Chapter Four: Robin Leaves the Nest

"Hey, uh… Mr. Wayne? You alright?"

Bruce moaned. His face felt wet. What had happened? Had he fainted? (Upon a quick inspection of his Batsuit, yes, he had. Its temperature was unusually cold. Dick had splashed water on his face to wake him up.)

"Yes, Dick… I'm fine." He paused, remembering the boy's previous bombshell. "About the fight…"

Dick's usually chipper face fell a little. "Oh, yeah… You sure you don't want some sugar cookies first? Alfred always makes them for me and I figured you might like them…"

Batman sighed. "No, that's fine." His glare hardened. "Tell me now. I need to know everything concerning Robin. I realize not reminding you might have… saved everything, but I just can't leave this alone. Not for the moment."

He swore Grayson smiled a bit. "Nah, I would have said something anyways. Can't leave you hangin', after all." The boy grinned at his quip. "Look… We've been working together for a long time now. Four years, I think?"

Wayne nodded. "Just about."

"So… I figured… Maybe it was time for me to start fresh. Like, right now, at least." He looked longingly at his friend. "Please, Mr. Wayne? I know I'll be okay. I've been trained well."

Batman smiled at that. Just a bit. His experience had rubbed off quite thoroughly. "I'm sure, Robin. It's just…" His face fell, his posture sagging. "I don't want you to leave. I feel we work so much better as a team, and for us to just separate like that would be-"

Robin cocked his head in confusion. "I thought you had Batgirl."

"Yes… we do. The problem is that she's always so preoccupied, working for the Commissioner and the library and her personal life… I'd never be able to just tear her away like that. It'd be too complicated."

The Boy Wonder frowned. Then he fumed hard. So hard, in fact, that he actually slapped Batman. Again. The man, now down on his knees, frowned. Had it all come down to this? Was his protectiveness really too much for Dick to bear?

He could not dwell on this much longer, as Robin was quickly up in his face. "I can't believe you!" he yelled. "Would you really discredit Babs like that just because you need sidekicks so bad? That's stupid, ignorant and honestly quite sexist!"

The Knight froze. "I… I never intended to put it that way, Dick. You have to understand; some superheroes just don't work without sidekicks. Green Arrow, Aquaman, the X-Men, Captain America…" Quickly predicting the boy's response, he continued: "Superman and Wonder Woman are exceptions. They are self-sufficient and confident enough in themselves to be able to 'spread their values' on their own. I can't do that without a partner," he admitted.

Contrary to what Wayne had been expecting, Robin's reply was sarcastic enough to make his previous quip look like a bad Star Trek joke. "Young Justice was. Confident and self-sufficient, I mean. We weren't sidekicks at all." Bitterness leaked through his eyes.

"But," Batman said in turn, "most of that was controlled by us. You were a covert ops group for the League for most of that last year, remember?" Still reeling from the both the physical and mental effects of the slap, he rubbed his cheek. "Look… what I'm trying to say is that heroes need help. Support, counseling, a helping hand… whatever it is, they will inevitably have a craving for it. You won't be able to function without it," he noted. "Clark and Diana may be strong enough to work on their own, but they've got connections too. They're just too subtle to see."

Dick scowled. Enough was enough. "Maybe my point's too subtle for you to see, Bruce? That mask of yours must be pretty damn tight. It almost reminds me of Wonder Woman's costume. Keeps a vital organ in place taught enough for its functions to be disabled."

Bruce gasped. "Dick! That was too far, 'son'." He began to get up from his current position. "I think… I think you should go to your room and consider what you just said."

The boy snapped. Something inside him had broken, as it were. "It was supposed to get through to that tiny walnut you call a brain! Seriously, Mr. Wayne? A superhero can't work without a 'partner?' Six years in the crimefighting business, and that's the best excuse you can give to someone who just wants to split up with you?"

