Chapter 2: Learning To Fly
"Wow …"
That was all Ron could say as the limo pulled up the front of the intimidating, stately Wayne Manor.
"I do hope Master Timothy hasn't destroyed the home," Alfred Pennyworth sighed as he opened the door of the limo for Ron and Bruce to exit the car.
"We … live here?" Ron gasped, looking up at the towering mansion.
"Last I checked, Master Ronald," Alfred smiled lightly at the youth, before turning to Bruce, "I shall get Master Ronald's things and take them to his bedroom, Sir," Alfred said, moving toward the trunk of the limo.
"Well, let's get you inside," Bruce said, walking toward the entrance of the Manor.
Bruce and Ron walked into the Manor, and the younger of the two was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the house.
Bruce smirked at the boy flinching at the suits of armor that lined the main hall. "Something wrong?"
"Nah, just me and KP had some bad experiences with idiots dressed in those before, wasn't fun," Ron shrugged.
"I've already told the others that you're coming, and when they found out who you were, they seemed anxious to meet you," Bruce explained as they continued on in the dark, somewhat creepy manor. "Your and your friend's popularity is more widespread than you know."
Ron blushed slightly, "I was just the decoy. She's the hero."
"Such is the mark of a hero," Bruce stated matter-of-factly.
They finally reached the end of the hall and stood before large double doors, "This is the living room," Bruce said as he opened the door, and the two walked into the large circular room. The center was lowered, making couches with two sets of steps on either side of the indention, with a very large television in the center. What caught Ron's eye was a young man and woman on one of the couches. The boy had dark hair and appeared as though he was around Ron's height. He was laying down with the blond-headed, quite pretty girl laying on top of him, both kissing each other feverously.
Bruce cleared his throat, "I see you've been keeping a good eye on the house, Tim."
Ron couldn't help but chuckle as the two sprang apart, trying to fix their wrinkled clothes and what they'd unbuttoned. "Bruce!" Tim gasped, his lips a bright pink to match the girl's.
"Don't let him give you any grief, Master Timothy. I have caught HIM in much worse predicaments when he was your age, believe me," Alfred said, walking into the room carrying Ron's suitcases, then proceeding out another door before Bruce could react.
Tim rubbed the lipstick from his lips before approaching Bruce and Ron with the girl quietly behind him. "So, you're my replacement, Ron Stoppable?" Tim asked, stretching out his hand, "The name's Tim Drake." He then made a hand motion to the girl, "This is my fiancé, Greta Hayes."
Bruce's eyebrows went skyward. "Come again?" he asked in pure surprise.
"I asked her to marry me, Bruce," Tim stated, sticking his chest out at being able to pull one on the man who knew all.
"When?" Bruce asked in an icy tone.
"Well, I proposed two hours ago, which you should know, any earlier you'd have found out about it," Tim grinned, "As for the date of the wedding, we figure sometime next summer."
Bruce nodded, "I'll deposit what you need in your account. But you do know Jack probably won't like this."
"So?" Tim shrugged, showing no lost love for his father.
"Congratulations," Ron finally chimed in.
"We'll talk more about that later," Greta broke in, "Ron, I've heard from Tim about what happened. I'm so sorry. Everyone here can sympathize though. The whole 'clan' has lost a family member or two, so we know what the hurt feels like. Bruce helped Tim through the loss of his mother; I'm sure he'll help you too."
Ron looked confused but nodded anyway.
"So, Ron," Tim said, changing from the touchy subjects of lost family members, "Is Kim Possible as hot as they say?" the former Boy Wonder asked, not noticing Greta's scowl.
Ron turned a shade red when another voice broke the conversation again, "New Robin here?" a girl looking somewhat-Chinese in origin and seemed to be around Ron's age stormed into the living room. Her short, dark hair bounced with her steps as she finally laid eyes on Ron, "New Robin!"
"Ron, this is Cassandra Cain, also known as Batgirl. Cassie, this is Ron Stoppable." Bruce introduced as the girl beamed at the new arrival.
"Nice meet you, New Robin," Cassandra grinned, grabbing Ron's hand and shaking vigorously.
"Is Dick here?" Bruce asked coldly.
"Nightwing in cave," Cassandra nodded.
"Ok," Bruce nodded, "Ron, you go get settled in and rest a bit, the rest of you come with me. You have five hours to rest up, then your training begins. Be prepared."
Ron nodded as the group walked out, Cassandra and Greta giving a somewhat sympathetic nod before they followed Bruce and Tim.
"Rufus?" Ron asked as the small rodent popped out of his pocket, "What have we gotten ourselves into?"
---
"Why?"
"Wha?" Ron asked, blinking awake, finding himself in the unfamiliar room Alfred had taken him to.
"Why, Ronnie?"
"Who's there?" Ron asked sitting up in bed.
