Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel or DC. Wait that's not true…I own tons of Marvel and DC comic books! I just don't own the characters or the titles.

This is part 2 of 3 in ISSUE # 2 – Click, Click, BOOM! You'll want to read part 1 first.

ROBIN AND THE TEEN X-MEN

ISSUE # 2 – Click, Click, BOOM! pt 2

:::::Gas Station, Upstate New York:::::

As Larry Everett lay on the Floor of McGrubers Quick Snack Convenient Store, with the villainous Joker pointing Larry's own pistol at his face, knowing that there was only one bullet left out of two chambers, his only thought was of Carol and their kids. He wished that they'd been able to spend more time together and that they'd had a chance to say goodbye. The Joker had boasted that Larry had a 50% chance that he might live and that when the Joker pulled the trigger if it happened to be Larry's lucky day and the chamber was empty, he was sure that the Joker would kill him anyways. He trusted the Joker about as much an angry rattlesnake. In his peripheral vision he could see Bane standing with his arms crossed, showing no emotion at all. Harley Quinn, the only other person there, sat a few feet away, with both eyes closed tight, and a finger in each ear to drown out the sound.

"Go screw yourself!" Larry shouted.

"Bravery until the end! I can appreciate that. But that still doesn't help your situation." The Joker cocked the Hammer, pointed the gun at Larry's forehead and placed his finger on the trigger . . . CLICK!

Larry's heart about stopped. The chamber had been empty! He couldn't believe it.

The Joker jumped and stomped and threw the gun at the liquor behind the counter. BOOM! The gun discharged on impact. "I HATE GUNS!" He screamed.

After a brief moment, the Joker composed himself, running his fingers through his green hair. "Today is your lucky day Larry! As I am a man of my word, you live!" Larry did not move on the floor, still paralyzed by fear.

"Come on Harley, let's blow this Popsicle stand." The Joker said to Harley while turning to walk away.

"Comin' Puddin'!" Harley said scurrying after him.

"Oh yea, Bane break both of his legs and arms, and then meet us outside." Joker commanded.

Harley could hear the bones breaking and the screams of agony from outside as they waited for Bane to return. "Sure was nice of you Mr. J to let him live like that."

"Harley, I am not anything if not a man of my word. He'll live, that's what I promised and that's what he gets."

As Bane came walking out of the gas station, Larry's cries and whimper's could still be heard from within. "Everyone load up. Bane you're driving." Joker said as they loaded into their stolen Mr. Freezy ice cream truck, Bane in the driver's seat and Joker and Harley in the back. The engine turned over and the van whipped out onto the two lane road that ran parallel to McGrubers.

When it was about 300 yards award, the breaks on the van locked up with a loud screeching of tires, the back two doors were flung open and the Joker stood there holding a purple Bazooka, "Hey Larry, I LIED! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" he cackled maniacally as he pointed the Bazooka at the service station and fired, blowing it sky high in a massive fireball of destruction. Larry Everett died instantly from the explosion.

:::::Cafeteria, Xavier's School for the Gifted:::::

Tim decided that is was about time he went downstairs to face the music. It was a little past the start of dinner time and of course all the students would be in the cafeteria, probably having a good laugh or two at Tim's expense. I'll just have to get over it. He told himself. It's not like I can hide in my room and starve the rest of the time I'm here.

As Tim entered the room, everyone became silent. For a brief second, he considered turning around and leaving but backing down and taking the easy way out was never Tim's way. Bobby and Rogue got up from their seats and came running over to him.

"Tim are you okay?" Rogue asked.

"Dude, that was awesome!" Bobby exclaimed.

"I'm fine. And what do you mean awesome? I got my butt handed to me." Tim tried to answer both of them at once.

"No man, you were amazing." Bobby replied, like he was confused about what Tim was saying.

"Really amazing." Rogue added.

Several other students were coming up to him, even ones that Tim didn't know. They were all congratulating him on his fight with Professor Logan. "Thanks guys, I guess." They must've been looking at a different fight or just confused, but they seem sincere.

