“One second.” Batman grunted before he and Superboy continued to carry the tub to the pool room. Once they got there Batman said “Robin, we are going to carry you into the shallow end and move the tank until it’s under the water level, okay?” Robin nodded. Superboy and Batman carefully carried the tank down the stairs and moved until they were about five feet deep. Robin pulled himself over the tub’s edge and into the larger pool.

“Now, what happened?” Black Canary said, watching Robin swim lethargically around the pool. Batman sighed before pulling down his cowl. Black Canary immediately gasped and said “Bruce, they don’t-“

Batman held up a hand. “They know. Robin, te simți bine, dacă-i spun?” (Are you alright if I tell her). Robin swam up to the edge of the pool, crossing his arms on the ledge, and nodded. He laid his head down on his arms, letting his tail go limp –only moving from the pool’s current- and lazily looked up at the assembled group. “Robin was born a merman. His birth-parents were killed, then the Graysons took him in. He was just kidnapped by the people that murdered his birth parents and we had to go get him back. His heart had stopped when we found him and Kaldur saved him by creating a water bubble around him. He’s exhausted and we should let him sleep right now. We can continue this tomorrow.”

Black Canary reluctantly left, as did everyone but Batman, Kid Flash, Red Arrow, and, obviously, Robin. Batman, Red Arrow, and Kid Flash all went to quickly change out of their hero uniforms and into sweatpants and tee-shirts before going quickly back to the pool. Robin was lightly asleep on his arms when they got back. Bruce walked over and gently shook Robin’s arm. “Dick, Dickie-bird, its time to go to sleep.” Robin groggily looked up at them, squinting from the lights.

“Night Dick.” Roy said, lying down in one of the sleeping bags they had brought.

“Night dude.” Wally said, climbing into another one.

Bruce leaned over and kissed Dick’s forehead. “Goodnight, son. Sleep well.” Robin sleepily smiled before turning and diving into the water. Bruce crawled into his sleeping bag, turned off the lights, then fell asleep.

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Next Morning

Dick woke up when he felt a large, familiar hand rest on his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Bruce, with a rebreather in, swimming by the rock formation Robin was lying on. Dick stretched his whole body, putting his arms above his head, rolling his shoulders, flexing his tail down over the edge of the rock, then arching his back. Bruce poked his bare stomach when he arched his back, so he hit Bruce with his tail. Dick then shot off, swimming farther into the pool, throwing a smirk over his shoulder. Bruce laughed and chased after him.

After chasing each other for a few minutes, Bruce pointed up and tilted his head. “Do you want to go up now?” Dick nodded and they both swam towards the surface.

Bruce lifted himself out of the water, got and laid down some towels, grabbed Dick’s hands, then pulled him out of the pool and onto the towels. They both ignored Black Canary, who was standing in the doorway, and applied the lotion to Robin’s tail. Black Canary gasped and looked in horror as Robin transformed. Batman grabbed the very large glass of water he had gotten earlier and gave it to Robin, who drank it quickly. He smiled at Bruce, then at Black Canary and croaked “I’m okay.”

“Good, now what is going on?!” Black Canary yelled.

Robin laid back against Bruce, clearly exhausted, but nodded at him before closing his eyes. “Dick was not born human; he was born a merman. Hunters killed his parents, who told him to get away. He got onto a beach, but was dying from the heat and dryness when the Graysons found him. They found an old gypsy recipe for a lotion that would turn him human. The Graysons raised him from then on, as both human and merperson. They taught him what they could of both. I only found out about him being a merman a few years ago. The people that killed his birth parents kidnapped him while he was swimming with Kaldur after the team found out. They only just found out that he was a few days ago. Obviously, you can’t tell anyone.” He stroked Dick’s head, making sure he was asleep before saying “It can be hard on him sometimes. During training, could you give the team one or two more water breaks? He needs to drink a lot, especially during summer and winter because they’re so dry.”

“Of course.” Black Canary smiled down at Robin. “Maybe we could add a water fountain in the training room too. How much does he usually drink every day?”

“Room 419! That’s all I know, I swear! They took him in there! He didn’t look too good.” Batman slammed the man’s head into the wall. The groups went through corridors, searching for any room number.

“Room 318!” Kid Flash yelled. They went to him and followed the growing room numbers. Bang! Batman grabbed his arm and spun around. One of the kidnappers was pointing a gun at the group. Suddenly, Kid Flash was pinning the gunless gunman to the wall yelling “WHERE IS HE YOU FUCKING BASTARD!!!!”

“No where you’ll find. You’re too late anyway. By the time you’d get there, he’ll be dead!” The mad laughed until Kid Flash knocked him out. The group ran until they reached room 419. Batman broke down the door. Robin, in merform, was motionless, strapped to a table. Many strong sun lamps were shining on him. The most disturbing part was the heart monitor next to him that had flat lined.

“No. NO!!” Batman yelled, running over. Superboy got a sudden burning sensation in his head and, luckily, looked up. His heat vision melted the lock on the fire sprinklers, then broke the sun lamps. Kaldur controlled the water to make a bubble around Robin, the only whole being where Batman’s arm came out of the bubble. Robin began breathing. Batman looked up as Robin’s arm moved. He looked weakly at Batman and mouthed “Dad?”

“I’m here, son; I’m here. We’re going to get you out of here. Promisiune. You’re safe now.”

Robin began to weakly struggle with the metal bands holding his arms, head, and tail down. Batman put in a rebreather and stepped into the bubble. He quickly picked the locks and lifted Robin into his arms. “Let’s go” he said once he stepped out of the bubble. Leaving was much easier than coming and within 10 minutes, they were in the bioship with Robin in a fairly shallow pool of water.

Robin, you on the link? M’gann asked, finally able to establish the link.

Y-yeah. Thanks guys. Robin voice was exhausted.

“Of course we were coming for you. We will never leave you. Go ahead and get some sleep. When we get back we’ll get you dinner then you are going back to sleep. We can turn you back tomorrow, once you recover.” Batman said, stroking his son’s hair. Wally was holding one of his hands and Roy was stroking the bottom of his tail. Robin sleepily smiled and closed his eyes.

Kaldur and Robin both twisted to look at a scuba diver holding a harpoon gun that was missing a harpoon. Kaldur pulled out his water bearers as Robin swam towards the mouth of the cave at a newfound speed. Kaldur pointed his water bearers at the diver and flung him out of the water onto a rock. “Not a good idea to attack my friend while an atlantian is around.” Kaldur growled.

“I was just getting you away from him. My partner is grabbing him now.” The diver said.

Kaldur turned and dove into the water. He swam towards the cave, only to hear a motorboat driving away. He felt a sting on his neck, then nothing.

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Kaldur woke up, dazed and confused. Robin. He remembered, spinning around in dizzy circles, looking for his friend. Nothing. He swam hurriedly back to Mount Justice and ran into the living room.

“Dude, where’s Rob?” Wally asked, looking at Kaldur’s worried expression.

“Gone.” Kaldur replied.

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