"Let's call Robin and ask him."
Barbara Gordon sat down at the console in the Batcave and began to furiously type away while the younger Robin watched.
"The Titans have a pretty tight firewall around their communication network." He commented knowingly.
"It wasn't there last time we called them, or at least it was easier to break through. If I didn't know better, I'd think they don't want to talk to us." She remarked.
"Maybe they don't. Bruce made them look pretty stupid when he set them up. What's with your Robin anyway? Why does he take himself so seriously?"
Barbara paused her hacking and looked at the young teen.
"He used to be a lot like you, when he was your age."
"You mean he had a sense of humor?"
Batgirl shook her head.
"Believe it or not, he still has it. How can I say this? … What I mean is that he used to enjoy life more. We dated, or at least we tried to, since Bruce wouldn't allow it. Then one day Robin … he just disappeared. Bruce wouldn't talk about it and I was worried sick that something happened to Dick. He vanished for months. The next time I heard about him he was fighting off alien invaders in Jump City with some other teens. A few months later they built the Tower and the rest, I suppose, is history."
"So whatever happened back then, you think they're holding a grudge against each other?" He asked.
Barbara leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. She heaved a heavy sigh.
"Bruce hasn't helped. Sometimes it seems that he goes out of his way to make the Titans look bad, which isn't all that hard. They're a good team, but Bruce has a point, they are still a bit inexperienced."
A whimsical look betrayed Barbara's unmasked face, as she had removed her cowl.
"They kind of remind me of myself, back when I was a 'freelancer' and was trying to get Batman to accept me as his official sidekick. I really wasn't bad at all, back then, being self trained and all. Plus I had to make all my own stuff: grappling hooks, batarangs, etc. And I was really proud of what I had accomplished on my own, but once Bruce finally took me in, well, it was a different ballgame."
Robin nodded his understanding, but then added his own two cents.
"But Bruce did train him. Look, I know the Titans aren't perfect, but they do kick butt. And they work like a team, almost like if they can read each other's minds."
Babs smiled.
"I know, Dick isn't any kind of amateur. But you see, Bruce was hoping that someday Dick would take his place as the Dark Knight, and I think he still does. By running away, I think Bruce believes that Dick rejected him."
"And you don't think so?"
"No … I don't … I think Dick just needed to find out who he really is, and I believe that he really did with the Titans."
'Little' Robin looked troubled upon hearing those words.
"And who is he?" He asked in a worried tone, realizing that perhaps he had more in common with the older, parallel version of himself than he was comfortable with.
Babs sighed again.
"It's hard to put into words." She answered evasively as she resumed her attempt to hack into the Titan's network. "Damn Cyborg, he really out did himself this time. I can't break in. Maybe we'll just call him on the phone."
"Let me take a crack at it."
Barbara ceded her seat to young Robin, who began to type away, mumbling to himself as he tried different algorithms. After a few minutes he muttered that he had an idea. After turning on his holographic arm computer he connected it to the console via a wireless interface and resumed his hacking. Babs watched as the holographic display changed colors and patterns like a digital kaleidoscope and wondered where the young sidekick procured such nifty technology.
"A three dimensional key! I should have known!" Robin chortled in triumph. "Just give me a minute."
Barbara watched as he continued to hack. Eventually the Titan's logo appeared on the screen.
"We're in!" He crowed. "Take that, Cyborg! Now to place the call."
Within moments TT-Robin's face appeared in the screen. Barbara immediately noticed that he looked dismayed and was holding one of Raven's tea mugs in his hand. His expression was replaced with one of surprise, as he clearly wasn't expecting to see their faces on the screen.
"We need to talk." Batgirl announced. "What happened between you and Bruce?"
TT-Robin looked away from the screen.
"It's none of your business." He mumbled. "And this is a private channel, only for Titans' business. So hang up."
Barbara frowned while YJ-Robin grinned.
"Tell Cyborg that his firewall sucks." The younger Robin crowed triumphantly.
"I'll be sure to remind him. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to hang up."
Robin unceremoniously broke the link and walked over to the kitchen, rinsing Raven's cup and placing it in the dishwasher. As he shut the washer the console chirped again. With a frown on his face he answered the call.
"What part of Titans' business only do you not understand?" He growled between clenched teeth.
Barbara glared back at him.
"This is Titans' business. Whatever happened between you and Bruce is also affecting you. What happened Dick? Let us help you."
"I don't need Justice League help." He snapped at her.
Her expression softened.
"Then let me help you."
