A/N – Allypallycally1 beta'd this for me cus she's super fabulous and you should check her out (:


A long creak echoed into my room, followed by the faint pitter patter of footsteps from small feet, which had been trained to usually be silent. The outline of a slim figure grew closer to the side of my bed. The dark figure hesitated: unsure of what to do. I froze: unsure of how to react.

Slowly, I sat up, leaning against my headboard. Suddenly, the figure stepped back, almost tripping over its own feet in a mad rush to escape. I switched on the light of my bed side lamp, flooding the room in a yellow glow.

Surprise. Wide watery cerulean eyes; a mauled bottom lip and jagged, red lines littered a pale arm. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"..Dick?"

The acrobat's bottom lip trembled slightly as he nodded, shyly. Sapphire eyes glittered towards the floor and he let out a little puff of air. The sigh sounded so sad and hopeless that I literally felt my heart crack. When I didn't acknowledge the nod of his head, the boy looked up under thick lashes and the black bangs of his hair. This time my heart snapped clean in two. The iris of his eye spiralled deep into unspoken emotions, portraying hurt and fear; disgust and shame; hopelessness and loss. I felt sick.

Coughing quietly, the bird rubbed his bare arm and I pulled my duvet cover back to reveal an empty white space, specifically for him. Padding softly to the bed, Dick climbed into it next to me. We both shuffled downwards to lie down and I pulled the duvet over us after turning the lamp off. We laid down facing each other, blinking in an attempt to adjust our eyesight to the darkness enveloping us. The silence strained my ears: they longed for some sort of sound whether it be conversation or music, they just wanted something. So I decided to break the silence.

"Dick?"

"Hm?" It was barely audible.

"Was it the nightmares again?" Although I couldn't actually see Robin, I could feel him nod beside me. I wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him towards me, flinching at his cold face against my bare chest. His hands were trapped between our bodies, so he manoeuvred them to also wrap around my middle. He then buried his face into my chest, where muffled speech floated around the empty space in my room, zooming in towards my ears in a bid to make me understand what the hell he was actually saying.

I pushed Robin away from my chest and instantly regretted it as hurt flashed in his watery gaze. But it was such a quick display of emotion that if I hadn't been watching him intently, I would have missed it. Instead I cupped his cheeks and rubbed soothing circles over the rosy skin with my thumbs. "I couldn't hear you."

His azure gaze focused in on my thumbs, causing him to go slightly cross eyed. I had to disguise a bark of a laugh with a cough. Now was not the time, Wally. He just shook his head and his black hair swayed. I shuffled down the bed so I was face to face with the boy. He still looked up at me through his long lashes and I smiled softly at him, leaning in to quickly peck his nose. Dick withdrew suddenly, blinking in astonishment and I mimicked his cackle to an extent that Robin actually slapped a hand over my mouth.

"Shut up, Idiot." A lopsided smile and a giggle. Now we're getting somewhere.

His hand trailed down my mouth and throat, resting against my chest again as his ocean blue eyes bored into my own sea green ones. It was like he was attempting to stare into my soul or something. I wouldn't put it past the hacker, especially with eyes like those. Fuck. Even in the pitch black, although by this time my eyes had adjusted, the orbs shone like he was a lighthouse. The light blue of his eyes sparkled against the dark part of his iris', creating a contrast of two separate beings who moulded into one. The confusion of being two people along with the acceptance and ability to deceive. For what must have been a very rare occurrence in Rob's life, he had completely discarded the poker-face, allowing his eyes to be uncovered so he could be read until the very last page with ease.

It was really fucking weird. The last time he'd done this was years ago: back when we were little kids; back when he wasn't an emotionless, stubborn, little lovable shit. Back when Batman hadn't influenced him that much yet. I missed that Robin. Despite witnessing the murder of his parents, he was so positive and full of energy. I don't know why, but I couldn't stop staring at his face. He looked so...vulnerable. The need to hold him close to me was pretty overwhelming or, rather, whelming. His pink lips were pouting slightly and they looked so soft. I needed to kiss him.

Whoa. Where had that come from?

