The Man Behind The Mask Part 2
((The shocking continuation... of that thing I posted yesterday! As always, I wrote what I wrote, and Robin wrote what he wrote...
Slade examined Robin's new look... the clothes would make it easy to pass him off as one of the more stable patients, or as a distant relation... not that anyone would question his presence... there was just one problem...
"Now, Robin... I know how attached you are... but you really must leave the past behind." That said, he reached down and plucked Robin's mask from his face, throwing it aside casually. "Much better."
Robin's face suddenly flushed in annoyance, almost making an attempt to grab the mask back, but he barely edged forward. Growling, he forced his cobalt eyes to look away before he got a stronger urge to throw punches at Slade...he already knew that would not work. The whole reason he even kept the mask, never even showed his friends, was he always seemed to get 'Oh, poor Dick Grayson... orphaned because of a trapeze 'accident'...'
"Not really." He snapped back quietly.
"Why not?" Slade asked, straightening his tie. "It's not like I didn't know who you were, Robin... Did you think it was some big secret?" He shook his head. "Really..." He shrugged into a light grey suit jacket, settling it over his shoulders before running a hand through his hair again... reaching down, he pressed a button on the phone on his desk. "Iris? Hold all my calls and tell the Committee I'm on my way." There was a pause before a young woman's voice replied...
"Welcome back, Dr. Wilson..."
There was only silence from Robin... one did not need to look at him to tell that he was boiling in annoyance. He was going to need to cope, whether he liked it or not; he barely shook his head, as if still trying to accept that there was obviously way more to this man than he thought. And who exactly was he meeting? That thought made his eyebrow cock upwards half-interestedly as he glanced towards the very different looking man. He almost looked like an entirely new person...
"Thank you, Iris." Slade said before releasing the button and turning back to regard Robin. "Well, are you ready? We have to go to this meeting and then I'll introduce you to your new colleagues." He started toward the door. "And do try to keep up, Robin... I'd hate for you to get lost..."
-New colleagues...?- he thought, but shrugged it off shortly. He would find out soon enough... unfortunately. Watching Slade after a moment, before making something of a distasteful expression without really realizing it. He only allowed himself to nod, trying to keep anything he would regret saying from rolling off his tongue. Robin's anger was already at such a high level that he was having trouble just keeping silent, following behind the man...trying to give himself answers about this volley of questions that had struck him.
They passed a young woman in yellow as they walked down the hall.
"That's my assistant, Iris... You'll get to meet her later." He smiled at Robin, something strange lurking beneath his charming outward demeanor. They continued along until they came to a set of impressive oak doors. Slade paused for a second before pushing them both open. The conference room had a large wooden table and leather backed chairs in the center of it... and little else in the way of furnishings. "Forgive my tardiness, gentlemen..." he glanced back at Robin, "Be a good boy and have a seat over there while I talk shop, hmm?" He gestured to a fire place against the far wall.. there was a book shelf and a wing back chair as well.
Robin had uneasily watched Slade, even as the smile formed... Different... Obviously. There was a peculiar feeling weaseling about at the pit of his stomach, one that was starting to send shivers down his spine. His gaze had followed the woman only barely, but it was otherwise focused on his surroundings, as he went. Robin found himself tensing again, so obediently having to follow orders. He had no choice, though, did he? Trudging towards the chair, he eased into it silently, his now revealed gaze slowly trailing over the book shelf half-distractedly, it was obvious his mind was on other things, however.
"Alright then," Slade said, turning back to his associates. "Someone tell me some good news." He moved to the head of the table and sat looking around. "Well? I take it you've all read my report by now?"
"Yes, Dr. Wilson..." The man to his left began, looking uneasy.
"But?" Slade asked, his gaze moving to Robin for a moment. "What seems to be the trouble Mr. Chairman?"
"You've destroyed another facility... I don't know how much longer--"
Slade slammed his fist against the table, making it shudder. They all jumped and he smiled pleasantly, coldly. "Do I need to remind you who funds this little project, Mr. Chairman?" The man shook his head, terrified. "Good. Next order of business."
Robin's preoccupation had been shot away with what felt like an elephant gun, when he heard a fist slam into a table, his attention jerking towards the source of it, eyes clearly wide and in surprise. He had partially expected to someone looking hurt, but he saw terrified people instead. Frowning in an objective way, he swiftly turned his attention away from the distraction... rather pretending to be looking at the books this time. He knew better this time than to have expected Slade to deal with this any differently...
The meeting went quickly after that... the others gave their reports and Slade commented when necessary... but for the most part he just watched Robin pretending to read a book. It was obvious that the boy was listening to every word, no matter how trivial. He suddenly realized that the others had stopped speaking and were looking at him expectantly. "Is that all?"
