Previously, on "Tear Down The Wall!" chapter 6, Robin and Raven spent their first night together without the other Titans taking up space in Titans Tower. The two spent the remaining evening in the Combat Room to improve Raven's fighting abilities. After kidding around with Raven, the two started to fool around and got a little more personal with each other.
MUCH too personal…
Feeling ashamed of what he put Raven through, Robin spent the night alone out in the balcony. To his surprise, an intruder caught him off-guard and faced Robin, hoping to end the night with a good fight!
Now, the story continues…
"Remember me, kid?" Robin heard the young man's voice and flipped backwards into fighting position. He raised his fists as he saw the shadowed man stand on the rail to the balcony with incredible balance. The man hopped off the rail and stepped out of the shadows, letting his red cape flow with the wind. Smiling underneath his mask, he cracked his neck and got into the fighting position of his own.
"… you…" Robin rasped, looking into the skull-mask's eyes.
"I hate to break it to you, kid, but the last time we fought I was going pretty easy on you. All I was having was a little fun…" Red X popped out a pair of short swords out of his hands, preparing to slice Robin down to ribbons. Robin quickly took a pair of steel sticks out of his boots and twirled them in his hands, preparing to use the Filipino art of Kali.
"This time, I'm not holding anything back! I live for the fight, and you deliver it better than anyone! Here I come, Robin…" Red X ran to his opponent and slashed away at Robin. Robin blocked blow after blow of Red X's blades, sparks flying as steel clashed into steel. After another successful block, Robin immediately brought his left stick down towards Red X's skull. Red X blocked it successfully, but he felt Robin's strength rattle his body.
From there on, it was Robin's turn to get into the offensive. Robin attacked Red X head on with his steel sticks, fighting with great speed despite the weight of his weapons. Red X felt he was getting into trouble, feeling for the first time that he was biting much more than he can chew. Red X ducked Robin's horizontal strike to his head and leg-sweep him. Just as soon as Robin fell onto his back, Red X thrust his short swords down to Robin's skull.
"VICTORY IS MINE!" Red X screamed. Robin blocked the blades with his left stick and smashed Red X's skull with the other. The blow was so powerful that it lifted Red X right off his feet.
Red X felt the stick's impact, dropped the short swords and fell to the ground. When Red X got his second wind and prepared to get up, he looked straight into the edge of his short sword, which was in Robin's hand.
"How… how can this be?"
"Game over, Red X. You lose."
"Not bad, kid. You really improved from our last fight."
Red X raised his hand to Robin, hoping he would help him up.
"No tricks. Honest." Reluctantly, Robin helped him up.
"Just what the hell are you doing here?"
"No reason. Ever since half of the planet's superheroes left Earth, things just got really dull around here. So I decided to come and have a little fun." Robin raised a brow at the master thief. Robin couldn't help it, but he chuckled to Red X's words. Red X chucked back. Seconds later, both boys laughed, looking more like buddies than enemies.
"Well, it doesn't hurt to have more than one sparring partner. Got to admit, you really had me up against the ropes."
"Another sparring partner? Who else did you-"
"Remember me, kid?"
Both boys looked to where the voice came from. The man's voice came from the shadows, standing on the rail with incredible agility. Letting the wind blow through his long hair, the man leapt off the rail and landed right in front of the boys. His mask covered his eyes really well, and his black-and-blue outfit made him look like the perfect bird of prey…
"… Nightwing…:" Robin formed slits out of his eyes and put up his fists. Nightwing smiled to himself, looking more amused than precautious.
"I hate to break it to you, kid, but the last time we fought I was going pretty easy on you. All I was having was a little fun…" Nightwing cracked his neck and put his hands up, getting into his Shaolin kung fu stance. Gritting his teeth, Robin got into his Jeet Kune Do stance. Red X stepped away from the two and left them space of their own, letting himself become a spectator to yet another duel.
