Disclaimer: Refer back to First Chapter, First page.
A/N: Again numbers in brackets mean reference to the bottom. The names of those who should be credited with quoting those words.
Chapter 29 (Fight, Flight, or Death?)
"Slade," venomously called out Robin; the knife still resting in his clinched hand, shine in Robin's vision with a promise of ending his torment. His life right here and there. Robin suppressed the urge to rush Slade, to drive the knife into his cold heart.
"What are you doing here? Is this all you're doing? Are you planning, what are you doing in the Batcave?"
"Where is the real Batman?"
Slade just stood there straight, tall and eyeing Robin; then finally he waved his hands out in a gesture that encompassed their surroundings, "This is not the Batcave but our home Robin. Don't you recognize your own home, Apprentice?"
Robin moved away from where he was standing. He'd just moments ago been in the Batcave now he stood in the familiar gears, mechanical mechanisms dark haunt of Slade's old hideout.
'what?' 'How had he believed the same hideout he'd been trapped in when he'd been Slade's Apprentice the first time had been the Batcave'?
"No, I can't really be here, what am I doing here? How did… what did you do to me?"
Accusation in Robin's tone he was looking back at Slade and finding the evil villain now moving towards him.
Robin prepared for an attack but Slade slowed, coming to stop several feet from Robin's position, there was confusion underlying Slade's reply "You came to me willingly you recall?"
"You said you'd join me, become my Apprentice by your own words; your own choice," informed Slade, hands behind his back, Robin having learned to read Slade from his body language, knew the impression that Slade smiling under his mask seemed to find humor in Robin's confusion.
"I remember that you forced me to say "Yes" accused Robin back in reply, "You threatened the lives of my friends. I didn't have a choice not really," accused Robin filled up with spiteful hatred.
Slade's body sagged in mock sympathy. "Then you should have let them die. It was your choice to turn around and live free; condemn those you only knew a short while and yet claim freedom, instead you said "yes", you choose Robin. If you didn't want to keep your word or ever planned to go back on the deal after you found a way to keep them alive then it was dishonest and deceit when you agreed to the terms of our agreement."
Robin watched as Slade's eye locked with his.
Voice reminder
A parent preparing to install the facts of life into their growing child, "words are final Robin whether you meant to fulfill what you agreed to or not; you made a deal, promised to me a pledge of loyalty, and then you went back on your word."
You "lied", "lied knowing as you said, "Yes" hissed Slade…letting silence hang over Robin.
Robin wanted to say something, anything to explain his actions but he knew he couldn't. He had lied.
"Fine," nodded Robin his voice small, initial mental resolve and strength low against Slade's logic; low from the constant delirium, the strange turn of events that was his life for the last who knew how many hours.
"Fine! I lied, I'll admit it" resolved Robin, looking up firmly determined to not allow Slade to win the battle, 'so what if I agree with a point,' that didn't mean that he agreed with everything enough to work for Slade again.
"I made a choice to save my friends and brokered a deal with you, but you're a criminal, a murderer, your word means nothing to me Slade. I'm never going to keep that deal…and I will not join you ever again!"
Robin could almost witness Slade laughing at his childishness; noticed the cock of his head slightly, how his stance relaxed even more, and that even though he still had his hands behind his back his feet had become firmly planted.
"Robin, I don't care whether you lied. Criminals lie all the time, human beings lie. Even the good guys lie; proven that by you yourself," moving his left hand out from behind his back in gesture, "but the fact that you made a deal with me. A deal between you and myself, one I expect upheld firmly, and fully intend to make you keep."
"That is the point Robin!"
"You made me a promise- and it is mine to collect on; mine to require you fulfill…. any way I choose."
Threat in Slade's voice made flat the point across.
Robin shook his head still stubborn as ever, "no," prepared to fight to keep himself free of Slade's influence, his words, and shackled to a promise made under duress, "I won't go back. I won't give in to you Slade. I escaped, we beat you."
Like that was justification or reason enough to void the contract. "I'm staying a superhero. I choose what I want to be. I choose to be with my friends, and I won't hurt them not ever again," Never."
Slade brought his other hand out from behind himself and extended his Bow Staff but didn't move to attack.
