Author's Note: This didn't turn out like I intended, but I really like this chapter all the same. Thanks to everyone's kind words! Enjoy!
Trust me, Robin.
Robin grimaced at the sound of Bruce's voice in his mind. Always those same two words, always in that same sad tone, and always repeating in Robin's mind! He let his fist fly forward connecting with the dummy. The punch had been a quite powerful one and M'gann walked into the room, she was surprised to see it fly into the wall. Robin wondered briefly how much Batman had told his team—and whether Bruce had trusted him enough to not force his team to become babysitters.
Trust me, Robin.
Bruce's voice flashed again in Robin's mind and the young teen suppressed a growl. Trust him, he said. Why should he? When had Bruce ever fully trusted him? Robin thought for a moment and then sighed. He wasn't being fair—he was angry and was allowing that anger to cloud his thoughts. He needed to relax. Focusing his gaze on the Martian girl in front of him, Dick allowed himself to grin a little.
"Are you done training?" She asked cautiously. "Or would you like a partner?" She met his gaze and Dick let a full-blown grin grace his face. Why not spar some more? That would give him a way to get rid of his anger.
"Sure!" Dick exclaimed and M'gann entered the circle. With a small smile, M'gann got into her battle stance. Dick could feel his body hum with anticipation. This was the first time he had been able to spar with M'gann and it was his first time dealing with a telepath. Both teens waited a few seconds, until M'gann's arm flew up and Robin was barely able to dodge a strong blast of wind. Robin sprinted towards her and prepared to punch when Kaldur yelled:
"Enough!"
M'gann dropped her hands and the barrier that she had summoned dropped instantly, but Robin couldn't pull back his punch. He hit her right in the stomach. M'gann gasped as she got the wind knocked out of her. She flew back a little bit, but then fell to her knees—gasping for air.
"M'gann!" Robin shouted as he sprinted to her side. "Hey, are you okay?" M'gann just kept coughing and Robin felt worry hit the pit of his stomach. He was usually so careful! Was what Bruce was doing affecting him this much? "Just breathe, alright?" Robin rubbed circles on her back—something his mother had used to do for him when he fell from the trapeze—and he anxiously watched her faze for some sort of sign that she was okay.
"Robin," Kaldur ordered calmly and the young boy met his gaze. "Get Black Canary."
"No need," The strong female voice interjected. Robin saw their combat instructor walking towards them with Superboy by her side. "M'gann, look at me." The Martian forced herself to do, coughing all the while. Black Canary glanced over her and frowned.
"What is it?" Robin asked, worriedly.
"How hard did you hit her?" Black Canary questioned, her eyes never leaving Miss Martian.
"Hard," Robin confessed. "Really hard."
"Thought so," Black Canary mumbled. "M'gann, can you walk for me?" M'gann forced herself to stand up, but the coughs that racked her body, made it hard for her to move. She swayed and was about to fall when a silent Superboy caught her. Keep a firm arm around her waist and saying nothing, he helped M'gann out the door and towards the infirmary. Black Canary turned to Robin and Kaldur.
"I didn't mean—!" Robin protested, but she simply held a hand up and waited for silence.
"What happened?" Her voice wasn't angry, just worried and concerned.
"I interrupted them," Kaldur confessed. "I had to speak with M'gann about an urgent matter and I did not think before I spoke." Black Canary nodded and then turned to Robin.
"And you were too far into the punch to pull back?" She concluded.
"Yeah," Robin mumbled. "I didn't mean to hit her that hard." Black Canary placed a hand on the young boy's shoulder and smile softly.
"She'll be okay," Black Canary assured him. "She just got the wind knocked out of her and at worst, she has a bruised rib. It's okay."
"But—!"
"Trust me," She told him. "Trust me, alright?" She shot the two teens a small smile and then sprinted out of the room and down the hall.
Trust me, Robin.
Robin clenched his fist in anger and forced himself to take some deep breaths. Everything was just going all wrong—so very wrong—and he was powerless to do anything. Kaldur cursed something in his native language before facing the future leader of the team.
"I am sorry for interrupting," Kaldur told him. "I was not in my right mind."
"I don't think I was either," Robin said bitterly. "I have to go check on her."
"I shall go with you," Kaldur mumbled quickly, falling in-step with the younger boy. "I did not know you were that strong."
"Neither did I," mumbled Robin as they exited the room and headed towards the infirmary. "Neither did I."
Author's Note: Next chapter, we'll find out how M'gann is doing. Also, Scarecrow will claim that he has killed Batman! What will our poor Robin do? And can the team stop him? Please review!