Thirty minutes later the Titans were out in the city, scouring the streets. When Batman had indeed gone to check on Black, he found he'd been duped and was pissed as all hell.

Now they had to find him and bring him back.

"He's on foot, he couldn't have possibly gotten very far," said Beast Boy, also on foot.

"Don't be too sure. He's Robin, at the core. He figured out a way to get out of the Tower, who knows what else he may have done?" Said Batman, driving the Batmobile around back streets.

"I do not understand why he left," said Starfire, flying over the city. "He appeared to be in great pain. Why would he go out? Surely he does not feel the urge to stop crime."

"That's got nothing to do with it," said Batman. "I guarantee he's looking for a fix. He couldn't get it with us, and the pain he's in must be immense. He's desperate."

"So, the question is, where would he go?" Asked Raven.

"Hospital?" Asked Cyborg. "That's where I'd go if I was having pain and withdrawal."

"Not a bad thought," said Batman. "You should go check it out. As for the rest of us, where are common places where drug deals happen in the City?"

"I got the bridge," said Beast Boy.

"I'll take the park," suggested Raven.

Starfire flew within sight of the Batmobile. "Shall I show you the way to the South Pier? It is where I first reunited with Robin as Black. I know he has gone there before."

"Lead the way."

It was around the Bay, a good 20 minutes with traffic. Batman parked in an alley and then hurried to meet up with Starfire. "I don't know what kind of state he's going to be in, but be prepared to subdue him when you see him."

"Yes sir." She nodded. She floated up to see above the unattended semi trucks and started to scan the area, before seeing a figure kneeling in the light of a security light. "There!" And she zipped off.

Batman followed quickly, but lagged behind slightly as he moved around the parking lot.

Starfire landed in front of the figure, creeping closer carefully. "Robin?"

He hadn't noticed her approach, so whipped around to snarl at whoever interrupted him. Now, she could clearly see he was duct taping someone to the pole they stood by.

The person had their mouth taped, but let out a muffled cry of, 'ah-i-er!'

Black looked awful. His run across town had certainly done a number on him. His veins were very dark, covering his face and neck in a spiderweb of black lines. His eyes were bloodshot, and dark bags formed under his saggy eyelids.

"Black," she tried again. "You are not well."

She was flabbergasted when her best friend hissed at her.

Batman arrived, but stayed in the shadows, circling around to try and get behind Black.

"I do not wish to harm you, so please come quietly."

He popped up to his toes and fingertips, his breathing harsh and focused.

Batman shot out his grappling hook to catch him, but amazingly, Black darted out of the way, hearing the sound as a trigger.

"Shit!" Batman swore.

Black jumped up on the hood of a semi truck, and then scrambled up onto the trailer.

"Starfire!"

"I am on it!" She flew up to where he was, watching in fascination as he leapt across a great divide to the next trailer, and then the next. She zoomed over and grabbed him, holding his arms to his sides. "I am sorry, my friend, but this is for your benefit!"

Black was having none of it and bit her arm.

Starfire, being able to withstand getting hit by a car, merely frowned. "We do not bite!"

He clenched harder, drawing blood, and that's when she winced.

Then he twisted his arm back, and lightly scratched against her stomach, where she was most ticklish. This made her flinch and loosen her hold for just a second. It was just long enough for him to duck under her arms, turn, and grab her by the neck. Her anatomy wasn't the same as a human's, but he dug his thumb into her unique pulse point immediately.

It terrified her to know that Robin knew these weaknesses of hers so deeply that he was able to use them while not in his right mind.

As her vision blurred, she saw tears on his cheeks.

Then she was falling off the trailer into a strong pair of arms.

"I'll get him," said Batman's voice, and he laid her down on the concrete.

Starfire sat up slightly, her head swimming with the bloodrush. It took a moment for it to pass before she was able to get back up. Even then, it took her a second to find a happy thought to take off again.

When she caught up to Batman, he was climbing a tall wire fence, at a surprisingly fast pace. Still, she grabbed him under the arms and raced them up and over.

"He went around there," he pointed.

Starfire flew to the place he pointed, readying to drop him on Black to subdue him. But as they rounded the corner, they ran into a wide channel. Too wide to jump. The left was wide open out to the bay, and there was no one. The right was a wall of a building, with seemingly no entrance.

"Damnit!" Batman hissed as Starfire set him down.

