Beta Version!
Let us thank L. VanDattae for her wonderful work!
Jericho didn't like what he had to do to Robin the next morning.
His father had told/commanded him to sedate Robin so they could have him checked out by a mermaid doctor. Of course, Jericho knew the real reason why. Robin's tears had turned into pearls. It had been hundreds of years since a mermaid had been able to do that, an ability normally only held by mermaids gifted with the siren's voice. However, Jericho had never seen a male siren before. His father didn't seem to care, because when they had come in that morning, both of them had been stunned to see the tank's floor covered in multi-colored pearls.
Jericho got closer, talking softly to Robin. "Robin." He patted the water gently. "Robin, come on, boy, come here."
Slade snorted. "You act like they're more than beasts."
"They are, pops." Jericho frowned, looking at Robin. "Something's wrong here... he looks sad."
"Nonsense. The only thing to be sad about is that the other two mermaids don't cry tears either." Slade walked to Nightwing's tank and banged on it hard, making the mermaid cover his ears. "You little bastard. Cost me a whole month's show's worth of money."
"Pops, don't bang on the glass!"
"Like this?" Slade banged on it some more, smirking as Nightwing wailed, covering his ears. "Maybe it'll start crying and get us more pearls."
Leaning down, Jericho carefully pulled Robin's arm up, pressing a needle into his arm. Robin yelped, pulling away before holding his arms up over his face, trying to shield himself from anything that could possibly harm him. Within seconds Robin's eyes drooped a bit and he lazily sank down into the tank, sitting mostly up but unsteady in the water.
"Pops, leave Nightwing alone!" Jericho rushed over to push his father's hands away, and then opened the top of Nightwing's tank to pet the mermaid's head gently as a way of apologizing. "Sorry, Nightwing, you okay?"
Nightwing huffed, shaking his head before glaring at Slade. Then he stared up at Jericho, cooing and nodding his head towards Robin's tank. He was worried about his little brother, who hadn't spoken to them since last night, and now the youngest family member was in a haze from whatever Jericho had given him.
"Don't worry, Nightwing, Robin's okay. We just have to have him checked out and his tank cleaned."
"I want these pearls on sale as soon as possible." Slade grinned as he scooped out a bunch of the pearls with a net, chuckling deeply. "Jackpot."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Jericho walked over to Red Hood's tank, patting the water. "You know, you're going to be late meeting your lawyer."
"Have it done before I get back. "
"Sure." Jericho watched him leave before looking at Red Hood. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Red Hood looked at him, face unreadable, before swimming over to the glass piece of the tank that would let them swim in the arena. Jericho knew something had upset the red-tailed mermaid, because Red Hood swam like he felt guilty about something. Opening the tanks, he let both of the older two leave to play in the arena for a little while before training. Once the doors were closed, Jericho started to drain the water in Robin's tank. When it only had about a foot of water left, he leaned down to pick up the small mermaid and carried him to a round bathtub, laying him in it.
The poor thing was high at the moment and would look around in awe before his eyes would droop, his head titling from side to side. He whimpered and cooed a few times before his head lolled back against the tub of cool water, passing out. After that, Jericho gave Robin a check up before setting him in Red Hood's tank so he could rest.
A minute later Robin opened his eyes and slowly swam out of the tank, into the arena's pool.
Jericho let him go.
Besides, the medicine/drugs would keep him from taking another meal.
Tim had no idea what was wrong with him as he swam out. He felt like he was swimming through a dream. His mind was so confused and filled with things floating around that he tried for a good five minute to get up on the side of the rock. It hurt his feelings when he couldn't get onto the rock, sadly tugging at it, trying to pull himself up so he could soak up the sun.
Yet another side of him felt oddly happy. A funny kind of happy. Tim felt someone's shadow over him. Looking up, he saw Jason there, looking down at him with a half sorta scowl. He said something that Tim couldn't understand. Tim cooed at him sadly, trying to tug himself up on to the rock once again. This time Jason dove into the water and gripped Tim's hips, pushing the smaller one onto it. Cooing out a cheer of happiness, Tim snuggled onto the rock, a big smile on his face as he purred, tail swishing.
Jason pulled himself up as well, looking at Tim oddly. "What the hell did they give you?"
Cooing again, Tim wiggled around on his stomach, feeling so happy, like butterfish were floating around in his belly. No words would leave his mouth, but he cooed so happily that Dick swam over to join them on the rock, taking the spot on Tim's left side, giving him a funny look.
"What's wrong with Timmy?"
"I have no freaking clue." Jason propped his chin up on his hand. "I saw him come out, and when I told him that I was sorry and didn't mean it, he started to laugh softly and couldn't get on the rock. I tossed him up here and now he has this stupid happy smile and won't stop laughing/cooing."
"Timmy, are you all right?" Dick asked, getting closer to rub his brother's back. "Timmy?"
