Chapter 17: Death
Silence proceed Slade's last words. Robin was thinking fast, what did Slade mean by 'We will be in touch, Nightwing'?
"Robin? What are you doing here?" Cyborg cut through his thoughts.
"He is here on my invitation" Raven stepped forward,
"You invited him? Wait, you don't believe the bull he has been feeding you, do you?" Nightwing joined the argument
"Yes, I do. And even if he was a criminal, we still need him."
"Why do we need him?" Beastboy stepped forward "We have Nightwing. We don't need another leader!"
"Nightwing isn't…." Raven sighed, she didn't want to go into that right now "We need Robin to help us take down Slade. He knows Slade best. His strengths and weaknesses."
"How do we know that he won't turn against us and start working for Slade again?" Cyborg moved in closer so that, he, Raven, Robin and Beast Boy were in a tight circle, all of them yelling, trying to be heard.
"ENOUGH!" Robin yelled. "Fighting is getting us nowhere."
"Well then what do you propose we do!" Cyborg bellow, just as loudly into Robin's face.
"Please" a feeble voice came from behind them. "I believe that Robin would be most aiding to finding Slade" Everyone turned to look at Starfire who was the only one not in their yelling circle.
"Wait" Robin looked around the room. Counting quickly he came up with five Titans, including himself. That meant, "Where did Nightwing go?"
Everyone spun around to visually search for him.
"He's gone" Raven stated.
OOOOOOOO
Nightwing was panting from running so far so fast. The Titans were sure to quite arguing long enough to find him missing. And they would come looking for him. He knew that by running he had proved his guilt to everyone but he didn't want to take the chance of getting caught after the full story was reviled. So he ran like some common criminal, fled into the night.
OOOOOOOO
"We have to find him!" Beast Boy pointed out.
"No we don't" Robin stated, "You won't be able to find him unless he wants to be found."
"And we should all talk" Raven motioned to the couch, "Robin, tell them exactly what you told me…."
OOOOOOOO
It was nice, but slightly dark. He hadn't been here since he joined the Titans. He hated to admit it but he missed the Tower. And Starfire. Nightwing shook his head, he had only been away a couple of hours, he couldn't think like that, besides he could have any girl he wanted. Why did he need Starfire?
He was in the attic of a nice residential home. Only an aged Grandmother lived below him. Of course she didn't know of her unwanted house guest and that was the way he liked it.
The Red X costume was right where he left it. Tucked behind some boxes so that even if the Grandmother below, came looking up here, the chances of her finding it were small.
Pulling a small black box from his belt, Nightwing twisted the knobs. Static issues from it then,
"Red X took up the part of Nightwing and took my place here, while I rotted away in Arkam"
This was followed by an audible gasp from Starfire. Nightwing switched the box off. Just as he had thought, Robin had told them everything and the game was up. No need to fake it now. Nightwing knew that the listening devises he had planted all over the T-tower would come in handy someday.
Quickly, Nightwing slid the pants of the costume off, then pulled the bullet proof shirt over his head. Next to come off was the mask. The small black mask was quickly replaced by a full face mask bearing the image of a white skull. This was followed by pants, boots, shirt and gloves. And most important, his belt.
Sighing he looked at himself in the dusty full length mirror. It felt good to be back. Tonight Red X would rock this town.
OOOOOOOO
The Titans had been silent the whole time Robin had talked, other than Starfire's many gasps of horror.
"I guess….I owe you an apology" Cyborg didn't look Robin in the eyes, but stuck out his hand. Which Robin grasped.
"So you believe me?"
"Yeah, it all fits so well. That I guess you have to be telling the truth."
"Robin….I am sorry, I did not believe in you" Starfire was floating next to the couch, tears brimming up in her eyes.
Robin got up and pulled Starfire into a hug, "It's Ok Star"
"Yeah dude, sorry" Beast Boy looked at his feet.
"No problem."
"Welcome back, Robin" Raven said and everyone but her ran up and hugged Robin tightly.
"Come on Rae!" Beast Boy shouted from the middle to the group hug.
Sighing Raven got to her feet and put her arms around her team-mates.
"It's good to be back" Robin was grinning from ear to ear.
After reinstating Robin as team leader, Beast Boy started talk about how hungry he was and what was for breakfast.
Starfire who hadn't stopped smiling, offered to make 'the fast break' for Robin. He knew whatever it was Starfire made, wouldn't be the most appetizing thing ever but he couldn't resist the look in her eyes and said,
"Sure"
He and Cyborg where talking about where Nightwing could be now, when Starfire returned with Robin's breakfast. It wasn't alien food, in fact it was normal for her standards. She had brought him cereal complete with milk. On a plate. Milk dripped from the sides onto Robin's uniform. Starfire looked at Robin hopefully.
