Not Again
Alexnandru Van Gordon
Ah! I forgot about this one, and right after I finished saying I wouldn't. Sorry, I'm going to go to hell when I die—that solves it. No. I don't even know where I'm going when I die—won't know until I'm dying. LOL.
Enough of my nonsense.
I started the first chapter with Batman fathering Robin again (Robin: annoying…irritating…(muttering to himself)). If you noticed in my other, much worked on, stories, I hooked onto this idea. I'm sorry, but the tightest possible bond between two people is the relationship of parent and child. I.E. if your mother saw you fall and hurt yourself, they get this thing that clicks in their head. You are literally a part of your mother—seriously—and that's why that bond is so strong, even with fathers. I'm sorry if this annoys you, but it is one of my themes for this story. There are a couple, but you've already seen the opposite of the benefit of the doubt, so the others will reveal themselves in due time.
DISCLAIMER: Do I own them? Didn't the last time I checked…
CHAPTER TWO: No…
"Stupid…arrogant…adoption—ha!"
He buried his face in his pillow, but not before glancing at the clock—twelve, noon. This had been the longest time he ever slept in—if he actually slept at all. Quite a rare occasion indeed. He couldn't get that man out of his head, but somehow he managed to sleep well. The instant he laid on his bed he was out like a light. What had woken him was the annoying ache in his stomach for food. When had been the last time he ate anyway?
Then another image of that crazy lunatic came to mind again and he lost his appetite. That wasn't a very good habit, and soon someone would comment on his thinness. He had always been thin, but he was sure someone would notice sooner or later.
Unable to fall asleep again, he got up and had the coldest shower possible without getting frostbite. That woke him up and made him feel so refreshed, the aches in his body seeming to fade away until he turned off the tap, dried off, dressed, and spiked his hair again. The moment he returned to his duty as Robin, the chance to relax ended. The muscles in his upper back and shoulders were already tensed up. He probably had a thousands knots in his back from stress alone.
Well, he had to face them sooner or later.
When his door opened, he popped his head out into the hall. Nothing…everything was silent. Starfire wasn't yaking her head off, Raven wasn't chanting, and the guys weren't arguing over some video game. To think of it, since last when did he sit down and talk to someone or play a game? Seemed like eons ago…
He sighed heavily, heart weary. He should have probably told them the truth last night instead of trying to cover. What if he did go back to Gotham. He could relax for a while and recuperate to come back new and improved for the team. He could also talk to Bruce—his father. He missed his own parents, but he wouldn't trade Bruce as his father for anyone in the world.
"Hello?" He called, walking down the hall. "Anyone want to talk?"
He turned into the main room—to find it empty. There was, however, a letter on the kitchen counter, obviously written by Starfire. There hadn't been an emergency while he slept, had there? No, he would have heard the alarms anyway. They were far too loud to drown out.
Picking up the letter, he moved to see it better and read:
Dear friend Robin,
Do not fear that we have left you for good. I and the others forgive you, though we know you did not voice an apology for last night's…problem, and we did not wish to wake you since it is not often you sleep at all. There is a team of specialists in town that are led by a man who goes by the name of Dr. J. Manning, a brilliant scientist who is working on researching brain cancer. He is also said to have invented machines and chemicals that affect the brain, though I do not know exactly what they do…We left to see his presentation at the Wayne Enterprise building down town (yes, the one where we knocked down half the letters…). It begins at 11:30 and ends at five. You can stay home and rest, or you can come to join us. Either way, I look forward to seeing you soon.
Smiling—Starfire
PS. The others greet you as well, and Cyborg…says you need to eat something before you come. You do not look too well.
That was sweet of her, and he was glad he was forgiven. At least they understood he was the hard type of guy who had problems with gutting himself to come up front with an apology. Maybe his day wasn't going to be so bad after all.
-St-
She touched the little DNA display—and her finger was caught by Beast Boy.
"Trust me when I say—anything you touch will break upon impact." He grinned, releasing her hand. "I've made the same mistake too many times before."
"Thank you, friend Beast Boy, and…" She paused, looking down at her feet. "Do you think Robin will come?"
