Summary: A drabble series of various Titans and villans having a chance meeting with one ordinary citizen and learning what it really means to be a hero.
Drabble Two: The Best of the Best
One, two, three...
With swift punches to the training dummies, The Boy Wonder struck like a hawk. A spinning kick sent another four flying, just as they were quickly replaced by more. Sweat barely dripped off his brow as he continued the merciless pummelling of the soulless droids.
One, two, three...
And suddenly it stopped. The dummies ceased movement, and Robin found his last punch to be taken easily as the last one went flying across the room. In his shock, he scanned the room for the reason they had suddenly shut down. He wasn't surprised to see Cyborg with his hand on the switch that had shut off the practice driods. Even though he was smiling, he had a definite look of concern on his face. Robin looked disappointedly at him. It irritated him to no end to be interrupted in the middle of practice.
"It's been almost two hours Robin. How about a break? We can play that new game BB brought in last night." Cyborg offered gently. He knew to tread carefully when Robin was annoyed.
"I haven't got this last technique down yet. I need to perfect it." Robin made a move to turn the switch back on, but his hand was caught by Cyborg. He wasn't smiling anymore.
"We're all worried Robin. You've been training like crazy lately, we've barely seen you, save for missions. You can take a break for at least an hour." Robin's brow twitched in irritation.
"The Brotherhood of Evil won't be taking a break! Slacking off isn't a professional way to keep them at bay!" He tried to turn the switch on again, but Cyborg's broad chest remained firmly in the way.
"Just take an hour off. One hour, that's all. Go into town and relax for a while." Robin opened his mouth to retaliate, but then closed in, grinding his teeth angrily.
"Fine. One hour. Then it's back to practice."
After storming out of Titan Tower, brooding and attracting uneasy gazes, Robin found himself a small cafe', pumping his foot in anxious irritation. He sipped a little at his drink, and sighed dejectedly. He should've known better than to kave gotten so snappish with Cyborg. It had been obvious the others were anxious too. Everytime they tried to greet him with a smile, it was all forced, all hesitant. Robin could be as unpredictable as a storm. Sometimes he felt he had the prescence of a tame bear, not dangerous, but not at all comforting either. He tried to avert such thoughts by distracting himself. He looked outside to the busy street, hoping to find some form of distraction.
It was bustling, as usual on a weekday like today. Small groups of students hung around laughing at the restaurants, no doubt on some celebrity affair or the other. Professional businessmen looking impaitently at watches as they hurried down the street, followed by fussy assitants. A small pack of shady men tracked after a young woman-
Wait, what?
Robin did a double take. Indeed, a small gang of hooded men followed a young, dark haired woman carrying a laptop bag and a purse, each slung over the other making an X over her chest with the straps. She wore a lang, dark coat and sweatpants that flopped around her shoes. Her face was calm, serious, and clear, but the small dart to the corners of her eye told no lies. She knew her pursurers. Robin took action, slapping his money on the table, ignoring his slowly chilling drink as he hurried out the cafe'. The pursurers had caught up to their prey and were pulling her into an alley. No one on the street paid any mind. In his mind, Robin went wild at the lack of action from the people in the street. Had they no shame? Had they no concern? Someone could get killed because they were too afraid to help! He stalked behind the group and listened to them from the alley. If they attacked, he'd stop them. One of them pushed her, not too hard, but not softly either, against the walls as the others loomed around, like vultures over a carcass.
"You're gonna pay for what you did, prat."
"Excuse me?" The woman's voice was calm, low, and laced with a bored tone. The others sneered at her monotone.
"Your stinking program ruined our industry. Now we're outta work, and its your fault!" one snarled. He heard her snort in disapproval.
"Or its your fault your so called industry was so full of flaws, or that you're all too much of a duderhead to be good at anything else." Robin was agape with disbelief. This woman had guts!
One of them snapped as they howled out, pulling back a fist, "You'll pay for that!"
Robin struck. Just like practice, he struck with force and procision. They were as clueless as dummies and twice as stupid. They attempted to swing at him with great huling fists, but with a carefully aimed sweep of his feet, they all soon ended up unconscious on the ground. He wiped off the tiny drop of sweat that had formed on his forehead. He had seen better motion from the practice droids. He turned to the woman.
She had mildly pulled out her phone and was dialing for the police. The experience seemed to have not stirred her in the least. She looked about as flustered as a rock. A small hint of a grin showed a slight amusement, as if she'd seen a dog do a minorly neat trick. She explained calmly to the police the situation before hanging up. Robin had already tied up the men and was about to leave the alley when her hand fell upon his shoulder.