Batman paused, chills running down his spine. He shifted his gaze, eyes moving away from Robin. "I hadn't realized…" The man sighed. A drop of water rolled down his mask, but he ignored it. "Oh god, Richard. I… I actually hadn't realized that's what you'd been asking… I thought you'd only wanted to leave, to pursue your own dreams or the like… Why wouldn't you tell me upfront?"

"Because I thought you would figure it out, Mr. 'World's Greatest Detective.' Aaargh! I hate you!" He stepped back a bit, steam billowing out of his ears. "When you put my resolve like that… Maybe I will."

"Dick… what…"

"I'll take up your advice, Mr. Wayne. Pursue my dreams, find an adventure, go solo like I've actually wanted to do all this time. Thanks for reminding me, buddy." He seemed to be taking something out of his costume... Clunk! Oh… Oh.

He had thrown his bat-communicator on the floor.

Heart pounding, Bruce inspected the damage.

It had impacted hard enough to crack, giant lines running down the centre of the logo. Some of the LEDs had been smashed. The touch screen, previously snappy enough to serve as an effective tool of communication, was broken. The indication of Dick Grayson's current feelings was clear. He didn't want to be Batman's sidekick anymore.

"Take your lousy communicator back," he breathed. "I don't want it anymore. In fact, I don't want anything from you anymore." He turned away from Batman and began walking towards his motorcycle, which he had dubbed the R-Cycle. Bruce had gotten it for his 14th birthday. The bike had seemed like a well-intentioned gift then. It didn't seem like such now.

"Wait… don't go… I can… call… Barbara…" Another droplet hit the floor.

"Please…"

The R-Cycle began revving up. The doors of the Batcave opened. "Sorry, Bruce Wayne, but…" Bruce tensed.

"No. No thanks." He turned back to the man one last time.

"Tell Alfred it's not his fault."

And then he was off. The tears began falling freely now. Bruce Wayne couldn't hold them off any longer.

A lone figure stood before a large monitor. Underneath his unusually coloured mask, he smiled. The boy had left his partner, just as he had predicted. All was going according to plan.

Tahu's full attention was currently directed to the emotional wreck that had once been Gali Nuva. In his mind, she had gone too far. The Toa never got this unnerved; usually, such incidences were reserved for moments of great disarray and discord. The Nuva seemed to have been arguing pretty solidly on this one. What was the issue?

"Wrong with me?" She glared back at him. "What's wrong with me?" A finger was directed at his mask. "What's wrong with you, Spirit of Hot Air?"

"I…" He frowned. Nothing was wrong with him. He had just repeated a point he had heard from the Turaga. Something was definitely up with Gali. It had to be investigated.

"Nothing you need to worry about, at least." The Toa turned to the others. "I ask again, brothers. All in favour?"

Kopaka looked at him questioningly. "Of what? Of leaving the throes of destiny to do what we feel is right, or disobeying the Turaga and going completely, to put it frankly, cross-wired?"

Tahu stared. He honestly had no answer to that. He didn't even know why the Toa needed to act like this. Even if they did have to discuss the problem at hand, the setting of the dispute had been a reunion at a long-lost brother's hut. Reunions were supposed to be fun, happy, and jovial, like the hut's owner. Even he knew that.

Apparently Pohatu echoed his feelings. "I feel it would be the first option, brother. It is truly a shame the same points must be repeated again, but I say this: The Turaga may have been a very effective guide thus far, but they may not remain so forever. Do you not believe so, Onua?"

The Toa of Earth frowned. "You took the words right out of my mouth… Wait. What exactly did you take, patron of Kohlii? I swore I heard something about repetition, cross-wiring, and party favours…" He beamed. "Is that it? Are we to sway the Turaga's opinion in a party? I am not one for such, but that does sound like fun."

