Revelations [Rewritten Version of 'The Big Secret']

Chapter 11

Almost a week has passed since the arrival of the team at Wayne Manor. Besides the incident when Barbara snuck into the manor, there were no problems so far.

Dick was watching some television with Wally, both of them wrapped in blankets. The ebony scratched his arm where the IV was located. The redhead slapped his hand without question.

"Stop messing with your IV," the redhead reprimanded.

"Please?" the thirteen-year-old practically begged. "It's been at least five days since I was shot, pretty sure I could last without it already."

Wally side glanced at the younger but quickly averted his eyes when he saw the huge pout on Dick's face.

"We already talked about this," Wally sighed. "You were just shot not too long ago, I'm pretty sure you still need that."

"This IV itches," the younger complained. "And the medicine makes me feel so out of it. Besides, I'm fine!"

"You're not fine, you need rest," Wally murmured. He turned to his boyfriend and wrapped his arm around Dick and started to gently comb his hand through the ebony locks. "Look at the bright side, we can just stay here like this until the Justice League finds the shooter."

"True," Dick relented, enjoying the company of the redhead. The thirteen-year-old leaned into the redhead's embrace, closing his eyes shut. They sat like that for a few minutes as the television blared in the background.

After Barbara snuck past the team and broke into the manor, Wally has been on edge and spending all his time with Dick, almost never leaving the younger alone. It was a shock at first when a floor bed was suddenly placed in the thirteen-year old's room with pillows and blankets. Wally quickly realized that Alfred placed it there and he silently thanked the butler. After that, the team had to change tactics. Wally now stayed with his boyfriend 24/7, even getting his food served up and if ever he wanted more, he would zip down as fast as he can to grab more food. The rest of the team would continue to make rounds and even started to make their own observations and research on who the shooter was.

"Do you think Bruce is okay?" Dick suddenly asked out of the blue. "He hasn't contacted me since he left."

Wally looked down at his boyfriend and tightened his grip on the boy's shoulder. "Of course, he's your dad, no one can harm him."

"I know that he's capable of taking care of himself, I just can't help but worry," Dick confessed.

"I know what you mean but you need to trust in him that he'll be alright," the redhead comforted. "I'm pretty sure he's just busy and will call you at once he has some free time."

"Yeah, I guess I was just overreacting," Dick agreed with his boyfriend.

There was suddenly knocking on his door and Artemis entered the room, panting as if she ran her way to here.

"Go to the news channel," the archer panted.

Without wasting another beat, the redhead took the remote and started to switch through the channels, finding the news channel.

"I'm Vicky Vale, reporting to you live," the news reporter said as she stood in front of Arkham Asylum. "Another murder occurred last night. The body was found at Gotham Park. And just like the other recent murders, the victim was stabbed to death and a gaping hole where his heart was; the heart has yet to be found. This has been the thirteenth victim of the week and the Dynamic Duo has yet to be seen around Gotham. Crime rates increasing night after night. Could this have any relation to the crime-fighting duo not being seen? Where are they right now? Once again, I'm Vicky Vale. Stay safe, Gotham."

The three of them kept quiet after the while even as the television started to play some music.

"Uh, not to be mean or anything, Arty," Wally said, breaking the silence. "But why did we need to watch that?"

Artemis looked thrown back at his question before she became angry at the redhead. "You stupid idiot! Both Batman and Robin haven't been seen in Gotham for a week! That means that Boy Wonder has been out after the mission!"

"You're right," Wally said in realization before turning to his boyfriend who still hasn't said a word. "Do you know anything about this?"

"Uh, not really, I was just stuck here and at school," Dick answered but it was an obvious lie to the redhead. "Why would I know when Batman and Robin go out? And what mission? Did something happen?"

Wally stared at the ebony for a while, his face void from any emotion but it was fine the next. He turned to the blonde. "Well, I haven't heard from Robin yet. How about from Batman? Did he contact the League?"

Artemis shook her head no, a sigh escaping her lips. "Well, if you heard anything from Boy Wonder, let us know."

"Yeah, will do," Wally agreed. Artemis turned and left the room. After waiting for a good solid ten minutes, Wally turned to face Dick, his face serious.

"What happened after the mission?" Wally asked his boyfriend. "And tell me the truth this time, no more lies."

Dick sighed, looking at his lap. "I was on a mission with Bats. There has been a mass murderer on the loose and we can't seem to connect any of his victims, we can't find any connections between them. Just random people at the wrong place and at the wrong time."

Despite feeling a bit horrified at the news, Wally nodded understanding why the thirteen-year-old was out as Robin. "But you still didn't explain what happened in the mission. Why didn't you tell me that you have powers?"

Wally got both of his boyfriend's hand into his own, forcing the younger to look at him in the eyes. "I know that it's okay for you to keep secrets, Dick. But I almost lost you, I don't want that to happen ever again. Please, just explain, even just the tiniest and vaguest answers are okay, I just want to know why you didn't tell me."

Dick kept quiet, thinking to himself. "I never wanted this, I never wanted to have powers. I never wanted to make you angry–"

Wally cut off Dick, seeing the tears pooling in the younger's eyes. "Shh, I'm not mad at you, Dick. Just hurt that you didn't tell me. I just need an explanation on why."

The thirteen-year-old nodded. "I don't know why or how– I just always had it."