Disclaimer: Neither Young Justice nor anything of the Justice League series belong to me.
Leg is getting better, hope to make a full recovery soon. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 10: For the Queen
Two archers and one Bat walked into an empty parking garage. There was potential for a joke there but unfortunately, none of the three were in the mood to make one. It was times like these that Artemis really missed Wally. He could always break any tense or serious mood with one of his stupid little quips.
"I think you both have some explaining to do." Green Arrow crossed his arms, glaring daggers at Batman while also shooting Artemis a few curious glances.
Batman did not flinch nor bothered sugar coating things, "She is from an alternate dimension."
Green Arrow laughed, shaking his head but stopped when neither of the other two did, "You're serious."
"Very."
Artemis let out an exasperated sigh, "Look. Long story short, my team and I are from an alternate dimension where you are part of the original Justice League. My team is made up of the Justice League's younger partners. Due to a series of unfortunate events, we have been bouncing between dimensions trying to get home. And let me tell you, totally not fun."
Green Arrow looked from Artemis, to Batman, back to Artemis, then right back to Batman again, "You're kidding right? Is this some sick joke to try and trick me into the League?"
Artemis growled, throwing her hands in the air before turning around and walking away. Batman shook his head, "Trust me. If I wanted to convince you, this is not the way I would go about it. What do you know about the...other Justice League that posed as us a while back? With alternate costumes and more...aggressive tendencies."
Green Arrow frowned under his mask, "Not much to be honest. I didn't really pay attention to the Justice League back then, I had my own problems. But I remember hearing how all of the League, minus you and Flash, changed your costumes and attitudes for a little while. Then it turned out they were not you guys, not really, and you all had some showdown."
"That was the story we had released, yes. Mostly the truth with some details left out, but they were from a different dimension. One that skewed slightly from what our world was. Same concept, varying differences. I have no reason to lie to you about this, and I would not be telling you unless it was true."
Green Arrow looked at Artemis again, really looked. The green outfit and the whole bow and arrow getup really drove it home who the girl's partner was. Shaking his head, the older archer rubbed his forehead, "Who are you? Under the mask I mean."
Artemis looked uncomfortable, glancing at Batman before looking back at Green Arrow, "I'm not related to you. And to be completely honest, you and I don't really know each other that well back in my dimension. My...dad trained me to use a lot of different weapons but I happened to be proficient using a bow. It was actually Batman and Green Arrow, my world's Batman and Green Arrow, who recruited me. I had...special circumstances. You introduced me to the Team as your niece and secret protege."
Green Arrow stared at Artemis, scrutinizing her, "Secret protege? And why is that?"
Kind of avoiding the question, but also throwing in a half truth there, Artemis shrugged, "Uh, you actually already had a partner, someone who was meant to join the Team but...didn't at first. That is a whole other can of worms that I definitely will not get into right now."
"You aren't making this any easier to accept you know..."
"Yeah...sorry."
Green Arrow sighed, dropping his arms, "This is not how I pictured the day going."
"Tell me about it. How exactly did you picture your day going?"
"Oh you know, save the queen of another country and protect the precious artifacts. Get thanked, earn a metal, receive the key to the city. Simple things."
"You're kidding."
"Only about the last part. Keys to the city are so overrated."
"If we can get back on track." Batman cut between the two, turning towards the older archer, "This is real. This is happening. And we need you in the loop. If not as a League member, then as someone who should be aware that someone who dresses and fights like him, is running around being a hero. Being part of the League."
Artemis did not comment on how their Team was still not sure about joining the Justice League yet. Not in front of Green Arrow who was still on the fence himself.
"Fine. I am not saying this whole thing isn't crazy or absolutely ridiculous, but I know you enough Batman. You wouldn't come all this way to just jerk me around. I still don't fully understand what you expect from me." Green Arrow crossed his arms, leaning back against one of the concrete pillars.
