Anonymous
Choices
Disclaimer: Not yet and probably not ever.
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Summary: In a world controlled by Slade since before his birth, a now servile Robin struggles to deal with right and wrong and good and bad, before the evil that controls the world swallows him up as well.
Masks.
I once said that knowing a name could give you power over someone. I can and it does…almost as much as a mask. I have unruly black hair and bright blue eyes. They are displayed for everyone to see, no matter what.
When I was younger and was a true Slade affiliate, I used to be obsessed with his mask, in fact, once I stupidly tried to take it off…stupidly, since he broke my arm for trying. After that, I wondered from a distance. What was under that mask? Was he that ugly…did he have boils or perhaps a crippling disfigurement?
It's an instrument of fear.
It makes one scared. People are always scared of the unknown and Slade is the epitome of the unknown. It never scared me and that worries me…but what worries me more is how much I long for a mask of my own…
April 27, 1998Death is an empty void is which you float through forever, lost in the fears and regrets of the past, never able to move on…at least that's how I see it. Death isn't happy; it's not something to be celebrated because you're moving on to something better. Death is what rips you away, kicking and screaming, from everything you know and love. Not killing…death. There is nothing good about Death, no matter how hard the beauticians try to dress it up.
Death…you do realize that I capitalize the word? It's because it's such a scary word…hell people barely even use it. They use the word passing on, left this plane, or going somewhere better.
People are scared of it.
Death is given power that way, and power is what Slade wants. Slade plays with Death just like he plays with people. He dangles the two together like puppets on a string, laughing at their treacherous dance in glee.
Once, I met a woman who reeked of Death. She had a tattoo on her forehead that said outcast. When I asked her if she made the person who gave her that pay, she said, "only the ones in reach." She raised her eyes and looked into them and I saw death in her eyes…
I was scared…scared, not of her, but Death.
I don't know if I'm still scared of death. I would have sacrificed my life for my friends that day with Batman and the probes, but now…I think I love life a little too much. When I go, I'll go kicking and screaming. After yesterday I know that for sure. I know it's really not very dignified and I hope I'll go with pride, but when it's my life in question, I think I'll do anything to save it…
Signing off,
Robin
Robin knelt on a ledge, a shadowy figure far above the asphalt. The groundwork was set. The trap would be sprung, and the legacy of Batman would, finally, be put to rest.
They were in Gotham, a pro-Slade city…and Batman's old hometown. Robin figured that wrecking havoc in Batman's home would bring him running and lo and below…
"I'm in position." the voice, warped and muffled came through the comm. link as an electronic hiss, but Robin heard him loud and clear.
"Alright then." he whispered, "Go!"
Dark blue eyes peered out into the night. He smirked; let the games begin.
Raven scrambled back into her dark hole. She couldn't be seen and it sounded like Beastboy and Cyborg were already engaging Batman in their fight. They didn't have a huge part in the overall battle, but they were essential to one part of the plan. Other than that, all they needed to do was distract Batman until Raven was ready and gave Robin the signal
Drawing her energy to the forefront, she began chanting, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Met-"
Raven winced, cutting herself off as she heard a cry in the distance. Dark energy flared up from her form before she could control her emotions. It was Beastboy. Taking deep breaths, Raven made herself calm down again. She couldn't get worked up over this. She had her own job to do and it wasn't to worry about Beastboy.
Raven knew Robin was banking on the fact that Batman didn't kill his enemies to keep his team safe, but Raven wasn't sure. She wouldn't publicly disagree with her leader, but she knew the darker side of people and in the heat of the moment, they often forgot those noble intentions and pledges.
A resolution wouldn't keep Beastboy safe; Raven was counting on Robin to do that.
While they were setting up their trap, Robin said gruffly informed them that he wouldn't be interfering in any stages of the plan, so if they got stuck, they better get themselves out of it quick. But…Raven liked to think that she knew Robin a little better than that.
