JOURNEY

Disclaimer: The characters portrayed herein belong to DC, which, as I understand it, is a subdivision of AOL/Time Warner. They are not mine. I am making no profit from this fic.

NOTE: This is the follow-up to 'Teaser'. Actually it's the prequel. But 'Teaser' is still chapter one of this fic. Now that I've thoroughly confused everyone. . .

There are a few circumstances where hearing voices in one's head is a good thing.

Martian Manhunter talking to you, for instance, or any of the other telepathic heroes. Like that blonde from the Legion, back when they visited the twentieth century. Saturn Girl, her name was.

Unfortunately for Robin, this wasn't one of those times, so the voices he was hearing probably weren't a good sign.

Tim Drake had awoken again to someone calling his name over and over, the tones varying from affection to annoyance and . . . was it longing? It wasn't the first time it had happened, but it was the clearest. Scooting out of bed, he frowned. //Everything I've read says that if I've got voices in my head they should be telling me to harm myself, or that aliens are going to come out of the TV or something. Not calling my name again and again and again. It's getting bloody irritating!//

As he'd done repeatedly over the past few weeks, when he'd finally admitted to himself – though not to anyone else – that he was hearing voices, he analysed the feelings, the situation. It wasn't 'voices' that he was hearing, he realised, it was just one voice. He'd not been sure before this morning, but the voice was growing clearer and was now easily distinguishable as the high, pure tones of a girl or young boy.

It wasn't telling him anything, either. That was where the schizophrenic theory fell down. At least, to some extent. //I've been exposed to Crane's fear toxins a couple of times. Who knows what side effects they've had.// Tim thought miserably. //But even though he's fought Crane for longer, Batman's never mentioned voices. Heh, like **he** would.//

Once again, Tim reviewed the circumstances. He'd first heard the voice just after Young Justice had retrieved the Supercycle from its stasis. At the time, he'd thought one of his team-mates had called him, then that he'd mis-heard. The voice had been infrequent then, really just when he dreamed. It was still a dream-voice now, though it had changed from a faint call to a cry that woke him every morning. //Maybe that's all it is. A dream.// Tim thought, without much hope. //Yeah. And maybe it isn't getting louder, either. Right. Face it, Bird Boy, you're going nuts!//

With a sigh, he headed for the bathroom. A shower would feel good, and then he had to make tracks; it was Saturday and Young Justice were getting together for a general meeting and a bit of hanging out.

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"WILL YOU TWO KNOCK IT OFF!!!" Losing his cool, Robin bellowed across the room at the bickering Impulse and Superboy. Silence followed his shout as all the members of Young Justice turned, stunned, towards their team mate. Robin himself was equally shocked. He didn't yell. He didn't lose his temper. Threaten, yes, but yell? His training was better than that.

Except that he just had.

Without a further word, he gathered what was left of his composure and walked out of the room. //I really am going mad!//

Without a conscious thought, he found himself in the garage. The cycle, as always, looked happy to see him. With a faint smile, Robin rested his pounding forehead against the cool metal of the fender. The cycle purred gently. Snuggled against the machine, Robin briefly indulged in the feeling that, despite his outburst, all was right with the world.

The voice, loud as a shout, sent his stomach churning. //I'm awake! I'm hearing it while I'm awake now?!// It was calling him, so hungrily, so desperately, that he couldn't refuse its cry. //It's so real! Too real.//

//Well, if I'm going to go psycho, I may as well do a proper job of it!// He decided, swinging himself into the pilot seat. The supercycle revved approvingly.  Behind him, Impulse and Superboy walked into the garage.

"Hey Rob, we've made up and we just wanted to . . .  where are you going?"

"You're taking the cycle? No fair having adventures without the rest of us! You can't still be mad with us?"

"No. It's calling me."

"Calling you? Who's calling you?"

"I don't know. But I'm going to go find out, and then I'm gonna punch them in the nose!" He gave a disgusted snort as the Cycle lifted off, hovering briefly. "Later!"

"Um . . . Okay, what was that all about?" Staring after the rapidly vanishing cycle, a confused Superboy could only shrug in reply.

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