"Just like him," Kid Flash's smile was shakey. "Always so dramatic."
"Continue." Batman pressed.
"He stayed as a member of our team for a whole when he vanished suddenly."
"When?" Batman snapped.
"Four months ago."
He sighed. "And he has been missing since then?"
"No," Beast Boy stopped him. "We saw him after that. He had been..."
"Enslaved," Raven's voice was tight. "He was taken prisoner and brainwashed by an evil man named Slade. He tried to kill us. But in the battle we lost track of him."
"W-what do you mean?" Kid Flash was shaking, this time with terror.
"I threw him into the ocean," Raven said calmly. "And we didn't find a body." And with that she turned and joined Robin on the couch.
Kid Flash looked on the verge of tears, even behind the goggles. Batman stood, resolute, waiting for more information.
"And you haven't seen him since then?" He asked.
Cyborg shook his head.
"Sorry," Beast Boy whispered. "He was my friend too."
Time for my entrance. The vent door opened silently and I swung out, leaving my scythe latched to my belt.
"Was?" I called over. "I'm hurt BB."
"Grim?" The tiny green boy turned first. The rest followed quickly.
I tried not to wince. Remain calm. Slade couldn't tell what I was doing. But if the nerves attached to the numb pleasure of killing didn't happen soon I would be dead. I would be anyway. But if I felt the joy of seeing the team, kid flash, and Batman took over it would be faster.
I dropped to the floor, hands gripped tight.
Robin and Raven were at attention before I could blink. "What are you doing here Reaper?" Raven hissed.
"To explain." I said honestly.
Raven opened her mouth but before she could say anything a yellow blur buried me in a tight hug.
"Rob!"
"Hey KF," I tried to remain cool but the serotonin in my brain was on the rise. No. It couldn't now. I still had to explain.
He held me at an arm's length and I saw him wince. I was as thin as a rake, injuries littering every bit of exposed skin. Everything now exposed to the air was shining, pink and swollen. The air mask was filthy and cracked, barely holding together. But some things had changed for the better. I seemed almost as tall as him now.
"How– where–?" He sputtered. The rest of the team stood around me.
"What happened?" the deep voice spoke harshly.
And I lost all control over my emotions. The joy and pure relief washed over me like a wave. In the back of my head and electrical buzz began.
"When I came here I became part of the team." I explained as quickly as possible. "then Slade and Deathstoke kidnapped me and used me for their purposes."
"Wait," KF held up his hands. "Deathstroke?"
"Yes," my skin began to tingle, growing hot. "But there isn't time for Q&A. I came back because Slade sent me on a mission."
"Which would be?" Robin asked.
"To kill you," I admitted. All the titans raised their defenses. "I would never," I held up my hands, burning harder. "I promise. I just came to explain. But Slade has a backup plan. He knows I'm going to fail."
"What's his plan?" Beast. Boy asked.
"To kill me."
"How?" Batman's brows furrowed behind the cowl.
My skin was pure fire. I needed some relief. Anything.
Ripping off my glove I watched my skin, blood moving too fast underneath the skin. Splotches of blood spread across my skin where the veins had burst.
"Rob!"
"Grim!"
And several other such cries met my ears.
"EMP," I spoke, my throat burning. "I'll be dead any second." I looked up at the horrified group. "Sorry f-for everything."
"No," Batman surged forward, lifting me as my legs failed. "Kid Flash we're leaving!" He turned on his heal, marching to the zeta tube still swirling in mid air.
"Wait..." I tried to speak but I just couldn't find the air. I looked over his shoulder, my worn mask finally falling to the floor. The only thing I had from my world. Was it still my world?
As the mask fell away I caught sight of the team. Starfire looked confused, Robin was grim, Raven was shocked, Cyborg was sad. Then I caught sight of Beast Boy. The tiny green boy was heartbroken.
They fell out of sight with the bright blue swirls. My stomach clenched even as my head cleared, the pain vanished, and my lungs opened up again.
Of course. If we were in a different dimension I would be able to avoid the EMP.
"Batman 01, Kid Flash B03, Robin B01," the mech voice announced. My stomach clenched with fear. That was the voice of my death, my ticket to the depths of darkness.
But the next voice that spoke was one extremely welcoming.
"Robin?" green skin, red lipstick and strawberry smelling shampoo.
I fell from Batman's arms, my legs hardly supporting my weight. Warm, living arms, wrapped themselves around me and M'gann's joyful sobs filled my ears.
"Robin?" Blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a green sweatshirt pushed her out of the way and I was engulfed by Artemis.
Superboy came up behind the happily crying Martian. Aqualad's tired face appearing from the midst of Artemis's hair.
"Hey guys," I smiled, removing the face mask. I didn't care that they could see my eyes. I didn't care about anything anymore. I was safe. I was home.
"Robin," Batman's voice spoke over the hysterical girls and welcoming boys.
I turned around. He stood like a stone, his face solemn, and his body rigid. It was all welcoming to me. Releasing myself from the archer's grip I hugged him, my frail arms, holding as tight as I could. He still spoke so grimly and he didn't hug back. "Let's go back to the cave. We need to tend to your injuries."
