Y/N's Pov

The engine roared beneath me as I tore through the streets of Jump City, the Redbird humming with precision. Wind whipped past my face, but I barely noticed—it's a feeling I'm used to, this rush of speed, this thrill of being in control. My comms crackled in my helmet, Cyborg's voice cutting through the static.

"Yo, Rob, listen up. The Hive's taken over the power plant. If we don't stop them, they're gonna blow the whole thing sky-high. They've got the place locked down, and if they do what they're threatening, the city's toast."

Of course, it's never easy. I flicked a switch, and the hidden compartment in the Redbird's side panel popped open with a satisfying click. My staff slid into my hand; it's cool weight familiar.

"Got it, Cyborg. Start surveying the scene, and I'll take point on the ground," I said, keeping my tone firm. "We need to move fast before they make good on their threat."

Cyborg's voice came back with a mix of frustration and annoyance. "Sure, Robin. if you mess up, I'll clean it up for you. I'll just watch from here. Don't get yourself blown up, alright?"

I clenched my jaw but didn't let it show. "Just keep an eye on things. We can't afford any mistakes."

Before I could continue, Raven's voice chimed in, dry and unamused, like always.

"Yeah, we're on our way. Try not to get in over your head, Robin."

"Just follow my orders and we'll be fine!" I snapped, my words a bit sharper than usual, the usual enthusiasm from my team lacking. But I was used to it by now—the lack of respect, the feeling that I was always proving myself, even in the face of danger.

The Redbird shot forward, its engine howling like a beast unleashed. The city's skyline blurred past me as I closed in on the power plant. There was no time for doubts. No time for my team's ignorance. There was only the mission, and the feeling that, as always, it would be up to me to save the day.

I should probably introduce myself properly. The name's Y/N Grayson, leader of the Teen Titans. Yeah, I know, it's a little odd—me, in charge—but we make it work. The team's made up of Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfire. Cyborg's our tech guy and heavy artillery, Raven keeps her cool (most of the time), Beast Boy's the wildcard with his shapeshifting, and Starfire... well, she's the powerhouse, the sweet, yet terrifying alien princess with energy blasts that could level a city block if she's not careful.

I know, sounds like the perfect team, right? But let's just say, it's never been easy for me to lead them.

But how did I even end up in this position? You'd think it'd be a straightforward story—boy leads team of superheroes—but that's not how it happened. It all started when I was 8 years old. I was part of a famous circus act, the Flying Graysons. My parents were the stars—brave, graceful, and defying gravity every night under the big top. We were a family, connected by our love for the thrill of the performance.

But one night... everything changed. The wire snapped. My parents fell, and just like that, I was an orphan. Alone. Cold. With nothing but the echoes of the crash still ringing in my ears.

That night, Bruce Wayne, the billionaire playboy, was sitting in the audience. Maybe he saw something in me—or maybe it was just sheer luck—but he offered me a way out. He adopted me, gave me a home, a place to stay. But it wasn't what I expected. At first, I didn't trust him. He was cold. Strict. Nothing like the warm embrace of a family I thought I'd lost forever.

The only one who showed me any kindness was Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce's butler. He didn't treat me like some kid who had just lost everything. He made me feel human again. But Bruce? He just stayed distant, kept pushing me. Kept teaching me how to defend myself, how to fight. I didn't get it at the time. Why was I learning self-defense so young?

And then, one night, everything clicked.

I woke up in the middle of the night, the shadows of the manor stretching long across the halls. I crept downstairs, followed the quiet sounds, and that's when I saw it: Bruce, dressed in black, putting on a mask. He wasn't just Bruce Wayne. He was the Gotham Vigilante. Batman.

It all made sense then. He wasn't just trying to turn me into a soldier. He was preparing me for a war—one I never asked for, but one I'd be thrown into whether I liked it or not.