Instead he sighed, Robin having that feeling that Slade was mocking him. "I'm afraid you have no choice Robin, you will be joining me, you already have, see." Moving away Robin saw the glimpse of his other self, evil and dressed in the colors of darkness.
Alone his evil version radiated threat as a cold hearted killer, negative energy' thought in term that Raven sometimes described when she was using a way to describe someone who couldn't be easily given a description. Robin's nefarious (extremely wicked) double's smile sent a chill up Robin's aching arms.
He could feel his life force slipping from him as his evil double closed in "Hi"
Smile a wicked one at Robin… reaching out, evil Robin took Slade's Bow Staff "we are going to have so much fun, you and I."
"Great fun" the offer an extreme promise that he'd inflict pain upon Robin.
"You know," addressed Evil Robin just as if he only thought of this comment "I don't know why you thought I wouldn't be able to find you. Running away was a fun game; I enjoyed the chase, but do you really think that anyone's ever going to be able to save you?"
"I don't care," countered Robin. He'd had enough of this warped version of himself. Determined now not let either of Slade or doppler Robin win; setting into the last standing resolve to fight this one out without both fear or losing to anything short of victory, Robin battle readied himself- to the death.
"Let's just get this over with," flatly stated Robin making first move.
They battled again. Slade standing on the sidelines watched. Making mocking calls to Robin about how his moves and mistakes were costing him the battle against his evil self.
"Would you just shut the hell up already," cursed Robin out at Slade angrily, "If you're so cocky; all mighty, then you come over here and fight him. Or better yet fight me and win…but shut the hell up and stop annoying me," shout as Robin continued to fight, he countered a kick and then sung pivoting left as he narrowly missed evil Robin's elbow to his face.
Standing on the sidelines Slade reached behind and brought out another staff, "If that is the way you want it Robin, then fine." Cold steal threatened as a swing almost knocked Robin in the head, voice answering him back Slade jointed the battle.
Now with two opponents to battle Robin found himself boxed in.
Keeping up his determination, Robin tried to calm himself down; to battle two opponents' took concentration and a whole other level of skill. Skill and training he'd been taught by Batman years before though thought when he'd left Gotham he wouldn't need it every again.
Steps planned ahead; knowing when to back off and when to attack, he could and took the hits afforded to him, and had no way to miss, but Robin gained several good hits on both opponents before the battle started tiring him out.
They were two on one and he was tiring; tired to begin with, Robin knew he would not last long. "I have to find a way to get myself out of this, find a way to escape" It would be strength before body that would give out on him before his mental resolve gave up.
Still, he persisted, Robin fought, and with all his strength he battled Slade while attempting to overcome his criminal half.
Slade moved in; with a kick that thrust into Robin's chest, Robin dropped his staff. Robin moved out of the kick but came into his doppelganger's knuckled fist; taking his staff back up in hand, Robin countered Slade's staff which would have hit him in the head, directing it to deflect evil Robin's staff, they clung together. Hitting him in the shoulder and Robin fought, he fought, and he fought and as time wore on became more tired out.
Was breathing hard, his two opponents barely breaking a sweat; he was drenched and soaked, had to wipe off the sweat from his eyes.
Slade moving to corner Robin, while evil Robin fallowed his own lead, and had Robin knowing full well that he was being tag teamed.
"It doesn't take courage to fight," stated Slade to Robin, Robin countered a punch and blocked a blow from Slade's fist, "but to give in! To stop fighting and just succumb now that takes courage."
Slade his voice treacherous; the facts of life, his subtle words slyly seeping in mesmerized Robin…"No" I won't give in, not ever." Hypnotically Slade's words carried an edge that if Robin gave up and gave in now, might lead him to a great precipice that would be willful. He would accept the enslavement, ensavement to his worst fear. (1)
Robin took a swing to his left, leg aching by the blow Slade's foot behind his knee gave him, he fell; down on one knee, arm up over his head, block to the arm coming down by evil Robin's bow staff.
Side coming blow by Slade's staff, he wasn't quick enough to maneuver and block the blows simultaneously. Evil Robin hit Robin shoulder blade direct on and Slade made him drop his staff. Taking a punch from Slade to the back Robin went flying to the corner that he'd been being maneuvered into.