He turned around in surprise. The grip Cyborg had on him was tight, and almost desperate. This one was softer, but commanding by all means.
"Thank you for that. Do you mind if I returned the favor?"
"Your welcome, and no thanks. I'll be okay." he mumbled trying to pull away. She tightened her grip. Robin could already tell she was the type who knew how to get what she wanted.
"I know you'll be okay. If you handled thugs like that, I'd say you'd be better," she noticed a small gleam of discomfort, left over from the incident in the Tower, "Or are you?"
"I'll be fine," he insisted, "You don't need to help or anything."
"Of course I don't need to," she said, rolling her eyes as if it were obvious, "No one ever needs to do anything they don't want to. But I do want to, so I will. In anycase," she tossed her head in the direction of her attackers, "You'll be intrigued how this situation arose to begin with." She ushered him out of the alley as policemen hurried over to the thugs, quickly erasing them from the place as Robin and the woman retreated to the cafe'.
"I'm a programmer for a company that snuffs out bad programs," the woman, Myra, Robin found out, explained, "I make programs that can detect and eliminate programs, as well as inform the authorites of their origins. We sell our program to computer companies to add to their software, and to private businesses such as music corporations to keep people from downloading music illegally." Robin listened carefully as he drank from a fresh cup. Myra drank as well, with the air of someone retelling and old story. "Those men were probably from a busted company that performed illegal practices. They'll be on the fritz now that some of their men have been caught, but I trust the police to prevent anything serious from happening."
"They should've prevented this from happening," Robin argued. Or the people outside at least, he couldn't help but think angrily.
"I guess you're angry at the citizens outside too," she shook her head hopelessly. Robin didn't need to ask how she knew. He was sure it was written all over his face. Even his mask didn't hide everything.
"How can they just go on without helping people? Don't they feel bad about it at all? Why-" She stopped him by holding up a hand. She knew how to control a tirade like this.
"They are only human. They cannot control their own fears, and that overcomes their wish to help others. In any case," he noticed a small smile pulling at the corners of her mouth, "That's what makes a difference between normal people, and heroes like you." Robin felt a small wave of comfort at this, and smiled, slightly sad. He still couldn't help but feel the sting of his own obsession that had hurt his friends so.
"Sometimes..."he began awkwardly, running a hand through his hair nervously, "I don't think I'm good enough to be a hero. I practice for hours on end, trying to get everything right, but sometimes its stressful," He paused slightly, worried to go on, "I've been worrying my friends."
"Your friends are right to be worried." she replied simply. Robin looked up in disbelief at her bluntness.
"I can't be sympathetic with you, because theres nothig to be sympathetic about. You're very right to feel ashamed." She was very serious, but her voice sounded like a light scold.
"Being the best, is a good goal. It's what I have to strive for everyday when I work. But I know that theere are priorites that mean something for one thing, and priorites that mean something to me. What I mean to say is, hard work is important for what you have to do. But what you want, what you love, is even more essential." she stood up, and slapped some money for the bill on the table. She was now smiling.
"You're a tough kid. I expect you'll get your priorites straightened out." And, as if nothing had happened, she disappeared into the sea of people.
Back at Titan Tower, the group had gathered in the living room, faces wrung with worry. It had been over an hour and Robin had not returned. Beast Boy and Cyborg had turned on their new game, but it was paused, fighter figures frozen in mid kick. Starfire hovered back and forth while Raven bit her lip slightly in worry. Beast Boy and Cyborg had their heads in their hands as they slouched on the couch.
"Aww man....I thought you said Robin would only be an hour!" Beast Boy whined in worry.
"I'd think he'd be back earlier than that, he's so strict on training," Cyborg replied, also worried.
"Maybe we should call him...." Starfire suggested, pulling out her communicator.
"I'm here."
Everyone looked in surprise to the prodigal leader. He stood quietly in the doorway. Everyone looked back, relieved, but nervous. To their surprise, Robin's face was lit up with a soft happiness. He walked casually to the couch before flopping down. All eyes were on him. He gave a cocky grin to Cyborg and picked up a controller.
"Best two outta three?"
Everyone lit up joyfully. Cyborg eagerly grabbed a controller as the pause was lifted along with all anxiety. Cyborg and Robin gamed fiercely as Beast Boy and Starfire cheered, while Raven smiled slightly.
Robin definitely knew his priorites now.