Disclaimer—I don't own Young Justice.

Okay, since a couple of you guys were a little confused, I'm going to clear up something: technically, Dick is older than in the show and he is part of Young Justice. That's all I'm going to say for now. Everything will be revealed later.

Note—I'm in college. I'll try my best to update at least every other week.

CHAPTER TWO

"Coming, Robin?" Bruce questioned, a hint of concern coating his voice.

Dick nodded as he fixed his Robin suit. "Yep."

He made no effort to say anything else or to come up with a reason for being spacey. What was Dick supposed to say? That he was preoccupied with visions of being dragged back to Terra with Batman doing nothing to prevent it? Or was Dick supposed to lie to the man he considered his father? Neither option was very appealing and the only thing Dick could come up was attempting to act as normal as possible. It was a bit difficult, though, seeing as meeting this Daniel person was all he could think about last night and during the school day. He was tired and could find little to no energy to put into his façade. The only hope he had was that Bruce would be too distracted with the supposed murderous alien.

"Are you ill? You don't appear to be well."

Most of Dick wanted to cave and spill his guts to Bruce, to have someone know the truth for once. But there was a part of Dick, the scared, insecure boy from the Room, that made him hold back the truth in fear of being rejected. If Dick's own father had thought of Dick as a monster, what was keeping Bruce from seeing Dick in the same way? Of course, Dick logically knew that Bruce would never call him a monster, but Bruce would see him differently if Bruce was aware of the truth. Their lives together would be tainted by what had happened on Terra and the power that lurked in the palms of his hands.

There wasn't anything that Dick wouldn't sacrifice to keep this life with Bruce.

Not anything.

"I'm not sick, Batman. I'm fine," Dick groaned, making sure to react like he normally would. "I just didn't sleep too well last night."

Bruce frowned, but let it go and turned around to continue into Mount Justice. Though Bruce let it go, Dick was sure that he would be questioned later and probably be forced to have a doctor look over him. Bruce was overprotective that way.

I want it to stay that way and it will as long I keep my mouth shut.

Yes . . . as long as I keep lying.

. . . Everything will stay the same.

Dick felt suffocated by the pure despair that surged from within him, but shrugged it off and let an easy smile grace his lips. He couldn't afford to allow his emotions to blind him at the moment. He was going to face an alien from the planet he had escaped from and he needed to be alert. Dick had to take in everything and learn as much as he could so he could a decision.

A decision he knew he didn't want to make.

"Hey, Rob! Hear about this alien dude?" Kid Flash said as he sped up to his best friend's side. "I figured that he would go straight to Martian Manhunter for the job because . . . you know . . . Manhunter. Get it?"

Dick let his smile grow, hiding the turmoil deep inside. "Yeah, I get it, but I don't think the alien was aiming to make a joke of his search."

Kid Flash pouted. "You're a stick-in-the-mud today. Why?"

Because my father is out to get me again and I'm terrified of what's going to happen next.

"Oh, I don't know, KF. Maybe it has something to do with the fact we're searching for a guy who shoots death from his hands," Dick answered sarcastically.

"True," Kid Flash said with a quick nod of his head. "It even has my uncle worried."

Dick didn't acknowledge the twinge he felt in his heart. He instead continued the conversation like he normally would.

"Worried, like worried worried?"

"Yeah."

"Oh."

Dick didn't know how he should respond to that. What should he say? Should he offer words of encouragement? Or should he attempt to look worried as well? Dick didn't know how to go from here and how he was going to be able to continue with his charade.

How am I going to do this?

"Come, Robin. It's time to organize our search."

Dick turned his head to look at Batman and smiled. "Coming!"

Maybe I shouldn't . . .

Maybe . . . maybe I should . . .

It was well past midnight and the Young Justice members were in the Mount Justice living room, sinking into the various furniture. They had listened to Daniel explain what little he knew about Alastair and the Justice League organized a search that lasted for many hours. It was just the first of many searches, though, and they would not rest until the criminal was found.

"Anyone know where the remote is?" Wally asked, rubbing his mask-free face.

"You can't seriously have the energy to watch something," Artemis said, her face halfway buried into an arm of the couch.

He shrugged. "Kind of."

