The Bird and the Tarantula

Author's Note: Sorry for the big delay. Nonsense happened, including a summer cold just as I was about to edit this. Gah! Anyway, thanks to anyone who is still reading, truly! Thank you for the continuing support.

Sorry for any errors. I got most of them out (I had a lot on the first edit) so at least that's an improvement!

Warnings: Violence, including blood

-7-…Gone…-7-

Robin hadn't been entirely surprised to hear that Artemis had not heard a sound similar to the one he and Roy (and Superboy, technically) had heard a few nights earlier. Nor had he been surprised that she was almost up to speed with the events. While he credited her knowledge to Green Arrow, Robin suspected she was the type to dig up information without the help of any instructor.

During the gathering, Wally hadn't put any effort into concealing his displeasure. His wariness had started the moment he laid eyes on Artemis and Robin could see the same vehemence today in Wally's eyes while Artemis had spoken.

Even though she had excused herself to wash up, Wally still glowered, but at the ground. Robin smirked as he turned in the seat he had occupied during the group talk, facing Wally directly. "Upset I had to throw you off the bed? You're a heavy sleeper, sorry."

Wally looked up at the comment, smiling faintly at the memory. Robin had woken first, mostly because of Wally's leg pressing uncomfortably against his side. In retaliation, Robin nudged the redhead off the bed to wake him and before the speedster could collect his wits, they had received a message announcing Artemis' arrival.

"It just bugs me," Wally said, smile falling off.

"You mean 'she'," Kaldur said, offering the two a smile as he approached. He carried a tray in his hands, balancing mugs on them.

Wally huffed but grinned his thanks as he claimed the red mug. "You made these?" he asked, eyes sparkling when he saw whipped cream topping the drink.

"I may be newer to the surface world but I know a few tricks." Kaldur moved the tray toward Robin, who took note of the dark skin. Any injuries he had seen on the boy looked gone.

"Thanks, man," Robin said and plucked a light blue mug, "It smells good."

Kaldur put the tray on the low table and sat beside Robin, taking the last cup for himself. "You can tell me if it's good enough to share with the girls," he said, looking at the hallway.

Megan had flown after Artemis but why exactly, Robin couldn't pinpoint. "What about Superboy?"

"I have one." The clone walked around the couch and indeed held his own, white mug. "I learned…a little about how to make it."

"You'll be a pro in no time," KF laughed, winking as he took a sip.

"So," Robin started, peering at his teammates through his mask.

"So, indeed." Kaldur sighed but sported his soft smile still. "I think we have to trust each other if we're going to have any chance against these people."

The comment stabbed Wally the hardest. He grumbled and wiped off his cream mustache.

"When will they attack again," Superboy half-growled.

"It won't just be an attack," Kaldur reminded, pushing his words on Robin more than anyone.

They didn't have to say it aloud. Robin tapped the warm sides of his mugs, slightly miffed at having such attention on him. He was use to being in the spotlight since his earliest years but those instances were when he had performed stunning feats. This was different; he was under still under the spotlight but rather than wait for his dazzling stunts, they watched his awkward failures and waited for the next blow to come at him.

They could get killed over this, Robin thought. He stared deeper at his now cream-less drink, which trembled each time he tapped the mug.

"They're a bunch of wannabes. That means they'll never win," Wally proclaimed, putting on a cheerful face.

Robin glanced at him with a smug smile. "Of course," he said. Behind his mask, his eyes didn't convey the same confidence.

"But they know where we are. We don't know their location," Superboy said in a low tone.

"No, but we know their technology—well, stolen technology—may confirm some of our suspicions," Kaldur added, "Artemis was not able to hear it. That must mean it specifically targets male humans. That could explain why the rest of us couldn't hear it. Well, save for Superboy. I wonder why he managed to hear it only when he got close to it."

"Maybe he wasn't supposed to. Malfunction?" Robin shrugged.

Wally stole an inquisitive glance at Robin. He couldn't detect any unusual gestures yet something nagged at the back of his mind. "If their technology is as specific as we think, maybe that's what it really is. After all, if you want an army of Robins, you can't have any chicks around I'd think."

"Mind control," Superboy hissed, "Does that mean all of them are being controlled against their will?"

They grew silent though Robin suspected he knew the answer. He waited a moment, thinking over his options. He knew the attack would be soon. Even with Artemis and Roy at their aide, they couldn't guarantee victory—how many goons did they have to fight altogether? It would be too foolish even by hero standards to engage with something still too unpredictable.

He slowed down his thinking process and prepared to offer a piece of himself to his team. He never got around to saying it though—his phone chimed. He felt three pairs of eyes on him while he fished it out.

"Him," Wally said, without having to read the letters flashing on the screen.

"Sorry," he said to the others. He stood up and walked away as he answered the phone. "Hey." His voice nearly softened, almost giving away his delight.

"You're awake." In Batman's lingo, Robin took it as the detective's way of expressing relief (even if Batman would never admit to it).

"Feeling pretty chipper too," Robin said, smiling into the phone.

"Chipper?"

"We both can't be so dark, gloomy, myst-"

"I get it."

Robin stifled a chuckle. "You got really busy. Did you find anything out?"

"Jarvis' technology is capable of singling out males from brain activity alone, but it isn't foolproof just yet," Batman said, his voice dropping a tone. It was subtle, but Robin took the smallest moment to savor it since he learned the distinction between Batman's 'down-to-business' tone and the one that was rarely used and reserved for Robin alone.

"It makes sense. Artemis came and she said she didn't heard-"

"I know."

Robin nodded and rolled his eyes. "Green Arrow?"

