Robins Requiem
Chapter Three

Authors note:-

This hit a pause because I wanted to include a sequence with my all time favourite comic character, Swamp Thing. After a while I realised that while I will use him somewhere, somehow, his cameo here wouldn't work.

Another thing was I got a review pointing out a couple of errors. First that Tim's wife was a hero on her own and second that it was Dick Grayson with the animated Titans. For the Stephanie as a hero thing I had no idea, but for this story it never happened. As for Dick Grayson becoming Tim Drake, call it a result of mashing DCAU with the Titans cartoon.

Over Forty Years Later...

Tim took a deep breath, it had been a long night. Barbara had carted Tom off to the police station a couple of hours ago and Stephanie hadn't said anything to him since. Dinner, as it was, was so tense Tim had decided to eat on his own.

Putting his plate down on the work top the former Robin tapped his computer screen and it awoke with a muted ping. 'Might as well get it over with.' Tim whispered to himself and pulled the disk the Old Man had given him out of his pocket. Sliding it into his drive the disk auto ran. The first thing that came up was a text file. A letter to Tim from the Old Man:-

"Tim" it read, "A lot of things have happened over the years. What happened to you made me think a lot about the future. Barbara quit and I left the League, there was very little left to keep me there anyway. Still, even after I retired, I kept an eye on our respective teams. The League has grown, as have the Titans. This is everything I have on the original Titans and their organisation. Make of it as you will." Typical, he wouldn't, or couldn't, just leave it alone. Half crippled and his body rebelling against decades of training the Old Man's mind was still as sharp as ever.

Over the years Tim had wanted to check on his old friends, only to chicken out at the last minute. He'd heard a few things even though he tried to avoid them. When his daughter started to look into them he just couldn't avoid it. Planetary attacks, super-villain team ups to the the occasional betrayal Sarah had researched them all.

She was a hero-fan. He'd met more than a few back in the day. Fan-girls, they'd always worried him. Sarah on the other hand wasn't screaming after boys, she was more fascinated by them as people. Tim had done everything he could to stop her, but it was her slice of teenage rebellion and Stephanie had convinced him it was harmless.

Flicking through the information Bruce had collected Tim shouldn't have been surprised. He had everything from the latest Titan's recent fillings to Cyborg's first upgrade. The whole Titans team with backgrounds, major battles, strengths, weaknesses even a brake down of their possible futures. Never in a million years could Sarah even start something like this. It must have taken the Old Man years to put it together. Part of Tim wanted to believe it was all for him, it couldn't be though. Bruce was capable of a lot of things but regret wasn't one of them.

Stephanie came in to his office with a knock. 'Tim?' It was the first thing she'd said to him since Barbara left.

Biting his bottom lip Tim turned off the screen and stood up. 'Steph?'

His wife refused to even look at him. 'I need you to talk to Sarah. She's so excited, you've already taken Tom I don't want to lose her.'

Keeping calm Tim sighed. 'They can make their own choices. I might not have been there for them as much as I should, but I know you. You've been a good mother to them.'

'Not good enough for Tom.' she said, eyes downcast.

'We've not lost him, Steph. It will take a while but he'll be back. He's not dead.' She still wouldn't look at him. Tim just stepped past her. 'I'll talk to Sarah.'

Tim's teenage daughter was in her room. The place was a mess. Sarah had covered the floor in papers, notes and more than a few books. 'Dad!' She practically jumped in shock 'Wha... What are you doing here? You never come into my room.'

Tim cast a look over her research. He was right, nothing like the Old Man's razor sharp ability to cut through the mess. It was every hack writers half baked theory, crackpot ideas and out right lies. Superheroes had built up quite a reputation and sometimes it felt like every idiot with a word processor had missed the point. Sarah saw what he was looking and quickly tried to hide the first papers she came across.

Tim picked up one sheet before she could get to it. the title read:- "Robin - Son of Wonder Woman and Batman?" He couldn't help but laugh.

'I... Not you, there was another Robin wasn't there?' Sarah asked

'Neither of us. I was a street rat and he was a circus performer. The Old Man collects us. He knew we could be more than just what we were and showed us how to be.'