"This time, I'm not holding anything back! I live for the fight, and you deliver it better than anyone! Here I come, Robin…"
(Huh?) Robin said to himself. With a huge ki-yaah, Nightwing ran towards Robin and delivered a cobra-quick punch to the head. Robin blocked it and immediately responded with a punch of his own to Nightwing's head. Nightwing blocked and punch, then Robin, then Nightwing again. The two young men traded blocks and punches with each other, seeing who's the swifter of the two. Red X hated to admit it, but he was starting to have a hard time keeping up with Robin and Nightwing.
Nightwing blocked another strike from Robin and smashed his right foot into Robin's outer-thigh, causing Robin's leg to give in. Nightwing followed with three good punches to the head, a front kick to the stomach and a swift outer crescent kick to the skull. Robin went down quickly.
"VICTORY IS MINE!" Nightwing screamed. Nightwing leapt into the air and descended down towards Robin, preparing for a flying knee right into his chest. Robin quickly brought his legs up and caught Nightwing in his feet. Catching Nightwing off-guard, Robin pushed him into the air with his feet and leapt into the air with him. As both were mid-air, Robin grabbed Nightwing from behind and performed a menacing flying back-breaker! The concrete floor cracked from the impact.
Robin got up from the attack and took in a few breaths. Nightwing slowly opened his eyes and looked into the eyes of the victor.
"How… how can this be?"
"Game over, Nightwing. Uh… you lose."
"Not bad, kid. You really improved from our last fight."
Nightwing raised his hand to Robin, hoping he would help him up.
"No tricks. Honest." Reluctantly, Robin helped him up. Nightwing rubbed his back from the back-breaker.
"May I ask what the hell you're doing here?" Robin asked.
"Yeah. I'd like to know that, too," Red X said.
"Just felt you need to be checked on, that's all. You're like a little brother to me, man. I just want to make sure you're living up to the mask. Besides, I was the first Robin and I don't want you to smear the name, if you know what I mean," Nightwing said.
"Come on, Nightwing. I can fight any guy at any level! Why don't we-"
"REMEMBER ME, KID?"
Robin slapped his hand over his eyes.
"… Not again…" Robin slowly turned his attention to the new voice and slowly removed his hand from his eyes. Who he saw was mysterious man hidden in the shadows. The masked man stood on the rail of the balcony with incredible agility. The man leapt off the rail elegantly and landed right in front of Robin. The masked man smiled as he removed his bow from his back and placed a deadly arrow into it.
"… Speedy!"
"I hate to break it to you, kid, but the last time we fought I was going pretty easy on you. All I was having was a little fun…"
Nightwing and Red X looked at each other confusingly and stepped back from yet another duel. Speedy smiled as he aimed his arrow squarely at Robin's chest.
"This time, I'm not holding anything back! I live for the fight, and you deliver it better than anyone! HERE I COME, ROBIN!" Speedy let loose his arrow at Robin, having at the tip of it a high-quality explosive. Robin swore to himself and leapt for cover, leaving behind his previous position a huge explosion from the arrow. Speedy fired another arrow, and another arrow, and another. Hails of arrows fired away at the Boy Wonder as Robin continued to run for cover.
Robin tripped on himself and fell to the ground. Robin got up and saw Speedy aiming another arrow squarely at Robin's head.
"… Victory is mine." Speedy fired his arrow at Robin's head. The arrow flew with fascinating speed, heading right for Robin's nose.
Robin caught the arrow in his hand.
"… What?" Speedy fired another arrow. Robin caught that one, too.
"NO WAY!" Speed quickly fired one last explosive arrow. The arrow connected, causing Robin's head to whip to the right.
"ROBIN!" Nightwing exclaimed.
"The word of the day is 'OW'," Red X said.
Robin slowly turned his head to Speedy. To Speedy's surprise, Robin caught the last arrow in his mouth! Robin broke the first two arrows like twigs with his hands. He then broke the last one with one big bite.
"I'VE… HAD… ENOUGH!" Robin ran towards Speedy at amazing speed and landed a perfect punch into Speedy's jaw. After that punch connected, over a dozen fists landed into Speedy's stomach, ribs, and skull. Dozens more fists were heading Speedy's way.
