A/N:
Before you read this, PLEASE go back and REVISIT Chapter. 1. I know you're anxious to find out who Deathstroke is, but I want you to read chap. 1 again. It's only a couple pages so it'll only take you a couple minutes.
With that said, grab some popcorn, pop a can of soda, put the kids to bed early tonight, and hang on to yer britches! I give you the moment you've all been waiting for, the thing that keeps you up at night, the evil that haunts every dark corner of you mind…I give you…the unmasking of Deathstroke!
Enjoy
oh and incase you forgot, the parts that are italicized are walks down memory lane.
Chapter 18- The Face of My Foe
"Ah yes Master Bruce," said Alfred. "Happy to see you after all that's been going on around here. How was your trip to London sir?"
"It was fine Alfred," said Bruce. "Aside from being sidetracked by our little invasion problem, it was good. I haven't had much to eat though today and am in need of some of your home cooking."
"Thank you Master Bruce."
"Where are the others, are they alright?"
Alfred paused before hanging up Bruce's coat on the rack next to him. "The others…"he said thinking of the right choice of words to explain to Bruce that he had five teenagers living in his house without him knowing. "The others are…in the dining room sir."
"Good, did they stay out of trouble while I was gone," Bruce asked sarcastically.
"Yes Master Bruce…they 'all,' stayed out of trouble, while you were gone."
Bruce hadn't quite picked up the hint Alfred dropped
"Right this way sir," and with that Alfred led him to the dining room where he'd meet his new guests.
-br-
"Just don't say anything you guys," Robin whispered to the rest of the teenagers sitting around him at the table. "Just let me do all the talking."
"But Robin," said Starfire. "What if this Wayne of Bruce doesn't—"
"Shhhh, here he comes," Beast Boy whispered assertively.
All five of them immediately dropped their heads and focused their attention on the bowls of soup in front of them and became utterly silent. Yes…including Beast Boy…
"So what's for dinner Alfred," Bruce asked as he came into the room.
"Your favorite sir," said Alfred. "Stuffed lamb with mashed potatoes, and chocolate fondue for desert."
Bruce sat down in his chair at the other end of the table away from the five nervous teenagers as his loyal butler placed a bowl of soup in front of him.
"Sounds wonderful Alfred," he said. "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome sir. I'll go check on the lamb."
Bruce took the silverware out of his napkin then placed it on his lap. He picked up the spoon and dug into his soup with it and leaned in to put it into his mouth…but stopped suddenly. He was leaned forward, mouth opened, and ready to feed himself but his entire body froze as if he were a statue. Still fixed in the same position, he looked up only with his eyes at the five teenagers sitting at the other end with their heads hung low and their faces practically in the bowls in front of them. His eyes fell on each and every one of them as if he were scanning them like a robot and he actually found it rather funny that he left with two teenagers in his house, but now there were five. He looked back down at his spoon and paused for another moment then finally put it in his mouth. The room became eerily quite and all that could be heard was the sound of spoons tapping fine china as the six uneasy characters ate in absolute silence.
"Your lamb Master Bruce," Alfred said setting his plate next to him.
"Thank you Alfred," said Bruce with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"You're welcome sir," and he went back in the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Alfred pushed the door open with his butt and came back with a huge tray in his hands. Bruce watched as his butler went over to the other end of the table and began serving the others.
"Here you are Master Victor," said Alfred handing Cyborg his plate.
"Thanks Al," he said.
"Master Dick…"
"Thank you Alfred," said Robin as his plate was placed in front of him.
Alfred hesitated for a moment before giving Beast Boy his. "Master Garfield," he said.
"Thanks Alfred," Beast Boy said in a timid voice feeling the watchful eyes of Bruce Wayne on top of him.
Alfred looked down at the blued haired girl before handing her, her plate and said, "Madam Raven…"
"Thank you Alfred." She dipped her head low and shot a quick glance over at Bruce Wayne, but nearly jumped out of her seat when he caught her looking at him.
"And for you Madam Koriand'r," Alfred said taking up the last plate on the tray. "Your…raw, potato, skins…as you so kindly requested."
"Mmmm," Starfire said rather loudly over the dead silence sniffing her…food. "You are thanked Al of Fred."
"You're welcome, and by the way Alfred is one word madam Koriand'r," said Alfred as he walked casually towards the door. "I'll go check on desert."
"How is your lamb and potatoes of mashed Mr. Wayne," Starfire casually asked Bruce on the other end of the table as if she knew him for ages.
Robin nearly chocked on the food in his mouth, but once he coughed it up and swallowed it he nudged her foot under the table and gave her an irritated look.
"It's very good," Bruce said as if he were playing along to her game. "How are your potato skins?"
"They are most enjoyable," she said cheerfully. "Please, would you like some?"
"No thank you, I'm quite fine." Bruce put the last few bites of lamb in his mouth then put his napkin next to his plate. "Excuse me," he said as he got up from the table and left.
Starfire turned and smiled at the others and said, "I like Mr. Wayne. Don't you?"
Everyone left at the table looked at her with their eyes as wide as saucers and their mouths hung down to the edge of the table. They couldn't believe what she had just done, and they truly thought she were insane.
"Master Dick sir," Alfred said leaning over his shoulder to talk to him. "Master Bruce requests that you come see him out on the balcony when you are done eating."
"Thank…you…Alfred," Robin said before falling back in his chair and passing out.
"So uh…who's ready for desert," Beast Boy asked sheepishly.
