Chapter 12
Half the Team, namely Zatanna, Kid Flash, Artemis, and Aqualad, rush to stop Savage and Klarion, but they escape at the last second. Aqualad approaches Red Tornado who is currently missing all extremities besides his head. Thankfully he is a robot and can be fixed. He kneels down beside the disheveled bot.
"Congratulations Team, you have won the day." Red Tornado congratulates. The rest of the team catches up.
"Happy New Year, Justice League." The computer says, providing a holographic time above their heads, and music starts to play.
"Looks like we finished just in time." Kid Flash comments. He glances at Artemis who glances back at him, he debates what he should do, should he take the chance with her? Robin would have Zatanna, right? It'd be ok… right? It's what he wants… right…? Would it be alright…? She smiles softly and grabs his hand, but rather than kiss him like he thought she might, she turns him, pulling him towards Robin and Zatanna and lets go. "Uh… Artemis?" Robin looks at her, equally confused.
"Sorry, KF, I kind of made the decision for you." Artemis says, stepping back and taking Zatanna's hand.
"You two?" Robin questions, pointing back and forth between them. Both girls look at each other, smiling fondly, then back to the boys, Zatanna wrapping her arms around Artemis's arm, resting her head on Artemis's shoulder. Artemis rests her head atop Zatanna's.
"We had a really long talk the other night and decided to give this a try." Zatanna says. Robin looks down a bit, wrapping his head around it. After a moment, he smiles and looks up at them.
"You look like a cute couple already." Robin says. "Congratulations to both of you." Both girls smile. Miss Martian and Superboy kiss in the background, celebrating their first New Year together. Robin looks at KF for a moment, up until he looks back at him. Robin immediately looks away. "I'm gonna check on Batman." With that Robin starts to leave. Kid Flash wants to stop him, to follow, to wrap his arms around him, to have that loving connection the others are having. Even Rocket approaches Aqualad and gives a small peck on his lips. Robin and Kid Flash are the only ones left, which is what Artemis and Zatanna hoped for, that maybe they'd give each other a chance. But no… Kid Flash just… watches as the caped teen makes his exit, seeming to be walking slower than his normal stride. It takes no expert to see… He's hurting…
"What are you doing? Go after him…" Artemis tells him quietly. "You want to be with him, don't you?"
"I… I think I do… But I'm still so scared… Scared that I'll ruin what's already perfect, or hurt him worse than he already is… It just doesn't feel like now's the time…" Kid Flash explains just as quietly.
"You're an idiot sometimes…" Artemis mutters. Everyone else watched as well when Robin walked away. Superboy sighs, looking at Miss Martian. She nods in understanding and flies after Robin. Aqualad follows her.
"What's going on exactly?" Rocket asks.
"It's a long story." Artemis says.
"I feel bad… I know he had feelings for me, and he's really cute and endearing, but I've felt someone else's soul calling mine." Zatanna says. "It wouldn't be fair to him to go along with it just to spare his feelings, but pain is still pain… Heartbreak is still heartbreak…"
"Which is why I couldn't make a move…" Kid Flash says. "I don't think he has feeling for me… And I don't want to force him into something he doesn't want."
"I don't know, the way he looked at you before he left…" Artemis trails off. "Not just this time, but other times. Maybe you don't notice but the rest of us do." Kid Flash closes his eyes and looks down. "I think, just maybe, he has feelings too, but maybe he doesn't quite realize them. Or maybe he does. We may never know, but you can't count on him to make the first move. He could be just as scared as you."
"I'm crazy… There's no way… He's my best friend, that's it… right…?" KF thinks. Robin hears someone following him, he'd rather not talk at the moment, so he ducks into a closet, wanting to avoid people.
"I don't know why I'm doing this… They're my friends, they just want to help me… But… I just can't right now…" Robin thinks, backing away from the door and sitting down. "Why did I walk away…? Why did I look away!? Why did I even look…?! There's nothing between Wally and me… so why did I expect him to do something…?" He sighs quietly and curls up in a ball, using his cape to hide, blend in with the darkness in case someone looks inside. He doesn't want to be bothered right now.
