Chapter 10 – Retreat

Neither Robin nor Slade moved from the floor that night. It was hours before Robin was able to sit up from Slade's arms, and in a trancelike state he had then stared at the dark wall in front of him. The tears eventually dried from his face, leaving the skin tight and uncomfortable.

Distantly, Robin could hear his stomach growling. Slade shifted, removing his arm from around Robin. Slade stood up, and although it was dark in the windowless room, Robin could see the shadows of Slade moving to the door.

Robin felt a cold chill where Slade had been resting his arm.

The light turned on and Robin blinked at the sudden assault on his vision. He slowly moved to his feet, working out the kinks in his muscles, as Slade turned to him.

"You need to eat. You'll feel better when you do." Slade said, his voice still quiet.

Robin nodded, reaching up to rub his face in exhaustion. His cheeks were gritty from the dried salt, and the boy flushed in embarrassment. He knew he must look like a complete mess, his eyes red and his face splotchy. He rubbed his face with the back of his hand again, hoping to smear the signs of tear tracks from his skin.

"What time is it?" Robin asked, noticing Slade taking out his phone to check the time.

"It's nearly six in the morning," Slade answered.

Robin grimaced. He had been in the dark room for nearly 24 hours. It was no wonder he felt terrible. Without saying another word, he entered his little room and picked out a change of clothing. As he did, he realized he was in desperate need of the restroom.

When the boy joined Slade a moment later, the man had already changed into new clothes. Realizing his slow pace needed to be corrected, Robin held his clothes under his arm and lowered his gaze from Slade's eye.

"Do you mind if I clean up first?" Robin asked, if he was going into the cafeteria for breakfast, he couldn't imagine being unable to shower and remove some of the signs of his horrendous night.

"Of course," Slade responded.

TTTT

Robin did feel better after he had used the restroom, showered, and put on some clean clothing. He had wiped off his face vigorously, replacing the mask he had picked up before leaving Slade's quarters. They hadn't passed anybody on the way to the restroom, something which Robin was undyingly grateful for. Even as he exited the restroom, Robin still didn't see anybody waiting for him, other than Slade, and with a nod of acknowledgement they began their walk to the cafeteria. It wouldn't be so bad seeing people in the cafeteria now, but even the thought of somebody seeing him in his former state was humiliating. What if Warfiend had seem him?

Warfiend.

Robin had forgotten the other boy entirely. He hadn't given the boy a second thought since breaking his arm the day before. The Boy Wonder stopped suddenly, looking up at the tall man walking beside him. The master villain had made it a few steps before turning to face Robin curiously.

"Robin?"

"Warfiend."

The man chuckled, "Yes, I heard about your activities. I understand you impressed several teachers with your show."

Was that all he had to say about it? Robin wondered when Slade stopped speaking. Even though Robin couldn't see him through the mask, the villain's entire countenance seemed to exudesatisfaction and amusement.

"I broke his arm!" Robin sputtered after a moment.

"When he attempted to outnumber you in a public place, if I understand the event correctly. When I arrived, the HIVE administration was trying to decide whether to discipline Warfiend for stupidity and attempted violence, or discipline you for preemptively striking in anger." Slade chuckled again, "Don't worry, I don't believe they want to discourage your behavior."

Robin slowly and pointedly shook his head at Slade, and the man chuckled again. Robin's stomach grumbled, and trying to ignore his protesting stomach, Robin stalked forward and past the man. If the HIVE was trying to reward his behavior, he wouldn't argue, but he was frustrated that villainous traits were being encouraged at this time.

At the very least, Robin thought, Warfiend's actions distracted me for a while. Of course, this realization brought the subject of his grief to the forefront of his mind again, and the familiar feeling of depression seemed to wash over him.

Slade must have noticed the slight slump in Robin's shoulders, for a moment later he rested a warm hand on the back of Robin's neck. Instead of shaking it off, Robin took it for the comfort it was in the moment, and they walked into the cafeteria together.

