Trapped Under Pressure

Chapter 23:

Robin had always thought it was quite a simple trick. Well, actually, that was a lie. It was pretty hard, but it was also pretty easy. The science behind it was so easy, he didn't believe it at first. Though the actual science behind it was easy, achieving it was an entirely different thing.

Robin could move at speeds others couldn't. It wasn't super speed or teleportation or any other kind of super power. No, it was pure skill. It bypassed the usual limit of a human capability but it was so cool. The training it took for Robin to learn almost drove him nuts, but in the end he found it truly worth it. He never really liked training with Slade, but the man had taught him so many useful things that not even Robin could deny.

It was like what most people called a "Flash step". Although that wasn't what it was, it was similar. By slowing down the rate the brain processes everything at, usually by slowing it down, it allowed him to react or move faster than usual. To Robin, it almost seemed as though everything had slowed down, things moved slower but Robin could still see everything fine. The commands to his body may be slower, but it allowed him to move so much faster than he could when he was processed everything normally.

There was also something else amazing that Robin had learned, although he absolutely hated using it. He couldn't use it by ordinary means, since there was a condition to using it. He had to have electricity in his body to be able to use it. Not only was it incredibly dangerous, but it hurt. A lot. Robin had only been able to learn it through both intense training and torture alike. Sometimes Robin couldn't even tell the difference between the two. Which one was meant to torture him and which one was meant to teach him. Either way, they both had a similar factor; use the electricity in your body.

By doing so, the electricity could be used as a nervous system within his body. In normal cases, when a command in the body is sent, it is sent to the nervous system then to the brain and back. But with the electricity in his body, it allowed the command to be sent to the nervous system and straight back to the muscle, surpassing the normal human limitiation and having a much faster reaction time.

Robin couldn't use that technique anymore, however. Not simply just because he didn't want to - although that was factored in as well - but if he used that technique again, he'd surely die. Slade wasn't kidding when he said any other possible apprentices couldn't handle his training. Though, technically, Robin could handle Slade's training - he just didn't always like it - but Slade had gotten very angry at Robin once. Slade was absolutely furious at that time and had struck out at Robin.

Slade had had a weapon. Being the mercenary he was, he had struck for the heart. By the time Slade realised that he was aiming for Robin's heart, it was too late. Luckily, he had just about managed to stop in time before killing Robin but he had suffered severe damage.

Wintergreen had tried to fix the damage, but he was exactly a fully-blown surgeon and the surgey wasn't something he could do. At most, he was able to fix most of the damage, but the injury was still there. Though not as life-threatening as it was beforehand, still incredibly dangerous. After all, one of the walls of his heart had literally been ripped, however odd that sounded. From what Robin had learned, it was called a "Myocardial Rupture." There were a few ways one could get an injury like this, but in Robin's case, it had been a penetrating injury from a stab wound where the wounds penetrates the chest wall, outer sac (pericardium) and then heart.

(Bro, I hope this makes sense to you lot. I'm just re-wording parts of the page I found to fit the story. RIP Robin. There's a link in the author's note for those who want more information on it.)

All in all, Robin had gotten lucky, but at the same time unlucky. He wouldn't have really minded dying at that time. All the pain would have ended, he could have been happy. But if he had died, then he wouldn't be here with his family right now.

Robin looked up at the shocked faces of his family and began his explaination.

~~~~~

Tim hated Deathstroke. So much. How could he do that to Robin? The second Tim saw the scars across Robin's chest, he knew what had happened instantly. It was so obvious what had happened. Robin, his innocent little brother had been tortured by that - that... That bastard. That murderer. That sick son of a bitch. That...

Tim groaned. That everything! Every single bad word known to man, that's what Deathstroke was. In every way and shape. How could he torture Robin? It wasn't right. It just wasn't right. It wasn't humane. He'd expect that kind of thing from Joker - oh god Joker, he didn't even want to think about it. Jason had already been tortured and killed by the bastard, it was horrible. Even for a mercenary, that was just too much. The only villain Tim would expect such a thing from - which said a lot considering how many villains there were - would be Joker. And that's because that guy is batshit insane. (Sorry I had to XD)

Joker didn't have any idea what right and wrong was - hell, he didn't even know what good was. He was completely messed up and had no morals whatsoever. A being that sought destruction and murder and nothing more, in Tim's opinion anyways.

Deathstroke seemed sane. Well. He didn't exhibit insanity like the Joker did anyways. Actually, this wasn't even about sanity anymore. No. That wasn't the case. A sadist could still be sane.

That didn't change the fact that what Deathstroke had done was absolutely unacceptable. To torture someone, no matter the reason, was absolutely wrong no matter what case you have. Deathstroke will be suffering for his crimes. Of course, not, like, torture suffer, but suffer regardless! Tim would help ensure that.

He headed towards the nearest computer, intent of hunting down Deathstroke as soon as possible. That man had caused a lot of damage and he had messed with the wrong family.

Tim would never forget the feeling he often had when Robin wasn't there. The mansion had always been quiet. It was big and there was just the five of them there. Him, Jason, Dick, Damian, Bruce, and Alfred. Five people in such a big mansion. Sometimes the mansion felt too big, but more often than not, it really did feel kind of lively. There was always a squabble somewhere or something going on within the manor that just made it feel so lively and made it feel like home.

But without Dick there, things just weren't the same. Of course there was still the occassional squabble between the three of them, but even arguing wasn't the same. The youngest of the family wasn't there with his jokes and laughter, with his constant arguing back and stubbornness in general. Jason and Damian seemed to have a habit of getting on Dick's nerves resulting in so many arguements and making a lot of noise in general.

Of course with Dick gone, there wasn't any of that. It just wasn't the same. There was a depressing aura constantly around the manor which limited everyone's arguments at times. While that was a good thing as well, it just didn't feel right.

He saw everyone else literally everyday. But, it just wasn't right to Tim. No. Despite always seeing them, Tim had never felt so alone. He didn't want to feel like that ever again.

~~~~

To those who want more information on a Myocardial Rupture, here ya go: http://www.healthhype.com/myocardial-rupture-heart-muscle-tear.html

Uh. SO. Here you go, another update. I'm off hiatus and I'm active again! I've updated my profile, published a few more books (different fandoms too) and I may be starting another Batfamily book soon. Someone either gave me a subtle hint or just plain asked me to do another Reverse Batfamily book but with Robin as a little kid, like 5-9 or something. I'm quite tempted. Also, I've published the Robin Games too. Feels weird being active but it also feels so great. Technically, I haven't done a major amount, but it still feels like I have.

Also, don't forget: the COC event is still going on! It ends this Sunday so if you wanna join, hURRY YOUR ASS UP. Please join, I wanna see what you guys can do. :3 Of course, I'm still gonna update again if someone chooses me if they win. So, if someone wins and chooses me, you can have a third update by the end of next week, which is pretty cool.

Also, thanks for all your comments and such, greatly appreicated. I luff you guys, thanks for staying with me all this goddamn time. ^-^

Uh, I think I've said everything. Don't forget to look around my profile and the COC event though. TheCircleOfCrazy

And that's it!

- Lilly.