I know! This is really late! I'm home now, and unpacking since I just moved. But, exams are over! I can now dedicate more time to write!

Shout out to:

Nightwingsass: Thank you! They went really well!
Saevitis: Glad I made you laugh! ;)
Guest: An Author must accept their role as a mean person...I mean *ahem* Here's the next chapter! :D
SHL3: Dude, I couldn't wait to write that phone convo with Damian and Bruce haha. Oh man, when Bruce finds out...x(
PuppyProngs: Yes, Jason and Damian, oh man. I'm glad I got a curve ball in! Hmmmm. Around the World in 80 Days? I like the sound of that...;)
PinkBat7941: But I must! The cliff hanger must exist! hahahaha!

No music this time around.

Chapter Ten: Prehistoric Poison Ivy

Jason awoke with a start, feeling the grit of sand press against his skin. Staring confusingly at the white beach before him, he chanced a look to his left.

"Holy shit!"

The dead carcass of a fish lay beside him, its teeth mere inches from his face. The hallow eyes of the beast seem to be mocking him as it lay innocently there.

Grunting, Jason perched himself up on his elbows, his joints protested in pain. The crash must have really done a number on him.

Propping himself up on his elbow, Jason chanced another glance around to see the deserted beach he had landed on. Fish carcasses and dead seaweed had been washed onto the shore from the vicious storm. Pockets of water surrounded him scattered about.

Tasting a bit of the water, he spat it back out in disgust as he discovered the salty texture. Last thing he needed to do was dehydrate himself with salt water.

Standing up, he spun around slowly to observe the ocean behind him. The horizon was a brilliant luminous pink, but the black storm clouds still lingered close. In front there was a gigantic rock structure, forming a flat wall; as if he was looking at the Grand Canyon from down below.

"Damian?" He called out, realizing with a jolt that he had not been alone. "Damian!"

The wreckage of the sail was scattered across the beach. If the demon child was anywhere, he had to be close by.

"Helloo?

"Will you quit your mindless yapping Todd?" An irritated voice finally responded, causing the older to turn and see the young boy standing haughtily in a small crevice that lead through the large rock formation.

"You could have answered me the first time you little-"

"We don't have time for your useless babbling, in case you haven't noticed, I was attempting to pinpoint our location to map our direction from here to meet with Grayson and Drake," He held up a compass to further make his point.

"Well then, where are we?" Jason snapped, pushing up the sleeves to his leather jacket.

"If we head in this direction, we should only be a few hours from the geyser. On the way look for fresh water, I'll lead."

Jason reached out and grabbed the back of his jacket, yanking him back.

"Nah-uh, no way little demon, I'm going to lead."

Damian turned with a dark glare, one that can only rival that of his father's.

"If we're going to make it to that geyser before we burn alive Todd, then we need to agree; and after your previous navigation skills, I wouldn't even consider the possibility of you leading."

"Us? Agree? That'll be the day." The older snarled.

0o0

Dick and Tim pulled the raft ashore and immediately began to call out for the two missing companions. From where they landed on the beach, it appeared that no one had been there. Quite literally.

"Jason?" Tim called out, the sound only echoing off in the distance. "Damian?"

Dick was a little ahead, attempting to climb up a large sand dune towards the distance.

"We'll find them Timmy, don't worry about it."

The youngest instantly scowled, the nickname not appreciated. He wasn't worried; they could handle themselves just fine. It was the time constraints that were killing him…and the awkward tension that Dick was creating by pretending that everything between them was fine. When it was clearly not.

"Okay," He said instead, choosing it best to avoid further conflict. He leaned over and grabbed a handful of sand; tossing it into the air, he watched the direction it flew in.

"The wind must have blown them this way, are we still heading 'North'?"

Dick paused, as if he could tell that each word the youngest said was forced, but chose instead to keep his mouth shut. If Tim didn't want to talk about it, he would have to pull his teeth in order to have a conversation, and that didn't sound very pleasant.

"Yeah, still North."

"Damian's a smart kid, he knows the plan," Tim affirmed offhandedly, "And Jason has had the experience of worse situations. They'll both be fine."

Dick let a small smile cross his features.

"You really think so?"

Tim raised a confused eyebrow.

"Of course I do, I keep tabs on them just in case. I've never had to interfere before; I doubt they would need me too now."

The oldest Wayne blinked, keeping tabs? Since when did Tim start doing that? In fact, since when did Tim show interest in the rest of them after…? Well, after he had screwed up?

"You keep in touch with Jason?" Was all he said instead.

"Let's find that river."

Tim passed him, scrambling up the sandy side heading north. Dick waited for him to get ahead a bit before following hesitantly behind.

How much had he missed since he had appointed Damian as Robin?