Gali scowled. "No, you dolt! We're trying not to get their opinion, because we know it won't work!" She groaned dramatically. "Uugghh. Damn Earth Toa and their oversensitive hearing…"

Onua grimaced. "I heard that… I will ignore it, though, for it is your opinion." He checked with the airhead. "So our plan is to be presented as a party, if I am correct?"

"Uh, Onua? Earth-brother? I don't think…"

The Toa jumped up and grinned. "Then I shall take the burden for you!"

Whirr. Clank. Hiss. SMASH.

"Oh, no. What have I done?"

"Hey! Stop pushing!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Glatorian. I wasn't aware my rustling was causing a spirits-accursed alien invasion."

Malum frowned. "Ugh. I was wrong, okay? Jeez. Not my fault your personality's so toxic that it messes with my brain."

"I don't even know how that can occur."

"Just… shut up, Akhmou."

They had been "travelling" through the dunes for at least an hour now. The titan was sure they had at least passed Tajun, at the very least; as by the looks of things the soldiers had been told to get as close to Atero as possible.

Wait… He squinted. They were at Atero. Passing it, even. Heading towards the ridge that the Po-Matoran had pointed out earlier. What could they possibly want there? Malum was sure the Gordanians hadn't taken Akhmou's advice, so that must have meant…

Oh. The girl had gone off and found it on her own. Skrall it.

The stars were bright, and the night felt clear. Under the dark fabric of the sky, Koryand'r flew. The warrior loved how the air felt murky but fresh at the same time, dusty yet sweet. It felt very different in comparison to Tamaran's perpetual overt sweetness and the Gordanian ship's cold manufacturedness.

Yes, flying here was very, very great; sensing an abundance of joy, she felt her control improving. She would have to do this more often…

Spotting two shapes by the cave opening, she frowned and squinted. It was hard to make out what exactly they were, but Koryand'r swore she could see a blue one and a green one, both sporting helmets. Could they be inhabitants of the city, perhaps? The exile smiled. Things were going pretty well for her. Getting to her sister would be a piece of cake.

A dull whirr sounded through the confines of Lewa's hut. Smidgens of earth and debris lay scattered in piles on the floor. Several pieces of furniture, including the table that the Toa Nuva had been "debating" on, had been turned over or even smashed. Despite the carnage, a dull blue light filled the room, and Glatorian folk music was softly playing through an old "borrowed" music player.

The party had begun.

To the sounds of increasingly manic encouragement by Gali, and harried breathing by everyone else, Onua had set up what he believed to be the team's form of appeasement to the Turaga: a good old fashioned Onu-Koronan mining party. It had seemed like a good idea at the time: he and Lewa had done it all the time back on the island (or in an Onu-Metrunan nightclub, really:) why wouldn't it be fine here?

The answer was pretty obvious. At the moment, Onua was currently tunneling his way through to a supposed underwater cave, where Gali had claimed he would find a legendary golden treasure. It would have been pretty stupid, in Kopaka's opinion, if she also hadn't wanted to use said treasure as an apology gift. For what they were apologizing for, the Toa had no clue.

The whirrs became louder, and the floor seemed to vibrate faster. Tahu sighed and propped his mask on his fists. If this was anything like last time, the Spirit of Earth would pop up, spew some more debris, pull out something he thought was the treasure and get pummeled by Gali for being "blind as an Archives bat-"

"Found it!"

PBLKSHHH. A black shape shot up out of a deep hole. Clouds of dust greeted the Toa. To frenzied applause, Onua bowed dramatically, reached into his sack, and pulled out a metallic pancake, rimmed with specks of gold.

"What?" screeched Gali, thundering up to Onua. "That's not the treasure at all!"

"Sorry," Onua apologized. "It was the best I could find." He began wiping the excess dust off of the pancake. "Perhaps your confidant has rumoured you wrong; a game of Crack-Speak, if you will?"

The female frowned. "I don't play Crack-Speak. It's a silly Le-Matoran game, just like all the other silly little habits they have."

