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Robin inhaled softly as Batman strode past his hiding spot. He placed his hands over his mouth and held still within the hiding spot he had found in the spaceship. He could see Superman glance in his direction, but thankfully, he didn't say anything as he floated alongside Batman to go to the command room.
When he heard them leave, Robin quickly followed after them.
When Batman had left him to go to space of all things, Robin knew what he had to do. With the help of Wonder Woman, who had laughed herself silly when he had asked before gleefully complying, he was able to sneak onto the spacecraft without Batman knowing.
It wasn't fair if Bruce got to go to space but he couldn't!
It was space!
Robin followed them quietly and watched as both Batman and Superman stood around the computer monitor that was built into the spacecraft. Green Lantern was already there, staring through the wide window above the monitor at the dark void. Although it was dark, several whirling stars and strange planets all shone brightly and spun in place. The screen itself held several different pictures, and each of them flickered and brightened as sounds came from the screen.
Robin's eyes widened in awe as he strained his ears to listen in.
The sounds were beautiful, like something that he would've heard at a church choir. The singing was ethereal and spooky all in one, echoing with a haunting quality to it like it was underwater.
Like a siren's song.
Robin had to clench his fingers in order to hold himself back from lurching forward, wanting to be even closer.
But who were the people singing?
Green Lantern crossed his arms when he saw the two of them enter.
“Took you two long enough. How did you find this galaxy? I haven’t heard anything about it, even from the Corps.”
Superman answered, “We were testing the new spacecraft for interstellar travel and decided to see if we could go far enough and maybe meet some sentient life forms that could join the Justice League,” he rubbed the back of his head and continued, “Well, we reached this place and then discovered them and made contact. Batman and I asked them if they would help us in the future, and they said they would.”
Green Lantern looked unimpressed. He turned to Batman and asked, “So I guess you were paranoid enough to call me?”
“… yes. And I contacted Zatanna as well.” Robin could tell that Batman was disgruntled by his own powerlessness by the way his voice was tight, like he was gritting his teeth.
He stifled a laugh at the thought of Batman being helpless. He loved Bruce, but oh boy, it was funny seeing him struggle.
Green Lantern shrugged. “I honestly can’t tell you much, because I can’t fly around here like I’d like, even with the ring. Supes, you’ve seen how dangerous this part of space is, right?”
Superman seemed excited to have someone understand. “Yes! The pressure and gravitational pull was very strong. I was only able to escape because I was far away enough and got away in time. The pull definitely seemed to match that of several astronomical objects combining into one. However, it shouldn’t be possible.”
Robin rolled his eyes. When were they going to be interesting?
He sank to the ground and hugged his knees, tilting his head to keep an eye on the three.
Green Lantern nodded. “I agree. It’s definitely way too strong, and usually, any other astronomical object would have collided with one another now, but those are definitely not normal. They’re not bound with logic or science. They even have planets circling around them.”
“We discovered that as well. They spoke with us and we determined that they were sentient,” Batman said. “It is most likely why they haven’t collided yet.”
Robin closed his eyes, leaning against the wall and focusing on the soft singing that continued to play. It lulled him into something like a doze. The song was just so beautiful and soothing, calm, yet strong. It was like a lullaby, one that he was beginning to love.
Green Lantern continued to speak, “It’s the singing, right? The ones singing are the four in the middle?”
“It seems to be all of them in this area, actually.” Batman sighed. “They mentioned two other planets the last time we spoke.”
Green Lantern hummed and turned to the monitor. “I want to try speaking with them. May I?”
Batman nodded and Green Lantern leaned in closer.
He tapped the screen and the sound was enough to rouse Robin. He blinked away the sleepiness and focused in on the room again. Superman glanced in his direction but didn’t say anything.
“Hey! Anyone there?”
The singing continued.
Green Lantern frowned. “Are you sure they spoke to you?”
“Yes,” Bruce growled.
“Try being polite?” Superman suggested.
“… hello? This is Green Lantern speaking. Can someone please respond?”
Robin held his breath as he poked his head into the door, leaning in as close as he could in order to see what would happen next.
The singing slowed to a stop, and so did the flickering on the screen. The sound of static and ocean waves filled the room for a moment.
