Asilla: Thank you very much for the compliments. I am happy that you are enjoying the story. And yeah, that class on death was sad, but I think it's really paying off.
Rebel-Aquarius: I'm glad you're enjoying it, and I'm really looking forward to writing the next few chapters, and deciding how everything unfolds.
Kazzy103: Yeah, Batman is just getting himself into the loop by reading those files. I decided that the story would not be complete without at least one Batgirl cameo. I hope you keep reading to see what I do with this plot!
Laura Titan: Thank you for the review.
Alexnandru Van Gordon: Thank you for another speedy review. I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far. Also, I owe you a huge thank you for putting me on the list in your profile. It was awesome to know that you like Oblivion that much! Keep reading!
A/N: Did anyone else find Alfred's comment, you know the "what will they call me, Batbutler, Butlerman?" funny. I laughed when I wrote it. Although I know I stuck it in a strange place for humor, right in the middle of a tense scene. It was kind of like those clowns in Shakespeare, only way less annoying!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, don't sue me.
Oblivion
Chapter 10: Wild
There would be no meddling Titans this time, no friends to trash his plans. He would see to that. As long as the Titans believed their leader to be dead then they would not be a problem, he would allow them to live. He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but this time he made the rules. He would put his apprentice to sleep, and then move to a different location, somewhere desirable, yet far from Jump City. Once Robin had recovered he would steal for Slade, perhaps running into a Justice League member, but not the one who knew him best. No, this time there would be no mistakes. This time Robin would remain his.
(-Gotham-)
Bruce pulled the Batman cowl off of his head with a deep sigh. Alfred did likewise, sinking into one of the chairs in the bat cave. They heard the sounds of tires on stone as the T-car entered the cave, parking just behind the batmobile. As the Titans emerged, Wonder Woman, Superman, The Flash, and Kid Flash all walked in. The Titans looked awkwardly at Bruce, realizing that Batman was really the famous billionaire for the first time. "Well, let's get upstairs," Bruce sighed again, leading the way out of the cave.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIThe small group assembled in Wayne Manor's expansive living room. The Titans felt extremely out of place. The pair of super speed heroes unmasked and stretched. They both looked a little wind-blown from having run to the mansion. Batgirl would have been with them, she certainly wanted to, but Batman had made it quite clear that she was not welcome. He even went so far as to instruct Commissioner Gordon that Batgirl was not to follow him out. That hit home as Gordon was Batgirl's father. Batman felt a tinge of guilt at being so harsh, but Batgirl did not know his true identity, and he was in no hurry to reveal it to her.
Batman and Alfred disappeared for a moment, most likely to change into normal clothes in case someone came to the door. In the interminable amount of time it took before they returned, Kid Flash struck up a conversation. "Well, now that I'm unmasked, I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Wally," he said. "And I have no idea who any of you are," he admitted, nodding to the Titans.
"I'm Cyborg," the android said, taking point as the leader.
"Beast Boy," BB said, sulking.
"Raven," the apathetic girl responded… apathetically. Starfire was sobbing uncontrollably, and so Raven introduced her as well. "She's Starfire."
Wally nodded. "So your Dick's team," he said with a sigh. The four Titans stared at him uncertainly. "God, this sucks in major ways," he added.
"Please, who is 'Dick'?" Starfire asked, wiping away her tears.
"Richard Grayson – Robin's real identity," Wally responded. "He never told you?" They shook their heads. "Right, he mentioned it once, ditching his whole "Dick Grayson" persona and sticking totally with being Robin."
"Why would he do that?" Raven asked, turning to Wally with interest.
"I think he was tired of the attachments to Dick Grayson – the circus, and being the ward of Bruce Wayne. Dick and Bruce got into a big fight before he left to go to Jump City; I think he just didn't want to be associated with him anymore." Raven was about to ask what they fought about, and what he meant by the circus, when Bruce and Alfred reentered the room.
The room descended into silence, no one quite sure what to do or say. Finally, Wally spoke. "So, how have things been in Jump City, you know, since…" he let the sentence hang.
"Pretty crazy actually," Cyborg answered. "Every villain we've ever fought suddenly broke out of the prison and asylum. They've been wreaking havoc already."
"Slade too?" Bruce asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, no Slade sightings yet. I still think he's dead…" Silence met Cyborg's words.
After a few moments, Wally began to speak again. "Oh man, nothing's going to be the same without Dick. We didn't work together a lot, but the few times we did…" he shook his head and smiled, showing that their time together was quite entertaining. "He could keep up with me – well, not when I was running – but even though he didn't have powers, he was one of the best. And he always had these subtle puns he would make. He used to take a lot of chances… he was wild."
"I must agree. When he first moved here, I nearly had a heart attack over the things he would do. Swinging off of chandeliers, sliding down the banisters and doing flips… He scared me half to death," Alfred smiled at the memories.
Bruce let out a laugh. "Yeah, I always had to keep my eyes on him. You never really know what taking in an acrobat means until you've done it."
"An acrobat?" Beast Boy asked. "What do you mean?"
The adults and Wally turned and stared at him. "You don't know?" Bruce asked. BB shook his head. Bruce sighed and launched into the whole explanation. All of the questions they ever had about Robin's early childhood were answered. Bruce told them about Haley's Circus, and Tony Zucco. The Titans all gasped when Bruce explained that the ropes had been cut, allowing the "Flying Grayson's" to fall to their deaths. He discussed (with a few interruptions from Alfred) how he took in the orphaned acrobat, and how Richard eventually became the lighter side of the Dynamic Duo, the Boy Wonder, Robin. Wally added a few anecdotes here and there.
"So, where does Batgirl fit into all this?" Cyborg asked.
"Batgirl is not affiliated with me in any way," Bruce said. "She created her own costume and started doing vigilante work solo. I bailed her out of a few tough spots, and often sent Robin to do the same."
"Haha, yeah, Robin and Batgirl," Wally laughed. "Robin would get all red when he talked about her. I heard that the 'bad guys' they took down actually turned themselves in so they wouldn't have to listen to those two flirt!" Superman, Alfred, Wonder Woman, and the Flash all found this quite entertaining. Bruce just shook his head, Cyborg and Beast Boy laughed, while Starfire looked up at Wally in shock.
The Titans were enjoying learning about a different side of Robin. When he was with them, he was often serious and brooding. He had to be, he was the leader. As a sidekick he had much more of an opportunity to have fun, and let out his 'wild' side a bit more. However, there was one more thing about their leader that they were anxious to hear about.
"So… why did Robin leave Gotham and come to Jump?" Cyborg asked. All of the laughter ended abruptly. Alfred and Bruce exchanged glances, unsure of how to answer that question.
I know, I know, it was short and you all want to kill me. However, you shouldn't, because how then will you know what happens next? Hahaha, got you there! Anyway, I wanted to get an update in today since I'm going on vacation (I know, and ending at such a mini-conversational-cliffhanger as well). Therefore, I hope you all enjoyed chapter ten, and realize that very soon, the pace is going to speed up. I'll see you next time (well, not literally...), and maybe then, I'll write another scene from Robin's POV, how's that? Yeah, just keep those reviews coming. (Not that I'm greedy or anything...)
See you in a week,
Sarah Shima