If I just Breathe
Authors Note: I don't own the Teen Titans ... shame. I own Immojen however. She belongs to me. Oh and Ruby ... she's also mine. (c) Oh and Immojen's powers are like Pyro's .. I'm fully aware of that so all cred to Pyro... what a guy!
Chapter 8 - Dont Be Afraid ... The Dark Is Our Friend
Robin woke early the following morning. Without a window or time he had no idea how early it actually was, but his instincts told him it must be pretty early. Groaning, Robin stared sticky-eyed to the ceiling. He assumed it was the ceiling, considering he was on his back, be he couldn't be sure as the whole of his confinement was pitch black. As if almost by coincidence the room filled with bright white light. Robin immediately covered his eyes with his left arm and winced. The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard taping against the hard floor. As each tap progressively became louder in sound, they finally stopped and he heard his cell door being opened. His eyes were still a justing to the intense whiteness of the light and he couldn't make out who it was. He relied on his hearing to identify the person.
"Master Slade has called for you. Come with me," The order came from Immojen. Robin squinted and his eyes gradually made out the slender figure of the blonde apprentice. He scanned her quickly and noticed she was secretively tapping a small, silver gadget with her fingernail. Robin understood. Slade had equipped Immojen with a device to listen to their every words. Robin nodded slowly once and smirked.
"Dont I get to brush my teeth first?"
Immojen placed a hand over her lips to prevent herself from giggling. She cleared her throat. "Grooming will be taken place when Master Slade tells you it will. Come with me, this is your first and final warning," Robin sighed and stood up. He walked past Immojen who re-locked his cell. "This way," she instructed. They walked quickly through corridors which all looked the same. Slade had obviously been decorating and spending as his new lair seemed to look new and permanent. They finally arrived at a large, open spaced room. Robin saw not much in the room except a large wall covered with television screens. The only other thing he saw was a large black leather chair. There, sat his Master.
Robin gritted his teeth as he saw a single hand motion him forward. He obeyed and casually strode toward Slade. Immojen followed. "Tell me what you see," the velvet voice combed through his pride and he answered his tormentor.
"I see a wall of blank computer or television screens,"
"Good. But that was easy," Slade pressed a silver button fixed upon the arm of his chair with his index finger. Each television screen lit up with individual images of what appeared to be Gotham City. Robin saw Wayne Enterprises, Gotham Library, Bruce Wayne's luxury mansion, Gotham Town Hall and other various streets in the city of Gotham. "Now what do you see,"
Robin studied each individual screen with careful precision and tried to acknowledge the answer his tormentor seaked. I see ... Gotham. I see my next mission," Robin's heart sank and he grimaced. Slade smirked under his vizard.
"Very good," Slade raced his finger upon numerous, small, silver buttons on the arm of his chair, changing each screen to that of Gotham City Asylum. "Here, lies Gotham Asylum. Inside awaits a man named Lukean Hunter. You may have heard of him? No, perhaps not as he is before your time. He was sent to Gotham Asylum eighteen years ago when he was twelve. He had a rare, unidentified illness and has been subject to experiment till the present day. I want you, Robin to bring him to me by tomorrow morning." Robin clearly understood what he needed to do. What he didn't understand is why some kid, now man was needed to aid Slade. Another apprentice perhaps? Was he forming an 'Apprentice Army'? One thing Robin promised himself was that he was not going to be part of any army, even if it meant he or his friends would suffer. "Inferno, you will accompany Robin, understood?"
"Understood Master."
The heavy rain hit Robin's back as he raced the roads on a black motorcycle. Immojen too, was not far behind. He dodged passing cars as he raced to get to his destination. He'd been traveling on the road since half six in the morning and it was now half ten in the evening. Was this another of Slade's missions? Perseverance?
When the two, highly skilled teenagers reached their destination, Gotham Asylum, Immojen's utility belt, designed especially to match the customized Slade costume, began to quietly beep and a small red button flashed brilliant red. She noticed this and clicked it. The screen flashed white and a picture of Slade in the dark appeared. Robin slunked into the deep black of the safety of the tree while Immojen spoke to Slade. Immojen thought that Robin was merely trying to keep as dry as possible by seaking the shelter of the tree branches, but Robin was trying to get as far away from the soothing, sneaky sound of Slade's voice. He didn't want to speak to his master any more today. If Robin would have truly accepted his feelings; he'd admit willingly that Slade was indeed, getting to him. Something he promised to himself would never happen. He heard Immojen click the communicator off and she walked to join him under the tree. She could just make out his posture. Again, she put it to the rain that made him slightly slouch his back and lower his head.
"Slade wants us to go into the asylum and find Lukean. He says he's in Sector 12, Cell 2. It's heavily guarded."
Robin and Immojen sneaked their way into the asylum. The two teenagers, undoubtedly made an excellent team. The way each of them moved, spoke, and helped each other was almost rythmic. Both dressed in black, each were deadly on ones own ... together, they could probably move mountains, if the opportunity came. But, they were already moving mountains ... with the exception that this mountain had over one hundred, highly trained guards and high, lethal, state of the art defence mechanisms ... high mountain.
Robin checked to his right, then to his left and once he'd clarified the coast was clear, he turned to Immojen and beckoned her to come closer. She ran to the next corner and also checked the coast was clear, and Robin soon followed. Soon Immojen noticed the first guard and quickly grabbed and pulled Robin back, just as the guard flashed his torch light in their direction. Robin's eyes widened and he sighed with relief. Immojen smirked and they looked for another root to avoid detection.
"Robin, this is proving difficult huh?" Immojen barely whispered into his ear.
"How close are we?" He asked her, ignoring her question. She took out a small black box and flicked the lid off, revealing a silver screen and buttons. She quickly pressed some of the buttons and the screen flashed once. She typed in their co-ordinants and a small red light blinked.
"According too this locater, we have to turn right there," she pointed to a grey corridor and the turned her hand to the right "Follow it all the way down and then turn right again. Then we reach Sector 12."
Robin, blinked behind his mask. "Alright."
Sneaking past each corner, silently like a cat creeping up on a rat, while Immojen distracted the guards. He finally saw a green, illuminous sign saying 'Sector 12' and entered the digits into the lock. The door clicked, and then a sound like sighing and wheezing came from the door and it slowly opened. Robin, took in his surroundings and took one step forward. Cell Two. He passed cell one (which apparently appeared to be empty) and looked into Cell Two. It was dark. He entered the digits once again and the cell door opened.
"Lukean?" Robin breathed. He re-locked the door quickly as he didn't want Lukean escaping until sedated. He didn't quite understand how Slade expected him and Immojen to take out a fully grown man, and get him out of Gotham's asylum. He heard alarm sirens sound in the distance. 'Immojen's certainly keeping Gotham's finest on their toes,' Robin thought and grinned.
"Lukean?" He repeated and took a step forward.
"Understand this, Lukean is dead. It is only I who breathe the air he once did,"
Robin squinted. Mad. Remember this guy's mad, he thought. He reached for his utility belt to find his flash light. He slowly found were Lukean was hiding. Robin gasped with shock from what he saw. "No, it c-can't be..."
"Not afraid are we Dick? You never used to be afraid of bats."
Grr! So sorry this took ages! I had total writers block. Hopefully the next chapter will be better. Thanks for all your reviews!
Danni xx