Woah, two updates in three days; that's crazy! This is chapter six and I think it's my longest chapter yet. It took up five pages on Microsoft Word so you better like it. I haven't even begun to write chapter seven, but I think this story will be over in fifteen chapters. The next chapter will focus on Batman (boo) and what's been going on with him.
A response to some reviews.
Candy3314- Robin channeled his inner you and kicked ass. I wanted to make him badass-ish but for some reason I'm bad at writing decent fighting scenes. I tried making this chapter better; I hope you appreciate it. Thanks for the review (:
sharyvargam- Scarecrow's going to come back *HINT HINT FEAR TOXIN!* but for now it was just to get Kid Flash out of his game. Thanks for your review though. P.S. I used your quote because I liked it.
Robin woke up feeling stiff and exhausted. He groaned as he tried stretching his arms, forgetting about his broken arm. He glanced to his side and saw Kid Flash passed out beside him. He'd obviously tried to stay awake but at some point succumbed to weariness.
Robin smirked slightly and let his friend sleep. He rose to his feet and immediately reached into his utility belt. He clutched a birdarang, ready to throw it at anyone who tried ambushing them. He was actually surprised to have woken up where he had fallen asleep. He was expecting to be captured and killed during the night.
"Don't worry, I kept watch after he fell asleep," a voice said softly. Robin's head snapped toward the voice. Sitting on the ledge of the building was none other than Catwoman herself. She was in civvies and wore a cap covering her face, but Robin recognized her anyway.
"Thank you. But let's let him believe he stayed awake up until it was my watch. No use making him stress about it." Catwoman smirked and walked toward Robin.
"What happened to your arm?" she whispered, her voice tinged with motherly instincts. She could see the swollen blue arm. It stuck out painfully and she wished Robin could leave and not have to come back, ever.
"Killer Croc," Robin muttered. Catwoman sighed and pulled out a first aid kit she'd been holding in her hands. Robin gave her a quizzical look.
"I saw it last night but I was too far to do anything. Let me see that arm." Robin held out his arm and Catwoman got to work. When she was done Robin was surprised to see that his arm, though still broken, hurt less and was at least functional. "You learn a thing or two on the field," she said before ruffling his hair.
Kid Flash woke seconds later and took in the situation. His head shot toward Catwoman angrily. "No, Robin! I told you I don't trust her."
"Trust me with what?" Catwoman demanded. Robin glared at his friend, who felt a shiver similar to the one he felt when Batman glared at him.
"We need to get to Black Mask. He's in hiding and I don't know where he is. I was thinking that if you could pretend to capture me I could get in and then take him out," Robin explained. Catwoman thought this over before shaking her head.
"That wouldn't work. Black Mask only wants you alive long enough to kill you himself. He wouldn't give you the chance to attack. Not to mention that his hideout is crawling with villains. Any attempt on him and you'd be dealing with over half of Arkhams finest. And no offense to you Robin, but you're way to out of it to take on anyone. Killer Croc broke your arm for crying out loud!"
"I can handle myself," Robin grumbled. Catwoman shook her head.
"Tell that to your swollen jaw," Catwoman retorted. "You need a real plan if you want to take down Black Mask."
Kid Flash said nothing as Robin argued with Catwoman. He was awry of the female thief and didn't trust her at all.
"Whatever," Robin snapped. "Thanks for fixing my arm, but if you aren't going to help leave. We'll handle this ourselves."
"I don't know if you can," Catwoman said with a sigh. She turned and left quickly, however. Kid Flash would never tell Robin this, but he was glad Catwoman had left. He didn't trust her not to stab them in the back whenever it became convenient.
"We need a plan. Catwoman obviously won't help us. Don't you have any ideas, KF?" Robin asked. KF rubbed his neck.
"The smartest thing I could think of would be to take them one by one until there's none left. But that would take weeks. But trying to take them on in waves would be smart. In between we could rest, eat, and patch up any injuries."
"But how do we know they won't team up against us?"
"They've been offered serious money for your head, Robin. Do you really think they'd split the money with each other. They're greedy. They'll want to go after you by themselves."
Robin thought the idea over. It was their only plan right now, but Robin wasn't too sure. He needed Batman or Aqualad to help call the shots. If only the Team could help him.
"Fine, we'll take them on in waves," Robin finally agreed. "But be careful. Killer Croc had enhanced skin; the other villains might have some upgrades too."
"Some of us don't need upgrades!" a hiss remarked from the edge of the building. Robin reached into his belt and whipped out a birdarang, hurling it toward the voice.
The birdarang knocked the side of the building but did manage to spook the person out a bit. Robin groaned as a tall lanky figure in a straw hat propelled himself over the side of the building.
"Is that Scarecrow?" Kid Flash asked. He wasn't familiar with most of the villains of Gotham and had to be reminded of who everyone was. Robin's snarl was a sure answer.
"Hello Robin and," there was a spiteful pause. "friend," he hissed like acid. Robin stiffened as he got a good look at Scarecrow. He didn't see his usual fear-gas lurking around. Robin pulled out more birdarangs and got into a stance. He had to watch his arm to prevent from hurting it any further.
"I don't always need my fear-gas. I am a master of Kung-fu!" Scarecrow said, striking a difficult pose with one leg in a near split and the one on the ground by his toes.
