Chapter 8

Old Friends

It had been several days since Robin nearly killed Mumbo. And all the while he kept getting more and more aggressive, angry, and annoyed. Verbal fights had become daily and Robin's absence from the Tower became regular...

It was mid afternoon. The last of the rain clouds began to leave, and the sun began to dry up the remaining puddles.

The Titans were walking downtown towards the park enjoying the beautiful fall weather-well, except for Robin who was forced to go along.

"Remind me again why we're going to the park?" complained Robin.

"Because friend Cyborg believes that if we go to the place where we last found you, it will remind you about what happened that night."

"Whatever," he mumbled.

They were almost to the path where everything began when...

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The team stopped-Robin continued to walk down the path.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Dude! Aren't you gonna pick it up and yell 'Titans Go!'?" Beast Boy asked.

"Answer What?"

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"THE COMMUNICATOR!" yelled Beast Boy and Cyborg.

"I have more important things to do."

He took out the communicator and threw it over his shoulder. Cyborg barely caught it.

The Titans looked at him bewildered.

"Did he-did he just-"

"I think he did," said Raven.

"There is definitely something wrong with him," confirmed Beast Boy as they watched him walk down the path.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Titans go!" yelled Cyborg.

The four Titans ran into the city.

Hearing the gravel crunch under Cyborg's feet heading the opposite direction, Robin turned and went farther down the path.

About halfway into a clearing he heard a crunch far off the path. He spun around to face that direction-nothing.

He looked around-there was nothing only trees and dead leaves flying around. He jerked around seeing a green flash out of the corner of his eye.

"What the-?"

A cloth covered his eyes-held firm by a pair of hands.

Robin tried to hit the person behind him but hit nothing but air.

"Ello mate."

Robin froze

"Dustin?"

"That's my name don't ware it out."

"What're you doing here?"

"Just checking up on an old friend, and I must admit, you have slow reflexes."

"SHOVE OFF!" Robin yelled finally grabbing Dustin's arms throwing him over his head.

He pulled the blind fold off in time to see a fist fly at his face knocking him into a tree.

Robin quickly regained his footing and pulled out his bo-staff. Dustin did the same.

"What do you want?" Robin growled

"Do I have to repeat myself? To check up on an old friend. It has been three years after all; Slade just wanted me to make sure you haven't forgotten him."

"How could I ever forget that-"

POW!

Dustin's bo-staff connected with Robin's jaw and stars danced across his vision for a split second.

Before Dustin realized what happened, Robin's bo-staff caught him across the back of his neck causing him to drop his bo-staff. He fell forward-but a fist connected with his nose-breaking it-sending him backwards into a tree.

"Come on, is that all you got?"

Robin chuckled darkly.

"Far from it."

Robin swung his bo-staff with amazing speed and it made sound contact with Dustin's rib cage cracking several ribs.

Dustin gasped in pain, and then lunged at Robin who flipped him over his head.

Dustin landed on the hard gravel, several rocks cutting into his body. He pushed up on shaky hands but a foot connected with his already damaged ribs sending him into a nearby tree.

"Had enough?" jeered Robin.

Dustin moaned.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," he said coldly.

He slowly raised his bo-staff for another strike-

"ROBIN!" yelled Cyborg.

He ignored them and brought it down-but it was wrenched from his hands by black magic.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" yelled Beast Boy.

Robin turned and glared at his teammates giving them a cold chill.

Cyborg ran over to the bloody figure under Robin.

"He's still alive-but just barely," he said checking his pulse.

"WHAT'D YOU STOP ME FOR?!" yelled Robin.

"You were about to kill him!" yelled Cyborg standing up.

"He's working for Slade-he deserves no mercy."

"What's wrong with you?" yelled Raven, flowers and grass withered at her feet.

"Please Robin, why have you been acting so strange?" asked Starfire.

"I'm tired, I'm going home," said Robin walking down the path.

The Titans looked at Robin then back were the person lay-but he was no longer there.

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Slade-bots dragged Dustin into the hideout and dumped him at Slade's feet.

"What's wrong, Dustin couldn't even beat a little bird? I must say I'm surprised Robin beat you."

Slade turned away from Dustin's bloody body, "Things are going better than planed."

A cold laugh echoed throughout the base.