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Totally did not mean to go all AWOL on you guys! I'm SO sorry! I've been busy with school and kept on putting off FanFiction so I apologize that it took me so long. So in honor of FALL BREAK and being weeks since I last updated, here's an extra long chaoter for you! Enjoy!
Robin woke up and listened. Something woke me up. What was it? He heard Shadow mumble then turn in her sleep. Ah, it was only her. Man she sure is a restless sleeper. He looked at the clock, glowing red lights told him that it was 5:58. Through a gap in the curtains he could tell that the sun was coming out. Better go ahead and get up. Faster we move, the faster we can get to The Hall of Justice.
He stood and stretched, clothes slightly wrinkled from sleeping in them. He packed up everything they had except Shadow's shoes and socks and went to wake her up. She was saying something in her sleep. He paused to hear what it was. "Chamele...sunshine...chamele..." over and over. Strange. I wonder who they are. All of a sudden she screamed "Sunshine! Chamele!"
Robin stated shaking her. "Shadow...Shadow wake up! Wake up Shadow!" He shook her more and more than. Snit! "Whoa!" He barely dodged the edge of her scythe-knife thing as it ripped the blanket. Shadow herself jumped and was on the bed. A knife up by her chin and the other a little lower under it. Robin stood back with his hands up, it took her a minute to focus and recognize him. When she did she let out a big breath and got down, knives slipping back into her bracelets.
"Is everything okay?" He asked as she inspected the damage done to the covers. "Da." Was her only response. She shrugged at the blanket and went to put her shoes on. Robin wasn't letting her off that easy though. "That's the third time something weird like that has happened to you. What's going on?"
She didn't answer but started heading for the door. Robin reached for her shoulder and turned her around much to her dislike. "Look, you can tell me anything." He gave her a friendly smile but she only glared. "Are you going to let this go." She asked.
Robin's face hardened in determination and replied. "No, I'm not going to let it go. If something keeps on bothering you like this than you should talk about it. Not keep it bottled up. It could start affecting your ability to fight and think. So again I ask, what's been bothering you?"
Her glare intensified and she started. "What's been bothering is that I'm in a strange place on a strange planet. With no way home and I'm stuck riding subways with a guy who calls himself Robin and who is determined to find his team, the same team that attacked me and tried to kidnap me. Now," She had been taking steps toward Robin and he had backed away and was now leaning against the AC machine. "If you think any of that is going to affect my ability to fight, than we can test that theory right here right now, Blue Jay."
She stood there for a second before storming out the door. What a-! It took all of Robin's control and training to not follow through with the idea of just ditching her and heading back to Gotham by himself. Remember. No matter how frustrating she is remember what it would be like in her shoes and in a situation she's been thrown in to.
Despite all his best efforts though it was still hard to follow her out that door and find the nearest subway station. I wish I was with Bruce other than her. To take his mind off of the current situation, he wondered again how his team was doing.
Canary's face looked slightly stricken. She was in the cave with Batman and had just heard the transmission between Aqualad and Robin. She, Superman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman had finally managed to get the Zeta-tubes working.
While the Team was getting their injuries fixed by Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter, Batman was debriefing Canary, Superman, Green Lantern, and Red Tornado on what happened.
"It sounded like he said that she was chasing her." Green Arrow stated.
"And that this Shadow is a threat." Green Lantern added.
"Do you suppose that the Shadow is behind the blackout?" Superman asked.
"It's probable." Batman replied. "However, since the Light was the one who brought her here, I'm assuming that they're most likely doing this."
Superman nodded, than said. "So locating this Shadow is our top priority."
Batman answered. "No. The Team will search for the Shadow. The Justice League needs to find out why the Light is doing this and try to counter-act the blackout."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Canary spoke. Batman turned to her as is she was really questioning his choices.
"I mean." Canary shifted her weight to her left foot and crossed her arms, feeling defenseful than annoyed that she should even feel that way at all. She had a right to voice her own opinion, even if it was Batman. "They've been through a lot shouldn't they rest and get their health back?"
"The Team is healing quickly, and if we try to leave them out of the search they'll go on their own anyways. Also Zatana and Rocket are ready for combat too. I've spoken with the doctors, they said that the girls can leave and resume training."