Laying there panting, arm in agony; shoulder and collarbone numb, defeat and tired. In misery- a look on his face that was torn between fright, relief, and sad misery, Robin whispered "I can't" 'not anymore' he pleaded for an alternative. "Please. Please just stop. Just I can't, I…I don't want to be your apprentice. There has to be another way, another option."
Slade stopped, locking eyes with Robin; but with evil Robin, even as Robin continued to look on at Slade Evil Robin swung a blow to Robin's head and arms; pummeling him he enjoyed the cries of pain and misery that Robin let loose, tear's flowing, blood spilling.
Evil Robin gave Robin new cuts, gave him new broken bones, I won't give you any rest, you don't listen when I speak, so why should I grant you any mercy?"
When it finally stopped Robin was nearly unconscious on the floor. Hoping and praying he would die.
His mind screamed words to stay alive, 'keep fighting Robin' voice of Batman… pleading he wanted to just give in to death, but Slade's voice added to the barely registering voice of Batman; as he knelt down and talked to his apprentice, "You will join me Robin…I will not allow you to die so easily. If it means you watch all your friends die slow and torturous deaths; I will break you, I will make you watch as I take them apart; their bodies right in front of you, piece by piece till there's nothing left of them and you plead, broken and begging me, we will broker a new deal."
"You will be with me… just so that I can put an end to their and your misery, and in the end," Slade standing up, hand on the shoulder of evil Robin, standing as testament to when Robin would finally give in; proud and on display for the world to see, "You exist as mine, you're going to join me…. Just so I allow you to 'kill them off', 'you will put an end to their misery Robin," Robin's eye's swimming with tear's locked gaze with Slade and in an unexpected last displayed effort of strength he moved to grab at Slade's knife.
Attached to his belt Robin fought with Slade to take the knife, if he would not kill him, then Robin would end his own existence himself. He'd made a promise to both himself and to his friends. "No, I won't let them live through any more time with you. I won't allow you to poison my team with your dark heart or despair Slade, won't put them through that type of pain. I'll die. End it now!"
-/-
It's when someone knows that death is the last available effort, the resolve that they only have left that the human mind gives us the most strength, the most power. Power we didn't even know exists till our lowest moments seem to come up upon us as a whirlwind of rage. Robin fought for the knife so strong; that with such power, fighting, punching, a moving wild beast that even Slade could not keep resisting his efforts without the aid of Evil Robin, who stepped in and grabbed Robin by the back of the caller.
He threw him across the room and away from both Slade and himself. Robin not even waiting a second he got up and instead of leaping back for the blade at Slade's belt, he bolted up the stairs and out the door. Surprising both Slade and evil Robin, Slade standing still holding the knife in his cut and none bleeding hand sighed 'I should have known' moving off in pursuit of Robin, the evil double-ganger right behind him.
-/-
Robin ran his body on the verge of collapse he ran around the corner of the subway and up the stairs. Exiting out into the city streets of Gotham/Jump City and nearly colliding with several citizens.
It was dark outside the sky full of clouds and light rainfall clouding his eyesight but Robin could see enough, he let the cool air wash over him; with a chilling reminder of why he was running, would be behind him he just knew it if he looked behind or if he slowed down, so he ran, attempting to escape from them long enough that he might find a hiding spot.
Even if I do escape them for temporary, how can I permanently escape them.You have to kill them to survive. It's you or them,spoke a little voice within him. Running he headed for the door leading into a warehouse, shoving the door closed behind him, and moved a stack of boxes in front of it, edging a 2x4 into the frame of the door.
I can't kill someone! I'm not a killer,retorted Robin. Reprimanding himself for thinking such a thought. I can't kill Slade anyway, he rationalized, he's immortal remember?
So,spoke the nagging unrestrained voice. What then, kill off that evil version of yourself and make the odds at least even, it will just be you and Slade again, always just you and Slade.
Robin battling his inner voice didn't notice where he was going. Backing away deeper into the safety of the warehouse wasn't till he collided with the body of someone that he realized he hadn't been paying attention where he was going.
