I want to apologize for taking so long on this, but I know it might happen again. Ever since I moved to the island time just seems to fly by. I have started writing more so hopefully I'll be able to get more chapters posted on both my stories rather quickly, no promises though, as I'm mostly working on my novel. I really appreciate the follows and reviews. Thank you. read and enjoy.
Disclaimer: i still don't own it, obviously.
Robin's Pov
Bruce left the question about Jonny wait until that evening. After the mission the league took the case, the team was left in the mountain. We got a chance to celebrate our great victory. We had snacks, most of which disappeared down Wally's throat in the first 30 seconds, and we talked about the mission. Zatanna told them about how we'd run into Albino and Diablo and had taken them down. The others recounted their battles as well. "We kicked butt!" Wally exclaimed.
"And we proved ourselves to the league." Artemis added.
I told them about the fight with snake. "Well done Robin." Kaldur congratulated me again.
"What about you guys? How did you catch Kakaraska?" I asked.
The group all looked at me worriedly at his name. "He was easy to take." Conner said.
"Too easy." Wally injected. "He hardly fought."
"Good." I said. I popped some M&Ms into my mouth while everybody else continued to stare awkwardly at me. I raised my eyebrow, "What?"
"Care to explain what your deal is with Kakaraska?" Artemis asked.
"Not really."
She huffed angrily. Everyone was staring at me, exasperated. I lean back on the couch with the bag of Sun Chips. "You seriously expect us to just accept that?" Raquel asked. "This mysterious thief that has you freaking out every time you see him and refuse to talk about."
"I gotta admit it's making me curious." M'gann inserted shyly.
"This guy made you cry" Wally pointed out, "twice."
"and throw a mission." Artemis added.
"And you hugged him and yelled at him."
"and you let him escape." Conner finished.
"So?" I shrug my shoulders.
I'm frustrating them. I can tell. Conner is really ticked off, which isn't usual, but I'm not usually on the receiving end of it. "Whether this is Gotham business or personal, doesn't matter." Kaldur said calmly. "I admit it is troubling, but if it is not something you can explain to us, no one will force you."
"Thanks, Kaldur." I said. The others did not look like they agreed with him. "I should be getting home."
I walked out and took my R-cycle to Gotham.
I roared into the Batcave a few hours later. Batman was sitting with his cowl down at the computer. I parked and tossed my helmet in my locker before approaching him from behind. He was compiling a file on advanced weaponry. Without turning around, he asked me. "Your cousin?"
"He allowed the team to capture him while Zatanna and I retrieved the case. He talked to me. Said he was sorry, made excuses. Then he left, I let him leave. He promised to come to Gotham in a few days."
"Where's he been?"
"He didn't say. We only talked for a couple of minutes."
Bruce didn't say anything more. I remained behind him as he worked, thinking about Jonny. It had been confusing to see him again. The emotions caused by our encounters were overwhelming. Being Robin I tried to be in control of my emotions, impassive. But I'd been unable to in that moment. I'd felt nine years old again, standing atop the platform as the wires snapped. I didn't know what was going to happen next or what I was going to do. I still didn't feel in control.
I remained alone in my thoughts as Bruce worked. There were so many questions I needed to ask Jonny. I didn't understand how he could be alive. I needed to know where he'd been all this time. And I needed to know how he'd become Kakaraska.
"…Robin?" Batman said. "Robin, it's time for patrol." He startled me. I hadn't even realized how much time had passed.
I followed him to the Bat-mobile. The night was chaotic, Riddler got out of Arkham. It was three-thirty in the morning by the time we took him down. Luckily, tomorrow was Sunday and I could sleep in. I got out of my costume and collapsed into my bed as soon as we got home.
The next couple days dragged on. On patrol, I found myself looking out more for Jonny than for muggers and molesters. Batman noticed and commented on it. Even in a fight with a gang, I was distracted and took more than a few extra hits. Batman sent me home after that.
After Alfred bandaged up my cuts and bruises I found myself sitting on the roof of the manor. I was watching the road up to the estate and the grounds around for any sign my cousin was here. Bruce climbed up to where I was sitting a few hours later. "What are you doing up here?" He grunted as he made his way to the tiny precipice I was seated on.
I smirked slightly at him. "How long is a few days?" I ask, returning to my vigil.
"You're worried about Jonny?"
"I'm worried he's not coming. I mean he ran the first time and then he wouldn't come with me. What if… what if he just said that to me, so I would let him go, so he could get away without me following him." My bottom lip was trembling slightly. He put his hand on my shoulder. "It's been four days. He could be anywhere by now."
"That is a distinct possibility."
"Why can't I just have my family? I just want to be with them. And they just keep leaving. I don't want to lose him again." I pull my knees to my chest.
Bruce wraps his arm around my shoulders. "Do you trust him?"
"What?"
"He's your cousin. You grew up together. Do you trust his word? He promised he'd come. Do you think he was lying?"
"I-" I didn't know. Five years and the past week, I didn't really know who he was anymore. "I want to." I buried my face in my knees. "But I don't know if I can." I whispered.
"We'll keep waiting." Bruce said. "And we'll also start searching. If he doesn't show up, we'll track him down."
I sigh, hoping from the center of my heart that he shows up on his own.
Bruce squeezed my shoulders, trying to give me comfort. "You should get to bed. It's a school day tomorrow." He left me there. I sat for a little while more.
My few short hours of sleep and the trouble weighing on my mind made for a lousy day at school. I didn't pay much attention in classes and was pretty quiet all day. I work through my assignments without really paying attention to them. I walked through the hallways with my head down and had to try to stay awake through lectures.
