"Wake up, Titans. We're here."
Raven opened her bleary eyes and saw...nothing. The interior of the plane was nearly pitch-black, and what little light that filtered in was grey as charcoal. Here? she thought, Where's here? And then it all came rushing back in; the zombies, the smell of rotten flesh, the dead world. And the Batcave. Ah, yes, she was fully awake now.
"Huh? Whazzat?" Beast Boy stretched his now-human limbs and rubbed his eyes. He covered them with a squeal a second later as a lone (though rather bright) light flickered on in the plane.
"C'mon, c'mon, get a move on," Selina was saying a she went around the plane and shook the Titans into alertness. "Don't you want to meet the Batman? Eat something that isn't granola?" She wrinkled her nose. "Take a shower, maybe?"
"Nooo," Starfire moaned from next to Raven. "Silkie, nooo, do not consume that…" She opened her eyes and blinked. "Friend Raven, why are you looking at me like that?"
"I...it's nothing, Starfire." Raven was now biting the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling. "Did you sleep well?"
"Oh, yes, quite well! And you?" Starfire asked.
"Great," said Raven, still biting her cheek. "Let's help Selina get the guys up so we can get out of this plane."
IIIIII
The hatch, again with a great grinding of gears and machinery, came jerkily down from the bottom of the plane and hit the metal landing pad with a ringing clang. Selina stepped out first and called out, presumably to a hidden camera, "We're home! And we have company!" Her voice echoed throughout the enormous cave, and Robin, who had walked out after her, braced for the onslaught of bats.
But it did not come. All the bats must be dead, Robin realized. He had not expected the feeling of sadness that washed over him at the thought, but he felt bad for the little creatures nonetheless. They had not deserved to die, no matter what Robin's feelings were about the man who modeled himself after them.
As the rest of the Titans filed out of the airplane, Selina headed over to an elevator across from the pad. "Follow me, everyone. Keep up, Slade."
Cyborg turned to look at the man in question and coughed in surprise when he saw him. Angela lay in Slade's arms, still deep asleep. Slade seemed unbothered by both the presence and the (slight) weight of the woman. Cyborg decided not to say anything.
"For those of you who don't know, we're in the hangar/basement portion of the Batcave," Selina said as she walked. "A few floors up, we have the main hub-that's where the Batcomputer and training area are-and off that main hub we've got bedrooms, bathrooms, even a kitchen." She shot a look a Robin. "We live down here, after all. It's safe and secure."
The group had reached the elevator. Selina pushed the "up" button and the doors slid open, revealing a blessedly large elevator car.
"How does this place have power?" Raven said as everyone piled in.
"Well," said Selina. "The Bat has a surprising amount of generators. Some run on gasoline, while others are solar powered. Main hub, please," she said. The elevator doors closed with a soft bing and the car began moving. "The elevator is voice-controlled. Helpful when you have your hands full. Anyway, gasoline and solar are nice and all, but it's rarely sunny these days. Luckily, Bats also has thermal generators underground. Had 'em there before all this happened. Some fancy Wayne tech stuff." Selina looked at Robin again, but his face was carefully blank.
"Main hub," said the elevator in a faintly posh British accent. The doors opened to a spacious, dimly-lit room, and everyone exited the elevator car. The Titans squinted in the darkness, attempting to look around. The floor was steel, but the walls were those of a cave, rough and stony. Cyborg started when he realized that the "floor" was actually a very wide railed walkway that ran the length of the cave-it was at least 60 yards long. He figured that if he walked to the edge and looked over, he would be able to see the Batplane that they had just left, now far below them. That is, if there was some dang light in here.
"Dude," whispered Beast Boy to Cyborg. "Is that…?"
Cyborg followed Beast Boy's wide-eyed stare and saw who he was referring to. At the other end of the walkway, lighted by the blue glow of the Batcomputer, was a hooded figure sitting in a chair, his back to the group.
Starfire felt Robin take her hand. His was shaking. Starfire ran her thumb over Robin's knuckles, trying to soothe him. That must be the Batman, to make Robin react so. Why does he tremble so? Starfire felt worry worm its way into her gut, though she tried to keep it down. He clings so tightly to me, but not out of fear. Robin is...angry.
"Hey, Bats, we're back," called Selina. "And we've got guests. We tried to call ahead and tell you, but, uh, the plane comms is out again. Unfortunately." She took a few steps forward. "They're not normal guests, Bats. It's the Titans. All of them."
"Bring them over." The Batman's voice was deep and scratchy, like the music off of an old record.
"Ohh-kay," said Selina. She turned to the Titans. "Brace yourselves, kids. And Robin...remember what I said about not forgiving me? This is why you shouldn't." Selina gestured for them to follow her.
"W-wait," said Robin. "But-won't-?" It was too late. Selina, walking fast, nearly running, was already halfway to the midpoint of the walkway. The rest of the group was right behind her, jogging (or flying) to keep up. Slade was the only one still standing by Robin. Angela continued to sleep in his arms.
