Author's Note: I've received a very relevant enquiry from my last chapter that I'd like to address before we move on. In terms of ages and personalities, most of the characters will lean heavily on their Teen Titan's portrayal with bits of Young Justice personas when they apply. This means that:

1. Robin is 16 and a leader.

2. Kid Flash is confident and cheeky.

3. Speedy changes for the plot.

You'll probably wonder about the other characters and be confused by some of the replacements (i.e. Aqualad), but bear with me. I have plans and I'm hoping I'll be inspired enough to go through with them.

Cheers,

the point

#

01: Independence Day

7 Months Later

GOTHAM CITY

July 4, 12:00 EDT

A year, he thought to himself, brushing his thumb down the length of his batarang. A year, and he would see them again.

He slipped behind a bush, the foliage still and silent, his focus honed and defined. He was aware that Batman was near — no words were needed or exchanged. He knelt low as they waited for their opponent to arrive. Commissioner Gordon had warned them that Mr. Freeze would appear; villains were never very secret with their "diabolical" plans.

Beast Boy would've made a joke.

He smirked, rueful and self-depreciating. Seven months had passed, and there hadn't been a day when he hadn't thought of them, at least once.

A chill swept over the park and a prickling sensation set his hair rising. Immediately, he prepared himself to move, leaning forward to the balls of his feet for a faster launch point. He paused, waiting for their enemy to show himself — snow, mist, a sizeable glacier breaking up the ground — he dashed across the park just as several innocent citizens were made victims to Mr. Freeze's freeze ray.

"Enjoying family time?" Mr. Freeze's distorted voice sent additional chills down their backs, made more sinister from the rocky platform he'd placed himself on so that he could overlook his playing ground. The sound of the freeze ray and a family of three were immediately cast in ice. "My family has other plans."

Frowning, the young sidekick rounded behind Mr. Freeze, his cape fluttering soundlessly after him. Just as he was dashing up the rocky hill to engage his opponent, the villain conveniently slid down on one of his icy ramps to ground level. Gritting his teeth, the hero threw his batarang, a wide-swept circle that rounded towards the villain's left.

The sharp clang of metal upon metal confirmed the hit. Mr. Freeze stumbled at the collision, but soon found his footing.

Unimpressed, Mr. Freeze glared at the direction from whence the batarang came from. "Batman," he rasped, turning to meet his adversary. "I was wondering when-" He broke off when there was no one to meet his death stare.

There. There was his chance! The young hero sprinted forward, jumping off of the rocky hill and bringing all his weight down on Mr. Freeze's cylindrical helmet in a single kick. Mr. Freeze fell at the impact, but the hero simply jumped away and followed his move with additional batarangs — red, steely and sharp. They sent cracks running over Mr. Freeze's helmet.

"Oh, Boy Wonder," Mr. Freeze scowled, apathetic. "The Bat sent you to drag me off to prison. Frankly, I'm underwhelmed." He prepared his freeze ray to down the bird.

Robin narrowed his eyes, spotting Batman coming up from behind Mr. Freeze.

/Initiate sequence 2. Prepare for apprehension,/ came Batman's voice through Robin's earpiece.

Robin frowned, restless. "Affirmative, but we should hurry."

"Kids," Mr. Freeze smirked, "always in such a rush. I prefer to preserve these moments — forever."

Robin's expression remained stony. "Not talking to you."

Mr. Freeze seemed to understand then as his eyes grew wide and he hurriedly turned to meet his fate. The dark bat-like silhouette shadowed the villain and sent him unconscious with a single, well-aimed, powerful punch.

Done.

Five months, Robin thought to himself, gathering his batarangs and slipping them back into his utility belt. Five more months and he would see them again.

#

STAR CITY

July 4, 09:01 PDT

Seven months, he thought, drawing an arrow from his quiver. Seven months and — finally — the day had arrived. It had felt like forever.

He narrowed his eyes when Icicle Jr. landed on the bridge, rippling ice across the pavements. Traffic, coming from sides of the road, swerved to the sides and was dangerously close in spilling over the edge of the bridge. In a theatrical show of superiority, the villain threw back his arms and summoned an icicle large enough to knock one car over and send several spinning out of control. He laughed like a maniac.