And now here I am, leading a team of misfits, trying to prove that I'm more than just a kid who lost everything. But that doesn't make it easy, especially when every day feels like a reminder of how far I still have to go

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

The power plant came into view as I skidded to a stop, the Redbird's tires screeching against the pavement. A swarm of flashing lights and the dull hum of helicopters filled the air. The Jump City Police Department had already set up their base at the entrance, SWAT trucks blocking every approach, the heavy equipment creating an impenetrable barrier. A police chopper hovered above, its searchlights cutting through the evening gloom like a spear.

I kicked the stand down on the Redbird and hopped off, my boots hitting the ground with a solid thud. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.

I walked over to the chief of police, who was talking to a few officers, his face tense, eyes darting between the building and the growing crowd. He didn't look happy to see me, but that's nothing new.

"Robin," he said, his voice tight. "This situation's a mess. The Hive's got the workers as hostages. They're demanding everything the bank's got—every penny. They've got people on the inside, and they won't negotiate. We can't afford to give them what they want. We're at a stalemate."

I nodded, taking it all in. "We'll handle it. You've got your team ready?"

"SWAT's ready to breach, but—"

"No," I interrupted, holding up a hand. "Tell them to stand down. We can't risk a firefight inside. We need to get the hostages out safely first, then we move in. This is my operation now."

The chief gave me a hard look, but he knew better than to argue at this point. With a grunt, he gestured to his officers and moved away to relay the orders.

I turned on my comms. "Titans, this is Robin. We're going in. I need you all to stay sharp and follow my lead. We're going to secure the hostages first, then we'll deal with the Hive. No casualties. I'll give the signal when it's time to make our move."

A brief pause before Cyborg's voice crackled through. "Got it, Rob. We're ready when you are."

"Move in" I muttered, my heart racing. It wasn't just about stopping the Hive; it was about showing my team I could handle this. Show them that I wasn't just the guy who sat in the shadows of Batman. I was Robin, and I had this under control.

Now it was time to make sure we didn't make a single misstep.

I stepped forward, heading for the plant entrance, eyes scanning for any sign of movement, when suddenly an energy blast hit the pavement right in front of me. I halted, not out of fear, but to assess the source of the attack.

 The concrete smoldered in front of me as a figure emerged from the shadows: Jinx, one of the Hive's most notorious members. Her smug grin and relaxed stance said it all—she'd been waiting for me.

"Not so fast, Robin," she purred, folding her arms as her eyes gleamed with mischief.

I didn't let her get a reaction. Instead, I subtly touched my comm, murmuring low so only the team could hear, "Going silent... I want all of you in position inside—wait for my signal."

Before I could receive any confirmation, I felt a sudden shove at my back, and I turned to find myself surrounded by Billy Numerous—and several of his clones, all grinning and looking pleased with themselves. Before I could react, two of them grabbed me, pinning my arms as one reached for my earpiece, yanking it out of my ear and crushing it under his heel. I grimaced as they took out my backup comm devices, leaving me completely cut off from the team.

Jinx watched with a smirk, enjoying the show. "Looks like we don't need you to be calling for backup, now do we?" she taunted, stepping closer.

One of the clones held me steady as Jinx circled me slowly. Then, with a little smirk, she reached out, her hands brushing over my shoulders and down to my belt, patting me down in a way that felt way more invasive than it needed to be. She plucked my staff from my belt and tossed it behind her, then unhooked my utility belt, dropping it to the ground with a flourish.

"Well, well, Robin," she said, leaning in with a mocking smile. "Looks like you're all alone now. Unarmed, no friends to call, and no gadgets to save you. Now... what's a girl like me supposed to do with a guy like you?"

I met her gaze with calm defiance. "You could try surrendering. Save yourself the trouble."

She chuckled, amused. "Cute, but you don't scare me, Bird Boy. Let's see how well you do without all your toys..."

Before they could make another move, Jinx's and Billy's comms both lit up. Jinx sighed, rolling her eyes as she listened, then gave me a look of mock disappointment.

"Looks like i won't be able to play with you" she said, sounding less than thrilled. "Gizmo wants to negotiate with you."

The heavy groan of metal signaled the power plant entrance sliding open, and in the doorway stood the hulking figure of Mammoth. The brute crossed his thick arms, his expression sour as he grunted and gestured for us to head inside.

