Smoke
November 5th, 2014.
Batman looked at the monitor screen, a frown on his face and uncertainty in his eyes.
Something was off. The crime rates of the city had been falling during the last month. Rapidly. And he had yet to locate the cause.
And now Jim Gordon was in the hospital, after having disappeared underground after a chase of some unknown villains. Who still hadn't been found.
He couldn't connect the dots. And that frustated him more than anything. He couldn't see the pattern and yet he was sure something vital was missing, something important. He looked at the mug shot of Selina Kyle. Catwoman had escaped prison a few weeks ago. He knew where to find her.
She would have some answers. She knew about almost anything that happened - or didn't happen - in Gotham. And she owed him a favor.
He pulled up the cowl, disappearing into the dark night.
Alfred looked after his charge as the car disappeared, worry evident on his face.
oOo
November 7th, 2014.
"I am sorry, will you please repeat that?"
Wally cringed at the sound of his best friends voice, as did the rest of the Team. They knew it would be bad. The Team was like family. And yet, as in every family, everybody had a favourite. In this case the favourite was the young man in the red and yellow colours with the scowl on his face, looking extremely mad. Wally shallowed something. This was hard.
"I said, that after a lot of talk and debating with our parents and between ourselves, Artemis and I have reached the conclusion that it is time for us to leave the Team. We have both been trying to make this study-work-and-superhero thing work but there simply isn't enough time." Wally explained, looking Robin in the eyes.
The entire team was gathered in the meeting room. Also the 'in training' members Beast Boy and Wonder Girl (also known Garth and Cassandra). Nobody said anything, the tension rising between Robin and Wally seemed to put everybody off.
"Well, I will miss you.. but I guess it is rather hard to joggle school, work and this." M'gann finally said, offering a small smile to Wally and Artemis.
Artemis sighed. "You have no idea. We can hardly keep up on homework, and it isn't exactly because the first year of college is easy. It's not like we want to quit,but..."
".. it is time to try something knew. We have been doing this for 5 years after all.." Wally rubbed his neck. "We just won't you guys to feel like we are abandoning you, I mean, after what happened last month.."
The month before, in the beginning of October, the Team had suffered their first loss. Aquagirl, known between friends as Tula, had died during a mission. Not only had the team lost a highly valued member. It had also lost it's leader. Kaldur, Aqualad, overcome by grief, had left them and disappeared. No one knew where he was now. The Team had been without a leader ever since.
Zatanna sighed, offering the couple a smile. "I guess we kinda all saw this one coming. You have been on this team for quite some time, and as you say, you have lifes besides this. I think it's a good idea, to try something knew. To get some rest."
Wally and Artemis saw sadness, mixed with happiness and acceptance in their team-mates eyes.
"You guys really okay with it?" Artemis asked again, uncertain. "We both talked with Flash and Green Arrow and they also thought it was a good idea so.."
M'gann walked over and hugged Artemis. "Of course it's okay! It's not like we'll stop being friends, right? You are always welcome here at the Cave!" the other Team Members all smiled, even Garth who didn't exactly approved of people disappearing out of his life.
Wally looked at the only who hadn't said anything since the beginning of the meeting. Robin, the Boy Wonder, sat on the other side of the table. His eyes concealed, but his face made it rather clear that he did not approve of this turn of events.
"Rob?" Wally asked cautiously. He knew his friend, and that this was not something he liked. At. All.
"What do you want me to say? I thought this Team was what you wanted. We fought together to make it, and now you are leaving, just like that?" Robin said, looking up.
"I don't get it Wally!"
Wally felt Artemis' hand slip into his when the words began to hit their target. They had both known that Robin wouldn't approve. But it still hurt, to hear it.
"Rob, come on. You know we couldn't continue on this forever. Both Artemis and I are 19 now. We both have college and even if we would want to stay we would soon have to transfer to the League. We are getting too old for Young Justice." Wally tried to reason.
"Is this what it's all about? You are suddenly grown up, and don't want to play with the kids league anymore?" Robin wasn't yelling, but his words hurt. A lot.
"Of course not! We both love the Team.."
"Then why won't you stay!"
"Damn it Rob! I just told you!" Wally stood up. "We knew you would be the hardest to convince. Look, I know you feel like I'm, that we are letting you down. But really, we just need to try something new. A life out of the crime fighting. A normal life. Both Artemis and I need to get an education. As much as we enjoy saving the world, we can't exactly live off it."
"So that's what this is about? Money?" Robin frowned, clearly getting more angry by the minute.
"I didn't say that.."
"But it's what you meant. You are giving up the Team because you are afraid you wont be able to pay your bills?" Robin snapped.
Wally slammed his hands down, anger growing. "Will you just listen! We need to move on! It's not like all of us have the kind of money you and Batman have..!"
Robin shot out off his chair with a speed that almost made Wally jealous.
"Do NOT drag Batman into this! This is not...!"
"Why not?! Off all of us gathered here, your mentor is the only one who quit his team!"
"Wally, I don't think..." Artemis tried to cut it, but Wally withdrew his hand to point at the angered boy standing in front of him.
"Don't make us feel bad, when your own mentor is such a hypocrite. Heck, we don't even have a leader anymore. Kaldur left, I didn't see you get like this when that happened. But here is a news flash for you Boy Wonder. People change! Do you plan on staying Robin forever? Being the Boy Wonder? We all know that you've been having problems with Bats ever since he left the League, without a leader! Don't rub your weird social problems off on us! It is time for you to face that reality and GROW UP!" Wally jumped out of his chair, slamming his hands down and glaring daggers at his friend.
Robin didn't answer, but he almost looked like he would hit him. He half raised his arm, and Mal stood up, blocking him. Robin looked at Mal, then Wally, his face dark with anger. He looked at the other team members, who all looked terrible uncomfortable.