"You're the first student to ever land a punch on Professor Logan and last more than like two seconds with him." Bobby explained, putting his arm around him. "People make way for the bad ass Tim Gordon!" He added.

Slowly the way began to clear, as Rogue and Bobby ushered Tim to sit at their table. Some of the students began an impromptu chat of, "Tim, Tim, Tim, Tim." At a table in the corner Tim spied Jean Grey and Cyclops sitting together. Jean gave Tim an encouraging smile, while Cyclops watched on indifferently.

Just as Tim was beginning to understand and enjoy his new found status, the entire cafeteria became as silent as a graveyard. Tim looked up and saw Logan stacking some food, a lot of food actually onto his plate. Tim was amazed, he knew that he really had pulverized Wolverines nose, which should look like mashed potatoes now and both of his should definitely be blackened too. Instead, Logan stood there looking completely healed, like nothing had even happened today. Tim had to wear extra thick ray-ban sunglasses to try to disguise his shiners and black and blue bruises on his face.

Logan took no notice of Tim or his face as he went to sit with Cyclops and Jean Grey at the teacher table. Slowly the talking resumed in the cafeteria. Everyone still gathered around Tim's table. Everywhere Tim looked there was a smiling face. Tim couldn't believe how differently this was turning out than he had pictured.

"So man, what part hurt the worst, the head-butt?" Bobby asked.

"No actually that didn't hurt until I woke up. I guess the punch to the stomach."

"I was so scared for you." Rogue admitted.

"Yea, she wouldn't stop talking about you." Pyro said. He had entered the conversation sometime after Logan had come in. Of all the faces in the room his was the darkest and least enthusiastic about Tim's sparring match with Logan.

"You did really well. I was blown away." said a girl that Tim did not know.

"Tim, this is my friend Jubilee." Rogue introduced. Bobby rolled his eyes.

:::::Gotham City, Century Bank Rooftop:::::

A robust man screeches in terror as he hangs upside down by his ankles, 42 stories above the streets below. The man's name is Oswald Cobblepot but most call him the Penguin. For years, he was a super-villain, one of Batman's original "Big Four" with the Joker, the Riddler and Catwoman. It's amazing how times change, now the Cobblepot was considered a legitimate business owner in the eyes of the Gotham community, although Batman knew the truth and even Catwoman had turned superhero.

But tonight Batman believed that Cobblepot was in possession of a certain piece of information that Batman was in desperate need of. And Cobblepot acted as though keeping this info a secret was more important than living. Batman seemed to be in the mood to change his mind.

"I told you Bat-brain, I'm legit!" Cobblepot squawked, trying to sound brave.

"Don't give me your lies Penguin. I'm not in the mood." Batman said.

"You know what? You can go ahead drop me if you like. Then you'll have my blood on your hands! You'll then be no better than the man that you seek."

"If you insist" Batman said as he cut the cable that was tied to Penguins ankles.

Penguin screeched in horror as he plummeted towards sidewalk, arms and legs flailing in a desperate attempt to fly or slow his fall. When he was 10 stories from touchdown, Nightwing swooped in, swinging on his zip line and snatched Cobblepot out of the air in mid fall.

"Howdy there Heavy" Nightwing said with a smile as they made a long swinging arch brought them both safely back to the rooftop from which Cobblepot had just plummeted. Batman stood watching.

"You! You lunatic! I could have died!" Cobblepot screamed heading straight for Batman, until he saw Batman's fists clench, which made him instantly stop.

"You want the Joker, go find him. I don't know where he is and I don't give a damn! He's double crossed me one too many times. I hope when you do find him, that he's dead. The world would be a lot better off without the likes of him!" And you too. Penguin thought.

Without so much as a word, Batman pulled out his bat-grapple and fired to one of the taller buildings and swung off the roof top, not looking back.

"That's it?" Cobblepot was exasperated.

"You're lucky that's it. Have a great night" Nightwing said.

"How do I get down?" Cobblepot yelled.

"Not my problem!" Nightwing called back.

When Nightwing caught up with Batman a few rooftops away, he said, "Well that was disappointing."

"This entire situation is disappointing." Batman said.

