A/N: Weeeeeeeeeeeeee, sunshine, warm weather, all this outdoor activity is getting the old creative juices flowing big time. I'm back and ready to rumble! Thanks for the reviews. I looked back and could tell that I had a little bit of fun with making Robin drink some vodka. Anyway, once again none of these delightful characters are mine.

Ch. 7 Escape

The first thing Robin felt was the slight pounding of a headache. Moaning, he opened up his masked eyes. The ground seemed higher and was moving at a fast rate. His head laid against the cold metal plating on what seemed to be a shoulder. Eyes falling halfway closed, he allowed the moving form under him sway him back to sleep. His back still ached, but the pain wasn't as bad as before. Eyes moved to the side and watched the trees sweep past him. Suddenly he heard a twig snap and the moving figure under him stopped. A dark figure merged from the trees and walked around stealthy, searching for its prey.

Robin felt himself being lowered close to the ground. Moving his head, Robin took in the silhouette of a masked face with an orange rustic coloring. Interesting, yet it was familiar to him in some odd manner. And finding something familiar in this strange, warped world was com—

Eyes snapped opened as reality knocked Robin out of his hangover. Fear, anger and disgust raced through his body. He began pulling away from Slade and his mouth ready to scream for help. He just had to hope that the other figure out in the woods could hear him.

Slade felt Robin's body jerk and turned around and slammed his hand over the boy's open mouth. He narrowed his one eye at the boy. Robin was wide-awake now and continued to struggle off of Slade's back, but the mastermind was able to keep him pinned with his other arm. The figure in the woods began to run again into the opposite direction. Slade relaxed slightly. Slinging Robin under his arm with his hand still over the boy's mouth, he rose up and began running through the woods.

"The League of Shadows has found our trail, thanks to the blood you left behind," whispered Slade. "I wanted to keep unnoticed from them, but now our only hope is that we will be able to lose them. Trust me when I say that you would rather be in my company than theirs."

Robin stopped his struggling and glared up at Slade, "Well, you could have bandaged me up right after the explosion."

Somehow Slade was able to understand the boy's muffled statement, "But would you have let me? Besides, we had already attracted too much attention at that town."

Robin rolled his eyes and took in the landscape around him. He might as well watch out for anyone trailing them. He didn't want to fight right after getting stitches and the vodka was still affecting his train of thought.

He didn't know how long Slade had run, but the man must have been either in top shape or had some enhancing to keep up his steady, fast pace. Occasionally, Slade would shift Robin around his body, carrying the boy in front of him, then over the shoulder and now carrying the boy once again on his back. Robin continued to keep a lookout.

The two had come up with a silent communication. If Robin spotted movement the in rear, he would tap Slade once. Slade would halt and crouch. Once the coast was clear, Robin would tap twice and Slade would take a quick glance before resuming his flight. The day had passed and now the moon was rising once more. Slade came to a complete stop at the shore of a river, setting Robin down on a boulder. He couldn't risk making a fire or going to a town. Looking around, Slade took in the area. From his calculations, getting to the town where his next job was, would be an extra day or two hike.

"We're lost aren't we?"

Slade smirked and faced his young companion, "Don't you have faith in your master, Apprentice?"

Robin huffed and crossed his arms, "No."

"How is your back?"

"Ok."

"There is a house nearby, we shall stay there."

"How do you know?"

"Traps," concluded Slade, gesturing to the old beaver traps. Walking over he bent to pick up Robin, but Robin slide off the boulder.

"No thanks. I think I've had enough of you touching me," snarled Robin and began to walk towards the river.

Slade smirked, "You're welcome. This way."

Pointing to an area of the river, where the water was not as deep, the two made their way across to the other shore. Walking at abrisk pace, or a pace to which the injured Robin could keep up, it was late in the night when they reached a small cabin. Walking up the door, Slade kicked open the door.

The two inhabitants inside, who were peacefully sleeping, jolted awake. One reached for his shotgun but never reached it. Slade pulled out his gun and shot both men dead center in the head.

Robin stood in the doorway, stunned at how fast Slade took out the innocent men. They never knew what hit them. And he was still in some sense awed at how efficent Slade was in his occupation. He always knew that Slade was holding back to some extent when dealing with the Titans in Jump City. However, out here, he was in Slade's world. And in his world, Slade didn't hold back and did his job with professional ease. Robin gulped. He had always known that Slade was one of the top villians, but seeing first hand the man in action scared him. But soon the shock disappeared and rage growled in the boy's mind. Not caring about his wound, Robin lunged at Slade.

