Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.

The Healer

Chapter 8: Doubles

Robin struggled to get on his feet after he was thrown onto the floor by the intruder. The man in black entered Robin's room and locked the door behind him. No matter how hard Robin looked at the stranger—no matter the angle—it was him, or rather this man had his face. As he pushed himself up, leaning against the wall, against the bed—anything that could give him support, his assailant just watched him with a satisfied grin. It was clear to Robin that this person enjoyed his squirming.

"Are you gonna help?" asked Robin.

"Why should I?" retorted he who has now made his way over to the bed and sat himself down.

"Because," said Robin between grunts as he heaved himself up, "it'd be nice."

At last Robin was standing, but he was exhausted so he rested on the wall. With his arms tied against his body by a metallic cable, it was hard for Robin to find any comfort.

The man in the bed chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"You," replied he with a sly smile. "You are hilarious."

This made Robin do his own chuckling.

"No; what's funny is," he said at length, "I didn't know I had a twin brother."

The stranger sat in silence.

"So which one of us is older? Me or you? You know, I've always wanted a little brother."

"Shut your mouth."

"Why? Did I make you mad?—little brother?"

Robin burst into laughter but was soon silenced when the intruder rose. Although they were of the same physique—although they were the same of everything—Robin saw this man as more intimidating; towering with great authority. His presence commanded attention. Yet by all means that is no admiration on Robin's part: rather, this man's presence summoned fear. The stranger walked over to him.

"For someone who was taught to fight in the darkness, you sure talk a lot," he said to Robin. "The big guy in tights must be disappointed in you."

A pause. Then,

"Rather," he continued, "for someone who has gone through the pain of losing people dear to him, you sure can smile."

Robin's eyes widened.

"How do you know all those things?"

Robin was almost breathless when he finished his question.

"Like I said: I am you and you are me."

"And what do you mean by that?" Robin cried.

The man's hand shot forward and covered Robin's mouth, but he did it in such a way and with such force that Robin's head hit the wall. The stranger placed a finger against his lips.

"Sh-Sh-Sh. I beg of you, my little bird, don't yell. If you do, the others will rush in here and then I'd have to kill you."

Robin struggled to free his mouth, screaming all the while but his shouting was muffled by the intruder's hand.

"Oh, I know what you're saying," said the man in black. "You're thinking your team will come in to save you if you scream. Do you honestly think I can't kill you?"

Robin nodded.

"Ha! You're probably right," agreed he. "Then I'll change my conditions: scream and when they rush in here, I will kill them."

Robin calmed down. Doubt started to become evident in his expression and the stranger saw this. At this point, Robin was convinced that this man is bluffing.

"Wow, Robin, I am offended. Do you doubt my skills so?"

Robin gave an almost hesitant nod.

But the immediate response was a disgusting smile.

"Ha! Think about it Robin if you think I'm bluffing: I said I am you and you are me, then wouldn't that mean I know your team as well? I know them just as well as you do. Think about that for a second."

Instantly, Robin understood what he was saying. Horror filled his eyes and that amused the stranger to no end.

"Be honest Robin: as the team leader, you have a responsibility to keep your team in check. Being a normal human being almost doubles the weight of your obligation to be able to control your team. So how did you manage this? Easy: by knowing the weaknesses of each and every one of them. In reality, Robin, you could go out there right now and silence your team for good. And if you could do it, then so can I."

A feeling of weakness came over Robin and he began to slip down to the floor. The stranger's grip on his mouth was released. Robin sat upright on the floor with his back against the wall as the man in black watched him.

"But of course," he continued," with your present situation, it would be a miracle if you are able to spar with any of them. I mean, if you weren't so broken, you could've been on your two feet earlier by easily doing some kind of maneuver; instead you were forced to press your face against any surface just to stand up. It's clear that you're not whole yet from your accident."

Robin looked up at him and said,

"You talk too much."

"And I can make you mute right now," replied the stranger.

A knock came on the door and Cyborg's voice passed through the door.

"Dude, are alright in there? I thought I heard something."

The man knelt down and held Robin's chin between his forefinger and thumb. He propped Robin's face up to look him eye to eye.

"Tell him that everything's fine."

