Hi guys.

I've just returned from an awesome festival and saw the first episode of the new season… it depressed me…
Who's with me?

Back at the story, here's chapter 7. I was forced to split the chapter so what I've said the last chapter about going into the next phase after this chapter will be delayed to chapter 9. Sorry. But you otherwise would have end up with a chapter of 13 pages (in Microsoft Word) in which way too much happened… But no worries! I will update very soon (because the other part is already written and only split before I reread it.)

The hotel was quickly filled with workers from the hospital and police. The first thing one ambulance man found was a man, still hooked to the AED and a boy laying on top of the man, crying. As the man came closer he noticed both the man and the boy were unconscious. He knew the man was most likely dead but he wasn't sure if the boy was.

"Stay clear," the man's eyes widen on the voice coming from the machine. The kid laid on top of the man while that thing was giving him shocks!

The man quickly turned off the AED and took the boy out of the arms from the dead man. "Hey, kiddo," the man shook the boy carefully.

The boy's eyes shot open. "Daddy!" but once his eyes had focused on what was actually in front of him he met eyes he didn't want to meat. His head snapped toward his dad. "Dad!"

The kid got himself free from the man's lose grip and got over to his father. "Why is that machine turned off!" the kid asked to no one particular. He took the machine and turned it on. "Please daddy, wake up," tears once again streaming down his face.

"Son, that thing is not going to work anymore," the helper told as he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Come," he turned the young teen around. "We'll bring him to the hospital and you can come with," the man said as he pulled the boy back to his feet.

Dick first shook on his legs as he was about to collapse back to the ground. "Have you ever ride an ambulance?" the man tried to distract the boy from the body before him.

The black-haired boy didn't react. He just silently watched how his father was placed on a stretcher and was brought away.

"Come, you'll like the car. We'll even use the sirens," the man tried to make it sound more fun to the boy.

"I know you'll use the fucking sirens! He's dying, God damn it!" The boy snapped only to suddenly dash off and leave a flabbergasted worker behind.

"Hey, stay here!" the man shouted but didn't fallow. He had to bring the man, the boy's father, to the hospital. "Someone, get that kid before he hurts himself. I have to bring this man away right away. We're not sure how long he has been without a beat."

Simon was placed in the ambulance and another person started to chase he boy. The woman who had fallowed found the boy in a room who smelled dull. It smelled like a person had lifted in there for days. She saw the boy packing stuff in his sport bag.

The boy took all he "owned" and placed it in de bag. Had he everything? The boy eyes the pillow he had hugged many night. Dick thought for a second. It would be the only thing beside the papers he had left from Simon…

He quickly took the pillow and pushed it into the big bag and placed the papers on top and zipped it up. He placed the bag on his shoulders and turned around to end up eye in eye with the woman. The boy jumped as he let out a shriek.

"It's okay. I'm here to help you," the blonde lady spoke in a soft, mother like voice.

"I don't need help," the boy muttered as he took a step back.

"Your father is already to the hospital. Should I bring you to him?" the black-haired one shook his head. "No? But don't you want to see your daddy?"

Dick's eyes sharped to a dangerous level. "I am aware of his death. And I can't come to the hospital, too dangerous," he mumbled the last part as he wanted to leave the room by walking past the woman.

The helper didn't take that for an answer and grabbed the boy, holding him in place. "What's so dangerous about a hospital?"

"They'll find me," The teen said as if the lady would understand.

"Who?" Dick frowned. That was enough for the girl to know that she was not getting the answer on that, maybe another way. "Where will you go?"

"Somewhere save… I hope," the boy once again spoke the last part from his sense halfhearted.

"Can I come with?"

"No!" the boy jerked himself free from the blonde's hands and ran off.

"Wait!" the lady rose and tried to chase the kid but ones she arrived at the main hall she saw the boy disappear through the main entrance and knew she would never find him again on her own. For that she needed a team, a big one.

-\/-

I let out a tired sigh. Tears were still streaming down my face and the image of my dad dying in my hands burned in my mind, leaving a guild building headache. I had already tried to clean my face from his blood with my own tears as only water at reach but it was still a bit visible. People probably will think that I'm sick or maybe even bushing.

But no matter how hard I've brushed my shirt against my face, I can still feel the blood on my face, I still feel the heartbeat of Simon slowly dying inside his chest. I can still feel all of that on my face, as if I was still resting my head on top of his body.

But I have to focus! I need a place to stay, to sleep and to dye my hair. I'm too recognizable and I can't effort something so close to being caught again. If I want to somehow blend in I needed to become unable to be found again. Even Wally shouldn't be able recognize me if I was right in front him.

My heart stung at that name. Wally. I miss him so much. He and his stupid jokes. But no matter how much I missed my best friend, I'm still angry with him, with the whole team actually. They ripped off my mask! Not that it matters now. Everybody knows my real façade. But why does it still hurt this much? Probably because even though the whole city knows who I am, it was still my team who betrayed me.

Talking about knowing, how did all those criminals found out about My being Robin? They just all of the sudden knew it. Time to find out.

