A/N: A happy chapter of no serious villainy, but an interesting twist nonetheless...

.o.o.o.

Chapter 14: Impulsive Returns

.o.o.o.

Dick woke up at a rap on his door. He sat up—but the door was already open.

Before he could reach for a weapon he recognized who it was. "Damian."

"The heater in my room appears to be broken, and it's freezing for March," Damian said stiffly. "This room seems more adequately warm."

Dick stared at him for a moment before he realized the real reason. Damian felt upset or scared and wanted to stay with him. He scooted back and lifted the covers a bit.

"Thank you," Damian said, curling up on the very edge of the bed.

That just wasn't allowed—not with Dick. He reached over and hauled his little brother against his chest.

Damian fought it for a moment before relaxing. "You're oddly cuddly for a crime fighter, Dick."

"You're awfully not-cuddly for a kid," Dick replied.

Damian huffed and looked away.

Dick's eyes widened—Damian was probably in here because of his clone and his mother and the murders and Zsasz and confusion with Colin. Dick kissed his head. "But I love you anyway."

Damian sighed but took the hug.

.o.o.o.

"Ah, so you're the mysterious older brother," Sister Mary-Anne said.

"Hello," Dick said quietly. "So, Dami's been…causing some trouble?"

"Well, he has been randomly abducting Colin in the middle of the day for over a week," the nun said, giving Damian a stern look. "I explained to him that our children need to be signed out by an adult."

"I didn't know," Damian said. "Colin said he forgot."

"Well, at least we won't have to do any extensive searching to find out who you are," Sister Mary-Anne said. "So, Damian, how did you and Colin meet, anyway?"

"By the river. Started talking," Damian said. "…It was nice."

"Dami's not used to friends," Dick said.

"Excuse me for not being Tim," Damian said.

Dick shot him an exasperated look.

"Okay, okay, low blow," Damian admitted quietly.

"So, do we need to fill anything out?" Dick asked Sister Mary-Anne.

"I just need to photocopy your driver's license," she said, putting it into a scanner. "Well, Damian, even if you have trouble making friends, I'm very happy you found one in Colin. He usually keeps to himself so much…well, I hope we can change that!"

"Yeah," Damian said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Here you go, now you're on file as a visitor," Sister Mary-Anne said, handing back Dick's license.

"This place is nice," Dick commented. "East End to boot."

"Yeah, this would be nice if it was in the middle class areas," Damian said before the sister could question Dick's odd phraseology. "Colin likes it here."

"Well, how about I go get Colin for you?" the sister asked, heading into the back.

.o.o.o.

"So, what's the plan?" Colin asked.

"Tt. No plan. This is a costume free day," Damian said. "We're allowed to do some information gathering if it happens near us, but Richard has declared we are to take a 'normal' day before informing Jason and Tim of you."

"Oh, okay," Colin said. "So, where are we going Mr. Grayson?"

"Dick," the driver emphasized. "Dami's bad enough. Thinking…arcade?"

"Sounds good," Damian said. "You like arcade games?"

"Oh, yeah!" Colin said. "One of Sister Mariah's brothers donated this really old pinball machine a couple years ago! It's fun!"

"Arcade with pinball," Dick noted.

.o.o.o.

"So, anyway, we're looking for any of these guys," Jason said, bringing up pictures on the main monitor.

"There's, what, a hundred people there?" Damian huffed.

"Ninety-nine," Jason corrected. "They're called the Ninety-Nine Fiends. Any look familiar?"

"They look like the Joker did their clothes," Damian said dryly.

"Hey, that one's dressed as a nun, the jerk!" Colin huffed.

"Remind me how he got access to the cave in two weeks?" Jason sighed. "I mean Tim and I only met him a few days ago for crissakes but no, Dickie-bird has instincts…"

"I'm also staying the night," Colin said, grinning weakly.

"You have to admit, sneaking a kid into an orphanage is kind of hard," Damian said.

"You're the one who's been doing it since you met your new BFF," Jason said.

"Guys," Dick said sternly.

Jason nodded, "All right, Thing One and Thing Two, see if you can get files on these guys. I'm going to run through our older files on the Black Glove, see if anything comes up."

"Didn't some of them run into you and Drake?" Damian asked.

"…Huh, you're right," Jason said. "Tim filed about it after the little treasure hunt. Start there, guys. Dick, you okay with what you're doing?"

"Fine!" the oldest called from where he was fixing Stephanie's spare costume—half the bulletproofing had worn out.

"Let's see," Damian said. "The guy with the giant furred shoulder pads looks similar…"

"Hey, yeah," Colin said. "He was one of the spectators of Zsasz's, right?"