-br-
Robin made his way up the long flight of stairs towards the top floor of the mansion like a timid dog. His shoulders were slouched forward and his arms drooped to the floor as he dragged them up the stairs behind him. He knew what was coming to him. He knew this would happen since the day he brought in Garfield, Koriand'r, and Raven (Beast Boy and Starfire). He knew Bruce wouldn't be fond of five teenagers running around his house, but he couldn't just leave them out in the rain, figuratively speaking, like that. Yes, he took pity on them, and he told himself that he'd only let them stay until they could find a better place to live, but he got too attached to them and let them stay longer. Now, he had to deal with Bruce. He came to the top of the stairs and looked down the long dark hallway where he could see Bruce looking off into the distance on the balcony through the huge pair of opened doors at the other end. The moon was full that night and it created a bright light across the heavens, illuminating everything across the dark landscape of Wayne Manor; including Bruce. The gentle breeze from outside blew the drapes back to make them wave like lingering ghosts in the dark hallway as Robin drew closer and closer to Bruce. He stopped for a moment and surveyed the scene, then took in a deep breath and stepped outside and came next to him.
Robin looked up at him but his serious mentor did not look back at him, he only gazed off into the distant night. He turned away from him and looked off into the distance as well to see what he was looking at, but was startled when Bruce finally spoke.
"So who are your friends," he asked in his casual deep voice.
Robin paused and thought for a moment what to say. "They're just…friends," he said bashfully.
It was a long while before Bruce spoke again until finally he said, "So are you having a sleepover or something tonight?"
Robin began sweating and he loosened his collar slightly before answering. "Um…well, Bruce," he said timidly. "I uh…didn't exactly…invite them for a sleepover…exactly." Sweat began pouring down Robin's face as Bruce turned away from the scenery and looked down at him since now he was suddenly drawn into what he had to say. "I invited them…to stay…for a little while…"
Robin almost wet his pants as Bruce turned away from him and looked back at the view. A light breeze brushed over his face and blew his hair temporarily to the side before it returned back to its' normal place.
Bruce took in a deep breath and said, "I want them gone by tomorrow morning. When I wake-up, they better not be here." With that he turned around and started making his way towards the open doors.
"Bruce wait," Robin called back to him. "Just listen. Hear me out, please!"
Bruce turned around and shot him a stone cold stare and said, "I'm listening."
Robin was taken by this. He was expecting him to immediately say "NO," but he almost seemed…open to it, which meant he'd have to convince him to let his friends stay. And convincing Bruce Wayne, CEO of Wayne Enterprises, wasn't going to be easy.
"Okay, Bruce…" Robin said in an uncertain voice trying to think of what to say next. "The thing is…"
Bruce completely turned his body to face him and folded his arms with an almost irritated look on his face as he listened.
"Look, these other three friends of mine needed some help," Robin finally said. "When we found them…for one, we found Garfield in an alley half-starved and barely alive. He wouldn't have made it if we hadn't helped him, and he didn't have a home to go to once he got better, so I thought it would be good if he just stayed here…for a little while."
Robin paused for a moment and let Bruce digest everything first before continuing.
"And, and then Raven…we…we don't really know much about her, but she's going through some kind of recovery from amnesia. When I found her, she was…was, was, was delusional, and she still needs our help in figuring out what happened to her. And I have been trying to, we all have been trying, to help her with her problems and she's already pieced together a lot since she's been here."
Bruce had it, he didn't want to hear anymore. "Robin," he said sternly. "I understand your concern for these kids, and I commend you for caring enough about them in wanting to help." He paused and drew nearer to Robin as he said, "But Wayne Manor is a home! My home! Our home! Not, some frat house for you to have a party with all your friends in!" (Fraternity house for those who don't know)
He turned away from him again and started down the hallway once more as he said, "I want them gone by tomorrow morning; and that's final!"
"Bruce, please, wait," Robin called back to him in desperation. "We haven't been using Wayne Manor as a place to have fun. We've taken care of everything around here and I've already fought alongside them a few times. They aren't a bunch of low life punk kids. They've been pulling their own weight around here and have even helped Alfred around the mansion. They're graceful for having somewhere to stay in their most desperate time of need, and they're willing to repay you for everything you've let them do around here!"
"That's just the thing Dick," Bruce snapped back at him. "I haven't let them do anything! I didn't bring them in, I don't want them around, and I don'tt want them in this house. It was you who did!"
Robin lowered his head and sympathetically said, "I know Bruce…and I'm sorry." He turned around and looked off into the distance at the scenery and sighed. "I Just…saw a few kids my age that needed someone to help them when they were all alone and left with nothing…"
Bruce's posture relaxed and his face didn't look quite so angry anymore. Robin had hit home on the subject of "lonely kids left with nothing," since both he and Robin had shared that same fate. He turned around again and faced the long hall through the doorway and put his hands behind his back.
"They can stay," he said harshly. "But only until YOU find them somewhere else to live, and I'm going to be checking up on it to make sure you have, but if you don't, I WILL…got it!"
Robin wanted to jump for joy, but he didn't want to push his luck with Bruce any further. "Thank you Bruce," he said respectfully. "I owe you."
Bruce
stopped before proceeding any further down the hallway and said,
"Yes…as a matter a fact…you do owe me…all of you…" Bruce
paused for a moment and thought of a good payment for him letting
Robin's friends stay.
"Tomorrow I want you and the rest of
your friends to wash, dry, and wax, all of my cars and motorcycles in
the garage, and I want them done by tomorrow night."
"Yes sir," he said in another respectful voice. "We'll all start bright and early tomorrow morning."
"Good," said Bruce as he turned around again and headed towards the hallway but stopped in his tracks. "Oh, and Dick…"
"Yeah Bruce?"
"You never did tell me how you found that red haired girl."
A sweat drop went down the side of Robin's face (Japanese anime style!) as he scratched the back of his head and said, "Oh uh…we uh…found her in a…space ship, to tell you the truth."