"One, is for you to keep this all strictly between you, the original League, and the team of visitors. And no, that is not because the League is trying to be above everyone else and keep secrets, but for the safety of our young friends. Two, whether you like it or not, in a way you are the closest thing to a family Artemis has right now. Three, she needs an identity connected to someone in this world." Batman paused at the last part, waiting for Arrow to take it in.
"No. Nuh uh. No way. I am still a very eligible bachelor. I don't need people to think I had a secret daughter for the past fourteen years."
"I'm sixteen. And 'very eligible'? Sounding pretty desperate there, old man."
"Now listen here, little green archer. To an unrefined kid like you, I might look old. But to women with good taste I'm-"
"Ha! 'Women with good taste', give me a break!"
"You little-"
Batman cleared his throat, very loudly. Both archers froze, turning to look at the Bat who was scowling, "It'll be in name. I don't expect you to come out in public and say you had a daughter. She'll be adopted, discreetly for the sake of the law. When forging an identity, one that I am trying to make real and valid in this world for them, I need them connected solidly to good figures here. I thought about pretending to adopt them all, but suddenly adopting seven teenagers out of nowhere would be questionable, even for my alter ego. That was when Zatanna, J'onn, Superman, and Aquaman offered an alternative."
Green Arrow raised an eyebrow, "Aquaman? That grumpy fish out of water? Seriously?"
Batman nodded, "The young man who is the alternate dimension Aquaman's protege, left quite a positive impression on our Aquaman, enough so that he made it known he would welcome Aqualad to live in Atlantis, lest he get tired of the surface world."
"Aqualad? Seriously? Real original."
"At least it is less confusing than 'Speedy'." Artemis smirked at Green Arrow, making the older archer frown in confusion.
"What do you mean? From the name, I'm guessing that's Flash's partner?"
"Nope." Artemis' smirk grew, lifting her chin at the man, "Speedy is your original partner's name."
"That makes no sense!"
"That's what a lot of people said."
"I mean, if he was Flash's partner, I would get. But why would my partner call himself Speedy? What was Flash's partner's name then?"
"Kid Flash."
"Wow, he should have went with Speedy."
"It's not so bad."
"It really is."
Batman, once again, cleared his throat. He already had a headache and was resisting the urge to rub his forehead, "Again, back on track. We made you aware, we told you what we wanted. Your answer?"
Green Arrow sighed, "I need time to process this. And to talk with archer girl here privately."
"It's Artemis. Ar-te-mis. Try to remember old man, or do you need me to write it down on a post-it note and glue it to your chest?"
"Call me old man. One. More. Time."
"Old ma-"
"Enough." Batman growled as he said it, "I need your answer before the new League meeting. I'll arrange for you two to talk at a later date then. But you need to start answering our communications. We sent a message to you several times and you could have had that private meeting when Zatanna and Aquaman did."
Green Arrow managed to look a little sheepish before nodding, "Right. Well. You all kept bugging me for an answer..."
Artemis raised an eyebrow, "And if you were mature enough to answer and say no, and give a valid reason, I'm sure they would have accepted and stopped calling you about it. But no, you had to ignore it like a child. Huh, what a paradox. An old man, and a child at the same time."
Green Arrow glared at Batman. This is what you dragged me into?
Batman seemed to smirk back. You reap what you sow.
/0/
After the manager of the arcade came to them in tears, asking them not to drive them out of business by both winning at so many crane and ticket games as well as nearly eating the whole kitchen out, the Team plus Diana and Barry left, roaming around the mall. The girls and boys eventually separated, Diana taking M'gann and Zatanna shopping while the boys wandered around different shops for technology and other miscellaneous things. While they all wanted to buy phones, they were not confident enough about their official identities to buy proper ones as of yet. They settled for laptops and tablets for now, but Dick had set up some discrete burner phones after going off on his own. When Wally questioned the Boy Wonder how he did it, the young Bat just shrugged, "It's still Gotham. Even in an uptown mall like this, you know where to find people selling...questionable things that don't require proper ID."
