Disclaimer: LOST: the rights to Teen Titans and DC comics. If you happen to find them, please contact me via email or private message.
A/N: I have a feeling that this story is getting a little too crowded…but oh well. I kind of planned it to be that way.
Also, a lot of people are asking me about what college I go to….hmm…shall I tell you? Probably not. It's a small school, so you stalkers might actually be able to find me. The most specific I will get is this: I attend a private, Christian liberal arts college somewhere in…um…the United States.
Titansfan1211 and Muddie: I got lucky this semester and have no class until 9:15am on MWF and 10:00am on Tues/Thursday. So I'm a lazy bum when it comes to getting up early.
"I must not fear. Fear is the mindkiller. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it is gone I will turn my inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
-Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
Frank Herbert, Dune
Chapter 25: Fear
-CK-
11:20pm
Gotham City
Arkham Asylum
Superman flew through the cold air, squinting down at the asylum grounds for signs of Batman. Wonder Woman followed him closely in her invisible jet. It had only taken them mere minutes for both of them to fly here, but it felt like forever.
"Look at the smoke over there," she said, pointing. "Was there a car accident?"
Both of them landed in the road. Smoke still curled from the Batmobile, which meant that Batman was still around somewhere. As Superman strode to the Batmobile to get a closer look Wonder Woman crossed her arms over her chest.
"I thought we told him not to go to Arkham," Wonder Woman said.
"This is Bruce we're talking about."
The Batmobile didn't look too damaged. It looked as if Batman just skidded to a halt in the middle of the road, judging from the skid marks on the road. Clark wasn't a detective, but he wasn't stupid. Why did Batman stop? If he was so intent on seeing the Joker, then why did he stop?
"Just because he is who he is doesn't make this any better," Wonder Woman replied. "He's going to get himself killed one day."
"All I want to do is find him," Clark said, "and get to the bottom of this whole mess. Bruce is Bruce, but he wouldn't abandon Clayface like that."
With his supersonic hearing, Clark heard the sound of running feet coming towards them before he actually saw the owners coming. Both of them turned to see two orderlies from Arkham running down the road. Mud splattered their scrubs and the rain plastered their hair to their foreheads. Their terrified faces brightened at the sight of Superman and Wonder Woman.
"Superman!" the bald one exclaimed. "Wonder Woman! Thank God!"
"What's happening?" Superman asked. "Has there been a breakout?"
"Of course not. Your buddy Batman has been acting like one of our loonies. He keeps talking about the Joker's evil plot to…I don't even know. He's out of his mind."
"No," Superman said, "he hasn't lost his mind. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for his behavior. Don't worry, we'll take care of him."
Unlike Bruce, who always assumed the worst, Clark liked to think positive. While other members like Ollie would claim that Bruce went truly batty Clark knew that there must be a logical explanation for Bruce's behavior.
Clark scanned the surrounding area with his X-ray vision. It took him a few seconds to spot a man in a cape and cowl running through the trees.
"What's he doing over there?" Clark asked out loud, confused. "If he wanted to see the Joker, why would he be out there?"
Superman cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled into the night.
"Batman! Come out!"
Even though Bruce didn't have supersonic hearing like Clark did, the Batman should still be able to hear him. Drizzle tickled Clark's face as he stood in the slight rain, waiting for Bruce to come back. His annoyance with Bruce threatened to turn into anger.
"I'm going in there," Wonder Woman said.
"Hold it," Clark said, holding out a hand. "We don't want to get him angry."
A dark shadow emerged from the trees that Clark could only assume was Bruce. Gotham's Dark Knight strode out of the treeline, his shoulders hunched and his eyes darting about furtively. He lifted his head and looked towards the Batmobile. Batman visibly stiffened when he caught sight of Superman and Wonder Woman.
"Why didn't you answer our calls?" Superman asked.
Batman merely glared at him. What the hell was Bruce's problem? Why was he under the impression that the Joker escaped Arkham? There were so many questions that needed answering.
"Why are you here?" he growled. "I have things I need to do."
"Batman, this business that you have with the Joker can wait. The League and I have agreed that we're going to Jump."
To emphasize his point, Clark reached out and forcefully made Batman face him. He really didn't like using force to get a point across, but it had to be done. Why would Bruce not want to hear about what was happening in Jump City? Robin and the other Titans were in trouble!
"The Joker is free!" Batman said. "I have to stop him. Go to Jump yourself."
Batman's cold tone brought an expression of shock to Clark's face. This wasn't like Bruce at all! Clark's anxiety for his friend only grew.
"You can't just—"
Was it just Clark, or did something feel wrong? He barely heard what Wonder Woman said next as he began to feel woozy. Funny, this was exactly the way he felt when—
Kryptonite!