He glanced to see the pale smiling faces of his parents. "Why did you let us die? Why did you save her parents instead of us? Were the Possibles more important to you than your own family?"
"Mom … Dad … I wanted to save you both … I wanted …"
"No, you wanted to protect the girl who'll never be yours, a futile little dream," his parents spat in unison, " Friendship over family, how could you?"
"How could you?"
"How could you?"
"How could you?"
"I'M SORRY!" Ron cried out, sitting up in bed. He clutched his chest while trying to steady his breathing.
"Good, you're awake," Bruce said from the doorway, making the boy jump. He then turned his back, "Put on something light, it's time to work."
---
"So, you have a gym or a costume closet or something?" Ron asked as he followed Bruce through the Manor.
"Something like that," Bruce said as they approached a large grandfather clock.
Bruce opened the face of the clock and tripped a switch causing the clock to slide to the left, revealing a hidden stairway.
"Whoa …" Ron blanched, "Sweet!"
Bruce didn't reply, but began walking down the stairs. Ron shook his head quickly and followed shortly.
It took them several minutes to make it down the stairs, and Ron was in awe at what he saw. "This is so much cooler than the Ferret Hole!" Ron grinned, looking around his surroundings. The Cave was massive. Several stone or metal platforms stood over an incredibly deep cavern. On one platform was a gigantic penny, a mechanical dinosaur, and various cases of souvenirs of previous adventures. On another was a massive computer system that would make Wade drool. Beside it was a long line of cases with various costumes in each. There was further down a platform with safety guards around it and training equipment and a fighting ring on it. Then there was a larger platform right next to a dark tunnel, on this rested the awe-inspiring, sleek, yet tank-like Batmobile. "Booyah … 'bout all you can say about it …" Ron said in amazement.
"Come on," Bruce said, walking along the catwalk toward the costume cases, where Tim, Greta, Alfred, Cassandra and two others were waiting.
"As you know, you'll not be the first Robin, Ron," Bruce said, stepping before a case with the original Robin costume displayed. "The first was Dick Grayson," he said, nodding toward the taller man in his late twenties with his hair pulled back in a ponytail. His eyes were hidden behind a domino mask, and he was in black body suit with a large blue bird symbol on his chest and shoulders. "He gave up the mantel to become Nightwing. Then came Jason Todd. After him, Tim Drake, who you met, became the third Robin. He quit for a short time, two years ago because of his father, but came back shortly after realizing the error in his own and his father's logic. He finally gave it up for good six months ago to pursue college among … other things." Bruce said, eyeing Tim and Greta.
"This isn't a game, Ron," Bruce continued, "I have been watching you for sometime. You've shown much potential. I'll expect you to take this even more serious as your partnership with Kimberly. Can you do this?"
"Yes sir," Ron nodded.
"There are rules you must follow," Bruce stated, "Rule number 1: Follow the rules without question. Rule number 2: I make the rules."
Ron nodded without hesitation.
"Good," Bruce growled, "We will begin training now; you will train every day. you will stop only to eat and occasional restroom relief, and also three hours sleep, four and a half on weekends, until I deem you ready. Is that acceptable or do you want out?"
"Let's do it." Ron said.
"Your training will consist of mind exercises administered by myself and Barbara Gordon, also known as Oracle." Bruce said, nodding toward a young woman around Dick's age sitting in a motorchair. "You will be giving aerobic techniques and weight training exercises by Nightwing and Tim, then Tim, Cassandra and I will expand on what you have learned of Tai Shing Pek Kwar from your time in Japan as well as transfer the style of fighting you learned with the Lotus Blade over to a non-lethal bo staff. Is that satisfactory?"
"How did you know about what happened in Japan?" Ron's eyes widened.
"I make it my business to know these things," Bruce answered, "And if there are anymore questions, ask them now."
"No, I think I pretty much got the idea."
"Then let us begin."
---
You can laugh, you can feel fire
You can dance with a little twist
---
"Ok, Ron, I want you to open this file," Barbara said as they sat before the Batcomputer.
Ron nodded, moved the mouse, and clicked on the file, but a window opened that said 'enter password'.
"What's the password?" Ron asked, glancing at the woman.
"That's the problem you're to solve."
---
Tell your pretty red head babe
You forget that I exist
---
"Ok, what's your max, Ron?" Tim asked as Ron laid back on the weight bench.
"Um … in PE, I maxed out at around 85 pounds …" Ron blushed.
"Oh boy …" Tim and Nightwing sighed in unison.
"Oh boy, oh boy," Rufus mimicked slapping his forehead dramatically.
---
Can you see yourself in my bed at night?
---
"Ok, follow my lead," Nightwing said as he did a simple aerobic handstand, walked across the large bar, and then flipped off slowly.
