Deathstroke's Shadow (DP/YJ)

Chapter 19

Robin couldn't believe his eyes. His brother... his brother was Shadow? How? When? Why? How was this possible? When did it happen? Why did it happen? Was this what happened to Danny when Dick ran to his parents instead of trying to find his brother? Was Dick the reason Danny had been living with Deathstroke this whole time?

Robin had watched him and Vlad fight. He didn't know what to do, it was all going so fast. 

Danny, or Shadow, crashed through the wall.

One minute Vlad was floating over him. Then next, Deathstroke had shielded Danny from an attack. Deathstroke died. Then Danny attacked Vlad, releasing an incredibly haunting scream, something similar to Black Canary's cry, but much stronger. 

Robin watched as Danny slumped down after that, changing back to his normal self. 

Danny was on his knees on the ground. His eyes were trained on Deathstroke, but it was as if he really wasn't staring at him. His eyes appaeared clouded over and his mind completely blank.

"Dick." 

Robin's head snapped over in the direction of the voice.

He hadn't even realised when Batman had come in. Or when he had gotten close to Robin. But he now stood beside Robin, a hand on the bird's shoulder.

"It's..." Robin's voice broke. "It's him. It's Danny."

Batman's mouth fell opened in shock, as he brought his gaze to the child knelt in the middle of the room. 

Robin took a cautious step over to his brother. 

He walked till he was right beside him. 

It had been four long years and he finally meets his brother. Out of everything he could have possibly imagined, this was not even remotely close to any possibility.

"Danny?" He knelt down beside his brother.

Robin raised a hand and placed it on his brother's shoulder.

Danny flinched at the contact, his eyes flashing green for a split second. The lifeless eyes that stared straight ahead at the dead body were now trained on Robin.

Danny shook his head, backing away from Robin.

Robin could see the fear clearly in his brother's eyes. 

Robin reached up and took the mask off of his eyes. He already knew Danny knew of his identity. While he wasn't sure how, he did remember Bruce telling him Shadow knew of their identities when they brought him in for interogation. Anyways, he didn't want to talk to his brother for the first time for real in fours as Robin, he wanted to be himself.

"Danny, please." Dick begged.

"I can't." Danny said, barely above a whisper. "You hate me." 

"I don't hate you, Danny. I never could. I just want my brother back." Dick took another step towards his brother. "Please."

Dick held out a hand towards his younger brother, a hopeful look came across him. 

Danny eyes fell from Dick's to the offered hand and back again.

He hesitated for a moment before he reached forward and took Dick's hand in his much smaller one. It didn't take any time after that. Danny lunged forward and wrapped his arms around his brother's waist. Sobs wracked his body as Dick pulled him closer, never wanting to let go of him ever again.

"I promise I won't ever leave you again, Spooky." Dick whispered as he kneeled on the ground and wrapped his arms around him tighter, pulling him into his chest.