Summary: What really happened to Robin when he was Slade's apprentice? What could have possibly happened to make Robin burn with white hot rage when Slade's name is mentioned? What did Slade do to become the only person alive that Robin would kill on site?

This takes place after "Haunted," but not with the whole Raven thing. This means Slade hasn't come for Raven yet.

I wanted to write this story because Ron Perlman's voice for Slade, literally, gives me chills. Whenever I hear the line "From now on, I'd like you to call me...master." It FREAKS. ME. OUT! So I thought of a very dark, angsty story of what really happened to Robin when he was Slade's apprentice.

I do not own Teen Titans, don't sue me.

One rainy day at Titans Tower, Robin, as usual, was sitting in his room, working on "Slade leads." Every day Robin sat in his room for hours on end, trying to figure out what made Slade tick. After Robin's hallucinations, Starfire became even more worried than she already was. It seemed Robin would do anything to stop Slade, even betray his friends by becoming the villain, Red X.

This particular day, Star decided to try to talk to Robin about Slade. She walked up to the door and knocked. When she didn't hear an answer, she decided to let herself in. She found Robin, asleep on his desk, surrounded by the bits and pieces of Slade memorabilia. It seemed that he was having a very violent dream, so Starfire carried him very carefully onto his bed.

Is he alright? She thought. He looks so...angry. I wonder what he's dreaming of...

Robin was standing in front of the telescreens that showed the microbes in his friends' systems. He ground his teeth together in utter fury that Slade would manipulate him like this. I'm stronger than this, right? Robin thought I fought with the caped crusader himself...but why do I feel so helpless? Lost in his thoughts, Slade came up behind him and twisted his right arm behind his back.

"Do you see those screens? Do you see those microbes? Do you see the pain I can cause them?...The pain I can cause you?" At this last part, Slade wrenched Robin's arm farther back.

Robin couldn't reply.

"Answer me!"

"Yes...master. I see it."

"How does it make you feel, Robin?"

"I'll ask you again nicely. How does it make you feel?"

"...angry."

"Do you want to hit me?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to hurt me?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to...kill me?"

"...yes."

"Just as I thought." Slade said with a smirk. "For being such and obedient little boy, I should reward you."

"With what?"

At this Slade forced him onto the ground, belly-up, holding onto Robin's arms, and kneeling on his legs. "Have I ever told you how much you remind me of a younger me?"

Robin thrashed out in his dream, "n...no...don't..."

This made Starfire's heart break to see him suffer. She then decided to leave him to (hopefully) sleep in peace. But she couldn't help but wonder, What is he dreaming about?

The next day, Robin woke up to Beast Boy, as a rooster, crowing on the roof. That Beast Boy, I tell ya. Robin thought. Then his thoughts turned to his very vivid dream. He shuddered at the memory. Every night, I see the same dreams about Slade...Why won't he leave me alone? Why must I suffer like this? He then shook his head and changed into a fresh costume and headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Hey Rob, how'd ya sleep?" Cyborg asked from the stove, where he was making bacon.

"Fine, and you?"

"Just GREAT! I had the GREATEST dream last night! I was in Paris with Carmen Electra and-"

"Please," Raven interrupted, "Just...stop there. I can just SEE where this dream ended up."

Cyborg, blushing, said, "oh, alright. BB, Rob, I'll tell you guys later." Cyborg then winked at the guys.

Robin then turned to Starfire, "Hey Star, how'd YOU sleep last night?"

"Fine, Robin...fine," Star visibly had a look of worry on her face. She had stayed up half the night wondering about Robin.

"Are you sure you're o-"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking though."

"Uuh, you're welcome...I guess.."

"Breakfast is served!" Cyborg said with a grin.

"Is this tofu bacon?" BB asked.

Cyborg just glared and said, "No. It's not. YOUR breakfast is over there," and he pointed at the plate on the counter.

"Thanks dude."

During breakfast, Robin was lost in his dream again. Why can't I just forget about that whole ordeal? Why do I have to put up with this?

After breakfast, the Titans headed for the gym to train. Robin put everything he had into his training. He used his punching bag to release the stress on his mind. As he kicked and punched his frustrations away, the other Titans just stared at him.

"Dude, I've never seen him so intense in training before!" Beast Boy whispered to Cyborg.

"I guess he has something on his mind, you know Robin. If he's upset, he takes it out on his punching bag," Cyborg replied.

"Something...on his mind...?" Starfire repeated under her breath.

End of Chapter 1.