Fan Fiction ❯ In The Mind Of Another ❯ Red Dawn ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Since I obviously don't own the copyright to Teen Titans, I'm taking advantage of the Fair Use Clause of the Copyright laws to write a story with them in it. Who knew the government would protect the little guys? Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

 

Chapter 1: Red Dawn

 

Robin woke up earlier than usual; his sleep had been restless since the destruction of Slade's base. It had been three weeks since then, and even more surprising, there weren't any reports of break-ins involving Red X. Of course, Robin doubted any simple security system could capture Red X without him wanting it to, but X had always seemed cocky enough to show them he was up to something. Robin felt uneasy about the entire situation, and he hated feeling uneasy. He looked at his clock… a few minutes to six, the time when he usually got up. He sighed and got up, `Might as well' he thought to himself, `it's not like I'm getting any more sleep tonight.' Getting up he changed into his suit and started running.

It was still dark, not only outside but in the corridors of the tower as well. They usually left the lights off at night; they came on automatically around seven, still an hour off. Robin didn't mind the darkness, he knew the entire tower inside and out, and the island was fairly well stuck in his mind as well. He reached the bottom of the tower, opened the door, ran outside, and nearly slipped on a puddle right outside the door. Catching himself he stood up, “What the?” he murmured and bent over the small puddle. It smelled like iron, but he couldn't make out what it was. He bit his lip dipped his gloved finger in and lifted it to his face to get a better look. He still couldn't see better, but the smell finally gave it away, “Is this…” There was a weak groan from off to the side and Robin whirled.

Red X was leaning up against the wall, his head was sagging and his chest barely moving to draw in air. Robin's eyes were acclimated to the darkness, he had nearly slipped in blood… he rushed towards X and his fears were realized. Suppressing the urge to gag, Robin grabbed his communicator, “TITANS! EMERGENCY!” Robin took a step towards Red X and turned on the flashlight in his belt. Red X's suit was tattered, slashed by dozens of claws. Robin quickly grabbed X's wrist, and was very thankful to find a pulse. “TITANS! EMERGENCY OUTSIDE THE MAIN ENTRANCE!” He yelled into his communicator, at which point Starfire and Raven appeared outside.

“Robin, what is the…” Starfire gasped and flew back a few feet, hand covering her mouth.

“Is that Red X?” Raven asked, staring at him her mouth hanging open slightly.

“Does it matter, Raven? Get him to the medical bay, now!” Robin said frantically.

“Robin…” Raven took a few steps forward, trying to get a better look.

Robin grabbed her by her shoulders; jarring her back into reality, “Get him to the medical bay, now.” Raven nodded, swallowed Red X and herself in darkness and disappeared. Without another word, Robin dashed off, leaving Starfire floating in the air in stunned silence.

Cyborg rushed down the stairs to find Robin rushing up. “Medical bay! Hurry!” Robin managed to growl out as he leapt past Cyborg who watched him a bit confused for a moment but followed.

Raven shuddered, trying to place Red X on the small cot, he was a mess, wounds all over his body. Her hands were drenched and she shuddered involuntarily. Red X groaned and coughed, head lolling to one side for one moment. She fumbled at his wrist and gasped finding a deep gash across it, `stay in control' she thought to herself and checked his pulse. It was getting weaker. “Azarath Metrion Zinthos' she said looking around and hooking all the equipment she could onto him with her powers.

Robin burst into the room, quickly followed by Cyborg who immediately stopped and stared. Robin grabbed bandages, looking at Raven, “Heal him!” he yelled, and started binding some of the more visible wounds.

Raven held her hands over his chest, using her powers to their fullest, “I don't know how much good I can do for him…” she said, then looked to Cyborg who was stock still at the doorway, “COME ON CYBORG! We need your help!” She looked back down at X and continued healing as best she could.

Cyborg stood there staring at X, his own memories rushing back to him. The wounds he had sustained… the wounds Red X had… he couldn't tell which were worse. Raven's yelling shook him into action, and he threw himself forward as Raven and Robin worked frenziedly over the horribly wounded X.

 

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Beast Boy wandered outside still yawning, Robin's alarm had woken him up, but it had taken him a few minutes to get ready and he was still groggy. Starfire just hung, suspended in mid-air. Beast Boy yawned again and took a step forward, “Starfiiii…” his comment was cut off as he slipped in the puddle and fell into it. He looked up at Starfire, “Ha ha, very funny, thanks for telling me about the puddle Star.” He took a moment to try to wipe the excess liquid off, but caught the pungent smell it had to it. “What is this stuff?”

