Chapter 2:
The next morning:
Batman and Robin wanted to get to Headquarters as early as possible; the fewer people who saw them the better. They were surprised, however, when they turned onto the street where it was located. There was a large crowd of people in front – some had posters, others were chanting – and it looked a lot like a protest. Somebody noticed the Batmobile and everyone turned to look. They backed away from Headquarters as Batman drove up to the entrance and parked.
"What's going on here?" Robin asked hesitantly, hoping that his giving a statement to the commissioner had nothing to do with it.
"I don't know; let's just get in there quickly," Batman replied angrily.
He had seen what was written on one of the signs and was appalled by the message.
They opened their doors, got out and started up the steps. Robin stopped cold, however, when he heard:
"Hey, Robin, why aren't you talking to us? Did you kill The Darkling to keep your dark secret safe?"
Robin slowly turned around to face the accuser. Batman stepped to his partner's side and said, "Ignore them; let's go." He was too late because Robin had just seen the same sign as Batman:
VILLAIN OR HERO? JUSTICE FOR THE DARKLING! DON'T LET ROBIN'S CRIME GO UNPUNISHED!
All of the color drained from Robin's face as he processed the meaning of that sign.
"Robin, let's go, now," Batman demanded quietly. Robin's emotions were about to burst out of him and Batman needed him to show strength. "Turn around and walk away; you need to be stronger than them right now. We can work this out later."
Robin's eyes were pools of anger surrounded by a border of apprehension and his hands were clenched into fists but he did as he was told, turning around and continuing his climb to the entrance.
Accusatory statements were now being thrown at him by angry voices scattered throughout the crowd:
"What are you hiding, Robin? Heroes don't kill people! Walk away, sidekick, you'll be in the State Pen by the end of the week!"
Robin stopped again, his entire body trembling with rage and fear. Forgetting Batman's instructions, he whirled around and shouted, "It was an accident! I didn't want him to die!"
Batman grabbed his partner by the shoulders and manhandled him up the rest of the steps and into the lobby of the station.
"What were you thinking?!" Batman was furious with Robin but he kept his voice quiet. "What happened to 'walk away' and 'ignore them'?"
Robin was staring at the floor, his anger replaced with guilt and distress. "I…I'm sorry Batman," he whispered. "I couldn't, I mean, it was an accident, right? Do you think I'm going to be arrested?"
The teenager was scared now, really scared. The State Pen was full of criminals that he had helped put there. Not to mention all the villains….
Batman exhaled and attempted to calm down. "Okay, Robin, look at me." He waited and finally had to forcefully lift the boy's chin with his hand. "I will not let you be arrested and Commissioner Gordon wouldn't do that, anyway. He knows you, Robin. You don't have any dark secrets and you are not a villain. You are not going to the State Pen unless, of course, you are taking a bad guy to his cell."
Batman tried to grin at his last comment but it didn't work. The expression on Robin's face didn't help; his partner looked terrified.
Conall couldn't believe his eyes: Robin was right there in front of him and the crowd was heckling him! He saw the anger, then distress, in the boy's eyes and laughed out loud. The kid was already paying a price and Conall didn't even have him yet. The emotional trauma had begun with a simple article. Robin's own city was turning against him and he wouldn't be able to handle it. He laughed again as he turned away and walked to a payphone down the block.
"Hello, yes, I would like to speak to Chief O'Hara, please," he said, emphasizing his Irish accent.
There was a short pause and then, "Chief O'Hara speaking."
"My name is Conall O'Reilly and, as I was sittin' here watching the news, I saw Robin walk into Police Headquarters. Please tell me that he is about to be arrested; I am prepared to press charges for the death of my brother, Faolan O'Reilly."
"Oh, Mr. O'Reilly, sir, I'm sorry. Robin is here to give us a written statement about what happened – his side of the story. That's all."
"Okay, but I just said that I'm ready to press charges against him," Conall declared loudly, upset that O'Hara seemed to be on Robin's side.
"I heard you, sir, and I'll keep you informed. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go take his statement. Good day, Mr. O'Reilly."
Conall listened to the dial-tone and then hung up the phone in frustration. Plan A wasn't working out the way he had hoped. Robin was supposed to be arrested and then Conall was supposed to grab him when the police were transferring him to the State Pen.
Robin groaned in both frustration and relief as he climbed into the Batmobile two hours later. The engine roared to life and the Boy Wonder shook his head.
"How do you do it, Batman? How do you stand in front of so many people and answer questions like that?"
Batman thought for a moment then replied, "I actually hate it. They ask the same questions over and over, trying to trip you up. That is exactly why I didn't want you to participate in a press conference. I know it's hard to do but, the next time people are jeering at you, let it go and walk away. Those people weren't even from the media and they got to you. Reporters are relentless and even more vicious than that crowd."
"I know, sorry. It was just so irritating!" he sighed and leaned back in his seat. "At least it's over," he mumbled.