Miss Martian and Aqualad approach where Batman and Superman have been left to rest but find no Robin. They look at each other confused.
"Maybe he Zeta tubed instead." Aqualad suggests and heads back down to check. M'gann tries her psychic link, just with Robin.
"Robin? Can you hear me?" Miss Martian asks telepathically, but she gets no response, he's still here, she can sense his mind, but he doesn't want to answer. She flies down to the others. "We can't seem to find Robin."
"What…?" Kid questions. Aqualad comes back to them as well.
"No Zeta beam radiation, he hasn't left." He tells them.
"No, I feel his mind, I just don't know where. He's so sneaky, really he could be anywhere." Miss Martian says.
"Alright, Miss Martian, re-establish mental link. We split up and search the whole facility." Aqualad orders. The Team nods. Miss Martian re-establishes their link and they all take off, searching everywhere. Some of the League members even wake up and find them all searching, they're still a bit groggy, but decide to help. They're all calling his name, searching everywhere. They've opened the closet he's in probably five times, but he blends in the dark too well and is behind too much stuff to really be seen. It takes Batman waking up, finding out that his Robin is missing, and it takes him all about thirty seconds to find him after being briefed on the situation. He checks the closet everyone else has checked several times and steps in, going to the undefined lump of black in the back. He kneels down, placing his hand down on the black lump, Robin's head pops up, looking at him.
"There you are…" Batman says, helping him to his feet. "What are you doing in h-?" Robin hugs him. He stands surprised at first, but then hugs him back.
"I'm glad you're ok…" Robin says softly.
"I have a feeling I have you and the Team to thank for that." Batman says, rubbing his back a bit before separating. "But what are you doing in here?" Robin looks down.
"I just needed some time alone…" Robin answers simply.
"Why?" Batman asks.
"It's complicated…" Robin mumbles. Batman sighs through his nose.
"Well, everyone is worried about you. Let's ease their minds." Batman says and the two leave the closet. "I found him!" He announces. Those that are close enough to hear come running. Before Robin can lift his head, he's tackle-hugged to the ground. Batman looks down at them, somewhat amused, but he doesn't show it, keeping his dour demeanor.
"Don't ever scare me like that again!" Kid Flash snaps.
"I scared you…? I'm sorry…" Robin apologizes. KF sits up, pulling him up with him.
"It's my fault…" Kid Flash says quietly, hugging Robin tighter.
"How…? I'm the one who disappeared on everyone…" Robin says.
"I know but…" He mumbles, then sighs. "It's complicated…"
"When isn't it…?" Robin questions, mumbling as well. The two get off the floor. The team has arrived, as well as the nearby League members. Robin steps back a bit. "Good job, hero, you scared everybody… Why are you so bad at this…?"
"You ok…?" Kid Flash asks, reaching out to him. Robin looks at him, looking into his eyes again. Superboy and Superman can hear Robin's heart racing and look at each other.
"Hey, his heart is racing again." Superboy tells the rest of the team, mostly to inform Kid. He turns to Superboy.
"Seriously?!" KF asks.
"You should tell him." Artemis says in their mind-link. "Before he runs off again. He has a habit of doing that, like back at the Manor when you wrapped an arm around his waist." Robin closes his eyes, finding himself starting to breathe uneasily, trying to meditate to slow his heart rate.
"Robin." Batman calls. Rob looks up at him.
"I'm ok… We should talk…" Robin says. "There's a lot to discuss about what happened today."
"You're right." Batman agrees and they start to leave, heading for the meeting room. A few members of the league, that being Aquaman, Black Canary, Red Tornado, Captain Marvel, Green Arrow, and Red Arrow all leave for the meeting. Aqualad joins Aquaman. The rest walk about, trying to fix anything that's been broken. Superman sighs a little and looks at Superboy.
"So, uh… Conner. You and your team did well today." Superman says.
"Thanks…" Super Boy says softly.
"Hey, um…" Superman starts, pausing their walk about. Super Boy stops to look at him. "I would like you to meet my parents." The boy's eyes widen and is taken aback.
