Young Justice headquarters had become an increasingly depressing place in Robin's absence. Missions had been temporarily suspended and the Justice League was facing its own troubles as Batman took an extended leave of absence. What little information had been shared with the Justice League about Batman and Robin's disappearance had failed to filter down to the younger team. It had been over a month now since the team had made contact with its youngest member and what had started as playful rumors now made the air feel heavy.
"Maybe…" Wally muttered half-heartedly. They were out of fun excuses. Either something serious had happened to the dynamic duo, or Batman had changed his mind about the league. Regardless, prospects of seeing their friend in the near future had become increasingly bleak.
Last week, Aquaman sent Kaldur'am home to resume his studies. Artemis was home in her apartment maintaining her second identity. Only Meghann, Superboy and Wally were left in the tower, waiting for some kind of news. They sat slumped in living room around the television as Gotham's local news played quietly on television. Superboy's hands were clinched tightly by his thighs, his entire body screaming out that he needed to punch something, someone… Robin. He could be dead right now and I wouldn't even know. This is so stupid! We should go find Batman and demand some fucking answers.
Wally watched the couch nervously as the powerful alien fumed. Man… If all of this really is because Batman's throwing another fit… Well… I wouldn't really do anything. That guy is nuts. Christ! How can he leave us in the dark like this? How can any of them? What's happened to you, Robin?
There wasn't much for anyone to say at this point. So many things could have happened to the young acrobat, but at this point no one really knew. He could just as viably be at the bottom as the ocean as in another dimension or wherever Batman liked to keep his charges.
Superboy decided he had enough. He grabbed his shoes by the door and headed out, only to have Wally standing in his way.
"Where are you going?" Wally asked, his own guilt weighing heavily on his conscious and fearing deeply that Superboy might be another member lost. Superboy just shouldered him out of the way, hovering so that he could tie his boots. Quickly recovering and zipping back between the alien and the doorway, Wally stared up angrily.
"Move," the larger body floated ominously above Wally's small frame. "I'm going to find him." Connor's voice cracked slightly as he attempted to intimidate the younger teen into letting him leave without further discussion. His body shook with emotion as his eyes remained as steely as ever.
"Connor, we've looked everywhere! We've tried everything. All we can do now is be here if… when he comes back." Superboy's feet landed softly on the ground and Wally moved to guide him back inside. As soon as the speedster's unnaturally warm hands met cool Kryptonian skin, Connor pushed him back out of the way.
"No. That's not good enough." Connor lunged forward, his powerful legs damaging the stone floor of the cave. With a single jump, Connor propelled himself into the forest and out of Wally's view as the young teen could do little but watch.
Forget being the next Justice League… I get the feeling Young Justice just became a two man team.
Not much later, Superboy stood in the streets of Gotham, his eyes closed as he focused on the sounds of the city. Instead of listening for Robin's voice like he had tried before, this time Superboy attempted a more indirect method. Robin had to be somewhere in this city, even if he was somehow masking his location. Robin was clever enough to hide himself from his team mates, but he would have to be out in the streets if he wanted to fight crime. He listened for the signs of a struggle.
He focused carefully, dissecting the noises and categorizing them in is mind. He can hear the sound of footsteps shuffling all around him in the city and various domestic skirmishes in the residential district. He waits as patiently as he can for a sign.
After listening carefully for a full hour, Superboy is tired and ready to give up. He hasn't heard any of the familiar sounds. He is quickly losing focus and hope when he hears something promising. Robin. In seconds he is at the source of the sound, grasping a shocked thug by the collar.
"Where is he?" he growls, his voice sharp and threatening with his desperation.
"W-Who are you? What do you want?" The man has several piercings and a specific tattoo on his face which Superboy recognizes as a symbol that this man has likely spent time in prison. He shakes the man roughly like a rag doll.
"Robin. Where. Is. He." He speaks slowly and clearly, his voice raspy through his clenched jaw.
"I… I don't know nothing! I saw him get jumped in an alley by a bunch of guys in suits. They shoved him in a van and disappeared. I've got nothin' to do with it!" Superboy's grip loosens slightly as the man's friend approaches.
"He was jus' tellin me what he saw. Give it up man, that's all he knows." This man is clearly younger than the one in Superboy's hands and he has a lot less fear for the Kryptonian half-breed. Superboy concedes slowly, his grip loosening until the man could finally wiggle free. He spares a quick glance to his friend before they both break into a run.
Robin's been… kidnapped?