Dick looked at her unmasked face, and his mind was flooded with all the pleasant memories he shared with Babs, how she had been his first crush. He recalled the first kiss they shared. He then remembered when Bruce caught them and lectured them on how they were teammates and that 'romantic entanglements' had no place on a team of crime fighting superheroes. He recalled how she stood up to Bruce and only backed off when he threatened to kick her off the team and tell her father about her secret identity. Barbara had somehow managed to resist Bruce's mind control all these years, and for that he admired her.
If there was anyone outside of the Tower he could trust, it was Babs.
"OK, but this stays between us. That goes for you too Robin." He replied.
"My lips are sealed. Scout's honor!" Young Robin replied, making the three fingered scout salute.
"I was never a Boy Scout."
"Neither was I. But it sounds cool."
TT-Robin sighed wearily.
"Whatever. OK, here goes … I hit Bruce."
"We kinda figured that out already, that was one nice shiner you gave him." YJ-Robin snickered.
"Why did you hit him Dick?"
Robin frowned.
"He said that Raven and Star were couple of sluts. He even accused Beast Boy and me of having casual sex with them."
"You hit him for that?" Young Robin asked incredulously.
TT-Robin leaped to his feet.
"You bet I did! Raven is like a sister to me and Star's my girlfriend. No one, and I mean no one can slander them and get away with it."
"I understand." Babs replied. "But tell me Dick, just what is going on in Titans Tower? You and Starfire have been an item since Tokyo, and that was what, two years ago? But now all the buzz is about Raven and Beast Boy. Have you seen this?"
Babs picked up the latest issue of People magazine, which had a recent photo of the Chromatically Challenged Couple™ on its cover, with the caption 'New love in Titans Tower?'. Robin grimaced as he saw the magazine.
"What's wrong Dick? You look like you saw a ghost." She asked.
"Sometimes my job really sucks." He replied morosely. "Raven and Beast Boy are formalizing their relationship."
"You mean they're engaged?" Barbara asked.
Robin shook his head.
"Not exactly. I guess Raven was serious about going back to her roots. She asked Beast Boy to join her in some sort of courtship ritual. What that means … I have no idea."
Robin was interrupted by a deep voice that made them jump out of their skins.
"I believe it's called the Azarathian Courtship Rite." Bruce interrupted them as he emerged from the shadows in the Batcave.
"You were eavesdropping on us?" Barbara hissed while YJ-Robin distanced himself from what promised to be some spectacular fireworks.
"Dick, I owe you an apology over what I said about the girls." That Dark Knight replied as he approached the screen. "I wasn't eavesdropping. I was already here when you came down. You need to be more careful Barbara."
TT-Robin stammered as he replied.
"Thanks … I guess. And I'm sorry I hit you … wait a minute … what do you know about this courtship thing?"
Batman stood solemnly in front of the console.
"When you formed your team I did research on your four teammates. When I learned that Raven was from Azarath I expanded my investigation to learn everything I could about Azarath and its culture."
"So what is it?"
Bruce typed on a console.
"I sent you my entire dossier on Raven and Azarath. As for the courtship rite: Azarathians take marriage very seriously and they do not divorce. Because of this many never marry and wind up associated with the temple and monastery as monks and nuns."
An image of the monastery appeared on the screen, along with a picture of Azar.
"Casual sex is taboo on Azarath. It isn't illegal, but is considered culturally unacceptable. Since Raven is half demon I didn't know if she would adhere to their traditions or not. Demons do have a reputation of being very promiscuous."
"She isn't." Robin snapped at his mentor.
"I know. The fact that she entered into the Courtship Rite confirms that."
"So what exactly is this rite? Raven said it would last for a year."
Batman nodded.
"That's correct. It's hard to describe the Courtship Rite within the context of our culture. Some people would call it a 'trial marriage' …"
"You mean they shacked up?" YJ-Robin snickered. "Beast Boy's my hero."
Batman once again shook his head.
"That would be inaccurate. Couples only enter the rite if they believe they have truly found their soul mate. Of those couples who enter into it, 98 percent tie the knot at the end of the year."
Robin looked overwhelmed as he processed what he heard.
"You said 'trial marriage', does that mean that … they're …"
"… living like a married couple, in every sense of the word. Should Raven become pregnant, they have the option of ending the trial prematurely and marrying, however there is no legal obligation to marry should that happen."
TT-Robin leaned back in his chair.
"But Beast Boy is the team clown … he can't be serious about this."
"He'd better be. If they don't marry at the end, they can never see each other again. Never. So I expect that you will see some changes in your green teammate."
Robin sighed. It was bad enough to learn this news about Raven and Beast Boy, but what made it worse was that he was learning it from Bruce.
"So what do you think Bruce? You once told Beast Boy to date Raven at his own risk. Do you still feel that way?"
Batman paused before answering.
