Robin squirmed in his seat. School really was not his thing, and he couldn't decide what part of it was the worst. There were the school uniforms, which were uncomfortable and stiff, then there was the hair- which, granted was a lot shorter than he was used to anyways, but having to sleek it back was horrid and to top it all off some old dude was speaking nonsense at him. Sure it was math, supposedly, but he understood none of it. Nor did he care why Y was constantly losing her X. Which is why not one question on his worksheet had been completed. All of them had been attempted sure, but actually answered? Not really, no. Why is any of this happening? He wondered to himself. Maybe I can sneak out after class, get in my costume, figure stuff out. But that Artemis girl. Ugh! She frustrated him. He knew for a fact he had never met her, ever. So who was she? And why did she know Robin- but not Dick? If all this is fake maybe she's just here to confuse me, like a NPC in a computer game, someone I can trust but will let me down in the end…
"Dick, would you please write the answer to number 2 on the board?" His thoughts were broken as the teacher, a portly man with thinning hair, summoned him.
"Huh?" He said looking up startled, earning him laughs from the entire class.
"If you would stop day-dreaming, would you please answer number 2 Dick?"
"Uh, sure" Flushing as he got to his feet, he made his way over to the smartboard and could already predict his doom. He didn't know how to do the problem, and wasn't even sure if he ever knew. It was something about finding X when Y doesn't equal 2. What good is it if you don't know what it equals?
"Thanks Dick," The teacher; Robin didn't know his name, handed him one of the smartboard pens. "Now remember to show your work," He added. Gulping, Robin began to write.
"First you um, subtract 2-" The fat man said nothing so Robin continued; maybe this wasn't so hard after all…
"Then you divide by 7 + x"
"I'm afraid not Dick, please return to your seat" The balding teacher took the pen from Robin and promptly erased half the work he had done. Shoulders slumping, scowl forming, Robin made his way back to his seat- he could hear some arrogant smart kids snickering about how 'oh so easy' the problem was. Slouching down into his seat, he looked at the clock: half an hour of class left. He was doomed.
"Pst. What's wrong with you Dick?" The red-head next to him hissed, his brain struggled for a name, but came up blank. He carefully read the name at the top of her paper: Barbara Gordan. Vaguely familiar… but he had nothing.
"Nothing" He hissed back, not in the mood for ridicule by a girl he didn't even remember.
"Really? Does it have something to do with that sophomore girl you enjoy torturing?" She shot back snidely. Sophomore? Oh. Artemis. Apparently she and I have a history together, I mean, first the photo thing and now this?
"No." He fired back coldly, "Now shut-up I'm trying to focus"
She gave him a mildly offended look before returning to her own paper. Rolling his eyes, he glanced out the window. Just another 28 minutes and he could escape this dump. And escape Dick Grayson.
It turned out that he didn't have 28 minutes, because the room's phone rang. The teacher, grumbling, shuffled his way over and after grunting into the piece of plastic for a few moments yelled across the room: "Dick Grayson, main office. Apparently your great aunt has died," Then in a much lower voice he grumbled, "For the sixth time…" Escape! Yes! Robin literally ran from the room and had to stop himself from shouting with glee. The old 'dead aunt' excuse. That meant that Alfred would be waiting to pick him up, and that he'd have to fight crime with Batman- he couldn't wait! Or wait. This was all a fantasy. He and Batman hadn't spoken to each other in ages. This was all just some figment, not real, and he had to figure out how to get out of it. Once at the front of the school he was annoyed to find that Alfred hadn't arrived yet. That happened sometimes; the guy did have to call the school and then come get him, all while lumbering about in his old age.
"Hey, so, what do you think it is this time? Crazy mad scientist or mad-man with a gun?" Artemis said, coming up from his left side.
"Huh? Wait- what?" He stammered, taken by surprise.
"Wow. Way slow on the uptake. I was wondering what we'd be dealing with; a mad scientist or a crazy armed gun-man?" She replied, shaking her head.
"Oh. I don't know- a mad gun-man scientist?" He said quickly, racking his brain for an explanation as to why she'd think they'd be fighting together. Who was she?
