Hey Fans!

I'm so happy that the reception of that last chapter went over so well. I really loved writing it. Gwen was an OC that I never expected to be more than just a reason for X to look up information without getting caught. She took on a life of her own without my knowing so I really appreciate the PM's telling me how much you guys like her. As an author I know I should just go on with the story despite any flames but none of you guys set me on fire and I am so grateful.

Second, I'm so sorry this took forever. I still make no promises that I'll be any quicker but I do want to complete this fic, so I promise that in time that it will definitely get finished. Another thing that really set me back was the lack of inspiration. I mean I could finish with the basic skeleton of the story but I consider myself a decent writer and if I can't give a decent story then there would be no point. My lack of inspiration stems from the disappointment that TitansGO has proven to be. I'm so sad. No hate to those of you who enjoy it, my younger siblings adore it, and it is cute but it wasn't what I had hoped for. So I have had to watch re-runs and amv's. Music can only help me so much it seems.

Speaking of music, the song for this chapter is (and without further ado):

VII. Sugar We're Going Down

The initial reason for turning up at the library was to collect Barbara for Bruce. Unfortunately, the head librarian, Charlene if he remembered correctly, was on a lunch break. Therefore the stubborn girl was not going to leave her post unattended. Besides, had it been really serious there would have been an all too familiar signal in the cloudy skies up above. So not wanting to return to the manor without Barbara he was forced to wait until the older lady returned. He only hoped they could get back before it started raining again. Then again it wouldn't be odd for Barbara to be picked up by Alfred, she was known for helping Bruce Wayne with his own vast collection of books as a side job.

That was settled, he'd ask Barbara to call on the butler as soon as it was determined they could leave.

Barbara, in her most comfortable environment, was the picture of leisure. At work she was not reprimanded for having her nose in a book. Her hair was pulled up into a tight and professional bun and her glasses shielded the intellectual spark that could have bested the majority of those in the room. The pant suit outfit hugged her form in only the slightest to show she had one, but it was tasteful and made her seem almost homely. Yes, the Barbara librarian was nothing like the Batgirl Robin knew.

The Batgirl he knew let her red hair flow and whip around her as those dangerous eyes glinted with mischief and calculations beyond her enemies. He knew a uniform that she wore like a second skin allowing for the professional façade to drop and become hazardous. The woman that Robin knew was one person in the same, but he never got tired drawing comparisons between the two personas of Barbara Gordon.

"Go read a book or something." She'd told him after arguing that she should just abandon her post and losing.

"What? Everything I've ever needed to read I already have."

"I don't know. How about looking at the newspapers, catch up on Gotham's current events." Her eyes rolled in exasperation.

"I am Gotham's current events," he muttered as he turned to look over his shoulder. Barbara snorted out a sort of laugh. Through the distorted colors of his sunglasses he hardly paid any attention to the male behind him –it simply meant Barbara was needed.

Robin frowned as he turned back to her and made his note to leave her for now. He smiled again, feigning any sort of happiness he could muster and headed for the room Barbara had suggested. The master key, matched only by the one Barbara and Bruce each owned, let him in and he headed immediately for the most recent articles.

There were the typical headlines. Villains. Charity events. Holidays. Wayne.

It was of no surprise to him how often they kept Batman away from the press. They didn't completely deny his existence; however, they had become accustomed to his existence. They wrote what sold and while Batman had his own small fan base in Gotham people were still openly against it. Robin tried not to linger on the subject and moved the large glass plates in their book-like fashion and came to stop on the article where he made his second appearance since coming to Gotham. All those pictures and yet Red X had still not been spotted in town. The other was very akin to a ghost.

Robin was about to turn away from that article when he spotted the front page and the familiar sight of three people named James. There were two framing the small girl in the middle, the one he knew was Gwen. A blonde and the raven haired boy. Quickly he dislodged the panel from its place and took it to the desk ripping a sheet from the paper that was provided and sketching the last names of the boys out. He needed to fill out those last few percentages…

Andrews, Caldwell, and Fell were scrawled now on the slip of paper.

