dISCLAIMER: I don't own YJ
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"Hey Bruce." said Dick sheepishly, unsure of what Bruce's reaction would be...would he be angry? worried?
"Dick, why didn't you tell me sooner?" asked the Dark knight, he sounded very, very angry. Dick winced and looked down at the ground, Bruce was most likely angry because Dick hadn't told him. He sighed and told him everything, just as he'd told Wally.
Bruce sat there and listened as Dick told him, his hands clenched into fists so tightly, his knuckles were white. He had a rule about killing...and in times like this it came in handy. He was going to make the Judge pay for terrorizing his son...and he would have to live with the pain Bruce inflicted on him, because Bruce wouldn't let him die.
"Are you mad Bruce?" came Dick's timid voice, snapping Bruce out of his thoughts. His eyes wide with shock...Dick thought he was angry at him.
"Not at you Dick, you did nothing wrong." said Bruce hoping this would soothe his young ward. He was disappointed that Dick hadn't told him. He knew that Dick was stubborn when it came to other people fussing over him and being overprotective. But his life was at stake, surely Dick could put aside his pride enough to let them help him.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, its just...I didn't want you to think I was weak." he replied, sadly. Bruce sighed, wishing he were there with him.
"Dick, you're not weak, fear is not a sign of weakness it means that you know when something is threatning enough to back down, and yes Dick even I get scared..." said Bruce calmly, he was scared of losing Dick, his son. And with this maniac wanting to kill Dick, it just gave him an even bigger incentive to find him.
"You?" asked Dick, his eyes were wide, in his mind Bruce was the strongest person he'd ever known, so to hear that even Bruce was afraid of something...made him seem abit more...well...human.
"I have to go now Dick, but I want you to go to the cave and the minute you're there call me, understand?" said Bruce when he noticed the incoming call from Clark.
"Got it Bruce, and thanks." said Dick, sounding alot more confident. After hanging up, Bruce took the next call.
"I take it you saw or heard the news?" he asked.
"We all did, I'm calling an emergency meeting to see what we're going to do about this "Judge"...how's Dick?" asked Clark worriedly.
"Shaken up but fine, I swear Clark the minute I find this man he is going to wish he was never born." said Bruce, the rage churning inside him. He was angry at this Judge, and yet...with himself as well...how could he not have noticed? How could he not have known sooner?
"Bruce, I understand you're angry, but anger clouds our judgement, yours especially old friend." said Clark trying to reason with Bruce. Bruce narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the ground...
"Batman stop!" exclaimed Superman, trying to tear Batman away, from the man the Dark Knight was currently pummeling into a bloody pulp. Batman growled and struggled to get out of the man of steel's grasp. His vision clouded in red, no the man who killed his parents was at his mercy...he was on his knees begging for mercy. Mercy the Dark Knight would refuse to give, after all had he shown mercy when he killed his parents?
When he'd orphaned an eight year old boy? no...no he hadn't, so he'd kill this punk, after all this was what he'd trained for, what he'd been preparing for his whole life...Clark would never understand...never. He reached into his utility belt and pulled out the kryptonite. Immediately Superman let Batman go, and fell to the ground writhing in pain, gasping for breath.
"Now sit spaceman." said Batman, setting the kryptonite in front of Superman before turning around to finish the job.
"Don't do it...you'll never be able to live with yourself if you do," said Superman weakly, his eyelids drooping as the effects of the kryptonite began to take hold.
"Think about it Batman, is his blood worth it? will it make them happy knowing what you've become if you go through with this?" asked Superman, Batman immediately stopped and looked down at the man cowering in fear. He growled and kicked him in the face.
"Be grateful I let you go, and don't ever let me see your face here again." he threatened.
Ironically, that had been the night before he'd gone to the circus that fateful day...but still, yes Bruce did know what his anger could do... but it was worth it to kep his son safe.
"Tell the others I'll be right there." said Bruce before hanging up and pulling on the cowl, he'd gotten the windows tinted for reasons like this when he needed to make quick get aways.
"Shall I call Lucius and tell him you had a change of plans?" asked Alfred.
"If you would please Alfred." he replied before disappearing, Alfred nodded and turned the Limo around wondering who taught Master Bruce to do that.
Back at the manor Dick pulled on his sunglasses, grateful Bruce wasn't angry with him. He turned to Wally who nodded and carried him piggyback style out of the manor and towards the nearest zeta-tube. Dick got off of Wally's back and headed in followed by Wally.
Once they were in the cave Megan glomped Robin, her arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace.
"Robin, thank goodness you're alright!" she exclaimed happily, Robin smiled and hugged her back.
"Thanks Ms. M." said the boy wonder when Kaldur, Roy, Connor, and Artemis showed up, their faces full of worry.
"Look, guys, I didn't tell you because I...I" he stopped when Kaldur put a hand on the bird's shoulder.
"Because you did not want us worrying over you, however we are your friends Robin, and we will always worry about your safety." said Kaldur with a small smile.
"Still, you shouldn't keep things like this away from us, do you know what would've happened if we hadn't found out?" asked Roy sternly, he was glad Robin was safe, but Robin still should've told them.
"Seriously Robin, I think your life is more important than some pride." scolded Artemis, Robin smiled sheepishly at them. He knew that the two Archers were only angry because they were afraid, his little conversation with Bruce had taught him that much earlier.
"So, just who is this Judge?" asked Connor, the others turned to Robin, who sighed and explained about him. Their faces growing angrier and angrier by the second.
"And Batman is just letting this psychopath roam around?" asked Roy.
"Well, technically, their trying to find him and stop him...that's the hard part." said Wally, knowing Batman wasn't doing it by choice.
Batman appeared through the zeta tubes, and into the watchtower, joining the other league members and taking his seat.
"Now that we're all here, we can begin." said Superman.