If you recognise it… I don't own it.
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"Young Justice" – Start
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A loud ring sounded through Mount Justice.
"What the…?" Artemis jumped.
"Is that the doorbell?" Wally frowned.
"We have a doorbell?" Artemis stared at him.
Robin was already at the computer bringing up the security footage from outside.
An older man stood outside, dressed in a well worn suit and long brown coat.
"Commish?" The name fell from Robin's lips in shock.
"You know him, Robin?" Kaldur asked.
"What's he doing here?" Robin murmured, "We're a long way from Gotham."
"Is he a threat?" Conner demanded.
"What?" Robin blinked in surprise, "No! No, he's not a threat… He's… He's a friend. Let me. Masks on if he comes in though."
Robin dashed off.
"Commish." The voice came from behind Jim, causing him to jump.
"You're as bad as Batman for that." Jim breathed, "I swear you do it on purpose to check my heart's okay."
"You're a long way from Gotham."
"So are you, kid… And you don't trust that I am who I say I am… The whole time I've known you, you've never called me anything other than Commish… Apart from one time. Early in your career. The pair of us were captured. Bait for Batman. I still don't know how they caught you. It was the Scarecrow. I wasn't considered to be a big threat. You were. He dosed you. And heavily dosed. You clung to me like a tiny child. I'd never fully appreciated how small you were before then. You repeated the same two words for a while. Mama. Tata. And then only one. Tata. I still don't know what language you were speaking, but any parent knows when a child is crying for their parents. You called me your father."
"Welcome to Mount Justice, Commish." Robin nodded, "You want to come in?"
"I was hoping to speak to Batman. But you need to hear this too."
"Batman's not here."
Robin led Gordon through the corridors to the main room.
"Guys," Robin grinned at them, "Meet Jim Gordon. Police Commissioner of Gotham City. Commish, this is Kid Flash, Artemis, Superboy, Miss Martian and Aqualad. Black coffee, two sugars?"
"One, thank you," Gordon corrected, "Barbra is trying to make me cut down. I'd heard rumours of a young superhero team running around. What do you go by?"
"Young Justice." Superboy shrugged.
"Robin, is he trustworthy?" Aqualad asked.
"You're looking at the original honest cop in Gotham." Robin brought over a coffee mug, "He's been fighting for Justice in Gotham for longer than anyone. Even Batman. What brings you here, Commish?"
"I wanted to warn you." Gordon sighed, "I owe you that much at least. And it's the least I can do to repay the debt."
"You don't owe us anything." Robin sighed, "Warn me about what?"
"He escaped last night." Gordon declared cryptically.
"Him?" Robin stared, "We should just put a revolving door on Arkham and be done with it! Couldn't increase the escape rates. But why warn me?"
"He left this on the walls." Gordon handed over a photograph.
Robin looked at it.
"What he'd use? His nails or the buckles on his straitjacket?" His tone was unusually calm and clinical, lacking his usual humour, something that slightly disturbed the rest of the team.
"Preliminary forensics suggests both. Batman told me if there ever was an emergency and I couldn't contact him I was to come here. That was about three years ago. Where is he?"
"Off planet." Robin shrugged, "Negotiating. They refused to speak with anyone else. Some cultural thing. I'm going to have to deal with it."
"No way!" Kid Flash interrupted, having stolen the photo, "This guy wants you dead!"
"What?" Superboy snarled, snatching the photo. The other members of Young Justice peered over his shoulders.
It was a picture of a wall, scratches in the wall formed words.
'Pretty little red breast flying in through
Prettier pool of deep red blood when he will die.'
"You are not going." Aqualad declared.
"You can't keep me here." Robin replied, "For one I'm better at stealth and infiltration than any of you. And secondly, He wants me dead. If He can't find me, He'll do one of two things. One, He'll stay in Gotham and try to attract my attention. He'll kill hundreds… And, no offence Commish, but…"
"We can't handle him." Gordon sighed, "I would love to claim that we could… But we can't."
"The other option is that He comes looking for me. And He'll cut a swath of destruction across the World… Again, He'll kill hundreds. If the price of those lives is me. Then I'm willing to pay it."
"I am not." Aqualad stated, "There has to be another option."
"Look, He's a lunatic! Nutso! Right out of the Asylum!"
"That's rude, Robin." M'gann chided.
"It's the truth." Robin shrugged, "Most of Gotham's criminals are insane to some extent. He's just the worse."
"He's right," KF nodded, "Star City has the Rogues. And they're dangerous, because they're organised. Gotham has the Arkhamites. His are crazy. And just as dangerous. If not more so. Who is it?"
