So I totally forgot to do a disclaimer so before I get into any trouble here *achem*
Disclaimer: I in no way shape or form own Young Justice or any of the DC characters. They all belong to the DC Company and the show is created by Greg Weisman and Brandon Viett.
Ok got that over and done with. I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews so far, they really empower me. Even if you aren't reviewing just seeing all the story alerts and stories favorite emails make my day. So thanks you
Chapter 2: Relationship changes
Wally opened his eyes slowly and blinked a few times. The first thing he noticed was that he was back in the mountain observing the high cave ceilings that had Florence lights bolted to the walls. The second thing he noticed was the excruciating pain he had on his left shoulder and chest. He groaned in discomfort and tried to sit up slightly. He found a gentle hand holding him back down.
"Lay back down," he heard Artemis's voice say. His head hit the pillow and he looked to the side where Artemis sat on a chair next to him.
"Art…" he began to say but choked on the soreness of his throat. He coughed and Artemis grabbed a cup of ice on the side of the bed. She grabbed a chip and stuck it between his lips. He let it slide into his mouth willingly and he sighed at the coolness melting down his throat.
"Don't talk. Amazo banged you up pretty badly. You're just going to have to take it easy for a while." Artemis said with a small smile.
Wally's eyes widen suddenly. "Robin," he cried out sitting up quickly. He grabbed his shoulder as pain shot through his injury. Artemis pushed him back again.
"Calm down he's fine," Artemis said. "Unlike you, what do you think you were doing? You could have died," she cried.
Wally shrugged and looked away. Artemis grabbed another ice chip and handed it to the speedster. He took it and slipped it into his mouth.
"Look Wally…I…I need to know…how much you mean to me. I just…"
"KF," the two teens heard and turned to see Robin at the entrance of the infirmary. He was in his civvies and his sunglasses covered his eyes but his concern could clearly be seen in his face. Artemis put the cup of ice down and got up. She nodded a hello to Robin and walked out leaving the two friends to talk.
Robin looked back at Artemis's fleeting body and looked back to Wally with a questioning look.
"I thought you two…"
"Don't even," Wally whispered. "I really have no idea."
"Well besides that, how are you feeling?" Robin asked.
"Like I've been run over by an android…oh wait."
"Wally this isn't the time to laugh. This is all my fault."
"Yeah how dare you tell Amazo to try and kill me," the red head said punching Dick on the shoulder with his good arm. The younger teen didn't say anything and just looked down defeated. "So do you have any idea why you have the Shadows after you with the help of a new and improved ugly robot and an insane Lucha libre fighter?"
"I don't know. I don't think I've done anything recently to make them upset…of course that's if you don't count the time we hindered Bane's plans in Santa Prisca, destroyed the original Amazo and of course stopped the Shadows and those they were working with from taking over the Justice League."
"Well they seem to be a lot madder at you then the rest of us. Maybe you stepped on Bane's pet lizard," Wally said trying to make the Boy Wonder feel slightly better.
"Well there was that one time I accidently killed Ra's al Ghul when I threw his giant diamond off a rocket and he jumped after it." (1)
Wally stared at him before bursting out with laughter "Only the leader of the Shadows would do that."
"Well he knows he can. The Lazarus pit just keeps him coming back," Robin sighed.
"So you think Ra's al Ghul is behind this because you did something that Batman has done like a million times?"
"He loves Batman. It's me he can't stand…maybe he just wants me out of the way so he can finally get Batman to marry his daughter Talia."
"I don't know, I can see Batman making sure the guy doesn't come back if he gets rid of you, not that he wouldn't be able to touch you anyway," Wally added.
"Thanks Wally," Robin laughed "Now about you and Artemis," he said causing Wally to groan into the pillow.
At the watchtower Batman continued to stare at the screen in front of him. He had brought his research with him and was currently going through any reason why someone would want Robin. The only conclusion was that they were trying to get to him. That's how it usually worked but never had they gone so far to do such an intricate set-up before. Not many of his enemy's knew about the team. That's why they were set up only for covert operations; to keep them safe.
