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Robin disappeared three months ago. Now, Jump City's crime rate is mysteriously being taken care of by a normal, albeit strange, teenage boy who goes by the name Black. As the Titans befriend this lunatic, they begin to see a correlation between him and their missing leader. Will they be able to find Robin, or will Black turn them all insane as himself?

Robin had been missing for three months. One day he went out on patrol, and never came back. There was no evidence or clues to his whereabouts. Just a message to their communicators, "I have a lead. I'll be home later." He in fact, wasn’t home later. The hours drew on, and then days. They never knew what his lead was, or who he was investigating. That was his fatal flaw, having secrets from his team. And this time, it ended him, at least, that was the horrible conclusion they had come to.
His picture appeared on the news for weeks, the population frightened that the leader of the team was gone.
The Titans had looked everywhere for Robin, even going so far to reach out to Batman in Gotham city, but to no avail. The powerless hero was gone, perhaps for good, and the city seemed like such a darker, sinister place.
Outside the tower, the Titans did their best to pretend that they could still handle themselves without him. But back at home, things were different. They missed him. More often than not, the team would separate and do their own thing. It was easier not to notice who was missing if they weren’t together.
But they always had dinner together. Conversation was usually absent, and to fill the silence, the news would play.
“ It’s been several months since Teen Titans leader, Robin, disappeared without a trace. In the last few months, it seemed like Jump City picked up the slack. A number of amateur vigilantes have done their best to put an end to needless crime in our fair city. Criminals of all varieties have ended up at the police station, either walked in by people wearing cheap masks, or anonymously bound on the steps with a note on their person. The phenomenon has had mixed reception. ”
The shot changed to show the Chief of Police, Anderson Duffy, talking at a press conference. “ While the sentiment surrounding the efforts of these vigilantes is appreciated, the actual work of crime fighting should always be left to the professionals, be it the police or the Titans. What these well intentioned folks are doing is creating a problem farther down the pipeline. Without confessions, many of these petty criminals end up right back on the street.”
Beast Boy groaned. “Dude, it’s the same stuff every day. I don't care about these petty criminal vigilantes! Let them do what they want!”
“Beast Boy, vigilantism is against the law. The only reason we get to do it is because Batman set a precedent and we have an agreement with the police and Mayor.”
“Yeah yeah, I know, but ever since…you know, these shady dudes think it’s free reign to loot the city. Makes us look bad.”
“You could start patrolling more often,” Cyborg smirked. “If it bothers you that much.”
Beast Boy groaned again. “I hate that you’re right ‘cause I don’t wanna!”
“ Since the press conference from Chief Duffy, the rate of vigilantism in the city dropped drastically, but not entirely. Still, on a near hourly basis, the police are receiving criminals ducted taped with a note explaining what got them captured. Each note is signed with the letter ‘B’ and a heart. No one knows who Mr. B Heart is, but theories about Batman being in town are circulating.”
“Dude, the idea of Batman signing a note with a heart is so funny.”
Cyborg scoffed at the TV. “These people see the Batmobile drive through town once and now they think he lives here.”
“ Another notable difference in the criminals turned in by Mr. B Heart is the injuries they sustained. Nearly all of them have to be hospitalized. Perhaps that serves as a warning for the other crooks out there? If you aren’t scared of prison, perhaps be scared of the hospital!”
Raven turned the channel, not caring about what was on now. “I have had enough. Let them theorize.”
Starfire sat quietly at her end of the table, scooting a brussel sprout around her plate.
“What’s wrong, Star? You love strange round food.” Cyborg asked, already knowing the problem.
“Hey! My brussel sprouts are not strange!”
She gave them a half hearted smile and stood. “I simply no longer have an appetite.”
“Are you going back to the office?” Raven asked. “Are you sure you should?”
Starfire shrugged. “I am unsure. But if there is a clue to his whereabouts, it would be in his notes.”
“Good luck,” Beast Boy said sincerely. “I could barely read his chicken scratch.”
“Could you simply not change into a chicken to read it?”
The team smiled, as Raven answered. “He means bad handwriting.”
“Oh. Of course. I should have known.”
One thing was for sure, even Raven was out more often than Starfire was. She was hurt the most by his disappearance. Robin was her counselor, her guide to this world that she didn't understand. He was her best friend, and she loved him very much.