Robin looked up, prepared to see either Slade or his evil double he didn't expect to see Cyborg standing above him. "Cyborg your alive," getting up off the floor where he had fallen to and hugging his friend; then he remembered his encounter with Starfire and backed off, not sure what kind of person to expect Cyborg to act like is it him or an evil version of him?
It didn't surprise Robin then in the least when Cyborg's smile turned to a malevolently evil grin. His arm settling on Robin after changing into his sonic canyon; crackling with blue energy, ready and fired.
"Let me guess," commented Robin sarcastically avoiding the hit; he was beginning to grow apathetic, numb to more and more weird encounters things just weren't making since to him much today.
"I killed you? No. Or maybe better yet I tortured you and then reprogrammed you to be evil."
"No, actually" answered the voice of Cyborg but another's voice; a voice full of calm restraint, confident Brother Blood's voice gave the room the silent finesse that was the calm before the storm. Robin looked over at where he thought the voice came from watching as Brother Blood, mechanical cybernetic body emerged from the dark shadowed recesses of the warehouse shadows.
Robin kept an eye on Cyborg while he addressed the HIVE headmaster "then what happened to him, what did you do," Blood's confident and annoyingly pompous voice laughed a crackle of glee. "I finally broke him. I finally own Cyborg! Control him mind, body, and soul."
Robin looked at his friend noted the glow of red in his eye he'd not noticed until now, sure sign that he was being controlled by Blood's mental powers.
Robin wanted to run at blood, to rip his mechanical body to pieces. Blood was almost as bad as Slade. The only exception was that he had been Cyborg's arch nemesis, not Robin's.
"Cyborg fight him man, you can fight him, you're strong," Robin hoping to snap his friend out of Blood's hold. "You can't let him win, you can't let him control you, we're stronger than them…fight it."
Cyborg stepped closer to Robin and gave him a cunning smile. Robin noticed a similar smile appear out the corner of his eye on Brother Blood's face.
"Why would I want to leave Blood's control?" Asked Cyborg
"He's given me what I've always wanted."
Robin watching with sickening realization that no matter what he did his friend would remain trapped behind his false persona that Blood was creating.
"Power," revealed Cyborg, relishing the word over his lips, smiling gleefully at Robin.
"Power and control," continued Brother Blood Robin turning to look away from the face of his lost friend. His eyes met Blood's but turned away from him too.
Robin felt sick; hope that had always followed because Cyborg and him were similar in their battles against Slade and Blood, their rivals, that each of them could encourage the other as they fought and won.
A helpless sense of feeling; for his friend, and towards his own, been bombarded all night by strange things and horrible people, but somehow seeing Cyborg relishing hungry in lust for power, Robin couldn't contain his revulsion. Robin threw up on the floor.
"I control HIVE now," continued the voice of Cyborg. "I hold the power over life and death. Hold destruction. Chaos over the world and you know what Robin I've never been happier," Cyborg charged his sonic canyon with even more power, raising it to Robin's head.
Robin felt panic and a dangerous sense of foreboding grip him. He was going to have to fight his friend and ex teammate, at his present state he'd be at a great disadvantage, not to mention that Blood was standing no less them twenty feet; watching and waiting, to make sure that Robin didn't escape his new toy's murderous intentions.
"No, Robin it's you that needs to change," finished Cyborg, drawing Robin's attention back to him. "You're the one that needs to get with the program."
"You know what you need Robin?"
Robin looking around for a weapon to use or an escape route began to note movement from the shadows, someone else was also in the warehouse with them. Slowly looking deeper into the shadows Robin's heart leapt. Red glowing eyes began coming into view, surrounding the two. His mind racing with options; started calculating ways to keep alive, keep him talking saying it over and over again buy yourself more time, keep him talking, the more he's talking, the less likely he'll fire.
"No," answered Robin returning to face Cyborg looked him head one, his eyes over his shoulder at the vacant and empty portion of the warehouse behind his ex teammates back, deeper in the darkness beyond Robin thought he saw a window. It was darkened and closed but at last it was a possible way out if only I can somehow get to it.
"No," smiled Robin; reaching into his utility belt, feeling around to see what weapons he had, "What do I need?"
Cyborg totally oblivious to the machine like copies of himself surrounding both he and Robin continued talking.