"But he was right here!"

"It's this damn wound. I'm not nearly fast enough."

"I am sorry I was not able to keep hold of him."

"Don't blame yourself, Starfire. I trained him very well, and he's in a state of heightened adrenaline. He's not going to be easy to bring down." He sent out a call to the other Titans. "Robin's been spotted at the South Pier. Starfire and I are going to continue to scan the area. The rest of you should make your way up here and sweep the area outside. He's being unreasonable, so use force if necessary." When he ended his call, he noticed the bleeding crescent on Starfire's arm. "Here." He took a bandage out of his belt and wrapped the wound quickly. "That'll do for now."

"Thank you."

"Did he say anything to you?"

She shook her head. "He was…feral. But as he choked me, he seemed to be crying."

"I don't doubt it." He touched the side of his mask and the color over his eyes changed. "Why don't you look around here? I'm going to go back and have a word with our friend that was tied up. Maybe he can give me an idea where Robin is heading."

"Yes sir!" She agreed before taking off into the air.

Starfire continued looking over the pier. On this side, there were several long docks with cranes for loading and unloading cargo. Some ships were in port, but no ramps were put up for Black to climb and escape to.

Not that he would actually need it, all things considered.

It was rather quiet and still. She saw a cat, and a security guard with a flashlight. When questioned, he hadn't seen anything.

"Titans," Batman came in over the communicator. "Black had cornered a drug dealer on the South pier. He was duct taped in place. Apparently, Black cleaned him out of his stash of fentanyl, so he's got his fix."

"Where do you think he's headed next?"

"Probably a place to lay low from us for a while. I don't know this city as well as you do. I'm open to suggestions."

"We can check all the places we saw him as Black, like the Church," suggested Raven.

"The Quick Mart!" Said Beast Boy and Cyborg at the same time.

Several hours later, after checking in on every place they could think of, they turned up empty handed. No sign of Black, not even a single clue.

"Well, he can't hide forever," said Cyborg. "But he certainly can for the rest of the night."

Batman didn't want to admit it, but Cyborg was right. "Fine. Let's return to the Tower for now. Maybe he'll come back on his own now that he's gotten his fix."

—

Black yawned as he sat up. He rolled his neck and popped his shoulder. Rough night. Why was he so sore again?

Oh right, park bench.

He hadn't possessed the nerve to go back to the tower the night before. Not after what he had done to Starfire. So he slept in the park, like a homeless person. By the many watches on his arm, few of them even working, he concluded it was 9 in the morning. He had slept well, considering his sleeping habits. His escapades of the night before had worn him out enough. A part of him was glad to be back, and another part wanted to go back with his friends.

As he looked around, he found himself surrounded by birds. Sparrows, pigeons, and robins were everywhere; On his shoulders, head, legs, utterly surrounding him.

"Sorry boys." He released the birds to the ground. "I don't have anything for you." To pass the time way back when, Black would feed the birds. He at least was glad to have them recognize him.

Not too far away, he heard a loud crack and an applause. A baseball game was taking place on the other side of the park. That would be a good way to waste time. Maybe he could schmooze a hotdog or something out of a vender.

To his surprise, it was just a little league game. A bunch of kiddies ran about, some kicking up dust, some playing in the grass. Not much organization over all. But what stood out to him was a boy in the outfield…way out there, with a helmet and a glove. He made his way over and sat down next to the lad.

"Having fun?" Black asked.

The boy looked at him, a bit of confusion on his face. His mouth hung open slightly and his eyes were a bit crossed and slanted upward. He slurred his words when he responded. "Not so much, I've been out here the whole time."

Now, Black didn't know much about baseball, but he knew that wasn't right. "Aren't you supposed to go in each inning?"

"Yeah, but they never tell me when, so I just stay out here."

"Why are you in this position? Aren't you any good?"

"I'm okay." The boy picked a dandelion. "They just don't like me because I'm not normal."

"Well, jeepers. I'm not normal either!" Black said, delighted.

"I have Down's syndrome," the boy pointed out.

"For having Down's syndrome, you are a particularly happy person."

"No silly!" The boy pushed on Black's arm. "It means I have an extra chromosome."

"Ohh, nifty! It's like God gave you a little bit more!"

"Yeah, that's a nice way to say it. What'sa matter with you?"

"Oh, I lost my marbles."