"Idiot," Speedy thought, nocking his bow. He released the arrows onto his target, his mentor's arrows flying parallel with his. There was barely a moment's breath when he drew another arrow, his first few already exploding and knocking into Icicle Jr.

The villain looked up — Speedy and Green Arrow stood on a steel bar above the bridge.

"Finally," Icicle Jr. boasted in that pretentious teenage way of his, "I was wondering what a guy had to do to get a little attention around here!" His threw back his arms, expanded the frozen musculature of his limbs, and launched them forward like a catapult.

In a rushing, cold draft, icicles pelted toward the heroes. Immediately, the archers let loose their arrows. Speedy was not impressed.

"Junior's doing this for attention?" he sneered as his arrows neutralized several of their opponent's weapons.

It was not enough. Seeing the remaining icicles coming at them, Speedy gritted his teeth and followed Green Arrow off the bridge, jumping and sprinting down the rope toward ground level. It wasn't anything particularly hard or challenging. Icicle Jr. was a joke.

"I'm telling you now," Speedy complained to Green Arrow, "this little distraction better not interfere."

It'd been seven months, and he would be a fool to miss out.

More arrows were let loose, breaking Icicle Jr.'s self-made ice barrier. Without missing a beat, Speedy leapt over Icicle Jr.'s coming icicles, nocked another arrow and released, all in mid air. It socked Icicle Jr. right in the chin, throwing the villain back and knocked him unconscious. Bumblebee would've been proud; Garth definitely jealous. Speedy smirked at his thoughts.

Green Arrow chuckled as Icicle Jr. landed at his feet. "Kid's got a glass jaw," he quipped. He obviously found himself funny.

Edgy, Speedy came to Green Arrows side and rolled his eyes. "Hilarious," he stated flatly. It was not even remotely hilarious. "Can we go now? Today's the day."

#

CENTRAL CITY

July 4, 11:03 CDT

"I wonder what Jinx wants to eat on Saturday," he thought, his expression turning considerate, but his stride never breaking. "French? She always likes French."

A beam from his opponent's freeze gun nearly clipped him in the shoulder, but Kid Flash shrugged it off as if it were an insect.

"Or should we try different? More fancy?" he continued to deliberate as he, literally, ran circles around Captain Cold. Kid Flash grinned. "After all," he mused ecstatically, "I'm joining the Justice League today!"

One of Captain Cold's beams hit a car and froze it completely. Kid Flash hoped the owner had good insurance for the thing. He hissed sympathetically.

"Stealing ice?" Flash frowned at their opponent, running alongside his sidekick. "Isn't that a bit cliché, even for Captain Cold?"

Kid Flash grinned at his mentor (and uncle). Flash was funny, but not Beast Boy funny. No one was funny like Garfield.

Glancing at the clock tower, Kid Flash nearly balked. They were running later than he thought! Flash liked a late entrance; Jinx would kill Kid Flash if he was ever late — which made sense given how fast he was. Jinx trained him well, which he wasn't even bereft about. He found her tantrums cute.

"We're running late!" he exclaimed to his uncle. "Let's finish this!" He pulled his goggles over his eyes and zipped straight up to Captain Cold, almost breaking the sound barrier, but pulled back to give the ole guy a chance.

Captain Cold was one step ahead, firing a beam at the young speedster almost out of instinct. This one, unlike the earlier shot, actually chaffed Kid Flash's shoulder. But, Kid Flash being Kid Flash, he barely batted an eyelash as he stole Captain Cold's gun straight out of the villain's hand.

Just as Captain Cold was going to rant and rave like all evil lunatics, Flash punched him in the face. The Captain was knocked out — cold.

"Now that," Kid Flash concluded, watching the bitter man fall, "is funny."

He would have to save that one for later. Maybe he'd even make Raven laugh.

#

WASHINGTON, D.C.

July 4, 14:00 EDT

When he stared at the Hall of Justice from afar, he felt the weight of the world fall upon his shoulders. It wasn't the physical building that plagued him, but rather what it represented. All the good in the world, all that was right and just, all that was to protect their planet from all evil and darkness and wickedness.

He had trained all his life, ruthlessly, single-mindedly, to uphold his guardian's legacy and to be one of the others — powerful, strong, unfaltering. His mentor had honed him to be that way, to be focused and resolute, sometimes even ruthless and merciless. For most of his childhood, there was nothing save for being a hero.