"Yeah, same with goggle-head here; you almost collapsed those bleachers on them," Damian said, selecting the images. "Don't tell Dick, he'll want to maim them."

"Yeah, kind of with him on that," Colin said dryly.

"Tt. And people think you're the nice one."

The computer started beeping.

"What did you do—oh, an alert, My bad," Jason said as Damian kicked him anyway.

"What kind of alert?" Colin asked.

"Ah…newsfeed tracking," Jason said. "Looking for certain keywords, you know how it is…and…"

"Whoa," Damian said, reading the post from the online Daily Planet.

"It can't be!" Jason said. "I mean…"

"If Father isn't really dead, then logically there's a chance it is," Damian said quietly.

"Dick, call Kori. See what she knows about this," Jason said. Dick pulled out his cell phone and started dialing as Jason called Barbara. "O, you see the Daily Planet?"

"Yes," she replied. "I'm working to verify."

"Superboy?" Dick asked into the phone when Starfire answered. He nodded a few times. "Thanks Kori." He hung up. "Says Superman and Supergirl say it's him."

"Stronger than what I've got, but yeah, it looks like he and Impulse, sorry, Kid Flash, are back—let me see if I can call Flash…" Barbara said. "Oh man."

"What?" Jason asked.

"Two fast super teens headed for Gotham," she warned.

"Robin's still out," Damian said, his eyes widening.

"Get in the flying car, now!" Jason said. "Dick, hang back and grab your kryptonite claws, just in case. And—I don't know, Colin, go hang with Al or something! Okay?"

"Right," Dick said as Damian and Jason got in the car. Colin likewise agreed and headed up the stairs.

"All right, Blackbird, find our brother," Jason said, pulling on the cowl. "And make it fast—Superboy knows how to zero-in on Timmy's heartbeat."

"And you're sure they never dated?" Damian asked dryly as they rocketed out of the cave. "Robin, come in. This is Blackbird and Batman."

"What?" Tim asked.

"Get up high, little bird, we need to chat," Jason said before switching off the coms. "Kid Flash doesn't like running up buildings and Superboy might not be willing to confront Tim alone."

"And we think this why?" Damian asked. "From what I've heard, Drake was practically his boyfriend!"

"They didn't date!" Jason snapped. "God help me I don't know why, the UST was there, but they were not dating."

"Repeat—sure about that?" Damian asked as they were forced to race a flying teenager up Wayne Tower.

"Stuff it, demon," Jason said. "Superboy, I know you can fucking hear me! Stop and talk, now!"

"Look, Hood, I know you don't…wait, Batman?" Superboy asked as Jason retracted the one-way windows.

"Listen to me. Tim has been through a lot and you need to do this in a more controlled manner or he will break," Jason said a sternly as he could.

"Wait a minute, why aren't you with him? Who's the new kid?" Superboy demanded indignantly. "If you replaced him-"

"I'm Nightwing's partner. I also wish to keep Robin sane," Damian said. "Get Kid Flash. Let us…try and soften things…"

"Aw, you do care," Jason said, unable to help himself.

"Only because I don't want Drake in Arkham!" Damian hissed without thinking.

"What?" Superboy demanded.

"Nice job, little demon," Jason groaned as Superboy went right up to the roof. "How would you react if I said Abuse was close to being in Arkham?"

"I'd hit you," Damian replied as he brought the car to the roof. Predictably, Tim was having a panic attack.

Another figure landed on the roof. "Back off."

Superboy turned and paled. Damian nodded in approval at the green-tipped claws Nightwing wore.

"Somebody explain something!" Tim yelled, hysterical.

"…Damn it," Jason swore. "Superboy and Kid Flash…appear to be alive."

"No shit!" Tim yelled. He then blacked out.

"…We are all horrible at this," Damian decided. "I advise we find someone who is not."

Nightwing, still keeping the claws on, dialed his phone, "Err, Kori…?"

.o.o.o.

"Can he please put the kryptonite away?" Superboy asked. Nightwing glared at him instead. "Okay then…"

Kid Flash didn't look much happier. He'd sat down only to be flanked instantly by Blackbird and some huge guy called Abuse. Superboy was sure they were worried about Tim and all but this was a bit much…

"Timmy, breathe," Batman-slash-Red Hood-slash-Jason said. "You two, explain."

"We ended up way, way way in the future and this other superhero group had to help us get back and I almost overshot but we managed not to and here we are," Bart said.

"All right, what did we miss?" a blonde girl in a Bat costume asked, coming in with Starfire. "Kori and I came to make sure no one miscommunicates—wow, weren't you two dead?"

"Thank you, Batgirl," Jason said dryly.

"Now, as Tim seems to be…agitated, let us try proving you are who you say you are," Kori said. "And if you are not…I will help Nightwing deal with you."