"She is still a half demoness, that hasn't changed. But she has demonstrated that she is a person of good moral character. I just hope he can handle her temper."
Robin chuckled.
"If anyone can, it's him. And in the big picture, I'd say better Raven than Terra."
Bruce nodded.
"Yes, the geomancer. If there ever was someone on your team who was treacherous and untrustworthy it was her. You were wise to not bring her back into your team, speaking of which…"
Robin braced himself for it: the pitch.
"Would you reconsider having your team cooperate with us?"
If TT-Robin had a weakness it was his pride. He hated the fact that Bruce knew more about Raven and Beast Boy's marital status than he did. There were obvious advantages for working with the League, but he, correction, they had worked so hard to establish their independence. To give up their independence would be tantamount to admitting defeat.
"We value our autonomy Bruce."
"Who says you can't keep it?"
"Are you serious?"
"I know I've come across as a bit heavy handed lately in trying to herd the Titans into the League…"
"And what about Raven? You said it yourself … she's still a demon."
"Raven would be welcome. What do you say Dick? We have so many resources that would be beneficial to the Titans."
"Like the training?" Robin grumbled.
"Yes, the training. Don't begrudge it Robin, we still train…"
"So do we." Robin snapped.
"I know. Maybe some cross pollenizing would be beneficial to both groups."
Robin paused before replying.
"I'll have to ask the others."
"Of course. Take your time, maybe we can formalize this when the YJs move into their new home."
Robin crossed his arms.
"Bruce, why did the League choose to send them here?"
"I know what you're thinking Dick, that we're sending them to upstage you. But that's not why. We have intel on Deathstroke. We believe he's up to something big, really big. No one knows him better than you and your team, but we thought you might be able to use some help. Don't take this the wrong way Dick; the Titans would still be in charge."
Robin crossed his arms.
"I suppose that having some help never hurts, but I'll also have to run this by the team."
-( scene break )-
Two weeks later …
It was still dark outside. Robin sipped on his coffee in the common room; the lights were dimmed except for the light directly above the kitchen table, as he read another dossier Bruce had sent him on Slade. The team had unanimously agreed to cooperate with the Justice League and the first change was the new access to the League's vast databases. Robin thumbed through the contents of the thick manila folder, which contained reports that Slade had until recently been purchasing industrial quantities of glucose and dried protein compounds. He puzzled over the intel, wondering what it meant. Could Slade be manufacturing some sort of bio-weapon? Germ warfare perhaps?
As he continued to leaf through the dossier the sliding doors parted, revealing Raven's figure. As she did every morning she glided into the kitchen and began to prepare her usual breakfast: Irish breakfast tea, two slices of toast and a soft boiled egg.
"Good morning." She greeted her leader.
"Morning." He grunted back. "Did you sleep well?"
"Of course, I always do."
"And your boy toy?"
Robin did the same thing every morning. He would refer to her mate as her 'boy toy', she would counter that he was neither a boy nor her toy and Robin would laugh.
"As always, he's still sleeping, which isn't surprising as we had mind blowing sex last night."
Robin did a double take at Raven, who gathered her breakfast on a tray and brought it to the table.
"You weren't expecting me to say that, were you?"
"Ha,ha Raven, very funny."
She cut the top off her egg and scooped out a spoonful and popped it into her mouth.
"I was being funny?"
"Maybe the mind blowing part." He replied.
"I am a half demon Robin. We demonesses have needs you know."
"Ok! Too much information!"
A triumphant smirk appeared on the sorceress' face.
"Will you stop calling Gar my 'boy toy'?"
"So what should I call him? Your husband, boyfriend, mate?"
Raven finished her egg before replying.
"Beast Boy works fine for me, or if you want to you can call him Garfield."
Robin chuckled.
"You drive a hard bargain Raven. You have a deal."
Suddenly the Tower's Klaxons began to wail. Robin ran to the operations console and checked the status of the emergency, with Raven close behind.
"What is it?" She asked as the other 3 Titans rushed into the common room.
Raven noticed that Robin's face became pale.
"Yo Robin! What is it? Whose butt are we gonna kick?" Cyborg asked.
"It can't be." He replied breathlessly.
"Robin! What is happening?" Starfire asked.
"It's an invasion. The entire country is being invaded by alien shape shifters; there are millions of them, in every city. They've already overwhelmed the police and now the military is engaging them …"
"And?" Beast Boy asked.
"We're losing."
-( scene break )-
The story's climax approaches!
Thanks for all your review and support. I've noticed that traffic seems to be down overall on the Young Justice page (probably because there hasn't been a new episode in ages) so I do appreciate all the chapter hits (28,244 so far) and reviews (498)