"Depressed again are we?" Alan asked.

My feet rested on the desk in front of me in my friends "room". I was sitting slouched, reading Mein Kampf for the seventh time from coming back from Grants Pass. That was two days ago. I hadn't told them about what happened while I was away. If only they knew…

"You would be too if your neighborhood was blown to smithereens right before your eyes," I said, turning the page.

"Huh?"

I looked over at everyone.

"You heard me, Albino-man."

Cora pushed Alan away.

"What are you talking about? And where have you been the past week?"

Keeping my place, I put my book down, folded my arms over my chest, and told them everything that had happened. When I was finished, almost everyone had their mouths wide open in shock.

"They murdered your aunt?!"

"They tried to kill you?!"

"Half of Grants Pass is gone?!"

"It was blown up right before your eyes?!"

I nodded at everyone's hasty questions. Silence filled the room.

"Does friend Abby know?" Starfire asked.

"No."

Something hit me in the back of the head. I blinked and looked at what had been thrown. A wad of paper? Looking up, I saw Phoenix. She smiled at me.

"I thought it would make you laugh." I looked at my lap. Nothing would make me happy right now. "Hey, grumpy-pants; let's watch the sunset."

Phoenix practically dragged me from the room and outside to the roof. She sat me down before sitting beside me. The sky was a deep red with clouds on the horizon. Phoenix wrapped her arm around mine and pulled me close. I breathed through my nose.

"You're way too bubbly," I said.

"I haven't been very happy myself since we got back. But I get over it. You should try it too."

"I don't think I can."

There was a long pause. Phoenix shrugged.

"You won't know until you try." The sun slowly fell behind the horizon. Stars started to come out in the night sky. The moon was shining bright, almost full. I stared, transfixed, at it. "Oh, right. You need to leave the area on the full moon."

I looked at her.

"Why is that?"

Phoenix looked at me.

"Well, on the full moon, if you haven't been a part or full demon for very long, your abilities can go out of whack, even if you had that procedure done," she explained. "Slade thought it would be a good idea to go to Gotham."

"Why so far away?"

Phoenix looked away.

"Batman lives there."

"Yeah…?"

"And Batman would want to know that his sidekick is okay, don't you think?"

I pulled my arm away and stood up.

Turning my back on Phoenix I asked, "But I wouldn't be able to tell him where Robin is, right?"

"No, unfortunately for them."

"And what if I almost kill Batman?"

"You won't. We'd be close by; Slade and I. Plus, live feed on the jet."

We were silent for a while. I sighed.

"Fine; I'll go. But I won't like it."

Phoenix wrapped her arms around me.

"You don't have to."

I rested my right hand on my left shoulder. The events before my Birthday were going to suck; big time.

"It won't be as bad as you think. There won't be any people besides us in Gotham's forest, so you won't hurt anyone. And just think; at least Batman will know Robin's okay."

Phoenix had just gotten done explaining what would happen tonight. In a way, my human self would be asleep while the demon part controlled my mind and body. It didn't sound that bad, but when Batman was involved, it got complicated. I wouldn't be able to stop the demon part of me from almost killing the man, and that scared me. Slade was going to send the Dark Knight a message saying that someone that knew Robin's location would be waiting for him in Gotham city forest. I wished Slade would forget that part of the plan.

It was almost sundown when we touched down in Gotham. We got out of the jet and walked into the forest. Phoenix hugged me good-bye and then she and Slade left. Finding a wide tree, I sat down against it and waited for the sun to set.

I sighed.

"This should be fun," I said sarcastically. My stomach growled. "And I can't eat raw meat until the demon takes over. Who knows how long that'll take?" I closed my eyes and then felt something furry step onto my hand. Opening my right eye, I looked down and saw a fuzzy caterpillar on my hand. I lifted the critter to my face and poked it. "Crazy bug." My claws extended. I poked it with my claw. It twitched. "I wonder if I can pet you without killing you at the same time." Not wanting to risk the poor guy getting killed, I lowered my hand and carefully scooted him off. It started inching its way along the grass. I smiled. "Good-bye, little bug."

