"You're not kidding, are you?" Beast Boy asked, for what felt like the millionith time, pressing himself up against Robin's leg.
"No, I'm not kidding." Robin said flatly, as he thrust another uniform into a suitcase.
"You're not pulling my leg are you?" Beast Boy asked, as he transformed into a long legged Borzoi. He rolled over onto his back and held out a leg to him.
"No, I'm not." Robin said, getting increasingly annoyed. "We're going to live with Batman for a bit."
Beast Boy turned back into human form. "Dude, you're not serious, are you? We're really going to-"
"Yes." Robin said. "Have you even started packing?"
"No, but-"
"You better get started then." Robin said, taking his arm and jolting him out of the room. "We'll be leaving as soon as everyone is ready.."
"But Robin, are we really going to live with THE Batman?"
Robin shut the door in his face and turned around with a sigh. He was surprised to see Raven standing against the opposite wall, completely cloaked.
"Have long have you been there?" Robin asked, as he continued his packing.
"You're unhappy." Raven said, as she came up behind him. "What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Robin said shortly, as he thrust another uniform into his suitcase.
"You may not want to, but you should." Raven said. "Would you really ask us to go blindly into a situation we don't understand?"
Robin shot a dark look at her, but she didn't even flinch. He groaned, holding his head with his hand.
"You don't know what Batman is like." He said. "And I don't think I should talk about him… he wouldn't appreciate that at all."
"We're your friends, Robin."
"And he's family." Robin snapped. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"There is no need to shout."
Robin cast his eyes downward. "You're right… I'm sorry." He said.
"I know a thing or two about bad family situations." Raven said. "Perhaps we could… talk about it? Maybe over tea?"
"I don't feel much like talking."
"It seems to me." Raven said. "That you yourself don't understand why you're so angry."
He turned around to rebuke her, but the dark shadow of her magic was already enveloping her.
"You can talk to any one of us, Robin." Raven said. "As soon as you are ready."
And then she was gone. Robin sighed, shaking his head as he gathered up the rest of his things.
He was the fourth to finish packing. Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven were already sitting waiting for him when he came down. They waited fifteen minutes for Beast Boy, and were just about ready to go find him to ask him to hurry it up before he came downstairs, carrying a giant suitcase that was bigger than he was.
"Are you sure you need to bring all that?" Cyborg asked, as Beast Boy transformed into a gorilla to shove the case into the back of the T-Car.
"Of course I do." Beast Boy said defensively. "I want to be comfortable at Batman's place!"
He turned to Robin. "Where does he live, anyway?"
"You'll see." Robin said. He turned to Cyborg. "Once you get to Gotham, I'll give you directions to the Batcave."
Cyborg gave him a thumbs up. "You got it."
Beast Boy, as was his custom, transformed into a dog to free up space. Robin took the passenger seat, while the girls took the back. Beast Boy got onto Raven's lap and curled up into a ball.
"Tell me you're not doing that on purpose." She said in disgust, as a sliver of drool from his mouth ran down her leg.
Gotham wasn't all that far away by car. Robin sat in complete silence until the bright, modern architecture of their own city gave way to the famous gothic city. Stone gargoyles stared down at them from libraries and police stations as they made their way through the city.
"People are staring." Raven commented.
"They just like the car." Cyborg said.
"Doubt it." Robin said. "Batman doesn't like other heroes coming onto his territory. It's usually bad news if someone else is seen here. If someone from the Justice League comes by, they usually just keep a low profile."
"Maybe we should have as well." Raven said, as she glanced around at the passerby on the street. "I love this city, by the way."
"It suits you better than Robin." Cyborg snickered. "Maybe you can be Batman's next sidekick."
Raven was about to respond when Beast Boy suddenly reverted back to human shape on her lap.
"Ah, dude. I can see it now…. Raven: Girl Wonder!"
She pushed him to the floorboard with a groan.
"Hey, not in my CAR!"
The curious looks continued until they exited the city limits. They found themselves in lonely, mountain roads by the ocean.
"Keep going."
"But Robin, that's a dead end…."
But before he could get the words out, the road shifted. What had previously seemed to be an impassable barrier jumped out of the way, allowing the car through.
"Woah." Beast Boy said, as they found themselves entering the tunnel to the Bat Cave.
Cyborg slowed down to a crawl as the T-Car came to a stop outside the Batmobile. Beast Boy was first to take off, taking the shape of a bat and flying off into the cave. Raven and Starfire stared around at the cave itself, but Cyborg's eye was on the Batmobile itself.
"Man oh man." Cyborg said. "0 to 60 in 1.8 seconds, virtually indestructible... Those TIRES, man!"
"I like the T-Car better." Robin told him.
"Thanks, man. But it can't hold a candle to this baby." Cyborg said. "What's under the hood? Do you know?"
"It's always being worked on." Robin said. "So I-"
"Ah, welcome Home, Master Dick."
Robin stiffened. He had expected almost to be greeted by Batman. That was perhaps too optimistic.
"Huh?" Cyborg turned to see an older man standing by the giant bat computer. He had apparently been in the middle of cleaning: A rag and bottle were in hand.
"I trust that your journey was pleasant?"
"Yeah, it was Alfred." Robin said. "Thanks."
"And these must be your friends." Alfred said. "A pleasure, truly."
Beast Boy became a human again, still hanging in that upside down bat position.
"Are you Batman?" He blurted, as he fell. He turned back into a bat mid fall and soared back to the landing.
"I am not." Alfred denied. "I simply work here, as it were."
"Alfred's been around forever." Robin said. "Longer than Batman, actually."