"Hey! Crack-Speak is not 'silly!'" A green-armoured hand rose out of a pile of rubble. "It's a much-entertaining fun-game when you have the right-people to quick-play."

"Who cares?"

Another hand emerged, then a pair of forearms. "I care!" They began to push before a mask appeared, mouth coughing out earth powder. "The game was created by my people, sister. Therefore, it is my duty to encourage its use, even if I may not like it."

The Kaukau betrayed the extent of Gali's eyeroll. "Sounds like a load of duty, if you ask me," she giggled.

The Toa of Air's body was unearthed now. He looked at Gali wearily. "That's childish!"

The Toa sashayed up to her brother and bopped him on his mask. "Funny you should say that, after we've spent the last two years calling you out for exactly the same thing."

"But…"

Kopaka smirked at this. Just a bit. "She's got a point, brother."

"You can't-say…"

Pohatu laughed softly. "Sorry, friend, but I think he is right…"

"I don't-!"

Lewa groaned. He pulled his feet out of the pile and knelt down to face his leader, desperation evident in his eyes. "Can't you do anything about her, Tahu?" he whispered. "You've been her heart-mate for two past-months. Don't you know what happens when she gets all mask-cracked like this?"

The Spirit of Fire looked at him with a blank expression. "Truth be told, Lewa, I haven't got a clue. She was fine when we were fighting Makuta, and for a good chunk of the aftermath…" He pondered over this for a bit before another, louder song made it harder to do so. "I have a theory." Dismissing his brother's curious look, he continued, "Yes, what a shocking development, I know. The Toa who always likes to burn stuff is actually using his head."

"But what sort of idea could you have-"

"Let me finish, Lewa…"

Onua was looking over the pancake he had acquired, fingers brushing over the clear plastic surface. "What do you suppose this is, brothers and sister? A Kanoka? A tracking device made by the Agori? A pocket sundial?" He chuckled. "Think of how revolutionary that would be."

Kopaka sighed, head tilting up slightly to meet the other Toa's. "Perhaps it's a Makuta weapon. You know, for collecting masks."

His friend frowned. "What? Is it a weapon that the Matoran Kotu uses to prospect flask? That is a very peculiar way of doing so."

Pohatu joined in. "Uh, Onua? I think he said it was a Makuta weapon. For masks." He elbowed his brother, smirking. "Could be wrong, though."

Gali scoffed. "It's trash, obviously. Probably doesn't have any use." Looking towards an unfortunately shallow hole, she said, "Junk it."

Onua cocked his head and nodded in affirmation. "I do not believe Lewa has a bunk. But I will try."

"So you've also got the same-belief, then? That our Toa-brothers and sister have been long-gone enough that they simply will not mesh-work?"

Tahu nodded. "I think so. Though," he laughed softly, "I do not believe it was a so-called 'magical' force at work. The Great Beings wouldn't endeavor for such a thing."

His friend laughed too. "Then do you know-suppose we should speak-tell- Oooww! That freaking hurts, Onua! Be careful not to kill-bury your heart-love!" He rubbed his head, moaning in pain.

The Toa of Fire raised his mask brow. "Lewa, what hit you-" He looked to the floor and gasped.

Onua had thrown his strange device to the floor.

Murmuring in disbelief, Tahu inspected the damage.

It had impacted hard enough to crack, giant lines running down the plastic covering. One of its arrows had been smashed. Some gears, presumably once sharp enough to serve as an effective method of mechanics, were broken. The indication of Onua Nuva's current feelings was clear. He obviously had some issue with Lewa, however petty it might have been.

Tahu looked at his brother. Then he fumed.

Lewa did not, not right away at least. Onua was his significant other, after all; wouldn't any maritial issues concern both of them?

His eyes widened when he realized he probably wasn't acting on spite, anger, or disgust at his lover's laziness. Someone had put him up to it.

Gali.

"ENOUGH!"

Clop. Clop. Clop. Clop. Clop.