Almost instantly Clark crumpled as Batman thrust out the glowing green rock in the Kryptonian's face. Well, Clark thought, Dick wasn't kidding when he said Batman carried around some Kryptonite.
"I said: stay out of this, Clark!" Batman growled.
Dizziness overcame Clark as the effects of the Kryptonite overcame him. The indestructible Man of Steel steadied himself on weak arms as he fought back vomit. Water dripped from his spit curl as he bowed his head, breathing heavily as his lungs constricted tightly in his massive chest. He always thought it was funny that a glowing piece of alien rock from his home world could kill him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Wonder Woman demanded. "Batman, you can't just—"
"You stay out of this too!"
Batman thrust the Kryptonite closer to Clark's face. Darkness caressed the edges of his vision. Clark thought that he just might pass out. Despite the pain, he lifted his head and spoke.
"At…at least tell us what's going on."
As much as he hated to admit it, Clark found himself completely at Batman's mercy. That a was a good-sized chunk of Kryptonite Luthor would just love to get his hands on. Where did Batman get it? Wonder Woman hesitated to move, as though afraid that she would send Bruce over the edge.
"The Joker's been behind the dust in Jump City. Now he's holding Robin captive."
None of this made sense. Unless Dick hopped on a plane to Gotham a few hours ago, then Clark was pretty sure that he was still in Jump City. Now Batman was acting just plain irrational.
"The orderlies told us that the Joker is locked up," Wonder Woman said, "and we all know that Robin's in Jump City."
"I saw him myself!" Batman roared. "I don't care if you believe he's behind bars. I saw him. I'm going to bring him to justice."
Wonder Woman put herself between Batman and Superman and raised her fists threateningly. For once Diana's face wasn't smiling. Superman saw the raw power and emotion that only an Amazon woman was born with in her stance.
"Stand. Down."
Batman ran headlong into Wonder Woman. The two began to fight each other. There was nothing Clark could do but watch them fight and wonder who would come out victorious. Although an ordinary man, Bruce could outwit Dianna. At the same time Dianna wasn't stupid. She could hold her own.
Clark rolled over onto his back and looked up at the cloudy sky, allowing the rain to fall down on his face. Everything was going so wrong. They had a plan to help the Titans, a plan that could have worked beautifully. Bile rose up his throat again as Batman shoved the Kryptonite towards him.
"Stop, Diana," Batman growled, placing the Kryptonite mere inches from Clark's face.
Wonder Woman paused. After a moment Batman began to run back towards the Batmobile, placing the Kryptonite back into his utility belt. As Batman hurried away Clark's head began to clear. He breathed heavily as if he just had an asthmatic attack. Clark rubbed his aching temple. Wonder Woman picked herself up out of the mud and offered Clark a hand.
"I think," Clark said as Wonder Woman pulled him to his feet, "that we're going to need backup."
-BB-
9:55pm
Jump City, California
Location Unknown
"Help!" Beast Boy screamed. "Someone! Anyone!"
He pounded his fists against the walls, but to no avail. There was no one here to help him. Slade battered him like a personal punching bag.
He tried to think of a solution. What was wrong with him? Yes, he was afraid, but above all he felt confused. Beast Boy knew that he wasn't crazy, but all of the pain he felt now felt so real. For once there was nothing funny he could think of to help himself cope.
A plethora of emotions overwhelmed him as Slade continued to pound him to the ground. If anything, Beast Boy never expected Slade to end up becoming something like his arch-enemy. Now that he thought about it, his hatred for Slade and what he did to Terra rivaled that of Robin's. The Brotherhood of Evil was way bad, but Beast Boy didn't really hold a grudge against the Brain or Mallah or Madame Rouge. No, all they wanted to do was destroy them. Slade, on the other hand, wanted to destroy the Teen Titans with style.
"Why are you doing this?" Beast Boy demanded. "You don't benefit!"
That was the question Robin kept asking himself over and over again. It drove Beast Boy crazy to hear him say those words, but now he wished that he had been helping Robin. Had Slade already killed the others? No…even if he did kill the others Beast Boy knew that he wouldn't kill Robin. Was Slade planning to kill him now?
"If you must know, Logan," Slade said, "I've been hired by the Brotherhood of Evil to assassinate all members of the Doom Patrol."
No…
"But…Terra…"
"Do you really want to talk about her?" Slade asked in a snide voice. "Didn't think so. As it so happens, I've also been asked to bring you in to the Brotherhood of Evil. I'm sure you'll have a happy family reunion once they're through with you."