"Ok, I can do this!" Ron said and tried to follow his example, but instead rolled over and hit the mat with a thud.
"This is going to be fun," Tim said, looking down on the boy struggling to get up.
"Hnk, ha, loads," Rufus chimed in.
---
Would leave me at the side of the road?
---
"Ok, Let's try some simple twirling first," Tim said, glancing at Bruce, who was observing the two bo-armed young men.
Tim twirled his staff around his body gracefully, making the staff sing in the air.
"Ok, now you try, Ron," Tim smiled.
---
Would you walk right up to me?
Would you talk to me?
---
"Cool, dirt simple," Ron smiled, gripping his staff and beginning slowly to mimic Tim's movements.
Ron was doing perfect until a slip of the wrist caused his staff to twist wrong and go up between his own legs. Bruce and Tim both winced.
"Oh... God …" Ron groaned before he collapsed to the mat face first.
---
I'm already asking
I'm down on my knees
I'm already begging
Begging you please
---
"Look at the file you want to get into, as well as the computer, its location, think about possible passwords," Barbara instructed, "Also think about possible combinations. Take your time and relax, you can get it."
"I'll try …" Ron said, staring at the blinking line.
"Ron get it right," Cassandra said, walking up after taking a shower in the Cave's shower stalls, dressed in only a bath towel, "Ron get kiss."
"Um …um … um …" Ron turned beet red, "heck yeah!" he said turning back to the screen.
---
Can you teach me how to fly? (C'mon)
See I'm scared to die (C'mon)
And we've only just begun to learn to crawl
---
"Are you sure about this?" Ron asked, looking up at the two former Robins.
"Absolutely," Tim nodded.
"It's just double your old max, and if you can't do it, we'll pull it off, but if you do it, we'll sneak you an extra break." Nightwing added.
"Let's do it." Ron said determinedly. But as soon as Dick and Tim let go of the barbell, it came crashing down to the boy's chest and he began screaming like a girl.
"That went well."
---
Can you teach me how to fight? (C'mon)
Would you keep me up all night? (C'mon)
Would you be there on the ground if I should fall?
---
"Ok, let's see, Bruce's computer, wouldn't be something complex, everything else in this place is, so it would be expected to be complex…" Ron mused, not noticing Barbara's, Greta's, and Cassandra's smiles. He then glanced over and saw a movie poster, "Why not?" He said before typing in 'Z-O-R-R-O-enter'.
Ron smiled as the screen said 'access granted'. "BOOYAH!" He shouted, "Now what was that about a kiss, babe?" Ron wiggled an eyebrow, before closing his eyes and leaning his cheek toward Batgirl.
Cassandra chuckled and picked up Rufus and held the naked mole rat to Ron's face, "Here comes."
Ron felt cool lips pressed to his, and after a moment, opened his eyes to see not the Asian beauty but a Mexican rodent.
"RUFUS!" Ron shouted and began to spit and rub his lips, causing the girls to erupt in laughter.
---
I can feel it like the spiders' sting
Like a memory in my mouth
---
"Ok, cartwheel across the bar, Ron," Nightwing instructed, and Ron took a deep breath. He almost made it last time. And he got up early on the weekend for extra practice. 'I AM going to do this," Ron said, running toward the bar and leaping to it.
---
I feel like the morning's fell
Like the bottom's fallen out
---
"One, Two, Three," Ron said at every touch his hands made to the bar, "And dismount!" He said before landing on the other side of the bar.
"Nine point nine five, Ron!" Tim said as he and Nightwing gave him a thumbs-up.
---
I can see what's up there above it all
And down in the valley below
---
"Ninety-five," Tim said, watching Ron struggle to push up the heavy barbell. "Ninety-six, Ninety-seven … just three more, c'mon!"
Ron grunted as he pushed onward. "Ninety-eight, ninety-nine … ONE HUNDRED!" Tim cheered as Ron breathed a sigh of relief while Tim and Nightwing moved the bar to its holders. "One hundred ninety five pounds one hundred times, way to go!"
"Way to go! Way to go!" Rufus parroted from Tim's shoulder.
---
I can walk right up to you
I can talk to you
---
"Deflect Tim's attacks," Bruce ordered as Tim moved in with his staff. The staves sang in the air and clacked as they collided with each other. Bruce nodded as Ron blocked every attack.
"Now take him down, Ron," Bruce instructed.
---
I'm already asking
I'm down on my knees
I'm already begging
Begging you please
---
Ron nodded and went on the offensive with a barrage of strikes before finally knocking the surprised Tim's staff from his hand and spinning his own around behind his opponent, striking him in the back of the knees and knocking his legs out from under him.
"Perfect." Bruce nodded, smirking at the bewildered Tim. "Do it again."
