The Importance of Secrecy

Chapter Four

By: Lunatic With Hero Complex

"I will not get on that thing, I'll just fly." "Nonsense, you will get on this "thing" because if you fly you won't know where to go, he moved his damn layer, and I can't give you the directions."

"What, the amazing Robin has something he can't do?"

The eyemask thinned and he fell silent. The right boot lifted as he straddled the seat of the R-Cycle, and he looked back at her, "Just get on Raven, I'm not going to fight with you over a ride at a time like this."

She shivered at the sudden weariness divulged in that simple statement. He seemed to be losing his passion.

Huffing loudly, she straddled the seat behind him.

The engine rumbled beneath her as the key was turned, sparking the starter. The only warning he gave her before they sped out of the garage was "Hold on."

At first she ignored him, honestly how bad could the ride be. She soon found out that it could be very bad indeed. He took corners at breakneck speed, angling the tail end of the bike so that it spun out just right, leaving them pointing in the right direction and still burning rubber.

Sooner than she'd like to admit, she found her arms snaking around Robin's waist. Her palms met rough muscle, but also ribs, and while they betrayed her stoic nature and gripped tightly together on the front of his abdomen, Raven couldn't help but think about the scars that all this spandex hid. How many of those scars had been obtained when they weren't looking. He had to be a master at hiding pain by now.

From his action of the past day or so, she guessed that he could continue on merrily with broken ribs, fighting the assholes of the underworld, and none of the Titans would be much the wiser.

A bridge loomed up ahead, a bridge over a tributary of the ocean that was currently in the up position. Any minute now, Robin would decrease the speed and they would stop to wait on the bridge to lower. Odd, he seemed to be speeding up, not a good sign, and now he was speeding up even more. Her fists twisted into his costume, pinching sections of the spandex in the crevices between her fingers. "Robin, this is not a good idea." "Like you said Raven, we have to hurry."

Underneath her tight grip she felt the resounding thump of his heart as it speeded up. Her hood had been swept back by the wind long ago and now, in a moment of weakness, she found herself tucking her bare head into the hollow of his back. Her lavendar eyes peeked over his shoulder and watched as they neared the large crevice in between the two slabs of asphalt, she turned her eyes back into his costume.

In that freakish moment when she felt the bike take to the air, the only thought that was passing through her head was that she could smell Robin's Old Spice.

Then she was jarred back to the situation by the shattering bump that occurred when they landed. Before Raven had time to realise they were still alive, they were speeding along again. To her utter surprise, she thought she heard Robin laughing, her suspicions were confirmed when she could feel the rapid up and down movements of his shoulders. Feeling slightly annoyed with his jocularity, she gave him a slight whump on the shoulder.

He grinned over his shoulder at her and then turned his head back around just in time to make a hairline turn onto a hidden alley. Suddenly they were encased in darkness, usually her element, but now it unnerved her. Robin slowed slightly, not much, but enough so that she understood he was being cautious.

"Where in the hell are we Robin?"

His voice was distant, like he was speaking through a wind tunnel, "Close, but no cigar. Not hell, but we're pretty far underground. I discovered this place about 2 months ago. Actually, I was planning on demolishing it, and incarcerating it's occupant without telling you guys, but...things, occurred."

Raven didn't fail to notice the pause, and she associated the "things" with Slade. She didn't dwell on it too much. It hurt to think on it, she supposed it had been rough for Robin as well, but nobody really knew. Only two people knew and one was evil, and one wasn't talking. Damn secretive Bird Boy. That was his new adopted nickname. She wasn't one for profanity, but he certainly brought out the unexpected in people.

Damn secretive Bird Boy.

God he loved this bike. It was almost like he was wired to it, just like Cyborg and his T-car. It responded to his slightest command effortlessly. He felt Raven's grip tighten around his waist and grinned. He had no idea why that pleased him. Thinking about his time spent with Slade

(so noble, Robin)

never equaled happiness, but her presence made it easier. It was less difficult to act when you had an audience.

The idea of this little mission was that they would go to Killer Moth's "secret" layer and capture him. Then having the field wide open so that they could call back the winged devils.

But that would be impossible if Killer Moth heard them coming. So, he stopped the bike suddenly, skidding it to a stop calmly, and turned it off. When Raven looked at him quizzically he just said, "Noise."

She nodded and followed him down the remaining alleyway. Thats what he admired about Raven. Sure, he would always be best friends with Beast Boy, but it was nice not to have to explain everything ten times before they could progress. He turned his mind into a broadcasting station,

Raven, can you hear me?