It was still early in the morning when they arrived for breakfast, but many of the students had already arrived, clearly with the intent of watching the news. The broadcast network was replaying a video of Alfred Pennyworth's arrest for complicity, and Robin stomach dropped as he realized he hadn't thought of the other consequences of Batman's death.

"What are they doing to him?" Robin asked Slade quietly.

"I imagine Mr. Pennyworth will serve time for being an accomplice, but the sentence will be reduced because of his advanced age and position with Mr. Wayne. Of course, the police might not find direct evidence that he was involved with Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson's alternate identities, which will make their case more difficult, but the circumstantial evidence should be enough."

So they hadn't found the Batcave, at least that was good news. Robin couldn't imagine an attorney creating a story where Alfred Pennyworth wouldn't have known his employer's whereabouts, but perhaps the argument that he was a mere employee would suffice. If the police had found the Batcave, it would only be too obvious that Alfred had been involved.

"Have they discovered anybody else's identity through Bruce Wayne?" Robin asked. Slade's face turned to him, contemplating. Robin realized that by asking the question, he had revealed that other hero's identities could be discovered through Bruce Wayne's identity, however tenuous their personal connections with Bruce Wayne may be.

"Other than your identity, I don't believe anybody has been discovered."

Robin nodded. Again, that was good.

When Slade sat down Robin moved into the kitchen to pick up breakfast plates for both of them. The cafeteria was serving breakfast burritos that morning, and Robin was grateful for the heavy ingredients. Even though his stomach was starting to churn, now that he was watching the news broadcast again, he knew the food would do him a world of good.

Slade was in a heated discussion with another early-rising teacher when Robin came back with the food. He placed the tray next to Slade and turned back to the television to see his face on the screen. Focusing on the reporters, Robin could just make out the dialogue between the two men and one woman.

"…the investigators have confirmed that there are no physical signs of Richard Grayson's presence or admittance to the Swiss School of Sciences. When spoken to, the school administration found no traces in their files of his presence at their school at any time, under any alias, despite the boy's online registration and profile at the school."

"Well Dan, have they determined whether the files were illegally modified to enroll Richard Grayson online?"

"Yes, Liz, sources have confirmed that the current investigators believe that the online profile provided for Richard was illegally created through electronically hacking into the school's online database…"

Robin quickly turned back to his plate, taking his first bite, and focused his attention on Slade's conversation. He didn't want to hear about the investigation into his personal life. While the rest of the world may find his alternate persona interesting now that it had been discovered, it wasn't a life Robin wanted to be thinking of at this time.

"…I will finish the project next month. It's not time-sensitive, so with there being more important matters to handle…" Slade continued to speak, and Robin quickly grew bored with the conversation. He didn't know what the villain had been working on before he was interrupted by Robin's tragedy, and he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Other students began filing into the cafeteria, and Jinx, Gizmo, and Mammoth came in at the end of the group of students. Robin noticed the glances coming his way from all the students, but he did want to speak to his three semi-friends.

"Slade?"

Slade immediately turned his attention to Robin, cutting off his former conversation. "Yes?"

Robin leaned over, and nodded toward the three students, "Do you mind if I sit with them today?"

Slade glanced down at Robin's plate. "Finish your breakfast first."

Flushing, the Boy Wonder turned to his plate. He had only taken a few bites before the stress of the situation had turned his appetite off. Feeling like a child, Robin shoveled down the rest of his meal. Without asking Slade again, Robin took his plate to the dishwasher, keeping his water cup with him, before joining his friends

"So you're Dick Grayson?" Mammoth started, ever the one to state the obvious.

"You're Romani?" Jinx piped in next. Robin felt a smile tug at his lips, Jinx was frustrated that Robin hadn't told her that little tidbit about himself, and she sounded even a little jealous Robin knew a language Robin knew she had been trying to learn.

"Yes, and I'd be happy to help you with learning my language." Robin responded, and Jinx smiled at him. Robin noticed there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes, and he wondered if that was because of the pain he was going through, or because she had lost the wonder most people felt when they saw the enigmatic Robin.

