No More Robin

The Gotham night was cold. Most of the snow was gone from the city. Another winter had come and gone. Some people did not survive the winter, while, for others, it brought new beginnings. For some, the spring reminded them of what they had lost and what they couldn't get back. While, for others, the coming spring brought happiness. A chance for new beginnings.

Even though the snow was mostly gone, the wind still held the memory of winter. The cold wind told people not to put away their winter coats just yet. But, during the day, the sun was able to warm the world and provide the reminder that the start of summer was only a couple months away. But at night, the world let the people know that winter hadn't completely left.

The night was quiet. With the exception of the wind, it would have been a beautiful night. The sky was clear and a half moon and stars light the night. Most criminals were either at Belle Reve or Arkham. In fact, there had been little need for Batman or Robin in Gotham for a couple nights. Robin had taken advantage of the quiet. He was ready.

For the last few nights, Robin had stood on rooftops alone. Waiting. He was ready to face the killer that had been stalking him since the end of summer. Robin was tired. Not the kind of tired that came from lack of sleep. But an emotional and mental kind of tired. He was tired of always having to be on the lookout for the killer. He was tired of having to second guess every decision he made. Was it safe? Would he endanger a loved one? Mostly, he was tired of knowing that, if he didn't join the killer, Deathstroke said he would kill him.

"To be honest, I am surprised."

Robin turned. Deahstroke was standing half way across the roof top. It wasn't the same roof top that Deathstroke had first attacked him on, though there would have been a sense of irony if it had been. Just as the teen hero was wearing his full costume, so was Deathstroke. The killer even wore the orange and black mask, which hid his face. The sword was sheathed on the killer's back.

"I would have thought Batman wouldn't let you out of his sight," said Deathstroke pleasantly.

The killer took a few steps forward. Deathstroke expected the teen to comment that he didn't need Batman or make some other sarcastic comment. When Robin didn't, Deathstroke frowned under the mask.

"Nothing to say?" asked the killer.

The teen's only response was to draw his bo staff and hold it at his side. Deathstroke grew annoyed. Yes, Robin was looking at him. But the boy was refusing to answer him. One thing that the killer couldn't tolerate was disrespect. Deathstroke placed his hands on his hips and stared at the teen. Robin returned his gaze.

"I want an answer, Robin," said the killer. Any trace of amusement was gone from his voice. "You've had enough time to consider the consequences of refusal."

The only thing the teen did was shift the bo staff in front of him. It allowed the teen to guard his body and be ready in case the killer attacked. Robin wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"Are you going to be my apprentice?" demanded Deathstroke. The hint of temper in the killer's voice could be heard. "Or will you die tonight?"

The teen said nothing. Furious that the teen was refusing to answer him, Deathstroke attacked. He moved in quickly and kicked out toward the teen's right knee. Robin jumped and flipped away from the roof's edge. The bo staff came around and barely missed Deathstroke's head. As Robin hit the ground, he rolled to his feet. Quickly, the teen turned to face the killer.

Deathstroke followed Robin across the roof top. The killer would strike out. Sometimes with a kick. Sometimes with a fist. Robin would evade some blows or block them with his bo staff. Sometimes the blows would land. Robin would staggered back, but the teen recovered quickly. Deathstroke wasn't making it easy. The killer was trying to hurt the teen. To punish him for refusing to answer.

"I'm tired of your silence, boy," growled the killer. Robin had just evaded his most recent attack by rolling to the side.

Deathstroke drew out his sword from the sheath on his back. He swung the sword down, coming right at Robin's face. Robin quickly put the bo staff up, to block the blow. The sword bit into the staff. The bo staff dipped from the strength behind the strike, but it held. The sword stopped only inches from the teen's face.

"If you do not answer me, I will take your silence as a refusal of my offer," said Deathstroke.

With a quick spin, Deathstroke kicked out and caught Robin in the ribs. As the teen fell back, the killer grabbed the bo staff and jerked it from Robin's hands. Before Robin could get back to his feet, the killer stepped on the teen's cape. Just as Robin reached for the cape's clasp, he stopped when he felt the tip of a sword pressed against his throat.

"This is your last chance," growled the older man. "Answer me. The only way to save yourself is to become my apprentice. You're alone. No one will come to your rescue."

"He was never alone."

Deathstroke turned. Batman was standing only a few feet away. A second later the killer stumbled. When he recovered his balance, he realized that Robin was no longer at his feet. Instead the teen was standing beside his mentor's side, with Kid Flash standing next to the Boy Wonder.

"I was wondering if you'd show up," said the killer.

