Back, once again, with your story folks! (Sorry that I left you hanging for awhile!) This chapter might be a bit short and slightly boring, but that's only because it sets the stage for another major battle between...guess who? Robin and Slade! Hurrah! This time, however, the setting is in another place that happens to mean a lot to Robin. Two hints (let's see if you can get it!): it's a place you would never want to go into at night, especially alone, and also, there are two people there of significant importance though they say and do nothing.
Insanity 101: Yeah...that was a little heartless...But I agree, it is a shame, how the "bonding" thing between Robin and Bruce was going so well, and then...well, you know...Raven's dream was pretty fun to write; nice and dark. My favorite. And as for Slade's line, that was directed toward Robin. Hence, the little thing with Starfire. As for the movies...heh, heh, heh...my friends and I have this dorky little club. We call ourselves the "movie geeks." The horror movies were for our first meeting, and we got really freaked (One of my friends got really paranoid after we watched "Final Destination" and spent an hour-from two to three-looking around the room for possible, twisted ways that could kill her.) Well, anyway, here's your update!
Remix17: First off, I would just like to say that I appreciated all of your reviews! I logged onto my email a couple nights ago and found that most of the stuff on there was from you. Thanks so much! And yes-Raven's dream/vision thing was cool to write. It's very foreboding...And the crazy nurse! Ha, ha! I laughed so hard when I read that. Yes...stupid woman, even if I did write her...Starfire's condition shall remain on the edge here, though, until later on when the story has the right twist to make it switch back to her, so, no promises there. Sorry if it's killing you. Last, but certainly not least, is Holocaust and Slade. Ah...the last scene that involves both of them will be enjoyable to write...Catch ya later!
Kazzy103: Oh, the evilness of a cliffhanger and the ranting reviewers...it brings a tear to my eye and joy to my heart. Hurrah. Now, you weren't the only one who asked about Slade's comment. I thought it was directed toward Robin, which is why Slade went after one of his friends, though now that you bring it up, I'd like to know what you think! Maybe your comments could help develop part of the plot later down the line. It would be very helpful! As for Holocaust...could he cause a problem for Slade? Or is it exactly what Slade wants him to do? Thought provoking, no?
Griever5: "All the characters are in character..." LOL. Thanks for reading-I hope you continue to drop by and review from time to time!
Azarathangel: (Sweeps into a bow.) Thank you, thank you, I'll be here for the next couple years or so...- BTW: "Lost in the Storm" is a totally freakin' awesome story that you had better update on soon! (New chapter on "Alone in the Dark," will be up soon, too!) Cheers! -A-
Pickles12: (Gasps in awe too.) You mean I was right! Amazing! LOL. Yeah, but anybody who reads a lot of stories about Robin usually stumbles across one that explains his past. If you don't understand Rob's past and I bring something up that may confuse you, just let me know and I'll send you an email explaining it...or something like that...a better person to ask would probably be Alexnandru Van Gordon, but I think I've got the basic idea. Thanks for your review and your compliment. Say hi to Spud for me!
Sarah Shima: Riveting? My work? Really? Well...thanks! I'm so glad that you like this! I hope you keep reading, because, to be honest, I'm always thrilled when I see new reviewers. Enjoy this next chapter! (BTW: Chapter Three on "Alone in the Dark," should be up soon! Just thought I'd mention it...)
Jewel-Gurl73: Oh no! You're gonna die of a heart attack too! That's the second person in a month! LOL. But Robin will keep on fighting...that is, until later on in Chapter 2,304 where...(JK.) I feel strangely happy today, and that's saying a lot. Whoa...But! That is not the point! However, yes, the 'S' medallion will prove to be very useful towards a certain masked psychopath, leading into the next major battle between master and apprentice! As for Starfire? Well...hang in there, you'll see. And, lastly, before I forget: No. I didn't quote Legolas on accident. Red dawns are actually a sign of superstition implying that blood was spilled that night...unless it's like a sunset or something...because then the blood would be spilled during the day...oh well. Enjoy the chapter!
Asilla: Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Yes, I am evil-and I love it! It's okay that you didn't review though. No one could log in for awhile...that drove me nuts...caused me brain fever, actually...(JK.) And to answer your question, no; I didn't change my name. I'm still Rebel, and I'm still with ya! (BTW: I dropped by on your profile to see your Danny Phantom stuff, and-even though I can't wait to check out the DP fics-I can't understand why you stopped writing. Why is that? Unless you don't want to answer; I'm just curious. Cheers!
Once again, thank you all for the reviews!
