Author's Notes: Hey everyone. How ya doing? Thanks for checking my story out. Hope you like it. The rating is M, but only because I can't rate individual chapters. The first four are rated T, it turns to M after the 5th chapter, but I promise, no lemon. The rating is for language, violence, substance abuse, and some suggestive themes.
So I decided to try something new with this story as well. I'm setting it to a soundtrack. Not like a songfic, because its not always about the lyrics. Sometimes its the music itself that helps carry the mood of the story. Sometimes the lyrics will reflect the character's feelings, sometimes they'll contrast them. I'm approaching it like a movie. I know setting a story interpreted by different people to single person's taste in music might come off as a bit...I don't know...arrogant? But music often helps me find the emotions I use in my stories, and many of these songs helped inspire their scenes.
So I implore you, if you think you might be interested in reading my story, leave me your email in a message or review and I'll send you the soundtrack to whatever chapters I have uploaded (in mp3 format) via YouSendIt. Thanks for reading and I'm sorry this was so long. Cheers.
Oh yeah, and of course I do not own any of these characters. This is just for fun.
Cold. Stale. The air around them was none too comforting. 'Fitting', Robin thought, since it was the first time in years that he had set foot in the cave. Location however was not at the forefront of his mind at the moment. The conversation was.
Green-gloved hands curled into fists. "What do you mean, 'you're stepping in'?! If you think for a second that-"
"I mean just what I said. Your judgment is clouded and your team is spiraling out of your control! I let you have your chance, Robin, but now play-time's over. I'm taking the reigns."
"The only thing you'll take is my foot up your-"
"Watch it, Robin." Batman felt his scowl turn into a snarl, but did little to resolve it. They rarely saw eye to eye anymore. Not that they ever truly did, but Robin used to be better at hiding it. Sure he was more obedient when he was younger, like all children, but now Bruce was learning that Robin's former discipline came more out of fear than it did from respect. Of course he had respect for Batman, probably more so than any other man since his father, but the young mister Grayson was making it painfully obvious that fear was no longer an issue. Regardless, he was stepping out of line and it was time for Bruce to reassert his authority. There would be no backing down on either side.
"Well what gives you the right?!? I thought we were partners! I thought we were friends!"
"This is work and there's no place for friends here. If you understood that we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place."
Robin said nothing, but was breathing slow and heavy. Each breath felt like it was made of fire. Sweat was forming inside his gloves and under his mask. This was a battle he had to win. Everything that was dear to him was on the line. Who would have thought it would be this man to try to take it all away.
"Really, Robin, what were you thinking?? Entrusting your private network to dozens of strangers all across the globe! Dick…how could you have put you and your team in that kind of danger?"
"Danger?? Those 'strangers' saved our lives! Where were you when the Brotherhood of Evil captured my team? Where were you when they captured me?!?"
"You know where I was. I was…preoccupied. League business."
"You were playing Cowboys and Indians in the past."
"If I could have been there-"
"But you can't! Not always. That's why I need my team. The whole team."
"Asinine. You didn't need to invite them all into your network. My network, Robin! I designed it! Had any of them been capable they could have used those communicators to trace themselves back to me! All the components were manufactured by different subsidiaries of Wayne Tech!"
"Well then, it sounds like I'm not the only one who isn't being careful."
The Batman let out a low growl. It was the kind he usually reserved for his rogues or Harvey Bullock. Robin smiled on the inside. He was pissing him off. Time to drive it home. "When I first left Gotham for Jump City we both agreed it was time I went out to do things on my own terms. What I found was a team. I came to you with my idea and you said I was ready. You said I deserved to lead this team. That I had earned it. You made a promise to me, Bruce. You said it would be my team and the extent of your involvement would be to pay the bills. You can't go back on your word now!"
"Listen to me, Robin. You don't get to tell me what I can't do. You compromised my trust!"
"No! You're compromising it now! The Titans International-"
"First of all, no team operating under that surname has ever been successful. Second, this isn't only about them. It's about you and how you're carrying yourself. You're getting careless; you're getting too personal…"
Robin's eyes widened from realization, and then narrowed with fury. "…You son of a bitch. This is about-"
"The girl."
"She has a name. It's-"
"Not important. The worst part is she isn't even the first one! Can't you at least try to be professional? You have to stop treating your team like a-"
"Like a what? A family?! Because that's what they are to me, Bruce! They're the closest thing I've had to a family since I left Hailey's. More of a family than you ever gave me. And how do you know about Raven?? What are you, spying on me now?!?"
"Please, Dick. Don't pretend that you don't know what I'm capable of. It's insulting."
"Good. And what's wrong with me letting someone into my life? You should try it sometime, Bruce. Maybe then you wouldn't be so lonely."
"Hmph. That's enough. This conversation is over. I can't make you do anything, but as far as the Titans go, it's my network and things are going to be done my way. From here on out, anyone operating under it will adhere to my rules or be discharged. Your friend may have designed and built the tower but I paid for it. If you're leaving, I'll give you a week to clear out."
Tears threatened to well up in Robin's eyes. 'Don't give in, Dick', he thought. 'Don't let him see your weakness…' "Fine," he spat. "You want to do it like that? Be my guest. It's been real, Bruce. Thanks for all the laughs. Don't expect to see me again. Have fun being alone." Robin rips the mask off his face and throws it to the ground. As he turned to march out of the Batcave, Robin saw Alfred in the corner of his eye. His old friend had remained silent throughout the entire argument, his head hung in shame. "Merry Christmas huh, Alfred?" He said bitterly. No ill will was directed towards the butler yet he felt it all the same.
Soundtrack:"Heroes and Ghosts" – Far From Finished
As Robin approached his motorcycle, he felt a fire burning in his belly. The fire was change. He could feel it coming. There was a new wind about to blow into his life, and Robin was ready to face it head on. He mounts the bike, then a sharp, violent kick down like the strike of a match in the heart of darkness and the engine roars to life; a blazing flame in the dead of night.
Sweaty palms and bare knuckles grip the handlebars as Robin twists them forward. The revs of the engine match the pulse of his anger, the heartbeat of his soul. He peels off into the night, Gotham City blurring around him as he speeds past. He goes faster and it blurs further, his old home fading into a memory as the winds beat down on him, pounding his helmet like a fist. The winds of change; just as predicted. And he is ready for them.
Roll opening credits…