Memorysofawhiterose: Glad you like it. Is your school really that bad? Well, here's some more to read.
Phantom Fighter: I'm really flattered that you feel it's the best one you've read so far. Here's some more!
Closetwriter: Don't shut up, please keep reviewing!
J752572: (blinks) Okay. I'll keep writing. Glad you still like it.
TigerHelix: I was thinking more like the "Mission: Impossible" tune, but that works too.
KaliAnn: Robin's starting to feel discouraged, but don't worry, things will pick up soon! More than one person liked BB and Randall cutting up. Don't worry, I'm still writing!
Alexandru Van Gordan: We-ell, the kids there have a very structured day, the office is kept locked, they're always supervised, and …the list goes on. Even Batman would have trouble getting to a phone. Don't worry, help is on the way!
Infamous One: Don't feel "old," feel "wise." And you have to admit. . .Wintergreen? That sounds like a brand of chewing gum! It's an honest mistake!
Chapter 31
Randall, Batman, and the Titans crouched in the shrubbery across the road from the school, taking turns staring at it through Randall's and Batman's pairs of binoculars.
"So people just imprison their kids here?" Raven asked, looking at the building.
"Yep," Randall said, still looking through his binoculars. "Any kids that are too much trouble or inconvenient: delinquents, spoiled brats, illegitimate kids, and the like. You'd be surprised how many top-ranking businessmen have kids here that their wives would not allow them to keep. Sure, they can agree to support another woman's kid if parentage was established, but they aren't about to let the kids stay with them."
"So you're saying that people who have affairs store the kids that result from them here?" Raven asked, sounding bleak.
"That's it," Randall said grimly. "There are even some kids with royal blood in 'em, to tell you the truth."
"What's it like in there?" Cyborg asked. "Do you know?"
"It's bleak," Randall admitted. "There's no real parental love, just what the kids can get from one another, but sometimes they're called home, moved to a different school, or they just disappear, so the kids learn fast that you can't count on someone else to be there."
"That's horrible!" Starfire said, looking sick. "We must stop it!"
Batman suddenly looked thoughtful. "What we need is an inside agent."
"Um, how?" Randall demanded, looking at him. "This place has a limited clientele."
Batman just grinned. "You leave that to me. Now, we need an agent. Sorry, boys, but I think one of the girls would do better."
"No problem," Cyborg said, shrugging. "No offense, Raven, but I think Starfire would be better there. She looks most like others."
"No arguments there," Raven agreed. "I don't think I could stand being in there."
"Right," Batman said, waving them all in closer. "Here's what we do. . ."
Space
Robin was convinced that he was in a nightmare. This place was…insane. The days dissolved into an unending succession of bells, meals, classes that he ignored, and sleep. Occasionally he would come out of his stupor long enough to interact with Scott, but beyond that, he stayed in a fog of unresponsiveness. If he had tried to think clearly, he would have realized that he was severely depressed and despairing, but it was too much trouble to focus his thoughts. No matter what he tried, he couldn't contact his friends or Batman to tell them where he was, and there seemed to be little or no chance of escape since they were all watched too well. Room checks at night and attendance at meals offered very small windows of opportunity to get away, and since checks and attendance happened so often, it wasn't long before someone realized you were missing and started searching.
He was daydreaming of Slade being sentenced to life one day when the door to the classroom opened and admitted Monsieur Callais. He was followed by a girl who looked as if she were in shock, and Robin went back to his daydream with hardly a glance at her. It was only when Monsieur Callais began to introduce her that he realized who it was.
"Cette jeune fille est la Mademoiselle Wayne de Gotham Cite," he said, giving his oiliest smile. "J'espere vous serez a-la sympathique."
Everyone stood, chorused "Bonjour, Mademoiselle, nous sommes tres heureux de vous-voir," and sat back down. Robin stared as Starfire said hello and walked slowly to the desk that had been pointed out to her. He kept staring, and it was only the teacher's admonition that he pay attention that forced him to turn away.
