Robin: The Boy Wonder
No Fun at the Big Top Part III
Gotham High School
Tim sat slumped over in his Chemistry class; he had only gotten back to Gotham early that morning. Tim's abdomen was still sore after the kick Pierrot Lunaire had delivered to him in Star City. His eyes began wondering around the class as his teachers monotone voice slowly began to be drowned out. A smile spread across Tim's face as the bell rang and he swiftly left the classroom alongside his fellow pupils and into the corridor.
"Tim"
Tim spun around to look in the direction of where the soft, delicate voice had come from, and there she stood, Stephanie Brown.
"Hi Steph"
"So how was Star City then?"
"Good thanks; sorry I couldn't make the party-"
"I didn't go in the end; some stuff came up with my dad so you know…"
"Oh right, so I was wondering you if you weren't busy tonight maybe-"
"Sorry Tim, I'm kinda rushed off my feet at the moment, exams and other stuff. So some other time yeah?"
"Yeah sure, um I gotta get to class. See you around"
"Sure"
Tim turned and walked back down the corridor scratching his head.
Later
The Batcave
Tim stood by the edge of the training arena in his civilian clothes while Cassandra Cain who was in her workout gear practiced her kicks and strikes on several helpless dummies.
"Cass you're a girl so you know how girls think right?"
A smile spread across Cassandra's face as she delivered a hard spin kick to one of the dummies.
"See, how do I say this without sounding really lame?"
Cassandra gestured with her hand for Tim to continue, then she took the head off one of the dummies with a thundering open palm strike.
"So like, I think I may like someone but I don't know if she's interested or not. She asked me to a party, I couldn't make cus of the stuff in Star City but then I asked her out today but she said she was busy…yeah okay"
Cassandra pointed to a pair of nunchucks that hung on the display stand next to Tim, he grabbed them and threw them over to Cassandra.
"So yeah I don't know what to think…"
With the deadly nunchucks, Cassandra battered the remaining dummies to the floor. She then rubbed the sweat off her face and walked over to Tim.
"…Any ideas?"
Cassandra placed her arm around Tim's shoulders and smiled at him. The cave erupted in laughter as the pair couldn't control themselves. Then Bruce came walking down the stairs, he unfastened his tie and sat down next to the bat-computer.
"Tim, a word"
Cassandra walked away off to the showers as Tim made his way over to Bruce.
"So the party animal returns"
"Funny. How was Star City? I hear that Queen Industries was broken into and Pierrot Lunaire was arrested. Sounds eventful"
"I think he was sent from Halys but he wouldn't talk so that trail hit a brick hall"
"Tim, an item was stolen that night from the Queen Tech lab"
"How? Lunaire was alone"
"Evidently not, a new nano device called the SEC. The SEC is a tool that can be attached to a person temple. It then sends low frequency signals to the brain. As a result the individual is left in a complete trance, open to suggestion"
"So I see someone is still reading Science Illustrated magazine"
"Tim this is serious-"
"I know, I know…"
"Halys Circus is in Metropolis next on Friday. Are you still up to the task?"
"Well yeah but I'm gunna have to square it with Dad again"
"Good"
"By the way I heard you took down Cluemaster"
"I did yes. But I was helped. Somebody left clues for me to follow. They took me straight to him. The clues fit the Riddler's M.O but leaving clues for anyone other then himself doesn't. This one has my interest"
Meanwhile
Forrest 30km South of Metropolis
The screaming man was standing tied against the tree; his body was wrapped tight in thick metal chains. 10 feet away from the captive man stood the Kabuki twins, their mysterious leader and the circus strongman who was holding the circus lion by a collar and metal chain around its strong neck.
"Now let's see if this works then" Whispered the Mysterious man to himself.
He stood next to the lion and placed the SEC device against its temple.
"Sit"
The lion sat down immediately.
"Very good, release him"
The strongman let go of the chain.
"Kill that man" The mysterious man said as he pointed to the screaming man who was tied to the tree.
The lion without hesitation pounced onto his target and ripped his chest apart with one bite. It then clawed his legs and crunched his face into mush with one bite of its strong jaw.
"So that defiantly works"
Gotham Suburbs
The hot summer sun was lowering over the skyline. Jack Drake sat down outside in the back garden in his wheelchair. Jack and Tim both wore baseball mitts and were throwing a ball between each other.
"What did you do at school today Tim?"
"Pretty much nothing"
"Nothing? Not sure why I send you there then" Jack laughed.
"Nah it's just that everything now is just revision really"
"If there was one thing I wish I could do, it would be to have second shot at school"
"No you don't, I've shown you 'Mean Girls'"
"Which one was that again?"
"Nevermind, by the way I needed to ask you about summit"
"Lemme guess, another weekend away?"
Tim grinned from ear to ear.
"Umm kinda yeah"
"What is it now Tim?"
"There's this small band that is in Metropolis on Friday and they are only on the East coast for this one gig…"
"Tim what are you up to?"
"Pardon? It's a gig?"
"Okay. But this is the very last time in a while. You need to be at home revising"
"Thanks Dad, I do love you, you know"
"Right back atcha kid"
Jack and Tim continued to throw the baseball back and forth. Inside Tim felt horrible, he loved being Robin but hated having to lie to his Dad every day of his life.
No Fun at the Big Top to be concluded Next Issue!
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