"We spoke briefly before they arrived back."

"Figures."

"Do you trust her?"

Robin halted in his tracks, glancing in the direction of the hallway that would lead him to Artemis' room. He pushed forward, entering the safety of his own room before he answered, "She's my teammate. I'm going to trust her."

Batman's silence, however often Robin had been victim to it, still had the capability of upsetting Robin's stomach. The boy exhaled, "Batman, I-"

"I know."

"Will you stop saying you know? I know you know. I know you get everything but that doesn't mean I'm satisfied." Robin pressed his lips together, feeling his chest balloon with his deeper, frustrated breaths.

Batman stayed silent but the ominous aura that had been seeping through the phone vanished. "Dick," Batman started, slower, "I know you're not like me in many ways."

"That doesn't mean I'll stop trusting you," Robin mouthed the man's name silently after the comment.

"You trust your teammates."

"…I do. All of them."

"…"

"Batman?"

"I trust you," was all Batman said.

Robin deflated against the wall and felt his lips pull up a smile again. Batman, Bruce, trusted him to make the decision. Batman trusted him to look after himself should the trust in his teammates be misplaced. The man who wielded kryptonite secretly in the presence of one of the greatest heroes on the planet had faith, however little, in a young boy.

I can only hope he trusts in what I'll do next. Robin shut his eyes, welcoming the darkness. He collected his thoughts and emotions more easily in that state, and he did his best to repress any that would betray his words. Even so, gathering his thoughts reminded Robin of how his body craved just a bit more rest. His head could use a few extra hours on a pillow and a warm bath could soothe some tension in his muscles.

"I trust you too," Robin said. "No one's taking me by force anytime soon."

"I'll be there soon. The League is still busy. Green Arrow was called away the moment he had returned."

Robin, eyes still closed, took in the realization. "We can handle it on our own. We're not just kids."

"No, but you're all still young. Only you have the most experience."

"Hey, I said I trusted my team. Alone, maybe they were still, you know, prone to messing up but we're something incredible when we're together."

"You made a point of getting that message across."

Robin half-grinned at the image of Batman's glower at them the night they rescued Superboy. "Yeah, well, we did rescue Superman's son all on our own."

"Only after disobeying orders."

"You trust me, don't you?"

"Put that energy of yours into recovering."

"Yes, sir," Robin mocked. He didn't have to pry to know that Batman knew the Boy Wonder's body was shy of being back to normal.

Robin opened his eyes as the conversation ended. He slid to the ground as the weight of his next move settled on his shoulders. He clenched the phone in one hand and pressed it to his forehead.

After the call, Robin lingered in the privacy of his room to contemplate over his plan. When time had stretched too long, he returned to three sets of curious (some less subtle than others) faces. Robin looked at his drink on the table and saw no whiffs of steam coming out of it. Had he been in his room that long?

"Black Canary wants us all to meet up," Kaldur said. He stood and gestured toward the hallway leading to the training room. "We're waiting for you."

Wally made a sound, like a short sigh, and looked away. By the time Robin had understood the gesture to be one of disappointment, the redhead had snatched up the cups, save for Robin's, and dashed into the kitchen.

Prioritizing the meeting, Robin started walking after Kaldur. A few steps into the hallway, Superboy glanced at him.

"What?" Robin met his gaze. In answer, Superboy only stared harder and then faced forward again.

It felt as if Robin were repressing too many urges today. He wanted to sigh himself. He was a performer, he could brush off the looks but the fact that it came heavily from his teammates somehow complicated everything.

He felt a rush of air as Wally beat them to the training area. Artemis and Megan were already there, looking at the boys as they entered—Artemis shooting Wally a sharp look when the speedster made what Robin guessed to be an equally glowering look.

"About time," Black Canary announced. She took center stage, her hands on her hips. Robin always admired how her strong poses were graced with hint of limberness. Paired with a commanding expression made her that much more imposing when she chose to be so.

Robin apologized with a shrug of his shoulder when her eyes picked him out of the group.

Behind their trainer, Red Tornado stood. "Your last mission brought about new data. There are many of them. There are surely much more than the ones you encountered."

"And the next time we'll meet, we can safely assume they'll try to take Robin," Kaldur said, holding Black Canary's eyes.

Wally crossed his arms and gestured with his chin. "If they try to attack here, it's risking the civilians nearby. We don't know if they're low enough to take the fight there."

"But we can't just move and wait for them to attack in the some deserted place," Artemis said, voice dipped with irritation. "What if they decide to move while some of us are back home? Only Megan, Superboy, and Robin are staying here."

Through a frown, Wally retorted, "I'm just pointing out that there are a lot of innocent people out there and some of us want to avoid them getting caught in the middle of all this."

"We can agree that we're in an uncomfortable situation," Kaldur mediated, handing them both an admonishing face. "We still don't know enough about them."

Superboy snorted loudly. "Why don't you just have her read their mind?" he tilted his head up and looked at Megan.

The Martian blinked and hesitated. "I…tried though. They're really focused though."

"But you were in combat at the time," Artemis pointed out, dropping her glare as she, too, put her attention on the Martian. "What if you just had one to yourself?"

Megan glanced up, pulling for answers. "Well…"

"That's it," Robin exclaimed, "We only need one of them."

Wally's eyebrows shot up. "You mean, just snatch one up and try reading his mind back here?"

"Why not?" Robin said, grinning. "If what Roy said is true, they're running around the city before and after they plan any direct hits on us."

Black Canary met Red Tornado's invisible gaze. Robin knew they were silently communicating. He didn't want anything to risk his intentions. "Come on," he urged his teammates, "One squad will go out and try to find one."