"Alright," Canary said. There was so much to be done that she didn't want to push the matter further. She had really grown to care for these kids over the last year. "When do we start."
"Now." Batman turned, cape fluttering gently behind him, and swiftly walked to where the Team was to tell them what was going to happen.
They were more than eager to here the news. Especially that Zatana and Rocket would be joining them. They were still sore, and Aqualad limped slightly, but they refused to back down. If Robin was in danger, then they would do everything in their power to hunt down this Shadow and take her in.
Afternoon came and passed. Not a word had been said between them. Subway after subway, fast food, and silence was the way they traveled. At last they came from out of the subway tunnel and into Gotham! Robin couldn't help but breathe in the fresh, slightly polluted, air and stretch his arms up and to the side. Finally! I've had enough of subways to last me a lifetime!
"Are we done." Shadow asked, her face seemed set in a permanent scowl and her arms were crossed. Robin rolled his eyes. "You seriously need to let loose and feel the aster sometimes." He walked down the sidewalk, their previous fight seemed to be forgotten and he was happy not to hold a grudge against someone who carried knives sharp enough to cut him in half.
"Feel the what?" She caught up to him and gave him a quizzical look.
"Aster. It's the opposite of disaster." Robin replied, he was so happy to be back in his (and Batman's) city that he didn't mind having to explain his playing with the English language.
Shadow still looked unsure. "But I thought aster was a..." She seemed to be struggling for the word. "A...par-en word, and you don't take me for the type to say paren words?"
Robin stopped to look at her and opened his mouth to say something when he realized what she was asking. Instantly he burst into laughter. Shadow went back to her scowl.
"No!" He turned and continued walking. "I said aster not...that other word! Aster means everything's good and going well."
She mumbled something under her breath in Russian. Robin knew he needed to contact the Team soon or Batman. He thought about going on to the Bat-Cave himself, but didn't want to leave Shadow alone. I guess we'll just keep going to Washington.
He was exhausted of subways and a walk through Gotham Central park would do them both good. The sun was setting and the leaves looked a lovely green. I bet Shadow's enjoying the sunset. To him the sun going down in summer meant he and Batman could go out and fight crime together.
He was pulled from his reminiscence by Shadow stopping in her tracks. She was looking at an ice cream cart where a mom and two kids were just leaving with the delicious treats in their hands. There was a look of desire and pain in her eyes as she stared at the cart.
I'm going to go out on a limb on this one... Robin thought sarcasticly. "Do you want some?"
When he spoke she reminded him of a little kid who had been told that they were going to get that long asked for puppy for Christmas.
"Mor-o-zchen-air?" She seemed afraid to ask for fear of being let down. He pulled out a ten dollar bill and went up to the guy and ordered two cones that had two scoops of chocolate and two scooped of vanilla ice cream on each.
A ghost of a smile was on her mouth, not the sarcastic-condescending-like one but a genuine smile, as she took one of the ice creams.
They went back to walking, still in complete silence. Robinthought about his team, what they were doing and if they were close to finding him, there was no doubt in his mind that they would eventually come for him and Shadow. Then he thought of Zatana. Zatana would really enjoy this. Walking around the park, not to many people, me and her, the way the sinking sun would send it's light on her raven black hair as it gently bounced up and down in rhythm with that little jump she has in her step.
As if cold water had been splashed on him he stopped his daydreaming and quickly shot a glance over at Shadow to see if she noticed the hardly detectable redness in his cheeks. Her attention was fully devoted to the ice cream however. Thank goodness! The last thing I need is her to start on me and...Zatana. Come on Robin! Get a hold of yourself! You need to focus on the mission not...other things.
He shook his head slightly to help clear his mind. What Batman would've done if he caught you daydreaming on a mission! To distract himself further he licked his ice cream and took another glance at Shadow who had swallowed the first scoop and was half way through the second.
I wonder what her fascination with ice cream is? Maybe it has some sort of childhood connection, or sentimental meaning to her. Ugh, I wonder how the Team is doing...
He went over what he should do in order to contact them. After twenty minutes they rounded a corner where a dispersed crowd had gathered and just finished laughing at the people performing in and around a gazebo.