Many pairs of boots marched through the streets of New Atero. Their goal? Find a missing person. The probability of capturing her without hassle? Close to zero. The most prominent pair had no patience for attempting to avoid said hassle, so he was just going to bomb the heck out of the place. Both for the fun of it and because he wanted to leave for the Citadel now.

The pattering stopped close to the town's square. The pair ordered his troops to line up in squadrons, intending to have them head to different areas of it… he just needed to give ample warning first, was all. Probably less, considering how the group of natives he had encountered reacted.

"People of New Atero!" he yelled. "We are in search of an important member of our crew… If anyone has seen a girl with orange skin, red hair, and green eyes, please report it to one of us… if not…" He grinned. "Then you will pay with your life."

Dick… Robin motored along an exceptionally busy highway. He had just left Star City after an evening of beating up bad guys with Speedy… it had been fun, of course, but he had meant every bit of what he had said to Batman. If he wanted to go solo, he would go solo.

The Boy Wonder was following the tip of a strange man he had met at a recent rest station. The man, a biker, had recognized him, asked him what he was doing out on his own, and went inside the station, seemingly content. Robin had had to wait a long time before anything happened… and when something finally did, he had only received a scrap of paper. Scribbled on it was the word "Jump" and a crudely drawn road map, presumably leading to it (the boy had had to assume it was a city indicated. If it had led to something else, like a short cliff, he would have probably strangled the biker.)

Why Jump City, he had asked the biker? "It's a hotbed for crime," the man had responded. "People come there to harvest on people's dreams." He laughed heartily. "Or so they say, anyway." Getting on a suddenly appearing bike and tipping his bandana to the boy, he continued, "Don't trust me on this. I've only heard of it. Probably good to try, though!" And then he had motored off. Robin, at this point on his road trip desperate for locations, had had no choice but to listen. He just wished he'd had a chance to thank the biker, though…

He frowned. No use fretting over it now. Jump was a good 120 miles away. Focusing on the road was key. Excited to be free of the clutches of the Bat, he gripped the R-Cycle's handlebars even harder.

The boy did have one question, though. Why had somebody recognized him so easily? He wasn't wearing his full costume, just his mask…

No answer.

Lieutenant H'ssiah tried once more. "I said… Please report it to us… if you value your life." He grinned again, to keep up the shock value.

Nobody seemed to be home. What was up with that? Didn't these Agori and Glatorian have a concept of family values? The Gordanean scoffed at that. Family values. Hah.

ssiah motioned to his squadrons to move into different sectors of the town. Before he joined one of them, he tried getting the peoples' attention one last time. "People of Spherus Magna! We desire the… oh blitznak… We desire our Rutan'gah, all right? She is the crowning jewel of our stately ship." A surprisingly legitimate tear fell down his face. "Please. If you have any information on her, respond now."

That was it. He wouldn't tolerate this anymore. The other Toa had caused far too much damage between themselves and his hut to be tolerated any longer. The "reunion" was over. The party was just… done.

He turned to his sister, eyes glowing in anger. Expectant of an outbreak, she put her hands up in an expression of peace. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, brother. Don't take this too personally. I'm just trying to preserve our unity in the best way I can think of-"

"'Preserve our unity?' I can't believe you, Gali! Is immaturely insulting our brothers, manipulating them, and destroying my rest-hut supposed to keep us together?" He sighed and looked away. "I know, I know, that is rather rude-demeaning, but I can't let this long-stand." Lewa pointed to the door. "Everyone. Either clean your show-act or get out." He scowled at Onua. "That goes for everyone."

His leader looked at him warily. "Lewa! I know you are trying to make a point, but telling them to just leave like that seems a bit out of hand…"

"Out of hand, after the countless other times you have 'told' me so?"

"Tahu's mask fell. "Oh, brother. I don't know…" He cleared his throat, obviously having prepared a speech. "Do you really think we have been patronizing you, Lewa? You are the youngest Toa mentally, after all. Our attempts to keep you on the right path might be seen as degrading to you. What do you think?"

