DISCLAIMER: I am not cool enough to own Young Justice D:
This chapter is rated T for mild violence. (The next chapter will actually be rated M! GASP. ACCURATE RATTING!)
3 years later, at the First Bank of Gotham, sometime around midnight…
"C'mon boys, C'mon!" crowed the Joker, lounging on a bench and twirling a pistol on his finger. "We've got to get Harley's worker's comp.! Don't want the union coming after me now do we? AHAHAHAHAHA!" Two large henchmen with blank stares and clown outfits laughed stupidly with the Joker as they set up dynamite and explosives around the door of the safe. The bank was closed for the night, so they didn't have any mousey civilians to deal with, but of course, that also meant a lack of an audience, which miffed the Joker a bit. He could only hope that his bestest pal Battykins would show up so he could play with him!
Almost on cue, Batman dropped out of nowhere, kicking a henchclown in the back of the head. A small boy dressed in green, yellow, and red dropped down behind him, looking curiously around. He had a mask covering his eyes and hell, the kid couldn't be more than ten!
"Ah, Battykins! So good to see you again!" the Joker smiled widely and stood, throwing open his arms as though welcoming them. "Who's the little shadow? You're letting children watch our shows now?" Said 'shadow' glared at him.
"The name's Robin, clown freak! And I'm not here to watch, I'm here to kick some butt!" The bat was silent and expressionless, as per usual. He was a total contrast to the fiery kid next to him.
"HA! We'll see about that!" he snapped his fingers at his henchclowns. "Make the kid welcome boys!" The clown men rushed at Robin and Batman. Batman ran forward, straight at Joker, and Robin leaped into the air at the last minute, causing the clowns to run into each other. The Bat took a swipe at the Joker, who danced just out of reach. "HA! Three against two and you're leaving my boys to the bird kid? Oh Battykins, someone needs to read a proper parenting book!" The Caped Crusader's only reply was to land a blow on the Clown King's big fat mouth.
Robin was certainly holding his own against the two hulking idiots. He easily dodged their sloppy attacks, barely breaking a sweat as they clumsily lunged at him. One pulled out a gun which he easily kicked out of his hands. There was a load BANG from Joker's pistol as he shot at the Bat, which distracted the henchmen for a moment. When they looked back, Robin was gone, a trickster's laugh hanging in the air behind him.
"OOoooO! Did you hear that Batty?" asked the Joker, pausing on a ledge to shot again at Batman. "Woo! I got chills!" The crazy clown hugged himself and giggled. "Now THAT is a laugh! Why don't you ever laugh like that Batsy? Maybe the bird boy has a better sense of humor than even you!" Robin swooped in from nowhere, swinging on a rope. He used his bat-a-rang to tie the goons together as he swung passed them, kicking their feet out from under them as he went.
"I am his sense of humor, and I really hate clowns," he said, knocking the goons' heads together and promptly sending them off to dream land.
"And witty banter! How come we never have witty banter like that Batty?" The Joker's face once more had a collision with the Batman's fist, and this time he stayed down. Robin ran up to Batman and grabbed onto his cloak.
"The police are here," he said, just as the wailing of a siren shot through the night. "Should we go now?" The Bat looked fondly at his protégé.
"You catch on quick," he said, and they disappeared into the night just as the bank doors burst open, emitting a wave of the boys in blue.
Back at the Batcave…
"So Bruce, how'd I do huh? How'd I do?" Robin danced around his mentor, eagerly seeking his approval. "Did I do okay? I really hate clowns! The once at the circus were jerks, so this was kinda fun! Did I do okay?" He grabbed onto Batman's cloak and tugged slightly, bouncing on his toes. The capped crusader smiled slightly and ruffled the boy's hair.
"You did excellent for your first night out, Robin," the boy beamed, positively glowing with happiness.
"Awesome!" he said, throwing his arms around his guardian. "That was really really cool! Even if it was pretty easy!" Suddenly, a new window popped up on the supercomputer, flashing 'INCOMING COMMUNICATION FROM The Flash. ACCEPT TRANSMISSION?'
"Transmission accepted," said Bruce sat in the chair and Robin peaked at the screen from behind him.
"Hey Batman!" The Flash waved cheekily, though he looked rather worn. "Are you up for a road trip to Central City?"
"That depends, Flash," said Batman coolly. "Is this for something actually important or do you just want to go out drinking again?" Robin felt a bit of surprise. Bruce drinks? Like, in bars? Weeeeiiirrrd!
"Okay, for the record, that was like, ONCE," said the Flash, crossing his arms and pouting a bit. "But I just kinda need some advice AND there's been some freaky stuff going on and I could really use the help of the, and I QUOTE; 'World's Greatest Detective'. So, you know, two birds with one stone and all that." The bat thought for a minute.
"Fine," he said.
'"Really!"
"Yes."
