Like I've said, DC own Young Justice, not me.

Chapter 2—

Ten minutes later, they were hovering over the bank. The guide ropes fell down for Robin and he seat slipped away as he stood up. They floor opened up and he was able to drop onto the asphalt of the street. A barely audible rustle caught his attention and he turned to see a flash of silver metal. His reflexes caught the disk and he threw it to the side before it could explode. The Dark Knight emerged from the shadows of the early night. He wore a relaxed expression—his version of slightly impressed. Clearly, there was no massive threat, if there were, there would be no room for jokes or tests.

Then Robin saw him. The Joker struggled against the net that would around him as policemen helped him to the car, his destination was the Arkham Asylum.

"Ask the Birdie about his nightmares!" He was cackling, "Ask him." He threw his head back laughing.

Robin paled and tried to regain himself before Batman noticed but it was already too late. "I see you have everything under control, what was I called for?"

Batman raised an eyebrow, "Walk with me."

Air whipped around them as the bioship took its delayed departure but it didn't disturb the young sidekick or his mentor, for that matter. They listened to the last of the Joker's hysterics die away before they both set off for the mouth of the alleyway, bursting in movement simultaneously. He watched, he fell back behind his mentor, and without him noticing, picked up the note waiting in the corner before catching up. The Batmobile waited for them and it was a quick and silent drive back to the Wayne Manor. Alfred was there to greet them in a second.

Robin stepped out looking more dishevelled than when he got in. His eyes adjusted from the gloom of Gotham's unsafe streets to the gloom of the serious and miserable Batcave. Robin avoided Batman, now in his Bruce Wayne persona and Alfred who, was amazingly, just Alfred. He made a beeline to his room and all but lunged desperately for the shower. Once washed and changed, he fell into bed, the note in hand and read the scratchy words.

'Things will fall into place and you will fall into my clutches, my dear little bird.'

Robin took a breath no, he wasn't Robin he was Dick Grayson. He tucked the note into a random slot on the bookcase where it couldn't be found and fell into his bed. He was just a normal kid who could relax, with no major worries apart from that of homework, and could manage a good night's sleep. He scoffed at the thought, but otherwise, slipped into a comfortable sleep—one that was all too soon intruded by the reoccurring nightmares.

He awoke with Bruce shaking him. He couldn't breathe properly with his millionaire guardian clutching at his ribs so tightly. He pushed Bruce away, swallowed and gasped like a fish out of water. Finally, Dick could look around. It was his bedroom but he found himself looking up at it from the floor, the covers were half dragged down from their rightful place. Dick managed to steady his breathing before a hand was soothingly placed to his forehead.

"You're burning up. Did the Joker do this? You've been like this all day; did you see the Joker last night?"

"What? No."

"Than who did?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." He brought his hands to his head to keep it still but crashed to the ground with his support gone.

Bruce lifted him into bed. "Nice timing, I've got to say, just as Christmas Break started. I have an important meeting though."

"I'll be fine, have fun."

"That's the thing…" He went but paused at the door, throwing a wary look back, "Who poisoned you again?"

Robin laughed in spite of his banging head, "Nice try but you've trained me better than that." With that, he curled up under the covers that promised him warmth.

"Why can't he stay here?"

"Really."

"Well yeah, if he's ill and you're rushed off you're feet, bring him to Mount Justice. Superboy and I are here and the League and our team pass through here, they'll be able to keep an eye on him. I could make soup, I've always watched to try making."

Dick opened his eyes to see Bruce on the phone to M'gann as he leant on the doorframe. "So you'll butter me up with good cooking and try and squeeze an answer out of me that way. It's a different torture method but it might just be the effective one. I'll pass a note to Sloane that's what he should try on me next time."

"Who's Sloane?"

Dick bit his lip. Through the fog in his brain, it had just slipped out, memories threw him down that painful path and he found himself diving for a bin as he emptied the contents of his stomach. His head tipped as through he was tumbling down a flight of steps, with his head hitting each step in turn. He was almost pulling out his hair over the pain battering in his head. He became so disorientated; the floor grew closer and closer as his head dipped towards it.

"Thanks, Miss M, we'll be there soon." Bruce hung up and placed a hand on his ward's back.

Next thing he knew he was in a different bed in a different room. He wasn't in Wayne Manor anymore. He was dressed in his Robin costume and his domino mask felt tight around his eyes. His hand moved to pull it off when M'gann walked in with a steaming bowl of chicken soup. The tantalising smell easily lifted his spirits. The Martian girl gave him a faint concerned smile, but under that, it was clear she was proud of herself. It does smell wonderful, Robin thought, but that might be 'cos I'm starving.

"How did I get here?"

That confused her, "You walked here, two days ago." She sat at his foot, the bowl forgotten in her hand and she stuck a thermometer into his mouth instead.

"I remember your phone call with Batman and…oh I-I don't…that smells really good, is it a new recipe?"

"Yep, with a shot of Red Tornados anecdote." She stopped herself, biting her lip and Robin sighed.

"M'gann, you weren't meant to tell him!" Superboy's frustrated sigh echoed through the mountain.

"Sorry, Batman said you might be poisoned so Red Tornado a test and they found some serious stuff, that's why you've been out so long, and now, Batman's been growling about how he should have seen something's been wrong and you haven't been yourself. But he didn't really thin anything of it. Now he's going to get the answers from you." M'gann rambled and Robin stopped her by shaking her. "Those images in your head weren't from the computer were they? You lied to us?"

Superboy had his arms crossed at the doorway now. "Robin?"

He gave a sly smile in response then, in a flash vanished, to reveal dark eyes, "I don't know what you're on about. What could they have found in the test M'gann, Connor?" He said slowly, lacing his friends' names with venom that shocked both of them. It shocked them how he had changed. Then his smile was back, faint but back.

"I think of you as my little brother." She was finding it hard to say, "I want you to tell me what's happening." Superboy put a hand on her shoulder, offering his presence as support.

"Swear to me, you'll cover for me. And you don't tell anyone—"

"Don't bother!" Superman called from down the corridor, making Robin freeze.

Please tell me what you think.

I know it's only been a day but I love to write and I had this done in a matter of hours. There is no action in this chapter so I'll have a new one up soon enough. Please review, I know I make mistakes.