The sun started to rise; it's first rays of light hitting the island. Beast Boy looked forward, watching it snake across the ground revealing a boat smashed onto the rocks at the edge of the island… and a trail of red leading from it. His eyes went wide and he rushed forward, “Starfire, come on! Someone might be hurt!” Starfire didn't move, causing Beast Boy to stop, “COME ON STARFIRE!” He waved his hand forward and stopped… holding it in front of him. His glove was painted red. He backed away, watching the trail. It wasn't leading to the boat; it was leading away from it. A cold shiver went down Beast Boy's spine and the last bit of sun peaked out, revealing him fully to the light.

The final beams of light struck Starfire and she seemed to come to. She turned away from where Red X had been, her horrified trance broken. That's when Beast Boy started screaming. She turned to see him staring at himself in near shock; he was drenched, nearly painted red. Starfire's lips quivered, her eyes went wide, Beast Boy was coated with blood. She couldn't even think, what was happening? Beast Boy rushed to the water and threw himself in, leaving a red residue on the waves that crashed upon the beach.

 

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Raven pulled her hands away and shook her head, “I can't do any more for him, we need to get him to a hospital, now.”

Robin looked up, he was nearly out of bandages, and the injuries were far too great for them to deal with. He looked down at Red X, who wasn't moving, then to Cyborg who nodded, “Raven, get him to an emergency room.” Raven was gone before Robin had time to finish, teleporting X and herself to a hospital. Cyborg looked at the cot, which was stained a deep red. Robin took a few steps back, leaned up against the wall and slumped to the floor. “I…” he lifted his gloves and looked at them. The normal green wasn't even visible, “do you think he'll make it?”

Cyborg winced, “I don't know… who would have done that?”

“Slade…” Robin growled, his fist shook and he slammed it into the floor.

“How did he find him?” Cyborg said, still looking at the bed.

“I don't know, but he obviously did.”

“You really think Slade would do this?” Cyborg asked, finally looking away from the cot.

Robin stood up, his face filled with anger. He held his fist out, and then opened it over the cot, letting several metallic claws fall onto the cot. Cyborg jerked back then looked away, disgusted. “I found those imbedded in his side. Yes, I'm certain it was Slade.”

Cyborg nodded, “I… think we should clean up.”

Robin let out a heavy breath, “Can you deal with the bed? I need to clean myself up…” Robin started walking away, not waiting for Cyborg to reply.

 

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Robin took off his gloves finding that his hands were stained with X's blood as well. He shuddered, turned on the faucet and started scrubbing. The soap turned red but the blood wouldn't come off. He put it under the steaming hot water, but to no avail. He grabbed the soap again and kept scrubbing, not looking up from his hands. Nothing he did would get them clean.

“You can't save your friends from me.” Slade said impassively.

Robin looked up and into the mirror, Slade stood behind him staring at him in the mirror, Robin whirled, but there was no one behind him. He winced and turned back to the mirror, Slade was still there, “Red X is not my friend.”

“You're right, of course, he's you.” Slade replied

Robin roared and threw his fist into the mirror, shattering it. He took a few heavy breaths and pulled his hand back. He looked at it for a moment, he had cut himself, but that wasn't what worried him. Outside of the small trickle of blood from his cut, his hands were clean. Robin stared for a moment, put down the clean bar of soap and walked out.

 

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The Titans sat in the operations room, Beast Boy and Starfire completely silent and Cyborg looking at the table. Robin had treated the wound on his hand himself, not telling the others, and sat alongside them. There was no sounds made, the room was completely quiet. Raven hadn't come back from the hospital, and it had been well over two hours since she had left.

Starfire was sitting stock-still, not moving at all; still shell-shocked by what had happened. Beast Boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat, rubbing his hands together and looking at the other Titans nervously. Robin hadn't moved since he sat down, and Cyborg's only visible movement was his blinking.

The door opening caused all of them to look back to see Raven shakily walk in, “He's alive, but just barely. They have him in the critical condition ward of the hospital.” The Titans collectively let out a sigh of relief, but Raven shook her head, “They aren't sure if he can make it, he lost so much blood and there were internal injuries.” She looked away, “They aren't even sure he'll survive the day.”

Silence reigned for a moment as the Titans stared at Raven who shakily went to make some herbal tea. Robin got up, “Is he awake?”

Raven shook her head, putting the kettle on the stove, “No, they put him in a coma so he wouldn't go into shock from pain.”

Robin stared down at the ground, had he caught Slade… none of this would have happened.

Raven filled a cup and took a sip, taking a moment to regain her normal composure, “I know who did it.” She murmured.

