Chapter Six
Kori stared out the window, watching the sun rise high into the sky. She'd been dressed since three o'clock and wanted nothing more than to fly out and find the Titans' ship. But Slade had told her no, he'd convinced her that waiting a few days to heal her wounds would be a better idea – however, she had different plans.
"It is an hour from noon, my pet." Slade said.
She'd long since ceased jumping when she heard Slade's voice behind her in the darkness – she'd figured out that it was likely he was always there, what better things did he have to do around this dump? Continuing to stare at the clock placed beside the window – she answered him.
"And the second they're settled, I'm going to pay them a visit." She said with narrowed eyes.
"You're not." Slade told her, having expected what she was going to say when he arrived outside her doorway. "You're going to do as you're told and heal."
"I am healed enough." She snarled.
Turning her head only slightly towards him, she yanked the bandages off and showed him that they indeed had healed more than enough – Tamaranean's were a fast-healing race.
"They will come to you."
"That I do not doubt." She nodded, facing the window again, "How long before they are settled, do you think?" She asked with her head tilted to the side – it was strange for him to not see her facial expressions, but she wouldn't face him; even if he demanded it.
"Meer hours."
"Fabulous." She grinned, turning to face him, "I need a new mask." She told him, holding up the one she'd destroyed by using her eyes to shoot starbolts at him the day before.
"I will arrange it, you will practice now." He said, taking it into his hand and inspecting the damage caused.
"No." She snapped.
"I wasn't asking, I will not lose my apprentice to a stupid mistake." He snarled back throwing her broken mask back at her to prove a point.
"Robin, where's Batman? Where is Batgirl? Why aren't they greeting us? Do they hate us? AW MAN! Does he hate me–?" Beast Boy asked, the questions pouring out of him like a waterfall – endless and repetitive.
"Beast Boy–"
"What if he never meets me?"
"BB–"
"I'll never get his autograph!"
"YO! GRASS STAIN!" Cyborg eventually screamed after Raven and Robin failed to shut him up.
"What? I am panicking here!" Beast Boy asked, tears filling his eyes.
"So normal..." Raven rolled her eyes, walking into the large mansion after Robin. "So you lived here, as a kid?" She asked, making conversation but also fishing for information – but he was blocking his thoughts and emotions from her.
"Yes, Batman and Bruce Wayne went to University together – he funds the protector of Gotham." He explained, "So don't break a lot..." He pleaded.
"Tell that to Cyborg." Raven rolled her eyes, looking back at Cyborg's compulsion to touch everything on the way to the Batcave.
"Oh, those, yeah, he can break them." Robin said, waving off her aggravation, "It's not like art costs all that much."
"Yeah, it's just a few million here or there..." Raven said sarcastically.
"Exactly, nice to know someone else understands." Robin smiled, not being able to tell her sarcastic voice apart from her normal tone of voice.
I'm so thrilled.
"And we're allowed to stay here, for real?" Beast Boy asked. Raven could practically see the stars in his eyes.
"Of course, where else would we sleep?" Robin asked, genuinely confused.
"A motel or something? I don't know, all I know is that this is awesome!" He grinned.
"It has to be said, it is pretty cool..." Raven smiled, taking in the gothic style of the building, she could almost smell the books and history to this place. "I know I'll never be bored."
"OH YEAH!" The three teens heard from behind them, as it turned out – Cyborg had discovered the gaming room.
"I had hoped you'd not find this..." Robin sighed, "Now we'll never get any work done..."
"We're in Batman's pad – how much work did you think was going to get done? It's like Tokyo all over again! BEST VACATION EVER!" Beast Boy squealed, taking one controller to the games console and turning on the 'big-ass T.V'.
"Well...there's a library three doors down on the left if you're interested." Robin sighed, deflated.
"Dark poetry?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah," He nodded, "And horror novels."
"I'll see you when it's time to leave." Raven squeaked, darting off and slamming the door to the library.
All that could be heard from where Robin was standing now was the occasional 'Azarath Metrion Zinthos' and 'BOOYAH!'.
"Looks like it's my job to get the actual work done...again..." Robin muttered to himself angrily, skulking off to the evidence room and mainframe computer system to find out what he could about Slade's recent thefts and sightings around the city.
As it turned out, he hadn't been seen anywhere – just his mark on the drones – he'd just hacked into computers and files himself.
"What are you up to...?" Robin asked out loud, looking through what he'd stolen and looked at throughout the last few weeks. "Dynamite...nitro glycerine...computer chips...communication system...bank security systems..." He read off a list. "Sounds like you."
"What does?" Raven asked from behind him, standing in the doorway with a book that looked rather modern for her.
"Slade." Robin said, bringing up some files to show her, "He's stolen all this information and tech...but there's no trace of it being used anywhere." Robin sighed.
"Well, what's to say he's going to use it right away?" She asked, taking a seat next to him and bringing up some more items. "It's not like he used the neutron blaster right away when he stole it – and the chips, it took him a year to even think of a use for them..." She reminded him, "He's a psychopath; there isn't much he does for a reason."
