Robin: The Written Series

Title: Blind As A Bat

Pairing: None used specifically but can be considered Robin/Raven or Starfire/Robin if you want.

Description: He couldn't see, it was so strange, how he acted and sounded like he could see clearly, but Robin just couldn't see. He was blind, blind as a bat. Some people said it was a lie, some people said he was really blind after all, but only the team knew for sure, that was good enough for Robin. One night though, Robin finds himself alone on a rooftop fighting Slade himself, but will be overcome this enemy?

A/N: I know I just wrote a drabble where Robin was mute but this one really sounded cool, so I wrote it. I hope I capture it well, once again, has Silkie involved to a degree. Please R&R!


~Robin: The Written Series~

Robin's POV First Person

I can't see, is that so strange? All I see is what I think is the color black, but I've never been sure. Actually, I'm not sure what color any is, but I think I like blue... if that's even real. I sometimes find myself wondering if this is all there really is, just darkness upon more darkness, but I hear voice in the dark, voices that are my friends. One day I want to see, see and know what it is I've been denied to see my whole life, but this chance has never came. One day... one day...


~Robin: The Written Series~

I awake with a scream as I awake from another nightmare of my parents, I never saw fall, but I still have the sole memory of there bones cracking against the ground. I hadn't even known anything was wrong until the police pulled me aside and told me, it had taken them a full hour just to know that I was blind. I rub my face as I stumble when awakening, trying to find my Bo-staff in the darkness that I've battled my whole life. I finally grab ahold of it, using the stick to stand and nearly trip over the teams pet Silkie (I like to think its a dog, even though my team says he's a worm) and make my way to the window. I hear rain tonight, I love rain, it makes a sound that I can hear clearly in my darkness. I lay my sweaty forehead against the cold glass, letting it cool me as I listen to the light pitter patter of the rain smacking against my window. I hear a knock at the door, I stumble over to it, feeling my way around until I grab the doorknob and open it to feel another persons presence. I can't tell until i hear them breathe.

They have a light breathing sound, its not too deep like Cyborg's, excited like Starfire's or casual as Beast Boy's, it must be Raven. "Hello Raven." I say, not bothering to know if I'm looking her way, my friends know I'm blind by now.

"Hello Richard, having trouble sleeping again?" Raven asked, probably seeing my sweat, I wish I could see it, but once again, I'm blind as fuck. "I heard you scream."

I move my head up and down, a nod. "Yeah... can't sleep... nightmares."

"Your parents?" Raven asks.

"Yes." I say, I don't lie as much as other people do, I say the truth usually if I can.

I don't know why people lie, is it to escape an awful truth that they have the privilege of seeing with there own working eyes? I dunno, I don't lie though, at least... not often I think. At least if I die, I won't see it, I can at least still be blind to my fate. I snap out of it quickly, feeling around with my Bo-staff and accidentally tapping Raven's foot, I sigh with relief. Good, she didn't walk away like most people do when i get lost in thought. After a few minutes pass, I hear the alarm ring, my mind jumps into action.

"Trouble!" I yell, dashing down the hallways as my cape flutters behind me, my staff is hardly needed since whenever I get my head in the game, its like I can see almost.

We all meet in the room, I only know this because I hear and smell them (As creepy as the smell part is, its true). I can hear Beast Boy yawning with that squeaky voice of his and asking Cyborg why villains have to attack at night. I hear Cyborg mumbling a response, the response is lost to me in the endless chatter of the world around me. Raven is still next to me, she's telling Starfire to be ready for anything. I hear Starfire say something in Tamaranian before flying to the others, the wind picks up a bit around her and sends a light gust to alert me of her flight. The team is all gathered, soon, Cyborg types in something on the computer and I think a chat opened, I can't tell, no ones even talking anymore. I wait for a sound, any sound, but nothing comes as I now try searching around with my staff, trying to find a solution. Before I know it, a voice smooth as silk and deadly as frost bite speaks to us. I hate that voice, it haunts my forever blind nightmares.