"You boys having fun?" The group turned to see the three females they separated from. Zatanna and M'gann had many bags on their arms, while Diana only had two to three. The Amazon was still not much for the material things that targeted women's insecurities, but she had found a few things that caught her eye.
"Loads. If Dick going off and buying illegal stuff is fun." Wally ratted Dick out, making the Boy Wonder squawk angrily.
"Dick!"
"What, no! I just got us all some burner phones in case of an emergency!" Grayson drove an elbow into Wally's stomach, making the young speedster wince.
"Uh yeah, right. Sorry."
Zatanna glared at the two boys, making them both raise their hands in surrender. M'gann giggled while Diana gave Dick an amused smile, "Should I be worried you know where to find the criminal elements so easily? And that you know them well enough to make use of them?"
Dick shrugged, "Eh, they aren't really the harmful kind of criminal element. And they have their uses, so Batman and I usually leave them alone. We don't have time to go after such petty level people. Even the regular cops leave them alone. Why not make use of them?"
"Still." Kaldur cut in, placing a hand on Dick's shoulder, "Let us not make a habit of such...activities." The fact that the Atlantian was slightly smiling let the Boy Wonder know he was not really upset.
Letting out his signature laugh, Dick nodded, "Understood."
"Can we go now?" Conner asked the same question for the millionth time, in the same grumpy, slightly bored and annoyed tone he had whenever they were surrounded by too many people.
"Oh come on, it's barely four and it's Friday! Live a little!" Barry grinned, giving Conner a slap on the back. The half-Kryptonian did not budge, nor did his expression change. The older speedster on the other hand, waved his hand rapidly in the air to shake away the pain, "I forgot how solid you were..."
That earned a slight smirk from Conner, while everyone else laughed at Barry's expense. Zatanna held up the shopping bags she had, "Let's call Alfred and ask him to keep our stuff in the limo. Then we can head over to the movie theater attached to the mall. I saw a few familiar titles and some I never heard of before. I'm pretty curious how different or similar the movies are compared to our dimension."
"Oh that sounds like fun! Maybe they have sequels here that never got made in our world!" M'gann bounced a little, looking at Conner in excitement who smiled back slightly.
"Or maybe we could have future knowledge about some of the movies here. This could be pretty fun." Wally rubbed his chin, thinking of all the possibilities.
"I guess we could go on a movie binge." Dick glanced at Kaldur who nodded, before all the teens looked at Diana. Suddenly being the center of attention, the Princess of Amazons chuckled.
"I see no harm in this activity. It also has the interesting benefit of comparing our world to yours. Educational in a way that justifies such actions."
"Score!" Wally grinned at his uncle, "Conner and Dick can escort their girlfriends to the limo. The rest of us can go ahead to the theater to check out the movies and get tickets and snacks! Lots of snacks!"
"Right on kid!" Barry and Wally made sure not to use their super speed, but none the less both of them shot down the mall in a run, dodging people and racing at barely human speeds towards the theater.
Conner moved next to M'gann and took her bags while Dick did the same for Zatanna. When Kaldur stepped up to offer the same for Diana, the Amazon smiled gratefully but shook her head, "I am grateful for your chivalry Kaldur, but I can manage on my own. Thank you."
Nodding back with a warm smile, Kaldur stepped back, "I will then go catch up with Wally and Mister Allen to make sure they do not go overboard. We'll be waiting in the lobby if we manage to decide upon a movie to start with, so please take your time."
M'gann smiled at their leader, "We'll be back in no time! Don't worry!"
Kaldur went in the direction the two speedsters disappeared towards while the group of five went towards the exit that led to the parking garage. Zatanna brushed her arm against one of Dick's, making the boy look at her, "Do you think things are going well for Artemis?"
"If Green Arrow is anything like the one in our world, I'm sure they're getting along well."
"Do you really believe that?"
"...I'm sure they're fine."