"The worst of them… The Joker." Robin looked at them.
"No." Aqualad spoke firmly, "You will not face him."
"You can't stop me." Robin retorted, "I can disappear. I can open any cage you put me in. I can get past any guard. There's no way you can stop me. Not without going to extents that you will not be willing to."
"You sound certain about that." Artemis frowned.
"He is." Jim sighed, "And he's right. I've seen the kid positively waltz past guards and through locked doors. Only ones that ever managed to keep him trapped… Well, they hurt him. Bane broke an arm."
"Leg actually." Robin countered, "It was the Mad Hatter that broke the arm. Never underestimate him."
"I can't ask this of you, kid…" Jim spoke softly.
His words caused the members of Young Justice to relax slightly. If Robin wasn't being asked, then he didn't have to go. To their minds it was as simple as that.
"That's the great thing, Commish. You know you never have to." Robin replied equally softly.
"You aren't going." M'gann stated, "You're just a child."
"I've been doing this longer than any of you." Robin didn't look at her, "I know my current limits. I know Gotham. And most importantly of all I know the Joker. You cannot comprehend the level of insanity his mind is capable of. And the degree of cruelty? You'd be whelmed. I cannot leave my Lord's Lady to his cruelty. Commish, I'll be in Gotham in the hour."
Robin turned and left the room.
"M'gann," Aqualad murmured to the Martian, "Do not let him see you. But do not let him leave your sight."
"Understood." M'gann disappeared.
"That's just scary." Gordon blinked, "He's right though. You can't stop him."
"What was that whole bit about Lord and Lady?" Conner frowned.
"What do you know about Knights?" Gordon asked in reply.
"Archaic warriors from the Dark Ages." Conner shrugged.
"In the Middle Ages," Gordon started to explain, "A Lady of high standing, often a chose a Knight to fight for her Honour. He was her Knight. And She was his Lady. Batman is often referred to as the Dark Knight. Cities are sometimes referred to as Ladies."
"I can see the logic." Kaldur nodded, "Though I never realized that Robin felt that way. My King never mentioned the nobleness behind Batman's thought process."
"He doesn't talk about it." Gordon replied, "Though you might want to stay close to him… He'll leave as soon as he can."
Kaldur got up and walked to Robin's room.
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"Robin," Kaldur stood in Robin's doorway, "I need to know. How dangerous is Joker? Really."
"You know just after Red nearly killed us… And Batman sent us after Gorillas? I said something about a Joke?" Robin was filling a kit bag with bits and pieces lying around the room.
"Yes."
"Batman's answer… He paused just before Joke. He was reminding me that even something or someone that seems stupid can be a threat. He was making a point about the Joker. Think of the most dangerous enemy you've ever faced… He's worse."
"He cannot be…"
"Normal people can be reasoned with. He's not normal. He's not after revenge or money. He can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. He just wants to watch the world burn… The only advantage we have… Is that he wants me to burn first!"
"I left a bit of an impression on him the first time we met." Robin shrugged, "Look, I don't care what you say, I'm going."
"Do not leave yet. I need to talk to the others."
"Then you'd better tell M'gann to stop watching me."
Kaldur wasn't quite sure how to respond to that.
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Kaldur entered the living room.
"Robin is packing up his equipment." Kaldur sighed, "We cannot stop him."
"I told you." The Commish muttered, "He'll go after Joker, no matter what you say or do. The Joker will destroy Gotham otherwise, trying to find and kill Robin."
"Why is he so set on killing Robin?" Artemis frowned, "Surely Batman is the bigger threat."
"Robin said that he made an impression." Kaldur shrugged.
"I'll say, kid." The Commish spoke up, "Took nearly a month for that bruise of the kid's foot to fade from his face."
"Robin kicked him?" KF stared.
"Flying kick." The Commish nodded, "Quite a pace to. It's the only time we've ever managed to get a good picture of the tread of Robin's shoe."
"I can see that he's got a reason to be mad at Robin." Artemis muttered, "But isn't killing him a little extreme?"
"Not for the Joker." Gordon shrugged.
"I'm leaving." Robin declared moving towards the Zeta-Beam.
Kid Flash dashed to block Robin's path.
"Robin," Aqualad spoke firmly, "We should contact the League."
"Call in the League to Gotham?" Robin stared, "Not aster. Heavy on the dis. No way. They'd try and take over. They'd try and stop me…"
"And the Joker would run riot." Gordon finished, "Gotham needs Batman. Any of the other Heroes… They don't know how Gotham works. Who to trust. Who to speak to. Gotham is Metropolisis' mirror."