I pulled my hat lower and walked toward the first woman I saw. "Ma'am, can I ask you something?" I asked without making eye contact, hoping she wouldn't recognize my face.

"Sure," The lady smiled politely at me.

"I've heard the son of the billionaire Bruce Wayne is Robin, is that true?" I tried to make my voice sound as young and innocent as possible. I usually try to sound mature and polite as possible whenever I speak to journalist or other people from the TV, so the contrast now was easy to make.

"Yes that is right."

"How did they found out? I though Robin's identity was top secret and only police knew that."

"The police didn't know his identity, boy. But there was a video from a few teens holding the poor kid down and ripped of his mask. It was filmed in a rather odd place and angle. It more looked like a security camera's footage," the woman said with a finger on her lip thinking back. "It almost looked as if it was a cave they were in but it also looked like a place where people lived in. So I can't tell you where it was actually was filmed."

I thanked her and left, giving her a childish wave as I run off.

So it was their fault. Anger started to boil up inside of me as I kept running away, away from nothing. Now can't live with Bruce anymore neither have a normal live, all because of them.

Suddenly all my anger took a sharp turned into sadness. My friends, my companions, my teammates, they betrayed me and yet I can't hate them. I just wish I could meet them so they could apologize and I could tell them it is alright and that we could be friends again. How I wish I could be one of that team again. But I can't, never again. I've wasted that life and now I have to find a new one.

Suddenly I met somebodies chest and fell backward. As I looked up a found a light tinted lady who quickly helped me back to my feet. I've been drifted way too far with my thoughts to run into somebody like this. I should keep myself together or I will look suspicious.

"Ah! You're," the black-haired lady said as she started to point at me.

Shit! I was looking her right into her eyes. She could easily recognize me! And it sounds like she already did. "Shhhh!" I pulled her into the alley.

"You're Robin!" the lady said as she looked at me like she saw the 7th wonder of the world.

"Not so loud! You want to die!" I shouted in panic.

"Sorry, I was just surprised you're still alive," the woman said as she moved a bit so she ended up blocking my view on the street. Smart, it would work perfectly the other way around. "Are you hurt?" she suddenly asked as she came closed and touched my cheek.

"Err, I'm okay," I said uneasy. Why was this lady so… so touchy?

"But there is blood on your face," the woman said as she started to rub over my cheek.

"I KNOW!" I slapped her hand away angry as I snapped at her. How could she mistake his blood for mine!

I silently watch the black-haired lady before me as I panted. His blood... on me… I felt tears slowly making their way down. Simon's blood…

My knees gave in as I covered my face with my hands. Simon was dead and his blood won't get off my face. His blood has been shed for me. It should have been my blood staining the red carpet deep crimson, not his. Why was I so late?

"Come, you can't stay here like that," the lady said as she pulled me back to my feet. She easily picked me up and started to carry me to where ever she wanted to go.

I was too tired and felt too defeated to struggle, to even move. I just kept on crying, crying my heart out. It hurt so much to see someone so dear to you die. It's unbearable. All I wanted now was to coil up, fall asleep and never wake up again. All just so I don't have to feel my heart ache like this.

Before I knew it I was carried into a house. It wasn't a big house, not at all. But it was warm and it looked so homely. The home was a three roomed one and I was placed in one room where three beds stood. One double bed and two single beds.

I was placed in one and the lady sat down on the edge of the single bed I laid in. "You like to have a listening ear?"

"You shouldn't help me. It's too dangerous. And it seems like you have a family. You shouldn't risk your family's life for me," I felt my eyes becoming heavy, just like the first time I lost my parents. I was somehow so tired that I've slept for two days after the murder.

"I know, but if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have a family at all," the black-haired lady said as she glanced out of the window with an empty stare, as if she was remembering something. "You've saved my man from an early dead once and you've saved my children once too. I owe you their live."

"I've saved many but I never wanted any lives back for it."

"Okay then," the Asian lady said as she moved a blanket over me. "Stay for today and tomorrow you can leave," she said with a smile and wanted to leave the room.

"I can leave whenever I want!"

"Yes you can but you should rest now. You look tired enough to me," the lady smiled and left the room.

She was right. I am tired. And I can use a good sleep. It wouldn't hurt anyone to take a nap for now, right?

Before I knew it I was drifting into a peaceful dream. One I hadn't for a while. About my first parents and my first lesson in acrobats. How I missed the robes. The slight burning feeling in my fingers when I made them turn and let myself fly to the next one.

Such warm memories…

-\day eighteen 9:30 PM/-

"We have seen the news. It has even reached the other cities, not to forget Batman is missing for eighteen days now. So yeah we know Batman and Robin's identities are compromised," Superman growled angry over the monitor.

How could those kids think they hadn't notice. Batman is the leader of the Justice League for crying out loud. As if they wouldn't notice the leak of Batman in the watchtower or the leak of Batman bossing them around. No, just no way they wouldn't have noticed!