"Do.. do you agree?" he asked, in disbelief. Conner shrugged, while Zatanna and Rocket shared a look. No one answered.
Robin looked back at Wally, eyes narrowing. He lowered his arm, stepping back.
"Fine then. Leave. Not like anyone would notice, they never learned your name anyway Flash Boy." with that he turned around and left the room. A few moments later they heard the computer announce his departure. Wally sank back into his chair, slamming his head into the table.
"I can't believe I said that.." he groaned, head resting on the surface. Artemis placed a comforting arm around him. "You are both idiots, I'm sure he'll be better in the morning." she said with a gently smirk.
"He'll come around, just needs to wrap his head around this." Zatanna said encouraging , although her face didn't really agree on her words. They had never witnessed Robin losing it like that before.
"Are he and Batman having problems?" asked Garth carefully, not having noticed this before. The older members of the Team shared a quick look.
"We don't know. None of us have seen Batman in over a year, and Robin doesn't really talk about him." M'gann said sadly.
"It could, you know, just be hormones? He is the right age. Sorta." Raquel pointed out.
Wally ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe.." he didn't sound convinced though.
OOo
He stood on top of Wayne Tower, overlooking Gotham. He was angry, and needed to cool off. Which was why he had retreated to this place, the safehaven free of scum and criminals, until he felt himself beginning to calm down. He couldn't do justice if he beat the living daylights out of some low life criminal. Which he was pretty sure he would do if he took of into the night. So he waited.
He clenched his fists. He was angry. Not only because Artemis and Wally was leaving the team, their team!.. But because Wally was right.
He couldn't be Robin forever, could he? Sure, he and Batman had some problems but nothing so serious that it would overcome their partnership. Would it? But even so, the Body Wonder couldn't be a boy forever. He knew this.
He sighed. He probably should go to the batcave. But then Alfred would ask him about what made him angry and he didn't want to talk about it! And he couldn't go to the city hideout because then he would most likely run into Batman. And he couldn't go back to Mount Justice just yet. He needed to get some distance to Wally.
oOo
November 8th, 2014.
"Why do you kids look so gloomy?" asked Flash while watching the team with a frown. He and the other mentors had zeta'd to the cave the day after Robin had stormed out.
"Robin.. didn't take it so well." Artemis answered weakly, not looking up.
"He stormed out." Cassandra, who preferred the less formal name Cassie, supplied when Wonder Woman looked at her, an eyebrow raised.
Flash rubbed his neck. "Yeah, I feared he would do that." he replied solemnly.
Green Arrow stepped forward. "The League held a meeting last night. And we want you to know that we have greatly appreciated your work during the last couple of years. But as of now you don't have a leader, and unless you are able to chose a new leader, we have to discuss the possibility of the Team being shut down."
"WHAT?" Wally yelled, jumping up. The other members looked equally shocked.
"Calm down, nothing has been decided." Flash said, grabbing his nephew by the shoulder and pushed him back into the couch.
"It's not because of me and Artemis leaving, is it?" Wally exclaimed, suddenly horrified. The world, without the team! That was just wrong.
Green Arrow smirked. "Don't flatter yourself Kid." he half laughed. Wally blushed.
"It is not because of you two leaving. But the Team has no leader, and you have failed to elect a new one." Superman supplied, watching the teams reactions.
"It's not that we havn't tried.." Conner muttered.
"Robin refused to become leader! We all asked him, but he refused." M'gann added, looking sad.
Green Arrow and Superman shared a look.
"Where is Robin now?" asked Superman, looking at Zatanna.
"Gotham, we think."
"No point of following him until he's cooled off. You can't locate a bat in Gotham that doesn't want to be found." Green Arrow sighed, pinching his nose.
".. you think Batman could talk with him?" asked Conner, looking at his mentor. Superman shaked his head, his expression sad.
"I doubt it. We haven't had any contact with Batman in over a year. In fact we were all very surprised that he let Robin stay on the team in the first place."
That was true. It had shocked the entire league and team when they had been informed of the news regarding Batmans resignation from the Justice League. Batman was a founding member for gods sake! The leader of the Justice League! He couldn't just quit!
But that was exactly what he'd done. He'd left the Watchtower and none of the Leaguers had heard anything from him ever since. They had tried to contact him, until Robin asked them to stop trying.
Batman was stubborn. And he had decided that he wouldn't be in the league anymore and they had to respect that.
oOo
She dragged herself out of the water, coughing and shaking. A swim in Gotham River was, epesically not for a cat, any fun. Even less in november.
She couldn't stop shaking. She managed to stand up, but almost immediately fell forwards, back unto her knees. She couldn't focus. Her mind was frozen from being in the cold water for so long. Her muscles weren't responding and she could feel herself loosing consciousness.
She needed help.
With her last, almost (that's how it felt) inhuman strength she managed to drag out the belt from her bag and push down the small button on the back. It started to blink, and to her exhausted eyes it was the most beautiful thing. She curled up, cluthing the belt to her. Out of sight, as the sun began to rise over Gotham City.
The day was November 9th and it was a day that would go down in history.
Not sure just how long the chapters will be in the future, but I'll try and aim for around the 2000-3000 word'ish.
As said before, this story is inspired by Dark Knight Rises (got my copy yesterday! Hurray for early european releases!) but with some twists and turns to make everything fit.
Just to be clear.
I had actually decided to write the entire story before starting posting. But I need this out now. So, here you are. Don't worry, I will finish it. The ending has been plotted out and events have been thought through and so on – I even made a time line (the only way I could keep track of everything. Took me hours – at work, I was bored – to finish. But damn, glad I did!
Christmas/Yule/Jul is starting as of tomorrow with December 1th
Which means I only have three weeks of work left until I'm on vacation!