A/N: First off, sorry about taking forever to update, for some odd reason I couldn't post any new chapters in FF but if not for this small difficulty this chapter was ready and rolling to go. Well, as a very belated Happy Easter, hope you all had a great time. Oh, I can't remember 100 what that Star's little moth baby's name is, so I name it Slinky. If anyone knows, let me know cause he's going to make another appearance thought brief as it might be.

Ch. 24: Like an onion

The Titans surrounded the kitchen counter, staring at the smooth surface as if it would show them all their unanswered questions. Beastboy glanced up at the door that led to the basement, "I wonder what Batman and Robin are talking about?"

Starfire shrugged, "Maybe they are just catching up on old times."

"I doubt it Star," whispered Cyborg shaking his head, "No, I think Batman is dead set on finding Robin guilty on something. I mean we've got to keep in mind what Mikhail told us and everything we've learned through this investigation. And then there's the fact Raven couldn't open up their mental bond, Robin's weird behavior…then the whole issue of Robin burning his own eyes. I don't know you guys, but Robin isn't the Robin that we use to know."

Silence fell upon the foursome. Star heard a small squeak and looked down to see Slinky giving her big puppy dog eyes. Smiling, the alien princess bent down and picked up her plump pet, tickled it softly on its' stomach before holding it to her chest, much like how a little child would hold a teddy bear. "Either way, Robin is still our friend and our leader. He would not let us abandon one of our own, so we should not do the same thing. If anything else with him committing such actions against himself shows that he is in need of desperate help."

Raven smiled softly at Star, impressed with the other woman. "She has a point."

Cyborg also smiled, "I agree too, but still something seems off."

Beastboy scratched his head. "Dude, it's simple. This whole situation is like an onion. It has way too many layers for a vegetable, but it's a simple veggie and boy does it stink and make you cry." Waving a hand in front of his nose, the changeling made a funny face.

Cyborg stood up and straightened his back, his eyes shooting at the door, "Good one Beastboy. And knowing Robin, he won't revel too many layers of the story, meaning we might have to find another way to learn the truth."

"But which truth?"

Raven's question brought shock onto the Titans' faces. None had ever thought that question and now it seemed to enshroud the whole conversation. Raven ran a hand through her violet hair. "Are we to believe the words coming out of Robin's mouth, those short, abrupt questions that reveal only enough to answer the question? Or, are we to believe Mikhail and the people he questioned on Robin's behavior? Or are to we believe what Batman finds out, the things Robin only says to him and he shortens to a version only we know? Or to a greater extent, does Slade have a play in what Robin is to say, has he trained Robin to respond in a certain way, making him say words the villain programmed in him? Or…are we to combine all these possibilities and come to our own conclusion? And if so, can we still trust Robin enough for him to be our leader?"

Beastboy groaned and banged his head on the counter, "My brain is on overload, too much thinking."

Star petted Slinky on the head, "I do not know, but I will stand by Robin."

The Titans eyed the redhead, understanding in their eyes. They knew she loved Robin but something in them wanted to protect her from Robin. They did not want to see her heart broken, just like they had to watch and comfort Beastboy's broken heart. The door swished opened and Batman stepped into the lobby, his eyes lost to the scene before him.

Cyborg eyed the Dark Knight, "Everything all right?"

Batman jerked and looked upon the older boy as if seeing him for the first time. Shaking his head slightly, he mumbled, "Yes, everything is fine."

Star bit her lip, "And how is Robin?"

The masked eyes closed themselves and Raven felt a roll of pain surge through the man. But none seeped through the dark voice. "He is confused. Robin no longer considers himself to be superhero."

"WHAT?" All four Titans leapt from their chairs and now were in Batman's face, eyes wide open with shock.

Batman scoffed and took a couple steps back, "It seems that Robin has become critical of life and thinks that he is no longer fit to be a superhero due to certain actions he won't as of now reveal."

Cyborg shook his head, his mind trying to wind itself over the news. A small frown graced Raven's face as her own mind stretched out to touch Robin but instead felt the small waves of sleep. Beastboy just had the deer in the headlight look and Star…Starfire surprised Batman. She set down Slinky and made her way to the kitchen.

"I am going to make Robin some food."

Everyone shifted their attention to the woman and looked at her like she had talked in a different language.

Beastboy stepped forward, "Um, Star."

The door once again swished open and Green Arrow and Black Canary stepped through. Canary sat down on a stool, prompted her elbow on the counter and laid her hand to rest on her hand. "Guess what?"

Cyborg answered her, "What?"

Arrow crossed his arms, "We talked to Robin about the time we ran and fought him back in the city. He says he had to save the conman because if he didn't the General would have killed everyone in the square."

"Blackmail?" questioned Batman.

"Yep."

Raven turned to face Batman, "Slade blackmailed Robin to be his apprentice."

"Which makes one question if Robin is just using that as an excuse," Batman sighed, "Then again it might be true. Robin is notorious for putting people's needs above his own and it wouldn't be hard for the General to exploit it."

"Well I for one believe him. I mean the General does work for the League of Shadows," replied Arrow.

"But what would the League get out of blackmailing Robin. They were on opposite sides of the war," countered Canary.

No one had a reply but one could see the beginnings of strains and alliances. The group was beginning to fracture, one side believing blackmail yet knowing Robin was not totally innocent but still a hero. The other side doubted everything the boy said and leaning towards Robin being a criminal. Yet who was on which side was still unclear.

"And let's not forget Slade," finished Canary. "Look, I'm just spilling questions out here. I have a feeling that maybe we're over thinking this situation."

Cyborg marched over to the main desk and pulled out a paper and pencil, "I think we should make a chart of what we think is true and not, get certain things out in the open."