/0/
"For the sixth freaking time, I can handle this on my own! You two can go home and leave what happens in Star City to me!" Green Arrow was currently riding the elevator up towards Queen Perdita's room. The fact that Artemis and Batman were riding it with him was really ticking the older archer off.
"We have information that is relevant to the queen's life. And since you are being petty about us helping you, I think I'll be more comfortable telling the queen myself." Artemis was looking at her nails, spreading her fingers and angling the back of her hand this way and that. Of course, her nails were not done and actually chipped here and there from constantly fighting and practicing with her bow but she knew the gesture would annoy Green Arrow.
"I am not being petty!"
"Arrow. Deadshot took a shot at Queen Perdita's life. And Artemis presented some worrying information that could very well be a very real threat. This is a serious matter, one that won't end with just Deadshot. You don't want to be a part of the League, I get it. You don't want to work with us, I get that too. But a child's life is in danger, queen or not. Accept all the help you can get, or you fail as not just a hero, but as an adult you so proudly claim you are." At Batman's little speech, Green Arrow went quiet, as did Artemis.
As the elevator approached Queen Perdita's floor near the top, Artemis spoke up just as the elevator came to a halt, "My Team has met Queen Perdita in our dimension. Her uncle, someone calling themselves Count Vertigo, tried to assassinate her using goons and five ice fortresses controlled by a few ice villains so he could be king. They caused a giant ice storm that choked up traffic almost along the entire eastern coast. Kid Flash managed to save her, and put Count Vertigo in jail. With the way things went down, I'm pretty sure her uncle in this dimension is attempting to do the same. It's hard for him to try something directly in Vlatava, as a coup would not go well with the people, let alone the government. Queen Perdita is adored in her country. But if she were to die by a super villain on foreign soil...less suspicious and easier to hide who hired them."
Green Arrow narrowed his eyes under his mask, "So it's no surprise that Deadshot was hired to kill her when she was out in the open. And we can reason that whoever hired him, wanted the queen personally dead and had no interest in the treasures being revealed or taken back to Vlatava. Considering how Vlatava has not done anything to receive any kind of grudge, and Perdita is so loved, the only one who would benefit from her death is her uncle, who is next in line for the throne. Why else would someone hire an assassin to kill just her, and not show any interest in robbing the museum in the chaos."
"Bingo."
"I guess the Count did not take me into account."
"Us. He did not take us into account."
"Fair enough."
Batman held his hand up, making both archers stop. Green Arrow looked at Batman, no longer in annoyance or frustration but with genuine curiosity, "Something wrong?"
"Queen Perdita just had an attempt on her life."
"More of a reason we should be going to her room instead of stopping."
"She just had an attempt on her life, yet I see no security whatsoever in front of her room. Not a single guard."
Green Arrow's head snapped up, finally noticing that there really was not a single person in front of Queen Perdita's room. Now that he thought about it, he figured someone would have been covering the elevators and to check their identities before letting them even approach the queen's room.
"Crap!" Green Arrow rushed forward, Batman right on his tail and Artemis close behind. Arrow dropped to a crouch on the right side of the door, drawing his bow and notching an arrow. Artemis took up a similar position on the other side, her own bow drawn and armed. Batman crouched in front of the door, placing a small device onto the card key lock before taking position behind Artemis. When the device flashed green, he gave a small nod to Green Arrow, the archer nodding back before slamming his shoulder against the door and knocking it open. The older archer moved to the right side of the hotel room entryway, arrow already notched and aimed while Artemis took position to the left, on one knee and bow brought up near her face.
"Clear." Artemis spoke quietly, giving Batman the signal to slip inside and move deeper inside the hotel room. There were three guards lying still on the floor, each of the heroes knelt by a guard to check their pulses. Artemis shook her head silently at Green Arrow and Batman, Green Arrow soon following with a similar gesture. Batman stood up, his silence being his own answer. Artemis went towards the bathroom, Green Arrow to the bedroom while Batman started looking around the messed up living room.
"Bathroom is clear." Artemis' voice shouted from down the hall.