"Maybe—" He shrugged. "Maybe not. He looked really sick last night. I wonder if he really ran into a drunk—or if he ran into a metal bar. I swear he kinda looked devastated."
Devastated…she had noted that too. Old memories brought up, perhaps? Robin told her nothing about his past and she suspected he never would. However, there once the question of what his mother thought of his profession was brought up once and he came very…sensitive about the matter. That was the first time she learned that both his birth-giving parents were dead. He had been adopted since he was seven and a half, fighting crime since he was eight. Batman was his new father, but that was just about as much as she knew about him. All else was a mystery. No one even knew how his parents died.
Murder?
"There he is." Beast Boy whispered, pointing across the room to a healthy, middle-aged man who stood talking to Cyborg and Raven.
Healthy indeed. What else would expect a man to be who studied for the improvement of the human body. He had short black hair and warm blue eyes, tall and thin. His smile was kind and his small spectacles kept slipping down the bridge of his nose in an annoying, but funny way. Starfire felt that she was liking the man already.
"Dr. J. Manning." Beast Boy whistled. "He moves around a lot and he won't be here for long. He had trouble in the last city he was in. Some weird guy was trying to steal the inventions of him and his team, and I guess that's why Mr. Wayne is providing him with as much security as he most possibly can get wherever he goes. Nice man, Bruce Wayne. Heard he has an adopted son…"
"Bruce Wayne is the man who specializes in weapon technology, correct?" She asked. "Was he not the one Robin was sent to steal from by Slade?"
Beast Boy nodded, staring at another display after the woman in front of him moved. "He has quiet the gadgets."
"Maybe we should meet with him once. I think Cyborg mentioned something about modeling his security system after one of Mr. Wayne's."
"Maybe—maybe not. Mr. Wayne is a busy man, I hear. Him and his son are always busy."
"How old is his son?"
"I don't know…Robin's age?"
Starfire sighed. Then she noticed that Mr. manning was leaving with some of his fellow scientists. Raven and Cyborg were headed in her direction, probably talking over what they learned from the man.
"We should head back." Cyborg suggested, crossing his arms. "Better check on Robin."
"But what if he comes here when we leave?" Starfire asked. She really wanted to talk to him…
"We'll call him if he isn't home."
She gazed around. He should have been there by now if he was going to come anyway. Unless he slept in…scratch that. Robin didn't sleep in. It wasn't in his nature to rest no matter how banged up his body was.
Shrugging, she followed the others through the crowds of people and made there way toward the door.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
They all paused and stared at their communicators. Red light flashing, annoying beep—something was wrong in Jump City.
Cyborg stared at his robotic arm and pressed a button or two. "Trouble at the bank. Mumbo somehow got loose again."
"Only on a Sunday…" Beast Boy muttered and they were off.
-
This was just too easy. There they were, racing toward one of the banks on the other side of town—only to find that there wasn't going to be anything wrong. Their communicators were so easy to manipulate, it was a sin to say that intelligent little cybernetic teenager invented them. The kid would probably slap himself for it later.
He shook his head, standing on top of the Wayne Enterprises building, currently under repair thanks to the Teen Titans. But it was Sunday and less workers came—all of which would show up of the missing list tomorrow. They didn't put up much of a fight either. It maybe took him five minutes to take them all down.
He laughed. They would have one hell of a time looking for the bodies.
Waiting until the four Titans were out of his view, he reached into on of his trench coat pockets and pulled out a small round sphere which was black and the size of a large marble. He walked toward the edge of the roof and threw it over his shoulder. It collided with one of the large white letters and an explosion was set off, causing part of the roof to cave in.
'One—the loopholes are gone. Two—the trap is set. Now, let's see if the bait is taken.'
Turning around, he walked casually toward the large hole, staring down into the atrium of the building. People were running and screaming like crazy, displays destroyed, people injured, but no casualties—yet, anyway. It really all depended on how bored he got.
Jumping, he landed perfectly on a large chunk of the roof, hands in his pockets. He cracked his neck and gazed around the room, glowing red eyes staring into the souls of everyone—but he could only get the just of what they felt and were thinking. He needed to have a hand on either side of their heart to see and feel it all.
