Ida4444: I don't think you're bashing me at all! I kind of agree with you, looking back at it now. I tried extra hard in this chapter to make sure everyone stayed in character, although I think I might be a little off with Jason and Raven. I've been trying to learn more about Jason as a person, but since I can only find stuff from when he's the Red Hood it's a little hard for me to talk about him when he was Robin.
Kirokokori: I completely agree with you. I was kind of rushed during the ends and beginning of this chapter so I didn't focus much on Bruce and his dialogue. Right now I think Bruce is a little bit clueless as to what TRULY happened while Dick was Slade's apprentice, but in the next few chapters he will really start to change.
Robinloverforeve: I think we may live in different time zones, so just know that when I say Sunday I mean Sunday my time, which sounds more like early Monday morning or late Sunday night your time. I'll see if I can fit something in like a note from Slade. It's a good idea, but I'm still not sure how I would make it.
Dick was, to say the least, very nervous about seeing the Titans again. They had arrived late last night, too tired to do anything but sleep and had gone to bed without even bothering to say hello. Now it was early the next morning, and Dick was sitting with Jason at the dining room table, waiting for the Titans to come for breakfast.
The Titans had woken one at a time, Raven being the first up as usual. She sat down across from a fidgeting Dick and a starving Jason, examining them both over her cup of herbal tea.
"Hey, sleep well?" Dick asked in an awkward tone, washing down his embarrassment with a glass of water.
"Um yeah, I guess as about as well as I could have." Raven replied, before asking "So how have you been? I mean, after everything that's happened...?" The empath mentally slapped herself when she could feel the waves of discomfort radiating off of her leader.
"Yeah I've, I've been good. Just kind of hanging out around the house so far. All the schools are out for summer break so there isn't much to do..." Dick turned and guests red towards his brother, "This is Jason. I guess you could say he's my brother? We were both adopted so..." Dick trailed off, his voice soon becoming non-existent in the vast room.
Both Dick and the Titans were still having a hard time believing all this. When Dick had allowed Bruce to call the Titans he expected it to be as Batman, but this was not the case. Normally Bruce was EXTREMELY cautious about who to tell his identity too, but he had revealed it to the Titans within the first few minutes of his call.
The next to awaken was Cyborg, who seemed as friendly Nd open as always.
"Hey man, it's good to see you again. This is some place you got here! They serve any bacon?" Cyborg chatted away as he sat down at the table.
"Indeed we do, sir." Alfred replied to his question with a large plate full of a meat lovers dream.
"Man, I'm liking this place already!" Cyborg said excitedly as he began digging into his large pile of breakfast foods.
The four of them continued talking until the remaining two Titans came for breakfast together, sitting down at the table while smiling at their friends.
"Good morning friends! Robin, it is so glorious to see you again!" Starfire beamed as she reached out to give Dick a hug, who had unnoticeably flinched when she called him Robin.
"Hey Star, it's good to see you to." Dick returned the hug before sitting back down to finish his breakfast.
After breakfast, Dick and Jason gave the Titans a tour of the manor, which stopped short when Beast Boy and Cyborg discovered the television room.
"Dude! You have the new Super Ninja Monkeys game!? Cyborg, I am SO goanna kick your butt!" Beast Boy yelled in excitement before hopping onto the couch and grabbing a controller, followed quickly by Cyborg and Jason.
"Oh, you're on grass stain!" Cyborg shouted back. Starfire, Raven and Dick watched them play, having no desire to get in the middle of their competitive game.
"Dick?" Raven turned towards the boy in question after about ten minutes, a concerned look on her face. Once she got his attention she began again, "When Batman- Bruce, sorry- called he seemed… kind of concerned about something. We aren't just here for a visit are we? Is there something you need to tell us? I can feel all the nervousness radiating off of you. I just…" She trailed off, trying to find the right words. "I just want to make sure you know that we're here for you. If you need to talk, I'm always available."
After their conversation, Raven and Robin continued watching the boys play video games until it was time for lunch.
"Oh Robin, I was unaware that you had a brother! Please, what is your name?" Starfire asked the boy, who had stayed quiet for most of the day, standing near the back and just watching the Titans and especially Dick.
"Uhm Starfire?" Raven leaned towards the alien, speaking in a low voice so none of the others could hear her. "I think it would be best if you called him by his real name, he's just called Dick here, so maybe stop calling him that?" Raven once again stumbled over her words, not used to talking so much in one day.
