The Man Behind The Mask Continued...
((Okay, here's a bit more... it links up to the current plot [finally]... As always, Robin wrote what Robin says, and vice versa...))
There was an expression of horror-- and disgust-- all over Robin's face, as if he couldn't believe what he was being told. In fact, the words were stolen from his mouth when Slade had countered verbally before he could even say a word. Shaking his head, his head lowering some, he clamped his mouth shut, sentences cramped in his throat. "That's terrible..." he said aloud.
"Perhaps you'd like to meet him? He woke ahead of schedule while I was... otherwise occupied." He flashed a malevolent grin... but it faded quickly. "I imagine right about now they'll be explaing that they have not found a 'cure', that he was revived by mistake... and that it'll be a year before he can safely go back into stasis."
At first, Robin didn't want to meet him, he didn't want to see the boy, he didn't want to see any more of this place than he had to. But there was something that made him think that there had to be that deep pit of doubt and hopelessness for the other boy right now. Just like what Robin was feeling at this moment...what he'd felt since he got here. There was something that made him think he could help. Even just a little bit. Finally taking a breath, he glanced up towards Slade, nodding.
"I thought you'd want to... after all, you two have so much in common..." He opened the door. The doctor inside snapped to attention.
"Dr. Wilson." The man's fear was an almost tangible essence in the air. "We weren't expecting you ye--"
"No, I'd think not. How are your patients?"
Eyeing Slade after a moment, Robin almost wondered if Slade had snatched the thought right out of his mind. But that was silly. Peering in past Slade, Robin glanced towards the scared doctor inside... Another chance to listen keenly on what exactly was being done here, as if what he already knew didn't disturb him enough.
The doctor glanced at Robin and then back to Slade, licking his lips. "They're as well as can be expected, Doctor... Would you--"
"Yes, I'd like to see them." Slade interrupted, looking down at Robin. "That is, if you're sure, Robin?"
"I'm sure." Robin replied quietly, honestly not sure exactly what to expect through the door. Perhaps more people cursed like Plasmus was.
Slade frowned at the doctor, who was looking toward the door with even greater fear than he had shown for Slade himself.
"There was another attack." It wasn't a question.
"He's sedated now..."
Slade snorted.
"We both know that doesn't mean anything." Before the doctor could respond, Slade walked to the door, sliding his passkey and going in... he held the door open for Robin, blocking his view of the rest of the room.
There was visible hesitance in Robin before he decided to move after Slade and venture into the room. The only thing really trying to hold him back was the knowledge that there had been an attack... All the more reason to keep on his toes.
Slade closed the door with a final sounding 'click'.
"Mr. Weiss?"
The curtain around one of the beds shifted, revealing a boy with touseled brown hair and tired eyes. He didn't speak, only studied them both with the same wary scrutiny...
Robin stopped, a slight frown forming; he remained still unsure what to think, let alone what to say. Sympathy was there right away, just by looking at the boy. He didn't look so good. That much he was positive about...
Slade moved to the boy's bedside, pulling the curtain to one side.
"Do you remember me, Damon?"
The boy nodded, but still didn't speak. He peered at Slade for a moment before turning his attention exclusively on Robin. His eyes asked the question that his tongue would not...
Robin hestitated a moment more before taking a half step foreward.
"I'm Robin." He offered slowly.
Damon nodded, shifting slightly closer to Robin... there was a chain around his neck, but he seemed unconcerned by it.
"Did you come out of stasis early too?" He whispered, his voice hoarse with disuse... a wave of energy emanated from him with the sound and he closed his mouth again, looking up at Slade, apology in his eyes...
Robin was somewhat startled by the energy, even in a whisper. The thought of what it would be like if he spoke normally or even in a raised voice was enough to make him uneasy. He shook his head gently.
"No... I..." He stopped for a moment, as if struggling to find the right words. "I was brought here, but ...not for the same reasons as you and others were..." That would have to be enough.
Damon nodded, looking up at Slade again and tilted his head to the side. His eyes flashed as Slade lifted his hand toward a bank of switches.
"No..." Even muted as it was, the word forced Slade back a step.
"So, Robin..." Slade said, ignoring Damon's obvious defiance. "Would you like a demonstration of the rest of young Damon's powers?"
Robin allowed his eyes to tear away from the young boy to glance at Slade, shaking his head quickly.
"No! That's wrong; you can't--!" And that was when Robin clamped his mouth shut. Slade could, and there wasn't really much he could do about it if he did.
