Teen Titans Presents Robin – Torn Legacy of a Prodigal Son –
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Chapter 43: The Way of Enlightenment is Found Through Deception
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That is an actual quote from Cassandra in the film Gotham Knight Batman (anime collab stories) yet a Fakir is not held always in high regard. To be forewarned.
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Scrunching his brows, knit tightly he could have turned into a ball of twine and been wound too tight.
He heard the voice of the elder beside him as he preached the words of older minds; or of wiser souls.
"The path to enlightenment will have you to detach your mind and body from the other. This is in a spiritual sense a way to ignore the pain you'll ever feel in combat or from simply healing."
"What…what do I do if I act on it, the fear?" Dick tried to imagine Slade getting the last word, the man's face a bogey – man even in his dreams and a cold distraction from his want of a safer outcome or life. Now, he had only to show Slade the opposite of Renegade, or of Robin. Of someone who could be hit and never cower as he had learned to do as a defense mechanism for the Titans.
He'd embrace pain, but never to lose them. This was always for them as he let the answer, he next received hold the kid steady. "The pain of your body is of a great resistance to it. The mysterious shadow that guides us from elsewhere is….one who indulges in brushing away his humanity, yet you must not be afraid to do the same."
"I'm not his clone, not what he wants."
"Then to suffer, maybe you may someday convince your enemy to let his thoughts flow to you, to trust before he's to be judged. It is a tool, as it was for the tall American and Cassandra back in the days where my knowledge was not yet here as you see me."
"A tool to understand…he's doing this….to make me formidable? I could –
"You won't; as he decides HOW." The elder cleared his throat and began to again meditate beside the rather perplexed teenager. "Let us try something drastic to change your mind." The fakir let go of his pose as Dick did the same. "Will…. will it hurt?"
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Coals, heat.
Dick seethed in as he stood upon the embers of his pain? Was this what Bruce had done??
Dick tried to stay still, the pin pricks of pain not a bother to the elder atop a same bed of coals. "Try, let the feeling morph into a feeling of annoyance and try to lessen the pain slow –
"Is it this way?? What about my body?" Dick hopped, yet the elder held his arm from running. "Run and you will suffer greater aches along the way. Otherwise, you will not be the only one who will never find what he seeks."
"Slade, I'll fight him. You won't get hurt –
"I worry about you." The man countered and stood unaffected by the pin and needle pokers at his toes. "When you are ready to see it, notice. You are no longer flinching." He smiled and Dick also gasped, looking down. He, was right…
"Your kindness is no weakness, ladaka." The fakir said. "You cared, you were just, so it is your will to live for others and yourself that helps you through the fires."
"What else did Cassandra teach, the man…?" Dick swallowed, his feet a bit ticklish as if this…was blades of grass. Dry grass. VERY.
"You will see." Was all the teacher and hermit told his unlikely pupil.
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Raven bounded up to the doors of a large hotel. The lobby was a bit old fashioned and even in this country, she believed that someone could be of some help. Slade was maybe not here, yet according to their trackers….
He was close.
"So, close."
Raven didn't turn around. "Should I ask why you bothered to go searching on your own, my dear?"
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She knew he could be armed, that it was no coincidence that Slade had baited them. "Where is Robin –
"Renegade is running a few errands for me." The man lied through his patch, the face of Slade not a scare to anyone as a tourist. No gun, she saw as he let her turn. "You pointed me out, my rest stop and for what? What did you intend to dig up?"
"Answers." She said slowly. "You didn't go after Bruce Wayne; he is safe now, because Ravager worked on keeping him out of danger. Face it, you don't have anyone left –
"Jade and her big mouth again…she was, on your side you said?" Slade chuckled and clutched his side, maybe hiding a weapon. "You should have checked her status. After she and the archer got cozy in their own time, Sportsmaster gave me a call. His assassin was out doing her job, but her fall off the edge gave me time to keep the Batman and cat far from my plans."
"So, she was a spy for….no, how can you know anything that far in advance?"
"Assassins are known to network, my dear." Slade rolled a kink out of his neck. "Jade was already a Shadow; she just took a raincheck. I'm eagerly considering taking up a new rank from Ra's steady workings of the system. Something you can always ask my last apprentice when you see him again. How is Grant? Did he lie about coming after me? Thinks he still has any right to drag me along on this merry go round of surprises?"
"You left them, your own family behind and treated them like objects. And, trust me…I know bad fathers." Raven's eyes lit up as she pointed at the merc in his civilian attire. "You're not going to take on any more of us to taunt or use. I'll be sure to track Robin down easily…"
"Try harder to sway me, child." Slade pulled out something of a smoke pellet as he let the thing up into the air, instead it was not. It was to shock and be used to dispose of a pesky heroine. Raven cried out as the electricity was far too heavy for her powers to block, his arm dragging out and a hand round her wrist to lift her to see eye to eye. "Don't come looking again, or I will end you without his permission…. because I can and he WILL do anything that I say."
"In your next life, Deathstroke…. mark my words…you won't own anyone."
Her eyes at him were lethal for a friend's sake, not knowing that Slade would do exactly as he had set out to do.
