Chapter 46: Bruised and Scarred

A/N: We are SO SORRY it's been so long! We've both been super busy lately. You'll notice that the next few chapters are a little behind (i.e. mentioning Easter when it was last month and not this) so please forgive us for we are trying to catch up! Oh and to the people who asked us questions, we will answer them not in this chapter but either in the next one or the one after that. Again, sorry for the super long wait for this short-ish chapter but the next one will be longer (hopefully). Thank you so much for being patient and we hope you become intrigued by our story again!

"District Attorney-found dead."

"Death is unexplained and unusual."

"14 students maimed by an unknown man- 3 survivors but unable to recall any events."

"Government Facility in Antarctica bombed."

"Unusual amount of water found in the Australian Dessert."

"34 bodies found near the Dead Sea. They all seemed to be caught in some sort of crossfire."

"There seemed to have been a large fight near the great wall of China."

"Caves in Alaska found collapsed-1 dead body found."

"45 marine soldiers, 22 Air Forces-bodies, not found."

"12 corpses appeared by the Caribbean Sea."

"Scientists confirm that there was a large tremor in Alaska."

"These are odd anomalies. Too many dead bodies are found time after time-death in odd ways-as if they were stuck in a cross fire. Any survivor is badly injured and cannot recall the events. What is going on? Could this be another alien invasion? If so, then who are the assailants? All we know is that we are in the middle of an unknown war."

*Click*

****Break***

Tim's POV

I watch my older brother's chest rise and fall slowly. He's not moving, hardly twitching; he's absolutely pale. Sweat beads on his eyebrows as if he's stuck in some sort of nightmare and can't seem to wake up.

Dick is on the other side of the medical bed, watching our brother with his intense blue eyes. His hands are clasped together, waiting for him to wake up.

Alfred walks in with a tray of hot chocolate and coffee. He hands me the warm hot chocolate and the mug of coffee to Dick.

I stare down at the swirling liquid and watch as the thin steam vanishes in the air. I glance back up at Alfred. "Did you contact him?" Of course, we don't need to specify who he is.

Alfred nods.

"What did he say?" Dick asks, only now raising his head.

"He said as soon as the investigation is over, he'll be coming back. He's sending Miss Christine back home however."

"Did he tell you where he's going?"

"He and Master Damian are going to pay someone a visit."

I clench my gloved fists, and I notice Dick squeezing the edge of the seat as well.

Same old Bruce. Always seems to ignore those who are important to him. The 'success of the mission' is always first to him. Nothing else matters but the mission. That's Batman-protector of Gotham-devoid of any kind of emotion. Always seeming to be uncaring of others, even those who he cares about...or who care about him.

Even after everything that's happened, he hasn't learned any kind of lesson. He's willing to sacrifice anything and anyone for the sake of the mission!

But really...am I any different?

Beep Beep.

I walk towards the computer and click enter, and the face of Aqualad pops up glaring down at me.

"Red Robin. We need you on a mission."

I nod, and Kaldur's face disappears.

I pass by the medical bay, glancing at Dick, who nods at me for encouragement but doesn't leave his spot otherwise. Then for the last time today, I look at Jason.

The engine of my motorcycle roars, and I leave the cave.

****Break****

I walk down the hall where our fallen heroes are standing like statues.

I pass by Tula (Aquagirl), Donna Troy (Troia/the first Wonder Girl), Ted Cord (Blue Beetle), and for some reason Jason's hologram. Why is it still here, even though Kid Flash's was taken down?

I stare up at his hologram. Red Hood is a hero now, so why is Jason still here?

My eyes switch from Aquagirl, to Troia, to Jason. Jason met these people. Well almost all of these people.

A few years ago, Dick used to tell me stories about Jason when he was on the team. Sometimes Superboy would even share some stories about how Jason was a really troubled kid and how his weakness was his temper. But he and Tula were like siblings-really close. Everything was fine before Tula died. Jason and Donna were even together once. Then when Tula died...things quickly changed for my older brother.

He and Donna broke up. And not long after...Jason died. And so did Donna.

I keep walking towards Robin's hologram and notice how Bart seems to stare at the empty space where Kid Flash's memorial was. Although something about Bart is different now...he's not himself anymore. He's not even wearing the Kid Flash suit anymore.

I'll have to ask him about that some other time.

I tap my finger on Barbara's shoulder, and she turns around and smiles at me.