Slade's eye narrowed and he flipped the switch. Damon's body flickered, becoming a large snarling wolf... who was luckily chained to the wall.
"You see, Robin? He has no control over it... and he won't remember when he transforms back..." He reached over and flipped the switch back to the off position. Damon reverted to his human form, his eyes narrowed to slits of pure anger. His gaze flew to Robin and he released an energy laden sigh...
"I didn't hurt anyone?" He murmured.
Robin had easily backed away in a quick step, eyes wide for a moment, staring at Damon.
"No... you didn't hurt anyone." He replied, before sending a bravely cold glare towards Slade, even if he was probably used to getting them by now.
Damon lifted one hand to his collar, gripping the chain tightly.
"Good..."
"Thank you for your cooperation." Slade said with exaggerated potliteness, moving back toward the door. Damon shot a look of pure hatred at Slade's back...
Frowning once more, Robin glanced towards Damon, giving him an apologetic look. He wanted to help him, but he knew that wasn't possible; or at least, not right now anyway. Turning towards Slade again, Robin clenched his fists slightly.
"You call that helping people?"
"As long as he's wearing that collar, we can turn him back at will... he's already severely injured several of the doctors assigned to watch over him." He ignored the doctor in the outer room and moved into the hall. "Who can tell how many people he might have killed by now without our intervention?"
Glaring faintly, Robin followed Slade into the hall, shaking his head some. He didn't like to admit he had a point, but that still didn't wash away the anger. Forcing him into transforming wasn't helping him either; and he saw the look Damon had given him... He was used to giving it to the man himself. He said nothing in return, instead allowing his features to ease into a grim expression of disgust rather than clenched with anger, much like they had been all day.
"Really... I'll never understand how you can keep fighting like that..." Without looking back at Robin, he still knew exactly what his expression looked like. "Especially when you know I'm right."
Flicking a glance up towards Slade, he glared at his back.
"I don't give up that easy."
Slade laughed and opened his office door.
"I told you before, Robin... I always win."
"Not for long, Slade."
He crossed the room and sat at his desk, shaking his head at Robin.
"Robin, Robin, Robin... don't you ever get tired? Of the monotony? Of the pain?"
Robin ensed, watching him warily.
"Don't you get tired of it?"
Slade laughed again.
"Really, Robin... that's the point, isn't it?" He stretched his fingers wide, cracking them. "This is what I do."
Robin's eyes narrowed.
"Then maybe you should stop."
Slade contemplated for a second, inspecting his palm.
"No.. I really don't think that's an option anymore, Robin. You see... I've upset a lot of people."
"I think upset is an understatement..."
Slade cocked his head, tenting his fingers.
"I suppose you're right... But it hardly matters. The point is I can't stop... I'm in too deep to disappear now."
"You should have though about that before you got involved." Frowning slowly, Robin glared just enough, wondering why he was saying anything at all.
Slade leaned back in his desk chair, his eye drifting closed.
"What's that they say? About hindsight and looking before you leap? Youth never follows that advice, as you well know... even before I was Deathstroke, before I 'got involved'... I was reckless." His voice was bitter and distant, as though he wasn't really talking to Robin at all.
Robin watched him, having never seen this side to him before, unsure of what to make of it. He was silent for a long moment, not even sure if he should speak, let alone what he should say.
"And that's why... you're... like you are today." He spokes through gritted teeth, not really wanting to understand.
Slade massaged his forehead with one hand, eye still closed.
"I was a fool... a 'hero'. You can still look it up if 'they' haven't buried it too deep... A word from the wise, Robin. Never volunteer."
Narrowing his eyes in a more thoughtful expression than anything, Robin became curious as to why Slade was telling him any of this...
"They?"
"The government... it doesn't really matter which one. They all stink the same if you dig deep enough..."
Finally allowing his gaze to fall away from Slade, he stared at the floor for a long moment... still unable to shake what had been told to him. It was something so entirely different from what he had ever expected to hear, than what was really said. Not only did he have no idea what to say, he didn't know what to think...which was just as bad.
He opened his eye and looked straight at Robin, shaking his head.
"This shocks you so deeply... that I'm human after all. That I'm not evil? It must look that way to you... from beneath the pristine white light of 'Justice' everything looks black. You need to learn to see the grey... I thought X had taught you that much, Robin... but obviously I gave him too much credit."
