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"A traitor?" Flash said in surprise to the other Titans and Leaguers.

Both teams had regrouped at the Watchtower and had discussed everything that had happened, how they were all attacked and how it seemed as if the enemy was waiting for them; even how some took serious injuries. All who were present were either sitting or standing around the table in the Monitoring Room. Those present were Superman and Supergirl, Batman, Robin and Batgirl, Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl, who had bandages over the wound on her leg, Flash and Kid Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Animal Man, Zatanna, Firestorm, and Hawkgirl.

Batman had just finished giving his theory of their being a traitor in one of the groups before Flash had given his response.

"I hate to say it," Superman began "but he may have a point. All of the villains were waiting for us. Each one seemed ready for us as well."

"It's more than just a coincidence if Sinestro is in the same place as me." Green Lantern stated.

"So...who is it?" Kid Flash asked

"I think if there really was one," Batman began "then they aren't going to give themselves away now."

"So we have no ideas?" Animal Man asked

"None." Wonder Woman said. "Even J'onn had trouble reading the minds of the Injustice League members. Which could usually mean magic is involved."

"Strong magic at that." Zatanna added. "Which would explain Abra Kadabra."

"So whoever is in charge has been thinking of all the stops." Green Arrow said. "No mind reading, planting a mole to track our moves, making it so we can't follow their trail. Whoever they are, they know what they're doing."

"The closest thing we have to a clue is Red X." Robin said, typing on the controls to the table to bring up the information on him. "The suit is powered by Zinotheium. And after our last run in, it would've been very hard to use it without a sufficient source."

"We've checked all crime reports in the different areas he could have stolen a source." Batgirl added. "But there hasn't been anything."

"So someone must be supplying him." Wonder Girl said. "It would seem the only logical conclusion."

"True enough." Superman said. "Question is: who?"

"I think if we find the traitor, we'll have the answer." Batman said.

"I just can't believe this." Supergirl said. "Why would any of us betray  each other? We're all the good guys here."

"Aren't we?" Batman asked, looking at Robin.

"What are you trying to say?" Robin asked, in a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Isn't one of your teammates the daughter of a powerful demon from another dimension?" he began. "Is it possible that Trigon still has influence over her?"

"Of course not!" Robin retorted. "We made sure Trigon would never return. Raven said so herself. And I don't like what you're implying."

"We can't rule anything out." Batman said, bluntly. "Like your friend, Cyborg. From what I've read, he received his implants from some secret laboratories. Possibly using an implant he wasn't aware of?"

Robin began to say "I'm sure he would've..."

But he was cut off when Batman continued, saying "And what about Starfire? Her sister is one of the Injustice League members. Could she be trying to save her sister by..."

"NO!" Robin shouted. "That's not true! Starfire is in the med-bay right now! So don't you dare even think of calling her a traitor!"

"Calm down." Batgirl said, standing between both of them. "He didn't mean anything by..."

"And what about members of the Justice League?" Robin suddenly said. "I don't see you pointing fingers at them. What about Hawkgirl, huh?" he indicated her, as she only now perked her head up after looking down or so long. "I've looked into your files too. For a while you thought she was a spy for her people, planning an invasion. What makes you so sure that has nothing to do with this?"

"Now, Robin," Superman began to say "I think that's going a bit..."

"No." Hawkgirl suddenly said, surprising them all. "It's alright. I don't blame him or any of you for thinking that.  I understand."

After a brief moment of silence, Robin and Batman looked back to each other, with Batman saying "You should do more research before questioning the League."

"And you the Titans." He said before walking off.

All watched as he marched angrily out of the room. When he did, Batman turned his back to the others and walked towards one of the large windows in the room.

Superman broke the silence by saying "Alright, look. We're all a bit on edge after today. Let's just all take a breather and we'll try to sort things out later."

All nodded or gave an agreeing sound before starting to get up and walk out.

Batgirl, along with Supergirl and Wonder Girl, looked to Superman and said "Well go check on Robin and the others."

He nodded before they walked off. It was just him, Wonder Woman and Batman left in the room. Both of them walked over to Batman and stood behind him.

"You really need to take it easy on him." Superman said.

"I was only saying what could have been the truth." Batman retorted.

"A truth he doesn't need to hear." Wonder Woman retorted back. "How do you think it is for him when you question him in front of the rest of his team? And the League on top of that?"

