Insanity for Dummies- LOL, yes he is, but you can't blame him: everything he's worked for is slowly coming apart at the seams! That doesn't condone for slamming Simms up against the wall though... And now, Robin's got a choice of whether or not to take it, and I'm going to leave that open ended for now... You'll know the answer later on. And yes, Slade truly does care for our Boy Wonder, in some weird sort of way. He loves him like a mother loves the child she never had (i.e. the neighbor boy who comes over for cookies or something). Slade wants what he truly cannot have, and he'd do anything to get it, keep it, and keep it under control. Yes, Robin is completely screwed up, but he's starting to realize that his "happy little apprentice life" isn't exactly what it seems. And already, some bits of memory are coming back to him, but they're too fleeting and too few at this moment (he keeps thinking they're meaningless dreams). I really do appreciate your feedback, too. You guys are as much of an inspiration on me as the TV show is. Thanks for the review!
KaliAnn- One thing that Slade would never do is deliberately kill Robin. He's worth too much to Ol' One-Eye! Slade's sentimental towards Robin, regards him as the son he never had, so of course he wouldn't deliberately kill him... and it would depend on the situation whether or not Slade would hurt him, so it all just depends... Yeah, the Titans have been discovered, and now, the fun begins... Thanks for the review!
Aeris-Raven- Yeah, Slade's a smart cookie. If the Titans are hiding in the sewers, what can you do to flush them out?And you'll know what Simms did in another chapter.Robin's going to have issues, that's for sure: when he gets back to the Titans, he's going to have issues, and he's going to want to be alone, and sort through everything in his head. Hopefully, confiding in his friends will be exactly what he needs. Thanks for the review!
slade4president- Thank you! The best compliment I could ever receive is that I got the Titans and Slade down exactly right! And don't worry: the next installment's coming right at your right now! Thanks for the review!
Infamous One- Actually, I didn't know that! Thanks for the info! It's interesting what you learn everyday... Yeah, that is pretty cool. He's a mastermind, what can I say? He's got motive, opportunity, and power. What more can our favorite little megalomaniac ask for? Thanks for reviewing!
Ok guys, we've made it: chapter 5. It means ½ this fic is already over! (OMG!) I'm surprised as you are that I could stretch this so far, and still come up with something good. I've got my direction set, and now, all I have to do is follow it. Oh, and BTW: I refuse to call Robin/DG by the name of "Dick". Thanks to our modern culture, it completely screws with it, and it's derogatory. So, I shall call him by his full first name: Richard. So sit back, enjoy the ride, and I'll see you next chapter! Read on!
A tsunami wave was coming straight at them, gushing water filling the entire space and leaving nothing behind, sweeping it along with the rest of the refuge it picked up. Wide eyed, X watched it for a moment before he started running, Cyborg running beside him and the girls flying over their heads. Beast Boy morphed into a bird of prey, and it didn't take long for X to notice that he wasn't comfortable flying in such an enclosed space; these sewer tunnels weren't as big as many people thought they were.
"Starfire, grab Cyborg! Raven, pick me up! Beast Boy, scout ahead! Find a drain somewhere and lead us to it!"
"Dude, who died and made you king of the world?" shot back Beast Boy. "I'm trying to fly here!"
"Just do it!"
Surprisingly, they all did, all too eager to follow orders from a voice close to Robin's, and X immediately felt his feet disengage from the floor. Then, suddenly, he was flying, the slim hands of Raven grasping his shoulders as best she could. She briefly regarded him, although he couldn't make out her expression, something between puzzlement and-
Something close to a flash of recognition crossed her face, and he shook his head firmly. "Fly Raven. Just fly." And she didn't have time to argue; her uncertainty had faltered her flying, and the wave of water had crept up on them. The witch redoubled her efforts, and they continued on their way without another word.
It made X that much more adamant to settle his old scores. One of these days, Slade was going to pay for all this...
Exhausted, Robin was dead asleep by the time Slade came in to check on him, and the master was secretly pleased when he viewed the empty syringe. Good boy, Robin, he thought, smiling behind his mask. Good boy. You're becoming exactly like the son I always wanted, and who you always were meant to be. The serum this time was a double dose, with no adrenaline additives, and he had expected Robin to sleep; of course, the boy didn't know that. No, he was continually kept in the dark, and sooner than later, the toxins flowing threw him would do their work. He'd lose his memories, all of them but the ones he'd given him, and that would be a true day to celebrate.
"Soon, Robin, soon," he murmured affectionately, already allowing himself the time imagine the new life they would lead, rulers of a world subjugated to their control. Yes. Soon, Robin would be truly his, and he would give his son the world.
It's the least he could do, after all the times he had come close to killing him along the way.
The Boy Wonder was within a fit of dreams, sweating and trembling silently on the medical bed. The dreams had come back, with a fury and a vengeance, and this time, the experience was different than before.
This time, the pieces of his puzzled mind began to fit back together. Or, at least, some of them had.
