Me: Sorry for the slow update I wasn't exactly sure how to end this so it took me awhile. I hope you enjoy the last chapter.
Superboy's eyes flutter open lazily, his head hurt and was swimming in fog. He looked around, he could see the familiar dresser, clothes that he had thrown on the floor still there, and a Superman poster that M'gann bought him that he hadn't had the heart to throw away. He was in his room, but wait that isn't right. He was still in that torture room holding Robin wasn't he? Superboy looked down at his arms that did not have a broken bird in them. His heart leapt of his chest, if he didn't have Robin, then who did? Images of what the Joker did to Robin flashed through his head. He leapt out of bed in a panic, flinging the door open, almost ripping it off of its hinges in the process.
The clone stopped abruptly, trying not to run over the person that was just outside his door. He had to do a double take as he looked down to see who it was. It was Robin.
"Where's the fire Supey?" Robin asked laughing at the fact that he was almost trampled.
Superboy didn't answer; he just stared at the little bird as if trying to decide whether he was real or not.
"Supey?" The boy wonder asked concerned for the clone, "C'mon let's show everyone you're up. They've been worried sick about you."
"Awake?" The clone asked confused.
"Yeah, on our last mission you just fainted and you wouldn't wake up. You've been out for almost a week." Robin stated, raising his eyebrow, his skeptical eyes hidden behind his sun glasses.
"But why are you up before me?" Superboy asked pointing a large finger at the boy.
"Cuz' all I had to do was carry you to where the group was. Now c'mon." The boy said pulling at the larger one's arm.
"You couldn't have possibly done that!" The clone exclaimed moving slowly along with the boy.
"Why not?" Robin asked still confused as ever.
"Because you were bleeding WAY too much to even keep breathing."Superboy stated planting his feet firmly on the ground.
The boy wonder stopped, his little hand seemed to tighten around the older one's arm, His eyes unreadable behind the dark glasses.
"I don't know what you're talking about." The boy finally said smiling like Superboy just told the funniest joke ever.
The clone allowed himself to be pulled into the living room. M'gann was busy making cookies, Kid Flash was trying to flirt with her. Artemis was restringing her bow on the couch, Aqualad sat next to her not seeming to do much of anything.
"Hey guys look who decided to wake up!" Robin sang cheerily.
"Conner! Thank heavens!" M'gann exclaimed joyfully floating over to give him a giant hug.
Superboy hugged back slightly, eyes still on the little bird beside him. Did everything that happened in the torture room, with the joker, was that all just a dream? Something the clone's subconscious whipped up as he slept?
"Took you long enough! Tell you what you sleep more than I do on a Saturday!" Kid Flash complained playfully punching Supe in the arm.
"Glad to see your awake my friend." Aqualad greeted with a smile, going in for a brohug.
Everyone stared at Artemis.
"Oh yeah, likewise I guess." She said nervously playing with the string on her bow.
Superboy stared into all his friends faces; they wouldn't lie to him would they? Maybe he had made the whole thing with Robin up, maybe it all was just a bad dream.
"Hey Rob look I think my bicep got bigger." KF laughed flexing his arm proudly.
"Nuh-uh! Come on let's compare." Robin teased, pulling up his sleeve to his baggy black jacket and flexing.
Superboy glanced over at these silly boys, stopping to stare at Robin's arm. He looked intently as there seemed to be a slight outline of letters that appeared to have been carved into his arm.
The little bird must have noticed the eyes of the clone on his arm because he pulled down his sleeve calmly, trying to act as if he wasn't hiding anything.
"What's wrong Superboy? You look confused." Aqualad inquired placing a hand on Superboy's arm.
"Yeah I think I just need to go outside for some air." Superboy said pinching the bridge of his nose.
The large boy walked out to where his motorcycle was, placing a hand on it. How could his friends lie to him like that? What he had seen on the little bird's arm was NOT an illusion! The thing with the Joker really happened! Why would they lie to him? And what of Robin? Was he really okay? There's no way he could have been all that blood and torture. Even if he was maybe okay physically what about mentally?
Superboy let out a long breath, placing his head in his hands. Suddenly a voice floated into his ears.
"Is it really okay to lie to him like this?"
It was Robin's voice.
"There's no other way. If he knew the truth about what happened with the Joker who knows what kind of mental scarring would he would have." Aqualad explained in a controlled voice.
"Superboy have mental scarring! SUPERBOY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Give me a freakin' break Robin's the one we should be lying too!" Kid flash yelled angerly.
"I agree with kid crash here. Sure Superboy saw it happen, but Robin's the one it actually happened to!" Artemis said a bit of malice in her voice.
"Guys I'm fine! I'm just saying maybe we should try out our luck and tell him. I mean even after he had just woken up he still asked me why I wasn't struggling to move." Robin explained trying to get the other two to settle down.
"For now let's just keep it a secret until the right time to tell him." Aqualad said, his voice sounding final.
"Okay. I trust you Aqualad so I'll do what you say, but don't blame me if he resents us for lying to him for all this time." Robin said a slight edge in his voice.
Light footsteps faded away, Superboy figured that Robin had left.
"I think we should keep an eye on Robin as well. Wally and Artemis have a point." M'gann said after a few moments of silence.
"That's a wise decision." Aqualad concluded, walking off himself.
"I'll go check on Conner." M'gann said excusing herself.
Superboy straightened up trying not to look like he just heard something he shouldn't have.
"How ya doing Conner?" M'gann asked her voice sweet.
"Good, but I think I'm gonna go see Robin." Superboy said, not even looking the Martian that had come to see him.
M'gann watched him leave with wondering eyes. Superboy made his way to the little bird's room, not sure what he's even doing going to see him. He didn't know what to say or what he's going to do, but before he knew it he was already outside the younger boy's room and was already knocking.
Robin opened the door slowly; he pushed his glasses fully over onto his face.
"Yes Supey?" Robin asked his eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Do you want me to turn on the T-"
Superboy pulled the little boy into a tight hug before he could finish.
"Supey…what are you-" The boy studdered.
"I'm sorry" Superboy said holding Robin tightly.
Robin froze, his breath slow and steady.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Superboy whispered into the younger one's ear.
Robin was silent for awhile, the suddenly burst into tears, burying his face into the clone's shirt.
"I'm sorry, for not telling the truth." The bird said in between sobs.
"It's okay it'll be our little secret." The clone answered rubbing Robin's shoulder.