"Bedroom is a mess, but also clear. She's gone. They got her." Green Arrow entered the living room just as Artemis did, both putting their bows away.
"Did you find anymore bodies?" Batman was rubbing two fingers against a burn mark on the living room walls, his eyes narrowing at the familiar pattern and residue.
"I found one more guard, but other than that, no." Green Arrow crossed his arms, while Artemis moved up behind Batman.
"Why do you ask?"
Green Arrow spoke up before Batman could, "Queen Perdita. Her body isn't here."
"No, it isn't." Batman turned from where he was inspecting the burns on the wall, "Which means either she was taken by those who attacked her room."
"Or she escaped somehow." Artemis finished Batman's thought, her eyes widening, "We have to find her!"
"What makes you think she escaped? They probably kidnapped her." Green Arrow raised an eyebrow at Artemis' exclamation.
"Um, hello Ollie!" Artemis waved her hand in the air, using M'gann's catchphrase and Green Arrow's real name without thinking. The casual use of his name made Green Arrow flinch and almost reach for his bow, but when Artemis kept going, his hands stopped, "Count Vertigo wants Perdita dead. Why would he bother kidnapping her? What sense does it make to take her dead body and possible incriminate himself? The only reason we can't find her is because she managed to get away! Which means she is either still in the hotel, which would be swarming with goons, or she managed to get out somehow!"
"Where did you find the last guard's body?" Batman suddenly spoke up, catching Green Arrow's attention before he could call Artemis out on using his real name.
The three heroes went into the bedroom, which had similar burn marks and one dead guard sitting down against the far wall with his head hanging low, his gun on the floor by his side and a burn across his chest.
Batman stepped forward, crouching down in front of the dead guard. He paused, giving a few seconds of respect for the guard that tried his best before reaching out to move the corpse away from the wall and onto the bed, "The three guards held off whoever was at the door, while one took her in here. Why?"
"To buy time? The bedroom is more defensible than the living room. Less open space, a better choke point to hold off the attackers." Artemis glanced at Green Arrow as she spoke, question in her eyes while the older archer just shrugged.
"True. Then why not have all four guards hold up in the room and better protect Perdita, while buying time for back up?" Batman placed his hand on the wall, knocking here and there.
"Maybe they thought that they could hold the living room without worrying about Queen Perdita being in the room with them?" Artemis looked over Batman's shoulder, "What are you doing?"
"Maybe they wanted to keep whoever was trying to get in, away from the bedroom for as long as possible. Maybe they didn't want their attackers to get close to the bedroom until the last moment." Batman paused when one of his knocks felt something. He poked his finger into the wallpaper, head tilting before he pressed some kind of button, a small square section of the wall opening up. Batman lowered his head, peering into a duct of some kind, barely big enough for a child or small teen to fit through.
Green Arrow spoke up from the back, "They had a contingency. An emergency exit in case Perdita's life was in danger."
"They've been here for weeks during Perdita's negotiations with the museum and anthropology society, plus the goodwill speeches and events she has been attending. Her security was not incompetent or stupid, they knew she was being targeted. And prepared this for her escape." Batman stood up and turned, moving past Artemis and Green Arrow and headed for the door.
Artemis took one more look at the escape duct before following the Dark Knight, Green Arrow close behind, "So she escaped?"
"Probably. I'm assuming the hit squad that was sent after Perdita struggled with the guards in the living room before making their way here. The last guard barely got Perdita into the duct and closed it shut before getting ambushed. He positioned his body so that it would cover the wall, just in case. Though the assassins didn't even think to look, and when they found the room empty, must have assumed Perdita was stashed elsewhere. They're probably scouring the city as we speak."
"Shouldn't we be out there then? We need to find her before they do." Green Arrow started to turn around but Batman's hand shot out, grabbing the archer's shoulder. Green Arrow knocked Batman's hand away, "What?"
