This Is My Future

Chapter 33

Dick's P.O.V

We were headed back to the base from what I thought was an energy signal emitting from the time traveler who sent the young Artemis and I here, but it turned out to be nothing.

"That was a waste," Tigress sighed.

"Really?" I muttered.

She stuck her tongue out at me, "You're grouchy."

"Sorry..." I sighed, "I'm just annoyed."

"I know," she said patting my hand.

I pulled into the base and parked.

Tigress got out and went to the computer room.

I went straight to checking if everything was locked up. When I finished I found Artemis, Robin and Tim in the computer room. They were laughing and exchanging stories.

I sighed, "C'mon Timmy. We gotta get home."

"Aw," Tim whined. "But I wanna stay."

"We'll be back tomorrow. Come on."

"Okay," he sighed and stood up. "Later guys."

Artemis waved, "Bye Tim."

"Later Bro," Robin said.

I gave him the stink eye. Robin rolled his eyes at me.

We left after Tigress finished perimeter.

I frowned when Tim bent down at the tail end of the Ferrari, "Uh...Tim?"

Tim glanced up at me. "Oh yeah," he said standing up. "You know I'm here."

I shook my head chuckling at him as he climbed into the back seat of the car.

Tigress and I got into the car and took off down the street.

Tigress pulled off the Glamour and tucked it away. I noticed her shifting in her seat as if uneasy.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I don't know, but something just feels weird."

"Weird how?"

"You know how my stomach feels like it's being tied into a knot as if I can sense something bad will happen soon?"

"Yeah."

"That's what's happening."

"Why?" I asked pulling into the underground garage.

She shrugged, "It's probably nothing..."

"You don't sound very sure," Tim said.

"I don't know..." she sighed.

"It's okay Arty," I said as we all got out of the car. "I'm sure it's nothing."

She nodded and we headed for the elevator. As we rode the elevator Tim leaned against me heavily.

"You okay?" I asked looking at him as he rested his head against my chest.

"Tired."

I nodded, "Same. Just sleep with me again."

"Okay."

When the doors opened we headed to the apartment. Alice walked out of her apartment, saw Arty and quickly went back inside.

I tried not to laugh. Tim frowned. Arty snorted.

I opened the door.

"I'm going to bed," Arty yawned.

"Night kitty," I sighed.

Tim sat on the couch.

I went down to the building mailboxes, remembering I hadn't grabbed the mail in three days. I pulled out the letters and they fell out of my hands, "Dammit..."

I sighed and bent down to pick them up. After I grabbed the envelopes I rose to my feet and looked in the box, there was a small cardboard box inside. I frowned and reached in, grabbing the box. The ink on the message sticker card was smeared beyond legibility.

I closed the mailbox and headed for the elevator, looking through the mail. I stepped in the elevator studying the box; I couldn't even make out a single letter.

I got to the apartment and set the box on the counter.

Tim released a soft snore. I looked at him, he was curled up in a ball with his head resting on the armrest.

I smiled. I walked to the couch, scooped him up into my arms and took him to the room. I put him in the bed, pulled the blanket under his chin and left quietly.

I walked back to the dark living room and looked at the box. I went to the kitchen and rummaged through my junk drawer until I found my box opener from when I was a bartender. I flipped out the blade and stabbed it into the packaging tape.

I flipped open the lid and looked in the box.

The box was filled with my old equipment; my first set of escrima sticks, bird-a-rangs, utility belt, wrist computer, and my 'R'. At the bottom of the box, under everything was an old picture. It was of Roy, Kaldur and I.

Roy was dressed as Speedy, Kaldur in his uniform, and I was still tiny Robin. Speedy had his arms around Aqualad and I, I hugged Speedy around his waist, and Aqualad looked uncomfortable with us, which was understandable being that it was his first day on the surface.

I picked up a bird-a-rang. In one swift move I spun around and threw the weapon at a shadowed figure. The bird-a-rang embedded in the glass of the window in front of the fire escape. When the figure didn't flinch, I knew who it was.

"Good to see you, Kaldur'ahm."