A/N: Sooo… I know this has taken a loooonggg time but, this isn't the main story I'm focusing on and I have so many idea for this story that it's kind of taking me a while to wrangle them done into something that is almost okay. Sorry for the huge wait, but I hope it was worth it!
Warning: I'm cautious so I'm going with a T rating. Also there will be OOCness.
Disclaimer: If I owned Young Justice Season 3 would have come out years ago, but alas it will be out next year!
Chapter 2: Some Revelations
Batman P.O.V.
Batman enters the med-bay in a flurry. He takes in the scene. There on an operating table is Nightwing, his son. The first this he notices are the expressions of the operators. Dr. Leslie is concerned and working at a fast pace. Black Canary is gathering tools necessary for a large, long procedure. And J'onn is setting up machines that look large and imposing compared to his son. Black Canary sets up an IV drip with blood, my son lost too much blood. Then she prepares another IV drip, this one is clear, probably a sedative. But, she grabs another clear IV drip and I can't see a purpose for it.
My voice is gravely with an undercurrent of pain that only Dick would hear, "Black Canary, why are you adding a third IV drip to Nightwing?"
She jumps, she apparently did not know I was here. "Batman! When did you get back, are the rest of the heroes back? Is everyone okay?"
Now I'm annoyed, "Black Canary the IV drip?"
She shook her head, "Right. The first one is for blood, we'll probably need to refill that bag to stabilize him… the trip up to the watchtower was longer than was good for him. The second is the Batfamily level sedatives and pain medication. The third… is nutrients. I don't know how no one noticed, he seemed so calm and in perfect health. But, he's malnourished, sleep deprived- really just exhausted-, and his body is overworked."
My heart plummets. There has to be a reason why my son is like this, and I have a bad feeling about it. I can't help looking over his body, so many new scars… how could this have happened!
No P.O.V.
The waiting room was surprisingly quiet. There was the whole team, and most of the league there. Every single one of them was quiet, only some sniffles from the original team and the Batfamily were heard. There wasn't even enough chairs for everyone. Batgirl was sharing a single seating couch with Robin, the couch was holding M'gann, Conner, Artemis, Wally, and Kaldur all squished together, and M'gann had Garfield in her lap. A love seat held Wondergirl, Bumblebee and Guardian. Another loveseat held impulse, Jaime, and Arsenal. Everyone else was either standing or sitting on the floor. Roy was leaning on Wally's legs, Zatanna and Rocket were leaning on each other by the wall. Lagoon Boy was sitting in a corner. Superman and Wonder Woman were pacing while the Flash was running around the whole watchtower telling everyone the news. Green Arrow, Aquaman, J'onn, and Hal were all leaning against the wall in companionship. Captain Marvel was just standing looking a little lost.
The solemn silence was broken with a gasp. Batgirl's head snapped up. "Robin, please tell me you called everyone when I was with Nightwing!"
Everyone around observed the panic starting to fill Batgirl and Robin's eyes, "No, I didn't even think about ! Oh God, they're going to be pissed. We need to call them like yesterday!"
"I call Hood!" was Batgirl's immediate response.
Horror and more panic filled Robin's eyes, "No no no no no! That's not fair. I don't want to have to tell the demon that his fath- favorite person is injured! He'll kill me!"
Batgirl smirked, "That's why I didn't want to do it. Besides, maybe then we won't fight over time so much if you're gone."
Tim glared at her, "That's so not my fault. It is totally on you that we fight so much about it. I'm blaming you is that brat maims me."
Batgirl just stuck her tongue at him and walked out of the room. Robin followed her, but no one took the now empty seat. Beastboy cleared his throat, "Anybody know who they were talking about?" Everybody just looked at Wally and Roy. They both hung their heads in shame.
Roy turned away, "I've been in a really bad place recently and got some new responsibilities… I've been really out of it, I have no idea who they are talking about."
Everyone turned to Wally again, he looked extremely guilty, "Listen guys… I know this is going to come as a shock to some of you, but we haven't really been on speaking term for a while. Besides that, even before we left the team Wing and I were growing distant. I really have no idea what's been going on with him…" Artemis smacked him in the back of the head. Wally rubbed at the spot but said nothing, he knew he deserved it.
Batgirl walked into the room again and everyone sent her questioning looks. She shook her head and said, "They'll be here in a minute." Everyone could see she was nervous for the visitors. Then Robin walked back into the room.
