin in thought.
"Yeah, but what?" asked Wally.
"He was rageful." Megan flated over the back of the couch and sat down next to Artimis.
"No duh." Artimis turned off the TV.
"No, i mean his emotions, all of them, were covered in a thick and choking rage and agony. Its all...emotional."
"Hey. I thought we all agreed that you wouldn't you your telepathy without consent." Conner leaned opver the back of the couch, anger returning to his face, his word sharp.
"I feel emotions like waves. Its not somthing i can control." Conner's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything as he stood straight.
"Back to Robin." Kuldur redirected the conversation.
"So...he's in a lot of pain and very angry. What could cause that?" asked Wally.
"More like what can't?" Artimis slumped into her seat.
Robin walked in at that moment, putting on his jacket and messanger bag. His sunglasses concelaed his red-rimmed eyes. His eyes traveled around and saw his friends all clustered around the sofa. He caught the end of their conversation. "More like what can't what?" he asked.
"Robin!" Megan squeaked, sitting on her knees to see him.
"Well, since no one is answering..." he trailed off, heaing back to the fridge and garbbing two bottles of soda. "I'm outta here." he closed the door with his foot, putting the sodas into his bag.
"Where're you going?" asked Wally, almost silent.
"Out."
"Where?" asked Megan, standing up and blocking his way to the garage.
"Who the hell do you think you are? My mom?" he snarled, pushing past her roughly and all but running off. Thunder boomed above them. When they touched, all of Megan's breath was forced out of her. She felt agony and hate and fear flood into her being, attacking her soul without mercy. Gasping, she dropped to her knees, choking on all the overflowing pain. Tears blurred her vision as Conner helped her stand.
Lightning struck, glaring harshly at them for a moment before disappearing like Robin had just done.
Batman came onto the big screen, his dark voice cutting through their startled thoughts.
"Is Robin there?"
"He was, like a minute ago." Wally whizzed in front of the screan, hoping to give Megan a moment to collect herself.
"Where did he go?"
"We're not his parents." Conner growled, helping Megan sit. He recived the darkest, foulest Bat-glare ever made, and Conner knew it. "Its...what he said when we asked him." he supplied, floundering as he felt fear trickle down his spine. Batman's eyes widened, and you could see it, behind his mask.
"What is the date?" he asked someone at his side.
"The twenty seventh, sir." They could see horror pass over Batman's face, and their fear exploded into full blown panic.
...
List of things to do later:
2) Teach Megan how not to burn everything she makes.
Smashing the tracker on his bike, he hopped on.
Robin strapped on his helmet before pressing the button to open the garage door. He turned on his motorcycle, revving it before shooting out into the pelting rain and darkness. He kept going, passing through the town in a blink of an eye. He just kept going. The next town over, just the next town over. He kept thinking, focusing on that and that alone. The road was slick and he fought to keep the bike under control. The rain felt like bullets. And knowing Robin, it wasn't an exaggeration.
A call came into his helmet, ringing. All he had to do was say hello. It was Wally. But he didn't answer. He just sped up danergously, his rage blowing up.
...
"He's not picking up." Wally closed his communicater, looking worriedly at Batman, who was typing on a side computer.
"He destroyed my tracker on his bike." Megan gasped, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes.
"Sir. The tracker is not nessisary. It is the twenty-seventh of August. You know where he is." Batman nodded slowly, before sighing.
"I am sending your team on a mission."
"What?"
"No!"
"But Robin-!"
"Go to Gothem and bring Robin back. Why are you still here?" The team didn't even bother with their costumes. They just ran to Megan's bio-ship.
-X-
"Hey mom. Hey dad. Its...uh...Its been a while, hasn't it?" the icy rain had long ago soaked through his clothing. "Bruce has been good. He's amazing. He talk to me all the time. We've done a lot for Gothem these past few weeks. Cleaned up the harbor, donated money and supplies to its shelters and hospitals and schools. We've put Joker and Ivy back in their places." Hot tears trekked down his face, dripping off of his chin
"We..uh...We have put together a new team too. A bunch of sidekicks turned into partners against crime. Ya know? Megan is the sweetest. Kinda remeinds me of you mom, always happy and baking. Would you mind if i gave her your recipies? She could use them. Wally is the craiest of the bunch, always talkin' an' joking. Jus'-just like you dad. Though he's always finding new material, unlike you with your same old jokes. Doesn't mean they weren't funny." The tears fell faster as his body began shaking. It had nothing to do with the cold. He put red roses on each of the graves and sat onto the muddy earth between them.
"Conner is like an older brother. Kinda-kinda hot headed, but underneath that he's just confused and protective. Passanate. Kuldur. Kuldur is like the oldest and cool. He's level headed, keeps us together and safe. He's our shield i guess. Artimis is the newest mebmber. Trying to get away from her past so she isn't sucked into crime. We go to school together and she's really funny. When she isn't making fun of you." His talking was becoming more and more hoarse as he tried to fight the tears. Finally, he gave up and let the sobs shake through him. Rain was still pelting him, but he didn't feel it.
-X-
"How are we going to find him? This city is huge!" Wally zipped from one side of the ship to the other.
"Calm down. Megan, can you find him?" Kuldur asked. Conner stood up and walked over to where Wally was standing. He put his ear againstn the window. "Conner is like an older brother. Kinda-kinda hot headed, but underneath that he's just confused and protective. Passanate. Kuldur. Kuldur is like-"
"He's blocking me. I can't."
"Quiet!" Conner snapped, shutting everyone up. He pressed his ear against it again, straining to hear. "Artimis is the newest mebmber. Trying to get away from her past so she isn't sucked into crime. We go to school together and she's really funny."
"That way!" he pointed, still listening. It was hard, but heard his friend's voice and hear an even fainter sound, a rapid fluttering. His heart.
No one questioned him, just fallowed his orders. He directed them, even after Robin stopped talking. They kept going in tence silence.
"Did you know you go to school with Robin?" asked Conner, looking down at Artimis.
"No..." she said quietly, looking up at him. "How do you-?"
"He was talking to someone. Said it himself." he looked back into the storm.
After what seemed like hours, they were above a cemetary. Shocked to see Robin's bike in clear view, they pulled it into the Bio-ship. It looked like it was drowing in the rain. A lone figure was walking down the main path, leaving. Robin. His hands were shoved in his pockets, shivering.
"Open the bay doors. Superboy. Grab him." Kuldur instructed. Conner shot out, running uphill and grabbing Robin.
Robin was shocked when he was lifted in the air. He tried to strike his attacker, but then his wrist was caught and big blue orbes stared into his eyes.
"Conner?" he blinked in his confusion.
"I'm here. We're here. We'll always be here." Robin looked down the lane and saw all of his friends shivering in the rain, waiting.
"But-"
"No buts. I may be confused and hot headed at times, but i have a very protective side. We understand why you said what you did." Conner carried him bridal style down the lane and set him down next to Wally and Megan. They hugged him, almost fighting over who had the larger hug.
"Thanks. You don't know what this means to me." he sniffled, afraid he'd begin crying again. He slowly reached up and, after a moment's hesitation, he took off his sunglasses, turning his face to the sky, his eyes closed. When he looked back at his team, it was his signature smirk. Hie bright blue eyes shined with tears that refused to fall.
"Dick Grayson." Artimis whispered.