"WAAAAAATATATATATATATATATATATATAAAAH!" Robin exclaimed. After nine-nine blows to Speedy, Speedy staggered and had stars spin around his head. Robin raised his fist and prepared for the final blow.
"WATAAAAAAAHHHH!" Robin delivered a thunderous fist into Speedy's head, sending Speedy flying into the concrete wall and getting him embedded into it. Speedy eventually fell out of the wall and landed face-first into the floor. Speedy weakly looked up into the eyes of the victor.
"Not bad, kid. You really improved from… our last fight."
"Don't offer your hand to me, okay?"
"… How did you know I was gonna do that, Robin?" Red X and Nightwing helped Speedy up. Seeing how shaken up the two were, he knew that those two guys got just as much of a good beating as he did.
"Man, this is a weird night! All three of you guys got the nerve to come to Titans Tower just to TRY to kick my ass! Damn, you even said the same f----'in quote! What the hell's going on here!" Robin asked.
"Maybe we were brought here for a good reason, Robin. Maybe you need our help," Speedy theorized.
"Help? Help in WHAT!"
A fire elemental flew through the night sky and descended to Titan Tower's main balcony, seeing Robin in sight. The elemental lightly landed on the steel rail, folding his arms and looking squarely into Robin's eyes.
Robin slapped his forehead in disbelief.
"Oh, for the love of Mike. Now HOTSPOT is here," Robin muttered to himself.
Hotspot leapt off the rail and faced Robin. Just when Hotspot was about to open his mouth…
"Hotspot, don't say a word, PLEASE! We already know what you're gonna say."
"… Uh, you do?" Hotspot asked. Red X, Nightwing, Robin and Speedy lined up and faced Hotspot. Robin held out his hand and put out three fingers. Then two. Then one. All four of the boys cleared their throats. Then they all said to Hotspot:
"Remember me, kid?"
"I hate to break it to you, kid, but the last time we fought I was going pretty easy on you. All I was having was a little fuuuun…"
"This time, I'm not holding anything back! I LIIIIIVE for the fight, and you deliver it BEEETTTERRR than anyone! Here I come, Robin…"
"VICTORY IS MINE!"
"Game over. You lose."
"Not bad, KIIIIDDDD. You really improved from our last fight."
The fire elemental gawked at the boys very oddly, completely lost of words.
"Look, Hotspot. It's so obvious you were gonna say the same crap and try to take me on! What is this? SOME KIND OF A PRACTICAL JOKE! Robin asked.
"Robin, I wasn't gonna say all those things you guys thought I was gonna say," Hotspot said. The four boys eyed each other strangely. Robin scratched his head.
"… You weren't? Then… then what are you doing here?" Robin asked.
"Can I use your bathroom?" All the boys collapsed to Hotspot's question.
"YEAH! I WIN! GO HOTSPOT! GO HOTSPOT! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY! IT'S BIRTHDAY!" In the main lounge, Hotspot won yet another fight in the hit classic, Tekken 4. Red X tossed his controller into the sofa in shock.
"Something's not right here! I can't believe I got creamed! I thought Heihachi Mishima is the best fighter of all!" Red X said.
"HAH! He's nothing compared to my main dude, KAZUYA MISHIMA! What number does that make now? Oh, I remember. That's my 50th VICTORY!" Hotspot announced. Speedy went up to bat, selecting Hwoarang. Hotspot chose Jin Kazama.
A few feet away from the other boys, Robin and Nightwing were sharing a few words with each other.
"Any words from your friends, Tim?" Nightwing asked.
"Not yet, Dick. I really hope they're doing all right," Robin responded.
"We're all worried. It really was a good idea that Batman decided to split Earth's superhero populace in half. Hey, who did you decide to have in housesitting the Tower?" Nightwing asked.
"I decided to have Raven by my side," Robin said. Nightwing eyed Robin strangely.