When Batman had infected herself, Beastboy, and Cyborg with the probes and made Robin work for him in his twisted plot to overthrow Slade, Raven had been scared for the first time ever. Their leader, Robin, was the only one Raven had ever truly trusted, and when he seemingly defected, Raven's trust and total adulation of Robin had been shattered…until they had found out what had really happened.
Raven didn't think she had ever been more justified in placing her faith in Robin than when he infected himself with those probes to try and safe their lives. That kind of risk-taking went past teammate helping out teammate; took a left at caring; and stopped at friend saving friend.
Robin liked to think he was tough and cold, but if anything were to go wrong, Robin would be there in an instant.
Raven was sure of it.
Raven took in another deep breath and started chanting again, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
Beastboy yelped as he was thrown through a wall. God, this was hard. He winced as he staggered up, leaning heavily on a building.
"Screw this." he muttered.
He leapt forward, transforming midair into a hawk and flew high into the air. Direct attacks weren't working and they were running out of time…and energy. Beastboy watched as Cyborg powered up his sonic cannon and prepared to blast Batman.
Batman, though, was too quick. He flew forward and twisted Cyborg's arm into his own face. The cannon went off a split second later and both of them were blasted backwards. Cyborg landed next to a dumpster, motionless. Beastboy chose that moment to dive. If he had timed this right, then he would be able…he missed.
Batman twisted as he saw Beastboy diving at him and Beastboy crashed into the pavement.
"Ouch…" he moaned, "Dude, you, like, aren't human."
Batman's face remained stoic, but he clenched and unclenched his fists once before charging towards him. Beastboy's eyes widened and transformed into a gorilla, locking fists with Batman. Beastboy began pushing Batman back, trying to overpower him, but Batman dropped and rolled under him, kicking Beastboy into yet another wall.
Beastboy moaned as he sat up, dizzy and this time, he wasn't able to stop Batman's ferocious charge. The masked man caught the changeling by the throat and slammed him against a grimy building.
"Where's Robin?"
Beastboy choked, "Huh?"
"He's in charge of you kids." Batman growled, "You guys are planning something and he's in the middle of it, isn't he"-Batman shook him-"Where is he?"
Beastboy dazedly tried to keep up with the conversation. At least, Beastboy thought; Robin was right about one thing. Batman is so obsessed with Robin that taking him out of the equation totally messed Batman up. He was used to fighting people of Slade and Robin's caliber; not foot soldiers like them. He didn't know them well enough to launch an effective attack. And while Beastboy didn't appreciate being used like chess pieces; he had to admire Robin's genius.
"Where is he?" Batman demanded.
"I…I…can- can't…" Beastboy slumped down in Batman's grip.
"LET GO OF HIM!" Cyborg roared, firing off his sonic cannon.
Batman jumped backwards, barely missing the charged blast, while Beastboy slipped down to the ground, gasping for air.
"You okay man?" Cyborg asked, thrusting his hand out.
"Felt the heat on that one, you know. Remember, you're on my side." Beastboy said weakly, hauling himself up.
Both of them, side by side, turned and faced Batman.
"Look we need to finish this. I'll distract him and you-"
A flash-bang lit up the sky.
"The signal…" Beastboy breathed.
"Damn it. We don't have any time. Raven will be setting her trap any minute. Just get it any way you can, Beastboy." Cyborg barked.
"Right, lets do it." Beastboy answered.
Beastboy threw himself at Batman, while Cyborg attacked from the side. Transforming, Beastboy turned into a crab and unhooked Batman's belt from his waist. Batman growled and tried to grab it, but Beastboy quickly changed it into a monkey and slid the belt to Cyborg who swiftly grabbed it.
Beastboy grinned and jumped away from him, but Batman snagged the end of his tail and pulled him near.
"Dude!" Beastboy squawked, switching back to normal.