Callais had called her "Miss Wayne from Gotham City." Wayne? As in Bruce Wayne? Had Batman acted as Bruce and enrolled Starfire as his daughter? That had to be it. Suddenly, he could hardly wait for lunch. He had to talk to Starfire!
As slow as the morning had seemed to be going before Starfire's arrival had woken him up, it seemed to be going even more slowly now. He was unable to sit still, and more than once the teacher told him off for wiggling around. Only his training kept him from losing his cool and screaming at the guy. If he did so, he might get in trouble, and that might keep him from talking to Starfire.
At long, glorious last, the bell rang, releasing the inmates from the prison of classes. Thankful to see that Starfire had chosen a place next to him, Robin waited until they were all sitting down before speaking.
"It is so good to see you," he whispered.
"I know," she whispered back. "I wish to give you the hug-bear."
Robin felt a smile starting. He had missed her so much!
"What's all the whispering about?" Scott whispered on his other side. "I take it you two know each other?"
Robin nodded. "This is my friend, Scott," he said, introducing him.
"Pleased to meet you, Scott," Starfire said, smiling. "I am Star."
"Nice to meet you, Star," Scott said, smiling. "How do you know Robin?"
"Ahh, we went to school together," Robin explained quickly.
"Yes, we did," Starfire said, thinking of Mad Mod's mind-bending school.
"So, what are you in for?" Scott asked, using the familiar question that all students asked one another.
Starfire smiled again. "I caused too much trouble."
"Well, here's to trouble," Scott said, raising his glass in a toast. Starfire and Robin both did the same, grinning.
Space
When Robin was able to talk to Starfire later about how she came there, she'd said that Batman had posed as a businessman called Bruce Wayne, and that she'd posed as his daughter that caused too much trouble for him. He did, after all, have a reputation to maintain. They had come to the school together and she had been enrolled, but she was really an inside eye for the other Titans, Batman, and Randall.
"Well, I'm glad you came," Robin said, holding her hand. They were outside together on a bench during the evening free time, and it was good to be able to relax with her.
"Have you been all right?" she asked, looking at him.
"Just angry with Slade, that's all," Robin said, shrugging his worry off. "How's everyone else?"
"Worried about you," she admitted. "Randall and Batman, especially. Batman does not sleep, and Randall keeps drinking the coffee at all times. The night before I came here, Raven told them both to go to sleep, but they refused. She said her magic words, and suddenly, they were asleep, but the next morning they were angry with her."
Robin laughed, surprised at Raven's actions and amused at Randall's and Batman's reactions. Sometimes those two were so much alike!
That was when Scott showed up, grinning fit to crack his face.
"What is it?" Robin asked, intrigued by Scott's look of vindictive joy.
"Just wait," Scott said, looking at his watch. "Three. . .two. . . one. . .Contact!"
CRASH!
"Yyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss!" Scott cried in sadistic glee. "He found the roller skate!"
"Who did?" Starfire asked.
"Callais!" Scott gasped as he fell over, laughing hysterically.
"Where was that roller skate?"
"Just inside his and Mrs. Callais' private bath. He is now sitting in a large tub of water."
Starfire and Robin cracked up, imagining the very wet Monsieur Callais.
"It's a lucky thing that the bathtub is dark blue tile," Scott said, getting his breath back.
"What do you mean?" Robin asked, confused. "How is that lucky?"
"Well, any other color and he would have spotted the blue tie-dye I put in there."
Robin and Starfire cracked up again, holding onto one another for support. Scott's prank was just too perfect.
French Dictionary:
Cette jeune fille est la Mademoiselle Wayne de Gotham Cite: This young lady is Miss Wayne from Gotham City.
J'espere vous serez a-la sympathique: I hope you will be nice to her.
Bonjour, Mademoiselle, nous sommes tres heureux de vous-voir: Hello, Miss, we're very happy to see you.