No sooner had Robin returned to the second aisle to look for the other half of the article did the door open with a soft shhh. He managed just the slightest glance upwards to see that it was the person from the counter. Their hood was lowered to the point that their lips were just a dark indentation. It seemed that in such a bright room, he was still trying to hug the shadows.

Robin's eyes abandoned the articles in front of him as he took in the solid colored non-descriptive hoodie, the casual fit dark wash jeans, and the soft soled sneakers that were just that certain type that almost everyone owned. Just another person on the streets, it was too obvious. These sort of people are the kind that set alarms off in Robin's head.

Despite knowing that he should mind his own business Robin couldn't help but be curious. After all the boy was only about several articles over from his past; his origin. He watched the pale hand slip out from it's pocket and start perusing the information. He continued to watch, unconsciously moving around the aisle until he stood almost directly behind the other who he deemed fairly tall; although everyone seemed taller when not wearing his typical steel-toed combats. Robin looked over the other's shoulder and bristled slightly at the article.

This slight stutter in motion coupled with the action of changing the panel seemed to bring him to the other's awareness and he promptly turned in surprise. Being eye to eye, or eye to chin, meant Robin could make out a few more details, such as the slightly tanned skin of his throat and jaw line; yet he still managed to hide himself. It took everything the young Titan had not to lean forward and steal a peek at what was beneath the hood.

Their exchange was brief and forced on Robin's part. He was trying to catch the details he'd been taught to observe but the only thing that stuck out to him was the midnight blue strap strung through a belt loop that lead to a very familiar school ID. Gotham High, he knew it anywhere. He'd opted to move away from the character but stay close by –he could probably get a better read this way. The familiarity was there, it sung in his head and he felt his body react in a fight of flight way; he resisted.

Instead he lasted all of ten seconds away from the other before moving in again and pestering the other because this was more than likely going to be the only way that he could get the other to even turn in his direction. Startling him again something like the feeling of ice being poured over your head came over him. Behind his sunglasses his eyes widened and he looked at the figure as his mouth moved talking to apologize without really processing the words.

All he'd heard was the reference, that damn reference to the game Sorry where you sneak up behind your opponent and send them back to start –quite possibly the only board game he'd ever played because of Starfire's fascination with a family game night. It wasn't until the male in front of him turned to the next article Robin's eyes caught the front page, an impossibly familiar article that he'd all but eradicated from the forefront of his mind until now. The faces of a once mother and father looking back at him, a boy who's eyes, though black and white, held the most jovial expression as if just being in the presence of the elder two was perfect. They were the faces of people who had passed many years ago; ghosts.

The ice that had been slowly forming in the pit of his stomach vanished as soon as it had come and Robin turned his attention back to the other, quick to respond and point out the little mishap of a Gotham High school badge peeking from his pocket. Robin watched the other as his hooded head dipped to look at the badge, the letters ELL just barely visible over the jeaned fabric concealing it.

Fist curling as this other turned away and inserted a USB like nothing was going on Robin knew. This was his one hundred percent. He knew who he was dealing with, but not who, if that made any sense. All he had to do was pull the hood though, would that be against the rules? Were there even any rules to begin with? He couldn't remember. Would it matter that the only name he knew was James? Too late to think, he was turning around. Robin needed more time to think…

There was no time to think. Robin acted before he could fully comprehend his actions. It was one of the things that he set him apart from his mentor and made him a lot like the kid who'd run out on Gotham; he didn't always think before he acted. There was a split second after his fist was already on course that Robin panicked but that was quickly put aside as the boy before him dodged. This wasn't just any lucky shift to the side out of panic, this was that trained swiftness he'd fought against more than one time. He slipped into a fighting stance but Red X had already started backing away.

"Sorry kid, no time for games today."

He didn't run, he walked, practically waltzed, out the door just as Barbara was walking in. Robin followed quickly but was stopped solidly by the girl before him. Anyone else he probably could have got passed but Barbara had years of training to assure that no one got passed her, especially not when that look was on her face.

