Yeah, I know it was a long wait, but I had to finish up Shadow Creature and Broken or my readers for those stories would have had my head! (There you go jambey! They're done, and you can stop threatening me! lol!) Also, I'm sick as a dog...strep throat is an unfortunate obstacle, I must say.

Darkofthenight: Yes he does.

Miss A. LaRosa: LOL those kind of tv dads make me want to hurl, there's no reality in them...so yes, I was going for a more realistic look. Sorry this took so long.

jambey: LOL I was playing along...you didn't flame me. -sticks out tongue- So there! LOL! Yeah I defended Robin...it's just one of those things that happens. Now that my other stories are done you can feel free to tell me to update all you want, if you like it that is. Oh, and don't kick yourself about Shadow Creature. You reviewed, that's all that matters, and I didn't remind you cuz I figured you were busy. No big.

Amber Myst: Thanks, I wanted to try something a little different and this idea was quite persistant, so there you have it. LOL Raven would heal them, just like she heals everything else...but he would need a cast for a while.

Mina: -whistles- I'm glad you don't, cuz he's really not...he's just under an incredible amount of stress and not coping too well. Robin's tendency has always been to put himself and the ones he loves after his "duty" to justice. LOL yeah I had a lot of fun with that image...and no you don't sound sappy, I really want you guys to like this kid, so I brought out some of his cute side...I mean, he's sorta like a little Robin and that just has to be adorable, right? No prob, it's a good site. Well, it was ok but I have a sister that's an incredible (and I mean incredible) artist...so I think I'll stick to writing. It's hard to find your talent when you have five older sisters that all have a thing that they do amazingly well, but I think I just might have. I get what you mean tho, drawing him was a way to deal with my crazy obsessions before I started writing...I have to let it out or explode lol. Thanks, I'm really glad you're liking this!

cutter-with-a-cause: Hmm...guess you'll have to wait and see.

Al the Pirate: LOL not necessarily...the ones telling me that I suck aren't quite up to the good level. Yeah, I'm having fun communicating that. LOL me too...I don't like the whole love hexagon thing...I did a little of that in Aftereffects and then it was done and out of my system.

Sprox: LOL good, I was going for that. Thanks. That would be ideal...sadly I'm not sure he'll get the chance.

GDeacur: LOL yes, stress for sure. Hmm...guess you'll have to wait and see.

Chica De Los Ojos Cafe: Thanks! Sorry this took so long.

DeathIsOnlyTheBeginin: LOL feel free to call me Dusty, if you want. Thanks!

Mystyre: No big. :( Yeah, I'm eagerly awaiting updates, but I understand being busy (how could I not?). Thanks! Yeah, I deleted it...lol no need to keep it hanging around. LOL I think I will be...I mean, I don't really intend for him to get abused...but if it happens don't kill me. I just have this thing for when guys get beat up...sad, but true. Robin: Oh yeah, Nerf balls will really get 'em. Uh...what are you talking about? Dusty: Um...it's not like that, I swear! Robin: Not like what? Dusty: Uh...Thanks for reading! Oh and about Shadow Creature, they reviewed the chapter that explained everything cuz everyone was so confused...apparently it's "against the regulations". Kinda dumb, but oh well. As long as they leave my song fics alone -crosses fingers-

Child of a Pineapple: LOL thanks, and I like the name Timmy too...I hoped he would grow on you guys like he has on me.

Digital. One Piece.: LOL yeah, I just get sick of saying over and over again what the pairing is, because people don't pay attention to it anyway. I still get people flaming the pairing...-sigh- It's always good to get feedback...if I was that confident, I wouldn't bother putting them up...Thanks for reviewing, and it's fine if you just want to silently read. Glad you like it!

lorna: I guess you're just going to have to read and find out. Don't expect any special privileges :P

M.A.Y 27: Thanks, I wanted to try something a bit different. Sorry it took so long.

Umbro Draco: -bows- Why thank you. LOL it's a funky gothic purse, like I said. If I can handle ShadowXRaven you can handle Raven with a purse lol. Yeah, I enjoy writing that... -sticks out tongue- You're not getting anything from me! I know how that is...sometimes the story just won't transfer from your brain to your hand to the pencil/keyboard to the paper/screen. LOL yes, a company. And yes, he does hero work...but he can't do it in daylight because...well you'll soon see.