"Come on, let's check it out." Robin said, smiling because he realized that the people in the gazebo were doing some sort of comedy play, he just wasn't sure what it was.
"Huh?" Was Shadows response as she was disturbed from her ice cream fever. When she noticed Robin walking off she followed. By the time they walked closer and through the crowd Shadow's ice cream had vanished and it took her a moment (after eating the cone) to noticed Robin's stunned expression and take in the scene.
Across the gazebo entrance that faced them was a make-shift banner that read Starkid Productions! And in the middle was a guy dressed up like Batman only more...kid styled. There was another short kid who was dressed up like Robin only in that same stupid style.
They were both battling various incarnations of villains that he and Batman actually fought! Then they exited the 'stage' and some news reporter lady came on supposedly showing interview clips from people and their opinion on him and Batman. Then they broke out into song! About how much he sucked!
Everyone burst out into laughter again. Don't these people care at all about what Batman and I do for them? He turned to tell Shadow that they were leaving when he noticed that she was laughing! Her eyes were closed and her body nodded up and down in silent giggles as they continued singing about how unimportant he and Batman were.
"Shadow!" He said in disbelief.
"What? It's funny!" She said looking at him. Robin was mad, embarrassed, and confused all at once. To many emotions! He turned cut threw the ever growing crowd. Shadow was right behind him. "Oh, come on! Don't get so mad."
They were outside the fringes of the gathering people now. "How could I not get mad! After everything you do for a city they go out and do something like that!" Upon observance he noticed big boards, news cameras, and chairs set up. All advertising Vote Baitors for Mayor! Robin ground his teeth in understanding. So it's a political campaign.
"Don't get your feathers in a bundle, and eat your Mor-o-zchen-air before it get all over your hand." Shadow said. Robin looked down and noticed that he had forgotten his ice cream. It was dripping all over the cone and starting gathering on his hand, he was also holding it to tight and the shell was cracking.
He immediately starting licking it all up, but still managed to turn and glare as ,apparently, Baitors started his interview with the host. "Let's go." Me mumbled.
Now his mood was down and not even the ice cream helped. He went and sat on a park bench a ways from where the commotion was. Shadow was silent as she sat on the other end. When he was almost done with his cone she spoke up not looking at him.
"So where do we go from here? Are we close to the Wall of the Law?"
"Hall of Justice." He ate his last bite of cone before continuing. "And not really. We're in Gotham City."
"Are we going to have to ride more subways?" She asked. He could tell she was just as sick of them as he was.
"Probably. Unless you want to take bus after bus to Washington."
She shuddered, then glanced at the sky. The sun was disappearing. Bright lights had been set up where the campaign wads and shown through the trees.
"You know, if Washington isn't to far away from here I could just fly us."
It had to be hundreds of miles from Chicago to Washington. Robin wasn't sure she could make it.
"I don't know. It doesn't seem like a good idea unless you think you could carry me and fly for hours."
She shrugged. "If it stays dark enough."
Robin was doubting this when terrified screams erupted from the campaign area, crashes and lights being broken echoed through the park. Streams of people rushed around everywhere and a fog slowly crept after them.
Robin jumped on the bench then into some trees. He recognized this fog. Scarecrow. What are you up to? If it was just Scarecrow than he and Shadow could probably take him.
He buckled on his utility belt and brought out his portable gas mask. Shadow floated next to him, black energy shrouded her. "What's going on?"
"Scarecrow. Try not to breathe in the gas. It will cause you to hallucinate." He climbed a tree then leaped from branch to branch with Shadow at his shoulder until he came to the clearing with the gazebo.
Sure enough in the middle of it was Scarecrow spraying fog from what appeared to be an exterminators tank. Lights had fallen, the banner fell and had been trampled on, and the Scarecrow laughed menacingly from where he stood.
Giving out his trademark laugh, Robin jumped, threw a bomb at Scarecrow, and landed on top of the gazebo. There was a boom, but not from under him, to his side. Rats! He has some dort of shield! How does he have a shield?
Then he spotted Wizard. Arms out stretched with a cane in his right hand saying incantations. Drat! Things just got more complicated! He threw a bat-a-rang at the hand holding the cane. "Aih!" He cried out in fright clutching his hand.
