Here's the next chapter! The plot will start speeding up after their first mission, and this is the chapter when they are assigned said first mission. Thanks for reading and supporting my story. Without further ado, here is the next chapter for Five Years Changed.


A Mission Assignment

Wally West strutted into the cave with a loud, obnoxious yawn. After he finally arrived home, Dick immediately called him, and they spoke for what felt like hours. All of Dick's fears and anxieties came to light, and Wally almost felt overwhelmed just hearing about them. He couldn't imagine actually living with those worries like Dick was. Interacting with the future Robin was strange, and it made him wonder how he ended up in that future. After all, he wasn't on the Teen Titans, and that fact alone concerned him. Why wasn't he on the Teen Titans when he was Dick's best friend? Wouldn't the hero have asked him to join the team?

What if he did and Wally said no? What if Wally changed like Dick did? What if Wally and Dick were no longer friends?

As he continued walking, he paused when he saw Robin sitting on the floor again. His research papers were spread out before him, and there was a cup of coffee next to him. Wally had known of Dick's distaste for coffee, so he shared Bruce's concern when he saw Robin constantly drinking it. What if he became like that girl from Saved By the Bell? The one who became addicted to caffeine pills?

Robin shuffled slightly, and Wally froze. He really did not want to deal with Robin's issues, so he started tip toing past the older boy. With Dick, he was always willing to sit down and talk to the smaller boy, but Robin felt like an entirely different person; therefore, he didn't want to make the same sacrifices he would have made for his best friend because, frankly, Robin isn't anything like Dick.

He nearly made it to the kitchen when Robin spoke up, "You know, you were never that great at being quiet."

Wally let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, and his body slumped in defeat only to tense up moments later. "Were? Not am?"

"Don't worry, you're not dead," Robin reassured.

"Okay," Wally nodded, relieved. "What happens to me in… your time?"

Robin shrugged, "You don't really change much. You're fighting crime, and you have your secret life. You went to college, and you got a girlfriend, who you think you might marry. You're happy."

That sounded way too perfect.

"Are you sure?" Wally questioned, walking over and sitting on the couch. Since Robin was on the floor, he had to look down at the older leader. "Nothing terrible happens?"

"Terrible things happen all the time, Wally. I can't promise you that you won't go through some tough times, but you're not miserable." Robin clarified. "You're really happy."

Wally bit his lip and blurted out, "Why am I not on your team?"

Robin bit the inside of his cheek before sighing, "Because I didn't want to put you in that position."

"What do you mean?"

"It's pretty obvious that things with Batman and I didn't end on a positive note," he admitted, clenching his fists at the mention of his old mentor. "He's not my dad though, so it was okay. You, though… Flash is your uncle. I didn't want to put you in a position where you had to pick between me and your family, so I didn't."

Wally's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean Batman isn't your dad? I know he's not biologically related to you, but… damn Dick, he's like your dad! You said he was the closest thing you had to a father."

Robin sighed, "That was before."

"Before what?"

Robin's mouth twitched in a slight frown, and he became silent after that. Wally's eyes softened, and he leaned back on the couch. Clearly Robin didn't trust him with that information, and to Wally, that revealed something critical about their relationship. In the future, Robin and Wally did not tell each other everything. Heck, Robin didn't even think to inform him that he was quitting and forming a new team. While Wally desperately wanted to believe Robin's explanation on why he didn't tell him he was forming a new team, he knew the real reason.

Wally and Dick were not close in the future.

That upset him more than he'd like to admit. "So…" he tried to change the subject, not wanting to think about how he will lose his best friend in less than five years. "Why didn't you just become leader of this team? Instead of forming your own?"

Robin frowned. "It's complicated."

"Come on, dude, it can't be that complicated," Wally faked an encouraging smile. "Just tell me the abridged version!"

"Ok. I was frustrated with the utter lack of independence under the Justice League, so I formed my own team," he stated.

"See that wasn't that complicated," Wally snickered before blinking. "Wait, what do you mean you didn't have any independence? Out of all of us, you had the most independence! Batman even lets you go on patrols on your own! If any of us asked our mentors to go on patrols by ourselves, they'd probably laugh at us."

