A/N: So I decided that since I suck at keeping to stories, I'd try to do some oneshots based on Robin's days as Slade's apprentice. Feel free to share some ideas!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately I own nothing.

Ground rules.

He was cold, bitterly so. That was the first thing he became aware of when he regained consciousness. The second thing he did was slowly edge his hands up to his face, feeling for the familiar fabric that was his mask. He let out a breath he was unaware that he was holding when his fingers met the material. With great difficultly Robin forced his eyelids opened, his struggles indicated to him that he had been drugged. But by who? Well, he couldn't remember much of the previous day, another indication he had been drugged.

He soon realised he was on the floor, the cool surface pressing against his cheek. He lifted his head slightly to look around: A pointless gesture. He was surrounded in utter darkness, so much so that even one as used to working in darkness couldn't make out anything through the black abyss. Not only was he in a freezing, overcast room: He was in a freezing, overcast and silent room. It wasn't the peaceful quiet. No, it was quiet the opposite, it was like the calm before the storm.\it was suffocating. Nothing good was going to happen.

Every aspect of his situation was unsettling. Every voice in the back of his head screamed at him to run. He felt like a small child again. Alone in his bedroom on a stormy night, seeking the reassurance that everything would be alright. Every time he had been in a predicament such as his current one, his mentor had always been there to save him, and Robin always knew that. Alas, Robin wasn't in Gotham anymore. Batman was not there to save him this time.

He still had his friends. His team. They would find him, right?

Did he really want them to?

He was Robin: The boy wonder. The fearless, unyielding leader of the Teen Titans. He shouldn't need saving. What would they think if they had to rescue him? Would they critique him? Would they take him seriously? Would they believe in him?

No. He had to get out of this himself. Not only for his team, but for himself.

Any moment now, his captor would waltz in and beat him to a pulp. Torture him until he begged for mercy or gave up whatever information they wanted. Robin wouldn't give in though. He wouldn't give any information and he wouldn't beg. He never had. He never would either. He would remain strong.

Always.

He thought as he forced himself up onto his hands and knees. He didn't seem to be restrained. That was good, albeit a little insulting. Clearly his captor didn't perceive him as a threat. He lowered himself down so he was sitting backwards on his legs. He tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness to no avail. He could still see absolutely nothing. The best he could do was focus on his hearing.

He wasn't sure how long he had been sat there before he heard movement. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? He couldn't be sure. The movement was soon followed by a blinding light that flooded in when a door opened. He raised his hand to shield his eyes as he looked at the doorway, It took a while for his eyes to adjust to the change of light intensity.

His blood instantly went cold when his eyes settled on the figure leaning against the door frame. The man in black and orange who haunted so many of his dreams. The Enigma. The man Robin couldn't catch. The case the junior detective couldn't solve.

"Slade."

The man took a step forward, his metal boots echoing against the ground as he walked. It took all of Robin's self control to not back away from the man towering above him.

"Robin." The smirk was evident in the man's voice as he spoke his name. He was relishing in the control he held over the situation. "You're awake. Good."

The man clasped his hands behind his back as he studied Robin as if he was some kind of specimen. Robin's eyes narrowed and he jumped up to attack the man, though as soon as he got to he feet, his legs gave out from under him. If Slade's hand hadn't shot out to grip his forearm, he would have fallen flat on his face,

"I wouldn't do that, you're still under the influence of the sedative I gave you. We wouldn't want you injuring yourself now, would we?" The man mused as he pulled Robin back up and steadied him with a firm hold.

Robin instantly pulled away from Slade. Well, tried to. No matter how much his struggled against him, the man's grip was relentless. Unable to free himself, he instead chose to hit Slade with the fiercest glare he could muster, wishing more than anything that in that moment he had heat vision.

"What. Do. You. Want?" The boy asked, enunciating each word with venom.

"I want a lot of things, Robin." The man said calmly as if he was talking to a small child, fuelling Robin's rage.

How dare he treat me like a child!

Robin thought with a dark scowl.

"With me."

The man finally released Robin, allowing him to rub his arm, and clasped his hands behind his back. He slowly began to circle the boy.

"Nothing unreasonable, Robin, I assure you." The man said, pausing for effect. "All I want is your loyalty and compliance. Give me these and your stay here shall be rather pleasant."

