Notes: I don't own Teen Titans, obviously. This ficlet was done for the challenge 'Knife'at TT500 on LJ. Enjoy.
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"Wake up, Robin..."
The words reverberated in his ears...he could have recognized the voice anywhere. It sent a chill through his body, shocking him awake-- and when he stirred, he found his movement limited. With a soft groan, his eyes slowly fluttered open and he lifted his head up slightly, discovering that his vision was blurred briefly. The first thing he saw was a masculine figure; he didn't even need to guess who it was. Slade. With one foot set firmly atop the seat of a wooden chair and an arm resting on his knee. He was holding a knife, fingering the blade slightly-- a smirk eminent on his maskless face. Another shift in his position and Robin realized he was bound to a wall by his wrists. Chains were wrapped around them and latched to the wall...they placed one palm over the other. That was when he started to struggle against them, despite knowing there was no way Slade had allowed there to be any give to his binds.
"It's no use, I'm afraid," he commented, as if in sync with the boy's own thoughts.
"Where are they?" Robin snarled, glaring at the mercenary now.
"Who?" Slade inquired playfully.
"My team!"
A chuckle rose from Slade. "It's just you and me."
"I said, where are--" and Robin stopped.
It had barely taken a second for Slade to leave his relaxed perch and set the blade of the knife under Robin's chin-- to his throat. "You're in no position to be demanding, young man," he said smoothly.
Robin didn't move. He swallowed in slow motion, staring straight forward. The blade pushed up on his chin, forcing him to tilt his head back and look Slade straight in the eye. That single, icy-blue eye. A malevolent smile played across the man's lips as he peered straight down at Robin. Putting a little pressure to the boy's throat, he drew the blade to the side swiftly, nicking his skin-- it were as if he were playing. Robin silently hissed at the sting, unable to see the clean, thin cut across his neck that now slightly seeped with blood. "And besides... I'd hate to damage my apprentice beyond repair."
With slightly widening eyes, Robin's teeth began grinding together. "I'll never work for you again!" he snapped through his teeth.
Almost playfully, the knife's point rested on the Titan's chest as Slade leaned forth, nose-to-nose with him... just daring him to struggle against the blade. "You can, and you will. And this time, Robin..." he paused deliberately, drawing a slow breath, "you're going to stay mine."
"No... my friends are going to stop you. Just like last time!"
"Really, Robin? I think I've made quite sure that they won't interfere this time," Slade replied.
With that, the man took a step back, and before Robin even had a chance to ask what he meant, the man was gone within the shadows-- leaving the boy alone with his thoughts of what he hoped Slade hadn't done.