(Alex: I'll explain that little trick later. Just bear with me for now.)
Taking his right hand from his pocket, he flipped back the ride side of trench coat back to reveal a holster and its gun attached to his slack belt. Taking his time, he drew the gun and aimed it upward. Taking a shot, he grinned as everyone screamed and tried to get as far away from him as possible.
Some people made for the door, but he could see them just as well as he had eyes on the back of his head. He spun around and waved his free hand at the doors—and they shut automatically. Anyone who was inside was stuck inside, and that was great for him. Hundreds and hundreds of people.
"Don't move!" He shouted and they went somewhat silent, a few children heard crying. "If any of you haven't guessed by now, this is a hostage situation."
Then he reached with his free hand into his pocket and pulled out a small device, the one he used on the Titans' communicators. Fiddling with it, he finally pushed a button and grinned behind his mask of bandage wrapping.
Oh, what fun he would have today.
-R-
He was already on his way to the presentation when his communicator beeped. There was something wrong there, but weren't the others already there?
He pushed the button to speak face to face with one of them, but all he got was a static screen. He pressed it again to get someone else, but the same thing happened. So, slightly worried and frustrated, he pushed another button to show where they were on the map of Jump City—
What were they doing on the other side of town? They were moving as fast as they could away from where they needed to be. But what if they got another call? No. he would have received the call too and his communicator had remained silent until just now. Either his was broken or theirs was. They'd have to discuss it when they returned to the tower.
Speeding up, he rounded the corner and there was Wayne Enterprises—and a semi-large crowd gathered outside, many people running down the streets away from the place. There were people still inside, trying their best to break down the glass of the doors. It wasn't working when it should have.
Well, at least it wasn't his communicator that was broken.
"Move!" he shouted and they obeyed without question. His motorcycle skidded to a halt and he took off his helmet, running up the stairs to the doors. He waved his hand toward the people inside, motioning form them to move back.
Many of them looked confused, but when he pulled out an explosive birdarang…
With the hostages at a safe distance away from the door, he pulled out two more of his explosives and held them between the fingers of his left hand. With one throw, they came into contact with the doors at different places and exploded.
He coughed, waiting for the smoke to settle and—it didn't work. There wasn't even a scratch on the glass. The people on the inside were just as surprised as he was and he pointed upward to show them he would find another way inside.
Pulling out his grappling hook (thingy…) he shot it at the roof and held down on the button. He was suddenly airborne, speeding toward the roof at a thrilling pace. Just before he reached the top, he swung up and did a back flip onto the roof, pressing the release button on his grappling hook. Suddenly up there, he noticed the gigantic hole.
There was a gunshot—and a familiar voice from inside.
"Who wants to die first!"
There was a shriek from the crowd and a shrilling scream from a young girl. Acting upon instinct, he jumped down through the hole into the atrium and landed gracefully—behind that strange man.
The man had his arm around the young girl's neck, his gun aimed at her temple. "On the count of three, sweetie. One…two…thr—"
The man fell forward as Robin's foot came into contact with his back, releasing the girl in the process. She scrambled away instantly toward her mother and gave Robin a quick thankful glance. He was lucky to get there when he did.
The man laughed…and turned over onto his back, propped up on his elbows to stare at Robin. "Hello again. I was upset I didn't have the time to say a proper goodbye the other day. I hope I didn't get you into trouble for missing your curfew?..."
Robin muttered a curse beneath his breath. That lunatic was somehow reading his mind again.
"Uh uh uh—shouldn't be cursing, young man. Didn't daddy ever tell you that?"
"Shut up!" He barked. He was wholly annoyed and had only spent a maximum of about five minutes so far with the guy. "I never did catch your name."
"I didn't throw it." The man laughed, standing and brushing off the dust from his coat. There was a mess everywhere from the cave-in. "But forgive me for forgetting—Jaze (Alex: as in daze). Though, I was called Scarecrow in many of the other cities I've been to. However, it seems another villain has already called that name."
"Enough of the formalities." Robin frowned, pulling out his Bo-staff and giving it a twirl before holding it in the ready position. "I'm taking you down."