"Awesome!" Flash looked relieved. "Thanks times a million Batman!" He finally noticed Robin peeking out from behind the chair. "Oh, hey Robin! What's up lil bird?"
"Hi Flash! I got to actually fight tonight!" he said with a big grin. "I kicked butt!"
The Flash laughed. "Awesome! Hey Batman, you should totally bring Robin with you so he can meet Kid Flash! Uh, if it doesn't get in the way of his schoolwork or anything." Robin rolled his eyes a little; he had his homework for the next three grades done and pied neatly on top of his desk, waiting to be passed in at the pre-determined date.
"Pleeeaaassse can I come too, Batman? Pleeeaaase?" He gave his adopted father his most Bambi-eyed pleading look (which he practiced in the mirror. Often.).
The Caped crusader was quiet for a moment and then sighed. "You'd only get into trouble if I wasn't watching you." Robin squealed and hugged his mentor around the neck before running off somewhere into the depths of the Batcave.
"Pfft, Bat, do you ever let the kid go out places? Or is he glued to your side 24/7?" Batman glared at his old friend.
"Barry, some of us do not have the luxuries that you have," he said coldly. "Some of us run multi-million dollar franchises and businesses that have a net worth of almost a billion dollars. Some of us adopted a son who now is worth at least a third as much as that." he rubbed his temples wearily.
"Sorry Bruce, I forgot. How many kidnapping attempts has it been now?"
"Somewhere between 27 and 39 I lost count…," he said. "I …guess I feel a bit …guilty for keeping him with me almost constantly, but he's my son. And if I lost him for even a second…." He shook his head. "It wouldn't be pretty." Flash scratched his head, glad that his kid was, to the public eye, a normal kid who was just living with his Aunt and Uncle.
"Hey man, sorry. But maybe this trip is a good thing then, you know? Robin gets to see the sights and you can relax a bit on the constant-kidnap alert if you guys come disguised, especially with me and Wally around!" Batman stared at him a minute. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"Barry, don't look now, but you've had a good idea for once."
"Oh, real nice Bats. I'm half flattered, but mostly insulted. Call me up before you guys leave and we'll set up a rendezvous point. Jerk."
"I hate you Bruce. I hate you more than I have ever hated anyone in my entire life," Robin hissed through clenched teeth, looking like he was physically in pain.
"More than you hate clowns?" asked the Dark Knight, currently disguised as a dapper middle-aged gentleman. The sun was shining brightly and the dynamic duo were driving to Central City, or rather, Bruce was driving and Dick was sitting in the backseat, moping.
"Pretty goddamed close!" Robin hissed, tugging at the long black wig which was causing him great discomfort. Almost as much discomfort as the dress. "Why do I have to be your daughter? I look freakin ridiculous!"
"Language Robin," said the Bat sternly, frowning at his ward's foul mouth. "Where did you learn those words anyways?"
"School. The older kids swear with wild abandon," said Robin. "Really Bruce, stop trying to change the subject! Why do I have to be a girl? Why do I have to wear this?" He tugged at the collar of his dress, which was a simple sailor dress, and Robin had to fight to get to wear it, because the other options were ridiculously frilly and girly! "The girly-er the better." Bruce had said, shoving copious amounts of lace and ribbons into Dick's arms. "It makes it more believable." Forget that! I just want to get out of this with my dignity in tack! To think, the first time I see the Flash in person, and the first time I meet Kid Flash EVER, and I'm wearing a dress! Needless to say, Robin was miserable.
"Robin, we're too recognizable," rationalized the multi-millionaire for about the fiftieth time that night. "We've been all over magazines ever since I adopted you. And until we get back to Gotham it will be like Dick and Bruce disappeared. Alfred has the story about us getting the measles, but the media will be suspicious none the less. People will be looking for a young man and a young boy, not a middle aged man and his daughter. You'll have to deal with it." Robin groaned and put his face in his hands.
"I hate you Bruce. Especially when you're maybe kinda sorta right."
"I know Dick. Cheer up; we're almost at Central City. And then you'll be Robyn with a Y and I'll be your Papa."
"Is that suppose to cheer me up!"
"Uncle Barry, when are Batman and Robin gonna get here?" whispered Wally, sitting with his Uncle and mentor at a private booth in a restaurant on the East Side of Central. "I really want to meet them!" Barry rolled his eyes.
"Cool your jets protégé; the Moody Knight just called and said that they were only a few blocks away. They'll be here soon enough." The Flash and his sidekick were dressed in civilian clothes, waiting for their fellow heroes to show up. "In more important news, how's school going? I know Iris is usually on you about this, but you have to keep me updated too!" Wally launched into the subject of school work with great enthusiasm. They were doing a group project in his biology class and could you believe that he got partnered up with the two prettiest girls in the whole grade? But they couldn't think for beans and Wally got stuck with most (read ALL) of the work, not that he minded since he'd rather not have them screw it up. He was telling Barry how he'd been debating on whether or not he'd let the girls sign their names on it at all when two strangers walked up to their booth.
