Chapter 8: Training
Stephanie's POV
I wake up.
I'm on a bed, it's not mine and I don't remember how I got here.
The last thing I remember is the obstacle track and then everything turns black.
I remember I was done with the track and then something…or someone…hit me.
"You okay kid?" I hear someone say, but I know this voice.
I look up, everything is a bit blurry, but my eyes are adjusting and everything is starting to clear out "Bruce…? What… what happened?"
"You failed the track" Oh, it's Bruce alright "you thought you had it in the bag and you lost focus" he ignores my question, well, not exactly.
"I guess that solves the mystery of what knocked me out" I joke, trying to ease the pain.
"No time for jokes now, you promised I wouldn't be disappointed, well I'm not impressed" he crosses his arms.
"Ah, but you aren't disappointed" I joke again, but this time trying to ease his mood.
"Yet" he simply says and walks away.
I stare at him leaving, not knowing how to feel, what to say or what to do. I need to get better.
I can't disappoint him.
Tim's POV
Think Tim, think.
So, she isn't picking up. I can't find her. She hates me. She doesn't even want to see me.
But she still loves you, I mean me. Oh, whatever.
I could come up with a plan, I always function better with a plan.
But maybe this whole thing just needs to be left alone for a while. So I can cool off and so Steph can cool too.
Yes, that must be it. I'll just find something to distract me with.
I know, you can go to the movies.
That's a good idea.
I pick up the phone and dial Steph's number when I realize she won't pick up.
Hey bozo, why don't you dial someone else's number?
Maybe I should just put my inner voice in a freaking cage.
I erase Steph's number and dial Ariana's.
"Hi Tim" she greets
"Ariana. Would you like to go to the movies?" I go straight to the point, because I'll just feel bad if I over think this.
"Sure thing, today?"
"Yes, I'll pick you up at six"
"Sounds good, bye"
"Bye"
Way to go bozo! You did it! You're gonna get over Steph.
Hold your horses, I'm not trying to get over her, I'm just giving her time.
Dude, I'm just a voice in your head, I don't have thoughts of my own. These are your thoughts.
SHUT UP! You're wrong! Those aren't my thoughts. You are just a character within my mind, that I created to talk to. I don't care for Ariana like I care for Steph.
And I have told you already that I'm not giving up on Steph.
Stephanie's POV
This stuff is hard, I forgot how hard fighting crime could be. Hell, I forgot how hard fighting anything could be.
Maybe I'm not that good. Is this really for me?
I mean, I'm good enough to take out a few burglars, but at this pace I'll never be able to fight Harley, or Two Faces, or… The Cluemaster.
What if I'm not good enough?
Maybe I should quit before something goes wrong, I mean, I might ruin a mission if I don't get better, someone might get hurt.
What if I'm not even doing it for the right reasons?
What if deep down I'm only doing this to get back at Tim? That's no good reason for this. I should be doing this to help others. I should be doing the selfless thing. I shouldn't be seeking vengeance, I should be seeking justice.
Calm down Steph, breathe.
You are doing this because Gotham needs Robin, and so does Batman, whether he cares to admit it or not.
This can't be. I'm not like this. I am not this insecure, this unsure of myself. I trust my choices.
You can do this, just practice. Train.
Yes, practice, that's all I need. By the time a mission comes up I'll be kicking butt.
Maybe I can do this.
Yet I still… I have a bad feeling.
Tim's POV
I am standing a few steps away from Ariana's door.
Should I really be doing this?
Stop thinking, just do it.
I walk up those few steps and ring on her door.
"Just a minute!" I hear.
I wait, for about 10 minutes, to be honest. Ariana comes out in a pair of jeans and a purple tank top, her hair is up in a long ponytail. It's so simple, but she looks beautiful.
"You look great" I tell her.
She smiles and looks down "Thanks"
"How about we head to the cinema?" I offer.
"Yeah, let's go."
We start walking, side by side, in an almost awkward silence.
"What are we going to see by the way?" She asks as we walk.
"We'll just pick a movie when we get there"
"Okay, but no romantic comedies, I'm not feeling like it"
"I think I can handle it" I joke.
As we get to the cinema, the silence becomes less awkward, friendlier. I don't know why I was nervous, Ariana is a very nice person, there are some great movies on the cinema, this might just be a pretty good day.
We reach the cinema and Ariana stretches out her arm, pointing at a poster "How about we that one?"
"A book based movie?" I ask reluctant.
"Yes, c'mon, it's gonna be awesome"
"Hum… Okay"
"Yay" she says and races to buy the tickets.
I go after her, but stop, looking at the small television in the cinema. The news are on and Batman is on a mission, but the news say "Dynamic Duo". How can it be the Dynamic Duo if I quit?
But there it is. You can barely see them, they're moving so fast, you just get a glimpse of a big black spot moving and racing and a smaller colorful one. That new Robin dude is weird, he has an abnormal long silky blonde hair.
Long blonde hair…
It can't be, no, it can't.
But it is, and I know it. It's Steph. She's Robin.
What a lousy pretty good day.
How could she do this? How could she betray me like this? What if she gets hurt?
I grab my phone and send her a text.
Ariana is coming, so I breathe and try to calm myself. She already has the tickets, okay, I'll see the movie and then deal with Steph. It's going to be fine. Sure.
"Let's go?" She asks.
"To see a movie we go"
Stephanie's POV
Yes. This mission was a hit!
Of course it was just a couple of thugs, but still.
I change to my civil clothing and notice my phone is blinking.
It's a text, from Tim.
We have to talk. I know you're Robin.
He knows. How?
I mean, I knew he'd find out eventually, but… How?
I'm not ready to talk to him, but I think he deserves an explanation regarding the Robin thing…
I'm gonna do it.
I'm going to talk to Tim.