And then, just like that, the screen spoke with the sound of a thousand voices—
"Hello."
Green Lantern’s eyebrows rose. “Well damn. Nice to meet you.”
"Hello again," Superman interrupted, beaming. "Are you all well? It's good to see you again!"
"We are well, Kal-el."
Superman’s smile went tight but didn’t say anything. Green Lantern glanced at him but was also silent.
Robin was focused on the sound of their voices. It was melodic, kind of like a little choir of voices speaking as one.
Robin's eyes widened again as he thought about it.
Amazing!
Were they speaking to the stars?
The stars continued to speak, “Hal Jordan, son of Martin, what do you seek?”
Green Lantern looked at Batman and Superman, who didn’t look surprised. He frowned heavily.
“Did you all know my identity before?” He addressed Superman and Batman with a glare.
Superman said awkwardly, “No,” while Batman didn’t reply, so it was probably a yes.
He continued to demand, “Do they do this every time?”
“I think so? But Batman hasn’t spoken to them yet,” Superman said, looking at Batman, who still didn’t respond.
Green Lantern grimaced, turning away to look at the stars again before he then answered them.
“… I seek answers.”
“Ask, and you shall receive.” To Robin, they sounded a little tired by his questions. When looking at the adults’ faces though, they didn’t seem to notice.
Robin suddenly felt like he should’ve stepped out.
He was perhaps the only one who could understand these stars.
Green Lantern continued, “Could you tell us your names? Do you know what galaxy this is in?”
“… we have no more names. We are kept far, far away from any living planets except our own.”
“Is there a reason you’re so far away?”
“Yes.”
They waited, but there was no further response. Green Lantern grimaced again, glowering at Batman for putting him in this situation with a clearly very socially awkward galaxy.
“Can you tell us why?”
“No.”
Green Lantern asked, “Are you a danger to us?”
“No.”
“How can we be sure?”
“We’d swallow you if we were.”
Green Lantern eyed the stars with a deep frown. Robin tried to look at them as best as he could, observing the pulsing and glowing stars. The planets that circled them were quite fast, and Robin watched it all with an ever growing sense of awe.
In particular, he focused on the four in the middle, 2 white colored star-like things and a black hole, as well as a wide and glowing orb. The black hole looked intimidating, but it was so cool that Robin couldn’t help but lean past the door.
Green Lantern continued, “I am a Green Lantern. Do you know what that is?”
“We know of everything.”
Green Lantern turned around and muttered, “Jesus Christ.” He looked out the glass windows at the four revolving stars and black holes and then down at the monitor. “How come nobody knows about you?”
“Clockwork hid us….” Their voices were soft, reminiscent.
“Who?”
They didn’t answer, their silence sounding hesitant and worried. Robin hated that they seemed so fearful, as if they were protecting their mysterious Clockwork from them.
“Why?” Green Lantern pushed. Even Batman and Superman were growing agitated at the lack of any actual answers.
“… For our safety.”
Green Lantern nodded and said, “Thank you for answering our questions. That’s all for now.”
Then he pulled away, as the singing immediately picked up again, a little more rushed than before. He looked at Batman and Superman and asked, “Do we have any idea what a “Clockwork” is? Or who it is?”
“I’ve never heard of someone named that,” Batman shook his head.
Superman raised a finger, asking to speak as he said, “I have noticed that this galaxy is in the direction of the Horologium constellation. Horologium means “clock”. Maybe there’s a link between the two?”
“Makes sense. Now what? Do we even need to do anything? They’re seriously uncooperative and I think they’re being vague on purpose.”
Superman frowned. "Green Lantern," he began sternly, but the Green Lantern then put his hands up.
"Okay, first of all, I am way out of my depth here. Intergalactic threats are one thing, children that were forced to become stars is a whole separate matter."
“You already read the report, why are you complaining?” Batman grumbled.
However, Robin ignored the squabble that then ensued as his eyes widened. Children?
Were they in trouble?
Robin needed to help! As Batman’s partner and equal, he was better equipped to help than these three!
These three clearly weren’t suited for this!
Green Lantern scowled. “We have no way of knowing if they’re being truthful or not. My suggestion is that we continue to observe them in the meantime and if they want to “help” us, we take it with a grain of salt.”
