Hi, a person who stumbled upon this dribble. Basically, I thought the ones I've done so far were a bit tame for my liking, assume what you like, so I wanted to go full on this time. And if you wanted to know how much thought went into this, I just thought Robin was probably raped at some point and this happened. That might be worrying, who knows really. Probably do a fluffy one after this to make up for it. I own nothing and watch out for mature language/ themes. 

TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE WILL BE IMPLIED BUT NOT DESCRIBED

https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/

https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/

Btw 'this is speaking on the mind link'

Batman had told them to keep an eye on each other due to the nature of this mission. The mission was to find a serial rapist who had raped and killed twenty teens in the last month. The team being teenagers made them the perfect target yet they were the only group with the time to catch him. Batman was taking a risk sending them out there and he would be lying if he said he didn't worry something would go wrong.

"Everyone has to be extremely careful on this mission. You stay together and bring him down together. Got it?" Batman asked in his usual stern voice. They nodded and went to get geared up for the mission. "Aqualad, a moment," he called out once Robin had left the room with most of the others. Kaldur turned and walked towards him nervously. "Is something amiss Batman?" he asked, concerned. The last time Batman pulled him to one side, he was told to leave Atlantis behind or leave the team. Not exactly what he wanted to hear before going on a mission. "I want an extra eye on Robin. Most of the victims have been on the lower end of the teen spectrum. Him being thirteen adds an extra risk," Batman explained. "I'm trusting you to protect him, your team and yourself. Do you understand?"

"I do sir. I'll make sure we all return safely," he responded. The older nodded and sent him on his way. This would be the ultimate test for the team. 

On the bio-ship, Robin was explaining the mission as Kid Flash flirted with Artemis. That wasn't anything new. "KF, it would be wise to listen to Robin," Aqualad warned from across the ship.

"Oh come on, we just need to find him and take him in," Kid Flash replied. 

"Actually it would be good to listen this time. We don't want anything to go wrong," Robin said.

"Have you dealt with people like this before?" Miss Martian asked.

"Unfortunately yes. These types of crimes are a regular thing in Gotham although usually not to this extent. I don't know about the other cities though. My experience is why I'm planned the mission alongside Batman whilst Aqualad leads us," he answered seriously. Robin had seen what this guy had done to teens like them and he wasn't going to let that happen to his friends. He'd gone over every detail and was careful with how it was structured. He needed to get this perfect. "Urghhhh fine I'll listen," Kid Flash whined.

They dropped off on the outskirts of the abandoned building that Batman had told them about. He and Robin had tracked the rapist there a few nights before. "Remember stay together. Is the mind-link up Miss M?" Robin asked. She nodded and they moved forward.

Even with all the preparations they had made, they were still separated. "Where are you all? I can't see you guys," Artemis asked. She'd lost sight of them when she perched herself on top of an old wall. Miss Martian was beside her panicking and not helping at all. The boys weren't answering them but they were boys right? They marched to the beat of their own drums half the time. "Kid Flash here. Where is everyone? Rob and Aqualad went off somewhere without Superboy and me," Kid Flash answered. Artemis gave a concerned look to Miss Martian before they saw a peculiar canister before them. They didn't have much time to register that it was knock out gas before they were asleep on the floor. Kid Flash and Superboy experienced the same thing along with Robin and Aqualad. Great.

Kid Flash woke up with a groan. He sleepily looked to his right and saw his arm was tied above his head. Assuming both were tied he sighed and frowned. Just perfect. He was captured by some serial criminal. Isn't that everyone's regular Friday night? "Hello?" he asked. Miss Martian was tied up beside him, wearing a collar used in Bell Rev. 'Oh and he has those? This is just hunky dory,' he angrily thought. There were so many risks right now that a full risk assessment would take up an hour and three cups of coffee to write. After a quick survey of the room, he saw that most of his teammates were tied up in a similar fashion to him. But one person was missing. "Where's Robin?" he asked.

Everyone else was beginning to stir when Kid Flash began to freak out. "Guys wake up! Robin's not here!" he yelled in panic. This wasn't good. 

"What do you mean? Oh, God." Artemis' eyes went wide with dread and she struggled in her bonds. Superboy soon caught on and tried to do the same. 

"He's got, Rob! We need to get out," Kid Flash exclaimed. 

"No shit captain obvious!" Artemis replied angrily. The worry was turning into frustration and anger. 

"Artemis, language," Miss Martian scolded. 

"Rob isn't here, I think that gives me a fucking pass!" she replied. 

Suddenly a scream rang through the building. A scream they knew. The scream of a little bird they thought of as a brother. Their Robin. The group was plunged into silence. They had no idea if he was hurt or had been... No, they couldn't think that. He was THE Boy Wonder and Batman wouldn't have put them on this mission if he thought that was a real possibility. No he'd save them like he did whenever they were really in danger.

After about ten minutes a man walked into their room. He wore a smug shit-eating smirk on a face that not even a mother could love. "Where is he?" Kid Flash shouted, his words being spat out like venom. 

