AN: Hello there! Welcome to my very first attempt of a Young Justice story. So first a few things, the story is a bit different from the cartoon. And by different I mean very small changes, such as some ages are changed and things like that. You'll know the differences, but I don't think it will be anything you guys will mind too much. I really hope everyone enjoys it and I love reviews so leave those of course!

Oh! And by the way, the story is meant to take place about eight months after the events of Under the Red Hood! :)

Summary: Eight months ago, Jason Todd made his return. Eight months ago, Jason Todd showed himself to be a completely different person compared to the boy who wore the Robin suit. And eight months ago, he disappeared again without a trace. But, now he is back and he's ready to start a war using one of the most important things to Batman as an example. His new Robin, Tim Drake.

Chapter One

"Explosion"

It was heavy.

His eyes. His chest. His everything was so heavy, it felt like maybe he had somehow ended up on Jupiter and his weight had increased by a million pounds. An exaggeration, but the point was across. He hadn't felt like this kind of weight in a long time and it didn't take him long to come to the realization he was somewhere he shouldn't be. If the pain in his head was any indicator, he was probably with someone he didn't want to be with.

Tim Drake's brain slammed against his skull like a hammer trying to escape the bone. He shivered. It was cold, wherever he was. Or maybe it was just him. He didn't feel hurt though, just his head and his difficulty focusing. Nothing else seemed to be injured, but he hadn't tried to move yet. He could hardly open the cinder bricks that he called eyes.

"Think, Tim," He thought silently to himself, shifting. Maybe he wasn't even moving, but he was trying. Why wasn't he moving? Why wouldn't his eyes open?

His first thought that came to mind was one simple snap of a memory.

"Drugged."

Tim wanted to groan. He remembered now. He was on a mission with the Young Justice. They were going to stop a drug shipment that one of Black Mask's groups was bringing into the city. It was supposed to be so easy. Easy to the point they didn't bothering splitting up into groups. They all went on their own accord. Following a plan of course, but their own accord nonetheless. Tim was…excited to say the least. It was rare he wasn't put into the safest group possible, under the watchful eyes of Dick Grayson.

Finally, almost as if by chance, his eyes opened.

He felt someone tugging at his arms and maybe that's what drew his attention and gave him the extra push he needed to open his eyes. He could already tell his mask was on his face, but his belt was gone. His hands were restrained behind his back and a sudden blight of fear hit him. Hands bound. No belt. Not good.

His eyes trained on a figure in front of him, illuminated by the slight light from the ceiling. Were they in a warehouse? They had to be…there were shipping boxes everywhere. What warehouse? Where was his com anyway?

Didn't do him much help if he didn't know.

"So stupid. So stupid for getting caught, Tim. This is why you never get to do things alone."

When his vertigo finally settled he masked eyes came to the realization he was looking at a man wearing a giant red helmet in front of him.

And he knew it not to be just any man. He knew this one. He knew this…This person. If you could call him a person anymore. He was something his adoptive father had failed and something that had slipped through him fingers like sand. Tim's heart immediately picked up in pace. This meeting was never meant to happen. In the eight months that had passed since this person's return, Bruce had kept a very watchful eye on Tim just to make sure this meeting never happened. Not while Tim was so young. Still only thirteen and still learning.

Tim croaked without really thinking about what he was going to say…

"J-Jason…Jason Todd."

It sounded pitiful and hardly awake. The man with the helmet looked up, staring into Tim's mask through his own. It still felt cold and Tim wondered what kind of expression his predecessor was wearing. His should be dead predecessor.

The guy who had dug himself out six feet under. Had come back from the grave at the hands of the Lazarus Pit. That predecessor he had admired and now had him drugged and restrained in a warehouse.

A feral chuckle escaped the man at the sound of his name and Tim managed to lift his head on his own. He was definitely in a warehouse. He was definitely handcuffed to a pole. And he was definitely screwed.

After the chuckling stopped, he held up Robin's yellow belt. Tim watched with a bewildered expression as Jason Todd pressed the distress button built into the belt, causing it to blink red. There was a pregnant silence until finally he spoke…

"He hid you good, Replacement. Real good. Almost gave up trying to corner you."

Tim's mind raced. He tried to remember everything he could from Jason's file. Beaten. Killed in a explosion. Revived by the Lazarus Pits at the hands of Ra's al Ghul. Returned to Gotham and eight months ago, reigned terror on the drug world. Caused hell for Bruce and Dick those eight months ago.

And…Becoming his fear, he took up the name Red Hood.

Tim's eyebrows furrowed as he realized everything had a heavy haze over it from his blurry vision. He murmured, "H-he said…To stay away."