'I'd love to meet him.' Sarah almost hopped from foot to foot. 'There's two right, two Batmen. That's why his voice changed, it means the first one is still alive. He must be like a hundred yeas old.'

'His nineties.' Tim corrected before getting down to business. 'Your mothers worried. She thinks you're a little too interested in this sort of thing. '

'Dad!' she almost whined. It's you that doesn't like me doing this.''I hope you know why, now.' Tim looked around for a chair but the only thing not covered with printouts was the bed. That belonged to Sarah's collection of stuffed animals and it was more than his life to disturb that. 'Your mother didn't mind as long as it was harmless.'

'But you... You didn't see it like that. What now, mom thinks I'm going to pull on a pair of tights?'

Tim shrugged, knowing Steph had taken that moment to sneak up and overhear from behind the door. 'She doesn't understand. I don't think you do either. You don't chose that life, it choses you. When you have no choice, it sinks it's teeth in and never lets go. If you do live long enough to be my age there are things you'll never forget.'

'Your nightmares?' It was no secret he didn't sleep well most nights. Tim had promised himself they would never find out what the nightmares really where. Only now they could guess and he had no idea how close they would get.

'That's part of it. That sort of life, Sarah, isn't glamorous or fun. It's serious and dangerous. Your mother and I don't want you to have to learn that first hand. I don't want you to get hurt.'

'Were you?' Sarah asked looking at him. 'I mean is that why you had to retire. I read somewhere that the Joker was supposed to have killed you and that's why Batman killed him.'

Tim swallowed before looking out of his daughters window. Remembering what the Joker put him through was painful, even now. 'The Joker killed Robin, I... I couldn't wear the costume again and... and after what happened to me Batman wouldn't let anyone else put themselves in that position.' He turned to face Sarah 'The Joker might be gone, finally, but there are still others out there. They might not be as bad, they don't have to be. One lucky gunshot, a mistimed jump...'

Sarah impulsively hugged him 'Dad, I know you're scared I won't do anything. I promise.'

'And you won't tell anyone.' Tim pushed her back for a moment, long enough for her to nod and pulled her in for another hug.

Over Forty Years Earlier...

Raven stepped out of the shadows. 'She asked you to leave her alone.' the Titan growled.

'Nice costume kid,' the bigger of the two thugs turned away form the cowering woman. He then looked Raven up with all sorts of suggestions in his eyes 'Nice legs too. Come back when you've grown up, I'll show you some fun.'

Focusing as best she could Raven threw a black energy bolt. She was aiming for the trash can, thinking the explosion would get the message across. The blast missed the can and hit him instead, catapulting the rapist into the wall and showering him in cracked mortar

It had been months since Robin's so called death and Raven hadn't had a good nights sleep yet. Nightmares of clowns, her friend screaming for help the look in Robin's eyes the last time she saw him. She just couldn't shake any of it. Her road trip was to find something. Some joy to make this world worth while. All she found was people, pathetic tiny people running around in their own little concerns. Crying about the smallest of problems. She was coming to the conclusion that it had all been for nothing.

Still when she, less than five minuets in to the dark city, came across the pretty young lady and two over built pigs Raven's instincts were to help. It was a bad idea, the lack of sleep alone made her unfocused. She could admit that too herself.

The man she had blasted wasn't dead, he'd have a few broken bones but she hadn't meant to do even that much. The other man took one look at her before running away.

Raven was going to offer the woman some help when she, terrified, picked up her purse and scrambled out of there. She would have tried to follow, explain, but a loud noise behind her caught her attention.

Spinning she came face to face with the other guy, hanging upside down, unconscious and tied up. She knew why but it was still a shock, how had he known where she was.

Raven was so busy looking at roof tops that she practically walked into the wall of muscle at the alleyways entrance.

This was the dark city, it was his home. Turning Raven took a step back. 'Hello Batman.'

'Raven.' He growled, not taking his eyes from hers as the thug behind them groaned. The look alone was enough to make her uncomfortable, it was well practised to terrorise criminals But why was he was looking at her like that.

'Something wrong?' She asked him harshly. 'Way I see it I just stopped a crime.'