I frown. "Why is his memorial still here? Shouldn't it be taken down?" I whisper.

Barbara shrugs. "I really don't know, but Batman wants to keep it here...you know how he is."

I nod as we both stare up at the memorial. "I just came from a mission." She starts quietly, "and now...I have stuff to investigate again in Gotham."

I turn to her and we start walking away from the memorial. "What are you going to investigate."

"This." She pulls out a vial from her belt. "It's been shipped around Gotham and tested on a bunch of people who either died or fought back before dying."

"Like Venom?"

"Something like that, but the purpose of this seems to be mind control."

I stop abruptly in my tracks. "Mind control."

She nods. "Yeah. There are microbots in this thing made specifically for mind control."

The last time there was mind control, it didn't go so well…

She stares at me. "I'm going to investigate now. See you back at home."

She zeta'd out of the Watchtower. I watch her disappear into the flash of light as I walk up to Kaldur and the rest of the team.

"Your job is to investigate these deaths. It seems that bodies have been popping out of nowhere one after the other in random locations."

"Supergirl and Bumble Bee, you will be investigating Lex Luthor's sudden disappearance, Head over to Metropolis." I watch as Kaldur explains to everyone their missions, sending them to different places.

Then he turns to me with grave seriousness. "You, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Blue Beetle are going to investigate these sudden deaths in Antarctica. Debriefing is over. You all know what you're supposed to do."

I'm really not comfortable leaving the cave at this moment.

****Break****

Damian's POV

I look out the window and stare at the very same mountain I used to train on. I had to climb that mountain when I was four-broke my wrist, made it to the top anyway.

Grandfather….

Mother told me that he's out to get me...but why? Why does he want us dead all of a sudden? I don't understand. I haven't seen any members from the league out to get me lately, or any of us in that case. Why did mother warn me?

What does Grandfather have to do with the near death of Nygma?

What exactly is going on?

"Robin. Get ready."

Soon, he lands the plane and we both head towards the large mansion.

We both slip in easily through the large window of the study. But no one is here. Father goes through the papers on the desk and I look at the books on the shelf. I can feel shivers down my spine as I brush my fingers on the dusty books. I would hardly come in here, and when I was called to come here, it would always be because I was to be punished for something I did wrong.

I follow Father out of the study and through the entire mansion. "It seems that no one is home." I mutter quietly.

"Hello Beloved."

We both turn around to see my mother along with seven league members.

"Mother?" I ask, trying to hide my confusion.

She frowns. "It is a huge mistake for both of you to be here. Forgive me, Son." She raises her hand and signals for the goons to head for us.

Father and I get into our fighting stances as the assassins unsheathe their swords and head towards us.

I jump back as one man swings his blade like it is a part of his arm.

High ranked. Obviously.

I knit my eyebrows as I pull out a few birdarangs and throw them at that assassain. He dodges and heads towards me. I duck as another assassin slashes with his own sword.

7 men with sharp pointed blades vs. me. This isn't a fair fight at all.

I smirk.

I pull out my own sword and hold it tightly as I face the seven assassins. I grip my sharp blade tightly and point it at all of them.

They move towards me with much skill, their feet hardly touching the ground. I move back, gripping my sword, and slash at one of them, knowing that Father is too busy with Mother to notice me.

I truly have had enough of this confusion...

I growl as I swing my sword at one, causing a slash to appear on his chest, and kick his face.

One down.

Call me a confused child…

I don't care.

Mother taught me the exact opposite of what Father did. Within my hardened heart, I truly cared for my mother and I called this mansion, of all places, my home. Then one night, I was dropped off with my father like some dog...as an unwanted hound. My Father and my so-called-siblings have taught me so much more than to finish your opponent with no mercy.

Then my mother tries to kill me.

Then she drops off my dog as an 'I'm sorry' gift.

But now…

I truly have had enough.

I slash at them all as I growl, gripping my sword. I flip up and kick another man, knocking him out. I dodge an attack and slash at him. I jump up and elbow another man to my left. I swipe my foot and slash with my sword, cutting his foot off-not caring to add pressure on it.

Bruce's POV

"That is enough, Talia."

I punch her in the nose and she moves back, but her fists are still raised and her stance is still firm. And she keeps that well-known smirk on.

"I'm afraid that is not for you to decide Beloved." She smiles and kicks at my temple, but I block and move back still with my fists raised.

