*REVISED

Chapter 7: Robin, I Choose You!

"What's there to talk about?" Robin ground out, his fists clenching at his sides. Black Canary merely raised an eyebrow.

"I think you know. There is obviously tension between you and Slade, and I'm worried about you. Bottling up your feelings like this isn't healthy."

Robin's gaze turned into a slight glare, and he crossed his arms over his chest. Who was she to say he was bottling any of his feelings?

He was, and he knew it, but she shouldn't be accusing him of it either way.

"I'm not bottling anything up." he hissed, and promptly turned his back to her and started walking into the training room.

Robin tensed as a hand came to land upon his shoulder, stopping him as he was just about to cross into the room. Her hand remained there, but he refused to turn around and face Canary.

There was silence for a moment, before Canary spoke in a soft voice. "Don't lie to yourself, Robin." her voice was almost a whisper.

Canary's voice was soothing, almost motherly, and there was a part of Robin that wanted to turn around and confess every thing to her. What he had gone through. Why exactly Slade was such a sore subject. Every single thing that had been weighing him down the entire time he had been on his own.

But he couldn't. Robin quickly stomped down on the urge, making sure it was completely doused.

"I'm not lying about anything." he tearsly replied, ripping his shoulder out of Canary's grip.

That should have been the end of it. But, strangely, Robin found his feet to be glued to the floor, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't walk away.

He heard Canary sigh a little, and take a step away from him. Neither of the birds said a word, and the silence around them was almost deafening. It made Robin want to escape into the training room, but he still couldn't move.

"Do you remember," Canary said softly, in a saddened tone. "the day after the Failsafe simulation?"

Robin stiffened even more at the mention of that dreadful experience. He had even more nightmares than usual for weeks. It was just first experience leading a team, and he managed to kill them all.

It was what he was terrified of everyday. What he was terrified of when he first formed the Titan's, as they christened him their leader.

When Slade had the Titan's lives under his thumb, Robin was in perpetual fear, thinking that the Failsafe mission might come true. That Robin would fail them, and they would all die because he didn't do what he was supposed to.

"Yes." he answered simply in a low voice. His form was stock still, waiting for what Canary might say.

She took a deep breath before continuing. "In our meeting you said that you didn't want to be the Batman. I now realize that wish never came true."

Robin whipped around to face her, a snarl on his face. There was a line you simply didn't cross when it came to Batman, and she just jumped over it.

"Don't you dare compare me to Batman! I'm nothing like him!" he yelled, swiping his hand through the air.

Canary simply gave him a sad smile.

"Keeping secrets, bottling up emotion, lashing out; you tell me if that sounds like Batman."

With those words she turned away, walking back down the hall she came. Once she turned the corner, out of sight, Robin stomped into the training room.

He was fuming, even more so now than before. Him, like Batman? Please.

Obviously there are going to be some similarities. Batman was his mentor, after all. He taught Robin almost everything he knows about fighting. But when it comes to personalities, Robin knew they were polar opposites.

Weren't they?

OoOoOoO

It was now only a day before the shipment came through, and it was time for the finishing touches on the plan. Robin and Kaldur met in the mission room to strategize.

They would divide up into three teams; Alpha (Robin, Superboy, Cyborg, Kaldur, Raven and Kid Flash), Beta (M'gann, Starfire, Zatanna, and Beast Boy), and Gamma (Rocket, Wonder Girl, Lagoon Boy and Artemis).

Because the layout of the docks was quite unusual, Alpha and Beta would be farther apart than Robin would have liked, so Gamma would stay in the Bioship and be the back-up in case things didn't go according to plan.

Alpha team is the closest to the shipment, hiding behind the many shipping container littered across the docks. Once concealed, Beta will move in and scout the perimeter, making sure no unwanted people's lurked in the shadows. They will also be on the lookout for any straying Slade-bots or even Slade himself.

When the shipment comes in, Alpha will wait for the mercenary to reveal himself, and then launch an attack. Robin, Raven, and Kid Flash will go for the full-on assault on Slade, attempting to overwhelm the man, while Superboy, Cyborg and Kaldur cover them with the rest of Beta.

Then, if they manage to take Slade down (which Robin was still doubting, but he refused to douse the others spirits), Gamma will come down and explore the shipment to see exactly what kind of weapons are on board.

The best possible ending would be Slade ending up in prison, and the Titan's going back to Jump City without too much of a hassle.

Worst case possible was Slade took Robin, the weapons, and killed all of his friends in the process in order to escape with his prizes.

Of course, Robin didn't tell Kaldur the second scenario, but that didn't mean it stop couldn't happen. The ebony prayed that it wouldn't, at least.

"I believe that our plan is ready." Aqualad said, then exhaustion in his voice clear. Robin could relate, as they had been working almost non-stop for about four hours coming up with a plan that might have a chance a working. It had been very tiring, but at least they came up with something to hat wasn't terrible.

"Yeah." the ebony sighed, hands on his hips. A small smile graced his lips, as it had felt good to talk strategy with someone who had been trained in it.

He loved his team, he really did. They were basically family. But he would never ask Beast Boy to strategize an assault unless he wanted to purposely fail.

Kaldur gave his own small, tired smile and glanced at Robin.

"I must admit, you have grown into quite the leader. I am impressed." the compliment almost made Robin blush, as he was not used to receiving them from the Atlantian, but he managed to push it down.

Robin cleared his throat. "Oh, um, thanks." Kaldur's smile grew a little more at the teen's obvious discomfort.

"I believe if you were to join the Team again, you would be quite formidable as leader."

The comment made Robin freeze slightly, as he could barely perceive the suggestion in Kaldur's voice. Robin sighed.

"Look, Kal, I love this Team. It was amazing. I had so much fun, and the League finally started seeing us as more than simply sidekicks. But I can't just leave the Titan's. It wouldn't be right."

Kaldur looked slightly saddened, but the smile never wavered.

"I know, my friend. It is quite clear that what you have with the Titan's is unique." Kaldur paused, looking back to the plans they had laid out, putting a hand on Robins shoulder. The ebony found himself relaxing into it, the feeling comforting. "But know that no matter what, the position will always be available to you. What I said all those year ago still applies. As soon as you are ready, I will gladly step down from my position."

Kaldur gave his shoulder a slight squeeze, and Robin's smile got a little brighter.

"Thanks, but don't count on it too soon. I have a feeling the Titan's will last for a pretty long time."

Kaldur took a deep breath, and looked at Robin once more.

"As do I, my friend."

Hey people! I got another chapter done! Yay! Even if it was more of a filler, and relatively short, it had some important plot points sown in, too.

Sadly, though, this might be the last one for a while. Our local sports team is going to State and for pep band we have to travel to our state capital to play, and then over spring break I'm going to Florida for yet another band thing, and I still need to get every thing for that.

Let's just say there is a lot going on. This isn't even counting sprint volley ball or forensics either.

I know everyone gives the excuse that they are simply too busy, but then there are some who simply have time but don't spend it writing. I will admit that there has been at least one occasion I have done this, but now I ACTUALLY have no time to write.

I hope you all understand and can forgive me.

I loved reading all of your reviews last chapter, and I am so thankful to all of you. Without you, I don't know what would keep me going. Thank you so much.

~Atatami