"You know, it's really crazy how I never realized your Robin before, I mean, we're constantly being let out of school early, at the same time"
"Oh, well, you know. Slick back your hair, take off your mask and you're a whole different person" He shrugged in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner, looking down the schools driveway for any sign of Alfred.
"No kidding- you even act completely differently. I haven't heard a single fake word from you." Fake words? He wondered to himself. What was she talking about? Sure he was prone to bad puns and corny catchphrases but fake words? That was a new one.
"Well you know, Dick Grayson isn't Robin- I bet you act completely differently too" He said casually. Come on now, give me information. Maybe I'll recognize you if I know your heroic name. Come on now…
"It's different for me- I'm Artemis in both worlds, I just happen to shoot arrows at bad guys by night and by day worry over geography homework" She shrugged, then perked up as a car drove over. "Right, well, see ya soon- Wally'll flip when he finds out I know!" She said getting into the car. Same name? She's Artemis with and without the mask? How does that make any sense? And who's 'Wally'? As her car drove off, a second one pulled up.
"Ah, Master Grayson, long time no see" Alfred grinned from behind the wheel of the car, "Do hurry and get in, I can't imagine what the league is thinking, pulling you kids out of school" Oh, Alfred. Robin couldn't help but smile at the old man's care as he got into the car.
"Do you know what's going on?" He asked, hopeful for more information.
"No, I'm afraid I don't- this isn't one of your usual problems. No, this has to do with the Team."
The Team. Were they the Titans? Artemis' words made him feel not so sure. See you soon, she'd said, was she a part of this 'team'? Probably. In fact, he reflected almost definitely. How can I use this to wake up? Not sure.
Once at the Batcave he changed into his costume to find that it, like his face and everything else for that matter, was different. There wasn't a trace of green on it. But the yellow 'R' and black and yellow cape reassured him that it was indeed, his. Looking in the mirror though it didn't feel like his. It felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else… just like everything else here. Sighing, he slid down the Batpole and made his way over to where Batman was lurking in front of an oversized computer monitor.
"Robin- good. The Team needs you, go use the Zeta-Tube and get to Mt. Justice. Now" The Batman said without looking away from the computer, on it were the faces of six various members of the justice league and a giant 'MISSING 16 HRS?' label.
"Right- will do Batman," He replied, still feeling uncomfortable as he made his way past the caped crusader.
"Robin," Batman said suddenly turning to face him, "Why are you wearing your cape differently?" It's different? Robin thought to himself in a panic. Did I change my habits after leaving Batman? Or is this just part of the whole 'fantasy life' thing?
"It's different?" He said coolly. Not going to slip up in front of Batman, especially not some NPC version of him.
"Yes, you normally wear it over your shoulders- but today, it's behind them" The Batman said with his deep gravelly smoker voice whisper. Robin turned that thought about in his head. He always wore his cape this way, who was Batman kidding? Maybe it was a test the 'world's greatest detective' was putting him up to.
"Just thought I'd try something new, there isn't anything wrong with that is there?" Robin asked coldly, looking Gotham's Knight straight in the eye.
"No." Batman replied, not losing his cool.
"Well, in that case- I'm off to join the team, all right?" And with that Robin proceeded to the Zeta Tube, which he honestly wasn't sure how to work. Thankfully it did all the work for him.
IDENTIFIED. ROBIN, B-01. Next was possibly the freakiest moment of his life ever, after all, his particles were mashed up and sent flying at faster than light speeds to wherever this 'Mt. Justice' was.
The Batman looked at his oversized computer screen coldly and opened a link to Red Tornado.