"Barbara, I have to go, that's Red X." Robin muttered between gritted teeth as he watched the hood disappear out the front door of the library; he was going to lose him.

The girl's eyes widened marginally and she seemed about to let the younger go but stopped and turned her full attention back to Robin, grip included. "We have a bit of a situation. I'm sorry but it's going to have to wait."

"What could be more important than this?" Robin said through gritted teeth. Gotham wasn't what he was here for. In fact, his obligations had just run right out the front door. Whatever it was Batman and Batgirl should have been enough.

"The Titans are here."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"Can you blame us for being worried?"

"The last time you checked in was almost two weeks ago, man."

When Barbara had said the Titans, Robin's mind went straight for the anger it had been harboring for Red X. Unfortunately, after learning that once they entered the sprawling city they'd attempted to help with a bank robbery in progress Robin immediately become subdued. Batman had been on the scene to finish the job quickly when Beast Boy 'accidently' knocked one of the robbers of the roof putting the teen into a momentary shock. Being told off by Batman was a punishment in its own right.

Now he was standing here in front of two Titans letting them have their chance at him. He'd been gone a lot longer than he'd anticipated and Cyborg was starting to feel the strain that came with taking over as leader. Apparently, when Robin walked out and news caught in Jump City that he'd been spotted in Gotham the bad guys had taken this as a hole in the Teen Titan's defenses and immediately jumped into action. The added stress of keeping the team together in general was not something the elder teen was used to.

Robin took his chastising in silence. Masked eyes took on his teammates and every now and then he would appropriately lower his head in shame or guilt. When he looked up though, he could tell that Raven wasn't buying it. Beast Boy seemed content with not being the one reprimanded for mistakes for once, so his judgment of Robin's reactions was clouded.

They stood atop one of the many Wayne owned buildings underneath what seemed like a perpetually dark sky. The couple seemed to stand out in this setting, even Raven in all her darkness did not fit in with what Robin perceived as Gotham. Did he stand out this much after spending so long in Jump City too? He shook the idea away and leaned back into the wall he and his friends stood against and waited to see if Beast Boy had any more to say.

"What I'm basically trying to ask is when are you coming back?"

Robin lowered his gaze to look at the lights of the city below them. In the distance he could hear the sounds of sirens and he itched to follow them but kept his attention to the two before him. When he picked his gaze back up he smiled. "Soon."

It pleased him to say because as soon as he returned to his apartment and the computers he'd been allotted at Bruce's expense the sooner he could track the name of the boy he'd confronted. When this was over he could return to his team and to his life and…

The smile on the Titan's lips faltered. He hadn't thought about what life would be like when this was over. He hadn't thought much passed revealing Red X, pulling his hood and discovering who lie beneath all the mystery and shadow. What would it be like to wake up knowing that the other was not on the streets? Where would he go when everything was coming down on him and he needed…?

When did it become 'need'? Why would he even think that he needed anything from Red X?

How was he going to deal with this mess?

Raven's eyes narrowed at the change in Robin's overall being. Her naïve boyfriend stood with his hands on his hips, oblivious to the new distress in their friend. She stepped forward and took Robin's hand in hers. The Titan's looked upon one another and Robin felt it, the prying feeling when Raven was trying to extract those hidden emotions he didn't want anyone to know about. "We've missed you," she said as he nodded and she delved in.

It would only take a second or two but for Raven it could feel like years if she allowed herself to dig deep enough. She would never take advantage of her leader, her friend, like that. Instead she walked forward to the very surface of a pool of thoughts and scooped up a couple of drops. They sat on her fingertips and relayed the scenes and pieces of information that she needed to know, one specifically shone a little brighter than it probably intended.

As Robin, her eyes drank in the scene of the boy in the hood standing beside her. Raven could feel the general curiosity in their direction, could feel the overcoming sense of familiarity in the height, the presence, the voice, the teasing pass…

She could feel 'her' hand tighten and arm recoil. It was Red X, it had to be. Does he know who I am?