Bruce looked around the hallway for a moment while processing this information. "You mean she was kidnapped by aliens," he asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.
"No uh…she's…from outer space; another planet, actually."
"Hmm," Bruce said intuitively. "Well that explains a lot…" Without saying another word he headed down the hallway and towards his bedroom for the rest of the night.
Robin leaned back against the stone railing of the balcony and let out a long sigh of relief. He looked up at the stars and then suddenly, it hit him.
"Aw man," he said in a loud groaning voice now realizing what he had just gotten himself and his friends into. "That's like over forty cars and bikes we have to wash!"
br-
Robin pried open the door that led to the hallway where his room was and made his way down it. He came to a huge gaping hole in the floor that led to a straight drop to the rocky shores below, but he swiftly grabbed hold of a pipeline above him and swung himself across to the other side. He got to his feet after landing and continued down the hallway but stopped once he came to a door marked "Raven." He looked up at the large bold print at the top of the door and sighed, remembering the tragic fate of his fallen comrade. He had never really been one to express his feelings, but he cared dearly for her, not as dearly as Starfire, but she was an invaluable friend to him.
"I…I'm sorry we were always so distant," he said aloud to no one. "I wish we could've gotten to know each other better, because sometimes…sometimes I always thought you understood me the most, and for that I always had nothing but respect for you."
He turned his head away from the door as the scorching flames next to him flared for a brief moment before he proceeded slowly down the hall. He walked around more fires and obstacles at required a little more effort until he came to another door on his left marked "Cyborg." He looked up at it with another face full of regret.
"You were the best guy friend I ever had," he said aloud to his deceased friend. "You were always like…like the big brother I never had. You took care of each and everyone of us, and you did it with a selfless heart." Robin looked down at the floor for a moment then turned back to the door and smiled as he continued. "I always looked up to you, and I'm glad you and I have been friends the longest out of everyone else.
He turned away from the door, doing everything he could to contain his emotions and pushed on down the hallway. He came to another door, this one scorched, charred, and covered in ash, but he could still make out a few letters at the top. Robin came closer to the door and rubbed away the soot covering his name with the palm of his gloved hand until he could read the name of his fallen comrade. "Beast Boy."
He backed away again and gazed at the name before saying his final good-bye. "I know it always seemed like I never liked you," Robin said sympathetically. "That none of us liked you…and sometimes you'd say— well…all the time you'd say some of the dumbest things, and it irritated the heck out of me…especially Raven," he smiled and chuckled at the thought of how many times Beast Boy got hurt by Raven for saying something stupid. "But, but that's not the point. The point is…even though you were a nuisance…I always liked you, and I was never ashamed to call you my friend. You were an invaluable member to the team, and…an invaluable friend."
He turned and continued his path down the long hall until he came to the last. Robin faced his entire body to the door and stared at the name at the top for a long while. He strode up to it and placed his hand over the beautiful title and glided his finger tips across it, feeling the ridges and creases of every letter of the name of his true love. The door struggled to open but finally did, and Robin walked into her quarters. In the corner of her room was a huge burning fire that cast a dull orange glow throughout the area, creating shadows behind every object. The curtains were torn and burned, and there were a few small fires scattered around her room; dancing to the silent beat of oblivion. He looked to his right at the round bed close to the doorway that had an edge partially melted, and scorch marks and burns all over the sheets. At the top, however, were her slightly charred pillows and something that nearly brought him to tears. Resting on its' side, dirty, burned, and slightly torn, was the bear Robin had given Starfire for Blorthog a while back. With his mouth dropped partially open in amazement at it's' survival through such a violent explosion, he picked it up off the bed and held it tightly in his hands. He felt the urge to cry, but he held it in. He had to be strong for Starfire, he told himself, but she was dead now and never coming back. His mouth began to quiver and a tear formed in the corner of his eye. He swallowed the big lump in his throat and wiped the tear off his cheek then looked down at the teddy bear in his hands. He held it against his chest and gave it a warm hug then raised it to his mouth and gave it a kiss on the forehead. He set it back down on the bed, this time upright, and looked at it one final time before leaving the room.
br-
It was almost one in the morning now, and Robin was on the balcony of his room while Garfield and Victor were sound asleep on the beds around his. He had too much on his mind, being that Gotham city hadn't had any outburst of crime in almost a week and a half now. Ever since Robin found the others, they've helped him and Batman track down and capture some of the most ruthless criminals in Gotham city. Nights were very quiet now, and he thought he'd start loosing his mind if he didn't get some action soon (I don't mean that in a sexual way, PERVERTS! J/K). The full moon hung high above in the heavens over Wayne Manor, and the white light it cast on the landscape illuminated everything in sight; including him. Robin heard the sound of creeping footsteps behind him, but it did not startle him, for he could distinguish who it was.
"I see you're up," said the deep whispering voice of Bruce behind him.
"Yeah," Robin whispered back to him casually as his mentor stood next to him on the balcony. "I couldn't sleep…"
"I know what you mean." Bruce looked over the landscape below them for a moment and said, "It's too quiet out, now that most of the madmen out there are locked away in Arkem now.
"Yeah, well, it's all thanks to our hard work over the last few months."
There was a long moment of silence between them as they both looked off into the distance of the landscape.
"Dick," Bruce said suddenly as if something were troubling his mind.
"Yeah Bruce," Robin said looking up at him.
"I lied to you…"
Robin paused for a moment and wasn't sure what to think of his words. "What do you mean," he asked. "About what?"
"Do you remember my trip to London a few months ago?"
"…yes."
"It wasn't a business trip I went on. Well…it wasn't exactly a normal business trip."
Robin looked around the area still confused as to what he was getting at.
"The week before I got back, do you remember that alien invasion that nearly whipped out the entire world?"
