Cages of the lost Chapter 2, a teen titans fanfic

Cages of the Lost

Alex: -running around frantically AHHHHHHHHH! Run away! RUN AWAY! This is all a conspiracy to--

Insaneiac: I keep telling you, it's not a conspiracy. The colors are, but not this story! DO NOT TRUST THE COLORS!

Alex: blinks O.O...I thought you were trying to stop me?

Insaneiac: Why. It's fun to watch you freak out. Real joy of my life there Alex

Alex: Shut up! -To the people- Run away--stop reading this story before---

Insaneiac: Now I'll stop you. We don't want to scare off our faithful readers now, do we? DO WE?

Alex: scared and confused...I don't know anyone backs up into a wall Keep away! Run people, please! Or else you'll---

Insaneiac: -Gags him with gym socks- There we go, much better. Don't listen to him; he loves his story, don't you? DON'T YOU?

Alex: spits out sock Yuck...fine, whatever...-to people- Just remember that I warned you...

Insaneiac: ...That this is going to be a great story! He heh. Enjoy!

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The morning slowly creeped up on the sleeping metropolis, revealing it's beauty, it's faults, and in many places, it's seeping corruption. Although Jump City may have been a beautiful place, and in many ways still a suitable place to live, corruption still crept through it's sewers and alleys, steadily growing everyday.

And on top of the majestic and powerful Titan Tower sat the one person who swore, come hell or high water, to clean the town up. Sitting on top of the tower, Robin watched the city, his city, wake to the morning sun. He peered into the city, seeking for someone doing something wrong, just so he can clean the city up a little more. It was the same thing he did every day, in the same manner his father and mentor, had done.

The only difference was, he didn't have to wake up at the break of dawn to avoid the morning rush of his teammates. And even though he considered them precious, he had seen too many horrors in life to die by an idiotic prank by Beast Boy, or get in the crossfire of an argument between Beast Boy and Raven. No, despite its obvious disadvantages, like the very cold breeze that was currently lashing at his face, Robin was safe on the top of his tower.

But even Robin, the Boy Wonder, had one stunning weakness every morning that he could not, for the life of him, put behind him. He could deny everything else, he's made the act of denial a form of art in the tower, but Robin could not ignore the most important thing of all at that very time.

He was hungry. Robin's stomach was growling and cursing, and the boy would only do himself harm to ignore it. The only thing more stubborn then himself was his stomach.

Robin gave a final sigh, before pushing to his feet and walking towards the ceiling hatch. He knew by now Cyborg was up, and was more than sure that because of Cyborg waking up, Beast Boy was up. The two loudest, most destructive people in the tower were up, and without supervision. Robin could only hope they didn't destroy something, like they had the last several times.

As Robin climbed down the ladder into one of the many hallways inside the tower, he fully expected to hear a crash or a bang, or even an irate Beast Boy after losing to Cyborg in another game. It left him unnerve when he heard nothing in the building. Slowly, Robin walked towards the main room of the tower, where he would undoubtedly see Cyborg cooking, or Beast Boy acting like an idiot.

He never made it that far, as a ball came flying out of a hall beside him, and nailed him in the side of the head. Robin was caught completely off guard, and before he could blink, his head bounced off a door he was walking by, and landed on the hard floor.

"DUDE! Are you okay!""

"That's a fowl BB. A FOWL!"

"Dude! I think we knocked Robin out…"

He could hear the voices clearly, but for some odd reason, he couldn't place them. It's not everyday someone gets hit with a ballistic projectile in their own tower, and it still had to register with Robin just what happened. When the sound of a door opened, Robin could only hope for the best.

"Which of you idiots decided to interrupt my meditation?"

That was a voice he could place, with relative ease. Only one person made her opening statement so threatening that it could freeze an inferno.

"My…head…" Robin groaned, opening his eyes again. It hurt like hell, but it was also the surprise that left a distasteful sting in his mind.

"Dude? Are you okay?" Beast Boy replied, looking down at Robin. It had been his best shot of the day, and it just had to end up nailing Robin in the side of the face.

"I'm going to assume this was another one of your…games, Beast Boy." Raven droned, as Robin twitched slightly.

