this is probably not worth such a long wait, and I sincerely apologising for abandoning this fic for a year? two years? I've lost count. Life became a little more complicated for me, schoolwork, applications and such have been taking up my time during the last few years. However, I don't wish to discontinue this, instead, I am hoping to rewrite this entire story. I can't remember much of what I've already written (it's been too long forgive me), but I know it's more messy and complicated than it should be. Originally, I had no plan, I just wanted to do this for fun and give something back to a series that shaped my childhood, but I want to produce something of quality, and currently, it's not going as great as I had hoped.

If you're reading this, I giant thank you for still checking your emails or reading up to chapter 11 (with the previous 10 chapters setting everything up ahahah wow I'm terrible at organising!). When the time comes, I will revise this fic (and maybe post this elsewhere as well). I'll look forward to seeing you all then I suppose!

This will be the last instalment for Hey Brother for now.

Thank you for all your support so far.

( MareAlba and MissGeek your reviews prompted me to post this chapter. Thank you for bringing this back.)

Location: Wayne Manor, Gotham

It doesn't take a genius to know that Bruce spies on the Titans Tower from time to time. It also doesn't take a genius to know that Dick is very aware of Bruce's spying habits and trust issues.

But this time Bruce had a reason - not that his monthly spying wasn't without reason or just plain paranoia. This time, things were different. RedX was lying in the hospital wing. Bruce couldn't believe his eyes and had to do several scans just to make sure this wasn't a joke by either the Titans, or X himself.

RedX was a mystery that Bruce knew Dick Grayson was obsessed with. Something Dick blamed himself for. "Something that shouldn't have been created" if he recalls correctly. Bruce didn't think it was exceptionally unhealthy, after all, Dick is a detective, and part of the job meant going over everything until everything had a legitimate explanation. Bruce understood why Dick was so uptight about this, but it didn't mean that he wanted Dick to be like this. Like himself.

The outlaw had been discussed at the Wayne manor from time to time. After all, RedX would always make the front page of Jump City due to the damage he would cause - not that journalists were able to get a clear shot of him. Not to mention, Tim took interest in after he hacked his way into the files of the late Jason Todd. Most importantly, the punk beat up the Joker until all his bones were fractured, broken or worse.

Bruce couldn't tell if he was stupid or just incredibly dauntless - all the more reason to keep checking the tower incase anything devastating happens.

Alfred would always say that Bruce's spying habits weren't constructive, but Bruce thought otherwise.

Basic information about RedX was known to the public via news. However, due to access to the Tower, he knew how big a deal this RedX was. He's seen reports on the news and the cuts and bruises on the Titans after the fights, or heard Dick complaining about this madman running around the city, "destroying things and putting it on the Titans' tab" to Alfred on the phone, he knows the emotional impact that wakes them up at night from the stress in Robin's voice when the Titans and X go head to head.

Inviting him into the tower meant something equally serious was going on.

Moreover, the fact that Dick lacked knowledge about the situation made the entire event more suspicious. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Titans - he has high hopes for all of them, or else he wouldn't have sent Victor Stone an invite to join the League - he just wasn't sure if they could handle someone like RedX alone like this. The Titans have never caught him, but have worked with him. They've been on his tail, stopped his heists, but never managed to hand him over and put him behind bars. They seemingly remained on friendly terms with the outlaw. To be fair, Bruce couldn't decide whether it was good or bad.

It's little like Batman and Catwoman. He thought bitterly. Minus the attraction.

Dick then says something that manages to make Bruce's blood run cold.

"No, Dick. You can't just take Tim to Jump."

"And why not?" The boy whines, "He's a Robin, he should familiarise himself with-"

"No." He says firmly. "Not yet." He knew Dick had thought (for years) that earning experience through practice on the field would be more practical. But after Jason? Bruce wasn't ready. Tim wasn't ready. As he said - not yet.

"Bruce, you can't just keep him indoors like this!" He says, tone lighthearted but strained, just slightly.