First Terra and now this? He couldn't kill the Doom Patrol…why would he? Mento…and Rita…Larry, Robotman—they could take Slade down!
"You can't kill them!" Beast Boy shouted, now beginning to panic. "You can't defeat Mento! You can't—"
"Dear child, I can defeat the entire Justice League with nothing but my brains and a laser pointer." Beast Boy threw himself to the side as Slade kicked at him. "And when there is no one left you'll die as well."
Beast Boy tried to shape-shift again, but Slade smacked him across the jaw. Despite himself, Beast Boy was beginning to feel tired. No matter how many times he tried to convince himself that he would do well in the whole "solo-hero" thing he supposed that he knew it would never work out. He was so used to fighting with a team…
He had to warn Steve about the attack. Beast Boy briefly remembered the time he last fought alongside the Doom Patrol. Mento wouldn't appreciate him taking the time to go and warn them. Last time he didn't appreciate it when Beast Boy decided to save the Doom Patrol instead of going after the Brain and the Monkey.
Beast Boy closed his eyes.
-OQ-
11:29pm
Gotham City
Crime Ally
Green Arrow crouched low on the rooftop and pulled back his bow. A trickle of blood ran down his forehead and stained the collar of his uniform. While he considered himself fast and efficient archer one of Black Mask's men managed to graze his skull with a bullet.
So while he wanted some payback, Green Arrow knew that Clayface was the bigger problem. How the hell did Bruce manage to bring this guy down on his own? Without super powers? Green Lantern hovered above Clayface and directed his ring's power into a sledgehammer.
Three of Black Mask's men were pinned to the wall, special thanks to the great GA himself. One of these men had a briefcase of money handcuffed to his wrist. They watched the fight with mouths open wide in surprise. Sure, they probably expected Batman to show, but not the friggin' Justice League.
You know what, Bruce, he thought scathingly, why do I always have to clean up your messes?
"Ollie!"
Green Arrow swore under his breath as Clark's booming voice caused him to let go of the bow. The arrow flew awkwardly in the wrong direction. It landed in a billboard advertisement for toothpaste. Grimacing in annoyance, Green Arrow picked up his communicator and pressed the call button.
"What is it now, Supes?" he asked.
"Batman is acting insane. He just took me down with Kryptonite."
"Hold on, what?"
Ollie momentarily forgot the battle that was taking place down below. Now he knew that Bruce could act a little crazy now and then, but he just took down Superman with kryptonite? That made no sense. Even for Bruce.
"Well, what do you want me to do?"
"Before he left Arkham he talked about the Joker's plot to kill Robin. I need one or two of you to find him. He's running around Gotham somewhere."
"Aw hell."
Green Arrow looked back down towards Clayface. By all accounts he, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter should be able to take this guy down fast. Bruce had no powers and was able to stop him. J'onn could be just as powerful as Clark if he wanted to.
"Robin's in Jump City. What co—"
"Don't argue, Ollie. He's dangerous and needs to be stopped." Clark paused. "Hold on, I'll call you later. I'm getting an incoming transmission from Jump City."
As Clark turned off his communicator Ollie sighed in annoyance. Well, Bruce was bound to snap one day. It just had to be the same night that the Titans were all attacked. He briefly thought of his previous sidekick Speedy, who moved out to the West Coast when he decided to split. God, that kid better be helping the Titans out.
Martian Manhunter pulled out from the fight and hovered before Ollie.
"I will go find him," J'onn said. "I will try to access his mind to see what is wrong with him. Perhaps I will be able to—"
"GO!" Ollie shouted. "GL and I can handle this!"
As J'onn flew over him Green Arrow nocked another arrow to his bow. He aimed it towards Clayface, who was locked in an intense battle with Green Lantern. With just a little bit of chaos and paranoia everything was just thrown into disorder. The Titans were God knows where while Batman finally snapped like a rubber band. Ollie didn't like that. His two front fingers pulled back the bow.
"Playtime's over, Hagen."
-BW-
11:31pm
Gotham City
Wayne Tower
People scrambled out of the way as the Batmobile screeched to a halt at the bottom of Wayne Tower, home of Wayne Enterprises. Some of the younger kids out and about at this time of night lifted up their cell phones to take a picture of Gotham's legendary Dark Knight. He ignored them.
He felt miffed.
Why did Clark insist on going back to Wayne Manor? While he did want to go to Jump City the Joker posed an immediate threat. Not only to Gotham, but to Dick as well.
Although he clearly remembered seeing a present in Crime Ally, he couldn't find it when he went back to look. Instead of wasting time looking back for it Batman decided to focus on Gotham's famous landmarks. He strode to the wide double doors, where there was a present waiting for him. A sudden thought crossed his mind. Batman stopped in his tracks. Did the Joker know his identity?