"The City of Nightmares to the City of Dreams." Robin nodded, "Not even Superman can clean our streets of the scum that lives there. And he's tried. Batman's the only one whose had any success. I'm not whelmed by this guys… You don't trust me. I'm traught. I'm okay."
"We don't want the Joker to kill you." Superboy stated.
"Nor do I." Gordon sighed, "But with Batman unavailable, he's our best option to capture the Joker with the minimum number of casualties."
"Then we are going as well." Aqualad decided.
Robin opened his mouth to object, but Gordon cut in first.
"You'll have to listen to Robin." He stated, "Else you'll get yourself killed. Or worse."
"What could be worse than killed?" M'gann frowned.
"Manipulated." Gordon replied, "God knows, I'll feel better if you do go."
"Commish!" Robin protested.
"I know you're capable kid." Gordon sighed, "But you're what? Thirteen? I'll feel less like I'm throwing you to a ravenous wolf if you have back up. Please… I don't want to have to bury you. I've buried enough because of Joker. Don't make me bury you. Please. Back-up that will listen and help you… It'll increase your odds."
"Then I take the lead." Robin stated, "I don't want you getting hurt, because you aren't prepared for what happens in Gotham."
"Agreed," Kaldur nodded, "On the condition that the plan is clear and explicit."
"Of course." Robin smiled, "I'm not ready to lead permanently, yet. But this time, I'm going to have to. Else it's not going to be aster…"
*M'gann,* The Martian picked up Robin's broadcasted thoughts, *Could you please link Kaldur and I? You can listen in, if you can't block yourself out… But please don't tell anyone what you hear.*
*Of course.* M'gann agreed.
*Kaldur, Robin wants to talk to you privately.*
*Understood.* Kaldur restrained from nodding.
*Thank you.* Robin declared gently, *I wasn't sure I could do this alone.*
*But you would still go anyway?*
*If Poseidonis was under attack, and King Orin was unable to protect it, would you be able to stay away? Even if you knew you stood precious little chance at winning?*
*I could not. You have a point.*
*I know. And, please, if I am not clear enough, tell me. I don't wish to lose another… Family. M'gann, end it.*
*He is out of the loop.* M'gann told Kaldur, *Did he…?*
*I always knew there was a reason why he became a hero. I just never suspected it was a personal loss.*
*Who do you think it was? His mother?*
*No. He said family. I believe it was both of his parents.*
*I thought Batman was his father.*
*No. I suspect it was an adoption… What I am more surprised about is that he considers us his family.*
*You shouldn't.*
*Why not?*
*He is the youngest of us. From what little he has said, I doubt he has any other family than Batman.*
*And Batman is not the most openly expressive of his care. We would be a more caring influence.*
*If you need him to explain his plans further, tell me. We can't have Artemis or Wally doubting him. It would only hurt his confidence.*
*Agreed. Though I am loathe to suggest it, it might not be advisable to tell Conner either.*
*Understood. But I'll tell him later.*
"Commish?" Robin turned to face Gordon, "Head on home. We'll sort this."
"Thank you… It isn't much, but the janitor keeps on forgetting to fix the third window."
"Understood." Robin nodded, "Guys, you changing?"
"What about our babysitter?" KF frowned.
"I'll deal with her." Robin laughed, "See you Commish."
"Good luck." Gordon stood and left.
Robin wandered to the room he knew the League member was in. Carefully closing his eyes he opened the door.
"What?" A female voice demanded, her voice angry.
"Huntress, we're going into town for a bit."
"Alright." Huntress replied.
Wally and M'gann were waiting by the Zeta-beam when Robin came back.
"How did she not hear the doorbell?" He frowned.
"The room's soundproofed," Robin grinned, "Plus she's not alone. Her boyfriend's with her."
"A civilian?" M'gann pressed.
"Superhero. The Question. It's an odd pairing, but it works. I doubt they'll notice anything for about two hours… Then they'll start on the crazy theories. As long as they don't find out about the Joker. They won't suspect."
"Crazy theories?" Artemis as she arrived.
"Q is a Conspiracy nut. He'll probably follow the Cadmus angle. He usually does. Old grudge."
"One that you know about?" Kaldur queried.
"Bats tries to keep me up-to-date on all possible angles. Never know when it might come in handy. Everyone ready?"
"I assume you have a plan?" Superboy questioned.
"Bare bones of one. Fill you in once we're at Gotham… No one dies today."
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Please Review.
Been enjoying this series. Anyone who's not watched it yet… Do so. Robinspeak is cracking me up. Particularly in the newest episode.
I'm using some of Justice League as background for this story. Makes it easier than making it all up.
What do you think?