Interested Bystanders
Part 3
To no one's surprise the entirety of the Fourth Estate had a field day with Robin's shooting, fall and disappearance. It quickly became impossible for any of the sidekicks—now demoted to regular, run of the mil, everyday teenagers—without being questioned about their cohort's whereabouts and condition. Of course, a number of the kids were used to working in secret identities and so they were spared the intrusions and annoyance but the others—Wonder Girl, Aqualad for example, were driven back to their places of origin. Garth stayed underwater and Donna retreated to Paradise Island. Neither answered their phones.
“Batman, I'm asking you as an old friend to make some kind of a statement or have the boy do it.” There was a momentary pause. “He is capable of making a statement, isn't he?”
“I'll give him your message, Commissioner.”
“Thank you, but between you and me, he is all right, isn't he?”
“Thank you for your concern, if you'll excuse me...”
There was a soft click on the line. “Goddamn him.” Commissioner Gordon hung up his own receiver, frustrated and no more satisfied with the non-answer than anyone would be. The boy, Robin for God's sake, could be dead or close to it and he'd be none the wiser. “He could have been taken anywhere for treatment, Europe, Japan, Atlantis, for all I know. Damn it.”
And there was another problem;
'Police departments across the country report an increase in virtually every area of crime since the younger members of the Hero Community have been removed from active service. In Gotham it's estimated that crimes, especially by minors, has risen a frightening twenty-two percent. In New York the estimates are closer to thirty percent and in Central City it's reported as close to fifteen percent.
An interesting side-note is that the increase is being reported only in cities that had known young heroes who have been forced to cease and desist. Other major cities report no change in the statistics.'
* * *
Suzanne was checking Robin's vitals again when she heard the soft rustle behind her.
“How is he?”
“Holding his own but the antibiotics don't seem to be able to control the infection so we're changing him from penicillin to erythromycin.” She saw the questioning look. “It's a type especially good at fighting infection in soft tissues.”
“He still has a fever?”
She nodded, not intimidated by Superman like so many people were but she'd known him too long for that. “They have to operate soon but without the infection under control, well, it would be riskier than it has to be.”
“Has Batman been by?”
“Not even a call.”
“Kal?”
Superman crossed closer to the bed, “How are you feeling?”
The boy made no effort to get up or move in any way. “Okay, I guess.” He seemed to gather his strength. “What's going on? No one will tell me anything and I keep half hearing news reports about me; am I dying or something?”
“Suzanne, do you mind?” She shook her head, uninsulted, closing the door being her. “Your little go-around with Joker was broadcast live and it seems some people are concerned about how you're doing, that's all.”
Robin knew better, he knew these things were handled. “Wasn't there an press release?”
“Bruce didn't seem to think it was necessary.” Kal's face was unreadable.
“That was stupid—he knows the press run with anything like this unless you defuse it.” Unless he didn't think Robin—the ex-Robin—was his concern anymore. Of course. That was it. Robin had been fired—tested and found wanted and Bruce had washed his hands of a problem.
Dick wasn't even too surprised, it was like Bruce to move decisively once a decision had been made. Robin was no more, Dick had left the Manor.
Yesterday's news.
Move on, face tomorrow and the hell with the past.
It was classic Bruce (if you ignored that whole 'My-parents-are-dead-and-I'm-going-to-turn-myself-into-a-giant-avenging-Bat thing'), no regrets, no second thinking a decision, no remorse.
No wonder he hadn't been by to visit or something, no card, no flowers, no calls. Of course.
But Alfred, he should have been by, shouldn't he? He was Alfred f'God'ssake. Alfred.
But Alf was aligned with Bruce, Alfred had raised Bruce and would always side with him. Always. It was just the way of things. He knew this, he'd always known that if it ever came down to a choice, Bruce would win in a no-contest.
Superman watched the thoughts play across Dick's face, not knowing what had caused the look of sadness and resignation but feeling his anger growing at Bruce who he knew had to be responsible. Finally Dick closed his eyes. “Tired?”
“Ummm.”
“Then rest, I'll be back later.”
Three minutes Clark Kent walked onto the executive floor of Wayne Enterprises. “Excuse me, I was hoping that Mr. Wayne might possibly give me two minutes this afternoon.”
The senior assistant (of Bruce's three personal assistants) smiled, picked up her phone, “I'll see, Mr. Kent, if you would just take a seat?” Sure, he could have just flown past the flunkies too fast to be seen, but he wanted to see Bruce man to man, not Superman to Batman. “He said that he has five minutes right now, if you'd like to go in, sir.”
It helped to be on TV, even as just Clark Kent, to open doors. Bruce was sitting behind his massive and apparently unused desk, the two of them alone. Clark spoke without preamble. “What did you do this time?”
“In reference to what?” Clark's look stopped him. “Fine, not that it's any of your business, but I did what I should have done years ago; I removed him from harm's way before someone got off a lucky shot that really did kill him.”
“Meaning?”
“I retired Robin. Permanently.”
“You...you took Robin away from Dick? Are you serious—no, of course you are. Are you out of your mind?”
“Isn't that what you asked me the day you found out that I'd taken him in and was training him to be my side-kick?”
“He's proved himself a hundred times over since then, he's a role-model for thousands—millions—of kids, he's respected and admired by every police force and law-enforcement agency on the planet and now you decide to protect him? That's ridiculous.”
Bruce shook his head. “You don't understand what I'm saying. I admit that it was a mistake all those years ago, I should never have let him become Robin to begin with, I'm correcting that mistake before he gets killed.”
“By throwing him out, taking away his identity?”
“I didn't throw him out.”
“He left? Because you made it impossible for him to stay.”
“I stopped Robin to save Dick, he knows that. I did it because I couldn't bear to lose him, he knows that, too.”
“Does he? When was the last time you spoke with him; do you even know where he is?”
“Of course I do, he's at Titan's Tower.”
Clark turned to leave, pausing for a moment.”Your information is old.” For possibly the first time since they'd met, Superman managed to surprise Batman.
Within seconds of Kal's leaving, Bruce was on the secure line to the Tower, annoyed that Speedy answered the call. “Could you tell me when Robin left and where he went?”
“The world's greatest detective doesn't know?”
“Answer the question.” It was the Bat-voice but, seemed to have lost it's power.
“Find him yourself.” Just before Bruce slammed down the receiver he heard Roy's final comment. “Y'know, Bruce, Joker shot him, but you're the one who's killing him.”
* * *
'There's still no word tonight about the whereabouts or condition of Robin, seriously injured a week ago. Concerned fellow vigilantes, law enforcement officials and fans are voicing their worry and increasingly demanding a response or statement, which, so far, has gone unanswered.'
'Senator Helmsley, during an appearance on Meet the Press this morning, suggested that without proof that Robin is safe or at least being cared for and treated for his injuries, an official investigation and possible lawsuit was being considered by several members of the Senate to ensure the safety of a minor. In addition, Batman may be called to testify before committee later this week to defend his allowing and encouraging a young child to engage in life-threatening activities.'
'I, along with my entire congregation have offered several prayer vigils for Robin's safety. In addition, my wife and I are partitioning the Gotham courts to be named Robin's guardians as it seems clear to us that whomever has that position is woefully lax in their duties.'
TBC