"What if we can't find one?" asked Megan.

"We should have a back-up plan." Kaldur nodded at Robin. "That may be one way but we have to decide how we'll proceed if that doesn't work. We have to assume they'll do something to lure us out. I doubt they'll attack us directly, where we have the home advantage."

"What will your plan be then?" inquired Red Tornado.

The room fell subject to a heavy silence. Robin knew what he would do, regardless of the decision, but he hoped for a plan that could benefit his team in the long run.

"Approach it from another angle," Black Canary suggested, "Don't think in terms of how you'll react."

Robin tapped his chin. "How would they act, huh…"

"If I were them, I'd single us all apart. It would not only weaken us, one by one, but leave Robin open should they try to take him," Kaldur said to his team. He was rewarded with nods and a smile from Megan.

"We have to stick together no matter what," she said, "We have to keep the mental channel open at all times."

Superboy grimaced at the thought but conceded. "If it means we get to hit them big as a group…"

They decided. The plan unraveled around Kaldur's statement. The group wouldn't center around Robin. They would all maintain a position, back to back, that would keep their nucleus tight, but loose enough to give each member corner-eye views of the other teammates. The formation became the foundation for further developing a strategy.

The group designated to hunt down an enemy consisted of Wally, Superboy, and Kaldur. They would set off that night when they had the best opportunity to smoke one out. Artemis opted to train with Black Canary to hone her knowledge on the enemy's fighting tactics. Megan had the opportunity to sharpen her skills through meditation, especially should the squad succeed.

Before they left, they fastened a tracking device on Robin, despite his protest. It was less a matter of wanting his teammates to know where he was and more of his dislike of being tracked down so easily. He endured Batman's snooping. He didn't want to extend the habit to his team. But, given the circumstances, he reluctantly placed it behind his ear, under his hair.

Before the squad left, Robin bumped his fist with KF's and offered him his most confident grin. Whatever concern or frustration the redhead had been harboring fell off his face for a moment as he chuckled and returned the smug look.

"Go get 'em," Robin said, scrapping all traces of his own uneasiness for the moment.

KF winked and saluted him. "Piece of cake. Don't do anything stupid or I'll punch you."

Robin watched the blur fade away and suddenly, he felt heavy. He was glad no one was there to intercept him as he went back to his room. He exhaled when he saw the semi-sanctuary and went inside, thinking deeply over his plan. His intent had been to prepare his team for what he thought was the best option: turning himself in. The words had never come out but they were the tip of his tongue. Now, he even considered sneaking out to execute it on his own and spare his teammates from what was going to be a draining fight.

Useless fight, Robin thought. As much as he didn't like the prospect of losing, his team would most likely be worn down before they could make a significant dent on the enemy, simply because he knew there had to be many more subordinates ready to replace fallen ones. It was a tactic used in history's oldest armies, a tactic Robin found dangerous.

He didn't have time to wait for Megan's mind reading. It probably wouldn't work either, he suspected. He was being a hypocrite. Abandoning his team to pursue his own plan was testament that he couldn't trust them.

Wasn't it? Robin frowned as he sat on the bed and pulled up his laptop. Neither the screen on his phone or laptop showed messages from either Alfred or Bruce. With the quick distraction over, he immediately fell back into his ranting. He trusted his team and his reason to leave them was because he trusted them to do the smart thing once he was gone. So, in that justification, he did trust them…?

"Gah," Robin cursed at the screen and rubbed at his hair. It didn't alleviate his tangling thoughts. "Focus."

He growled again and punched the mattress. It absorbed the blow, leaving him more frustrated. He unclenched his hands and shuts his eyes tightly. Meditating, he figured he could try. He relaxed the muscles around his face first and then exhaled out what he hoped to be his rambling thoughts.

Then, it came. His eyes shot open as a shrill broke his concentration. Instinct told him to grab his head to stop it from falling off. He gasped, shaking his head wildly when the sound bounced inside his head, discombobulating him. He lost a hold on his vision and had to close his eyes tightly to take the edge off some of the pain.

The cacophony that pressed against his head sounded like a bad mix of voices and unidentifiable sounds. He thought he saw the lines of images appearing behind his eyelids but they would flicker and vanish before his baffled mind could do anything with the details.

It stopped.

As sudden as the chaos started, it dropped out and left his mind quiet and exhausted. Robin's fingers had been pressing too hard into his temples and now he could feel them aggravating his skin. Cautious, he opened his eyes, hearing his breathing coming irregularly.

He looked around, as if expecting the source of the trouble to surprise him. Nothing came from it though. In the moment of his emotions seeping back into him, Robin made his decision.

He suited up.

-7-7-7-

He had to move fast. Robin grazed the skies and landed on a building's flat rooftop, moving into the shadows. Whatever it was that baited him out was pulling him in the opposite direction where KF and the others had headed. From what he knew about the tracking device, his location could only be accessed if someone actively looked it up on the monitor. He had an unsettling feeling that someone would look him up any moment though. If they did, they would see he was in fact not at HQ. He figured he still had some time on his side. There was enough to keep them occupied while he investigated. Hopefully.

Robin took a running start and flipped onto the next rooftop, crouching in a shadow again as he surveyed the area. The city was relatively quiet, its breath coming in the few cars still rolling around at the late hour and occasional laughter of delinquents loitering corners. Moments earlier, he was sure he heard a noise though; it wasn't the same mental shrill he had heard earlier.

Taking a deep inhale, Robin shut his eyes and listened. Nothing. He straightened and maneuvered through the darkness, hearing the noise pick up again.