Dark. It was dark, damp, and wet, stalagmites clinging to the ground while their partners created rocky peaks along the roof. He knew this place, knew it quite well, but couldn't remember its location. Strangely enough, it felt like home, a home he knew he was always welcomed in, and one he hadn't seen in a very long time. On platforms here and there, connected by various ramps and walkways, computers blipped and beeped, while a series of glass cases lined one solid wall, suits of rubber and spandex, of capes and cowls, residing within them. There it was, the gray and black suit that he'd seen on the man he saw before in his dreams, the emblem of the only flying mammal gracing the front.
A bat. A giant bat. That's what it was across the front! A bat! But why?
Images flashed in his brain as he felt himself walk towards the displays, his bare fingers caressing the glass softly. He noticed that this suit had seemed better days, parts where holes had repeatedly been scratched and slashed in, with the tiniest of stitches binding it up like they were never there. A man came into mind just then as he glared at the threadbare cloth, a man of nobility and dignity that surpassed even that of Slade. A former spy. British, however, unlike any British man Robin had ever met; this man was one who cared for his charges, who dutifully waited for the Bat to come home every night, whether he was in one piece or not. He was a battle worn man, a respectful man. A man who loved him like a grandfather would love a grandchild.
But why couldn't Robin remember his name?
"Master Richard?" a voice was calling from behind him, and there he was, an exact replica of the man he was thinking of in all his glory. White hair graced his head, and Coke bottle glasses enlarged his eyes slightly as he peered through them. His uniform was pressed and ironed, not a thread out of place, and a bowtie the color of cranberries stood out strikingly from his starched white shirt and coat tailed jacket and matching black slacks. He'd called him Richard. Richard? Was that his name? He didn't even remember if it was.
Faltering with his speech, it took him a moment to realize that he wasn't wearing his usual uniform; he was dressed in an unfamiliar one of green gloves and a black and yellow cape, an "R" emblazoned on his chest. His hands felt upwards over his face, and he was surprised to find he wasn't wearing a mask. Where was his mask? Where did it go? This man shouldn't see him without his-
"Master Richard? Are you alright, sir?"
"I-I don't know," he admitted, clamping a hand to his forehead and trying to quell a forming headache. "My head's all scrambled... I can't think..."
"Maybe you will once you've sat down. Would you like me to get you an aspirin?" He gestured towards the huge chair in front of a huge computer screen, and winked. "I don't think it would be a bad idea if you sat in Batman's chair for the time being. Which reminds me, why are you dressed as Robin? I thought you were done with the life of a crime fighter."
He shook his head hopelessly, the pain increasing with every moment. "No, but thanks for offering. About the aspirin, I mean." Making his way towards the chair, he felt himself sit, easing back into the cushions and groaning with content. "This feels nice."
"Master Richard, may I ask you something?"
"What?" By now, he was getting used to this "master" stuff, even though he didn't know this guy's name. True, he felt more than comfortable talking to him, but still...
"You've been acting so strangely lately. If I may, what has prompted you to put on the suit again?"
Throbbing pains racked his mind, and Robin could barely concentrate. "Listen, I'm going to be straight with you, ok? Then maybe, you can tell me what's wrong with me." Sighing, frustrated, he amended. "I don't really know why I'm acting weird either. I don't know how I'm supposed to act, period. Things are so screwed up in my head, and I have no idea why. At first I was sure, you know? It was me and my father, and everything was fine and dandy, but then these things started happening. Flashes; memories I'm not sure are real or not. It's like, one moment, I'm the son of Slade, and then the next minute I'm... this." Pointing down at his uniform, he shook his head. "I don't know who I am anymore. And then, here I am, talking to you, and I don't even know who you are, Alfred."
Wait. Did he just say? Blue eyes widened. "ALFRED! You're Alfred!"
The man nodded, pleased. "If I may say so, Master Richard, I think it would be best if you take the time to sort out what is real and what is not. Only then will you be able to find a way to overcome the lies and deceit. You'll find a way, Master Richard, I know you will."
Suddenly, the room around him became grainy, unfocused, like a fogged up mirror, and Alfred vanished, leaving Robin alone in his big chair. "Hey, wait! Please wait! I still don't know... I still don't know..." He sobbed out, confusion in his voice. "I don't know what I'm doing here..."
He jolted awake with a start and wiped the sweat from his face with a black gloved hand. He was back, awake, and still as lost as ever. However, a flicker of triumph passed across his face. Alfred. Alfred. He had remembered a name. And he was Richard. Richard... Richard...
Still, his brain was wrapped in fog, unable to be completely dislodged. Most of his own life eluded him, but he was now sure of one thing: Slade had lied to him. He had lied to him, but whether it was for his own good or not, he didn't know. That part of his mind was still in the dark. One thing was for certain though: his father couldn't be trusted, not fully anyway. For safety's sake, he's play along, but he had a nasty feeling that whatever has been going on with him, his so-called "father" was behind it. Why, he didn't know, but he intended to find out.
