Behind the Mask

Chapter 13

The sun was getting low on the horizon, hanging alongside the world as it waited for its act to close and the curtain of darkness fall over its stage as the moon came out for its own performance. Its cast members were many, though of little significance as they were pale, wispy clouds that were stretched thin over the vast, pastel stage. The sun was on the final scene of its act and it was a turning out to be a grand finale. The stage had been painted a thousand hues of pale pink, yellow, orange, red, and purple that would soon fade to pitch darkness, and the audience was good, at least in most cities.

In Gotham, the audience was surprisingly good, contrary to the norm. There was little activity in the shadowy streets of the large, wealthy city, other than that of the standard citizen, but all who were out were entranced by the display put on by the sun and if they weren’t, they aren’t worth mentioning. It seemed even the crooks and villains of Gotham held respect for the magical display, as the air was absent of the typical sirens and screams. That or they were simply waiting for their favorite scene to make their appearance. A certain young acrobat hoped it was the former.

Robin unconsciously rubbed his wrists which had again been rubbed raw by the thick fibers of a rope, opening up the healing wounds that had been inflicted upon them during the Red attack and then again on the Mayor Hill mission. He was dressed in full superhero garb, though he’d removed his gloves once he’d judged there to be no crime of any sort in the area because they were irritating his torn wrists. The bandages wrapped around them were already stained with blood and he knew he should probably get Bruce to look at them. Along with his ankle….

Robin took in a long, deep breath before letting it out in a sigh, one hand going up to rub his eyes behind his mask. He limped over to the edge of the roof he was perched on, his eyes scanning the growing darkness for the familiar green figure he was waiting for. Figures she’d be late. And probably only because she wanted to annoy him.

Sitting down on the parapet-like wall along the edge of the roof, Robin reached down and gently massaged his ankle, hoping to relieve some of the pain. Ever since he’d twisted in the Red attack, it had been bugging him and he seemed to throw it off again on every mission. Batman hadn’t commented on it, though, so Robin assumed it wasn’t too bad, but then again, with how Batman had been acting recently, he wouldn’t be surprised if he just hadn’t noticed. And of course Bruce hadn’t noticed because he was never around anymore.

“Didn’t know this was a costume party; glad I didn’t change.”

Robin turned and smiled at the green clad archer who was climbing over the parapet, bow in hand. She was looking slightly worse for the wear, her costume dirty and her hair wild, but she looked better than Robin felt, for which he was glad.

“I never said come ‘cognito.” Robin replied, straightening up and reaching for his gloves.

“’Cognito?” Artemis raised her eyebrow.                                                                                 

“Yeah,” Robin started to pull his gloves on, careful to avoid hurting his bandaged wrists. “Cause incognito is disguised so ‘cognito would be as yourself. And I never told you to come as yourself you should only assume I wanted you to come incognito.”   

“O-kay, you lost me before you started.” Artemis walked over and sat down beside the acrobat, laying her bow down at her side.

Robin laughed, buckling on his gloves and stretching his fingers, clenching and unclenching his fists until the gloves were comfortable.

“Hey,” Artemis said, her voice softer than Robin was used to. “Is your ankle still hurting?”

Robin inwardly tensed; she must have seen him rubbing it.