Of course I can hear you Robin.

Good, we're going to communicate like this until we reach the layer.

Understood.

I will be giving you directions this way, in case we become seperated, so concentrate.

I never stop Robin.

Good.

Robin?

Yes, Raven?

When will you tell me the truth?

About what, Raven?

You know about what.

I'm afraid I'm in the dark.

Fine, if you want to be blunt.

I never said that, Raven.

Nonetheless, you're forcing me.

I still don't understand.

Why'd you cut your wrist?

Robin you can't ign...

Left here, Raven.

Robin, its pointless to try and avoid the sub...

Right here Raven.

Now, that I see no turns for quite a while, answer me before I get an...

We're here, Raven get ready.

Quietly

A few more seconds

You won't be able to avoid me forever Bird Boy.

I know

Now

Robin crept swiftly and silently through an extremely small space in the wall. Raven followed grudgingly, hating the man in front of her for his evasive skills.

They came out of the crevice and were met with the sight of a dull gray room. There were mechanical switchboards galore, but they were dark and dusty. From the looks of things, this place had been out of use for a while. Robin turned his head cautiously from side to side and then stood up completely.

He turned to Raven, already reaching for his communicator, "They must have moved, I'll call the oth...!" He was grabbed from behind earning a fierce shout of anger from the leader.

"You always were so noble Robin, thinking of the people you should keep safe before you even begin to worry about your own well being."

Robin' s heart froze in fear, a rare occurrence to say the least. That voice, he thought that finally, that night in the factory, he'd escaped ever having to hear, physically if not mentally, that voice again. Even detectives were wrong sometimes.

He tried desperately to appear in control of the situation, "Just another reason why I am nothing like you, Slade."

To his imminent displeasure, all this earned Robin, was a chuckle from Slade, "My dear boy, why use such a tone of forcefulness in your voice. I've heard you scream in complete agony until your lungs are dry and your tonque is swollen, what are tones to me?"

Robin shuddered to himself without wanting to, hating his own weakness. He looked over at Raven who was being held by two of slades guards. They were fitted with funny machines on their shoulders. Judging by Raven's behavior, those devices served to short circuit her power somehow. He desperately would've preferred that she not be here for this conversation.

The beautiful purple eyes that so often were crinkled in indifference were now wide and quizzical and staring straight back at him, he ducked his head to the side, even stopping his struggle in the embarrassment.

To further his misfortune, Slade noticed Robin's behavior and found it amusing, "What's the matter Robin, haven't told your fellow Titans what your Apprenticeship entailed?"

Robin didn't bring his eyes up, his will wasn't broken, or anything quite that simple, but defying the bastard was easier if he didn't have to look at Raven, "No, and you better keep your mouth quiet, that Apprenticeship is between you and me, no matter how much I hate sharing anything with you."

Another chuckle emanated from the hideous mask on that he only assumed hideous face, "Now, now. We can't have anyone in the room being lost in the conversation can we." Robin looked up, he could stand it, for this, "No, I'd rather her be clueless."

"Robin we can't have it all, now can we, either we let her in on the conversation, or I eliminate her from our company. I'll be nice, its your choice."

Raven was looking back and forth between them, curiosity changing into a mixture of anger at being ignored and fear of the information that even Robin thought was too horrible for her to know.

The eyemask crinkled in hatred, anger, and worst of all defeat, "Fine, tell her, just don't hurt her."

This man would not stop laughing, it seemed everything he said caused mirth to come from his putrid mouth.

Slade turned to Raven and she tried to be defiant in the face of the fear she couldn't suppress. The result was a kind of half slouch half stand, where one shoulder was thrown back and her neck looked up while ducking down.

Slade looked at her for what felt like an eternity before speaking, "Did Robin never tell you anything about his stay with me as my apprentice?"

Much as she hated to, Raven had to respond. She looked over at the slumped Robin in three of the guard's arms and turned back to face the brown and black mask, "Just that it happened, you overstuffed egomaniac."

"Ooh, fiesty. No wonder you Titans don't talk to her much, wouldn't want to get her angry."

"Well, my purple princess, Robin had many duties as my apprentice. He stole for me, he fought for me. At one point, he even intimidated for me. But out of all of these duties, there is one that remains my favorite. Do you know what that was, princess?"

"No," Raven grumbled. She cast another look at Robin, who was tensed up as if expecting a blow.

"Well, then I shall inform you. Robin was also employed to appease my desires. I stripped the Boy Wonder of his dignity, his innocence, though there wasn't much left of that to take, his costume, and finally... his mask."