"What?" Robin asked, dumbfounded. Surely he had misunderstood Slade.

The man seemed almost smug, having to explain himself to Robin. He was enjoying it.

"You see, I've been looking for an apprentice for sometime now, and Robin, I've chosen you." He stopped in behind Robin and leaned forward, so that Robin could practically feel his breath against his neck. "Congratulations."

Robin's eyes widened for a brief second before narrowing. He didn't know whether to be honoured or disgusted. He had practically had to beg Batman to allow him to be Robin. Slade was offering. He wanted Robin to be his partner. He noticed his skill but…he was a criminal.

He shook his head and plastered a cocky smirk on his face.

"Thanks for the offer Slade, but I have to decline on the grounds of you being a psychopath." He said as he moved towards the doorway. "I'll let myself out."

He barely took a step forward before he was roughly tugged back by his cape. The force was enough to send him stumbling into the man.

"I never said you had a choice in the matter, Robin."

Robin shook his head and turned around to face him.

"You can't keep-"

"Can't I, Robin?" Slade cut him off, his voice as unnervingly calm as ever. "You have no Idea where we are. I'll tell you this though. We aren't in Jump City anymore."

Robin fell silent, in that second his whole world came crashing down. He was alone. With Slade. With no idea where he was. He wanted nothing more than to beat the man to a pulp but he just didn't have the energy thanks to the sedative. Besides, even without the drug in his system he didn't stand a chance against the man.

He was so screwed.

He felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder and instantly tried to shrug it off, though once again, he found the man's grip to be unyielding. He was quickly steered out of the room.

"I'm going to give you a short tour of where you are allowed in the compound. If I don't show you an area or you find it is locked, assume you are not allowed in there. Any attempt to enter these areas will be met with punishment. Am I understood?"

"How about we skip straight to the exit?"

Apparently Slade hadn't appreciated his comment as he was met with a sharp cuff to the back of the head, momentarily causing his vision to blur.

"Am I understood?" He repeats, sternly as if reprimanding a small child.

"Yeah…whatever."

He received another cuff to the back of the head even harder than before. He let out a quiet grunt.

"We'll go over the rules later. For now, try and keep that smart mouth of yours under control, hm?"

Rules? Robin didn't intend to stay long enough to hear Slade's rules. Besides, why should he obey Slade? The man had kidnapped him for crying out loud! The man seemed to get a thrill out of patronising Robin, treating Robin like a small disobedient child. The mere thought of that made him grit his teeth. He left Gotham for that reason. To be free to live his own life. Now it seemed like he was caged again by another all knowing adult who claimed to know what was best for him. He was fifteen, not five.

He was led along the hallway and down the stairs. He was shocked at what he saw. He had been expecting some sort of dungeon. Dark and gloomy rooms were nowhere in sight. It was quite the opposite. Despite the lack of natural light the downstairs of the compound seemed warm and…dare he say it, homely.

He was pushed through the entrance of a large open plan area consisting of a kitchen, dining area and lounge. It didn't feel right. It was giving him the impression that Slade was human and he didn't like that. He always saw Slade as the monster that hid under his bed. That haunted the darkest corners of his mind. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of a new voice. Someone else was here?

"Hello, young man."

He looked over to see an old man in the kitchen, humming happily to himself as he chopped vegetables. He was smiling warmly at Robin as if he was a guest rather than a prisoner. Robin had always been taught to use good manners so although he didn't return the smile, he responded politely.

"Hello, Sir."

"Dinner will be ready soon."

"Robin, this is an old friend of mine, William Wintergreen."

Robin couldn't prevent the snicker that escaped his lips. He turned to Slade with a smirk.

"You have friends?" The man narrows his eye and Robin turns back to Wintergreen. "Please, Mr Wintergreen, if he's holding you here against-"

He was cut off by a sharp backhand to the left cheek. The force behind it was incredible, almost knocking him off his feet. It probably would have done, if Slade's other hand hadn't been clamped around his forearm.

"Robin and I need to go over some ground rules, Will. I'll try to be done in time for dinner."

William sent them both a disapproving look, but Robin had little chance to dwell on it. Soon, Slade had slid his hand down to his wrist and bent his arm painfully behind his back. He winced as pain exploded through his arm.

"Ow! Let go of me you freak." He yelled through pained gasps.