"Greetings, Titans. I hope I haven't awoken you." The voice says smoothly, its obviously Slade.

Beast Boy groans, I think he might be tired still. "What are you, an insomniac? Who calls at 5 in the-" He yelps, Raven probably hit him or something.

Slade chuckles. "I see... well, I'll make this short, I'm sure you're all aware of what the Cronoton detonator is."

My breathing stops momentarily, then it increases at an amazing pace. I hate this, once again, a criminal is toying with us, like a bunch of kids! Okay... maybe we ARE kids... but we're not just kids you can mess with all of the time! I can hear other intakes of breath, especially Beast Boy, but I doubt he even KNOWS what a Cronoton detonator is. My suspicions are proven right when he asks Starfire what it is. I resist the urge to laugh, as usual though, I have to stay strong and determined. I know that the computer hasn't turned off yet and I know that Slade is still there, watching us with his eyes... but he only has one. Cyborg had told me this once when I had asked what Slade looked like, I don't know which colors are which though so Cyborg simply said that Slade wears steel and has only one eye. I wonder if he thinks like I do sometimes, if he knows what its like to be looked down upon for having such a dangerous disability in this type of work. But I shake my head, retracting from those thoughts as quickly as possible. No, I can't start thinking like him, if I do, I know I will become like Slade... only blind.

"Something bothering you, Robin?" Slade asks me, he asks me as if I'm his son, that makes me mad.

"Whats it to ya'h?" I ask in an almost off-putting voice, however, the mood is soon spoiled.

I feel Beast Boy turn me around, judging by the feel, and suddenly blush as I realize I wasn't even facing the right way. "Um... he's over there dude."

I try to duck my head, I can't stand this, I feel weak. I hear Slade writing something down on his end I think, but its unclear. "I see... well, I will be seeing you all soon I hope." Slade said, then, he cut the signal as static rang through the room.

It was dead quiet, i think my team is talking without me involved, again. I wish they would stop treating me like a breakable glass cup, but I can understand why. After all, how would the Teen Titans look if they let a blind twelve year old go after a bomb with no way to see. As I figured, when I try to leave, I'm blocked by Cyborg. I can smell the gasoline on him from working on his car again, I can even hear a few of his electronic body parts moving as he gazes down at me, unmoving. Like a statue I think... I was told that statues are still.

"Whats wrong?" I ask Cyborg.

He sighs deeply. "Maybe you should stay here Robin... we've only been a team for so long you know... we've hardly seen you in action..."

I scoff lightly. "You think I'm not capable of handling it is what you're saying, right?" I ask, knowing the answer without a word even escaping his... talk hole, mouth, whatever it is that makes words. "I'll be fine. I'm not a helpless little kid, I know how to fight just fine!"

"I know little man, but... you shouldn't stress yourself out, champ. I mean, yeah, you can fight and all, but..." Cyborg's cut off.

"I'm blind." I say very bluntly, I hear other titans in the background whispering before joining Cyborg in guarding the elevator. "Look, if you don't let me go myself, I'll just leave." I threaten.

Its a true threat, I don't lie much, remember? Still, I can hear my friends doubting my words, they even know that I can't even WRITE words. "Please... please stay here." Starfire says, her sweet and tender voice sinking into the air.

Its so hard to say no to her, its so hard, but I hold my ground. I will not back down... not like I always had to do with Batman, always staying behind... those days are OVER with. I'm done with being the rarely seen yet well trained sidekick who no one ever sees that much. I'm ready to make my name, but now, I'm even being held back by my own teammates. Still, her voice... no, I will be strong.

"I'm going, whether you all like it or not." I announce, forcing my way past as I use my Bo-staff to help guide me to the elevator, feeling around until I find the bottom floor button.

Before the doors close, I hear Cyborg say something that I know will stick with me for the rest of my life. "How are you gonna stop Slade if you can't even see him, man?"