The indicated Toa frowned. "Well… I suppose you were trying to keep me safe. That was very nice of you, by the way. Thanks." He inhaled and continued. "It's just… I don't know. I've been saying this for so long and I don't know if anyone will listen…"

Surprisingly enough, Kopaka was up for it. "I am listening. Tell me now, brother." His eyepiece whirred. Lewa looked hesitant, but decided to keep going.

"I want to be treated like a Toa," he admitted. "Tahu's right. I am pretty much the youngest here. I understand this might make me seem a bit childish at times…"

"Pretty much all the time," Gali whispered.

"Door's that-way. I understand this makes me seem childish… but I know I can get better. I have. I think you all know this."

Tahu evil-eyed his sister then turned to Lewa. "But have we not all got better? It does seem to be a part of destiny, after all."

"Yeah, it does. I just mean… being independent. Being able to do something without being snapped at by swarms of rabid Makuta fish. Being able to fix my mistakes without being doted on." He sighed. "Being able to get out of bed after explicitly knowing that you feel better."

A large chiseled figure sat in a small chair, pondering the world. He was Ackar, leader of the Agori-Matoran Confederation, and he had just been told that his planet was under attack. The Great Council had forced him to stay in their shelters, even though he knew he could take the threat on his own. It was rather… patronizing, to say the least.

At least he had Vakama in this with him. The Turaga of Fire had quickly connected with him shortly after the Battle of Spherus Magna, being that they had both been elected to the Council, and the two had become great friends. They had been inseparable ever since, to the point that the Glatorian constantly had to dispel rumours of them being in a relationship. Oh well. That was his people's culture, after all.

Ah, and here he was now! The diminutive Bionicle strolled down a nearby hall, robe making brushy noises as it dragged along the floor. He stopped when he saw Ackar and turned, quickly moving to meet him.

"Hello, Vakama!" Ackar greeted, putting a fist up in a sign of welcome.

The Turaga eagerly returned the gesture. "As to you, brother." He very quickly sobered up. "I do not wish to interrupt your time of brooding, but the others in the Council have informed me that the Agori must be evacuated now. Is it wrong to believe that you will do nothing?"

The titan chuckled. "No, friend, it is not." He, too, sobered up. "I know the Council is only trying to do the right thing for my people, but I have repeatedly told them that the Agori can handle dangers on their own. Yes, at times they require the Glatorian's services for bigger risks, but in most cases it will not matter, especially if this is what it appears to be." Looking at his friend pleadingly, he continued, "Trust me, Vakama. They will be fine."

Vakama smiled. "Yes, I am sure they will. However, this is the Great Council we are talking about. Do you wish to provoke their ire and break what feeble platforms we have acquired?"

"Vakama."

"Yes, Ackar?"

"Tell them I'm not doing it. To Skrall with relationships at a time like this. We have work to do."

Another smile. "A very good decision, in truth." He turned, gave another fist bump, and began walking to the doorway. "I thought you would like to know that the fires have predicted something very interesting…"

Ackar shot up. "Really? What?"

The Turaga looked at his friend and grinned. "They say that is for them to know and you to find out."

The Glatorian sighed. Damn those Turaga and their stupid riddles.

Still no answer.

"Screw it," the Lieutenant said. "They are obviously not interested." He turned to his troops. "Storm this pathetic wasteland and find the girl."

Double-header chapter today!

Comments:

1. The Marvel heroes exist in this universe (the DC ones haven't made much of an effort to talk to them, though.)

2. The arguments were again pretty hard to write (although the Toa's came off a bit easier this time.)

3. The Turaga, Glatorian, some Agori, and various other species formed a government in the interim to keep things from getting out of hand... or, soon enough, they will have.

4. Three guesses as to whom the biker is.

Read and review!