I don't own DC.

Chapter 3—

"Pass me that." Robin reached for the soup that had been tempting him and took the spoon form Superboy. "With any luck, I'll burn my throat so I can't talk." Really he wanted the energy—he imagined how weak and pale he looked, and he hated being weak. The soup was good.

Superman swept in, pulled up a chair and took a seat by Robin's side. Behind him, his clone/son was feeding all his hate into staring at Superman. If he could ever chose a time to adopt heat-vision, then would be it. The Man of Steel waited until he had the Boy Wonder's attention, he put the soup down on his knees so it could still warm his hands. Robin could be difficult for Batman but he owed Superman the truth. He expressed it clearly in his face.

"Who is Sloane?" He asked reasonably.

"Is that a trick question?" Nah, he'd be difficult.

He tried a new line of attack. "Who do you think poisoned you? The Joker?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No, not the Joker." It was not a lie, at least—it had not been the Joker but someone equally as insane.

"Was it Sloane?" Robin took a slurp of soup as he asked and the boy instantly regretted it as it tried to make its way up back the way it had came.

"What time is it?" He changed the conversation.

"Lunch time," Superboy filled in.

"Where is everyone?"

"Wally is begging the Flash to let him see you but its Sunday Lunch at his Aunts, so Flash is out too. Artemis is Artemis and Kaldur is reading in the rec. room, he'll come in later. He thought we should let you rest."

Robin shook his head, "I've rested for two days." He pulled himself up, "And the League are on the mission."

"They've just finished with the Joker." M'gann told him, her eyes glowing from telepathy with her Father.

"You're joking; he's only been arrested the other day. How did he get out so soon? Harley too?"

"They had help, from someone named Sloane." She sighed, "Robin?" She almost whined.

Robin swung his legs over the edge, already missing the warm covers, and pulled on his boots and cape-piece. He stretched and reached for his utility belt but before his fingers could graze the gold surface, it floated out of his reach.

"M'gann, I'm not in the mood." He dropped his voice again, as he turned.

His stare quickly found the girl and froze her to the spot with fear. Behind her, he saw Martian ManHunter, his hand held out controlling his belt. His stare didn't falter as he looked over him and Red Tornado who remained at the door.

"Your emotions have become irrational and unpredictable." The robot said monotonously.

"So what?" Robin snatched the belt from, "I don't remember the last two days, how would I know?"

"It was just an observation."

"I thought you were with the League anyway."

"You need supervision since you are ill, you have been violent and angered." ManHunter put forward.

"Maybe because I'm being treated like a baby." He snapped back. "I can mind myself, even with a cold."

"You are the youngest." Red Tornado suggested.

"That was not the best thing to say." Superboy interjected, "Stop pressuring him, you're making more of a deal of it than it is."

"You did not see the strain of virus he was affected with, it is quite extreme."

"Enough."

The heroes were stunned into silence; Robin was usually always calm, even in the worst situations. Robin had a longer fuse than most. He barged past them all and even Kaldur as he was coming the other way. He was about to greet the thirteen-year-old with a 'Are you feeling well?' but didn't come to it. Kaldur turned and tried to follow him but lost him at a corner, it was as if the second he couldn't see him, he vanished. Superboy, M'gann, ManHunter, Superman and Red Tornado came to stand next a puzzled Aqualad.

They weren't going to find him if he didn't want to found; they had learnt that at least from the Boy Wonder.

Kid Flash's POV

If there was a record speed for whipping into our costumes, Uncle Barry and I had just broken it. We didn't want to be late; we zipped down to where we were needed, I stopped just beside the stage and he zipped up to the microphone. I could be his big entrance. People cheered anyway. Uncle was speaking to the public on a cherry wood pulpit beside the new, rebuilt Flash museum. Standing in front of the colossal monster of stone and brick, devoted to my uncle, was like looking up at an oncoming typhoon. I could only imagine how the swarm of people felt, although, they were too busy looking up expectantly at my uncle.

It made me smile how this place could accept freaks like us speedsters. I went through a time thinking I was a freak but I didn't think that any more, it was clear I could make something out of this power. I was going to become the Flash—it was my calling. I loved helping the Flash down in Central City, his home; he loved and it loved him back. I saw something in the distance and I pulled my goggles on to see about a dozen heavily armoured scaly looking things. I caught my Uncles attention when I could.

"Psst, armadillos are coming."

"What?"

I handed him the goggles and pointed to the distance where they were advancing down the roads, clucking loudly as they did so. Then a God awful laugh rang out and all could be seen was a small hovering disk floating towards Flash and I, on top of it, the Joker cackled. After passing over the crowd, causing screams and a few to run away, he came to rest on the other side of the stage to us and stopped of the disk, it vanished soon enough. Then it was just him and us. His make was smudged and rushed, making no difference to when it was meticulously placed in order to scare. The armadillos arrived and set themselves around the stage.

"KF, go." Flash murmured.

"I don't think so, let the kid play."

A shiver clamped my spine and I darted as fast as I could, the first stepped left in order to block me but I had gone in-between the second and third nearest armadillo. I was out clear. I jumped down off the stage and ushered people to disperse. A girl my age clutched my arm, normally I wouldn't have minded but as an armadillo peeled away to come after me, I knew she was only putting herself in trouble. I grabbed her, as the armadillo neared and darted a safe distance away and softly wrenched her hands from me.

"It's not safe."

She gave a slight nod, and then ran. I darted forwards and jumped up, catching a kick to his eye, one the few fleshy parts. I landed on my feet and carried on running.

"What are you doing here in Central City? What happened to Gotham? Did they kick you out? Only proper villains allowed. Or were you meant to be in Arkham?"

"I chose the last one. Oh, oh do I win? Do I get a prize?" Joker clapped his hands in feigned anticipation.

"Sure, a trip back there."

"Joker." A gruff voice ran out and suddenly Batman was standing behind me, with the rest of the league not far away.

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