Barbara noticed and confronted me in our study hour, demanding to know what was up with me.
"Nothing, I'm fine." I reply.
She frowned at me, raising her eyebrow. I can't even convince myself. "You're moping. You don't mope."
"There's nothing wrong. I just didn't sleep much last night. I'm tired."
"Uh huh. sure. But this isn't you acting tired, not entirely. It's more similar to the time Carly Bridges dumped you at home coming. Did someone break your heart?" She said it somewhat teasingly, but it was a real question. I didn't say anything. "Ooo. Who's the girl?"
She smirked and poked me repeatedly. Saying "Tell me. Tell me. Tell me." over and over.
"Stop. Stop! Barb there is no girl!" I say.
She looks stunned, standing speechless for a moment. "Oh. Dick I'm sorry. I didn't realize… I didn't mean… so a boy then?" She blushed a little as she asked.
I blushed brightly to. "I'm not gay!" I protested.
"Okay. Okay. So…?" She prompts.
"You know, back when I was in the circus, the Flying Graysons." She nodded. "It was my family and I; my dad and mom, me, my aunt and uncle and my cousin. I went to live with Bruce. Uncle Rick ended up in the care home, paralyzed. Aunt Karla and my parents died." I choked over the words. "and my cousin…"
"Your cousin died too. Didn't he?"
"I thought so."
"He's alive?!"
I nodded. "We ran into each other last week a couple times. In Star City. It was a major shock and... I tried to get him to come back with me. I wanted him to come home, meet Bruce. He couldn't though. He had things to do. He said he'd come to Gotham in a few days. It's been more than a few days." I take a deep breath. I don't know if I'm angry or sad. "I don't know if he's even coming."
She says. "I'm sorry." And hugs me.
We sit in silence for a minute. "Dick, I've got to ask; are you sure he's your cousin?"
"What?"
"He's not just some random guy claiming to be your cousin?" She put forward.
"No. Why would you think that?"
"Up until now you've been entirely adamant that your cousin died. How could he just suddenly be alive? He could just be targeting you. Trying to use you to get to Bruce, how lots of people want to."
"No. Barbara, it's him. I know it. He looked like him. He knew me." I argued adamantly.
"Any number of people could look like him. And, of course he knew who you were, you're a public figure."
I scowled. "He didn't just know who I am. He knew me. It's complicated, but I know it's him." I defended. "The resemblance was perfect, he looked like his parents and like a grown-up version of how I knew him as a kid. He was fluent in Kalderas Romani."
"Maybe he's been planning this. He's worked out some stuff to get you to trust him. Cosmetics, language classes." She argued.
"Then he'd have to be pretty dang dedicated. You can't just take Romani in school." I argued, perhaps a bit too loudly.
"Okay. Okay Dick. I'm just cautioning you." She raised her hands in defense. "Knowing who you are, I'm just trying to be careful. I'm surprised Bruce hasn't told you these same things."
"He is my cousin."
"I hope you're right Dick." She shook lightly her head as she said so.
I folded my arms and looked away from her. At the end of the free period we split ways. She looked guilty and apologetic. I thought on her words. I could understand how she thought that with the information I'd given to her. But, I knew he was Jonny. I knew it. His reactions had been genuine. I'd been Robin at the time, no one knew my secret identity. I knew it was him. But Barbara's words planted a seed of doubt in my mind. I wonder if Bruce has had thoughts like these already.
It was three nights later, I'd almost completely given up hope, we were on patrol. Things were going back to normal. We stopped the robbers, muggers and the escaped Arkham inmates. Tonight, it was Killer Crock. He'd went on a burgling spree at several banks and jewelry stores. We'd been running through the sewers for hours. It stinks. We've almost tracked Killer Crock down.
"Master Batman, Master Robin, I must request you come home immediately." Alfred's voice comes over our coms.
"Negative Agent A. We're in pursuit of Killer Crock. Cannot detach." Batman responded.
"I must insist Master Bruce. We have a most important matter to attend to here."
"Agent A we cannot…"
"This isn't up for negotiation. Get back here now." and with that Alfred hung up.
Batman growled. There was no way to disobey Alfred without severe consequences. We abandoned the chase and turned back towards home. Bruce had quite a few words to say to Alfred when we reached the batcave, most of which would get him putting multiple dollars in Alfred's swear jar. Alfred stood there unamused by the onslaught. "Master Bruce might I remind you that Master Dick is only fourteen and should not be subjugated to such crass diction."
I roll my eyes, because seriously?
"What was so important that we needed to let Killer Crock get away?" Batman demanded.
"We have a guest." Alfred says simply.
Bruce breathes angrily, "A guest is not as important as an escaped convict."
Alfred is unaffected by the rage coming off Batman, the man is fearless. "He is waiting upstirs in the lounge. I suggest you hurry and change."
Alfred walks upstairs and we do as he instructed. Bruce is grumbling and I remain silent. No chance I'm going to bring his wrath down on me. I am ready quickly, but Bruce takes his time, if only to spite Alfred in the smallest way possible. He commands me to wait for him before we go upstairs.
Bruce also insures that he is the first to enter the lounge. He wants to check out whoever decided to pay us a visit at one in the morning. I can't see past his large figure in the doorway, so I sneak a peek under his arm. The young man on the couch has dark hair and a lithe build. He has a Grayson face. I shove my way past Bruce as I call out, "Jonny!"
