A/N: I have a fanfiction addiction and, even though that rhymes, it's still unhealthy. Oh well, somebody call a doctor then, because I just can't stop myself!
Alrighty people, back by popular demand, another chapter for "Oblivion." If anyone's interested, I have another chapter in the works for "If At First You Don't Succeed" and I have two weeks before my post for "Doing the Right Thing." So anyway, thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I promise I'll do personal acknowledgements in the next chapter, I just don't have time right now.
Disclaimer: The Teen Titans do not belong to me, and neither does the song "Taken" by Ra.
Enjoy!
It's always been the way that it has been
Falling through a hole inside myself
I can't remember hardly anything
But I remember holding your hand
In winter colors all but fade away
The sun seems more ashamed to take the sky
You used to keep me warm within your purity
But now I am lost in an empty space oh
Healing, a broken soul, this lie that I'm forced to live in
Taken, now that you've been ripped from me
My memory is a fog too thick to see
I must have sold your thoughts to stop the pain
And while it always rains inside of me
My love for you will never ever let you die oh
Healing, a broken soul, this lie that I'm forced to live in
Taken, now that you've been ripped from me
Can't you see
Can't you see
I'm not me
I can't let go your softness haunts me
Without your touch I wrinkle like a flower burned
If there's a god I promise him anything he asks of me
So I could hold you in my arms forever
Healing, a broken soul, this lie that I'm forced to live in
Taken, now that you've been ripped from me oh
Healing, a broken soul, this lie that I'm forced to live in
Taken, now that you've been ripped from me
-"Taken" - Ra
Oblivion
Chapter 25: It Doesn't Matter
Robin awoke to the sound of his own screams.
He shot up in bed, and then cried out in pain and clutched his shoulder. He felt strong hands on his shoulders, pushing him back down, and his eyes shot open. Starfire stood over him, attempting to make him lay back down.
"Starfire?" Robin asked, confused. The vivid memories he had recovered while he slept faded from his conscious mind. He gently pushed her hands off of him and turned his head to survey his surroundings. The room felt familiar, but he just could not remember it.
"Robin, please, you must lay down. You must rest," Starfire urged, her eyes filled with concern.
"What's going on? Where am I?" he questioned, looking around.
"You are at the medical bay of the Tower, you are safe."
"What about Slade?" he asked.
"Slade cannot enter the Tower. He cannot hurt you here," Starfire said. "You are safe."
When she said it he believed her. He had to believe. He just could not fight now, not anymore. He laid back weakly, and turned to Star for some sign of reassurance.
"Sleep Robin, I will be here when you wake up," she said. She reached over and squeezed his hand. "I promise."
He nodded, closing his eyes and giving in to the darkness.
(-Starfire-)
She silently watched him sleep, seeing the rise and fall of his chest, the calm expression on his lips. She had missed him so terribly when she thought he had died, and then she felt that aching in her heart return when she saw him alive and corrupt. And now – she did not want the moment to end. She feared he would wake up and leave, that she would lose him again. She could not lose him again.
But it all felt so out of her hands. Everything was out of control. She just wanted it to make sense, wanted a clear objective, a steady and visible path to her goal. But there was not one. It was up to Robin to decide the next step, and she did not know what he would choose, what he would do.
And that was killing her.
The opening of a door pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven walking in.
"How's he doing?" Cyborg asked as they joined the alien.
"He woke up briefly, but then he went back to sleep."
"Did he say anything?" Raven asked.
"He asked where he was, and about Slade," Starfire offered.
"So he obviously doesn't remember the Tower," Raven sighed, sinking into a chair beside Starfire's.
"I do not believe so," Starfire said. Then she turned to Beast Boy and Cyborg. "Where have you two been?" she asked.
"We were trying to find Robin some clothes," Beast Boy said. "Cy went into his room, but all we could find were the Robin suits, and we figured if he didn't remember being Robin, then he wouldn't want to dress like Robin. So we went out and bought some normalish clothes for him."
"Come on guys, we should go, we don't want to wake him up," Cyborg whispered after checking to make sure the monitors were still in place.
"No, I promised him I would stay until he woke up," Starfire countered.
"All right then, call us if you need us."
He turned and ushered the other two out into the hall.
(-Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven-)
"What are we going to do? Even though we destroyed the tracking devices, Slade will know that he's here," Raven began, concerned.
"We'll just have to keep the Tower secure and make sure that he doesn't get in," Cyborg said, leaning against the wall.
"We can try, but this is Slade we're talking about, he'll find a way," Raven pressed.
"Don't give up Rae, it's not over yet. We'll protect Robin, and make sure he realizes he belongs here with us, and not with Slade," Cyborg responded firmly. "Come on now, let's get to the kitchen and get something to eat."
(-Slade-)
Let the foolish children celebrate their small victory, he had no problem with that. He found it humorous to know that his enemy thought they won. They had no idea. This was only the beginning.