"Think about it. If you escaped into the next room without anyone finding you, would you leave that room and risk being seen getting out into the city?" Batman turned around, facing the door a few meters down from Queen Perdita's VIP room. The Dark Knight placed a similar device he used before on the door's key card mechanism, "If it were me, I would stay in the one place the assassins would not think to look again."
The device flashed green and Batman opened the door, only to drop to the floor as a bullet sailed above his head and hit the wall behind him. Artemis and Green Arrow also dropped to a crouch, taking position by the sides of the now open door, their bows drawn and arrows notched.
"Stop!" Batman's voice made both archers freeze, but he was not speaking to them, "We're not assassins! My name is Batman, I'm a hero from Gotham City. The man behind me is Green Arrow and his partner. You've been here long enough to know what Green Arrow looks like."
Silence. Batman stayed where he was, flat on his stomach but staring into the dark room. Artemis looked at Green Arrow, who shrugged back at her. The older archer put his bow and arrow away, standing up slowly. He thrust his hands out, palms open as he spoke as gently as he could, "Look, I have nothing in my hands, I'm just going to show myself in the doorway. Please, don't shoot me. At least, not in the face. Got to leave something for the ladies if I die."
It was still silent, but since no one shooting, Green Arrow hoped that was a good sign. Slowly, very slowly, Green Arrow took a step forward, poking his head around the corner and showing his green bycocket hat and face covered by a domino mask, "We're here to help you, Queen Perdita. Please. You are still in danger. If we meant you harm, we would be shooting into your room, not talking." Green Arrow stepped fully into the door frame, his hands out to the sides, palms open in a peaceful gesture.
There were few more moments of silence before they heard a gun click. Batman could tell it was the sound of the hammer being set back into place, and slowly stood up. The room lights turned on, revealing the small blonde form of Queen Perdita holding a 9mm pistol. The queen's eyes were focused, standing proud as she spoke with an accent, "I apologize for shooting at you, Batman. I could not be sure who was knocking at the door, so to speak. I have had two attempts at my life today, I could not afford to be careless, lest the sacrifices of my guards be in vain."
Green Arrow smirked a little, "Who can blame you, still. Never seen a queen, or a ten year old use a gun that well. Or hold their own like you do."
"I insisted on being trained, enough so that I was not defenseless alone. Vaughn, the head of my security, taught me in his free time. He is...was, a good teacher." Perdita's eyes were pained, her first signs of vulnerability but it only lasted a moment, before steeled focus returned, "I would be grateful for all of your assistance in this matter."
Green Arrow nodded, "Of course, we'll all be by your side until your security detail gets here, then-"
"No." Perdita held her hand up, "I am not asking for your protection. I am asking you to find out who is after my life."
Green Arrow glanced at Batman, who was staring at Perdita and scrutinizing her.
Artemis stepped into the room, "You need protection, your guards did a good job covering your escape, but you must realize regular security won't-"
"Then one of you will suffice, but that does not solve the problem. You all cannot stay by my side forever, we must find out who is aiming for my life, and why. And put a stop to them so that no more innocent lives are lost or put in jeopardy."
Green Arrow and Artemis looked at one another. Artemis bit her lip. She had not proof that Count Vertigo was aiming for her life, but experience told her he was the most likely suspect. But what could she say? I met you in an alternate dimension and your uncle there tried to have you killed to take your throne, so your uncle in this dimension is probably doing the same thing?
"Fine." Batman suddenly spoke up, "Artemis will stay with you, here, and protect you. What about your security detail? Is back up on their way?"
"Vaughn tried to call them, but his radio was being jammed somehow. He never got a chance."
"Then don't bother." Batman turned around, making his way out the door, "For now, you and Artemis will stay in this room, hidden. Your assassins have no idea where you are right now, and if you call your guards now, they will undoubtedly find you again. If you want us to find the culprit behind this incident, then stay hidden. Green Arrow and I will find whoever is targeting your life and bring them in."
Perdita nodded, "This is acceptable. I will count on you both to resolve this, and I will rely on...Artemis is it?" The younger archer nodded, "To protect me quietly, where no one will suspect to look."