Ok, here we go.

Thanks to a speeding ticket and a particularly ornery cop, Richard arrived two hours late for work. At this point, he could only hope that everyone had left by now.

But fate is unkind.

"Ah, Mr. Grayson. You finally decided to grace us with your presence."

Richard froze in the doorway, eyes wide and extremely conscious of his ruffled suit and wind-blown hair. "Yes...I mean no, I..." He swallowed hard and tried to find his dignified-businessman voice. "I sincerely apologize for my lateness, gentlemen." He took a seat, trying hard not to fidget under their penetrating glares.

Norman, an especially nasty individual, was glaring the hardest. After what felt like an eternity, he looked away, nodding to the rest of the stiffs gathered around the table. One by one, they all stood and headed for the door, a certain Mr. Wayne throwing a sympathetic glance in Richard's direction, but believe me, it was the only one. Before long Norman and Richard had the room to themselves; a very dangerous situation indeed.

"It's always the same song and dance with you young whippersnappers. Think you can just elbow your way into the market and act like your ass is made of gold? Well guess what, punk? Dear old dad might let you get away with that, but you can bet that we won't. Try that stunt again, and we're pulling your funding."

Norman smirked in a satisfied way as Richard's eyes widened. He left the room with a bang, leaving Mr. Grayson in a state of complete shock.

Timmy yawned slightly as he shuffled down the hallway, on the way to the library. Something caught his eye as he glanced in the living room door. He froze, eyes narrowing slightly as he pushed it open and stepped inside. There was a strange, reddish-brown stain on the carpet, a trail of the same stuff leading up to the couch which, on closer inspection, sported stains as well. It looked an awful lot like something he did not want to think about, especially in his home. "Mom!"

He heard a distant, "What?" then the sound of her feet softly padding across the wood flooring of the hallway until she appeared in the door. "What is it, squirt?"

Timmy held out his arm and pointed to the stain, though his violet eyes were locked on his mother. "What's that?"

Raven visibly paled, her eyes widening ever-so-slightly. In the blink of an eye, she was back to her normal, calm self...but now he knew that something was wrong.

"Your papa spilled a can of soda, and I forgot to clean it up. That stain had better come out, or he's in big trouble," she said jokingly, making for the kitchen.

"What kind of soda?"

Raven froze, turning around in a slightly uncomfortable manner. "Black cherry."

Timmy's eyes narrowed. "It looks more brown that purple."

Raven shrugged her shoulders, though he could see she was becoming increasingly uneasy. "The color changes once it seeps into the carpet and dries."

Timothy chose to abandon that arguement and move on to the next. "Looks like he sprayed it all over the room, even on the couch. He's usually not that messy, especially in here." Papa wouldn't even let him eat a bowl of popcorn in the living room, so he found it hard to believe that he would dump a can of soda all over the cream carpet.

"Well we all have our days. Why don't you go play outside? It's beautiful out there." Raven avoided his eyes as she turned and left the room, signaling that the conversation was over.

Timmy, however, was far from convinced. As he watched his mother leave, he knew without a doubt that she was hiding something. He would just have to find out for himself.

Timothy walked over to the stain and crouched down beside it, pressing his hand firmly into the carpet. It felt somewhat sticky, but not as sticky as soda would be. Frowning deeply, he raised his hand to his nose and sniffed. It had a barely detectable rusty smell to it, like metal...or blood.

Feeling sick, he stumbled away from the stain and ran to the bathroom. While scrubbing his hands vigorously, he glared at the counter, thinking hard. If it was in fact a blood stain, the obvious question was who was bleeding? And why didn't his mom want him to know about it? Something was wrong...they were keeping secrets from him, and he was going to find out what they were...one way or another.

Richard sighed deeply, rubbing his tired eyes and trying not to think about what would happen if his company went under. He knew Bruce would stick by him...but would that be enough to keep a relatively new company above water? He doubted it...and he wouldn't take that from Bruce anyway. He had already done too much. No, if he wanted to be successful, he would have to keep, or rather, get on the good side of that old bag Norman. He couldn't afford to screw up again.