I really was losing my mind, talking to a caterpillar. Death did that to you I suppose. Looking up, I saw the full moon. I stared transfixed at it. I soon became drowsy. Closing my eyes, I felt myself falling into darkness. Maybe I would be too tired to speak with Batman tonight anyway.

My blood red eyes shot open. My ears perked up at a sound off in the distance. My stomach growled again. I sniffed the air. Taking off my blue Ninja sandals, I took off running on all fours towards the smell of food. My claws made tracks in the ground as I ran. Breaking through a clearing, I saw deer. Growling, I ran at a fawn. The deer heard my approach. They started to run, but the fawn I wanted was too slow. Lunging, I caught it in my claws and fangs. We fell to the ground. It kicked at me, but I sank my fangs into its neck and broke it. The fawn stopped moving all together. Looking up, I saw one mama deer staring at me. I could sense sadness radiating off her; I had killed her child. I growled; the mama took off running. Standing up straight, I grabbed the fawn's back leg and started dragging it back to where I had been. I sat back against my tree, dropping the fawn in front of me. There was a loud, resounding crack when I broke its back leg off. Lifting it to my mouth, I sank my fangs in the tender flesh, blood trailing down my chin. Pulling, I tore the meat off and began to eat.

Snap!

I ignored the sound of a man approaching me. He stopped.

"What are you doing out here, kid?" Swallowing the meat, I looked up and saw the Batman. He scowled at me upon seeing my eyes, fangs, and claws. Ignoring him, I went back to eating. "What are you?"

Ignoring his question and holding up the leg, I asked in my demonic voice, "Want some?"

"No." Shrugging, I bit into the leg again. "I had information about someone knowing where my sidekick is. Are you him?"

I finished the leg and threw it aside. I licked my lips.

"I might be." Using my clawed pinky, I scraped at my teeth. "What are you willing to do for me for the information you need?"

"If you know where Robin is, I want you to tell me now." Looking up at Batman, I growled. "First tell me who you are."

I jumped to my feet.

"It doesn't matter who I am," I said angrily. "Now leave if you don't want to be killed."

Batman stared at me intently. Realization filled his eyes.

"You're that boy who was kidnapped four years ago." He paused. "What happened to you?"

Folding my arms over my chest I asked, "You've never seen a demon before have you?"

"I've fought a vampire in the past."

I growled.

"I'm not a vampire, mortal."

Batman glared at me.

"Tell me where Robin is."

"Hmph! Sorry, Bat, but I can't tell you that." Getting on my hands and feet, my Chakra formed around me in a wolf shape. "You'll have to almost kill me in order to find out."

Without a moment's hesitation, I kicked off the ground and ran at Batman. He jumped back. Holding up his arm, he blocked my fangs. He pushed me back. Landing, I growled and ran at him again. Batman rolled out of the way to dodge my claws. I slid around to face him. Pulling out two Bat-a-Rangs, the Dark Knight threw them at me. One sliced my right cheek, but I caught the other in my mouth. Clenching down, I broke the hard metal. It fell from my mouth to land at my hands. Raising my right hand, a claw of Chakra flew at Batman. He jumped back, his eyes wide in surprise. Whipping out a grappling hook, he shot it at a tree. My Chakra claws grabbed another tree and pulled. The tree uprooted and fell. I threw it at the tree Batman was crouched in. He jumped out before the trees collided.

"That's a nice trick," Batman said behind me. My Chakra claw vanished. "What do you call that?"

I glared at Batman over my shoulder.

"It's called Chakra Branching." I spun around and growled. "If you want to live, I'd hurry up and leave."

Batman glared.

"I'm not leaving without knowing where Robin is."

Jumping back, I stood up hunched, my right hand at my side. Chakra formed around it in a circle shape.

"Then you better dodge this." My wings materialized out of my back. Kicking off the ground, I flew at Batman. I jumped in the air. "Wolf Fist!"

I aimed my fist at Batman's face. He didn't move. My fist stopped mere inches from his face. My wings flapped behind me to keep me airborne. I growled at Batman.

