A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! Finally, I found some time to sneek in this little chapter. It's been getting harder to write more, but I managed to get onto five pages. Whew. My creative juices just aren't flowing that well as of right now. Well enjoy and Happy Holidays!
Ch. 8 Many players
Batman leaned back into the shadows of the ally, crossing his arms. The Titans, Green Arrow and Black Canary were back at the Tower getting their gears together for the trip to Eastern Europe. The Dark Knight wanted to go alone, but the Titans were just as stubborn as Robin…
Closing his eyes, he forced himself to remain calm. Yet, as time rolled on, that was becoming harder and harder to do. All he wanted to do was drop everything and search the planet for his missing son. He wouldn't stop to eat or sleep. Only when Richard was safe back home at the manor would he allow such luxuries. Until then, he would suffer along with his ward.
An image of Reaper flashed in his mind, causing a swell of grief to overcome him. Richard had lived through a civil war, a war that was not his own. He had been forced to see horrors that a teenager should not have seen, partook in activities his young mind shouldn't have learned. Clenching his fists, Batman felt his grief transform into a dark red rage. He would make Deathstroke suffer like no other criminal. The single-eyed criminal had ripped away Richard's innocence. All Batman could hope was that the child was not broken, that he was still the same bright eyed, hyper little boy he took in.
"Sir, you called."
Batman opened his eyes and studied a young man standing at the mouth of the ally. Taking a step into the light, the superhero regarded the young League of Shadows member. Instead of the typical black business suits, the other man wore a military uniform, his blond hair tied in a ponytail, green eyes aching in an old pain. A flash of Robin standing before him with that same look drove the stake deeper into the Dark Knight's heart. He didn't trust this man one bit, but it was his only true connection to Robin. Besides, the League of Shadows member could give him more information on Robin's situation.
"You're taking-"
"Taking us!" Cyborg's deep voice boomed in the ally. The other two turned their attention down the street where the five Titans stood, determination etched on each of their faces.
Green eyes narrowed into slits of confusion, "Robin? This cannot be right…"
Robin crossed his arms, masked eyes narrowing slightly.
"This is Lt. General Mikhail. He is with the League of Shadows and has informed me of Robin's dilemma." Batman kept the irritation out of his voice. He did not want the Titans to follow him, but his Robin had trained them too well of not giving up.
Mikhail bowed to the Titans. "Pleasure to met you, finally in person. I remember Robin would always pull out a picture of you and trace his finger around it. He missed you." A sad look flashed across his features.
Starfire floated up to Mikhail. "You have actually met our Robin?" Tears were swelling in her eyes.
Beast Boy bounded up behind her, "Dude, is he ok?"
Mikhail glanced over at Batman, before focusing on the two Titans. "He is fine."
He didn't know how much Batman had told the Titans, but from what he researched, the man didn't spill knowledge. Glancing at the other Robin, he also noted that this impersonator didn't trust him fully. And besides, he was telling them the truth.
Batman, "We're going, now."
Cyborg stormed up to Batman, "And we're coming as well."
Mikhail sighed, "You will be traveling to a war-torn country. I do not think it would be wise for someone of your age to witness it."
Starfire's eyes shone green, "We will do anything to get our Robin back."
"Are Green Arrow and Black Canary coming as well?" Batman didn't the idea of these kids tagging along. But, he just had a thought that maybe…
Cyborg shook his head, "No. They're going back to JLA headquarters."
"Good. I don't need any more baggage."
Mikhail glanced around the group; "I think it would be a wise decision if this…Robin stays behind. I do not wish to get into any details, but it could cause confusion if he were to come along."
Robin frowned, anger at the advice tensing his body. But, a few seconds passed before he understood the logic. "True, 2 Robins in one place would be a bad idea. Fine. Someone has to protect the city anyway."
A warning went off in Batman's head. He watched as the robot turned his back and walked back towards the Tower. Hearing footsteps behind him, the Dark Knight watched the Titans follow Mikhail towards the airport.
"I have a plane awaiting us to take us there. Hopefully, with you guys there, the Robin I know will appear. He has been in hiding for quite some time."
The Titans nodded. Each seemed to trust Mikhail, except Raven. She hung back a bit, taking in everything about this strange man. Pulling out his communicator, Batman waited till Green Arrow answered.
"Yeah."
"Watch this city and Gotham for any un-normal activity."
"You expecting something?"
"Yes. Also, I want you look over your information and see if there are any Reaper descriptions or recent criminal stirrings these past months."
"Deathstroke wouldn't be dumb enough to expose Robin now, especially in the wake of the robot's 'close' death."
Batman snarled, "You don't know Deathstroke like I do." With that, he shut the communicator off and strolled after the group. Everything was screaming that this was wrong, that he was getting farther away from Richard instead of closer. Then again, he could find anything about what happened to the boy, it would be all the better to use in comforting him.
-A couple hours later-
Mikhail leaned back in his chair and propped a laptop on his legs. With the plane, now on its' way back home, he decided it was time to check up in his other profession. Opening a window, he saw that a fellow comrade was on. Clicking the box, he frowned as a green head popped over his shoulder.
"Whatcha doing?"
"I have work to catch up on."
"Oh? I didn't know League of Shadow members had work."
"Well unlike the Titans, we have double jobs, one for the public eye. See, most of these are requests of where soldiers would like to be deployed and other military assignments. It's hard work putting a country back on its' feet."
"Kool!" Beast Boy's eyes widened and Mikhail realized that now he had a captive audience.
Sighing, he began to type in his native language, smirking mentally as a groan issued from the changeling's mouth.
"I can't read that!"
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Another single man hidden in the corner of the main public library in Gotham City stared into the screen of his laptop. Shaking his cropped black hair, dark eyes flickered between the two tiny screens. In one box, his partner discussed how he had won over the Titans and now was transporting them back to base. There, they could win them over and hopefully draw out Robin. Then, they would be able to have their revenge for the boy's betrayal.
In the other, he waited for a reply. It came.
"Yes."
"Mikhail is returning to base."
"Where is the General?"
"Don't know. He went into hiding."
"Does Mikhail know?"
"If he does, I couldn't get him to spill."
"Where are you?"
"Gotham."
A pause. A pause that was too long. Then finally the box glowed orange.
"Make contact. It is time."
"Yes, sir."
With that, his conversation ended. Glancing up, he took in the library. No one had noticed him. Good. Eyes flickering back, he couldn't help but smirk sadly at the other box.
"The stupid green one is trying to decode our conversation."
"He was never the smart one."
"No. There was another Robin in Jump City. He is staying there, as not to arose suspicion."
"Do we have any leads where the other one is?"
"No." Pause. "Pavel…"
"Yes."
"Don't be stupid. Don't lose your guard." Ending with those cryptic lines, the conversation ended with his partner logging off.
Leaning in his chair, Pavel stared out the window. He was getting tired of playing the double agent, of trying to find out where the General disappeared too after he heard of Robin's escape. It seemed that everyone went underground. Eyes glancing up into the blue sky, he sighed. 'Tis was the calm before the storm, a storm of the century.
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A/N: Yay! More hidden alliances and agendas than one can handle! Well, finally some action is going to occur. You'll just have to wait and see.