"He hasn't completed all of his training." Bruce's eyes are stone cold, freezing Dick's warmer hue of blue. Dick manages to hide his slight shudder. "I let you go solo because you knew what you were doing, Tim's too young for that."

"And how can he learn if you keep him off the field?"

Alfred hits the back of their heads with the morning newspaper.

The original Dynamic Duo close their eyes simultaneously as their heads throb at the impact.

"Perhaps we shall ask Master Tim regarding this matter." The butler says, turning to face the newest 's eyes go wide, darting between Dick's smile and Bruce's slight frown.

"Well…" he clears his throat, "Bruce, I know…I know you're worried, but as long as Dick is there I'll be-I'll be fine." He starts, hands look for something to grab onto, before settling for the hem of his shirt. He takes a calming breath."I need to see for myself, and perhaps even learn a thing or two from a team that I may lead someday." He says hopefully. "If anything goes wrong, we'll call home."

Bruce was about to retort as Alfred glares. The Bat sighs. He doesn't like this. Not with all this going on, but for the sake of Tim, he nods reluctantly.

"Dick, Tim is your responsibility. Therefore your top priority. Don't-"

"We'll both be fine," Dick reassures. Tim beams as Dick ruffles his hair affectionally.

He's all grown up now. Bruce thinks, slightly disappointed. It seemed only days ago when Dick Grayson hid behind his cape, or baked cookies with Alfred and later stealing said cookies. Wait, no, stealing cookies did happen just a day ago. Anyhow, Dick grew to become a loving brother, which was more than Bruce could ever ask for. He just wished he had more time with him as a child...

Bruce had let Dick go too soon, but if Dick were to grow to be his own person, letting Dick find himself without his constant interventions was the only way.

Alfred seemed to have read Bruce's mind. The Butler has seen the various expressions that Bruce Wayne has had on his face, and this one occurs almost daily. The classic mixture of fury and fatherly worry. Alfred chuckles softly, and Bruce asks him what's so funny.

He replies. "You look just like your father, Master Bruce."

Location: Jump City

"Are you sure you can kill."

"What kind of question is that."

"I gotta make sure."

"I swear, X, you're more paranoid than your brother. "

"He's not my brother, Harper." His hiss stings the air, but despite everything, it is harmless. "We're getting off topic. Are you sure you're gonna fire that arrow when it comes down to it?"

Roy Harper AKA. Speedy AKA Red Arrow AKA Arsenal looks at RedX dead in the eye and squints. He doesn't know him all that well, but he kept asking him the same question. X is still doubting his ability to fight back and take a life. He doesn't really know whether to take it as a compliment because he's never crossed the line before or to just punch him to knock some sense into him.

"Look, Todd. I'm going to be fine, it's not-"

"You take this turn and you don't go back. You can't go back. Once your hands are bloodied, there's no way to wash them off." X says. "Ever."

Arsenal eyes soften. There is pain in X's voice, the voice changer attached to the X-suit proving to be useless against the bottomless pit of emotions as X speaks. He sighs and closes his eyes for two seconds, calming his mind, before nodding at the thief. X nods back, "My plan…involves killing. Something you Titans won't approve of, I know."

A snicker is heard "I don't exactly qualify as a Titan now, I'm probably disowned."

"Good to know. Moving on-"

"I will try not to kill," a third voice says, the two red clad ex-Titans jump at the sudden presence of an outsider. They turn simultaneously, weapons aiming at the source of the voice, ready to fire. "But if I must," she says, "it will be for justice." Her hair glows a bright orange, the colour of fire; of burning sunsets; the colour of rage and fury and anger. Her eyes and hands illuminating a dimmer shade of green, a shade so rare that mesmerises even the brightest stars in the darkest of nights.

Starfire stares ahead with anger. She will not allow innocent people to be hurt again. She will not let the powerless be oppressed. She will not repeat the horrors that occurred on her planet so many years ago. She will prove to herself and others that she is not only a walking nuclear reactor - no, she is so much more - she is the Princess of Tameran. A power mankind cannot control, and should not attempt to, because she knows that she is the only one with full control of who she is. After debating and laying out all her options, she decides that this is who she is. She decides that serving justice the way she wants defines her more than anything else, even if it means leaving her friends. She decides that joining forces with RedX may be the only way she can truly find herself.

