4
One week.
One week!
One god dame week!
It had been a week since the call from M'lady, and Robin found he spent more and more time wishing for the cell phone to ring. However no matter how much he stared at, tried hacking it, or throwing it the confounded thing would not ring.
Why hasn't she called?! She said she wanted to play a game with me; she gets me to somehow do exactly what she wanted last time, and now she ignores me?
What the hell!
"Robin!"
Looking up Robin again finds Batman's face right in front of his own.
"Ugh, hey."
Batman stares Robin down, waiting for an update on the goings on of a penthouse he and Robin have been staking out all night.
Robin coughs, "It's been really quiet for the last hour. No movement. No calls. Nothing."
Batman's deep voice responds, "Right, then it's time we move in."
"Yes, sir."
"And, Robin."
"Yah."
"Stay focused."
Robin slumps, "Yes, sir."
Inside the penthouse is just as Robin had said quiet with no movements from the residents. He and Batman begin to search the office for documents that could lead to the incarceration of the some drug dealer. Robin wasn't too sure on the details considering this case, cause he had spent most of his time focused on trying to locate his M'lady.
One week. No word. No sign. Nothing. Perhaps the game's already finished and I just haven't given up yet.
Robin almost passes the files Batman and he have been searching for.
Whispering he says, "Found them!"
Batman moves to check that the files are the right ones and starts photographing them. All the while Robin keeps look out for any sign that the residents might be up and about. When out of no where they both hear a,
Ring, Ring, Ring.
Dame!
Batman spins on Robin. Robin can't see Batman's face but he knows that he's very pissed. Again, the cell phone goes off.
Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Shut that thing up now!" Batman barks while still whispering.
Reaching into his belt Robin pulls out the cell and whispers,
"Hello."
"You busy?" M'lady's voice is the same as always.
"VERY!"
"Too bad. There's an envelope with instructions in the Public Library. Book number 0223.413."
"Wait! What!?"
"Book number 0223.413. Also aren't you supposed to address me when you speak to me."
"Now's really not a good time."
"I see. Punishment it is then." Click, Beep, Beep, Beep.
Not a minute later the phone in the penthouse started to ring. At first it was just the office phone, but then all the other phones in the place started ringing one right after the other.
Batman grabs Robin, "What did you do!"
"Nothing, I swear!"
"Move! Now!" Batman pushes Robin out to the porch and they make a hasty get away.
Upon returning home Batman scolded Robin for having his ringer on during a mission, and gave him four extra hours training for the week. Robin couldn't care less at this point, he was too busy repeating the book number in his head.
0223.413
0223.413
0223.413
"Go, we'll finish this tomorrow."
Batman's dismissal was all Robin needed; he rushed upstairs as quickly as he dared in hopes that he would not raise too much suspicion. In his room he opened the phone and searched the call history. The last time he had tried this nothing had shown up, but this time it seemed her number was still there. Hitting the re-dial, he waited as the phone started ringing.
It took a full minute before he got an answer,
"Hello, you have reached the Gotham City Library Main Branch. Our hours are Monday 5-6, Tues-"
Looking at the phone Robin taught perhaps this was some kind of joke.
It's the library's number. Why would it be…
She called from the library…
This is just a clue. Nothing more.
Sighing Robin slumped down onto his bed.
I was really hoping it was her. No, I wanted it to be her. I need it to be her…..
Closing his eyes, Robin moved his hands across his chest moving lower.
'Masturbate for me.'
Reaching even lower Robin swiftly moves his hand around his hardening member. The slightest touch sends shivers up his spine, his back arcs.
'Masturbate for me.'
Robin moves his hand slowly up his member, sliding back down just as slowly. Continuing this pace his heart is soon racing, and the room begins heat up around him. He takes his other hand and massages his nipples.
"Aawww"
'Masturbate for me.'
"Yes, M'lady", he rasps.
BANG, BANG, BANG!
Robin half jumps at the sound.
"Master Drake, phone call for you."
Panting Robin shouts back, "Just a minute!"
Rushing to make himself look presentable, he headed for the phone just down the hall.
"Hello."
"Good evening, am I speaking to Tim Drake." The voice on the other end sounded tried and Robin couldn't blame her it was well past 4am.
"Speaking."
"Sorry to call so late, but it seems that you've received a package here at the library."
Surprise flooded Robin's voice, "I'm sorry, did you just say there's a package at the library?"
"Yes, and it's labeled as extremely important. I felt it was best to call right away."
"You're right. Thank you. I'll be there in the hour."
Robin made it to the library with 10 minutes to spare. The librarian who had called him was waiting at the door.
"Again, Mr. Drake, I'm so sorry for calling you so late."
Robin smiled, "It's fine, really. I'm more confused why you're here so late."
She returns his smile, "I organize the books at night, then sleep all day."
"Kool"
She leads Robin to the main desk, where a brown package is waiting on top. Robin unwraps it slowly, and opens the box. Inside is a white card.