“Slade.” Robin growled out in a low tone, and Raven nodded.

“I got a glimpse of his mind while healing him…” She looked away for a moment, “I didn't see where it happened…”

Cyborg perked his head up, “Wait… I'm getting something on the police scanner.”

Robin turned, “Is it Slade?”

Cyborg shook his head, “No… but I think we just found where X was attacked, come on.”

The Titans rushed for the door, but before Robin could reach it, Raven grabbed his arm. Robin looked at her for a moment; she looked genuinely afraid, “What's wrong?”

“Robin, I need to tell you something. When I saw into Red X's mind, I saw something… something I also saw in your mind.”

“What?” Robin looked at her stunned, “What did you see?”

“I don't know the significance, I just remembered I saw it in your mind as well. He was watching two trapeze artists…” Robin's eyes went wide and she released him, “I… thought you should know.”

Robin felt numb for a moment, how or why would X remember that… Robin's mind filled with memories, his parents…

“Are you guys coming or what?” Cyborg said, peaking his head back into the room.

Robin's mind was snapped from his train of thought, turned, nodded, and ran off. Raven watched him carefully and then followed.

 

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The media frenzy was immense outside the building as trucks, vans, and reporters on the scene scrambled for a better look behind the police barricade. The Titans approached slowly, and, after being waved through, parked. The scene was complete chaos. Robin took off his helmet and got off the R-Cycle, while the other Titans got out of the T-Car. For a moment, all they could do was stare, mouths agape. The ground was littered with Slade's robots, most broken into pieces, cut apart, or impaled by small red shurikens. There were at least twelve in the street, and several more were visible in the hallway. Robin looked to the others and motioned for Starfire and Cyborg to go around back while Raven and Beast Boy follow him.

The building was far worse than the outside, and blood appeared on some of the walls. More of the machines were lying on the ground; some were still twitching as their damaged mechanics tried to urge them forward. Robin had lost count, moving from room to room… the entire building was filled with damaged robots. Beast Boy was outside, taking a moment to both take a breath and get outside. Robin looked to Raven who was checking a robot whose claws were stained with red. They hadn't gone upstairs and he hadn't seen any of them on the steps, although the trail of blood led that way, “Raven… I'm going to check upstairs…” She looked up, nodded, and went back to inspecting the damaged and destroyed robots.

Robin looked at the steps; a layer of congealing blood covered each of them. With a sigh he took he put his foot down, making a disturbing sloshing sound. Robin sneered and walked up the steps. He reached the top of the stairs in a moment, and looked around, the blood trail was leading to a room, the door was closed, but it didn't look sturdy enough to stop a dedicated attack. Why had Red X come up here, especially if he had successfully defeated Slade's minions… as successfully as he had anyway? Robin followed the trail, reaching an old wooden door. It looked alien to the rest of the surroundings, all the other doors had been open, but even then, this door was… special. It was engraved; the wood panels were ornately crafted, carved, and painted although it had been worn down and was chipping in spots. It seemed so familiar, Robin thought, he rubbed his hands over the wood, feeling the engravings. His hand reached something, a small piece of wood sticking out. It felt odd, out of place… he grabbed at the small nub and pulled, and the door swung open with it.

Robin took a few steps inside, taking a moment to adjust the darkness that permeated the room. He walked inside the room, it was so odd and out of place, the walls were covered with worn posters and damaged pictures, attraction signs from carnivals. His heart beat faster, what was this all about? Was it some sort of sick joke? One of the old fortune telling machines activated as he approached, shedding a little light into the room. A poster was lit up well enough to read, one was were the blood trail ended, under a poster that read, `Watch the Great Malnor, magician extraordinaire, perform feats of the highest forms of magic!” Inside the picture was a wizard, tapping a wand on a box with a boy whose head stuck out. “Malnor…?”

Robin's mind was going fuzzy, a hazy din of memories flooded, he couldn't remember, what was happening? Malnor… the smiling boy in the box… the circus… Robin looked at the poster again, looking for the words, looking for what circus it was. Haley's Circus... he whirled, turning on a flashlight. He moved from one poster to another, they were all acts from the Haley Circus. Robin searched fervently, looking for the right one, looking for his parents, looking for their poster. It wasn't there, memories flooded back, he had every act, every person in the circus that he had known as a child… everyone was here… everyone but him and his parents.

