A/N:

Oh my god guys I am sooo sorry for being all M.I.A! It's totally my fault too. At first, I got locked out of my own computer and had to take it to a techie friend of mine, who then wound up keeping it through the whole thanksgiving holiday because there was apparently some sort of major glitch or whatever that I caused by locking myself out. So I am really, really, really uber super sorry. But I guess it's just what life decided to throw at me. So, yeah. Chapter 13.

Nightshadow: Chapter 13:
~Robin's POV~

I kept my arm wrapped tightly around Renee's waist as we walked back to the rest of the team. I knew how bad something like what happened to her ankle could hurt at first, and I was secretly proud of her for not showing how much pain she was in. But part of me wanted her to show the pain, just so that I could try to make it go away.

We walked in comfortable silence. Glancing over, I could see the wheels turning through her eyes. They were green today, the color of the sea.

"What's up?" She asked, and I felt my cheeks grow hot. I had been staring.

"Nothing. Just trying to guess what color your eyes are." I replied, which rewarded me with a wry smile.

"I told you once before, they're the color of mud." That particular memory sparked in the recesses of my mind. I had told her they looked violet that day. She took out a compact mirror, and after a moment proclaimed that they were the color of mud. They still looked purple to me that day, even when I looked in the mirror at her.

"And I've told you multiple times that they're not." I responded gently. Part of me just wanted to snap at her, to drill it into her head that she was wrong, but I knew that would just end disastrous. Heavy on the dis. Plus, she's a teenage girl. I was smart enough to know that they always think down of themselves.

"Tomato, Toe-mah-toe." She said with a grin, enunciating each syllable so it sounded ridiculous.

"Hey Rob?" Renee's voice dropped to a whisper, so quiet that I almost missed it. My heart skipped a beat – not in a good way. One of the first things you come to learn about the chocolate-haired girl is that when her voice gets soft, it's never good.

"Yeah?" I answered slowly, tentatively. But my mind was racing, trying to figure out what was wrong. What would Batman do? What would Bruce do? I found myself repeating.

"I'm pretty tired. I think I'm gonna go take a nap." She said with a faint smile. But it didn't reach her brilliant sea-green eyes. That's not all. Something's bothering her. But what? And why won't she tell me? I knew I was worrying too much, I knew that if/when I asked KF or Batman about it later they'd say I was worrying too much, but I couldn't help it. I mean, since I met Renee I've always had a strange want to fix whatever was wrong. But now…now it's whelming. No, it's overwhelming. Was this what it felt like to be in love?

I would have to ask Bruce.

"Okay. Do you want me to walk you to your room?" I decided on acting oblivious to her tone of voice until I could gain ground on discovering what was wrong.

"Nawh, it's okay Rob. You should probably get back to training." She kissed my cheek delicately, and with that I felt her warmth leave my side.

I watched her take a few shuffle-like steps away from me so she didn't accidentally take her with me. Then she disappeared with a faint pop and a coil of charcoal black smoke.

"Hey, Rob!" KF zoomed toward me from the other side of the room, skirting around the training battle between Kaldur and Black Canary.

"Hey, KF." I responded cheekily. By the look on Artemis' face across the room, she had won. Impressive that she beat Wally without her bow…actually, scratch that. I was expecting her to kick his ass. KF must've seen where I was looking, because I was rewarded with a punch to the shoulder and a mumbled "Not a word, Boy Wonder." I just laughed.

"Where's Renee?" M'gann asked. I turned to face her direction, only to find her floating a good six inches off the ground right next to me.

"Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!" She said hurriedly, obviously picking up on my surprise.

"It's okay. She landed on her ankle pretty heavily, but nothing's broken. She decided to go rest for a bit." I responded. The latter half of my report was directed towards Canary, who nodded slightly as she dodged Kaldur's attack.

"Yes, that would seem to be ideal. She doesn't need help learning how to fight someone like Clockwork, anyway." She commented as she flipped Kaldur onto his back, ending the battle.