And now, the moment had arrived: he was going to be one of the others.

One of the Justice League.

It was everything and nothing like he'd imagined. The sense of pride and hard work was expected. The feelings of hollowness and loneliness were not. It was a bittersweet moment, made incomplete by an incomplete self.

This was not his true self, he admitted. But soon, it would be.

Robin stiffened when his mentor placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. His years outside of the Batcave had changed them, but as much as he appreciated Batman's warmer character and acceptance, Robin could not help but resent the Rule. He understood that it was to help him concentrate and immerse himself into the Justice League, but the Rule had done just the opposite.

He couldn't concentrate and couldn't immerse himself with the Justice League.

They were not his true self.

"Today's the day," Batman said, and gave his charge a small, encouraging smile.

"A year," Robin thought. "Seven have passed. Five to go — and then I can see them again."

Robin returned his mentor's smile, quiet and reserved. They both knew he could be happier, but for now… he would just be… whelmed.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice," Green Arrow announced with pride.

"Headquarters of the Justice League," Aquaman added, much more modest.

Speedy turned just enough to catch Robin in the eye. They shared the same thought. With the sun hanging above the Hall of Justice, the man-made pond was like a silver mirror, the sky like a watercolour of the pinks and blues, the building like a beautiful statue: Starfire would have loved it.

"Oh, shoot, look at that!" came a cry from behind. "We're the last ones here!"

The caped crusaders, the archers and the Atlanteans all turned to meet the arriving speedsters. Flash wasn't at all concerned about being late; In fact, he thrived on it. Kid Flash, on the other hand, was disappointed with his record. Robin smiled; he knew Jinx hated it when Kid Flash was late for anything — even when she wasn't in attendance.

"KF," Robin welcomed, his body softening in the presence of his friends.

"Robin!" Kid Flash exclaimed. "Speedy!" He looked from one to the other, feeling at once chipper.

They fist bumped, so reminiscent of the days before.

"I won't tell Jinx," Speedy teased the speedster.

Kid Flash grinned, knowing his friends wouldn't rat him out. "Thanks, 'ppreciate it."

Aquaman's charge stepped forward with a smile of his own, open, calm and warm. The new Aqualad, Kaldur, was not, in fact, the new Aqualad, but rather the only Aqualad. The one they had known, Garth, had borrowed the moniker temporarily and had returned it seven months ago.

"Hey, Aqualad!" Kid Flash winked, resting a casual elbow on the Atlantean's shoulder, only he had to rise a little on his toes seeing as how Aqualad outgrew all the other boys. "Excited, or what?"

Aqualad's smile widened. "I am honoured, Kid Flash."

Aquaman placed a proud hand on his apprentice's shoulder, gathering the youth's attention. "Then let us be off."

Robin looked to his peers, sharing a look with Speedy, a smile with Kid Flash, and a nod with Aqualad. It had only been seven months since their introduction, but Aqualad was fitting right in. In five months, Robin wondered if the others would like this Aqualad as much as Garth. Speedy was still a little stiff around Kaldur, but he'd been stiff for a while now.

"Ready to see the Inner Sanctum?" Green Arrow asked his charge.

At the prospect of the Hall of Justice, Speedy tensed. "Born that way," the archer replied, eager and grave.

"Strange," Robin deduced, forcing his gaze from Speedy as he followed the League members into the Hall of Justice. Reporters and photographers closed in on either side of the red carpet (heroes liked their theatrics too), but Robin was used to it. He had been the one who dealt with the media back in his city.

Their city.

"I'm glad we're all here," Aqualad voiced, relieved to have his friends with him.

"Have all four sidekicks ever been in the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash asked excitedly, for Aqualad had not been with them back in the days.

"Don't call us 'sidekicks,'" Speedy scolded. "Not after today."

"Definitely strange," Robin concluded, acknowledging Kid Flash's confused look. He would have to speak with his friend later.

All thoughts ceased when they entered the front doors of the Hall of Justice and were faced with the regal statues of the original seven members of the Justice League. The stone figures towered over them, their expressions absolute, firm and knowing. Peering up at the sculptures, Robin felt the generations of expectations, hopes and dreams fall upon his shoulders. If he had been a lesser boy, he would've stumbled, but he was no lesser boy. He was Batman's successor and the heir of the Wayne empire.