"Who, me or you?"

Tim shrugged. He didn't know.

Jason leaned forward, getting inches from Tim's face. The child tried to push his head back, but the pole wasn't going to allow that. Jason said in a low tone, "He tried to keep you out of reach. When I saw the Old-Man for the first time in two years I told him I'd be coming for you. Didn't he tell you that?"

Tim shook his head. Bruce hadn't, but he couldn't say he was very surprised.

Jason nodded, "Well." He began to dig through his pocket and pulled out a com and stuck it in Tim's ear, causing the boy to flinch heavily. "Why don't you say your last few words to Dickie-Bird?"

Tim felt confusion threaten to overtake him again until Jason stood to full height and stepped aside. The teen's eyes widened greatly behind the mask when his eyes settled on what seemed to be a makeshift bomb, counting down from sixty.

Tim gave one desperate pull at his restraints and asked Jason dumbly, "What are you doing?"

Jason kneeled down once more, gripping Tim's chin and hissing in his ear…

"Starting a war."

Tim felt Jason flip the switch on the com in his ear before standing and walking away. Tim's heart lept as he glanced at the bomb and heard a door slam shut. A scream rose in his throat as he shouted towards the man, "Come back!"

He wasn't sure why he was trying. Obviously, Jason wanted this. He wanted Tim dead. He wanted to incinerate him in some kind of fiery explosion and Tim couldn't…He was trained for panic. But, he was child. A kid. And kids don't want to die. Especially not at the hands of their own. Jason Todd was going to be Tim's executor. That was enough to make him want to scream louder than he had.

Suddenly, a voice on the other side of the com asked quickly, "Robin? Is that you?"

Dick. Dick Grayson.

He had heard Tim's scream after Jason had switched the com on.

Tim let out a shaky breath. A few tears escaped his eyes as hope welled in his chest. His voice was quaky, "Yes…G-God, Nightwing, listen-"

He was cut off by Nightwing speaking quickly, sounding a bit more panicked than Tim himself, though that was hard to believe. Nightwing didn't panic. He never did, but right now he sounded completely…Not himself. And Tim would be worried had there not been a bomb in front of him, counting down his life in seconds. A bomb placed there by Jason-freaking-Todd. Their brother. Their dead Robin.

Nightwing rambled, "It's alright. We got your distress signal and the team and I are on our way."

"You don't understand-" Tim tried to speak, but again was interrupted by his brother's hysteria.

"Are you hurt? Do you have any injuries of any kind, Robin? And don't try to sugar coat things like you always do, you've been missing for hours."

Tim's breath quickened as his body went into survival mode and he began to pull sadistically at the handcuffs. He was like a wild animal. A coyote stuck in a trap with the urge to chew his own arm off.

Nightwing must have heard his breathing because he said quickly, "Don't worry, Robin. We're on our way-"

"Nightwing you don't understand!" Tim screamed suddenly. "There's a bomb right in front of me!"

There was silence. A breath. And more silence. Tim knew it was no more than a second of silence, but it seemed to drag on forever. He wanted to scream at Dick. To shout at him to talk, but it had only been a second. A second, but an eternity compiled into a hellish nightmare.

Finally, his older brother mustered a quiet, "What?"

Tim broke. It completely pooled over as the true realization hit him. He had less than a minute to be saved or to get out on his own. Either way, the tidal wave of emotion he had no control over hit him and tears begins to pour from his eyes.

A scream ripped its way out, "There's a bomb and it's counting down!"

Dick seemed to ponder on this, but it was far more than pondering. It was panic mode. It was missing a step walking down the stairs. A heart leap that tore through his chest and Tim couldn't keep it in. The tears kept going and he knew…deep down this was how it was going to end. Jason Todd would be his downfall. How ironic.

"Is anyone in there with you?" Dick asked quickly, seeming to come back to his senses.

Tim shakes his head as if he brother can see him, "No…He left."

"Who was it," Dick snapped tightly. "Did you see his face?"

"Didn't have to," Tim thought, but reprimanded himself for the thoughts of sarcasm at a time like this. Maybe not now, but later. If he lived, later. There was the incentive. Pocket it and save it for later.

Tim swallowed and jolted, "It was Jason, Dick! It was Jason!"

Dick chokes on this, but gives no further proof of his rage that Tim knows is setting in. Nightwing was going into full out Batman mode as he questioned, sounding enraged, "How much time do we have?"

