Allow Me to Live Like You
Alexnandru Van Gordon
Beast Boy: (Sticks head in through doorway, gazing around to find no one in the room.) He he he…With Alex finishing his outline for tomorrow's English Essay, I can fix his story… (Sits down at desk and begins typing…)…
—Once upon a time there were five teenaged heroes named the Teen Titans—led by none other than Batman's old sidekick Robin! Then along came an evil man named Slade, a crazy old cougar who wanted to take over the world and make Robin his apprentice (O.o?). Well, they had many battles and finally Slade kidnapped Starfire—but then Robin chases after him, knocks him out, and saves Starfire! Slade goes to jail and the Titans all celebrate! Batman allows Robin to stay in Jump City and they all lived happily ever after—
Alex: (Walking in just then, freezes) Beast Boy!
Beast Boy: EEK! What are you doing in here? I thought you were writing your outline—and hey…shouldn't a sick person be in bed? -.-…
Alex: (Trying hard to remain calm) I was! I write for a living, kid—I'm finished. And besides—this is my room! My bed is in here!
Beast Boy: Oh… O.O Well then…I was just…You see…I…
Alex: (Arms crossed, an eyebrow raised) How do you guys get out of the computer, anyway? And why? You're ruining the story by being omniscient.
Beast Boy: Dude—don't you know the cartoon law? If I find a way out, then I can get out. Besides, I forget everything I learned in your world unless you asked me to come. It really bits when the author of a story invites a baddie out, though…
Alex: (Suddenly changing subject) Well… Go back to cartoon land…place…world…I don't know what you call your home. Just go back so I can write this sequel.
Beast Boy: Already? You shouldn't have ended the last one with Slade kidnapping Starfire and destroying the evidence. Now we won't have much proof that Robin didn't go crazy again and actually did that stuff himself.
Alex: My story, kid.
Beast Boy: And stop calling me kid! I'm not too much younger than you.
(Beast Boy exits)
Alex: (Sits down in front of computer and erases what Beast Boy wrote. Then begins typing himself)
Sorry about that. I should really consider putting a lock on my bedroom door, but my mom would have a fit and none of my (cough-cough. Clears throat) clients would be able to get in.
Enough of that! Here is the sequel like I promised and I'm really glad that you guys like it. I'm so happy :) And what do you think of the title? It's something Robin will ponder in the future—and yes! Your worst nightmare about this story is about to come true…Batman… Dun duh duh!
DISCLAIMER: Don't own them, but that doesn't spoil my fun!
CHAPTER ONE: Gotham
"Robin!"
Cyborg knelt next to the limp figure of the spiky-haired leader. His was beaten pretty badly and was a little burned—probably from the explosion. But those bruises…it was just like the last time Robin hallucinated.
"Cy…borg…" Robin muttered, proving that he was still alive.
"Hang in there, buddy." Cyborg said, and lifted him up into his arms. He was pale and light—not that that was new, but he was lighter and deathly white. It surprised him that the kid was still conscious.
Beast Boy ran up to them, stepping carefully around the burning wood that looked like it could have been a long table. Then he switched his form into a horse, and halted beside Cyborg.
"Take him back to the tower." Cyborg instructed, laying his leader down gently on Beast Boy's back. "I'm staying to put out this fire and find out what happened. Maybe I can find Starfire."
Beast Boy neighed—a sound of disapproval. It wasn't safe to stay alone in such a place…especially with all the chaos going on.
"Don't argue with me…" He growled.
-R-
He woke…in the Medical Bay. But at least he wasn't restrained to the bed.
"No! Please…leave her alone…"
"She'll be alone alright. And imagine how she'll feel once she wakes up to find you left her with me…"
"Starfire!" He gasped, and jumped out of bed—knees buckling as he landed. He was still weak, still aching all over… And Starfire was gone.
No one was around, but someone was on the other side of the translucent door—a couple of people were. More than three. Cyborg was arguing with someone, but Robin's didn't hear the person reply, nor did he see the person from where they stood.
Ignoring the argument, he walked toward the other door that led to the hallway. He would have a talk with the visitors after he washed up and changed.