Her mind was in chaos, utter chaos. Robin. Robin, under Slade. Robin screaming for him to stop. Her brain balked like a stubborn mule,as she suddenly recieved the images from the blaring pain of Robin's mind, refusing to believe such a concept. Latching on to the thought that it was all lies, she was utterly prepared to come up accusing. Then her eyes lit on Robin. He'd stopped all pretense of struggle and he hung limply in the guards arms, almost looking crucified, and she knew it was true. Now, she rather understood why he was trying so desperately to avoid her prying questions.

His authority was the last thing he had left. The Titans were his last chance at redemption in his mind. They must not be tainted. Now, it was too late. Things could only go downhill from here.

Slade turned back to the guards who had the once arduous task of holding Robin. He gestured to the far wall where a set of chains was mounted on the wall.

The three guards dragged the limp form of the Boy Wonder over to the shackles. He didn't struggle, or even complain, he just lie there like a puppet with its strings cut. Slade turned his face back to Raven, and she could almost see him smirking, "See, everyone can be broken, even the all powerful Robin can fall, still want to defend him?" Robin looked up dejectedly, he hadn't talked since Slade had told her. Raven's heart secretly broke and she turned defiantly to face the masked bastard, "Until I can't breath."

The words hit Robin like a missile and he jerked as his eyes squinted closed. Slade growled, but then chuckled, "ahhh, well that won't happen for sometime yet, but we do have other things to discuss Robin."

Robin looked at Slade with squinted ovals, suspicious, "What is it?"

Slade shook his head at the masked boy who was staring at him hotly, "My unlimited sources tell me that you have been hurting yourself. Not just hurting, but endangering, and if not for our friend here," he gestured at Raven, "you would no longer be with us."

"What of it, its none of your concern." Robin was trying to grasp the edge he'd once held on to, trying to regain some kind of control in a situation that had no reigns.

"Robin, I've tasted your flesh, I've torn it, I claimed you, only I am allowed to hurt you, you are my property, so the fact that you are infringing on my property makes me very angry."

"I don't give a damn what makes you angry Slade, the only thing that I want out of you are your dying breaths."

Though her brain was past thinking calmly, it nonetheless made the connection between Slade's comments and the bite marks on Robin's neck. The same brain that made these connections was marvelling at the fact that Robin was still trying to be defiant in the face of something that it seemed had been causing him a great deal of trouble. It struck her dumb until she heard the rest of the conversation.

"Now, why don't we let our adamant friend over here go into the next room so that we can have a private discussion about the trespass you have committed."

"Slade, I don't care what you have to talk about, Raven is not going out of my sight."

She was taken aback that even now when he was in such a vunerable position, he was trying to make it so that they could escape together.

Slade tskked at Robin, shaking his finger as though Robin were a bad puppy, "You should know better than that Robin. I'm going to be having demonstrations. Either she goes and we discuss this in private, or she stays and I use her as an example."

The eyemask widened again and Robin's head jerked nervously from Slade's line of view to look at Raven, even though she couldn't see his eyes, she almost heard the finality of his gaze. When he spoke, it was in a deadened tone that sounded nothing like him. It sounded like Robin was already leaving and he was leaving his body to suffer what it would, "Fine, she can go, but if you hurt her, no shackles will be strong enough to keep me from getting revenge."

"That was a very good threat Robin, but don't worry, I wasn't going to hurt your friend, I have no reason to bother her, but Robin, you still have not learned. You are still so noble. We must stop that."

He gestured behind him and the guards began to drag Raven towards the opening to a hallway across the room, Raven immediately began to scream, "Let me go you ignorant bastards! I will not be hauled away! Let me go, Robin, come on, fight him, you can get out of those shackles, no problem!" She kicked and she yelled, but the guards were unyielding. His eyemask watched her go and she stared back until her view of him was blocked out by Slade as he stepped in front of the wall.

The silence of the room was only broken by Raven's yelling as she was dragged down the hall. Robin's eyeline met Slade's and they sat staring at each other for an interminable amount of time.

Finally, Slade broke the silence, he walked toward Robin pulling a tray behind him, "Now Robin, as the sole owner of the property that is your body, mind, and spirit, I am going to show you that only I am allowed to abuse that property."

The metal glove pulled back the blue sheet that covered the tray, revealing scalpels, forceps, needles, a file, a torch, and something that looked remarkably like a brand, a brand in the shape of a 'S'.