"Beast Boy…what are you doing?" Robin moaned, finally pushing off of the floor. He still couldn't see straight, but when he could, he would wring Beast Boy's neck. It soon clued into him that he would greatly regret asking that question.

"It's a brand new…"

"SUPER COOL…" Cyborg interrupted, deciding it was safe to go near Robin. "Extreme sport…"

"STINKBALL HOCKEY!" Beast boy finished, before Cyborg turned on him.

"HEY! That was my line! You knew that was MY line!"

"Yah! And you stole mine, dude!"

Robin slowly rubbed his throbbing temples, something he was sure Raven was doing as well. It really wasn't helping him that they were screaming at the top of their lungs after delivering a slap shot stinkball to the side of his head.

"Okay, quiet down. First of all, it's not even seven Beast Boy, why would you be playing stink… wait a second." Robin stopped, before taking a long whiff of the air. The stench was ripe enough to kill cattle. "My god! That stinks!"

"I know, we added some extra…"

"Ingredients…" Cyborg interrupted again, Beast Boy shooting him an aggravated glare.

"To the stink." Beast Boy grinned.

"Do I want to know?" Robin droned, as the grin widened. "I'm going to take that as a no, and I'm going to take a shower." Robin replied, choking on his own stench. As he walked away from the pair of hockey stick totting Titans, Robin stumbled to his left, still slightly a little off balance from the impact.

"So friends, what is it that I am suppose to be doing again?" Starfire yelled, from the end of the hall. She was in full goalies gear, looking downright confused. Try as they might, Beast Boy and Cyborg could not hold back there laughter. Even Raven had to chuckle as the young alien stood, garbed in the oversized goalie equipment.

However, the fun and games ended as soon as the alarm went off. Robin stopped in his tracks, sighing painfully as he heard the alarm. He was going to have to go fight crime smelling like a field of rotted cheese and cow manure. 'Lovely' Robin quickly turned back and ran towards his teammates, all of which let out a groan as the alarm sounded.

---(Alex: For those of you who don't know what this is—it's a break in time of the story)

Well, maybe he should have stayed back at the tower. Getting hit in the head with sports equipment was one thing, but slamming your head on the side of a close door was another matter altogether. Of course he had been hit in the head numerous times before in battle, but Beast Boy had to have been the one to shoot that shot. There was a buzz in the back of his head all the way to the bank and during the entire time Mumbo made his appearance in the center of the street, a bag of money tossed over one shoulder.

"Oh, the kiddies want to play?" The criminal laughed, head thrown back as they slid together in a group to face him. The surrounding civilians had already head tails, enough space left around for them to dance. "I was going to give you the late show, but I think I could spare a matinee for your bunch."

With that he aimed his wand, a spiral of colourful cloths tied together soaring toward the group. With a bellow of "Titans Go!" they were off into another battle.

Beast Boy, being the slow one, was caught in the rope of handkerchiefs and fell back as it wound around his body. Rolling about on the ground he shifted into the shape of a tiger and then an alligator before he realized the cloth wouldn't give.

"Dude—what's with this stuff?"

Mumbo, dancing aside as an assault of Starfire's bolts rained down on him, began laughing again like a maniac, one hand holding the bag, the other in a tight grip around his wand. "Like it? I bought it from a private supplier."

Robin jumped in front of the man and side kicked him in the gut. The criminal went flying across the street, rolling backward before he came to a halt. "I'm guessing that's where you got the wand too, huh?" The Boy Wonder muttered before charging again, Cyborg to his left and Raven flying above.

Teaming together as the petty crook came to a wobbly stand; Robin tossed a disk with Cyborg's blast for punch and Raven's black magic for the containment of the explosion. Mumbo never saw it coming until it was too late, white eyes widening as the initial hit came to slam him up against the nearest building's brick wall. The actual hit knocked him out, the bag of money falling open before him. Money fluttered in the wind and Starfire caught it before she landed beside him.

"Maybe that was a little…hostile?" Raven asked, pulling back her hood as the gathered around the man.

Cyborg shrugged. "As long as he goes to jail alive, I don't see what's wrong."

"But dudes!" Beast Boy screamed from far behind. "I'm stuck!"

As nice as it was to see him tied up, Cyborg and Raven trudged his way.