They were halfway back to the Batcave when the Batphone extension rang.
Robin sat up and lifted the receiver, "Yes, Commissioner?"
"Robin, I'm sorry but we need you to come back to Headquarters. The Dark…I mean, Mr. O'Reilly's brother is here and he is pressing charges against you on behalf of his brother."
"Uh…" Robin dropped the phone in shock.
"Robin, what happened?" Batman demanded as he pulled the Batmobile over to the side of the road. Robin didn't answer; didn't even move.
Batman grabbed the Batphone and loudly asked, "Commissioner, what's going on? Whatever you just told Robin…" but he only heard a dial-tone.
Slamming the phone down, he grabbed Robin's head and forced the boy to look at him. "What happened?! ROBIN!"
Startled out of his stupor, Robin felt tears well up in his eyes as he stammered out the answer.
"The Dark…Darkling's brother is…is press…pressing charges. Against me for, um, murder, I guess?"
Batman felt like he had been slapped in the face. The Darkling was the villain and Robin was the one about to be arrested?!
"We, uh, have to go back. I'm strong, right? I can handle myself. In there. With all the villains that I helped capture. I'll be fine. Right?"
Robin sounded petrified, with good reason. There were many unpleasant things that could happen to him in the State Penitentiary.
Batman shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Here's what we are going to do. We'll go back and I will get the commissioner to put you on house arrest at Wayne Manor."
"What if they don't let me go to the Manor?"
"They will, Robin, I'll take care of it, okay?"
The words were full of confidence but, in actuality, Batman was also worried about that. Something was nagging at him in the back of his mind but he couldn't quite grasp the thought.
"Okay," Robin answered softly.
Batman turned the Batmobile around and they returned to Headquarters. The news had been leaked and reporters from every station were there, waiting for them to arrive.
"Robin, we are getting out and walking straight up the steps. Do not look anywhere except straight forward. Do not listen to anything anyone is saying. Do not, under any circumstances, say anything. Understand?"
Batman's even voice belied his emotions. He was trying to stay calm for the sake of his partner even while the fury was building inside him.
"Okay," Robin replied, as softly as he had before.
"Okay," Batman sighed.
They opened their doors, got out and walked up the steps to the entrance. Questions were being hurled at them from all directions but Robin made it inside without showing any signs of distress. Batman, although he didn't say anything, was proud of his young partner.
"I'm sorry Robin but…I have to arrest you," Chief O'Hara's voice was sad as he stepped up with his handcuffs.
"Chief, is that really necessary? He is already here. You don't need extra security; he's going with you quietly," Batman stated.
The Caped Crusader was composed on the outside but inside he was fuming. The chief wanted to cuff Robin when the boy was turning himself in!
"I'm just following protocol, Batman. I guess he doesn't really need them, though. Sorry, Boy Wonder, really sorry about all this."
A large man came striding down the hallway yelling, "Why isn't he in handcuffs?! He is a dangerous murderer!"
Robin had dropped his head and Batman noticed him flinch when he heard those words. The man didn't slow down as he approached them – Batman saw the clenched fist and knew what was about to happen. He shoved his arm up in front of Robin's face, blocking the punch that probably would have broken his nose.
"Mr. O'Reilly! I know you're upset but that is assault!" Commissioner Gordon's voice was irritated as he came up to them. "I will decide whether or not he needs to be in handcuffs. You are not part of this force and you will not make any decisions regarding this young man. He is turning himself in, not trying to take us down with his bare hands!"
Robin, who had been staring at his wrists and waiting for the cold metal and clinking sound of handcuffs, jerked his head up in surprise. The commissioner winked at him and Robin returned a small grin. He looked to his right as Batman stepped forward.
"Commissioner, I would like to press charges against this man, whoever he is, for assault. Robin's face was his target and I was fortunate to get my arm up in time."
Conall O'Reilly looked at Batman in disbelief. "You want to press charges against me?" he screamed. "Your sidekick killed my brother! I know it wasn't an accident – there is no way Faolan would do any of the things you say he did! YOU," he pointed at Robin with a look of pure hatred, "are hiding somethin'. You killed him to keep him quiet!"
Robin's heart was pounding and his hands were clenched into fists. Batman placed his hand on top of Robin's fists. He didn't need assault added to the charges.
"Commissioner, please get this man away from Robin before I do something we will all regret," Batman commanded, his voice deadly serious.
The commissioner nodded to Chief O'Hara, who motioned some officers over to hold Conall back while they walked Robin down to the processing room.
"You will pay for this kid! Even if I have to stay in Gotham for ten years, I will make sure that you are convicted in a court of law!"
Conall's loud voice followed them down the long hall and Robin shuddered as he thought of what could happen to him in the State Pen.
