Teen Titans: Redemption
Written by: Swallow Tale and Watered Garden
Chapter Two: Tower Invasion

(Present Time)

Lightning streaked across the night sky of Jump City and thunder rumbled and shook Titans Tower. Robin bolted up from his bed as the loud clash woke him from his sleep. Although it wasn't the only thing. The Teen Wonder sat on the edge of his bed, feet on the floor. As always he tended to sleep in his uniform in case of an emergency. He held his head for a moment before running a hand through his hair. He breathed a deep sigh. A dream. It was only a dream. Well, a nightmare. Seeing your parents fall to their deaths again was a common occurrence for Robin but did it have to happen tonight of all nights? Robin glanced at his alarm clock on his dresser…2:25 am.

Correction, did his dream have to take place today of all days?

Robin stood up and went to the old wooden chest at the foot of his bed. Opening it, he pulled out a large poster that showed three acrobats a man, a woman, and a young child swinging on a Trapeze. He smiled for a moment at the memory and then his face fell with sadness. Today was the day. The anniversary of his parent's death. It stung to think about this day but he always made sure he did so that he could remember why he became Robin in the first place. Bruce did it with his own parents too. Neither one of them wanted to forget their parents. Robin had been lucky though. If Bruce had not been there during that time, Robin wasn't sure where he would be now. Lost, probably. Very lost.

Robin let out a deep sigh. It was going to be a long day and he wasn't sure he'd be able to get back to sleep. He suddenly felt the need to brew some herbal tea. Raven was always nice enough to share it with the rest of the Titans and to be honest he liked a good cup of it himself once in a while. Tea calmed him down, made him feel less anxious and depressed. Taking the poster with him, Robin exited his bedroom and made his way toward the main living room of Titan's Tower. He turned on a tiny light in the kitchen to help him see and went to work to brew some Chamomile. While he waited for the waater to heat up he took out the chamomile tea bags and a teacup. He placed the poster he brought with him on the Kitchen's island surface top and then went back to check up on the water. It didn't really take long for the water to heat up and in only a few minutes Robin had a steaming cup of hot tea in his hands. He sat on the stool and continued to stare down at the poster of him with his parents. The final and last picture of them all before his parents fell to their deaths. Unexpectedly, even to himself, Robin peeled off his beloved mask and set it down to his side. Just for a moment, he wanted to be Richard Grayson. It had been awhile since he had his mask off. His friends had never seen him without it. But they were all asleep and he was inside the Tower with no one watching him. Robin felt safe enough to have it off just for a moment. He felt his eyes become wet and Richard Grayson couldn't escape from the sob that came out. He held his head between his hands for a moment letting himself have this time to mourn quietly. He cried for what seemed like a good while before drying his eyes and reaching for his mask again. But when his hand reached out to grab it he noticed that it wasn't there. Richard scanned the island for it and then looked down at the ground to see if it had fallen. There was no sign of it. Richard scratched his head wondering how on earth it could just disappear like that into thin air and then he heard him

"Looking for this?"
Robin whirled around to see Slade leaning up against the kitchen table on the other side. He held up Robin's mask with his hand dangling it as if it was some sort of treat for a dog to retrieve.

Richard stared in horror before quickly composing himself and clenching his fist at his side. "Slade," The name was still spoken with venom as always but there was a hoarseness to the boy's voice after his crying scene. And then it suddenly hit Richard like a ton of bricks. Slade didn't just see him without his mask…he saw him crying. Horror began to fill Robin again and he backed up his cheeks flushing a bit more from his utter embarrassment.

"What's the matter, Robin? Feeling a little exposed? Vulnerable?" Slade said while narrowing an eye in sick amusement.

Richard walked around to the front of the island so it didn't stand between him and Slade anymore. Robin made sure he didn't get too close with Slade. The man was dangerous, you always had to keep a certain distance from the psychopath…plus Robin was afraid. Slade frightened him more than any other bad guy he had known. And that says a lot.

Robin tried his best to control his breathing. "Give me back my mask, now!" Robin demanded.

"Why should I?" Slade asked as he pocketed the mask in his belt. "You have one or two of mine hanging around here, isn't about time I have one of yours?"

