A/N: OMG, sorry that I didn't update in time. For some odd reason, I am like totally off this whole week. Thought today was Tuesday then found out it was Wednesday, been sidetracked with writing little essays for scholarships and all that jazz. But let me tell you those reviews for the last chapter gave me a much needed confidence booster. I don't know why but this story doesn't feel just right, so hearing your comments helps me a lot to keep it on track. Thanks!!

Disclaimer: I know enough of the blabbering but I don't' own 'em.

Ch. 12: So close yet so far away

"What happened?" Batman's sharp low voice seemed to vibrate off the concert walls. He had ducked into the ruins of the base, searching for anymore clues but mostly to keep his mind off of a rising fear that was taking root deep in his chest.

Green Arrow must have sensed something because soon after there was a brief pause and a faint swallowing sound. "Batgirl and Superman attended this ball to keep an eye on Lex. Well, this rookie hacker pops up. Everyone is distracted, next thing they know, this young man gets shot. His friend gets upset and attacks the killer. Superman had to pry the kid off and said if he didn't do anything; the kid would have killed the other man. Well, the murder says something to the like of 'the message: You're too slow' and blows himself up. A couple people were injured… Anyway, Superman questioned Lex, but the man said he had nothing to do with it and for once Superman knows that he ain't lying. The strange thing is that the kid—the friend to the one who got shot—just disappeared."

Batman soaked up Arrow's report. The message sounded like a familiar threat, something the Joker or the Riddler would send to him to mock him. He remembered Mikhail stressing that Robin was searching the global for the General to kill the man. But Batman couldn't help but think that maybe the General was doing the same: seeking Robin out. That everything that was happening was some sort of twisted game of 'hide-and-go-seek' and while Robin and the General were the main players, he still couldn't figure out Slade's role. And now there was Lex's appearance, which he knew wasn't a coincident. Lex never did anything that didn't help him in the end.

"Did Superman get a good look at the kid?"

"Yeah, he said the kid was a bit on the lean, scrawny side but was fairly strong considering his build. He had shaggy black hair and black eyes. You don't think that…"

"It's not that hard to change one's appearance. And since Superman doesn't know that Robin is missing…"

"He wouldn't know to keep a lookout. Oh man, if that was him, what the heck is Robin doing in Gotham?"

Batman sighed, "I don't know, but he won't stay there long. Taking the plane will take too much time. I need you to beam me up to the JLA headquarters and then back down to Gotham."

He heard Green Arrow type in the command, "Got it. What about the Titans?"

"You got a lock on their communicators?"

"Sure do, been using those things for awhile."

"Who cares, just lock on that and do the same thing, except beam them to Jump City. If Robin or Deathstroke flee Gotham, they will be going to some place where a hideout is already established."

"And what better a place than Jump City, where they both know that only Robin is there and so they don't have to worry about the Titans. Can you imagine their surprise?"

Allowing himself a small smile, Batman nodded, "Hopefully, we can use that to our surprise."

Green Arrow laughed, "True. Ok, we're ready to beam you up."

"Batman out." Snapping his communicator closed, he allowed the familiar buzz of being beamed to allow him a brief relaxation break. He felt that he would need it in the upcoming days.

-Back in Gotham-

Robin knew he should have gone straight away to comfort Durin. But no one had comforted him when his parents died, when his men died out in the field. Sure people were distraught but all he felt was pity. And pity and comfort were not going to strengthen Durin or Robin in the end. So the apprentice made his way to the footsteps of the Natural History Museum.

Flipping his cell-phone open, he waited for the connection to be made. Finally, he heard a tired voice on the other end.

"Yes."

"Informant, museum, now. Fifteen minutes no more." Lowering, he didn't wait for a reply and flipped the phone closed.

Reaching his destination, Robin sat on the cold, concrete steps of the museum and stared at the traffic passing by. Across from the street, he watched as a man sprinted out of the park, throwing his jacket into the bushes. A group of cops ran after him, the leader flinging himself at the robber, pinning the thief on the ground. Seconds later the cop car pulled up. Robin could hear the swearing spilling forth from the robber, but the cops just ignored him and handcuffed him. Throwing the robber into the back of the car, one of the cops spotted him and nodded to him before entering the car. Robin nodded slightly back and watched the car pull off.

"Sometimes I wish villainy was that simple. Just grab a wallet, get caught, thrown in jail and then free again. But then again, you're never free after you go to prison." Robin ran a hand over his chin, sensing his informant behind him.

"Sir?"

Robin turned and rose from his seating position, "Don't fail otherwise we will lose our freedom. And I won't be a happy person if I lose my freedom." Looking at his informant for the first time, Robin felt his eyes widen slightly. "Pavel?"

Pavel smiled warmly at Robin, "Captain Dimitry." Rising his hand for a shake, the older man was surprised to see pure relief shine in Robin's eyes as the boy strode forward and clasped his forearm.

"It's good to see you old friend."

"It's good to be working with you finally. I was getting tired working for the Colonel."

Robin chuckled, "Yeah, well, he can be hard sometimes. But come, we do not have much time." Glancing at the street, Robin walked across the street. Grabbing the jacket from the bushes, he slides it on and entered the park. "Thought you joined the League of Shadows?"

Pavel swallowed, following closely behind Robin, "I did…as a spy. But, Mikhail…"

"I know. So tell me, did you know of anything concerning what happened tonight?"