Being followed, he thought. Whether friend or foe, neither really settled well with him. If friend, he would have to explain his late night adventure. It wasn't like he had left without informing anyone of his whereabouts though. He had sent Wally's phone, which remained back at HQ, a text, stating what he had done. Yet if it were a foe, he could have bigger problems.

He fiddled with a few batarangs as he continued pushing forward, intent on avoiding any housing areas. The less people, the better.

He finally felt comfortable back at the docks where no late night shifts were present. He stood still on a crate, debating where to aim. He spun and chucked the batarangs behind him, toward the right.

A form dashed out of the way as an arrow's release matched the subtle noise of the batarangs tearing up the air. The arrow hit one and crashed into another one, leaving the third to hit empty space. Robin's target stepped off a ledge and greeted him with a dismal, albeit familiar, face.

"I didn't think you'd be one to follow me," Robin smiled in some relief at Roy's presence.

"Either they would show up or you would. Either way works for me."

Robin tilted his head and studied the teen closer. Roy looked even bigger than last time, his form dominated with bumps of muscle. "You heard it too."

Roy looked past his shoulder and into the water. "Barely."

Robin nodded, deciding against prying into how much Roy had felt. His gut told him that Roy hadn't had as much as a painful experience, if any. Robin could still hear the faint hum tickling him, urging him to follow the trail it left for him. It was coming from the water.

"You still hear it," Roy said. He walked past Robin and scouted their location.

Robin smirked. "And you?"

"Sometimes. I'm sure others can hear it too, if they're not sleeping already." The archer jumped off his spot and stepped onto a wooden dock. It creaked loudly under his weight. "At least those with similar brain activity, if that's how they're targeting you."

Robin looked around for signs of life before he leapt down and hurried over, his own movements barely recognized by the old dock. He traced the outline of the ocean with his eyes, stopping midway. "There…"

They watched as the front of a boat rode out the waves. The moon was subject to clouds that night, only peeking over a cloudy mass now and again. Even without its light, Robin gradually made out the boat's white color against the dark sea. There was no mistaking the figures on it; good amount of them had their hoods tipped back, all showing off fresh faces.

"You scared?" Roy asked as his fingers reached for another arrow.

"Huh?"

His voice grew lower. "I don't care how much of a 'wonder' you are. You get scared just like everyone else," Roy said.

"Of course not," Robin replied, being sure to not seem hasty in his reply. He knew what fear was all too well. All kids got scared and he had extra doses of it the night the rope had been tampered with. When Bruce Wayne had admitted his identity as the Batman, Robin had felt the sharp, brief feeling of fear again. Even as he adorned the mask of Batman's prodigy and leapt off tall buildings, what most called 'fear' became adrenaline and motivation for Robin.

Now, he felt the course of adrenaline building up, making him ache to take action. But, did that mean he was afraid?

I think I am. The fear he had was muddled with more concern than anything else, he deduced. It wasn't concern over himself either. He knew life was nothing short of a dance, every person just waiting for Death to swoop them away. Yet, he still wondered over his teammates, especially Wally. If he took the time to think over it, then he would say he was worried for them.

But he didn't stop to think about it.

The hum grew more intense and then vanished as the boat neared them. Roy had his arrow poised but one of the boys on the boat waved in a submissive gesture.

"Don't shoot," he asked in a young voice.

Robin kept his hand on his utility belt, fingering a compartment. The boat was too close now, a decent vessel capable of holding a good amount of people. It was long too. Robin wasn't able to see who stood at the back just yet but he made out a strange sound under the breaking of the waves.

Groaning? Robin narrowed his eyes and stepped back as the tip of the boat finally met the dock. "I wish I was surprised to see you all," he called up to them.

The way the boys looked at him ruffled Robin's feathers. The skin around their eyes looked too hard around the edge; their eyes themselves shouldn't have looked as washed out as they were. Robin pitied them.

"Will you put your arrow down?" Again, the familiar, accented voice.

Robin kept counting as many as he could see, stopping when he saw Akim step closer to the edge. "Were you just waiting here all night?"

Akim turned his hidden face to Roy. "Your arrow."

"I'd rather shoot you in the chest than lower it," Roy said. His pose didn't falter a bit.

"There are people on board for you to meet. So, if you would lower it…."

"No."

Robin tried to look into the boat but it was higher than he had hoped. "Who?"

Akim stepped aside as two men were dragged to stand forward, both bound and gagged. One was a heavy-set man, his face marred by old scars and fresh cuts. Through hard scrutinizing, Robin picked up the man's file from his brain and labeled him as the mobster who underhandedly ran the casino that was recently bombed. The other figure, Robin couldn't name. He was much younger, maybe Roy's age, with a lean build and the clothing of what could be taken as a street punk.

"The hell is this?" Roy snorted at the two captives, keeping his arrow aimed at Akim.

"He's finally here in this state, ready to meet you, Robin." Akim nodded at the Boy Wonder. "He and this pig here," he gestured to the large captive," Had to hurry on over to make it."

Robin realized he meant their head of operations. "Really? Why isn't he here himself then? Scared?" he mocked, putting on an arrogant air.

"He was hungry and decided to have his dinner. Plans had to keep going as scheduled though," Akim explained.

Robin tilted his head at the excuse, unsure if he should take it seriously. "….What?"

"I'll relay his message," Akim interjected, pulling free a dagger, "Before you are two contaminations to this world. One, a mobster who sucks those dry for financial gain with a misplaced sense of honor and worthiness. The other, a gangbanger, a specimen of an epidemic plaguing this earth, relying on senseless violence."

"What are y-"

"Their kind are not welcomed," Akim stepped up behind the mobster, "We gave him a warning and he ignored it."