"I wasn't questioning him. Only his team."

"I didn't hear you say anything about Speedy or Kid Flash. Or even the girls for that matter." Superman said. "Is it because they were trained by us?"

"It's more than that." Batman said, finally turning to see both of them. "It's because everyone, including myself, knows they can be trusted."

"But not Starfire, Beast Boy and the others?" Wonder Woman asked. "They've saved the world just like us. I can't see how that makes them traitors."

"That still doesn't mean it's a possibility." Batman said.

"Batman," Superman said, in an exhausted manner "do you always need to find the worst in everyone?"

Batman lowered his head and crossed his arms before saying "You don't understand. Unlike you, Superman, Robin has no powers. Yet he's in charge of one of the greatest forces of power this world has. The Titans are just like the League, but Robin is only human. If his team ever went out of control, nothing could stop them."

"So he should do what you do?" Wonder Woman asked. "Devise different ways for him to take down his team? Do you really need him to be like you?"

Batman looked up, stared her right in the eye and said "No. I would never want that for him."

"Then maybe you should tell him." Superman said. "Let's be honest here. I think the real reason for all this is because of what happened to..."

"It's not." Batman said, bluntly.

"Isn't it?" Superman asked.

Both saw as Batman looked away, seeming to ponder on this, thinking it may be the point.

"Bruce..." Wonder Woman said, walking up, putting her hand on his shoulder, and giving him a concerned look. "...you need to tell him."

********************

Robin was standing in front of the window to the room in the Medical Wing, where he could see Starfire, Beast Boy and Aqualad laying in three separate beds, while Martian Manhunter and Cyborg tended to some of the medical equipment helping them to heal.

The room itself was very pristine, if a bit cluttered around to the farthest sides with the medical tech. There was another window on the other side of the room, smaller than the one where Robin was looking through, that looked out to other parts of the Watchtower and space.

As Robin kept watching, he sensed as Raven started to approach him from his right. She stopped and stood next to him, looking into the room and watching.

"Any changes?" She asked

"I'm not sure." He said, both not looking at each other the whole time. "How's Speedy?"

"Still aggravated that he couldn't be there to help Aqualad." She said, glancing at him after mentioning him. "Kid Flash is with him now." Robin only nodded. "What did the League say?"

He looked at her, considering whether or not to tell him that Batman thought he and the others as traitors.

"Nothing helpful." he finally answered, looking back to see Starfire.

Suddenly Batgirl, Wonder Girl and Supergirl made their way to them and joined them in looking through the window.

"Hey..." Supergirl said, trying to sound enlightening.

"...hey." Raven said, all of them just looking in the window.

Robin glanced over at Wonder Girl for a moment, seeing her leg, and said "You doing alright?"

"I am fine." She said. "Thank you. I've endured scratches from Cheetah before."

"How about you?" he asked Supergirl

"I'll be alright." She said, smiling. "I've taken worse beatings from guys uglier than Bizzaro."

He gave a smile back before looking over to Batgirl. She looked at him and gave in a positive look to try and cheer him up. Suddenly the doors to the medical room opened to the right of the group and all looked as Cyborg and J'onn walked out.

"They will all be fine." J'onn said, anticipating what they would ask. "They are responding well to the antidotes provided to them."

"And the Watchtower's medical tech is doing wonders." Cyborg noted. " Good thing we got them back in time, or else....well..."

"Let us not think on that." Wonder Girl said. She looked to J'onn and asked "Can we see them?"

"They still need time to rest for now." He said. "But I will keep tending to them and let you, and the rest of the League, know when."

"Whew." Supergirl said, rubbing her forehead. "That's a relief."

Batgirl looked to Robin, who still seemed trouble while looking at Starfire, and then looked to the others.

"Uh, guys. If you don't mind, I think I need to have a private talk with Robin."

They, including Robin, all looked at her confused.

J'onn, having read her mind, nodded and said "Very well."

She took Robin's hand and lead him away from the others.

Once they were out of view Cyborg looked to J'onn and asked "So....got any eats around here?"

********************

Batgirl had lead Robin into one of the hallways of the Watchtower, with one wall being a window all on its own. They sat on one of the couches that was to the side, looking out to Earth and the rest of space.