"Somewhere," was the answer they were given.

"If you've hurt him, I swear you're dead," Superboy warned. If the situation wasn't so dire he would've earned confused looks from his peers but the situation was dire. Extremely dire. A show of a feeling other than pure rage or confusion wasn't something they could concentrate on. "Really? Can't do much with a collar around your neck, can you?" they taunted. Superboy growled knowing he was right but not accepting it. 

"What are you going to do with us?" Miss Martian asked cautiously.

 "What I just did to your little birdie." The team went pale. This all felt like a horrible nightmare but they knew this was a horrible reality. One they'd have to live in.

Then the man fell to the floor after a loud metal twang sounded. Behind him was Robin who was shaking and swaying slightly. In his hand was a rusted crowbar that now had a spot of blood on it from the back of the criminal's head. His face was red and tear streaks stained his cheeks. If they could see his eyes, they'd see that they were lined with another fresh bout of tears and would be bloodshot. "You should tie your knots tighter," he said. His voice sounded pained and hoarse as though it was taking all his energy just to get a noise out.

"Rob!" Kid Flash exclaimed with relief. The hero glanced up and dropped the crowbar in favour of helping his friends. He untied their restraints and took off their collars as quickly as he could. "Your weapons are in the next room," he said.

"He didn't, did he?" Miss Martian asked. 

"I don't want to talk about it."

Robin called the authorities to let them know they had caught the guy and they started to head back to Mount Justice. They had a call with Batman, none of them having the heart to tell the truth. Instead, they just said it was hard to find the criminal since there were so many rooms in the building. Since he thought it had gone well, Batman suggested they stay together that night. His protégé agreed to stay.

It wasn't until the team had a moment to digest the whole thing that they spoke up. "Are you okay?" Artemis asked.

"Always. Just need to get back and relax, right?" Robin replied, a fake smile on his face. He received a worried look from nearly everyone. 

"Rob cut the crap. We're not Batman, so don't hold up a front for us," Kid Flash stated. Robin looked away almost as though he was guilty for them seeing through his act. That only made the terrible scene playing out in front of them sadder.  He remained silent and they collectively decided to wait until they were in a more comfortable environment to continue. 

Once they got back, Robin had immediately rushed off to have a shower and left the team to change and talk amongst themselves. "You don't think that guy really did it, do you?" M'gann asked, not being able to bring herself to say the word. Wally shrugged his shoulders and put his head in his hands. He wasn't built for this. He was built for punching criminals in the face and putting bad guys behind bars. Even though he'd successfully put a bad person away, the victory was anything but sweet. A souvenir wouldn't be kept for this mission. In fact, the sooner this night was behind them the better. "I should've kept a better eye on him," Kaldur muttered under his breath. He hadn't spoken since they handed the man over. He was too busy mentally shouting at himself for his ignorance, for failing his task as a leader. 

"But maybe it's not as bad as we think," M'gann said trying to find any positive outlook on this situation. Denying such an awful thing felt better than accepting it was real.

"M'gann," Connor replied. Although he didn't say anything more, his tone explained that her undying positivity wasn't helpful right now. There'd be a time and a place for it but this was neither that time nor place. 

"We just have to be there for him. Like when he had that night terror," Artemis announced with little confidence. 

"This isn't some nightmare blondie! This is serious!" Wally cried.

"No need to yell," a voice commented.

They had all been too absorbed in their conversation about Robin that they hadn't noticed that very teen standing in the doorway. His hair was damp and stuck to his forehead but at least there were no more tear tracks to look at. Small bright side. "Robin, we know what happened so no lies, no avoiding the question, tell us if you're okay," Wally demanded. 

"No, I'm not happy! Are you happy? Who the hell would be okay after tonight?" Robin yelled. He sniffled and shrank in on himself. His already shredded vocal chords were even worse now. "I should've been able to protect you guys and myself. This should've never happened." Wally ran over to his friend and gave him a tight hug. Robin leaned into it and wrapped his arms around him. He sighed contently at the comfort it brought but he knew in the back of his mind that this feeling would be brief. Especially since Batman would find out they lied about how well the mission went and he'd eventually have to tell his mentor the truth or someone else would out of fear of the Bat. Right now, he was going to indulge in what state of relaxed he could be in. "Don't blame yourself. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself after what happened," Wally assured him.

"What if this gets out? What will people think?" Robin whispered. His voice shook with terror. 

"We won't let it happen. For what people will think I don't know but do you wanna know what I think?" Wally asked. "You are our brave bird and even though what happened tonight hurt you, you still saved us. I don't care what anyone will say because the world knows you're the bravest thirteen-year-old ever. You risk your life for everyone, even if they don't deserve it. I'm sure anyone who's not a moron will think the same," Wally replied. Robin laughed a little but it wasn't that signature cackle they all knew and loved. They suspected they wouldn't be hearing that for while. 

"You're so sappy Walls," he murmured. "But thank you."