"Wait… Really…?" Conner asks. Superman nods, smiling a bit.
"Yes. I already spoke to them about it. They're eager to meet you." He says. "However, there's a bit of a caveat…"
"Ok…?" Superboy says a bit tentatively. Superman sighs.
"I don't think the father and son bit will work out between us." He states. Superboy's heart sinks and he looks down. "But…" He looks back up a little. "How about brother?" Superboy looks up more, eyes wide again.
"I can live with that!" Superboy remarks, smiling. Superman smiles and holds his hand out to him. Superboy takes it and is pulled into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry for neglecting you like I did, you didn't deserve it… And it's not your fault that you're here." Superman says. Superboy closes his eyes, leaning into the embrace and hugging him back. "I probably won't be able to make up for the past six months, but know I will try, little brother…"
"That's all I can ask…" Super Boy says softly.
Down at the meeting table, those that are there sit in silence for a moment, letting what all happened sink in. Red Arrow is the first to speak up.
"Everything I thought I knew about myself was a lie…" He starts. "I'm not a hero… Or a sidekick… I'm a traitor… A pawn…" Black Canary sighs lightly and places a hand atop his, having come to love the young man as her own since being with Green Arrow.
"Roy, it'll be alrigh-" She's cut off from speaking by Red Arrow.
"I'm not Roy." He states, though calmly, but it's obvious he's hurting. "I don't know what I am…" He looks down. "All I know is I need to find the real Roy… I need to rescue Speedy…"
"Guardian is already searching Cadmus." Batman speaks up.
"That won't be good enough… I know it won't…" Red Arrow states. He stands up and starts to walk away. Black Canary and Green Arrow stand up, following him. Green Arrow wraps an arm around his shoulder affectionately. He too of course has come to adore Red Arrow as his own, has for a long time. And while Red Arrow would normally brush him off, he accepts it, just this once. He needs that comfort…
"We'll do everything we can to help, both you and Speedy." Black Canary says.
"You're still our boy, Roy…" Green Arrow states.
"Don't call me Roy… That's not who I really am…" Red Arrow states. After they've walked away. Aqualad speaks up.
"Something else is wrong." He says. Batman looks at Robin questioningly and Robin looks back at him before he looks to the holo-screen, tapping away.
"The Entire League was under Savage's spell for just over a day." Robin explains. A holo-screen pops up to show a few central League members such as Martian Manhunter, one of the Green Lanterns, Wonder Woman, Hawk Woman, Superman, and Batman. "We've accounted for most of that time, but these six went missing for a full sixteen hours we can't account for."
"Sixteen hours…" Batman repeats, trailing off for a moment. "What did we do…?" Robin looks down a bit, then back to Batman.
"We'll figure that out, someday. But at least there were no casualties among our Team or the League. I'm feeling the aster." Robin says.
"Indeed. That much we can be grateful for." Batman agrees. He stands up. Robin looks up at him. "Excuse me…" He starts to walk away. Robin knows he wants to be alone for a moment, but he stands up to follow anyway, but he hesitates. He decides against following and sits back down, looking outside. Without the light pollution from the city, the stars look amazing. He can see more up here than he ever could on earth.
"Robin." Aqualad calls his attention. Robin looks at him. "Are you sure you're feeling ok?"
"Yea… I'm just… Worried about Batman, and all the Leaguers, especially the ones that went missing, which includes Batman." Robin explains.
"Let him do the worrying, son." Aquaman says. "That's his job." Robin nods a bit, showing acknowledgment of the older man's words. He stands up, walking in another direction than Batman went. Aqualad stands up and follows after him.
"Where are you going?" Aqualad asks.
"I just need a walk." Robin says. Aqualad walks at his side. "You're making sure I don't disappear again, huh…?"
"Yes." Aqualad states plainly. "You really scared us, Robin, we thought somehow the Court of Owls managed to stow away again and capture you." Robin looks toward the ground as they walk.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have… I just… didn't want to talk to anybody." He explains. "I had enough time to sulk though."