---
Can you teach me how to fly? (C'mon)
See I'm scared to die (C'mon)
And we've only just begun to learn to crawl
---
Ron stood in the middle of the ring as Nightwing, Batgirl, and Tim circled around him.
Nightwing attacked first, but Ron sidestepped his tackle and slapped his back, sending him off balance. The trainee then spun around, kicking at Batgirl, who crossed her arms to block the kick. The impact still sent her back against the ropes. And a quick backhand sent the third Robin on the defensive as well.
---
Can you teach me how to fight? (C'mon)
Would you keep me up all night? (C'mon)
Would you be there on the ground if I should fall?
---
"Good, Ron," a hoarse voice spoke behind the boy, who blinked in surprised when his three opponents seemed to be backing off.
Ron turned to see The Batman glaring at him emotionlessly.
A few months ago, when the training began, he would have been intimidated beyond rational thought, but, while he still felt the intimidating presence, after what he'd already been though, he really didn't give a damn anymore.
"Bring it on, pointy ears," Ron smiled, taking a Monkey Kung-Fu fighting stance.
The master and the student jumped at each other, trading punches and kicks that hit nothing but air. The rest of the Bat-clan gathered around the ring, watching the sparing session in amazement. It looked more like a graceful dance than a bare-bones fight.
While it was obvious The Bat was holding back, it was also obvious there wasn't a lot being restrained.
---
Can you teach me how to fly? (C'mon)
See I'm scared to die (C'mon)
And we've only just begun to learn to crawl
---
The Dark Knight's eyes widened as one of Ron's feet brushed his nose just barely, and quickly blocked a backhanded punch.
The Batman leapt toward his student with every intention of taking him down, but was given one of the few moments that he felt surprise.
---
Can you teach me how to fight? (C'mon)
Would you keep me up all night? (C'mon)
Would you be there on the ground if I should fall?
---
The observers' jaws all dropped in unison as Batman's head twisted to the left from the force of Ron's heel colliding with his cheek, causing blood and spit to soar across the ring before the Bat hit the ground.
"Holy shit, Batman!" Nightwing gasped as the Batman crouched in the mat breathing heavily and holding his already bruising cheek.
"Um … I'm sorry …" Ron gulped, looking down on his new mentor. "Please don't hurt me."
---
Fall for you.
---
"Tim!" Batman barked, standing up and letting his cloak wrap around himself.
"Yes sir," Tim said, still in awe of what just happened.
"Get his suit," Batman said, narrowing his eyes on Ron, "He's ready."
----
Ron Stoppable stood in the shadowy changing room of the darkened cave deep below his new home. Holding the suit full of memories before him, memories of heroes: a three-generation-old green and red symbol of justice that had now been given to him.
He slid out of his robe and tugged at the suit from the hanger. Memories flooded his mind as he began to dress for his new life.
Kim Possible's sweet smile and lovely emerald green eyes highlighted by her long, crimson mane filled his mind's eye as he slowly slid into the green tights.
Their tearful goodbye flashed before his eyes as he silently stepped into the black steel-toed boots.
His parents' final cries and painful laughs filled his ears as he pulled on the short-sleeved green undershirt.
The sights of their still yet smiling bodies filled his vision as he buttoned up the crimson vest with the famous, black-backgrounded, golden 'R' on the left side of his chest.
The feel of the firm handshake his new 'big brother' and friend Tim Drake gave him when he first met him several weeks earlier echoed in his mind as he pulled on the green, brass-knuckled gloves.
The feeling of Kim's arms around him as she held him and let him cry on her shoulder after realizing his parents were gone washed over him as he threw the yellow and black cape over his shoulders and fastened it around his neck.
Then came the final piece. Ron remembered Tim's words. No Robin wore the same mask. Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and now Ron Stoppable, each with a custom mask. Bruce's words echoed in Ron's mind as he looked at the large bird-shaped domino mask. "You hurt, you hate, you want to bring the same pain to the one who did this to you. You want redemption for your own sins. Focus these things, focus them with a mask."
Outside the small booth, Bruce and the others waited patiently for Ron to finish.
"Ok," Ron's voice sounded, deeper and more serious than it had ever before. The group looked up as the teenager stepped out of the shadows. Rufus gave a fearful eep and dove behind Barbara's wheelchair.
"Oh my …" Alfred gulped and back stepped slightly while Tim's smile broadened to the point the top of his head could easily fall off. Bruce and Dick gave each other small knowing smiles before giving Ron an approving nod.
Tonight, Ron Stoppable was changed. Robin had been reborn.
To Be Continued …
Disclaimer: The song in this chapter is Learning To Crawl by Black Lab.
Also, to those who are curious or have suspicions about Bruce's past relationship with Mrs. P, don't worry next chapter more info on that as well as a major, major twist. Enjoy and don't forget to review! Cowboy really likes reviews!