Still, the urge overpowered me. Whilst watching his wide eyes, I tilted my head so my lips were in line with his. Feeling his warm breath hitch at my lips, I tried to steady my own breathing as I inched closer. Mint. It tickled my nostrils after dancing around the small space between us. The smell was strong, but soothing regardless. Kinda like Robin. We stayed like that for a while, just staring at each other, unsure of what was happening really, but knowing that whatever was happening was exactly what we should be doing. It was right. Well, to me it was.

Slowly, I closed the distance between us. Unsure of how it was possible, I watched his blue eyes widen further before slowly fluttering closed like the wings of a butterfly as they flapped together. A light pink dusted his cheeks under the thick, black lashes which outlined his large eyes. Gripping my shoulders, his lips moved against mine. Pulling his lean body into my chest, I moved up to lean over him and quickly swiped his lips with my tongue. A small gasp escaped his lips and I dived right in there like an eagle. Our tongues merged into one as they fought for dominance but, in all honesty, I was having none of it whatsoever. I pulled away and crashed my lips against his pale neck, sucking lightly on the sweet skin. I grazed my teeth over the spot with every intention of leaving a lovely, large love bite there. Heh.

Dick stretched his arms over my shoulders before winding them around my neck, as he threw his head back in pure bliss. Soft moans bobbed about in the air. I licked my lips, hungry for more delighted mewls. Daring to move one step further, I slid my entire body to lie atop his, still attacking his neck. Underneath me, his body froze. So, I also froze. Naturally.

"Are you okay?" Our eyes locked and my voice sounded husky. In response Robin let out a breath and nodded, trying to avoid eye contact.

I sat up, leaning backwards on my knees. "We don't have to do anythi-mmph!"

The kid just fucking pounced on me.

Moulding his lips on mine, he straddled me and actually ground his hips against mine. Letting out this really manly sigh, I dug my nails into his hips, rolling them against my thrusting crotch. Again, his head was thrown back and his grip on my shoulders loosened. This was my chance to regain dominance.

Pushing Robin backwards, I tugged at his legs so I could manoeuvre myself to fit in the space that his parted legs gave. His nails scratched at my neck, begging for more contact. I happily complied. I slid a hand up under his t-shirt, smoothing my hand along his toned muscles until I reached the neck hole. My hand scratched its way back down his torso, and Robin soon got the message.

More friction needed. Remove clothes. Now.

A baggy black t-shirt was thrown carelessly behind my head and my mouth made good use of the new, milky skin provided. My butterfly kisses trailed down Dick's chest, biting and grazing my teeth along the muscles, slowly; teasingly. Dick let out a high pitched whine. My private area perked up at the sound so I slid my hand down the acrobats stomach to finger the waistband of his pyjama pants. Again, I felt Dick stiffen beneath me ever so slightly.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

Dick nodded slowly, his gaze directed at my hand.

"You know we don't actually have to do this."

The Boy Wonder's eyes never left my hand. "Yes, I am well aware of that."

"So, if you don't want to do anyth-"

"KF. I want to. Okay?" His soft fingertips felt like a butterfly twirling around in a dance as they traced swirls of magical nothing onto my freckled and incredibly red skin. I nodded slowly. This time, Robin's eyes flickered up to me and I couldn't work out what message they were trying to convey in the split second of emotion that he was willing to share. On the surface, his eyes looked exasperated and slightly annoyed, however, the deeper I looked, the more desperate his eyes became.

In all honesty, I was so confused about what was happening...not that it stopped me.

Maybe it should have.


To me it was a simple 'break in, grab the hostages and go' kind of mission. Apparently not. I guess that's why Kaldur's in charge of this team and I'm not. Lucky us.

"We should split into small groups and enter the building from various locations to avoid getting caught ourselves. These men are dangerous and will stop at nothing to retrieve what they've come here for, which we also need to completely find out."

In a response to Aqualad's instructions the team simply nodded. Except me. "Uh... this is a gun shop, right?"
"That is correct, yes, Kid Flash."