Those red eyes widened in mock surprise. "Me? I think I'm not the only one you'll have to worry about. Go ahead! Hit me."
As you wish.
Robin dashed forward, ready to strike—and suddenly a civilian jumped in his way. He stumbled into that person and they both crashed to the floor. The rest of the crowd was confused, someone shouting at the man who got in Robin's way. What was this dude thinking?
Robin, lying on top, shook the stars from his vision and stared at the man in disbelief. His eyes…there was no pupil. There was his blue iris—but there was no dark hole in the center to explain if he could see. He looked like a blind man.
The eyes flashed red and the man sat up just as Robin did. Then he wrapped his arms around the young hero who sat on his lap in a vice-like grip and continued to squeeze with an inhuman strength.
"Can't kill him—now can you?" Jaze laughed, hands on his hips, still holding the gun. "Either you do, or I will…"
And the gun was raised.
"No—" Robin choked, many of the people beginning to panic again. But he was quick, he rammed his forehead into the guy's nose—and evidently pain could still register in his brain. The man released him at once and Robin stood, taking a few steps away in worry that the man would grab him again and Jaze would shoot him.
Jaze continued to cackle, lowering his gun. "You are a mystery, Boy Wonder. Why waste your time on them! You have the ability to become above the law and stay that way—but you go and defend it? Please tell me that's not something you picked up from your parents."
Robin held back the swear he wanted to spit at the man. There were still hostages in the room.
He shouldn't have thought that.
"I almost forgot myself, Zipper." Jaze said, gazing around the room at all the innocent people. "We can't leave them out of the fun. That would be rude—"
Speaking of which, his communicator beeped. He answered immediately hoping to heaven above that his friends were somewhere nearby.
"Robin, where are you?" Starfire asked from the other end of the line. "There was a false report at one of the banks and—"
"Get over here now!" He said, worried that he wouldn't be able to save everyone. "There's a hostage situation back at the presentation!"
"Who is the culprit?"
"A man named Jaze—trench coat, wrapped up like a mummy, and glowing red eyes."
She gave him a weird look. "Robin—"
Static.
"Starfire?..."
"How terribly rude." Jaze said plainly. In his hand he held a small black device, one finger pressing down on a button. "Interrupting a conversation and ignoring the other person—I think you need to be taught some manners."
The room fell quiet…Robin stared at everyone, all eyes glowing a soft red. They were under Jaze's control—but where did he get his powers from? Robin had seen some interesting tricks, but this psychic thing…it was so odd. Why was he using it on Robin?
"Because I can't." Jaze replied, telekinetically reading his mind again. "That's why I can relate you so well to Slade. I couldn't control his mind either, just gaze into a few of his thoughts…though…I have the ability to go further…"
Robin began to wonder how he knew Slade at all. Enemies? Friends? Perhaps at one time partners. He would have to dig deeper into that later on.
"I'll be the only one prying." Jaze said, his voice serious and curious. Those glowing red eyes seemed to dull the rest of Robin's senses, but he couldn't give into him.
The dulling of the sense did, however, allowing the unnoticed civilian to come up from behind Robin and hit him on the back of the head. Already dizzy from Jaze's eyes, Robin fell to the ground…vision fading…
-J-
The young hero, who had fallen unconscious approximately five minutes ago, slowly came to. With the help of the hypnotized civilians, Robin was bound and gagged in the center of the a cleared spaced on the floor of the atrium. He lay on his back, stretch like a T, ankles and knees tied together by Jaze's odd bandage wrapping, summoned by will. His arms were stretched out to either side by the wrapping as well. Tied around his wrists and ankles, each of the three lines of wrapping lead off into the darkness of the room—attached to nothing but the darkness Jaze created with his mind. The civilians lingered in the shadows, eyes glowing, and time of the outside world seemed to slow…slow so that the other Titans would arrive too late.
