"They still aren't here, Bats." Superman said, looking over at his friend as they ate dinner in the cafeteria. "You think everything is alright?"
Batman nodded. "They haven't seen Roy and Wally in two weeks. They're probably just horsing around like they do and having too much fun to remember to eat..."
That had been three hours ago. Now almost all the leaguers were gathered around in the dining room, looking concerned as they murmured theories about where the four sidekicks could be. Because, despite all outward appearances, the sidekicks were like everyone's children. Hawkwoman in particular had taking a liking to Scarlet the day she'd said, blatantly honest, as little kids are,
"Woah... you have huge wings on your back!" to her. And everyone had fallen in love with the sidekicks from that day forward.
Black Canary saw underneath Roy's tough facade a boy who needed love, and everyone else, though they could be trying at times, seemed to brighten and laugh more when one of the children was in the room with them. Heck, having all four was a recipe for a good time... And that was why everyone was so concerned when the little bright spots in the hard career of being a superhero hadn't appeared for dinner that night.
"It's been three hours, Batman, I believe it is time to worry." Wonder Woman said.
"Maybe they're just asleep or something." Flash said, trying to be optimistic.
"Asleep? Really, Barry? Those three are known for having more laughs together than the Joker. And they haven't seen each other in two weeks. There is no way they are sleeping."
"Which begs the question, where are they?" Oliver asked, and all eyes drifted over to Batman.
"Come on, Bruce- we all know how paranoid you are. You have tracking devices planted on Scarlet and Dick, don't even try to deny it. Now activate them. We're all worried..." Black Canary said, and Batman reached for his wrist computer and activated a holographic map. Those who knew him enough to read him, which was only Superman and Wonder Woman, saw his brow crease with concern beneath the cowl.
"There tracking devices are offline." he said grimly.
"Okay... NOW we panic." Flash announced.
"Ahhh!" Scarlet and Dick weren't playing tag at the moment. No, on the contrary, they were running for there lives with Roy and Wally. They hadn't realized it, but the laundry room was right next to the boiler room, and Scarlet had been terrified by the sudden whoosh of the furnace turning on and started sprinting to get as far away from it as she could...
"Scarlet! Scarlet, slow down, kid..." Roy pleaded, but the girl paid him no heed. She was exhausted, her nerves were shot, and she was going to get as far away from that scary noise as possible...
She only stopped when she collapsed, which, thanks to her training, wasn't until five minutes later, when they'd lost all hope of figuring out where they were...
"I... ugg..." Roy huffed, falling to the floor beside her. How could one kid be so fast? Everyone's lungs were burning from the frantic sprint, and Wally was looking half dead, eyes glazed over. Roy knew the speedster's blood sugar was dropping, and Scarlet was on the brink of not being able to walk anymore. Dick looked worse for the wear too, face pale and his hands shaking slightly from exhaustion and exertion...
"I... okay... We aren't going to make it back to the main room." he said.
He expected Scarlet to cry, but she didn't- whether it was because she'd already figured this out before him or she was simply to exhausted, Roy had no idea. Wally was crying, though. "Roy... I'm so hungry... I'm gonna faint soon..." Wally cried, worming his way over to Roy.
"Wally... just breathe, Wally... they'll come looking for us soon..." Roy promised. But in truth, he was scared. What if Wally did pass out? What if the speedster starved before the league found them?
"Wally... here." Dick croaked, and Roy saw the boy holding out a chocolate bar. "I was saving it for when things got really desperate..." he explained. Wally snatched it and was about to eat it all when he looked around at his friends.
"I... we'll share it." he announced, breaking the bar into four pieces.
"Wally- no. You need it most..." Roy tried to reason, but Wally shook his head. "At least... at least have a little..." he ordered, and Roy took one square of chocolate to appease him, as did Dick...
"Not hungry... tired..." Scarlet muttered, making Roy's worry increase tenfold. How could she not be hungry? The kid was tiny...
"At least if we gotta die... we can die together..." Scarlet murmured, crawling over to Roy and curling against the older boy. Dick crawled over and got on Scarlet's other side, and Wally on Roy's other side.
Roy nibbled halfheartedly on his portion of snickers, feeling both exhaustion and despair when he realized they were having a last meal of sorts. Roy found himself laying on his stomach, arms around both children like a bird taking its young under wings, cheek mushed against the ground... He was so tired, he simply let sleep take over...
"They've been missing for three hours, they could be anywhere. We need to split up..." Superman instructed. "Black Canary, Wonder Woman, and Hawk Woman will take the fourth, Green Lantern, hawkman, and Plastic Man will take the third, Batman, Flash and I the second, and Green arrow, Aquaman, and Martain Manhunter the first. We stay in constant contact, is that understood? The kids could be hurt or something, and we'll use all necessary caution. Good luck everyone."
And with that, the searchers dispersed. They hardly spoke, so great was there concern for the youngest members of the league, and worry pervaded the entire watch tower.
After a half an hour of calling with no responses, Aquaman pointed to what appeared to be a heap of something in the distance. "What is that?" he asked. He and Martain Manhunter raced forward, hearts in there throats...
"It's them." Martain Manhunter said, dismayed, as he looked down at the four bodies. Aquaman fell to his knees, slightly frantic, checking for pulses...
"They're all uninjured." he announced, looking immensely relieved as he got on his communicator.
"Aquaman to everyone, we've found them- all of them. They're unhurt, just asleep, down by the maintenance hatch..."
It seemed as though a collective sigh of relief went through everyone, and within five minutes all the members were assembled around the children...
"Ohh..." Black canary said quietly, a tender expression adorning her features when she saw the four curled up like they were, looking so adorable...
"They're so cute..." Wonder Woman cooed, looking down at them.
"Move." Everyone heard the tone cold voice and parted like the red sea, and Batman strode towards his proteges, looking... anxious... as he saw them. No, he couldn't be anxious... he was Batman, and many dismissed him look for mild concern... His features immediately softened when he saw them, but he pursed his lips and bent down, eyes searching his children for any visible injuries...
He turned Scarlet's arm over, revealing a large, puffy bruise forming on her arm, and a collective gasp rose from the audience of heroes.
Scarlet stirred quietly and blinked sleepily, looking up to find her father staring down at her worriedly.
"Dad?"
"What happened?" Batman demanded,m an edge of concern in his voice.
"Damn watchtower." Roy muttered.
"You guys should really put out maps or something." Dick agreed.
"Food?" Wally asked, eyelids drooping slightly.
"We kinda got a little lost..." Scarlet explained quietly.
Batman nodded. "And you were bruised how?"
All four children blushed. "You see- the laundry chute seemeed like a good idea at the time..." Dick began.
Roy moaned. "Not a good idea. Totally not a good idea."
Batman nodded. "Flash- take them to the dining hall." he ordered. But everyone could've sworn they saw the corner of Batman's lips twitch, like he was trying hard not to smile.