Robin's glare simply intensified.
"I can see the grey just fine, Slade. But with all you've done, you showed nothing else to me but black." He dared to glance up towards Slade. "I didn't know what to expect."
"Evil... Yes, I've done my share, but if you knew even half of the reasons, half of the pain that I have endured to keep it all from happening..." He shook his head. "No... you wouldn't even believe me."
"You've never lied to me before. What I don't get, is why you're even telling me this. What's in it for you?"
Slade pushed a hand through his hair, sighing.
"Redemption... is that what you want to hear?" he snorted. "No... I don't need you to forgive me. You just have to understand that there is more to this world than what you see."
Robin looked down and away from Slade again... I have to be dreaming, he thought with a faint frown. But you're not. You just don't want to accept what he's saying as truth.
"I see that now..." He replied hesitantly.
"Do you, Robin?" Slade stood, his hands pressed flat against his desk. "I really don't think you do. You saw that boy earlier... but you don't understand. You can't. Not until you've killed someone with your own hands..." He shook his head. "With any luck, that's one lesson you'll learn in time."
Robin didn't allow himself to glance up towards Slade; no, instead he kept his gaze locked on the floor. He didn't even want to look at the man, he instead listened to what he had to say. Even if he didn't like it. His expression pulled into one of an anger, but it was morose as well.
"I'd never kill someone. Ever." Not intentionally...
"You can't know that... not until you're faced with the choice. You or them. Or you're precious friends. Can you honestly stand there and tell me that if you could guarantee their safety forever, you wouldn't kill me right now?"
Robin flinched visibly and tensed at the question. He still didn't look up, nor did he intend to. He didn't even want to answer. But it parted from him anyway, the simple, "No." He paused for a moment, continuing through gritted teeth. "I'd do anything to keep my friends safe..."
"I know, Robin... that's the only reason you're here." The bitterness in his voice was almost painful to the ears...
Silence had washed over the boy wonder once more, left with the simple thought-- and feeling-- of wanting, more than anything, to be back home. Where he belonged. Not here, understanding why everything his nemesis had done or been doing was all because of a flaw of the past. Because of something so 'similar' with his present. Something that he loathed even wanting to consider, if that. It was working on his mind, that was for sure.
Slade rubbed his temple and then turned his back to Robin, crossing his arms at the small of his back and planting his feet apart. He was done with this unscheduled trip down memory lane.. it was time for business.
"We're leaving, as soon as an old friend arrives."
Robin's gaze lifted upward just barely, resuming to narrow, before turning his glance from him again. Despite the fact that Slade couldn't see it, he simply nodded, but his mind wandered slowly to What old friend...?
"Actually... we're going to see some friends of yours. Tell me, when's the last time you paid a visit to Steel City?"
Jerking his head upward, he looked at him coldly, almost avoiding the question entirely. "What are you going to do to them?"
He shook his head and slowly turned around.
"I'm not going to do a thing..."
His eyes widened for only a moment, before they gave off the same distasteful look as before, allowing himself to shake his head. He should have known better than to ask that, he had already known the answer and was unaware of it
"I'm not going to let them get hurt."
"That is entirely up to you. All I require is that you get their attention..." Slade smiled coldly. "You see, this plan just won't work unless I take care of all the Titans."
Robin tensed slightly. "You won't win. The Titans aren't going to fall for it." He was fiercely trying to hang on to the victory that he felt should be his friends', he couldn't lose hope.
The phone on Slade's desk beeped.
"Dr. Wilson... Mr. Queen has arrived."
"Thank you, Iris." Slade loosened his tie. "Your uniform is in the sideboard. Suit up." He went into the dressing room.
Taking only a moment, Robin stood, forcing the air through his nose that he hadn't realized he'd held in his chest for so long. Pacing to the sideboard, he had figured he wouldn't get to stay in these civilian-like clothes for long. He almost leered at the uniform before pulling it out with a brief yank, forcing himself to change into the garments.
Fastening his mask in place, he waited a moment taking a deep breath. -Why do I do this to myself...- Shaking his head, he checked his mask and opened the door.
"It'll take a few hours to reach the city. We should arrive at about sunrise... time enough to explain your mission on the way."
Robin didn't turn to glance back at the man, but out of the corner of his masked eyes, he saw the image of Slade that he remembered so well. But there was still the image of the Slade underneath the orange-and-black mask that decided to still linger when he did glance towards him. He allowed his gaze to lower after a moment, and waited for Slade to lead the way...