Lifting the scalpel, he sliced through Robin's upper costume, allowing the two sides to flutter uselessly to the sides of his chest revealing the muscles that had taken years to develop, "First, we have to scout my territory, understand the terrain." The scalpel pressed against the tie around Robin's head. It grew tauter and tauter until the cord snapped and the mask fluttered to the ground. The light rushed eagerly to flood in on the eyes that had captivated Slade.

Slade at first had only wanted Robin for his apprentice, just a protigee to succeed him. Then, in the brief time which Robin had served that apprenticeship, Slade had become enamored of Robin's body, and his eyes. Their duality delighted him, almost to him representing the good and evil battling within Robin. Now, now that he had been given free reign of those features, he could think of nothing else. He wanted nothing but to have that body and those eyes under his control, to see them defeated and mastered, bowing to his command.

"Now, shall we see what kind of soil my property has, that is important after all." The scalpel came down and rested against the tautness of Robin's abs. The sharp side pressed harder and harder until a bead of blood dripped onto the blade. When he'd seen that he'd broken the skin, he pushed it farther in and dragged it across the width of his torso.

Robin grunted in pain and bit his tonque to keep from shouting as he dangled limply against the wall. "Ahh come now Robin, I know you can scream better than that." He dug the scalpel even deeper and wiggled it gleefully from side to side, digging dangerously close to vital organs, but just missing them.

Robin shouted slightly, almost a sigh and he dug his mouth into his arm. He was after all, just sixteen, true almost seventeen, but nonetheless, not even old enough to vote.

Slade giggled, "Better, but not quite what I wanted." Robin watched with horror as Slade reached for a thing of salt and the forceps.

Raven was thrown into a bright room where she was immediately locked in. After she was sure she was left alone, she tried her powers. Once again, the attempt fell flaming to the ground. She let out a rare shout. Without her powers to go haywire, she had the freedom to emit all kinds of emotions, what a sucky trade off at a time like this.

Leaning her head against the wall, she heard a shout from outside of her room. Unless there were other captives, that could not bode well for Robin.

She still couldn't understand, he'd sent her out of the room so she wouldn't have to suffer like a despondent parent sending his young child out of the way of a violent family dispute. So she wouldn't have to watch. He was protective, but also, she thought that he was incredibly proud and that he would not like for her to see him in a vunerable way.

She heard footsteps down the hall. She couldn't power her way out of here, she'd have to find other means, besides, her powers weren't her only defense, Robin had seen to that.

She hid behind where the door would open, silently, the door knob creaked and it began to open.

Slade was having a good time. He'd finally gotten the scream he was waiting for, true he'd had to try very hard to get it, but he'd gotten it. He'd tried everything, he'd cut Robin's body repeatedly, and followed up by holding the wounds open with forceps and rubbing salt in them. He'd beaten around Robin's limp form, until you couldn't tell the skin from the clothing, and blood leaked out of the corners of his mouth. Of course he'd left the face unharmed, not the face that he so desperately wanted to hear beg.

Finally in a peak of desperation, he'd started in on Robin's fingers, reciting a dastardly verse of rhyme before snapping each one back on itself, "One finger to point out your hate," Snap "Two fingers to say peace." Snap "Three fingers for the truth you state," Snap "Four fingers for numbers not the least." Snap "Five fingers makes a hand to greet your friends, or slap your enemies." Snap

Still not recieving the response he desired, he tried his final resort.

He picked up the torch and the brand and he stood in front of the once proud hero while he heated the metal to a glowing red, "Now, this could be avoided if you just would give me my scream."

The face that was remarkably clean save for the drying line of blood from the corner of the mouth just looked at him wearily.

Finally the 'S' was at the peak of heat and Slade dropped the torch back on the tray. Before Robin had time to brace himself the brand was thrust on the patch of skin directly beneath where the 'R' would be.

The sizzle of burning flesh hit the room until it was drowned out by the scream that Slade had been waiting for. It all came out as one howl so full of pain and hate that hackles rode up Slade's neck.

After letting the brand sizzle for a minute or two, Slade removed it and dropped in some water, "See, was that so difficult?"

The door creaked open and Raven waited. It swung back, and Raven waited. A robot stepped in, and Raven waited. The robot went to close the door, and Raven attacked. While it's back was turned, she sent herself forward in a double flying kick and knocked the robot down, sending with it the tray of tranquilizers it had been carrying. While it was down, she rushed out of the door closing it to lock behind her.

She made her way back down the hallway she'd been dragged along. Swiftly, but stealthily. As she came to the end of it, she heard Slade's receding voice, "Don't move Robin, I'll be back."