"So... aren't they here for weapons then? What else would they be here for?" I felt stupid but I really couldn't see why on earth else the thieves would raid a weaponry store except to grab some weapons; sell them and gain a helluva lot of money or use them to increase their power in some shitty mafia thus becoming feared and powerful. Simple. I mean, that's what I'd do anyway. If I was in that position. Not that I ever will be since I'm a superhero after all.

Artemis merely scoffed at my apparent ignorance and smacked me on the back of my head. "Well, Kidiot, that's kinda why we're here. Find out the info and y'know? To beat the bad guys."

I winced and rubbed the slowly forming bump on my head. "Oh, fuck off Artemis. At what point did it look like I was talking to you? You don't need to butt into everything."

"Well, don't ask stupid fucking questions then. When has anything ever been that simple? Not even our training exercises require such minimal effort." Queen Bitch crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her hip out, raising an eyebrow.

"Sorry I don't think like a criminal! Not all of us were born into that kind of lifestyle you kn-"

"Enough." Kaldur narrowed his eyes at Artemis and flicked his eyes towards my direction, warning me to not even to dare say another word. I winced. I knew I had been out of line but I just couldn't help it. That seemed to be happening a lot recently. Funny. "Although I do not agree with the way Artemis worded it, she is right. It is our job to find which information is necessary to prevent these men with succeeding with their plan. Now, if you'd allow me to continue? Each group should have someone with the ability to get themselves and their group out quickly if need be, so Miss Martian and Artemis if you would like to enter from the eastern entrance; Superboy and I will enter from the western entrance, leaving Robin, Kid Flash and Zatanna to enter from the southern entrance. Due to Robin's hacking ability and Zatanna's magic, all information should be able to be received whilst the rest of us free the hostages. Is that clear?"

Fist pumping the air in triumph and spreading my fingers out to signal a high five from Robin, I cheered. However, the Boy Wonder took no notice of my outstretched palm so I nudged him with my elbow. "C'mon, dude. Don't leave me hanging. We never get to pair up any more. This is like a victory within itself."

Artemis rolled her dark eyes as she walked past me, hands swinging slightly at her sides. Behind her M'gann followed, directing a small smile my way. I returned it as Rob gave in and high fived me with as much force as possible. A loud slap caused me to draw my hand away and to cradle it, glaring at the cackling boy. That'll teach me to take my eyes off the Boy Wonder. Heh. Again, Artemis snorted.

"Y'know, snorting isn't particularly attractive."

"Oh, shut up."


Typical. Annoying. Stupid. Unfair. Ugh.

The corridor was long and white. Whitewashed walls constantly filled my vision and I couldn't run because the sharp turnings mixed with the dull white made it impossible to tell when there actually was a turning and I crashed into things enough as it was. Due to this particular annoyance, it felt as if we'd been walking for hours, maybe even days. Who knew? I mean, my stomach was definitely having issues with this extended period of walking without any food. It felt like we were getting nowhere. How do people manage to travel at this painfully slow pace? How did I used to have the ability to do so? Key phrase there: used to. Nowadays I just can't handle the suspense.

At a particularly loud stomach groan, my two pals stared at me: Zatanna with a raised eyebrow and a red mouth twitching at the corners and Robin with a full on glare. I shrugged, "What? I'm hungry."

The girl giggled. "How? You ate a huge bag of chips on the way here. That was like," Her hair flashed as she turned her head to Robin, "Can you get the time up on your techno-glove? Hah, it was only an hour and half ago!"

Maybe it wasn't days then, but the way we were going it may as well been.

Mimicking her ridiculously shiny hair, Zatanna's teeth almost blinded me as she flashed a grin towards Robin in thanks.

What am I, a magpie now or something?

Robin simply grunted in response. I really hated it when Rob went into mission mode, he always became really boring and grumpy like an itsy bitsy Batman. When I voiced this opinion however, the bird punched me in the stomach and I swear to God I thought that I had breathed my last.

"I'm not 'itsy bitsy'." Was his mumbled reply as I sat wheezing on the floor.

We've found the hostages and they're in pretty bad shape. They're locked up separately in cages and they appear to be unconscious. We're located on the bottom level of the building. M'gann's soft but urgent voice appeared in my head and I winced at the sudden intrusion. She hesitated. How's everyone else doing?

