Chapter 8

Mount Justice

10:32 AM

November 14th 2010

It over a full hour since Batman left; which the Team and the Titans decided to relax and were in the lounge watching some show while Red Tornado was there in order to keep an eye on them. He was unable to make an appearance last night since he was in his apartment tending to his 'secret project'? And when he was doing the transfer it caused a power shortage; it took a while for him to reboot.

When he was called in to replace Martian Manhunter as he had to do a few things. Most likely calling in the other heroes in the Justice League and associates to help him in this crisis. He stared at the Titans processing the situation and each member.

Their Aqualad seemed calm, cool, collected; similar to his Aqualad. Speedy was like Red Arrow but without the angst. Kid Flash was the same as this universe's one but doesn't seems to be more mellow. And Robin was for lack of better word: different?

Judging by his heartbeat which was calm; his behaviour was abnormal to him. Robin was like a child who enjoys his hero life and loves to make jokes and what urban slang tells him; trolling people. But this Robin in the hour he had known him; hasn't displayed any of these features. He was stressed and isolated himself from the rest of the group to fiddle with a yellow circular device. But if Tornado had been transported to another universe; it would've been stressful for him also.

As Older Robin was in deep thought while leaning on the rim of the a door as he pushes a few buttons on his T-Communicator; hoping to get a signal so he can contact home. Except he knew his efforts were pointless as this is another universe! Not some island in Hawaii back home.

But he had to do something! He hated being useless and not knowing what to do! Being powerless and helpless as he knows he can do something! He needed to go back home.

"You're worried, aren't you?" Robin turned around to see this universes' Aqualad standing next to him. Robin was having trouble remembering his name, Cal, Callum, Collin? But he decided to play it like he knew it.

"Of course I am" Robin replied as he continued "My team is without their leader, Starfire is definitely worried sick, they probably don't know where we are and I'm don't know how to get us back" his face turned sombre as Kaldur understood his pain. If he was isolated from his team and trapped in a world he didn't know. He would be more than sad.

"I'm sure the Justice League will find a way to return you and your comrades home, it will just take some time" Kaldur comforted Robin who in response only stared at him

"Yeah but how long, by the looks of it we could be stuck here for days, months, years!" he exclaimed but soon regained his composure "I'm just worried that's all" he admits as he hangs his head down.

As Robin he was trained to not rely on chance and faith for the matter at hand. Those abstract concepts were not as reliable as evidence and things that were practical like your own skill and knowledge, for you to depend on.

But here Robin is, having to let this matter go to the gods of fate. Would they have the Titans remain in this universe or would they let them go back home. The chance to return home was in God's court now.

"I assure you that the other Titans and Batman are worried just the same" Kaldur replies in an attempt to soothe Robin's concern but is rewarded with a glance of anger. Not a Bat-glare. But just a look of anger.

"Yeah right" Robin simply muttered as he walked off to his temporary room, leaving Kaldur baffled? He was comforting the Titan and he was treated with rudeness. But yet again this voiced Kaldur's suspicions about the Titan's relationship to their mentors; and it wasn't what he wanted to believe. But Garth hasn't shown any ill feelings towards them, so he was out of Kaldur's suspicions as he knew Garth. But yet again he knows Robin who was light hearted and this one was troubled.

Following Robin and Kaldur's converse, which Superboy heard. He asked the Titans one question the Team wanted to know.

"What's his deal?" Connor asked "He was just rude to Kaldur"

This made the Titans surprised at this question and so were the Team especially Rob who wanted to know that question since they first met.

"What do you mean?" Speedy simply asked as he and the other Titans were confused

"Conner is right, he may have responded in hostility but he wasn't angry at me" Kaldur spoke up as he walked towards the others.

"Could've fooled me" Connor merely retorted

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your Robin's relationship to your universes' Batman?"

Everyone just looked at the Atlantean; especially Rob who wanted to know that question since this morning.

"Well it's complicated" Garth was at a loss for words, as this was dangerous territory

"Your barking up the wrong tree. We may be fellow Titans but we didn't meet Robin until after the Titan's formed. We don't know anything about Robin besides the fact that he's a hero" Speedy simply replied which made everyone stunned; especially Wally and Kaldur.

"What do you mean?" Artemis asked, generally confused

"Yeah, weren't you guys the original side…young heroes? Are you telling us you never met before?" Zatanna choked at first, since 'sidekicks' was taboo around the Team but her point was valid.

"Yeah, we never met because of different schedules and also our mentors never really wanted to organize a play date for us" Speedy replied which made the original sidekicks; Rob, Wally and Kaldur a little bit nerved.

They all looked at each other and thought about how they met through their mentors and joint missions that they just so happened to be on with said mentors.

"Wait what about you?" Wally pointed at his dimensional counterpart who was confused

"What about me?"