Blood still standing off to the left fidgeting with his right hands' fingers, looked board, uninterested in what was happening, "you need to join up with Slade," answered Cyborg.
"But you're too stubborn to see that you've turned down. Lost bro… when you remain a superhero, you're choosing the losing side."
"You used to be a winner Robin, you used to have it all man, and could again. Stick with Slade. Choose to join the winning side."
"The world is changing a new way is the criminal way, you could be a God among men," finished Cyborg, smiling with delusion thought in power and glory.
With an appalled cry of "I will never join Slade." Robin pulled out two S shaped rangs from his utility belt and charged Cyborg.
He didn't get more than three feet before a sonic blast hit him square in the chest.
Robin flew back and hit the ground hard falling on his shoulder and crying out in pain. "Fine," finalized Cyborg. "Have it your way, you always were stubborn and had to have everything your way, just remember where it got you."
Robin looked up, his eyes seeing nothing but the glowing blue light of over twenty charged sonic canyons realizing he'd lost his only weapon; closed his eyes with a sickening acceptance of what inevitably might be his death, I forgive you Cyborg.
Robin opened his eyes a split second later and with training, skill, and momentum twirled, ran, and leapt over several sonic blasts. It was a maze of sonic fire, reminding Robin of his training with lasers. He started to think he was going to be alright, but as the first blast hit and sent him flying several machine like copies of Cyborg leveled their own weapons on him and Robin was repeatedly blasted over and over again, bouncing around the room.
Shots coming from direction, left right, Robin was sent body crashing from one blast to the next; like a rag doll suspended in the air, sent jerkily sailing from one direction 'this is going to hurt'.
Robin felt sick. His flesh burning he rolled to a stop right below the stack of crates near the window he had eyed and set himself the goal of getting over towards. Trying to raise Robin felt his neck jerk dangerously close to snapping point; after being jolted into one direction, stopped forcefully tossed in a different one a second later. Robin's arm's tried to shield his face and upper body from a hit to the head or torso. His cries mixed with the sadistic laugher of Brother Blood watching the spectacle. "Like a Robin target doll."
Finally it all ended.
Robin's final resting place; a wooden crate crashed into, had smashed to pieces, laying on the hard concrete floor of the warehouse. Body twisted in pain and covered in both cracked and shattered wooden shard pieces. Pain engulfed him.
Metal gears, poles; that had been the contents, fell out, on and all around Robin he cried out in agonizing pain as he moved to right his body and catch his breath.
Moved his hand slowly, hoping that the stack of poles sprawled above him wouldn't fall further onto his hand. His neck ached, already had a headache and blood was slowly trickling down from his left eyebrow into his eyes. He slowly tried to turn his ankle and leg that had been pinned by several heavy gears; excruciating pain protests of shooting pain ran up his legs and calf muscles, Robin cried out in agony.
Realizing he'd torn several ligaments. Robin wondered if he'd ever be able to walk again.
Moving out from under the gears Robin sat up.
A sudden and nauseating dizziness caused him to swoon followed by nearly blacking out, attempt to calm his head by closing his eyes and focusing on the cause of the pain, Robin lay his back on the floor, arms searing with painful burns; moved to his right side, and slowly touched a painful spot along his rib cage. More ribs broken thought Robin.
He could feel the indention, lightly touching the skin. His hand moved down his side, discovering a piece of wood; from the crate that had punctured his skin, it had imbedded itself in around his kidney.
Excruciating pressure met Robin's hand as he felt how hard it would be to pull out the wooden intrusion. He tugged at the piece, whimpers echoed throughout the warehouse. His tears began to mix with the blood of his bitten tong. Tossing the bloodied wooden piece away Robin reached to cradle his side- grabbed and yanked up into the air.
Half delirious Robin began laughing, his shattered sanity, tired endurance giving away at the face of his evil double holding him up, smiling wickedly at his suffering and misery. "Did you miss me?"
"I should have know you'd be back," commented Robin.
The constant bombardment finally sapping what little mental and emotional stability he possessed, giving way to a momentary breakdown "sure, why not, come on finish me off. No, better yet. Continue torturing me…I know let's go find the rest of my team. Maybe I can forcibly turn Beast Boy into a carnivore or help anger Raven enough so that she snaps; brings about the end of the world."