"At the ball, very little? I only received an email from one of the General's bodyguards telling me that the General wanted me to go to the function and record your downfall."

"Downfall?"

"Yes."

Robin's eyes narrowed. The only way he could think of his downfall was, "Did the General know that Superman or any other superheroes would attend?"

The spy shook his head, "No, but I received the guest list from the General and Lex Luthor was on it."

"So, he knew that the Luthor was going to be there, which means he deduced that a superhero would be tagging him. As such…" "He wanted me to lose control, to reveal myself and get caught by the superheroes, so he wouldn't have to worry about me going after him anymore." Robin stopped dead in his tracks, "The bloody devil is good," "right up there with Slade…almost and because of that, I might have an advantage."

Placing a hand on Pavel's shoulders, Robin eyed his friend with a stern gaze, "You said that you had to record the event?"

"Yes," replied Pavel, trying to get a sense where Robin was going with all this, "I was at the bar. I did get a good picture of the assassin."

"Oh." Excitement was rising in Robin. Everything had gone from worse to better with each passing minute. Maybe Kumi's death wasn't in vain.

"The young man was from League's hideout in Jump City. I called some of his friends and they had said that the kid was getting all these benefits and was becoming close with the General." Pavel sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets. The hardships he had faced shone in the moonlight, "I guess the General was just buttering him up…using him…"

Robin felt the air darken around them, but it didn't affect the brightness that was shining in him. He had a lead now and that was Jump City. And that was perfect because he could still do the job Luthor assigned him. The only thing left was dealing with Slade's little mission on searching for places where the Secret Society could establish a base. Taking a deep breath, Robin tilted his head so his eyes were light blue.

"The General used us all. But, I would never do that to you, Pavel or any other man. As long as you and I are still breathing, we can end the war once and for all, making the General pay tenfold." Robin paused, letting the words sink in, "Pavel, you are my last true friend. I'll try and save Mikhail, but he's a traitor now. But I'll try none the less. I made a promise out there on the front lines to save and protect you guys. I've done a terrible job but I'll make it up. I promise."

Pavel took in a shaking breath. He had not the time to accept all that happened in the civil war. Robin's words had opened tender wounds, yet the words seemed to bring a comfort to him. Studying the man in front of him, Pavel realized that Dimitry had grown up and was not the lost, confused, idealistic boy he was in the beginning. "What do you want me to do?"

A smile graced Robin's lips but it fleetingly that Pavel's mind thought it was just his mind playing tricks. Glancing around, Robin leaned forward and whispered, "Keep up your charade for now, but in the meantime, look for any prospective places for a base in Gotham and Jump City. Understand, soldier?"

Pavel straightened his back, "Yes sir."

Robin nodded and took a couple steps back, "Good. Dismissed and Pavel…stay alive."

Pavel smirked, "Will do." With that the two parted ways. Robin waited till he could no longer see Pavel before heading his way back to the hotel. Tonight he had killed three birds with one stone. Now he just needed to confront Durin.

-Justice League Tower-

Batman waited in the chamber, listening to the excited chattering of Beast Boy. None of the Titans had ever been beamed up to the Tower before and were enjoying their visit to the fullest: that is keeping their visit restrained to the large beaming room.

Starfire glanced over at Batman, "Why couldn't we say goodbye to Mikhail? He seemed shocked at our hasty departure."

Batman crossed his arms. The only reason the group wasn't in Jump City was because it took awhile for the beaming to rejuvenate and he needed to alert them to the change in plans. "He has no right to be here."

"But he helped us, he was leading us to Robin," snapped back Beast Boy.

"Are you so sure? Can you trust everything a League of Shadow member…a villain says," stated the Dark Knight. Deep in his mind, a nagging voice chuckled, "Look who is talking? The man who broke his vows to a conman, all because the man said he knew where Robin was?"

Batman frowned slightly and was relieved when Green Arrow broke into the room. "Ok, so I showed Superman a picture of Reaper…I mean Robin and he said that they did look awfully similar. He said Batgirl is keeping a lookout on the situation. Also, I decided to do a little research and see if anything valuable was in Gotham that might peek Luthor's interest…and…" Glancing at Titans, Arrow took a deep breath and closed the gap between in and Batman, whispering quietly into his ear.

The Titans just watched, hurt evident on their faces that they were not included on the conversation.

Cyborg took a step forward, "Sorry but I don't see how any of this has to do with Robin…"

The half-robot watched as a dark look encompassed Batman's face. Green Arrow took a step back and looked at the Titans with pity and mouthed "Sorry."

Batman locked his cold gaze on each Titan. "Here's the deal. We don't have much time so do not question my orders. You are going to Jump City. There you will keep a watchful eye out even on the minute crime and make sure the duplicate Robin does not leave your sight." The consol beeped, the beaming technology fully powered. Batman took a step forward and hit the button.

"Don't fail."

With that he watched the Titans' mouths open, confusion on their faces. But fear of suffering the Batman's wrath would make them follow the orders. Now all Batman had to do was wait for his turn and return to Gotham. Hopefully, Robin was till there. He had only a few hours to track down the banking truck—for the superhero community had decided to remain oblivious on which truck was being used to help with the safe transportation of the document. Batman only had to pray Robin would be there, if his ward was that suicidal but knowing Robin, he knew the boy would go after no matter the costs.

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A/N: wipes forehead Wheeh, talk about setting everything at full throttle. Until next time!!