Roy's fingers twitched, his view of Akim broken up by the mobster's pudgy form. "Don't do it."

The grace in Akim's movements disturbed Robin. An arm wrapped around the mobster and pressed the blade to his folded neck. Robin saw the man's bloodshot eyes grow wide and his heavy breathing escalate into panicked, furious groaning.

As Akim had started moving, Robin dashed forward and leapt up. His arms caught hold of the boat's edge and he swung over, landing a kick to Akim's hand. The blade flew out and without delay, Robin tackled the mobster down as Roy released his arrow.

Robin saw Akim's legs stagger back from the impact of the blow. Around him, the shuffling and pounding of feet told him to keep moving. When Robin saw the first set of feet near him, he rolled onto his hands and kicked his feet up, smacking the first boy directly under the jaw. He won himself space and he used it to draw out his staff. He chased after Akim.

The masked man had torn out the arrow. From the lack of blood, Robin guessed he wore protection under his clothing. He was ready for Robin though when the Boy Wonder soared at him.

"You can't save them all," Akim said, tearing out his own staff to block Robin's blow. He shoved Robin back with brute strength and launched a set of daggers at him from one hand.

Robin deflected some and flipped out of the way for the others, hearing some of the boys get struck by those he dodged. He caught Roy already mounting the ship and shoving the captives out of the way. The boat's interior was more spacious than the outside suggested. There was something close to a swarm of lackeys around them.

"Stop," Akim ordered. The boys obeyed, stepping back from both Roy and Robin.

Robin straightened and faced Akim, still mindful of any suspicious movements. "Tell me what I want to know," he said to fill the silence.

A short span of more silence followed his question. Roy looked agitated, ready to spit insults. Akim spoke before the archer could get a word in. "You must have heard the sound if you came all the way here, yes?"

Robin didn't admit to it. He could practically feel the fascination pouring out from Akim's voice.

"Incredible. So such technology is capable of grand feats. I need to ask why you came alone, without the team." The way Akim said the words made Robin suspect the foreigner knew why.

The question put Robin's mind on hold. He had various answers piling up in his head. He trusted his team to beat this, trusted them to trust him in his decision making…

In the end, Robin couldn't find an answer that satisfied him. All he had were ones that tightened his stomach.

"I see," Akim said, "You'll come with me?"

"Robin," Roy warned.

Robin looked over at him and smiled. "This is where I get off," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"The hell you do," Roy snapped, readying two arrows and tearing his eyes from Robin.

Akim's hand signed to the boys and they were on Roy like maggots on a carcass. Robin swallowed, catching glimpses of Roy's furious face as he struggled through the mass that kept him from nearing Robin.

"Don't you dare!" He boomed. "Robin!"

Robin narrowed his eyes after he forced himself to break away from the sight. He approached Akim until he was only a foot away. He detected a pleasant scent filtering through the young man's robes, as if they had been recently washed. For a moment, it brought Robin a comforted feeling.

"You understand that at a certain point, I'll need to blindfold you."

"I understand." Robin didn't. But if it bought him time, he'd agree to it. He tagged along, wondering how far Akim intended to walk on the boat. Was there another boat waiting to pick them up at the end of this one?

Robin glanced to the side and saw the two captives propped against one another. Ahead, he could detect Akim's hand moving beneath the sleeve ever so faintly.

Something's not right. Robin closed off Roy's fury and kept watching Akim's arm.

"Robin." Akim's voice dropped a tone and he halted in his steps. "Do you think so little of us?"

Robin barely registered when Akim ducked. Directly in his path, Robin saw another man bearing a mask with the 'R' symbol on it. What he noticed even more was the weapon rushing out directly at him.

Robin jumped and landed on it before it struck, feeling the strength of the metal beneath his feet. He took seconds to admire how long it had ejected before he ran across it. He readied his staff. As he expected, the blade retracted back, forcing Robin to jump up or else have it interrupt him in mid-sprint.

His jump propelled him forward and he used the speed and weight of his arms to bring down the staff. The masked man bent back and used his free arm to absorb the impact. A sharp sound told Robin that armor was under it.

"Cheating a little, aren't you?" he chuckled at the R-masked figure; he was a good foot taller than Akim.

"Taking you compliantly is against orders." This one spoke with a different, thicker accent.

Robin smirked and leapt up again, avoiding Akim's attack from behind. He landed and rushed toward the mobster and gangster. "And why is that?"

"Your team must scream for you first," Akim said, tossing a sphere at Robin.

In response, Robin yanked up his cape, shielding himself from the explosion of light. He knew he had to escape from the vulnerable spot he had put himself in. He kept his cape up and used the shadows as a guideline. He saw the steady shadows of the two captives and hurried to them. He hissed when their shadows vanished but he couldn't lower the cape until the light had dimmed.

He squinted through what brightness remained and he could still hear Roy. In front, he didn't hear anything but a faint moan and he ultimately made out the mobster's large body leaning into the unknown, masked man's blade. The mobster's hair was held in a terrible grip; Robin thought he could hear each hair strand screaming. At his side, the bound gangster stared at the masked men with large eyes, making the bags under his eyes look twice as evident.

"Don't," Robin started, stepping forward.

"Would you pick one over the other?" Akim asked. His fingers wrapped around a whip that spilled out from his sleeve.

"Don't ask stupid questions," Robin said. He saw a trickle of blood run over the mobster's dirtied shirt. "Let them go."

"As you say." The other masked man released the mobster's hair and the blade tore into his neck.