"Starfire, take Mumbo to the jail, I'm going to get this back to the bank." Robin sighed. "I'll see you back at the tower once you're done."

She smiled and did as she was told, Robin hauling the heavy bag over his shoulder as he strode back to the bank. Upon entering the bank manager, workers, and customers stood up from where they knelt during the robbery and made haste of their work.

"Ummm…" Robin started staring around. "Isn't someone going to put this away?"

The bank manager, who knew the Titans well from their many saves of the bank, came up to him with a smile, escorted by two younger security guards. These two men took the bag away while the manager handed Robin a package.

Eyeing the object curiously, he raised an eyebrow as he looked to the manager for answers. "Uh…that last time I checked, the post office gave me mail."

"Someone sent this in earlier." The man explained. "Along with a letter, requesting that you open it here."

He was about to ask what the man looked like but the manager was called away by a frantic looking banker. Left with the package, he opened it.

113

turn it on at once

Blinking…he came up to the nearest till, the key that also came in the small package in his hand. "I…think this is a box number. "He said quietly. She took a look at it and nodded.

"Would you like to open it now, sir?"

"…Alright."

Curiosity peaked; he followed the woman to the vault near the back where the lager safety deposit boxes were kept. Opening number 113, she handed him a laptop.

A…laptop?

---

Getting home without turning the computer on was a hard thing to do. None of the Titans did anything but stare as he strode right to his room and closed the door behind him. Part of him wondered if it was a bomb…but you couldn't exactly make bombs in a laptop…could you…

As the letter instructed, he turned the machine on and a normal welcoming page popped up. On the actual windows' setting there was nothing…but msn and internet.

Logging on automatically. Please wait. Signing in…

He barely even touched the mouse pad and it was working on it own. No sooner had it turned on that the computer's only contact popped on for a conversation.

JohnandMary says: I was wondering what was taking you so long…

At first he considered shutting off the laptop…but the fact that the stranger was using his parents' names bugged him into answering.

Robin says: Who are you?

JohnandMary says: -laughs- Somehow I expected you to say that first. But, then again, I was hoping for something original form someone of your…personality.

Robin says: Still doesn't answer my question.

JohnandMary says: Right you are…I'm not going to tell you that for a while, only because I'm fulfilling last wishes, but I will tell you something…I was a close friend to your parents.

That stopped him hot in his tracks. He didn't know what to say and was almost grateful that the stranger continued instead,

JohnandMary says: "The Flying Graysons"—who doesn't know about them. How long has it been? You're what—sixteen, fifteen, and that happened when you were…nine?

Robin says: …why are you calling?

JohnandMary: I told you—old wishes. That, and I'm dying to meet you. It was upsetting to see that Bruce Wayne adopted you before I even heard your parents were dead, otherwise I would have taken you in. John and I go way back…

Robin: Why didn't you call before?

JohnandMary: Thought you would have been happier with someone like Bruce raising you.

Robin: And how did you find out I was Robin?

JohnandMary: What is this—twenty questions night? But I guess I deserve this. I should have said something about your parents death a long time ago…Finding out you were Richard Grayson took some detective work, but the mind on that job was a brilliant one. Speaking to you this way…took some time.

Robin: And why didn't you speak to me face to face first?

JohnandMary: Didn't want you to break my nose or something along the lines of that. I heard you're a bitch when it comes to bad moods.

He was somewhat upset…but he was plain upset about just about everything since he was nailed in the head that morning. If he had known then what was going to happen later on, he would have ended the conversation in an instant…

Robin: And why should I talk to you now, especially about something as important as this? Tell me, have you ever lost family before?

JohnandMary: Wife and my kids, actually. Well…I believe one is still alive, but I don't quite feel like a father with her off in the world on her own. Trust me, I know how you feel. You want to be a son with your original parents back, and I want to be a father with my wife back—we're both in bad moods.

That made him think…maybe he should have been nicer to the man. After all, he didn't have to ever call Robin. It wasn't like the law demanded him too…even if he was six years late…

Robin: So…what now?

JohnandMary: What now? Now we pick a date on the calendar and meet up when you have the time. Thinking with your profession in mind that might be far down the road…

Robin: …Maybe. But I make due with what I have. If you want to meet I guess the sooner the better. Just tell me—who am I looking for out in this insane world?