When she heard the footsteps die away, she snuck into the room. She cast her eyes around. Her breath backed up in her throat and she almost screamed.

He lie against the wall, wrists strained in the shackles.

The upper half of his costume was gone, revealing the chest she'd been admiring just this afternoon, thousands of years ago. But it was not the chest from this afternoon. It was black and blue, and bloody. It almost looked unreal. There was a large 'S' burned into his chest. But the worst thing was his face. It was almost spotless. True, there was a bit of blood near his chin, but otherwise unharmed. The eyes were closed and tears were leaking out of the sides of the lids. It was like the face of a fallen angel, truly beautiful in its pain.

Her breath started coming in short gasps, too many revelations about this person in one day could be deadly. Looking jerkily around, her vision saw the yellow utility belt lying on the tray of bloody tools, the sight of which made her almost tear up. Running to it, she looked for a bird-a-rang, something sharp enough to cut the chains. Instead, her eyes fell on the file.

Pulling a dusty chair over to his side, she stood on it and lifted one of the chains to start attacking it. She started hacking away, hoping these things were as strong as they looked.

When she chanced to look down, she was met with brown and green. She almost stopped, but she just kept banging away, despite his steady gaze. "You got out." It was faint, but damn it all to hell, it was coherent. "Yes, I managed a form of escape, and I'm doing the same for you." "Just leave me, its safer." "Stop your mumbling, Robin, I'm busy."

Finally, the chain broke and Raven moved on to the other. This one gave much more easily. Robin started to tumble to the floor, but Raven caught him. A subdued shout was emitted, but otherwise he was silent, he was losing blood fast and she needed to get him out of here.

Picking up the mask and the belt, she hoisted Robin on her back and dragged him towards the place where they had come in.

She got him out in the alley, where she discovered her powers started working and she levitated him back through all the turns he'd taken her through. When she finally reached the R cycle, she hoisted him on the back and told him to hold on the best he could.

Thanking the gods of Azar that her powers had dominion over objects, she navigated the bike out of the alleyway and towards the street. She brought it back towards the bridge that was now in the down position and around the sharp turns he'd angled, and finally down the road to the tower, where she parked the cycle in the garage and brought Robin up the stairs in front of her.

She set him down on the couch, this scene too much like the one earlier for her liking. He had lost too much blood this evening. While she was thinking about this, his voice broke into her mind, a mental voice that was more like the former Robin.

Raven I can't talk very well right now, so I'm going to give you instructions this way, alright?

"Yes, Robin, this is alright."

Good, contact the others, I have a feeling that the moths were an extreme false alarm.

"Alright, I will."

She pulled out her communicator and flipped it open with a star trek sound, "Cyborg, are you there?"

A few seconds of fuzz passed, then a voice answered, "Yeah Rae, I'm here."

"How did your end turn out?"

"Well, funny thing, we got there, and there were no moths."

"I see." Raven turned to Robin, "You're too smart for your own good."

Don't I wish it wasn't so.

"Well Cyborg, I need you to head back with the others, what have you been doing?"

"Well we couldn't get a hold of you guys, so we got some breakfast. It was almost morning anyway."

Raven looked funny at the window for a moment, then turned back to the communicator, "Just get back here."

Cyborg tried to keep going, "Raven what's going on he..."

But Raven closed the machine.

She turned to Robin, "They're coming, do you want me to put the mask on?"

His eyes stared right through her, one seemed rather dead.

No

Her eyes rounded in spite of herself, "Really."

I don't have the physical or mental will to care anymore, its time they saw, after this, nothing will be secret. The attack will be everywhere. You've stolen Slade's toy. He won't be happy. I'd rather we be united. If you can, though, hold off about what Slade told you.

A funny form of mental laughter reached her over the link.

"What is so funny?"

Raven, in the past few hours, I have trusted you more than I've trusted anyone in my life, well almost anyone. I never thought that it would come to this. I thought that I could be exceptional and withstand the pressure, but in the end, I am just a kid. A kid. Though I suppose, I haven't had the spirit of a kid for many years now.

Raven?

"Yes Robin?"

I'm fixing to pass out, a mixture of pain and blood loss, so the connection will be cut.

His eyes blinked at her and she saw their conviction waver, "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Remember, as far as they know, Slade caught me, and he was mad. Nothing besides that for right now. They can see my eyes, but let me keep some of my secrets. O.k. Ra...

The connection faded and she was left alone in verbal and mental silence, waiting for the arrival of her other team mates.