"The news has been covering you more than Batman. It's stupid crazy." Gizmo commented, and the Boy Wonder looked back at the television.

When one thought about it, it made sense that the news would cover Robin more than Batman. Robin was still alive, a captive of a villain, and everybody wanted to "know" the famous kid who they may one day meet. At the very least, they could follow Robin when he reappeared.

The network had somehow switched topics and was covering Robin's current situation. It became clear that there was a warrant out for arrest, and if Robin was found and arrested, he should be immediately taken to a top security prison to await transfer to Gotham. Most likely, if he was transferred to Gotham, he would be taken to their juvenile detention center for rehabilitation. Robin paled at the thought.

"…Of course, the boy may be a villain when we see him next," a reporter was saying, "He's been with the villain Slade, who we now know is the 'Deathstroke' of Gotham, for months. Most likely, he is undergoing the process known as 'capture-bonding.'"

"And could you describe that for us, Len?"

"It is more commonly known as Stockholm syndrome. It is an emotional bond created between a captor and a captive. A captive will often develop a bond with the captor as a survival mechanism. We can trace capture-bonding back hundreds of years, and it was most often developed between kidnapped slaves and their masters. Those slaves who developed bonds with their masters were more likely to survive long enough to escape and pass on their genes to later generations."

"Len" continued to discuss the relationship between Slade and Robin, and the likelihood that Robin had bonded with his captor. Despite knowing that the theory had some truth to it, since Robin had been taught by Batman to recognize the symptoms in himself (he could sense Jinx, Gizmo, and Mammoth glancing at each other with the same recognition of the traits Robin had with Slade), Robin had focused on one thing:

Slade was also known as Deathstroke. Deathstroke, one of the few villains Robin wasn't even allowed to fight in Gotham! The villain that Oliver Queen had warned him about several times, telling him to run if he ever came in contact with the man. The villain even Clark hadn't been able to capture.

Had Bruce known Slade's identity? He couldn't have, or he never would have allowed Robin to give himself in. Robin didn't have the best relationship with his mentor when they parted ways, something that brought a pang to Robin's chest now, but he knew Batman didn't intend to place him in such danger.

Gizmo interrupted Robin's musings with a chuckle, "Ahh, has Robin formed a little bond with Slade? I'm beginning to see the villain in you already, my friend."

Gizmo thought he was making a joke, but Robin felt something sour in his mouth. It didn't stop the response coming from his mouth, "Slade is Deathstroke?"

Jinx burst into laughter, "I thought you knew! You're the apprentice of the greatest assassin out there, my friend."

Assassin, mercenary, professional hitman…the list went on. Robin surreptitiously glanced at Slade's table, noting that the man was watching the news as well.

Watching him carefully, Jinx commented, "Well, you've certainly got the subservient position for Stockholm syndrome to be a possibility."

"I know what capture-bonding is." Robin snapped, "I know what's going on, okay? You don't need to keep talking about it."

His three friends were too shocked to say anything to that. Robin knew why. Even though he knew he was at risk of capture-bonding…to start, he didn't really hate Slade anymore…Robin knew the others were just joking about it. They didn't think it was serious…until Robin essentially said as much.

"Anyway," Robin continued awkwardly, "Has anything else happened since yesterday?"

"Let's see. We got to watch Warfiend be carried out on a stretcher." The three laughed, and Robin frowned.

"I don't remember him being unable to walk."

"Oh no, he was just lying on the floor whimpering because of his broken arm! Eventually, because he wouldn't move, they had to carry him out." Gizmo guffawed at this, "it was an amazing sight. Anyway, we just went to classes and watched the evening news. It was mostly on you and Batman, but they liked to focus on the similarities between you as Richard Grayson and you as Robin. It's pretty obvious when it's pointed out."

Shaking his head, Robin turned back to the news. The reporters had changed, and they were discussing a new subject. Still all about Robin, though.

"…We have with us somebody who believes Mr. Grayson should not be extradited back to Gotham, but should instead remain under the supervision of an authority in Jump City, California. Dr. Hossell, you are upset about this exercise of jurisdiction over Mr. Grayson, would you please discuss this with our audience?"