Instead of answering, Tim sighed happily, trying to snuggle the rock.
"See?" Jason snorted. "They gave him something."
"Maybe it'll help him." Dick petted Tim's hair with a smile. "After all, Jericho's really nice to us, and I know he wouldn't do anything to hurt us."
"I guess you're right." Jason nudged Tim. "Hey, Baby Fish, I'm sorry, okay? I never meant what I said."
Tim purred, nuzzling the side of his face against the warm rock.
"Maybe you should wait until whatever that stuff is wears off."
"Ya think?!" Jason went to smack Dick but he felt Tim draping himself onto his back, settling down and cooing happily. "Hey! No free rides or naps on me-!"
"Bruce..." Tim sighed, his voice full of happiness as he snuggled down on Jason's back, eyes closing.
Jason's mouth clamped shut before he settled down on the rock himself, careful not to let his brother fall off. "Damn it."
"Aww, you're such a cute big brother~!" Dick teased, grinning widely, poking the other's cheek. "I am so going to tell Bruce about it too!"
Smack!
Splash!
Jason snickered before laying back down. Of course, this was a one-time thing, being nice to Tim like this, because there was no way in hell he would ever let the little brat sleep on his back again. That was what Bruce was for. Bruce was a big old Daddy Bats softy. He would coddle all of them, and Jason Todd Wayne didn't need to be coddled! He was Jason Todd Wayne, bad ass of the sea! He looked like a demon of the deep when he was fighting off anyone who dared come near their family! He was a proud fighter that could stand on his own! He didn't need to be coddled, hugged, or kissed on the forehead, and neither did he, Jason Todd Wayne, need to sit or ride on Bruce's back!
No!
He was Jason Mother Freaking Todd Wayne!
And when he returned to the ocean where he belonged, he would keep the name Red Hood to strike fear in others. Yeah! Red Hood would rule the sea with an iron first! Once home, he would prove to the other young merman that he was going to take over territory and make it his! Jason Todd Wayne, the fearsome Red Hood!
Jason Todd Wayne was the freaking Mother Red Hood-!
"Red Hood," Jericho grinned happily. "How sweet, kind and loving of you to take care of your brothers!"
Stunned, Jason realized while he'd been self praising and self proclaiming that Dick had gotten back up on the rock and had made himself comfortable next to Tim on top of Jason, both sound asleep.
Jericho nearly died laughing at the look of utter horror and disbelief that Red Hood had on his face, his mouth wide open and one eye twitching.
Going over the new plans for the tanks—the large glass fences to keep people out of the water and the additional things in the gigantic pool—Wally sighed, sitting down on the bench. His friend Jericho had left after going onto the rock that all the mermaids had been on. Two were asleep and the third one with the red tail had looked like he was in a bad mood. Wally didn't doubt it, because Red Hood had his arms crossed and his eyebrows knitted together like he wanted to cut someone.
When Jericho had picked up Robin, carefully carrying him away to get him checked out and some other stuff—Wally didn't catch it all—Red Hood had tossed off Nightwing before swimming to his skull, where he chose to eat a fish... violently. Seriously, that mermaid had issues because it didn't even kill the fish, just started to eat it as it died a slow death.
Going over another idea, Wally looked up when water splashed at his feet. Nightwing was on the water platform, looking at him with an expression that he could only guess was happiness and sadness and maybe hope. Grinning, Wally stood up.
"I know what your thinking..." Wally said to the mermaid, who gasped, sitting up, eyes wide with hope. "And I know what you want to tell me."
Nightwing cried out happily, his tail swishing so fast it almost made him lose his balance as he swam a little closer to Wally. Then a fish was tossed next to him.
"There ya go!" Wally grinned. "Heard it was your favorite fish!"
Nightwing stayed frozen in place, that happy wide-open smile stuck there too.
"What?" Wally raised an eyebrow. "Not your favorite?"
Snorting, Nightwing rolled around, almost chasing his own tail, before he sat down, striking a dramatic pose. Almost like one did in a circus. Surely this would have gotten some attention.
"Ohh, you want bread, right?" Wally grabbed a big piece of bread, tossing it in. "There."
Nightwing huffed through his nose, frowning.
Red Hood swam by, taking both the fish and bread.
"Wow," Wally laughed, watching. "All right, Wing, it's fun to watch you, but if you're not hungry I got work to do, or Mr. Wilson will have me jumping through hoops."
Hoops!
Nightwing cooed happily, diving into the water and heading towards the side of the pool where they had the equipment out for training. Grabbing a hoop, he swam back to Wally, tossing it at him. It hit the redhead, making him yell, "Hey!" Cooing, Nightwing bobbed in the water, waving and pointing his hands to the hoop. Wally scoffed, shaking his head.
"Sorry, dude, I ain't your trainer."