They kept a tight watch on me, Billy Numerous flanking one side, his clones still hovering nearby, while Jinx stayed close to the other, keeping me within arm's reach. I stayed quiet, eyes fixed ahead, but I kept my focus razor-sharp. I knew my team was on standby, waiting for the moment to make their move.

Jinx seemed to be enjoying herself, though. She sidled up close, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she reached up, her fingers dangerously close to my mask. "What's under here, Robin? Aren't you curious?" She smirked, fingertips grazing my mask before I tilted my head away, keeping it firmly in place. She huffed but didn't back down. "Come on, Bird Boy, quit the act. You know you'd be better off with us. Forget those self-righteous Titans."

"Yeah, right!" Billy scoffed, snickering as he glanced over his shoulder. "Even if he did turn, what good's he gonna be? Robin, with no powers, no gear—just a stick and some toys. What can he even do?"

They both laughed, but I kept my face calm and unreadable, letting their words bounce off me. They didn't need to know what I was thinking, and they definitely didn't need to know that I had full confidence in my team. Whatever Gizmo wanted to pull; I was ready for it. But first, I'd let them think they had the upper hand.

Jinx shot me another grin, apparently thrilled with her little victory. "Face it, Robin, you're out of your league here. But hey, stick around, and maybe you'll see what a real team can do."

I met her gaze, steady and unflinching. "I'll pass. I've already got the team I need."

As we moved further into the dimly lit corridors of the plant, I kept my focus. The Titans were out there, ready and waiting. All I had to do was wait for the right moment

We finally arrived at the heart of the power plant: a massive room housing three towering, volatile reactor cores, humming with raw energy. In the far corner, a small office came into view, its windows revealing the terrified faces of the power plant employees, gagged and bound together, their eyes wide with fear. A bomb was strapped to the door, its digital display ticking down ominously.

Before I could react, Billy gave me a hard shove, sending me down to one knee. I kept my face impassive as Gizmo, smugly hovering on his jetpack, floated right in front of me. In his hand, he held a remote with a single ominous red button. He twirled it between his fingers, eyes glittering with malicious glee.

"You see this, Bird Boy?" Gizmo taunted, holding the remote up to my face. "One push, and those cores go into meltdown. We're talking a blast so big; you'll light up Jump City from here to Gotham."

I didn't flinch, meeting his gaze with steady defiance as he grinned. "So, here's my demand. First, everything the bank's got to offer. And, oh, here's a fun one." His grin widened. "I want the identity of Batman."

Behind me, I heard the faint beeping of the bomb on the office door. My heart quickened as the countdown displayed 30 seconds, each second ticking away the time I had to act. Gizmo laughed, circling me like a vulture.

"So, what's it gonna be, Robin?" Gizmo sneered. "Give me the Batman's identity and save the hostages or watch them go up in flames. Tick-tock."

I chuckled, feeling his confidence falter just a bit as I met his mocking gaze. Without any hurry, I rose to my feet, standing firm. "You really think I came here alone?"

I glanced at the ticking bomb, waiting for the right moment. My expression remained calm, even as the timer ticked down—5...4...3...2...

"No," I said quietly as the display hit zero.

The timer stopped with a soft hiss, a few harmless sparks fizzling out. The bomb didn't explode. Gizmo's smirk vanished as his face contorted in frustration. "What—"

"All of you in one room," I said, my voice carrying through the silence. "It just made things easier."

Gizmo's face twisted with anger, and he raised the remote, thumb pressing down. But before he could react, a brilliant green energy blast from above shattered the remote into pieces, sending sparks flying as Gizmo yelped in shock. He whirled around, looking up just as Starfire hovered overhead, her hands glowing with energy, a fierce look in her eyes.

"Titans, go!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the tension.

The rest of my team burst into action, each one descending on the Hive members, moving with precision and power. I rushed forward, reclaiming my staff from the ground and charging at Billy Numerous, who scrambled to replicate himself just as I swung, sending him and his clones scattering.

We had them right where we wanted them. The Hive's advantage was gone, and the fight had only just begun.

To be continued...