The moment Wally was sure he was correct he shouted out "LET HIM GO YOU FREAK! LET ROBIN GO!"

        "Ah," said the madman, turning his attention to the bound speedster. "Figured it out have you? That took quite a bit longer than I expected..." His creepy grin broadened an he pressed some controls on his device causing all the weapons to cease fire. "Still, better late than never i suppose."

        "What have you figured out?" Artemis asked in a hushed voice.

        "He's hypnotized Rob. He's controlling him."

        Ringmaster looked up at the boy wonder who stood on another trapeze bar, swinging slightly, and narrowed his eyes. Without hesitation, Robin let go of the ropes and leaned backwards, still not uttering a sound as he fell rapidly towards the unforgiving floor.

        "ROBIN! NOOO!!"

        Wally felt like all the air was pushed out of him as his friend suddenly landed perfectly on the middle of the tight rope that stretched between the two masts.

        "Why are you doing this?!?" Artie screamed at Ringmaster who simply laughed at Kid Flash's terrified face.

        "Oh, you want me to tell him to jump again?"

        "NO!" both teens shouted at once.

        Ringmaster chuckled. "Then I'm giving you a chance to save him... Assuming, of course, you live to reach him." The man stepped into the shadows and disappeared, but his voice continued to project through a loudspeaker. "Oh, and if you don't reach him in two minutes... he's dead."

        As those last words echoed through out the tent, two large robots stepped into the ring, one guarding each mast, and the metal cuffs holding the two heros down clicked open. Instantly, KF was in the center of the ring battling the one bot that stood before the left mast. Artemis ran as fast as she could to join him, but by the time she reached the robot, he was already halfway up the ladder leading to the tightrope. She started to climb up as well when both metal monstrosities pulled her to the ground and attacked. She battled with all her might, but without her bow and arrows, she was at a major disadvantage.

        "Kid!" she screamed as one robot began to crush the life from her. "Help me!!"

        The speedster glanced back and forth between his two endangered teammates, and finally with a deep growl sped back down to Artemis' aid. He landed forcefully on top of the bot, making it collapse and release the blond girl.

        "If I lose him because of you, Artemis," he snarled ferociously in her face. "I won't EVER forgive you!"

        With that he pulled the speechless teenager onto his back and bolted even faster up the ladder.

        "You seem to care for our young Robin very much, Flash Boy," laughed Ringmaster's voice. Wally ignored him.

        Finally they reached the platform connected to the high wire, nearly fifty yards above the cold ground, and the speedster came to a halt.

        "What are you doing?" Artie whispered urgently in his ear as she slid off his back. "Speed across and get him. We're running out of time!"

        "It's not that easy, okay? Just because I can run fast doesn't mean I can run on thin air! If I lose my footing..." He let those last words just hang there and took a deep breath.

         For Robin.

        Carefully he placed one foot on the thin wire, almost instantly losing balance. Artie caught his arm and helped him find his center, so he took another tentative step. Then another. He refused to look anywhere except straight ahead at his friend's emotionless face, and his feet fell into a rhythm surprisingly quickly. It wasn't long before he was a quarter of the way across.

        Left, right. Left, right. Left, right--

        "Sixty seconds left," shouted Ringmaster, making Wally look down.

        Oh, shi--

        The speedster nearly toppled, but somehow miraculously managed to regain his balance. From the small glance he had seen at the floor below, the madman was standing in the ring again next to his two robots.

        He continued across the tightrope, and stretched out his head towards the boy wonder when he was close enough.

        "Rob. Wake up! It's me! It's Kid Flash!"

        The dark-haired boy made no response.

        "Rob! Can you hear me? Please, Rob--!"

        Robin suddenly leapt up and cart-wheeled perfectly across the rest of the wire, stopping on the opposite platform. The tightrope bounced dangerously, and Kid couldn't help but scream a little flailing his arms about wildly, but still he did not fall. Instead he carefully began to make his way to his friend again.

        Right, left. Right, left. Right, left...

        He stumbled a bit a mere foot away from the platform, and fell. His hand automatically grabbed the platform's edge, and for a moment he just dangled there, staring down at the cement floor so far below him. Then, letting out a huge sigh of reilef, the ginger speedster used a combination of both the wooden platform and the wire, and was able to pull himself over the ledge. Robin just stared at him blankly.

        Wally put his hands on his knees and keeled over, panting loudly. I made it... I- I got to Rob in time.

        "Ha! Take THAT Ringmaster!" he shouted down over the edge. "Now, release Robin! Or, I swear I'll--!"

        His threat was cut short by an all-too distinct Cli-click.

        He looked over his shoulder in disbelief. It- it can't be...

        But it was.

        Robin held a small pistol, aiming at the ginger's head.


***************************
Robin's Point of View

        I watched as my best friend moved slowly towards me. Part of me wanted to scream at him to stop being so stupid and to get the heck off the high-wire. Just what did he think he was doing?!?