Robin eye's clouded over with tears. His pain and suffering; insanity, failed to take in the angry gaze that his double glaring at him with gave. "You're pathetic," his evil self tossing him out of his grip and back towards the group of mechanical looking Cyborg's- like a pack of rabid dogs, they mechanical doubles were now ripping Blood apart.
"I mean look at you, you can't even keep a clear head about you. You're an emotional wreck, that's why you never listen to Slade when he's trying to tell you something important, you live your life always constantly on the edge of your emotional sleeve."
Robin teetering back and forth never saw out the corner of his eye the world around him.
"Stop fighting with yourself and start listening to the world around you. Stop being so damn stubborn and fiery tempered Dick and start listening to someone for a change Robin!"
"Better yet, try listening to yourself, try listening to me for once!"
"You, you," spat Robin on his hands and knees, "what could you possibly tell me that I'd want to hear, what could you possibly have to say that would matter to me."
"Can you tell me something that would get Slade to stop attacking me? Something that would make me stop worrying about my friend's lives, their safety? Could you possibly tell me anything that would at all matter to me?" Robin's hysterics lead him into screaming angry frustration at himself. "I mean tell me, tell me something that I don't already know? Tell me why Batman will never accept me? Tell me why my friends will never grow up and leave me alone? Tell me why I'll never be good enough; why everyone either dies, leaves me, or tells me I will never be enough for them to ever love me…and why Slade is the only one that wants me, but he only wants me because I have the potential to turn into you. Tell me why Slade will never stop hounding me… better yet tell me how to escape him and the person I'm becoming thanks to him?"
Robin's pleading eyes were hot with fire his soul tortured with frustration and overtaxed was exhausted.
Voice finally leveling off the boy tears in his eyes called out in the voice of Robin, Richard Grayson, and as Slade's apprentice "Just tell me something that makes since."
Evil Robin circled around Robin. His appraising stance and look reminding Robin a lot like the way Slade treated him. Finally Evil Robin stopped and stood before him. His hands at his sides, eye's taking in the sight of Robin's pathetic form; crouched down on his hands and knee, the cold warehouse floor "Isn't it enough that I am of value to somebody?" (2)
Robin looked up at him and tried to see past his eyes; the evil appearance he tried to see what made him speak in such a way as his words were sympathetic, pleading to Robin "why is it not enough for you that Slade wants you? That Slade desires you as his Apprentice. He offers you the world and all you can see is your pathetic short sightedness. All you can see is your heroes idealism, you are brainwashed Dick."
"You were taken in by Batman, and he ruined us."
"What about Batman?"
Robin remained on his hands and knees shock and doubt pushed from back of his mind. "What about him?" Tired and mentally exhausted from the constant strain of thoughts; a pounding in his head "do you want to end up the same as him" answered Evil Robin, taking a step closer to his tired and weak look alike, "all alone and lifeless?"
"Do you want to turn out as Bruce? Emotionless and married to your job so much that you shove those you once thought were your friends; family and possibly those you could have come to have as any future family with, to shove them all away and sink deeper into the shadows- "We are slipping Robin, slipping into the shadow of the Batman…" I for one do not want to be in the shadow or hallow existence of the adult superhero world…it's why we left Robin," whispered evil Robin stepped closer and extended his Bow Staff.
Taking a small yet not powerful swing at Robin-
The swing forced Robin to move away from him, roll to the side to avoid the impact, didn't see how his evil double was trying to not hurt him at the moment. Merely to make his point as he talked to him.
"I asked you Robin, what do you, expect life to be- You're expectation are false, you are delusional. There is no perfect world, no happily ever after; life is pain, pain Robin! Pain and struggle and there is nothing more."
"I know that," answered Robin avoiding another swing swiped by evil Robin's "I don't want a perfect world; don't want a perfect life, I just want to, to…" Robin finding he couldn't answer what he really wanted.
"Exactly my point," exclaimed his doppelganger gleeful in triumph. "You have no idea what the world is like and you live your life in the fantasy perceptions of the superhero vision of utopia that Batman he taught to us."
