The Brighter Side

Disclaimer: I don't own the Young Justice Characters so please don't sue me for borrowing them

He came back to himself in stages, his limbs heavy and listless as he struggled up out of the recesses of his mind. Something heavy pressed down on his chest, a weight that held him immobile. His eyelids fluttered unwilling to open instinct told him to move, to get up but the lethargy of his body started to pull him backwards. The room was a void of dark colors swirling down to engulf him as he opened first one then the other eye. A pair of blood-red eyes glared down at him, the orange tabby let out a rumbling purr that surprised Robin. Teekl's eyes glimmered slightly as she stretched out on top of him her attention focused entirely on him.

Where-? Slowly, memories came back until he recalled the reason he was there in the first place. Robin shoved the cat off of him, rolling backwards as he reached for – nothing…. Surprise flickered across his mind as he struggled to come to the realization that he was, for the moment disarmed. Pieces of memory fell into place, the castle, the fireball, Superboy, and the gapping black hole that had opened at his feet. His memory wasn't foggy, just slow as if he were trying to reach for it through a vat of molasses.

"I have to say, out of all the people I've used that little spell on…you have to be my absolute favorite. Obviously you weren't my first choice but…oh, well…." Klarion's voice rang out against his ears as he jerked his head around to see the Witch Boy standing in front of a fireplace a creepy – if not outright satisfied smile on his face.

Robin cursed under his breath, what was the first thing Batman had taught him? Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Granted, he'd been knocked unconscious but still…he should have realized that Klarion would never be far from Teekl the boy's very existence relied on that cat. Now, now he was unarmed, a good distance away from his target and still disoriented above all the rest. Klarion bent to lift Teekl into his arms cooing softly at the cat as if it were a precious little baby.

"I took the liberty of taking away your nasty little toys and such, after all I wouldn't want you to spoil the fun." Klarion laughed as he ran his fingers along Teekl's back, "Honestly I didn't think you would be so stupid as to fall for such an obvious trap. I guess the Bat's hasn't trained his little birdy to fly as well as he thinks."

Robin bit the inside of his lip, clenching his fists at his side at the sound of Klarion's voice whispering against his ears. His heartbeat fluttered and raced, his mind racing between absolute hatred for the person who'd done this to him and fear...fear he could not explain. He should have seen the trap for what it was, obviously Batman had and that was why he'd ordered Robin to stay behind. Why hadn't he? Yes, he was angry-well, more like pissed off than angry but he should be able to control those emotions better. He knew better than to act rashly the way he had.

"Ah, I just love this part Teekl…." Klarion whispered his black eyes gleaming with amusement, "That point in the spell where they realize something not quite right. That things aren't the way they're supposed to be. I can almost hear your fear building inside you."

Robin clamped his hands around his ears in an attempt to shut the sound of Klarion's voice out but he could still hear the mocking laughter. What could he do? Superboy was probably looking for him but with no way to communicate who knew how long before backup arrived. Klarion had taken away his weapons, not that he stood too much of a chance on his own given his current situation. This is all just a game to him! The indignant thought screamed in his head echoing from deep within him. Again that white hot rage he'd felt when Superboy had blocked his way out surged through him. It was angry, hurt and confused and all it wanted was to strike out against the cause of all this grief. Emotions unlike any he'd ever felt before raged just beneath the surface of calm, boiling their way through his body as he shook his head.

This is all his fault! Robin's eyes shot towards the grinning form of Klarion and he moved with hardly a thought as to the obvious dangers of such an action. Teekl hissed as invisible hands hurled Robin into the air slamming him against the roof before letting him fall to the ground. His body screamed in pain writhing in agony as he struggled to climb back onto his feet. Robin made it as far as his knees before that invisible hand slammed him onto the floor holding him against the cold granite. He could almost hear his ribs cracking beneath the unseen pressure pushing down on him from above.

"That's enough Teekl." Klarion's voice rang with infinite authority and the weight disappeared leaving Robin panting against the stone floor trying to regain his senses.

Robin gathered his body beneath him, curling in on himself in a way he'd never done before as he slammed his fist against the ground. What had he been thinking charging in blindly like that? Such stupidity was Conner's role, rushing in like that could have gotten him killed. There was a sullen emotion rippling in the back of his mind as if a part of him was sulking at the idea that he'd been compared to Superboy of all people.

"Have you figured it out yet, boy? Or would you rather I tell you the truth?" Klarion laughed as he watched the emotions play across Robin's face like an open book. "What do you think Teekl? Should I just spill the beans or let him stew for a little while longer?" Teekl gave a scolding meow that made Klarion frown as he let the cat fall from his arms, "I know what I'm doing. Those blundering buffoons won't find us any time soon. If you're so damned worried then why don't you go check on them?"

There was real anger and irritation in Klarion's voice as Teekl gave him an indignant grunt before stalking out of the room her tail twitching in mirrored irritation. The cat gave Robin a withering glare before it disappeared beyond the room. Klarion folding his arms across his chest as he grumbled in the direction the cat had left in. Robin blinked shaking his head at the sight in disbelief. As strange as his day was going, how much more could he take? That rippling body of emotion in the back of his head laughed at the notion that the two evil villains had had a falling out of sorts. Maybe now they would leave him alone. He could certainly do without Teekl's presence in the room.