Even kill the heroes and make it look like an accident years later. He lowered his arm, considering sparing her and then killing her once their backs were turned. Not very sportsman like, however as she was left to her wonderings. "Your son saw right through you." Was what Raven said that made the man hate her the most for a very, very long time before walking out of the lobby with nothing else to beckon until they met again.
Raven held her head and tried to gather her strength, that aura draining her every time as she attempted to have herself where her friend was. The mountain, as Slade hopefully didn't beat her to the very top.
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Bruce was in his suit partly as the back seat drivers both seemed to think his ruse as a Gotham's toughest all for show. When they'd gotten back to Gotham, the Bat lashed out and the heroes was there to witness it.
Grant was smacked in the face with a backhand that Dick had never gotten, the same time also when Tim saw it and almost ran to B to get him off of the little cut throat. "Stop! Someone get…him off of Grant!"
"He ran in and expected TALIA to do this!! Dick was taken by that man, his own father and…. How?? Jade was not a team player; she was a double agent for Crock! You almost cost me my chance!" Grant ignored the hits and let the Bat do his worst. "We were talkin –
"Ommph!"
"Dad!"
"No, he needs to learn. This wasn't justice, it was deception, reckless and we could have only given Slade more reason to keep his distance…" Panted the Bat as Grant stayed down. "I'm a failure, I get it –
"She had codes, all of them to Slade's next base. You erased those with any leads –
"I had to. It's our fight. We are taking what he took –
"Both of you, gentlemen!" Alfred fussed as Bruce's short fuse was made to dim a bit. "This predicament would have escalated in any way even if you'd not been working as a team. Slade is, slippery for a villain I was told and this countered nothing. I believe that man and his protégé our dear ally Robin, are our top priority so please. Bickering as children will only prolong the search for them both to be interrogated. You must reason with him, Master Bruce."
"He's a traitor. Jade was not working for or with us, she was on Slade's enemy's side and will still have Ra's secrets. She almost killed –
"She was, found…. we took care of it." Rose said softly from the side. "Dad has to pay, but we saved you. Period, so you should just work with the only ones who can get into his lair and that animal's head."
"You were a victim, Rose.'
"I'm not now, I gave up the oath to work on ruining my father, not kissing the ground he walks."
"Rose, I'm –
Grant was ignored as Bruce had the same or a similar cold shoulder from the white-haired princess. "I'll not be admitting defeat, and neither should you both." Alfred ushered the small group inside, his shock to see Beast boy and Terra even in the hall and dashing up to them. Rose and Alfred or Bruce for BB.
"Sir, did you…did Robin…we came as soon as –
"They escaped, Slade retreated to India, like you told us. And now, we have intel that Raven saw him. She almost fought Slade in a public building...in the city –
"Dude!"
"Tim, why didn't you report back to me?" Bruce demanded.
"B, after Talia almost cloned you, I had no idea…It was all…Dick isn't safe, I have to…" Tim gripped his head and looked far too distressed in his day clothes. "If Grant DIDN'T do anything, I would have lost you too!" He sniffled and bawled out, hiding his face in a hoodie as the kid turned to go to his room, apologizing for the outburst before going up to brood in his dim lit computer central.
"Poor Timmy…." Bb and Rose with Terra all agreed, while Grant for some reason stepped forth until the Bat put his boot down.
"Don't interfere."
"He's my –
"He's not your son, he's a teenager who'd follow anyone who can save us…. you can't get involved or else I want you to go. Decide." Bruce's words stung as Grant clicked his tongue. "Fine. I'll stick around and either, what? I have the directions to his base, moron. Tim can tell you that." The kid turned his eyes to the bat, walking for the kitchen as Alfred and Bruce followed, the rest being told to wait in the hall.
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"You had my sons involved?? How long? How many??"
"In….in a few words…. who cares?"
Grant was turned and shoved to the tile as Bruce left him. "GET OUT." He seethed with his fists still at his sides. "You can't change and even your sister isn't a lost cause. Your brother was smart to stay away and I know you despise your father. It's why I've tried to make you a guest in our home yet you…you keep trying to become the enemy, never the victim that finds a better reason to live."
"I LIVE." Grant began to spit out. "To take my crown like I was promised. I'll show your kid and my dad that my power, my intellect has nothing to do with what is mine. I'm the fucking first of my kind, the one and only and those kids did that to get Slade in max security faster than your bunch of failures –
"OUT. Or I'll make sure the next cell you see is in the Watchtower. You so much as talk to my family or the Titans, the contract your after will end up an impossible dream. You'll never BE your father, Grant. I chose to let you see that...but repeat it. Be the one person you hate."
"Just like you beating me senseless?" Grant snorted, getting up and wobbling in a limp to the back door. "Fine, but if Rose chooses the high road, let her. She can't be tied to your idiotic examples of heroism, asshole. Fine by me!"
With a slam, Grant could plan everything for himself, get Rose back and maybe start his own…
He walked off and into the bushes, he pulled out a burner, reminding him of the he he'd been with his father way too much. (This is where we swap to Grant starting the Team Defiance. I'm changing it!)
