#real robin

Robin attempted not to stare at her boss while working. She failed several times but she felt that she managed to hide it well enough.

(JD made several more faces that day, sharing them with Diego when he came in).

She couldn’t help it. He was one of the few people in town who didn’t give her weird looks or treat her with kid gloves. He was also incredibly handsome and made her feel like she was a real person.

Sighing, Robin shook her head as she clocked out.

She was better than this, she was trained to be better then this. Her emotions would not get the best of her.

“Big plans for your day off tomorrow?” JD asked her as she gathered her things.

“Sleep and work out,” Robin replied. JD rolled their eyes as Razi came out to say goodbye.

“That’s not plans, that’s your normal day.” They complained. “Go to a movie or like the city.”

“I hate crowds and I hate watching movies in dark spaces with a crowd,” Robin replied. “Though… I do have some home renos I wanna work on…”

“Really?” JD walked away, shaking their head while Razi snorted and walked Robin out.

“You need any more shifts at all?” he asked. Robin shook her head.

“Nah, with Grace’s income and some other stuff we have we’re good. I work to work, though if you need any help…” she trailed off, raising an eyebrow.

“This is why you’re employee of the month,” Razi told her with a grin.

“We both know you only made that award to annoy JD,” Robin snorted as they reached her truck. She opened the door and was about to lift herself in when she noticed the diner open to let a stream of teens out. However, they were all silent and walking together in one group. In the middle of it, dressed in her nicer (less oil stained) clothing was Grace, who looked blank.

Robin’s stomach dropped.

“That’s weird,” Razi noted. Robin forced a laugh.

“Yeah, I agree… though crap, I need to talk to Grace. See you later Razi.” She jumped into her truck and turned it on, her heart pounding.

No, no, no, this was Havenfall, not Gotham. Stuff like this wasn’t supposed to happen here!!

She’s left Gotham to get away from this, to avoid this life.

She drove after the teens, her emotions in turbulence as she followed.

Please, please let her be able to shock Grace out of this…

They reached a small house on the outskirts of town, the teens still moving silently. Robin drove and parked her car, watching as Grace lead the way up to the house.

“Grace!” Robin shouted, getting out of the car. “Grace! Snap out of it!” she cried out, trying to fight through the teens. They turned to look at her and then suddenly grasped her arms, dragging her forward. Robin stopped short and ripped her arms out of their grips, but they kept pushing her forward. “GRACE!” Robin shouted to her sister who simply opened the door of the house. Gritting her teeth, Robin dropped to the ground, freeing herself from the teens and jumped up, kicking out and driving a few back.

She didn’t want to hurt them though. They were being mind controlled, she knew this. She’d seen it in Poison Ivy’s victims in Gotham and she would not hurt them…

But they shared no wish not to hurt her and went after her with snarls. Cursing, she tried to be careful, her heart screaming.

She would need to help, loath as she was to admit it…

“Robin!” She heard a familiar voice shout and she slightly turned her head, only to stop. Razi stood there, dressed in strange clothes with glowing blue mist around him.

“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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Robin nodded and began walking toward the living room. Superboy helped him the whole way there with the team trailing behind, ready to help if they were needed. “Movie night?” Wally asked once they were seated in the living room. The team all agreed to watch Pirates of the Caribbean 4, and by the time Black Canary walked in, they were all fast asleep.

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Next Morning

“So, Dad said you guys saw me a bit after I transformed. What exactly happened?” Robin asked, looking a bit uncomfortable with the subject.

“Well, we saw the transformation…” Wally began

“We saw the claws” Artemis

“And fangs…” M’gann

“You slammed into the walls…” Zatanna said.

“Something else happened, didn’t it? If you guys don’t tell me I will hack the footage.” Robin threatened.

“You put me in a trance… I was just about to open the lid of your tank when the old man, Alfred I think his name was, grabbed my arm and snapped me out of it.” Zatanna said, looking nervous. The more she said, the more horrified the look on Robin’s face became.

“Oh God, Zee, I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t mean t-to. I-I al-almost…” Robin stuttered as a tear fell down his face. Zatanna immediately went over to Robin and, though a bit hurt when he shrunk back, hugged him.

“It’s okay, Robin. I know you didn’t mean to or want to. I’m okay. I’m okay. You didn’t hurt me.” Zee comforted as Robin shook in her arms. He kept repeating “I’m sorry.” Once he calmed down, both realized the team had left.

Robin turned and just stared at the counter. “You really hate it, don’t you?” Zatanna asked.

Robin turned to her, still looking upset, “Of course I do! I try to kill anyone who gets near me, when the rest of the time I hate being alone! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve nearly killed Dad and Alfred. If the other hadn’t been there I probably would have killed them! I would’ve killed them…” tears fell out of Robin’s eyes, once again as he turned back to the table.

“No. You wouldn’t have killed them. The monster in you would’ve.” Zatanna said. Robin looked at her as if to say and that’s supposed to be comforting? “Look, we all have a monster in us. There are situations where all of us would try to kill anyone too. The fact that you feel so guilty about it is what makes you an amazing person. Most people would blow it off immediately, refusing to admit it was part of them. You see it as you that have done it. You try to take the blame all on yourself whereas others try to push all the blame off of them. You have done everything you can to make sure you don’t hurt anyone, and that’s all you can really do.” Zatanna hugged Robin again and he hugged her back.

“Wanna go find the others?” Zatanna asked.