"I can tell you're really worried about Starfire." She said.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he retorted.

"You really care about her, don't you?" He nodded to her before she continued, saying "I know what Batman said must've really gotten to you, but..."

"I can't believe him." He said, cutting her off. "After all this time, he still doesn't think I'm good enough on my own."

"Well technically your with a team..." Batgirl said, awkwardly.

"Even when I've been on my own, with my own team, saving the world time and again, he still doesn't trust me."

"Wait, Robin. That's not..."

"This is exactly why I left in the first place!"

She was taken back for that moment when he said it before looking away at the scenery outside the window. He was clenching his fists for that moment before relaxing a bit.

"I was away when it happened." She said

"I know."

"So what happened exactly?"

Robin looked at her, then back to the window before giving a deep sigh.

"You remember when I was injured? That mission we both did before you left?"

"Where we went after the Falcone's, right? You took that bullet in the arm for me."

"After I was patched up and sitting around on my feet, he started to worry about me not being able to handle things on my own." He saw as she grew more concerned as he spoke. "First it was trying to train harder, then it came to not letting me patrol on my own. Before I knew it, he was practically my shadow. It annoyed me that one little slipup meant I wasn't good enough anymore. It finally came to the point where I couldn't take it anymore. Either he'd start showing me more respect, or I walk out."

"And he said that?"

"No...he didn't answer. So I did myself."

She lowered her head and looked away before saying "I...I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"I still doesn't matter. After all this time, he hasn't changed. You'd think he would after everything I've done."

"Robin...." She said, looking up and almost hesitating to speak further."...there's....a reason for that. It's not that he doesn't have faith In you, it's just....well...."

"What?" he asked. He saw as she recoiled from saying anymore. "What is it? First the Joker said something about "another one", and now you're not telling me anything. Why?"

"Because it's not her place to." Someone said.

Both looked to see Batman standing behind them, half draped in the shadows of the hallway.

"Then I take it it's yours?" Robin said, standing now and facing him.

Batman nodded before saying "Come with me. We need to talk."

Robin looked at him before looking back to Batgirl. Seeing she didn't know how to respond he simply walked towards Batman, then passed him. Batgirl started to follow but was stopped when Batman held her shoulder as she reached him.

"I need to do this alone." He said.

She gave a concerned look before nodding. Batman walked off, leaving her alone to look out the window, hoping Robin would take the revelation he would get. The sun was starting to pass behind the Earth as she finally started to walk off.

********************

There was a flash of light before Robin found himself and Batman in an all too familiar place. He looked down as the light from the teleportation platform they were on faded. He then looked up and took in the familiar surroundings.

It was a cave. In the middle of it was a large platform with three smaller ones attached to it. One the middle platform was a large series of computer screens, all hooked to one major keyboard. Behind it was a spot where a specialized car was parked. The Bat-mobile was long, black and bulky, with the two end engines shaped like wings and the front looking almost like a battering-ram head shaped like a bat. Just like it always did. There was a long road that lead towards a waterfall and beyond that the wall that covered one of the entrances to the Batcave.

One platform to the right was a lad-set up, with many  different tools and equipment used for analysis and experiments. On another was  a series of display cases and even a few larger objects, like a giant penny, a giant joker card and a dinosaur. Inside the different cases were things including an old batman-suit, with pointier ears and a different styled bat symbol, a scythe that originally belonged to the Scarecrow, an advanced looking gun that could shoot ice from it, and a whip and a pair of goggles.

At the very end of the main platform was a stairway leading to a doorway in the cave walls. Branching off from the main platform were other walkways that went to other sections of the cave, further away and hidden in darkness.

Robin took a deep breath before saying "Good to be home...."

Batman walked in front of him, making Robin follow closely. They eventually reached in front of the computer screens where Robin suddenly saw another display case, this one being aside from the others and next to the computers.

Inside was a Robin costume. It looked somewhat similar to his, but with a few minor alterations. The mask of it looked like a band around the eyes rather than how his did, the sleeves of it were long enough to reach the wrists, the cape was green and red instead of yellow and black, and the belt was silver instead of yellow.

"This isn't one of mine." Robin stated, seeing this and standing in front of it.

"No....it belonged to someone else." Batman said, standing nearby and seeing this.