Gagged, Robin could say nothing as the two white slits for eyes spread apart so he could see. Jaze admired the mask. It was very unique. The boy himself reminded him of his lost son. Though only one, his son had been born with his father's mental powers and learned how to speak and act rapidly. He had a fiery soul and a determined spirit, intelligent and brave. Besides that, the spiky black hair and too paled skin also reminded him of his son. He suspected that his son, if had been fated to live to this day, would have grown to be like Robin…but not as a hero…
Struggling, Robin could move only to the minimum. His body stretched and limbs tied tightly, he couldn't hope at all the escape. Not unless someone else came, but that wasn't going to happen.
Jaze could hear the boy's heart race. He closed his eyes, trying to pry inside…He wanted to know everything about this boy, to see if he was both fit and worthy to be his son.
No use. It was impressive that the boy could block him so well, probably used to blocking out everyone all the time. But Jaze needed to get inside, and he knew how.
-R-
He pulled again, muscles straining…then relaxed to take a break. There was no use. What were his bindings tied to and how could he get free of them? He had to leave—an he had to save all those people.
Where were the others!
From the darkness came the man, red eyes revealing him before he stepped into the dim light that surrounded Robin. And where exactly was that light coming from? There was no lamp on…and why was it so dark? Had he been unconscious that long?
"So many questions…" The man whispered, and Robin shivered mentally from the chills running along his spin. "None of them will be answered—nor do they need to be answered. I, on the other hand, need answers. Please excuse my intrusion."
"No!" Robin shouted, his speech muffled by the gag. "Let me go!"
The man chose not to hear him and walked to Robin's side, kneeling beside him. He waved a hand slowly above his chest and Robin found his breath regulating, chest rising and falling as the man moved his hand. His heart, however, continued to race. How was the man doing that? How could he control someone like that?
"My questions first, Robin." The man said, his voice barely audible. He placed a hand on Robin's upper chest, dead center on his sternum above where part of his heart was located. Then he pushed down gently and Robin's eyes widened, memories flooding his mind.
They're dead—
Let go—
I could be like a father to you—
I already have a father—
Mom…dad…—
HELP—
Watch out—
I'm coming—
Robin?—
Starfire!—
NO!—
"Not fragments, dammit!" Jaze hissed, pressing harder on Robin's sternum. "I want to see everything, child. Let me in!…"
Robin stared at those angry red eyes… 'No…' He thought. 'Please let go of me…don't do this to me!'
"Hush…" He whispered and slipped a hand under Robin's back as the hero struggled again. He placed the palm of his hand upper center of his back behind Robin's heart. Then he gently pressed his hands together—a little painful on Robin's part.
Dead. Both. Slade. Bruce. Starfire. Masks. Untrustworthy. Liar. Death. Fighting. Thrill. Broken. Friends. Enemies. Disbelief. Help. Alone. Always alone…
"That's better…" Jaze sighed. "But not good enough. I need to hear it all…"
'Please! STOP! Pleas don't do this! NO!'
He pushed harder now and Robin's small scream was muffled. His chest was being crushed and he couldn't move his arms or legs to escape. He turned his head to the side, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. One escaped and fell to the floor by his face. He tried hard to struggle…and then there were so many memories—memories he cherished and memories he despised with all his might. But there was no escaping it. The man was prying into his very soul and saw everything.
"Perfect…" Jaze whispered in Robin's ear. Robin shivered and his chest was released.
And then he blacked-out.
-A-
Please don't kill me. I'm so sorry for forgetting to update…(Slaps self) Owe…(Rubs jaw gingerly).
I made this one a little longer than I usually make my chapters and I was original not going to tell you what Jaze did to Robin until the next chapter. But then I began to worry that if I would forget again, I would leave you all on the edge of a cliff. Once more—I'm ever so very sorry.
Adoption theme? Sorry about that too. It was just a crazy idea that popped into my mind because I always wondered how the Titans would feel if a parent came along and ruined their free life. Well… I twisted that into Robin getting kidnapped for adoption, yadda yadda…
Last thing, I know I'm trying to avoid Slade, but that guy really does haunt every dark corner of a person's mind. You will see him in the future, but Jaze and Robin are the two main characters in this plot. You won't believe what I have planned for you next.
-Hoping you don't hate me
-Alexnandru Van Gordon
