RedBird Ch 5

"How about option three?" asks Wally.

 "Who says I'm gonna let my best friend go out there by himself to fight crazy robot aliens?

"I agree with Kid." Says Aqualad, snapping out of his daze.

"Robin is part of our team and where he goes we go."

"I second that Motion" says Artemis sternly 

"You aren't leaving me behind." Is Superboys responce

"Robin you are our friend, and I will assist you in any way possible" says Megan shyly

"So it is settled we will go with-" Aqualad begins.

"HOLD IT!" exclaims Lupine.

 Everyone turns to look at him.

"We understand Robin is your team mate, and we understand you care for him. But we can not bring you along."

"There is no way I'm going to send my best friend out there alone against a robot army!" Shouts Kid Flash "I won't let him-"


"Shut up!" Exclaims Blaze "He's not going out there alone. Do you not see the giant robots standing behind us? You think they're just gonna sit around while Robin fights the Decepticons on his own? Plus Lupine and I are going to be out there risking our necks just as much as Robin will be!"

 Everyone is silent for a moment, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Then Optimus breaks the silence, he looks down at Robin sadly.

"It is unfortunate that you have come to this decision. Regrettably, I must agree with Blaze and Lupine. The more humans we bring into this fight, the higher the casualty count will be at the end. It is more likely that someone will be injured and we cannot risk that."

Robin looks at his team sadly.

"This is something I need to do alone…"

"There is absolutely no way we are letting you go do this by yourself" Kid Flash throws back.

"Guys I'm sorry but Optimus is right… I don't want anyone to get hurt on my account…I guess this is good bye…for a little while, at least." 

With that the autobots turn to leave along with Robin, Lupine, and Blaze. Suddenly three sets of hands shoot out, each grabbing one of the three kids. Kid Flash has a firm hold of Robin, while Superboy grabs Blaze, and Aqualad grabs Lupine's shoulder. 

 The autobots turn around to find their human companions suddenly being held against their will. Redbird, Solar, and Frostbite are immediately angry. Each of the three shift into battle stance, arms turning into glowing red swords and large machine guns. 

"Let them go" RedBird growls hostly. Shocked at he sudden reaction the young justice team numbly releases each robots counterpart. When released, all three shoot their captor a vicious glare and run to comfort their companion.

Warily, they turn to leave again, eyes never leaving the leaguers before them.

Suddenly a barely audible swish whispers through the air and a batarang lodges  itself in RedBird's arm. It begins to beep and then explodes. Though the batarang causes no major damage, Red still cries out with shock.

The strange thing is, that at the same moment a pained look crosses Robin's face as well. Blaze and Lupine exchange worried glances as the situation quickly deteriorates. 

Batman rushes up to Robin and grabs the suddenly pale boy's arm. Red picks Batman up by the cape and deposits him to the side, at the same time he picks up Robin and places him on his shoulders gently. 

A thought suddenly comes to Batman 'it's not Robins fault, or even the robots. The leader of the robots is responsible for corrupting Richard and these other kids into thinking that it is their duty to serve the cause'

"I cannot let you take these kids" is Batmans simple threat.

"It is their choice to make, not mine" is Optimus's calm reply.

"Wrong answer."Batman snarls as he lunges for Optimus, throwing several exploding batarangs in his direction.

Optimus takes a step back as the projectiles strike him. Ratchet and IronHide step in to protect Optimus, Ratchet grabs batman as IronHide takes up position in front of Optimus.

Seeing their leader being ganged up on, the rest of the league as well as young justice step in to lend assistance.

Suddenly the blacktop is full of fighting. All the robots and all the humans have stepped in to assist their respective sides.

All hell has broken loose. KF begins attacking RedBird with the help of Aqualad, Megan, and Artemis with the hopes of retrieving Robin from off of RedBird's shoulder. Every time they hit the giant robot it seems as though Robin is affected by the blows as well. Each time Red is struck  Robin gets a pained look upon his face and goes yet another shade paler.

In the heat of battle, no one notices Robin's predicament and the fighting rages on, despite pleading cries from Lupine, Blaze and Robin himself begging for the fighting to stop.

"Don't fight back" orders Optimus."We must not harm innocent humans!"

"They don't seem so innocent right now" retorts Solar as he dodges yet another punch from Superboy. Being so preoccupied dodging the barrage of punches. Solar doesn't notice Superman come up behind him. Superman delivers a solid punch to Solar's back, sending him flying towards Superboy. Superboy quickly reacts and punches solar into the ground, causing a large crater to form. 

Blaze falls to her knees and let out a low moan of pain. No one pays any mind to the wailing girl, now crumpled on the ground. 

"Stop the fighting!" Robin nearly screams"This is slaughter!" but his cries fall on deaf ears. All human participants are too caught up in the rush to notice the tragic scene unfolding before them.

Frostbite quickly notices his friends situation. He breaks off his fight with Black Canary and runs to help Solar. Suddenly he's intercepted by a swift punch to the jaw by Martian Manhunter, which sends Frostbite into the side of Mount Justice.

 Nearby, Lupine drops to his knees and releases a deathly wail, after which he falls to his side, head hitting the pavement with a sickening crack.

The one-sided battle against the Autobots rages on until the only ones standing are RedBird, Ratchet, IronHide and Optimus. 

Red is suddenly removed from the fight by a shock from Kaldur's waterbearers, instead of collapsing like the others, Robin simply staggers. But the sickening wail emitted from his gaping mouth is enough to stop the fight between Batman and Optimus. 

Robin continues to moan and wail, the sound crying of excruciating pain and loss.

Batman leaves Optimus and rushes to Robin's side. His face ghostly pale, his entire body trembling. Robin doubles over for a moment, hacking and coughing, batman pulls the shaking boy into his arms as he continues his to wail.

Suddenly, robin shoves Batman away harshly. He slowly straightens up and batman cant help but take a step back at the sight in front of him.

Blood. Blood is running down Robin's neck and staining his collar. Blood is pouring from his mouth and pooling at the corners of his mouth. Blood is dripping from under his mask, running down his face like tears.

Doubling over once again, Robin has another coughing fit, his blood splattering across the asphalt..

He staggers once again, then straightens up, leaning most of his weight on to his left leg. With a final moan he asks

"Now do I finally have your attention?"

And he does. The entire field has gone silent as everyone turns to look at Robin, finally acknowledging his cries.

"I introduce you to my friends....I yell you my secret....I come clean and let you in on WHY I have to leave. Instead of just dropping off the face of the earth without even a good bye." Robin stars darkly through blood stained teeth.

"And THIS is what you do? You KILL my friends?!" he cries, motioning to the mass destruction that lies before them.

"Do you not see the PROBLEM I'm having right now?"
He shouts angrily at Batman, who is just realizing the horrific mistake he has made.

"I thought you would understand my decision,or at least  try to accept it. and instead you go and WAGE WAR ON THE GOOD GUYS!" he rants, blood running from his mouth.

"I.....I just.....I just can't believe you..." he whispers "Just what were you thinking when you attacked Red. That killing him off would stop me? Where's the logic in that?" Room doubles over in a coughing fit again, but Batman stays rooted to his spot. The consequences of his actions finally dawning on him.

Robin collapses to his knees, trembling and shaking.....and.....sobbing? 

'Sobbing?' wonders Batman as the full weight of what he caused crashes down upon him, dragging him to his knees as well.