A/N: I am indeed back! Man, these last few weeks have been so busy! And I've just wanted to steal an hour or so of time alone in my room, but to no avail, my roommate is ALWAYS here. It's so annoying. But, I've been trying to work on my other fanfic, and it unfortunately is at a stand-still, I'm just not sure how to make the next part progress. Anyway, so I received another review today, #126! and decided to just finish up this chapter and send it your way. You're welcome.
Asilla: Is this soon enough for you? Thanks for the review, it gave me the incentive to update again. I can't wait to continue the next chapters, with all of the angst and action that will ensue. :sighs: it'll sure be interesting, and quite a ride! I hope you enjoy chapter 21!
-88azngrl88-: School is a killer, but everyone's updating has slowed down too... Anyway, yes, it's nice writing it now that they don't still think he's dead - though Bruce and Alfred don't know anything yet, so there's still that level of the story. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the story, and I hope you like this next chapter.
DancingThruLife: Thanks for the review.
>>>? : Thanks for the review.
stargazer92: Robin did remember them, sort of... Beast Boy was in his little memory flash and he remembered fighting them. He doesn't really remember remember Raven, just Starfire. Anyway, I hope you like this next chapter.
KaliAnn: I'm happy that you stumbled upon this story and enjoyed it. I wonder if that was because I changed the summary? Anyhow, yes, I really like how the plot is going and everything, I think it's progressing quite nicely. And you're right, it was a waste of a funeral - good thing Bruce has a lot of money... Anyhow, thanks for the review, and I hope you like this chapter.
Tritium: Thanks for the review.
Alexnandru Van Gordon: I'm glad you liked the last chapter, and the reactions of BB and Star. There's a lot coming in the next chapters. On another note: I'm sorry, for the delay, but Iam working on IAFYDS, but as I said, it's stuck. Grrrr. I have about three pages, but I don't update that one without many more pages that that. So, I'll continue to work on it, and try to get it up eventually. As for you, where's the next chapter of "Not Again"?
JEM515: I'm glad that you decided to read this anyway, given your avoidance of works in progress! Thank you very much. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
PhoenixClaw: I'm glad that a non-comics reader understood Starfire's reaction, because I was hoping that it would seem like a natural thing for her to do. Yeah, there is definitely going to be trouble over how to react to thesituation with Robin given each character's views on what's really going on.There is so much leftto write in this story, and it only gets better. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the coming chapters. Thanks for the review.
Bunnysquirrel: She did dress badly! I can't stand her in the comics just because of that! I mean, c'mon, and then to see her and Nightwing together - yuck, too much color contrast. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the chapter, and I hope you continue to enjoy.
Liobit: Thanks for the review, and I'm glad you liked Starfire and Raven's reactions. I liked the contrast between the two when I wrote it out. I think the animosity there is necessary too. I'm not a big fan of Raven, but I tried to not have my distaste for her overly color the story. Batman is the wild card in this situation, who knows how he'll affect everything? Oh wait, I do! I have tons planned for this story, so do not fear that it's nearing the end yet, and I promise all sorts of twists will be pulled.I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Check the other chapters, I'm not feeling creative today.
Oblivion
Chapter 21: Coup d'etat
(-Batgirl-)
She felt a little strange, just standing at the street corner. Passerby glanced strangely at her, and she sighed. She was apprehensive about everything, but in other ways she wanted it to begin. She had too much pent-up energy, and anxiety. She needed someone to release it on. And if all went well, they would catch the killer before morning.
Her mind began to wander as she stayed stationary. She thought about what her Jim Gordon would have to say about 'the night life,' and about Batman. She did not know what made Batman get back into the swing of his vigilante work in Gotham. Perhaps it was the alien girl – Starfire who made him realize what was most important. Though how she could succeed in that was a mystery to Barbara. Either way, she knew that Batman was completely focused on the mission, she did not have to worry about his mind wandering. No, tonight Batman was all business.
She was shocked back into realization when a man stepped out of the shadows and approached her.
Show time.
(-Batman-)
He kept careful watch of Barbara as an unassuming man with brown hair approached her. Using what Robin used to call the 'spy kit' he was listening in on her conversation from afar.
"The streets of Gotham are dangerous at night," the man said. Bruce rolled his eyes, what a pick-up line that was. Who would be dumb enough to fall for that? "A pretty girl like yourself shouldn't be out alone."
"I know, but I missed the bus, and the next one doesn't come for another half-hour," Barbara responded, playing her part.
"I could take you home, so you don't have to wait. My car is parked around the next corner."
"I don't want to impose," she said sheepishly.
"It's not a problem, come on," he said, ushering her towards him. Barbara glanced over her shoulder, briefly locking eyes with Batman, and then followed the man.