There was an expression of horror-- and disgust-- all over Robin's face, as if he couldn't believe what he was being told. In fact, the words were stolen from his mouth when Slade had countered verbally before he could even say a word. Shaking his head, his head lowering some, he clamped his mouth shut, sentences cramped in his throat. "That's terrible..." he said aloud.
"Perhaps you'd like to meet him? He woke ahead of schedule while I was... otherwise occupied." He flashed a malevolent grin... but it faded quickly. "I imagine right about now they'll be explaing that they have not found a 'cure', that he was revived by mistake... and that it'll be a year before he can safely go back into stasis."
At first, Robin didn't want to meet him, he didn't want to see the boy, he didn't want to see any more of this place than he had to. But there was something that made him think that there had to be that deep pit of doubt and hopelessness for the other boy right now. Just like what Robin was feeling at this moment...what he'd felt since he got here. There was something that made him think he could help. Even just a little bit. Finally taking a breath, he glanced up towards Slade, nodding.
"I thought you'd want to... after all, you two have so much in common..." He opened the door. The doctor inside snapped to attention.
"Dr. Wilson." The man's fear was an almost tangible essence in the air. "We weren't expecting you ye--"
"No, I'd think not. How are your patients?"
Eyeing Slade after a moment, Robin almost wondered if Slade had snatched the thought right out of his mind. But that was silly. Peering in past Slade, Robin glanced towards the scared doctor inside... Another chance to listen keenly on what exactly was being done here, as if what he already knew didn't disturb him enough.
The doctor glanced at Robin and then back to Slade, licking his lips. "They're as well as can be expected, Doctor... Would you--"
"Yes, I'd like to see them." Slade interrupted, looking down at Robin. "That is, if you're sure, Robin?"
"I'm sure." Robin replied quietly, honestly not sure exactly what to expect through the door. Perhaps more people cursed like Plasmus was.
Slade frowned at the doctor, who was looking toward the door with even greater fear than he had shown for Slade himself.
"There was another attack." It wasn't a question.
"He's sedated now..."
Slade snorted.
"We both know that doesn't mean anything." Before the doctor could respond, Slade walked to the door, sliding his passkey and going in... he held the door open for Robin, blocking his view of the rest of the room.
There was visible hesitance in Robin before he decided to move after Slade and venture into the room. The only thing really trying to hold him back was the knowledge that there had been an attack... All the more reason to keep on his toes.
Slade closed the door with a final sounding 'click'.
"Mr. Weiss?"
The curtain around one of the beds shifted, revealing a boy with touseled brown hair and tired eyes. He didn't speak, only studied them both with the same wary scrutiny...
Robin stopped, a slight frown forming; he remained still unsure what to think, let alone what to say. Sympathy was there right away, just by looking at the boy. He didn't look so good. That much he was positive about...
Slade moved to the boy's bedside, pulling the curtain to one side.
"Do you remember me, Damon?"
The boy nodded, but still didn't speak. He peered at Slade for a moment before turning his attention exclusively on Robin. His eyes asked the question that his tongue would not...
Robin hestitated a moment more before taking a half step foreward.
"I'm Robin." He offered slowly.
Damon nodded, shifting slightly closer to Robin... there was a chain around his neck, but he seemed unconcerned by it.
"Did you come out of stasis early too?" He whispered, his voice hoarse with disuse... a wave of energy emanated from him with the sound and he closed his mouth again, looking up at Slade, apology in his eyes...
Robin was somewhat startled by the energy, even in a whisper. The thought of what it would be like if he spoke normally or even in a raised voice was enough to make him uneasy. He shook his head gently.
"No... I..." He stopped for a moment, as if struggling to find the right words. "I was brought here, but ...not for the same reasons as you and others were..." That would have to be enough.
Damon nodded, looking up at Slade again and tilted his head to the side. His eyes flashed as Slade lifted his hand toward a bank of switches.
"No..." Even muted as it was, the word forced Slade back a step.
"So, Robin..." Slade said, ignoring Damon's obvious defiance. "Would you like a demonstration of the rest of young Damon's powers?"
Robin allowed his eyes to tear away from the young boy to glance at Slade, shaking his head quickly.
"No! That's wrong; you can't--!" And that was when Robin clamped his mouth shut. Slade could, and there wasn't really much he could do about it if he did.