When they neared the metal doors at the other end of the foyer, the panels slid open to reveal Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado. Robin had, on one occasion or another, met all those in the Justice League — had spoken to them, had interacted with them. He had researched and investigated each and every member, but still, upon every meeting, he felt overwhelmed and honoured to fight by their side.

He felt small and inadequate.

Not like with the others.

"Robin," Martian Manhunter acknowledged, "Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash. Welcome."

Kid Flash beamed and Robin braced himself for what was to come. After all the hard work, sacrifices and losing himself over and over again, he was finally welcomed into the Justice League.

As he stepped through the metal doors, he wondered if this was what he wanted all along.

#

"That's it?!" Speedy demanded, choking bitterness. The League turned from the Zeta-Beam entrance, startled by the archer's outburst. "You promised us a real look inside, not a glorified backstage pass."

Aquaman frowned, having not expected this from him. "It's a first step. You've been granted access few others get."

"Oh, really?" Speedy countered, gesturing to the glass ceiling where all the reporters and tourists were looking in on them. One even had a camcorder recording their every move.

Cyborg would've hated the place, Speedy scrutinized. The security was lacking and weak.

They were now through the metal doors and into the Inner Sanctum of the Hall of Justice. One wall consisted of the League's supercomputer while the others were lined with books. No sooner had they arrived in the room did the mentors gather around to talk amongst themselves. They had debriefed on the simultaneous ice villain attacks (Aquaman and Aqualad had faced Killer Frost) and were prepared to leave their young charges to deal with the issue — without their sidekicks.

But Speedy would have none of it. He would not be brushed aside. "Who cares which side of the glass we're on?" he spat.

"Roy," Green Arrow tried to console, stepping forward in a gesture of goodwill, his hands and wrist facing outwards. Speedy understood his body language very well, and he wasn't going to be manipulated. "You just need to be patient."

Speedy bristled. He was offended that Oliver would even try to appease him. After all they'd been through — countless brushes shy of death — a few simple words could not fix this — could not even begin to make up for all they'd instilled in him. Their expectations. Their harsh analysis. Their dreams.

Speedy had dreams once.

Dashed away by a single call one cold and unforgiving morning.

"What I need," he insisted, "is respect."

It had been the coldest winter of his young life.

Angry, he turned to the others — his equals and fellow teammates — and urged, "They're treating us like kids — worse, like sidekicks. We deserve better than this."

Robin narrowed his eyes, trying to read him. Even with masks hiding half their faces, Speedy knew exactly what Robin was thinking. Their training had been too intense. The pressure too much. Their freedom clipped — confined by their mentors, by the media and by the League. That was why he was acting out. That was why he was so angry. That was why Speedy had changed.

Roy Harper was not one to hide from his feelings, not like a bird. Yes. He was angry that this was all they got. They gave up everything.

Speedy met Robin's examination with his own, just as deep and invasive. He tried to find the friend he had known all his life — the bold and the brave — the leader among all leaders. The friend who, with a single phrase, could command an army of the best, the youngest and the most powerful of heroes.

There was no Robin there.

Speedy exhaled in disbelief.

There was only Batman's sidekick.

Robin was not going to respond to Speedy's call to arms, and Speedy was hurt and insulted. Even Kid Flash, always so confident and optimistic, would not take the chance with him.

"You're kidding, right?" Speedy questioned his friends. "You're playing their game?! Why?! Because you think they play fair? Today was supposed to be the day. Step one to becoming full-fledged members of the League!"

It was what they gave up everything for.

Kid Flash looked to Robin, and Speedy could see how confused and cautious the speedster was. Kid Flash didn't know him anymore. They didn't know him anymore. He didn't know them anymore. Perhaps he had changed, but only fools didn't. Even Robin changed — did Kid Flash not see?

"Well, sure," Kid Flash was hesitant in his reply, "but wouldn't the first step be a tour of HQ?"