Starfire nodded in understanding and their lunch was continued in peace.
Later in the afternoon, Dick and Jason decided to show the Titans the Batcave.
"Woah, Dudes! This is amazing!" Beast Boy exclaimed in excitement, reaching out to touch one of the many weapons hanging on the stone wall.
"Yo! Grass Stain! Don't touch that! With your luck it'll blow up and kill us all!" Cyborg panicked, slapping Beast Boy's hand away.
"Our he'll just cut his hand off." Raven mumbled under her breath, making Starfire giggle.
"On second thought, feel free to touch anything that looks deadly." Cyborg said, making everyone burst into a small fit of laughter.
So guys, this is the Batcave, there's the computer. The weapons wall is over here, and through that door is the training room. Down these stairs is all the stuff Batman's collected over the years." Dick told them as they all descended the stairs into the museum like floor of the Batcave. Dick showed them the giant penny, the large joker card, and many other things, along with telling the stories that came along with each of the items.
"Oh, look!" Starfire said, flying towards a wall with pictures and newspapers framed on it. "It is little Robin!" She pointed towards a newspaper article about Robin, the headline reading 'Batman takes in Boy Wonder as sidekick!'. Next to the article was a picture of both Batman and Robin. Dick was only eight, almost nine when the picture had been taken. His costume consisted of the usual red shirt, yellow cape and, sadly, the green shorts, which made Jason, Beast Boy, and Cyborg burst into laughter.
"Dude! You look so dumb! And I thought your costume now was bad!" Cyborg choked out in between his laughter.
"Hey, c'mon guys," Dick said, laughing a little himself, "I was nine, cut me some slack. I got to pick my own outfit and as you can see I wasn't the most fashionable kid and all."
"Oh Robin! You look so adorable! Was it not most enjoyable being a superhero?" Starfire asked, yet again calling him Robin. Soon after everyone stopped laughing and gave the girl small glares for the name. "Please," Starfire began again when Dick didn't answer, "When will you be coming back home to fight the crime again?" She flew closer to Dick now, who took small steps away from her.
"Star, I really don't want to talk about this right now…" He replied uncomfortably, but the alien didn't noticed and only advanced her questions
"But please, you must return with us! I wish to commence in the eating of pizza and the watching of movies again!" She said excitedly, happiness shining in her eyes.
"I…" Dick looked at her, then at the other Titans, who were also wanting to know when he would come home. "I don't know. I got to go, I think Alfred is calling for me." Dick lied, hurriedly walking up the stairs and out of the cave, towards his room.
"Did I say something wrong? Please, I am most sorry-"
"Don't worry about it, he's just kind of been fidgety whenever anyone mentions the whole Robin thing. Just… I'm going to go talk to him." Jason replied, before heading up the stairs after his brother.
"Please," Starfire turned towards her friends, confusion now covering her face, "I do not understand why Robin would not like to come home. He has most enjoyed the fighting of crime before! Does he not wish to be our friend any longer?"
"Star," Cyborg sighed in disappointment, "I know that we would all love to have him back as soon as possible, but you have to remember what he went through with Slade."
"I agree with Cyborg," Raven said, "We don't know what happened while he was with Slade, but I'm sure it was hard. He probably hasn't been around anyone other than Slade very much the past few months, it's going to take a while for him to get used to being around people who aren't blackmailing him again."
"But I do not want it to take a long time! I wish for Robin to be better now so that we may go home and be friends again! I do not like Gotham, it is dark and scary and there are many disturbing people here! He must come home at once and get better and be happy again!" Starfire shouted in frustration. Why couldn't her friends understand? Robin did not need time to get better, he needed to be home with his friends again!
"Star, as much as I hate to agree with you on this, he wants to be here. Not back in Jump." Cyborg told her, "These people, they're his family and I'm sure after everything they've gone through together he needs them around. Someday Robin will come home, but I don't think it will be anytime soon. We just have to deal with it."
Starfire sighed, floating down to the ground and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I must make the apologizes to Robin." She said in a quiet, defeated voice. She did not want Robin to stay in Gotham, she wanted him home where he was safe.
"That's a good idea Star, but I think we better wait a while for him to cool down." Cyborg said again, putting his hand on her shoulder and giving her an encouraging smile.
"And besides," Beast Boy spoke up, a smirk plastered on his face, "Cyborg and I need to have a rematch!"
Sorry this is late, I have my excuses but I'm sure you don't want to hear them. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out on time. Until then, have a good week!
-Dreams