The librarian asks, "What's that?"
"I don't know."
Opening the card Robin read,
April Fools,
Pass Me On!
Robin sighs and throws the card back into the box. "It's just some stupid prank from one of my school mates!"
"Oh," The librarian is at a loss for words.
Robin just stood there for a moment and then turned to the librarian, "Is it too early to ask you to help me find a book?"
Looking a confused the librarian replied, "Uh, no. After all you're here already."
Robin smiled, "Great! I need to find the book with the number 0223.413."
"Right then, just let me check the computer and we can go grab it." She smiles brightly at him.
Heading through the library the woman explained to Robin that the book he was searching for was one from the specials collection, in fact it was one of the oldest they had. She seemed rather proud to have a chance to speak of the collection, and Robin made a mental note to ask Batman for a donation for the library.
"Here we are then." She'd stopped in front of a metal door. There was a label that clearly labeled the room as the collection's.
Inside the room smelt of must and stale air, Robin couldn't help but think that the room was barely ever used if it was used at all. Looking around he couldn't help but notice he didn't see any books. Just boxes on multiple shelves.
"Um, where are the books?" He asked.
The librarian turned to him, "They're in the boxes. We keep them in there so that they last longer, and remain undamaged."
Robin stupidly said, "Oh."
Moving down the row they finally reached the book they were looking for. Taking the book down from the shelf the librarian brought the box over to one of the tables in the room, put on cotton gloves and proceeded to open the box. Only there was no book on the inside of the box.
"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no." The librarian kept repeating.
Robin moved to look inside the box himself. It looked empty, like nothing had ever been there. But of course with the librarian's reaction of he knew there had been a book here.
Looking to the librarian Robin said calmly, "You need to call the police."
Disheveled the librarian responed, "What?"
"THE POLICE! Call the police!" Robin shouted at her.
She seemed to understand this time and ran from the room to call the police.
Finally alone Robin took hole of the box. He examined every side looking for any sign that it had been manlipulated in any way. Not seeing anything special about the box, Robin moved back to the shelf. Again there seemed to be nothing there to see.
There's got to be something! Come ON!
Robin began to search the entire shelf. Looking, feeling, anything!
What the hell am I supposed to find here! Tell me! Tell me! TELL ME!
Then, almost like she'd heard him the phone in his pocket rang. He picked it up so fast you'd think his life depended on it.
"Hello!"
Her calm voice floated through the phone, "In a hurry are we?"
"I'm at the bookshelf! But there's no book!" Robin could hear the strain in his own voice.
"Calm down, Little Bird. All's well."
"WELL! The god dame book is missing!"
"And you are forgetting the rules." Her statement was stern and direct.
Robin took a breath, "I'm sorry M'Lady."
"That's better."
"Yes, M'Lady."
"Now, you're right the book is not there. In fact, that is your task. It's been taken by another bird of far less interest to me. Seems this bird took it after I'd placed your gift into it. If you want it you're going to have go and get it I'm afraid."
Robin let all this information sink in for a time.
"Robin?" He heard the questioning tone in her voice.
Sighing he responded, "Sorry, M'Lady. I just…. I just…"
"You just what, Robin?"
"So, Penguin's got the book. Guess I've got work to do."
"You didn't answer me Robin."
It took every last once of Robin's strength to say his next few words, "Good night, M'Lady." And he hung up.
Looking down at the phone in his hand Robin began to feel a deep emptiness in his stomach. Like the world around him had lost any warmth it had had just moments ago.
I'm going to be punished for hanging up on her…..
I shouldn't have done that…..
Robin slumped down to the floor, the coolness of the floor began to pirce trough his pants and he had a passing thought to get back up but couldn't find the strength to move.
I hung up on the only person I really want to be with….
I hung up….
I should be punished.
During Robin's musings the police arrived, they began their investigation while the librarian was asked to remove Robin from the room.
Robin didn't remember much else that night; not Batman coming to pick him up, or Alfred taking him up to bed, or even falling asleep. But he did remember waking up the next morning. He rushed downstairs into the kitchen where he knew Alfred would have the TV on.
"And in other news, the Gotham Library suffered a great loss last night when it's anique copy of 'The Romance Of Lust'…"
"AL!" Robin exclaimed.
Alfred turned to face Robin, "Yes, master Drake?"
"Turn up the TV!"
Alfred did, and the newscaster continued.
"…olice have yet to come to any conclusions as to how the book was taken, however they assure us they are doing all they can to return the book."
"They have no idea do they?" Robin was talking to himself now, not really paying any mind to anyone else.
Batman had walked in just as the newscast had said the comment about the police, looking to Robin he said "They have no idea about what?"
Robin jumped at the sound of Batman's voice, "Ugh…."
"Robin?" Batman's stern voice enveloped the whole kitchen.
"Well, it's just that… It was…. I mean…" Robin couldn't seem to find his voice.
"I'll ask one more time Robin."
Robin spoke in an unsteady voice, "The book. Penguin stole it."