A/N Alright, here's chapter two! ^^

Disclaimer Still don't own Young Justice.

~Aiva


Robin woke up, biting back the soft moan that threatened to slip out. His head was throbbing painfully with his heartbeat, each pulse sending a fresh spike of pain through his skull. For a brief moment, he wondered briefly where he was and what had happened. Everything was fuzzy, and it was surprisingly difficult to think. Then he remembered, and he let the moan slip out. Great, he had been kidnapped again. Batman was going to kill him for this, and that was only after getting a lecture from both him and Alfred about being more careful.

His eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings quickly. He was in a room that looked similar to the room they had first found Superboy in, trapped inside a pod. Of course. Robin fought the pounding in his head and his rising nausea, wondering why it was so hard to think. A vague, hazy memory came back; there had been a sharp prick in his arm as a needle was plunged into his skin, right before he passed out. Robin guessed that they had injected him with some kind of drug that was currently keeping his mind in a fog.

Great, he thought sarcastically, this just keeps getting better and better. So not feeling the aster right now. He winced as another spike of pain shot through his head, hands moving instinctually to grip the aching area. Unfortunately, his hands were currently bound to the back of the pod with sturdy metal cuffs. It was then Robin noticed something else; his gloves and belt were gone.

And so was his mask.

Oh crap, Robin thought, trying to keep a lid on his rising panic, they know. They know who I am. Bruce is really going to kill me now. He tried to ignore the immediate sick feeling that threatened to overwhelm him. Stay whelmed, Grayson, he reminded himself firmly. You'll get out of this. You always do. This time was different though. This time he had no gear, no plan b, and no Batman or team to back him up. He was trapped, and there was no way out.

This rather pessimistic train of thought was cut off as the scientist from earlier – Dr. Anthony Lawrence – walked in the room, a g-nome on his shoulder and a smug look on his face. Robin immediately scowled, blue eyes glaring fiercely at the man, blazing with a barely contained anger. Even drugged, he could manage a pretty impressive Batglare. However, the intensity of the teenager's stare did nothing to faze Dr. Anthony Lawrence, who continued to smirk in triumph. Robin's eyes narrowed further, and he wished for a moment he had heat vision.

"Wha' do you want?" Robin asked, voice slightly slurred. He frowned at that; darn that drug! He fought the mind-numbing effects, tugging against his restraints in vain.

"I thought that would have been obvious by now," the scientist responded, raising an eyebrow as he studied Robin with critical brown eyes. As if he had just confirmed something, he gave a small nod and stepped over to the control panel. "You, Richard. We want you."

Hero or not, that response sent chills down Robin's spine. "Why?" he managed to get out, tongue feeling thick inside of his mouth. He was beginning to feel really sick now, and he swallowed the bile that rose in his throat; this guy really did know his identity, which meant he probably knew Batman's. What else did this creep know?

"You're the perfect candidate for an…ah…experiment," he responded, brown eyes growing slightly colder as he tapped a few keys.

"What experiment?" Robin demanded, a brief surge of panic helping him to fight the effects of the drug a bit more.

"You'll find out."

Robin was beginning to really hate that response.


"Do you have any leads yet?" Wally immediately demanded when Batman zeta'd into the Cave. He was vibrating slightly in impatience, dark shadows clear underneath his once vibrant green eyes. He had gotten little sleep last night, his mind completely focused on Robin and Superboy, and the tortures they were probably going through. If they was still alive. Don't think like that, Wally immediately scolded himself silently. They'll be okay. Superboy is practically indestructible, and Dick…well, he's Robin…he's always okay.

"Nothing solid," Batman responded, an edge entering his voice as he glanced warningly at the speedster. Wally immediately stilled, his tired green eyes dulling further. He was ready to race around the world, to tear it apart in order to find the person who was practically a little brother to him. Batman was taking too long…Wally couldn't wait forever. In fact, it felt like he couldn't wait another minute.

"He's been gone for 24 hours," Wally stressed, hands beginning to fidget absently as he stared at the older vigilante. "You're Batman; you have to have found something."

"You think I don't know that?" Batman snapped, the white lenses of his cowl narrowing into a fierce glare. Wally shrunk back slightly, immediately remembering how close the two were. They were the Dynamic Duo, and Wally knew that Robin viewed Batman as a second father. Wally was certain Batman viewed Robin as a son too. "I'm searching, but I haven't found anything yet," he continued, tone a fraction less vehement.

As if sensing the speedster's thoughts to run and begin searching for Robin himself, Batman gave Wally a somewhat gentler look; if a look from the Dark Knight could be classified as such. Really, it just wasn't as frightening. "Be patient. We will find him." With that, Batman disappeared, cape blending in with the shadows as he walked off.

Wally collapsed on a nearby couch, burying his head in his hands as he tried to quell the headache that threatened to form. He squeezed his eyes shut. I'm coming, Dick, he thought, mind focusing on his best friend. Just hold on.

He hated waiting.


Two thin mechanical arms extended from the bottom of the pod, branching out into four prong type things that were already crackling with electricity, the exact same things he had been tortured with during his first "visit" to Cadmus. Robin would've flinched away, but the metal cuffs around his wrists kept him from doing so, holding him firmly in place. "Not feeling the aster," he breathed out before the button was pressed, and the needles sank into his chest. His muscles seized up, tensing painfully as the electric current swept through them. It had hurt the first time, but it felt much worse the second time.