Conall O'Reilly grinned as he walked away from the Police Headquarters. He had spoken to every single reporter from every single station and newspaper, verifying that Robin had been arrested and that he, Conall, would be staying until the justice that had been denied to his brother was visited upon Robin's head. Now, he just had to wait for the transfer to the State Pen. Plan A was back on track.
Police Headquarters – twenty minutes later:
"Commissioner, there is absolutely no reason for Robin to go to the State Penitentiary."
Batman was trying to remain calm, but it was proving to be very difficult. He was both annoyed at the police and worried for his young ward.
"Bruce Wayne will accept him on house arrest; you have talked to him about this before," he continued. "Think about what could happen in there. How many villains that Robin helped you catch are currently in there? Riddler, Joker, Two-Face, Penguin, and the list goes on!"
Robin's whole body was shaking now. The commissioner was not listening to Batman; he was going to send Robin to the State Pen.
"Batman, listen, I'm sorry," Commissioner Gordon tried to explain. "My hands are basically tied. Mr. O'Reilly knows our laws and one of them is that someone who is accused of…well, murder, is not allowed on house arrest."
That was it; that was what had been skipping around the edges of Batman's brain. There was no loophole, the words in that law were very specific.
"We will keep him isolated from everyone…" the commissioner continued.
"Oh, so you're going to put him in isolation! That will be really good for him!" Batman roared sarcastically. "How long are you expecting him to stay there – a day?"
"Well," the commissioner's voice was quiet, "until his first hearing."
"Which is at least THREE WEEKS AWAY!" Batman exploded. "You're keeping him in isolation for three weeks?! He's fifteen years old, Commissioner!"
Robin stood up as tall as he could and yelled, "Stop. I'm Robin. I'll be fine. I can handle myself, isolation or not. Just, please," his voice was quiet and shaking again, "try to speed up the hearing?"
Batman placed a hand on Robin's shoulder. "You will be fine, Robin, and I will be there to check on you every day. You tell me everything that happens in there; a full report. Got it?"
"Yes, Batman," Robin whispered, looking up at him with obvious dread. "Full report; every day. Every day?" Robin wanted to be sure.
Batman looked straight into his young partner's terror-filled eyes. "Every. Day."
Chief O'Hara cleared his throat, "The transfer truck is here."
And, just like that, Robin was gone.
Away from me, away from safety, headed toward the State Pen and probable injuries.
Batman was worried, scared and furious as he stared out the window of the commissioner's office, watching the transfer truck fade into the distance.
He'll be fine. He's Robin, I've trained him well. He'll be fine.
Those psychopaths will gang up on him. He's not going to survive the night.
He can't go in a cell until he's processed. He'll survive tonight.
But what about tomorrow night? And every day and night after that?
He's Robin. He'll be…
"It will work out, Batman," Commissioner Gordon stated quietly. "Warden Crichton will take care of him."
Batman turned his head and gave his deepest, darkest Bat-glare to the man in front of him. Without a word, the hero strode past the commissioner and chief. He 'accidentally' roughly brushed their respective shoulders and didn't even bother looking back. Robin was in a great amount of danger because of them and Batman didn't care if they each had a small bruise in the morning.
"This isn' right, Commissioner," Chief O'Hara stated as he rubbed his already-bruising shoulder. "Robin's a kid, not a hardened criminal."
"You think I don't know that, Chief?!" the commissioner nearly yelled. "But there's nothing I can do; the law is the law."
"There can always be exceptions, though," the chief quietly replied.
"Not in a murder case, O'Hara. I've pored through every line of that particular law, searching for a loophole. There's nothing we can use, nothing we can even leverage. Robin is, unfortunately, about to be a resident of the State Pen."
"Heav'n help the boy," the chief muttered.
"Heaven help us all," the commissioner whispered.
He hoped he was wrong but, deep down, James Gordon knew that they wouldn't be receiving help from a certain hero until this was all over. At least most of the dangerous villains were locked away in the State Pen, where Robin…
"Heaven help the boy," the commissioner inaudibly echoed Chief O'Hara's words.
Deserted patch of land 20 miles away from Police Headquarters:
Conall O'Reilly was lying on his stomach just inside the border of a thin forest. He grinned in anticipation as the transfer truck carrying Robin approached his position. The grin turned into a frown when the truck rumbled by without blowing up. That morphed into an expression of disbelief when he saw his homemade bomb drop off the underside of the vehicle. It landed on the dirt with a 'thump' and threw a harmless puff of white smoke into the air.
Standing up, Conall strode quickly to the bomb and picked it up. There was no green light blinking and no quiet beeping. It was a dud. Angrily, the man threw it into the forest and stared down the road, glaring at the red taillights of the transfer truck until he couldn't see them anymore.
Conall released a loud sigh of disappointment. He was going to have to find a different way to get justice for his brother. But at least the boy would be locked in the State Pen instead of running around and basking in his freedom. The man had at least two weeks to figure out a Plan B.