He turned to the zeta tubes and began typing in coordinates.
I didn't care that the team could see my face. I looked back at them and I broke into a massive smile.
"Hey guys," I grinned.
"W-we thought– we thought..." M'gann put her hands over her mouth.
"Dead? Me?" I shook my head. "I'm the master of death. Nothing can kill me."
"Robin," Batman spoke from the tube.
"Be right there!" I called. My legs felt stronger and I leapt forward on new strength and vanished into the zeta tube.
"Batman 01, Robin B01," I heard the voice again, this time it didn't scare me as bad. As terrifying as the journey had been that voice meant I was home.
"Welcome to the watch tower."
I opened my eyes to see the space station. Confused I looked to Batman.
"Why are we here?"
He cleared his throat. "Your absence affected the league as much as it did the team. They would benefit from your return."
"You want to show me off," I grinned.
His smile would be undetectable to anyone other than Alfred or me.
We entered the meeting room to find several members of the league taking quietly. Wonder Woman turned first, eyes not even glancing to me. "Batman," she stood, "you're here."
"Yes–" He began and I interrupted my guardian.
"Aunt Diana!"
Her entire face melted. "Dick!" she cried. The great Amazon herself scooped me up like I was a small child and held my head to hers. "Where have you been boy?"
"I've been–"
"Dick?" Superman came up behind her, eyes wide. His smile was warm as he held out his fist.
I hit it as hard as I could as our tradition. He pretended to be hurt. "You've gotten stronger," he said.
"You say that every time."
"Dick?"
"Uncle J'hann!"
I must have hugged every member of the justice league by the time we left. I had lipstick stains on the cheek and my hair was worse than before, by all the ruffling.
"You did want to show me off," I smiled at Batman, who remained stone face.
"They missed you." We zeta beamed down to Gotham.
The smell of wet cement, coco, and the billion other scents that should've clashed filled my lungs. I sighed, eyes closing.
"Did you miss it?" Batman asked.
"Yea."
"Shall we get going?" He asked gestured at the batmobile below.
"Yes."
The large cave, dusty and filled with old fight relics sat, untouched and just as I remembered.
Sliding out of the large car I hit the concrete, my heart racing and joy filling my fingertips.
I knew I was probably the only person in the world who could get so deliriously happy from a musty bat infested cave.
"First aid kit," Batman whirled around and stalked toward his large computer. Limping after him I stared around the room.
The sound of an elevator reached my ears and the faint click of doors opened. "Master Bruce?" a British accent called. "Have you brought Master Wallace back with you?"
"Alfred?" I called.
The steady footsteps paused, then sped up, rounding the corner I saw a discomposed Alfred.
"Master Dick?" His voice was tight, excited.
"I'm back," I smiled, stepping forward.
Beat up, thin, bloodied and exhausted as I was I managed enough strength to surge forward, hugging my butler as tight as I could.
"Master Dick," Alfred soothed, holding my tight.
For the first time since coming back into my world I felt tears in my eyes.
I really was back.
I couldn't find the strength to say anything else until he let go, kneeling down to look me in the eyes.
"You're starving!" he shook his head. "That won't do. I'll make the best Christmas feast you've ever eaten then when you wake up we'll do presents. Alright?"
"Sounds asterous," I smiled gently.
"I shall get right on that."
"Alfred," Batman stopped him. "Do you know where the first aid kit is?"
The butler sighed. "Under your desk, beside the gas samples."
The man turned back to the desk and brought the kit back.
Obviously my return gave Alfred some courage as he stared Bruce down and spoke. "Stop pretending you are not glad to see the young master." He turned to the elevator. "As often as you do it suppressed emotion does not suit you."
As the butler vanished I watched Batman sigh quietly, shoulders relaxing. He pulled bandages from the kit but before I could say anything he spoke.
"Sit on the table."
"Batman...?"
"Your injuries may have stopped bleeding."
"Batman?"
"I want to check for infection."
"Bruce!"
He stopped, face turned from me. When I stepped forward he reached up, pulling the cowl down.
Not many have seen the great Bruce Wayne, let alone batman cry. Until that day I was included in that large group.
But when he looked back down at me his blue eyes were brimming with tears. He smiled at me.
Unable to hold myself back I launched myself into his arms.
We sunk to the floor, my face buried in his chest.
Months of dreaming, thinking, and hoping this would happen. And finally it was real.
The dark cape threw itself over me like a comfort blanket. Strong arms wrapped around me, to protect me.
I was fourteen but I didn't care as I bawled like a small child.
"What's wrong?" Bruce asked.
"Nothing," I wiped my cheek off to no avail as more tears took its place. I smiled up at him. "I'm home."
I don't know how long I sat there, exhausted and sobbing but I do know I fell asleep in those protective arms.
Alfred returned a moment later to find a happier looking Bruce Wayne carrying the small figure of Dick in his arms.
"I take it we shall be having dinner tomorrow morning?"
"Yes."
Alfred sighed. "Yes Master Bruce."
THE END
I hope you enjoyed it.