Rob and Batman spent no time in getting down to business, the two dark clad detectives were immersed in thought and piles of paperwork and photographs. Neither spoke but both were fully aware of each other's movements. For instance, Batman noted the way Rob tried to use his hands through his sleeves, effectively pushing around pictures and not much else. Low growls of annoyance followed each picture that slid to the floor; Rob continued to uselessly drag the long sleeves through the carefully categorized piles.
"You don't have to hide who you are," Batman turned his back to Rob giving the other detective some privacy.
"I know I don't have to," the growling voice was not full of defeat, "but some choices are made purely for personal reasons." Rob peaked at Batman's back from behind the heavy veil, a heavy sigh alerted Batman to the downfall of Rob's identity. "Don't peak Bat," Rob growled dangerously at the Dark Knights back. Watching the Dark Knight, Rob rolled up the long sleeves; revealing what had been a secret for so many years.
Batman shuffled through his own pile of pictures and paperwork, making certain to keep his back to the detective at all times; Batman knew that some things were sacred.
Robin was tired of hiding, even to herself but she had to hide no one should know or see who she is. So when Batman gave her the privacy she needed, she took it. Sharp, coal black nails, what Robin referred to as claws traced a face contorted in pain from a photograph that sat atop the pile. "Where are you going next?" the question was directed strongly at the Collector, if only he had never decided to mess with her life.
Robin turned the clawed hand over, inspecting the palm that had never seen sunlight; rough pads decorated the tips of her fingers and the circular part of the palm. Turning it back over she ran her fingers over the back of her hand, rough golden fur that shimmered in the dull light of the florescent bulbs. A sudden thought struck Robin as she rolled down her sleeves again, "Batman, we need to gather a few of your past acquaintances."
Batman glanced over his shoulder at her, the white lenses in his mask was a muted grey through the veil. "Would you care to explain?"
"The only ones I can think of are Cheetah and Copper Head," Robin's large frame glided around the room, leaning down now and again to take a closer look at the pictures.
"What ones?" Batman turned fully to look Robin in which he thought was her face.
Robin leaned in towards Batman, the black veil inches from the shorter man's face, "the ones that could very well die next if I don't stop the Collector."
Superman and Green Lantern were eating lunch together in the almost deserted dining hall when the two dark detectives burst into the large space.
"You two," the deep growling voice of Rob was punctuated by the floppy sleeve that pointed at the seated pair, "I need you to accompany myself and Batman to pick up some strays." With that the cloaked detective swept from the room, each step pronounced by the sharp mystery click, "I'll meet you at the teleport pad." With that Rob disappeared.
Green Lantern set down the fork he had been holding, "He sure is in a hurry."
Superman stood up with a frown of confusion, "strays?"
Batman, who had stopped to stand beside the dining pair, stared after Rob. "Apparently he had a hunch, we need to pick up Cheetah and Copper Head," with that, Batman swept off after Rob.
"Those two are eerily alike," Green Lantern's glowing eyes looked at the spot both shadows had disappeared at.
"I know what you mean," Superman strode from the room, Green Lantern not far behind, "we better hurry or they are likely to forget about us and go off on their own."
Green Lantern sighed, "Like two Batman's wouldn't be able to take care of themselves."
"Batman, you go with Superman," Rob gave the order like a true leader; "I need you two to look for Copper Head."
"Green Lantern, you're with me," the large, dark clad detective towered over the Green and black clad hero, "our objective is Cheetah." Rob's black veil stared at Superman and Batman, "radio us on updates, even if there is nothing to report; I want to hear from you every half hour." The detective stepped onto the teleportation platform, "Green Lantern and I will be heading for Gotham City Park."
"I suggest you two look for Copper head in Metropolis," without further instruction Rob and GL (green lantern) disappeared in a flash of light.
"Lets get moving Batman," Superman was next to step onto the transport platform, "we may not have much time,"
Batman gave a mute nod before following the heroic boy-scout.
Green lantern blinked once to clear his eyes before taking in his surrounding, Gotham City Park was vast and dense; only marred by jogging paths, biking trails and small clearings for children's toys and picnic areas. "Why are we looking in Gotham City Park?"
Rob, who had materialized a few feet behind stood stock still; "we are here because I have been keeping tabs on various villains and heroes." A slight gust of wind ruffled the coat, "and my information says that Cheetah has made the park her territory." A deep inhale issued from beneath the veil, the material bunched at one side; Rob now gazed out into the dense trees, "she is not to terribly far." With that Rob strode resolutely into the undergrowth.
Thus leaving GL standing on the dirt path, "How does he do that?" the green hero sighed before following. If only he had looked down he would have spied what Rob had left behind, footprints that were inhuman; GL's boots stomped out what was left of the evidence before being swallowed up by the park.
Rob slipped easily through the branches, treading lightly over the leaf strewn floor; though GL didn't fare so well. The hero pushed his way through, more than once having been back-lashed by an abusive branch. GL glowed with suppressed exasperation at the situation he was in, he could have been in Metropolis with Superman; looking to the clear streets from the skies. But no, he had to be trudging through this. After being hit once again in the face, GL was just about to snap when he ran into the back of a broad back, "Hey…"
He was cut off by the floppy sleeve of Rob's Coat, "she is near." A series of sharp inhales the light crinkle of cloth as Rob scanned the trees was all that could be heard. "All the wildlife has gone silent and her scent is everywhere,"
"Are you like B'wana Beast or something?" GL raised an eyebrow at the detectives back.
"Or something," Rob agreed before dropping to his knee to investigate the soil, "Paw prints, fresh, she probably just skipped through here." Rising, Rob took another look around, "be right back."
Before Green Lantern's very eyes, the detective vanished in a flurry of movement. Leaving him alone on the dark path, "…Rob?"
Robin's large form darted through the blur of trees, following the lithe figure of Cheetah; she may be part animal but that didn't mean she could move as fast as one. With a burst of muscle power, Robin flew through the air, landing squarely atop the thin back of the target. "Don't move feline," the blood still pounded in her head, the thrill of the hunt and the need to kill the warm prey beneath was almost too tempting.
"Let go of me!!" the protests were followed by the thrashing of the thin but strong feminine limbs. "I haven't done anything to deserve this…recently."
"If you don't stop moving I can't be held responsible for the consequences," the strain in Robin's voice was plain, even to herself.
"Is that a threat to my personal safety?!" Cheetah tried to squirm away, "I believe that is against the law buddy."
A roar that half deafened the female emanated inches from her ears, "okay, okay, I get it." Cheetah stopped moving but looked over her shoulder, into the dark veil that covered Robin's face and asked the one question that none other had, "what are you?"
"That's something I would like to know."
Gl was about to go looking for Rob if he didn't come back in 5 minutes, he didn't know why he waited. It wasn't like Rob was his superior or anything, that's what he kept telling himself; he was just waiting out of respect.
A snapping twig made GL turn and came face to face with the hooded front of Rob, "I almost came looking for you, what made you disappear like that?"
"I got what we came for, come on." Rob brushed past GL, giving the cold shoulder.
"I'm not an object!" the indignant cry made GL look down. Tucked under one of Rob's arm was a furry figure, limbs tied to prevent escape.
"How do you do that?" the wonder in GL's voice was hard to hide, with feat after feat of inhuman instinct.
"As I told your comrade Flash," The growl of Rob's voice was strained, "If you have not figured it out yet…you will soon enough."