"Yeah, but me and the others were able to hold them off. That was the first time we actually came together and fought," Robin said enthusiastically. "Why, what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well…I was actually working a steak-out, but I got sidetracked and had to deal with the aliens."
"I figured that. Bruce, what are you trying to say?"
Bruce sighed then said, "I met a few people along the way, and we were the ones who actually drove off the alien invaders. Look, what I'm trying to say is…since we all worked so well as a team, they thought it would be best if we joined together and formed the Justice League."
Robin already didn't like where this was going.
"And I agreed to join them…"
Robin tensed up and felt anger rising inside of him. Did this mean Bruce was just going to dump him? Get rid of him as if he were nothingt!
"So what does that mean Bruce," he asked in a quiet voice trembling with anger.
"It means Dick that I'll be spending most of my time with the League fighting battles across the globe. I won't be here much, and I'll mostly be staying in the Watchtower."
"The Watchtower?"
Bruce leaned closer to him and pointed up towards the sky. "You see that star moving over there," he said.
Robin followed his finger and finally saw what he was talking about. There was a bright star moving horizontally across the heavens.
"Yeah…yeah I see it," Robin said.
"That's the Watchtower…"
Robin was surprised at this. Bruce had just joined a team of Super-heroes and already they had a base of operations.
"Oh," he said in a saddened voice. "So…does that mean you won't need me around here anymore?"
Bruce sighed then looked down at the ground below them and said, "In a matter of speaking…yes…"
Robin paused for a moment to let this all sink in. "So does that mean the dynamic duo is finished?"
"Fraid so," Bruce said coldly.
"…so now what then?"
Bruce completely turned his body towards him, his chest flaring out of his open silk robe and said, "Well Dick, that's what I've been wanting to talk to you about."
Robin felt so rejected, so abandoned like he was being cast off like dead weight. "So what are you going to do? Put me in an orphanage or something," he asked anger boiling inside him.
"The thought crossed my mind," said Bruce. "But that's something I wouldn't want you going through." A RARE faint grin came across his face and he paused to look down at Robin. "I was thinking of something a little better."
Robin looked at him as though he had seen him for the first time in his life and said, "What do you mean?"
"I've been keeping my eye on you lately and I've noticed a lot of good things from you."
"Like what," Robin asked with a faint smile.
"You've all been pulling your weight around here, and taking care of the house. You've all proven to me that you're very responsible and can fend for yourselves. Even when we go on call. I've noticed that you've lead your friends into battle and come out victorious every time, even when I try to tell your friends not to."
Robin smiled and continued listening.
"Besides, they don't even listen to me anymore," Bruce said still grinning at him. "I couldn't tell your moody friend Raven what to do if my life depended on it. You're their leader Dick, and you've done a great job of it."
The smile on Robin's face grew even bigger and he turned his head away to conceal his blushing.
"Dick," Bruce said in a serious tone now. "How would you like it if I gave them to you?"
"What do you mean," Robin asked.
"How would you like it if the five of you were to go off and from your own team and serve justice? I'd supply you with everything. Funding, weapons, a headquarters in the city of your choosing…you name it."
Robin was flabbergasted; he didn't know what to say. This was an absolute honor, a chance of a lifetime! As much as he liked Bruce and enjoyed being his sidekick, he always had ambitions of going solo on the superhero business, and sometimes living in Batman's shadow was hard. Having the opportunity, however, to lead his own team of young heroes was more than he could have ever wanted. He wanted to prove himself not only to Bruce, but to the world of what he was capable of doing.
"Bruce I…"he stuttered. "I don't know what to say."
"You can say, 'I accept your offer and will lead these kids to the best of my ability, and no matter how hard the trials ahead of me may seem, I will never give up or loose hope in my abilities as a leader,'" said Bruce. "Or you else you're going to be finding somewhere else to live."
Robin straightened his figure to look up at him and smiled. "I accept your offer," he said with a proud voice. "And I will lead these kids to the best of my abilities no matter how hard the trials ahead of me may seem. I will never give up or loose hope…what was that last part?"
Bruce looked back at him and said, "That's good enough for me. Now, tomorrow I want you to tell the others and start formulating a game plan on what you want and where you're going to stay."
"Yes sir," Robin said boldly with enthusiasm. "I'll get right on it first thing tomorrow morning."
"Good," he said as he turned and started for the doorway. "I'll see you in the morning Dick, get some rest."
"Yes sir," said Robin as he turned back to look at the scene with excitement in his eyes. Before Bruce had proceeded any further Robin turned around again and called back to him in a quiet voice, "Dad, I mean…Bruce."
Bruce turned slowly around and faced Robin. "Yes Dick," he said as if he didn't hear what he had just called him.
Robin looked down at his feet then back up at him. "Thanks…"
"You're welcome Dick. Now get to bed…"
Bruce walked quietly past the sleeping Victor and Garfield and stealthily opened the door and headed down the long hallway towards his bedroom. Once there, he silently opened the door and closed it softly behind him as he entered. He turned and walked towards his huge bed in the middle of the room but stopped halfway there and starred off into space. A rare smile formed across his face and then he did something no one had ever seen him do before. A very small tear formed in the corner of his eye and ran down his face. His lips began to quiver, but he quickly looked elsewhere and whipped the wetness away from his face as if denying to himself that he were capable of such a weak emotion. He pulled off his robe and draped it over the chair next to him then went over and got in his bed. He pulled the covers over his bare chest and looked up at the moon hanging in his window then quickly fell asleep.
br-
Robin turned the corner of the hallway and finally came to his room. The door was propped partially open from the explosion and his name had been completely melted away. He went over and planted his shoulder in the door frame and pushed the door open with all his might. He entered to see that there were only a few small fires here and there, and that his window was cracked and broken; otherwise his room was relatively unscathed. He went to his desk and reached his hand back behind it to see if he could find what he had hoped hadn't been destroyed in the explosion. There it was. He pressed the button, and out from his dressers and walls emerged display cases and secret compartments that housed all of his backup weapons and supplies.