We're still looking for some sort of secret headquarters but no such luck. Zatanna replied with a barely audible sigh.

Who would have thought that this tiny shop could have so many floors and rooms?! It's like a maze in this place. Naturally Artemis's husky voice had to pop up uninvited to complain.

Miss Martian, Artemis, see if you can get the hostages out of there. Superboy and I are on our way to help.

Sorry, Aqualad but no can do just yet. This place is being guarded like crazy and I haven't got enough arrows for even half of the guys here. If we're going to get anyone out, we're going to need backup. With a bitter laugh, Artemis replied.

I'm almost done here. All accessible files are in the process of being downloaded to my...techno-glove, Zatanna fist pumped at her slang being used by the Boy Wonder. If my stomach didn't perform an uncomfortable lurch I would have found it rather cute. whilst I hack into those more stubborn files so me, Zee and KF can join you guys soon.

Wait we hadn't even found the room we were looking for yet so how was Rob downloading the information needed?

ROB STOP RUNNING OFF.

Sorry KF but you were slowing me down. Any other time I would have loved to be the source of the amused grin in his voice but when it's hand in hand with a mocking giggle from Artemis it only pissed me off.

Who would have thought a Speedster could slow the mission down? M'gann giggled sweetly: I was incapable of telling the pretty Martian to shut the fuck up. Supey would most likely tear all my limbs off if I even considered doing such a thing.

After Artemis barked out another laugh, I promptly told her to fuck off to which she snorted in reply.

Zee, KF meet with the girls and I'll meet you there. The information here is a little more complicated than I originally thou-oh shit. Despite the voices being in my head, my ears perked up at the foul language used by my favourite birdie of all. Fuck he never swears, even when things get really bad. What's going on?

What is wrong, Robin?

Oh, Kaldur beat me to it.

Get the hostages and go. Don't worry about backup turning up, I have it covered. Just save them and go!

And that's when a sharp shriek burst my eardrums. Crouching down with my hands covering my ears, I noticed Zee mimicked my actions whilst wincing. Her lily white face contorted into confusion. In an attempt to catch her eye I waved my arm at her, linking my green eyes with her azure ones.

What the fuck is that noise? The archer screeched out.

Alarm.

Alarm? And what about you? Why aren't you going? The blonde sounded more panicked now and I couldn't blame her: it was shit like this that almost gets Robin killed. ROBIN?

He was silent.

Everyone was silent.

Even the alarm was silent.

I felt the colour drain my face. My entire body felt cold.

"Are you-can you hear anything?" Zee's quiet voice asked. I shook my head. Zatanna's eyes widened and her little red mouth opened and closed again. "Oh."

"We have to go. C'mon," I reached out and grabbed the girl's wrist but she withdrew it harshly. I couldn't help the slight hurt which flashed across my face at her actions. "What?"

"Robin."

Yes I fucking well know that, Zatanna darling. I breathed in through my nose and shuddered out the breath before placing a comforting hand on her black blazer clad arm.

"He knows what he's doing, Batman's ward and all." I offered her a weak smile to which she hesitantly returned. "So we have to go and find out what's going on. Remember, we have to stick to the original mission. The hostages are our main concern."

Lacing her fingers with my own, I pulled the magician to stand and lifted her into my arms. I ran.
Dick was going to be fine...right?


Heavy breathing full of tension; fear; desire; adrenaline drifted about the darkened room. A dull light flickered like a candle inhaling its last breath of life. Goosebumps travelled up my arms and neck. I shivered. Crouching on a metal bridge overlooking what appeared to be a makeshift prison, Zatanna and I stared warily downwards into the room holding the hostages. Cages upon cages stood in rows holding unconscious men and women who seemed to be...Shit.

"What?" Zatanna whispered beside me.

Oh, I swore out loud. Damn.

"Are- are they...Kids?" I asked, inching further towards the railing. I flinched at the quiet groan in response to the movement of my weight. I was more offended than anything.

The girl mimicked my movements before nodding slowly. No noise. At all.