X nods respectfully at the princess. He cocks his head towards Arsenal, motioning Starfire to come closer and join them and teleports them to a warehouse. It's grim, dark, but the cool breeze swirling in the air reminds them that it's not completely sealed from the outside world. The warehouse lights up, a rather melancholy shade of blue wraps the three figures as X places a device on the dust tainted floor.

Holograms, Roy notes.

He also notices the technology is strikingly similar to Wayne technology, but it wasn't exactly the same. Figures. Jason Todd must've tinkered with some of Mr Wayne's stuff in his spare time.

Maps of Jump city, linked to Steel city as well as Gotham were floating mid-air. Some buildings were marked with an arrowhead. It was a mess of red lines and crosses, around with a few arrows, and annotations added on. The Titans tower was a beacon of light, the brightest building on the map, the only building emitting white light. Roy raises an eyebrow in amusement "What's this? Future date destinations?" He jokes.

"Don't flatter yourself," X says. He explains that the red lines and blue buildings marked the streets, blocks and buildings that X had some power over. Red buildings scattered here and there accompanied by bright white arrows pointing at them were the buildings X found suspicious.

"This will be our next target." X declares, pointing to the blue building marked with white arrow shape. "It may be storage for your robots."

Roy's head snaps towards X. "What do you plan to do with them."

X shrugs causally, fidgeting with this gun holster, "You want them back, don't you?"

If Roy wasn't completely puzzled before, he sure is now. He looks towards Star for confirmation, and even she was just as surprised.

"Wait, you're volunteering to help me?" Roy hates this feeling of nostalgia, but his memories find it somewhat welcoming. A part of him sees the X-suit replaced with a Robin suit - and oh he'd be at ease if that were true - but times have changed. X has changed.

"There's a catch isn't there? You need something from them don't you?"

"Jump is better off without those unsteadied exploding machines, don't you think?" X smirks.

Star's face immediately brightens, "Friend X, I had never entertained the idea, but you do carry traits to be a Titan!"

X groans and ignores her "We're going to be up at 0400, get all the sleep you need."

Location: Batcave, Gotham

Robin - no - Nightwing stared at his reflection in pure awe. His smile mirrored the one he wore whenever he put on the Robin suit during his days with Batman. His eyes, however, were vastly different. Instead of the naive gleam of hope he used to have, he carried a melancholy expression. He was excited, and eager to try out what this new suit had to offer, but this meant complete segregation from the idea of being Robin.

Perhaps he wasn't ready to let that aspect of his life go just yet. He glances over to a babbling Tim, reciting literally everything he knows about the suit "the suit's made of a version of the Nomex fire-resistant, triple-weave Kevlar-lined material - effective protection against damage! Oh! It's also electrically insulated. Which is super cool!"

Dick smiles and pats Tim's head. Seeing the new generation of Robin so enthusiastic put his mind to ease.

He chose to go with a more flexible suit, something that matches his style of fighting. "Move more, get hit less, B" He would say. Instead of a cape, the suit was designed to be light sensitive, darkening when there is more light in the area - something he'd been planning to integrate to his Robin suit ever since he created RedX.

His favourite part? The stylised blue "wing" across his shoulders, extending to his hands, colouring his index and middle fingers. The brightest thing on the suit. A reminder of his identity as a bird, a Flying Grayson and the first Robin.

"I see your habit of getting flustered while staring at yourself hasn't faded, Master Dick."

Dick turns and beams at Alfred. "Thanks, Alfred. I could've never done this without you." He then turns to Tim, still looking up in complete astonishment, "You too, little bird."

A soft smile graces Alfred's usually unintentionally stern face. "Master Timothy, I suggest you start packing your bags for your visit to Jump City." Tim nods and heads to his room. "Master Dick," Alfred starts, "you need not worry about the mantle of Robin. It is in good hands."