Hey, guys, I'm back in civilization! Woo-hoo! Hope you all are still interested in hearing what happens to Robin and Slade.
Chapter 8
Robin leaned forward in his seat in the Rolls, staring at the building up ahead. It was a large Georgian house in red brick, and the lawn rivaled a football field.
"This is the school?" he asked Slade, breaking his silence. He and Slade had sent a message to the Titans, but he'd made it far too short for Robin to really say anything, and he was still stewing at Slade for that.
"This is it," Slade said, smiling the slightest bit. "Camden Hall Academy for Young Men. Impressive, isn't it?"
Robin looked again. He'd imagined a dark, Gothic building behind a high, iron fence, but this place was downright welcoming rather than forbidding. It had large windows that Robin could tell let in a lot of sunlight, and the grounds were separated from the road only by a low brick wall. If Slade went back on his word then it would be cake to escape from, and the place didn't look at all bad. Perhaps this school thing wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would be.
As they pulled up to the front verandah the large doors opened and out came several men. A few of them were dressed in butlers' uniforms like Karlton wore, but two of them wore suits. Robin guessed that these were teachers or someone sent to meet them.
"Ah, Mr. Slade, how wonderful to meet you at last," the older of the two said. "I am Headmaster Thompson, and this is my second-in-command, Professor Halloway. We are so pleased that you decided to entrust your son to us."
Robin gave Slade a dirty look. He still did not like Slade using him as a "son" for his cover, but what was done was done. The thing he wanted most at the moment was to get away from Slade, and whatever helped was welcome, even having to claim that he was related to the archvillain just to keep the professors happy. As Robin looked away from Slade he realized that both men had seen the look.
"I see the young master isn't too happy about joining us," the headmaster said doubtfully.
"Oh, it's the usual adolescent mood swing," Slade said, flicking his hand in a dismissive gesture. "A while ago he was all excitement, but a slight disagreement with me has sent him into a foul temper. Nothing at all to worry about."
Robin ground his teeth.
"Well, perhaps we can endeavor to cheer him up," Professor Halloway said quietly as the butlers carried in luggage.
Robin doubted that, but he followed the Headmaster and the Professor when prompted to by Slade. The inside of the large house was as beautiful as the outside, and Robin was impressed. It was almost as great as Wayne Manor. He listened with half an ear as the Headmaster and Professor Halloway took them on a tour of the school, pointing out different things that they thought might interest Robin. When they arrived at the gymnasium, Robin stopped and stared. A class in martial arts was being held. Now this was something he could get into!
"Yes, we have classes in martial arts," the headmaster was saying. "As per your request, Mr. Slade, Robin has been entered into them."
"Wonderful," Slade said as they turned away from the gym, not realizing that Robin was still standing there, mesmerized at what was going on. One boy seemed to be having difficulty, but no matter how much trouble he had keeping up with the others as they did the moves he continued. It was cool, really. The only thing that brought him out of his trance was Slade, coming back and taking his arm and pulling him away from the gym door.
After some more touring (during which Robin heard nothing that the Headmaster said) Slade said his goodbyes, told Robin he would miss him (Robin ignored him as much as he could), and left. Slade was gone, and he was safe for the moment.
Soon afterward, he was turned over to a prefect who took him to his room and explained what the daily procedures were. He did a much better job explaining than the Headmaster had, and then Robin was left alone to unpack and settle in. He had a single, which was nice, but he had a feeling that Slade didn't want him talking to anybody. He remembered a conversation that they'd had in the car on the way and sighed.
"Robin, I don't want you to try telling anyone who you really are during your time at school, and remember what I said: no contacting the Titans."
"Why?" Robin demanded, suddenly feeling very ticked off. What right did Slade have to tell him what to do?
"Forgive me, I thought you had a secret identity," Slade commented.
"Well, yeah, I understand that, but why can't I contact the Titans? What would be so wrong with that?"
"I do not wish you to, and that's all you need to know. If you contact them, then you'll have gone back on your word, and that will be the end to our bargain. Do you understand?"
Robin sighed again. He was going to go nuts if he didn't talk to someone sane soon, he just knew it. A bell rang somewhere down below, and he remembered that it was the call for supper. Hoping that the food was good he headed down, getting lost only once when he took a wrong turning in one of the hallways. He got to the dining room and entered upon a scene of absolute bedlam: students were running around the room, talking and shouting, and books, CDs, hand-held video game systems, and Walkmans were being traded and exchanged among the boys. Robin guessed that there wasn't much in the way of modern entertainment here. He couldn't remember seeing a TV anywhere around.
Another bell rang and order quickly ensued as the boys took places at the eight oblong tables. Robin slipped into an empty place at the closest table, and watched as the professors walked in and took their places at the front of the room behind a long table. He supposed that it was easier to keep an eye on the students that way. The same bell sounded a third time, and the boys quickly took their seats with three boys from each table going through a pair of swinging doors to the right. They emerged moments later carrying platters and bowls full of food, and pitchers full of drink. Each table got two of each, but they weren't able to begin yet. The headmaster said a grace, and as soon as the professors had started, the students were able to start.
Robin helped himself when the dishes were passed to him, and passed them on. The food was all right, and he ate quietly, listening to the conversations going on around him. Mostly it was talk of soccer and homework and how they wished that there would be another village weekend soon.
"Hey, you're new, aren't you?" a boy across from Robin asked. "The one that's called Slade?"
Robin grit his teeth but nodded.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Mike Rourke."
"Robin," he said, praying that none of the boys would say that it was a girl's name.
"Good-o. Whatya think of Camden?"
"I don't really know yet. I mean, it's only my first day."
Mike shrugged. "It's none too bad, just as long you don't get on the bad side of one of the professors. They're kinda touchy."
"I'll remember that."
"D'you play soccer at all?"
Robin remembered his birthday and nodded. It seemed like such a long time ago. "A little."
"Well, there's an intra-form match tomorrow between the Second and Third Forms during evening break. Everyone's welcome to come."
"Are they any good?"
Mike rolled his eyes. "Are they ever! They're like lightning out on that pitch, and they kick like cannons! You'd be missing something if you didn't go!"
"I'll think about it," Robin said, taking a sip of water.
"Hey, you wanna hear a joke?" Mike asked after a moment of silence.
"Sure, why not?" Robin said, expecting something in the nature of a knock-knock joke.
"Okay, here goes. Three guys walk into a bar..."
Just a lame bar joke, thought Robin.
"But the fourth guy ducks!" Mike finished triumphantly, grinning.
Robin felt a smile starting. He hadn't expected that. He could just imagine three idiots giving themselves concussions on an iron bar somewhere in the street and the fourth guy ducking below it just in time and probably laughing his head off at his friends. He tried hard to keep from making a sound, but he couldn't help but imagine cartoon stars swirling around their heads and tweeting bird sounds. Soon he was laughing and wiping tears away.
"Like it?" Mike asked, still grinning.
"That's a good one," Robin said, reaching for his water again and marveling at his own reaction. It wasn't that funny, but he supposed nervous tension was making him a tiny bit hysterical, and his mind had to burn off all that excess energy somehow. "I didn't expect that sort of joke. Where did you hear it?"
"My uncle. He tells all sorts of jokes. I'll tell you some more sometime, if you want."
Robin nodded. "I'd like that. What made you tell it, though?"
"You looked kinda depressed, and I figured that you could stand some cheering up. Tomorrow at breakfast I'll tell you about the old lady who picked a hymn."
Robin smiled, wondering if it was going to be as crazy as he thought it was, and also wondering if he just hadn't found a friend in Mike.
Well? Should I write more? I must say, I missed posting.