"I can help you find them. Then will you tell me what's wrong with you?"

"Sure!"

"My name is Frodrick, by the way."

"My name is Black, but you can call me Black. I can speak bird." Off they went together.

—

The Titans all rose later than usual, as what happens when a long night of manhunting kept them up. But they all met in the ops room, relieved to see Alfred waiting with homemade donuts and coffee.

"I worried I'd have to start knocking on doors. Quite an exhausting night, was it?"

"For some of us more than others," lamented Beast Boy. "Man, I am sore from head to toe. And I can still smell garbage and wet asphalt."

"Where's Batman?" Asked Cyborg, before Beast Boy could get going on his tirade. "Already out searching again?"

"Unfortunately, no. He is keeping up appearances with his civilian personality. He said he should return around noon, at which point the search will be back on."

So they waited.

They discussed all the places they wanted to check again while they listened to the police scanner. If Black had gotten his fix, he may have decided to resume vigilante work.

It was rather slow on the scanner, as it often was during the day. Mostly domestic calls or small time burglaries.

Then, around 9:30, they overheard what they had been waiting for.

"Missing child alert. Officers are to keep an eye out for a young boy with Down's syndrome wearing a baseball uniform. He was last spotted leaving a little league game in the park with a teenager dressed all in black. The boy willingly walked off with the teen. Park surveillance tapes do not show the pair getting into a car. They may be on foot."

"Teen in all black, huh?" Asked Beast Boy. "How much do you wanna bet it's our Rob?"

"It's as good a lead as any," said Raven. "Alfred, could you please let Batman know where we've gone if he returns before us? And if you hear anything else on the scanner, would you call us?"

"Certainly, Miss Raven. Was I supposed to be given a cell phone number?"

"Oooo spicy Grandpa," Beast Boy snickered.

"Here," Cyborg handed him a communicator. "Batman figured out how to reach us without asking. I assumed you did too."

"Thank you," he tucked the communicator into his pocket. "That would certainly make things easier, wouldn't it? Now, off you go." He shooed the Titans off.

—-

Two hours later, Starfire found herself questioning pedestrians in the shopping district. The Titans had split up to search the area around the park. Of course, Black had ways to get across the city quickly, but it was unlikely he'd travel quickly with a child.

To what purpose did he have for abducting a child anyway? The thought made chills run down Starfire's spine.

Luckily, there were plenty of witnesses. Apparently, Black and this young boy were seen skipping arm and arm down the streets, drawing plenty of attention. But because they looked so happy, no one had questioned it.

Her search led her to an antique store on a corner. Through the window she could plainly see Black and a little boy looking at something.

She entered the door, where it rang with a bell.

"Black!" She half-scolded.

"Oh, howdy Star!" The teen was oblivious to the gravity of the situation as he smiled at her. "This is my little buddy, Frodo."

"Frodrick!" The boy corrected.

"What kind of hobbit has the name Frodrick? That just doesn't make sense!"

"I'm not a hobbit, you dummy!"

"Sticks and stones, how do you ever expect to save Middle Earth with that attitude?!"

"Black," Starfire interrupted. "What have you been doing? You are in so much trouble!"

"I am?" He shrugged. "Nothing, really. Aren't these clocks nice? Too bad they won't fit on my arm."

"Black, the police think you kidnapped Frodrick! Do you not see how serious this is?"

"Oh, he didn't kidnap me," Frodrick interjected. "I came willingly."

"Well, all the same, your mother is looking for you, and she is very worried, so it is best if we get you back as soon as possible."

"Okay..." He sighed.

Starfire held out her hand and Frodrick took it. Black took her other one. "I like holding hands."

The alien escorted the two to the police station where Frodrick's mom awaited. As soon as they came in, she raced to her son and hugged him.

"Frodrick! I'm so glad to see you're alright!"

"Hi mom," He responded casually.

She held his face, kissing his cheeks. "Where were you?! What happened?!"

"I got bored during the game, just sitting out in the field the whole time with no one to talk to. Then Black came up and we started talking. Then he said he lost his marbles, so I went with him to help him look."

"His marbles?" The mother looked to Black.

Starfire explained instead, trying to pick her words carefully to keep the mother calm. "Black suffers from a…slight form of Age Regression. Harmless, but not quite at the normal maturity level. I'm certain he did not mean anything malicious. He just has a tendency to act without thinking of the consequences."

