Chapter 12 Haunted Part 2

Robin's PoV*************************************************

I was, for once, wearing civilian clothes, sitting on a bench in the park, watching the sun drift by. Despite my battered and tired state, I haven't been able to sleep, the events of last night still fresh in my mind. I now thanked whatever higher power there was that last night was the result of hallucinogens, because, not only did it mean that Slade wasn't back—yet, my pessimistic side commented—but it also meant he hadn't found out about Danny.

Danny. I closed my eyes in thought and a younger version of my brother appeared in my mind. It had always been one of my greatest fears that a villain would find out my secret identity and use the information to get to him. When I first became Robin, I only wanted to get revenge on Zucco, but after…what happened, I realized that I had to stay Robin. If I didn't, what would Danny think of me, abandoning others to be victims of crimes I could have stopped?

When we were little, he used to stare at me with hero worship in his eyes as I completed trick after trick on the trapezes. What emotions would he stare at me with if I'd left civilians to fend for themselves.

Even if I never see Danny again, he'll always my greatest motivation for being a hero.

The sound of crunching leaves alerted me to someone approaching to the left. I unconsciously tensed, since last night had made me extremely jumpy, and faced the person who was walking towards me.

It was Danny.

Danny's PoV****************************************************

As I was walking through the park, wearing my ninja suit underneath my civilian clothes, I heard a gasp come from the path ahead. There was a guy, maybe a couple years older than me, wearing a red tee, jeans and sunglasses. His hair was coal black and lay flat against his head, while his visible skin was covered in purple bruises, like he had an abusive girlfriend…or boyfriend. The guy was faintly familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd seen him.

The guy stood up from his bench and walked directly in my path while staring straight at me. "Danny?" He asked, his voice a whisper and unsure. I cautiously took a step back. This was getting creepy. The guy reached up and removed his glasses, revealing crystal blue eyes.

Oh. Now I remember him.

Dick. My brother.

I high-tailed it out of there as fast as I could, running through brush with Dick chasing after me. I knew that if I could get to the street, he wouldn't be able to chase me without attention—

Dick tackled me from behind, scratching my hands and bruising my chest as I slammed into the ground. He quickly held my hands behind my back, so I couldn't move much. "Danny, it's me! Dick!" He whispered in my ear as I wiggled to get free. "It's your brother!"

I blinked back the tears his words caused and growled, "I don't have a brother!" Jerking my head back, I broke his nose with the head-butt and forced Dick off me, only to be trapped in a bear hug.

"Yes, you do!" He grunted as I thrust an elbow into his gut. "Please, Danny, I just want to talk!"

"Then talk!" I snarled, lurching out of his arms and spinning around to face my long lost brother. I took some grim satisfaction in seeing the blood dripping down his face, but overall, I was fighting the urges to cry or to scream at the same time.

A weak smile flickered across his face before he grimaced in pain. "Damn, you've gotten strong…" He muttered so low that I could barely hear him, even with my advanced hearing. "Danny, I'm so glad I was finally capable to find you. I was able to track you here to Jump City, but you did a good job at yourself…" He took a step forward, but I swiftly responded by moving back. Dick frowned. "Danny, it's okay. You don't have to hide anymore."

"So, now that I've suffered through the deaths of both my families, you think it's the perfect time to play the protective big brother role, is that it?" I blinked more tears out of my eyes and barred my teeth. "Well, too bad for you. I don't need you around—"

"Danny! I know you're a Meta! And I know about Phantom!" My eyes widened in shock. How did Dick figure it out when people who lived with me every day for months never even guessed!? Hope swelled in my chest as I noticed that Dick didn't look at me with disgust or hate. Maybe I could forgive him, if he didn't think I was some sort of freak of nature— "You don't have to run from Phantom anymore."

The hope that had bubbled in my chest popped in that moment. "What? You think I'm being chased by Phantom!?" I asked, confused and astounded. How could you chase yourself? "Where did you get that insane idea!?"

"You mean…he's not after you?"

I rolled my eyes. "The years obviously haven't been kind to you, IQ wise, anyway. Without Phantom, I most likely would have died in the…explosion…with my family. And the only person I'm running from is a seriously messed up Fruitloop in desperate need for a cat." My eyes started to dart around, frantic for an escape. From past experiences, Vlad usually tended to show up whenever I insulted him.

"Danny, please," Dick begged, eyes pleading. "I just want to keep you safe—"

"SAFE!" I snapped, temper roaring for blood and irises flaring to green. "What do you know about keeping me safe!? Where were you when I was beaten by bullies nearly every day in middle school!? Where were you when my family was blown to smithereens in front of me by a psychopathic mad man!? And where. Were. YOU. When I was hunted because of my powers, when I was inches away from dying, when I was the only thing that was between evil and the world!?" His shocked expression was the only answer my rage-fueled mind needed. "Exactly. You weren't there. I don't need you, Richard. Just leave me and my new family alone."

Before Dick could protest, I turned invisible and dashed through the trees, determined to get away before he recovered from my outburst. I wiped away the tears on my cheeks as I ran out of the park and into one of the numerous alleyways that populated Jump, though they weren't nearly as numerous as the ones in Gotham. I turned visible, gasping for air, which I still needed, despite my advanced speed as a hafta. I was just about to leave when the back of my neck prickled with the knowledge that someone is watching me.

"Hello, Daniel." I spun towards the voice before freezing, my eyes comically wide in shock. They then narrowed in suspicion and mistrust.

"You!?"

Hehehe…you all hate me now, don't you? Since some people didn't get it last chapter, the second Danny was a hallucination. If you guess who the mysterious person is, I'll tell you my list of antagonists for Seasons 3-6 of Phantom X (Yes, I'm making a season 6)

PS. Poll on profile. Please vote?