"No!" Robin rushed forward, chucking his own spheres at them. The gangster's body arched in front of him, his gurgle lost in the gag. Akim jumped away from him and the teen's body slumped over like dead weight, the gray of his shirt disrupted by the red streaks oozing out of the wound.

A quick check confirmed their deaths and he scowled. His feet moved before his eyes tore away from them; he darted after Akim and the other masked man. They made their figures well known, jumping and flipping under the artificial lights.

"Stop!" Robin shouted at them, feeling his blood pumping. He utilized every skill he had to keep his sprinting smooth, making his feet only graze the ground.

"Come out wherever you are, Young Justice," the R-masked figure said, hurtling something into the air. Light tore through the sky, mimicking a firework as it stretched out before disintegrating into faint colors. He chucked something again, causing two more explosions to break the city silence again. Robin fixed his breathing as he leapt up, looking down as a group of delinquents stared up at the display in awe.

At this rate, the police will get involved.

"Hurry, hurry," Akim shouted in a voice so unbecoming of the one Robin had grown use to, "Or your buildings will fall next."

Akim's body twisted in midair and his whip tore out, nicking a row of windows on a corporate office. Glass crumbled and another boom followed it as another explosive lit up the skies.

Robin narrowed his eyes at the chaos, watching as Akim's whip snapped down and sliced into the building, creating a split at least ten feet deep. As the whip retracted, Robin flung four batarangs at him. As he expected, Akim spun and deflected most of them, allowing one to graze him.

"Come at me," he told Robin.

The Boy Wonder accepted, taking a swift glance around the area to ensure that the delinquents that had been ogling the spectacle had fled. In the distance, he could hear Roy getting closer. It wouldn't be long before the arrows skimmed through the sky, which meant the swarm of boys back on the boat would be nearby.

Robin jumped off the ledge and met Akim halfway, him with his staff and the foreigner with his whip. The sound of their weapons clashing drowned in another explosion, their forms illuminated by the light that now constantly stretched over their heads.

It didn't dissuade Robin. He used his frame to the advantage and swooped up as he braced his weapon against Akim's. His feet drove out and knocked the masked dead on, too fast for Akim to untangle himself and recoil away.

At the contact, Akim groaned and lashed out with his other arm. Robin swept away already, using the momentum to land on another building. "No match for the real thing, eh?" he teased, offering a view of his back. He wiggled in a mocking gesture.

"A worthy being to aspire to," Akim said back and Robin had difficulty hearing him from the sound of the boys drawing closer. Another firework went off.

"Let's see what you can do." Robin flashed a grin. Inside, his stomach almost turned. His plan was faltering, badly. But, he could improvise. If he couldn't infiltrate with his energy spared as he had hoped, he'd have to remind the copy-cats of who they dared to kidnap.

To his chagrin, Akim replied back, "No." He spun away and went after the other masked man, who had been occupied making enough noise to wake up everyone on Mars.

"Ch'." Robin took off after him instantly, cursing when he saw the spinning of police lights. "Great, just what I need."

He screeched to a halt though and leapt up before an arrow could strike his leg. He turned back and repressed the need to bash his head into something. What else could go wrong?

Roy's face was beyond dismal now. "You…!" The archer was seething, bounding for him with the swarm hot on his heels.

"Crap," Robin turned around again and bolted. If it was just Roy, he might have spared a few seconds to explain himself but with the rush of boys behind the archer, he had no need to stick around.

Ahead, Akim was addressing the nearing flock of lackeys. "Break this city apart until Young Justice arrives! Wake the dead if you must!"

At the order, Robin could hear the boys leap away, picking a desired spot to wreak havoc. "No! Hey!" He rushed to the side and leapt down, landing both hands on a boy's shoulder. As Robin vaulted off them, the pressure from doing so caused the unmasked boy to stumble and fall backward.

Robin landed a few feet away; he looked up. His eyes widened under his mask. From below, it was like watching a pack of gazelles fleeing over a canyon to escape a predator. Boys jumped over him, over buildings, their forms clear under the constant light of fireworks. Police sirens wailed and Akim's voice somehow still broke through all of it.

"Tear this city apart if you have to!"

A resounding cry of obedience followed.

"No way," Robin breathed. He stopped staring and gritted his teeth. His mind raced, formulating a plan. He kept moving as he did so, taking out one boy at a time, seeing Roy do the same from the corner of his eye. Akim and the masked man had taken a spot high above, watching them all from there.

"Show them how useless they are," Akim ordered next, aiming his finger at a patrol car.

Robin reacted and whipped out one of his favorite gadgets, aiming at two boys that stalked toward the police officers. It spun in the air and caught two boys by the ankles, intending to wrap around them tightly to cease their running. One boy, however, whipped around on instinct and cut the line before he could be trapped. When he did though, gas exploded and it had him down within seconds.

In the cloud of smoke, someone took it to their advantage and shot straight at Robin with a whip. The Boy Wonder gasped and realized within milliseconds that he couldn't completely avoid the blow.

"Robin!" A flash preceded the cry and Robin saw yellow crush into him, knocking him out of harm's way.

Robin groaned as he rolled on the ground, head snapping up to meet KF's brimming eyes. "KF…."

"Don't you dare…! You…! What are you doing out here?" KF shouted at him, yanking him roughly by the arm. He sprinted without Robin's consent around an alley.

The sudden movement turned Robin's world upside down. He stumbled and shook his head, unable to respond. "I…."

"You were…Roy said…"

Robin's chest tightened, knowing now KF had run into Roy just moments before finding Robin. "KF…It was the-"

"Don't! Don't you dare say that." KF invaded Robin's space, almost nose to nose as he glared directly into Robin's soul. "You didn't trust us!"