"I'm sorry," Kaldur said feeling a bit uneasy. "It's just that we've been looking for Robin ever since the fire was reported on the TV and we hadn't had many night in which we've slept well. We're all tired and are just in need of some straight and clear answers," the teen explained while looking through the room seeing the tired faces. "So I'll come straight forward. Do you know how to contact Batman and Robin?"

"We're not supposed to contact them," The older Kryptonian said in avoidance. So he did know how.

"I don't care if we're not supposed to!" Conner suddenly shouted to the other man of steel. "We've been looking for Robin for almost 20 days now and we're still not sure if he's even alive! We had about enough of living in doubt and want to know if our friend is alive or not and RICHT NOW!"

The room and the man on the screen was silence as they watched the clone in awe. The teen had never spoke out like that to them, let alone to Superman. But he was right. They wanted answers and they wanted them badly.

So the group turned back to the monitor facing Superman with a resembled glare. Robin, even Batman would have been proud of that one.

The man let a sigh escape and is strict face was replaced by a sad one. "There was a time limit for the two to inform us on their wellbeing. Those are fifteen days and only Batman has made contact. By the rules Batman has gave us we have to consider Robin as either dead or as incapable to blend in."

Megan frowned. "Incapable to blend in? what do you mean? And why would we consider him dead!" the girls eyes spoke of her extreme concern. Could Robin be actually dead?

"Okay, listen. Ever since Batman has gained his protégé he had made up a plan. A plan for when their identities would have been compromised. One of the rules was that once they had succeed to blend in properly, and if it would be save enough to make contact, they would. If there was made contact we could assume they were okay. The second time of contact will announce that either they're in need of help or that the plan of their return would start. But since Robin has failed in making contact means either he didn't survive or failed to bled in fast enough," the man let out a heavy sigh. "Batman had made a whole calculation behind this plan. After failing to blend in after fifteen days the change of blending in anyway and surviving would be too small to assume the person would survive. This plans force us to give up on Robin and assume he's dead or will be dead very soon."

The silence in the cave was heavy, burning. Batman had actually made a plan in which his son could be count as a dead man before he even died and just leave him that way!

"I'm very sorry," Superman spoke up after a long silence. "But you have to give up on Robin."

"No way!" all eyes shot to Wally seeing tears roll down his face. "NO FREAKING WAY!" the teen said as he threw his arms through the air as if he wanted to smack his hands on a table. "I'm NOT going to give up on Robin! We can't just let him die! There must be a way to contact him!"

"Wally, please stop," the soft and hurt voice of the archer silenced the speedster. "We've already tried everything. And there could be a change that Robin don't want to return and be count as a dead man. You know how much we've hurt him. He maybe didn't make contact because he didn't want to be found," the girl said sniffling. How could this have happened? Just after they messed up and right before they could set things straight again. How could fate be so cruel?

How could fate give her a father who is a villain and a mother who's unable to walk. How could fate take away Robin's parents and then take away his change to reunite with his second father?

The blonde girl threw herself into the ginger's arms and buried her face in his chest. "We've already tried everything. We just can't find him," the girl said face still hidden in Wally's chest.

Wally wrapped his arms around the girl and laid his head on top of hers. He felt tired and broken. They had lost a teammate and it was now official. The change they would never see their friend again and would forever stay with the feeling of guilt was just too big.

The group slowly started the droop and dripped away from the monitor. They had heard enough and needed rest. They needed sleep and time to over think everything they had seen, heard and learned the past twenty days.

The group mostly split as Kaldur made his return to Atlantis to find a quiet place where he could think. Neither Tula could distract him from his goal. And the goal was clear. He had to make up his mind, he had to understand everything from the past twenty days. He needed it to sink into the thick skull of his, into his hurting heart.

Conner and Megan looked up a quiet place to sink into thoughts together. They found a place before the TV to snuggle up and let their thought melt together and make all the knowledge gained sink into their hearts.

Wally also wandered off to a quiet place. His was his room with all his souvenirs. He let himself slide down while he leaned against the wall. But before he could completely drift into his thought he noticed somebody by the door. As he looked up he saw the blonde archer approached him with a shy look on her face.

"I feel lonely and cold. Can I stay with you?" the girl asked avoiding eye contact.

"Sure," the redhead answered a bit absent.

He hadn't noticed the girl sitting down beside him until she suddenly let herself fall into his lap in a way that seemed like she wanted to sleep there. The boy simply excepted the pose they're in and started to stoke the girls long ponytail as he drifted off in thoughts.

Artemis simply closed her eyes and made herself drift away too in thoughts as all she felt was her ponytail being brushed. She didn't mind. She even liked it a bit. It made her feel relaxed and save.

So that was chapter 7 :D

I hope you guys like what happened and that I showed enough feelings from the team. I have a reason why I light Wally out more (and will be). The first part of this fic is more Robin and Wally centric meanwhile the other part will be more Robin/ Batman centric.

Anyway, please reviews and tell me what you think about Simon! :D I would love to hear from you guys! (since you barely reacted on my call out for having a writer's block…)

~Till next time!