Mount Justice
10th November 2015
4.15 am
'Who are you?' Nightwing demanded. He raised his arms, keeping his guard up and surveyed the figure before him. He was about the same height and well-muscled in the lithe, coiled, way of an acrobat or gymnast. The similarities were striking – it could have been Nightwing under the black clothes and mask.
'You don't remember me – I'm hurt.' The figure pushed off of the wall he was leaning on, face completely hidden within the darkness of his mask. 'I suppose I am wearing the wrong mask.' He chuckled, 'had to be subtle, after all. Didn't want anyone to know the game was afoot before it had even started.'
Nightwing narrowed his eyes. There was something familiar about the dark figure before him – maybe his voice?
'How did you get in here?' He watched the figure carefully, mind desperately trying to work out who it was that stood before him. It was someone who knew his identity – and that wasn't a very long list – or someone who had somehow figured it out. Neither boded particularly well for him, or for Batman.
'Still haven't figured it out?' The figure shook his head, 'I'm so disappointed. Then again,' his voice deepened with a flash of anger. 'Maybe you don't know.'
'It doesn't matter how you got in,' Nightwing growled, choosing to ignore the cryptic comments. 'I know how you're getting out.' He launched himself into a series of fast kicks and jabs designed to utterly smash through an opponent's defences. The masked man dodged them all as if he had been expecting exactly that move and laughed. 'Now, now,' he wagged his finger mockingly. 'Let's not be too hasty – I think you're forgetting something.' He held up a small device with a red button directly in the centre. A light just above the button was blinking red every few milliseconds.
'Somewhere in this mountain is a certain friend of yours,' he brushed his thumb over the button. 'He's unconscious and, frankly, feeling a little home sick. If this goes off, in his condition, he just might not make it.' He looked down at the button, and then back up at Nightwing. 'Want to find out?'
…
Wayne Manor
10th November 2015
4.20 am
It was ringing, endlessly. Just ringing as he stared at the perpetually blank screen. Bruce slammed his fist down on the table, sending the keyboard a few inches into the air. He hoped it was because no one was home, but he didn't believe in coincidence. His gaze shifted to the crisp white note that had been pinned to the crest of the Robin costume he had displayed in the batcave. There were two sentences, etched in red ink, in a messy scrawl.
You should have killed me when you had the chance. Believe me; you're going to wish you had.
It could only be him.
'Bruce?' Tim came running into the batcave, eyes dark with sleep. His hair was mussed but he had managed to slip into his costume, mask clutched in his hand. 'Alfred said Dick might be in trouble?' His voice was high and clearly upset.
'We don't know that for sure,' Bruce turned from the computer. The ache in his gut proved him a liar – he knew something was wrong and his instincts were convinced it had to do with Dick. He should have known it would happen. He had been so stupid to keep the truth from him.
'Did he tell you what he was doing after you retuned from your mission?'
'Yeah, he said he had paperwork to do.' Tim turned his gaze to the computer screen, still blank and attempting to contact the mountain. 'He's not answering?'
'No.' Bruce curled his fingers even tighter against his palms. It was becoming clearer and clearer. Everything was falling into place and he didn't like what it revealed. 'Would he have gone anywhere else?' He flicked his gaze up as Alfred entered, and then back down as Tim bit his lip in thought.
'I guess he could have gone to Wally's?' He offered.
'Call him.' Bruce commanded.
'Good God, no.' Alfred said quietly, voice cracking.
Bruce turned hurriedly. The elderly butler looked shattered. He was clasping the note to his chest. He moved to his oldest friend and caretaker and gently took it from him.
'You said he had died,' Alfred whispered. 'When the building collapsed, you said he was dead.' His tone was faintly accusatory, the hurt clear.
'Well it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong about that,' Bruce muttered darkly. 'Alfred, I'm sorry.' He placed a hand on the butler's shoulder. 'I couldn't find a body. I suspected, but…it seemed easier this way. I had hoped he would never return.' He looked away, self-loathing burning in his eyes. 'I was a fool.'
'You didn't tell Master Dick,' Alfred looked shocked.