One was a middle-aged man with a serious face and a smooth, slightly graying mustache that matched his slightly graying brunette hair, and the other was a young girl in a sailor's dress, wearing knee high socks and shiny black shoes. She had tinted glasses on and Wally couldn't quite make out her eyes but hell was she pretty! She was really flat chested, almost like a boy, but her long raven hair fell in a cascading halo to her shoulders and her cheeks were tinted pink as though embarrassed. She was very short, and probably much younger than him, but it was hard to tell with girls, them being so naturally "petite" as his Aunt said, and him being so tall.
"Hello Barry," said the man in a gruff voice. "It's been a while. Did you get my message?" Wally rolled his eyes, thinking it was another one of the millions of people that his uncle was friends with, and continued to watch the girl, who was looking significantly more embarrassed the longer they stood there. Wow, she's really cute! I wonder where she goes to school?
"No way," breathed the Flash, looking like he was restraining laughter. "You jerk, you didn't… tell me you didn't…"
"He did," said the girl. Wally was surprised; that voice was light, but it wasn't exactly girly, and the words were laced with venom. He looked back to his mentor in confusion, and the Flash burst into laughter.
"Barry," said the girl's dad, acting like the guy he was talking to wasn't howling with laughter. "This is Robyn, my daughter." And suddenly it clicked for Wally and he turned bright red and looked away. Shit! I thought Robin was a boy! Or is he? Does he dress like that all the time? He risked a glance back and saw that the gir-bo-ROBIN, saw that Robin had his/her/Robin-y head down in embarrassment and was bright red.
"Pfft, oh god, you're such a jerk!" Barry chuckled, getting his laughter under control. "Lookit the poor kid! Really Ba-uh, what should I call you this time?"
"Bill Kane," he said, sliding into the booth next to Barry and gesturing for Robin to sit next to Wally. "Now, you said you had a problem?" Barry grew serious and the two superheroes leaned their heads close together conspiratorially, talking in hushed tones. Wally looked at Robin, who was still bright red with embarrassment.
"So, uh, do you dress like that often?" he asked.
"No!" Robin's head shot up and he glared at the taller older boy. "Never! It's all his fault! He's so overprotective!"
"That seems kinda odd considering he's letting you into the uh...family business," said Wally, fiddling with his fork and examining the smaller boy out of the corner of his eyes.
"Ugh, exactly! He knows I can take care of myself! I've been proving it to him for three years now!" Robin huffed and crossed his arms, pouting. "You're so lucky to have Th- uh, your Uncle as your mentor! He seems like such an easy-going guy!"
"Yeah, he is," Wally agreed, "But it's my Aunt you have to watch out for! One minute it's 'Hello Wally how was training?' then the next it's like a psychoanalysis and a million and one reasons why I'm too young for this!"
Robin snorted and shook his head. "Adults. They make no sense." Wally grinned at this shared sentiment.
"Hey Rob, have you played any of the Kingdom Hearts games?"
"Only like, all of them!"
"I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship!"
"No, I'm serious!" said Wally, laughing. "Cross my heart!"
"No way, a Kingdom hearts manga? That just seems to be too good to be true!" Robin shook his head, the raven curls of his wig bouncing on his shoulders and whipping him in the face. He scowled. "Stupid wig... So, you really saw one?"
"Yeah, the store was just down the street from here actually!" Wally smiled widely; he was really enjoying talking to Robin. They had loads in common, especially a love for video games and comic books, specifically the Kingdom Hearts series. "Hey, maybe I could take you there now! It's right around the corner; it would only take a minute!" Robin started to nod then stopped and looked sheepishly at Batman, who was still whispering with Barry and had been for the last half an hour.
"I'd have to ask my uh… Dad," said Robin.
"Papa," correctly Bruce absently, making Robin flush with embarrassment.
"Dad and Papa are practically the same thing, so it really doesn't matter!" he said, pouting. "Can I go or what?"
"Please sir?" asked Wally, "I'll take great care of your daughter!" He laughed as robin whacked him upside the head. Batman thought a minute.
"Fine. You have ten minutes before I call and demand you get back here. If you do not answer my call I will come and find you. You go to that store and straight back. No loitering."
Robin rolled his eyes. "Thanks Papa," he said, grabbing KF's arm and dragging him out of the booth. "C'mon Wally, lead the way!" They exited the restaurant and walked down the bustling streets of Central, headed to a grassy park. "A short cut!" explained Wally, pulling Robin to the entrance.
"Hey Rob, can I ask you something?"
"You just did! But yes, you may trade in that question for a new one."