He smiled slightly as he saw a cup of coffee, ready and waiting for him on his desk. He should give Amy a raise...Mr. Grayson laughed bitterly. "If this company goes under, you won't be giving anyone a raise."

Taking a grateful gulp of the warm liquid, he eased himself down on the chair and glanced casually at the morning paper...then spewed a mouthful of coffee all over his desk. Eyes wide, he grabbed the slightly damp paper and stared in disbelief at the front page headline.

NIGHTWING WANTED FOR ARREST

"No way..." he choked, scanning the article. The more he read, the wider his eyes became and the harder his stomach clenched.

The dangerous criminal, known only as "Nightwing", has finally crossed the line. Early this morning, Officer Jerron discovered the bodies of two middle-aged men, mangled and contorted almost beyond recognition. "I've had experience with this guy before," says Jerron. "Those were his weapons, no doubt about it."

"Nightwing", who was previously considered a danger and a public menace, has now been proclaimed a vicious murderer. Enraged families and law enforcement agencies alike are calling for this dangerous criminal's arrest, and some have demanded a death sentence.

Should you encounter this individual, contact police immediately. Do not approach him under any circumstances, and we advise that, for your own safety, you remain indoors after nightfall.

Richard swore quietly, viciously crumbling the entire paper and chucking it into the wastebasket. Lies! He never killed anyone! He knew which men the article was talking about, and he was sure they were alive, just unconscious and tied up to wait for the police, same as always. He was no murderer!

But then...how did they die? And with his weapons?

Timmy took one last glance over his shoulder, then slipped silently down the stairs to the basement. It was supposedly Papa's home office, allowing him to work even when he was away from work, and Timothy was not allowed down there. He felt guilty, sneaking like this and disobeying his Papa, but there were questions that needed answers, and his instincts told him the first place to look was anywhere that was "forbidden". He was fueled, not only by curiousity, but by fear. Something was terribly wrong, he could feel it.

He spent quite a while searching the wall for a lightswitch, uncomfortable in the pitch-black as half-remembered images of a nightmare flashed in his mind. Desperate and just about ready to run back upstairs, Timmy stepped off the last stair and gasped in shock. The spacious room was suddenly flooded with light. He assumed there was some kind of trigger in the carpet pad.

It was just a normal office. There was a desk, bookcases, filing cabinets, a small fridge; absolutely nothing suspicious...but something caught his eye all the same.

It was a framed photograph, resting on one of the many bookcases; this one, however, was set apart from the others. There was a group of people, all strange except for his mother and father. Richard had a protective arm around Raven's shoulder, his other hand resting comfortably on her belly. "That's me," he thought, with a small smile. But then his attention was drawn back to the other four people in the shot, and his mouth dropped open. One man, somewhat on the short side with sparse hair, was entirely green, as though he had jumped in a giant vat of paint. The other, an extremely tall African-American, appeared to be...mechanical. The girls, a blonde with startling blue eyes who was giving the...green man bunny ears, and a tall redhead who seemed to be bursting with happiness, looked fairly normal...aside from the fact that the redhead's eyes were completely green, absolutely no white at all.

Timmy gaped, picking up the picture for a better look. Who were these people? From the looks on his parents' faces, they were good friends...then why didn't he know them? And somehow, he just couldn't get over the fact that one of them was green and, with closer inspection, had pointed ears! Desperate for some answers, he turned the frame over and stared at the back. Three words were engraved there:

"The Teen Titans."

Timmy jumped a foot in the air as a low grinding noise filled the air, and the bookcase slid aside to reveal a door...and a staircase.

Lol! So it looks like Timmy finally found out a bit...and yet now he's even more in the dark then he was before. Little seeds of doubt are sprouting up all over the place... Ok, I borrowed the name Norman from Spiderman...no resemblance to the character, but I found it funny to place him in the spot of evil guy pulling funding, rather than being the victim of the funding-pulling. ...Wow that didn't even make sense to me. -Dusty