Batman sat down on one of the chairs in front of the computer. He indicated for Robin to sit in one set up opposite him. As he sat down, Robin could see Batman lean back in his chair. He took a deep breath before starting his story.

"When you left....we both felt the sting of it. Batgirl had the misfortune of finding out when she got back from her family vacation. And for a long time...even she felt broken by it."

Robin, taken back for a moment, said "I...I didn't know."

"She missed you....so did I. But with her dealing with the pain, I was the only one patrolling. For months it was back to my old ways of defending Gotham alone. It was rough, after being used to the trio for so long....but then one day, after taking down the Penguin's underground weapons ring, I made my way back to the mobile....and found a boy, around your age, trying to take my tires. His name was Jason Todd."

"A homeless?"

"An orphan."

Robin looked more surprised before glancing over at the Robin suit in the case.

"So what happened?" he asked

"After I caught him he tried to run. For one living on the streets, he was very skilled and athletic. It took me over an hour to finally catch him. We'd gone through almost half of the district before finally reaching what there was of a home. I couldn't leave him there, and I saw such potential in him..."

"So you took him in?"

"I gave him a real home. He showed such promise. For six months we trained before I finally went on patrol with him. The first night, he managed to stop Two-Face all on his own."

Robin smiled a bit at the fact that this Jason Todd showed such talent. But his smile faded once he saw Batman's face start to sorrow.

"For a year we were the new dynamic duo. He took to the Robin mantle well, so eager and willing to prove himself. But as time went on, he became more and more hardened. He started acting more ruthless, not caring about other's wellbeing, only wanting to stop the bad guy no matter the cost....and it was my fault."

"Your fault?"

"I kept using you as an example. Telling him how you would have done it....one of my great mistakes. It angered him the more I mentioned it. Eventually, to him, it became about proving how he could be better. Then came that night....the only that I can never forget....the night we'd cornered the Joker..."

********************

The Joker and his fifteen men, all dressed as clowns, five of them holding guns, were ransacking piles of money they had stolen from a secure vault. The building was an ordinary bank, but with all the security guards left slumped on the ground after being doses with enough of Joker's venom, their horrible gins stretching their faces. Near the vault were a few bank tellers, one women and two men, that were being threatened at gun-point by one of the clowns.

"Thank you for your time." Joker said to the hostages on the floor. "We just need to make a quick withdraw. Those tons of playing cards and whoopee-cushions aren't going to buy themselves."

He walked over to his men, who were loading the last piles they could fit into their sports-bags. One looked back and nodded.

"That's the last we can carry, boss." He said.

"Oh good." Joker said, cracking his fingers. "I can't wait to start counting, only you lose count around 3 billion." He finished with a laugh.

"The only thing you'll be counting are your years in Arkham!" a voice above said.

All looked up, one even shinning a flashlight, up to the shadows above to see Batman standing on a rafter above.

"Took out all day to come up with that one, bats?" Joker said before his men aimed their guns up at him. "You know I thought you'd be smarter than this, Bat-brain. With this kind of a party, you really shouldn't try a solo act."

"Who said he was alone?" a voice nearby said.

Suddenly a bunch of batarang-like objects flew out from the darkness and knocked the guns out of the hands of the clowns. They gripped their hands in pain before all looked over to see someone step out from the darkness. The new Robin had his suit one, his mask that banded around his eyes and his hair was more slicked down in a bowl shape.

"Well look who it is." Joker said. "The new bird-boy. I've been hearing a lot about you, kid. You think you can take me?"

"I intended to beat you!"  New Robin said before leaping at the clowns.

Batman swooped down with him and engaged the men. The Joker made his way out of the chaos and watched from the sides as Batman and New Robin fought. Batman punched one clown and ducked before one could gain another punch. He flipped him over his shoulder and took on others.

While this happened New Robin elbowed one clown in the gut, flipped him over and then round-house kicked one more clown. Another tried to attack from behind, but New Robin turned and punched him square on the nose. He then grabbed his arm and twisted it back, trying to breaking it.

Batman leapt over and stooped him by grabbing his hand and saying "He's had enough!"

"You're right." New Robin said, dropping him. "I'll save it for the big guy."

The two started fighting more clowns that came towards them. The Joker continued to watch from the side lines as if it were all just a game.