"Is that why you're walking away?" Aqualad asks. Robin looks up at him for a moment, then looks back down, sighing. "What's on your mind? I want to help in any way I can."
"I don't think there is any helping me." Robin states. "I missed my shot with Zatanna, I should have asked her out when I had the chance, but with everything going on, her losing her father like she did, I knew a relationship was the last thing she needed."
"That's very kind and sensitive of you." Aqualad remarks. Robin smiles a little. "But let me ask you this, why did you look away from Kid?" Robin stops walking, it takes Aqualad a moment to stop and he turns, looking at Robin. "You like him, don't you?"
"Of course I do, he's my best friend." Robin says.
"Is that all?" Aqualad asks. Robin sighs through his nose, lowering his head and closing his eyes.
"I don't know… When I'm around him, my heart races… But… I'm confused, it didn't used to… I figured it was just because my heart was damaged, but why is it only with him then…?" Robin asks.
"It could be a number of reasons, but I have a theory. You see, when you see someone you like, chemicals are released in your body, like adrenaline, and that can cause an increased heartbeat."
"But I like all of you, you're all my friends. So why just him?" Robin asks.
"Perhaps it's because he's closest to you. But as you said, it didn't used to be like that. When did you first realize it?" Aqualad asks. Robin thinks back.
"Back at the hospital… When I was barely conscious, he took my hand, and my heartrate increased." Robin answers, looking up at Aqualad. "I didn't even know it was him at first until he spoke, but it's like something in me knew it was him…"
"Regardless of how you truly feel, you can't deny the two of you share an impeccable bond." Aqualad states. Kid Flash is walking down a nearby hall when he hears voices, the voices of his two closest friends.
"It has its peccable moment, but… yea… The moment we met, it's like there was some connection between us." Robin says. Kid Flash reaches the end of the hall and steps out.
"Hey-" He calls, but neither react to him.
"I know I described it like a million times." Robin says, having not heard Kid Flash speak up. "But there's always been something about him, it's the one thing I don't think even he can explain away."
"You're probably right, there." Aqualad says. He places a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Explore your feelings, Robin. Take your time, but you owe it to yourself to figure it out." Robin nods a little, smiling a bit.
"Thank you… Kaldur…" Robin says. He leans against the wall, resting his head back. Kid darts back around the corner and listens in on their conversation, he knows it's wrong to eavesdrop, but he's curious, and… well… who could they be talking about? "Lately, for some reason when I look in his eyes, I feel entranced by them, like… I'm looking into his soul. And something just resonates… And I can't even pinpoint what's changed."
"It could be just about anything. Could just be your hormones are out of whack, you are a young teen boy, things like that are always changing." Aqualad suggests. Robin looks down, thinking.
"Do hormones suddenly make you fall for your best friend out of nowhere…?" He finally asks, a small blush forms on his cheeks. Aqualad shakes his head, shrugging a bit. Hearing this, Kid's heart seems to jolt, like a blast of electricity pulsing through it.
"There's no way…" He thinks.
"I don't really know. I'm still trying to understand them myself. But maybe perhaps you've had feelings for a while, but you didn't recognize them as such." Aqualad says. "Love is a tricky thing, but… do you really think you've fallen in love with Wally?" Robin looks up at him. Kid listens harder when he hears his name.
"I don't know for sure, but… Whenever he's around, I can't help but smile… I always feel better… Warmer… Stronger… I don't often tell people this… and I try not to show it… But I'm afraid almost constantly, but whenever he's around, I feel like I could take on Cerberus." Robin explains. "Especially if it means keeping him safe… I never want to lose him… To anything… I… Don't think I can even tell him because…"
"You're afraid it'll ruin the already established friendship." Aqualad finishes. Kid looks towards the ground.
"Yea…" Robin agrees. "I know he had feelings for Artemis, I'm his best friend, I pick up on stuff like that… He's probably hurting now because she chose someone else, like I was hurting that Zatanna's taken, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I'm not so heartbroken about it." He admits. He brings his hands up, running his hands into his hair. "Why does it have to be so complicated…?"