Chapter Thirteen: Anger Management
Robin-
"How can you say that!" The teen hero roared at his mentor. "You make it sound like there's nothing we can do to help them! Well you're wrong! We can do something!"
"Richard-"
"Don't call me that!"
"That's that name your parents gave you, and it's what I'm going to call you whether you like it or not!"
Robin glared furiously at Bruce, wishing more than anything that he could slug him in the stomach. Somehow, he managed to restrain his temper and said in a tight, repressed voice:
"Look: I came to you for a reason. We need your help."
"With what?" Bruce retorted.
"My friends, what do you think? I thought that maybe, you being rich and all, you could at least move them from Jump to Gotham, so they can be safe and receive more advanced treatment. You've even said that-"
"Ri-Robin. I can't do that."
"Why not! You have so much money you don't even know what the hell to do with half of it, or so you said before! Can't you just use a little to-"
"No."
Robin clenched his hands into tight fists, nails digging through his gloves and into his palms.
"You're not giving me a good enough reason why. Give me one example of why you-"
"Because I was afraid of this!" Bruce snapped, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Problems like this happen in this profession only too many times! You team up with someone, you get too attached to them, and before you know it, their lives are in jeopardy, and you 'need this, in order to save them,' or something like that! Emotional relationships that continue to grow over time always turn out to be burdens-"
But he just kept digging his grave even deeper, based off the enraged and hurt expression that flinched across Robin's face at these words.
"They're a burden?" He whispered, as though unable to believe what he was hearing. "Bruce, I'm your son! What am I to you? Just a distraction? I-I-"
Batman tried to repair the damage he had done, but everything came out clumped together, and he couldn't get the right words out. Meanwhile, Robin began ranting again.
"So, did you ever really care about me? Or did you just take me in out of pity?"
"Robin, I-that's not what I meant and-you know what I'm trying to say, and-"
If Richard would just listen...
"Did you take me in because you knew my parents? Or was it because you couldn't stand being the only one you knew who had witnessed his parents deaths and didn't do anything about it!"
That did it.
Both of them froze, Robin with a mixed look of satisfaction and horror, whereas Bruce went stiff as a board, eyes a frigid blue.
"Get out."
Robin's disgust at what he said disappeared in an instant and he turned with a derisive snort, muttering:
"Don't worry; I'm already gone."
And so he was, the large doors at the end of the hall swinging shut behind him.
Beast Boy-
"Wow..."
From their hiding place on the stairs, he and Raven watched Batman depart angrily, rubbing his temples.
"Was that what I think it was about?"
"Starfire and Cyborg? Definitely."
"But...what did Robin mean when he was talking about somebody's parents dying?"
Raven shook her head, just as confused as Beast Boy was.
"I don't know...there's not much you can tell about a guy like Robin. He's good at keeping his emotions concealed and under control. Even I can't tell what he's thinking about sometimes."
Beast Boy gnawed thoughtfully on his thumbnail which had conveniently lengthened to a tiger's claw.
"That was some fight. I've never seen Robin blow up that badly before, except that one time where I said that he was acting like S-"
"I know, Beast Boy. I know."
"...What are we going to do? Batman has, like, kicked Robin out of the house-not that he seemed too mad about going-and we're stuck here while Slade's doing whatever nastiness he's been planning for so long back in Jump, and that psycho fire guy's still running around. I don't know if you've noticed, but the two of us are pretty helpless."
"Not quite."
"Huh?"
"Nothing, nothing...just thinking...hungry?"
Beast Boy, taken aback by the change in topic, could only nod blankly, while Raven led him downstairs. Alfred was in the kitchen, polishing silver, though he stood when they entered, bowing again.
"Hello again, young sir and lady. Can I assist you in anyway? I'm sorry to say that you missed breakfast with Master Bruce. He and Master Dick had a-well, I have no doubt that you heard their argument."
The butler paused a moment, reserving a brief look of grief for his employer, before turning back to the rows of forks in front of him. Raven interrupted again, with:
"Alfred? Who's Master Dick?"
"Quite sorry; perhaps the name Richard is more familiar to you, madam?"
Raven and Beast Boy exchanged bemused looks.
"Err, no, sorry."
A single line creased Alfred's brow.
"Are you certain? I was quite sure that Master Richard had told you of his past."
Beast Boy began to catch on, though.
"Robin? His real name is Richard?"
Now it was Alfred's turn to look puzzled.
"You were not aware of that?"
"Nope."
The two Titans leaned forward eagerly.
