Standard disclaimer of ownership and properties apply readily.
--TT
Chapter 5
--
Robin perched on the edge of the building of the city bank, his cape flapped with the wind behind him as he watched the empty streets below him.
He had ventured into the city during the night, leaving the tower in hopes of escaping the suffocating feeling of confinement. He knew that sounded weird, considering that the Titans' Tower was easily over 100 feet high and spacious enough to fit an army of tanks. Even the most claustrophobic psychos would probably feel at home.
It was just because they had not made any progress or discovered anything new on the business regarding either Loki or Kahn, the new bane of his life as it is.
It has been four days since they've contacted the authorities for files and information. Robin can still remember the feeling of the animosity rippling through the screen as the police chief spoke to them. What was his name? A. Hol Weiner? No, that was what Beast Boy called him. It was probably something like Anderson, or Johnson.
To put it simply, the man wasn't too comfy with the idea of a group of teenage superheroes guarding the city. He was also threatened by the prospect that the authorities pretty much only dealt with prison duty, ever since the Gotham kid showed up in their city to form a league of super teens. He was more or less one of those conservatives who thought that adolescences were trouble and should be in school, getting education that will someday make them the ideology of America.
Raven's opinion of that was a simple sign language with her middle finger.
After much persuading and coaxing, Anderson or Johnson had finally agreed to allow them some access to certain areas of the files. No thanks to Robin.
The Boy Wonder had basically showed the police a more accurate demonstration of 'bad cop', so they were not really pleased with the leader of the Titans. It was then Starfire and Cyborg to the rescue. The chief seemed less prone to pounce on Cyborg. The teen android was, after all, the star athlete of his high school before his accident, at least, that's what the others got from the conversation. Starfire was just too nice and amiable of a person to be hostile towards. Robin later reprimanded himself for his hasty actions and nasty attitude.
There wasn't anything, not a single clue or lead. The police also informed them that only petty activities like meager theft and assault charges had been made to the police in the past week. In order words, there was absolutely shit, and Robin didn't like the sound of that.
Then the idea that Jinx had indeed deceived them came, that perhaps they were tricked into thinking there was another enemy they had to be worried about. So Robin, Raven, and Cyborg revisited the old hideouts of the H.I.V.E., while Starfire and Beast Boy kept watch in the tower.
It was just like when Robin returned to Slade's old hideout: dusty, broken, luminous, and creepy. The H.I.V.E. had vanished, and no trace of them remained.
The linkage of Kahn was also dead, more literal than one would think. The man didn't exist in any record, and anyone who had the word 'Khan' in their name did not identify with the man's image.
It was when Robin decided to investigate the SCR Grand Central Station that they were able to get something useful. The facility was the target of the H.I.V.E., and so was most possibly also the target of the new threat.
They met a few scientists there, who seemed reluctant to speak to the Titans. Their reaction and attitude during the questioning seemed edgy and nervous, as if they were hiding something. But Raven was there, and she had not picked up on anything that could mean they were withholding information. As she explained, they were just doubtful and a little afraid.
It was later discovered that it was because they had some connections to Professor Chan, who was the one who supplied Robin with zinothium to create the suit of Red X, and they were nervous of being charged as cohorts.
The dubious scientists gave them a disc, which contained the names of a variety of professors who were involved with projects that resided in the SCR Grand Central Station. Robin was quick to do research on the disc, trying to find any hint that could indicate this Loki.
These circumstances led the Boy Wonder to further obsess in his research and work. Robin barely showed around the tower in the last three days, spending most of his time reviewing and examining newspaper clips, reading through the disc, and watching surveillance cameras of the city.
Most of the other Titans had already simmered slightly, wary but didn't worry overmuch like Robin did. But things were different for him.
Starfire immediately saw the resemblance with the incident of Red X and the boy's workaholic tendency. She pestered him indefinitely, with 'would you like some refreshments, boy of wonder?' some 'let me assist you in research, Robin', and a load of 'please, do the hanging out with us'.