In truth, he could have not sent Robin out to steal the necessary chemicals; he could have kept him inside the warehouse, and kept the hero community unaware of him being alive. But something about Robin being the one to give Slade the means to Slade's domination was just too ironic of an idea to pass up. And watching Robin and the Titans struggling was another side-benefit.
He would give them some time to get reacquainted, but then he would retrieve his apprentice. And make him the perfect, obedient soldier.
He was so close to achieving his goal, and he would not be deterred.
(-Robin-)
True to her word, Starfire was sitting beside him when he woke up. She seemed tired, and Robin briefly wondered if she had slept much in the last few days. For a moment he forgot about his problems, and everything felt normal – a normal he knew had once existed, yet could not recall.
Then it all washed over him: Slade, the Titans, the fight, waking up here, everything. What the Hell was he going to do?
"Robin, you are awake!" Starfire exclaimed joyously. "You must be hungry! Cyborg is making waffles, would you like some?"
Robin was not sure how to react, but if he was going to figure out what the Titans were or were not up to, then he would have to play along. Not that the idea of some real food had anything to do with his decision…
"Um… ok. Can I get changed or…?" he began, but stopped when Starfire motioned to a folded piled of clothes on a small table.
"The shower is through those doors," she added, motioning towards a set of metal doors. "I will wait outside and then take you to the kitchen."
"All right, thanks."
His hair dripping wet, he emerged from the shower. While cleaning up, he had looked over his injuries again, and was astonished to see that his shoulder wound was impossibly close to healed. It was a mystery to him how that may have happened. His leg, which had pained him for weeks, felt whole and recovered. In short, he could not remember feeling this good.
He reached out for the clothes the Titans had left for him, and quickly changed. They had given him a pair of jeans and a black shirt, and he sighed in relief to see there were no villain or superhero costumes laid out for him. There was, however, a mask. Robin looked over it for a moment, holding the mask Slade had given him in his hand. He surveyed the two, and, for some reason, felt much more comfortable with the one with the smooth, rounded edges. Discarding Slade's mask, which to him seemed a symbol of servitude, he donned the more gentile mask.
He grabbed the utility belt to the apprentice suit, and went through the compartments for a few necessary items. These he stowed in his pocket – just in case he needed them.
When he pushed open the door, he was met with Starfire who was waiting nervously. He stared at her, not sure what to say. She turned to look at him, and her eyes widened. He saw her eyes fill with tears, and a smile emerge on her lips.
(-Starfire-)
He was wearing his mask.
Not Slade's, his.
She was filled with such joy that her feet lifted off the ground. It felt so good to see him as the Robin she had always known. Without realizing what she was doing, she threw her arms around Robin and pulled him into a bone-crushing embrace. He stiffened, and then slowly relaxed.
"Come, let us eat waffles and rejoice in this glorious morning!" she called, slipping once again into the joyous nature she had enjoyed before Robin's 'death.' She clutched Robin's bare hand (she had never touched him without his gloves before, it struck her powerful his hand felt), and pulled him towards the kitchen.
Her heart had not felt this light in what seemed like forever.
(-Titans-)
They all turned as they heard shuffling footsteps approach. Raven and Beast Boy, seated at the counters, and Cyborg, standing before a waffle iron, watched with growing relief and happiness as Starfire pulled a reluctant Robin towards the kitchen. He looked awkwardly at them through his mask,
Cyborg and Beast Boy gave each other a high five, their idea to leave Robin one of his own masks had worked out.
Raven reached out with her mind tentatively, trying to sense any emotions on the outer layer of Robin's mind. However, as always, his mind was blocked to her advances.
"Hey Robin!" Beast Boy greeted cheerfully as Robin and Starfire made it to the counters. The green Titan looked at the pair, and was astonished to see that they were still holding hands. He smiled slyly to himself.
"Um… hello," Robin said uncomfortably. He was guarded, still not sure whether to trust them or not. Robin watched carefully as Cyborg stirred the waffle ingredients in one big bowl, and made a mental note to keep an eye on the food from that point on.
"How are you feeling?" Raven questioned.
"Better now, thanks," he said.
"I healed your wounds as best as I could," Raven offered apologetically. "Some of them were quite deep."
"You healed them?" he asked. "You can do that?"
"Yes," Raven said, feeling awkward now herself. It looked like she was talking to Robin, but felt as if she were conversing with a stranger.
How bizarre.
"So how about some breakfast, Rob?" Cyborg asked.
"Okay," Robin responded, taking a seat at the counter. Cyborg handed out waffles to Robin and Starfire. Robin paused and watched as Starfire ate her waffle. He scrutinized his, attempting to discern whether or not it may have been poisoned. Though the idea that they would murder him via breakfast when he had been unconscious in their Tower for hours seemed a little far-fetched, especially to the second greatest detective in the world. Surrendering to hunger, Robin began to eat his waffle.