"If love was easy, there would be no heartbreak. But heartbreak brings growth, it's a necessary pain." Aqualad states.
"Yea… It's just stupid…" Robin says, resting his hands back behind his head. "Do you… Do you think Walls might…?"
"Might…? Like you back?" Aqualad finishes questioningly. Robin blushes again, blushing more and more the more he thinks about it. He slides down the wall and curls up into a ball.
"He wouldn't… I'm just a goofy kid…" Robin mutters. That comment nearly makes KF step around the corner.
"Robin…" Aqualad calls, kneeling in front of him. "He does." Robin stares at Aqualad, trying to register what he just said. "He likes you, like you like him. And has the exact same fears that if he expressed those feelings, he'd lose you." Robin's eyes widen, but it can't really be seen through the mask, but Aqualad can tell. Kid peeks around the corner to see Robin's reaction, even at a distance he can see the blush on Robin's face.
"Really…?" Robin asks.
"Yes, I swear to you." Aqualad explains. "He was so torn up the other night about it. We talked about it after you went to bed. He expressed his fears that either you'd reject him, and things would be awkward in your friendship after, or you would say yes because you wouldn't want to hurt him." Robin looks to the ground.
"He… likes me…" Robin mumbles. He curls up in a tighter ball, trembling a bit.
"What's wrong…?" Aqualad asks, placing a hand on his back.
"Now what…?" Robin asks quietly, his voice muffled.
"You talk to him." Aqualad says. "If you delay, you may lose your chance, like what happened with Zatanna."
"And… what if… we get together, and one day we break up…? And the bond we have is broken with it…? Young love rarely lasts… And I don't want to lose my best friend…" Robin admits.
"That's a good point…" Wally thinks.
"But what if you do get together, and that love blossoms into something so beautiful and unbreakable. It's full of risks, but sometimes the best things are. And isn't true love worth the risk…?" Aqualad asks softly.
"… Yea…" Robin finally says. Hearing that, there's a jolt once again in Kid Flash's chest, he presses a hand to his chest, trying to settle his heart as if it'll give him away with how loud it's now beating.
"Come on…" Aqualad grabs him up, getting him to his feet. "We're finding Kid Flash and you're telling him how you feel." Robin smiles a little, nodding. The two walk off. Kid places a hand to his forehead, bringing it up so his hair stands up more.
"Oh my god… He… actually…" Kid thinks, he wants to move but can't, but he has to… "But… If… What if… I-I can't…" Aqualad and Robin look around for Kid Flash, but aren't having much luck, asking the members of the Team and the League if they've seen him, but nothing. Then finally, they find him alone, he had gone to the meeting room to sit down.
"KF!" Robin calls, half-running over to him. He leans on the table. "Hey, I've been looking everywhere for you." Kid looks at him, seeming kind of distant and lost in thought.
"Oh… Sorry…" He says softly. Robin looks at him with concern.
"Are you doing ok?" Robin asks, taking a seat in the chair beside him.
"Yea, I'm just kind of tired." KF says, smiling reassuringly.
"Well… Batman and I are probably going to head out soon, maybe you can stay the night again." Robin suggests.
"Oh, no. I probably should see my parents, let them know I'm ok and all, you know? Thanks for the offer though." KF says.
"Oh… Yea, I get it." Robin says. He moves his hand a bit closer to Kid's, but stops, hesitating, suddenly feeling terrified.
"Come on, you two…" Kaldur thinks.
"I'd want Batman to know I'm ok too, so…" Robin says, trying to show he understands.
"Hey, Rob-" Kid starts.
"Yes?" Robin asks immediately. He opens his mouth to say something, but it's like all words leave his brain. Robin is at the edge of his seat. Kid closes his mouth, sighing through his nose.
"Sorry…" Kid apologizes and stands up. Robin stands up too and grabs his arm. Kid stops, turning to look at him.
"Wait!" Robin starts. "I… I really really like you. More than just a best friend, I… I want to be with you." A small blush on his cheeks. KF looks down at him, eyes growing wide, then he starts to tear up.