Batman didn't even blink. He just tilted his head. 'Way I see it you could have killed that man. Your powers are unfocused, sloppy. Not like you.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Raven growled without thinking.

He didn't answer, just ignored the question with that penetrating look of his. This wasn't the man she met when Robin was hurt. Then he was trying to comfort her, now he was treating her like a criminal. 'Why are you in Gotham?'

'Just travelling, happened to be on my way.' She said a little too quickly and defensively.

'Same way you just happened to keep changing direction. I've been tracking you, every time you strayed one way or the other you've always been heading here.'

'It's a free country' Raven sneered, more than a little angry. What right did he have following her.

'Not in this town.' Somehow Batman became taller, without moving he was suddenly nothing more than cape and shadow. A demon carved out of the night itself and Raven knew she had pushed too far. 'This is my city, you want to behave like a spoilt child you'll be tossed out like one.'

Spoilt was right, she was spoiling for a fight and she knew it. All this time and she'd never had a chance to just go for it. Instantly Raven knew what she was doing and years of training from birth snapped into place. With well taught calm she analysed her own emotions. She was angry, had been for a long time and needed something to release all that rage on. She was also scared, that realisation hit her like a ton weight.

She could tell why and it wasn't just because of the legend before her. Robin was her friend, more than that the Titans were the closest thing to family she had left. Robin himself had crawled into hell and then back out, carrying her on his back, just to save her. He'd go just as afar again for any one of them. That someone like that could just be gone, taken from them. It scared her, reminding her that all that they have done wasn't because they were invincible and if Robin could be taken so could any of them.

That was why she had left the others, she just couldn't bare the idea that one of them could die too.

Something wet rolled down her cheek and she looked back up at the shadow. 'I... I'm sorry...' she trailed off, There was so much to say and this wasn't the time and he certainly wasn't the person to do this in front of. He must be feeling Robin's death as keenly as her.

Batman didn't say anything just evaluated her. 'Come on.' He said softly and gently led her away. At the end of the alleyway a large black car lit up and it's roof retracted. It was low sleek and just screamed of a cool menace.

In short it was the sort of thing Cyborg would love.

Fastening herself in Raven wondered what he was doing to do with her. Drive her out of town like he said or just drop her off at a hotel some place. She didn't for one moment entertain the idea of the legendary Batcave. He just wouldn't do that, he trusted her but not like that.

He pulled away and sped down the streets of Gotham's oldest district. Gargoyles and gothic architecture loomed overhead, slowly replaced with sweeping arches and towers of glass and steel. Almost absently Batman flicked a switch and a monitor in front of Raven came to life.

It was round and made of concentric circles flashing in some sort of rhythm. Raven looked at it and then at him, was it some sort of radar or scanner she didn't know. Strangely there was something about it that drew her into the centre of those pulsing circles. Looking back she tried to see what it was.

Raven hid a yawn with the back of her and and kept looking. It was like a magnet, drawing all her attention. The titan would never know quite when she fell asleep, only that it was the first real nights sleep she could remember.

Over Forty Years Later

Sarah had literally devoured every scrap of information she could on the second Robin. She had checked out every last book, vid slug and news report from the library. Now that she knew who it was behind the domino mask it was easy to tell the difference between the two.

It had been a couple of weeks since "That night." and Sarah was making notes from a really stupid book that her teachers had told her to read. For once it wasn't a book on heroes but something for English. It was boring and written before superheroes had burst on to the scene. He mother came in and knocked, in that order. She always did, Sarah never knew why. 'Sarah. I want you to pack your things.'

'What? Why?'

He mother sighed 'We're going away for a while. Just until I've got things worked out.'

Sarah couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sure mom wasn't taking the whole "dad used to be a superhero" thing well but this was... 'Mom! You... No I won't.' She jumped to her feet.

'Sarah.' Mom said reaching for her. 'It's for you as much as me. I love you and I won't see what happened to Tom happen to you.'

Sarah shrugged her off. 'It won't. Tom was an idiot, still is. Just an idiot that got caught. Dad never forced him to be a Joker Mum, he did it to himself.'