(-Barbara-)
She had been edgy before the man arrived, and rightly so. Yet, as soon as he began to speak, she felt completely at ease. Yet her mind still screamed at her. He was a murderer, a killer. She should not be comfortable with him! What was wrong with her?
"Hey sweetheart, you mind coming into my apartment with me for a minute? I left my keys up there," he said.
"Sure," Barbara heard her voice respond without a second's hesitation. He led her upstairs. "What's you name?" Barbara finally asked.
"Max," he responded. She nodded.
When they reached the third floor apartment, Max held the door open for her. She entered and stared around the small space. It was barely decorated, proving that he had not been there for very long.
In her mind, Barbara ran over the list of questions she was supposed to ask him in order to ensure she had the right man. Yet she felt her suspicions subsiding, and suddenly she could not think of taking him down/arresting him at all.
He offered her a soda, and she sat down on his couch. He sat beside her, and she suddenly felt as if she were with an old friend. "So, what's your name?" he asked.
"Barbara," she responded quickly, forgetting the false identity Batman had made her promise to use. Why would she wish to deceive this nice guy?
"I'm Max," he replied. "So, what's on your mind Barbara?"
"A friend of mine, is dead," she said suddenly. She looked up in surprise, she never meant to say that.
(-Batman-)
He cursed under his breath, wishing he never let Barbara volunteer for this. She was screwing it up. She told him her real name, and now she was about to spill her heart to him.
What was wrong with her? What the hell did she think she was doing?
He cursed again, knowing that he could not do anything to stop it now. He had no evidence that 'Max' was the killer, and Barbara was not asking the questions. She was supposed to ask the questions so they could record some sort of confession. Now he would just have to wait until Max decided to kill her.
Great, just great.
(-Barbara-)
She was spilling her heart out to this guy. Going on and on about her good friend who was murdered. She never used his name – thank God, but she certainly told him enough. Her good friend who was always there when she needed help, her friend who never criticized, just assisted, her handsome, young friend who had dark hair.
Would someone please shut her up now?
(-Max-)
This was the second girl who he had to listen to sputter on endlessly about some dead friend. Of course the other girl ended up being an alien or a meta-human, and nearly burned his face off. The cute little red-head next to him did not seem particularly dangerous.
Of course, looks could be deceiving.
Yet there she was, comfortably chatting with him as if he were her best friend. He had the strangest effect on people.
Why did it never worked with his mother?
He listened to her endless rambling and finally began to lose it. He was so sick of these pretty girls and their boy toys; no one would ever speak that way about him. His fingers began to itch for the red cloth, and his hand started to creep towards his pocket.
"He was such a great guy," Barbara said.
He could not take it anymore.
In one quick motion, Max withdrew the cloth from his pocket and shoved it over her mouth.
(-Batman-)
He heard Barbara's muffled cry and decided it was time to act. He launched himself at the building, and shoved his legs through the window, knocking the glass out. However, he was just as surprised as Max, considering what he saw in the room. Max was on the ground, with Barbara's foot crushing his windpipe.
"Good timing Batman," Barbara said, stepping aside so that Batman could cuff the man. "Liked that did you?" Barbara spat at Max. "Did you enjoy it?"
Meanwhile, Max whimpered on the floor. Batman towered over him, and Barbara stood slightly beside, slightly behind the Bat, smirking.
(-Batman and Batgirl-)
They watched from afar as the police took Max in. They had found photos of the women he murdered hidden in a box in the room, that and the cloth, and his abundance of red ribbons were enough to convict him.
Barbara had changed into her Batgirl suit, and was perched in a tree watching the events sullenly. "Something wrong?" Batman asked.
"Why did I tell him all of that stuff Batman?" she asked, her voice quavering. "Why did I talk to him about Robin?"
"I'm assuming he has a meta-human ability to put people at ease, extremely useful when you want to lure women into your home."
Barbara nodded, but Batman could tell that something was still bothering her. "Are we done for the night?" she asked. Batman nodded. "See you later then," she said, hopping out of the tree.
"Good work tonight, Batgirl," Batman said. She nodded again and took off into the night.
(-Bruce-)
Bruce walked slowly through the manor. He had changed back into his usual attire – khakis and a polo shirt, and his hair was still damp from the shower he took. After Barbara left him, Batman had stopped three gang fights, and foiled an attempted jewelry heist.
None of it could stop the thoughts in his mind from returning. He had forced away many thoughts in order to focus on catching the serial killer, and now that he had, they were all coming back. And it hurt.
Slade was still out there somewhere.
He still had not faked Dick Grayson's death.
