AN: And there we go! Okay, if I ever take a long time to finish a chapter this might be why:

I am actually a visual kind of person, so when I'm planning a story in my head, I imagine the characters actually doing what I'm writing. I spend more time on certain 'scenes' than others. So, for example, there is obviously going to be a showdown between the Team and the League of Talons, and right now, I have six different ways I could do it. I'm playing each scenario in my head, trying to find the best fit. So, because I'm looking forward to that chapter so much, I'm spending more time on it. This chapter took me longer to write because there isn't a lot of visual to go with it and there is not much action. In a nutshell, I'm unintentionally skipping my focus around to various chapters, depending on which idea strikes my fancy. Does that make sense?

fmrobin fan: I'm sorry, but I am a WIMP! I won't add a chapter where Whisper sings "Sexy Back" just because I'm chicken. BUT, I WILL put an insert under one of my author notes where it has him doing that, just for you. It just won't be considered part of the story, okay?

So yeah, I need a name for his Batarangs! I can't call them Birdarangs or Wing-Dings because that has no connection to the name Whisper whatsoever. So along with those songs, I also need a name for his disc/saucers!

Thanks and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own YJ! DC Comics does!

The constant thunking coming from the training room in the Cave was what prompted the Team to wander towards the noise. After Batman had left, they had given their congratulations to Whisper, then gone off to do their own activities. About ten minutes later, the sound caught the attention of the teens and they began to walk in that direction.

When they arrived, they were surprised to see Whisper chucking disc after disc at targets normally used for archery. So far, at least twenty saucers were stuck at the center of each target, and the number seemed to be growing with each toss.

Without turning around, Whisper pulled a one-handed cartwheel, simultaneously accomplishing another bullseye and saying, "Hey guys. What's up?"

M'gann timidly spoke up. "Well, we kept hearing noises in here, so we decided to see what you were doing."

Whisper casually did a backflip and landed in a crouch before throwing two discs at the targets. He straightened up and turned to face his new teammates. "Just practicing my aim."

"So I assume the supplies Batman gave you fits your needs," Aqualad questioned.

"Yeah. It has almost everything." As he talked, Whisper pulled out the belt he had been given. "Knockout gas, smoke bombs, tracers, and my personal favorite," he pulled out yet another saucer, "modified Batarangs with varying uses."

"Dude, you gotta let me try them out," an excited speedster called out.

"Really KF? You'll probably blow up the mountain." (AN: Silly Whisper! Artemis and Aqualad do that!)

"KF?," M'gann questioned.

Whisper answered, "Yeah, you know. KF, Kid Flash."

The Martian was suddenly struck with an epiphany and struck her forehead with the palm of her hand. "Hello Megan! You're on the Team now so we can tell you our names! My real name is M'gann M'orzz, but my Earth name is Megan Morse." The young boy gave her a sweet smile before turning to face his other teammates.

"I am Kaldur'ahm, but my friends call me Kaldur." Whisper nodded appreciatively.

"I don't have a name." This earned Superboy an odd glance.

"Wally." Cue snort.

"Something tells me you already know."

A cheeky smile was sent in the archer's direction. "And something tells me you're right."

An uncomfortable silence fell over the teens. Some glanced occasionally at their feet while most looked at Whisper expectantly. After a few minutes, Artemis said what was on everyone's minds. "Aren't you going to tell us your name?"

Whisper's head jerked up to stare at the Team. Yes, he liked these people, and yes, he was now part of their team, but he was paranoid. That lesson had been etched into his head at an early age. People were dangerous. Tony Zucco had shown him that, but the feeling had only increased as his training progressed. He had too many scars for him not to be cautious. If he told them his real name, they would tell Batman, and Batman would act on that knowledge. Any news about Richard Grayson in Gotham would bring the Talons onto him-hard. He wasn't ready for that, he doubted he would ever be ready.

Trusting was something he wasn't prepared for.

Not yet, if ever.

While Whisper contemplated this, the Team watched him as emotions flickered over his eyes. The rest of his face remained stoic, giving them no clue as to what he was thinking. However, his sentiments shone through his colored contacts. Surprise. Suspicion. Worry. Nervousness. When Whisper finally focused back on the teens, they had already guessed what he was going to say.

Quietly, he said, "Whisper. Just Whisper," and looked at the ground once more.

Thankfully, the Team had enough sense to drop it.

Whisper was honestly wondering how he had ever survived without this room. It had everything. A grand piano, every type of guitar there was, and even a drum set. Best of all, it was completely soundproof, even to Kryptonians. Yeah, he really liked this room.

He opened his red notebook to the song he had been working on the previous night. He had spent three and a half hours drawing notes onto crudely made staffs; now all he needed was the lyrics, and he would be done. Playing a lively tune to warm up, Whisper settled down at the piano.

Whisper-no, Dick, he was Dick right now-glided his hands over the keys with a practiced ease. His eyes scanned the page as he started out the sad melody. He had already picked a few lines he wanted to use as lyrics, no he just had to add them in. Taking a deep breath, he began to sing. {Insert "I'll Try" by Jesse McCartney}

The very first line summed up his history into one sentence. He had to grow up hours after his family fell to their deaths, or face the consequences. He would never be able to regain that childish innocence he had had in youth. It was gone.

He continued to sing, pouring all his thoughts about the past few days into the empty room. The Team was asking him to be trusting, to be unguarded. He couldn't, but truth be told, he was lonely. He wanted friends. He wanted to be able to talk to people again. And if he had to trust his teammates to make that happen, well, he could try, couldn't he?

He had a loyalty to the Team, and he was determined not to let them down; no matter how different it may be from living on the streets. Here he was cared for, and he could-no, he would- adjust. Someday, he hoped he would be so at ease with them, he could confide in them. After all, they had asked why he was up last night. He had the urge to tell them about his past, his nightmare, but why? He barely knew these people, but here he was, believing in fighting the good fight.

In just a day of knowing a few teens, his world had been turned upside down. He had been taught to believe that emotions were weak, soft, and unnecessary. So far, he had only shown true emotion while singing. Everything else was just an act, a defense mechanism. The joking, the teasing, and the smirks, he used them to blend in. That way, no one would take interest in the hardened thirteen year old. But here at the Cave, each smile had a spark that hand't been there before. That hadn't been there since his family fell to their deaths.

And was it wrong to say that he was going to try to make that spark grow, to make it real? Yes, he would try.

AN: Ta-da! The first song part finished! I listened to this song while writing this and I tried to put his feelings while singing this into the chapter. And as promised, here is the backstory to this song.

I'll Try: Dick wrote the music for this song after a particularly bad nightmare. After he was accepted into the Team, he decided to show his inner turmoil about that through the lyrics. It reflects his past and what he hopes to be his future.

I just couldn't resist having it in here! I mean, Jesse McCartney is the actor for Dick Grayson in the show, so I looked through all of his songs that I could find and picked out promising ones. So, yeah...

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! And I will change the Team's names depending on their outfit. Superhero costume=Hero name. Civvies=Real name. (In Whisper's case, if he is singing, he is Dick.) Next chapter will hopefully be up soon! And I have told myself I will not post chapters under 1,000 words like ever, so yeah. Longish chapters from here on out!

And if you want a more amusing look at my work, search for the YJ fanfic "Mathletes Aren't Cute".

Toodles and Teddy Bears! (I love chameleons!)

-GSDLover