"You'll all see, I'm not him…. not you. Not anyone's copy!" Grant pressed some keys and the thing began to ring and of course, it also began to get pretty damned cold in Gotham. Fall was upon them…Very soon.
"Jay, it's G. I need a favor. Fuck your dad, you were right. We can't trust em. Don't tell Tim, I can do that…. later and my sis. I want to start another team. One that does covert operations under the radar. Make some funds for the Outlaws and then we can go after the man who took Dick out of our lives…the kid doesn't need to feel like he's part of the club. Call me, I'm on my way."
With a click, the item was pocketed as Grant took out his wallet. A few bills from the butler swiped to see to his ticket to the other side of town. "Jay, don't mess me up, I need this. You're the only one that gets it…" Grant sighed and wondered if ole' Boo Boo was up for a cuddle by the tv tonight, or if he'd be sleeping on the terrace as punishment.
"Maybe I should call up another old friend for some support." Right then, Grant got to it and with a ring, an annoyed red head had his goat. ~ What do you want, idiot? ~
"I know that you have beef with the bat, but listen. Sport – guy is…. passe. I propose a new team. Like…. Defiance?"
~Hmm…. could it catch on? I'd put my money on a few secret options for some big names but will I ever get my change of heart? ~
"Jade, Roy is yours now. He can't say now. So, please? Former killer to killer?" He put up his hands and hoped she'd go for the gold along with him.
~ I'll talk to the Outlaws in a few minutes…but did you call me from Gotham and on an unknown number? ~
"I hate being tagged, runs in the family." He chuckled and walked to the subway on foot. His clothing no issue under a coat he'd used to keep in the bushes if this did become a norm from the get go. "So, meet you up in Gotham or Star?"
~Star, I'm still getting over a loss. ~ She said dazedly. Her face not yet submerged the bathwater at Roy's place. ~ You'll have to wait until I get my love's approval. It would be best to wait on my signal. ~
"Dully noted." Grant responded with a bob of his dirty blonde skull. ~ Can't wait to go over the new plan, but don't say we won't get to vote on a real leader –
"Hey! Not cool, J –
The dial tone sounded as Grant turned off the device to get a breath in.
"She hung up…Ugh, that tease…" looking out at the graffiti walls of the subway station, he'd be at Jay's and then they'd talk and cry it all off. Jay had really…. been his hero, even for an anti – heroic with a rebellious vibe. Yet Grant somewhat loved that about his Boo Boo. Leaning into the dirty glass a bit, he saw only shadows…There, there couldn't be a soul to compare. He was just glad to be going home, for a little while anyway.
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Starfire was with Cyborg in the tower, the Bat having taken Slade's kids home in the Bat wing for a stern talking to. Cy stayed by Kori as she contacted Raven, seeing not a single link as her worries increased hour by hour. "Raven does not respond." She told their second in command. "How are we to stand and do the nothing, when she could very well have found danger to follow her after –
"Dick is fine, she has a secret weapon. Don't forget about that stuff, Star. Raven is not gonna lose his trail, watch." Starfire wanted to nod back a yes, yet her heard was unsure. Maybe at "no" for now, then was she wrong? Were they too far behind to call this quest over and through?
"I cannot wait, I will call just –
Cy brought a hand her hers, his soft eyes making clear that he cared enough to be there, for even his best friend's crush. "He…he will never see us again! Oh, friend Cyborg…. why must the waiting we do be so painful….? Does the Batman not care? I wish it were not true…. not the nano-bot machines, not our fates…. this Rekmas is because….is because we could not stop him!" She wailed as he held her, the tears falling too fast so his arms just stayed where they needed to be. Kori needed to feel cared for, but Dick was too obsessed in escaping to realize who he'd been hurting even before Slade came to town.
"I know, Starfire…he's my friend too…we won't lose anybody else…you…. take all the time you need, I'm here and Dick won't forget." He sighed, her scent was watered down to the scent of salt and dread instead of the sun she was born to worship. "If we do not find an answer as to how yet….if we even so do end up being "victorious" in removing the many robots from being under Slade's control, I have decided that…I must return to my home planet. Tamaran calls and I must go."
"Star…this stuff is hero –
"It is not, Cyborg." She let go and pushed her hair to the side of her face, her cautious and wet eyes sparkled as a milky way galaxy. "I fear that if we are too close, I will continue to lose trust in the man I thought existed. Slade was then right; Robin is not going to return to us…not our Robin that was our leader. Not the Robin that ever loved me…"
Cy had headed later into the back room to pull up the number he'd known Dick had dialed from. He must have been fortunate with the call not on Slade's line. So far, not an issue getting a dial tone.
Though, he didn't expect for the right person to pick up.
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Dun duun……! Dick has to compete with Cy or Star will leave him high and dry? Bruce kicks Grant out of the clan and he's now planning his own startup of the group Defiance to make B and Slade turn their way? Raven encountered Slade, but did that happen or was he after her silence as well? Dick learns that pain is resistance from struggle yet finds strength in the ideal want to save others, his ointment that allows for pain to ebb yet exist as well. Is that what Slade wants or is that what the fakir or teacher Dick's earned has to bamboozle the master in his own act of defiance? Find out!