"So… Robin…" Cyborg began uncomfortably. "I just wanna say that I'm sorry about fighting you before. It's just, we were all pretty confused an' I chose to get angry instead of takin' a minute and thinking about what was going on. So I'm sorry for that."
Robin looked up at Cyborg, not sure what to say in response.
"Yes, you have to understand Robin, we all thought you were dead," Raven said.
"From the warehouse collapse?" Robin asked, taking everyone aback. "Slade mentioned it." Robin shuddered as he said the mastermind's name, he did not want to think about Slade anymore.
"I'm sure he turned it around though," Raven replied.
"Maybe," Robin offered, glancing suspiciously at the dark girl as he pushed his empty plate aside. "The fact is, neither Slade nor any of you have given me sufficient proof to trust you. It's all hearsay at this point."
"Robin, please, we are telling the truth," Starfire pleaded with him. "Come with me, I'll show you your bedroom, your things." Robin allowed Starfire to lead him away. He could tell that Raven was becoming angry and frustrated, it may not have been because of him, but he still did not want to fight yet.
(-Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy-)
"What are we going to do? If he still doesn't trust us…" Raven began, frustrated. She tossed the hood off of her head and leaned forward on the counter, her gaze falling on the counters.
"Maybe he just needs some more time," Beast Boy offered.
"We don't know how much time we have. Slade could show up at any minute," Raven said. "The only one of us he even borderline trusts is Starfire, but he's still not sure about her either," Raven sighed.
"I think Raven is bringin' up a good point. We're short on time, and if he doesn't start remembering things pretty soon, we could lose him."
"We need to somehow show him that he can trust us, that we're telling the truth. The fact that we've attacked him before does not really help our cause. And what could we do to stir up memories if Titan's Tower isn't doing anything for him? It's not as if we've really known him that long…" Raven said.
"Waitaminute! I got it!" Cyborg shouted exultantly. "We'll just bring in someone who Rob hasn't seen yet. It's our best chance!" He raced out from the kitchen towards the phone, calling up in his memory banks the image of a phone number he received quite a while ago.
(-Robin and Starfire-)
He walked into the room slowly, pressuring his mind to produce some sort of memory. The starkness of the room struck him as impersonal. The room lacked any identifying objects; it could have belonged to anyone. All he could say was that it was familiar, but that did not explain much.
Starfire thrust open the closet to reveal a multitude of the same outfit. Robin stepped forward and examined the red and green suits. He reached out and touched the uniform, and as he did, a young version of his voice spoke in time with a deeper man's voice in his mind, "…and swear that we two will fight together against crime and corruption and never to swerve from the path of righteousness!"
Robin immediately released his hold on the uniform, backing away from it.
"Robin?" Starfire asked tentatively.
He turned and rushed out of the room, not quite sure why he was doing so. As he did a myriad of images, sounds, and emotions wracked through his mind.
A sadistic clown.
The glint of light off of the metal body of a revolver.
The sound of a bullet piercing flesh.
Insane laughter.
Pain.
Falling.
Anger.
Hurt.
Confusion.
"Fine. If you want Robin to stay dead, that's okay with me. But you've trained me too well – made me what I am. You can't keep me from pursuing my own destiny."
He burst into the Main Room, Starfire close on his heels. He did not want these memories back, it was too painful. He was not sure what had happened, but he also did not know if he wanted to remember. He leaned against the windows, staring out at the snowy sky. He intentionally ignored the Titans standing behind him. He put his hand up against the cool glass and breathed deeply. In a few moments his heart had slowed, his breathing relaxed. Whatever had happened did not matter, it was all in the past. None of it mattered.
"Robin…" Starfire began, reaching out to touch him.
"So… sorry…" he stammered.
He leaned his head against the glass, sighing. "It doesn't matter," he thought. "It doesn't matter."
"If it doesn't matter, then why does it hurt so much?"
A/N: I was going to make this a double-chapter, but that part was just too perfect for the ending, so you'll all have to suffer.
For anyone who's curious, the quote from Robin - the oath is from "Detective Comics" #38, published in 1940.
The other quote - where Robin professes that Bruce cannot prevent him from being a hero, comes from "Batman" #408.
No, I do not own either of these, I am just a savvy internet woman. Unfortunately though, because I do not own them, I couldn't get the actual quote of Batman firing him, so I decided not to create it myself, and just to use Robin's quote.
I did however, buy a bunch of "New Teen Titans" comics from the 1980s, and man were they good - once I got over the funny costumes and bad inking.
Back to "Oblivion" can anyone guess who Cyborg is going to call?
And what will Starfire do?
And what is Slade planning?
And will Robin remember anything else?
All of your questions will be answered next time!
Anyway, let me know what you think! Reviews are always welcome.
Sarah Shima