Raven turned to Canary and Arrow, "Do you think we should get Mikhail and the General involved in this? They are from the other side of the story?"

Beastboy broke into a grin, "And maybe they will help Robin remember some stuff and break away from Slade's hold!"

Cyborg looked up the two Justice League members, "Can you get them?"

Arrow tilted his head and whistled, "Maybe not the General, but definitely Mikhail."

A few mummers of 'good' and 'yep' came from the Titans. Cyborg walked up to the green-clad hero and handed him a piece of paper, "This is where we last left Mikhail."

Glancing at Canary, Arrow took a hold of the paper and flashed her a pearly white grin, "Well, let's go back on the merry-go around. Maybe this time we can stop at that little café we spotted last time."

Canary jumped on her feet and snorted, "Whatever, Blondie."

"So harsh." Tapping a button he and Canary disappeared in a flash of light.

All this time, Batman stood off the side and watched the group; especially the Titans go about their business on trying to organize themselves with Robin's abrupt appearance. For the first time, the Dark Knight allowed the corner of his lips curve so ever slightly upwards. He could no longer see them as little children or teenagers running around in panic. After meeting Robin, it seemed that the group realized what they were facing and approached the problem with such professionalism that they were a little bit better than the Justice League. A swell of pride rose in him. He remembered when Robin had contacted him and told him that he was forming the Titans and if he could help him out with setting up a headquarters. Batman had been reluctant at first, but now seeing how the team were the beacon of hope for Jump City and elsewhere and how well Robin had trained them…it was refreshing. And in the back of his mind, Batman felt himself a little less lonely.

For all he knew, the boy he had raised might be gone but Robin's works, ideals and legacy he left behind in the Titans still burned against the injustices of the world. He couldn't help but think that if anything would be Robin's downfall it was that he viewed the Titans as a hopeless group without their leader or did nothing to improve themselves while he was gone. Like the boy said, Robin still saw them as children but after what he just witnessed, Batman realized that the Titans had grown up.

"Batman?"

The Dark Knight blinked, facing Raven's pale face. "I'm fine."

The witch nodded, Cyborg calling both their attentions. "Ok folks, so here is the thing." Prompting up the notepad, the black skinned man pointed at the simple chart he quickly made. "The facts. Robin is Reaper. Robin fought Green Arrow and the others to protect a conman. From Mikhail, we learned that Robin was on the enemy's side. He was known as Lt. Dimitry and became Captain. He stole medical supplies and was publicly accused in the square." Taking a deep breath, Cyborg looked at his comrades.

Starfire was flipping bread on the skillet, seeming to be lost from the conversation. Beastboy hopped onto a chair and placed his hands on the chair's bottom. "And lets not forgot the crazy stuff we just learned." Sticking up a finger, he began to count, "I mean, let's see, tried to burn his own eyes, probably lost his mind, was wearing Slade's outfit and was with Slade, kidnapped by Slade, knows Mikhail, said he wasn't with Slade the whole time, he is too dang calm, Raven says she can't touch his mind, didn't appear to be angry when we mentioned Slade and now we find out that he doesn't see himself as a superhero." At this point Beastboy was clutching and pulling out his hair, head tilted back his voice yelling in exasperation. Flopping back into a slouched position, Beastboy sniffed his nose and muttered, "This sucks."

Raven smiled at Beastboy, "It sure does and let's not forget what Arrow and Canary said about Robin saying that he was working for the General and was blackmailed into fighting them."

Beastboy rolled his head, grasping his head, eyes spinning, "Don't remind me."

Cyborg swallowed, "So…on the other side," pointing to the other side of the chart, he began, "We can still say that Robin is brainwashed. That he is broken, hence his confusion and some of the facts not matching up, like him saying that he was running from Slade the whole time but never once mentioned that he took part in the war. He is hiding something."

"Like we said before, you know he won't open up to us, Cy. Remember how hard it was for him to open up about his first apprenticeship and then the dust incident," commented Raven, her voice straining slightly.

"Then what do you propose?" he replied.

Batman walked over to the consol and opened the cabinet, "We make him watch the recording. Making him realize that we know that he is Reaper might push him to open up more. Raven, I want you in the recording room and monitoring his emotions from there. If he makes the slightest notion of any emotion, I want you to remember and report to us."

"Yes sir."

Beastboy raised his hand, "Are we doing this right now? I mean we kinda just let him relax and fall asleep."

"When you prevent the suspect from rejuvenating himself or awaking him constantly late at nights, preventing him from sleeping, he will eventually crack and give in. Also, his story will start to falter and you'll be able to tell facts from lies." Standing up, he handed Cyborg the tape. "But, we'll let Robin relax for now and heal his injuries."

Cyborg took the tape, "So what are we going to do in the meantime?"

"You will take a break, relax and get comfortable with the notion that Robin is back. I will continue gathering facts in his room and-"

Star's soft voice interrupted Batman, "I will give Robin his food." Holding a plate with a grilled cheese sandwich on it, the alien princess made her way to the door and left the room.

Everyone watched her go and it was Raven that voiced their thoughts. "Poor girl."

A/N: I was writing Star going down to meet Robin but I figured I should save that for next week, or maybe this week since this chapter was suppose to be posted last week. Oh! I must say though that Batman's little speech on how to break a prisoner by lack of sleep was inspired from the German movie "The Lives of Others". Good movie by the way, a little long but still worth it. It's about an East German officer who interrogates people and has to wire this author's room, where he sits and listens in on their lives searching for anything suspicious. That lifestyle I must say is very interesting. And since we're in the interrogation part of the story, thought it would be kinda useful to put in there. Well, have a good day everyone!