No, that was impossible. The Joker admitted that he would never pull off Batman's mask. He liked the mystery of the man behind the mask. Still, Batman always held that sliver of doubt in his mind. It would be stupid to dismiss the possibility.
He looked up at Wayne Tower. Why he had decided to check here first? For some reason, it just felt like natural instinct to want to come here. Out of all of the famous landmarks in Gotham City Bruce knew this one the best. Wayne Enterprises was one of Gotham's pride and joys.
Batman picked up the present and unwrapped it carefully. Inside of the box, as promised, was a giant puzzle piece. He lifted it out of the box to get a closer look at it.
Bruce…a deep voice in his head spoke. Where are you?
"Get out of my head, J'onn!" Batman growled. "Everything is under control."
He looked down at the puzzle piece. It was completely black except for a large white "W" that obviously stood for Wayne Enterprises. A new wave of fear rushed over him. His fear that the Joker had finally puzzled out his secret identity seemed more evident than ever.
What is wrong? J'onn asked. Come back to Wayne Manor and let's talk this over—
"There's nothing to talk about."
If it was even possible, his irritation with the Justice League grew. While J'onn's telepathic skills were good for communication, it bothered Bruce that J'onn could get into his head so easily. He clutched the puzzle piece tightly in his gloved hand. Batman unlocked the doors of Wayne Enterprises and stepped inside.
Someone laughed.
Looking up, Batman saw someone dressed in a purple suit dash across an upper hallway. The Joker leaned on the railing and waved down at him. He held a cardboard cutout of Bruce Wayne, which he disfigured with a permanent sharpie mustache.
"Hello Batsy," the Joker called out, his voice echoing in the large anteroom. "Having fun yet?"
If anything, Batman's anger only grew. He personally made sure that Wayne Enterprises was upgraded with the latest security measures. Only two people knew the passwords—himself and Lucius Fox. Perhaps he should have had Lucius upgrade the security systems sooner.
"How did you get in?"
"Magic." The Joker looked at the sharpie in his hand with mild interest. "Wanna see me make this pen disappear?"
Batman flung a bat-a-rang towards the Joker. Instead of hitting its intended target, the bat-a-rang sliced off the head of the Bruce Wayne cardboard cutout. The head fell softly to the floor as the Joker ran away laughing. With his great cape fluttering out behind him, Batman practically flew up the stairs to the second floor, leaping up three steps at a time.
There were so many questions on his mind, and not all of them good. As usual, the Joker laughed as he ran away gleefully from Batman. Batman's boots made loud echoing noises as he chased the Joker through the large empty hallway. He saw the Joker turn into a room, so he followed.
They were in the conference where he had had his meeting earlier today. It looked cold and empty without people in it. Even in the dim light he could see the outline of his arch-enemy. The Joker sat at the head of the table with his fingertips touching, a mock-serious expression on his face. His cold eyes and white teeth glinted through the darkness, reminding Batman of an evil version of the Chesire Cat.
"Doesn't it just drive ya nuts, Batsy?" the Joker asked, chuckling to himself. "That you can't figure this out?"
Slowly, menacingly, Batman walked around the table towards the Joker. How did the Joker get to Wayne Enterprises so fast? Did he have a car? A team of goons to command? If he did, then this was even worse than Batman thought.
"I brought you down," Batman said, "you were locked up in Arkham."
"So I was. But honestly, Bats, what makes you think that Dr. Arkham's funny pjs and padded rooms could hold me in?"
They were mere feet away from each other. Batman stopped to stare at the Joker, almost afraid to take a step forward. Instead of waiting for Batman to make the first move, the Joker got up out of the chair and walked up to the Dark Knight.
"You and I are destined to dance forever."
Batman wasn't sure how long he could contain his self-control. This was his arch-enemy, the madman who danced with glee as he murdered and tortured people. This man was responsible for the death of hundreds of people, and now Dick might be added to that list. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't let that happen.
"I'm going to ask you once," Batman growled, "where is Robin?"
"I'm sure you've asked me that more than once." The Joker took out something from behind his back. "But since you're not playing my little game, then perhaps we should play another."
Before Batman had time to react something hard hit his head. He stumbled backwards, his head reeling as his vision went out of focus. Blackness clouded his vision as he fell against the long conference table, his head spinning with sudden pain. The Joker held a crowbar.
"You know what this game is called?" The Joker asked. "Hit the Batman piñata!"
He drifted into unconsciousness.
-R-
10:07pm
Jump City, California
Location Unknown
Robin crawled away.