Slade's eye narrowed and he flipped the switch. Damon's body flickered, becoming a large snarling wolf... who was luckily chained to the wall.
"You see, Robin? He has no control over it... and he won't remember when he transforms back..." He reached over and flipped the switch back to the off position. Damon reverted to his human form, his eyes narrowed to slits of pure anger. His gaze flew to Robin and he released an energy laden sigh...
"I didn't hurt anyone?" He murmured.
Robin had easily backed away in a quick step, eyes wide for a moment, staring at Damon.
"No... you didn't hurt anyone." He replied, before sending a bravely cold glare towards Slade, even if he was probably used to getting them by now.
Damon lifted one hand to his collar, gripping the chain tightly.
"Good..."
"Thank you for your cooperation." Slade said with exaggerated potliteness, moving back toward the door. Damon shot a look of pure hatred at Slade's back...
Frowning once more, Robin glanced towards Damon, giving him an apologetic look. He wanted to help him, but he knew that wasn't possible; or at least, not right now anyway. Turning towards Slade again, Robin clenched his fists slightly.
"You call that helping people?"
"As long as he's wearing that collar, we can turn him back at will... he's already severely injured several of the doctors assigned to watch over him." He ignored the doctor in the outer room and moved into the hall. "Who can tell how many people he might have killed by now without our intervention?"
Glaring faintly, Robin followed Slade into the hall, shaking his head some. He didn't like to admit he had a point, but that still didn't wash away the anger. Forcing him into transforming wasn't helping him either; and he saw the look Damon had given him... He was used to giving it to the man himself. He said nothing in return, instead allowing his features to ease into a grim expression of disgust rather than clenched with anger, much like they had been all day.
"Really... I'll never understand how you can keep fighting like that..." Without looking back at Robin, he still knew exactly what his expression looked like. "Especially when you know I'm right."
Flicking a glance up towards Slade, he glared at his back.
"I don't give up that easy."
Slade laughed and opened his office door.
"I told you before, Robin... I always win."
"Not for long, Slade."
He crossed the room and sat at his desk, shaking his head at Robin.
"Robin, Robin, Robin... don't you ever get tired? Of the monotony? Of the pain?"
Robin ensed, watching him warily.
"Don't you get tired of it?"
Slade laughed again.
"Really, Robin... that's the point, isn't it?" He stretched his fingers wide, cracking them. "This is what I do."
Robin's eyes narrowed.
"Then maybe you should stop."
Slade contemplated for a second, inspecting his palm.
"No.. I really don't think that's an option anymore, Robin. You see... I've upset a lot of people."
"I think upset is an understatement..."
Slade cocked his head, tenting his fingers.
"I suppose you're right... But it hardly matters. The point is I can't stop... I'm in too deep to disappear now."
"You should have though about that before you got involved." Frowning slowly, Robin glared just enough, wondering why he was saying anything at all.
Slade leaned back in his desk chair, his eye drifting closed.
"What's that they say? About hindsight and looking before you leap? Youth never follows that advice, as you well know... even before I was Deathstroke, before I 'got involved'... I was reckless." His voice was bitter and distant, as though he wasn't really talking to Robin at all.
Robin watched him, having never seen this side to him before, unsure of what to make of it. He was silent for a long moment, not even sure if he should speak, let alone what he should say.
"And that's why... you're... like you are today." He spokes through gritted teeth, not really wanting to understand.
Slade massaged his forehead with one hand, eye still closed.
"I was a fool... a 'hero'. You can still look it up if 'they' haven't buried it too deep... A word from the wise, Robin. Never volunteer."
Narrowing his eyes in a more thoughtful expression than anything, Robin became curious as to why Slade was telling him any of this...
"They?"
"The government... it doesn't really matter which one. They all stink the same if you dig deep enough..."
Finally allowing his gaze to fall away from Slade, he stared at the floor for a long moment... still unable to shake what had been told to him. It was something so entirely different from what he had ever expected to hear, than what was really said. Not only did he have no idea what to say, he didn't know what to think...which was just as bad.
He opened his eye and looked straight at Robin, shaking his head.
"This shocks you so deeply... that I'm human after all. That I'm not evil? It must look that way to you... from beneath the pristine white light of 'Justice' everything looks black. You need to learn to see the grey... I thought X had taught you that much, Robin... but obviously I gave him too much credit."
Robin's glare simply intensified.