He flipped through another computer file and a picture of Two Face appeared. Batman began to skim through his records.
"Batman," he heard behind him and turned to see Superman walking up behind him. "How is the search going?"
"Fine," he said just wanting the Kryptonian to go away.
"You really think that someone like Two Face might be behind these attacks?"
"No but I am not taking any chances," he said back.
"You have been at this all night. Your shift ended three hours ago. Maybe you should head back home, spend some time with Robin."
"You are the last person to be giving me any advice on what to do with my protégé," Batman said turning off the program. Superman looked at him unnerved.
"I've spoken to Super…Conner. We are on better terms."
"But you still have a ways to go. When you learn how it is to actually be a father, come back to me then," Batman said. A phone rang in his utility belt and he took it out. He glared at it walking past his brother in arms. "I have to take this," he said and left the room.
Back at the cave the group excluding Kid Flash sat around the TV quietly all doing their own thing of reading, doing homework, and watching static on the TV.
"Recognized Zatanna Zatara A0-3' the computer called out and a few minutes later the black haired magician joined them.
"Hey guys," she said taking a seat next to Robin on the couch. She put her hand on his knee that was propped up on the green furniture. "I heard what happened. How is Wally doing?"
"Wally's being Wally," M'gann said with a smile. "I brought him some cookies and he swallowed them all down."
"And how are you holding up?" she asked Robin.
"I'm fine," he said with a reassuring smile.
"I wish I was there to help. I could have stopped Amazo" she said looking down.
"Do not think that it is your fault," Aqualad said.
"Yeah Zee," Robin said "You got into that fancy Boarding school that you and your father wanted you to be in."
"Maybe I should come back."
"No don't do that. That school means too much to you. Your dad would be proud." Robin said causing Zatanna to smile.
"Am I ruining a moment," the group heard behind them and turned to see Wally standing against the wall with his arm in a sling and his torso wrapped in white bandages under an opened button up shirt.
"Wally what are you doing out of bed?" Artemis asked in surprise. Superboy walked over to him allowing the red head to place his good arm around his waist and helped him hobble over to the couch. The silent teen placed Wally in his own chair.
"Sorry I was getting bored and there is nothing on TV. We really need to put cable in the infirmary," he said before looking over to the TV that was static. Wally looked over at Superboy with a glare. "Really Supey we are still doing the stagnate channel," he groan.
"It's calming," Conner said quietly.
"Yeah well as I was stuck in bed bored out of my mind I had a stroke of genius. I think I know what is going on with the pharmaceutical company."
"We all know what's going on with the pharmaceutical company, remember," Artemis said.
"No I don't mean the whole thing with Robin. I still have no idea what that is about but there is still someone messing with the medication and I think I figured it out," Wally said.
"Like what is making them go crazy?" Superboy asked.
"Yeah. When Robin and I were talking earlier we were discussing Ra's al Ghul. We'll he uses the Lazarus pits to come back to life but everyone knows that it also makes you insane," he said with a smile. Except for Robin and Artemis the rest of the team looked at him in confusion.
"They don't know much about the Lazarus Pits Wally," Robin laughed.
"Oh yeah, I forgot…Well the Lazarus Pit is a chemical compound found in the Earth that has the properties to fix the body in pretty much any shape or form. The only problem is, is that it makes you go a little insane at first and if you aren't strong enough to deal with it then you pretty much…" Wally finished off his statement with a slide of his finger against his neck and made a sound like he was being killed.
"And you think that someone is putting the Lazarus chemical into the heart medication," Aqualad said.
"That's kind of far fetch," Artemis said.
"But I saw what the chemical compound looked like and even though the picture we had gotten was incomplete it looked like it could be part of the equation. Also why else would the Shadows be part of something like heart medication." Wally stated.
"Oh I don't know maybe because they are assassins for hire," Artemis said.
"Ok look," Robin stated before a fight could break out "We don't know anything for sure. At least Wally has a theory so we can at least look into it. I will talk to Batman and see if he has the rest of the formula and I will let you know. Otherwise I think we should all call it a day."