Speedy gritted his teeth. They had changed so much that none had even deigned it necessary to question their elders! "Except the Hall of Justice isn't the League's real HQ," he hissed. "I don't even think they've told you! It's just a false front for tourists and a pit stop for catching Zeta-Beam teleporting tubes to the real thing — an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower!"

From his peripheral vision, he saw Batman frown at Green Arrow. Speedy was not sorry for revealing his mentor's secret.

"I know, I know, but I thought maybe we could make an exception?" Green Arrow attempted to bargain with Batman.

Batman was unmoving. In fact, he seemed even more disapproving.

"Or not," Green Arrow waned.

Aquaman decided to step up, being the most patient and parental of the League. "You are not helping your cause here, son," the Atlantean king addressed Speedy firmly. "Stand down or-"

"Or what?" Speedy snapped. He did not need them to patronize him, as if he were a child. He'd faced darker and more sinister monsters than they gave him credit for. "You'll send me to my room? And I'm not your son. I'm not even his."

He looked Green Arrow in the eye, the elder archer surprised at the declaration.

"I thought I was his partner, but-" Speedy grabbed his hat, disappointed, angry and feeling oh so alone, "not anymore," and threw it to the ground in finality.

The room rippled in shock and disbelief, but Speedy was not going to take it back. If they decided to break their own rules, then he didn't want to play by them. They had promised membership.

Speedy turned from Green Arrow and toward the metal doors. He was not going to take it back. Gritting his teeth, he made for the exit, hot and cold at the same time. Finally — finally — Robin decided to move.

Instilled in his body, Speedy paused in his path when Robin finally stood from his seat, the bird's gaze straight and unwavering. Robin did not have his anger to bolster his confidence just then, but there was still enough of the leader in him that stopped Speedy cold. They both knew that once Speedy was out those doors, it would be damn hard to get him back in.

"Stop, Speedy," Robin commanded, firm and compassionate: the leader Batman could never be. "We're so close. After all our training, there's no reason to walk away. We just have to wait a little longer."

Speedy scowled. He had hoped for more, but all he saw was the shadow of his friend, an empty husk — Batman's puppet. Out of all of them — him, Kid Flash and Robin — Speedy had expected Robin to lead the charge of protest. After all, it had been Robin who lost the most.

Disgusted, Speedy scowled. "Really, Robin?" he accused. "Even after Batman took away the Titans?"

There. He said it. He said it and he wasn't about to let Kid Flash's incredulous stare make him feel guilty about it. For that was exactly what they'd done; they gave up one team for another, except now the other team didn't want them.

And their old team was no more.

Robin stilled, as did the Leaguers. For a second, Robin stopped breathing. Immediately, Kid Flash was at the bird's side, steadying the caped crusader with his mere presence. The speedster looked to the archer sympathetically.

"That's not fair, Speedy," Kid Flash said quietly, gravely. "It's only for a year…"

Speedy flinched. He did not want to see them. He did not want to be here. He did not even understand why Kaldur was here when the conversation no longer concerned him. Speedy shoved passed Robin, their shoulders clipping, and muttered, "Guess they're right about you three. You're not ready."

With that, he did the one thing the Titans never did: he left his friends behind.

Speedy had dreams once.

#

"It's not supposed to be this way," he thought. He felt distorted and distanced from the room. "We're not supposed to be apart."

Robin straightened when the alarm sounded in the Inner Sanctum. He was familiar with emergencies. His body thrived — ran on auto-pilot — when there was a mission to be had. He raised his eyes to the monitor on the wall. When there was a mission, nothing else mattered. Not even Speedy leaving them behind.

"Superman to Justice League." Superman was on screen, made even larger by the size of the Hall of Justice. "There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire."

Batman frowned. "I had my suspicions about Cadmus. This may present the perfect opportunity to-"

The alarm sounded again, this time an alert from Zatara. Robin breathed and listened, absent and present, in and out. His blood hummed as Zatara requested full League response to a threat involving Woten blotting out the sun. A thrill ran up his spine; Robin felt nothing but the mission. He had faced Hell before — he could easily face an embittered sorceress and retrieve the Amulet of Aten for the League.

But that was not to be.

"All Leaguers rendezvous to Zatara's coordinates, Batman out." The caped crusader withdrew from the communicator and turned to address the remaining sidekicks; the other three Leaguers already moving for the Zeta-Beam tube. "Stay put," Batman instructed the young heroes.

