Quick warning. Before you read this chapter, know that Robin is going to cry. Yes, Robin is going to cry and it will end up like a lot of my other work involving Robin crying. If you don't like it when Robin cries, you had better skip that part. But, if you have an appetite for that sort of thing, prepared to have a very nice meal. by the way, Dick is nine. i know i said he was thriteen but that is not very believeable so he is nine. thanks for reading. Anyway, ONTO THE BAT.
Batman jumped onto his bat bike drove swiftly to the bank where the Joker was, Drifter running beside it as a giant leopard. A few minutes after they left, Robin leapt up onto his Robin bike (which was really just a glorified bat bike Robin had privately renamed. Everyone else just called it a bat bike) and drove after them.
Batman and Drifter arrived quickly at the bank. Batman broke in from the top, Drifter following him swiftly. The Joker was walking up and down the row of hostages he had in front of him, smirking. Batman quickly spelled out a plan to Drifter, who nodded and followed him as he dropped into bank with a swift thud.
"Your crime spree is over Joker", he said. Drifter dropped in a moment later as a large leopard.
"What happened to your bird?" the Joker asked.
"He's not here right now", said Batman, "let those hostages go."
"Let me think about that", the Joker said, "no. Go get 'em boys." The Joker's goons rushed towards Batman and Drifter, who broke into action mode.
(Now imagine an exciting fight involving a large leopard and Batman. It has goons, and the Joker and a nice little bit where Drifter jumps from a rafter and knocks someone down. I am not going to describe the fight because I am bad at describing fights. If you feel the emotional need to write a fight scene for them, feel free to and PM it to me. I'll put it in here and give you credit. Now, on to the good bit where Robbie shows up.)
Robin leapt down from the hole Batman had so conveniently left in the building's roof and kicked someone. He surveyed the area. Drifter was a human now, back to back with Batman. Robin felt a rising anger. That was where he was supposed.
He decided he was going to retake his rightful place. Robin vaulted across the room with the speed of an eagle and hit Drifter with a bang. Drifter gave a grunt of pain and was thrown to one side.
Robin felt pride swelling in him. He was back to back with Batman again, just like old times. That changed, just so you know, after about three seconds. You see, most men don't like to see their girlfriend go bang, especially if it's by the adopted son they thought they could trust, and Batman was no exception.
"What are you doing Robin", Batman yelled.
"Nobody move", the Joker screamed and Batman looked over to see Drifter, frozen, with a knife held to her throat by none other then the Joker.
If your wondering how Drifter got there, it's actually quite simple. When Robin had hit Drifter, she had spiraled off, straight into the nasty, pasty, creepy arms of the Joker. Drifter was none too pleased about this arrangement at all, preferring, as I am sure most of us do, Batman's arms to those of the Joker, unless of course you're Harley Quinn, but nobody's talking about her. Anyway, back to the story.
"Now Batman", the Joker said, "go get in that vault over their or your little girl friend dies, Bird boy too."
"Ohh, I have no problem with her death", Robin said, "so can I stay here?"
"Get over here", Batman snarled, grabbing Robin by the scruff of the neck and dragging him over to the cell. He tossed the boy in, none to gently I might add, and climbed in as well. Robin crawled over to a corner of the cell and sat down, pulling his legs up to his chest and putting his arms around them.
Then, the Joker grabbed Drifter by her hair and threw the yelping girl in as well. Batman knelt down and gathered her up in his arms, gazing out at he Joker as he fixed them with a wicked smile before shutting the vault door.
It was pitch black in the vault, but Batman got up and turned on his Bat light, which was quite bright, then turned on Robin. "Robin", he yelled angrily, "Robin look what you did. This is all your fault. You are in so much trouble. Once we get out of here I am going to…"
But Batman had to stop right there because the next moment, Robin was crying. No, he was more then crying, he was bawling, I mean like real bawling. Batman tried to talk again, but Robin continued to cry and Batman simply couldn't be heard over him.
Finally, Batman knelt down in front of Robin and said, "for Pete's sake Robin, what's wrong?"
"You hate me", Robin wailed, "all you ever do is yell at me anymore. You're never proud of me, you never pay attention to me. Ever since she showed up (at this point Robin pointed an accusing little finger at Drifter, who turned into a leopard and lowered herself meekly to the ground, ears back), all you've done is think about her and no one else. I knew you didn't love me."
"What are you talking about Robin?" Batman asked.
"See", said Robin, "I knew you didn't love me, you can't even say it. She's not even the first. All those others you spend so much more time with then you do me. Trixie and Lexi and Sabrina and all those stupid girls. What's so great about them that makes you hate me? Am I that unlovable?"