They continued on foot for what felt like several miles, the heat only steadily climbing till it was barely manageable. Tim was starting to slow, and Dick was getting worried with his labored breathing. He wasn't quite sure, but something didn't seem to be right about the teenager.

Just as they passed some large rock formations, they entered an odd little alcove amongst the rock formations. Large vegetation inhabited the area, an eerie atmosphere beginning to develop. The garden reminded them of Poison Ivy's dangerous abodes.

At this point, Dick had let Tim do his thing, but as they entered the foliage, he reached out and snatched Tim's backpack aiming to take it off him.

The teen turned immediately, a dark look on his face.

"What are you doing?"

"Easing the load; let me take that for a bit. You're looking a little ill."

"I'm fine," The younger immediately got defensive. "Dick, stop."

"Let me take it for a bit, just sit a minute," Dick insisted, steering him by the handle of his load to the nearest rock within the garden.

"Talk to me."

"No," Tim snapped, "We don't have time, the temperature is rising and the last thing we need to do is stall."

"It's not stalling, it's clearing the air. Look, I know things have been… well, rough, since I invited Damian to take the cowl but-"

"Absolutely not, we're not talking about this right now, Dick. This is the worst possible time you could have brought this up. Let's save this for a time where we aren't trying to survive."

"See, that's just it Tim! We're always trying to survive, and when we're not, you're never around. More importantly, let's be honest with ourselves for a minute. This particular situation may not be one we're going to make it out of."

Dick's face showed no amusement like it normally held, only a seriousness that came from a few years of playing he Batman. Tim knew there was no getting out of this conversation this time. He had to do something.

Clenching his fists, he released a sigh.

"Dick, the reason I cannot continue this conversation right now is because I can't. The atmosphere and the temperature is making me really sick, and my immune system can't fight it as well as it used too."

The older frowned, glancing cautiously at the teen. The way his voice waivered clued him in that whatever the next thing to come out of his mouth was something really bad.

"During the months I spent searching for Bruce, I lost my spleen."

Dick blinked.

"You…lost your spleen? What-when? Why did you never say anything? Timothy Jackson-"

"It's 115 degrees Dick."

Abruptly cutting off, the oldest checked the thermometer, only to see that he was right. As much as he wanted to get answers from him, he was literally only making the situation worse. Giving him a look that told him this wasn't going to be the end of this discussion; he dug around in one of the bags for the last water bottle and handed it to him.

"Drink this."

"Is that the last of the water?"

"Yeah," He nodded, motioning for Tim to go ahead as he continued to rummage around.

"We're going to need that, keep it."

Tim handed the bottle back with a shake of his head, but thought better of his decision when he met the steely blue eyes of his older adopted brother. Letting out an exasperated sigh, he popped open the cap.

Dick looked up, satisfied that he had one this small victory if nothing else when something in his peripheral vision caught his eye. What looked like a man sized Venus fly trap was moving.

The plant was turning, its mouth opening as long cilia hairs grew in a threatening manner.

"Duck!" Dick commanded, praying that Tim's instincts alone would tell him not to hesitate as he pulled an Escrima stick on the vegetation. The hit was hard enough that the stem broke in two and the top half went flying to the ground at their feet.

Tim jumped up, the water placed to the side as he stared in surprise at the turn of events.

"Large carnivorous plants? You've got to be joking; Poison Ivy would have a field day."

The younger turned to see why Dick was being so uncharacteristically quiet; only to meet the sight of the young vigilante straining against several vines wrapped around his neck.

"Dick!" Tim cried out in surprise, reaching for his collapsible Bo staff.

Hitting the first, he ran towards the thickest part of the garden, the prehistoric plants hissing at him. It would have been a lot more ridiculous had Tim not actually done this what feels like a thousand times before. He could thank a certain female antagonist in his life for how unfazed he was.

No matter how many he hit, their roots seemed to only tighten around Dick.

Switching a small mechanism on his staff, a small blade came out from the end and he aimed for the base of the stem that was clinging on to the older.

The plant gave its equivalent vegetation screech, snapping at him. Tim ducked, disgusted when a clear liquid flowed from its mouth where he had stabbed it. Digging his staff deep into where the plant stuck to the ground, he uprooted it and twisted the staff to pin it to the dirt underneath.

The roots finally released Dick.

"We're even, right?" Tim smirked, leaning on his staff as he watched the older clutch the bruised areas with a frown.

"Who's keeping track?" Dick sighed wearily.

But alas, what is happening with Jason and Damian? Will Tim and Dick find them? Will they all get out in the end?

Will I deviate from the plot of the movie?

Will I stop asking questions? Yes. Sorry I was so late in updating!
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