"You're Robin's best friend, so how come you don't know him?"

"As much as I tried, me and Robin aren't best friends. Sorry" Kid Flash replied apologetically which made Wally and Rob confused

"Wait how come your not his best friend? We've been best friends since our early days of being heroes!" Wally retorted back confused but was halted by Rob

"What do you mean you 'tried'?" he asked only knowing he wasn't going to like it

"Well a couple years back, I heard about Robin and decided to meet him but the big bad bat got in the way" Kid Flash casually states which made the Team even more curious and stunned

"Wait what do you mean Batman got in the way?" Wally asked

"He didn't exactly like supers in Gotham and after I helped them beat up some bad guys; he sort of threatened that if I came back to Gotham, I wouldn't be left off with a warning. Ever since then I didn't meet Robin until we stopped the Brotherhood of Evil" Kid Flash summed up which made everyone somewhat horrified.

Everyone knew Batman was hardened and didn't like anyone to mess around in his city. Hell even the Guardians of the Green Lantern Corps have to ask his permission to enter. But after hearing why the alternate Kid Flash and Robin weren't best friends; it pictured him out to be a monster! When Wally went to look at his best friend.

He was already gone.


Batcave

10:40 AM

November 14th 2010

Bruce was tired!

He had just woken up from his one hour rest, which was supposed to be three hours. But the Titan's predicament was weighing on his mind.

So he slipped back into his Batsuit and went straight to the Batcomputer to contact the Flash, Atom, Green Lantern and as much as he hates to do it; he contacted Dr Fate. As his magical experitse may help the Titans return home.

As he contacted the League members that were useful to this situation. Alfred appeared with a tray carrying a cup of black coffee as Bruce looks at him and takes the cup and sips it.

"I wish you'll stop pushing yourself, but that's the equivalent of asking me not to breathe" Alfred stated with his rapier like wit which made Bruce internally chuckle and he brought up security feed of the cave which displayed the Titans and Team watching some show.

It was a normal typical teenage thing to do until Robin left when Kaldur mentioned his Batman.

Which didn't assure Bruce and Alfred one bit!

"Oh dear. That can't be good" Alfred commented with Bruce silently agreeing as the Team were conversing on what Robin's deal was. When the two heard that the other Robin's life was unknown to the three Titans, they were skeptical.

Sure Bruce made a concrete rule for Robin to never reveal his secret identity; but this was different. The other Titans never even met Robin until after the Titans were formed!

But what really was troubling about that was the fact the other Batman pratically denied his protege friendship and kept him isolated!

At least that's what Bruce and Alfred heard.

But Bruce was putting two and two together from the conversation he heard just now and the other Robin's behaviour towards him and his reaction to his name. He came up with an answer that he didn't like at all...

The Dynamic Duo had eventually split.

Bruce never expected Dick to be by his side forever and that he'll eventually do something to push Dick away and he knew it would be his Batman persona. He tries to not let it take over and Alfred has to remind him to be more of a father to Dick as he can but it's difficult everyday.

This wayward Robin must have been the result of these thoughts and fears.

Bruce and Alfred see their Robin run to his dimensional counterpart to find out more about him as he finds him about to enter his room.

"You know Master Bruce, we are not going to like what we hear, if we continue watching" Alfred warned Bruce with a fact they both knew.

"Yes but when has that ever stopped us before" Bruce replied as he continues to intently watch on to the conversation of the two Boy Wonders.


Mount Justice

10:50 AM

November 14th 2010

"Hey!"

Robin stopped trying to get a single on his communicator so he can look behind him to see who just spoke and he wasn't surprised to see his younger counterpart stop to stare at him face to face.

"What is it?" Robin asked with mild irratation as he was in his hopeless charade to contact home

"OK you owe me an explanation!"

"About what?"

"Don't play dumb! About Batman and your partneship with him!"

Robin wanted to scoff at 'partnership' since it was anythng but that in his eyes; but he stopped himself

"I don't have to explain anything to you!" Robin replied with a vein popping out of his hair "Besides it doesn't concern you!"

"Of course it does!" Rob frantically calls out as he spreads his arm in frustration

"Really and what so you want to know?" Robin cynically goaded his younger twin as he crosses his arms

Rob hesitated for a moment. What did he want to know?

"Exactly!" Robin exclaimed and he passed Rob as he walked down the hall back to the others...which angered Rob even more!

"What did he do to you?" Rob shouted out which made Robin abruptly stop!

For the first time he was here; his expression was sombre and sad?

But it changed to anger and annoyance when he closed his eyes and cleansed the sadness

"None of your buissness!" he turned around showing Rob, his fury

"It is!" Rob countered "I mean if something happened to you guys; I can stop it happening to us!"

"Is that what you think I am!" Robin yelled out "That I'm just some hack in life that you can use, to make your's better! No way, if he made my life miserable, then you have to deal with it like I had to!"

