Beyond the Night: Beyond the Team (Young Justice/Teen Titans fanfic)

Ice Cold

Seeing the Flying Grayson poster produced left a horribly numb feeling deep in the pit of Robin's stomach. Worse, he found himself scurrying away like a coward, his fingers twitching uncontrollably. He barely noticed he'd brushed past Roy but didn't see the way Roy tensed up. He instead headed towards the lounge, flopping down next to Wally, gluing himself against the older boy's side.

Wally of course said nothing, having dealt with one of Dick's past episodes. Superboy and Kaldur looked at each other, slightly confused regarding why Robin acted in the manner he did. "I do this all the time on Gotham's highest buildings without a net."

"Don't you dare trivialize this situation Robin."

His eyes snapped closed, his mind working on recollecting if his path ever crossed with Zatanna, and yet he struggled with recollecting anyone who went by said name, yet for some reason he was sure he knew her from somewhere. Roy storming into the room broke his concentration, making his head jerk up. "You won't believe what I found out!"

Robin swallowed, feeling as if he nearly choked on his own tongue. He realized he'd gotten up from where he sat next to Wally and started pacing. Superboy glared, not at all amused by Roy's actions. "What?"

Zatanna choose to walk in at that moment, and Roy pointed at Zatanna as she entered the room. "She was the leader of the Teen Titans."

He felt his head spin, feeling his world come completely crashing down. He continued to pace, listening to the conversation in a half daze. For some reason he felt the need to say, "well, since she didn't know that, she can't be a part of the team."

At least, he hoped she didn't know, because as a League member, Zatanna likely knew exactly how royally they'd messed up, but that would explain why she was so upset with him. Yet, in the back of his mind he couldn't help but think in a typical bat manner of paranoia that she'd somehow figured out his identity. "She hates me because I'm the one who survived.," honestly sounded stupid in his head, yet it remained there.

"Whatever..." She didn't get to finish, yet Robin heard no sarcastic tone in her voice, meaning she meant to say something, perhaps asking, "whatever gave you the idea I was the leader", but it also meant she didn't blab who was the real leader. Of course, she had to pull him aside.

And of course she knew. She knew he'd been the leader. He avoided the question of why he didn't say anything to the rest of the team, yet felt it should be obvious as someone, he couldn't remember who, mentioned the topic was off limits. She then questioned his ability, frustrating him, but giving him a look of pity.

"You and I didn't get started on the right foot. I should not have slapped you earlier. You didn't deserve that."

"OMG, she knows! She knows I'm a Grayson. She hates me because I'm not one of them – the ones who died and weren't afraid of anything! And I said something about nets, when..." What he said next made sense. "No. No, I definitely did."

He scurried off, heading for the locker room. He paid the others no mind yet felt Roy's eyes on him. "Are you okay?"

"Good grief! Would you just leave me alone Harper!" Robin stormed into one of the bathroom stalls, slamming the door behind him, so he might change in peace.

"Man. You really shouldn't antagonize him like that." Wally piped up.

"I'm not antagonizing him."

"Yes..."

"Guys. Stop arguing. We need to get ready."

Robin finished quickly, as his training called for, but waited for when he expected the others to leave. His eyes widened upon seeing Kaldur. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, yet only glanced at the ground.

The older teen watched. "You shouldn't let Red Arrow get to you like that."

"He..."

"I told you before, that I know. I also know the other day you told me you were okay, but that was the other day. Do you want me to say something to him, before we go on this mission?"

"He won't listen. You're not the leader." Robin shuffled his feet. "Neither am I, but I doubt me being the leader would get Roy to listen to me."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. I'll be okay." He put on one of his fake smiles. "I'm Robin after all."

"Yeah, you are."

Robin scurried off, hoping nobody else noticed something was off. He arrived at the ship, and bounded forward, buckling himself into the pilot seat. Zatanna noticed, pausing for a second. "Wait..."

Superboy rolled his eyes. "Robin's the only one of us who can fly."

"Did you crack a joke, SB?" Robin turned his head, grinning from ear to ear.

"What?"

"Rob, I don't think SB was doing the whole laugh at yourself thing." Wally piped up."

"I still don't follow."

"You're Superman's clone, and you can't fly. You just said Robin's the only one of us who can fly."

Robin watched Superboy stare at the front of the ship, his arms crossed. Roy let out a sigh. "He didn't find it funny at all."

"Oh." Superboy suddenly said. "Ha. Ha. Ha."

"We really need to work on your laugh Superboy." Robin smiled.

"I told you. He didn't think it funny. That's how people react when they don't think something is funny."

"It is?" Superboy frowned, then opened his mouth. It snapped shut. He opened it again, but shook his head. "Sorry Robin."

"Told you."

"I am unable to produce a laugh like yours. I'm not even sure how to laugh properly, but I do understand why you found my comment amusing."

Roy facepalmed, but a slight smile appeared on Zatanna's face. She placed a hand on Robin's shoulder, making him look up at her. He flinched, and knew because of her reaction. "Sorry. Just, this is my first time seeing you fly, so please don't let that make you nervous, okay?"

"Why would it..." Robin frowned, thinking it over. "Because this is the first time one of the adults is observing us in action. Wonderful. I was just whelmed, but now I'm overwhelmed. Asterous."

~B~

"What does that mean?" Cyborg honestly didn't like where this was going.

"I got the team screwed up."

"What do you mean? Are you in trouble Robin?"

Robin simply looked at him,the mask gone again. The look in his blue eyes said, no, he wasn't in trouble.Instead, it was Cyborg. "Definitely my fault."