Chapter 2: Awakening

AN: First off, I want to thank everyone for the reviews, favorites, and alerts! XD So, to respond to the wonderful review that I got so far:

ajas136: Glad I'm not the only one who loves Damian! Haha he's such a little brat, but you can't help but love him! And don't worry, there will be plenty of OlderDick!/Damian brotherly fluff later on! XD Love ze fluff! And Happy New Year to you too! ^.^

Happy New Year to everyone as well! As a gift, I give you a new chapter! Enjoy~!

Dis: Still own nothing. Sadness. T.T

Thoughts

Mindlink

The strange new Robin stirs, gauging his surroundings. His eyes narrow, taking in the white, sterile, feel of the room. He was in a hospital. "Time to go." He grumbles, about to hop off the bed, only to be restrained by something.

"Ah, I see you're awake, finally." His head snaps up at the familiar, annoying voice. Kid Flash grins at him brightly. The new Robin's mood instantly sours, and he scowls at the hyper redhead, tugging at the thick leather straps bounding his arms to the side rails of the bed.

"Release me this instant, West!" Kid Flash pales as a dark menacing shadow steps forward, along with an all too familiar little bird.

"You're in no position to be making demands." The Bat towers over the bed as the rambunctious teen huffs defiantly.

"Your intimidation techniques have no effect on me, nor have they ever."

"Who are you?" Batman hisses, quickly losing patience. "Why do you know Kid Flash?" Robin looks up to his mentor worriedly, only to receive a warm, reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"I already told the green woman. I take it she's martian? Strange…I wasn't aware any other martians besides Manhunter survived."

"What's the last thing you remember?" The Bat presses as the teenager strapped to the bed sighs.

"Lose the audience, and I may be more willing to talk." Kid Flash's face falls. "The bird may stay." Robin smirks as Kid Flash's eyes widen, looking scandalized.

" Not even an alternate Robin likes you, KF. That's just sad." Robin snickers as Kid Flash elbows him in the ribs.

"Dude! So not cool!"

"Kid Flash. Don't you have a mission report to finish? I expect it typed up and sent to me by morning." Batman states calmly. The ginger pales, quickly disappearing out the door as Robin cackles.

"Hah! He falls for that every time…I take it you haven't told him that you don't actually read what he writes?" The Bat raises an eyebrow. "I take that as a no." Their new charge scoffs.

"It seems some things never change…" He grumbles. "Now, on a more important matter: I must find my Batman."

"Before we can help you, we need to know everything."

"I don't have time for that, father!" The teenager explodes, thrashing against the restraints desperately as the dynamic duo freeze. "He's the only family I have left! The only one who…who actually cares! That freak Warp ruined everything! My Batman is a better man than you'll ever be! And if he dies because of you, I'll make you regret it!" The stranger freezes, his eyes stinging. "And now you've poisoned me!" Robin approaches him slowly, ruffles the stranger's short ebony hair.

"That's called crying…" The boy scoffs. "I take it you've never done that before…" The boy sniffles, looking away, but makes no move to get away from the comforting hand. "Well...since I'm technically Robin…what else can we call you?"

"You're just like him…" The alternate Robin whispers. The current Boy Wonder cocks his head to the side in confusion.

"What?"

"Nevermind. And you may call me Damian…but don't even think about trying to give me a nickname!" Robin smirks.

"Of course not~! Nice to meet you, Damian! So, who's your Batman?" The Dark Knight puts a restraining hand on his adoptive son's shoulder. Robin deflates slightly, taking a step back beside his mentor.

"More importantly, why did you call me father?" Damian looks away defiantly.

"No reason. And don't think I'm going to apologize for earlier. Now, since we've established that I'm not a threat to you, or that sad excuse of a team; I demand to be released and have my belt returned to me."

"You're not getting the belt back until we can validate your claims." Damian huffs, slumping back in bed. Robin eyes him wearily.

"Can't we at least get rid of the restraints?"

"I don't need a babysitter." Damian growls.

"Fine. New mission: you and the team will watch Damian. Make sure he doesn't try anything."

"You do realize I can hear you, don't you?" Robin's jaw drops in shock.

"What? I didn't mean for us to watch him!"

"Too late." The Dark Knight whisks out of the room and the two birds stare at each other awkwardly.

"So…um…want to meet the team?"

"I already know West and Kent. The rest I have no need to know." Robin looks away uncomfortably, scratching the back of his head.

"Well…we don't exactly know how long you're going to stay here..so…" Damian's eyes narrow dangerously.

"I'm not staying as your captive. I was trained by the League of Assassins, and the best acrobat known to man. It will be simple to break out of your feeble security." Robin blinks.

"You were trained by who? Are you sure you're a hero in your universe?" Damian rolls his eyes as Robin undoes the ex assassins' restraints.

"Nevermind. Is there a kitchen in this facility? It's been far too long since I've eaten." Robin beams.

"Of course! You should try Megan's cookies! They're totally asterous!"

"It seems as though you still manage to butcher to English language, Grayson." Robin stiffens, his hand twitching towards his utility belt.

"You know who I am?"

"Tt. I'm not an idiot. The similarities between you two are astounding. It almost makes me sick." Dick shifts uncomfortably, relaxing slightly.

"Um…so…I take it you two are close?"

"I believe you were going to take me to the kitchen."

"….Right." The original Boy Wonder sighs, leading the way into the main hall of Mount Justice.

Two dirty, playful boys run through the streets, giggling mischievously from their last score. "I can't believe we got away with four apples this time! It's the score of the century!" The younger of the two grins, holding up their winnings. "The shop owner sure looked angry, huh Luke?" The elder boy nods, smirking.

"No one can catch the Alcman Brothers!" The two laugh, heading down the filthy alleys of Gotham, when the younger brother pauses. "You see something, Billy?" The young boy nods slowly, approaching a lump of bloodied black cloth.

"What do you think it is?" The mass of fabric groans, flopping over bonelessly, as the two boys jump. "OhmyGod! It's alive!" Luke takes a hesitant step forward, eyeing the figure cautiously. His eyes widen in recognition.

"It's….it's Batman!" Billy gasps, hiding behind his twelve-year-old brother.

"What do we do?"

"I don't know!" The ten-year-old peers out from behind his older brother.

"He's…not moving…"

"I think he's hurt."

"We should help him." Luke whirls around to face his brother in shock.

"What, are you kidding? We're thieves!"

"He'll understand…we can't just leave him to die!" The elder thief sighs, eying the figure wearily.

"Fine. We'll take him to the hideout. But we need a first-aid-kit." Billy grins innocently.

"We know of plenty of places to get one." Luke smirks.

"That's the spirit!" The two boys rush over to their new 'patient', and each take a side, starting to slowly drag the battered Bat away.

FN: poor Dickie-bird…he just can't win . lol lemme know what you think~!