He went over to the opened compartment on the wall and pulled out two spare utility belts and placed them on what was left of his bed. Next he went over to the display case from his dresser and took out all the birderangs, electric, and explosive disks that were there and threw them on the bed. Then, he went over to another and took out the last three Bo-staffs he had, and a few grappling hooks. With all of his weapons organized he began sticking them in the pouches of his utility belts and restocked the one he was wearing around his waist.
Once finished, he sighed then went over to his closet door, careful to avoid the broken shards of mirror sticking out of the door in search of a new uniform. All of his clothes, however, were either ripped apart or too badly burned to wear…except for one uniform that lay hidden in a steel plated box on the top shelf where it was out of sight. He got on his tiptoes and reached for the box and brought it down. It was slightly bent out of shape and seared, but in relatively good shape none the less. He knelt down on the floor and placed the box in front of him and slowly lifted the top off. Inside, laid a black and orange uniform equipped with an authentic utility belt and armor plating that went up the arms and legs. Robin gazed at it only for a brief second in time then slammed the lid shut and looked away from it. He never came to terms with himself on why he kept the depraved suit he was forced to wear when in the apprenticeship of Slade. Maybe it was for the same reason he kept Slade's mask in a box down in the storage room. They were reminds to him of the trials and tribulations he went through and overcame during the darkest times of his life from his adversary. Maybe tonight he would do the same with Deathstroke. Through the trials and tribulations bestowed upon him by this evil man, he would triumph over his new adversary. He sighed then opened the lid and looked at it one more time before finally taking it out.
A few moments later he stood in front of his broken mirror looking himself over, further contemplating his decision to wear this vile outfit. The uniform was used to instill fear in those he hurt and destroyed, but not tonight, he thought to himself. Tonight he would use it to strike fear into the heart of his enemy. With that in mind he grabbed the two utility belts on his bed and wrapped them around his body to form an X across his chest with the buckles over his sternum (he took one of the buckles off a belt, lets just say that). He looked over himself again then filled the belt that went with the outfit with all his gadgets then grabbed his cape. He slid it over his head and fit it comfortably around his neck. The orange of the suit and the yellow of the underside of his cape didn't match, but this wasn't a fashion show, he was out for blood. He checked himself out one last time, starring into his own eyes in the shattered mirror before turning and heading out the door. He paused in the doorway and looked back at his mess of a room until his eyes fell on his red, yellow, and green uniform lying on the bed. His eyes fell on the R medallion on his shirt and he quickly went back in and picked it up. He stood back in front of his mirror again and with delicate care, pinned the large shiny medallion over his left breast; his heart. He felt somehow completed now and ready to take on Deathstroke, so he walked out of the room, through the hallway and headed for the garage.
br-
"Yo Garfield," Victor shouted knocking at the door to his friend's new room. "Open up man!"
Garfield opened the door with an angry look on his face and yell, "WHAT DO YOU WANT VIC!" (Short for Victor)
Victor smiled and said, "Dick wants us to meet him on the roof in half an hour. Spread the word if you see Raven or Koriand'r."
"Wants to see us on the roof," Garfield asked with a confused look on his face. "Why, what for?"
Victor shrugged his shoulders and said a very lazy, "I don't know," and walked off.
It had almost been a half hour and Raven started making her way up towards the roof, using her powers to pass through floor after floor until she finally came to the top. There was a bonfire burning in the middle of the roof which created a smoke trail that reached far up into the sky. Robin stood next to it with his back turned and his cape blowing gently in the wind as he looked off into the distance at the city. Raven looked at him and the fire strangely then made her way over to him.
"Uh Dick," she said in a shy voice. "You wanted to see us?"
"Yes," he said without looking at her. "Make yourself comfortable while we wait for the others."
Raven gave him a weird look again then sat down near the edge of the roof and waited for the others to show.
A few minutes had passed and the door to the stairwell opened and Victor, Garfield, and Koriand'r poured out at the same time cracking jokes and being loud.
"Hey sweet," Victor cheered. "A bonfire, I bet we're gonna roast marshmallows or something!"
"Please," Koriand'r said. "This bonfire in which you speak of, is it some sort of device that allows you to what you call the 'roasting of the mallow-marshes?'"
Garfield laughed at her stupidity and said, "Kory (short for Koriand'r) it's right in front of us, and it's marshmallows not mallow-marshes HAHAHAHAHA!"
Everyone's eyes fell on Robin, but he didn't turn to meet their stares. Instead he continued gazing off into the distance at the city and everyone became silent. He finally turned to them with a very serious look on his face and came closer to the fire; the flames painting a yellow glow over his body.
"Everyone, gather around the fire," he said looking at all his friends and then at the fire in front him. The other four teenagers looked at Robin strangely then did as he said and made a circle around the bonfire. "This flame that you see before us, represents everything we are about to endure in our trials and tribulations as a team. It symbolizes our future, and the desires and ambitions housed within each and every one of us…and it can burn on forever, or…it can go out and never be rekindled."
Robin reached behind his back and pulled out five sheets of paper and pens then divided them evenly among the others.
"Here," he said. "I want you all to write down something that happened to you in the past that changed your life forever on the sheet of paper I just gave you."
Each one looked around at each other then began writing down what Robin had told them to. When they were finished, they all looked up and waited for their leader to continue.