He did just that, taking a cold shower and changing into one of his spare costumes in his room. Then he fumbled with a few of his weapons on the desk, reloading his too-light utility belt with as many batarangs and freeze bombs he could fit. There was no way he was going to be unprepared again.
Fitting his spare Bo-staff into one of the back compartments, he clicked it on around his waist and left his room. The new weight felt right, heavy—taking up about twenty-five percent of his total body weight to make him the mass a kid his age should be. Batman would have a hissy fit if he was at the tower, and Alfred would lock him in his room until he ate a full meal. But how could he eat with Starfire gone?
He lost his appetite.
The voices grew louder as the hallway stretched past the main room. He was interested to know who was in there—sounded like Speedy and…
He stopped in the doorway, too shocked to speak.
-B-
"Anything yet?" The raven-haired girl asked in a monotone voice. She held her communicator in her hand, the half-robot teen talking to her from the other end.
"Sorry. Not yet."
"Keep looking."
"What if she ran—or got lost when she went to look fro Robin. We saw what happened to her on the screen—what if she just got startled and dropped it."
The girl sighed and her shoulders slouched. "Just keep searching. Look around to see if you can find out exactly what happened."
Batman sat on the couch between HW and Speedy, not at all amused. He had seen Robin lying unconscious on Beast Boy's back once he returned from retrieving the missing Titan, and it looked as though his protégé had gone through the Underworld and back again. Whatever happened—it was going to end now.
Batman stood.
"Where are you going?" Speedy asked, both him and HW standing with him.
"We're getting Robin and we're leaving."
"Leaving!" Beast Boy exclaimed, eyes widening at the notion. "Dude—no offense, but I doubt you're going to let him come back. He loves this place, man! He lives off his job!"
"There's plenty of crime in Gotham." He answered coldly, impatient to leave. "The Joker's on the loose again—that should keep him busy for a while."
"He has villains to deal with here too." Raven defended with logic. "He's our leader. None of us are prepared to take his place if he resigns—which he will not anytime soon…"
"That's not for you to decide." Batman argued, trying hard to keep a cool voice. "Now if you don't mind, we'll be leaving soon."
"No way!" Beast Boy stormed up to Batman and pointed a finger up at his face. "You just can't…demote him! He's happy being a leader—and he does one heck of a good job at it! Just talking to you makes me feel sorry for the guy! I bet you're better than Slade at being a control freak!"
"Uh, guys…" HW tried to say.
"Quiet!" Batman snapped. Then he lowered the changeling's finger, towering over him. "I don't know who you kids think you are, but that's just what you are—kids! I'm starting to disagree with the JL about the Teen Titans existing. With the way you children act—how is the day ever safe? I don't know why we even let you children continue!"
"Don't change the subject." Beast Boy growled.
"Guys…"
"—this is about Robin. Care to ask him what he wants to do?"
"Robin's no older than you bunch—"
"Ahem?"
"Maybe he's grown up since last you saw him! Maybe you should talk to him like an equal instead of some sidekick. He isn't your second!"
"He's a kid—like you." He snapped, finally losing it. "And I adopted him. Until he's an adult, I say where he goes and what he does—and right now he's returning to Gotham with me!"
Then he turned around swiftly, Speedy and HW hot on his heels. He looked up at the doorway—and froze.
Robin stood in the entrance, eyes a little wide, mouth slightly opened. He was in shock…and it hurt Batman to see him that way. He was so small and yet so strong…but he looked so innocent the way he stood as though he was held up by a single string tied around his throat. Broken. It was easy to say Robin had heard the whole thing and was anything but less than deeply wounded by his words.
"Robin…" Batman was lost at words. There was no use trying to explain.
Don't run. He prayed. Please don't run…
Robin turned and walked out of view slowly—and Batman went after him. The moment he was out of sight he heard his steel-toe boots clank on the floor at a running pace.
-R-
Gotham. He never expected to hear about that place again unless in case of an emergency.
"Thanks…I guess."
"I know you want to go, and…I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so controlling."
"No…even I need a push or two then and again. And yes…it would be nice to go."
"So, you're going for good, then?"
"But I'll always be a call away in case you need my team."