"Psh, brat!" he laughed and teasing shoved Robin. "Seriously, why do you wear those glasses? I mean, you even wore them inside! What's with that?" Robin touched the glasses absently.
"Oh, it's to protect my identity," he said. "I wear colored contacts too. It's the Bat's idea. He doesn't want me to reveal my identity to anyone. Only the people who know who he is have the slightest idea who I am."
"Whoa, seriously?" Robin nodded. "Wait, how old are you?"
"I turned ten last month," the Boy Wonder tugged at his wig and Wally stared.
"But, you said you've been with Batman for three years!"
"Yeah, since I was seven," He looked at Wally confusedly. "Why, is that weird?"
"Well," Wally scratched his head. "The Green Arrow took in Speedy when he was ten too, and Uncle Barry took me in when I was ten, but really not officially till I was almost eleven." Robin looked even more confused. "There was a big custody battle you see."
"What? Why?"
"My parents were really creeped out by my powers," he said, looking around. They were in a deserted part of the park. Wally grabbed Robin's hand and pulled him to a bench half hidden by the leaves of a willow tree. "They thought there was something wrong with me," he explained, sitting down. "They just wanted to get rid of them. But I had worked hard to actually get them. So like hell I was letting them turn me into some kind of science experiment freak."
"What did you do?" asked Robin, looking at Wally with wide eyes. Wally could just barely see them through the tinted glasses, and he had to remind himself that this was indeed a boy sitting next to him and not a cute girl!
"Ah-well," he coughed and cleared his throat. "Uhm, see, I ran away. We lived just outside of Central, and I just took all the clothes I could fit into a bag, plus all my important stuff, and then I took all the money I had, and bought a bus ticket, then a train ticket, and ended up at Aunt Iris' work. She took me to her house and I told her and Uncle Barry what had happened, and that I didn't want to go back and lose my powers, I wanted Uncle Barry to train me to be Kid Flash. Well, they of course had to call my parents, and then they tried to take me home, but I wouldn't go." He sighed. "Long story short, there was a big court battle about it. They didn't bring up my powers, but kind of played it like I was sick and they needed to cure me or whatever. I won over the court and got to stay with my Aunt and Uncle, with them as my legal guardians."
"Whoa…," Robin looked stunned. "It was a lot simpler with me and Batman I guess!"
"Why?" asked Wally. "Are your folks okay with you being Robin? Or do they not know?"
"No, they're dead." Wally stared.
"O-Ohmygod! I'm so sorry!" Robin shrugged.
"It's okay, it was a long time ago, I was barely six when it happened-" Wally interrupted him by grabbing his hands and staring into the younger boy's shaded eyes.
"That doesn't make it any less painful!" he said, his green eyes flashing. Robin felt himself blush and looked down. Geeze, stop looking at me like that! With those eyes… Robin looked back up at Wally, trying not to look directly into the red-head's hypnotic gaze.
"Well, I guess... I just don't think about it a lot anymore. I've got other things to think about…"
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Wally. "Sometimes talking about things helps you feel better about them! Or, well, not about the things, but just makes you feel better. And I bet that the Batman is kinda hard to talk to and Uncle Barry says he's really moody, so if you want to talk to me that would be cool and wow, I'm totally rambling!" He laughed, embarrassed.
Robin snorted and extracted his hands from Wally's grasp, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable with how close they were on the small bench. "Maybe we should call you Kid Mouth!" he looked down and back up, smiling a little. "Thanks for the offer anyways. Maybe someday, but... not today." He stood up and dusted off his dress, making a face at the fabric before look back at Wally. "Weren't we going to buy that manga? Batdad is gonna call any minute!" Wally jumped up like he was electrocuted.
"Ohshit! I totally forgot! C'mon lil Bird, let's go!" Wally grabbed the smaller boy's hand and tugged him into a run, Robin blushing all the while. His hand feels really nice around mine… he thought, following the gangly preteen. I wouldn't mind it if we could just run like this forever… Wait, WHAT?
YAY! posted! So much trouble with this. SO MUCH. But it is up and that is all that matters.
In other news: Henchclown is officially a real word :D AND a lil trivia for you: I took Batman's cover name from the names of Batman's two creators :) I have all the cool. All of it.
So, I LOVE reviews. They kinda make my life :D so THANK YOU to all the reviewers! Even if I don't reply to them all, I DO read them all :) So thanks so much!
Also: shamless self advertising because I am lonely and half no real friends: CHECK ME OUT ON TUMBLR! http :/ tanukihero. tumblr. com/ (just take out the spaces!)feel free to ask questions about me or my stories or whatever. Let's all just be Tumblr buddies! (WHY DID I GET THAT THING? I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE IT! asdfsgadgf!)
So... yeah :) I was planning on maybe posting TWICE this week, but something came up yesterday and I might not be able to :( I will try to though!
Loving you all!
~Seo