Nightwing wailed loudly, making Wally cover his eyes.
"All right! All right, one time!"
Happy about that, Nightwing got ready as Wally held out the ring. First he posed a bit, trying to jog the other's memory about who he really was. Talking to humans was forbidden, so he had to find a way to bend the rule a bit. Nothing said they couldn't get a little help from certain merfolk. Once he was done, Nightwing leaped into the hoop, but it wasn't a normal jump. This one had flips and much smoother flying skills.
"Oh my god!" Wally screamed in shock.
Nightwing popped out of the water and back onto the platform, full of excitement for Wally remembering who he was!
"Oh... my god..." Wally dropped to his knees on the platform. "I c-can't believe this..."
Dick threw his arms up in victory, ready to hug his best friend from years ago.
"My new phone fell into the water!"
.
.
.
When Jericho came back out a couple of minutes later, he frowned at Wally and nodded his head to one of his mermaids. "Why is Nightwing thudding his head against the ice box?"
Wally looked up from where he was trying to dry his phone. "I have no idea, dude, your mermaid is weird."
The little boy in the red hoodie was happily humming to himself as he jumped from rock to rock near the ocean when he caught sight of something sitting on the rock. It was a sea shell. When he leaned down to pick it up, he saw five people lying in a row, looking dead. Gulping, the boy got down to see what was going on. Three men and two women lay there. Their faces looked so young but their hair had turned gray, white, or salt and peppered.
Gasping, the boy looked up in time to see that large merman nicknamed The Bat with a woman in his arms. His mouth was over hers, and he was breathing in her life force until her blond hair turned white. Then he let her go, laying her on the sand beach between the many rocks. So, none of the people were dead, but they sure looked old now.
The Bat looked at him for a second, making the boy plop down in hopes of not being the next target, and watched as the merman changed... into a... man! A human man! The man stretched his legs out, testing them before stripping down one of the men he had taken the life force from and dressing in the man's rather classy clothes. Like one of those fancy people on tv.
What were they called?
Oh yeah, a suit!
The little boy closed his eyes as the man brushed off the sand before walking over to him. "It's not polite to stare."
"You can talk!"
Chuckling, the now-human nodded. "Yes, I can. Now then." He held out his hand to the boy. "How about you come with me and show me how to get into Ocean Waters?"
The boy shook his head. "I don't go with strangers."
"I saved your life, remember? Now, all I ask is that you help me find my sons and I will reward you with anything you want."
The boy looked the man up and down closely before rubbing his stomach. "I'll get you in if you buy me lunch."
"Of course," the mer-human said with a charming smile. "First, let's get out of here and to a hotel before anyone sees us."
"How do you know what a hotel is?!" the boy asked, following as the man lead the way. "I thought you were in the sea all this time and never EVER set foot on land."
"I have been on land many times," the other admitted, but his voice sounded bitter, almost cold.
"Cool!" the boy said, struggling to keep up with his partner's long strides. This guy was an expert on his new legs! "What's your name? Where do you live when you're not here? Can you see in the dark underwater? Do you like sushi? How old are you? Are those your sons in Ocean Waters? What are their names? Can I meet them? Where do you sleep at night in the sea? Where–"
"All right, one at a time," the man said, turning around and kneeling down on one knee. Even though he did, the small boy still had to look up at him, since he was so huge and tall. "My name is Bruce. Bruce Wayne." He put his large hand on the boy's bony shoulder. "And what's your name?"
With a huge grin, the boy with black hair and blue eyes answered. "My name's Billy Batson!"
To icyquest4: Here some more I'm glad you liked the end lol
To owlcat92: Omg I started to think about that too right after I read about the Joker fish you mentioned and I was all 'THE HORROR.' and then I laughed for a bit.
To princ3ssf33t: I heard that (And when I mean heard I mean someone told me sorties) that when Mermaids get legs that when the changing or spell is wrong then they fill pain in their legs and the tears turn into pearls from it. I thought I add it in there and see what Slade did with it.
To Noon: Timmy! So... cute... yet... deadly... Deadly cute!
To Biery5: Thank you
To L. VanDattae: Snacking on human life, is like snacking on candy you just can't just eat one without wanting more. You know I didn't think about the cloth around his waist but I'm going to have more about that soon and Jericho having suppositions. Yes, Slade loved it! He has more money now and he's getting greedy. Tsk, Tsk, Slade. Yes, Jason going to have to make up for it but it might have to wait until Tim's drugs wear off. Thank you for betaing! Sorry it takes the night but I work better in the night. lol Night Owl. (NO WAIT! Night... Bat. XD) ALSO: You were right about Billy XD Great Job!
To Free as the Birds: When I'm excited about writing I just can't stop! It's crazy! Thank u for the loves!
To REBD: Jason just Jason lol he's a good guy really.