He was pale and looked like he was nervous someone would kill him. "Batgirl, I hate you. The amount of British disappointment and feral rage sent at me was worse than a beating from Two Face." He glared at her but was still really pale.
Batgirl gave him a weak smirk, "I know that's why I had you call them." Robin looked like he was going to respond in a rather aggressive way when the zeta beams rang out.
Recognized: Red Hood B13
Recognized: Little Wing B27
Recognized: A01 Agent A
Everyone stared for a minute. Wasn't Red Hood a criminal, why did he have a designation, why was that designation for the team, who in the world was little wing, and why was the butler wearing a mask? The butler looking guy carefully observed the situation, acknowledged the Bats with a nod of his head, and then took off towards the med-bay. The two newcomers started marching towards the group of waiting heroes. No one missed how the two bats paled as them came on a death march.
Red Hood was in full uniform with black cargo pants, combat boots, guns, and a leather jacket. For some reason there was a red bat on the shirt under the Jacket. The other person was wearing a modified version of the robin outfit, it had a hood, and was wearing a seriously scary scowl. Red Hood spoke first.
"Replacement, red head what the hell happened!? I leave Goldie for one second and he's dying? Where were you guys, aren't you supposed to protect him?" He took his last few steps towards them while talking, now he stood extremely close to the chair and was leaning threateningly towards them, his fists were clenched beside him.
No one seemed to notice the small one walk up beside Red Hood until he took a katana from his belt and held it at Robin's throat, "I normally would not agree with To- this scum, but what happened to Nightwing. You should have been helping him."
The other heroes were starting to get up because of the threat to the two bats, but they didn't even seem surprised. They looked like they were familiar with this treatment. Batgirl carefully moved the katana's point away from Robin's throat and started talking. "Okay, so you both know the plan and how it was supposed to go down. The machines were all taken down except for a surprise one in the North Pole. That one activated and the Flashes had to disable by doing some running and Wally was getting hit a lot. Nightwing ran and stopped Wally from getting hit with a blast that would have made him disappear forever, but he got hit in the process. That combined with all of the wounds he sustained in the previous battle and over the last months took him to critical condition."
They seemed satisfied with the answer. Red Hood nodded and sat on the arm of the bats's chair and 'Little Wing' made a 'tch' noise while sheathing his sword. Damian however looked angry. "I knew he was hiding something! When I found him sick in his apartment I knew he was lying about it not being serious. We are going to have a real talk about lying."
Wait… what?
Wally finally exploded. "Wait who are you guys?! Why is 'Little Wing' wearing a Robin uniform, why is Red Hood even allowed up here-he's a criminal!, why is he wearing a bat symbol, and what do you mean Wing was sick?!"
Damian glared at him, "Do not call me Little Wing, I don't even like it when Nightwing calls me that, but I will only accept it from him," he unsheathes his katana and points it at Wally to get the point across, "You can call me Blackbird until I hold the Robin title. And to why I am wearing this uniform is because I am in training to be Robin." He turns his head away and up after that.
Hood sighs, "Well, I'm allowed up here because I am. I'm not a criminal… more like an anti-hero. The Bats trust me, well at least the ones that know me. A to the Bat symbol, I wear it because I want to fucking wear it."
That seemed to piss everyone off besides the bats. Wonder Woman spoke, "You should not be wearing the bat emblem. Only Batman can give that out to people."
They were sure Hood wore a smug smile under his helmet as he said, "Batman did give me the symbol to wear."
Superman looked up, "That is impossible, when Batman left world he was still trying to stop you."
"I wasn't talking about that Batman, I was talking about the new one." Everyone just looked shocked at the news of a new Batman. That wasn't possible.
Superman looked outraged, "NEW Batman. There isn't one. That has to be an imposter." He swung his head to look at Batgirl and Robin, "And you two! I can't believe you would allow someone to take over as Batman!"
Batgirl rolled her eyes, "Listen Supes, Gotham went insane. One week without Batman and there were riots, anarchy, and a full Arkham break out. Nightwing put on the cowl when he realized it wasn't going to stop without 'Batman' making an appearance. So, he's been patrolling Gotham as Batman since about a week and half after Bats left."
Wally paled, "That's impossible. Wing told me when he was 13 that he never wanted to be Batman, that you couldn't pay him to put on that cowl. Besides, reports say that Nightwing has been patrolling Bludhaven the whole time Batman has been gone."
