Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.
In Time
Robin's alarm is set to go off at 6:00AM. It has been that way for many years, with the one exception being New Year's Day where he permits himself a couple more hours. But Robin doesn't wake up at 6:00AM. Having a highly trained body, a disciplined mind, and a good internal clock, Robin awakes exactly 5 minutes before his alarm without fail. He liked to use this time to bask in the silence and plan out his day. But on this particular morning it wasn't his day he was planning.
Ellwood. What did one do with a civilian teenage boy? Robin stared up at his bedroom ceiling, with his arms crossed. The newcomer had spent his first night with them in a quiet and impassive mood, like a rock. He showed no interest in exploring his surroundings; like Robin would have been if he was the one moving into a new home (or trying to run away from one). Instead, Ellwood ignored everything to do with Robin and the other titans after the initial introduction, and his few questions. His sudden access to all the latest games, and gaming systems provoked no response. The knowledge of attending a new school on Monday passed over Ellwood's head with no visible curiosity or nerves. The only thing that did strike an emotional response was diner time. Where Ellwood practically inhaled the lasagna and salad they had eaten last night and looked like he would maul anyone who dared try to take his plate from him. And then Ellwood had retired to his room and hasn't left it since.
Sighing to himself Robin unfolds his arms and sits up as his alarm beeps. They would make sure Ellwood had breakfast. Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy had volunteered to take him shopping. That would leave him and Raven free to stay stationed at the tower, Robin thought as he turned off the alarm, and stood up. Immediately after he turned and started to tuck in and straighten his sheets. That should keep them busy for the first half of the day. Maybe longer if Starfire takes the lead. With his bed properly made, Robin moves onto his closet to change into a fresh uniform. They'd come back to the tower after shopping, and all six of them could have lunch. Robin double checks to make sure his mask is fixed to his face. But after that? What could they do with Ellwood? Did they need to do anything with him? On silent feet, Robin leaves his room and heads for the common room. They were all the same age. They didn't need to entertain Ellwood; just keep him out of trouble. Robin pauses in front of Ellwood's room, and strains his ears. Not a sound; nothing suspicious. Nodding in satisfaction the boy wonder continues on his way. He would have to disable the alarm on Ellwood's door from the main computer before the other boy wakes up. Though who knows when that would be.
Entering the common room Robin's first activity is to put bread in the toaster. The next step is to disable the alarm. And not just the one Robin had set up in Ellwood's room. Every morning Robin turned off the alarms for all the entrances, windows, and recreation rooms. All of this security was added on after the time the hive took over the tower for an afternoon. An event none of the titans wanted to repeat. Just as Robin finished typing in the last code to disarm the last night time security measure the toast popped. Right on time.
By 6:15AM Robin had eaten his meal and downed it with a glass of water. At 6:30AM he had made it to the gym and started stretching for his morning workout. After shin splints, pushups, crunches, and at least two miles on the treadmill, he'd head back up to the living quarters, shower, and check in with the team. And at 7:30AM Robin did just that. The benefits of being the first one up was not having to wait for the bathroom, or for hot water.
At 7:45AM Robin walked past Ellwood's room again, still quiet, as he headed into the common room. "Morning" he greeted.
"And a most glorious morning to you friend Robin" Starfire said from her seat where she was nursing a bottle of mustard.
"Yo" Cyborg called. "Take a seat. I'm making waffles!".
"Thanks, but I already ate", Robin answered as he walked further into the room. "Beast Boy and Raven?" He asked, coming to stand by the island.
"BB's up. I heard him when I walked by his room. He fell out of bed again". Cyborg said with a laugh at Robin's frown. Beast Boy rolling out of bed was a common enough occurrence that Robin often wondered why Beast Boy insisted on having bunk beds. "And I haven't seen Raven yet. But you know her. She's probably off meditating".
Robin nods. "Raven and I will man the tower in case someone decides to cause trouble. You three still good going to the mall?" Robin asked, failing to mention that him staying behind had little to do with his dislike of malls, and a lot to do with his desire to research the latest leads on Slade.