Slade's only response to Robin's comment was jerking his am slightly further to almost breaking point.

"Walk." He spoke in a deadly whisper. Despite not wanting to take orders from Slade, he had little choice. There was no doubt in his mind that if he refused the man, he would break his arm, and while Robin had a high tolerance to pain, he would rather not have his arm snapped.

He paid little attention to where he was being led. Any amount of resistance on his part, was met with him increasing the pressure on his arm ever so slightly. It soon got to the point where the pain was unbearable, Robin stopped resisting, allowing the man to lead him along.

It wasn't long before Robin heard the sound of a metal door opening. Soon after, he was sent crashing to the cold, hard ground. He didn't get chance to comprehend the attack before he felt a steel boot connect with his ribs, and heard a sickening crack as several ribs were cracked. Slade certainly hadn't held back.

Well…there go some ribs.

He grunted and curled up slightly, wrapping his arm around his chest to protect the area from further attack.

"Rule number one," The man spoke in a calm voice, clasping both hands behind his back. "You will speak to both Mr Wintergreen and myself with respect."

Robin looked up in disbelief, wincing as the sharp movement eliciting pain in his chest.

"Y-you…K-kidnapped me and…y-you expect me to…respect you? G-get real, Slade…"

He was met with a punch to the stomach causing him to double over in pain.

Jeez, that hurt.

"You will address me as Sir or Master."

Master? He had to be kidding right? Calling him master was derogatory. Robin wasn't a slave. He was his own man. There was no way in hell he'd call Slade his master. He narrowed his eyes as he leapt up, ignoring the searing pain in his chest, and aimed his fist at Slade. The man, of course, caught it with ease.

"As I said before, any attempt to leave will be met with punishment." He glanced down at Robin's clenched fist with disapproval and shook his head. "The same goes for disobedience and disrespect."

"Screw you." He spat out through gritted teeth.

The man, once again, twisted his arm, causing him to cry out.

"No cussing." He reprimanded.

"G-go to hell." He said with a wince, being too stubborn to comply.

He was then slammed into the wall, the man's hand wrapped tightly around his throat, cutting off his supply of oxygen. He struggled at first, but the man only tightened his grip. Black spots invaded his vision and he went slack against the wall.

"You are to be up, dressed and in the dining room by 7AM…"

Robin zoned out during Slade's speech, through both lack of interest and oxygen. Slade had been chocking him the whole time. When he finally released him, he took in a deep gulp of air, filling his lungs.

"Am I clear?"

Crap…what did he say?

He racked his brain for Slade's words but couldn't recall them. Not that he cared. With nothing else to say, he spat out a snaky comment that was bound to end badly.

"Clear as mud."

With that, his head connected with the wall with great force and he was soon engulfed by darkness.

SLADE WILSON

Slade caught the boy before he hit the floor and lifted him into his arms with an exasperated sigh. Slade didn't enjoy hurting him. Not in the least, but it was the only way to make him listen. He was to headstrong for his own good.

Blasted brat. Didn't he see the opportunity he had been given? Most would kill for it. But Slade didn't want most. He wanted Richard Grayson-yes he knew the boy's name. He'd figured it out a long time ago. It was his respect for the kid that kept his mouth closed.

He headed to the boy's room-not the cell he had awoken in, passing William on the way.

"Robin won't be joining us for dinner." He said, ignoring the disapproving look he was being given.

He entered the boy's room, laying him down on the bed. He headed into the bathroom, grabbing a first aid kit from the bathroom cabinet before walking back to Robin's side. He carefully lifted him, and pulled his shirt up, wrapping his chest tightly with a bandage, to help with the healing process.

He lifted him again, pulling the covers down before setting him down again. He pulled it back over the boy's sleeping form. Slade turned to leave, stopping at the sound of Robin's breathing. It was slightly laboured, due to his broken ribs. Hearing the boy suffer almost made him guilty.

Almost.

The kid had brought it on himself. He had been warned. Slade needed to break his stubborn streak. If he needed to do that by breaking him like a wild horse then so be it.

He spared his apprentice one last glance before leaving the room.

Tomorrow would be a new day.

A/N so, review, follow and favourite. I am accepting requests for one shots based around Slade and Robin during the apprenticeship and I will do anything other than slash.