"I can see the grey just fine, Slade. But with all you've done, you showed nothing else to me but black." He dared to glance up towards Slade. "I didn't know what to expect."
"Evil... Yes, I've done my share, but if you knew even half of the reasons, half of the pain that I have endured to keep it all from happening..." He shook his head. "No... you wouldn't even believe me."
"You've never lied to me before. What I don't get, is why you're even telling me this. What's in it for you?"
Slade pushed a hand through his hair, sighing.
"Redemption... is that what you want to hear?" he snorted. "No... I don't need you to forgive me. You just have to understand that there is more to this world than what you see."
Robin looked down and away from Slade again... I have to be dreaming, he thought with a faint frown. But you're not. You just don't want to accept what he's saying as truth.
"I see that now..." He replied hesitantly.
"Do you, Robin?" Slade stood, his hands pressed flat against his desk. "I really don't think you do. You saw that boy earlier... but you don't understand. You can't. Not until you've killed someone with your own hands..." He shook his head. "With any luck, that's one lesson you'll learn in time."
Robin didn't allow himself to glance up towards Slade; no, instead he kept his gaze locked on the floor. He didn't even want to look at the man, he instead listened to what he had to say. Even if he didn't like it. His expression pulled into one of an anger, but it was morose as well.
"I'd never kill someone. Ever." Not intentionally...
"You can't know that... not until you're faced with the choice. You or them. Or you're precious friends. Can you honestly stand there and tell me that if you could guarantee their safety forever, you wouldn't kill me right now?"
Robin flinched visibly and tensed at the question. He still didn't look up, nor did he intend to. He didn't even want to answer. But it parted from him anyway, the simple, "No." He paused for a moment, continuing through gritted teeth. "I'd do anything to keep my friends safe..."
"I know, Robin... that's the only reason you're here." The bitterness in his voice was almost painful to the ears...
Silence had washed over the boy wonder once more, left with the simple thought-- and feeling-- of wanting, more than anything, to be back home. Where he belonged. Not here, understanding why everything his nemesis had done or been doing was all because of a flaw of the past. Because of something so 'similar' with his present. Something that he loathed even wanting to consider, if that. It was working on his mind, that was for sure.
Slade rubbed his temple and then turned his back to Robin, crossing his arms at the small of his back and planting his feet apart. He was done with this unscheduled trip down memory lane.. it was time for business.
"We're leaving, as soon as an old friend arrives."
Robin's gaze lifted upward just barely, resuming to narrow, before turning his glance from him again. Despite the fact that Slade couldn't see it, he simply nodded, but his mind wandered slowly to What old friend...?
"Actually... we're going to see some friends of yours. Tell me, when's the last time you paid a visit to Steel City?"
Jerking his head upward, he looked at him coldly, almost avoiding the question entirely. "What are you going to do to them?"
He shook his head and slowly turned around.
"I'm not going to do a thing..."
His eyes widened for only a moment, before they gave off the same distasteful look as before, allowing himself to shake his head. He should have known better than to ask that, he had already known the answer and was unaware of it
"I'm not going to let them get hurt."
"That is entirely up to you. All I require is that you get their attention..." Slade smiled coldly. "You see, this plan just won't work unless I take care of all the Titans."
Robin tensed slightly. "You won't win. The Titans aren't going to fall for it." He was fiercely trying to hang on to the victory that he felt should be his friends', he couldn't lose hope.
The phone on Slade's desk beeped.
"Dr. Wilson... Mr. Queen has arrived."
"Thank you, Iris." Slade loosened his tie. "Your uniform is in the sideboard. Suit up." He went into the dressing room.
Taking only a moment, Robin stood, forcing the air through his nose that he hadn't realized he'd held in his chest for so long. Pacing to the sideboard, he had figured he wouldn't get to stay in these civilian-like clothes for long. He almost leered at the uniform before pulling it out with a brief yank, forcing himself to change into the garments.
Fastening his mask in place, he waited a moment taking a deep breath. -Why do I do this to myself...- Shaking his head, he checked his mask and opened the door.
"It'll take a few hours to reach the city. We should arrive at about sunrise... time enough to explain your mission on the way."
Robin didn't turn to glance back at the man, but out of the corner of his masked eyes, he saw the image of Slade that he remembered so well. But there was still the image of the Slade underneath the orange-and-black mask that decided to still linger when he did glance towards him. He allowed his gaze to lower after a moment, and waited for Slade to lead the way...