Robin flipped off the gazebo. "What's the matter Wizard? Got rejected by your other freaky-class friends so you had to join up with Scarecrow?"
"You little pest!" Wizard shouted. Robin hadn't forgotten that Scarecrow was still behind him as he dodged a clumsy punch by him when he left his position at the gazebo.
Robin easily blocked another punch and kicked him in the jaw sending him careening backwards. Then his cape came alive and wrapped itself tight around him. The Wizard came up having retrieved his cane.
"You will regret the day your mother conceived you!"
Ohhh...where was Shadow!
It was the strangest laugh she had ever heard a boy his age give, and somehow it echoed among the trees and clearing. Shadow readied herself to join when a man, dressed in a black suit, with a tall black hat, and holding a black cane, came into view.
He had on a wicked, mischievous smile and looked up at her. She lowered herself some, blades coming out.
"Hello," He said.
"Who are you?" She bluntly asked, she didn't care for pleasant greetings.
"I am Shade," Her eyes narrowed a little at the word. "The master of shadows."
"Well I'm Shadow. And no one is the master of me." With that she struck one of her blades at him while he pointed his cane at her. Instantly blackness covered her. So dark that she couldn't see anything, she felt the blade whiz back to it's holding place in her bracelet.
"You can not fight me if you can not see me." It sounded, a fist connected with her jaw, but she was absorbing so much energy from the darkness that her head barely tilted back, in fact, she felt no pain whatsoever only a slight pressure.
She couldn't a help a small smile to come. This was his plan? Surround me I darkness so I couldn't see? She gave a silent laugh at his naivety.
Breathing deeply she let all the dark enter her. It poured into her skin and the power was so strong she could barely contain it. It had to be let out. Energy sparked form her like electricity and her eyes were a powerful white.
The guy looked stunned. "Fool," She said, her voice sounded deep and different from so much energy. "Don't you know you should be afraid of the dark." She sent him flying far into he woods, screaming.
Looking across the way she saw some old man coming up to Robin who got tangled in his cape. Hang on Bird.
The cape wouldn't budge. No matter how much he struggled he was wrapped tight in it. The Wizard materialized a knife and was about to press it against his throat when. Whaooosh! A black rocket carried the Wizard into the woods.
The cape slackened and Robin managed to unwrap himself. Was that...Shadow? The rocket shot up carrying the terrified and screaming Wizard above the tree tops then hurtled him to the ground. Robin's eyes widened. She wouldn't really let him fall to his death would she? He was readying himself to catch the man when a black cloud covered him.
Robin saw the frightened whites of his eyes before he went sailing up again. "Please! Please! I hate roller coasters! Let me GO!" He cried as he was lifted high towards the clouds.
"Fair enough." He heard Shadow say and she released her hold on the guy who instantly became a victim of gravity again. Twenty feet from the ground the cloud of energy encased him once more drifting down a ways until letting go.
He fell on his chest breathing heavily. Shadow descended, Robin was surprised at how much energy she was putting out. It danced around her at least a foot thick.
Seeing the fog start to dissapear he out his portable gas mask in his pocket. "What are you after Wizard?" Robin demanded and kneeled next to the guy.
Wizard gave out a low moan which turned into a chuckle. "It kills you not to know doesn't it?" He asked with a crooked grin. "Raeppasid worceracS dna em ekam." In a poof of gray smoke he was gone. They turned in time to see the still unconscious Scarecrow disappear in the same way.
"Crap!" Robin stomped the ground in frustration. Stupid spells and magic! Then he cringed. I'm glad Zatana didn't here me think that...
"So what now." A voice said. Shadow had glided next to him, the black cloud still surrounding her and her eyes still white as she floated above the ground.
Robin rubbed his chin. How did they find us here...was it a coincidence because of the election thing or...something else... Bruce told him to never believe in coincidences, he was looking at Shadow as he thought all this, making her exceedingly uncomfortable.
"What it is Sparrow?" She demanded.
"Let me see your wrist." He said reaching for her hand. She instantly flew back a little. "What, why?"
"Look I just need to check something." He tried again but again she went back and this time up a little.
"Check for what?"
He gave an aggravated sigh before trying another approach. "Do you trust me?" He was looking at her through his dark sunglasses when he asked. She stared apprehensively down at him pondering this.