Red Hood swore and Batgirl looked like she could burn someone with her glare, "That idiot! He told me he was going to sleep when he got to Bludhaven. You're telling me he's been patrolling this whole time! He can't be getting more than two hours of sleep per night with his college classes, work, and the team!"
Beastboy cocked his head, "Wing's in college? I thought he was in his twenties."
Red Hood laughed, "Pfff, nah Goldie turned 18 in March."
M'gann gasped, "We forgot his birthday! Oh, we're horrible friends." The original team and even some of the Justice League ended up with guilty looks after she said that.
Beastboy stills looked confused, "If Wing's in college then why is he working? I didn't think he needed money because Bats would pay for that."
Batgirl gave a weak smile, "Batman doesn't need to pay for anything, he got a full ride to Princeton. And he's covering for Batman. Batman's job isn't something that can just be left to someone else, Wing needed to fill in for him. He's been really busy."
Red Hood nodded, "Yeah, not only did he have to deal with you guys and all of that but he was helping me heal."
Damian spoke up, "And taking care of me after I was dropped in his care."
"And he was going on missions with the Justice League and fixing the tech around the watchtower and mountain." Superman piped in.
Robin looked really upset as people kept adding thing, "So wait your telling us that he was going to college, filling in for Bats, leading the team, training the team, going on missions with the team and the Justice League, doing all the repairs for both teams, patrolling in Gotham and Bludhaven, dealing with those mental clowns," he points to Damian and Jason, "AND dealing with the stress of leading an undercover op with no support."
No one had a good answer for that. No one could believe he was under that kind of pressure.
L'gann spoke up, "I don't get why we care! He lied to us, used us in his silly plan. He almost got us killed! What does it matter what he went through, he should be left to deal with mess by himself."
Multiple people glared at him.
Batman P.O.V.
It's been hours. Dick is finally out of surgery and seeing him on this bed makes me not want to look at his injury report. He is hooked up to multiple IV bags, on a ventilator, has a leg elevated by a sling, a shoulder immobilized, and is too pale, too still. In a coma.
Alfred is sitting in the seat on the other side of the bed. He calmly entered the surgery and help with any task, now he is silent across from me, knowing I need this silence to process what has happened.
I hear a beep from my glove computer. I remember when Dick first created the holo screens and then condensed it to fit on his glove, I was so proud. I wish I could tell him that now. It's a message… from Dick. My eyes flicker to the bed to make sure he hadn't stealthily moved and sent it to me, but he is in the exact same position as two seconds ago.
Dick pops onto the screen. He is in his Nightwing uniform; obviously he didn't want his identity exposed if the video was compromised.
Hey Bats! This is just a precaution, but I'll be making videos of what happens in case- in case my plan doesn't work and I can't tell you what happened myself. If you see this message… it's been over half-a-day since you entered Earth's atmosphere and something has happened to me to make it so I couldn't talk to you. So… yeah. I hope you never have to see this message, but if you do… know that I tried my hardest and never wanted to leave you. Bye Dad.
Dick reached forward and turned the camera off.
"Alfred you heard the message right." He nods, "The team doesn't know what happened do they?"
"No Master Batman, they do not. I do not think anyone knows all the facts. Perhaps we should show them." His British accent is prominent in the last sentence, it is not a suggestion. I inwardly sigh, I don't want to show those people the possible last words of my son to me, but I will not go against Alfred. He might burn my food for the rest of my life.
I don't want to leave him. I copy the videos, except for one. It specifically says 'For Batman Only' and I don't like how foreboding that feels. I stalk out of the room, silently promising that it would be for a moment.
The waiting room is loud. Yells are heard of how 'L'gann is right we should be angry he used us!' and how 'He saved the world isn't that what matters'. I can't believe these people are fighting when my son is dying.
"Enough" I didn't shout, but I don't need to. I notice two people I don't recognize, a small boy and Red Hood. I look to Batgirl she silently tells me that they are okay with her eyes. The whole room quiets, Batgirl speaks. "Is he alright? What's his condition."
"Critical, he's in a coma." She starts tearing up and looks away, Wally shudders and Artemis holds him as Roy comes to offer support.
"He left videos for me, to explain what happened there last months. I believe it would be of benefit for you to see them." I walk over to a far wall and tap a pattern. A holo screen pops into existence. I allow the videos to pop up. "These will play when you are ready, all you have to do is say stop and it will pause. I'll be with Nightwing, don't disturb us."
A/N: Wow, that was a long chapter for me. I start school tomorrow, so posting will not be faster. However, I will not abandon this story so please have patience. And please review!