"I see..." The mother nodded. She then addressed her son. "I'm sorry you felt lonely out there, but please, don't ever go off with a stranger ever again. I was so worried!"

"Okay mom, sorry I worried you. But I'm fine. I had a lot of fun!"

Black watched the exchange with a stoic face. Then he knelt next to the kid and put his arm around his shoulder. "Well little hobbit, it's been a blast."

"Thank you, Black. No one has ever understood me like you have."

"Hey, if every horse won the race, we wouldn't have glue. And if that coach ever puts you in the deep left field, what are you going to do?"

"Kick him in the nuts!"

Black wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "They grow up so fast!"

While this was taking place, Starfire called everyone up on her communicator and let them know everything was being taken care of. When she came back into the group, she saw Frodrick giving Black an endearing hug that touched her heart. They said their final goodbyes and went their own ways. Starfire carried Black by the arms back to the tower.

When they returned, the rest of the Titans were already there. As he entered the room, they all looked relieved to see him.

"Oh boy! It's good to be home!" He chirped, not acknowledging what had led him to leave in the first place. "Is that garlic I smell?"

"I'm making celebratory lasagna for your return," said Alfred. "We're all very happy you're safe."

His stomach let out a loud gurgle that everyone clearly heard. "I guess my tummy is also happy I'm safe."

"Where did you find him?" Beast Boy asked Starfire.

"In the shop for antiques, looking at clocks."

"Clocks huh? Did he say what he was doing?"

"According to the little boy with him, they were looking for...marbles?"

"Marbles? Like, the little glass balls?" Raven asked.

"That is what he said."

"Oh!" Beast Boy snapped his fingers. "Looking for marbles! Black lost his marbles!"

"I do not get it."

"It's a figure of speech. It means someone has gone crazy."

"Oh, I do not like those. You say one thing, but mean another…it's very confusing."

"That's the English language for you!"

"So," Raven addressed Black. "Do you find your marbles?"

Black screwed up his lips. "Not all of them."

While the teens waited for lunch to finish baking, another guest appeared. A man in a black cashmere sweater and slacks. He was very muscular, but stood casually in the doorway.

"Welcome back, Master Bruce," Alfred said nonchalantly.

The Titans stared at him quietly, trying to connect the pieces. This was very obviously Batman under the suit, given the context, but he seemed…really different.

"There you are, old chum," Bruce called to Black. "We were very worried about you yesterday." He walked with purpose and met him in a tight hug, patting him on the back. "I'm so glad you're alright."

Black stood frozen for a moment, stunned at this perceived stranger. But that voice in the back of his head was screaming again.

It was screaming 'safe'.

Black didn't really know what to do, but as the man continued to hold him, he raised his arms and returned the hug. Something about the cologne, the strength of the hug, and this man's voice seemed familiar in some capacity.

When he pulled away, he just studied the man's face.

Nope. Nothing.

"Are you okay?" The man asked.

"I think so. You don't hug very often, do you?"

Bruce chuckled. "Is it that obvious?"

Black awkwardly embraced him again, shifting his head on the man's shoulder. "This is…familiar. I know you."

Bruce kept a neutrally pleasant smile on his face, as to not alert the Titans how he was feeling. This hug was more than a sign of affection. It was an experiment, and a covert operation. "You do know me. My name is Bruce Wayne. I'm your adopted father, and a mentor to you."

The other Titans gasped at the name drop, but didn't want to interrupt the moment.

"Wayne," Black muttered. "Wayne, Wayne, Wayne."

Bruce bit his lip, wondering if he was remembering. Would this work?

"Wayne's world? Wainscotting? Wain wain go away?" He tsked and pulled away from Bruce abruptly. "Sorry Brucie boy, I ain't feeling it."

Bruce just gave him a patient smile and rested his hands on his shoulders. "It's okay, kiddo. Maybe you'll remember later. Why don't you get cleaned up?"

"You sayin' I stink?"

"Well, I can certainly smell that you went dumpster diving."

Black screwed up his lips. "That's fair. I do feel rather grungy. The ladies don't like a stinky boy, right?" He winked at Starfire.

She just returned a tight smile.

"I'll be back! Save some la-gas-na for me!" And he hurried out of the room, arms in front of him while he made 'whooshing' sounds.

Once Black was out of sight, Bruce's face morphed into a more serious expression. "Be prepared. Things are about to get nasty."

