What if Robin stays Slade's apprentice? What if the Titans don't find the nano-bugs?
Robin is alone. No one can save him from the situation he's in. It's up to him to somehow make contact with the Titans, or better still... Batman.
Robin groans, propping himself up and instantly reaching for his stinging head. He tries to make sense of where he is, and finds himself still on the platform where he and Batman fought, though the ground feels smoother, and his vision is distorted. He rubs his eyes through his mask and squints at the muted patches of orange and black coloring the cave in front of him. His eyes refocus, and the shapes sharpen to match his features. It's his reflection. His head swivels around and the situation becomes clear: he's in a reinforced glass box. He knows this cage well— it's what Batman uses to safely contain and observe anything from rabid animals to joker-venom-infected citizens. After another moment of drowsiness, Robin gasps and checks the timepiece under his arm guard. 9:30 pm. He sags with relief. It's only been an hour.
Robin reaches for his utility belt and feels it gone, then looks around and spots it on the supercomputer's counter. His gaze tracks upwards to the computer's monitor, where a red dot flashes somewhere on a stylized map of Gotham, indicating the location of an emergency. No wonder Batman isn't here to interrogate him.
Coincidence?
Robin stands and checks the box for weaknesses. The metal reinforcing its edges keeps the box sealed tight, but the round air holes lining the bottom of the walls could be exploited. He presses his lips into a thin line. Slade may not like what he does next, but it wouldn't be part of his gear in the first place if his master didn't want him to use it as a last resort. He removes his earpieces and places them in one of the openings, then steps back and presses a button under his arm guard. He covers his ears and turns away as the coms explode, leaving a small but significant hole in the cell. He crawls through and grabs his utility belt, then uses the grappling hook to swing down and retrieve the USB drive. He returns to the supercomputer and crouches under the counter, plugging it in.
The screen goes white, there are multiple red warning signs of errors, then the screen returns to normal. At first, Robin worries Slade's tech isn't up to the task, but when he looks down at the drive, he notices a bar has appeared on its side, tracking the download. Slowly, the bar begins to fill with Slade's trademark shade of orange.
Robin sighs and backs away, taking in his surroundings as the minutes pass. It's been nearly a year since he left in search of leading his own team— Batman said it was the 'next step in his training'. He allows himself a small smile, because nothing in the cave has changed. With his back to the supercomputer, he can see the other platforms lining the walls above him, one holding Batman's giant souvenirs: the dinosaur, the penny, and the Joker card. Batman calls them reminders, but at this point, they're just there to liven up the cave a little. Standing here now, he can almost pretend he hadn't left... Would never meeting his friends have spared them?
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Robin flinches as the illusion of peace is shattered by the roar of the Batmobile descending the runway towards him. He widens his stance instinctively, fingers twitching towards his utility belt. What does he do? What can he do? The earpieces are nothing more than smears of dust by his prison now, so Slade can't give him orders, but Slade can still hear him through the microphone in his collar. The mission is still the priority: He has to keep Batman from seeing the flash drive until it's done downloading— so he stands and fights.
Before the Batmobile can properly stop, Robin throws a knife into its windshield. It explodes on impact, spraying the area with shards of glass. Batman leaps out of the car through the broken window and throws a batarang back, which is intercepted by another one of Robin's mid-air. Robin chews his lip. This fight is going nowhere fast. If Batman throws another one of his tranq balls, it's over.
Hone the trick with the smoke, and it could be formidable.
Robin has to disappear.
He throws smoke bombs and uses the cover to check on the USB. It's almost done, it just needs a little more time. He throws knives and stays light on his feet, never letting Batman know where he is.
"This isn't you." Batman reasons between the sharp ringing of his batarangs deflecting Robin's knives, poised and waiting for another attack. "You know better than this. So tell me why."
Robin stops in his tracks, biting back the urge to reply. Batman senses the change and straightens, a deliberate show of lowering his guard. He lets his concern break through the mask. "Talk to me."
Inside, Robin screams. You don't understand!
The Dark Knight's ploy almost works, but the Boy Wonder fights through the surge of emotion and forces himself to keep moving. He checks on the USB and finds its bar is full, so he grabs and pockets it. As the smoke screen billows upwards, Robin uses the opportunity to scale the cliff and make a break for the exit.
Batman's searching yell echoes off the walls. "Robin!"
The apprentice turns around and aims his laser. He fires and the beam grazes Batman's cheek, close to his left eye. Batman stumbles back, pressing a hand to his wound, and Robin makes his escape while he's disoriented. As he's driving away from the Batcave, he realizes Batman isn't following him. Did he hurt him worse than he'd thought? Robin squeezes the motorbike's handles hard, the twisting rubber protesting with a gritty creak.
He can feel the pulse of his racing heartbeat in his fingertips, and takes a measured breath to calm the reaction. Is it anger, or adrenaline? He shakes his head to clear the thought. Slade is a manipulator. There's no way he could have found that a thrill.