"I agree with Robin," Aqualad said wanting to also keep the peace.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
'Recognize Robin B0-1, Artemis B0-7,' the computer announced as both the Boy Wonder and archer walked out of the small phone booth dressed in there civvies of winter jackets, scarfs, and hats.. Artemis turned to go home and brought her small duffle bag over her shoulder.
"Wait," Robin said and Artemis turned to him. "Why are you and Wally acting so distant from each other?" the Boy Wonder asked as his breath puffed into the night winter air.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Artemis said back. Robin gave her a 'you-really-want-to-go-there' look. Artemis bit her lip.
"We all saw you and Wally kiss up at you-know-where," he said whispering the last part. You never know who was near.
"We had a moment that was it. Just like how you and Zatanna kissed."
"Zatanna and I are stilling trying out a relationship but we barely know each other. I've seen the two of you eyeing each other since he first came crashing into the mountain that day you became a part of the team," Robin said. He wasn't the protégé to the greatest detective for nothing.
"Look I'm just not ready to be a part of a relationship yet. I would just bring to much baggage into it."
"What you don't think Wally's got his own baggage?" Robin asked. Artemis looked at him in question. Before the conversation could go further they both heard a snap. They both looked up and their eyes widen. Five ninja's dressed in black surrounded them on the top of the roof.
"The league of shadows," Artemis said in horror and she dropped her duffle bag. As Robin slid his hand under his jacket and swung his utility belt out Artemis quickly opened her duffle bag and tugged out her collapsible bow and grabbed a bunch of arrows.
"How did they know," Artemis cried out aiming for them.
"I don't know," Robin growled looking for an opening. It had become a stand still as the five men dressed in black and the two team members stared at each other as it began to snow lightly.
"We can take them right?" Artemis asked uneasily. Normal soldiers would have been easy but these were trained assassins with the one purpose to search and destroy. Artemis knew this better than anyone.
"No," Robin whispered so only she could hear "I'm going to create a diversion. Try to get back into the Zeta Tube or hide somewhere in the city. I don't care just get out."
"I'm not leaving you Boy Wonder. Especially if they are here for you like last time," Artemis said as she backed up against the other teen. Robin smiled.
"Way to feel the aster" he said. Something shifted on the roof and they got ready to fight. What they didn't expect was for one of the ninjas to just fall in front of them with a thud. They stared at him as he laid there unconscious. They looked back up in confusion and noticed the other four men scrambled and disappear into the night. A black shadow jumped down behind them and they turned; Artemis's bow at the ready.
"Batman," Robin said quickly.
"Oh am I glad to see you," Artemis said lowering her weapon.
"Are you both alright," Batman asked.
"Yeah but how did you know we were here?" Artemis asked. Robin groaned next to her.
"You're tracking me again aren't you? I told you to stop doing that already. I'm not ten anymore."
"I think that this is an exception," Batman said referring to the attempted kidnapping. "And it's a good thing I did. When the computer should that you weren't moving from this area I needed to make sure that you were ok."
Artemis looked at Robin and the teen looked like he wanted to explode.
"I'll just go," she said.
"To dangerous," Batman said. "I'll take you home."
To say that Artemis was nervous going against the shadows held nothing against what she was feeling now. She sat in the back of the batmobile as the dynamic duo sat in complete silence. When they made it to her house she didn't even wait for the doors to open all the way. With a quick goodbye and thank you she was Already on her way to her own home which was a block away. No one needed to know that the Dark Knight was bringing her back to her house. It might raise a slight suspicion.
As soon as she was closed the door Robin took off his glasses and gave Batman his best Dick Grayson glare.
"Why would you-"
"The hospital called," Batman said but was no longer the hero but Bruce the father. Dick's eyes widen.
"They did?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly. This was what he was hopping for right. That they would call and let him know that his uncle was finally gone, that he was now the only Grayson left. "Is he…" Dick started but couldn't bring himself to finish the statement. Batman looked at him and sighed.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
After changing into civvies Bruce took Dick to the hospital. Once again the ride up in the elevator was a quiet one as Dick looked straight ahead and fidgeted with his scarf. Bruce stopped at the nurses' station and Dick kept going hesitantly. He opened the door to his uncle's room and walked in.