"Argh!" My eyes move to the left where Damian is on one knee, his sword stuck on the ground and both hands on it, his body using the sword for support. I notice the blood dripping down his head, right down his eyes, and his teeth clenched. Four assassins surround him.

Dammit Robin.

My eyes move back to Talia, who smiles at both of us. "Tell your goons to let him go."

She thinks it over for a while. Then she nods her head at one of the assassins, but that man kicks Damian in the head and he falls on the floor with his sword right beside him. I clench my fists as the four assassins surround me this time with their swords pointed at my neck.

Talia only smiles and cocks her head slightly, her brown hair swaying as she walks towards her unconscious son. She bends down and brushes her fingers on his face. Then her eyes fly towards the sword. She frowns, picking it up and standing again, facing me.

But her eyes don't leave the sword.

That sword...seems to be one of Damian's most prized possessions. Whenever I walk into his room, I always see him making sure it's shiny and ready for battle. He always keeps it safe.

And I know why.

Talia's eyes trace the sword as her fingers brush against the fine steel.

Then her eyes dart to me as her eyebrows knit. "Where did he get this?"

****Break****

Chris' POV

The lights turn off, and I walk up to the medical bed where that egg-headed bastard is lying in fear. "W-who's there?" He mumbles as the heart monitor goes slightly faster.

"Just me." I answer politely.

"Y-you...stay away from me you brat!" He growls as the monitor gets faster.

"Not until you answer my questions." I say as I walk up to him and hold up my batarang to shine like a blade in the night. "Something tells me 'r-red' isn't the answer I wanted."

"What else do you want from me?!"

"Who attacked you?"

"I'm telling you! I don't know!"

"GIve me a description."

"...and what do I get in return?"

"Hmm...once they realize they didn't finish the job, they'll come back. Unless...we capture them. Or, I could finish the job myself."

He narrows his eyes in the dark. "Bats don't kill."

"...I'm not like him." I whisper. "I could do it if I wanted to."

He stares into my eye slits for a while until he realizes that I'm not bluffing...not anymore.

"F-fine…"

"It was dark...but...whoever it was...at first...there were red arrows that appeared out of nowhere. Then he appeared. He was small, his eyes were...red. He carried some kind of sword, and he had a bunch of weapons with him. Then...he drove away in a motorcycle…"

Why do I get the feeling that he's describing some kind of miniature reaper?

***Break***

I jump off my bike and run towards the med bay.

I stop at the sight of one of the strongest and toughest people I know looking weak on the bed. I look at Dick who looks exhausted but obviously refuses to tear his eyes off of Jason.

"What happened?"

Dick looks at me with his unusually tired eyes. I've never actually seen Dick look so tired...but maybe he's always been this tired. He just...hid it all the time.

"He collapsed."

"Why?"

"I don't know, Chris."

"Does Dad even know about this?"

He nods and rubs his face with one hand. "Yeah...but he said the mission was top priority."

I stare at the younger brother of my older brother. Well...in other words, my brother. Jason looks different...like this. I've never seen him looking weak. He always had that tough face and angry eyes. To see him like this, in a weak state, where anyone can just kill him, is…

If he can easily be weakened by whatever happened...if the toughest guy I know is on that bed right now. Then what does that make me?

"To hell with Dad." I mutter.

****Break****

Jason's POV

"Tell me Jay…" The kid smiles happily.

I smile back as she laughs.

"Tell you what Kid?"

Then everything darkens and reddens, and her eyes fill with anger and confusion. "Why?"

I take a step back as she walks towards me. "Why. Why. Why. Why?!"

"You monster!" She screams.

****Break****

Bruce's POV

Talia walks up to me and drops the sword on the floor with a loud 'clang!'

"Where did he get it?" She mumbles.

"Why the hell would it matter?" I growl.

She shakes her head. "Truly, you are right. It doesn't." She bites her lower lip.

I narrow my eyes at her. "Where is Ra's?"

She looks back at me and smiles smugly. "Out, on a meeting...but he was expecting you to be here you know…" She smirks. "And he left a little present." She takes a step back, still looking at me. "You can come down now."

Suddenly, something jumps down from the ceiling. Covered in black, something with red eyes, something holding a long sword, something in armour. Yet, something so small.

…

… …

No.

… ...Someone.

A/N: Alright folks, things are going to get serious now. So buckle up and put on some epic music would ya?