For once, he was glad of his instincts. They told him to flush the syringe's medication down the toilet, and now, they were telling him, more than ever, to be suspicious. Maybe, he just might get to the bottom of this alive if he kept listening to them.
Water was flooding everywhere, and the tunnels were becoming a dizzying mess of a maze. X couldn't tell how many turns they'd passed, or however many twists they'd made, just focused more and more on staying alive, and making it through the day. In a way, it was his fault for getting the Titans involved in this little blood feud between him and Slade. He'd led Slade right to them, and, defenseless, they were going to drown like rats in a bathtub unless somehow, he could think of a way to get out.
Following Beast Boy's route, Raven flew on, engaging in conversation to pass the time. With the roaring water, sound was limited to within a few feet, far enough for private conversation. "How long have you-"
"Awhile," he answered, cutting her off. "I've been at this for awhile."
"Why? You could live your life without the mask, and nobody would say anything. Why hide behind it?"
He shrugged as best he could, feeling a mix of anxiety and uneasiness. "When you live my life, Raven, you can ask all the questions in the world. Next time you want to be somebody else than who you are, come talk to me."
She shook her head, and sighed, clearly frustrated. "I don't know whether I should be angry, frustrated, or disgusted at you."
"You're most likely all three, and I can't blame you."
"Do you realize the trouble you've caused us? Do you know how stupid your vendetta-"
"You don't get it, Raven. I didn't become Red X to steal. I did it because I could be someone else. I snatched the suit so I don't have to be me all the time."
"That still doesn't-"
"Hey, Robin did it too. Just following his example."
She pursed her lips in annoyance, and countered him. "Yeah, but he did it to catch Slade, and you're doing it because-"
"The 'because' is none of your business, Rae. But now the question is, since you know who I really am, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to blow my cover? Use your powers to pulverize me into a billion bits? Float around and huff?"
"You forget, I can drop you here and now, and solve all your problems for you."
"And you forget, I have other ways of transportation."
Sighing, Raven's fingers dug into the suit, and she flew faster, a stoic look upon her face, but still furious. "I won't tell the others about you, but I want to know why you're after Slade. What does he have on you? Why are you here?"
X grinned behind the skull on his mask, and simply said, "The name of the game is murder, Raven. I don't just want to take Slade down: I want to kill him."
Beast Boy's eyes were wide as he flew, scoping out every single possible route in efforts to get his friends to safety. They were relying on him to come through this time, to be the hero, and he wouldn't let them down. Starfire, Cyborg, and especially Raven would die if he didn't find a way out...
He didn't care too much about X though. The guy was trouble, through and through; it didn't take a genius to know what kind of trouble they were in because of him. And giving orders, like he was some circus monkey! Who did he think he was? He couldn't just barge into the group, take over, and pretend that Robin never existed! They had done fine without their leader, planning a way to liberate him from Slade's clutches, but who drops in at the worst of times, and seconds later, a flood occurs?
Distrust was far from what the changeling felt for X. Oh, how it was far from it...
He banked his wings left, then right, then left again, trying to figure a way out of this maze. There had to be an escape somewhere...
Wide eyed, he pulled back hard and morphed out, completely shocked and cursing obsessively when his feet touched the concrete floor of the pipe.
It was a way out, alright; except that it was a dead end. Closed, the drainpipe's plated grate was shut tightly, the slats unmoving; he gripped the sides but they were slippery, and his fingers couldn't latch onto them. It would be no use either: it was fused shut, and wouldn't move no matter how much he pulled on it.
Starfire could break it, certainly, but...
Speaking of the redhead, she and Cyborg landed, and she hugged the changeling tightly. "You have found an exit, Friend Beast Boy! Now we shall get out!"
Raven and X landed next, automatically ceasing their engaging conversation, and X nodded to the Tamaranean. "Break it down, Star!"
Furious rumbling echoed down the tunnels, and the rushing water was almost upon them. Within seconds, they would be entirely trapped, unable to escape and without air. It was now or never.
Winding up, the alien's eyes glowed emerald, and a mighty punch sped its way towards the grate, hitting it with a solid crunch. She closed her eyes and grinned, enjoying her victory, but failed to notice one thing.
She had dented the plating, but it hadn't budged.
"Uh, Star... HIT IT AGAIN!" screamed Beast Boy wildly. "OR ELSE WE'RE GOING TO DIE!"
Surprised, she looked at the plate and hit it again, but to no avail.
Then suddenly, the waters overtook them, sweeping them off their feet into a world of water, with no air. They floated like dolls in a confined sea, and none of them had taken a deep breath. Beast Boy morphed into a shark and, able to breathe, started hammering into the grate, but his efforts failed as well, and he could only watch as his friends held their breath and waited to drown.
In moments, Cyborg passed out, with Star behind him. They were dropping like flies.
They had to get out, they had to get out! But saving them would expose his secret! Damn Slade for his wrath and contempt! Damn him!
But X knew there wasn't any other choice; he just hoped he had enough air and enough strength to do it. It was now, or never.
Slowly, he swam towards the grate.