He sped up the pace, catching sight of Batman just before turning the corner. He never thought he would ever be the one to run from the Dark Knight—and definitely not like this. This was just too much. Everything was going from bad to worse…to worse…to worse…
He sprinted toward the door, opening it just in time as he sensed the hand reaching for his cape. He was out the door in the heartbeat, leaping down the rocks toward the beach with Batman hot on his heels.
How could he do this to him? After all they had been through—why? It was so…so…—it was plain betrayal! That's what it was!
"Robin!" Batman yelled.
Ignoring him, he flipped sideways to the left—barely dodging the lung Batman made to grab him. The guy might be older, stronger, and wiser, but Robin grew up in a circus. He knew moves some people wouldn't dare try.
"Stop this!" Batman ordered, a tad bit of fury evident in his voice. "Now is not the time for games!"
"I'm not going!"
Slipping around a large rock, he headed back toward the tower and dashed in through the doorway just as Batman made a second lunge. He was about to slam the door when he was suddenly shocked—literally! His hair stood on end for a second, and the last thing he saw was a girl wearing a mask identical to his standing before him with the palm of her hand aimed at him.
He slid into a sitting position against the door, and his vision faded.
-HW-
She cringed in shame. "Oops. I didn't mean to hurt him that badly. Guess I've been storing too much electricity."
Speedy patted her on the shoulder and laughed. "He'll live. His girlfriend did worse the first time he went loco."
She narrowed his eyes at Speedy and knelt before Robin. "I think someone's doing this to him. I doubt he's crazy."
"Look at how drastic he was acting. Stress does things to a person."
"So does disbelief." She muttered, taking off her glove. She placed two fingers on his throat to make sure his heartbeat was regular. "When no one believes you once, the others follow and soon you're trapped."
"Trapped?"
"He'll be telling the truth all along and everyone will suffer because they won't listen. Remember when we escorted that green kid to the Medical Bay with Robin? He muttered: Slade… He's trying to save his friends."
Speedy rolled his eyes, just as stubborn as ever. "How many times do you have to hear it—that Slade guy is a hundred percent dead! There are witnesses."
"No there aren't. No one actually fall into the lava or saw any body part of him besides the mask. He could have just dropped it."
The door swung opened slowly and HW grabbed the front of Robin's shirt to keep him sitting. Batman must have known they would head him off if he returned inside the building.
Kneeling before entering, he scooped Robin up into his hands and stood, passing by HW and Speedy without a word. They knew when not to push his buttons and now was one of those times. But, no matter if they were quite or not, the ride home was going to be hell.
"Come on." Batman said in a demanding voice and they followed.
They started down the hallways and were stopped at the elevator were Beast Boy stood determined. Arms crossed, frown placed, he wasn't going to budge an inch.
"I said I'm taking Robin and that's final."
"Oh, I know." He replied arrogantly. "And I'm going too."
HW couldn't believe this. "What?!"
"I think Slade could still be alive too." He explained. "And Robin's the only one Slade would go after. If Slade's alive, I want to be with Robin when we find him to take him down. He took away someone very special to me."
His ears drooped and HW felt sorry for him. Didn't someone always lose a person close to their heart? She actually remembered reading up on Beast Boy, the green changeling whose real name was Garfield Logan…or something like that. The rest of his family was dead…
"And what about Jump City?" Batman inquired, not as angry as he was before.
"Raven said she'd handle that. Besides, when Starfire and Cyborg return, three Titans should be enough to keep the crime level here at a minimal."
There was a hesitation. Then Batman walked around Beast Boy and stood in the elevator, HW and Spy following.
"Get over here. I don't have all day to get back to Gotham."
-A-
Sorry if this one is short. I promise to make future ones longer—I actually have the full rough drafts for a couple of the last chapters written out because I got a great idea for them. My problem is setting up everything to attach them to those chapters. (Sigh) I guess I have another writer's block and it doesn't help with the stress of thinking I might be moving to America next year. America's a great place—went there for summer vacation a couple of times—but I want to finish high school in plain old Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where all my friends are. When I'm an adult I'll go to the states for university or college. But when you consider the weather right now by my house (minus 50 degrees Celsius—burr!), America sounds pretty warm around this time of the year.
-And they defeated Slade—
Alex: BEAST BOY!!!
Beast Boy: O.O Sorry (runs and hides)
Alex: (Clears throat)
-Until next time
-Alexnandru Van Gordon