"Actually..." The man at the very foot of the table said, half raising his hand. "There was one other matter..."
"Oh?" Slade drawled, leaning forward. He knew exactly the effect that he had on people...
"Your new... business associates."
Flipping a page every so often, attempting to make it look as convincing as possible, and it was upon the last comment that Robin paused barely, flicking a quick glance up towards the table just enough. His eyes gently narrowed before shifting it down towards the book once more, listening as carefully as ever. Robin was more than interested in what they had to say, that was for sure.
"They haven't caused you any trouble in my absence, have they. Mr. Simmons?" Slade asked, addressing the timid man at the end of the table. "I should think something like that would have made your reports."
"No, Doctor..." Simmons paused, looking at the others for support... none of them would meet his eyes. "There was a power failure in one of the labs... We had to revive several of them--"
"What?" Slade interrupted, his voice deceptively calm. "You were under express instructions not to revive any of them without my consent."
"Yes, sir... but there was no other choice. They would have been lost."
Slade fumed for a moment and then nodded. "You did what you had to do, Mr. Simmons. An admirable quality... and one that so many people don't understand." That last was clearly directed at Robin... "Very well... how are they now?"
"Stable..." Simmons said, but it was clear he wasn't saying everything...
"But?" Slade prompted, tiring of their reticence.
"The imprinting didn't..." Simmons paused to take a handkerchief from his pocket and mop his brow... "It didn't go as planned."
Slade shook his head. "If this ever happens again, and trust me you had better hope it doesn't... but if it does, you are to contact me immediately. No matter what."
"Yes, sir." The table chorused...
"I have some other things to attend to first, but I expect you all to be in the labs when I get there."
"Yes, sir..."
Slade shook his head and stood, walking over to Robin's chair. "Learn anything interesting, Robin?" He was not talking about the book...
Robin shifted uncomfortably slightly, having clearly caught the comment directed towards him, as most likely intended. It only made his eyes narrow, even as Slade approached him. Acting as if he hadn't even noticed the meeting end, he glanced up slowly.
"Plenty of things, actually..." He said stand-offishly, setting the book back where it had been before... and he wasn't lying. He doubted that his facade had fooled Slade, but it was enough to keep attention from drifting towards him, at least.
"Good." Slade said, not fooled in the slightest. "You'll have to come to more meetings then... I can always use an extra pair of ears..."
Robin allowed a barely audible snort to part from him. "You seem to do just fine without me." The bitter tone had returned, no less would be expected, he didn't even want to be here.
-You don't have a choice, remember?-
"Of course. But now and then it's nice to hear a different perspective, don't you think?" He nodded toward the door. "Come along... time for your introduction."
His expression became morose. Introduction? Without his mask? Clamping his teeth together, Robin reluctantly followed, the only thing he seemed to be doing lately. Much to his dislike, in fact...
Slade lead him down another hall, entering a larger, less formal room. Several familiar faces were seated around the room, but the majority of them would be strangers to Robin. "Robin... meet your army."
His head had lifted upwards, surprise finding it's way into his features.
-Army?- he thought. Robin's glanced over the several people, stiffening slowly when he saw faces he had thought he wouldn't see for quite some time. Turning to Slade, he simply assumed he knew what-- and who-- he was talking about... "What are they doing here?"
"Oh good," Slade drawled, "you've met. I called in a few markers and got our good friend Blackfire transferred to a... more secure facility. The others are here because of you, Robin. No hard feelings, I'm sure."
"An army of criminals? You can't keep them all under your control." Robin said, curious just how he was keeping them here. Of course, he hardly knew the depths of it. All he knew was that the three he recognized here seemed far too independent to be in something like this."
"Can't I?" Slade asked. He moved further into the room, addressing the crowd. "Your attention... this is Robin... some of you might recognize him. He will be joining us... treat him with the same respect that you treat me... He's your new boss." A murmur rippled through the gathered criminals, but one of assent and complacency, not the anger and indignation that one might expect.
Unsure at first, Robin's gaze had followed Slade for a moment, and then trailed to the group of criminals, his eyes widening slightly. Clenching his jaw once again, he didn't seem to take kindly to his new appointed 'position'. And was Slade actually trusting him with this? Or was it to prove he knew exactly what he was doing? Either way, Robin didn't like it. Hesitant for a moment, he slowly approached Slade just enough... "I don't get it, Slade... why are you doing this?" There was a tone of annoyance...confusion as well. What if he tried to turn the tables on him?
-He wouldn't be that careless...-
"All in good time, Robin... first we have some business in the labs..." he turned his back on the room full of criminals as though they were harmless, and walked back into the hall... "And then we will discuss your first mission..."
...