Starfire grins at him. "It will be a wonderful outing to get to know Ellwood". She declared her excitement.
"But we'll need to stop at an office store or something too. We don't have any school supplies for the kid". Cyborg added.
Robin nodded. Good idea. If Ellwood was fully prepared, he'd have no excuse for not doing his best. Robin remembers Ellwood's school record that social services sent over. His grades were sub-par. As expected for someone who changed schools constantly, including the bouts of time when Ellwood wasn't in school at all. And then there was the suspicious assignments identical to his sister's. Despite living in different counties at the time. But, by keeping Ellwood occupied with school, maybe they could keep him out of trouble, and out of the way with trouble arises. Which reminded Robin. "We need a plan on what to do with him when we're working" he said, not feeling like he needed to specify who 'him' is.
Starfire watched the two team leaders exchange with interest. How would they fight crime with a civilian?
Cyborg shrugs. He had thought about it plenty enough. And while it wasn't an ideal situation they just have to do what makes the most sense. "He'll have to stay here. The tower's safe enough, and we'll lock down the tower before we leave. Monday through Friday he'll be stuck at school. And if something happens when we're out, one of us will have to stay behind."
Robin nodded his agreement, but with a contemplative frown still etched on his face. "our enemies might notice if one of us is missing. It may put the team in danger and paint a target on Ellwood's back."
"Please" Starfire speaks up, as Cyborg starts to lay out the ingredients for waffles. "We are the titans. Whatever happen we will handle it".
"Besides", added Cyborg as he rummages through the cupboards looking for his mixing bowl. "If the kid really did roll with Catwoman, something tells me he can handle himself".
At 8:00AM Robin leaves the common room with Cyborg. Right when Beast Boy wanders down the hall, yawning. "Don't mess with my kitchen" Cyborg calls after the green boy. Cyborg and Robin part ways at the elevator. Robin heading down to his detective room, and Cyborg down the hall to Ellwood's room to wake up the new boy.
Robin passed time by keeping himself up to date with the latest police reports and analyzing pictures of unsolved crime scenes; searching for signs of Slade. The super villain had been quiet for far too long. Long enough that Robin suspected that he must be planning something.
By 9:00AM Robin watched the security camera as the T-car drives away, carrying Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire, and their new charge. At 9:05AM Raven knocks on his door and lets herself in. "I don't like this" she said, repeating the sentiment she had been stating since the idea of taking in a student of Catwoman was brought to the team.
Robin looked up from his work. "he has been here less than 24 hours. And spent most of his time in his room asleep". Robin retorts. He didn't like having some random teenager here either. But if this was a chance to prevent the creation of another criminal, to help a potential meta make the right choices, and to learn about Gotham's most notorious burglar, then they had to take it.
"He's aura different. Yesterday it was maroon, and now it's violet".
Before meeting Raven, Robin would have scoffed at the notion of auras and a sixth sense, but now he knew that Raven sometimes saw more than he does. "And auras don't change?' he asked.
Raven rolled her eyes. "they do, but not that fast. He felt like a different person" Raven said, as she replayed the encounter she had with Ellwood in the hallway. How could someone forget their way after just one night?
Robin pushed away from his desk; his chair rolling a little closer to Raven and made eye contact with her. "Do you think this is proof that he has powers?" Because if they could prove it, perhaps they could start to explain some unanswered questions. Like why did all of Ellwood's foster parents end up dead or injured after he stayed with them? Or how they, Ellwood and his sister, always managed to run?
Raven pursed her lips. "I can't say that. But Ellwood's not normal". A moment passes as the two teens tried to think about possible things that both of them couldn't see. And at 9:15AM Raven asked, "What do we know about his sister?"