        But another part of me -or maybe it wasn't really me- whispered in my head

        No, don't move. Let him keep going. He'll be okay. Everything will always be okay, just so long as you don't DO ANYTHING. You're sure to ruin everything.

        So I didn't move.

        "Rob, wake up! It's me! It's Kid Flash!"

        Well, obviously, Wally. I'm not stupid.

        Yes, you are. The voice hissed. Too stupid to admit you have feelings for the speedster... Too stupid to act on your feelings of foreboding that night four years ago...

        No. I don't want to think about that. Don't make me think about that!

        It'll happen again, I promise you that.

        No... Not him.

        You want to stop it? Jump. Jump off the wire to the next platform.

        "Rob!"

        Jump! Do it!

        "Can you hear me?"

        Do it! JUMP!! DO IT NOW!

        "Please, Rob--"

        I jumped, felt my body move mechanically and land lightly on the platform. It felt wrong though, like my whole body was numb. I could hear the rush of wind and the thump of my feet hit the polished wood, but I didn't really feel it.

        Suddenly Wally slipped and disappeared beyond the ledge.

        NO!

        Shut up! He's fine, see?

        Slowly KF reappeared and started to push himself back up.

        I've got to help him.

        No! Stay put! He's alright, don't mess it up.

        "Ha! Take THAT Ringmaster!" my ginger called out.

        Ringmaster? Who's--

        Quick, pull out what's in your back right pocket!

        These tights have pockets?

        HURRY UP!

        My arm automatically moved, and in one fluid motion that I didn't control, pulled out a small handgun, pulled back the safety and aimed for Wally's head.

        WHAT?

        Wally turned to look at me, fear clear in his perfect emerald eyes.

        "Robin?"

        No! This wasn't my doing, I swear! Run away, KF! I can't control what the hell I'm doing!

        Do it. that voice cooed. Pull the trigger.

        No. I won't! I'm not going to hurt anybody. NOT Wally.

        DO it!

        NEVER!

        "Rob? Put the gun down." KF's voice was so soft. God, I wanted to, but my hand wasn't responding.

        Just pull your finger back, little Robin.


************************
End Rob's Point of View
        
        "Robin?"

        Wally watched as his friend's whole body began to shudder, and slowly an emotion crept it's way onto the boy wonders pale face.

        Fear.

        His sapphire eyes still were staring straight ahead as they were before, but Wally felt that he simply had to try to comfort the boy, even if he couldn't hear him.

        "Rob? Put the gun down," he whispered gently, and stepped behind Robin, out of the line of fire. He softly put his right hand over the pistol, his left hand curling around the younger boy's waist as his lowered his friend's arm.

        "I've got you, dude. It'll be alright now."

        The gun clattered, hitting the smooth wood of the platform, and the boy wonder twisted his head ever-so slightly. After a moment he spun around completely to face the speedster, his eyes now filled with pain, fear and shame.

        "...KF?"

        Wally beamed down at his crime-fighting buddy and wrapped him in a tight, quick hug.

        "Oh man, KF, I... I don't know- I couldn't control what I was doing and--"

        "It's totally okay Rob. Let's just get out of here before that creep can do anything else." With that he swung the still in shock Robin onto his back and rapidly descended the ladder. Artemis was already on the way down the ladder on her side as well.

        When they reached the bottom, Ringmaster stood waiting for them, his metal minions seemingly disappeared. All three teens raised their fists, prepared for whatever the madman was going to try next, and Wally said loudly

        "Give it up, Ringmaster. We've won your challenge, and now you've got no control over Robin, so there's nothing to stop us from whooping your butt."

        "You think so, do you?" the man replied, glaring. The dark-haired hero suddenly called out in pain and grasped his ears as if hearing a terribly loud noise.

        "Robin!" Wally cried, then he spun on the madman. "Stop it! It's over! We won! So just let him go!!"

        "No!" Ringmaster laughed insanely. "I'll burn him! Burn his mind 'till there's nothing left!" His words died out into more malicious laughter, but was suddenly cut short by Kid Flash's fist slamming into his chin. Then his gut. And the side of his face.

        "LET. HIM. GO!!"

        With one more blow to the head, Wally brought the man to the ground, out cold. Instantly he was by his friend's side again.

        "Rob?" he whispered. But the other boy simply let out a weak moan, his beautiful blue eyes rolled back and he collapsed to his knees. Wally caught him, and gently pulled him up into his arms as Artemis ran up to them.

        "He okay?"

        Kid just nodded solemnly, staring down at his best friend. The troubled expression on his pale face hurt Wally... maybe more than it should've...

        "...You didn't see his eyes did you?" he asked the blond girl who was walking over to Ringmaster's unconscious body.

        "No. ...Did you?"

        "...no..." he lied.

        "Well, I guess mystery boy's identity's still safe then. Though it sounded like this guy knew who he was. ...'The last of a family of the Earth's greatest acrobats'... whadda think he meant by that? Do you think maybe he did something to Batman?"