"The truth is Robin that the world is not a kind and caring place, it is a place where Red X is a thief because that's the only way he can get ahead, is place where crime is the only release of energy for someone who is wound too tight and is frustrated just to survive and a poor man under privileged to get ahead will fight for his life any way he can."
"Do you honestly think that they just woke up one day and said 'Ok let's be evil.No! People choose small things, like the first time they were hungry and needed food, so they stole something. The first time they needed money, they took a job that was iffy on there concense, people aren't born criminals Robin they' just the same as you did, they make deals with someone like Slade, are just trying to walking the path till they can see a way out….somewhere where they'd start finding a way to fix the situation."
"Take the Joker, the Penguin, Two Face, Poison Ivy….were they born a criminal, was it their destiny? "No, circumstances, other people forced them into who they are, who they became… and they just try and survive."
"So," asked Robin still confused.
"What does that have to do with me? What does that have to do with Slade's constant bombardment of me?"
Evil Robin shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know I just liked hearing myself talk."
Robin glared up at his evil double. "You're a real pain in the butt, you know that?"
Evil Robin gave him a smirk, "Yes, but soon it won't matter you'll be dead, and only I'll be around to enjoy my company."
"Not if I can help it," answered Robin getting to his feet and facing his double head on.
Robin ignored the fact that he wasn't alone; ignored the fact that Blood and his goon's; along with Cyborg were still standing around devouring one another.
Ignored the pain and tiredness he felt. He reached down and picked up one of the pipes that had spilled out of the crate- Robin positioned himself to fight his double 'he attacked first.'
The little nagging voice that had been tormenting him all this time, constantly reminding him that he couldn't beat Slade; Evil Robin and Slade both around, telling him that either one of them or both had to be killed. Robin finally giving in to the nagging voice and now determined to end this; determined to kill Evil Robin once and for all, he charged "You're going to lose" mocked Evil Robin deflecting a rather powerful blow.
"No," yelled Robin swinging his pipe into the stomach of his evil self" No I'm going to kill you once and for all."
They battled, Robin gaining the upper hand and forcing Evil Robin to retreat. Robin's determination and new resolve gave power needed to do what he figured would have to be done.
No thought of the consequences of his decision Robin drove his thrusting swings harder and harder, he focused his eyes on only defeating the evil in front of himself. Evil Robin deflected a hit to his chest moving to block a kick from Robin, but with surprising speed Robin wrapped his arm around the others' staff and ripped it from his double's hands. Driving his own pole straight through and into his evil doubles' chest; straight through his heart… "Your logic sucks."
"I am nothing like you," evil Robin gave a gasp of surprise. Caught off guard, he simply stood there staring at Robin- then he looked down at his own chest and brought his hands up to pull out the pipe. Robin gripped the pipe and pulled. Blood flowing, evil Robin hit the ground slumped to his knees, Robin laughed a disbelieving remark "I guess you and I really aren't that far from the line's edge as you once thought," voiced evil Robin.
Robin watched a grin of triumph and pleasure changing slowly to horrid realization of what he'd just done. His mind racing, he'd just been pleased with committing murder, it didn't matter that it was an evil version of himself… What am I becoming?
"No," gasped Robin, "What have I done? No," he began shaking his head. Stunned in disbelief, dropping the bloody weapon he looked down at his double; watched as he swayed and their places changed, their clothing changed, again he laughed
"Guess Slade was right all along- you really are a formidable force when you're focused, when you're angry." That was when Robin watched as his double disappeared, collapsed; and fading into the darkness, Robin watching his blood stained hands tremble he begin trembling. No, he thought, no… "No. I …what have I done!"
A/N: (1) Quote from the movie "Ravenous" (2) Hugh Prather modified to fit the sentence.
Hum, so now what's happening? Everyone still with me? No one's died on me yet? Well, you over there. Yes, you, you that died, get up, you can't! You have to still finish one more chapter before you can die. So that's right, yup, good, Ok, were all ok now, so next week is the final part in this long three chapters. Chapter 30 (What has been going on) No, that's not the title. But you will find out what has been happening and I have a surprise ending for you all...Later, till next week, dlsky
