Disclaimer: If I owned Young Justice, would i be here? nope! you'd be seeing this on the big screen! or in the comics! unfortunately I haven't even applied to work at DC comics (doesn't their new logo suck?)

Thanks everyone for the ideas! Still could use a great 'get the whole league out of the house scenario, no aliens' idea for 'Without Me', but i think Roy's coming into the story's been solved on here. More Haley's circus names would be great too.

Someone suggested I put this into angst for a little bit because of how this started, but I tell you now! it will get happier! Starting here actually. 'Or not' is one of my favorite Robin lines, right next to 'Whelmed'. Plus we get to know a few things about the Super family here! Yay! Clark starts getting some sense!

Where's Robin?

Ch. 3 – Or Not

"How is he?" Diana asked the man of steel as soon as he left the Batman/Robin room. Her concern as a friend was evident, but her grief from hearing about the boy's death still shook her calm exterior.

Superman was still struggling with the news. It was not yet common knowledge. Diana was with him when Superboy called. The clone called him on a JLA frequency, almost desperate. It was clear how much pain he was in, but more so how much he worried for Batman. He wouldn't have called at all if it weren't for the tales of Batman and Superman being best friends.

"Please, you have to come!" Conner begged. "It's Batman! He can't… he's just… Robin's… Just get over here! Please! He needs you!"

Superman wasn't sure if he'd come if it weren't for the pleading in the teen's voice. On most occasions, Batman didn't need help, nor want it. And if Robin was with him, there was nothing to worry about. But the scared, worried voice the boy used was just like his own when he begged for his Pa to help him with a ewe on the verge of dieing. So he came straight over.

Seeing Bruce in such a state was all he needed in order to know what happened. Conner mentioned Robin. There was only one answer.

"Not good," he answered at last. "He can't take it out on Wally, and there's no body for…"

It took all his strength before not to cry with his friend, but now it was nearly impossible. Bruce was like a brother to him, Dick like a nephew. There was little to hide between the three of them, and despite the rift forming between them concerning Conner, they still understood each other. "Great Scott, what are we going to tell Alfred?"

It was likely the old man would be devastated at the news, maybe even die from it. Their small household had lost so much in their lifetimes. Losing one more of them could destroy them forever. It was already likely the Batman would never take to the streets again. How could he in this state?

Wonder Woman lowered her head sadly for a moment, then stepped forward to wrap her arms around her comrade. Superman graciously accepted and returned her embrace. Tears flowed down his face at last, letting out the grief of losing their youngest member of the superhero community.

In the room behind him, Batman laid on Robin's bed, the bed he gave him when the kids were given the mountain as a base of operations. It was once his room. The walls were soundproof. The security was highest here. When Robin visited the League late at night, he'd sleep there. Truthfully, it was more Robin's room than Batman's. There were even photos of the two of them back when he was a child lying about. The early days. The best days.

Bruce pulled off his cowl as he picked up each picture, remembering when they were taken. One was right after a Joker case. The two of them were still grinning from the toxins. Another was before he exchanged his pure yellow cape for his current one. He complained it was too long, but Alfred convinced him the extra safety was important. Lately Robin argued the cape was a burden and he wanted to ditch it entirely. A third picture was of him riding on Superman's back, flying excitedly. He always wanted to fly. And another, one the boy copied many times later, was of the early League and his friends, all smiling together.

It was before Kaldur joined them, but the bonds between mentors and protégé's were apparent. Flash kept his hand on an excited Kid Flash to stop him from running off. Speedy stood proudly next to Green Arrow, as if trying to blend into the League itself. Robin though grinned from ear to ear right in front of Batman. Batman had both his hands on the boy's shoulders, not to keep him there, but to stop him from making silly hand gestures while the picture was being taken. It was the fourth attempt. Robin was responsible for two failed tries, KF for one.

Those two… always making trouble for the League. Though both could he counted on in the field to behave, behind closed doors they always managed to get someone riled up and another rolling with laughter. And when Roy joined in, the three of them were unstoppable.

'Now look at them,' he thought, present times coming to his mind. Speedy had pulled free of his mentor and become Red Arrow. The idea behind the name was to pay homage to his ideal of Green Arrow before he actually worked with him. In a few years time, Batman was certain he'd be part of the League. Maybe sooner. Oliver should be proud.

Kid Flash was growing nicely, despite his teenage awkwardness. In time he'd make a fine adult, but who knew what title he'd give himself. That was if he survived what just happened.

And Robin… Thinking back to Robin, it hurt. He imagined how the boy would grow into a fine adult. He prayed once he'd take more after Roy than Wally, but also hoped he'd keep his boundless faith in people. Batman never wanted to disappoint the boy. And now…

A new wave of grief flooded him, forcing him to curl up again. He clutched the League picture to his chest and rocked himself as he cried. This pain was too much. Robin gone. Dick gone. His son, gone. They only signed the papers to make it official a few weeks ago. Father and son. Now just a man without a boy to bury.