He knew what she was doing, and tried his best not to disappoint her, and soon found himself singing karaoke. Who knew Beast Boy could be good at singing new age music?
He also constantly found himself staring at the Sil'nar that now hangs amongst the clippings on his wall. And every time he did, he would remember the warm feeling of Starfire's forehead pressed against his.
But the mortifying feeling of the entire situation still got to him. It was just quiet, too quiet.
Robin finally decided that he needed to see the city for himself, to reassure his detective instincts that there wasn't anything amiss He felt a little guilty for not telling Starfire of his midnight outing, but the guilt was washed away when he saw the glorious night.
So now he found himself alone on the rooftops of Jump City, peering at the darkness.
Not a soul or presence was seen nor felt, though Robin knew better, there is always someone prowling in the city at night. But he liked it that way. He cherished it, appreciated it. It was during nights like this that when he would feel the nostalgic memories of Gotham. Where he met his mentor, where he became Robin, where his life changed......
It was an oxymoron, he knew. He loved Gotham yet hated it at the same time.
He used his grappler hook to swing from building to building. Eventually, he arrived at the park, where he first met Starfire.
Robin saw the tree that still had cracks from where it was impacted. New buds had grown from the broken branches into new, young new parts. The shape of the entire tree was awkward, but endearing at the same time, though its sentimental value probably only applied to Robin and Starfire.
The Boy Wonder touched the bark with his gloved fingers, and he saw the image of both his past and present. It was rather conflicting, the darkness of his mind and the vigilance of his persona were clashing, and his touch on the tree toughened.
He looked towards the sky, and saw the moon, though not full anymore, still posed angelically. Robin shot a grappler hook and soared through the sky.
--------------------
Starfire walked around the tower, searching for the Boy Wonder. He wasn't in his room, the gym, or the evidence center. This slightly eased her, as it meant he wasn't going bonkers. But she was still curious, and a little worried. So she ended up knocking on Raven's door.
Raven opened slowly and only a small portion, like she usually did.
"Raven, have you seen Robin?" The Tamaranian girl asked.
"No. I haven't." She was about to close the door.
"Then, have you any assumption to his whereabouts?"
"You should ask one of the boys, if they ever get off that gamestation."
"Oh, I see." Starfire was about to leave and Raven was about to close the door.
Raven halted before she closed the door entirely, pondering, then...
"Wait." Starfire turned around to look at the gothic girl.
Slowly, the door opened all the way. Starfire had expected to hear a distinct sound of stones colliding, like in Indiana Jones. The entrance to the ruins always made the clichéd stone and rock crushing sounds, and Beast Boy always made sure people noticed that part by producing his own sound effects.
Starfire stood in front of the door for a few moments, actually feeling inauspicious about entering, and she found out why when she saw what was in Raven's room.
There was a glyph, shining and glowing faintly, but easily visible in contrast to the darkness of the room. It was in the shape of a circle, with scribbles and lines that stretched inside the magical circle as well as slightly outside of it. Books and odd items scattered about the floor, all of which were not within the magical symbol. Starfire could easily tell what the glyph was.
"Raven. You have been conducting a ritual of sorcery." It almost sounded like a question.
Raven nodded. "It's a revealer spell, used to unveil dark magic forces. Oh, and don't go in there, it'll ruin the spell."
Starfire made a circumspect of the glyph. "Is this the task in which has you occupied for the past few days?"
"I try to sneak a few minutes here and there. Besides, it's better than listening to Cyborg and Beast Boy arguing about cartoons."
Raven took a bottle of lotus pedals and concentrated her powers. The lotus pedals floated out of the bottle and landed within the glyph, and instantly became the same glow of magic and substance as the glyph.
Starfire watched, awed and curious. Such magic did not exist on the planet of Tamaran, but certain practices and wizardry do partake in the culture of the Tamaranians, and so she was not too unfamiliar with the ideology.
"These symbols, they represent the phallic tracers, no? And the circle, it is a display of the city." She stated while pointing at a pool of flowing liquid, also bounded by the powers of the spell.
"I knew I was right in showing you."
