Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice. I'm saving up to buy Robin though. But I don't own him as of yet either.
A/N: This was written for the Livejournal Young Justice Anon Meme. It has a link posted there leading to it. Also, this is loosely based on the show 4400, therefore the title. Lol. Thank you!
Chapter One
The school day was finally over and Dick was free! Free to go hang out with Wally downtown. Free to see that new horror movie that had come out and got amazing reviews. Free free free!
Until dark.
People had been disappearing after dark only to appear weeks, or even months, later traumatized, ill, and a meta-human. So far everyone returned had died, their newfound powers too much for them. And more often then not they took out everyone around them too.
The JLA were working on it (Cause apparently Young Justice was to young for a case like this. Some of the resulting deaths were pretty gruesome. Definitely not something children should see.), but they weren't getting very much headway.
There weren't any tracks to follow and the only thing they'd been able to get out of the returnee's before their deaths were nonsensical mumblings about 'them' and their 'plans'. It wasn't much to go on and so far no one who returned lived long enough to give them anything else useful.
So, under JLA order (Batman's order really) Robin and the other teen heroes had to be home before dark. Just in case, they said, though Robin got what they really meant: Just in case what normally happens happens and one of you are taken.
So he had until dark to hang out with Wally before he had to get home and he couldn't do the normal thing stay out late or Bruce would kill him. And the fury of the Bat was not something to mess around with.
So, with quick steps, Dick rushed out of Gotham Academy, passing Artemis on the way. Outside Wally was already waiting, a smile on his face as his eyes found the form of his best friend. The boy wonder was by his side in an instant, grinning like a maniac and giving him a quick hug.
"Ready to go?"
Wally flashed a wider grin. "Hell yeah! I've been waiting all week for this! I can't believe the Bat let you go with me."
"Well.", Dick smirked. "I had Al help me convince him. You know no one can say no to him."
Wally nodded as they started off toward downtown. "Well, he is the legendary BatButler."
Dick rolled his eyes. "You know you're the only one that calls him that."
"So what?"
Dick shook his head, smiling. "So that doesn't make him 'The Legendary BatButler' if only you call him that."
Wally snorted. "Well, if you did your duty as my best friend and went with my idea of calling him that everyone would."
"Somehow I don't think Bruce would find the nickname amusing. You know how serious he is about 'Bat' things ever since the BatCoffeemaker."
Wally shuddered. "God, that was not pretty. Burning coffee everywhere. Everywhere."
"Well, I told you not to do it.", Dick said smugly. "I told you it wouldn't end well, and I was right.", he smiled, looking up at the approaching Movie theater. "Since we're almost there I gotta ask, dinner or movie first?"
Wally seemed to pause to think about it, though both boys knew what his answer would be. As a speedster with a heightened metabolism food always came first. Without it his body could run out of energy and he could die. So needless to say Dick wasn't shocked by his answer.
"Dinner. Definitely dinner."
The smaller male sighed, flashing the taller boy a grin. "Somehow I knew you'd say that. Pizza?"
"You buyin'?"
Nod.
Wally grinned. "Then yes."
Dick chuckled. "Shoulda known.", he grabbed his friend's arm. "C'mon. You better not take too long. If we miss the movie I will so murder you."
Wally raised his arms in surrender. "Got it. I'll be quick."
"Dude! I knew this would happen if we went to dinner first! Seriously, three hours for a meal? Jesus dude, it's already getting dark!", Dick snarled, leaving the pizza parlor with Wally in tow, the speedster looking adequately ashamed.
It had taken twenty some odd pizzas for the speedster to be adequately satisfied and full and by the time he was done Dick had been glaring at him for two hours straight, blue eyes narrowed into a miniature Bat-glare.
Now, while eating, Wally hadn't noticed, beside the slight eerie tingle it caused Dick's glare was nullified by the focus of food, but now that he was done and the smaller teen had his full attention the glare had the desired effect.
Wally was feeling slightly afraid.
The wrath of the Boy Wonder was almost as bad as the wrath of the Bat. Almost. And Wally knew this from personal experience. Lots of personal experience.
And he also knew that the best thing was to admit that he was wrong, Rob was right, apologize, and hope the acrobat went easy on him.
"Look, I'm sorry. You know how hard it is for me to resist food and with my metabolism it's rare I ever get the chance to eat till I'm full.", The speedster said quickly, reaching out for the smaller teen. "I really didn't mean to make us miss the movie."
Dick snorted. "Yeah well, we still missed it. Just like the last three movies we tried to see. When are you gonna get serious about this?"
Wally sighed. "I'm sorry Dick, I really am. L-Let me walk you home. Please."
Dick shook his head. "No. Just...no. Go home. We'll try again in a few days. I just need to be alone."
"Dick..."
The raven haired teen shook his head. "Go home Wally. Please."
The redhead gave a sigh, giving the smaller male a quick hug before turning to go. "Okay Dick. I'm sorry. Call me when you get home...just to let me know you got there okay?"