"Why are you here? What do you want?!" Robin was starting to panic. Going through thought after thought of what kind of plan Slade was brewing up this time. Slade advanced toward Robin, swooping in on him like a vulture does to its prey. For a moment, Richard felt so caught off guard and exposed that he fell back into the island and froze as Slade slammed his hands down on the hard surface blocking the boy from escaping. Slade's one eye bore down and his masked face got unbearably close to Robin's mask-less one. He was only trying to intimidate Robin, and it was working. It didn't help that compared to Slade, Robin was immensely short.
"What do I want?" Slade repeated, staring into Robin's fear filled, blue eyes. Slade gently wiped away a stray tear that Robin had missed earlier and then grabbed the boy's face. "The same thing I've wanted since the beginning," Slade's one black eye bore into one of Dick Grayson's cyan colored eyes, and for a moment the boy was paralyzed. He couldn't move. He almost couldn't breathe. It felt as though Slade could hypnotize Robin just by looking into his eyes. Robin could see it, the leer of possessiveness in Slade's one lonely orb. The same stare he gave Robin a long time when he announced that he wanted the teen to be his apprentice. Except this stare seemed so much more striking and intrusive. Slade picked a horrible time to mess with Robin in the state he was in. Otherwise, Robin felt that he could have been in better control of himself. Not weak and timid like he felt right now. It was probably the reason why Slade picked this particular moment to strike. Yes, Slade knew who Robin was. Always had. The man gave Robin enough hints during his time in Jump, not to mention he made Robin switch masks during his apprenticeship. Slade had taken a long glorious peek at Robin's face when he blackmailed the teen to remove his old mask only to then replace it with a new one that resembled Slade's. To Slade, removing Robin's mask was his reward for winning, like when a masked wrestler removed his opponents mask after winning a match. It was also another way to humiliate Robin, something that seemed to be a favorite hobby of Slade's.
Robin gained control of his senses and tried to punch Slade but both of his fist were grabbed and Slade slammed Robin's small back on top of the island counter. Other than humiliating Robin, pinning Robin down was something Slade was also good at. It always annoyed Robin and made the teen feel incompetent. Robin resorted to kicking this time and was successful in landing a hit to Slade's face. The mastermind stumbled back a little and Robin rolled backward off the island surface and got to his feet.

"No more games, Slade."

"I assure you, Robin. This is no game,"

Robin pulled out his bo staff and yelled as he charged at Slade. Robin aimed several blows at Slade as the villain effortlessly blocked the attacks. Getting frustrated Robin stuck one of the ends of his staff on the ground and lifted himself to give a solid kick to Slade. But the villain caught Robin's leg and threw the boy over his head and slammed him into the ground. Discombobulated, the teen tried to get up but Slade rolled him over onto his back and straddled on top of the teen. Slade grabbed the Teen Wonder's wrists with one hand and used the other to remove Robin's golden utility belt and throw it across the room. Robin began to struggle. Really wishing his friends would swoop in to help him.

Slade shook his head. "Look at you, Robin. What would your parents think of you? Weak…helpless. Some hero you turned out to be."

Robin felt his lip quiver a bit. He squeezed his eyes shut. Out of all the days. Out of all the possible days to attack him like this. It had to be this day. Robin tried to stop the tear that was forming in his eyes again, but couldn't. Slade was getting into his head again. Pushing all the right buttons. Doing everything he could to make Robin feel worthless like always.

"It seems to me you've become that little lost eight year old…"

Robin's eyes opened in shock.

"…All. Over. Again."

Robin struggled. "Get off of me!"

"Lost and alone with no one to protect you," Slade continued, ignoring Robin's cry.
"But don't worry, Robin." Slade whispered sinisterly. He pulled out a Taser from his own utility belt and it made Robin freeze. "I'll always be around for you."

Robin gulped but narrowed his eyes trying to mask his fear with anger. "I can take care of myself, I don't want you around!"

"I believe you do. You see dear child, your parents are gone, the Batman isn't here, and who else is going to possibly help you?"

"The Titans-"

"Have made you soft," Slade interjected. "But let's see how quickly we can get them in here, hmm?" Slade activated the Taser and then shoved it into Robin's side.

-ST-
I'll try to have the next chapter posted hopefully sometime tomorrow. Peace out! ^^ Follow, Put into your favorites, or review! Let me know what you think so far. ^^