"It looks great Star" he said picking up the fork she had given him and taking a bite. She squealed in delight a flew away to make some more food.
OOOOOOOO
Red X sighed looking in the mirror.
"What shall we steal tonight?" he asked the image of himself, "If I steal some jewels and sell them, I could get out of this dump and buy a mansion, girls falling over me. And I wouldn't have to steal anymore….nah, I don't think I could give up this life"
The sound of clapping came from behind him, followed by a voice of pure evil.
"That is what I like to hear, my boy."
Red X watched in the mirror as a tall figure emerged from the shadows. He knew who this man was at once, everyone knew who he was, criminal or not. It was almost an honor to meet him.
"I must admit that even I was impressed how long you fooled the Titans into believing your little charade."
'Slade thought he did a good job? This guy had been like, his hero.' Red X almost laughed at the last thought, 'Slade, a hero?'
X chose wisely to hide is adoration of Slade.
"How did you know I was Nightwing?"
"Very little happens without my knowledge"
"Why are you here? What do you want?"
"You know first hand I believe, how…difficult Robin can be to capture"
"I could have caught him anytime I wanted" Red X protested.
"Few men are open to conviction, but the majority of men to persuasion"
"Are you proposing a deal?"
"A partnership. You get Robin, I cut you in on my plans and you will be allowed to help me or I give you a plane ticket to a privately owned island, complete with enough women to keep you happy for years to come."
Red X smiled, it was a bargain to great to pass up "For future reference, I like red-heads"
"Very well" Slade fought to hide his displeasure at having to work with this…toe-rag, he needed Red X just to return his property, namely Robin, then the filth would be disposed of. Yes, he could get Robin on his own but attacking the tower was out of the question. He wanted Robin on his own, without his pathetic friends to save him. And Robin was too smart to be lured out on his own, now that he knew Slade was back. "You know what I want. Once you have apprehended him, bring Robin back to me. I want him alive"
Red X nodded then turning disappeared into the shadows.
OOOOOOOO
Blankets were neatly placed on the couch. This was where Robin was going to sleep until they cleared out Nightwing's bedroom. Cyborg had never made extra rooms thinking it would only be the five titans who would live in the tower.
Starfire had gone to great lengths to make sure that the sheets were perfect. She seemed to be trying to make up for not believing in Robin, and she still hadn't said a word about Nightwing.
The makeshift bed had been untouched all night. Robin was up and pacing as he always did when he had to many thoughts jumbled in his brain. The image of Slade flickered in his mind and the haunting words 'I am not here for you. I am calling for Robin.' Rang in his head.
That couldn't mean, Slade didn't want him as an aprentence again. Robin shivered at the thought.
"Robin?" The Boy Wonder had been so deep in thought, that he jumped he was addressed from behind, "It's almost midnight you should be in bed by now"
"I know Cyborg, I just needed to think. And shouldn't you be in bed?"
Cyborg motioned to the metal part of his body "Don't need to, I'm already juiced up"
Robin sat down on the end of the couch, resting his face in his hands. Cyborg sat down next to him, as much as he hated to admit it, Robin looked tired and…..weak. He looked human. It was an easy thing to forget, that Robin was human.
Robin looked up at Cyborg, "I think you're right. I do need some sleep" he sighed, "Good Night Cy"
Cyborg took the hint and got up, "Night Robin" He watched from the doorway as Robin got into bed and pulled the covers over himself.
Robin waited for the thud of Cyborg's metal footsteps to fade before getting to his feet again. Like he could sleep when Slade was out there on the loose, maybe even now planning god knows what.
Robin, then noticed how lonely he was, no sound came from anyone in the tower. It was almost eerily quite. Now Robin wished Cyborg was here to talk to. Anyone for that matter, the calm was unnerving him. He stopped his pacing for a moment listening for anything that was out of the ordinary, still no sound.
Robin let out a cry that was muffled by a cold cloth being pressed over his nose and mouth. Batman had taught him to take a deep breath when ever you where caught off guard from behind. This way you would have enough oxygen to fight back. But by taking a deep breath Robin had unknowingly taken in the fumes of chloroform, a drug often used to knock people out for a few hours, without hurting them.
The Boy Wonder struggled feeling weaker by the second. He yanked and clawed at the hand holding him. Thinking of what Batman had taught him when in a hold like this.