'I didn't think he should know,' Bruce couldn't meet his eyes. 'What happened…it hit him so hard – you remember how he was, Alfred?' He wanted the older man to understand but when he searched his gaze he could see only sadness. 'I didn't think he could handle knowing. Christ Alfred, I couldn't.'
'And now he's in danger.' There was something akin to condemnation in his tone.
'He's not at Wally's.' Tim walked over. Curiosity flickered across his features as he looked from Bruce to Alfred. 'Wally said he hasn't heard from him in a few days. He's going to head over to the mountain.'
'So are we,' Bruce steeled himself and met the gaze of the man he respected most in the world. 'I'll find him, Alfred.'
'I only hope, Master Bruce.' Alfred said solemnly, 'that you aren't too late.'
…
Palo Alto
10th November 2015
4.25 am
'M'gann?' Wally whispered into his hand-held communicator.
'Wally, it's 4.30.' The Martian girl sounded tired and irritated.
'I know,' he said apologetically. 'You were on a mission with Nightwing earlier, right?'
'Yes,' she sighed. 'Can't this wait-'
'No,' he flinched as his voice sounded a lot louder than intended. 'No,' he repeated, softer, 'he might be in trouble.'
'Why? What happened?' She asked urgently.
'Batman can't get through to Mount Justice,' Wally informed her bleakly.
'He might be as…' she trailed off and then gasped. 'Connor was supposed to be there earlier – when we got back – but he wasn't. We thought he might have been called away by Superman…' She cursed, '…so stupid.'
'I'll head over there now.' Wally told her, 'meet me as soon as you can.' He closed the communicator with a faint snap and tiptoed back to the bedroom. He opened the door gently, sighing in relief when the hinges moved smoothly. He was in and out of the closet in a flash, now clad in his old superhero costume. He turned his gaze to Artemis, still fast asleep in the bed. Her hair was pooled around her face, her lashes dark against her skin. He walked over and leant down to gently press a kiss to her forehead.
'Wally?' She muttered drowsily. Her eyes fluttered open as he drew back. 'What are you doing up?'
'Gotta take care of something,' he gazed at her fondly.
She yawned and her gaze sharpened as she looked him up and down.
'In your costume?' She sat up, now fully awake. 'So Mr-Ex-Superhero, what has you all dressed up?'
'Don't worry babe, it's nothing big.' He brushed stray hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
'Wally.' She swatted his hand away and raised an eyebrow. 'Don't sweet talk me. What's going on?'
He sighed, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably.
'Rob called – erm the new one, God I'll never get used to that – apparently they can't communicate with Mount Justice and Nightwing and Connor are supposed to be there. I'm just heading over to check it out.'
'I'm coming with,' she slid out of bed. 'Honestly Wally, no big deal? Two of our friends – our friends – are potentially missing and you think that's no big deal.' She started rummaging through the cupboard, her voice rising in decibels.
'I didn't want to worry you,' he offered weakly.
'Well congratulations,' she reappeared clad in her old costume with her bow and arrows slung across her shoulders. 'You've managed to make me worried and angry.'
'I'm sorry,' he slumped.
Her face softened and she cupped his cheek with her palm.
'I know what you're trying to do here,' she informed him. 'It's sweet in a ridiculously overprotective way. But if you get to put on the suit, then so do I.'
'I know,' he wrapped his fingers around the hand resting against his cheek. 'Let's go find our friends.'
…
Mount Justice
10th November 2015
5.00 am
'Recognised, Batman 02,' the digitally created voice announced. 'Status: dangerous enemy. Transporting to detainment area.'
Batman had just enough time to scowl before his atoms were zapped into the holding cells the Justice league had built at the bottom of the mountain.
'Recognised, Robin B20. Status: minor annoyance. Transporting to detainment area.'
Milliseconds later, Robin joined him.
'Yo,' Kid Flash waved half-heartedly at them. 'We were wondering when you guys would get here.'
…
A/N: If anyone's confused don't worry you don't need to know anything about the villain or his history as all will be revealed I'll bet those of you who do are jumping in your seats going 'I knew it!'.