For once he couldn't think of a way to save himself. It seemed as though his imagination had come back to finish him off. Even though he now knew that this was all in his mind it still looked and felt so real.
There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
He reached out and groped in the dark for something to hold on as Slade grabbed a hold of his foot. His fingers slid across the floor as he felt himself being dragged backwards, as if the monster under his bed finally caught him. A momentary flash of panic overcame him. He twisted his body so that he was facing Slade, who held him by an ankle.
His legs kicked against Slade's armored chest as he tried to fight back. Although Robin knew that this was his imagination, it seemed as though his fear was now swallowing him up whole. It sickened him to his stomach that Slade was behind all of this. Of course, the man probably planned on being alive for the whole shebang, but that didn't make this situation any less dangerous.
"We've been needing to talk for a long time," Slade said, grabbing a fistful of Robin's hair. "About a lot of things."
Try as he might, Robin forced himself not to fight or talk back. Yes, he was afraid, but not only for himself. He was frightened for the sanity of the other Titans, who were all infected with the dust. And, of course, he was frightened for Bruce's sanity, which was precarious enough as it was. Did he ever mention to him how to defeat the dust? Was he running around Gotham now wreaking havoc? Probably. The Justice League seemed to be on the East Coast still. While they had a dust-infected Bruce to deal with they might never come to Jump City in time.
"I thought I told you before," Slade growled, slamming Robin's face against the wall, "that when I ask a question I expect an answer."
Even through the pain Robin was dimly aware of many things. He was aware of Slade speaking incomprehensible words to him, of the way the cold metal wall felt against his hot cheek and of a pounding headache. He tried to think of other things, of happier things that had nothing to do with Slade. Emotionally detach himself from what was happening. That was one of the techniques he used during his time as Slade's apprentice to help himself cope with the utter loneliness and despair he felt. Yet he couldn't help but formulate a reply.
"We have nothing to talk about," Robin growled. "You know I'll never join you."
"Of course I know that," Slade replied, "but that doesn't mean that I can't talk to my favorite apprentice."
Slade picked him up and shoved him against the wall. Stars popped in front of Robin's eyes as his head snapped back and hit the wall. Nothing about this was right at all. While Slade did beat him before it was never without a reason. As long as Robin did nothing wrong Slade wouldn't lay a hand on him or his friends. Even that terrible beating Slade administered to him on camera wasn't without a reason. Although he would always talk down to him Robin knew that he could handle that...but this...this was going to lead to a murder.
"Stop…" he murmured. "Please…stop…"
His feet dangled beneath him as Slade held him up against the wall. Another wave of humiliation washed over him, causing his cheeks to burn bright red. Slade hadn't even done a number on him yet and he was already begging for him to stop. Why? Because he knew what would happen if he kept fighting. He would never win a fight against his worst nightmare.
Robin doubled over with his hands to his stomach. Memories of his apprenticeship came back to him in overpowering waves. Aside from his previous brush with the dust, Robin had never been beaten so badly before by Slade. Darkness clouded his vision, but for some reason he couldn't black out. He wanted to black out. He wanted to go to sleep and never wake up until everything was back to normal. Robin felt himself drift close to unconsciousness…he became unsure as to what was memory, what was reality, and what was a hallucination.
"Alone again, Robin?" Slade asked, stepping out of the darkness. "As long as I'm around, you are never alone."
At the sight of Slade Robin began to thrash in his bonds. Why had the Titans strapped him down like a mental patient? For a few moments Slade stood over him and watched him struggle, knowing full well that he was in control of the situation. For a brief moment he hated his friends for strapping him down like this. They were his friends, so why would they do such a thing?
"Please…" Robin said, allowing his head to fall upon the pillow of the hospital bed, "just leave me alone."
He knew that the others were in the other room monitoring his vital signs via the probes connected to his head. If only they could step into the room and see the truth for themselves. He hated how weak and vulnerable he felt just lying here strapped to a hospital bed, now completely at Slade's mercy.
"Relax, Robin," Slade said, his tone calm and soothing, "I promise: you won't feel a thing."
What the hell was Slade holding in his hand? Robin's eyes widened as he realized that the object in Slade's hand was glowing with electricity. His heart began to thump madly against his ribcage as Slade came closer.
As Slade came close Robin jerked convulsively in a desperate effort to free himself. An electric shock coursed through his body as his hand brushed against the electric device. It was agony—his muscles tensed painfully as his hands formed involuntarily fists. Red filled his vision as the pain overtook him, so bad that he couldn't even force himself to scream.
"I told you to relax."
