Don't Fear the Reaper

29) the Designated YJ Chapter

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tim asked, finishing putting on his shoes.

"Not even a little," Dick said, looking exhausted and stressed. "But it's too late now. I already told them so... we're just gonna hope for the best."

Damian entered the room, already dressed in his Robin costume, and crossed his arms. "I do not see why I must go. I am already on a team with Kent."

Nico stood behind him, still standing like a gargoyle. He always wore his black assassin outfit, so there was no need to have him change.

"Because you and Jon are old enough to join the team now," Dick explained to his little brother. "It isn't official yet, but B agreed that it was time for you to at least get an official introduction to them."

Damian rolled his eyes but didn't argue any more.

Tim looked to Dick. "You wanna go ahead and explain the situation?"

Dick pursed his lips for a moment, debating what was best to do, before shaking his head. "I already explained everything fully to Kaldur. I'll give the team a short explanation, but it won't be anything specific. Plus, the team already knows it's white out procedure."

Nico snapped once, gaining their attention, before signing, "white out procedure?"

"It means it's a masks on visit. Usually they are free to move about the mountain without their masks or costumes on if they want to, however since you are coming along, they are strongly advised to wear their masks or items to conceal their identities." Dick expected some sort of reaction to the information, but Nico just remained silent, his hands going back to being clasped behind his back.

Dick ignored the wave of hopelessness that washed over him. He didn't have time to feel that right now.

Dick went over to the zeta tube. "I'll need to add Reaper to the-"

"He will meet us there," Damian quickly said.

Dick's eyebrows furrowed, looking at his little brother in silent questioning.

"His species avoid direct interaction with technology," Damian said, a guarded look in his eyes that told the elder brother that he wasn't going to expand on the 'why'.

Dick just let out a sigh, nodding to his brother before looking to Nico. "You'll be able to travel to us?"

Two taps.

"And it won't harm you?"

Once again, Nico tapped his foot twice, though there was a moments hesitation.

Dick eyed him for a moment, seeing if he wanted to recant the statement, but he remained how he was.

"Let's go," Dick said, typing their target location into the computer before the three of them stepped into the light and out the other side into the mountain.

The team was assembled in front of them, waiting on their arrival.

Kaldur opened his mouth to probably greet them, but Dick held up a hand, causing him to stop. "We're still waiting on our... guest."

The team looked confused, but the looks quickly turned to shock and fear as Nico stepped out of Damian's shadow. Their survival instincts kicked in and before Dick could stop them, Artemis had fired an arrow at the teen and Jaime had fired one of those big staple things at him while everyone else prepared to fight.

Nico, in a movement so quick Dick could barely see, drew his sword from the shadows and slashed it upwards, cutting both the staple and arrow in half before simply returning the sword to the shadows.