Rob was shocked. He only suspected that Batman was just strict to his older self... but not made his life miserable?

"What?" was the only word he could muster

"What? You really seem surprised?" Robin walked towards and looked down at his younger twin "You really thought that being Batman's sidekick would be fun?" he rhetorically asked in a cynic manner "Trust me, it won't happen now but he'll get you! He'll take away the one thing you love and smash it to pieces!" he states with absolute certainty "He won't even feel sorry for it" he whispered hiding great pain as he remembers the breakup he had with the Dark Crusader.

Rob...no! Dick didn't know how to respoond to this? This was more than he bargained for! He was hoping to just get a reasonable and calm explanation about the alternate Dynamic Duo, not this! Not this!

Robin stares deep down into his younger counterpart's sunglasses and saw not the eyes of a hero; he use to always see himself as. But a child who he had just hurt. Not being able to look at Dick anymore; he turns around.

"Look...what happened between me and him...really hurt and it's not easy to bring up" Robin faintly remarks as he hangs his head down in a mix of sadness and regret "I always believed there was nothing that could split us apart but then..."

"Then?" Dick asked quietly as he knew he wasn't going to like hearing it

Robin sucked in air and breathed while going back to his emotionless expression. Showing he was back in control of his emotions.

"He fired me"

Dick was finally devastated upon hearing this! He just thought they were having a spat or suffering in silence, not being apart!

Robin began to walk back to the others in a completely different mood.

Dick wanted to ask him why he was sacked but he officially learnt his lesson.

What would Bruce think about this?

But little did the two birds know that a certain bat already knew of this exchange and wasn't pleased with it.


Batcave

11:00 AM

November 14th 2010

Bruce and Alfred had just watched the entire conversation in utter silence and still were after it had ended.

Both showed different emotions to this but were feeling the same thing.

Sadness.

Anger.

And somehow remorse?

Both didn't know this Robin but the hurt and anger in his voice has shown that he had never talked about his problems with anyone and kept it locked up. And they felt guilt because of it.

Also both were disappointed with their alternate dimensional selves!

Alfred was appalled by how his counterpart may not have helped this other Dick and even if he did; it wasn't enough! Also he was also disappointed with Bruce! What was he thinking of firing Robin! He was like a son to him and by Robin's words; made his life 'miserable'. That one word rung in his mind since hearing it.

As for Bruce; he couldn't contain his disappointment in himself.

First Slade. Now this! What the hell was he doing in that world?

He had just heard he made his ward's life...no son's miserable!

He didn't care if he didn't get answers! He had to make this right somehow? Even though he didn't do anything.

Bruce put on his cowl and sent a message to Red Tornado to assemble the Team into the mission room and to still keep a watch on the Titans.

He gets off his seat and heads towards the zeta tube but looks back at Alfred; who only nodded before Batman stepped in. The message was clear;

'Talk to your son'


Mount Justice

11:00 AM

November 14th 2010

The team was uneasy it was a full ten minutes since the two Robins left and the Team wasn't feeling okay as usual.

"I heard shouting. You think they're okay?" M'gann asked with concern

"I do not know M'gann. I do not know." Kaldur answered with concern as well

Superboy wasn't as curios as his team as his Kryptonian physiology allows him to hear better than a human and what he just heard; wasn't meant for his ears.

"Connor you have super hearing what did they say?" Wally asked the Kryptonian clone who only nodded no

"Something I wasn't supposed to hear"

The Team could only look on to the two bird's location as they were now really concerned about what happened from Connor's reply; they didn't want to press the issue.

The Titans weren't as concerened as the Team since they didn't know Robin that well but he was still a teammate and valued friend...and they knew how much Batman had hurt him.

Robin had appeared with a stoic expression and Dick...Rob had followed; clearly not all there.

Before anyone could say anything they were cut short when Red Tornado had spoken

"Team you are needed in the mission room; Batman has a mission for you" Red Tornado instructed in his monotone robotic voice "Titans you are to remain here under my supervision"

The Titans were upset by needing supervision and Wally did a silent 'Ha Ha' as he exited the room along with his team but Rob only looked back to his older self; who looked away and with that Rob left.

"Great a mission! How am I supposed to stay 'traught when I'm distraught" he thought as his frown turned more sombre

"Could I turn into him?"


Sorry for the delay but with college and losing that creative flow for this story; it's been kind of a rollercoaster. But don't worry this story will be completed in a month or two, just have to think of logical backstories and story elements surrounding the Teen Titans; most notably Aqualad and Robin. Also I screwed up and wrote Kaldur existed in the TT universe which he actually doesn't. I know this is a fanfic but if I had done some fricking research; I would've avoided digging this hole. I like Kaldur but it would have made Garth's story a little bit complex to write more than Robin's. Wish me luck.