"Now, where was I?" Klarion replied absentmindedly as he looked back at Robin, "Oh, yes I was asking you if you wanted me to tell you what was going on. Although I hate to admit that you ruined my plans last night with your insufferable meddling."

Robin coughed out a laugh, "Happy to be of service."

"Silence!" Klarion's voice shook the walls as he glared down at Robin, "The only reason you're still alive is because I find your situation mildly amusing."

"Glad I could provide you with some form of humor, although maybe you should think of hiring a new decorator. Seriously dude the dark Goth motif is totally overdone and the castle is going beyond the limits of stupidity." He almost couldn't believe the ease with which he spoke despite the pain in his chest, as if the line between white hot rage and sarcastic quips didn't even exist. Again those invisible hands grabbed hold of him, only this time they lifted him into the air by his wrists holding him about an inch off the floor. Robin laughed, "Did I strike a nerve Klarion?"

"Don't toy with me boy, you wouldn't like the results." Klarion replied his anger flaring higher.

That odd little bundle of emotions in the back of his head seemed to giggle and he let the bubbling laugh escape past his lips. This was starting to become fun again he almost felt normal in light of everything that'd happened so far. "Don't go getting your hair in a twist just because one little girl teases you, how uncool is that? Aren't you like a hundred years old or something?"

"Shut up you wench or…."

Robin laughed, "Or what? You'll turn me back into a real boy?" He sneered back at Klarion, "There's really nothing worse you could possibly do to me."

He felt as if there was something coming, inside of him there was an odd warmth that felt comforting and exhilarating all at the same time. He was starting to like this feeling, he certainly liked seeing how rattle Klarion seemed to be getting. How typical. Robin smiled seeing Klarion in a whole new light than before. He was still the mad sorcerer and just as deadly but somehow, somehow he seemed less like a threat and more like someone he could easily handle. Why had it seemed impossible before? This was beginning to feel boring.

"Why don't you just change me back and we can forget this whole business, you can go back to being a psycho cat loving villain and I can get back to kicking your ass all over the place for the sheer enjoyment of it all."

"You just don't get it do you?" Klarion laughed Robin was beginning to wish he could plug up his ears or do something to drown out the irritating sound of it, "Well then I guess, since you can't figure it out for yourself then I should just tell you."

Superboy knelt against the floor listening to the sounds echoing through the castle walls. If he closed his eyes and focused maybe he would be able to hear where Klarion had taken Robin. A soft meow caught his attention and he jerked around to see Teekl sitting calmly at the end of the hallway peering back at him. Conner froze, he'd seen what that cat could do and he wasn't too thrilled by its sudden appearance either. When nothing happened he finally stood and walked down the hall towards the cat. Teekl stood and padded off down the hall only stopping to look back at him with an inquiring look as if to tell him to hurry up or she'd leave him behind. Pushing his confusion aside for the moment, Conner followed the cat through the hallways until she stopped in front of an old doorway peering back at him. Teekl pawed the door then disappeared back the way they'd come disappearing as suddenly as she had arrived just moments earlier.

Conner blinked looking at the door cautiously as if he expected it to burst into flames and engulf him, which was entirely possible given Klarion's disposition for fire. Then he heard it, a high-pitched shriek that rang against his eardrums as he kicked the door into pieces. There was a moment of confusion from those behind the door as Klarion glared at him while Robin hung listless in the air in front of him. Superboy surged forward in the moment, grabbing Klarion by the throat and slamming him into the floor. He raised his fist ready to slam it into that smug looking face but the moment was gone and he was blasted backwards.

Shaking off the pain, Conner glared at Klarion his muscles taunt as he prepared to go again. To his credit, not even Klarion cared to risk his life facing off against Superboy as he disappeared into a puff of smoke leaving behind nothing but his cackling laughter and the words.

"Doesn't matter, I win either way. Catch you later, Robin."

They arrived moments later the rest of the team, called by Sphere when Superboy and Robin had not answered her calls. Kaldur stood off to the side with Robin their voices just barely audible as Conner, M'gann and Wally stood trying not to look as if they were all eavesdropping. Wally sidled up beside Conner a strange look in his eyes as he stared up at Superboy.

"So…wanna tell me what you and Robin were doing alone together? I mean, didn't Batman tell you to keep him at the base?" Wally whispered.

Conner stared down at Wally feeling more irritated with the speedster than normal, instead he looked at M'gann. Can you hear what they're saying over there? The Martian girl 'whispered' in Superboy's head. It was strange how somewhat comforting that mind voice had become since he'd first met her.

I don't think I should say. He shook his head folding his arms across his chest as he looked back towards Aqualad and Robin. There was a tension between the two that even Wally could read, the pained look on Kaldur's face spoke volumes even as they kept to themselves. Conner couldn't have helped it if he'd tried, he heard every word that had been spoken between the two of them.

"We'll find a way to help you, we're not giving up Robin." Kaldur whispered placing a comforting hand on Robin's shoulder. The harsh truth glared back at them, a slap to the face and the reason why Robin had shrieked. Klarion's spell had no counter, it was permanent and could never be removed.