It hurt more then Circus Freak ever did, that's for sure.


~Robin: The Written Series~

I run through the streets, letting sounds and smells guide me as I take the information I know and put it to some use. I think he's at the docks, a place where fish are caught. I find it thanks to the scent of fish and salt water. I shouldn't be out here alone, I know that much, but I'm too stubborn to care as I burst through the first door I find. I hear clinking... Slade-bots! Suddenly, I feel myself entering a sort of battle mode in my mind. Everything has a voice, I can almost even see the Slade-bots in my head. I attack without mercy, slamming my Bo-staff in every direction as I attack, dodging attacks as I hear them near me. I almost lose myself in the elegant fight, if only my team could see me now, destroying an army of robots against all odds by myself! Suddenly, everything stills as I hear silence, the last robot having fallen after I hear a distinct clink of its metal crashing against the stone flooring.

"(pant)(pant) Where are you Slade!?" I scream into the bitter darkness that has always surrounded me, yet now, it seems ten times more terrifying, yet that fear switches to anger towards Slade. "Come out and face me like a man!"

I hear clapping, which makes me want to break something so badly, how dare this man mocks me! "Well done Robin... a blind child defeating a well made army of robots, who would've thought that you'd stand a chance. I was only interested in mocking your precious team, yet this... is far more interesting."

I'm caught between being a bit happy about FINALLY being accepted as a real foe after years of everyone doubting me, but I still hate this monster of a man. "Shut it! Just who are you, really?"

Slade chuckled behind me. "Wrong way, birdie."

"Shut up!" I scream as I swing around, thrashing my Bo-staff straight into thin air. "What the?"

"Its a bit sad really, so much potential, yet you're blind to your own power, quite literally I might add. Still... I'm not even wearing my mask, if only you could see, then you would know my secret identity." Slade says, I can even hear him toss his mask aside.

I want to scream, I can't believe this freak show, he even is mocking me by not wearing a mask! I still wear my mask... but there is no way in all holy hell that I'd take it off. "Just what are you even after, Slade? Come one, you have to have a motive for doing villainous deeds. What even made you into this person? A tragedy, heart break... insanity?"

"No, I simply chose the side I was most suited for." Slade explains smoothly. "But still... my only motive is to become more powerful, but I'm missing something, something you can provide with the right training."

I stiffen instantly, a dark horror entering my mind. I'm helpless to get help if Slade tries anything, so I'd be subject to whatever he wants. Fear overpowers my anger as I step back, clinging to my staff as a lifeline almost. "What do you have in mind?" I ask, it takes everything not to stutter.

I hear the man chuckle once more, his feet echo through the room as he creeps towards me, I back away until I'm backed into a corner without any hope for rescue. "I need an... apprentice, Robin." He replies.

"No way!" I scream, anger once again entering my blood. "You can't take any of my friends!"

"Why would I want your friends, Robin? After all... your right here..." Slade says, grabbing my wrists with ease and handcuffing me to make me unable to get away.

"What... but I'm... just a blind kid..." I say, my voice is lost in the shock of actually being wanted. Not for who I was trained by or because I'm an orphan, but someone actually WANTS me for once... I'm so confused, yet so happy all at once.

Slade seems to nod, I think he does anyways. "I don't care if your deaf, boy. You can still fight like any man who can see and even better then that at times, you don't need to see to be powerful."

I still shiver, fear still polluted somewhere inside of me. "Do I... have a choice?" I ask.

"Do you really want to go back to the thousands of humans, so called friends and father that have abandoned you?" Slade asks me, answering my question with a question.

Now... I don't even hesitate as I follow Slade, him leading the way as I drag my Bo-staff along with me. If I could look back... I wouldn't.


~Robin: The Written Series~

A/N: Ended rather sadly, but I'm proud of this one, it was so hard writing for a blind person! So... HAPPY 50TH DRABBLE MOTHERDUCKERS! Please R&R, after all, its a special update aright!

~Supercasey.