Batman even had to take the mission from him.

Kid Flash raised his brows, incredulous. He was ready to protest; this would not be his first (or last) magical super villain.

"Affirmative," Robin cut the speedster off, confirming Batman's instructions.

"Wha…?" Kid Flash trailed, floored.

Robin met Batman's unmoving stare with one of his own. One of his best friends just left him behind. His guardian and (left unsaid) father did not believe he was strong enough to stand by his side. He hadn't seen his best friends, his bestest friends, in seven months.

Five more to go.

And Batman. Batman just stood there, unflinching, as if nothing else mattered but his orders. Nothing else mattered save the mission. He could look at Robin in eye, amongst the bird's turmoil, and remain just as cold and aloof as that night long, long ago. It was like there was nothing between them anymore.

The last time Robin had felt this detached from his guardian, he had left and founded his own team.

"Why can't we go?" Kid Flash questioned, confused and troubled.

"This is a League mission," Aquaman explained.

"You're not trained," Flash said.

Visibly hurt, Kid Flash frowned at his mentor – his uncle. "Since when?" Hadn't Flash trained Kid Flash himself?

Flash had the grace to look guilty, but only temporarily. "I meant you're not trained to work as a part of this team." He gestured to Batman.

Always Batman.

"There will be other missions," Aquaman consoled, "when you're ready."

They ended it there, the younger watching the elder leave.

Green Arrow turned to Martian Manhunter and whispered, "Glad you didn't bring you-know-who?"

"Indeed," the Martian intoned.

Green Arrow should've been more affected by Speedy's leaving than the rest of the sidekicks. The League recovered fast.

The doors to the Zeta-Beam closed with a hollow clang.

Robin didn't see anything. He didn't want to.

"I don't understand," Kid Flash whispered once his mentor left. He dropped into one of the chairs, elbows to his knees and chin resting on his palms: the perfect picture of dejection. "I thought we were ready. After all those years as-" He broke off, looking to Robin warily.

Robin didn't respond. He hadn't moved from the position Batman had left him in.

"My mentor. My king. I thought he trusted me," Aqualad faltered. Even in his calming tones, he sounded shattered.

"They never trusted us," Kid Flash emphasized, feeling angry for the first time of his life. He stood on his feet. "They've got a secret HQ — in space!"

Aqualad contemplated this and, with aghast, was brave enough to pose, "What else are they not telling us?"

Robin flinched. How long had Batman been omitting the truth from him? If he hadn't done his own investigation on the Justice League, he would've never known about the Watchtower — Batman would've never told him.

Kid Flash waned. "Maybe we should've left with Speedy?"

Robin returned to his statuesque position. He didn't want to be involved anymore.

"What is… 'Project Cadmus?'" Aqualad asked, cautious, but no less curious.

A mission.

Robin moved to the supercomputer, his movements so abrupt and purposeful that he surprised his peers. Mechanically, he started to hack into the system. He didn't even need to press two buttons to know how to crack the code.

"What are you doing?" Kid Flash queried, looking over the bird's shoulder with open curiosity.

The computer beeped in protest: "Access denied."

"Finding information," Robin replied, tapping the keys, the monitor immediately turning into ones and zeroes.

Kid Flash gaped, impressed. "Wow! How are you doing that?" Jinx would thrive in this chaos.

Robin smiled, tight and bitter. "Same system as the Batcave." How ironic.

"Access granted," the computer chimed on cue.

The screen flashed and they stood back to get a better look at Project Cadmus.

"Project Cadmus, genetics lab, here in DC," Robin briefed the others. "There's nothing else," he frowned, "but Batman's suspicious. We should investigate."

Aqualad was surprised, but Kid Flash accepted Robin's words with an easy grace. They were made to go out on missions, and Kid Flash and Robin had been working together since childhood. They knew how each other ticked — and Kid Flash knew that Robin needed this more than ever.

"Solve their case before they do," Aqualad contemplated, hesitating. But then, "It would be poetic justice."

"And they're all about the 'justice,'" Kid Flash jested with a wink.

A mission, Robin decided, plugging the holographic computer in his glove to the League's supercomputer. He always succeeded in missions where he failed elsewhere. He downloaded the coordinates and the Project Cadmus files before breaking away.

