AN: To anyone who was reading Secret Origins, sorry, I took it down because I realised it didn't have a plot, I'll repost it when I've got something to continue it with.

Reviews, as ever, are apreciated.

~Silver

Blue Bird

Chapter One

The explosion had come from nowhere. Literally.

The team of six young heroes who served as the black-ops division of the Justice League, informally referred to as 'Young Justice', had been scattered across the deserted docklands, and had only heard the explosion after it had gone off, sending a huge plume of smoke and dust into the dark, moonlit air. It didn't take them long to discover who was it the area and soon, five of the six were running towards the site of the explosion, silently praying to whatever and whoever they believed in that their youngest member was still alive, and hadn't been killed by a falling bit of warehouse.

They stopped at the edge of the smoke-dust cloud and Artemis was the first to pull out a rebreather, and put it in her mouth without delay, offering a spare to Wally who took it without comment, also putting it in his mouth.

(We need to find Robin,) Artemis said, via the mental link with her teammates, (Fast,)

(Agreed,) Kaldur said, (We will cover more ground if we split up,)

Wally shook his head at these words, (Too risky, if we get lost in that fog you'll have to find us again after,)

(We could divide into smaller groups,) M'Gann said, (A two and a three, maybe, that way if we get lost we're still in groups, so we have back up,)

(Good idea,) Kaldur nodded, (You go with Superboy, Kid, Artemis and I will go together, keep mental contact at all times,)

M'Gann nodded as she and Superboy disappeared into the gloom, and Kaldur, Wally and Artemis disappeared in another direction, both groups completely unaware that another person was hidden in the fog.

Nightwing watched the team with mild interest, before moving on, leaping lightly on to the nearest rooftop to get a better overview, still unsure of what had happened and how he'd got from Manhattan to and abandoned section of docks that he was pretty sure was in Coast City.

His eyes, behind the pale blue lenses of his mask, searched the ground, frantically searching for some sign of either Robin or Batman, both of whom he was sure had been standing beside him only moments ago, Robin complaining about Batman and Batman remaining as stoic as ever. Nightwing moved on, leaping lightly along the roof, avoiding occasional holes and skylights, to keep up with the costumed teenagers, reflecting that even if they were villains, which was entirely possible, they would still, most likely, know where the nearest payphone was.

A second group of two came into view, and converged with the first group, making them a group of five. Nightwing frowned as he watched, feeling as though there was something about the group that he should recognise.

He couldn't hear any noise coming from the group, even though they seemed to be conversing, as each was making gestures or nodding on occasion. A dark haired boy with an indistinct logo on his black shirt folded his arms and a red-headed boy in black and grey nodded with a wild gesture, the blonde girl in green smacked him across the back of the head and the two fell into a silent argument, swiftly ended by a dark-skinned boy, also in grey, approaching and putting a hand on either party's shoulder. The fifth of the group, also a red-head, but with vivid green skin, had a hand to her temple, seemingly maintaining the conversation, she was also dressed in black, with a cape flapping around her knees, and had a large red X on her uniform. Nightwing recognised her, although he still didn't move from his place on the nearby roof, not trusting appearances which, in this line of work, were often misleading.

Nightwing gave up on the long distance approach and reached his mask, pressing a hidden switch, instantly his view of the group closed in and he got a better look at them.

"Crap," the hero muttered,

The dark-haired boy with what Nightwing now saw to be a red S-shield on his shirt, looked around sharply, Nightwing fumbled to adjust his vision, which zoomed out as the boy leapt at him with enough force to flatten a rhino.

Nightwing jumped to his feet and ran, with Superboy jumping along behind him, eventually gaining and leaping onto the roof, Nightwing turned to face the teen, several feet away from him, deciding he might as well do something rather than nothing, Nightwing grinned,

"Hi, nice night for a run, isn't it?"

Superboy raised an eyebrow but made no reply and Nightwing, feigning surprise pulled a face of mock disappointment, "Not very talkative, are you?"

Nightwing felt an extra weight appear on the roof behind him and the telltale breeze told him it was the speedster, dressed in black, rather than his customary yellow and red.

Seconds later his suspicions were confirmed as the newcomer asked, "Who's this then?"

"Nightwing," Nightwing replied, turning ever so slightly so he could see the questioner, as he continued, "And now you've got me at a disadvantage, see you know my name but I could only guess at yours,"

"So guess," the blonde girl dressed in green leapt up next to Kid Flash and unshouldered her bow,

"Hmm," Nightwing said, feigning concentration in the search for his former teammate's names, "Mr Silent here would be Super, going by his shirt, making him, by default, Superboy. You," he gestured to Kid Flash, "Look like Kid Flash, have his powers but dress in negative colours, Kid Zoom, maybe?"

Kid Flash scowled, "As in the sidekick of Dr Zoom? Pass, he's a jerk,"

"So, again by default, you're Kid Flash, but you've had a fashion change. And you," Nightwing gestured to Artemis, "Look like you'd be something like Arrowette, but in all honesty you remind me more of Tigress,"

Nightwing allowed himself a smirk at the barely concealed anger on the archer's face, "So, now we've all met, do any of you know the quickest way to drown a fish?"

"No, why?" Superboy asked,

"No reason," Nightwing smirked, "And please tell your Martian friend to stop trying to read my mind,"

Above Superboy Miss Martian appeared, "How could you tell?"

"You need practice," Nightwing said, "Your friends keep me talking so I don't notice you hovering above me, the only reason you'd be hovering above me, invisible, would be to read my mind, simple deduction. That and you're breathing too loud,"

"You're giving us tips?" Artemis asked, "As it happens that was thought up by the smartest guy on our team,"

"Who isn't here now, is he?" Nightwing asked, "The thing is, Arrowette-"

"I'm not Arrowette," Artemis growled, "I'm Artemis,"

"Sorry, Artemis, if this is the Junior Justice League, or something, you're two protégées short, at least," Nightwing said, as Aqualad climbed on to the roof, "Whoops, sorry, make that one short, so, answer me this, where's Robin?"

The team exchanged looks, and Nightwing watched their silent conversation with interest, as they all got more and more worked up, until Aqualad stepped forward,

"We were hoping you could tell us,"

"Nope, sorry," Nightwing said, "Haven't seen him,"

"Why is it that I doubt your word?" Artemis asked,

"Probably because you're a teenage girl with deep trust issues, a pretty messed up family and a reluctance to admit your true feelings, plus you're feeling pressured to do what a parental figure wants you to do while trying to keep yourself from punching fellow students in the face at school, particularly one who continually ambushes you with a camera all the while putting up with the comparison to Green Arrow's last partner, which makes you feel uncomfortable in this team because you feel as though they would rather he is one the team in your place,"

Artemis frowned, "Did you just... psychoanalyse me?"

"Yep," Nightwing said, "And that was just me guessing,"

An arrow flew past his ear, and he smirked, "You are as good as Speedy, so quit worrying,"

Aqualad stepped forward, "Back to the matter at hand, as you have noted we are short of one member, he was in the area of an explosion and you are the only person we have found there afterwards, so I ask again, where is Robin?"

"I will answer again," Nightwing said, "I don't know,"

With these words Nightwing leapt backwards off the roof and landed running, with a tremor in the ground telling him that Superboy wasn't far behind.