"So that's what this exercise is all about? Learning to fight Clockwork?" Artemis had her hands on her hips and one eyebrow up, skeptical.

"Yes. Why else would I have had Renee explain how he operates beforehand?" Canary spoke calmly, but I could tell she was a little annoyed that the archer had asked.

"I don't see how it'll help." Artemis responded in the same cynical manner. I took this as my cue to step in.

"Because Clockwork will be able to take away anything you throw at him. You have to rely on skills that you don't usually rely on. It would be useless for you to shoot an arrow at him or for me to throw a bird-a-rang or Kaldur to pull out his water swords. He could-and will-just freeze them, walk over, and redirect it right back at us. Fighting someone who can stop time involves a lot of patience and skill. You have to be able to figure out how he thinks in the very beginning or else they'll have the upper hand. This exercise teaches and hones that skill." Artemis looked at me in wonder for a second, like she had just had some sort of epiphany, her hands sliding off her hips.

"So that…that's how Renee knew you went up to the light fixture!" She exclaimed, obviously proud of herself. I sighed inwardly at her ignorance. Couldn't really be helped, everyone has moments where they don't understand until later. But I had thought Artemis, being rather smart, would have caught on.

"Yes, that is how Renee knew." Canary responded with a note of exasperation in her voice. I held back a smug smile. Artemis is really getting on Canary's nerves today. Hahahahahaha.

I sat down and leaned my back against the wall as M'gann and Supey prepared for their turn at training. Wally plopped down next me in a most ungraceful fashion.

"Hey Wally?" I muttered out of the side of my mouth. I knew I was at risk of being overheard, but I had to tell red-headed speedster what happened.

"Yeah, Rob?" He picked at the edge of his red t-shirt.

"I…I did it." I waited anxiously for his response. I didn't know what my best friend's reaction would definitely be, but I had a general idea. I watched Wally out of the corner of my eye. For a moment he just sat there, but then his green eyes widened and he bolted upright.

"You mean…did she…oh my god Robin! What…now, wait, can't talk here." KF was talking to himself more than me as he dragged me to my feet. "Canary, we're gonna get a snack." He called over his shoulder as he hauled me into the kitchen. Why is it always the kitchen? I was about to voice my thoughts when Wally kept pulling on my arm until we were down the hallway and in the room set up for Artemis so she could practice her archery.

"Why-?" I didn't have to finish the sentence; KF was already answering my question.

"It's private, and Artemis won't be using it soon. She doesn't practice immediately after an exercise, so we should have time. And no, don't ask how I know that. You're the detective; figure it out in your head. But tell me. Tell me everything." It took me a little longer than normal to process what he was saying, he was talking so fast. I set my hands on his shoulders in an effort to calm him down. He was vibrating with excitement.

He's excited for me? I tried to comprehend the thought. I mean, I knew what the feeling was, I knew that it should be expected, since he is my best friend and all. It was expected, Dick, don't over-analyze it. With a mental shrug, I chose how I was going to tell him what he was asking.

"I uh…well, she actually asked me if you knew my real identity. Then I said you didn't. Then I kissed her. And she kissed me back. Then I told her I love her. And she said she loves me back. And then she went to her room." I felt so awkward, so out of place recalling the in-a-nutshell version of what had happened in the infirmary. Wally picked up on this (it was ridiculously obvious in my voice and shuffling feet) and just smiled.

"That is great Rob. Really great. I'm happy for you. But seriously dude, I told you so. I told you so." He smiled down at me, and a vicious thought came to mind.

"If you told me so, when are you and Artemis gonna get together? You two are already practically hanging off each other." I let a smug grin grace my face as Wally's mouth dropped to the floor. I waited patiently for him to regain his powers of speech, studying the plain gray walls, floor, and ceiling as if they were the most interesting things in the world.

"I…we…I don't…c'mon, Rob! Why d'you always have to do that to me?" He whined. I turned my attention back to his emerald eyes.

"Because if I don't, you'll never ask her out." I said matter-of-factly. Wally just huffed in agreement.