"Ohh", said Batman, sitting down in front of him, "so this problem goes back a lot further then Drifter, doesn't it." Robin simply buried his head in his knees. "This isn't even about Drifter, is it, this is about me. Well Robin, let me tell you something, I never ever loved any of those other girls, they were all a guise for the public, didn't you know that?
I hated Trixie, she had that nasty high little voice and Lexi with those stilettos that always managed to land on my little toe and Sabrina with her constant complaining. This is all my fault Robin, and I'm sorry you're feeling neglected truly I am." Robin gave a sniffle.
"You don't even love me", he said unhappily, "so it doesn't matter what you felt about them and anyway I know you love her." He pointed at Drifter again, who by this time was feeling the awkwardness in the room come up and grab her, "You never even named anything after me. I don't get a Robin bike or a robin rang or a Robin light. Hell, I don't even get a Robin mask. This is just a spare bat mask you cut off a little so it would fit me." Robin fell into a miserable silence again, looking away from his mentor sitting before him. Batman gave a sigh.
"Would you like a Robin bike son?" he asked softly. That was when Robin flew into his arms, sobbing. "Hey, hey", Batman said softly, "it's ok, everything's gona be ok. I do love you Robin, I promise and I'm sorry." Robin stopped sobbing after a few minutes and relaxed. Batman held him tightly. "Look Robin, I love you and Drifter equally and I would never want to do anything to hurt either one of you, but if you're not ready, Drifter doesn't have to be in the picture." Robin looked up at him in wonder.
"Really?" he asked incredulously.
"Sure", said Drifter, walking over. "My name sort of speaks for itself, I'm a nomad, I move often. I can go if you'd like. I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt the two of you. My dad had a whole bunch of girlfriends when I was young and I hated all of them so I kind of know what this is like for you, but I really did want to be your friend Robin.
Batman's told me a lot about you. He has all sorts of stories he tells me. You and Alfred are about all he talks about, she said, affectionately rubbing against Batman with a purr. You two are the most important people in his life I guess. I was quite ready to meet the legendary Robin in person after all I'd heard about him." Robin looked at her in awe.
"Really?" he asked. Drifter nodded. Batman gave her an annoyed look.
"Man I have like no life, is that really all I talk about?" he asked.
"Yes", Drifter cooed, "but I think it's cute." She touched his cheek with her nose and then backed up a little ways, bowing her head towards the two of them.
"But", said Robin, now addressing Batman again, "she makes you happy. You wouldn't want her to go, would you?"
"No, of course not Robin, but if she needs to, to keep you comfortable, then she can. I just want you to know how much I love you. I was kind of incapable of saying those sorts of things before, which is why you've never heard them, but Drifter's schooled me a little."
"I'm glad", Robin said, lying against Batman's strong chest.
"Well", said Drifter, "when we get out of here, I guess I'll go. I'll um…I'll see you later Batman." Batman nodded softly, and Robin could feel his sadness.
"Wait", he said, "I never said you had to go." Drifter cocked her head. "I guess you're not so bad. I'm sorry, about tonight and all. I don't really cut people and I don't like hearing girls scream." Drifter smirked.
"I figured as much", she said.
"You make Batman happy", Robin continued, "and he isn't happy very often. If you want to, you can stay."
"Robin", Batman asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes", said Robin, "I'm sure." Drifter got a big grin on her face and bounded over. She licked Robin's cheek and rubbed her chin across Batman's shoulder, purring loudly. Then, the vault door opened. The Joker was looking inside.
"Ohh, all this love stuff is killing me. You all are disgusting. Yeesh, go get a room that doesn't have security cameras that I can watch you with and listen to your every word. I hate this sort of thing. That's why I'm going to blow you up now." But, Batman, Robin and Drifter were all ready primed for action. They leapt towards the Joker and a battle ensued.
(Ok so, this time imagine Robin in the battle, fighting alongside Batman and Drifter. Drifter is changing her form a mile a minute because it's entertaining Robin and the bird and the bat are working in perfect synchrony together and they triumph If you wish to write this fight scene, please do and PM it too me. I would be very much obliged.)
Batman tied up the goons and the Joker while Drifter freed the hostages and Robin called the police to come and pick up the garbage. Then, they all stood heroically on the roof of a building, staring out into the city.
"So", Batman asked, "do you think it's worth going back to my place and finishing our evening."
"I'll be nice this time", Robin added, I won't pretend to kill myself."
"To tell you the truth", Drifter said, "I'm beat. I think I'm going to head back to the hall o justice and sleep. Bring my dress by tomorrow?"
"Will do", Batman said. Drifter turned into a girl and kissed him warmly before turning to Robin and kissing him on the cheek, making him blush. Then, she turned into a winged leopard and flew off into the distance. Batman put a hand on Robin's shoulder and watched her go.
"She certainly is something, isn't she?" he said. Robin nodded and leaned up against Batman, feeling at peace.
All right, one more chapter to go!