'Twist to the side and elbow to the ribs of your attacker, then…' before he could put anything into motion darkness blurred his vision and fog filled his brain.
OOOOOOOO
It was almost laughable, Robin: The Boy Wonder, caught in his own tower, without even putting up a good fight. How that would enrage him when he found out about it. But then again he would probably be feeling sorry for himself, stuck with Slade and all. Red X caught Robin as he fell backwards, out like a light. This had been easy, almost too easy. He had expected more out of him, after all Slade couldn't seem to hold onto him for more than a few days. Maybe Slade wasn't such a tuff guy after all. Red X picked Robin up in his arms and quietly crept down the stairs, to the basement and out the secret tunnel. Now all he had to do was hand the boy over to ol' one eye and he was off to babes and sun.
It seemed as if this city had a never ending supply of dark, old abandoned warehouses that Slade occupied. Red X's arms began to tier, Robin weighed alot for how small he was.
'Must be the muscle' Red X thought. He walked into the middle of the warehouse, Slade stood half in shadow a few feet away. X deposited Robin unceremoniously on the floor.
"Here he is, Now where is…"
"Ahh yes" Slade stepped forward, in his hands he held a small rectangular slip of paper. "Our deal".
Red X eyed Slade. He didn't like the way his one eye seemed to glint with glee.
"Your ticket. One way" he handed them to Red X, "I trust you will find everything in…order" Slade laughed, his cold mirthless laugh. X suppressed a shudder as he took the plane ticket from Slade.
"Yeah" Red X nodded, and stepped back into the shadows.
After making sure the criminal was gone, Slade returned to Robin. The boy was laying sprawled on his stomach. Slade kicked him over with his steel toed shoe. Kneeling down next to Robin, Slade pulling him up by the front of his shirt so they where face to face.
"I really expected better of you, Robin. To think I thought of you as a threat to me. You couldn't even take on someone as pathetic as Red X" he let the unconscious Robin drop to the floor. The boy's head hit the cement floor with a sickening thud.
"If you had listened to me from the beginning, let me train you" Slade continued getting to his feet, "We could have been great, the world would have cowered at our feet. Power. The grim idol that the world adores. You could have been as powerful as I, but you chose your friends over me. A choice you will soon regret"
"Sir?" the old figure of Slade's stooping servant Wintergreen, entered from a door to the right. "Red X has entered the airport, he is due to board the plane in a few minutes now"
"Very good, I am going to watch. While I am gone you are to watch over this" he poked Robin in the ribs with his foot, "Make sure if he wakes up, that he doesn't get away"
"Yes sir"
Slade watched as Wintergreen took hold of Robin's arms and began to pull him into the room the servant had come from. Once they where out of sight, Slade set off at a fast walk. It would take a few minutes by car to get to his private airport but running would be faster still.
The run was incredibly uneventful; Slade wasn't even out of breath as he entered the small terminal. Staying out of sight he watched as Red X was escorted onto the small jet. Then he waited, the jet took of and soon was out of sight. After minutes of waiting a greasy haired, oily man stepped up next to Slade.
"It's done, sir. The bomb detonated; there is no sign of survivors. We double cheeked Red X was on the plane at the time of the explosion"
"Good" Slade smiled behind his mask "and tell the pilots remaining family that Mr. Wilson regrets their loss"
The man nodded then back away.
Reviews:
Genaric Person: But Red X is so much fun to write evil!
Alexnandru Van Gordan: -sneaks into Robin's house, steals the journal-whoa that was easy. -does happy dance- now Vicky has to worship me! And your not getting it back...unless...you co-write a story with me! Joking jk! Anyway, you have no idea how helpful Slade's Tale was on getting Slade right. Now why are you reading this? Go update! Shoo!
Jeanniestorm: I think you might be right with the whole 'friend' thing. Ohh well, it isn't like the fate of the world rests on that right? -random person wispers in my ear- WHAT! IT DOES! Ok sorry I had waaaaay to much caffine today.
Shadow0015: Darn! You found me out. I am just seeing if you are on your toes or not. lol Nope no Terra (thank god!). All the character have now been introduced. Bet you find at least 1 mistake in here. When I was proof reading I found more baddies than I have in any other chapter.
A/N: Whew, that took a long time to write. Quick quistion, a woman I ride with who sort of watchs TT said, "you know you act alot like Robin" I was about to say something, then she said, "And that isn't a complement" anyone know what she meant by that? We aren't best friends or anything but I have tried to be nice to her...