"It's over," said Batman.

Even though the teen was standing between his best friend and his mentor, Robin could feel the eye of the killer on him. He knew, for Slade Wilson, it wasn't over. It would never be over, as long as they were both alive.

"I want my answer," said Deathstroke. His voice was soft. Deadly.

"You will never get an answer," said Batman. He stepped forward, partially blocking his partner. "You will never come near my son again, Slade."

"You think you can keep him safe from me?" demanded Deathstroke. He glanced quickly at the red head before returning his gaze to Batman. "Or the speedster?"

"We will keep him safe from you."

Deathstroke turned and saw the Man of Steel as he floated up. Almost gently, Superman drifted over the roof top. His cape fluttered behind him. Superman stayed a few feet over the roof and kept his eyes on the killer. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. And, though he did look down on the killer, Superman's face was blank. No one could tell what the Man of Steel was thinking or feeling.

"You made a terrible mistake going after him."

Deathstroke glanced across the roof top and saw Wonder Woman. She stood next to the roof top access. Her hand rested on the lasso, which was hooked at her waist. Other than where her hand rested and her words, Aphrodite's agent didn't make any overt threat toward the killer. Like Superman, Wonder Woman's face was expressionless.

Slowly, the roof became crowded with other Justice League and Young Justice members. Like the other adult heroes on the roof, the rest of the League didn't express any emotion toward the killer. Some would think that the adults, based on their lack of emotional response, had apprehended Deathstroke because it was their job. Deathstroke's target had had no bearing of their actions. But those people would have been wrong. They all felt too much emotion and did their best to contain it. Robin had been the first partner of any hero and many considered the teen a surrogate nephew.

The teen heroes were not as controlled and showed how much they wanted to hurt the killer for what he had done. For what he had put Robin through. Artemis stood with an arrow notched in her bow, though the arrow was pointed at the ground. Next to her, while he didn't have an arrow notched, Red Arrow held his bow tightly in his hands. Even the calm Aqualad had his arms raised and ready to use his water bearers. Miss M's fists were clenched at her side and her eyes glowed green, while, standing next to her, was Superboy. Like Superman, his arms were crossed in front of his chest, but he glared at the killer.

"So, it was a trap," said the killer, as he glanced around at the heroes.

"And you fell for it," replied Artemis.

"You may have saved him tonight," said Deathstroke. The killer knew he was outnumbered and there was no way to escape. He accepted that he was caught, but that didn't mean it was over. "But there will be other nights. I will get him eventually."

"As long as I am alive, you will never touch him," stated Kid Flash quietly. His voice was determined and confident. Like the adults, the fastest teen alive wasn't showing what he was feeling.

The killer just chuckled in response. And if he was thinking about responding, Deathstroke wasn't given the chance. Green Lantern stepped forward and put green handcuffs on the killer. Together, Green Lantern and Superman transported Deathstroke away.

Most of the League left at that point, with the exception of Batman and Flash. Some of the League used the zeta tubes to return to Watchtower or their home cities. Those who were able to fly, left the roof top and took to the skies. While the League hadn't been needed that night, their presence was a reminder to the killer: you don't mess with one of their own. Within moments, the rooftop was clear of almost all heroes, with only two adults and Young Justice remaining.

Flash slowly walked over to Kid Flash and stood with his hand on his nephew's shoulder. The scarlet speedster gave Kid Flash's shoulder a quick squeeze. He waited for his nephew to look at him. When the teen did, Flash smiled reassuringly before he looked at Batman.

"They're taking him to Belle Reve," said the fastest man alive.

Batman nodded his head at the knowledge than looked at his partner. Gotham's defender was glad that the killer had been caught, but he was still worried about his son. Robin had been very quiet for most of the night. In fact, the teen had been quiet for a long time. His jokes ended around the time the teen turned 16 and the teen seemed to talk less and less. Batman worried that the laughing boy he had adopted so many years ago was gone.

"Robin," said Batman. "It's time to go home."

"Batman, there is something I need to say," said Robin, speaking for the first time. He took a deep breath."These last few months with...Deathstroke stalking me made me realize something."

"What are you talking about, Rob?" asks Kid Flash.

The teen took another deep breath. He looked around the rooftop. His gaze paused on his friends and teammates before it focused on his partner.

"I can't be Robin any more."

…...

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I hope readers aren't disappointed! It's time to confess...I never planned for Dick to become Slade's apprentice. But that being said, I am already working on a sequel, but it won't come out immediately. Fall is my busy season – crafter – so it may have to wait till January/February. That being said, there is one more "chapter" before the story is finished.