Starfire smiled. "Tell me, Raven. Why have you performed such an impressive yet complex undertaking? And why have you not inform us? Do you not trust us?"
Raven went to grab a book. "Do I look like Robin?" Starfire frowned and lowered her head at the comment.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Raven apologized, but still in monotone.
"It is.........all right, you are correct in such aspects. However I do not wish to accept, it remains true." The Tamaranian girl looked sadly at the moving spell components.
"No, it's not true." Raven began, while conjuring some specific powers. "He's being eaten alive, by his past, and by his present. It's not that he doesn't trust us. And he's recovering, thanks to you."
Starfire hugged herself, and walked closer to the door. "Robin is loathing his life, I could feel it. Though I am ashamed to admit I do not understand. He has many friends! Us! Why does he away.........
"I wish for Robin to be free with his thoughts, to be happy and remarkable! To be the Boy of Wonder......with us......"
"...............Starfire......" Raven paused in her activities.
Sniff. Sniff. "Forgive me. I have been a silly toddler." She had not moved, and remained in the corner, trying to compose herself.
Raven contemplated methods to comfort her friend, the only other girl in the tower, the only other person she got along with other then Cyborg.
A hug would be the most detrimental action of her life, reputation wise. Any sort of physical expression of consoling would be the bane of her existence. She was already showing too much concern over Robin as it was.
Not knowing what to do exactly, Raven just resumed with the spell and dropped the component in her hand, and it traveled to the glyph. The glittering spell component was like a fairy dust, gliding in the drawing of the sorcery of Azarath.
The fairy suddenly glowed brightly on a specific spot.
"Well, that's new." Raven commented.
"What is the development?" Starfire asked, finally composed enough. She saw the glowing fairy.
"In actuality, I haven't really made any progress with this spell. That was the only time it did anything." She moved closer to the fairy.
"There's been some strong surges of energy used here." Raven said, pointing at the glowing fairy.
Starfire scrutinized the spot carefully, and found that she knew where that area was. It was where she heard the horrible voices in her head.
--------------------
"Raaaaahh!!" Robin flung a birdarang that knocked over one of the robbers.
Jewelry store thieves, again! Robin thought, as he chased down one of the goons in black outfits.
As he swung around the city, he had, by coincidence or not, gave witness to an act of thievery. His instincts told him that everything was more than what it seemed, as the thieves did not make a single sound. They were swift and agile in their performances and they triggered no alarm.
Having done this routine numerous times in Gotham, Robin merely moved among the shadows until he got close enough for a surprise attack. But he was the one to get a surprise.
The goon he snuck up on, had somehow sensed his presence just before he was about to strike. He barely leapt out of the way as the criminal just charged at him, which was actually the surprise. They didn't have weapons.
So now he was chasing down the last bad guy in the dark streets of Jump City, and he told himself how weird it was to say that.
Having a good momentum and distance, Robin leapt and knocked the last suspect to the ground with a flying kick. Robin was slightly surprised at how easy these guys went down, but tried to think nothing of it.
Robin also remembered what happened with the fight against Mumbo Jumbo, and made good mental restraint to not give into his anger.
"Insomniacs, the world would be better without them." Robin tied the last goon up and dragged him back to his two fallen buddies.
"Happy reunion." Robin grunted as he tossed them all together and bounded them with titanium strings.
The teen stared hard at the three criminals curiously, as they were silent during the whole ordeal. No shouts, no communication with each other, nothing. Robin lifted one of the ski masks.
"Huh!?"
The goon was an average middle aged man with glasses and short cut hair. There was nothing criminal or special about him, except that his eyes were open but in the state of REM, meaning that he was asleep.
Robin's eyebrows furrowed and he snapped his fingers in front of their faces, trying to gauge a reaction. No effect at all.
Robin was just about to contact either the police of his friends when a booming voice echoed through the empty streets.
"Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree."
A glowing red eye appeared from the curtains of darkness. Robin gritted his teeth and got into a defensive stance. Kahn smiled, and Robin could see the bearings of sharp, white teeth.