"KF-"

"How could you do this to us? To me?"

The stone on Robin's chest plummeted into his stomach. The expression on KF's face was foreign, one he never wanted to see again. But even before he could offer any signs of remorse, explanation, anything, the wall behind them erupted.

They both tensed and jerked out of the way, turning to see what had caused the destruction.

"Superboy!" Robin hurried forward, seeing the clone slowly rise again.

"Stupid…kids," Superboy growled, rubbing his head.

Robin peeked at the hole and gaped at the stretch of hole the clone had been thrown through. "The others?" he pressed.

KF's eyes stayed hard but hid the personalized glared—one that said he planned to punch Robin where it hurt most. "Around."

I found him, KF thought aloud then.

Robin! I'm so glad you're not hurt. Miss Martian. Is everyone connected?

Red Arrow, Aqualad started, I know you don't like this bu-

Your Boy Wonder almost got himself snatched up. Some team you all are. Roy's mental voice was just as brooding as his outspoken one.

Enough chit chat. We need to regroup and stay together. Artemis.

We're at the southwest building that Superboy just broke, KF explained, pitching one more dirty, hurt look at Robin before he hurried out of the alleyway.

Robin and Superboy followed suit and the moment his teammates emerged, Robin could feel their gaze weighing him down. He brushed it aside, his mind on alert and prepared to fight.

"Take them down and bring back the bird!" This time, the other masked man spoke, his own shout much deeper than Akim's.

"Robin," Miss Martian said again in relief, offering him a sad smile as she floated toward them, knocking away any boys that dared to interrupt the reunion.

"All here," Aqualad said, giving Robin only one enigmatic look before he turned his back to his team as they had planned.

"Ready to smash a few heads." Superboy occupied Robin's left side, his fingers curling and uncurling as they warmed up. He hadn't given Robin a disapproving look thus far but Robin detected something different in his voice. Robin could only guess the mission hadn't gone on long enough before they realized what Robin was up to.

"Sorry guys," Robin quickly offered, putting his back to his team as well. "There are at least twenty that I saw earlier." From his spot, he spotted Roy on a rooftop right above them, as if he were their lookout. The only other person with a strong aerial view was Miss Martian, who stayed afloat during their formation.

There are more police on their way. Artemis aimed her bow and shot two trick arrows.

I hear s-

Superboy's thinking broke and Robin blinked in wonder. His mind went blank, suddenly replaced with a familiar shrill. Training was the only thing that kept him from gasping at the sensation. The sound was stronger, dropping from a shrill to a strange combination of a hum and buzz. His head dropped and he had to shut his eyes to stop himself from collapsing.

A hand on his shoulder made him open one eye slowly. KF was staring at him and by the expression riddling his face, he suspected the speedster was trying to speak to him telepathically. When Robin dropped to one knee, he faintly heard KF shout, "Robin!"

Robin bit his tongue and forced himself to stand but the world tilted to one side. He used his staff to replenish some sense of balance but still he couldn't hear his team's mental voices.

Superboy looked at Robin, frowning. The noise, he reminded his teammates. It must be close. He himself heard a faint buzz but from the disorder around them, he hadn't been able to determine it was probably the same sound that debilitated Robin.

Above them, they heard Roy growl and he let out a yell as he took down three more boys. His hand pressed to his head and he looked at the team quickly. "The damn racket!"

"Distractions will get you killed." Akim's voice went almost unnoticed by Robin, who solidified all his training into not falling to both knees.

Robin tried to think, tried to focus but the sound chipped away at his concentration until he finally had to hunch forward.

"Robin, what's-Ah…!" Miss Martian was stolen from the group first. Two whips took her limbs and hoisted her away, offering her as dinner to a group of waiting boys. In moments, Artemis and Aqualad were next, but they were quick to recover.

"KF, take them down!" Aqualad ordered, shouting louder than he ever had as the boys came at him from all sides. "Artemis! Above you! Superboy, wa-"

KF reluctantly gripped Robin's shoulder in a short farewell before he sped off to assist in recollecting his team. Robin grunted as he chucked smoked bombs at the boys that tried to approach him, his vision blurry beyond reason but his spirit kept burning. Superboy stayed at his side, taking Aqualad's mental order to not leave the smaller boy's side.

"Back off," the clone snapped at a nearby group, hoisting up a beaten car with his bare hands. He chucked it at them and then pitched a motorcycle to a group far ahead that was engaging the police.

Robin heard the madness develop around him. His mind was screaming nonsense and from the noise Roy made (if it was Roy), the archer was victim to some of its pain as well. He could hear his teammates around him being picked apart like petals from a flower but when he would turn to look at one of them, he was bombarded by more boys or more noise into his head. It wasn't just the noise but its toll on his body. It made his limbs feel like lead and his spine wanted to stay bent forward in exhaustion.

"You …!" Robin hissed, choking on his own gasp when he was slammed into a wall. He thought he saw Superboy's body rush in front of him to protect him from another blow. "Ak-Akim…"

He couldn't speak but he had wanted to demand an explanation. Why resort to a cheap trick to make him less than his full potential? If he could think, he would have made a note about the boys. They were certainly not affected by the noise, suggesting they had taken preventative steps. What those steps were, Robin couldn't dare think of in his current state.

"Robin, snap out of it!" Superboy was in his face now, his eyes ready to shoot heat vision if they could.

Robin panted and charged forward with the clone, tackling straight into another group of boys. Were more of them here than before? Where was KF? He couldn't remember seeing flashes of yellow lately. He mostly saw dark washes from the coats the boys wore or the darkness of the city's cracked ground. He couldn't look up without extra discomfort, the few explosions that still broke the sky released too many bright lights.