It was time for Bruce Wayne to recover from his 'illness' and start going to events again.
There was nothing comforting in any of these thoughts, except perhaps the possibility of relieving his stress right by beating Slade half to death. However, he would have to find the man first.
Bruce sat down on an armchair, staring idly into space. Barbara looked so sad when she left Batman tonight. He knew she was probably still mourning Robin, and the events of the night just brought it back to the forefront, but something about her reaction made Bruce ache. He had to tell her the truth about Dick. He could not keep it from her anymore. She proved herself worthy of being Batgirl, so maybe it was time for her to truly enter the Bat family. Not to replace Robin though, but just to ease the burden. He would have to tell her.
"Master Bruce, how are you this evening?" Alfred asked, setting a tray of tea down on a nearby table.
"Exhausted Alfred, though I believe I have come to a decision."
"And what would that be, sir?"
"I think it's time Barbara Gordon learns who Batman really is, and who Robin was," Bruce said.
"I agree, sir. The girl has certainly proven herself on a number of occasions," Alfred responded, sitting on the couch and sipping on some tea.
"Now that you have apprehended the serial killer, what will you occupy your time with?" he asked.
"Looking for Slade I suppose," Bruce said.
"Perhaps you should contact the Justice League, they may be in need of assistance," Alfred suggested.
"Why don't you want me to find Slade?" Bruce countered Alfred's change of subject. "I would think that you would want to see him pay as much as I do."
"Pay? Yes. At your hand? No. Neither myself nor Master Dick would want such a thing. I have spent long enough attempting to keep your darkness from overcoming you – as it threatened to do before you took in Master Dick – to allow you to give in to it now that he is gone."
"I'm still going to find Slade. And when I do, there's going to be Hell to pay," Bruce growled.
"It's always your decision to make Master Bruce, just, please, when you find him, think of what Master Dick would have wanted you to do."
(-Titans-)
Cyborg's request to hold off on discussions until after they slept some turned into a request for silence until they reached the Tower.
It was almost more than Starfire could bear to sit in the T-car and pretend that she did not want to blow the roof off in anger. She fought with it, and received uneasy glances from her teammates when her hands or eyes would begin to glow.
But they were finally at the Tower now.
Thank X'hal.
Starfire dashed into the Main Room, and made sure that everyone followed her. "Now we must talk about Robin!" she said.
"Yeah, you're right Star, it's time," Cyborg said heavily, sitting down on the couch.
"Good, then is it agreed that we must rescue Robin from Slade?" Starfire asked, her voice laced with threats of violence.
"What are you talking about? Robin left us, he's with Slade now. There's nothing to rescue him from," Raven said back.
"You are wrong."
"You are. You all want to believe he's good, but then why did he attack us? Why did he follow Slade's orders? Any ideas? Hmm? Let's hear them!" Raven shouted.
"Slade has done something to Robin!" Starfire said.
"He has not! You can't protect him with your fantasies Starfire. The Robin we knew is dead! The new Robin is a criminal, and we're going to take him down!"
"You are a dirty liar!" Starfire exclaimed, powering up her hands.
"Wait, wait," Beast Boy said, stepping in between them. "That totally wasn't Robin being Robin. Something happened to him Raven, how could you not tell?"
"Because she does not wish to see the truth!" Starfire shot back.
"You're delusional!" Raven said.
"Would you all just stop arguing!" Cyborg yelled. He walked over to the threesome, and stood in front of Beast Boy and Starfire, staring them down. "Raven is right, Robin is a criminal now, and it's up to us to bring him to justice, no matter what. And I'm not just suggesting this, I'm ordering y'all that the next time he shows his face, we'll be sending him straight to jail!"
Slap!
The slap was loud, and so unexpected. Starfire pulled her hand away from the human-half of Cyborg's face, not an ounce of remorse visible on her face. On the contrary, her eyes were practically glowing with anger.
"How dare you…" she seethed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Robin would never give up on one of us in this situation, and yet you show absolutely no loyalty to him. You walk around here, giving your orders, as if you could ever do as much work as Robin. The first time Robin worked for Slade, you did not even want to consider that there was a legitimate reason behind what he did. Your self-righteousness was wrong! You believed him to have betrayed us! You did not want to believe that he only did it to help us! And even then, you were cold to him, as if he had to regain our trust! We were the ones in need of regaining the trust, we let him down! AND I WILL NOT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN! Robin needs our help! He did not join Slade willingly! We must find out what happened, and help him! He has saved all of us so many times. It is our turn to save him."
Raven and Cyborg, if you would like to help, Beast Boy and I will allow it, and if you do not, I suggest you leave the Tower, now." She folded her arms and turned away from the pair.
So, what do you think? Let me know.