Wally was getting a little concerned.

Actually, scratch that, Wally was getting a lot concerned. A little concerned was 4.3 minutes ago, when he hadn't heard from or seen his best friend in more than a week.

But when Superman came to debrief them for their mission, that little seed of worry performed some heavy photosynthesis, because it grew like the Grinch's heart on Christmas.

Superman's heart obviously wasn't in the loooooong spiel he was giving the Team which was a clue (his best friend was the Worlds Second Greatest Detective after all) in itself, since it was about Lex Luthor. Did Kryptonians even have hearts? Did Martains? Did they even have blood? He couldn't remember seeing M'gann bleed-

Focus Wally!

So Wally decided it was his duty to solve this problem.

"Wait, wait, wait. Where's Bats? And, more importantly, where's Rob?"

The rest of the team nodded, even Artemis.

Superman looked uncomfortable, and more worried than he had during that speech. "Batman is. . . occupied," the Man of Steel said.

"But, what of Robin?" Kaldur asked.

"Robin is no longer part of this team."

Chaos broke out. A chorus of "What?"s, and Artemis stepped forward, yelling for them to shut up.

"What do you mean," the archer growled. "That Robin is 'no longer part of this team'?"

It was no secret that Robin and Artemis had bonded, being the only two humans on a superpowered team tended to bring people closer together. They had a weird older-sister/younger-brother relationship, especially since the event with the Reds. Robin seemed to be the only one she could stand at times.

Before Superman could speak, Zatanna stepped forward. Her mutual crush with Robin was even les of a secret, and she looked almost as worried as Robin felt. "Batman wouldn't do-"

"He isn't working with Batman anymore either," Superman interrupted. "He ran away. We're trying to find him, but Batman didn't tell us much. All we know is that he's injured badly and-"

Superman was cut off again by the holographic screen. Green Arrow's face popped up.

"Superman! Have you seen Roy? He disappeared! Poof!"

Superman sighed. "No GA, I haven't-"

Wonder Woman appeared on the screen, looking as frantic as the Amazon could get. "Superman! Have you seen Donna? She's not in Themyscyria, and Gods know the trouble she gets in."

"N-"

"Wait!" Green Arrow cried. "Is Donna missing too? That must be where Roy is! That's my boy, getting-"

"I won't allow Roy to court Donna!"

Superman pinched the bridge of his nose. "Have either of them been in contact with Robin" recently? Because he's missing too."

"All three of them? Donna has been more defiant than usual."

"Roy's been more distant," Ollie said, frowning. "But I thought it was a result of the chryochamber thingy."

"I'm calling Batman!" Wonder Woman and Green Arrow said simultaneously, and hung up.

"Superman," Wally said, staring at the Man of Steel, knowing that he was probably the only other one in the room that understood the depth of the Dynamic Duo's bond. "Why would Robin want to leave Batman?"

"Because Batman wanted Robin to retire."

_what-am-I?-I-am-a-break-line-because-the-line-thingys-don't-work_

Batman slumped in his chair, the enormity of what he'd done sinking in.

He'd tried to take Robin away from Dick.

He'd tried to take Robin away from Dick

The Cave seemed so empty, so desolate without his little bird. Without his son.

He hadn't realized how much Dick had meant to him until he realized that his little bird wasn't right next to him.

He hadn't realized how much he loved Dick until he was breaking every bone in Joker's body for hurting his boy.

He hadn't realized how much he needed Dick until the boy's heart had stopped as a result of the insane beatings, the gunshot wound, the broken bones induced by the Joker.

But it was only now, alone in the horrible still silence of the cave that he realized how much Barman needed his Robin.

What kind of person was he that as soon as his son woke up from a medically induced coma from a beating that should have killed him, that he immediately stated a heated argument?

Just as Batman was Bruce Wayne's outlet, Robin was Dick's.

Dick had taken his words as being kicked out, as being fired. Bruce was just trying to keep him safe.

As the Leaguers calls piled in, Bruce pulled up his cowl.

He would bring his little bird back home.