He blinked some blurry lines out of the way and saw a new swarm charge at him.

-7-7-7-

He wanted to think, wanted to find a way up to Akim. Robin shot out batarangs again, unaware of how miscalculated the throw was. He couldn't recognize how long they had been out there. Minutes could have been hours for all he knew. He couldn't even think how the city's police force was fairing against the plague of boys. He couldn't even detect much of his teammates' situations. Sometimes he thought they were right in front of him, forming a plan, and other times they seemed to have vanished completely.

In truth, he couldn't see how hard his team struggled to maintain position. He would have been proud to see them in action had he had the mindset to take it all in. As outnumbered as they were and as underhanded as Akim's tact was, they resisted and took on the offensive more than twice. When Robin would unwillingly break away from them, they had to quickly devise a plan to pull him back. Roy himself had helped, but whatever sound broke down Robin's mind was affecting the archer as well. He wasn't nearly as deterred by it but his aim felt off and his reaction time was seconds off.

But Robin had to put all his effort into not being taken down. He couldn't see how well his team was fighting.

What he did recognize was at some point, Akim was in front of him again, at his level on the street.

"Your resistance is amazing," Akim said to him. Robin realized the only way he could detect the words so clearly was because the sound in his head was slowly dying. "You're moving so much despite the high level it's at. And your team is performing much more beautifully tonight."

Robin could hear himself pant now and he winced almost when the swarm of his team's thoughts rushed at him at once. He didn't have the luxury to make any out though as something snatched him around the waist and arms.

"Hey…!" Robin wiggled instantly, trying to make out the dark mass on him. A glance down revealed a sticky substance that continued to expand. It was warm. "What is this?"

Something—Robin wasn't sure if it was the trap—began hoisting him up off the ground. At first he thought it a product of his recovering mind but when he saw KF below him and felt the weightlessness of flight, Robin reacted. He grunted as he struggled harder, managing to jerk out one free arm.

"Robin!" KF jumped and caught his hand, gripping it fiercely.

The tension throughout his body made Robin grit his teeth. He felt his body halt in midair and he did his part to hold KF's hand just as tightly. His energy went into pulling himself closer but he could see boys rushing to untangle them.

"KF…!" Robin tried to warn.

Before they hit, Superboy smashed into the ground, covering KF's back. A surge of hope reached into Robin's hand and he held on even tighter, meeting the same determination in KF's eyes. And as much progress as he felt they were making, another force snatched Robin and their grip broke.

"No!" KF's cry was broken into a gasp as he was struck from the side harshly. Still, he held onto Robin's fingers, grimacing as he looked up. Guys…!

Robin could feel color leaving his face as realization came first. Their fingers severed as the mental cry broke out and Robin was propelled back, losing his breath. Something soft buried his voice; it took him a few rushed thoughts to realize it was like a cloth, wrapping him up from all angles now. His arms were first to press into his body, his fingers unable to reach for anything. His kicking ceased, replaced by violent wigging.

His stomach took the brunt of his weight as he was carried. He tried to call out telepathically but the still-present white noise kept drowning what faint thoughts his mind could collect. His voice rendered useless, Robin fell victim to the harsh sounds of his own labored breathing. He could only listen to the sounds of his teammates as hearing fully returned to him.

Wally bellowed his name somewhere far in the distance.

-7-7-7-

He was elated.

He sat in a chair with a high back beside a large bed. He took advantage of the silence to admire the boy's build beneath the blanket. He was lean, seemingly chiseled by a brilliant artist. The striking set of bright eyes he had seen beneath the mask was a plus. Such a recessive gene paired with dark hair wasn't very common. If luck existed, then he was a lucky man right now.

He wondered about Robin's reaction when he would awaken to a blue-eyed, blonde man. Nothing particularly special to look at. Maybe Robin could detect pieces of his personality by studying his eyes though and see something striking. Maybe Robin would amaze the blonde man by making correct observations about him from the way the man sat with his back straight, legs crossed, or how he would shake hands with his palm down instead of up.

The images of Robin's first responses would be worth the wait, the blonde man decided. He smiled with his eyes and continued to watch the boy sleep. Were he another person, he may have considered the creature on his bed a gift, a rare jewel others wanted for themselves, dead or alive.

But Robin was not his. Belonging to anyone ruined the ideal of what Robin was. He never thought of possessing Robin as a prize or a pet. Those were the ideals of those he fought against. What Robin was in his eyes, he couldn't ever say. Labeling the boy would only spoil everything, tarnish what it meant to be The Boy Wonder.

All that mattered was that the boy in bed was, indeed, Robin and that the blonde man would soon have the pleasure of his company.

-7-…TBC…-7-

Long chapter is long! I wasn't happy with it being short with not much going on so…there you have it. I did my best to keep it all IC but this is where it can get weird in terms of deciding how a character behaves. I'm sure there could have been other ways they could have reacted but this is what I decided on after writing this chapter multiple times.

Thanks if you're still reading this! A bigger thanks because this story does have OCs and I know people are wary of them, including myself. But, given the situation I wanted to put Robin in, they were the most appropriate. The story isn't about them anyway. It's about the Fantastic Dick Grayson!

And as a random side note on the last scene, shaking hands with your palm up can be seen as a sign of humility, which could be considered a weakness to some people.

Another note: In case you haven't noticed/I haven't mentioned, if you are wondering how the updates are going, you can check my profile here on . I have a bold written section on how an update is going or if there's a delay, etc.

Hope you liked. Thanks for reading!