This is the twenty-first chapter of this story, and I am so terrible at getting these up it's sad... xC apologies!
Anyways!
Disclaimer - I don't own *Slow tear*
Warnings - like one bad word?
Chapter twenty-one - The Need To Escape
They all watched the Titan hoping his wound had closed, Raven having used her magic to speed the process along, though despite none attempted to wake him, knowing his mental state was in critical condition. None dared to leave the boy, thinking the previous kidnapper would try to take him again, though they where eventually forced out, the alarm sounding, unable to ignore it, knowing the city could be in parle if they did.
In the end they decided Star could stay to keep eye on him, her not seeming stable enough to fight, or at least less stable than the others, not even able to fly, though they hesitated slightly, her still shooting random shots of green, not wishing to take the chance at her accidentally shooting him, but that seemed least likely, her being extremely careful around him since his returned.
She stood in the corner of the room, unable to get to close without bursting into tears, knowing that she would have to keep him restrained if he woke. Batman, had left the night before, poison Ivy having taken over half the city with her plants, terrorizing the civilians, several men having been taken as hostages, so he wasn't there to help. Thinking of this made her shake, the thought that her best friend had endured such horrible things made her so overrun with negative emotions, swallowing to avoid a sob.
To her horror the boy eventually came to, whining as the restraint held him firm, eyes slowly fluttering, looking towards the far off wall, hissing as he attempted to move, unable, head pounding, not quite awake enough to struggle against them simply thinking to himself, thinking of all he'd been told.
He didn't know how to function, the truths being nothing more than total fabrications in his eyes, tall tales spewing from his enemy's lips, each lie adding to the ever-growing pile. Luckily his master had told him this was likely to happen, that the bad people would most likely take him away, that he had to get away, that they would try to brainwash him into believing what they said, but no, he refused to believe the falsities, refused to allow his mind to be warped. He needed to run away from these people… He needed to get as far away as possible. He needed to return to the only person on the planet who would welcome him with open arms, not strap him to a bed, well, not unless he was bad.
He felt himself blush lightly at the though of being punished, though he wasn't sure why, only one other person in the room, and he didn't even know her. Oh well. He supposed the reaction was an automatic, sighing, though not loud enough to be heard.
The Tamerainian watched from afar, to distract to notice the boy smirk as an idea invaded his mind.
"Starfire…?" He asked in a soft tone, remembering her name from before,making her jump from the tone.
"Friend Robin?! Have you done the remembering!" She stepped towards him, but stopped, something wasn't right. "Friend, Robin?" The words seemed to make him look up, though his mind told him he wasn't her friend.
"St-starfire…? Why- why am I tied up…?" He wriggled slightly, seemingly scared for the reason.
"You tried to jump from the window, the man of bats had to tie you up." She took another step his way, reaching out a hand.
"C-can you let me out…" His voice appeared to grow weaker as time ticked on, Star touching his arm, the boy shivering despite himself, making her frown, pulling back.
"Friend Robin…" She said in a wavering tone, feeling the tears nearing, eyes glazed over.
"It- it's okay… It's just that the wiring is hurting my skin…" He chuckled lightly, seeming far to calm for someone who'd gone through what he had, though, Star didn't seem to notice, relishing in the thought that he'd bounced back just as she'd said he would, quickly moving to remove his binding.
"Starfire! Don't!" The team ran in right as the boy was released, causing the girl to look away for but a moment, giving the bird all the time he needed to throw the wiring to the side, hair a mess as he flipped back, landing on the headboard in a crouch, growling viciously, eyes cold enough to freeze beer.
"Robin!" Cy, screamed , watching dangerous eyes scan his team, the owner only having one question to ask them.
"What did you do with my master?" His head turned to the side, eyes shifting to a look of pure angst, making his team wince, biting back sobs.
"Star, why'd you free him?" Cyborg asked, knowing the girl had thought she'd been doing the right thing.
"I- I thought he r- rememb- bered…" No more than a whisper as it left her trembling lips, the sight heart breaking, all knowing she'd been taking this horrid event the hardest.
"It's alright, Star, it wasn't your fault." Raven said, the bird raising a brow, cocking his head. If he would have let a prisoner free, he'd be severely punished, yet these people seemed to simply wave it off, he just didn't understand.
"Where is my master?" He asked again, this time in a tense, trembling tone, gritting his teeth in dismay, though sounding a lot calmer than before.
"Robin, Slade is not your ma-"
"Stop saying that! He said you would try to trick me! So just stop!" His hands moved to grab his head, somehow able to stay standing in the awkward position, leaning against the wall, shaking his head furiously. He refused to buy the unwanted rubbish leaving these people, simply refused, he knew they where lying, yet, as if to taught him farther, there was a small voice in the back of his mind mewing something he couldn't quite discern.