Yep, definitely offended.

Her beryl blue eyes widened and I watched warily as the usual fuchsia tint of her cheeks faded away like the colours at sunset.

Her eyes snapped towards my own. "We have to get them out. Now." I nodded.

Determination and adrenaline pumped through our veins. I felt my pulse strain as I concentrated, ignoring anything but my objective. All foreign thoughts had been rejected. This had made us immune to fear and blind to our team mates apparently.

Somehow along the way I managed to collide with M'gann.

I wasn't joking about the blind part.

"Kid Flash!" The Martian hissed out, her eyes were ablaze. She looked pissed. Gripping my arm tightly, she pushed me behind a stack of crates. How bloody convenient.

"What's up, sugar? Your eyes are looking hot, they finally caught onto your smokin' appearance?" I wiggled my eyebrows and grinned up at her. Pink dusted her cheeks slightly but that didn't change the fury in her eyes. Damn.

"Now is not the time. We have to get out. Now." She paused and took a step to the left, looking behind me inquisitively. "Where's Zatanna?"

Scuffing the back of my shoes, I swept a gloved hand through my hair. "We split so we could free the hostages-"

"Oh my God, Kid. You left her alone?!" Frustration and concern lined her freckled face.

Why was she so wound up? Why had she cut the mental link? What was going on?

That's when I took in her appearance: several bruises had begun to underline her right eye. A deep purple fought for dominance against red, thus swelling M'gann's usually sparkly eye. To add to her injury, a deep slit sported Miss M's plump lips and a trickle of maroon blood oozed out and dried onto her emerald skin.

What had happened?!

I was just about to voice my questions before Artemis skidded around the corner, bow in hand, rudely interrupting Megalicious and my conversation. I gave her the evil eye so she was well aware of my annoyance. She wasn't particularly in tip top condition either, with smaller but darker bruises marching up her bare arms on the outskirts of a long, jagged cut which seemed to seep a tremendous amount of blood. Also I noticed that the archer's nose bent slightly to the left after she wiped the brown, dried blood away from her flaring nostril. It stained her arm maroon.

As she looked me up and down (totally checking me out), she raised a dark eyebrow.

Yep. That evil eye was working. Be intimidated. Bitch.

"Artemis. Where are the boys? Kid Flash and Zatanna lost each other so now she's missing too." M'gann turned her back on me and gave her full attention to the archer. I'm not even lying, that fucking hurt. M'gann was never mean to me.

I blame Artemis: she's influenced the poor Martian.

My throat began to dry up and my face started to droop. I could feel the colour fade and slowly become replaced with a sickly green as the bile slithered its slimy way into my throat, ready to pour out and make its great escape. Instead words spilled out, luckily. I guess. "Can someone please tell me what's going on?!"

Artemis groaned out an exaggerated sigh before rolling her head to look at M'gann. "I'm not sure. I lost them when we split to try and get those guards away from us." Her grey eyes narrowed as she looked in my direction. She chewed her tongue as I crossed my arms angrily, awaiting an answer I believe I was entitled to know, since you know, I am apart of this team.

Coughing nervously, the Martian twiddled her fingers and nibbled on her bottom lip, averting her gaze from mine. I softened a bit: only slightly though. I needed to stand my ground.

After a few moments of silence, I opened my mouth, ready to yell my frustration, but Miss M beat me to it. "We're in too deep," I began to question her but she waved an arm, causing me to shut up. "This entire mission was a trap. It has two purposes: one which we aren't sure of yet and the second is to capture us. We are the weak points of our mentors - all except Zatanna because Zatara is no longer with us. She serves no useful purpose to those behind this making her the most in danger."

"How does that make her that most I'm danger? Surely she'd be the one who is okay?" I asked.

"They will bleed her dry of any information and then dispose of her like a toy. The rest of us are needed alive to lure our mentors." The archer had stopped snarling at me by this point and instead donned a grimace.

"But, how?" I whispered weakly. I couldn't process this information. It was too much.

"Psimon."

I wish I had never asked.


A/N – Psimon legit scares me cus he's got so much power and control and ugh man