"Let's go," Robin commanded.

"Wait," Aqualad sighed. "They said to stay put."

Kid Flash grinned, cheeky and playful. "For the blotting-out-the-sun mission, but they didn't say anything about putting out small fires! It's right up our alley!"

Aqualad was stumped. He looked from one to the other, the speedster to the bird, and was speechless. He could not deny the thrill he felt at the very prospect of proving himself to his king. His gaze rested on Kid Flash, who grinned. The speedster had no care in the world, but was wise beyond his years.

"Just like that?" he asked them. "We're a team on a mission?"

Robin nodded, robotic and focused.

Kid Flash flashed a worried look to his caped friend, but addressed Aqualad with a solemn smile. "We've always been a team, Aqualad."

Wise beyond his years.

Slowly, Aqualad smiled.

It was all the confirmation the other two needed.

Robin turned and strode out of the Inner Sanctum and, ultimately, the Hall of Justice.

There was nothing but the mission.

#

The Cadmus Laboratories was like any other two-storied office building in the vicinity: simple lines and straight-forward floor plan. If not for the bright blue sign in front of the building, many would've cast it off as an apartment building. That night, there was no mistaking the building as insignificant as several fire trucks and an ambulance rained sound and fury at its entrance. At the upper right corner, facing the street, a burst of fire could be seen threatening the lives of two scientists.

Kid Flash didn't even wait for instructions before dashing forward, sprinting past the fire trucks and propelling his body up to the side of the building. He made it just in time, snatching the two falling scientist from midair and placing them back in the building — unscathed. Soon, he was joined by Robin.

"I wasn't late that time, see?" Kid Flash joked.

Robin walked past him, not even giving him a glance. He was all stone and cold and nothing. Kid Flash was worried about him. Speedy's leaving had affected them all.

Giving a thumbs-up to the scientists as a gesture of an A-OK, Kid Flash stayed with them long enough for Aqualad to show up. He watched the Atlantean escort the citizens to the ground via water column and whistled. Kid Flash was impressed.

"We should have come up with a plan," Aqualad criticized with a frown.

Kid Flash beamed, forcing a wince from forming on his face. There had been a plan: Aqualad just hadn't caught on. As often as they saw each other in the past seven months, the four apprentices never had a chance to work together as a whole. It was often in pairs or trios (with their mentors present as well), and they hardly trained with each other. Aqualad didn't know how Kid Flash, Robin and Speedy worked.

Aqualad had never had pizza with them, played Mega Monkey 4.2, or be immersed in an all-out Meat vs. Tofu war. Kid Flash chuckled to himself. The Tower had never looked the same ever since.

The Atlantean was too polite to raise a brow at Kid Flash's sudden laugh, but his expression conveyed his confusion just the same. Kid Flash tried to smile it off, and Aqualad seemed to accept it when he nodded and began to survey the halls.

Sighing, Kid Flash turned to Robin, who had completely engrossed himself in the lab's computer. The speedster didn't want to interrupt the bird, but they needed to put the fire out. He was about to pose this predicament when he heard something click.

Immediately, he zipped out into the hallway, stopping just as Aqualad's shoulder. The Atlantean was staring at the closed elevator in shock.

"There was something in the…" Aqualad trailed uncertainly.

Kid Flash pressed his lips. "Elevators should be locked down."

Robin slipped into the hallway and narrowed his eyes on the metal doors. Instinctively, Kid Flash stepped back to give Robin right of way, which the caped crusader took. He watched Robin scan the elevator with his holographic computer, a miniature supercomputer at his wrist that displayed a holographic screen of the operating system.

When Robin frowned, Kid Flash knew that the simple putting-the-fire-out mission just got a whole lot complicated.

"Jinx is gonna kill me," he thought. He was supposed to call her tonight, but missions did not usually keep to a fixed schedule.

"This is a high-speed express elevator," Robin explained. He was so focused and set-minded, so lifeless, that Aqualad took the chance to look to Kid Flash for answers. Kid Flash could give him nothing. "It doesn't belong in a two-storey building."

Aqualad nodded gravely. "Neither did what I saw."

