The Apprentice

Family Reunion

Robin runs across the rooftops of his city. He tries to turn his mind off and let his legs do the work, his anger burning off with the calories and leaving only a cool, steely focus. He can't think about where he's going, only that he has to get there. He can't dwell on the consequences of what he's being forced to do, only that he has to do it. This is a mission, nothing more. And once he completes it... he'll have bought his friends one more day.

His steps falter as the outskirts of Jump City grow closer and the buildings start to thin out. Slade gave him no way of getting to Gotham, and he'll never make it in time if he goes by foot. Slade is testing him, seeing how he'll adapt to the circumstances.

Robin watches the illuminated streets below. Traffic is coming to an end, and the few pedestrian stragglers are heading indoors. Soon, he and the crime of Jump City will be all that's left, but he can't wait for a convenient getaway car to reclaim. He doesn't like it, but there has to be something else for him down there. His chest tightens. This is what he wants me to do. He wants me to steal again. He knows I don't have a choice.

He moves on, but a glint of metal catches his eye in the shadows between the buildings. He drops into the alley, where a motorbike sits unsupervised. It's smaller than he's used to, and the wiring is easier to access, but he should expect that from a civilian vehicle. The tightness in his chest builds into a burning ache as he works to strip and twist the ignition and battery wires together. Just like that, the bike flares to life, and Robin steps back to take it in, delaying the moment of no return. He has to calm down. It's just part of the mission. It's necessary. Slade made sure of that.

His gut twists. Slade. Does he think Robin will bow down and accept this new life without a fight? Slade may hold his friends' lives hostage, but not his conscience. The apprentice glances up at the street signs, committing them to memory, and vows to bring the motorbike back.

Robin tears across the highway at death-defying speeds, his eyes narrowed behind the mask and visor. The coastal cities aren't far from each other, Jump City sitting in Gotham's shadow. At this rate, he'll be there by... 8:30 pm. That leaves him plenty of time to get in and get out.

Once the mountains beyond Jump City flatten into the forested hills decorated with the mansions of Gotham's elite, Robin turns onto a familiar access road. He follows its curve until he sees it— a path between the trees cleared just for him. He drives through it, and the trees behind him slide seamlessly back into place. The route leads straight to the mouth of a cave, its depths cut short by a heavy access door concealed in the gloom. It too only opens to members of the Bat family, to a chip in their suits. If Robin hadn't swiped his before Slade confiscated his gear, he'd have to try and sneak in through Wayne Manor, and the odds of him pulling that off are laughable. Luckily, his mission and secret identity aren't at risk today. The chip sits snuggly in the pinky finger of his right glove.

At this time of night, Batman is usually out fighting crime in Gotham, but Robin prepares a contingency just in case. He hides the motorbike in the underbrush and opens the hatch quietly, taking out the nearest sensor with one of Slade's throwing knives before it can record Robin's entrance. Even in the dark, he's memorized the location of every sensor and security camera in the cave. This is why only he can smoothly complete this mission.

He descends down the driveway, keeping to the shadows and the corners that the cameras neglect, until he reaches the massive Batcomputer. He takes a single step onto the main platform before his spine tingles and the hairs rise on the back of his neck. Someone lurks in the shadows behind him.

Robin twists around and gets into an offensive position as the figure steps into the light, his monochrome suit and imposing stature making him seem almost like a part of the cave itself. The apprentice's eyes widen, and his resolve is shaken by the mere sight of his old mentor.

Batman speaks curtly in a low voice, as he always does, but there's a slight tenderness in his tone that few people get to hear.

"Robin... You're back."

Robin hesitates long enough to hear Slade repeat the usual line in his ear. "Not a word, Robin. You know what to do."

Robin, however, doesn't move. He wants to— needs to stretch out this moment. Batman continues, his monotonous delivery turning every question into a statement. "The Teen Titans said you went missing. Why are you here, what—" he notices Robin's uniform. "What are you wearing."

"Now, Robin!" Slade hisses sharply. Robin snaps out of his trance and throws an S-shaped knife at Batman. The Bat catches it between his fingers, observing it briefly, giving Robin the chance to close the distance and land a kick. Batman blocks it with his forearm, but he hadn't braced in time for the attack, and the force pushes him back a few feet.

"RAAA!" Robin bellows, moving quickly to attempt multiple blows. Batman frowns and jumps away, throwing a few metal beads that shatter at Robin's feet, green smoke erupting around him. Robin gasps and leaps back, recognizing the tactic instantly. Quickly, he follows through on his contingency plan. He throws another knife that misses Batman, and it plummets below the platform they're standing on, embedding itself into the rough stone wall by the lake. The USB drive rattles in the knife's circular core, hiding the evidence of his motive. Robin lands on his feet but sways slightly, and the world starts to blur and double around him.

He tries to form a thought, to move, but it gets increasingly difficult to even breathe. Before he registers the action, Batman is by his side, staring down at him. "You're done, Robin."

He hits the ground.

** Notes **

Are you curious about what the Batcave looks like in my fic? I drew it! I talk about my thought process on my tumblr (https://www.tumblr.com/mira--image), but here's the photos >:D