"How could you?" Throwing a punch at Slade, Robin let out his anger to once again prevent the deaths of innocent people.

Slade merely stepped to the side and kneed Robin in the gut. "You were too slow Apprentice. You could have stopped me, if you truly wanted these men to be spared. But you didn't. You didn't break free from your restraints and fight me with all your potential."

Robin was on the ground, holding his stomach. Fingers curled into a fist, but the boy didn't respond.

"On some level, Robin, you knew that in order to stay here and survive, some blood must be shed. And..."Slade bent down, "this is no longer the civilized world, Apprentice. The rules of society do not exist out here. If you want to live, you must escape from those chains and allow your dark, primative side to emerge." Lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, Slade paused, letting vital seconds trickle by.

"I'm allowing you to see life's true face, Apprentice. I'm here to help you." Standing up, Slade's smile felt sincere but underneath his mask, one could tell it was a smile born from an evil content.

With that said, Slade walked over to the bodies, picked them up and tossed them outside. Robin stayed on the ground, staring hard into the wooden floor.

"Is what Slade said true? That in order to survive in this harsh environment, blood must be shed, survival of the fittest? No! It can't be true. I'm not a killer," debated Robin the confines of his mind. "And why in the world did he bring in Shakespeare by saying'I am not what I am'? It makes no sense."

By this time, Slade had already gone to lie on the bed and was presumably asleep. Robin rose quietly and peeked out of the door. Snow was falling and the cold air burned his lungs. They must still be the northern hemisphere. Closing the door, Robin walked over to his bed, which had splotches of blood on the mattress and blankets. Feeling the coldness seep through the floorboards, Robin rearranged the blankets to hide the blood spots and lay down.

—The next morning—

Robin woke up to the creaking of the wooden floor. Opening his eyes, he watched Slade peek out the window. The gray morning light trickled through the roof. Opening his mouth, the Boy Wonder wasn't able to mutter a word before the chaos began.

The door slammed opened, but Slade immediately kicked it closed. Bullets shot through the door, sending wooden splinters everywhere. Robin tossed the blanket over his head to protect himself as Slade returned fire. Rolling off ofthe bed, the boy began to crawl towards the exit. They—he—needed to get out of here. Not a moment later, two ninjas fell through the roof. Slade turned around and caught the blade aimed at his throat. The second ninja lunged at Robin, but he was ready. The Boy Wonder kicked out at his assailant, while reaching for a piece of a wooden shard. He grabbed it and slide his legs away from the ninja, jumping on his feet. Robin blocked the punch with his left arm and used his right hand to drive the shard at the ninja. But the ninja maneuvered his arms and knocked the shard out of his grasp, followed by a high, powerful kick to his chest. Stumbling backwards, Robin hit the back wall. His wound screamed in pain, blinding him temporarily. But Robin's instincts kicked in and he shook his head clear and ducked to the side as another kick slammed into the spot he just was in, creating a large hole in the wall.

Robin saw his chance. Slade and the other ninja were locked in a fierce hand-to-hand combat. Growling, the Boy Wonder lunged forward, shoving the ninja back onto the bed. Not sparing a glance, Robin bolted out of the hole and into the woods. Pure adrenaline was hisonly source of strength. If he stayed with Slade any longer, he would die from these League of Shadow ninjas. He had enough.

The forest began to slop upwards. Robin slipped, hitting his chin on a root. Muttering curses at his clumsiness, the boy quickly rose back onto his feet, clawing at the ground to gain momentum. The wet ground with patches of snow made the track up the hill difficult but soon the ground leveled off and Robin found himself in a surreal place. He stood before the edge of a road. Not to far down, a truck was pulled over to the side, the driver standing behind a tree taking a bathroom break. Grinning, Robin jogged over the truck and sneaked into the back. Hiding under the tarp, Robin tried to calm down his breathing. What was taking so long? Finally, the truck revved up again and began to drive down the road. Robin exhaled, shoulders slumping with exhaustion.

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A/N: Yes, Robin escaped! Or has he?