"I am not afraid of children," Batman said casually. "Where is Robin?"

Anger boiled inside of me. My Wolf Fist vanished. Growling, I punched Batman in the face with my normal fist. He flew back and crashed into the ground on his side. I was about to attack him again when I heard a maniacal laugh.

"I like this kid already, Batsy!"

I looked up and saw a man wearing clown make-up and a purple trench coat in a tree. The Joker jumped down, his smile never wavering. I growled.

"Well I don't like you."

Forming another Wolf Fist, I ran towards The Joker. He just laughed and dodged my fist. It went through a tree. I tried to pull my arm free but it was stuck. Grabbing the other end, I pulled, grabbed the one end on my side, and pulled. The tree broke in half. It fell to the ground.

"Oh, did I hurt your feelings, kiddo?"

I glared at The Joker from over my shoulder.

"You tried to kill one of my friends." I vanished in an afterimage. Reappearing behind the Joker, I spun around and kicked him. He turned and stepped back, almost losing his balance. He laughed. "You will pay for that." I was about to attack The Joker again, but Batman grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I growled. "Let go of me!"

The Bat shook his head.

"Joker is my problem. You stay out of this."

Batman pushed me aside and attacked The Joker. Growling, I watched as they fought. The Joker whipped out a switchblade. Jumping from my spot, I landed between the two men and grabbed The Joker's wrist and twisted. He dropped his blade. Forming my Wolf Fist in my free hand, I punched Joker in the stomach. He bent over forward, chuckling like a mad man.

"Nice punch," he said, blood dripping from his mouth. I wrenched my fist from his stomach. Blood splattered the ground. "I've had worse."

Lifting my leg, I kicked The Joker in the stomach. He flew back and crashed into a tree. Fire formed in my hand.

I was about to end the freak's misery, but Batman grabbed my shoulder and said, "Don't kill him. It's better if he stayed in Arkham Asylum."

Spinning around, I kicked Batman in the chest. He flew back and crashed into a tree. While he was falling forward, I appeared in front of him and grabbed his throat. Extending sharp blades on his arm guard, the Bat stabbed me several times in the arm, trying to make me let go. My hand clenched tightly around his neck. I slammed him into the tree and growled.

"Rocky, stop!" Still holding Batman by the throat, I looked over my shoulder. Phoenix stood several feet behind me. My eyes narrowed at her. "You don't want to hurt Batman, remember? You were supposed to tell him that Robin is going to be fine where he's at right now." I growled. "Put Batman down." I didn't listen to her. My hand tightened more around the Bat's throat. He clawed at my hand, trying to pry it off. "Put.Him.Down." Looking back at Batman, I raised my free hand and formed my Wolf Fist. "You don't want to hurt him, Rocky. Put Batman down." Pulling my arm back, I aimed for Batman's face. "Don't do it Rocky! Put him down!" I stopped mid-swing. I growled, my teeth clenched so hard that blood trailed out of my mouth. Phoenix's voice rang in my ears. "Rocky, put him down!" My fist shook. Batman's hand slipped off of mine. "Rocky! Put him down right now!"

Growling from anger, I pulled Batman away from the tree and threw him at Phoenix. He crashed in front of her feet and then coughed. Phoenix crouched beside him. I breathed heavily, hunched over. My eyes glowed.

"Wh-Who are you?" Batman asked Phoenix.

"That doesn't matter." She helped him to his feet. "We want you to know that Robin is fine and that he is safe. As long as he listens, he'll be okay." I formed fire in my hands and then threw them at Batman and Phoenix. "You have to leave now!"

Phoenix pushed Batman out of my line of fire. She caught them in her glowing hands. The fireballs vanished. I flew at her. Whipping out a bo staff, Phoenix ran forward and attacked. She walloped me in the face. I flew back and landed in a crouch. I stood up straight.

"Stupid bitch!" I was about to attack, but Batman stood between us. I stopped. "Get out of my way!"

I was about to claw Batman in the face, but a thick, black wire crashed into me. I flew against a tree, the wire wrapping around it and tying me to the trunk. Hitting my head, I growled and shook it.