Robin opened his eyes as Slade began to cut through the straps holding him down. He looked up Slade, utter confusion on his face. Then he realized what he must have done—in his flailing his hand must have brushed the device while Slade was trying to cut through the straps.
As soon as one hand was free he reached for Slade's throat. The older man caught his wrist easily and didn't let go. Sweat poured down Robin's face as he tried to wrench his hand away, his other hand still awkwardly strapped down.
"Why are you doing this?" Robin asked through gritted teeth.
"A simple thank you would suffice," Slade replied, "unless of course you want to be strapped down."
The bottom line was that Robin didn't trust Slade. Did Slade feel guilty about beating the snot out of helpless victim? Was he releasing him so that he could hit him again and again?
"I'm not afraid of you."
Robin's voice shook as he said this. He knew that Slade would catch the fear evident in his voice, but he stubbornly denied his fear. The mercenary yanked Robin a little closer so that they were mere inches from each other's faces.
"Your friends believe that you are insane, Richard. Why else would they strap you down like a mental patient?" Slade let go of Robin's hand and held out his own. "They don't trust you. They're holding you back. I won't do the same to you."
Robin looked down at the hand Slade offered him. Once before Slade had offered him that hand of partnership, but back then he didn't have much of a choice. For a moment Robin felt swayed by Slade's words. His friends had knocked him out and strapped him down. Sure, he would have expected something like that from Slade, but from the Titans?
Then another thought struck him. Nothing Slade had done up to this point made Robin want to join him voluntarily. Instead of shaking Slade's hand Robin put a hand to his utility belt and pulled out a bird-a-rang.
"Suit yourself," Slade said, turning around.
He disappeared into the darkness while Robin sawed away the other bonds as quickly as he could. On the other side of the door he heard the other Titans exchange startled shouts. Robin leapt off of the bed and went to the computer. He would find Slade and bring him down, but he didn't need the Titans' help to do it. He put the Tower in quarantine protocol before escaping through the vent in the ceiling.
Robin's head spun as he came back to semi-consciousness. As soon as he realized that he was aware of his surroundings Slade began to attack him again.
"For instance," Slade said, slamming a boot down on Robin's back, "we never talked about that pretty alien princess you're so fond of."
Robin stopped moving.
Don't talk back, his conscience begged him, stop talking…just stop talking…
"Do you think I wouldn't have noticed?" Slade asked, stooping down to pick him up by the collar. "How you tried not to attack her when you broke into Wayne Enterprises?"
That was a question Robin asked himself again and again. He always wondered whether Slade noticed that he did that. Given the man's skilled powers of observation, Robin figured that Slade always knew. Just like how he always knew everything about him…
"I understand, of course, why you were reluctant to break into Wayne Enterprises. I had you steal from Wayne, the man you still profess to be your father."
Robin flung himself to the side as Slade kicked at him. He rolled over and sprang to his feet, trying desperately to figure out a way to stop himself from going insane and a way to avoid hurting himself. Slade threw several punches at him.
"But when you deliberately disobeyed me…refused to shoot the girl…I knew."
One of Slade's hands jabbed his throat before Robin could reply. Robin lifted his hands to massage his throat, which left everything else vulnerable. Slade took the opportunity to go on the offensive…again.
"Why don't you just…give up, Dick?" Slade asked. "Both of us know that I am the superior fighter. Once this is all over you will have no one left. No one except me."
Robin lay on the ground, his hands forming fists as he growled in frustration. Once before Slade had asked exactly that when Robin lay completely at his mercy. The reason that Robin never gave up was because that was the easy way out. The selfish way out.
He never tried to deliberately be a hero. It was just his personality that made him act like one. The way he grew up and the people he had lost at such a young age only made him cling onto the people he loved.
"No."
Even before Slade opened his mouth Robin knew what the man would say. It both frightened and annoyed him that he had long with Slade for so long that he could predict the man's thoughts and actions. Yet at the same time he knew so little about the man and the motivations that drove him forward. Slade laughed quietly under his breath.
"That's what I like about you," he said, "that spark. That unwillingness to give up." Slade laughed. "But sometimes you have to acknowledge the fact that you've been defeated."
Did you ever give up? Robin thought. No. That's how it's gotten you to where you are today. You've never given up in your life.
"Yes, I have never given up," Slade said. "You're right about that. What differs is our motivations. Stop trying to lie to yourself about your so-called 'sense of righteousness.' When it comes to life-and-death situations like this it all comes down to pure animal instinct. The basics."
Robin rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, trying to breathe normally through his mouth. Blood trickled out of one of his nostrils. If he still lived with Slade, then Wintergreen would have come to stop Slade from beating him any further. In his annoyingly paternal way Slade would pull Robin to his feet, slap an ice pack on his bruises, and tell him to suck it up.