"Whoever said that sure has got my respect. Hehehehehehehe......"
"Arrrr......Kahn.........!" Robin muttered while moving around the man in caution.
"Nice to see you, Robin. You know, this is the first time I heard you speak. You've only been doing a lot of yelling last time. Hehehehehe."
Kahn regarded the Boy Wonder in the same amused attitude he displayed last time, very cocky.
Robin glared at him, and held his cape in front of him, for defense. "Just who are you?" His tone was obviously suppressing the rage he was feeling.
His crimson eye flared brightly. "I am Kahn, and only Kahn. I've told you already."
Robin pointed towards the three goons. "You have something to do with all of this, don't you!? What are you planning!? Who are you working for!?"
Kahn sneered. "Me? A minion under some perky asshole? I don't think so."
Robin didn't know why, but he believed him. He had met many people that were like him before, those who did not bow to anyone, and were arrogant beyond anything.
Kahn glanced at the three goons. "Hehehehehe. So, she's begun her little campaign."
Robin stepped forward. "Begun!? Who is she!? Are these people controlled!? Answer me!!!"
Kahn smiled maliciously, and began walking backwards.
"What if I don't like talking?"
"Then I'll beat it out of you." Robin said through gritted teeth, and shifted into an offensive stance.
Kahn's left eye glowed brightly and fiercely. "Hehehehehehe. Then let's have a little game of follow the leader." He backed into the darkest part of the city, where no street lights existed. Only a dim red glow was seen in the dark.
"Let's see how you fare, fighting in the dark."
"Arrrgh!!!" Robin dashed after him, following the red glow.
And so the second round begins.
-------------------
"Raven, I believe I know of the origin of the occurrence!" The Tamaranian exclaimed. "During our pursuit of the Jumbo, I was teleported against my will to another part of the city. After I had accumulated enough of my bearings, I had tried to navigate my path back to Robin and Beast Boy!" She paused to catch her breath.
"Starfire, just get to the point."
Starfire obliged. "I have heard voices, Raven, very unpleasant voices."
Raven raised her eyebrows.
"I cannot clearly recall the details, but I believe the originator of those voices were of ominous intentions."
"Were you okay? Why haven't you told us any of this?" Raven asked, now alert.
"Yes, I thank you for your concern, but I was able to repel the evil resonant. And...I did not inform any of you......because of similar reasons you have to not inform us of this." She indicated the glyph with her finger.
Raven couldn't counter that.
"Starfire, this isn't good. That sounds like black magic used here and-"
The fairy dust suddenly dispersed and scattered around another part of the map, and danced around rapidly.
"Eeeek! I apologize, Raven! Have I done something wrong!?"
Raven analyzed the display of lights. "No, you've done nothing wrong. It's showing us something............there's something......very ominous......!"
Starfire didn't like the sound of that.
"We must investigate! I shall contact Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy!" She flew out of the room with Raven flying closely behind.
They arrived at the main room and found Cyborg and Beast Boy playing a game on the gamestation intently.
"Friends! We have urgent trouble!" Starfire flew in front of the gigantic screen.
"Star!!! I was about to win!" Beast Boy whined, trying to cover up the fact he was losing again.
"Huh!? What's going on?" Cyborg immediately went into alert mode, and to Beast Boy's credit, he followed the same mentally quickly.
"What's up!? The alarm didn't go off!" Beast Boy looked at Starfire for an answer.
Raven spoke behind them. "I've been monitoring the city for anomalies in the magical department, and I've just picked up on a source, and it's scattered across a good portion of the city."
"Is that what you've been doing in your room these days? Could've told us, girl." Cyborg said while he turned off the gamestation.
"We must identify the source, friends, we must make haste! Where is Robin!?"
Beast Boy and Cyborg both looked perplexed. They gave blank expressions and then turned to look to Raven.
Raven shook her head, and began searching with her empathic skills.
Cyborg used his communicator. "Robin! Do you read me!? Answer me, man! Are you in the tower!? Answer me, dammit!!"