"Sorry about my son, Batman. He's a little under the weather."

Looking up, I saw Slade standing next to Phoenix.

"Deathstroke," Batman said with venom in his voice.

"Ah, you remember me."

"I can't forget a murderer like you."

Slade scoffed in amusement. I struggled in my bonds.

"Luckily for you, that ship has sailed." Slade glanced at me for a split second before looking back at Batman. "My son has taught me a few things the past two years."

I growled. Batman glanced at me over his shoulder. He looked back at Slade.

"He's your son?"

"Step-son."

"He had been kidnapped four years ago, Slade. I assume you saved him?"

Slade chuckled.

"It was I that kidnapped him, Batman. I made him my apprentice, twice. Each time he escaped. Then, I killed his father, married his deceased mother, and kidnapped him again. He became my apprentice along with Phoenix." Phoenix mouthed a sorry to Batman. "He was possessed by Phoenix's demon and killed his sister. He just recently developed self control of his demon powers."

I growled deep within my throat. After a long silence, Batman turned around and approached me. My eyes narrowed in anger. I growled at him. The Bat stopped a foot from me and stared. He raised his hand, but I snapped at it. He lowered it and then sighed.

"You've ruined this boy's life, Slade." Batman reached for something in his belt. "He must be hurting inside."

I slowly ended my growling. Sadness appeared on my face. Whimpering quietly, tears formed in my eyes and streamed down my face. Batman was right; I was hurting; not physically, but spiritually. For once, I distinguished the difference between the truths and the lies.

Batman wiped a tear from my right eye. In his left hand, he stabbed my neck with a syringe and plunged the liquid into my veins. My eyes slowly were changing back to blue, my claws and fangs vanishing. I clenched my eyes tight, tears falling down my cheeks. The sleeping drug was slowly working its magic. Opening my eyes, I stared sadly at Batman.

"B-Batman, th-there's something I-I have to tell you." Batman leaned closer as my voice started to drift from the tiredness. "R-Robin is…i-i-i-in…" My eyes were closing. "R-Robin's i-i-in…N-N-"

Closing my eyes all the way, I drifted off to sleep.

The scent of cooking bacon and eggs on a fire entered my nostrils. I curled tighter in the ball I was in on the ground with its soft grass. Groaning quietly, I slowly opened my eyes. The sun was shining dimly through the trees. Smoke drifted past my vision. Early morning birds chirped. Moving just my eyes upward, I saw Phoenix making breakfast. Pushing off the ground, I sat up, yawned and stretched. I was trying to remember what had happened last night.

"Morning!" I looked up and saw Phoenix with a skillet in her hand in front of me. She smiled. "Breakfast?"

I stared at my plate of bacon and eggs. Slade wasn't around. I sighed.

"Something wrong?"

I didn't reply right away.

"I tried to tell Batman that Robin is in Nevada." Phoenix didn't reply. "But the drug was too quick." I picked up a piece of bacon. "I wish I could have told him."

"It was a good thing you didn't." Looking up mid-bite, I saw Slade enter the campsite. As he sat down next to me, Phoenix gave him his breakfast without looking up from her own plate. "Otherwise, I would have had to move somewhere else. Too much work."

Slade started on his bacon. He wasn't in his armor and mask like last night.

"Are you trying to make me feel better by saying that?" I asked, sounding somewhat annoyed.

"Was hoping to."

I glared at Slade. He ignored me and continued to eat his breakfast. Sighing loudly, I started eating my eggs.

"It didn't work."

"I know."

We were silent for the rest of breakfast.

"I think last night went well," Phoenix said behind Slade and me as we sat in the cockpit of the jet. "But, glad it's over."

I yawned loudly, my eyes closed.

"It went badly," I said after I was done. "You weren't there."

"Well, I saw what was happening."

"Then you're blind."

Phoenix punched me in the arm. Slade sighed.

"Stop it you two."

Taking a deep breath with my mouth closed, I leaned towards my window and stared out. We flew by wispy clouds. I sighed.

"Wake me when we get back please," I said, closing my eyes.

I quickly fell asleep.