A/N: Er….hi. Sorry about that giant absence there. The operating system on my laptop crashed, and I actually ended up having to wipe everything and reload, so I lost a lot of my programs, and just about all of my favorites. Then my job got in the way, and then school started…job ended, and now I have to try and land job number two…

I'm still writing; or at least trying to when I can. And it's been pretty obvious that I can't work to a deadline. BUT. I will finish this….eventually. Slowly but surely. I will.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Young Justice.

Flame

"Can you tell us about how you got started, Robin?"

I abruptly fell silent as Wally laughed, shaking his head at M'gann's question.

"Are you kidding me? Bats won't even let him tell you his real name!"

The crackling fire reflected brightly off the sunglasses keeping my eyes hidden from the group as we sat around the flames. The sun had set hours ago, but still they remained, protecting my identity from even my teammates.

I frowned and closed my eyes; the martian's question had sparked memories that I didn't necessarily want to be remembering. Not here; not now. The scent of toasted marshmallow smelled awfully similar to fresh caramel popcorn...and if I listened close enough, the snapping fire sounded almost like the claps of a crowd. Images danced across the back of my eyelids, snippets of my memories forcing their way to the front of my mind as my head bowed. Vaguely, I was aware of the conversations continuing on without me.

The firelight burned through my eyelids, flashing like the spotlight as it bathed the five of us in light high above the crowds. The slight breeze coming off the ocean ruffled my hair, a reminder of the flipping, falling, flying sensations that came with our trapeze act.

A particularly loud crack from the logs had me tensing, my mind warping and twisting the sound into the snap of a wire.

Fear. Pain. Shock.

Silence.

Screaming.

The memories slowly faded against my eyelids, and I shook my head lightly to dispel the remaining thoughts as my eyes opened to stare at my lap. I was Robin now; I couldn't be living in Dick's memories. I had to keep it together, especially around the team.

Never let anyone see your weakness.

One of Batman's most important rules.

Your weakness can destroy you.

I'm a hero; one of Gotham's protectors. I can't afford to have a weakness. I have everything to prove, and I can handle this. I straightened my spine out, strengthening my mask and lifting my eyes back towards the flames.