Robin was surprised the reporters were allowing anybody to speak in his favor at this time, but the knowledge that people were protesting his extradition to Gotham did set him at ease. If the matter was resolved before he escaped Slade's grasp, perhaps he wouldn't have quite so much chaos to deal with. For the first time, Robin was grateful he didn't have the freedom to choose to face the police, the government, the reporters, and everybody else who wanted something from him. While it was nice to hear somebody speak for him, the Boy Wonder was almost grateful for his confinement.

Then he heard Dr. Hosssell's next words:

"No ma'am, I don't believe it is appropriate for Gotham to exercise judicial over this boy. He is not a criminal, but a victim. He's an abused child…."

Robin felt his jaw drop as the student around him began to chatter again. Of all things that could be said about him, being called a victim was horrifying. Of course, he was a captive of the HIVE Academy, but he suspected Dr. Hossell wasn't talking about his current situation.

Sure enough, Dr. Hossell continued, "Bruce Wayne, also known as 'the Batman,' took in a young child and exploited him. He used the child—or at least allowed the child—to fight at his side for years. This boy didn't stand a chance; he was with the Batman during his tender years. When 'the Boy Wonder' was old enough, Batman sent him off to Jump City to take his place. With the amount of brain washing and likely beatings that must have occurred during the six years Richard was with Wayne, Richard would have no idea the difference between right and wrong. Bruce Wayne is the worst kind of child abuser."

Robin was frozen, still clutching the glass of water in his hand. Bruce? Bruce? Bruce, a child abuser? How dare they? They don't even know!

But Dr. Hossell wasn't done.

"Although it must be noted that the exploitation of Richard Grayson didn't start with Batman. It started before Batman took in a young boy who had only just lost his parents to murder…"

Stop. Stop. Stop!

"One must remember that Richard Grayson was used in the circus by his own parents. His mother and father, a Romani family, used Richard and his abilities for money and greed…"

Robin didn't know that the broadcast cut the doctor off after the racial slur, because in that moment the television screen shattered. Broken from the trance, he looked around and found that he was now standing up. The students and teachers surrounding him were silent, and when he glanced at the shards of glass under the television he saw a broken cup rolling away. Looking down at his plate, and finding his drink missing, he realized that he had broken the television.

Robin glanced at Slade and saw that he was standing up as well.

Without a word, Robin stomped out of the cafeteria. For the second time in only two days, Robin had walked out of the HIVE cafeteria in a burst of all-consuming rage and humiliation. At least this time, nobody tried to stop him.

TTTTT

Instead of turning back his room to collapse, as he had the night before, Robin walked to the gym. There may be a few students exercising, but more likely they were all in the cafeteria watching Robin's life play out. If they didn't know already, they would soon find out that he was a mathlete at Gotham Academy. As Dick Grayson, he was active and energetic, a relative trouble-maker, but incredibly smart where it counted. He would have been "popular" by school standards, but he had skipped too many grades early on and he avoided all after-school extracurricular activities.

Before long, Gotham Academy would admit that Bruce Wayne had been investigated for child abuse on no less than nine different occasions while Richard attended the school. Bruce had always ensured the allegations were smoothed over quickly, throwing money and lawyers at the problem, and Robin knew just how that would look now.

Reaching a dummy, Robin threw his hardest punch, quickly following it with an undercut. He imagined the face of Dr. Hossell as he struck hard, following the series of punches with a few well-deserved kicks. He thought of the reporters he had seen throughout the morning, offering their ignorant opinions, and Robin quickly punched three more times, drawing closer to the dummy with each punch.

He thought of the students and teachers at the HIVE Academy, all watching the broadcasts as though they would reveal accurate information about him. Robin kneed the dummy hard, drawing back again for another roundhouse kick.

A hand on his shoulder stopped him mid-stride.

Robin turned to find it was Slade holding him back. Robin spat, "Don't you dare tell me not to fight in anger. Not right now."