"As fun as this all is, I'm starting to feel some tension from the kid. Well I can tell when I'm not wanted." He picked up two of the bags of money and started running. "Heavens to murgatroid! Exit stage left!" he finished with a laugh.

New Robin saw this and grabbed the heads of the two clowns blocking his way. He smashed them together and leapt over them, bringing his foot down on the head of a third one. He started running after Joker, Batman taking out two more clowns before seeing this.

"Robin, wait!" he called out. "Take care of the hostages!"

"You look out for the hostages!" he called back. "I'm looking out for number one!" he looked back and pointed his thumb at himself before continuing pursuit.

Batman tried to follow, but was stopped when the few remaining clowns blocked his way.

********************

New Robin started to follow the trail of money that fell out of the bag left by the Joker. He found himself running out of the building and towards one of the more abandoned looking ones. The front door to it was ajar, making New Robin take caution as he went closer. He opened the door and peaked through.

It was dark and there was no sign of the Joker yet. He kept his guard up as he went further in. He could start to see the room had nothing but crates in it, the Joker possibly hiding behind one of them. He kept looking until he felt a sudden and hard thud against the back of his head. The Joker stood over the unconscious New Robin with a crowbar in his hand.

"Sheesh, kid." He said. "You're not as fun as the old Robin. At least would've seen that coming."

He pulled out a box from behind and walked in front of New Robin. The box had a crank on it which he started to wind as he walked.

"You know what Bat-boobs problem is with kids?" Joker asked, talking to New Robin and himself. "He can never keep a good handle on them. Their either walking out on him, or just not cutting it. Oh well, them's the breaks I guess." He placed the box on the ground as it started to wind down, playing a tune as it did. "Well I must be going. But hey, little bit of advice for you kid: if you have to go out, go out with a BANG!"

The Joker gave a menacing laugh as he walked out, New Robin still knocked out on the floor.

********************

Batman had just finished with the last of the clowns as he looked to the bank tellers.

"You're safe now. Call the police to round them up." He indicated the clowns.

Once one of them nodded he ran off, following the same trail as New Robin did. He was only a few feet from the building, seeing the door closed, before....

KA-BOOM

The entire building went up in fire in a large explosion. It then collapsed on itself in the process.  Batman looked as this happened and saw as another blast of fire took out the last of the building.

"JASON!"

********************

Batman looked back up to Robin after finishing. He saw the shocked look that soon dissolved into a more depressed look. Batman then looked back down.

"I never found his body." He said. "And I searched for days trying to see if he was still alive." He looked up and continued "Nothing."

"So...what then?" Robin asked, still shocked by the story.

"Batgirl heard about the incident and decided to come back. She knew I needed the positive reinforcement. Not that I could blame her. But there was a point...where I wanted to see if you wanted to come back."

Robin looked at him, surprised, and said "Really?"

"I knew I was wrong after what happened to you, but I was too stubborn to admit it. It took Jason for me to finally see that."

"So what stopped you?"

"By then you and your team had already dealt with Brother Blood in Steel City. I saw that you accomplished what you wanted: your own respect, living out of my shadow, even gaining new friends in the process. I knew you couldn't leave that behind...and didn't want you to."

"I...understand. But now I understand why you're so hostile towards my team. It's because you think I couldn't deal with them if they ever went rouge, do you?"

Batman looked semi-surprised before saying "Still the junior detective."

"I still can't believe you. You think because I don't expect them to turn on me that makes me a bad leader?"

"It's only because..."

"What? Because I'm not like you and can't see the potential bad in everyone? Is that it?"

Batman suddenly stood and grabbed his shoulders. "I can't risk losing you!" Robin was taken aback by this before Batman continued. "I already made that mistake before, and look what happened." He indicated the case holding Jason's uniform. "If anything were to happen to you, or Batgirl, I'd know. I'd know that in some way or another, I could have stopped it. And it was my failure that lead to it. I just...don't want anyone else to die because of me."

Robin was silent for a moment before he started to walk back towards the teleportation platform. Batman watched as he did before Robin finally looked back.

"I'm not Jason Todd....and I never will be."

He activated the platform and was transported back to the Watchtower. For a few moments Batman stood in silence, looking at Jason's suit. The first thought that crawled into his head was when he first tried the suit on and was so eager to become the New Robin. Batman then took a deep breath before walking back to the teleport platform.