YJ: Weight of Leadership
A/N: After the events of Failsafe the kids have things they need to communicate with each other. Starting with Robin and Kaldur. Spoiler for Failsafe!
"Robin." Kaldur's voice was full of surprise when he saw Robin waiting like usual on the pool side.
"Hey Kal." Robin smiled weakly at him. The older boy hopped out of the water and sat down on the edge next to Robin. The younger boy let his feet dangle back and forth in the water.
"Listen I'm sorry…"
"Sorry…"
They both spoke at once and then an awkward silence settled between them.
"I came to apologize." Robin was the one who broke the silence staring at his moving feet in the water.
"It is I who should be apologizing." Kaldur said full of remorse.
"When you died I didn't even grieve. I just took over." Robin murmured. "I said terrible things… but that's not the worst of it. This job we, I, stuck you with as leader I didn't know how horrible it was." As the boy continued he was clearly distressed even with the sunglasses obscuring his eyes Kaldur knew the boy was fighting back tears. "I can't believe all this time you bore this burden all by yourself. It is all my fault." Kaldur placed a hand around Robin's little shaking shoulders to steady the boy.
"Hey there is nothing you have to apologize for." Kaldur bit his lips. "It is I who needs to apologize. I left you in that situation to carry the burden. To have dropped it all on you at that moment and sacrifice myself I was taking the easy way out. I knew you would be able to handle it, lead when I couldn't. Make the real tough decisions. I let myself be sacrificed." Kaldur kissed Robin's forehead gently and pulled the boy into a hug. Kaldur was glad the boy's face was buried into his chest because he didn't want the younger boy to see the tears running down his face. "I am sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you from the truth. You are well equipped, more so than I am, you led spectacularly, much better than I ever did and may ever be able to. But you are so young. I believe you deserve the chance to be young. I never wished for you to bear this burden even if it means I have to bear it for you, yet when it matter the most I failed you my little brother."
"I am sorry too." Robin sobbed into Kaldur's chest clinging tighter onto the older boy for all the comfort he was willing to offer. It was nice to be comforted. Robin knew that with Kaldur he could act his age, he didn't have to be strong or brave, not when it was just them. Kaldur was willing to be that protective big brother.
The boys held each other comforting one another from the ordeal, letting their grief and relief pour out. Kaldur knows that one day Robin would be ready to take his job and Kaldur could only hope that he would have a partner like Batman has Superman to share the burden with.
"I don't think I can ever do it again Kal…" Robin admitted. "I don't know if I want to be the leader anymore."
"It's okay. I promise I will be stronger. I will bear this burden until you are ready." Kaldur said tighten his arms around the boy.
"What if I am never ready?" Robin whimpered guiltily. Kaldur smiled softly at the boy's childish tone and stroked the boy's hair gently.
"Then I will bare this for you forever."