"Well do you?"
"I'm thinking!"
How could she not trust after all this? She should know by now that I'm a good guy!
"A little..." It sounded reluctant and wary but she came back down to the ground and stood in front of him.
"Awesome." He reached for her wrist and felt her tense up as he examined her bracelet thing.
Nothing. I was sure there would be a...maybe the other one.
He dropped that hand and upon inspection of the other found a tiny metal circle. Anyone would have missed it, but he was trained by Batman.
"Aha!"
"Aha? What aha?" She rubbed her blades as if to rid them of foreign contamination.
"Tracking device." He replied going on the sidewalk to drop it and then smash it to bits.
"Tracking device?!" She looked angry.
"Ya," Robin shrugged cause it wasn't a big deal. "They probably put it on you when we were trapped with the Brain, just in case you would escape."
She growled, blades slicing out, and black erupting around her like fire.
Robin took a couple of steps back. "Hey take it easy. It's not that big of a deal."
Her growl became more intense but her energy cloud went out and blades slowly went back in. Robin felt like he avoided a big catastrophe. "So we should probably get going. There's been a lot of chalantness going around and the police will be here any minute."
"There's been a lot of what?" Shadow asked walking up to him.
"Chalantness, chalant. You know," Her eyes narrowed. "Or...maybe you don't. It's from the adjective nonchalant, meaning everything is normal so chalant would be everything is going freaky."
She seemed to take a moment to think about this then. "It's like that stupid 'aster' word. Isn't?"
Robin started walking away down the sidewalk. "Ya, hey wait! It's not stupid!" He glared at her.
"Whatever pt-ah-shka, let's just go."
"What does puh-tash-ka mean?"
She smirked. "Little bird."
Robin ground his teeth at the name, but swallowed his anger. At least they stopped Wizard and Scarecrow, but what were they up to...Robin suddenly stopped. "I should change just in case we run into more trouble."
She gave him a quizzical look. "Change?"
"Ya into my super-hero suit."
"You mean that Halloween costume?"
Robin rolled his eyes although she couldn't see it because of his dark sunglasses. "It's not a Halloween costume," He started headed into the woods she was still watching him leave. "Don't look!"
She let out an annoyed sigh but turned around as Robin continued explaining while changing. "It's to protect my secret identity so that way no one will know who I am."
"If you wanted to protect your 'identity' so bad then why do you only cover your eyes with a mask?"
It didn't take the Boy Wonder long to switch and he came out placing said mask over eyes. "What do you mean?"
Hearing him emerge from the woods she turned around. "I mean only your eyes are covered, not you whole face."
"So?" He questioned as he began to once again precede down the sidewalk.
"So. People still know what your actual face looks like, and theyway you look with your black hair and your...your...how tall you are," Her brow was slightly furrowed as she talked.
She must be trying to say height. Robin thought, kind of catching on to her point.
"So couldn't people just take a picture of you and...I don't know, put it in a computer or something to try and see if anything matches up?"
Robin smiled. It wasn't the first time that question was asked. "Well you see most if the crime I fight is during night and it's harder to see then...as you probably know." She nodded her head and he continued. "Also it would take a while for everything to configure in the computer and even after it did all that, one would have to try and pinpoint among at least thousands of results to find mwah."
He indicated to himself and Shadow seemed to think it made since. Then she came out with the question, "So where did you keep your 'super-hero-secret-keeping-costume' all this time?"
He looked down at his usual uniform, although it was the only one he had since he fell out of the bioship so it was in terrible condition. "I was trained by Batman." He smiled at his response.
"Is that supposed to explain anything?"
Crap that's right. She doesn't know who he is. "It's a trade secret."
Her mouth twitched at the corner but she didn't say anything except for a "Hm."
Actually he had cut a hole in his jacket and has stashed the suit in there, but he wasn't about to admit that.
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Hope you liked it! Again, super sorry for the late update, but I hope this makes up for it. I've also noticed that not many people have voted in my poll. Please do! I might put up some more options of you want, but if it's just cause you don't know who the Teen Titans are then you should look them up and if it'd cause you just don't like the Teen Tians then you should get your brain scanned. :P Happy Fall Break!