12:30PM rolls around. Raven had retired to her room for some recreational reading, after learning what they could about the twins with Robin. Nothing was adding up, and she needed a break. So, did Robin, but his break came in the form of continuing his Slade search. At 12:35PM the alarm sounded. Robin abandons his files and leaves his chair spinning behind him. Raven drops her book and flies away; not even bothering to mark her page. The two heroes convene in the common room. The big screen was a lit with the details.
"It's the park on 3rd street". Robin said, reading out loud. "Cinderblock".
"didn't we fight him last week?" Raven grumbled.
"Doesn't look like he has a goal, and just broke out of jail". Robin continues. "We'll have to meet the others there. Let's go".
By 12:45PM Robin and Raven reached the park. Raven flying, and Robin on his motorcycle. Left, right, in all directions; innocents run. Like chickens with their heads cut off. Children stuck on the playground cry; not knowing what to do. Frantic parents yell out their children's names. And in the midst of the park, Cinderblock roared, slamming his fist down and ruining a set of picnic tables in one go. "we need to keep him distracted until the police can evacuate everyone". Raven said.
Robin nodded. No mater how dangerous the villain, or how high the stakes, the welfare of the defenseless always come first. Raven flies up in the air, levitating the debris of the destroyed picnic tables to hurl at Cinderblock. Robin parked his bike and charged into action with a grappling hook. With a well-practiced aim, the hook attaches to Cinderblock's pillar shaped arm. And Robin was off; swinging through the air as he wraps cinderblock's arms and torso in the grappling hook's wire. But that containment only lasted until 12:52PM when Cinderblock flexed and burst free; snapping the wire.
By now the police had arrived with flashing blaring sirens, and lost terrified bystanders were being ushered away. Robin and Raven didn't need to hold back anymore. Chanting her well-known mantra, Raven uproots two nearby oak trees, and uses them as battering rams to push the monster off balance. And that was Robin's opening. Pulling out a couple explosive discs, Robin leaps off of the ground, and throws in an upward arc, aiming right for Cinderblock's eye's.
Roaring at the temporary, painful blindness at 1:03PM, Cinderblock continues to stumble backwards. At 1:03PM Robin sees her; a little girl. A little girl about eight years old, crouched under a park bench with a half-eaten sandwich clutched in one hand, her mouth agape, and right in stepping range of the stumbling cement giant. Robin's heart skips a beat. Not good. "Move!" Robin yelled as he charges forward. In a despite hope that the girl could save herself. But she's frozen.
At 1:04PM, Raven hears the desperation in Robin's voice. She looks in his direction and sees what he does. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos" Raven recites as black energy builds around her hands. She needs more to prevent Cinderblock from moving anymore. At 1:04PM Starfire and Beast Boy arrived, flying into the scene; Beast Boy in the shape of an eagle. "Help me" called Raven as she wrapped the black energy around Cinderblock and starts to pull. "We can't let him fall backwards" Raven instructs.
When 1:05PM came around Raven was still pulling Cinderblock away with her black magic. Starfire had flown behind the monster and was blasting her starbolts at his back in effort to push him in a different direction. Beast Boy takes the form of an elephant with his trunk stretched out around Cinderblock's left wrist, Beast Boy pulls along with Raven; digging his heels into the ruined grass of the park. Why did Cinderblock have to be so heavy? Robin was still running, urging himself to go faster and faster. But still he wasn't sure if he could make it in time.
At 1:05PM a teenager with black hair and worn clothes and back pack, dart over to the park bench. She grabs the little girl out from under the bench. Robin's eyes widen. What is she doing here? 1:06PM, and Beast Boy loses his grip and his trunk let's go of Cinderblock. The monster's arms flails, and Raven's magic quakes. Giving up on her starbolts, Starfire flies in so that she may try her alien strength by physically pushing the monster away from the civilians. "Move!" Robin tries again, still sprinting to reach them before time runs out.