Batman nodded. “Exactly my thinking.”
Superman looked a little anxious. “Aren’t we going to help them too? They said that they were human once…”
“Why bother? They don’t even act like it’s an inconvenience.”
Robin grit his teeth.
He knew it! These adults were useless! These stars were kids like him, so they needed to be helped by a kid too. If Robin was able to help, they would surely be better off than with these losers!
Robin loved Superman and Batman (he never really met Green Lantern before, but he disliked him now), but clearly, he was the man for the job.
Superman seemed to be on the same wavelength as him and said, “Let’s ask them! Maybe if we insist, they can give us more information as to why they were changed.”
"Superman, while I appreciate how you hold hope for helping everyone, I really don't think you can help... these." Green Lantern gestured to the window, where the four glowing beings were still spinning in place.
Robin felt heat flare up in his chest at his dismissive tone. How dare he brush off these stars!
Of course, if Robin had been older and not as hot-tempered and determined to hate Green Lantern, he would've seen that he seemed tired. All three of the adult heroes were confused by these beings and could not understand them, not like how Robin could. To them, it was a group of sentient, possibly highly dangerous stars that rivaled their own Sun, that could consume them all in great flames and heat.
They were paranoid, confused, and jaded, and that didn’t make a good combination when faced with beings that they could not understand, beings that they could not help and could kill them without moving.
But Robin didn't know that, so he was still fuming as Green Lantern continued speaking.
"There's no guarantee that Zatanna can help them. And we've only just started the Justice League a few months ago. We don't have many routes to help and we don't know if we can trust them. Or if they're being truthful."
Superman frowned.
"But..." he looked to Batman for help.
Batman was silent, avoiding his gaze.
Robin held back a sigh. Batman seemed allergic to emotions again. If Robin was there, he probably could've backed up Superman.
Adults were so annoying.
Green Lantern huffed. “I’ll ask them, okay? Stop looking at me like that, it feels weird that I’m falling for a grown man’s puppy eyes.”
Superman muttered to himself sullenly, “I wasn’t giving puppy eyes.”
Green Lantern addressed the little galaxy again, their song filling the room before he said, “Excuse me? I have one more question.”
The crackling singing stopped suddenly, and Robin got the feeling that they were annoyed and apprehensive.
“Speak.”
Green Lantern cleared his throat and asked, “Do you need any help? With anything? It’s only right that we help you if you’re helping us.”
More silence. Now it seemed kind of hesitant again.
“Is there anything at all? Anyone we can call?”
One voice in particular suddenly spoke up over the silence.
“… Robin.”
There was silence as Batman stood there, dumbfounded. "Who?"
Robin’s eyes widened. Were the stars talking about him?
Superman flinched.
Batman turned to him with wide eyes and then he whirled towards the door, where Robin had been accidentally leaning too far past the doorway to avoid being seen. He darted back in but it was still too late.
"Robin!" Batman barked. "How did you get on the ship?!"
Robin, realizing how futile it was to hide, poked his head back out. "You left me at home! And then went to space without me!"
Batman groaned. Then he whirled around to glare at Superman. "You knew about this!" He accused, jabbing a finger in his direction.
Superman laughed awkwardly. "Hahahah... uhh... I couldn't sense him?"
Batman put a hand on his cowl and groaned again, in lieu of taking a hand and rubbing it over his face, while Green Lantern gaped.
“Spooky, you’ve had a sidekick this whole time?! Do I even know you?!”
Robin rolled his eyes. He stood up and dusted himself off before walking closer. “I’m not a sidekick! I’m Batman’s partner!”
Batman huffed, but nodded. “Robin is not my sidekick.”
“This is bizarre as f— fudge,” Green Lantern finished lamely, and then pursed his lips together, looking at Robin with narrowed eyes. Robin returned the look. “How’d you even sneak in?”
“I’m not telling you,” Robin said, sticking out his tongue.
“Robin.” Batman glared at him.
Robin rolled his eyes again and crossed his arms. “Wonder Woman helped me.”
Batman rubbed at his eyes. "She and I will be having words after this."
Robin huffed. "Don't be mad at her! I asked her to help me!"
Batman muttered something that had Superman eying him warily.