Confirmed that the building was suspicious, Aqualad pried the elevator doors apart and revealed a shaft that tunnelled much deeper than two stories. Before either Kid Flash or Aqualad could react, Robin hooked his grappling gun and slid down the shaft. No words. No looks. Nothing.

Just action.

"Is Robin all right?" Aqualad asked cautiously.

Kid Flash's eyes dulled, but then cleared when he faced the water-user. "I… don't know," he answered honestly. "I've only heard stories…"

Stories of a ruthless man, hell-bent on enslaving Robin, destroying his friends, and taking over his city.

Stories of a man who wore a red-and-black mask.

Without another word, the two grabbed hold of Robin's rope and swung down after the little bird.

#

He had seen many terrible things in his life, and this would not be the last. Great alien beings, modified, engineered, cloned to be a super army, enslaved to one treacherous scientist. Beings the size of a glorg. Beings with enough power to keep a multi-level laboratory running. Beings with mind control.

Genomorphs.

After hacking the lab's computer systems, Robin was determined to solve the mystery of Cadmus. Their most protected file had been Project Kr — sub-level 52. After this, he would've proven himself. He would've unravelled the mystery Batman couldn't.

The elevator doors slammed shut before the small scavenger-like creatures could get to them. Aqualad was breathing hard and shallow. Kid Flash was no longer as optimistic or carefree as he usually was. Robin remained stony, mentally going over the list of equipment he'd brought with him.

Kid Flash watched the numbers increase on the elevator screen, increasing as they continued downwards. Aqualad protested, but was met with a cold, logical and emotionless explanation from Robin about Project Kr. Kid Flash did not argue; Robin's silence silenced him.

"This is out of control," Aqualad said, a little nervous despite his superior grasp over his emotions. "Perhaps…" He turned to the others. "Perhaps we should contact the League."

Aqualad was saved from Robin's backlash when the elevator sounded to their stop. One look, Robin to Aqualad, and Robin exited the box. He did not know what Kid Flash said to Aqualad, but Robin was no longer listening — caring. He did, however, feel a trickle of relief when he was soon joined by Kid Flash and Aqualad. They stood in a tunnel that looked like the innards of an intestine, all bulbous and swollen.

"Wow," Kid Flash joked. "Wonder what this guy ate."

Robin didn't stay to find out as he dashed down one of the tunnels. The others followed, but they were soon met with one of the alien beings. When the creature's horns glowed and several rocks were tossed at them, shattering in rippling explosions, they understood that the creature had telekinetic powers.

Immediately, they scattered and ran down one of the tunnels. One look behind them and Robin spotted the Guardian chasing after them alongside the scavengers. Giving Kid Flash a signal, Robin sent the speedster forward to scout ahead. In a matter of seconds, Robin and Aqualad were faced with Kid Flash struggling to keep a pair of heavy-security, metal doors opened.

The doors read: Project Kr.

They slipped in.

#

Kid Flash had seen many terrible things in his life (including a pissed-off Jinx), but nothing like this. A boy, his own age, born from the innards of a tube. A boy who had never seen the sky or the sun. A boy who, against his will and every fibre of his being, was a puppet made in the resemblance of one of the two most influential members of the Justice League.

Superman's clone.

Pain wracked his body when he collided into the wall — hard. Through bleary eyes, Kid Flash watched Aqualad beat back Superboy with a water-crafted hammer. It did not last long as Superboy backhanded the Atlantean into the machine that had once held him prisoner. All the good that they had tried to do for the clone, and the clone was determined to beat them.

Kid Flash found his footing and quickly pulled Aqualad away from the fight. It was up to Robin with his gadgets, his strength and his intelligence. But even faced by the atrocity of the clone, of the injustice of Cadmus' activities, Kid Flash knew Robin would lose.

It was not because Robin was smaller than Superboy or lacked the strength — Kid Flash had seen him take down many villains thrice his size — but rather, Robin had lost his grasp on what it was meant to fight for something right, good and loved.

Kid Flash closed his eyes before the final blow got to him.

"Jinx," was his last thought.

#

A year…

A year was a long time.

Robin struggled to stay conscious, but he was only human.

Seven months had passed.

He was only a boy.

Five months was so… far… away…

He fell.

#

"Hey, this isn't your town. Aren't you supposed to be with-?"

#

the point