Tim finally looks at the clock. The clock he has been dreading to look at because this was his lifeline. And it was about to be cut by those three creepy women in the Greek myth. They were going to snip it and they knew the exact moment to do it. His eyes widened when he saw the timer and oh God…Not much…

"Thirty seconds," Tim said and before he could think he began to thrash even madder than before. He tugged and ripped at the restraints, determined not to become a fried crisp of human flesh and bone. Nightwing must have heard his sudden resistance because he quickly began to speak once more…

"Robin, listen to me," Dick snapped forcefully. "What is binding you?"

Tim swallowed thickly past the lump in his throat as he stopped moving. He wanted to cry more but here Dick was on the other line and even if he was about to die he didn't want to cry in front of his older brother.

"Handcuffs," Tim all but whimpered.

"Listen carefully. I need you to lean your body heavily on something between you and the cuffs."

Tim moved mechanically, pressing the metal chains on either side of the pole holding him. He rambled, "Got it."

Dick then took a deep breath. God, every moment felt so long for Tim. His life was being counted out before his eyes and every second mattered. It made him slightly frustrated. He didn't want to die. He was a kid, of course he didn't want to die. Dying was…Permanent.

Well, unless you're Jason. But, Tim wasn't Jason in any shape or form.

"Now, yank. Sharp and hard. I want you to do it over and over again."

Tim was slightly confused about how this was any different from him thrashing but he did it. Maybe it was the technique or the sheer force he placed on that one damn spot. But, they broke. They broke with a satisfying crack and Tim let out a breathy laugh as he pulled his arms around and looked at them. He was free.

So to speak.

Tim's eyes met the clock.

Five seconds.

He flew to his feet though he knew the door was too far for him to get out in time. Instead, he turned a corner, hurling himself behind a cinder block wall, covering his head, and falling into a fetal position of sorts. Maybe…Maybe it would help.

Though it may have been futile.

He heard the final few beeps of the clock and then…

Nothing.

Dick couldn't describe this panic. It was probably something very similar to what Bruce felt the night he rushed to save Jason, and yet was too late to do so. It was that night. Except Dick was living it. He was the one who was too late as Megan landed the bioship and he ran out, masked eyes blazing fire as the warehouse before him went up in flames. They were close enough to feel the heat, but not close enough to feel the debris.

"ROBIN!" Dick screamed. It was shrill and he heard the others rushing off of the ship behind him. His chest dropped and ached all at once. Tim…God Tim…

There's no way. No fucking way.

His feet moved without his permission as he ran towards the flames, but instead of entering the fire, he was met with the strong arms of Conner. The other hero held him back as Barbara grabbed his right arm that reached for anything in his belt to get the meta off of him.

The other team members skidded to a stop behind him and he could hear Megan's audible gasp and Bart's quiet, "No."

"Let go of me, Superboy!" Nightwing shouted, squirming in the hold.

Barbara interrupted the tantrum with her soft words, "You can't just run in there. We need to wait for the fire to die down."

"Robin could be dead by then!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. No, this would not be the way another one of his brothers died. And Tim definitely wasn't going to die at the hands of Jason. Why would Jason do this? Tim was a child. He had nothing to do with Jason's life or dead. It was completely unnecessary and Jason wasn't one to kill unless it was necessary.

But, he killed. And that was the point. Jason wasn't who he was when Dick knew him, Dick knew that much. But…Putting Tim through something like this…

Suddenly, he was released when the fire had let go. There were still charred leftovers burning, but for the most part the team could approach without risking themselves. There was no way…No fucking way…

"M'gann!" Dick shouted, causing the Martian to jump. "Sense for him, try to find his mind."

Megan placed two index fingers on both temples before shutting her eyes tightly. There was a long pause before she opened them again, this time they were brimming with tears. She whispered just loud enough for the others to hear, "Nightwing…It's quiet. I can't hear him."

"You have to," Dick breathed, beginning to dig through the debris. He could feel the heat burning through his gloves and into his hands as his teammates watched on in horror. Even Batgirl stood stark still.

Not another one. Not another Robin. Not another brother. Not another teammate. It wasn't fucking fair. And with every burn that seeped through to his hands he felt less and less relief. He needed to find Tim.

He was shouting his name, over and over. Sometimes he even called Tim and though there were still members of the team that didn't know who the hell Tim was, they could assume this was the exception to the Batclan's name rule.

Suddenly, as if God himself had allowed it, Dick saw the yellow underside of a cape protruding from the debris. He moved instantly, shoving past beams and other unnecessary parts to get to where his brother lay. He was still. Completely still and Jesus Christ…the fucking blood was all over his face.

He moved the rubble away from Tim, desperately placing a shaky hand against Tim's throat.

A pulse

Weak. Barely there.

But, there was a pulse.

Dick's eyes quickly found his teammates from where they had yet to move in their stupor. He looked at Megan before shouting, "Get the bioship! He's alive!"