Robin finished writing and gazed at the flame again. "Some of us have had a troubled past," he said looking around at his friends. "Horrible ones, traumatic ones, terrible ones…Pasts that have undoubtedly changed all of our lives, I know I have."
He looked down at the piece of paper in his hands at what he had wrote then crumpled it up and threw it into the fire.
"But I'm no longer going to let that affect me anymore," he said with an energetic smile on his face. "As of this moment on, I will no longer answer to the name Dick Grayson. I want you all to call me, Robin, from now on; leader of the Teen Titans, the amazing Boy Wonder, but most importantly…your friend."
Victor was inspired by his example and did the same. He looked down at the writing in his hand then crumpled it up and threw it into the fire. "I've had a tuff life too man," he said enthusiastically. "But I'm no longer going to let that affect me either. I also denounce the name Victor Stone! From now on I want ya'll to call me…Cyborg!"
Although she didn't quite get the meaning of everything they were doing, she still understood its' significance. "And I too will no longer live by my past," she said throwing in her piece of paper. "I wish for you all to come to know me as Starfire, from now on."
Garfield did the same and threw his shred of the past in too. "Yeah, and from now on I want you all to call me sexy-beast of a man," he cheered posing in front of the others.
Everyone around Garfield gave him an irritated look and starred him down.
"No? Alright then, just kidding, it was a joke, HA" he said sheepishly, "um, how bout…Beast Boy?"
The others smiled at him now as Robin said, "Alright then…Beast Boy it is."
Everyone's eyes feel on Raven now as she stood there with a lame stare on her face looking around at the others.
"What," she said in her usual monotone voice.
No one said anything.
"I don't want to do this," she continued. "This is pointless."
"It's…just our way of letting go of our pasts and embracing the future as a team Raven," Robin explained. "Nothing more…nothing less, it's your choice whether or not you want to do this. No one's forcing you."
She looked off towards the city for a moment and sighed then she reluctantly crumpled the piece of paper in her hand and threw it in the flames.
"I'm still keeping my name though!"
Robin smiled at everyone and said, "Well then…it's official. As the new leader of the group, I hereby decree us as the new league of heroes, The Teen Titans!"
After he said that everyone, except Raven, began cheering.
"GLORIOUS," Starfire upraised jumping up and down clapping her hands.
"ALRIGHT, THE TEEN TITANS," Cyborg hollered.
"AWESOME," Beast Boy yelled. "I'M A CELEBRITY!"
"Yay," Raven said in a sarcastic voice waving her finger around.
Robin silenced them with his hands and said, "Alright, well I'm glad you're all happy that we're officially a team. Now…" He turned around and presented them with a table covered in bags and cases of marshmallows, chocolate bars, and gram crackers. "Who wants S'mores?"
"Dibs on chocolate," Cyborg exclaimed before racing to the table.
"Hey, that's not fair," Beast Boy yelled running after him. "Save some for me!"
Robin glanced over at Starfire who also did the same to him. Startled after being met by each other's gaze, they quickly turned their heads away and began blushing.
"You wouldn't happen to have S'mores on your planet," Robin asked shyly. "Would you Starfire?"
She looked at him strangely and said, "I am uncertain of what you mean Robin. How can my plant have 'some more' of something if it has not had anything that I know of?"
Robin chuckled at how naïve she was and said, "It's not like that at all Starfire." He grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her along towards the table. "Come on, I'll show you."
Just then, he noticed Raven was walking away from the bonfire. "Hey Raven," he called back to her. "Don't you want to join us?"
"No thanks," she said without turning to look at him. "You all have fun with that, I'm going to go meditate. Just keep it down."
"Alright then," he said back to her.
As Raven left the other Titans collected everything they needed and for the rest of the night they all sat around the bonfire roasting marshmallows, making s'mores, and telling ghost stories to celebrate the new establishment of The Teen Titans.
br-
Robin slammed his foot down on the clutch and yanked the throttle back as he raced through the deserted streets on his motorcycle. The storm had finally settled over the city, casting a gloomy disposition around him. The howling wind and the pouring rain beat down on him like thousands of tiny needles puncturing his flesh as he continued down the lonely road. As Robin crested over an incline, he gasped and slammed on the brakes; skidding his motorcycle until it screeched to a halt. In the middle of the road, standing there with her back turned to him was a little girl holding her teddy bear at her side. The headlight on the R-cycle illuminated the small girl standing there motionless in the middle of the street as Robin dismounted his bike and walked slowly over towards her.
"Hey, little girl," he called out to her happy to see there was a survivor after the virus had been spread. "Are you alright!"
She did not answer.
"Little girl…excuse me, little girl!"
She still did not answer.
Robin walked up behind her and knelt down on one knee and tapped her shoulder. He could tell she had been out in the rain for a long time because of how drenched her clothes were.
"Hey, little girl," he said sympathetically. "What are you doing out in the rain like this? Shouldn't you be—"as he grabbed her shoulder and turned her around, he fell back and screamed in horror at the site of the little girl's face.
