A/N: Well, no one else was updating, so I decided that I might as well...
Just a small warning, this chapter is pretty short (compared to recent ones, not the first, like, 20, which were all short).
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Oblivion
By: Sarah Shima
Chapter 35: Fool
Robin turned his head to Slade's direction and nodded at him in acknowledgement.
"Well, I must say I am surprised those heroes are using you as bait to trap me," Slade said, looking around the seemingly empty warehouse.
"There's no trap. They don't even know I'm here," Robin said, his voice calm.
"You managed to escape them?" Slade asked, his tone skeptical.
Robin allowed himself a small smile that Slade saw, before responding, "I'm resourceful. Isn't that one of the reasons you wanted me to be your apprentice in the first place?"
Slade chuckled and slightly let his guard down, Robin really had come to him of his own accord. "So, you broke out of the safe house and left; and now you've changed your mind and want to come back to me?" he questioned.
"Well, I needed some time to think things over. And I have. So now I want to make a deal with you, Slade."
"You want to make a deal with me?" Slade asked, amused. Robin still did not seem to realize that he had no grounds to barter.
"Listen, I chose to come back here, okay? I could have the entire Justice League here in a minute if I change my mind. So I do have some leverage. I think we could make this work, but I want some say in the terms."
"I'm listening," Slade said, suddenly serious, the boy did have a point.
"No more drugs, Slade. I know that it was not your original intention. Under those drugs I'm just a mindless soldier, following your orders; not someone you could train into becoming more active in your organization. I want in, Slade, but I want to actually be aware of what I'm doing. So, I want you to give me the antidote."
"That's all you want? I give you the antidote and then you join me fully?" Slade questioned.
"Well, not all. I am not going to kill anyone."
"Uh-uh Robin, non-negotiable, I am an assassin, if you apprentice with me then you will kill."
"You're more than just an assassin now, and maybe I'll change my mind about that later, but I don't want you to force me to kill. And one more thing, I refuse to be put against any of the 'heroes' that I supposedly know. I want to leave that all behind me, and I can't do that if you insist on making me fight them. So, let me go over this again; you give me the antidote, do not force me to kill, and do not make me fight any of the superheroes, and in return, I will be your apprentice, willingly."
In moments, the occupants of the Watchtower were converging on the transporter room, the information that Robin had left spreading through the place at superspeed.
"I can't believe it! I am such an idiot!" Beast Boy exclaimed as the Titans walked along the hallway. Superman caught his words and so listened in with his super hearing to catch every word the teen shape changer said. "He asked me about the Watchtower and if there were transporters, and I just told him! I told him where to find them, how to use them! Gah! Idiot! But… on the plus side, I guess he told us to leave just to get rid of me, he might not have meant it."
Superman shook his head and sped on ahead to join the JLA members in the transporter room. Batman was standing at the main computer console, typing, while Wonder Woman, the Flash, J'onn, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow looked on.
Superman stood beside Batman, waiting for him to give some indication of what he had discovered. "He transported to the Wayne Tower pad," Batman calmly explained. Batman hit a few keys, and accessed the security cameras that watched the roof of Wayne Tower. He searched through the timetable, and then brought up the images from the time when Robin arrived in Gotham.
A screen in front of them came to life, and all watched as Robin appeared on the rooftop. He looked around, and then jumped off the edge, grapple launcher in hand. Batman cursed as Robin faded into the Gotham crowds, uncertain as to how he would find him now.
"Where could he have gone?"
"Do you think he went back to Slade?" Wonder Woman asked, casting a nervous glance over at Batman. Batman glared at her, and prepared a retort as Alfred's stiff British tones cut through the crowd.
"Excuse me, ladies, gentlemen," he said as he moved through the superheroes. Having been in Batman's quarters when the word spread, he had found out only as he left to find Batman. The heroes parted to let him through, and he shook his head admonishingly at the vaunted 'world's greatest detective.' "This is hardly a shocking occurrence," Alfred chided. "Sir, bring up the tracking devices on the Batcomputer," Alfred said briskly to Batman. Batman looked at him for a moment, and then complied. The screen changed to a map with several different colored lights. Most were in Wayne Manor, but one stuck out on the other end of the city, and kept moving slightly.
"You put a tracker on him?" Batman asked, astounded at Alfred's forward thinking.
"It was in the clothes, just a cautionary measure."
Batman nodded, all business. "All right, there's a possibility that Slade's already found him, so I want…" he paused, scanning the group of eager heroes. "Wonder Woman, Superman, and Green Arrow to come with me, the rest of you stay here." They followed their orders instantly, and leapt into the transporters before any of those left behind could protest.
As they reappeared on the roof of Wayne Tower, Batman had already begun to give orders. "Superman, I want you to stay back if Slade is there, he will definitely have kryptonite on him. I'm putting you in charge of getting Robin back to the Watchtower. Wonder Woman, I want you in front with me. Arrow, stay to the back, only help if your assistance is necessary. All right, let's go." Without waiting, Batman shot a grappling hook into the night and leapt off of the building, his comrades not far behind.