"I will, I will. I'm just waiting for the right time. Plus, she hates me."

"No, she doesn't. Trust me, I can tell Wally."

"You left something out of your story." He said, flipping the subject back to me. I didn't mind, I was expecting it.

"I probably just overreacted slightly at what she said." I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could, but to no avail. Wally raised an eyebrow.

"What did she say?"

"It's not what she said, just how she said it. When she said she was going to go relax in her room for a little bit, her voice got all quiet and reserved. Like something was wrong. I mean, she could've just been tired, or whatever, but it bothered-bothers me a little." I let some of my defenses fall. I – Dick – was originally going to talk to Bruce about it later, but I realized it was a lot easier for me – Robin – to talk to Wally about this. I already knew what Bruce would say. 'You were overreacting. She'll be fine. It's something she has to work out on her own.' I didn't need to hear it if I already knew.

"Sounds to me like she had something on her mind." Wally ran a hand through his hair and began to pace.

"But what Wally? What?" I tried to hide the growing despair I was feeling. What if she doesn't really care about me like I do her? I desperately struggled to push the thought out of my mind, but it just kept bouncing around my brain like Pong.

"That depends. What did she do after she said she was going to go to room?" He sounded surprisingly calm as he paced. It was almost as if our roles had reversed. It was a daunting thought, switching places with Wally. Some might have even described it as scary.

"She…she kissed my cheek, then teleported." I felt my face grow hot, the spot where her lips had touched tingling.

"Well, I wouldn't worry about her not caring. The fact that she kissed you combined with the fact that she teleported instead of walking means she cares about you."

"How do you figure?" Wally turned to face me, his green eyes glinting with the happiness that he had deduced something I hadn't. Leave it to Kid Flash to be happy about something as trivial as that while trying to console a friend.

"I don't know her as well as you do, and I certainly haven't known her as long as you," KF smirked and I rolled my eyes behind my mask. He's rubbing it in. "but it seems to me that she's a strong enough person to walk to her own room injured just to show everyone – herself included – that she's okay. But considering she teleported instead, she was probably trying to save you from the potential pain of watching her struggle." I resisted the urge to face palm. Duh, Dick. You are just so freakin' observant. I thought to myself sarcastically.

"So, it's not that she doesn't care…damn it, Wally! I'm such a moron! She probably…shit." I did face palm that time. It was just so obvious that I couldn't believe I didn't pick up on it.

"What?" I pinched the bridge of my nose and elaborated:

"She wanted to ask me a question. And what question would someone who loves Robin want to know? Who I really am! I am so screwed, it isn't even funny." Wally's mouth hung open.

"Damn. What are you going to do? I mean, do you even want to tell her?" He asked, and the gray walls were rapidly closing in on me.

"Of course I do…at least, she deserves to know…but it could put her in serious danger, if a villain found out she knew, you know…I just…I dunno. I want to, 'cause she deserves to know all of me, but I want to protect her at the same time…does that make any sense?" I dropped my head, suddenly exhausted. I heard Wally hum his confirmation. At least he understood what I was saying.

"But what are you going to do?"

"The only thing I can, Wally. I'm gonna talk to Batman and try to get him to make an exception." Wally seemed to accept that answer, and the speedster was suddenly pulling at my arm once again.

"What are you doing?" I asked, irritated at the sudden change in subject and the fact that KF was dragging me around.

"Lighten up! We're gonna get some food. We were, after all, getting a snack." KF said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Allllll rightttt! Really long chapter! I like long chapters. They, to me, are more fulfilling. Anyway, I'm going to apologize once more for being gone for almost two weeks now. I felt so bad while I was sitting there scratching away at a piece of paper, trying to write without having all the other previous chapters at my disposal. (All the final drafts are on the computer. Needless to say, I've printed them all out.)

So yeah. Hopefully my computer will have no other problems…

Word Counts:
This Chapter: 2,397
Total: 15,626

Happy Writings,
Vid.