Curiouser and curiouser... What will happen next? Find out tomorrow on the shocking continuation of this continuation!!))
Slade examined Robin's new look... the clothes would make it easy to pass him off as one of the more stable patients, or as a distant relation... not that anyone would question his presence... there was just one problem...
"Now, Robin... I know how attached you are... but you really must leave the past behind." That said, he reached down and plucked Robin's mask from his face, throwing it aside casually. "Much better."
Robin's face suddenly flushed in annoyance, almost making an attempt to grab the mask back, but he barely edged forward. Growling, he forced his cobalt eyes to look away before he got a stronger urge to throw punches at Slade...he already knew that would not work. The whole reason he even kept the mask, never even showed his friends, was he always seemed to get 'Oh, poor Dick Grayson... orphaned because of a trapeze 'accident'...'
"Not really." He snapped back quietly.
"Why not?" Slade asked, straightening his tie. "It's not like I didn't know who you were, Robin... Did you think it was some big secret?" He shook his head. "Really..." He shrugged into a light grey suit jacket, settling it over his shoulders before running a hand through his hair again... reaching down, he pressed a button on the phone on his desk. "Iris? Hold all my calls and tell the Committee I'm on my way." There was a pause before a young woman's voice replied...
"Welcome back, Dr. Wilson..."
There was only silence from Robin... one did not need to look at him to tell that he was boiling in annoyance. He was going to need to cope, whether he liked it or not; he barely shook his head, as if still trying to accept that there was obviously way more to this man than he thought. And who exactly was he meeting? That thought made his eyebrow cock upwards half-interestedly as he glanced towards the very different looking man. He almost looked like an entirely new person...
"Thank you, Iris." Slade said before releasing the button and turning back to regard Robin. "Well, are you ready? We have to go to this meeting and then I'll introduce you to your new colleagues." He started toward the door. "And do try to keep up, Robin... I'd hate for you to get lost..."
-New colleagues...?- he thought, but shrugged it off shortly. He would find out soon enough... unfortunately. Watching Slade after a moment, before making something of a distasteful expression without really realizing it. He only allowed himself to nod, trying to keep anything he would regret saying from rolling off his tongue. Robin's anger was already at such a high level that he was having trouble just keeping silent, following behind the man...trying to give himself answers about this volley of questions that had struck him.
They passed a young woman in yellow as they walked down the hall.
"That's my assistant, Iris... You'll get to meet her later." He smiled at Robin, something strange lurking beneath his charming outward demeanor. They continued along until they came to a set of impressive oak doors. Slade paused for a second before pushing them both open. The conference room had a large wooden table and leather backed chairs in the center of it... and little else in the way of furnishings. "Forgive my tardiness, gentlemen..." he glanced back at Robin, "Be a good boy and have a seat over there while I talk shop, hmm?" He gestured to a fire place against the far wall.. there was a book shelf and a wing back chair as well.
Robin had uneasily watched Slade, even as the smile formed... Different... Obviously. There was a peculiar feeling weaseling about at the pit of his stomach, one that was starting to send shivers down his spine. His gaze had followed the woman only barely, but it was otherwise focused on his surroundings, as he went. Robin found himself tensing again, so obediently having to follow orders. He had no choice, though, did he? Trudging towards the chair, he eased into it silently, his now revealed gaze slowly trailing over the book shelf half-distractedly, it was obvious his mind was on other things, however.
"Alright then," Slade said, turning back to his associates. "Someone tell me some good news." He moved to the head of the table and sat looking around. "Well? I take it you've all read my report by now?"
"Yes, Dr. Wilson..." The man to his left began, looking uneasy.
"But?" Slade asked, his gaze moving to Robin for a moment. "What seems to be the trouble Mr. Chairman?"
"You've destroyed another facility... I don't know how much longer--"
Slade slammed his fist against the table, making it shudder. They all jumped and he smiled pleasantly, coldly. "Do I need to remind you who funds this little project, Mr. Chairman?" The man shook his head, terrified. "Good. Next order of business."
Robin's preoccupation had been shot away with what felt like an elephant gun, when he heard a fist slam into a table, his attention jerking towards the source of it, eyes clearly wide and in surprise. He had partially expected to someone looking hurt, but he saw terrified people instead. Frowning in an objective way, he swiftly turned his attention away from the distraction... rather pretending to be looking at the books this time. He knew better this time than to have expected Slade to deal with this any differently...
The meeting went quickly after that... the others gave their reports and Slade commented when necessary... but for the most part he just watched Robin pretending to read a book. It was obvious that the boy was listening to every word, no matter how trivial. He suddenly realized that the others had stopped speaking and were looking at him expectantly. "Is that all?"
"Actually..." The man at the very foot of the table said, half raising his hand. "There was one other matter..."