"Maybe you could tell us about Robin? I mean-" Beast Boy put on what he thought was a look of pure innocence, even if it didn't fool anyone. "-We hardly get the chance to talk, with him being so busy pursuing the road of justice and righteousness and...and..."
Beast Boy paused, trying to think of another word large enough to sound impressive. The British man raised a white eyebrow, but said finally:
"Well...I suppose it would not hurt for you to learn a little about the history of your leader." The butler picked up his rag and began rubbing a knife thoughtfully. "I think it all began several years when he was only seven or eight...he and his parents were acrobats in Haley's Circus..."
Holocaust-
The lair was empty when he got back, hands still coated with blood; it dripped off his hands, leaving trails on the black floor.
Hmm. That was strange. Where was Slade?
And yet-who cared? The more that psychopath was gone, the more time he spent by himself, without getting the feeling that he always needed to watch his back...It also gave him some time to think and plot how he was going to get rid of Slade with the least amount of energy as possible. There was always burning, but Holocaust felt that one, a simple flame wouldn't be enough to kill the man, and two, there wouldn't be much of a sense of accomplishment behind it.
He could become known world-wide among the villain population if he killed Slade, replacing him as one of the head criminals...and yet, he felt that it was required he do it in a way that would be remembered for generations to come.
Holocaust approached Slade's "throne," glancing this way and that in a bored sort of manner, though he was secretly assuring himself that his "partner" wasn't about to jump out of the shadows and attack him.
The demon sank into the other man's chair, resting his heels on the desk in front of him. The plan was taking too long to be put into action and, needless to say, it was pissing him off. Why did Slade insist that everything be taken with slow, cautious steps and careful contemplation of their every move. Maybe, if Slade was gone long enough, Holocaust could form one of his own ideas to destroy Jump, and then get Slade out of his way, and then-
"And what do you think you are doing?" Asked a familiar, cold voice from behind him. The fire-thrower flung himself out of the chair, turning to face Slade who regarded him with immense dislike.
"Uh-well, you see, I just came in and was tired-you know, from killing a bunch of people and then blowing a few buildings, and then-I-you see-"
"Save the excuses," Slade interrupted swiftly, sitting down in the chair himself. It took Holocaust a great deal of self-control not to blast the arrogant asshole right then and there. Instead, he gritted his teeth and said stiffly:
"Apologies. My mistake."
Slade shrugged in an uncaring way.
"Did you get the francium?"
"Err...no...they didn't have any, even though you claimed they did."
Holocaust couldn't resist the smug sensation as he jabbed at the masked man's confidence, but it faded almost instantly as Slade turned to look at him slowly.
"Did you say something?" He asked in a soft, dangerous voice. Holocaust gulped and shook his head furiously.
"Good. I suggest you visit another storehouse. It's more heavily guarded than the others you've been to, though I know for a fact that they have a large supply of francium stored there."
Holocaust nodded to show he was listening.
"Where is it?"
"...Gotham City...the place you'll be visiting goes by the name of 'Wayne Enterprises.' It'll be simple for you to break into, if what you say about your powers is true..."
Holocaust nodded proudly and readied himself to leave, when-
"Oh, and before I forget; If you're interested, the three remaining Titans are there, in case you feel up to a bit more fighting."
Holocaust perked up at this bit of news.
"Really?"
"Yes...I suggest going after the Goth girl and the green boy. They should be quite easy to get rid of."
"What about...what's his face...? Robin! That's it! What about him? You want me to destroy him too?"
Slade turned his back to the demon, gazing at blank white screens, another tactic that never failed to weird Holocaust out.
"No. I'll take care of him. Trust me..."
Slade-
The mastermind watched over the small video-camera as Holocaust departed, before switching off his robot replica. The demon wasn't as important as what he was busy with now: Taking back what was rightfully his.
With a tight grin stretching across his face behind his mask, Slade turned his tracker on and started down the back streets of Gotham City, stalking his prey...
Let the games begin.
To be Continued...
See? Told ya. Relatively boring chapter. But what's coming next should be good. Just give me some time to talk with my mother (as I mentioned above) so we can work out a deal about my "Internet privileges" (her words, not mine) and let me post on some of my other stories. It's been awhile since I took a look at "Thieves and Heroes," and there seem to be some positive reviews coming in on "Alone in the Dark." And then there's some other stuff I have to consider...Oh, and one more thing...
SCHOOL'S OUT, SCHOOL'S OUT, SCHOOL'S OUT, SCHOOL'S OUT! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!
Over and Out:
Rebel-Aquarius