Robin strode forward and pulled on Batman's cape. "Well, I'm still here. And I say that we help them."
"Kid, you don't understand the situation. They're dangerous. And we don't know anything about them," Green Lantern said, like he was a baby.
"Yes, we do! They're kids and I can help!"
Green Lantern scoffed. "You're what— eight?"
He was actually twelve, but for that, Robin was going to cut this guy’s shins.
Robin took out a wingding, ready to slash this asshole's ankles when he felt Batman lift him up by the armpits and hold him up in the air, forcing him to be still. Of course, he could’ve just left Batman’s hold and probably cut his ankles too, but he decided to be gracious and let Batman hold him.
He did, of course, kick Batman backwards in the chest for daring to put him in air jail, but his armor was too strong so it didn’t do anything.
Robin pouted and glared at Green Lantern with laser-like eyes before he made a slashing motion across his neck with the wingding.
Green Lantern stared at him with horror before he shouted, "Spooky, he just threatened me! Is this normal?! What demon child do you have??"
Superman, who was behind Robin, said, "What? Robin wouldn’t do that! He’s an angel!"
Robin smiled evilly. "Yeah. I'm an angel."
Green Lantern blanched.
Batman huffed a laugh. "You're demon spawn, alright. Stop swinging your birdarang. I gave those to you to fight crime, not other heroes."
"It's a wingding, B!”
He was put down after another moment of having his legs swinging midair, and because he was an absolute angel, he didn't move to cut Green Lantern's kneecaps.
It was apparently visible on his face what he wanted to do because Green Lantern shuddered and moved backwards to hide behind Superman.
Robin sniffed dismissively and then turned to Batman. "Batman, we should help them! They called for me— they need me!”
Batman grew serious again and shook his head. "You don’t know that. They could be dangerous. Robin, you shouldn’t have come here.”
Robin scowled furiously. “Don’t tell me what to do!”
Batman groaned, raising his head to stare at the stars as if they would somehow give him strength.
Robin snorted coldly and ignored Superman’s worried gaze before he strode forward and peered through the window. He shooed Batman away with a hand as he tried to approach him.
“Shoo! I’ll handle this.”
“Robin—“
“You owe me,” Robin said stubbornly. He glared at Batman, who looked even more uncomfortable. “You left me behind. Alone. You owe me! I’m your partner! I shouldn’t have to stay behind just because you told me to!”
Batman grimaced and then awkwardly, he started to say, “Chum—“
Robin interrupted him again. “Stay to the side. I’m Robin, and I’m your equal. They asked for me.” Placatingly, he added, “I’m only going to talk to them.”
Green Lantern was muttering something to Batman in a hushed whisper, but Robin didn’t pay attention to him. He just stared at Batman with furrowed eyebrows and a pout. The two of them stared at each other before Batman nodded slowly. He looked like he was constipated.
“Fine.” His voice sounded particularly tight, as if he was gritting his teeth. “You can only talk to them. And we’re staying here.”
“Fine,” he huffed.
Robin turned back towards the window. Each celestial object spun in place, lighting up with flares and bright bursts of light. The one black hole was still, while the other three spun around and around, as if to encourage him. The planets that circled them continued to do so slowly, waiting.
The singing had not started again.
“Hello. I’m Robin, and I’m here to help you.”
The radio crackled, and then there was a soft, “Hello, Robin.” The call of his name was gentle, a combination of different, reverbed voices with a strange sense of affection and care.
Robin smiled cheerfully. He liked them even more for calling his mother’s nickname for him so gently. “What do you need?”
"You can help us."
“How so? If it’s possible, I’ll do what I can!”
The one voice who spoke up earlier than spoke over the other stars once more.
“Only you can help me, Robin.”
It was said with so much quiet reverence and pleasant softness, that all of them froze. The celestial objects that been moving on their own suddenly stilled again, all in unison with the one black hole.
Robin tilted his head, but a feeling of pride swelled in his chest and he asked, “What do I need to do?”
“Robin!” Batman hissed warningly, but didn’t do anything yet.
“Oh shit,” Green Lantern said, a little too loud.
That one voice continued to speak, as the others quieted, “I’ll be yours. If you can also be mine.”
