New chapter! Thanks so much to everyone who's reviewed so far and to all you amazing followers! This ones a bit shorter than the others but I hope you enjoy it!
Cyborg walked into the main living room of the Tower to see Robin suited up and standing at the console typing away at some file he couldn't see.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked walking up just in time to see him close the file and shut down the system, the console sinking back into the floor.
"Batman and Red Hood are on a mission that's just become bigger than it was when they started. They need extra back up."
"Do they need the team?" Cyborg asked excitedly. He'd always wondered what it would be like to work with Batman.
"No. Just me." Robin was too busy checking his utility belt was stocked to see the disappointed look on his friend's face.
"Oh, okay," Cyborg said quietly. "Who are you leaving in charge?"
"I got someone to stand in for me," Robin replied. He looked at the clock and Cyborg realised he was waiting for someone. The elevator chimed as the doors opened and out stepped a kid in a red and black uniform not that different to Robin's.
"Hey Red! Thanks for coming on such short notice," Robin said as he approached the boy, affectionately messing up his hair.
"No problem, bro," the kid, Red, replied, pushing Robin's hand away for his head. Cyborg felt like groaning at the revelation that this kid was another one of Robin's brothers. How many of them were there?
"So, Cyborg, this is my brother, Red Robin. Red Robin, Cyborg. Cyborg will get you set up with the Tower systems." And then Robin was walking away, leaving some kid in charge.
"So how do you access the system? Do you have a console or is there a specific interface room?" Red's questions pulled him back to the present. He looked up to see him wondering around the room taking in everything he saw. Cyborg tapped a button on his arm and the console emerged from beneath the floorboards. Red Robin grinned and immediately started tapping away at the keys.
"I'll get you set up with a log in," Cyborg said as he started approaching the console.
"No need," the kid replied, his fingers not slowing down.
Surprised, Cyborg looked over his shoulder to see that he had already gained access to the system and was looking through files.
"How did you crack my system?!" he cried out confused.
"This is your programming?" Red Robin replied still not looking up from the code that scrolled before his eyes.
"Yes," Cyborg replied unsure why that was important.
"That explains a lot."
Cyborg narrowed his eyes. Was this tiny kid saying that his programming skills were weak? Half his body was machine that required coding. He knew his code. Who was this kid? Red Robin seemed to realise what he'd said.
"There's nothing wrong with your encryption. It would hold up to any other hacker without a problem."
"And what are you?" Cyborg's arms were crossed as he stared the kid down.
"A certified genius who specialises in technology." Cyborg wasn't really sure how to reply to that. Not that Red Robin gave him the opportunity. "I thought that Robin had set up the tower's systems but it was mildly difficult for me to get into the main system and it's proving very difficult to get into this folder. That means this folder was encrypted by Robin."
Cyborg wasn't sure he followed entirely but the basic idea was that the kid wanted to find all his big brother's secrets. He had no problem with that.
"I would have thought that being Robin's family, you would know most of his secrets," he said watching the kid's skilful hacking.
"Normal secrets, sure. There are no such things as secrets in Batman's house. But we've always discussed cases together. We still do but, lately I can tell that Robin isn't telling me everything. I need to make sure he's ok."
Cyborg was surprised to find out it wasn't normal sibling curiosity. He should have known that Bats would be different. Before he could continue the conversation, Beast Boy walked into the room.
"Who's the kid?" he asked through a mouth full of fries.
"I'm not a kid," Red Robin muttered, his key tapping a little harder than it had been a moment ago.
"This is Red Robin," Cyborg replied quickly. "Robin left him in charge while he headed out on a mission with Batman."
"He's in charge?" Beast Boy asked surprised, talking as if Red Robin wasn't there. "But he's like 10!"
"I'm 14," Red Robin replied evenly, his focus not wavering from the screen. "I'm just short."
Cyborg and Beast Boy shared a look before Cyborg shrugged. Beast Boy shook his head and moved over to the couch, still munching on his fries. He nearly dropped them when Red Robin slammed his hands down on the console.
"He designed this to keep me out specifically," he muttered crossing his arms in a huff. "Stupid Oracle must have helped him." He scowled at the screen for a moment more before flopping himself down on the couch beside Beast Boy. Again, the two Titans shared a confused look before Beast Boy spoke up.
"When I'm annoyed, I like to play video games. You wanna try and wipe your brother off the leader board?"
Red Robin turned to Beast Boy with an evil glint in his eye that chilled the green hero to his core.
"Where's the control?"
When Robin returned from his mission, he found Beast Boy cheering loudly as Red Robin and Cyborg fought each other digitally. He felt pride seeing their scores in the corners of the screen. His little brother was beating Cyborg mercilessly.
"No. No. No no no! Nooo!" Cyborg cried out as the words 'Red Wins' in large letters covered the screen.
"I can't believe you fell for that move," Red Robin replied letting out a spine chilling laugh.
"Looks like you had fun," Robin said letting them know he was there.
"Hey Rob!" Red said hopping over the back of the couch and sliding up beside his brother. "How was the mission?"
"Good. It was nice working with Bats and Hood again. It's been a while since the three of us have worked together. Although, Hood was in a surprisingly good mood. I would check your room for traps when you get home."
"Thanks for the heads up," Red muttered, his upbeat mood drooping. He turned to face Cyborg and Beast Boy. "Well guys, it's been fun. Maybe we can do it again some time. But I gotta head home. It's pizza night!"
With that he stepped into the elevator and was gone.
Robin went straight for the console. He started tapping away quickly at the key. Cyborg moved to stand looking over his shoulder.
"Making notes from your mission?" he asked.
"I'm removing all of Red's back doors."
"His what?!" Cyborg exclaimed focusing his attention on the screen.
"He's a genius but he's also curious. You can't let him near a computer if you don't want him cracking every code. If he can't get in every file the first time, he makes himself a back door so that he can try again later."
Cyborg just watched silently as Robin undid his little brother's work. He really hoped Robin didn't have any more brothers. What skills would the next one have?
Tim sat in his room with his laptop ready to finally get into his brother's files. Until he found that his back door had been removed and the firewalls increased. He closed his laptop and sat pouting with his arms crossed. Curse his stupid brother.
Again, a huge thanks to everyone who's followed, favourited and reviewed so far. Keep them reviews coming! They make my day!