"What do you mean?" Starfire asked.

He held up a little bottle of pills. "It might take a minute for him to realize they're gone, but I'm sure he'll figure out I'm the culprit."

"Oh, so that's why you hugged him!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "Not that I thought you weren't the hugging type or anything, I just thought it was a little out of character—"

"I was hoping to trigger a prominent memory from when we first met. It was a long shot though. Not surprised it didn't work."

It was about ten minutes later when Black rushed back into the ops room, his hair wet. He wore pants, unbuttoned. No socks, and his shirt clutched in his fist, like he got distracted while getting dressed.

"You dirty rotten thief!" He snarled at Bruce.

"And there it is."

"You weren't happy to see me! You just picked my pocket! Give it back!"

Bruce held up the pill bottle. "Oh, you mean this?"

Black lunged for it, but Bruce pulled his arm back, and kept him back with another hand on his head. "GIMME!"

"I told you before. You're not getting anything until we can collect a clean blood sample."

"You wanna kill me? Is that what you want, old man?!" He growled. He gripped Bruce's wrist and dug his nails in, trying to get him to let go.

Bruce was stronger though. "We're not going to let you die. It will hurt, but we're trying to create an antidote."

Black hissed like a cat. "—k you! I don't need any antidote! I'm great the way I am! You just want me to turn into that Robin kid! Well, I'm not him! You can't make me be him!"

"I can, and I will. You are Robin. You are Richard Grayson. You're not helping yourself by denying it."

"My name is Black! That's the only person I want to be! Stop trying to make me be something I'm not!"

"You are Robin!"

"Robin is dead!"

"He's alive, and you're trapping him!" Bruce clenched his hand on his head. "You're suppressing him because it hurts. But we're going to help you!"

Black screamed. He yelled profanity the likes a normal man would never say. "I'm not Robin! I've never been Robin! I will never be Robin! Just love me! Love me!"

Bruce huffed, and narrowed his eyes. "Fine. I'll give you the pills…if you give me what's in your back pocket."

Black froze and paled instantly before slowly backing away from him, his hand resting on his pocket protectively. "I…don't know what you're talking about."

"Clearly," Bruce frowned, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice. "Who's in the photo, Black?"

The teen started breathing heavier. "Wh-what photo? I don't have a photo!"

Bruce stepped forward, and Black stepped back, completely on the defensive. "You're making this harder than it has to be. Who is in the photo?"

Black blinked several times before saying, "it's a photo of my mommy and daddy."

"That's right," Bruce nodded firmly. "And where did you get it?"

Black swallowed, but didn't answer.

"You stole it from Robin's room. The frame on his bedside table."

"N-no! No! He stole it from me! I found it and took it back!"

"You know that's not true."

Black's lip trembled. "Then why don't you take me to them?! They would know the truth! They would know who I really am! I want my mommy! I want my daddy!"

Bruce fell silent, his shoulders sagging.

Black pouted.

It seemed like the subject of his parents temporarily distracted him from the drugs, so Bruce was able to slip them away into his pocket.

"You remember your parents?" Bruce asked, much more gentle than he just had been.

"A little. But I don't know where they are."

Bruce offered a little smile, "well, let's talk about that."

"Then will you give me the medicine?"

"Why do you need it?" He didn't say it like an accusation, but he obviously knew the answer.

"I'll die without it."

"Yes," said Bruce. "Do you know why we want to make an antidote?"

"To turn my brain into mush so you can mold it into a ugly clay ashtray like a 3rd grader in art class!"

"Because that's what they did to you, right?"

Black's lip quivered.

"They injected you with that venom, and manipulated you, and made you like this."

Black covered his ears with his hands. "Shut up! I don't wanna remember!"

"Okay, okay," Bruce hushed. He gently removed his hands from his face. "It's alright. Let's talk about your parents, okay? Let's all sit down over here."

"Why do we hafta talk about it? Why can't you just take me to them?"

Bruce kept a hand on his shoulder as he led him over to the couch. "A part of you knows why we can't go see them, so let's see if we can get you to remember."

Begrudgingly, Black sat on the couch, as Bruce went to Alfred. They exchanged a brief, quiet conversation before Alfred left.

"Where's he going?"

"To get something. He'll be right back." Bruce sat next to Black's left, while Starfire took the right. The rest of the team filled in the rest.