"Give me back my belt or-"
Suddenly dark energy converged on Batman, solidifying into hard, unbreakable material that closed in on all sides.
"RAVEN, NO!" Cyborg yelled, shooting off his sonic cannon at the forming cage.
It was too late…the solid cage surrounded Batman and a struggling Beastboy and encased them in a totally unbreakable, completely inescapable box.
Inside the formed box, Beastboy gulped nervously; he was stuck in a box of dark energy with Batman and…he didn't look very happy.
Robin flipped down to ground level. Cyborg and Raven were staring at the solid mass of dark energy was floating in the middle of the street.
"Nice job Raven." Robin nodded at her, and then turned to Cyborg, "You got the belt?"
Cyborg held it up, "Yeah…but Robin, we've got a bigger problem."
Robin scanned the area, eyes narrowed, "Where's Beastboy?"
"In there." Raven's monotone voice betrayed only a hint of worry, but Cyborg's was almost…shaking.
Robin raised an eyebrow, "With Batman?"
Cyborg hung his head, "We didn't have enough time…"
Robin ignored him for the moment, "Raven, is there any way to release Beastboy without letting Batman go?"
Raven shook her head, her body slightly shaking, "I can barely hold on to it until the extermination team we called arrives. The whole thing would break down if I tried to let Beastboy out of there."
Robin raked his hand through his hair, closing his eyes, "Alright…" Robin took a deep breath and then started speaking rapidly, "Cyborg, take my comm. and call the extermination team. Tell them to forget it; we won't need them…say Batman slipped through our grasp again or something. Raven, step back, and prepare to release the dark energy. Come on, we need to move. Beastboy's still in there."
Raven stared at him and then smiled sweetly, backing away three steps. Cyborg took the comm. out of Robin's hand and called the extermination team that was supposed to take care Batman after he was caught.
"Hold on a second- Robin," Cyborg held out the comm., "They need a recognized leader's confirmation. It's Riley; he's being an ass again."
Robin rolled his eyes and took the comm., "Riley, this is Robin. You need confirmation? Well, here I am, telling you not to come, and next time, know that when my team is speaking to you, they're speaking for me and have my authority. Got that?"
The comm. crackled, "Go to hell, Robin. We dragged ourselves thirty miles out of our precinct to help your sorry ass, because you needed the 'best in the business' and now you're telling me that you let the Bat slip through your fumbling fingers?"
Robin sighed, "Sorry, I owe you one, Riley, but I've got to go. We still need to catch Batman."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard. So I guess Master Slade's favorite is in a bit of-"
Robin cut the link, crushing it in one hand, "We'll need to get another one of those back at base, but if anyone asks, it dropped in a river. Raven, unleash the trap."
Raven tensed and then relaxed as she let go of the tenuous hold she had over the dark energy and almost immediately, a green blur shot out and knocked into Robin. Robin staggered backwards, reflexes being the only thing that kept him on his feet. He looked down at the unconscious bundle in his arms. It was Beastboy, and thankfully, he seemed to be breathing.
Batman swept to the ground, and locked eyes with Robin, his masked lifeless eyes hid his true emotions, while Robin's were out on display for the world to see. Robin deposited Beastboy into Cyborg's arms and with a growl, drew his bo stack and attacked.
Twirling his staff above his head, Robin swung it at Batman's head. Batman ducked and raised his own staff to block the blow. Robin followed with another uppercut, which Batman again blocked. He locked Robin's staff above his head and leaned in.
"Do you want to know the truth?" he whispered.
"I know the truth." Robin snarled
"You only think you do; don't tell me you haven't been having doubts about Slade, your life…everything. I changed you and you can't handle that. You can't handle the fact that someone other than Slade had an impact on your life."
Robin jumped backwards and took out three S-shaped shuriken, "My friends changed my life."
"Friends are liabilities. But…you'll find out the truth soon."
And with a swirl of his cape, he was gone.
To Be Continued…