Robin felt sick to his stomach as he pulled on his uniform. He had to go out again. He had to face his friends again, knowing that they saw him as a villain now. And Slade… Slade just loved it. He knew that he did.

"…But trust me… you'll learn to like it…"

No. No, Robin refused to believe that. He wasn't like Slade. This whole scenario disgusted him.

"Remember Robin, if you fail again, I won't be so forgiving," Slade told the boy as Robin left. Night had just fallen, but Robin's eyes were used to the dark. Years of working with Batman had given him excellent night vision. It had actually taken some time to regain a normal sleep pattern when he started going solo.

The boy wonder, hated himself; with every fiber of his being, he hated himself for what he was doing, but he couldn't deny that he was good at it. He was smart, cunning, naturally acrobatic, which allowed him to slip in unnoticed and obtain the tech that Slade had requested. Unfortunately, he was expected.

White lights temporarily blinded Robin, and he blinked to regain clear vision. The image of his old team filled his eyes.

"You're not walking out of here Robin," Cyborg said, "Not without a fight."

"Not a word Robin… They aren't your friends anymore…"

Robin heard Slade's voice in his ear. A sour-bitter taste filled his mouth as he swallowed the words he was desperate to say and ran. He fired his grappling hook and went through the window. Starfire was outside.

"Please, Robin," she said, "I wish not to fight you, but to understand."

"If you fail again, I will destroy them."

Robin shot an attack at Starfire, catching her off guard entirely. Robin ran. He didn't want to fight them. If he could just put enough distance between himself and his team… but he could not. Raven caught up with him, blocking his path.

"Azareth, Metrion… Zinthos!" she cast her spell. Robin was caught up in her dark magic and struggled like mad.

"You have to fight Robin. There is no escaping it. If you want to save your friends you will fight to win."

Robin broke free. He fired at Raven, catching her in the shoulder as he ran. He threw several smoke bombs and with his natural agility he finally gave them the slip. He stuck to the alleys, and zigzagged to throw his friends off. He was panting softly when he reached Slade, technology in hand. Slade clapped his hands in an almost mocking way.

"Excellent Robin, I really think you're improving," the villain spoke, and it made the hero cringe. He leapt at Slade, trying to attack him, but was easily flipped and thrown across the room. Robin tried not to show that he was hurt and quickly got back up.

"It's time for another lesson," Slade said as he easily dodged the infuriated teen's attack. He grabbed Robin's wrist as the boy threw a punch and twisted the his arm behind his back, pinning him to the floor roughly, "This time, you will learn respect."

"I have no respect for you," Robin gritted out, trying to ignore the pain in his arm. Slade's grip tightened and he pressed him hard into the floor.

"And that is exactly why you need to learn," he said, "Whether you like it or not, I am your better, and you know it. You can't beat me Robin."

Robin began to struggle again. "It doesn't mean I'll stop trying," he growled. He froze as he felt warm thighs pressed against his hips.

"You will learn to respect me, Robin," Slade said, "If I have to carve the lesson into your very flesh, you will learn…"