"Raven!"
"Well, yeah. You almost sound like you disapprove of it."
"Not really. I thought you'd have Starfire by your side. Besides, she does look like a hot catch. Raven, however… well, she just looks kinda creepy."
"Creepy? Look, I chose Raven to be by my side because she's the most reliable Titan I can count on. She's more mature than the others, more focused on our missions, and she really has a good head on her shoulders." Nightwing started to smile to what Robin said.
"… You like her, don't you, Robin?" Robin felt his cheeks heat up.
"I didn't say that I LIKE her! I… I never thought of her in such a way at all!"
"Uh uh UUHHH! You're blushing! Admit it, Robin! You like her! You WANT her! Isn't that the main reason you two are alone here in the Tower?" Nightwing asked. Frowning, Robin looked away and blushed even harder.
"… You're an idiot…" Robin muttered. Nightwing grabbed Robin in a headlock and gave him a good noogie.
"ROBIN, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU! HEY, YOU GUYS! ROBIN'S GOT A CRUSH ON A TEAMMATE! HE'S DYING TO GET LAID!" Nightwing shouted. The other boys put the game on pause and sat with Robin and Nightwing.
"Who's the girl?" Speedy asked.
"Yeah, come on! Tell us!" Red X said.
"Man, I bet it's Starfire!" Hotspot exclaimed.
"… It's Raven, okay? Look, I don't know what I really feel about her. She's smart, very well-focused, and got powers that are really reliable for the team."
"Yeah, but on a personal level, how do you think of her?" Speedy asked. Robin began to rub his shoulder, feeling pretty nervous.
"Well… she's kinda… cute. Really cute. Okay, she's a damn knockout! I just don't want to get too personal with her because it could effect how the Teen Titans do the job. Relationships could just get in the way," Robin said.
"Man, I thought it was Starfire he had a crush on," Speedy said.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Hotspot said.
"I say you should go for it! Take her, man! Seize the day!" Nightwing said.
"But Nightwing-"
"Come on, Robin. I know how the Bat would at times stress the importance of not letting relationships get in the way of duty, but he also said that no man could ever be an island. Dude, why not relax and take her out on a date? And don't worry about a chance of a major invasion. Besides, you guys will be ready at all times," Nightwing said.
"He's got a point there. Take her with you, get out there and let loose! See what happens from there," Red X said.
"But guys-"
"NO buts, Robin! Here, I want you to take these tickets. These are two of the last tickets to WRESTLEMANIA XXI! I know a lot of people who turn from strangers into real couples after leaving that phenomenal event! GO FOR IT!" Speedy said. Speedy whipped out a pair of Wrestlemania tickets, ready for the taking.
"Hmph. Wrestling's fake. Don't bother going to that snore, Robin. Here's an even better event you can take her to: A LINKIN PARK CONCERT! I heard that Linkin Park is coming to Jump City performing at the Phanuel Park tomorrow night! THAT'S the place to be, man!" Red X exclaimed. Red X whipped out a pair of Linkin Park tickets to Robin, ready for the taking.
"No way. How in the world can they communicate to each other through all that noise! HERE'S the place: Medieval Times! While you guys watch the knights lock swords, you two can have a nice conversation, enjoy your meals and get to know each other a little better. How about it?" Nightwing asked, holding out a pair of Medieval Times tickets.
"Man, I'd tear up all those tickets! Why not get yourself and Raven on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? It would be pretty cool to be on television and get interviewed by one of the coolest and funniest personalities in America! Imagine it, man: sitting alongside Brad Pitt, Snoop Dogg, or even that hot babe from Elektra! THAT'S definitely the place to be!" Hotspot said.
"… Oh, man. Where am I to take her? I can't decide." Robin asked himself.
"WrestleMania XXI!"
"The Tonight Show!"
"LINKIN PARK!"
"Medieval Times!"
Robin was surrounded by four of his friends, tickets from four events all in his face.
"… Okay. I'm going to take Raven to…"
… to be continued.