Read the Read on Ao3

Description

Robin disappeared three months ago. Now, Jump City's crime rate is mysteriously being taken care of by a normal, albeit strange, teenage boy who goes by the name Black. As the Titans befriend this lunatic, they begin to see a correlation between him and their missing leader. Will they be able to find Robin, or will Black turn them all insane as himself?

Robin had been missing for three months. One day he went out on patrol, and never came back. There was no evidence or clues to his whereabouts. Just a message to their communicators, "I have a lead. I'll be home later." He in fact, wasn’t home later. The hours drew on, and then days. They never knew what his lead was, or who he was investigating. That was his fatal flaw, having secrets from his team. And this time, it ended him, at least, that was the horrible conclusion they had come to.
His picture appeared on the news for weeks, the population frightened that the leader of the team was gone.
The Titans had looked everywhere for Robin, even going so far to reach out to Batman in Gotham city, but to no avail. The powerless hero was gone, perhaps for good, and the city seemed like such a darker, sinister place.
Outside the tower, the Titans did their best to pretend that they could still handle themselves without him. But back at home, things were different. They missed him. More often than not, the team would separate and do their own thing. It was easier not to notice who was missing if they weren’t together.
But they always had dinner together. Conversation was usually absent, and to fill the silence, the news would play.
“ It’s been several months since Teen Titans leader, Robin, disappeared without a trace. In the last few months, it seemed like Jump City picked up the slack. A number of amateur vigilantes have done their best to put an end to needless crime in our fair city. Criminals of all varieties have ended up at the police station, either walked in by people wearing cheap masks, or anonymously bound on the steps with a note on their person. The phenomenon has had mixed reception. ”
The shot changed to show the Chief of Police, Anderson Duffy, talking at a press conference. “ While the sentiment surrounding the efforts of these vigilantes is appreciated, the actual work of crime fighting should always be left to the professionals, be it the police or the Titans. What these well intentioned folks are doing is creating a problem farther down the pipeline. Without confessions, many of these petty criminals end up right back on the street.”
Beast Boy groaned. “Dude, it’s the same stuff every day. I don't care about these petty criminal vigilantes! Let them do what they want!”
“Beast Boy, vigilantism is against the law. The only reason we get to do it is because Batman set a precedent and we have an agreement with the police and Mayor.”
“Yeah yeah, I know, but ever since…you know, these shady dudes think it’s free reign to loot the city. Makes us look bad.”
“You could start patrolling more often,” Cyborg smirked. “If it bothers you that much.”
Beast Boy groaned again. “I hate that you’re right ‘cause I don’t wanna!”
“ Since the press conference from Chief Duffy, the rate of vigilantism in the city dropped drastically, but not entirely. Still, on a near hourly basis, the police are receiving criminals ducted taped with a note explaining what got them captured. Each note is signed with the letter ‘B’ and a heart. No one knows who Mr. B Heart is, but theories about Batman being in town are circulating.”
“Dude, the idea of Batman signing a note with a heart is so funny.”
Cyborg scoffed at the TV. “These people see the Batmobile drive through town once and now they think he lives here.”
“ Another notable difference in the criminals turned in by Mr. B Heart is the injuries they sustained. Nearly all of them have to be hospitalized. Perhaps that serves as a warning for the other crooks out there? If you aren’t scared of prison, perhaps be scared of the hospital!”
Raven turned the channel, not caring about what was on now. “I have had enough. Let them theorize.”
Starfire sat quietly at her end of the table, scooting a brussel sprout around her plate.
“What’s wrong, Star? You love strange round food.” Cyborg asked, already knowing the problem.
“Hey! My brussel sprouts are not strange!”
She gave them a half hearted smile and stood. “I simply no longer have an appetite.”
“Are you going back to the office?” Raven asked. “Are you sure you should?”
Starfire shrugged. “I am unsure. But if there is a clue to his whereabouts, it would be in his notes.”
“Good luck,” Beast Boy said sincerely. “I could barely read his chicken scratch.”
“Could you simply not change into a chicken to read it?”
The team smiled, as Raven answered. “He means bad handwriting.”
“Oh. Of course. I should have known.”
One thing was for sure, even Raven was out more often than Starfire was. She was hurt the most by his disappearance. Robin was her counselor, her guide to this world that she didn't understand. He was her best friend, and she loved him very much.

Read the Read on Ao3