Summary: What really happened to Robin when he became Slade's apprentice? And what did Slade intend for him. Prequel to Darkness.
A/N: Wow I am shocked at all the people who asked me to write a story about what led up to my story Darkness. This is a prequel so obviously you don't have to read Darkness to enjoy this one but you can. Hope you all enjoy it.
Thoughts
How the mighty have fallen
Chapter 1: Descending
"Robin? Robin, please respond! Robin, please. You must answer. Robin! Robin, where are you?"
He heard the voice coming from the communicator and Robin once again fought back the urge to run to it and tell her he was ok. The pain and fear in her voice had been driving him crazy for the past year. He flinched as he heard her break down into tears and finally he lost all control and raced over to the communicator. No sooner had he picked it up when a kick in the side caused him to fly one way and the communicator to fly the other. He looked over to where it had fallen in time to see a steel toe boot smash it to pieces. He looked up and saw Slade standing over him. From the look in Slade's eye he knew he was in trouble. Slade bent down and pick of the shattered remains of the communicator and threw them to Robin. They landed in front of him and he looked down at it then got to his feet. Slade watched his as he stood up, when he got to his feet Slade walked up to him. Slade stared at him for a few minutes then slapped Robin with such force that Robin almost fell back to the ground.
"It seems I am constantly putting you in your place and you are constantly stepping out of it. It seems as if you really want me to kill them." Slade said his voice as cold as ice. Robin's eyes dilated in fear and his aggressive demeanor faltered instantly as he hung his head.
"No, don't. Please, I will do anything you say." Robin said with his head still hung. He gasped as Slade grabbed his hair and forced him to look up.
"You say that each time I threaten your pathetic friends and each time you go back on your word. I am warning you Robin. My patience for this is wearing thin. You disobey me once more and they will die. Do you understand me?" Slade said still gripping the boy's hair.
"Yes, master." Robin said as he shook with fear. Not fear for himself but fear for his friends. He sighed in relief as Slade let go of his hair and straightened up. He continued to look at Robin then turned towards a door that led out of the main room of his lair.
"Follow me, Robin." Slade said then opened the door and walked out.
Robin walked behind Slade in silence knowing that he had better not push the villain right now. Slade opened a familiar door and led Robin into the training room. But instead of leading him over to the blank spot they used for sparring he led the boy over to a jet black wood cabinet. Slade opened it and Robin saw it was filled with whips, chains, and axes along with a lot of other things that would no doubt hurt. As Slade turned he held two long scabbards in his hands he threw one to Robin. Robin caught it and flinched as Slade drew a long sword out of his own scabbard and pointed it at him.
"You are going to teach me how to use a sword?!"
"Hand to hand combat, while useful, is too safe. Sword fighting teaches confidence, intensity, anger." Slade said his voice still cold with a hint of anger in it.
Slade swung the sword and Robin ducked it. He quickly drew his sword and charged at Slade. All you could hear in the room was metal hitting against metal. Robin thought he was holding out pretty well until he missed judged the spot where Slade was going to strike and received a long slash to his left arm. The sword clattered to the ground as Robin grabbed a hold of his arm. Slade, however, showed no mercy and slammed him into a wall. Robin flinched as pain erupted from not only his back but also his arm. He looked up and swallowed when Slade leveled his sword barely an inch from his neck.
"I must say Robin that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. If I didn't know better I would say you had done this before."Slade said keeping his sword at the boy's throat.
"I have. Batman taught me the basics of sword fighting." He said still holding the upper part of his arm even though the worst of the cut was along the elbow. Slade narrowed his eye at this but choose not to comment on it at the moment. Instead he tore a scrap of material from a cloth near by and threw it to Robin. Robin quickly wrapped it around the cut and wait for further instructions.
"We are done for now. Go to your room and rest." Slade said nodding toward the exit.
Still holding the upper part of his arm Robin walked out of the training room. It was only when he was safely in his room that he sighed in relief. That was close! He then laid down on the bed and drifted into a uneasy fitful sleep.
A/N: Well was it as good as ya'll thought it was going to be? Can you guys guess why Robin was holding the upper part of his arm. I just want to see how smart you guys are and how creative you can be. R&R.