But Robin was silent.

"Now."

"Cyborg?"

"Yeah?" answered his friend from the hallway.

"I'm alright."

"Are you sure? 'Cause—"

"I'm fine; I'm good. Don't worry about me. Just trying to get some rest."

"Right, if you say so."

Cyborg's heavy steps that faded away signaled that they were alone again.

"Good boy," said the intruder pinching Robin's cheek as he stood up.

"What's your name?" asked Robin.

The figure turned around almost surprised by the question.

"What?"

"Your name."

A soft laugh was what Robin heard before an answer was given.

"Crow," said he. "Where I came from, I am called Crow."

"So are you still the 'Boy Wonder' where you came from?"

"What? No. No silly names like that."

"Silly? I think not. But why none?"

"Because anyone who would come up with one wouldn't even have the chance of sharing it."

Crow stepped over to the desk and put some items down. From what Robin could see, they looked like parts to some contraption. His wondering was quickly halted for his suspicions were confirmed: it was indeed a machine. Crow started assembling it with a steady yet hasty pace. It was obvious that whatever this thing is, it is valuable. After a few more configurations the device was complete and it yielded blue lights near its opening at the end. There was a high-pitched stream of sound emitting from the machine. Whatever it was built for, the sound told Robin that it was ready to carry out its designated function.

"What is that?" inquired Robin.

Crow held it in front of his chest. It resembled a handgun.

"This? It's a little something that helps me get around."

"A teleportation device?"

"Almost. But it can do so much more."

Then it clicked: Robin finally finished the puzzle.

"A trans-dimensional portal."

"You got it. And f. y. i. the slang for it in my world is 'jumper'."

"So that's how—"

"Oh Robin! Don't tell me you just figured it out now? You stupid boy!"

"But such a device is only theoretical! Or at least in my world it is. Here, the only way to jump through dimensions is through powers, magic and the like. I didn't know such a device was possible!"

"How far technology has gone where I came from. Actually not really. What I am holding right now is the only one of its kind. There's no doubt that someone out there is imitating my tech though. But do I care? Nope!"

"What are you planning to do with it?"

Robin's expression became serious. He knew the complications that accompanied such a powerful device.

"Well, obviously I used it to come to your world."

"Stop with the games and tell me what you are after!"

"Ah! Robin, remember to watch your volume. I will turn the inside of this tower to red if you don't use your inside voice."

Between gritted teeth, Robin spoke.

"Tell me."

"Oh, I like those fangs."

"Talk."

Crow's expression also turned grave.

"You wanna know? Then I'll tell you."

He pointed the contraption at Robin at point blank range.

"I will teleport you into my world—where you can rot!"

He pulled the trigger and a beam of light hit Robin.

"Disappear, you imitation."

Robin's body began to blur as his contours turned into waves. Under the prolonged exposure to the device's beam, Robin began to disappear with his feet being the first to go. He was being erased!

"What are you after?" Robin managed to ask.

"Power."

The answer satisfied him no more than the idea of saying goodbye to his home.

It was not long after until Robin completely disappeared. When the deed was done, Crow set the device down on the bed. Then he walked over to the closet and opened it to scan for something to wear. He grabbed one of Robin's signature uniforms and removed his clothes for this one. With the new set of clothing, Crow looked exactly like Robin. He made his way to the mirror to do some final touch-ups; and he mused at the color scheme of the uniform.

"Green and red? Not quite as cool as mine."

His attention was soon drawn to the door when someone knocked. This time, the visitor was Beast Boy.

"Uh, dude, I heard something. You okay."

The door opened and Crow greeted Beast Boy with a confident smile.

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"Whew! That's a relief cause I heard some pretty weird stuff."

"Like what?"

"Shouting."

Crow let out a laugh. Then he said,

"It was probably when I hit my elbow on the table. You know, funny bone."

"Oh! Yeah those hurt!"

"Tell me about it."

"So wanna play some video games?"

"You sure you wanna get beaten?"

"What?! Dude, you are so on!"

And so the two titans headed for the living room. On their way there, they shared a few laughs and exchanged some words over the most random subjects.

Indeed, it was like Crow is Robin. In fact, Robin never left the tower.

Chapter end