You guys have no idea how proud of myself I am right now. Not only have I just taken the ACT again, but I also managed (inbetween constant studying) to write another chapter. A week and a half between updates AND this is a Saturday! It must be a miracle!

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Guest review:

Kim: XD I know about your account, I responded via it last time. Thanks for the review. Read on to see what happens with the impromptu plan. :)

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You gave me ten reviews guys. TEN. That's awesome! I should really and truly update more often (aka, I really need more time to write. So sorry.)

Disclaimer: Clearly I still don't own Young Justice, but at least I'm posting sort of on time.

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Chapter 21

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Blüdhaven

May 25, 5:17 EDT

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"You did what?" Talia demanded, seething as she stared at the man who had just informed her— in passing no less —that he'd kidnapped a second Justice League brat. Oh, and he'd brought Selina Kyle to Talia's hideout.

"Exactly what I just told you," Deathstroke said smoothly, a smirk on his face that made Talia want to punch him more than anything else in the world. Or maybe carve him up with the new swords she'd gotten from her father last week . . . Anything to get that stupid smug expression to disappear. Anything to stop him from what he planned to do.

Contrary to Deathstroke's beliefs, Talia al Ghul was not stupid. She knew that he planned to somehow wrest Richard from her and torture him until the boy was insane enough to follow in his forced mentor's footsteps. She knew he probably would try tonight, while she was "distracted" by the trouble the kidnapping of Kid Flash would cause her. And he'd brought Selina . . . Of all the insufferable peasants Talia had ever had the displeasure to meet, Selina Kyle was one cat that she would love to tear apart, piece by piece.

Talia kept her expression calm and disinterested, although she knew she probably radiated enough anger, hatred, and pure disgust, that Batman could feel it from wherever he was working at that moment.

"I merely thought that you would like another way to persuade the boy to kill," Deathstroke said in a monotonous tone, bowing in a truly mocking way. "Of course, if you do not wish to use him Mistress al Ghul, I could cut him up and leave him for the Justice League to find. Then maybe their little sidekicks will stay away."

Talia had to restrain herself from launching herself at the smug man standing in front of her. "Do you have any idea what you have done?" she demanded. "You very well may have started a war between the League of Shadows and the Justice League! There is a reason we attempt not to target the League or their children whenever possible, and you have just undone many years of restraint on my part, my father's part— heavens, on the part of every assassin who has ever been a member of the League of Shadows! How dare you!"

Deathstroke smiled, bowing again. "It was my pleasure," he said vindictively. "You and your assassins have such a strict code; you can't even get anything done because you worry of a war that could be beneficial to you all."

Talia's eyes blazed, and she drew her weapon, pointing it steadily at Deathstroke. "We don't want war," she hissed. "We are already used as weapons; we don't need the added affects of a war upon our people. And you. I know that you never had any intention of working with me. You were in it for Robin; you wish to steal him away. In fact, I would bet my life that you are having Selina Kyle sneak that boy out of here right now."

Deathstroke laughed, and Talia leapt back, alarmed, as he threw a small knife towards her. She cursed as she spotted the smoke bomb, but it was too late to stop it from exploding, and filling the small room with clouds of smoke.

Well, Talia thought wryly, at least she didn't have to come up with an excuse as to why she was getting rid of Deathstroke. He'd done that for her.

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Blüdhaven

May 25, 5:25 EDT

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Dick waited until he, Catwoman, and Wally, were all out of earshot of most of the assassins. He was sure that it wouldn't be perfect, but he needed to find out what they were doing. "Are you both out of your minds?" he demanded, turning and facing his best friend and the anti-hero and glaring at them fiercely. "You could have been killed, you could have gotten me killed, and you may have just started a war between the League of Shadows, and the Justice League."

"Are you alright, dude?" Wally asked, totally disregarding everything his friend had just said. He zoomed over and gave Dick a hug, which felt really good, but the former Boy Wonder backed away.

"I was better before you were here," he snapped, feeling a pang of guilt at the hurt in his best friend's eyes at the partial lie. "Wally, you could die, and it would be my fault. Do you have any idea how that would make me feel?"

"Probably about as bad as sitting at home or at the Cave made me feel!" Wally replied sharply. "It's been awful since you were taken, Rob, the whole Team can feel it. Gar came back from spending time with Martian Manhunter, and he doesn't even know what's going on, but he can feel the tension in the room! We have new members, two of which know we're keeping secrets from them. Batgirl and Little Rob 1 are on the Team now, to help fill your spot. It feels like Batman's replacing you," he added bitterly.