"No, he's always got a goal...a purpose to everything he does." Robin shook his head, "It's too soon to tell what he's doing – but I bet this is just the beginning."
Raven swivelled in her chair to face him, her heavy book on her lap as she questioned him, "And you're going to know what he's doing from a bigger list of items?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm guessing that he already knows I'm looking at these files. He's good like that." Robin said, slight annoyance in his voice.
"Yeah, he did evade us for six years – maybe he's been waiting for something...?" Raven said, entertaining the idea of him having a motive despite her belief of him being a psychopath, Robin had always thought differently and she could usually trust him...
"But what takes six years to achieve...but doesn't draw attention?" He asked. This is the way he didn't usually like to work but answering questions with questions seemed to be giving him more ideas about Slade's motives. "It's not like he's ill-equipped or lacking funds."
"You're asking the wrong girl, you were his apprentice for a short time – didn't he tell you anything?" She asked.
"It was for a few days, Raven." Robin clarified, "And no, he didn't trust me – and for good reason." Robin said, getting aggravated with himself.
"He had you sussed from the beginning; it's not your fault." Raven told him, putting her hand on his shoulder to soothe him. "We could always try again, if need be."
"It's too dangerous; if you hadn't come for me...I wouldn't have made it out alive." Robin said, rubbing his temple. "I can't put someone else in that position, but regardless, he'll expect me to do something like that."
"Perhaps, but you've already done it once – when do you ever repeat yourself? And when is anyone ever suspicious of someone using the same idea twice?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's too dangerous, Raven. Slade has grown bigger and stronger, not weaker, and we don't need to make annihilating us easier for him." Robin sighed, getting up out of the chair and walking off into the shadows to find a place to sleep – he'd not slept well the night before with all the stress and wanted to catch up with the rest of the Titans body clocks.
He had a lot to deal with now, and for one nineteen-year-old boy...it was becoming too much, too soon.
I have to be strong, but I have no idea if I can do this job – even with my whole team...or close enough to all of them.
Just then, his communicator buzzed, telling him that someone was trying to contact him. He picked it up to see that it was an unknown number – suspicious, he picked it up.
"Hello?" Robin called to the person on the other end – he couldn't see who it was because it was just showing a dark screen. "Show yourself." He snapped after they didn't answer.
"Are you always this angry?" He heard from the other end.
Relaxing, Robin sighed and even smiled at the sound of his old friend's voice.
"Alfred." He smiled.
"Master Dick, I see you've arrived at Wayne Manor." He said, coming into the light.
The old butler had only aged slightly, and even then, he was still young-looking and ready as anything. Robin couldn't help but notice how lucky Batman was to have Alfred – he was always looking after him, and had saved his life too many times to count.
"Yes, thank you for readying it for us." Robin nodded.
"That's quite alright," Alfred nodded, "I'm sorry I could not be there to greet you, but Master Bruce had to leave quite suddenly, and you know how he can't look after himself..." Alfred chuckled.
"Still none too bright?" Robin joked.
"He could use some work..." Alfred said seriously, sighing, "He has missed you, despite what you might think, sir." Alfred said, stepping into dangerous territory.
"How is the hunt for the Joker and Harley Quinn doing?" Robin asked, changing the subject from his adoptive father/mentor.
"As well as you'd expect, Master Dick, it's...slow...and dangerous." He sighed, rubbing his forehead as though he had a headache.
"Don't put yourself out searching for him, Alfred, Bruce will understand if you need to rest." Robin told him. "And if he doesn't, I'll tell him.
"That is most kind of you, Master Dick, but that is wholly unnecessary – I am as fit as they come at my age." He joked, "I am afraid that Master Bruce has summoned me, this was only meant to be a greeting and a casual 'hello'." He snickered, "Please forgive my abrupt departure."
"It's a shame it's so short, Alfred." Robin sighed, "I hope to see you before we return to Jump." He said, shutting the communicator on a nodding Alfred.
"Most formal, Master Dick." Beast Boy jibed in a posh accent, coming from behind the corner and putting his arm around Robin's shoulders, "Seriously, you should stop using those oh-eight-hundred number sex lines, 'Lord Pussy-fucker' they cost an arm and a leg." He chuckled.
Heavy shit man, heavy shit. Why make batman leave Gotham? Why make it so that the Titans have to look after Gotham all by themselves?
Because I don't know how to portray Batman, as you've probably noticed, I've not uploaded for the same reason – another story of mine has been destroyed because it calls for the great BATMAN (na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na, na na na na na na, na na na na na na, na na na na na na, BATMAN, BATMAN, BATMAN!)
Ahem, sorry, that's a compulsive disorder I have...
Please, send me help to try and clear my disorder, rating and reviewing just once a chapter can save this poor teenager from deeper depths of insanity for a whole day.
Jade.