Raven could feel the jumble of thoughts that occurred in the seconds between the pull of Robin's wrist and the strike of his fist. If she listened carefully she could pick out small questions, phrases, doubts. All of it tinged with hope, hope that this was not who he thought it was –and if he were to attack an innocent bystander it might actually be worth it. That last thought chilled Raven like ice and quickly she took a step back from the Titan's leader her eyes looking knowingly up at him.

"Are you sure about this?" Raven asked. Her hands had moved back beneath her cloak but he could see by the shape she's wrapped her arms about herself. It wasn't often Raven looked as insecure as she did and unfortunately Beast Boy was just aware enough of the girl to notice this. The shifter turned his attention her and wrapped an arm of his own around her shoulders. She seemed to jump at the contact, looking as if she might pull away.

"I don't even know what it is I am supposed to be sure about."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The two Titans didn't leave after their conversation instead they took up residence in the apartment that he'd been given by Bruce. It wasn't uncomfortable but regardless he'd become spoiled in the last couple of weeks. His mask was shed as he used the laptop in his old room to do some of the research he'd made for himself. He'd come to the mansion expecting to find Bruce but when Alfred said that he was at a social event Robin sighed and took advantage of the butler's offer to feed him. He did so miss the kind of food that didn't have to be cooked in a microwave.

James Campbell. James Fell. James…

One of these James' was the one he encountered at the Ball and just yesterday. One of them was Red X. Robin tried hard to remember any features that he could aside from hair color. Two had blonde hair and one black. Eye color was out of the question because they'd been cleverly guised. They were all about the same height and body build. The only thing that set them apart was their personalities.

The first blonde was fairly average; he stood tall and had an elite air about him. He reminded him fairly of himself, or rather him without the mask. He was absolutely certain that the first one couldn't have been Red X he'd been in town too long. The second blonde, he was timid and shy. He was polite enough to say that he had been to parties and balls for most of his life. Robin was about ready to bet money it wasn't this blonde either. That left the last James, the raven haired one.

He was arrogant and aloof. Self confident and knew how to grind the barriers of Robin's annoyance down to sand. This James was forward and didn't care what the people around him would have thought of his actions. He was someone who so obviously felt that no one was ever going to see him again anyway.

"It has to be him." The sound of his own voice in the quiet of the room made him flinch. There was a quiver that wouldn't have gone unnoticed even to the deaf. Robin typed down one name and then, almost hesitantly he opened one more tab on the browser and typed in the other name. Just in case.

Always start with the basics. Internet searches could turn up things that people long ago had meant to leave behind in their lives. Unfortunately, the internet is a cold and unyielding world of sadists. Robin could at least find out right now if Red X had gone so far as to even come up with a background for himself.

Robin took a breath and picked out one of the James' at random and began reading.

Campbell.

New to Gotham. Family business, art. Mother passed away, father overseas.

There was an article published about the woman's death, just a small passage. Then something about him living with his grandmother in Gotham after being sent back. A grandmother wouldn't be a hard things to hide behind. If she were elderly enough she wouldn't have to leave the house or even be existent. However, there was the article and if it weren't faked it would mean that there was already a sense of presence in town for this James.

Robin gritted his teeth.

If this were X he didn't have the power to convince everyone that he and his family suddenly existed overnight. But if all of this had been an identity kept up for later convenience then making articles like this happen would be a matter of doctoring photos and the power of suggestion. After all a family business like the art trade wouldn't be hard to maintain –especially for someone like Red X.

Leaning his head back into the plush back of his chair Robin sighed and clicked on the next tab.

Fell.

A knock at the door startled the young Titan and he straightened up almost immediately. "Come in." His voice was weary from lack of sleep but being in Gotham had made it near impossible to see the night as a time for rest.

"Alfred told me you were up here. Any reason why?" Bruce walked in, shutting the door behind him. Dressed in a casual T-shirt and sweats Robin knew that he had just returned from patrol and meant to settle in for the night; or what was left of it, being about two in the morning. He leaned against the desk Robin was working at and crossed his arms his blue eyes softer then they would ever be allowed to when the two were donned in uniform.