        "I don't know. Maybe..."

        "I can't imagine a guy like this could ever even scratch The Batman though."

        "...yeah."

        "But if somethi--"

        "Look, can we just drop the subject please? I've got to get Robin somewhere safe... In case that creep wakes up."

        Artie looked at him curiously. "Erm- sure. I think I remember how we got into this joint, so I can make it out own my own. Catch you later then."

        Wally simply nodded again, and bolted at superspeed out of the giant tent. He made his way out of the deserted circus and onto the main road, cradling Robin's small body against himself. He paused only for a moment to figure out which way to go in order to get to Gotham City, then took off once more.

        Gotta get him home, he thought to himself. Bruce wont be happy about what happened, especially that the Ringmaster knew Rob's secret ID, but Dick deserves some bed rest after what he's been through--

        "Wal- Wally?"

        The ginger glanced down at the boy in his arms, only to be met with a curious stare back from those two deep-sea blue eyes. He skidded to a halt on the side of the empty highway.

        "Hey man. How you feeling?"

        "Pretty lousy, honestly."

        Kid smirked playfully. "Not feelin' the aster?"

        Rob scoffed and was quite for a moment. "...Um, KF? You can put me down now."

        "Oh right!" The young speedster said, blushing furiously, and put his friend on his feet. "But shouldn't we head back to Gotham? Won't Bats--?"

        "I can't go home right now, KF. Not after what happened."

        "Wait, are you feeling... guilty? Dick, you were being mind controlled--!"

        "Exactly, Wally! How could that've happened? Only if I slipped up, and slipped up bad. And then you nearly fell off the high-wire... and... and I almost shot you..." He looked away.

        "But dude, that wasn't you. It was the crazy Ringmaster guy! And besides--"

        "And then there's him. He knew me, Wally! Knew my story... my parents,,, what happened that night..."

        Kid didn't know what he could say to that, so he just put a supportive hand on the boy wonder's shoulder. "Everything's going to be alright Rob. I promise."

        Dick looked up sadly into the older boy's face, and suddenly wrapped his arms around him in a crushing hug. Wally let out a small "oof!" but grinned and returned the embrace lovingly.

        "Thank you," the dark-haired teen whispered.

        "No problem, dude," the other replied still beaming as they separated. They sat down in the grass off the side of the road and for a long moment there was silence, both heroes lost in thought. Robin giggled lightly.

        "What?" Kid asked curiously.

        "Nothing. I was just ...thinking."

        "Hm."

        "...What?"

        "I was just thinking about how, for a while there, I was so scared I was never going to be able to hear you laugh again."

        "What? Of course I'll laugh again. Even when I get kinda depressed, you know I'll get out of it eventual--"

        "No. I meant, I was terrified Ringmaster was going to kill you... That I'd never get to talk to you again... I was so, so scared for you..."

        "Oh..."

        Wally reached over and pulled his friend against him in another hug, which surprised the boy wonder greatly, but he instantly hugged back. Cautiously, the ginger leaned down and touched his lips to Dick's forehead. The younger boy froze in shock, and Wally wondered if he ought to apologize, if Rob didn't think about him like that...

        But after a split-second, the dark-haired boy sighed contently and nuzzled his face under Wally's chin, laughing softly.

        "So..." the speedster started after another long moment of happy quiet. "I guess we both ought to head home."

        "Yeah," Dick agreed and Kid gently picked him up again. He yawned quietly. "Who would've thought being mentally controlled to preform extremely life-threatening circus acts could be so tiring?"

        "Pshh, yeah, who'd have guessed?" He grinned as they took off down the road for the second time. "You can go ahead a catch some shut eye if you want dude."

        "...I might just... " he yawned again. "...have to take you up on that..."


***********************

        Kid politely rang the doorbell of Wayne Manor, and waited for Alfred to open the giant wooden doors. He smiled down at the sleeping boy he still held, his own emerald eyes half-closed. It had been one heck of a day.

        Alfred let them inside and directed Wally to Dick's room, where the ginger tucked his friend under the covers of his oversized bed, careful not to wake him.

        "Sleep well, Dick," he whispered, planting another kiss upon the young boy's forehead before he walked away.

        As he sleepily made his way back down the hall he nearly ran into Alfred, who merely smiled kindly and held out a sleeping bag. Wally grinned weakly and thanked him, then dragged his feet back into the boy wonder's room where he practically collapsed on the floor.

        He was asleep in an instant.


        The door didn't make a sound as it was slowly opened and billionaire Bruce Wayne peered in. The sight hardly surprised him. He had had a slight suspicion that the two boys might end up being more than just best friends for a while now. West's a good kid though,he thought to himself. So long as he doesn't hurt Dick... Honestly, he was only grateful that Kid Flash had taken the care to look after his adopted son, so he just smiled and shut the door again.

        They can explain everything in the morning