Missing Hope

{13}

"They didn't help me when I needed them..." robin whispered barely audible.
"I'm sorry robin." Wally said shaking his head and speeding away, before robin had even the smallest chance to protest.
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Chapter 13: The Clowns Funhouse Fails

Robin went and collected his paycheck alone, before heading back to base. He informed Slade of every detail no matter how small and gave him the money taking his cut when it was offered to him. Slade had informed Cheshire who wasn't pleased but let the boy go anyway.

"If he isn't committed I don't want him." Was what she had told them.

Robin decided all hero's were now his enemy, including Wally. He had wished it had gone another way, but good things never last, so he decided he wouldn't hope for anything good. It'll just be ripped away from you anyway. Why cherish something you can't keep? Robin walked to his room and hid his money before changing and going to bed.
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The next morning robin was woken up to the smell of bacon.

"Bacon...?" Robin mumbled confused.

"Wintergreen!" Robin yelled jumping from his bed and getting dressed quickly.

The man was older, almost like another Alfred. In fact the man was a little harsher but robin thought of him like another Alfred. He had always liked Alfred. He had even confused wintergreen for the man a couple times, which seemed to give Slade a good laugh. Robin rushed to the main area, that was actually comfortable almost like a small apartment but with metal walls. If wintergreen was here, they had guests. If they had guests and Slade said his two favorite criminals would be here today, that meant only one thing! Once he was in the kitchen he stopped. He knew it!

"Aunt harls, uncle jay....." Robin said with a huge grin on his face.

"If your smile was any bigger I'd say joker gassed you." Wintergreen joked.

"Careful there pumpkin, puddin gets competitive." Harley laughed.

"I was wondering when my favorite trouble causing young villain would arrive." Joker said as he chimed in with a smirk.

"Where is my master?" Robin asked.

"Right here robin." Slade said walking in.

"Master I must speak with you....privately." Robin urged.

"About?" Slade said in mock interest.

"Agent bolt." Robin said seriously.

Robin and Slade walked into a side room and Slade waited for the boy to speak.

"Wally was here, and he knows where the base is. He is going to lead the titans and the justice league right to us!" Robin said worriedly.

"Yes I thought of such an occurrence. Hence why I'm sending you with the joker and Harley while I relocate our things. Your leaving with them tonight. I will come and retrieve you once I have finished. And you better behave...." Slade said in the last four words in warning.

"I promise I'll be good, besides the joker should have some fun missions for me to tag along on......." Robin smiled with slight amusement.

"Just do as your told, and stay out of sight from Batman. You'll be in Gotham after all." Slade said leaving the room, robin quick to follow.

Their breakfast was quiet and spent happily. Robin finished quickly and began to pack his belongings into the suitcase he had in his closet. Everything he owned was either small or easily packed in case he had to do a quick move, and it all fit into that suitcase. If it didn't it was left behind. Robin however always made sure there was only enough to fit in the case. He knew joker and Harley had to leave right after breakfast so once he was done, he did one final check and left the now empty and barren room behind.

"I will come and collect you in three weeks." Slade told him.

"I will await your arrival master." Robin nodded as they went their separate ways.

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This where the young villain was now. Regretting life choices but also hiding in the home town of his former mentor and father. The boy had been bored for the better of two weeks as it was just going into the third week now. His master would come and collect him in five days and he was bored out of his already unstable mind.

"Heya kiddo. You wanna come with uncle jay on a robbery?" Joker asked.

"I'm supposed to stay here...." robin mumbled.

"Old sladey never said you had to stay here. He just said you had to behave." Joker poker at him.

Though technically true, robin didn't wanna risk the beating.

"I'll take the fall if something happens, now let's go!" Joker yelled joyfully.

"Alright uncle j you win." Robin said bouncing off the couch he was laying on.

Robin got his gear on and began to run after the joker as he attached the metal s to his shirt. Of course joker having to be his lively self decided to steal from Wayne technologies. It was something to do watch a ray type of prototype. Robin knew if it, he also knew Slade very much wanted this little item.

"Hey j?" Robin called.

"What up?" Joker asked.

"Could I keep this particular loot? My master has a very keen eye set on it." Robin replied.

"Of course. There's something else here I want anyway. You go after that and go after my other prize." Joker gave in.

Robin quickly did so, hearing alarms go off as he was leaving. Joker must have gotten caught. Jeez doesn't he know about bait and switch? That's crime 101! When robin passed the room in the ducts he noticed Bruce in costume. 'Great I'm screwed.' He thought to himself. 'Totally screwed.' He thought as he was met at the rooftop.

"Robin!?" Bruce yelled in shock.

"Heya battsy." Robin grinned.

"Why are you here?" Bruce called.

"Just running an errand before I return home. See ya!" Robin yelled before throwing down a smoke screen. He met Harley at the agreed upon checkpoint, handing her the device he as well as instructions for how to give it to Slade if he didn't return. She tried to ask what he meant but he was gone before she could. Thankfully joker was outside the building with 'batman' while the bat talked to Gordon. Robin quietly slipped in behind joker seeming unnoticed (or so he thought) as he began to untie the man. He however was stopped as he was picked up.

"I knew you'd come back." Bruce said triumphantly.

"Put me down old man." Robin yelled.

It wasn't so much as to call Bruce old, which he knew, but more as a term for father.

"Not gonna happen robin. I finally get you back from this mess and that's what you have to say to me?" Bruce laughed.

"Tch. Fine. Hey joker?" Robin said.

"Yeah kid?" Joker asked.

"Tell Slade to come get me will ya?" Robin asked.

"Can do." Joker said taking off.

Bruce looked dumbfounded.

"Gotcha!" Robin smirked.

"Okay buster, time for bed!" Bruce said knocking him out.