In a way, Robin wanted the old Slade back.
"So what do you expect me to do, Slade?" Robin asked bitterly. "Accept the fact that I was always destined to be your successor?"
His heart thumped madly against his ribcage as Slade came into his view. Why was he still talking to himself? Even though he now knew that Slade was behind this there were still so many unanswered questions. Were those Sladebots who drugged and kidnapped him? Who—if the other agents were people—triggered the actual dust? And—creepily enough—who the hell dressed him in this stupid uniform?
"Accept the fact that you are like me." Slade reached down and picked Robin up by the scruff of the neck. "And if you really want to defeat me, then you'll develop the balls to put a knife into my back."
There was nothing Robin could do to prevent Slade from shoving him against the wall. He wasn't going to fight back. This was a lesson Slade tried to teach him again and again: the survival instinct. Of course, back then Slade held back. He didn't want to permanently damage his apprentice. Sometimes Slade would beat him until Robin retaliated, but a person could only take so much pressure before snapping.
What are you doing, Grayson? Robin thought. Stop talking to him. Stop talking to yourself! He's only in your mind…he's only in your mind…
The mercenary took out his steel bo-staff from his utility belt. By now Robin was in so much pain that he only wanted this to stop. He didn't want to die…he didn't want the others to die…he didn't want Bruce to die…not for his benefit.
He looked up at Slade, who was now towering over him with the bo-staff in his hand. No matter what he did the older was physically stronger than he was. Even in real life Robin was never able to defeat him alone. In that aspect Slade was right: he couldn't defeat Slade alone. With a sigh of defeat he hung his head and waited for the beat down to begin.
Unless someone came to rescue him, then he knew that he was going to die.
-Rae-
10:10pm
Jump City, California
Main Street
Raven went down to the stairs towards the backup generators in the basement of Titans Tower, holding a flashlight in her hands. As she looked around she could see why Robin almost lost his mind down here. The basement was so large that none of the other Titans had heard his screams and pleas for Slade to stop.
She stumbled as she tripped over something. It was one of the evidence boxes that had fallen down. Raven kicked it out of her way and continued on her way.
"Turn back."
Turning her eyes upwards, Raven saw thousands of tiny ravens perched on the steel supports. They surrounded her and gazed at her with curious red eyes, as though questioning her decision to fight back against the dust. Instead of following their advice, she continued forwards towards the backup generators.
"Turn back."
This time the chant was louder. Feathers ruffled as the ravens readjusted themselves on the support beams. Soon all of them began to chant, growing louder and louder as Raven neared the backup generators.
She flipped open the control box and shined the flashlight on it. While she wasn't much in the way of technology like Cyborg was, she was more competent than Beast Boy. Her eyes squinted as she translated Cyborg's patented chickenscratch into intelligible English. The guy sure had a way with technology, but if only he could spell…
A thousand shrieks cut through the air as the ravens screeched in anger. She dropped the flashlight in surprise as the tiny birds flew into the air and down towards her. The beam of light flickered as it skidded across the floor.
"NO!" Raven screamed, throwing her hands back and facing the birds head on. "You're not real! You're only in my mind!"
Their glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness and narrowed in dislike. Raven wasn't afraid. She wasn't afraid of the dust, or for herself, or of the inter-dimensional demon inside of her. Even if she couldn't face her fears in the light Raven knew that the best thing she could do was face her fears head on.
The birds stopped a few inches from her face. Within seconds they dissipated into the darkness, leaving Raven alone again. After bending down to pick up the flashlight she turned towards the control box again.
"Aha," she said, "There you are."
She reached out and flicked the switch.
She closed her eyes as Titans Tower came back to life. For the first time in her life Raven was glad for the light. Without the hallucinations plaguing her mind she could think much more clearly. She turned and dashed up the stairs as fast as she could.
Raven rushed to the common room and turned on the main computer. As soon as the screen loaded she typed frantically, locating the last phone call made earlier today. The Justice League had to understand what was going on. Why hadn't they come yet? What were they doing that was more important than this?
The Man of Steel's face appeared on screen.
"Superman!" she exclaimed. "Where are you? I thought you were coming?"
"What's going on?" Superman demanded. "I heard about the blackout. How are you contacting me?"
"I powered up the Tower's backup generators," she replied. "Listen to me: everyone, including me, has been infected with the dust that made Robin crazy. I don't know how long I can stave off the effects of the dust, but we need your help."
"We just tried to talk to Batman at Arkham Asylum. He's under the impression that the Joker is behind this and basically me down. I don't want to say that he lost his mind, but it seems like it."