A hard knot formed in his stomach… this was insane. Why would Red X have the posters from the Haley Circus? Why would Red X remember his family being killed? Nothing fit. Robin's head felt like it was about to burst everything was spinning. He turned back towards the poster of the Great Malnor, the room was spinning; he trembled and stumbled as he moved towards the picture. The Great Malnor, magician extraordinaire… why had Red X done this? Why had Red X come here? Robin clenched his teeth together, and grabbed his head, everything, it was too much, too much for him to…

“Robin? Robin are you ok?” Raven looked inside the room to see Robin standing in front of an old circus poster. He was clutching his head and trembling. He howled with frustration and fell to the floor, Raven's eyes went wide and she ran over to him. “Robin, what's wrong?”

Robin didn't respond intelligibly, merely mumbling, “Not here… why?”

Raven kneeled down, not realizing until it was far too late that she was on the trail of blood, “Robin, what's not here? What is…” she looked down and saw the trail reach to the poster of the Great Malnor. She looked back to Robin, but got up, something wasn't right, something was wrong with the poster, “A stage magician… nothing but smoke and mirrors, illusions…” her eyes narrowed and she grabbed the poster, “they don't really make things disappear, they just hide them.” With a quick heave she tore the poster down. The poster fell away, floating softly to the floor, landing in front of Robin.

Robin looked up; the poster of Malnor lay in front of him. The young child in the box was smiling at him. Raven took a few steps forward, almost standing on the poster itself, “Red X was here… but that's not where he stopped.” She held out her hand, and he grabbed it. Lifting him up, she guided him into a small dark corridor that Malnor's poster had hidden. Robin couldn't see anything, it was too dark… but Raven guided him, holding him up as he stumbled. Finally they reached the real end.

Robin looked at what lay in front of him: a poster of the flying Graysons, in all their glory, flying between their swings. Hanging beside it was a small bar with two bits of wire, one cut short… he went numb. Raven grabbed Robin but couldn't get a good enough grip to stop him from falling to his knees. Raven looked back between the `Flying Graysons' and Robin. He had gone completely catatonic staring at the picture. She bit her lip, putting her hand in front of his face, obscuring his view. He didn't move. She snapped her fingers in front of him, but nothing worked. She grabbed her communicator, “Something is wrong with Robin. I repeat, something is wrong with Robin. We are in a back room on the second floor.”

Robin watched the poster, watched his family. Everyone in the crowd below them seemed so happy, everyone was cheering them, him, his family. Everything was so perfect… everything was good again… everything was perfect.

“Robin, wake up.” Raven frowned, she had made a mistake by taking him here, she didn't know what was happening, but she had to stop it. She got up took a few steps forward and reached for the poster.

A roar, a sound of complete animalistic rage came from behind her and she didn't even have time to turn around before Robin had grabbed her and slammed her up against the wall, a birdarang to her throat, “NO! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE MY FAMILY AWAY FROM ME! NOT AGAIN!” Tears streamed down his face, “NOT AGAIN!” He poked her throat with the small point at the top of the birdarang and she pulled herself back, trying to get away but his grip held her still.

“Get off of her!” Beast Boy yelled and launched himself into Robin who hit the wall hard, crushing Raven as well. Free from Robin's grip, Raven yanked herself away, spilling into the corner of the room. Robin whirled and kicked Beast Boy, sending him flying past the poster and into the wire and bar. It got caught and was pulled down with Beast Boy, hanging loosely over him. Beast Boy groaned and passed out, the blow to the head too much for him to simply rebound from. His head lolled to the side, the broken wire loosely draped over his shoulder. Robin took a step forward to grab Beast Boy again when he saw the string, the end that had been cut short. Robin's mouth fell open at the site and tears trickled down his face. “No…” reality, his family's death hit Robin and he fell to his hands and knees, loosing all strength to do anymore than cry.

Cyborg and Starfire rushed into the room as Raven got up. Starfire flew to Robin's side, trying to comfort the unknown ill he had suffered. Beast Boy groaned and rubbed his head where he had hit, Cyborg walking over to help him up. Raven sat watching Robin. Mere moments earlier he had completely lost touch with reality, Raven felt it, it was far worse than anything she had ever felt come from anyone. A complete snap from reality, and when reality finally returned, it had left him utterly shattered. She didn't know how or why… she took a look at the poster of the `Flying Graysons' and got up. She didn't know how or why that picture had had such an effect on him, but she was going to find out. “Take him back to the tower, I have to talk to Red X.”

Beast Boy turned to her, confused, “Isn't he in a coma?”

She looked at him from the corner of her eye, “That's not going to matter.”