JohnandMary: Military man with an eye-patch. Trust me—I stick out in the world. If you can make it, meet me out on the East Park Beach tonight around…twelve?

That late?

Robin: Why then?

JohnandMary: Told you—I'm a military man. I wake up at the crack of dawn for work and by time I take a break the sun is long since gone. But if you're uncomfortable with the time—I mean, you always hear about these creeps drawing kids in over the internet and then kidnapping them to rape or kill or torture when they ask to meet. If you're afraid, that's fine with me.

Obviously this guy didn't know him too well.

Robin: The time is fine, just don't be late. I hate tardy people.

JohnandMary: An army man tardy? You don't know what they do to you in the military if you're late. Everything in my world is well-timed, long thought-out, and precise so that the exact goal is achieved. You will see me at "exactly" O hundred hours. Not a minute late or early. What about you?

Robin: I like to be early. Gives me time to prepare.

JohnandMary: For what, an ambush?

Robin: Maybe...You have to remember, I know nothing about you.

JohnandMary: Then ask something.

Robin: …How did you meet my parents?

JohnandMary: I was John's neighbor when he was a kid. We grew up together and I came to his wedding and all that jazz. If you have a picture of their wedding, I'm his best man.

No way…that and Robin didn't have a picture or their wedding. That was one thing he had accidentally left in Gotham and was too stubborn to pick up (having left upset with Bruce). Now he really regretted that.

Robin: …When was I born?

JohnandMary: Ask something harder, boy. You were born the first day of Spring.

Okay—there was no way in hell just anybody knew that. That was Robin's best kept secret—even Alfred and Bruce had a hell of a time getting that out of him. They had to check his birth certificate up on that and he had that with him now.

Robin: Alright…Middle name?

JohnandMary: After your father—John.

Robin: I mean, what was it going to be?

JohnandMary: Mary—if you were a girl. That or Ray if you had been a guy and John didn't suit you.

Hold did this guy know all of that information? Either he had access files to everything in the world (which really only the Justice League and Batman had), or…he really knew them. But Robin couldn't jump to conclusions—he couldn't afford to. If this guy was just some stalked then he'd beat him up and thro whim in jail when they met. If not…then maybe Robin wasn't exactly as alone as he though he was in the world anymore. It was…frightening.

JohnandMary: Is there anything else you'd like to know or am I starting to freak you out? You'll have to tell me because I can't exactly see your face.

Robin: …Why are you really doing this? I mean, if I'm taking up your time then just go.

JohnandMary: No—I honestly want to get to know you. Being family-less like you is kind of the connecting point that really made me want to talk to you, get to know you as family or something like that. I only wish I had tried this earlier, but my family died around the same time your mother and father did.

Robin: And how did your family die?

JohnandMary: Murdered—just like yours.

…Harsh. But wasn't that the way everyone went now-a-days? Natural causes of death had competition now with homicidal killers. Heart attack? No—you're not that lucky. The insane guy across the street with a shotgun and skinning knife got dibs on you first…

Robin: I'm sorry to hear that.

JohnandMary: -laughs again- Don't be. We've been in the same boat for so long that it's all in the past now.

Robin: And have I ever met you before?

JohnandMary: Yes, and I think you will recognize me when we meet.

Robin: Oh really.

JohnandMary: Don't act so smug. You will know me when you see me. It's just been so long that we've meet that you won't really remember until you see me with your own two eyes. But again, if you're afraid I'll understand entirely. This can take as long as you like.

Robin: No, I'll just remember to bring my weapons with me.

JohnandMary: Ha—you do that. But for now I must leave. Tonight I will see you—yes?

Robin: …Yes.

-Authors-

Victor: Exciting—I hope so. Things are heating up again! And I know that this is taking so long to write. You have no idea how hard it is to write a story with three other people…I guess that's why it's called a challenge. And to answer a question of who's writing this (as in typing)…Alex writes most of it but everyone writes what suits this. Today, the lovely beginning part with the game and Robin's eyesight getting blown out goes to Insaneiac the Maniac. (Thunderous applause). Oh—and all those questions answered about Robin are true. We found that out the long, researching, hard way…

Until again,

The Authors