"Unbelievable."

M'gann frowned. "I do not see the TV remote on the coffee table."

"It's not on the floor either," Superboy muttered.

"Did you take it with you into the kitchen, Wally?" Kaldur asked.

Wally shook his head. "I haven't touched it since yesterday."

Dick, tired of hearing his teammates talk about a remote, pushed himself into a sitting position in his chair and gave the living room a scan. He spotted the TV remote after a few moments and groaned. Why did it have to be there?

"What?"

Dick curled up into a ball. "I found the stupid remote."

"Where is it?" Wally asked, a bit excited now to have his boredom eased.

"It's on the shelf above the TV."

Silence existed for a brief second before everyone started to talk.

"Not until I sleep for a good nine hours, Baywatch."

"I do not have the energy to use my telekinesis. I'm sorry."

"You can get it yourself, Wally."

"I am afraid this mission is yours alone, my friend . . ."

Wally pouted. "Oh, come on, guys! Someone has to get it."

He stared at his teammates for a moment before turning his sad look to his best friend, Dick.

"No."

"Please?"

"Not on your life."

"But you're my friend, my best friend!"

Dick snorted. "You used the best friend card just an hour ago. Remember? You wanted to have a closer seat to—"

"Never mind!"

"I thought so," Dick murmured victoriously before closing his eyes.

The search had caused a war of guilt and frustration inside of his heart and Dick hated himself for it. For one, he was not a criminal and should not be hunted as such. He could not blame the Justice League for searching for, well, Dick because if they did not, they would be allowing an outsider onto planet Earth. That would lead to only trouble and it was easier to avoid if they went along with Daniel. Dick did not think that the Justice League, especially Batman, would not attempt to get the criminal's (his) side of the story before handing him over to Daniel. They were superheroes and superheroes did not let innocents be kidnapped by aliens.

The guilt and frustration, though, were because of Dick himself. If he had simply told Bruce the truth when Dick had found out that Bruce was Batman, Bruce would be aware and be protecting him at any cost.

. . . At least, Dick hoped that Bruce would be.

How could he know for sure? What if Bruce would have turned him away and left Dick in the foster care system? What if Bruce would not have bonded with Dick because of Dick's parentage? After all, Bruce was a human, not a meta human that could maybe understand where Dick was coming from. No, not even a meta human would understand. If the people of Terra had been frightened by Dick, then how could he even hope that the people of Earth would?

I'm stuck.

Oh, how he was trapped. If Dick confessed his true identity, his unwanted identity, there would be no hiding. There would only be a flame of betrayal that would pervade like wildfire throughout his friends, family, and the Justice League. There would be hurt hearts and bruised egos. Dick was not certain that even Bruce would be able to overcome his dishonesty, something that Bruce could not stand from anyone lest of all Dick. Dick would have only pinned the spotlight onto himself and be torn away from everything he knew.

How can I get out of this?

There was another option, however. It was an option that Dick had implemented years ago on the planet of Terra. He was familiar with this plan and he knew that it could once again bring him the comfort he needed. But there would be a price, a price he was not sure he was willing to pay.

"This feels off."

Dick and the rest of the team looked at M'gann.

Artemis massaged her neck. "What are you talking about?

"The alien, Alastair, and everything else. It doesn't feel right to me."

"What do you mean?" Kaldur questioned the Martian, tired yet curious as to what his teammate was talking about.

M'gann bit her lip. "I'm . . . I mean . . . You know?"

"No, we don't," Wally said with a smile. "So why don't you explain it to us?"

"Well," M'gann began weakly before a fire lit up in her eyes. "I have heard things about Terra and their . . . customs."

Superboy tilted his head. "Customs? What about them?"

"The Terraens have a very specific way of doing things and they dislike anything that disrupts what they call peace. They have a place for everything . . . and like everything in its place. If something doesn't fit . . ."

"They get rid of it," Artemis finished for M'gann, her face darkening with understanding.

"Yes."

Wally frowned. "What does that have to do with Alastair?"

"It has everything to do with him," M'gann replied sharply before sighing deeply. "I'm sorry. It's just . . . This thing with him is bothering me. Remember how I chatted with Daniel before the search?"