Her head hung low and draped to the side, and a stream of drool came down from the corner of her mouth with her eyes completely rolled back in her head. She looked like the living dead. He slowly got up off his back and cautiously made his way towards her again, but she did not move. He knelt down in front of her again and put his two fingers in the side of her neck just below her jaw in search of a pulse. He found one. He ran his hand down over her chest now to check to see if she were breathing. She was. What had happened to her? She was alive and well, but completely unresponsive to anything Robin did to get her attention. He snapped his fingers and waved his hand in front of her face, but still she did not answer. It was like she was a zombie, like her brain had been turned to muss or something. He looked hopelessly down at his feet and sighed, seeing that he could not help her, when suddenly he heard moaning and groaning around him. The dark murky haze of the rain cloaked everything, so he reached in the back pocket of his utility belt and retrieved his flashlight. He shinned it all around him until it fell on a middle aged man walking sluggishly with his arms drooped in front of him and the same lifeless stare on his face as the little girl. He pointed the light to another side of the street, and there was another person in the same manner, and then another, and another, and another. He quickly realized he was surrounded by these mindless zombies and there was nothing he could do for them. Robin picked the small child up in front of him and placed her on the side walk then went over and mounted his motorcycle in sped off into the night.
br-
Robin stopped his motorcycle just on the outskirts of town and looked up at the huge building at the top of the hill far in front of him. He had finally gotten to the steel factory, and he could tell someone was in it from the steam rising out of the smokestacks. This was it. This…is where it would all end. Robin hit the throttle on his bike and crested over the hill until he came in front of the massive building and dismounted his bike. He pulled off his helmet and scanned the huge factory that was crawling with death. There was just something about it that gave Robin the creeps. It was a dark, dreary, and confined structure. It had no windows and it reminded him more of a haunted house rather than a steal factory, but he put these thoughts aside and made his way in.
It was hot…almost unbearable. As soon as he stepped inside, he stood there and whipped the sweat off his brow with his forearm and proceeded deeper into the inferno, looking for the one called Deathstroke. He came across broiling pits of molten steel and metal that created some much heat Robin found it difficult go near them and carried on. He herd a loud noise behind him then ducked suddenly as a huge mechanical arm nearly took off his head as it scooped up some of the molten steel in a pit next to him. Robin sighed and whipped sweat off his forehead then headed up a small flight of metal stairs that led to a catwalk. Once at the top, he was presented with a long narrow bridge that over looked rows of huge burning pits of liquid metal on either side.
"I was beginning to think you weren't going to show," said a malign robotic kind of voice around him. (imagine it as the voice the NuFu thing used in "Employee of the Month")
"Where are you Deathstroke," Robin yelled. "Show yourself!"
"In due time Robin," crackled Deathstroke's depraved voice. "In due time…I would like it so if we could sit and chat a while. We ended on such a bad note last time, don't you think?"
"I don't care what kind of note we ended on," Robin said coldly while retrieving his Bo-staff from his utility belt. "I've got a score to settle with you."
"Likewise," said Deathstroke. "So...did my little science project give you a scare? I haven't given it a name yet, but it is quite deadly. If you liked what it did to that little girl and the rest of those 'poor innocent people,' just wait and see what'll happen after I release the virus elsewhere. Perhaps I'll move onto Gotham City next or maybe Steel City…what do you think?"
"I think I've had enough of your games and you should show yourself you psychotic coward!"
The room fell silent and all that could be heard were the sounds and noises of broiling steel around him.
"Strong words Robin," said Deathstroke. "But do you think you could back those up in a fight?"
"I know I can," Robin said with a voice full of confidence. "I'm going to take you out Deathstroke!"
Deathstroke chuckled and said, "What really makes you think you can defeat me Robin…especially without the help of your precious little friends…since I did annihilate them…ALL of them."
"AND THAT IS WHY YOU MUST PAY," Robin shouted, "FOR YOUR CRIMES AGAINST THIS CITY, FOR YOU CRIMES AGAINST ME!"
"Ha, Ha, Ha," Deathstroke chuckled in his fake evil voice. "Very well then…"
Clank…Clank…Clank, came the sound of striding footsteps on metal.
Clank…Clank…Clank…Clank…Clank.
Robin spun around in every direction as the noises grew louder and louder with each step he took. Where was he! He couldn't be caught off guard!
Clank…Clank…Clank…Clank…
Wait a minute, Robin thought to himself, to the left, NO…behind!
Clank…Clank, Clank…
The noises were coming from that direction and in the top field of his vision, he could see a shadowy figure emerge on the scaffold above him. Robin immediately shot his head to see him, but wore a face of utter disbelief when he saw who it was.
"No…" he said under his breath.
"Robin," said Deathstroke as he looked down on him. "So nice to see you again…"
As Robin looked up at him, he wore the same look of bewilderment on his face. He had finally come face to face with his foe, and it was someone he would have never suspected in a million years. With the narrow features of his jaw, and the thick black edges around his one human eye, and it all made sense now. Deathstroke, the one who plagued the city, nearly annihilated the Justice League, and destroyed his friend, was Brother Blood all along…
br-
A/N:
HA…HA, HA…HA, HA, HA……………………………………………………..AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA AH AH AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHA! YOU ALL DESERVE TO BE SITTING IN THE CORNER AND WEARING A BIG CONE HAT THAT HAS THE WORD "DUNSE" WRITTEN IN BIG BOLD PRINT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I FOOLED YOU! I TRICKED ALL OF YOU!...but I know what you're thinking now though, and you're probably thinking the rest of the story is going to be a big waist of time………all I'm going to say is if you've read this far into my story and are giving up hope of a good ending…don't. I'm not finished yet and I know you'll like it, just give me a chance. Okay?
Alright then, so…well, what did you think? Deathstroke was really Brother Blood this entire time. I know you're like, "but that's way too evil for Brother Blood, and in the comics Slade is Brother Blood," but remember this isn't the comics. So anyway, well…now that you guys are all disappointed and have your heads hung low, I'm just going to go straight to the personal thanks now. OH, and that reminds me. For those of you who don't have a clue about the "alien invasion" I wrote about in the beginning and further on in this chapter, I'll explain. If you've watched the Justice League, when it was just 7 of them, the first episode started out with an alien invasion, so, that's what I decided would be the motive for Batman and Robin to split up and offer Robin a position as a team leader. I really hope some of you picked up on all the symbolism and deeper meanings that this chapter is CRAWLING WITH and I hope to hear some of your thoughts about it (like the Slade outfit, and the setting). So, next chapter we'll have the big fight scene that I'm sure you're all going to be wanting to read about since Brother Blood doesn't know a thing about Robin so he'll have the advantage. Keep holdin' on to yer britches ladies and gents! Next Chapter: Something Wicked this Way Come.
