Master…
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.
Summary: "I will break you Robin and I will get your precious friends to watch and see as their fearless leader becomes nothing but a memory…."
Chapter Nine – Note
Trembling hands gripped at the paper for dear life, hot new tears running freely down her beautiful orange skin. She numbly made her way back to her friends, her eyes unfocused – staring blankly off into space. Hurried footsteps surrounded her, voices speaking in a language she couldn't understand. She collapsed, her knees giving out from under her and she fell into the awaiting arms of Cyborg who picked up her delicate form and carried her over to the couch. As she felt the strong hand release her and the soft cushions against her skin she instinctively curled up in a ball bringing the paper to her chest.
Beast Boy went to grab the paper off her but she cried out, as if in pain and crushed it closer to her chest. Raven ushered the boys away and took a seat next to the crying girl.
"Starfire…?"
The Tamarainen Princess let out a whimper and edged away from the gothic teen, she obviously needed sometime alone. Raven stood and motion for the boys to leave, hesitantly they did but under protest. Starfire's mood impacted everything, the tower felt dark without her usually bubbly attitude flowing around it and it was extremely concerning to see Starfire in such a state.
Raven let out a sigh and closed the door, giving Starfire some privacy. The others just stood together listening to the sound of muffled sobs through the door. After a few minutes there was silence and they were just about to go back into the room to check on her when a thump against the door was heard and a folded piece of white paper slipped under it. Beast Boy picked it up and unfolded it; even though the writing was rushed it was still no doubt Robin's.
Team,
Look, I now this isn't what you want to hear but I'm going to say it anyway, I have a bad feeling about this situation and I just know it's going to end bad for me and I'm so sorry I dragged you into this mess again. I have no idea where I am, but i can definitely tell you it's outside of Jump City, All I can suggest you so is look out for each other, I don't want you to get hurt because of my negligence. I've set up a file on the computer that you'll only be allowed to open after I'm gone, I guess I just wanted to say goodbye one last time. I'm so grateful for your friendship, you've become like family to me, you are my family and if I have to work for a madman and lose my life to save you, then so be it.
I love you all.
Robin
Raven blinked back the tears that welled in her amethyst eyes. Now she knew how Starfire felt. Cyborg started walking off down the hall but a quick "where are you going" from Beast Boy made him stop in his tracks.
"I'm going to pinpoint locations outside of Jump that Slade and Robin maybe staying in."
The last part of the sentence was unheard as the cybernetic teen had already rounded the corner. Beast Boy stood unsure of what to do with himself, Raven had managed to slip back into the common room unnoticed to check on Starfire. Beast Boy shifted his weight from foot to foot waiting for an order that was never going to come. He decided to go and call Batman and tell him about the note Robin had left for them, maybe he could help find Robin faster, after all he was the world's greatest detective. With that thought in mind he headed back into the common room avoiding the girls who were currently sitting back on the couch and went straight for the computer.
Upon sending the call he half-expected no one to answer, he was thoroughly surprised to find that Batman had answered within a few seconds.
"Beast Boy." He nodded a greeting at the teenager who was in a wide-eyed daze at the sight of him.
Quickly snapping out of his daze he gave a brief summary of what had occurred while they were asleep. He then explained about the note Robin had left and about Cyborg trying to pinpoint a possible location for them to search. Batman agreed and asked if there was any way he could help, Beast Boy's grin widened.
"He's our techno-wiz on this team; it's all in good hands."
Satisfied Batman let him know that he'd be over to help search sometime in the afternoon and the called ended just as quick as it had started. Beast Boy had been so engrossed by the conversation he had hardly noticed Raven had come to stand beside him.
"Did everything go okay?"
Beast Boy jumped in his seat and turned to face Raven directly, he noticed that Raven too had tear streaks down her face and was going to ask if she was okay but though better of it and just let it slide. He knew she was upset, the whole team was and he didn't want to cause anymore strain on the whole situation than there already was.
"Oh yeah, he seemed fine about it. He looked like he hadn't slept in days; poor guy must be worried sick."
Raven's eyes stared out at the city, Robin and Slade could be anywhere. They knew the city the best, they'd been protecting it for a long time now and it seemed that Slade was toying with them, being so close and yet so far away. Beast Boy glanced back at Starfire who had fallen sleep in a ball on the couch, he was really worried about her and it broke his heart to see her looking so lost and useless.
"Is she going to be okay?"
Raven's attention was brought back onto the green skinned boy and she followed his gaze over to the Tamarainen Princess, the poor girl was exhausted.
"She will be."
Silence passed between the two and Raven decided she needed to leave before things started getting awkward.
"I'm going to go meditate. If you need me I'll be in my room."