"What happened to secret identities?" Robin snarled at Slade. "If they see who Batman is, and where we are, they'll find out who I am."
"Isn't it time they knew?" Slade said calmly.
"But when we get home-back to our universe-Batman's identity-"
"Dear boy, who says you will be able to go back to your world?"
"What?" Robin gagged. "What did you just say?"
Slade's only response was to walk after Selina and the Titans, forcing Robin to run and catch up to him.
Robin didn't stop when he reached Slade; instead, he kept running until he caught up to the rest of the Titans. By the time he reached them, Selina was mounting the few stairs that led to the Batcomputer's designated space.
"Bats, are you sure you want them to know-?" Selina let the question hang as she approached the man sitting in the large leather chair.
"Yes, Selina, I'm certain." He added something that was too quiet for the waiting Titans to hear, but Selina shook her head and moved aside on the short staircase. The Titans walked up to meet the Batman.
As they gathered around him, he stood and brushed back the hood of his jacket. The screens of the Batcomputer illuminated his handsome face as he spoke.
"Welcome, Titans. I'm Bruce Wayne, although you all know me as Batman. I'm pleased to meet every one of you."
The Titans were dead silent. Then there was a great cacophony of teenage screaming.
"I knew it!" Beast Boy was screeching to nobody in particular. "I totally knew it!"
"No you didn't!" Cyborg retorted, laughing wildly.
Even Starfire and Raven were yelling, both of them speaking in their own mother tongue.
The only one not participating in the shouting match was Robin. He stood cold and distant as the stars and stared at Bruce Wayne with ice in his veins.
"But wait," gasped Starfire abruptly. "If Batman is the Bruce Wayne, would not Robin be…?"
"Richard Grayson, my adopted son," said Bruce. "Yes." He paused and looked at Robin for the first time since the Titans had arrived. Everyone stopped yelling very quickly, and Selina looked like she wanted to be someplace else. Bruce sighed. "However, your Robin is not my son or former sidekick. He is not this universe's Robin, just as you all are not this universe's Titans." He turned and faced the Batcomputer again, it's blank screens still glowing a frigid blue.
"So that's it then? You're just giving away our secret identities like candy now?" Hissed Robin. "We're getting home somehow, but you've just given everything away like it's not an issue. You're acting like we're stuck here, so none of it matters. But we're not. We can't be."
"Um…" Beast Boy said. "What did you say about getting h-"
"Hey, Bruce!" It was Selina. "We rescued a civilian, too, y'know. Her name's Angela, uh, I don't actually remember her last name. Slade, help me out here?"
"Vargas," said Slade. He shifted Angela in his arms and she stirred but did not wake.
"Oh," Selina said. "Why don't you lay her down on one of the couches over there?" There were indeed couches and plush armchairs about four yards from the Batcomputer, all arranged in a large circle. "What? We needed somewhere for all of us to sit together," Selina said defensively in response to the Titans' odd look. "We just thought it would be nice for it to be by the Computer in case of emergencies...and for convenience, I guess. Besides, there was space right there."
When Slade returned from setting Angela down, Selina said to him, "So, uh, are you ever going to take your mask off? I mean, the Titans know who Batman is now, so I think you're okay to show them your face."
"Wait, wait, what?" Robin said.
Selina laughed. "Yeah, now you're paying attention, Bird Boy. So, Slade?"
Slade shrugged and pulled his mask off.
Robin didn't really know what he was expecting. A fleshless skull again? Maybe. But what he got wasn't exactly expected, either. The eyepatch made sense, of course-there was a reason Slade's mask was blacked out on one side. He remaining eye seemed to be a sharp grey color, which was surprising: Robin had thought it was blue for some reason. The silvery hair was a bit of a shock, too, because aside from that, Slade did not look like (or fight like) he was very old. Perhaps the most unexpected feature was Slade's skin tone; lighter than Cyborg's and slightly darker than Selina's, it was a warm russet brown that was in striking contrast with the man's silver hair.
"You seem surprised, Titans," Slade said. "Masks only serve as protection now, and I do not care if you see my face. Yet you are evidently shocked for a different reason. What?"
"Uh…" Beast Boy said weakly. "You're not…" He blushed, his face turning the color of pine needles.
"White?" Slade said succinctly. It was odd being able to see him smile, be it ever-so-slightly. "I am, on my father's side. However, my mother was Indian and Japanese, so far as I was able to discover."
"Oh," said Cyborg. And then, "Why are you telling us this?"
Selina spoke up. "Bruce, Slade, and I decided back when we first moved in here that we needed to be honest and communicate with each other if we wanted to survive. Mr. Wayne still struggles with that sometimes." She yelled her last sentence in the direction of Bruce, but he had disappeared from his seat. "Of course," Selina sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Ms. Kyle," said a new voice. "Perhaps I might show the Titans to their rooms?"
