Chapter 3: Scars
The squad flew back to the cave in shaken silence. They had failed. The threat had been contained, but not by them. They had never felt so powerless. The beast had beaten them with no apparent effort, toying with them until their mysterious ally had arrived; drawing its attention and trapping it in that strange device. All three had faced failure before, but this was different. Of the team, they were among the most emotionally controlled. Yet, somehow, that had all been compromised during the night's loss. How had it known? How had the shadow known exactly what to say - the precise words that would reopen old scars, drag dark fears into the light, leave them weak, small and utterly alone? The tearing pain had eased with the disappearance of the creature, but the wounds it left lay bleeding; and so the quiet was filled with untold torment. The snap of a rope and the cries of falling bodies echoed across the years. A nine year old Artemis watched her sister slip away, family falling apart. Once again Aqualad felt the hands of his beloved pull from his as she told him that her heart belonged to another. Memories whispered behind half-closed doors.
The silhouette of Mt. Justice rose from the horizon. The feelings it brought, of safety, trust, home, reached out to the heroes. A collective sigh breached the silence as the night's turmoil began a slow and reluctant retreat. Dark clouds remained, but a sense of calm and purpose touched the teens, drawing them back to the present. Three questions murmured to Robin.
Who was the mysterious figure? Why had he run? Where was he now?
"Regardless of how other aspects of the mission played out, your team fulfilled its primary objective. The threat has been removed. Your performance was satisfactory." Batman was being generous. The mission had gone badly. But looking at the already subdued trio, he felt no need for a harsh reprimand. Robin stood shamefaced; smile forced, shoulders almost imperceptibly slumped, devoid of quips for the first time in months. Artemis' greeting had been overly cheerful, never reaching her eyes. She chewed her lower lip as she listened. On the surface Kaldur'ahm seemed his usual calm self, but faint lines around his mouth and the nervousness with which he curled his hands told the Dark Knight that the team's leader was equally rattled. Something had happened.
"I apologise, but I must protest." The Atlantean countered their supervisor. "Though we tried, our performance tonight was not satisfactory. We failed. It was not us who detained the creature."
"Explain."
"We engaged the being, but our attacks were ineffective. It had nearly overpowered us when a," Batman noted the split-second hesitation before Aqualad continued, "civilian intervened. It was through his involvement that the creature was captured. We were… inadequate."
"And the civilian?"
"Injured, but not severely. He left before we could question him. I am sorry." Artemis and Robin nodded in agreement, eyes downcast. Batman frowned behind his mask.
"Very well. Analyse the information you obtained. If there are others creatures like this, we must be prepared to face them. Report back to the League with your findings."
"We will. But there is something else. Information regarding an older, more personal, matter. May I speak with you privately?" Batman suspected that the 'personal matter' was related to the younger hero's earlier hesitation. He nodded.
"I have some time. Aqualad: with me. The rest of you: dismissed. Get some rest, you need it. Report for training at 0600 hours."
The trio dispersed as the other members of the team joined their friends in the main room. The remaining two began to relax, safe in the warmth of familiar company.
Kid Flash looked over to his friend with poorly concealed concern. Robin had been abnormally quiet since his return from the mission. Actually, all three of them had been. Artemis hadn't called him 'Baywatch' even once. Something was off.
"You feeling okay Rob'? You don't look so hot."
"…hm?" The speedster's question pulled the Boy Wonder from the dull veils of doubt and grief. The pain of the shadow's words was fading but their echoes still haunted him, just like he knew they did Kaldur and Artemis.
"Oh, yeah yeah KF, all good." Robin gave his friend an easy smile – one that would have fooled Wally if the speedster didn't know Dick so well. "Bummed that the mission fell through, but not much we can do, right? Still… lots to think about. Feeling a little overwhelmed at the minute." The younger hero headed for the zeta tubes, keying in the code for Gotham. "I'm gonna go play detective for a bit – there's something I need to check out. Later, dude."
Recognised: Robin. B-01
Kid Flash sent a half-hearted glare in the direction of the tunnel, worries lessened but by no means gone. Overwhelmed. Robin had said overwhelmed. Whatever had happened, it was big.