 

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Red X was hooked up to more equipment than Raven had ever seen in the entirety of Titans tower. Raven looked over at him and shuddered briefly, it was a possibility she didn't enjoy seeing. Heroes took such risks and suffered such penalties all the time… She pushed the thoughts from her mind she had to focus. The doctors eyed her warily, a few whispered about calling security. Raven ignored them; this was far more dangerous for her than it was for Red X. Hovering above him she began a slow chant, “Azarath Metrion Zinthos.”

Her eyes went white and a shadow Raven came from behind her rose and flew into Red X. For a moment, the world spun for Raven, and she appeared in Red X's mind. She looked around warily, the minds of others were dangerous places to say the least; Robin had proved that once before.

The landscape was empty, she was in a lit up circle with the outer cropping drifting off into a darkness she couldn't see through. “Either you're a really odd delusion for me to have or you have some tricks I didn't know about, little-miss-gothic.” Raven whirled to find Red X leaning up against a pole that hadn't been there moments before. Although she hadn't told the other titans, she had seen what Red X had really been like earlier in the day, a young man, with short brown hair. He had an athletic build, although the wounds obscured that. In fact, outside of the hair and the height, Red X looked a lot like Robin. In his mind, however, he retained his image of Red X; she wasn't sure what to make of that. He cocked his head to the side, “Something wrong?”

“I know what you look like… why are you still in your costume?” Raven asked bluntly.

“I like it, need I say more? And by the way, I should probably be the one asking questions here, don't you agree?” Red X said arrogantly.

“We found were you attacked.” Raven said curtly.

“Ah, now THAT answers some of my questions.”

Raven stared at him for a moment, eyes narrowing, “Why did Slade attack you?”

“A fit of pique, perhaps? I did betray him, sabotage his base, set him up for the fall, and kick the crap out of him.” He said mockingly, counting off the reasons as he went along, “Maybe it was because I taunted him? You're an intelligent girl, figure it out.”

“We found a trail of blood leading upstairs…” Raven started but Red X cut her off.

“Ah, I'm assuming Robin found my personal effects?” Red X took a few steps towards her, he sounded surprisingly happy.

“If you mean the room with the circus posters? Then yes, we found your room.” Raven glared at him.

“How did he take it?” Red X asked in a slightly whimsical fashion, circling her.

“What did it mean?” Raven said, following his movements closely.

Red X stopped in front of her, “You mean you really don't know?” He sounded genuinely surprised.

“No, we don't generally talk about our pasts.” Raven growled, “Now tell me what it meant.”

“How about I show you?” Red X said coldly, and the world around them changed instantly. Where once had been a relative darkness and lack of a landscape, this was different, it was a circus tent, completely filled with people watching the clowns and jugglers. Raven was moving involuntarily, she was stuck with Red X's perception of the events and he was moving through the audience, occasionally stealing people's wallets. “You're showing me your early days? Why?” Raven snorted, she didn't have time for this drivel, all she needed to find out why those posters were important.

A smaller man in an extravagant suit took the center ring, “I am proud to announce the FLYING GRAYSONS!”

Red X had sat down, taking special care to find a good seat to enjoy the show, “Oooh I can't wait…” His voice was filled with childish enthusiasm. Red X himself chuckled, apparently embarrassed. Raven sighed, and continued to watch through Red X's eyes. Red X was watching the Graysons walk out, take a bow, and then climb up to the top of the arena, ready to perform death-defying stunts.

The man in the circle waved his hand, “Remember folks! The Graysons are so talented they don't use a safety net! They're the greatest of the great!”

Red X hadn't shifted view away from the Graysons, mumbling to himself, “I know that already…”

The Graysons began their performance, and they truly were acrobatic wonders, but something was wrong. Red X got up staring; he could see the rope was frayed. Just as he started to yell, the wire snapped, and the Flying Graysons plummeted towards the ground… Raven felt a chill go down her spine, when they hit. They wouldn't be getting up. Red X stared at them for a moment, then looked up to where a child stood, looking down at his dead family.

Raven tried to move closer to get a better look, but she couldn't force Red X to move forward, “Is that…?”

“Bird-brain, yeah. His real name is Dick Grayson. A thug named Zucco or Mocco or something stupid like that, he had damaged the rope. That's what set him off on his crime fighting kick.” Raven stared through Red X's eyes for a moment longer; she blinked and was back in the circle she had started in. Red X was shaking his head, looking down at the center of the circle, “They were good people, really.”

Raven watched him carefully; he actually seemed somewhat upset by what happened, “How do you know all this?”

X's stare narrowed and his voice became bitter and cold, “I think you should leave.” Red X turned and walked into the darkness of his mind, disappearing from her sight before she could ask another question.