Luke sat at the bottom of the stairs, unsure of what to do. Was anybody coming for him? It was getting too dark to walk home, and he had no means of a lift, unless Alfred came for home.
He had to get home, however, because he had school in the morning. Pulling himself up, he retrieved his bag, and climbed through the broken window in the kitchen, and walked slowly home.
It was a quiet night, no clouds or stars in the skies as he trekked back to the house. Would he have to give up being Robin? Probably. He was rubbish, he couldn't do anything right.
"What was I thinking?" He grumbled, kicking a stone. It rolled down the street.
His thoughts were interrupted but a black car driving next to him. The door opened.
"Alfred," Luke breathed a sigh of relief.
Alfred smiled as the boy in blue climbed into the car.
"He's going to make me give up being Robin," Luke said suddenly. Alfred frowned as they drove.
"I'm sure-"
"No. He is," Luke leant back onto the seat, "It's probably the right thing to do, though."
Alfred didn't reply.
THE NEXT DAY
It turned out it was an in-service day, so Luke didn't need to go to school. Alfred and Bruce were out for the day, given Luke the house on his own.
After his close call with the Joker, Luke felt a bit nervous. He went down to the Bat Cave.
There were four people standing there, looking at him. Luke recognised them from the television reports.
Kid Flash, Aqua Lad, Wonder Girl and Speedy. ((A/N: Teen Titians \(^-^)/)
"So…you're the new Robin?" Speedy said.
"There only one Robin," Kid Flash corrected, sounding furious, "And the Professor got him dead," He pointed at Luke.
"We've heard everything. Your such a fail. You failed at training, and when you met the Joker you couldn't even hit him," He spat. The others nodded, apart from Aqua Lad.
"How do you know?" Luke asked, stepping backwards.
"Don't think Batman doesn't tell us," Wonder Girl snapped. They all advanced on him, bar a very anxious looking Aqua Lad.
Luke stepped back.
Kid Flash went nuts.
"Come on then! Hit us! Show us what you can do!" But he didn't give Luke a chance.
In a flash, Speedy, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash were on top of him. In a blur of legs and fists, they hit Luke, screaming insults at him.
"Stop it!" Aqua Lad cried. They stood up, and stared at Luke.
"You don't deserve anything." Kid Flash said, "Not even to were Robin's costume,"
"Come on," Speedy said. As they left, Luke noticed that the box from the Professor had been knocked out his bag. Aqua Lad didn't move as the others left, but started, amazed at the box.
"No way…" He gasped. When everyone had left, Aqua Lad tip-toed over and helped Luke up. His nose was bleeding, he was covered in bruises, he limped on his left leg and he would probably have a black eye by the next morning.
"Are you ok?" He asked. Luke nodded, although it felt like he was on fire.
"Why…why didn't you hit me?" He asked, wiping his nose of blood.
"I told them not to," He said in a hurry, "I'm so sorry."
Luke nodded.
"You're like me," Aqua Lad continued, "I can't hit anybody. I'm such a wuss."
Luke didn't answer as he picked up the box.
"That box…" Aqua Lad began. He started to cough, and he fell to his knees.
"Are you ok!" Luke gasped.
"…W…water," Aqua Lad croaked. Luke nodded, and fled the cave. He returned moments later, with a jug of tap water. He paused, not really knowing what to do next. Aqua Lad stretched out his hand, and took the jug.
He poured it over his head.
"That's better," He spluttered.
"You were saying?" Luke said.
But before Aqua Lad could continue, Kid Flash appeared at the door.
"Come on," He growled.
Aqua Lad spoke in a hurry, "," He left before Luke could ask any questions.
He held the box in his hands.
"To open it you need to be worthy. You need to have proven yourself?"
Luke put his hand into the hand on the box. Again nothing happened.
"How do I do that?"