"I'm trying to get away from the freaking kryptonite, aren't I?" Superboy asked. Did everyone want to threaten him tonight?

"Well, what about him?" Abuse asked, nodding at Kid Flash.

"Dude, I am not moving with the look the demon kid is giving me," Kid Flash said flatly.

Blackbird smirked. Nightwing gave him a slightly exasperated look.

"Something only you would know…individually," Tim said quietly.

"You came up with the name Young Justice based on my totally awesome quote about how we weren't the Titans but young and just us and Supey thought it sounded stupid but we out-argued him," Kid Flash said quickly.

"Damn, that was my first try," Superboy sighed. At least Tim was relaxing a bit. "Err…"

"We're waiting," Blackbird said. Abuse shushed him and got a look in return. Batgirl bopped both their heads lightly.

"What would a returned Tim Drake have to tell you, in such a situation?" Kori suggested.

"…That one time, right after your mom died, you stayed in Smallville for the weekend and were really sad and we made out once," Superboy blurted out.

"I knew they dated!" Blackbird said. Batgirl slapped him and put a hand to her head.

"It is you guys," Tim said. "Holy shit…"

"I know, right?" Kid Flash asked.

"You made out with my little brother in a time of emotional distress?" Jason yelled at Superboy. "Dick, claw him!"

"No," Nightwing said sternly. "No clawing Timmy's not-dead boyfriend."

"Nobody said anything about boyfriends," Tim said.

"I did," Nightwing said. "Oldest. Always right."

"Granted, when I'm on the receiving end I hate it, but you have to admit it's awesome when he does that," Blackbird snickered.

"Ooh, can I milk that? Can I, can I?" Bart asked.

"Sure, kid," Jason sighed. "Fuck this. I am going to bed…and Superboy and Kid Flash are not staying in Tim's room!"

"What is this, 'protect Drake's virginity night'?" Blackbird asked.

"Damian!" Tim yelled, putting his head in his hands.

"That wasn't nice!" Abuse scolded, and Bart and Connor stared as he shrunk down to Damian's size.

"Bite me, Abuse," Damian muttered.

"Dami! No alienating best friends!" Dick scolded, putting the claws away.

"It's okay. He can alienate me a bit, I don't mind," Abuse said. "Still better than the other kids."

Kori patted Dick on the shoulder as he shook his head and Conner edged further away from Jason.

.o.o.o.

"So…Tim's friends are alive. That's nice," Colin commented.

"Life has decided to throw Tim a bone, so yes," Damian agreed. "You want to do your homework now or in the morning?"

"Morning. This had been a weird night," Colin said.

"For Gotham, it wasn't too bad," Damian said. "The coming back from the dead was new. Stephanie did it once, but Father and Dick knew she wasn't really dead the whole time."

"Whoa. When do I get that story?" Colin asked as Damian tossed him some pajamas.

"When you ask her. I wasn't here yet," his friend replied.

"…Superboy said you told Jason you'd hit him if he ever said I was crazy and headed for Arkham."

"I would. Very, very hard. Maybe borrow your brass knuckles…"

"Thanks, Damian."

"For what? Wanting to hit my brother? That's normal."

"For trusting me," Colin clarified.

"Why wouldn't I? The first thing you ever did was save my hide," Damian said.

"I know you stole my psyche file," Colin said.

"I put that back! And it's all garbage anyway, you're at an age where that stuff needs to be checked more often than every three years. And really, paranoia? Since when are you paranoid—except about the dominoes, but we all are at this point and anyway-"

"Thanks for being so indignant too," Colin added, getting in bed.

Damian got in on his side. "You thank me for the oddest things, Wilkes."

"Can I also thank you for letting me go to bed now?"

"Touché. Well played Colin, well played."

Silence reigned in the room as the boys settled down.

"I thought I said you two weren't staying in Tim's room!"

"Damn it. Colin, the earplugs are in the top drawer of the nightstand," Damian huffed.

"Why do you have these?" Colin asked, passing over a pair and taking one for himself.

"I live with people who have passed puberty and who are not supervised by nuns who can be disappointed in them. Also, Jason yells down the hall a lot," Damian said as he slipped his in. "Good night."

Colin eyed the earplugs for a moment until "Jason, put him down! And you grabbed the kryptonite, really?!"

He jammed them in. Next time, he was going to Stephanie's house.

.o.o.o.

A/N: They're BAAAACK! And we get to see some home-life while the final set-up for Bruce's return and Dr. Hurt showing up are set in place. Tho it may be awhile (tests and papers due next week might slow me down) I have the actual issues with me so I can remember what was happening in canon then so it shouldn't be overly complex to write, so look forward to Domino Rain some time soon!