"Yes, well…." Alfred coughed. "Forgive me, but I will have to ask you to remain in the cave tonight. Until…. Well… the Master returns."
"The Master, huh?" Raven asked quietly. "Batman does well for himself, huh?"
"You have no idea." Robin said, sighing. "I was expecting him to be here."
"That should give me plenty of time to take in this baby." Cyborg beamed, staring at the Batmobile in awe.
"I must ask you, sir, not to take pictures." Alfred said.
"Aw man…."
"Ooooh!"
Robin turned to find Starfire flying over to the collection of Bat Suits on the wall.
"Robin!" She said ecstatically, as she pointed out the old, worn and torn Robin outfit. "It is you!"
"Yeah." Robin agreed, as he walked up to join her. "That's the first outfit I ever wore. I outgrew it eventually."
"And this is Batman!" She said, beaming, as she soared over to the left. "I have seen many of his pictures around the city!"
"That's right." Robin said.
"And this is…"
She moved over and squinted her eyes. It was a girl's outfit this time.
"But who is this?"
"That's Bat Girl." Robin said. "She doesn't fight crime anymore."
Starfire whirled on him.
"You mean she has given up?" She asked, sounding somewhat horrified.
"No." A new voice said. "I'm just retired, that's all."
Robin stiffened. The sound of the wheelchair approaching them was one of the most excruciating sounds he had ever heard. Barbara Gordon smiled up at him sadly from the chair.
"Hi, Dick." She said softly. "It's been a long time."
"It… has." Robin gasped. He reached out to touch her, to hold her, but found himself hesitating.
"Where's Batman?" He found himself asking. Barbara smiled softly.
"Out." She said. "He's getting things ready for the Eldians. He's really happy you've come back, Dick." Her attention turned to Starfire. "And I'm happy that you brought your friends."
She held out her hand to Starfire, who awkwardly clutched it with both of her own.
"So you're Starfire." She said. "I've heard a lot about you."
"From Robin?"
"No, no." She said. "From Batman. Dick and I…. haven't been speaking lately." She seemed a little embarrassed. "I'd love to get to know you, though."
"I… would like that, very much." Starfire said.
"Why don't we come up to the Manor together?" Barbara asked. "And I'll show you around."
"Is Batman okay with that?"
"He gave his permission." She said. "On the condition that you all go under civilian identities. Starfire doesn't have one, as I understand, so I'd like to take the time to walk that through with her."
"Ci-vilian…?" Starfire asked curiously, pawing at her own face.
"You'll have your work cut out for you." Robin said, smiling a little. "But if that's what Batman wants…"
"Follow me." She said to Starfire. She turned on her chair and rolled off. Starfire stood by Robin, looking between the two of them apprehensively.
"Go on ahead." Robin advised her. "You can trust her."
"Won't you come with us?" She asked anxiously. "She is your friend… isn't she?"
Robin smiled bitterly. "I don't think so." He said. "Not anymore."
Starfire stared at him with those wide, innocent green eyes and he found himself wanting to explain himself to her. To pour his heart out. She would never understand. But he wanted her too.
"Go on." He told her. She continued staring at him as she floated backwards towards where Barbara was waiting. Barbara aid something to her, and Starfire fell and began to walk.
"Was that really necessary?"
Raven had been watching. She appeared out of the shadows, rather similarly to Batman himself.
"What was?"
"Speaking to Starfire like that." Raven said. Her hood was up. She seemed to be judging him. "You weren't honest about your feelings."
"Raven, you're the last person to complain about me not opening up."
She glared at him. She seemed ready to press the issue further, when Alfred approached them.
"Master Dick." He said. "Perhaps you would like to review the current situation in Gotham before meeting with The Batman."
"Alright Alfred." Robin said. "What's happening?"
"As you know." Alfred began, as Robin and Raven followed behind at a leisurely pace. "Following the establishment of the Justice League, Gotham City has massively improved its police force, ridding most of the streets of the corruption and filth that allowed crime to fester her. Due to the work of Wayne Enterprises, the economy is booming, and Gotham is becoming a beacon of hope and prosperity for the entire world. The City is so successful, in fact, that criminals that were once handled exclusively by the Batman… such as Killer Croc and the Mad Hatter… are now easily detained by the regular police, with no need of outside interference."
"Batman has succeeded, then." Robin noted. "This is what he always wanted… isn't it?"
"The issue now." Alfred said. "Is that Gotham has become such a beacon of hope against these super criminals that more and more dangerous villains, particularly those of alien origin, are attracted to this city. Although these villains are foiled time and again by Batman and the Justice League, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Batman and Robin to patrol the streets of Gotham, as they once did."
Alfred shot him a look.
"Which is why we need you."
Robin said nothing.
"Batman is needed in the Justice League, managing global affairs." Alfred said. "But you… someone who is still developing and honing your skills… could still do a lot of good in this city. Maintaining what he has built."
"I thought." Raven said, her voice cold. "We were asked to come because of the appearance of the Island of Paradise."
Alfred seemed a little surprised at being addressed in this way, but he responded on the spot.
"Make no mistake." He said. "Your presence here while the Eldian Royal Family is visiting Gotham will be invaluable. The country is, as I understand it, quite primitive and unable to deal with the problems we deal with regularly. Already, I am told, many of the criminals of Gotham are scheming to exploit them in some way… The Queen Historia would be a valuable kidnapping subject."
"What is Batman worried about?" Robin asked. "What has him so concerned?"
"I think you should ask him that yourself." Alfred said. "Now… perhaps you and your friends are looking forward to dinner?"