"Look Bruce we'll catch the Joker. We just need to flush him out. That's all."

"The Joker has never stayed hidden this long. It's not his style." Batman said.

"Has Selina found anything?" Nightwing asked.

"Nothing. We all have nothing. I don't like it."

"None of us do." Nightwing agreed. After an awkward silence, he said, "Oracle said that Tim was trying to reach you. You gonna call him?"

Batman remained silent.

"Okay, well I guess it's been fun chatting with you," like usual, "I'll let you know if I find anything." Batman was still silent.

As Nightwing shot his bat-grapple to another rooftop, he asked, "Hey, how did you know that I was going to save Penguin?"

"I didn't." Batman answered.

Whoa! We better find the Joker quick. Nightwing thought while swinging away.

:::::The Grounds, Xavier's School for the gifted:::::

Tim felt a little awkward as he walked through the garden with Jubilee, Rogue and Bobby. He wasn't sure what to think. It seemed that Jubilee was a really sweet girl but he felt like this was turning into one of those moments where someone was trying to set him up. The problem being is that Tim still wasn't sure that he was completely over Stephanie. He had thought that Stephanie died and then she just showed up as Spoiler again and then just as quickly she disappeared again. Tim hadn't heard from her in months and had no clue where she was.

Rogue and Bobby held hands and even though it was unseasonably warm, Rogue still wore her thick black leather gloves. If Bobby walked too close to the flowers some of them would gather frost. Tim thought for all the problems that went along with being a mutant that it had to still be really cool to have these powers.

Professor Xavier came wheeling around the sidewalk. "Good evening students." He greeted them.

"Hi Professor." Eerily they all responded in unison.

"It is a truly beautiful evening for a walk." Professor Xavier said.

"That it is sir." Bobby replied.

"Tim, are you enjoying your stay with us?" Xavier asked.

"Yes sir." After Tim said it he instantly felt guilty for lying, especially know that Xavier could read his thoughts.

"I understand that you did rather well against Professor Logan. Even he was impressed by you and trust me Tim, Logan is not an easy person to impress." Xavier said with a smile.

"Thank you sir." Tim said as he blushed.

"Tim might I get your assistance please, I need some help getting back into the mansion?" Xavier asked.

"Um, sure. No problem. I'll catch up with y'all later." Tim said.

"Bye Tim," Jubilee responded.

Rogue stared back looking concerned as they walked away.

"Tim I would never lie to you. Or keep important information from you" is how Professor Xavier started the conversation, "but I think you should know that the Joker is no longer in Gotham City."

"But how do you know?" Tim asked.

"At the request of Batman, I was attempting to track his whereabouts using a machine that I created called Cerebro. Cerebro intensifies my psychic abilities. The problem is his brain and thought patterns a so erratic that I only could lock on to him for the briefest moment. He was in Upstate New York then, a little over 3 hours away. A short while later a report came out that there was a major explosion at a gas station killing one man and there was a survivor who positively identified the Joker, Harley Quinn and Bane."

It was a lost to take in all at once. Great now Bane is with them too! I need to go find them was Tim's first thought.

"I would not suggest that. I can't confirm this but I don't think that he knows where you are at. I assume that since Batman turned up the heat on him so hard in Gotham that he had to leave. I'm not sure where he is going but I intend to find out." Xavier said stopping outside the doors to the mansion. "Tim I ask that you please don't go looking for him. I know what it is that you want but I beg you to reconsider. I think there is a real place here for you, if you'll accept my help and guidance."

Tim was torn. He remained silent for a long time, contemplating. "Okay, I'll stay . . . for now." He promised.

Bloatman's Corner:

So Larry died. I was rather sad. Although I did like the part about the Joker firing a purple Bazooka! I really want to thank everyone for the reviews and the PMs. I think is super awesome that people seem to enjoy my story.

This is part 2 of issue # 2 – In part 3, I'm going to wrap up this issue with a surprise or two. It has went on way longer than I would've liked it to. I just had a lot of situations to pack in to one issue. Issue # 3 is really shaping up to be the most action packed issue yet! I can't wait to write and release that!

Until next time TRUE BELIEVERS,