Damned

Wally asked "So, what's up for tonight's training? Bombs? Missiles? Water torture?"

Bruce looked straight at the team. "Fear Toxin."

"What?"

"Batman, you aren't serious?"

"WHAT?"

"NO."

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT BATS!"

Batman waited for everyone to yell at him. It was an outrageous idea, admittedly. But Robin had suffered. He had suffered. And probably, these kids were going to suffer as well. These children shouldn't suffer. They want to fight the good fight, but this was not a comic book.

They had to be ready. Know what they were up against.

"I understand why you object-"

"You are not hurting my par-NEICE!" Green Arrow came up into Batman's face.

"FORGET IT!" Conner yelled, in a fighting stance.

Batman stayed his ground. "You need to be prepared. Your training is proficient, but can always be improved."

Kaldur stared at Batman's cold logic. Robin and Batman, partners. Robin was the smiling, smart, cocky young teen. Batman was dark, cold, calculating man. These two worked together well, but it was a wonder Robin wasn't so dark all the time. Or possibly depressed.

"Batman, this idea- no matter your logic- is a very dangerous idea. This unique form of torture especially mixed with the abilities of these youths." Every solemn J'onn Jones stated.

"Thank you J'onn, but next time M'gann goes undercover, she may be captured. From what I have heard and seen, she is very strong with her abilities. However, she can't escape yet. What if she succumbs to torture?"

M'gann ducked her head uncomfortably. Why were they discussing her aloud? In front of the team, when she was trying to prove herself worth?

*M'gann, he's not dissing you. It's just Batman saying he cares* Wally told her through the "mind-link".

*He's blunt.* Conner said simply. Not quite angry, but very openly displeased.

The Flash came forward next. "Bats, I get where you're going. But subjecting Wally and his team…"

Batman sighed. "Wally actually would probably be the best at this. Based on your metabolism, he would burn through the gas quicker than anyone else."

Wally blanched. He hadn't really thought of that. Sure, it made sense. But if Robin had gone through that…

And in a moment, he realized what Batman was doing. Wally, the usually "common-sense" lacking, "dense" one, was the only one who picked up on the Dark Knights plan. And if the plan was going to work, he had to support him in this insane idea.

"Batman, Un- Flash." Wally stepped forward. He felt like a soldier in the front row.

Everyone looked at the yellow and red clad teen.

"I volunteer. Independent from the team. They can come if they want." He didn't look at Robin.

A pin could have dropped and would have been heard for miles. That was the reaction that that statement had.

*Wally, are you nuts?* Artemis yelled.

*Wally, see reason.* Kaldur tried to say calmly, confusion heavily present.

*What the hell?* Conner asked, real emotion getting into his voice.

M'gann put her head to her temple in the wake of all these voices and emotions filtered through her. She amplified the voices and projected to the desired people. So she got the hardest impact. She could tell Robin, who was shocked into silence, wanted to cry but said nothing out of respect to him.

Batman studied Wally for a second, looking him straight in the eye. In a moment, he saw why.

They both saw the clear line.

"If Wally is going, I stand behind him." Kaldur stood up, putting his hand on Wally's shoulder.

Robin squeezed his eyes shut. "I'll go too."

Batman and Robin shared a LOOK before Batman let him go. He would make sure that Robin would be off duty for a week.

Conner stared at Kaldur. "You're insane! You're all insane." Conner shook his head.

"I agree." Artemis said. "This stuff is dangerous. I'm not suicidal."

M'gann blinked. She was the make or break for the team. If she went, Conner would go with her to protect her and try and talk her out of it. Then Artemis would obligatorily go as well.

M'gann and Conner saw what the stuff did. She and him watched the morning news together before school (there wasn't very much else to do). They saw that Batman and Robin faced the Fear Toxin before. And if Robin and Wally, the youngest of their team, were willing to go, shouldn't she?

If this is what Earth heroes were all about, shouldn't she be willing to go out and do it? She had gone to Belle Reeve Penitentiary with Dangerous criminals and much worse. If this was her fear, maybe she should face it.

M'gann breathed and stood up. "I'm in."