The boy wonder nodded lightly. "I will."
With a brief sigh, as if to say more, Wally took one look at his best friend before dashing off, guilt heavy in his heart.
As soon as the speedster was gone Dick started the trek back to Wayne Manor, eyes focused on the ground as he walked down the near empty streets of Gotham.
He didn't understand why this kept happening. Why nothing quite worked out for him. It wasn't that hard was it? The rest of the world did it and never had things like this happen. So why couldn't it be easy for him? Was it something about him?
Did god like messing with him or something?
There was a soft cawing and he looked up, eyes widening when he realized that he wasn't quite sure where he was and that he was looking straight at a raven. It looked like he was somewhere in the slums of downtown, near the warehouse district.
He didn't normally have to go down here. Despite what one might assume, not much crime happened in the actual slums of Gotham. It all took place in the center, where everything was shiny and bright, or at least, bright as was possible in Gotham City.
Gothamites were proven crazy so it made sense that everything else in Gotham would be crazy too and crime was no exception. Dick fully admitted that he was a bit mentally off, but living here did that to people.
The raven cawed again and Dick couldn't help but move closer, staring at it. It stared right back and he was struck by how brave it was for a bird. He was tempted to reach out, but it flew off before he got a chance. Apparently he'd gotten to close even for the brave raven.
He let out a sigh and turned to head back the way he came, hoping to get back to the main road which led straight home, but stopped suddenly as sudden realization dawned on him.
It was dark.
Wally was halfway home, wind blowing through his hair, when he stopped suddenly. Despite what Dick wanted he couldn't just run home. It was already dark and Dick was nowhere near as fast as him.
He turned, glancing back the way he came and sighed.
He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if something happened to Richard because he wasn't with him. He'd never forgive himself.
He was going back.
And with that in mind he sped back towards Gotham.
Dick had started walking faster, something inside him telling him that if he didn't move it something very bad would happen. It was a chill down his spine and the hairs raising on the back of his neck, and if being Robin had taught him anything it was that he had to listen to those kinds of feelings.
The feeling got worse and he picked up the pace, breaking into a run. He dashed wildly, unsure of why he felt so afraid suddenly. He ran at full speed until-
slam!
He smacked right into someone, sending himself sprawling gracelessly to the ground, all the air leaving his lungs in a quick gust.
He felt panic rise in his chest only for it to dissipate when a familiar voice rang out.
"Jesus! You okay Dick?"
He looked up to see Wally standing over him, eyes searching his face, and realized how stupid he must look freaking out like he was. He was a freaking superhero for Christ's sake! He shouldn't be scared of being alone in the dark.
So with a brave face he stood up, brushing himself off. "F-Fine. What are you doing here?"
Wally gave a guilty sigh. "I know you told me to go home, but I was worried about you. With all those people going missing lately..."
"Look, Wally I'm fine-"
The redhead cut him off. "I'm sorry for wrecking our first date-again-just please let me walk you home. I just wanna make sure you get home safe."
Dick looked like he wanted to refuse, but nodded instead, sighing. "Okay fine. You can walk me home." and after a moments consideration. "And I accept your apology."
Wally gave a happy grin. "Thanks.", he glanced around. "Let's get you home before the Bat decides to kill me for 'keeping you out' again, huh?"
Dick nodded. "Yeah, okay."
Wally leaned down. "Hop on, we'll zip over there."
Dick nodded, moving forward only to pause, eyes narrowing. Something wasn't right and this time he wasn't just being paranoid.
Wally seemed to notice his pause and turned to look at him fully. "What's wrong?"
Dick frowned. "I'm not sure...", he looked around. "Somethings not right..."
There was something in the air. A soft humming sound, like electricity pumped through power lines. He looked around to see if any were nearby, but there weren't any. They were still in the slums and Gotham's low district didn't have power most of the time.
He turned to Wally, eyebrows furrowing. "Do you hear that?"
The older teen frowned, listening closely before nodding. "That buzzing sound? Yeah. What is that?"
"I don't know.", Dick frowned. "But it's getting louder."
The noise was steadily increasing and suddenly there was light accompanying it, lighting up the entire area. Dick and Wally could see each other's blurry figures even as the light became brighter and brighter and the steady hum became an all encompassing shrill whine.
They covered there eyes as it became to bright, and collapsed to their knees as the noise shook their cores. Then, just as the rush of light and sound became unbearable...
it vanished.
And the street was once again dark.
Wally kept his hand over his eyes for a few more minutes as the effect faded then shakily got to his feet, lowering it. He looked around ready to ask Dick what the hell that was, but felt his heart freeze.
"Dick...?", He spun around examining the now empty street. "Dick?"
Dick was gone.
"DICK!"
Dun Dun Duh! Dramatic no? I really hoped you like it! This is only my third chapter fic for Young Justice, so I'm not sure how good it is. My other two, Being a sex symbol sucks and Demon Days, got a lot of reviews so I must be doing something right. Right? Anyways, please review!