Robin shrugged, "Your definition of freedom changes as you get older."

"Dude, you're only like two years older than me!"

"Am I? Huh, I thought you were younger."

"Dude!"

"Then again, it could just be your personality."

"Are you calling me immature?"

"Yeah, I am. Took you that long to catch on?"

"Rob!"

"Yes?"

Both boys whirled around to see Rob standing there with a smirk and Batman behind him. Wally gasped, "Rob!"

Rob raised an eyebrow, his eyes glancing from Robin and Wally. "What's going on here?"

"He's just being his annoying self, as usual," Robin smirked, and Wally gaped at him.

"I was not!" Wally sputtered.

Robin laughed, and Wally continued to defend himself on why he wasn't annoying. Rob watched with a small smile while Batman's eyes fell on the papers surrounding Robin.

Sighing, he instead focused on the three teenagers, who were still talking amongst themselves. "There will be a meeting at noon," Batman suddenly announced. "I expect the team to be there."

The three boys became silent, and Rob nodded, "I'll let the team know."

Batman jerked his head in what appeared to be a nod before he walked out of the room. Rob immediately sat next to Wally on the couch, and the two of them began to joke around, not taking any notice to the boy sitting on the floor.

While the two boys were goofing around, Robin's mind wandered to the so-called "meeting" Batman had planned for the team. Clearly it was a mission assignment, and Batman was just trying to subtly exclude him and his team. While part of him wanted to stay in the cave and continue researching Slade, he also knew that the mission presented a possible opportunity to discover more about Slade's plan. It all depended on what the mission would entail. It could be a waste of time or a potential breakthrough.

He knew what he had to do.


At noon, the team of young heroes stood around as Batman walked into the room. Artemis fidgeted slightly. They were being assigned a mission, and she was hoping it wouldn't be one of the longer ones. Before Batman could speak, the Teen Titans strutted into the room. Robin was, of course, walking in front of anyone. Batman narrowed his eyes, and Artemis gulped as Robin ceased all movement. The two teams were standing together, waiting for the details on what the mission would be. Judging by Batman's expression, the second team was not invited.

"This meeting is exclusive to Aqualad's team," Batman spoke, his voice brimming with anger. Artemis shivered, wondering how on earth anyone could stand having that tone directed at them. It was no secret that Batman was the scariest member of the Justice League, and no one wanted to end up on his bad side.

Well, apparently not Robin.

Robin's expression was blank. "Drop the pretense. This is a mission assignment."

"A mission assignment for Aqualad's team only." Batman responded.

"I don't see why my team can't help. We'll even wear our civvies to avoid confusion," Robin crossed his arms. Artemis gaped at him. Who talked to Batman like that?

"I said no."

Tension rolled off of Robin's shoulders, and his blank stare morphed into what almost appeared to be hatred. No, not hatred, Artemis corrected herself. Anger. And lots of it too. While she wasn't exactly a detective, even she could tell Batman telling him no was triggering an unpleasant memory for him. It looked like he was about to scream, but something stopped him. Or rather someone. If Artemis wasn't watching him so closely, she would have missed it. Robin had quickly looked at Raven, who was watching him intensely, and his head whipped back to Batman.

One look from Raven stopped him from freaking out at Batman.

Maybe Rob was right about that whole "massive crush" thing.

"Look," Robin took a deep breath, "We both know that my team is going to fight with your team either way. It's just a matter of whether you approve or not, so I'd just let us fight. That way you can keep an eye on us. How does that sound?"

Batman gritted his teeth together. "Why do you need to go on this mission so badly?"

"I have a theory I'm working on," he answered easily. "This mission might provide some insight."

"Fine." Batman conceded, "but you have to keep your communications with us open at all times. Do you understand me?"

Artemis guessed Robin was rolling his eyes under the mask. "Fine."

Batman narrowed his eyes.

Robin just smirked in response, "So what's the mission?"


Thanks for reading! Sorry I missed the January 8th mark. There was some technical difficulties (aka my wifi was acting out). Anyways, let me know what you think! Liked it? Hated it? Just let me know!

Before/On January 18th: It is the first mission with the two teams together, and Robin takes charge. He discovers evidence that will change the theory he has been developing since he came to this time.