"Pretentious prick," KF grumbled, jealous he couldn't kick his leg that high up.
"This has nothing to do with you!" Scarecrow shot something from a gun at Kid Flash, striking the young speedster's chest. Robin's eyes widened as realization hit him. Wally was being injected with fear toxin. And poor Kid Flash didn't know how to fight it. He'd go into a full blown panic soon, which wouldn't do well with keeping villains away.
"Dammit Crane!" Robin hollered, sending a birdarang hurtling through the air. It cut at Scarecrow's cheek, drawing a thin stream of blood. "Give him the antidote!" Scarecrow laughed slightly. Robin wasn't nearly as scary as the Batman.
"Sorry Robin, I don't have it with me," Scarecrow remarked. Robin knew it was a lie. Scarecrow never left without even a small bit of the antidote. Robin charged forward and caught Scarecrow's jaw.
Scarecrow stumbled back and responded with a fast kick to Robin's ribs. Robin grimaced in pain but managed to get ahold of one of Scarecrow's legs. He yanked hard and the villain fell on his butt. Robin, wasting no time, picked Crane up by his collar and slammed him forcefully against the building roof. Robin ripped at Scarecrow's jacket but was horrified to find the antidote wasn't there. Scarecrow hadn't been lying.
"Bosses orders were to take out your fast friend, so he wouldn't be a problem later," Scarecrow grumbled. "Told me not to bring the antidote."
"Dammit!" Robin snapped, bringing his fist down on Scarecrow's chest, knocking the wind out of the latter. He kept a few antidote pills with him but they weren't strong. He used them to keep himself sane long enough to call for backup or get to Batman. He didn't know how much toxin Scarecrow put in Kid Flash or how long it would take to get out.
Kid Flash's scream of horror distracted Robin long enough to receive a painful blow to his broken arm. He yelped and instinctively kicked out his foot. He heard a crack and glanced to see Scarecrow's fear toxin pouring onto the rooftop. Scarecrow's eyes widened slightly and he growled.
"You win this battle, but we've already won the war," Scarecrow shouted as he took off from the rooftop to an awaiting car on the ground. He sped off down the road, swerving like a maniac. Robin watched him just to make sure he really did leave and didn't try to come back with a surprise attack.
"KF!" Robin cried, remembering his friend. He ran to Kid Flash's side and tried holding him down. KF was thrashing about, screaming about his uncle and his parents and apparently dead people. Robin shouted at his friend, trying to break through the toxin, but Kid Flash wasn't trained to be able to fight it.
Robin cracked an antidote pill under KF's nose and watched his friend's shouts and kicking slowly begin to subside. Robin sighed with relief when Kid Flash opened his eyes and looked up at his friend.
"I feel like shit," he grumbled. "What happened?"
"You don't have long before the antidote wears off," Robin said rushedly. "You were hit by fear toxin. Whatever you see, it isn't real. Do you understand?" Kid Flash nodded but honestly he was already beginning to hallucinate again. He saw gory bodies strewn across the rooftop.
Robin wished he knew how long Kid Flash would be out of commission. Robin pulled some rope from his belt and began tying his friend's arms and legs. He didn't know how a speedster would react to his greatest fears. He didn't want KF to panic and run off, because the heavens knew Robin would never catch him in a foot race.
"Why are they all dead?" Kid Flash screamed. "Please! Stop killing them! Leave Artemis alone!" Robin flinched as his friend cried bloody murder. Robin wasn't Alfred, he couldn't calm him down. All Robin could do was curl up and pray for Kid Flash to stop or pass out.
Robin watched Kid Flash rip at the ropes, clawing himself in the process. Robin groaned as a trickle of red stained the rooftop. KF wanted to get away from whatever fear he was seeing, but because Robin tied him up, he couldn't. He wriggled about and got close to getting himself out, but Robin kept a close eye on him.
Finally, thirty minutes later, Kid Flash stopped screaming, leaving him panting and exhausted. Robin untied his arms and legs and watched Kid Flash slowly and shakily stretch. Kid Flash refused to look at his friend, likely from embarrassment.
"You have to deal with that on a regular basis?" KF asked from his face plant position on the rooftop.
"You build immunity to it. You learn to snap yourself out of it a little bit. *My grandma always said 'if you're not scared, you're not living'* but Scarecrow's a whole different level of fear I guess. But yeah, I deal with Scarecrow a lot," Robin explained. He reached a hand down to KF. "It helps if you stand up and get some air."
Kid Flash took Robin's hand and rose wearily to his feet. He rubbed his chest where the dart had hit. "Did you at least kick his ass?"
"Duh," Robin said with a cackle. Kid Flash smirked. He wished they could leave, but they missed their chance. Now they had to keep going. There was no choice anymore.
"It's neva polite ta run away from someone when they's is talking, puddin'! Had ta search all'a downtown ta find ya two!" a familiar female voice scolded. Robin and Kid Flash moaned. They were never going to get a break.
*My grandma never said that, but sharyvargam's did.
Anyway this is my chapter, I hope you guys liked it. I made Robin a little less helpless. Next chapter should be up by Saturday... maybe.
Don't forget to review, favorite, and follow. (: eye em em nuh-own-knee (immnony)