Samasii- HA, it was Brother Blood. That wasn't so easy, was it:-P
DD of Courage- Still sure it's Slade? I'm not sure anymore it is, I'm kinda leaning towards Brother Blood myself ya know…hehehehehehe. So I need your opinion, is this chapter one for the books? Thanks for the review, and don't stop reading, I know you're disappointed, but I'm just getting started.
Snowfeather- So still sticking to that theory of yours? Sorry, I'm going to be rubbing it in everyone's face that all along they've thought it was Slade when really it was good old Brother Blood. So did you like my flashback scenes where Bruce gives Robin the okay to form a team, or how bout when Robin convinced him to let the others stay? I had fun writing those. OH, and a while back YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO PUT ALL THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER and figured it would either be Slade or Brother Blood. I can't tel you how hard it was to not tell you had the closest guesses out of anyone else. Good Job Lassie! Well, thanks for the review. Sorry if I disappointed you, but keep on reading you'll like what I have coming up next.
Whiterose- I know, I know, it sounded SO MUCH like Slade but it was actually Brother Blood. Don't worry all of his motives will be explained in the next chapter followed by a legendary fight scene to seal their fates. I'm glad you like this more and more and good job figuring it was either Slade or Brother Blood. Maybe you might be one of the only few who weren't that disappointed, I don't know, but anyway thanks for the review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Aries-Raven- So since Deathstroke is Brother Blood what do you think he'll use Robin as, or will he use Robin as anything? I have a really good idea for an answer to that question and I think you'll like it, since I kinda burst everyone's bubble with it not being Slade. Yeah I like Flash too, I think he and Beast Boy would get along very nicely, don't you think? Sorry this one didn't have a battle in it like you wanted, don't worry, the next one will have Brother Blood explain everything then they'll go at it! So who do you think will win, or better yet, what do you think will happen next (evil grin)? Thanks for the review.
KaliAnn- You really should see any of those Alien movies, especially with a cute boy or girl depending on what you're into, hehehehehehe. Yeah usually those kind of movies lead to…something else…is you get my drift. LOL, anyway…I'm happy you thought I did such a good job with the JLU, and why Superman would call down Batman like that…well, you kind of have to look out their past. Superman and Batman met a long time ago so they're like rivals in a way. That line you talked about that Robin will cross, he started with going in wearing his old apprentice uniform I hope you caught onto that, but just wait till the next chapter. We'll see a side of Robin we've never seen before. Thanks for the review!
Lance Arkel- Okay I'll try and say everything I want to, to you, but you left me with A REALLY LONG REVIEW, no that I have a problem with that, so I may email you with the rest of what I have to say. Okay, first…the interaction with Robin and Batman took quite a while to develop, and I had to do some research on BOTH of them to get that whole scene right. The whole Teen Titans timeline you were talking about, I am very aware of and have done a few ours of research on to make this story what it is. I'll email you the website sometime, but yeah I knew that Robin, or rather Nightwing, lived together and were about to get married. The thing is, though, the T.V. show in no way follows the comics. If you didn't know this the Teen Titans actually broke up once before Raven came and were around for a while before they fought Beast Boy and had him join. So what I did was I took all the facts and pieces of their pasts that I could use and formulated my own theory, so that's how I got all my ideas. I'm happy to see you didn't loose faith in me when I introduced the Justice League. You see I wanted Robin to be completely isolated from getting any kind of help during his trials, and I knew if I didn't bring something up about the Justice League people would be like, "Well why doesn't the JL just come in and save him," so I needed to in a sense get rid of them so Robin couldn't get their help. Make sense. Okay, next…alright, I didn't mean I wanted your notes, I just want you to make a mental note about the comment you made about the bubbles. Keep it in mind cause when the stories done I'm going to bring that up to you, got it? Okay I need to wrap you review up otherwise I'll be here all night, I'll email you the rest of it. I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, hope you picked up on all those symbols and things with deeper meanings in this chapter, because there are a lot of them. You've always mentioned to me about all the symbols I've been putting in subconsciously, so this time I kept that in mind and found all my own symbols which I think really impacts the reader and the drama that Robin is going through right now. Okay, I'll email you the rest, so what did you think about Deathstroke being Brother Blood, I hope you'll stay with me here and read this thing through. Thanks, FOR THE REDICULOUSLY LONG, review… J/K, oh and congrats on being my 100th review!
VanGordan- And here we are, last and most importantly not least, Alexnandru Van Gordan. So…………what do you think? After all this time, and endless hours of research, it boils down to only being Brother Blood…disappointing…isn't it? So what clues did I give away that led you to your other answer? Ya know it's funny cause in…I think chapter 4, where Brother Blood pretty much admits to it being him…no one listened…maybe, the truth IS the best lie! Bet you didn't think about that, did ya? I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, it's only been 3 days, so hopefully I didn't kill off the suspense that you mentioned before. So were you surprised, shocked, angered; confused? I'm very anxious to know your thoughts on this subject since like you've shown the most interest in my story. But ya know, I hope you're not going to give out on me and stop reading this. You've been reviewing my fic since the beginning and since you've come this far I hope you won't stop now…please? Sorry it's just I foresee my # of reviews dropping after this chapter and I'm hoping you won't be one of them. Well I hope I got you off that ledge you were slipping off of, and have finally eased your soul. Sorry you're so sick right now (if you still are) and thanks for all reviews. If you want to know, something…horrific is going to happen in the next chapter. Thanks for the review.