"He's not here......" Raven said, now getting worried.
Cyborg checked Robin's locator signal, and began panicking when there wasn't any response.
"Where is Robin!? Tell me!! We must search for him!!" Starfire yelled, now getting emotional.
Beast Boy went to check the Titans computer mainframe. "The computer's getting some of Rob's signal in the city!"
Starfire and Raven gasped. Cyborg continued to yell into his arm.
"Yo! Robin! Answer me!!!"
Nothing.
"Titans! We're moving out, pronto!!!"
-------------------
The sounds of pounding and smashing echoed throughout the city. It was a rather interesting event as the darkness masked the source of the sounds, making it difficult to even determine the origin of the vibrations. Bits and pieces of the city flew after each powerful attack. But the most awe inspiring prospect of the fight was that though the darkness concealed almost everything, one could see the general direction of the fight because there was an incredibly fast moving red glow.
Kahn and Robin were fighting within the darkness of the night, each having a rather different mindset and attitude.
Robin was using his fighting skills in ferocious battle cries and powerful grunts every time he made contact with the mysterious enemy.
Kahn, on the other hand, kept his cocky and amused debonair, but fought back with equal fierceness.
RAM!!! "Aaah!!" Apparently Robin took a rather hard blow.
The Boy Wonder picked himself up with a recover flip, and glared at his opponent, or at least the left eye. He panted slightly.
"Pe!!!" Kahn spat, probably some blood. "Not bad, despite the advantage, you did rather well. A lot better than last time. Hehehehehhehe."
Everything was still too dark to see, but the crimson light was there.
"Hah...hah...is this some kind of game to you!?"
"Haha......most things in life are." The glow moved and Robin reacted by leaping backwards, trying to get a strategic distance between them.
"Raah!" Robin performed a horizontal kick when the light got close, and aimed for where Kahn's head might be.
Kahn dodged it, and released a powerful uppercut into Robin's midair state.
"Break!!!" A huge impact followed. Robin flew upwards, mouth open and breath beaten out of his lungs. Kahn jumped up after him, like last time.
"Down!!!" A kick sounded throughout the streets.
POWN! Robin hit the ground and bounced off a little, until he laid still. Kahn landed near him.
"Don't jump hastily, makes you a blatant target. Can't change directions easily in the air."
Robin gradually stood up, though uneasily. Sheer anger and determination pulled him back up.
"Hah......hah......hah.........!"
Kahn frowned, though Robin couldn't seee. "Anger clouds your judgment, didn't he teach you that?"
"Shut up! You don't know anything!!!" Robin charged and brought out his bo-staff, swinging diagonally.
Kahn blocked it with his arm but was kicked on the other side of the face. He whirled to the side, to avoid any follow up attacks, but still got rammed in the gut.
"Ooof!!!"
Using the gap in movement, Robin retracted his bo-staff and placed his hands on both of the man's shoulders, and flipped over his head. With his hands still grasping the shoulders, Robin used the momentum of the flip to perform an overhead toss, and planted Kahn straight into the ground.
THUNK!!!
But Robin didn't relinquish his hold yet, and hoisted the fallen man up slightly. Using all his strength, Robin flung the limb form of Kahn into the air, brought out his bo-staff again, leapt up after the body, and slammed the metal weapon against the airborne man's torso.
Kahn flew another unknown number of feet.
Robin landed on the ground in a crouching position, panting.
"Hah.........! Hah.........! That ...was payback...!"
A soft sound entered his ears, and the Boy Wonder lifted his head to see the red glow not far away.
"What......! Is that eye!?"
Robin had constantly pondered upon the possibilities of that crimson annoyance. Whenever he looked at it, he could feel pieces of his mind break, and the turmoil of his subconscious rise. Combined with the cryptic words of Kahn, and that became hazardous.
"Hehehehehehehehehehehahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!"
Robin stayed in that crouched position, maintaining a potential defense stance.
He had learned in his dealings with Gotham criminals and lunatics, that getting vexed by the enemy's insane ramblings was to allow an opening. So he willed himself to remain composed. But the darkness meant that he had to look at the red glow to keep his guard, and looking at that red eye meant his mind was collapsing.