Something clicked within her mind. Suddenly everything began to make sense. Just a few hours ago Robin asked Raven why Batman was acting like a jerk. The symptoms were clear as the sun in the sky. Why didn't the Justice League notice it sooner? Why didn't the Titans notice it sooner?
"Superman, Batman has also been infected with the dust."
"Excuse me?"
"Batman has been infected with the dust," Raven repeated, "I don't know how but I think that's what his problem is."
Superman looked unnerved at this. Raven felt the same way. Having Robin act super-obsessively and violently was almost too much for the Titans…and having Batman act like that was more frightening. The man could cause some real damage even though he didn't have powers. Raven knew from experience that Robin certainly caused some serious damage.
"What should we do?"
"Listen to me carefully: you're going to have to convince him that this is all in his mind. Bring him literally into the light. Flood the room with light. That's the only way you can stop him from hallucinating."
The Man of Steel didn't look like he wanted to believe any of this. Raven didn't want to believe that any of this was happening, but she just had to accept the fact that it was.
"All right," he replied uneasily. "I'll keep you updated."
She logged off.
She hung her head as she composed herself. How long would she be under the influence of the dust? Several times throughout the night Robin was infected he kept reverting back to the hallucinations. How long would she have to wait?
Raven took out her Titans communicator and opened it. There were others who could help aside from the Justice League. Aqualad, for example, could help. And when the boys disappeared to fight in the Tournament of Heroes they mentioned a few others who were honorary Titans. She sent out a distress call and snapped it back shut.
Raven levitated into the air and crossed her legs. By the monks of Azarath, she was going to stop this and save everyone from themselves. She closed her eyes and began to chant.
"Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos!"
Raven's soul-self streaked through town, trying to find Robin amongst the crying, weeping souls of Jump City. Now she was glad that she had this mental bond with him.
While she was worried about everyone else, she knew that it would be easiest for her to find Robin. She honestly didn't know what to do. The most she had done thus far was organize the JCPD. She wasn't meant to be a leader. Even though she was created to destroy Raven wanted to do some good in the world. If she really had to lose her friends when Trigon came to destroy the universe, then she would make sure that they stayed alive long enough to face Trigon with her.
She flew through the streets of Jump City, where the JCPD struggled to apprehend escaped criminals and bring peace to this chaotic city. She saw other people break into stores and amplify the chaos and she saw people huddling inside their homes, wondering what the hell was going on in the world outside. The whole city wasn't affected with the dust, but it might as well be. Raven reached out towards Robin's conscience, which was weeping softly with undeniable fear and pain.
She found him.
Her soul-self approached a dark carnival and plunged underneath the ground. He was in an underground room by himself. To her surprise Raven saw that he was dressed in his old apprentice uniform, although the armor wasn't there. He lay on the ground in a slight curl. Even though she couldn't see anything she knew that an imaginary Slade was with him.
"Robin…" she whispered.
He lifted his head at the sound of her voice.
"Don't worry about me…" he said, his voice weak. "Find the others…then come find me…"
"Who's behind this?"
Robin coughed violently as he began to laugh. What was wrong with him? Why was he laughing? He wasn't infused with the Joker's laughing gas, was he?
"Robin! Are you hurt?"
"I said don't worry about me!"
Was that blood running down his face? Raven's feelings of panic increased. Robin bowed his head and muttered words under his breath that he knew Raven would hear.
"…Contact…Adeline…" he said. "Adeline…Kane…"
Something invisible grabbed a hold of him and flung him across the room. A scream escaped from Robin's lips as he doubled over in pain, flinging his arms over his head to protect himself from an imaginary foe.
In order not to get hurt herself Raven withdrew herself from Robin's mind. Her soul-self fled back to Titans Tower. Once she reunited with her self-soul Raven stood back on her feet, breathing hard as she tried to digest what she just witnessed. She looked at the main computer, where the files on Adeline Kane were still bookmarked from when Robin last used them.
Adeline Kane.
A/N: Oh the Bene Gesserit quote….Dune is probably my favorite sci-fi novel ever. Heck, my parents are Dune freaks as well. My brother is named after one of the main characters.
Fangirlness about Dune aside, I can actually see Raven reciting the Litany Against Fear.
Oh, and as I was watching Haunted for the umpteenth time I realized that I've always wondered what happened to Robin in the hospital wing. You know, where the writers made it SUPER ambiguous as to whether Slade friggin' tortured him or cut him loose. I wanted to write that flashback a while back, but then I decided that it would be more appropriate later in the story since the violence is escalating in this part.
And I originally had more POVs, but this chapter was beginning to get a little long.
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