You're young, you don't understand. Tim might not have meant it but you heard him. His old life only brought him pain, now it's effecting us and I just want to protect you.'

'This is Gotham mum. You can't protect me from a whole city.'

'That's why we're going to my sisters in BlΓΌdhaven. It's safer and not to far from your friends...'

'Just out of dad's life.' Sarah interrupted

'...until...' her mum started before biting her lip and looking at Sarah's research.

'Until what?' Sarah challenged. 'Until I stop reading up on dad? Until you're not afraid of him anymore?'

'I'm not...'

'Don't lie to me mum, you're not good at it.' Sarah pressed. 'You're scared of him, what he can do. He's still dad.'

'Is he. He's so different now, not like the man I married.'

Sarah knew what she meant. Dad was so different these days. That cocksure smile that he'd get with a challenge. The way he'd take chances, little ones but noticeable. Pushing himself, he'd even gotten a promotion and just waved it off even though it was the first one in years. He'd take runs in the morning, nothing big. Jogging in the park, taking the stairs instead of the elevators. Like a mid life crisis only good for him. 'Look if he want's to get in shape and push himself so what.'

'Sarah I...'

'No,' she'd had enough. mom might have wanted to chicken out but she wouldn't. 'If you want to leave go. Right now I don't even want to look at you.' Barging out of her own room Sarah grabbed he favourite jacket and headed to the door. 'I need some air.'

Ignoring her mother Sarah just walked out. It wasn't night yet but the sun was kissing the skyscrapers, casting long shadows and carving the sky into clouds of red and blocks of grey. The neon lights of the city were just coming awake.

All in all it was beautiful and as much as Sarah loved the site of it every night she just didn't have time for it. Storming down the walkways she couldn't tell where she was going. Just out, getting air. I was childish and stupid but then again so was mum.

Sarah was so preoccupied with her own funk she didn't notice the only other person on that walkway at that moment and walked right into them.

'Whoa.' they both said at once. The first thing she did was jump back, hand going for her creds. Then she got a good look at who she had walked into. A year or so older than her, he was tall and had really dark hair. Kinda cute looking and with a oversized jacket that was all the rage a couple of years ago.

He held both his hands wide and stepped back. 'Why don't you watch what your doing?' she snapped.

'Pretty sure I was just standing about.' He said with an easy smile. 'You were the one who walked into me.'

'Yeah? well just be careful where you stand about then.' In the world of good comebacks it would have been quite good. If logic and reason were on her side. As it was the pair of them looked at each other for a whole second before they burst out laughing. 'Guess it was my fault.' she admitted after a moment. 'Sorry.'

'Hey no problem.' The stranger shrugged. 'But a girl your age walking into the only other person on the whole walkway does ask a few questions. You alright?'

Sarah tried to keep her face neutral. 'Why? What's it to you?'

He just looked at her and something flickered across his face, an expression she couldn't recognise. As quickly as it came it vanished. 'A strangers curiosity. Might be an idea to get home though. Bad things happen at night.'

'Going to take your own advice?' she smirked

'Just walking my dog.' He looked down and she noticed it. How she didn't see it was a mystery. It was huge, black and eyeing her up. Like it couldn't decide if she was a threat or to be ignored and had decided to be suspicious.

'Where's it's lead?' she asked, more than a little nervous. It could have probably eaten her in three bites.

He smiled again. 'You want to try putting it on?'

'Urm no.'

'Good choice.

Sarah frowned and looked at the sky. 'You know you're right. It is getting late and my homework isn't going to finish itself.'

'If only it would.' The stranger joked. 'Hey I knew I recognised you from somewhere. Isn't your dad Tim Drake.

That put her on the defensive. 'Why? you know him or something.'

'Well yeah. Tell him I said hi.'

The conversation had suddenly taken a sharp turn for the weird 'Who said "hi"?' she asked.

The young man smiled and nodded up and behind her. Sarah turned and looked but there was nothing. She looked back and he was gone, so was the dog. 'wow ninja much...' that's when it all came together, only one person would have a ninja dog. Some one who would be keeping an eye on her.

It was so cool, and scary at the same time.

End Chapter Three