The older girl dives, with an arm wrapped around the younger's middle. The little girl drops her half-eaten sandwich upon the impact. At 1:07PM Raven's magic exhausted itself. And Starfire had to shoot out of the way in fear of being squashed. At 1:07PM the two civilians land off to the side in one curled up ball, and at the same time Cinderblock crushes a park bench. But on an upscale note, Cinderblock was rendered unconscious.
Groaning, Ellwood uncurls Willow's body, loosens her hold on Daisy, and straighten's Willow's glasses. Christ, this kid had a lot to learn. Like how park benches aren't safe places to hide. With the practice of someone used to surviving, and the experience of perseverance Ellwood gets Willow's feet under him, and crouches next t the quivering dead weight. "Come on, Kid" Ellwood said. "We need to go". Because while he meant to learn about his new guardians today, he didn't need to meet them in his sister's body.
"You told me to wait there" Daisy sobs. In the background three of the titans work on restraining Cinderblock while Robin continues to approach the two girls, albeit at a slower pace.
Ellwood sighed, reminding himself that Daisy is only eight. She's an eight-year-old that didn't think about running when she had the chance. "Get up" Ellwood spoke more firmly. Miss Selina was right when she said there would never be any respite for people like them. And it was time for Daisy to learn that. "We need to-" But he was interrupted.
"Willow" Robin called as he approaches. Ellwood stiffens with his back facing the teen hero. Fuck. Stupid busy body bird boy. "Willow Banister" Robin said his sister's full name. Just so there can be no mistake. "Are you both alright?" Robin asked, coming to a stop, and crouching down next to Ellwood to check up on Daisy.
"We will be" Ellwood snapped. As Daisy sits up and attaches herself to Willow's arm; staring bugged eyed through her tears at the superhero.
Robin nods after a moment. There was no blood, and they were moving. So, no broken bones. They had been lucky. "What are you doing here Willow?" Robin moved on. He knew she would be in Jump city of course. But Robin also knew that she had been placed a way away from the tower. Far enough that there was a closer park to her new home than the one they were currently in.
"How do you know my name?" Ellwood asked, glaring. He had to play the part. Because Willow, or rather this body, has not had the chance to met the teen titans. Robin raised an eyebrow so she hadn't been in contact with Ellwood yet. Robin had almost been certain that they would be. Despite lack of access of to technology. He guessed psychic communications can be crossed off the list of potential powers.
"I'm Robin" he said. Standing up and extending a hand to help up the girls. "Your brother is staying with me and my team for now on" Robin said sternly as Ellwood refused his hand and pulled both himself and Daisy up. Robin would let that one sink in. They would not be running anytime soon. They would not be allowed to escape them. Daisy hangs onto Willow's arm like a kid with a teddy bear during this whole exchange. "And my team is why you and your brother are in the same city". Robin continued, testing how much the other twin knows.
The other three successfully contained the awakening Cinderblock by means of warped playground equipment by 1:25PM. And stood by watching Robin interact with the other half of their charge. "Where is my brother?" Ellwood asked. Trying to shrug Daisy off of him. He didn't like Robin standing this close, and armed. He didn't like that he essentially only had one hand to defend himself with. Why did he save the dead weight? Miss Selina would say he was turning soft.
"Safe" was Robin's one-word answer. "What are you doing here?" He repeats himself. Suspicion clear; were they trying to run?
"I – I wanted to come here" Daisy speaks up; first in a high pitch squeak and then in a shy murmur as she stares at her shoes. "It's the best park" Daisy continues to lie, clutching Willow's body tighter. "And none of the other big kids could take me, so Willow said she would" Daisy trails off.
Ellwood gains a little respect for the kid. Perhaps she weighed less than he thought she did. Ellwood meets Robin's questioning gaze. "We're in the same foster home" he explained. "I got landed with babysitting". If Willow sounded hostile like her brother from last night, Robin didn't comment. As her coal black eyes glared at him. The same eyes as Ellwood. The type of eyes one is not about to be forget.
At 1:30PM Cyborg pulled up in the T-car and asked, "Is it over already?"