The light in the room was dim and he squinted to see the bed. He slowly took off his hat and took a shaky step forward. His uncle laid on the bed unmoving with his eyes closed. Slowly his eyes opened and they looked over at Dick with the same dark blue as the teens own.
"Dick?" he asked hoarsely.
"Uncle Rick," Dick said with tears welling up in his eyes. He ran to the bed as his uncle slowly sat up against the pillow. Dick buried his face into his uncle's chest and cried. Rick gasped lightly at the contact and then wrapped his arms tightly around his nephew.
"Dick thank goodness you are all right," he said "Where is everyone? Are they alright? Are they…" he stopped shortly as Dick looked up at him with a frown. Dick shook his head and his uncle knew exactly what it meant. Dick and his uncle cried in each other's arms.
In the hallway Bruce smiled as he heard the two's reunion in the room. The doctor came up behind him.
"It's a miracle and I still can't explain it. In all intents and purposes he shouldn't ever have woken up," the doctor explained.
"All that matters is that they are together," the multibillionaire said.
"Yeah. It will take a while but they can finally move on to being a family again."
As soon as the words left the doctors mouth Bruce frowned. It hit him like a wall of brick. They would be a family again…where did that leave him. He took Dick in when his family was gone but now he had a part of it back. Dick would no longer need to be with him once his uncle was out of the hospital. How much longer did he have with his ward? A few months at best maybe a year or two but after rehabilitation and some help he would be living back with his uncle. After all he wasn't Dick's real family.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
TWO WEEKS AGO:
Talia walked down the stone steps cautiously. While she never had a problem coming down here before, she has started to detest it when Ra's al Ghul's lord had made himself known.
She saw the pit and instead of its beautiful liquid green color it was now a dark red that reminded her of blood and rotting corpses. She looked around for her father and found him with Ubu and robed priests at the side of the pit. Ra's al Ghul spotted his daughter.
"You are late," he said.
"I am sorry father I came as fast as I could," she said.
'Do not be angry with her,' a deep hissing voice called out. The voice filled the entire room and echoed across the cave walls but Talia knew where it originated from; the Lazarus pit.
"I apologize my lord," Ra's said with a slight bow.
'We have more important things to discuss. For example my host,' it said as the red liquid in the ground bubble and churned.
"I always expect that I would be your host my lord," Ra's said in slight confusion. A large bubble in the pit burst and a laugh escaped from it.
'You have served me well in the time of my three hundred year slumber but you do not have the body that I seek.'
"What is the body that you require?" The demon head asked.
'I need a young body, one that I can grow with. Fit and agile and one that understands the world that I will be soon controlling. The knowledge that my host possess will be shared with me and with that knowledge I can learn what bends the human race in this day and age.'
"That might take some time my lord. Not just any child holds what you wish."
'Time is something that I do not have. If I do not possess a new body then my consciousness will fall back into a deep sleep for another three hundred years. The Earth is weakening and I do not know if it has that much longer. I need my host by the end of the next lunar cycle.'
"I understand but-"
'I do not think you do Ra's al Ghul. I gave you the ability to live for all eternity and I can take it away whenever I feel like it. If I do not get my host soon you will-"
"I know a body that would work," Talia interrupted falling to her knees in a bow. Her father looked at her in anger for interrupting the voice in the pit. Talia did not care. While she did not wish to do this her father meant to much to her to lose. She would sacrifice anything and everything for him. She looked up at the pit. "I know of a host that will suit you. We will collect him for you before the end of the next new moon…my lord," she said with sweat dripping down her brow.
The Lazarus pit was silent for a moment before it bubbled anew.
'Let it be done.'
(1) This happened in comic book #11: the Pit. Ra's al Ghul was going to destroy the world with a laser from a satellite. It needs a giant diamond to work and Robin grabs it and throws it down like a 10 foot drop. I thought it was hysterical because he just throws himself over the ledge and Robin's jaw just drops.
So chapter 2 was a little shorter than most of my work but I didn't want to spoil everything in one chapter so this is what you get
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