"Oh?" Slade drawled, leaning forward. He knew exactly the effect that he had on people...
"Your new... business associates."
Flipping a page every so often, attempting to make it look as convincing as possible, and it was upon the last comment that Robin paused barely, flicking a quick glance up towards the table just enough. His eyes gently narrowed before shifting it down towards the book once more, listening as carefully as ever. Robin was more than interested in what they had to say, that was for sure.
"They haven't caused you any trouble in my absence, have they. Mr. Simmons?" Slade asked, addressing the timid man at the end of the table. "I should think something like that would have made your reports."
"No, Doctor..." Simmons paused, looking at the others for support... none of them would meet his eyes. "There was a power failure in one of the labs... We had to revive several of them--"
"What?" Slade interrupted, his voice deceptively calm. "You were under express instructions not to revive any of them without my consent."
"Yes, sir... but there was no other choice. They would have been lost."
Slade fumed for a moment and then nodded. "You did what you had to do, Mr. Simmons. An admirable quality... and one that so many people don't understand." That last was clearly directed at Robin... "Very well... how are they now?"
"Stable..." Simmons said, but it was clear he wasn't saying everything...
"But?" Slade prompted, tiring of their reticence.
"The imprinting didn't..." Simmons paused to take a handkerchief from his pocket and mop his brow... "It didn't go as planned."
Slade shook his head. "If this ever happens again, and trust me you had better hope it doesn't... but if it does, you are to contact me immediately. No matter what."
"Yes, sir." The table chorused...
"I have some other things to attend to first, but I expect you all to be in the labs when I get there."
"Yes, sir..."
Slade shook his head and stood, walking over to Robin's chair. "Learn anything interesting, Robin?" He was not talking about the book...
Robin shifted uncomfortably slightly, having clearly caught the comment directed towards him, as most likely intended. It only made his eyes narrow, even as Slade approached him. Acting as if he hadn't even noticed the meeting end, he glanced up slowly.
"Plenty of things, actually..." He said stand-offishly, setting the book back where it had been before... and he wasn't lying. He doubted that his facade had fooled Slade, but it was enough to keep attention from drifting towards him, at least.
"Good." Slade said, not fooled in the slightest. "You'll have to come to more meetings then... I can always use an extra pair of ears..."
Robin allowed a barely audible snort to part from him. "You seem to do just fine without me." The bitter tone had returned, no less would be expected, he didn't even want to be here.
-You don't have a choice, remember?-
"Of course. But now and then it's nice to hear a different perspective, don't you think?" He nodded toward the door. "Come along... time for your introduction."
His expression became morose. Introduction? Without his mask? Clamping his teeth together, Robin reluctantly followed, the only thing he seemed to be doing lately. Much to his dislike, in fact...
Slade lead him down another hall, entering a larger, less formal room. Several familiar faces were seated around the room, but the majority of them would be strangers to Robin. "Robin... meet your army."
His head had lifted upwards, surprise finding it's way into his features.
-Army?- he thought. Robin's glanced over the several people, stiffening slowly when he saw faces he had thought he wouldn't see for quite some time. Turning to Slade, he simply assumed he knew what-- and who-- he was talking about... "What are they doing here?"
"Oh good," Slade drawled, "you've met. I called in a few markers and got our good friend Blackfire transferred to a... more secure facility. The others are here because of you, Robin. No hard feelings, I'm sure."
"An army of criminals? You can't keep them all under your control." Robin said, curious just how he was keeping them here. Of course, he hardly knew the depths of it. All he knew was that the three he recognized here seemed far too independent to be in something like this."
"Can't I?" Slade asked. He moved further into the room, addressing the crowd. "Your attention... this is Robin... some of you might recognize him. He will be joining us... treat him with the same respect that you treat me... He's your new boss." A murmur rippled through the gathered criminals, but one of assent and complacency, not the anger and indignation that one might expect.
Unsure at first, Robin's gaze had followed Slade for a moment, and then trailed to the group of criminals, his eyes widening slightly. Clenching his jaw once again, he didn't seem to take kindly to his new appointed 'position'. And was Slade actually trusting him with this? Or was it to prove he knew exactly what he was doing? Either way, Robin didn't like it. Hesitant for a moment, he slowly approached Slade just enough... "I don't get it, Slade... why are you doing this?" There was a tone of annoyance...confusion as well. What if he tried to turn the tables on him?
-He wouldn't be that careless...-
"All in good time, Robin... first we have some business in the labs..." he turned his back on the room full of criminals as though they were harmless, and walked back into the hall... "And then we will discuss your first mission..."
...
Curiouser and curiouser... What will happen next? Find out tomorrow on the shocking continuation of this continuation!!))