Robin blinked curiously. “What does that mean?”
“Robin! No!” Batman shouted, but the stars started to whisper loudly, a noisy buzz as they spoke amongst the sound of crackling audio and water. Outside the window, the other stars and planets continued to remain still while the black hole starting to move, humming and thrumming. It flared and glowed with its bright rings pulsing around it.
“You will be my human. And I’ll grow up with you.”
Robin thought of the fact that this star was also a kid, just like him.
The humming grew louder as Batman bristled like a bothered cat.
“So what’s in it for me?” Robin ignored him and grinned, rocking on his heels.
“Robin! Do not!”
It didn’t sound too bad, and something told him that this star of his wouldn’t hurt him. It was like an instinctive understanding, one where Robin knew that this being wouldn’t betray him.
“I’ll protect you. I’ll be your star.”
Robin beamed. With Batman hurriedly striding over to him to pull him backwards, Robin nodded and said sweetly as he put his hand on the glass, “Deal!”
The black hole that hummed outside of the window lit up with a flash and a light flew towards their ship, darting towards Robin like a concentrated sun beam.
Batman gasped, horrified, “Robin!” as he lunged forward to shield him, but the light got to him first, striking him through his outstretched hand and then into his heart. Robin gasped and Batman surged forward, holding onto him tightly.
“Robin! Chum, are you alright?!”
Warmth spread through his body and settled in his bones, safe and hot, like drinking hot chocolate on a cold winter night after a good day of patrol. Robin instinctively pulled off his glove and went, “Wow!” as pale lines appeared on his skin, a four pointed star that split into two between his ring and middle finger on his left hand.
Red, black, and blue bled into his skin until a star appeared when he put his fingers together, a swirl of beautiful colors.
Batman grabbed him and pulled him away from the window.
“Robin! Are you okay? Talk to me!”
“I’m fine, B! Look! Isn’t it cool?” Robin asked excitedly.
“No,” Batman said snappishly. “It is not cool. Are you hurt? Do you feel anything wrong?”
“Nope! Just peachy!” Robin said, wiggling his fingers and watching the colored lines flex. “I’m all good!”
He paused and looked at his mentor, his guardian, his foster father, his Batman. He patted him on the shoulder as Batman knelt before him.
“I’m okay, B, promise.”
The whispering of the stars continued, something sweet and hopeful in their voices as they chattered unintelligibly. The black hole continued to buzz and then all of them were moving in unison again, spinning in peaceful circles as if nothing just happened. The singing also continued, now sounding much happier.
Green Lantern and Superman were staring out the window in horror while Robin continued to look at his new tattoo.
He liked it a lot. It was so beautiful that his heart ached.
Batman stared at him for a long moment. Then he abruptly stood up.
“We’re leaving. Right now,” Batman said. He picked up Robin who startled and then began to whine.
“Nooooo, I said I’m okay! I’m seriously okay! It’s rude to leave without saying goodbye, B!”
Despite how Robin complained, his star only got to murmur a small, “Goodbye, my Robin,” through the radio before Batman swiftly took him out of the command room and into a smaller shuttle.
Robin scowled and kicked Batman in the arm, knowing that even if he escaped, he wouldn’t have anywhere to go in order to escape his overprotective partner. Both Green Lantern and Superman followed, the latter nervously inspecting his hand with his newly formed tattoo.
Robin crossed his arms to not let Superman gawk at his hand any longer before he demanded, “So I can come back here, right?”
“No.”
“Then how am I going to speak to my star?!”
This time, it was Green Lantern and Superman who said loudly, “No!”
Robin cried out furiously, “You all suck!”
Of course, a few weeks later, Robin still snuck in. The space ship that they were on was still located there, now permanently stationed near that little galaxy as Batman overzealously studied the celestial objects that somehow touched him with a magic that no one could recognize.
Thankfully, Robin’s star was still there, just as it normally was.
As Robin crept closer to the window, he pressed his face against the glass and smiled at the sight of his star, a dark and glowing black hole that was now greedily consuming the purple and pink nebulae around it.
“Hello, my star,” he whispered, and his star flared briefly, lighting up with red and gold hues.
Robin beamed.
Yes, it was a good thing that he snuck on that ship that day.