"I wasn't going to," Slade responded. "But I figured you might want to fight somebody who can give you a challenge back. What do you say, spar with me?"

Robin walked over to the tools, picked up two wooden bo staffs, and threw one at Slade. As soon as the man caught his staff Robin lashed out, nearly hitting the man in his stomach. Slade blocked his hit with seconds to spare, and broadcasted his move before he dove back onto Robin. If he's going to play easy, I'll play hard.

Their fight continued for several minutes, Robin lashing out in anger and Slade calmly pushing back. Slade's strikes never hit Robin, even when Robin made a terrible mistake that deserved a consequence, and Robin couldn't help but be grateful that Slade was playing along. He really didn't need a lesson right now. He just needed to vent, and Slade clearly knew that.

"Bruce took me in," Robin eventually spoke, when he had burned off enough energy to form a sentence. "He took me in when nobody would. I was the orphan gypsy boy, I came from a circus, and nobody would have wanted me. Bruce took me in, and he never hurt me."

"That's where we disagree," Slade said, and Robin felt the familiar rage wash over him.

Stepping away from Robin's too-wide lunge, Slade continued, "The Batman should not have put you on the streets of Gotham at such a young age. Doing so was child abuse."

"Excuse me?!" Robin growled, "How dare you pretend you know anything about him! You know nothing."

"I know you, a teenager, believed you needed to take Batman's place last night because Batman was gone. I know Batman instilled that heroic ambition in you to take his place, regardless of how young you may be when he died." Slade continued as Robin kicked out at him. "He let you get caught by villains. He sent you off with me, when I could have hurt you as much as I wished."

Slade blocked Robin's angry jab, and said softly, "Robin, I blame Batman for every scar on you."

The boy finally took a few steps back, feeling defeated. "You would do the same. You put me in the same position."

"No Robin, I'm putting you in a school, where you will be safe to learn. I have used you before to steal, when I knew I could jump in if interference was necessary, but I would never pit you against Two-Face or Joker or Poison Ivy. You're a student, you shouldn't think you need to take Batman's place in Gotham at your age! Yet last night you admitted that's what you're expected to do, even though you were not ready."

Shocked at Slade's first loss of control—the man was literally on a rant—Robin found he couldn't say anything in his defense. But Slade wasn't finished.

"You should be in training, not leading your own team. When you left, Batman should have crossed the country to drag you back. Not to put you on the streets to fight again, but to act as an adult and demand your compliance."

"He was respecting my decisions. I walked out. Don't you dare say anything bad about him," Robin snapped.

"You're a teenager, you don't get to decide to walk out. Wayne doesn't know what it even means to be a parent."

Robin cursed at Slade, throwing the bo staff at Slade. The man caught it, not saying anything else, and just watched as Robin walked out.

Given he wasn't ready to return to the cafeteria (and didn't think he would be for some time), and wouldn't return to the gym just to hear Slade deride Bruce, Robin was running out of places to go. So of course, he returned to his room.

Laying on his bed, and staring at the ceiling, it was a few minutes before Robin heard Slade walk in. Robin could hear him shuffling in his room, before the door to Robin's room opened.

Robin didn't bother to sit up or look at him, and instead continued to frown at the ceiling. He was too angry to speak right now, and too exhausted to continue fighting. Slade walked over to his bed and sat down on the edge.

"I shouldn't have said that about Wayne. Whatever I may think of him, now isn't the time to talk about it."

Robin grimaced. For an apology, it was sorely lacking. Yet he wouldn't have expected anything different from Slade.

"It may be time for us to get away for a while," Slade continued, "I have made arrangements for us to vacation for the next week; I think the fresh air and sunshine will be good for you. When we get back, things should have settled down."

Robin nodded. As exhausted as he was, he couldn't talk, but he already felt the load of anger, fear, and grief lighten. Getting outside would be good.

A/N: This was a hard chapter to write. I hope you all enjoyed it, but the transition chapters are always a little hard. I needed to resolve a few matters, and set the story for the next stage, but wow this was a hard chapter to write!