They nodded.

"I asked him about their ways, out of curiosity of course, and he spoke of all the clans of all different powers except one. The power that Alastair has is apparently unique to their world."

Kaldur hesitated before speaking. "Am I correct in my assumption that you think that—"

"That Alastair is something that the Terraens wish to be rid of? Yes. I have witnessed similar events on Mars and that bothers me. What if we are hunting down a victim, someone that needs our help? What if he cannot control his power? What if he is innocent? That would make us no better than some of those on Mars!" M'gann's voice rose towards the end, her voice powerful enough to echo throughout the mountain and their ears.

Everyone was aware of what prejudice M'gann had faced and what other white Martians still faced on Mars. J'onn and a few other green Martians were determined to fix Mars' cruel system, but even though they had fixed some things, there were still green Martians that refused the change in system. There was still hope, though, that as time passed, such hatred and fear would fade and white Martians would not have to seek other planets to flee to.

Dick understood this all too well.

She doesn't realize how close to the truth she is. Should I just admit everything right here and now?

Superboy held M'gann's hand. "M'gann."

That was all he had to say. One word had been released into the air and it had M'gann relaxing her tensed shoulders. She mustered a weak smile and apologized to her teammates.

"Don't worry about it. Baywatch here has blown up over smaller things," Artemis replied.

"Hey!"

"It is fine, M'gann. I will admit my concern, though. Are you certain that you are projecting your situation as Alastair's?" Kaldur said without a hint of accusation in his voice.

M'gann frowned. "I don't think I am, but I could be."

"Why did Daniel give up information about Terra's customs? Surely he is aware of how the Justice League would see this," Dick said, unsure of Daniel's motives.

"I appeared to be a green Martian," M'gann answered. "He knew of the . . . tension between white and green Martians. He thought I was of the same mind and told me that we should keep it between us."

The tension was back in her shoulders and Superboy squeezed her hand.

Kaldur folded his hands, his eyes thoughtful. "Then maybe there is some merit to your theory, M'gann."

"Should we take it up with Batman?" Wally asked, his face solemn.

Artemis nodded. "If anyone could figure out what the truth is, it's Batman."

"Perhaps not at this moment. Tomorrow morning is more suitable for such talk."

Dick smiled at Kaldur before getting up. "I'll tell him you guys want to talk to him."

His teammates waved at him as he exited the living room and left Mount Justice. Dick's mind was so cluttered that he did not register that it was three in the morning when he laid down on his bed. He could not help but feel hope growing steadily in his chest despite his fear. If M'gann could help Dick explain the situation that he left on Terra, then maybe Bruce would understand. Maybe Bruce wouldn't care.

. . . Maybe he wouldn't have to leave.

Maybe I can stay.

With those comforting thoughts, Dick Grayson drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face and a vision for the bright future.

Bruce had slept for a handful of hours, but while he could push off work, he had to make sure that Dick made it to school on time. Alfred would have, but Bruce liked this task. It made him feel like a father and it was time he got to spend with Dick before they had to attend to their responsibilities. There was also the fact that he could get the truth out of the morning all too easily. If Dick had done something the night before, Bruce would learn the truth within five minutes of Dick waking up. The kid would answer anything truthfully in the early hours of the morning and it amused Bruce to no end.

Bruce knocked on Dick's bedroom door. "Dick?"

Bruce always knocked first. He believed that Dick needed to know that he had space and privacy that even Bruce wouldn't invade if Dick needed it. However, when Dick usually didn't answer, Bruce would crack the door and step in.

It was exactly the same as other mornings except for one thing.

Dick wasn't in his bed.

"Dick?" Bruce repeated, a hint of concern fluttering like a butterfly in his chest.

The shower wasn't on and Dick wasn't downstairs. Bruce had just been down there.

"Dick?"

Bruce searched the mansion somewhat calmly at first, but after being unable to find him throughout the entire house, panic had set in. Dick was nowhere in the mansion. It wasn't like he had stayed at Mount Justice. Dick had come home last night and had gone straight to bed. Bruce had made sure of it.

So where was Dick?

A/N— Cruel, I know. So sue me. :P This was published on 10-5-15 with the length of 2,673 words.