As he raced through the night to reach Robin, Batman's mind was running with self-loathing thoughts. How could he let Robin leave? How could he not realize Robin's intention when he saw him earlier? Why was he so impatient with Robin that he brushed him aside so easily back at the Watchtower?
He promised himself that as long as he got Robin back, he would do better. He would try harder. He had to. Much as he tried not to admit it, he needed Dick in his life, he could not stand his absence when he moved to Jump, and then when he died… No, Alfred was right, this was his second chance, and he was not going to screw it up.
"Batman! I see him!" Clark shouted from above the dark knight. Batman looked up, the pinching at Clark's eyes showing that he was using his X-ray vision to see into the warehouse that Robin was in. "He's not alone! Slade's there with him!"
"Dammit."
"So Slade, do you accept?" Robin asked.
"Now you know Robin, there is no going back on this. Once we agree, you cannot change your mind again. Agreeing means that I own you, forever, and if you try to leave again, I will kill you," Slade said evenly, gauging his reaction.
Robin's eyes gave way none of his thoughts, a slight problem that existed since that night when Slade had effectively 'broken' him. Something Slade assumed would be remedied soon enough once he began to accept his role as Slade's apprentice.
And Slade had to admit, that this was better than he had hoped for. Robin returned of his own accord, with a deal that was still favorable to Slade. He was sure that they could work out some of his 'conditions' later, but Slade was nothing if not patient.
"I understand," Robin said evenly.
"All right then, I accept," Slade said, stretching his hand out for the customary hand-shake that would bind the contract.
Robin stared at the hand and the image of an executioner's axe entered into his mind. This was it. No going back. No second chances. The withdrawal was getting worse, and he did not know if he would even be capable of shaking Slade's hand in a moment. But as he reached out, he could have sworn he heard something approaching.
Slade and Robin's hands were mere centimeters from each other when Slade's attention snapped to the wall to his left. A second later, top members of the JLA burst through the wall, scattering debris everywhere. Batman's masked eyes were glaring murder at Slade, as Slade reached forward for Robin's hand, to seal the deal. However, Robin had fallen backwards, and was lying with his arms clutched tightly around him.
"It's over, Slade," Batman said through tightly grit teeth. "You will pay."
Slade was mildly amused by Batman's theatrics. Now he knew where Robin got it from. "Robin returned to me of his own accord Batman, far be it for you to go against his wishes," Slade said coolly, standing beside Robin. He reached down and roughly pulled Robin to his feet. Robin cast a confused glance at the JLA members who were effectively surrounding the pair.
"Don't touch him," Batman snarled.
In a move that surprised all of the by-standers, and Slade, Superman swooped in, aiming a well-placed punch to Slade's face. Slade toppled backwards momentarily, blood spurting out of his nose. He released his hold on Robin, who stumbled backward to lean against the remaining wall, unsure of what he should do. He felt turned upside down, his thoughts clouding inward again. Where was he? How did he get here? Darkness formed at the corners of his vision, and he blinked to fight unconsciousness.
Slade quickly assessed his odds against the JLA, and knew they were not good. Wintergreen's words about this task destroying him reverberated in his ears. Then he cast his gaze to Robin who seemed on the verge of collapse. The boy was making no effort to stand up for his decision, or to join Slade. Slade's eye narrowed as he thought of why that would be, and he felt his anger rise.
"So this was the plan all along, Robin? You cut it pretty close, Bats," Slade spat, thinking that Robin had tricked him from the start. His everlasting patience grew thin in the moments that he and the JLA stood staring at one another, and his broken nose healed before their eyes.
No one played him for a fool.
No one.
They would all pay.
But not right now.
Slade reached into his belt and pulled something out. He held the cylindrical device in his right hand, and with the other he grabbed a bunch of smoke pellets. He pointed his hand at Robin and switched on the device, sending a laser shot at him. Robin's body was thrown back by the force of the shock, and he slumped down to the floor in a heap, unmoving.
As the JLA members were distracted by Robin, Slade tossed the smoke pellets, creating a haze around him, and turned and left.
"Robin!" Batman called, kneeling next to him. Robin's shirt was torn and his chest covered in blood. "Dick, come on," Batman said, trying to rouse him. As Batman picked Robin up, Robin's head hung limply. Batman walked over to Superman, and practically shoved Robin into his arms, his expression one of complete rage. "Get him to the Watchtower!" he ordered. Superman took the unconscious teenager into his arms and then shot off at super speed to get to the JLA transporter pad.
"Batman…" Wonder Woman said, approaching the Dark Knight who was standing silent and still.
"And he escapes again," Batman sighed. "Come on; let's get back to the Watchtower."
A/N: So that's it. I know some of you are going to be disappointed about the JLA intervening, but, come on now, if you're reading between the lines you'll see what I'm setting up here. And it's gonna be BIG. This chapter marks the end of I guess what I'll call "Part 3" of Oblivion.
Quick summary of parts:
1. Robin's dead.
2. Robin's alive!
3. Robin's drugged!
Now we're moving into a new phase with the story.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and part 3. Leave me a review, and I'll see you all in Part 4!
Sarah Shima