He tried to imitate Batman's high pain tolerance for a total of three seconds, then gave up. He let out a pained hiss that soon turned into an agonized groan, which then turned into a tortured cry of pain. He squeezed his blue eyes shut tightly, face scrunching together as his body writhed uselessly. Dr. Anthony Lawrence adjusted a lever, the electricity increasing. Robin couldn't hold back a scream as agony raced through his body. If it weren't for the needles keeping him somewhat in place, his back would be arching with pain as his body burned.

Robin couldn't think, he couldn't move. The only thing that existed at the moment was this horrible, unbearable pain that coursed through his entire body, causing him to shake and cry out. His eyes filled with tears behind the closed lids, but he wouldn't allow them to fall; maybe he was able to imitate Batman's high pain tolerance a little. Instead, he just let out another sound of pain, the scream enough to make most humans feel sympathy and horror that anyone would have to endure this. Dr. Anthony Lawrence merely smiled, filled with the rush of success.

Robin wanted desperately to black out, to sink into the welcoming arms of an oblivion that would allow him an escape for just a little bit. But he wasn't able to pass out for some reason, instead forced to endure this paralyzing agony. It seemed to go on forever, each second dragging out into a minute, each minute turning into an hour. Finally, the pain withdrew as the electricity died down, the needle-tipped arms sinking back into their designated spots. Head still fuzzy from pain, Robin hung limply from his restraints, breathing heavy and rasping as he fought to get a decent breath.

Dr. Anthony Lawrence walked over to the pod, opening a small compartment and pulling out a vial filled with Robin's blood. He pulled out another vial, filled with blood that had been taken previously, while the teenager was still unconscious. He compared them silently for a minute or two, then gave a satisfied nod, placing both in his lab coat pocket. "That's enough progress for one day," he said, walking out of the room without sparing so much as a second glance at the boy he had so cruelly tortured.

When he was gone, Robin allowed his tears to fall.


Wally raised his head, thinking hard. "Nothing solid," Batman had said. Did that mean there was something un-solid? Even an illogical idea of a location to start looking would be great at the moment; thinking back to that one mission, Wally couldn't hold back a small grin. He was an expert at illogical thinking. But…any leads Batman had, even if they were vague guesses and hopes, would be worth looking at. He was called "the World's Greatest Detective" for a reason, after all.

Wally poked his head into the room Batman had walked into, noticing the dimmed computers. No Bats though. Cautiously but quickly, the speedster pulled up the old windows Batman had open, using a few codes Robin had taught him. Wally quickly found a map of the globe, at least a few red dots marking almost every continent, almost every country. Studying the locations, the ginger gave a small nod as he memorized it. It would be enough.

Wally closed the windows quickly, speeding into his room and changing rapidly into his uniform. Pulling his goggles down over his face, he didn't bother with the zeta tubes. He simply ran out of the Cave, becoming nothing but a blur as the world sped by around him. I'm coming, Dick, he repeated silently. I'm coming.


Robin couldn't stop the tears; once one had trickled out, many had followed. So he just cried silently, his chest aching with stabbing pains and his head still throbbing. Sure, it wasn't as bad as when he'd been nearly beaten to death by Two Face, or nearly killed by Joker (neither of those particular incidents were ones he wanted to relive) but it still hurt. And then there was the fact that he was alone. They'll come. My team will come. Bruce will find me. He always does, Robin reminded himself, trying to pick up an optimistic outlook.

It didn't work.

He was aware that he was trembling slightly, but made no move to try and stop. Robin grit his teeth as he blinked back a fresh wave of tears. He was a hero. Heroes didn't cry. Heroes didn't need to be saved…they could save themselves, right? Then again, even heroes needed another hero every now and then. Please hurry, Robin pleaded silently.


Wally, now Kid Flash, raced towards the first location at a reckless pace that was probably burning far too many calories. He ignored the sudden pangs of hunger, instead focused on his best friend, his little brother. He was going to make Cadmus regret ever taking him, and Superboy. After the first few searches revealed nothing, Kid Flash was forced to take a break, downing a few protein bars at a speed that would make Barry jealous. He cursed himself silently for being so weak, for not being able to keep going.

His "break" only lasted a few seconds longer before he was off and running again. When he was nearing his destination, his eyes narrowed, noticing the familiar Cadmus building, hidden by dense forest in the middle of nowhere. Really, it had been luck he had stumbled upon the place at all; it was only because he had gotten slightly off track he had been forced to go through this stupid forest in the first place. But that may have just led him to Robin and Superboy.

He didn't bother considering the idea that maybe, just maybe, they weren't there. Because they were there; he could feel it. Kid Flash studied the building, quick mind already beginning to formulate a plan.


A/N Two notes; first off, the reason Robin is acting a bit weak is a) torture, and b) he's drugged. So if he seems a bit ooc...remember the drugs. ;) Second, KF is focusing mainly on Robin because that's who he's closest to. Just thought I should clarify.

Oh, and I will be responding to reviews here, but only the anonymous ones, or those who have PMs deactivated this chapter. The rest will be responded to through PMs. ^^

Mailbag

Blackbelt: Thank you so much!

Meeeeee: Lol, this soon enough? ;)

Wowserz: No, I didn't decide against it; sorry about that. I just realized that that is probably a bit confusing. I'm just building up to it. ^^ And yeah...no one shall survive the wrath of DaddyBats! Mwauhahaha! *cough*

Anon123: Thanks! I'm glad you like it.

InvisibleNinja1234: I may add a few aspects, but I'm not sure as of right now. ;) I liked that episode too though. ^^