Chapter 16
Alfred had just cleaned off the food on the plates that had fallen on the floor, and put them in the dish water in the sink, when Jarvis walked in. Alfred wiped his brow, where sweat was beginning to form, and smiled weakly as he began to wash the dishes. Jarvis rolled his cart of dishes up next to the sink and gave Alfred a worried look.
"Here, why don't you let me wash those, you should be resting," Jarvis said.
"No sir, I'm fine," Alfred replied, "I was told to do this and I will."
"Yes, that's true, but Zemo sent me in to do the dishes as well and would be very displeased if he came in to check on me and I was not doing as I was told…You go on and rest, and I will do the dishes," Jarvis replied.
"Well I suppose I could start fixing the meal over," Alfred finally said, wiping his brow yet again.
"Don't worry about it friend, I can do that," Wintergreen said walking into the room, "you just take the time to rest."
Alfred shook his head, "No, Miss Ivy said I must…"
"Clean up the mess, which you did," Jarvis pointed out.
"And serve the food, which you will do once I prepare it," Wintergreen added. "Take time to rest old chap, you look a little worse for the wear."
Alfred, who was beginning to look pale, sighed as Wintergreen guided him to a kitchen chair. Alfred watched as Jarvis washed dishes and Wintergreen cooked, and he felt useless. He was about to object again when the purple archer came in the room, his bow loaded.
"You were told to cook," Hawkeye said pointing his arrow at Alfred.
"Master Hawkeye, I see that Loki has you working for him," Jarvis stated calmly drying his hands.
"It's Master Loki, Jarvis, as you now work for him as well," Hawkeye stated flatly.
"Yes, of course, well, as I said, I can see Master Loki has you working for him, however, you mustn't forget that you are still a hero. Do you truly wish to go back to your life of crime," Jarvis asked.
Hawkeye wavered only a moment, lowering his bow, "No, but Master wishes me to keep watch over our captives and make sure they are doing as they've been told, so I must obey his wishes."
"Very well, then obey, but none of us are disobeying. Master Zemo asked me to wash the dishes, which I am…"
"Yes, but he was to cook," Hawkeye interrupted, pointing his bow at Alfred again.
"No sir, as I recall, he was only requested to clean up the mess in the other room, which he did, and then serve them new food, which he will do once it is prepared," Jarvis explained.
Hawkeye grunted, but nodded, "Fine, looks like the food is about ready to serve anyways."
Jarvis and Wintergreen loaded the food on the cart and Alfred was about to wheel it out to serve when they heard a loud crashing noise coming from the room where the villains were.
'My Hawk, take your old man and Deathstroke's man to their room,' Hawkeye heard the order clearly in his head, 'Yes Master,' he replied back as he grabbed Jarvis and Wintergreen by there arms and dragged them to the door. "You serve the food," Hawkeye ordered Alfred.
Page Break
The villains all looked around at the sound of the crash. They did not have to look far to se a big hole blown in the ceiling and see Batman jump down.
"Batman," Robin explained with explained with joy and excitement.
Before Robin could run to Batman's side, Slade pulled Robin back, "Remember, you work for me now Robin, not Batman!"
Robin tried to pull away as the Masters of Evil surrounded Batman, but Slade held tight, "Robin," he warned.
"Let him go," Ivy said softly with a warm smile.
"What are you talking about witch," Slade demanded fiercely!
"Let him go Deathstroke, if he wishes to go back to Batman, let him. Of course, if he did that, I would have no reason to cure his butler and he would die," Ivy said with a grin.
Robin turned back to face her with a glare, "What do you want," he demanded.
"Fight Batman and win. He won't fight you, so he is bound to lose. But if he should win, then your poor butler will pay the price," Ivy said sweetly.
Robin glared at her with hate filled eyes, but nodded, "Fine! You have your way this time, but this does not change a thing, I am still a hero, and I am still loyal to Batman!"
Robin pulled away and tossed a batarang at Batman. Batman looked up as it caught the edge of his cape and tore through it. His eyes only briefly showed the hurt and betrayal before he turned back to fight all the others. Robin jumped in the middle of the group and struck out with is fighting sticks (Can't remember the technical name for them).
Batman blocked Robin's blows and held his own there, "Robin, what are you doing," Batman demanded.
Robin tried his best to communicate with his eyes how sorry he was because he knew if he said anything about it, then Alfred would die. Robin pulled out his bo staff and struck another blow. Batman blocked yet again, but turned his head when Alfred slowly walked in, pale as a ghost and sweating, pushing a cart of food. Robin looked up only briefly then pulled hos tazer out and aimed it at Batman. Two black cords shot out from it and ended up latching onto Batman's arms. The high powered shock, because Robin had turned up the voltage, caused Batman to stumble back, and after that, Slade took over.
Robin turned to aid Alfred when Ivy stopped him. "A good apprintace always stays at his master's side. Stay with Deathstroke and help him defeat Batman or I won't help your butler," Ivy said with an evil smirk.
Robin's eyes narrowed but he nodded, "Fine," he gritted through his teeth. Robin arrived at Slade's side just as he took Batman down, which was a difficult thing to do.
"Robin, deliver the knock out blow," Slade ordered.
Robin blinked in surprise but when he saw Alfred's deathly pale form drop to the ground, he pulled out his bo staff and delivered the final blow that knocked Batman out cold.
"Well done apprentice, but next time, I want no hesitation," Slade ordered in a cold voice.
"Fine," he said bitterly, "I did my job and took out Batman, now save Alfred!"
Ivy smirked and kissed Robin lightly on his cheek, so as not to poison him, and laughed, "Very well Bird Boy, but don't forget, tomorrow's your day to serve me."
Robin scowled and watched her kiss Alfred to heal him, "I haven't forgotten," he said bitterly.