"I'm sorry…" Kid says. He steps back, pulling his arm free, and turns… Starts walking away…
"Wait… no…" Robin mumbles. "Kid… I…" Aqualad watches in bewilderment as the sixteen-year-old turns his back on his best friend. Robin reaches out as he walks away, mouth gapping slightly. Tears well up in his eyes. He takes a step, wanting to follow, but he freezes. His jaw clenches, shoulders tense, brows knitting. "I-I thought…" He closes his eyes, letting the tears fall, they're soaked up by his mask, but there's so many that they soak through and make his mask fall off. He sinks to his knees, wrapping his arms around himself. He cries out in anguish and frustration, bending forward, letting himself just be crushed by the weight of everything that just happened. Kaldur looks at Robin, then in the direction KF went, he struggles to decide between comforting Robin or running after Kid to yell at him. He ultimately chooses the former, stepping to Robin's side and kneeling beside him, pulling him close and hugging him.
"I'm so sorry… From what he told me, I thought he reciprocated your feelings… And he still might, maybe he's just being a massive idiot for some reason." Kaldur says.
"I ruined everything, Kaldur…" Robin mumbles. "I shouldn't have… But I… God I'm an idiot…" He stutters, sobbing, curling up in Aqualad's arms. The elder hugs him tighter, bringing him as close as possible, sort of cradling him in his attempts to comfort him, subtly rocking back and forth.
"The fault lies with me, my friend… I shouldn't have egged you on…" Aqualad says, holding him tighter. Superboy had come running, having heard Robin yell. He told Miss Martian who told Artemis, Rocket, and Zatanna. They all rush into the meeting room.
"What happened? Is he hurt?!" Miss Martian asks, panicked.
"I'm afraid so… Inside…" Aqualad answers.
"What. Happened…?" Artemis asks, tone lowering.
"He tried to confess his feeling for Kid, but for some reason he did not reciprocate." Aqualad explains. Artemis clenches her fists, one of her eyes twitch in anger.
"Seriously? But he kept saying that he did!" Superboy states.
"I'm gonna kill him…" Artemis mutters, turning and walking away to find Kid Flash. It's not long before Batman and Superman approach the group, Superman also having heard Robin's cry. Batman approaches, kneeling down in front of Aqualad, looking at Robin. He sighs through his nose, taking the Boy Wonder from him and holds him close, standing up.
"I'll take him home…" With that, Batman leaves. The Team watches the Dark Knight leave, feeling sorrow for their hurting baby brother. Artemis catches up to KF, grabbing his arm and turning him around.
"What the fuck, Wally?!" Artemis screams. "Why would you do that to him?!"
"I had to…" Kid says.
"Why?! What possible reason could you have to break your best friend's heart after you've been pining for almost a week now!? He finally shows interest in you and you walk away?!" She snaps, eyes wide in anger, nostrils flared.
"You wouldn't understand…" He mutters, looking away from her.
"Then make me understand! Because where I'm standing, you're just an idiot who doesn't know his feelings!"
"His mind isn't in the right place right now… He just had to fight Batman a couple hours ago… He witnessed the girl he likes being with another. For his sake and mine, I had to stop it… I couldn't be the fallback guy, and I don't want him to fool himself into loving me. I don't know if he really does love me or if it's because his mind is confused. I couldn't take the chance…" He explains in a somehow calm, cool tone. Artemis growls, wanting so bad to slap him.
"You really are an idiot… He was sobbing! He basically collapsed! Is he really not worth the risk to you?! Because if that's the case, you don't deserve him!" She screams. Wally closes his eyes, fighting back tears.
"It was for the best!" He snaps back, opening his eyes. The tears form despite his efforts. "For his own sake…" Artemis huffs through his nose. "He… deserves someone better, in his own time…" She curses at him in Vietnamese, calling him a fucking idiot and turns, starting to leave, but she stops, turning.
"Maybe you're just too scared to fall in love… Coward…" She mutters, "I'm glad I chose Zatanna…" She turns again, leaving. Kid closes his eyes, bowing his head.
"There's no going back… What's done is done…" Wally thinks. "My soul is damned, so that his can be free…"