I couldn't think of a good, clever name for this chapter, so I decided on one appropriate letter. Enjoy!
T
"That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable."
After arriving home, Bruce went upstairs from the Batcave to find Wayne Manor empty.
Not completely empty.
Robin was sitting outside on the patio, sipping a glass of iced tea while reading a book.
Bruce silently stood away from his view, staring into the boy's distorted face.
After a few healthy meals and plentiful sleep, color was returning to Robin's ghostly complexion. But, his paled eyes, gaunt cheekbones, and stick-like arms made it clear that only rest, training, and time would bring him back to his normal, fit self.
Bruce casually poured himself a glass of iced tea and strolled outside.
Robin looked up at him, smiling slightly.
"Where's Alfred?" Bruce asked after sitting, crunching on a cookie.
"He left to run some errands and pick some things up at the grocery store."
Bruce smirked. "Always prepared, that man is."
Robin fidgeted, awkwardly picking at a fingernail. "I guess I... uh, never thanked you for getting me out of Arkham." He said quietly, his eyes glued to the ground.
Bruce was silent, not sure what to say to the boy.
Robin's expression was forlorn, sad. "I... I'm glad you got me out of there when you did. I don't know what would have happened if I was in there much longer..."
Bruce suddenly shook his head, his expression grim. "Dick, you never belonged in Arkham. If I had known sooner, I would have stopped them before they even considered sending you there..."
Robin stared at his hands, his expression terrified. "...Bruce, I stabbed two people."
Bruce nodded. "I know. Both men are relatively unharmed, by the way. But, you should know..." He paused, taking a reassuring breath. "You were never in the sanitarium in Jump City to recover."
Robin stared at his mentor, his eyes wide. "...what are you talking about?"
Bruce looked away, anger flashing in his eyes. "I never asked for them to take you away."
Robin stared at him, his mouth almost agape. He wasn't sure how to respond. "Explain." He finally croaked.
Bruce shifted nervously in his chair. "I got the call from Raven and Cyborg the night your hallucinations began. The Titans were... very concerned. They didn't know what to do to help you. I told them that I would come get you and would take you here-"
"Wait, you were going to-"
Bruce put a hand up, silencing him. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I will admit, I wasn't entirely sure how to handle what was happening. I called the hospital, but I never, ever instructed them to go to Titans Tower to take you in. I only wanted to talk to a doctor so that I could get some idea of how to help you myself.
"And, they gave my call to one of the head doctors, in fact. I talked to him and explained what happened." Bruce looked away, his expression softening. "By the time Alfred and I had gotten to the Tower, the hospital attendants had already taken you away. The Titans thought I had decided to send you with them and... so, they didn't object."
Robin looked down, tears threatening to break.
They had already given up on me...
"Dick..." Bruce looked at him, his eyes sad. "They only did what they thought I had instructed. If they had known what was really happening, they would have never allowed those bastards to take you away... you have no idea how much they still regret making that mistake."
Robin's expression was still conflicted. "Bruce, they really thought I was crazy. That's why they called you." He whispered.
Bruce shook his head. "They were overwhelmed. They knew they were losing you, but they had no idea how to help you."
Robin sighed, nodding. "So, I was taken to the sanitarium without anyone's consent. Why didn't you get me out?"
Bruce looked down, shame in his eyes. He was silent for a moment. "As angry as I was with what they had done, I... I hoped maybe they could help you." He said softly.
Robin stared at him, his eyes wide with revulsion. "You let them keep me there? You, you-"
"Dick," Bruce silenced him, his voice low with emotion. "I know it was a mistake, but I... I had no idea how to help you, either. I had hoped that having you stay there be more beneficial..."
Robin looked away from him, his chest heaving with sadness.
You abandoned me.
Bruce put his hand on his shoulder, his expression anguished. "I'm so sorry."
Robin took a breath, calming himself. "You said... you figured out that I was never there to recover. What do you mean?"
Bruce's expression hardened. "Dick, everything they did to you... it was never right."
Robin glanced at the healing scabs on his wrists. "They did those things to protect me." He mumbled.
Bruce shook his head. "No, they didn't. Dick, did you ever meet the head doctor... Glenn Owens was his name...?"
Confused, Robin frowned at him. "No. What does that-"
"Glenn Owens used to be connected with Slade."
Robin's breath caught in his throat.
Bruce nodded, his expression dark. "I did some research on that place. Took some digging, but yes. Glenn Owens worked for Slade. He was one of the doctors who helped him develop the probes that he infected the Titans with."
Robin said nothing, his eyes horrified and lost.
Bruce sighed angrily. "Almost immediately after I figured it all out, I went to the sanitarium to get you out. I was livid when I learned that you had been sent to Arkham without my consent."
Robin looked up into his eyes. "Bruce, do you think I'm crazy?" He whispered.
For the first time, Bruce smiled at him. "No, I don't. I think you should also know... there were traces of a hallucinogen in your blood sample. It wasn't the type one would normally look for, which was why the Titans didn't find it when your hallucinations began."
Robin stared at him, flabbergasted. "But, I saw Slade when I was still in the hospital. A hallucinogen couldn't have stayed in my system for that long-"
Bruce's smile twisted into a grimace. "There were traces of the same hallucinogen in the clothes that you were wearing when I brought you here. The bastards had probably been throwing the dust in everything you touched while you were there."
Robin stared at his hands, feeling like he was floating. "Bruce, you... you're telling me that none it was ever real... that..." He paused, searching for the right words. "That I was never really sick?"
Bruce slowly nodded at the boy, his eyes full of pity.
Robin was silent.
I'm not crazy...
Sighing, Bruce left to go inside the large mansion without any explanation.
Robin frowned.
Always so distant...
As he was about to get up to go back inside, Bruce came back out with something small clasped in his hand.
He sat down. "The Titans trusted that I would help you..." He said softly, setting a small, yellow device on the table.
There was a large T on the front of it.
Robin's Titan communicator.
Bruce stared at the device. "I promised them I would have you call them as soon as you were feeling better..." He paused, gently pushing it over to Robin. "Though it's a little late, how about giving them a call?"
A small smile played at Bruce's lips.
With no hesitation, Robin took the device and pressed the red button, his eyes already watering.
On the device's screen, the familiar living room of Titans Tower came into view, all the titans sitting on the couch.
They said nothing for a moment, shock present in all their faces.
"Robin?" Starfire murmured, her eyes wide with wonder.
A beautiful, joyful smile made his gaunt face light up. "Hey, guys."
Author's Note:
He's going back to his beloved Titans! And, speaking of communicators... I'm tickled because I put the Titans Communicator ringtone on my phone. Hooray for text message notifications! Please review!