Batman turned to look over his shoulder, "We have a lead on who might be targeting you, so this shouldn't take long. If, for whatever reason, you need to leave this room, head for the police station. We will know to look for you there. If that doesn't work, then I will trust Artemis to take you somewhere safe. You will listen to her when it comes to your safety, am I clear?"
Queen Perdita nodded, understanding the situation perfectly. Batman turned his head back to stare at Artemis.
"If something happens and you cannot handle it, make sure you call me Artemis. And if worse to comes to worse, call your team."
"I got it, don't worry."
"Here kid." Green Arrow stepped forward, handing Artemis a small communication device, "This will reach me as long as you are in the city. Just in case." The older archer winked, earning a grateful smile from the younger archer.
Arrow turned to look at Perdita, "Well my queen, don't you worry. Batman and I will have this cleared up before you can say, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Perdita tilted her head, "Supercali... I am not familiar with this phrase."
"It's actually one word." Artemis grinned, making Perdita tilt her head the other way in confusion, "I'll tell you later."
"Arrow." Batman had already left the room and was heading down the hall.
"Later your highness. Keep her safe kid." Green Arrow gave a two fingered salute before making his way out the door, closing it behind him.
"So Perdita." the young queen looked at Artemis curiously, "What's Vlatava like?"
"Once A Hero, Always A Hero" update next. In case you have all not noticed, I alternate between updating each story. I update "Once A Hero, Always A Hero" when I can, then work on "Starting Over" then back to "Once A Hero, Always A Hero". I write when I can and update when I can. Don't worry, I will not disappear for years again but I still cannot promise consistently timed updates. I promise to try my best.
DC Extra #5
Robin limped through the forest, trying to get his breathing under control. The frost in the air bit at his face, making him pull his cape around his face to use it as cover. He shivered, his teeth slightly clattering as he desperately looked around for any signs of civilization. When he woke up, his friends were nowhere to be found and he had injured his ankle. When he tested it, he was sure it was not broken, just sprained. He still could not run or properly walk on it, but he could not afford to just sit down and rest. He had no idea where he was, where his friends were, or what kind of dangers he could face in the dark and freezing forest. There were no lights, no signs of civilization despite limping in one direction for nearly twenty minutes.
"So not feeling the aster..." the Boy Wonder groaned, placing his forehead against one of the thick pine trees, "Communicator is dead, no telepathic link, and my suit is not made for this type of deep cold temperature..."
Letting out a small huff, Robin pushed away from the tree, grasping his collapsible staff before moving forward again, using it as a walking stick, "How big is this forest anyways? Where the heck did the Boom tube take us this time..." The young Bat stopped, tilting his head as he strained his ears. He swore he had heard something, an animal.
He heard it again, a neigh, definitely a horse. Hope filling his chest, Robin quickly made his way in the direction of the sound. Wild horses could be a possibility, but it was more likely a domesticated one. Maybe he was in the countryside, and near a farm, which meant heat, civilization, and a good place to rest.
When Robin heard the neigh of the horse again, except this time much louder, he could not hold back his grin. He limped a little faster when he saw a break in the treeline, unable to keep down his cackle. In his haste, he did not notice the presence behind him until he felt something hard smack the back of his head. The Boy Wonder fell with a groan, his vision starting to fade as he saw multiple shadows above him.
Batman would definitely have his head for letting someone sneak up on him.
/0/
Robin groaned, his head killing him as he slowly came to. Scratch that, his whole body ached all over, especially his sore ankle and the back of his head.
"What..." Robin let out another groan, his eyes finally obeying him and opening, "What happened..." He looked up, his eyes blurring for a few second as they adjusted to the light.
"Hey you!" Robin turned his head, struggling to get his vision focused. He was met by a gruff looking face with dirty blonde hair and a full beard, "You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there."
What had Robin gotten himself into now?
Crossover: Do I really have to say? Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Video Game)