And with that last order he lifted the child into his arms and rushed towards the ship…

"You're going to be ok," Dick thought silently. He wasn't sure if he was directing the thought to his brother or if he was trying to reassure himself. "You're not going anywhere, Timmy."

"Not like Jason."

When they landed at the mountain, Dick was the first one off the ship. Tim was in his arms, his cape wrapped tightly around him as Dick ran towards the mouth of the cave that would take him to the med-wing.

His feet echoed down the hall and the feet of another person. If he had to guess it would be Barbara. He snapped behind him, "Did you inform Black Canary we were coming? To get trauma ready?"

"Yes," She answered. Ok, obviously Barbara at this point.

Dick turned the corner and ran through the glass doors where he could already see Canary standing beside of a med table. Her eyes widened when she saw the boy in Dick's arms and she immediately grabbed a pair a scissors from the tray.

Dick laid the child down on the table and Dinah asked breathlessly, "What happened?"

"An explosion," Dick's eyes moved to Barbara who stood in the doorway. "Go contact Batman. Now."

She nodded and rushed away; obviously happy there was something she could do to help.

Dick looked back at Dinah and found her beginning to use the scissors to cute away Tim's suit. Dick almost had to look away at the sight of a large shard of shrapnel in his brother's abdomen and the bruises already beginning to form around his ribcage. Dick swallowed thickly looking at Dinah as if hoping she would say something like, "It's not as bad as it looks."

Yet, she didn't speak. She herself looked just as concerned as Dick.

That was unsettling.

Dick felt the tears well up in his eyes and he immediately moved to Tim's head, pushing his blood matted hair back off of his forehead. He said quietly, "Please don't die, Tim. Please don't die."

Canary was moving. Dick heard the slight beeping of a heart monitor as she began to hook it up and afterward she began the IV. She spoke in an uneven tone, "His blood pressure is dropping. He's losing too much blood."

Dick made a distressed sound before his eyes fixed themselves on the shrapnel. He said quickly, "Then take it out and stitch it up."

Canary huffed, "It isn't that simple, Nightwing. I can't perform the surgery alone and you don't know how to do it."

"Then show me."

"No," She replied. "That's too much of a risk on someone with these kinds of injuries. We'll have to wait for Batman to arrive. In the meantime, we'll try to stop the bleeding form the more superficial wounds."

Before she can grab the sutures however, Dick grabs her wrist. Her eyes rose to meet his masked ones and he said in a desperate tone…

"Don't let my brother die, Dinah."

Canary's response was short…

"I'll do my best."

Barbara ran down the hall, her feet not able to carry her fast enough to the main room of the mountain. She was breathing heavily, her heart slamming against her chest at a thousand miles per hour. Bruce. Contact Bruce. Get him here. Save Tim. Save Robin. Save the boy. The important boy who found out who Batman and Robin were. The bright boy.

When she finally made it to the situation room, all of the other team members were standing around in silence and shock. It was obvious none of them knew what to do. None of them. Team members had been hurt. Team members had died. But, it never got easier to handle. They never could shake that sense of fear that enveloped all of them when someone got seriously injured. It wasn't something you got used to.

Barbara didn't speak to the others and immediately pulled up the communication screen, dialing Batman's own communicator. She swallowed, glancing at the others before looking back up at the screen. Licking her lips, she prayed for him to answer…

Suddenly, the screen lit up with Batman cowl, his eyes narrowed at the screen. Barbara almost gasped. He knew. He didn't know what had happened but he knew something had happened. Did he feel it? Did he feel Tim almost die? Was he not sure of what the feeling was? Did he recognize it from the night Jason died?

His voice was gruff when he asked, "What is it, Batgirl?"

Barbara tore. She completely tore just as his question met her mind. A heavy knot formed in her throat and suddenly it felt like the world was on her shoulders.

It was heavy.

She fought down a strong sob before she said to the screen, "Batman…It's Robin."

Unable to find the correct thing to say she shut her mouth and something flashed across Batman's face. Fear. Which was rare for the Batman, but she saw it, and the others probably did too. He snapped suddenly, "Tell me."

"There was an explosion," She cried, not able to fight it down any long. "There was an explosion and he's hurt really bad."

There wasn't a pause. Not a breath before Batman said, "ETA five minutes." And the screen went black.

Barbara covered her mouth, backing away from the screen as a sob ripped through her chest. She felt Megan's arms wrap tightly around her in a comforting embrace, but it was still there. This panic that was setting in. Tim…God, Tim he couldn't just die. Not like this. He can't just die like this.

She buried her face in Megan's shoulder.

Not like this.

I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter! I'd love to hear your responses! :)