"If you want me to leave-"

"Dick," he was cut off and Robin nearly cringed at the use of his name by any other then Barbara. "This is your home."

There was that word again.

Bruce sighed and placed a hand on the younger ones shoulder. "I know it may seem as if I've been avoiding you. I just, well you know I am not very good with apologies."

Resisting the urge to quirk an eyebrow in confusion Robin just shook his head and took a breath. "I don't think that's necessary."

"I wasn't there for you. I didn't listen and I know that I kept trying to keep you on the sidelines. But you know I was only doing what I thought was necessary to keep you safe." Bruce continued as if nothing had been said. "I know you'll say that you can take care of yourself and you've been doing a- a good job of it with the Titans but, Dick… you're still a part of the Wayne house."

The man took a deep breath and leaned a little more forward moving both hands to lightly grip the teen's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Dick, sorry that I drove away the only family I have left."

Robin swallowed. What was he supposed to say that? Ever since he'd left all he'd done was degrade himself for leaving Barbara and Bruce. Now here was the very man who he'd felt should be the last to apologize to him saying that he hadn't done his job as a protector? A provider? A father?

Neither of the two were one for tears, (okay well maybe in their younger years) and blue eyes did not shine with unshed tears but there was understanding. All Robin had to do was accept the apology. All he had to do was grip those hands and stand up lean forward and breath in the scent of mechanics and latex, the same smell that clung to his memories of long nights on patrol doing the thing he felt he was born to do. He just had to wrap his arms around a frame that was familiar to him since he was nine and at the worst time of his life. All he had to do was smile like nothing had ever happened. That's all he had to do.

So why was it so hard?

Bruce lowered his hands or would have if Dick hadn't reached up and grabbed his wrists. "I have to go back to the Titans, Bruce. They need me, a lot more then you do." He saw the man about to retort and quickly finished. "But I'll visit. I'll come home for the holidays."

It was hard because he knew he had to leave. He couldn't make as if nothing ever happened.

But Bruce was right; Richard Grayson-Wayne still existed.

A smile played on both their lips and finally Bruce leaned back to stand straighter sparing a glance at the laptop screen Robin had pulled open. It was a smaller but not as powerful version of the computer in the batcave, he was glad to see Robin still kept it. The man's smile faltered for a moment though as he caught the name on the screen.

"James Fell? I feel like I know that name."

Robin almost moved to shut the computer but stopped at Bruce's last words. "What?"

"The name. I think it's in the database."

Robin pushed back on the chair as Bruce leaned forward and pushed a few more buttons that would connect the laptop with the computer below. Robin leaned forward, standing so he could see over the taller one's hulking frame.

There it was. Right there in black courier new font. James Fell.

"Why is he on our database?"

"When you were nine a bus was hijacked by the Joker and his goons. Afterwards you said you saw someone still in the bus. It was a boy maybe a little older then you, he said his name was James Fell. You told him he was a liar, good deduction skills even at the beginning. We were on Fell Street and James is a fairly common name, he obviously didn't want to give us his real name. Afterwards you insisted that I keep the name and this." Bruce clicked something else and Robin wished he were on the batcave computer in that moment where the screen was bigger.

It wasn't a good angle, the kid seemed to know where the camera was and how to avoid it. But Robin saw all he needed to and quickly jumped backwards to the door. "I have to go."

"Dick! I'll hold you to everything."

The Titan didn't say anything as he raced for the batcave and his R-cycle, not even when he nearly ran into Alfred on the stairs. Quicker than ever before he donned his uniform and took one last look around the cave, almost as if he were expecting to find something more, before placing the domino mask back over his eyes.

"Jump City wasn't my beginning and neither was Red X. Like it or not, Chuckles, you are."

For those of you who have followed me from the beginning I bet you're all grinning like mad men. Especially if you have awesome memories. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and since this is drawing to an end I'd love to write another RedX/Robin fic but I'd love a request since I'm not sure where to start. Of course this won't be done for another two, possibly three chapters. Thanks guys!