She had barely taken three steps when a hand wrapped around her wrist keeping her in place. She turned to Beast Boy who was looking up at her, concern was written all across his features.
"What about you Raven…? Are you okay?"
He let go of her wrist and stood up so they were eye level with each other, green eyes bore into her purple ones. It made it harder for Raven to ignore the question; she turned around so her back was facing him and took a few steps to get some distance between the two of them.
"I'm fine."
She wasn't, not truthfully but she didn't want to burden him with all her emotions. Beast Boy brought his hand and went to place it on her shoulder but she moved making her way towards the door.
"I'll be in my room."
She was gone and Beast Boy was alone once again, his hand wavered in the air and he just let it drop back down beside him. He decided he'd try playing some video games to take his mind off things; maybe he'd get some sleep too. Actually, now that he'd though about it that didn't sound like a bad idea, so with that in mind he headed off down the hall to his room.
Wintergreen had been fussing over Robin all afternoon; the poor boy literally looked like he'd been through hell and back. For starters, Robin hadn't been eating anything which seemed to concern him the most, he was after all a teenage boy and they should be eating down the house not trying to starve himself. He'd taken care of all the cuts and bruises the Boy Wonder had on his arms and legs they were all fine but he couldn't say the same thing about the condition of his back.
It looked very painful and Wintergreen was amazed at the boy that he hadn't been complaining about it, after landing on it one of the cuts had re-opened and Wintergreen had to glue it back together to stop the bleeding. It was also slight swollen, nowhere near as much as it had been when Slade had first unleashed his rage on Robin's back but still enough that he should be worried.
Another thing they'd discovered was that he'd received a broken rib and it surprised both of them, what had happened in the forest when he'd gone to retrieve the plant? There were so many questions that needed to be answered and Robin was the only one who had the answers they needed. Right now all he needed was sleep after fixing up most of his injuries Wintergreen had thought about making him something to eat but thought he'd better wait for the kid to wake up first. He really though Robin should have been treated better than he had, defiantly not in the manor that Slade had. Beating him only made things worse for both of them.
Deciding there was really nothing else he could do for Robin until he woke up he left him alone and went to get himself a cup of tea. He'd check back on him later, he needed a rest first. He also wanted to know what Slade had planned for Robin over the next few weeks, Wintergreen wasn't happy with the way Slade was acting towards the boy and found the kind of punishment Slade was using inappropriate for a boy his age. It was decided, after a break he'd go and find Slade, it was going to be an interesting conversation.
Batman had been in a better mood after the call with Beast Boy, even though they still hadn't found Dick, the note he left helped quicken their search. He'd informed Alfred that he would be leaving for Jump City in a few hours and that he was taking Batgirl along with him, her computer skills could help their case and possibly bring Dick back home safe and sound.
Barbara had been extremely upset at the news that Dick had basically signed a death wish with Slade, agreeing that at the end of thirty days he gets to be killed. It made her nauseous and she had gone to lie down to clear her head. The last three hours of so had flown by in a blur and it was nearing time to head off to Jump. Alfred had come to collect her and had asked her if she could keep a close eye on Batman, both her and Alfred had been terribly worried about him. He'd stopped eating, he'd barley slept and he was almost always locked away down in the dark cave trying to figure out where Slade was hiding Robin.
After a small goodbye Alfred had graciously baked her some cookies for her small journey and she slide into the passenger seat of the Batmobile and waited for Bruce to get in, she noticed that both he and Alfred were having an intense conversation and she knew by the look on his face Bruce was getting frustrated. She decided to ignore their conversation and focus on the task ahead of them, she pulled a cookie from her bag and started munching on it she reached behind her and grabbed her seatbelt securing it across her form locking it in place when she looked up she noticed that Bruce had managed to get in unheard.
He slammed the door closed and Alfred narrowed his eyes at him through the grass window, he didn't pay attention. The engine roared to life and before she knew what was happening they were already on the road.
"Bruce! Slow down!" she shrieked in hope that he would listen. He didn't and she huffed in her seat pulling out her laptop and started typing away at her keyboard. Great she thought to herself, this is going to be a long drive.
A/N Yay, I've managed to actually stick to a promise for once in my life. Actually this would have been up yesterday but I caught a cold, stupid weather. Sorry in advance if this isn't very good I can barely write well normally, this probably sucks because I was sick. Anyway I hope you enjoy reading this, still a heck of a lot more action to come. I'm pumped. Oh, there may not be another chapter up until the weekend, I'm hoping I'll get one up before then but I'm lazy so maybe not.
Thanks for all the reviews and favourites, really I'm just ecstatic that you actually take time to read it. Thank you so much for your time, so I'll see you in the next chapter.