Superman knelt down next to the spot he found his friend earlier, trying to fix what was broke. Batman's blind fury only harmed himself thankfully, but the computer was having trouble functioning without that part. Once it was back in place and repaired best he could, he saw why the man had ripped it out. FAIL appeared on the floor beneath him, right where the hole was situated.

"Look at this."

Diana's voice brought the kryptonian out of his reprieve and he stared at what she was talking about. Apparently, before Bruce's breakdown the man was working on something. The security footage of the moment everything he held dear was taken from him. Batman had modified the image to see exactly what happened perfectly.

"Oh God." Superman couldn't stop himself. Bruce was always one to torture himself with the death of his parents or a person they met on a mission. Now he was torturing himself with the death of his son. No wonder he broke down.

"Doesn't it seem a little odd?" Diana turned on the man of steel, dragging him out of his thoughts.

"Odd?" He turned on the woman, frowning. "Robin gets killed and you think it's odd?"

"By Hera. Just look at him." She pointed to the screen again, making sure he saw what she did. At the instant Robin was struck, there was no change in his expression. He didn't flinch like he would when hurt. In fact, it was as if a pillow had struck him and he was just pushed backwards. Then his simply vanished.

"Wait, what?" Superman stepped closer to the screens. "That is odd."

"No screams, no grunts, and the noise," Diana turned the audio back on and played the scene again. When the machine fired, there was only a whine. When the light struck Robin, there wasn't a sound. A second later, when Robin vanished, there was the ear splitting crack. "It comes only when he disappears."

"But what does that mean?" Superman tried to make sense of it. "What kind of weapon is that thing?"

"How's Batman?" Both leaguers turned with a start at Conner's voice. The teen had pulled himself together enough to approach them. It was clear he was trying to be strong, but his red rimmed eyes told them differently.

Superman looked to the floor, avoiding the overwhelming feeling he had every time he saw the kid. He didn't really want to hurt him, but it was still hard getting used to the idea of having a functioning clone, let alone one who tried to be like him of his own accord. Bruce called Conner his son. He wasn't ready for anything like that. The idea was just too much at the moment.

But Bruce just lost his boy. How many changes would Clark have with this one?

"Not good. Not yet at least. Give him time." Superman heard the footfalls of Red Tornado and looked up at him. "Why didn't you call us after it happened?"

Tornado paused right behind Conner, almost as if he stood there on purpose to force the man to look at him. "Batman said he would call when he was ready. Considering the circumstances, I thought it best not to do anything rash. There is still insufficient data."

"Insufficient data?" Diana stepped forward, her confusion mingling with an idea. "Why do you say that?"

"Due to the light and sound, one can not be certain what took place at the moment in question."

"What do you mean?" Conner looked over his shoulder at the android. Far behind them in the doorway separating the common area to their main hall, stood M'gann and Kaldur, both unsure if they should be part of this conversation. "Robin's…"

"All sensors indicate Robin is no longer in the mountain," Tornado informed them. "Communications are severed. But there was no heat given off during the flash and no residue indicating bodily decomposition."

"Meaning?" An inkling of hope entered their minds.

"There is no physical evidence of Robin's death."

A/N: Anyone watch Justice League? there was this episode where superman "died" but there was nothing in his place, nothing at all. It was this one thing that made Bruce think Clark wasn't really dead. Sometimes the lack of a body is all the evidence you need to start looking for the truth. When Bats was checking the ground earlier, it was with the same intention to prove whether Robin was dead or not (checking for ashes or something to prove there was a body there). But seeing the feed kinda knocked that out of his head. Silly Brucie... Should have kept a cool head. then he wouldn't have had his breakdown.

Ah yes, Clark and Conner have already started connecting a little in my earlier stories (just a little). And the tales of Bats and Supes being friends goes back to being the World's Finest. I think Conner and the rest start seeing Bats as an Uncle because of all the things he does for them, plus he actually listens to them and cares so much for Rob. Conner seeing Bats in this state would get him to call Clark in desperation. He's the only person they know he's close to who's not Rob! So yeah, they'd have to call him in to help Bruce.

And tornado would be the one to make everyone doubt what they saw. An impartial emotionless android would be able to make them think differently with the truth. Kinda like this one.

To satisfy other readers, there will be wonder woman in this story more than the others. The big three are friends after all. Diana wouldn't just abandon Bruce, but she's not as close to him and Robin as Clark so she's a little standoffish. I'm not supporting WonderBats in this universe. JL tv series sure, but not here, not yet. Need proof.

Dang I'm rambling. Help still needed for other stories! glad you enjoyed!