"Robin…" Starfire, said, tears falling down her face, cheeks wet as she stared, lower lip quivering greatly. A ping of sadness struck him, making him grit his teeth harder, finding the need to escape rise, not even thinking before jumping from his place, landing on the floor nearest to the door with grace, the others taking a moment to react as the nearly nude teen ran, a frenzy soon breaking out, Cy and Bea running to block the elevator, while, Raven and Star blocked the stairs, thinking they'd trapped the frightened boy, but they where wrong, oh how they where wrong.
His legs didn't hesitate to bolt towards the window, team immediately running after, hoping to stop him, Raven teleporting to his side, trapping him in a thin layer of magic, or at least trying to, the boy swiping at her feet before she could finish her mantra, growing closer to his goal. Star, ran along with the others, unable to fly,crying furiously, it was a wonder she could run at the speed she was, nearly tripping several time, trying to reach her best friend before the inevitable came.
The locks securing the glass were released, window slid up, using both his feet to volt off the frame, flying from the tower before anyone could stop him. His body straitened, aiming for the water, hands touching each other to form a point, planning for his entry to be impeccable, that was until the Titan, which he now regretted leaving conscious, caught his body in a force field, bringing him back towards the tower, ignoring his protest, somehow able to restrain her anger for the boys stupidity, shaking as he was brought back, set to the ground before she fell into the realm of the unconscious she'd grown used to, hearing Beast Boy cry her name as she did.
"Robin! What the hell where you thinking?!" Cyborg spewed, making the others gasp. He never cursed, at least not when around them. The metal boy grabbed the bird by the arm, pulling him down the hall, screams leaving the other as he pulled him down the hall.
"St- stop! L- l- let me g- go!" Tears poured from his sockets, digging his heels into the flooring. He didn't want this, even in his current state he knew he'd never wanted this, the punishment which usually followed after this type of treatment.
"I- no more! Please, stop!" The older teen stopped dead, looking back at his friend who had stopped struggling and now lie crumbled on the flooring, near white complection, shoulders shaking as he recalled past punishments.
"L-leave me alone…" He whispered, pulling weakly at the arm, afraid if he did any more it would be broken, though he was simply pulled to his feet.
"What did that monster do to you, man…" The bird, looked up, eyes wide, dripping with pain, which fell down his face, the robotic male taking a sharp intake of breath, though still continuing to tug the boy, more gently, down the hall.
He opened a door, which slid to the side, moving the other to a bed, finding he didn't struggle, and he would have honestly prefered that, him moving to sit in the corner of the blue sheet, bringing his knees to chest, hiding his eyes, head meeting knees, mumbling to himself.
"It- it's okay… It's gonna be fine… Master will save you… Master will come…" The words caused Cyborg to sigh, closing the door, he'd never wanted to see his leader this way, not in a million years, walking away, hearing frantic sobs from behind, the wavering voice ringing out every so often, reassuring himself he'd soon be rescued.
"Dude, what'd you do with robin?!" Bea, cried as he came back into the room, kneeling next to the dark girl who lay motionless on the hard ground, concern clear, fearing the outcome of his earlier state.
"Man, this is a lot worse than we thought."
"What happened." They were all at full attention as the oldest explained, all frowning as he finished, none knowing how to react to the sudden realization. They needed to get him help, and they knew they couldn't give it.
He needed to escape, he knew that much, and he knew exactly how to do just that, looking up, seeing an air vent, noting how the screws seemed loose.
He forced his way past the opening, feeling his bare flesh bitten by the metal edge, arms pulling him along, crawling down the small opening, eyes tightly shut as he entered.
He was about five inches in when he finally opened his eyes, regretting this decision almost immediately. Screaming, a small glimpse of the past filling his mind, making him jolt, causing a bang to echo down the shaft, quick to calm, already hearing the Titans the echo had alerted coming, swallowing back his rising bile, using shaking arms to go farther into the tight fit, feeling as the walls scrapped his sides, keeping eyes shut to avoid another outburst.
"Robin!" The orange Titan's voice bounced off the sides of the vent, screaming for a response she knew would never come, only hearing the boy struggling as he pushed his way through the condensed space, ragged breathing the only sound she gained.
All nice and done after a long, long time! I think I kinda hate Christmas now... Really busy with cards, presents, lights, the tree, which isn't even up yet, and then I gotta work on V.A.S.E to... (I'm just whining, ignore me here xD)
xD
Oh well...
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