Dick winced. "He's not," he said firmly. "He just knows you need someone who's tech savvy and ninja-like on the Team." But he couldn't help but think about what Wally was saying. The Team had new members? That would be weird, if he ever made it back. He'd been there to welcome almost everyone onto the Team, yet there were at least two that Wally had mentioned that wouldn't know him at all. "How-" he paused and swallowed, then continued. "How is Batman holding up?"

Wally hesitated. "I don't know," he admitted. "He seems kind of normal, except . . . Well . . . Angrier than usual. He also told us that one thing that only I knew."

Dick froze. Batman had revealed their secret identities to the Team. Probably not all of them. The new kids, Gar . . . They were too young. But all of the original members of the Team, some of the older ones, like Troia, Aqua-girl, Tempest . . .

Batman was taking this very seriously.

Dick sighed, realizing suddenly how very tired he was. His injuries and lack of sleep, combined with how stressed he was, made it hard for him to think. "Alright, fine. You're both here now. Do you have a plan?" he asked, looking back and forth between Selina (who'd been rather quiet), and Wally.

They exchanged glances, and Selina spoke. "Our plan was for Kid Flash to get captured, after making it look like I was chasing him. Me becoming 'allies' with Deathstroke was just a bonus. Although, Kitten, I can't say I approve of your teacher. He's a monster."

Dick snorted. "You can say that again," he murmured. "Alright, so you wanted to get captured, but how are we getting out of here? You must have at least thought about it."

Wally immediately turned towards Selina, who smiled. "Well, Deathstroke believes he is distracting Talia so that I can sneak you out of here," she said cheerfully. "I think we should do just that, don't you?"

For a moment, Dick smiled, feeling a flood of relief run through him. He could go home, back to Bruce, Tim, Jason, Alfred, the Team . . . He could rest, go back to school, see Babs, train normally.

Except, he couldn't.

"We can't," he sighed.

"Why not?" Wally asked, his eyes widening. He was vibrating, and Dick suspected he was partially doing it to keep himself awake. He was likely starving as well.

Dick tapped his coller, then gestured to the suit. "Every little bit of this suit is riddled with things to make sure I don't get away," he said bitterly. There are 26 different triggers they can set off if I try to escape, and Deathstroke has one of the remotes."

"Then take the suit off," Wally said, sounding worried. His green eyes were bright and horrified, and Dick winced.

"I can't, he admitted, one of the triggers goes off if I try to take off the suit without permission. I set it off the first day, and trust me, I don't want to do it again."

"Alright, then all we have to do is get Talia tell you to take it off," Selina said thoughtfully. "I don't think it will be too hard. From what I know of the League of Shadows, Talia and her father will not be happy with Deathstroke for bringing Kid Flash here. They have no desire for a war with the Justice League, and since they already made a move by taking you, Kitten, I'm sure Talia will renege on the whole thing."

"Well, well, the Kitty-cat has some brains after all," Talia's voice dripped with sarcasm and loathing, and Dick whirled to see her step out of the shadows.

She looked absolutely livid, and she was holding her sword in her hand, something Dick had only seen her do in an actual fight. "It's true, I have no intention of letting Deathstroke do anything to you," she muttered, directing her words towards Dick. "I was already considering ways to get you out, and strangely enough, he helped with that."

"He did make a pretty major mistake when he allowed me in here," Selina conceded. She and Talia continued to glare daggers at each other, and Dick winced.

"Alright, take off the suit," Talia said. "Quickly, before Deathstroke can stop you."

Immediately Dick started pulling it off, relieved when no agonizing jolts hit him. Beneath his suit he was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, which would work fine for escaping. Besides, if they really got out, he wanted to go back as Dick Grayson, not Robin. Talia then released the collar that went around his neck, her fingers cool on his skin. As soon as it was gone, Dick rubbed his throat, sighing in relief. "Wow it feels good to have that gone."

"You look way better without it," Wally agreed. "Now can we get out of here before the guy with swords shows up? I really don't feel like getting cut to shreds."

Talia and Selina stopped their glaring war, and the al Ghul stepped back. "Leave," she agreed bitterly. "This is the chance I have to repair Deathstroke's mistake, which he managed to leak to the public. I'm sure the League is in an uproar right now."

"And since you have tech that messes with outside communication, Wally can't just tell them he's alright," Dick realized. "Alright, we need to get out of here quickly, and as soon as possible, Wally, you contact the League and the Team and tell them you're fine. Don't say exactly what's going on until we're sure we're safe."

"Affirmative," Wally said, "now let's get out of here."

Talia pointed towards a window. "That's your best option for now," she said firmly. "Make sure you don't let Deathstroke catch you.

Dick was the first to climb out the window, and he turned back to exchange one last look with the woman who had captured him in the first place. "Believe me," he said. "I don't intend to."

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Woohoo! Robin is free from Talia! But is that all I have in store? hmm . . . . we'll find out won't we . . .

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