"Arrrrrr.........!!!!" The Boy Wonder growled, but still was able to remain keeping his stance.
Suddenly, his communicator sounded.
"Robin! Do you read me!? Answer me, man! Are you in the tower!? Answer me, dammit!!" Cyborg's voice carried through the communicator.
Robin's first instinct was to answer his android friend, but halted when his hand almost reached the communicator. He didn't know why, but he didn't want to answer.
"Hehehehe......what's wrong? Call your friends, get them over here. That's the only way you can defeat me."
Kahn's red eye glowed dangerously bright, and actually illuminated parts of his face.
Robin's teeth clinched as he continued to scrutinize the red eye, and his fist clenched tightly.
Don't worry, Robin, I'm not going anywhere......
What I remember is that you couldn't defeat me......at least not all alone......
I don't want to destroy your precious city. Just want to be number one......
Make the night your own......
I'm sorry kid, but your parents.........they're......they're......
Robin didn't want to lose, not to Kahn, not to Slade, not to any criminal, not to his mentor, not to anyone in the entire world. Contacting his friends would be the strategic and intelligent thing to do. But.........
"What are you waiting for!? Let's have a full house barrage already!!!!"
.........he'd rather die before he loses to this maniac.
"Yo! Rob! Answer me!!!" Click! Robin turned off the locator signal on his com-link.
Kahn frowned. "Well, now. What are you proposing to do now?"
Robin growled. "I'm going to fight you to hell..."
Kahn's red eye glowed again, and Robin saw the images of his friends, Red X, Slade, and a life in Gotham.
---T
"One day, you'll grow to be a strong, handsome young man, Richard. And then, you'll become the greatest of the Grayson family."
"You really think I can, dad?"
"Of course you can, you're my son!"
---T
"I couldn't save him! I couldn't!!!"
---T
"So, what's your name?"
"Raven."
"............ you don't talk much, do you?"
---T
"Who are you!?"
"If I wanted you to know that, would I be wearing a mask?"
---T
It was like watching a carousel that never stopped spinning, showing circles of his life. What was and what could not be. Robin felt a breath caught in his throat.
"I wonder what you're seeing."
"What is that eye!?" Robin asked, once again.
"Do you see your life crumbling before you? Perhaps the deaths of loved ones? Or maybe the face of a hated enemy? Whatever it is, you're still running away from it."
Robin could have sworn he had this conversation before.
"You don't know what you're talking about. You're just another maniac that needs to be put away in an asylum, for a long time."
"Hehehehehe. I do hope you're talking about yourself."
Robin squinted his eyes. "What are you-"
"Perhaps you have forgotten, but the old man wasn't savagely beaten by me."
Robin felt another part of his mind split.
Kahn took another step towards the horror stricken boy.
"You parade in a uniform of light when you obviously emerged from a world of darkness. Constantly trying to justify your own actions and to gain a sense of self gratification, to do away with whatever hell is in your mind. You're afraid, very afraid. But you're just too stupid to realize it, and now you're using anger to cover it, to shield yourself."
The man seemed to be getting more and more amused as he talked.
"You don't even understand yourself, and need others to confirm your existence, your pathetic purpose. You fight crime, but for what reason? To what extent? You can't even accept the darkness in yourself."
He paused to let the boy drink in his words.
"Why are you Robin?"
The Boy Wonder didn't know if the words held merit or not, but he was too shaken to process much anymore. Almost only his fighting instincts remained.
I don't want to hear this! Robin thought.
Then allow me......A voice ran through his head. And Robin could feel himself grin in the back of his head.
"Hehehehehe. You understand that you can't defeat the dark, unless you're part of the dark yourself. Fight fire with fire."
"Rah!!!" Robin charged at the man in a frenzy of fury, the only thought was to make sure his heard stopped beating.
Kahn smirked and met the boy head on.
--
Closing notes: Action, action, and more action. I think that's a little too much.