"I think there's definitely something wrong with the boy. Could be the same case as Speedy aka Red Arrow, keep an eye on him, he could be a second mole"
This is just too darn weird. Robin thought to himself looking in the mirror. Now fully dressed in a completely wrong costume (seriously, what was with the Christmas colors?), he saw his face for the first time since yesterday. And it was all wrong, well, parts of it were right but it was mostly wrong. Sure he still had black hair and blue eyes, and his ears still stuck out a lot, which only served to annoy him. But his face itself! It was shorter and rounder with a far more pointed chin, and he was a lot paler. But the worst of it was probably the hair. He had way more hair than he knew what to do with. He'd tried sleeking it back, resulting in a horrific mullet-like hairstyle (which he quickly messed up), he'd tried spiking it, only to look like he'd stuck a fork in a socket. Finally, he just settled on doing it his 'normal' Robin way, shaggy and down. It was just a little longer than he liked, especially in the back. He was getting more and more chalant by the minute. First he learns that he's landed himself in the wrong universe. Then he learns that this universe has a Robin that's a few years ahead of him- and has left Batman! Is that where I'm headed? But… why? He just couldn't get his head around it. Whatever. Time to get back in there and face the 'Teen Titans' or whatever they were called. Groaning to himself, he made his way back into the main room, where the other Titans were still assembled doing a whole myriad of activities. Raven was meditating; Beastboy and Cyborg were playing videogames while Starfire watched. All of which they promptly stopped upon his entry.
"Dude! Your hair!" Beastboy zoomed up right in front of him to inspect his handiwork. "I didn't even know Robin's hair could go flat!"
"Of course it can go flat- don't be stupid Beastboy!" Cyborg said rolling his eye, "Although it has only been known to do that when wet- how'd you defy the laws of physics?"
"Uh," Robin managed to sputter out not sure what to say, when everything began blinking red.
"Great. Something tripped an alarm and we're down a team member" Raven complained from where she had been meditating.
"I can fight!" Robin protested, frowning irritably.
"Yea but can you fight on a team?" Raven asked cynically, floating towards him.
"Yes! I have my own team back home-"
"Wonderful! But should we not be going and finding out what has tripped the alarm?" Starfire called, ears plugged in an effort to combat the pestersome alarm system.
"Right" Beastboy said, and he and the rest of the team turned to face Robin expectantly.
"What?" He asked, did I forget something? I have my mask, utility belt, cape… Cyborg slapped himself in the forehead before saying, "Titans go!" At that juncture, the Titans zoomed out the door, and to the T-car. Starfire, Beastboy and Raven got into the back in that order and Cyborg sat at the wheel- but Robin hesitated. He wasn't team leader, why did he deserve shotgun?
"Robin, come on! While the day is young!" Cyborg called, honking the horn for emphasis.
"Right, coming!" He hopped in, fastening his seatbelt without question. "So, what are we fighting anyways?" He asked conversationally as they began driving at top speeds.
"Plasmus- apparently he busted out of prison. Again," Cyborg explained, maneuvering through traffic with ease.
"Ok, not to sound dumb or anything- but what's a Plasmus?" Robin asked, knocked to the side as Cyborg took an incredibly sharp right turn.
"You do not have a Plasmus in your world?" Starfire asked surprised, completely at ease with Cyborg's wild driving.
"Nope," He said, face smashing into the window at another turn.
"Plasmus is a big giant man shaped blob of muck" Beastboy explained, "And he smells awful!"
"So he's Clayface?"
"Who?" Beastboy asked confused.
"Clayface- big giant man shaped blob of, well, dirt I guess" Robin explained, finally sitting properly. Was he even tall enough to sit in the passenger's seat? Don't answer that, he thought numbly to himself as Cyborg made a jump over some construction where a bridge was out.
"Plasmus isn't made of dirt," Raven said, unconcerned as she saved the T-car from sure destruction as it plummeted down towards the bay. Back on the road, Cyborg continued to explain.
"Plasmus is made of toxic ooze and stuff. He's been known to attack nuclear power plants and sewers"
"Why does he attack them?" Robin asked, eyes widening as they came towards a large concrete fence with a toxic-monster shaped hole in it.
"So he can eat more ooze and get bigger!" Beastboy exclaimed, "It's like he's the very hungry caterpillar of ooze!"
"Aaaannddd we're here!" Cyborg grinned, stopping the T-Car with ease. Robin, mildly queasy from the crazy car ride, could make out a trail of purple oozy footprints making their way from the hole in the fence to Jump City's nuclear power plant.
"Great, cause I'm so not whelmed right now"
End chap 6.
Note: Enjoying the ride so far? :D
Tons of ~drama~ is coming up! And I love all these reviews- they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside :3
And Holy Second Mole BATMAN! Teen Titan's Robin is in for it, all that angst bottled up.