Robin's eyes widened. "Alfred?" He whispered.
"Hello, Richard." The voice trembled on the name. "It is so wonderful to see you again." A tall, trim man stepped out of the shadows near the the circle of furniture. He was dressed plainly, in black slacks and a white dress shirt. A little moustache sat neatly on his upper lip, and his steely grey hair was receding. He smiled softly at Robin.
"Alfred!" Robin cried and ran to the man and wrapped his arms around him. Alfred hugged him back as tightly as he could, his head on Robin's shoulder. "I missed you, Alfred. I missed you so much." Robin felt tears brimming in his eyes, threatening to spill over.
"I missed you too, Richard. More than you could possibly imagine. I am terribly glad you found your way here...I will have to thank Ms. Kyle and Mr. Wilson quite profusely for helping you and your team to safety."
"But Alfred," said Robin, separating from the man. "Bruce said I'm not...not your Robin. Not this universe's Robin."
"Richard, do you think I do not know that? It does not matter to me. You look and act exactly the same as this universe's Robin did. To all extents and purposes, you are him, at least to me-and perhaps to everyone but Master Bruce."
"Hold on…" Robin said, frowning. "You just said "did." How "this universe's Robin did." Why did you refer to him-to me-in the past tense? What happened to this universe's Robin?" He turned to look at the Titans, who were talking quietly to Selina. He felt suddenly apprehensive. "What happened to all the Titans, for that matter? Alfred?"
"I...I believe Ms. Kyle and Mr. WIlson will explain that to all of you after everyone freshens up. The Batcave underwent many renovations in the years that passed since you left and the...apocalypse began, and we have many more bedrooms and bathrooms now. While they were originally intended for emergency guests, they have been used only for storage as of late. Nonetheless, I believe you will find them to your liking. Perhaps showers are in order?"
Robin sighed and let the matter rest. "You know what? That...that sounds great, Alfred. Thank you."
"Of course, Richard." Alfred smiled, but he looked sad. "I will show your friends to their quarters, then. Come, Titans," he called to the teens.
Robin walked slightly behind the group, nearer to Slade than to the others. The man still held his two-tone mask in his hands.
"So," said Robin. He thought, Let's see if what Catwoman said about "communicating" is true. "Your last name's Wilson, huh? What's your first?"
"My name is my name, Robin."
"Wha-so you mean your name is just Slade? Seriously? You've got to be kidding." Robin laughed in disbelief.
"I'm not. My name truly is Slade Wilson."
There was a long pause. And then...
"...I can't believe it." Robin placed a hand to his cheek. "I just can't believe it."
IIIIII
The small group had just reached a large hallway with three doors on each side, each door spaced evenly apart. Without a doubt, these were the bedrooms. Alfred was reaching to open the first door on the left when Selina gasped,
"Oh, my god!" We forgot Angela!"
The Titans had been so caught up in the idea of a shower that Angela had slipped their minds completely.
"Let her sleep just a bit longer, Ms. Kyle. I will tend to her once the Titans are settled in," said Alfred.
After all of the Titans had selected a room for themselves (with a minimum amount of bickering), it was quiet once again in the Batcave.
"Slade," said Selina. "Did you remember that Angela was still on that couch?"
"Yes," he said. "But I thought it wise to let her rest where she was-!"
Selina cut him off by punching him in the arm. "You fucking jerk. You could've told me! I feel bad now; we left her all alone!"
"No need to worry, Ms. Kyle. I have a strong suspicion that Ms. Vargas has yet to awaken," Alfred said.
When the trio arrived back at the cluster of couches and chairs, they found that Alfred was quite correct. Angela had not moved an inch since they had left her.
"Whew," Selina sighed. "Now that I feel better emotionally, I'm gonna go take a shower before the Titans use up all the hot water. See you later, Slade. Bye, Alfred." She waved as she walked off.
"Would you be so kind as to carry Ms. Vargas for me, Mr. Wilson?" Alfred asked. "We really ought to get her to her room."
"Certainly," Slade said. He picked up Angela once more, and he and Alfred made their way back to the last empty room. Slade set Angela gently down on the bed and Alfred tucked her under the downy blue comforter.
I shall have to wash these sheets after Ms. Vargas awakes, Alfred thought to himself as he eyed Angela's dirty clothes. He gestured to Slade and the two left the room as quietly as possible.
After they had closed the door on the still-sleeping woman, Alfred turned to Slade.
"When the Titans have finished refreshing themselves, I would sincerely appreciate it if you and Ms. Kyle were to tell them about what happened to them in this universe. It is only fair that they know."
"Tell them," Slade said softly, "Or show them?"
Alfred sighed and bowed his head. "Whatever the two of you think is best shall suffice."
"Very well." Slade turned to leave.
"Mr. Wilson," said Alfred. "Thank you for saving them."
Slade only nodded.
