A/N: Since the last A/N was so damn long… here's the chapter…. ;o)


The Peace Contract

Chapter ten: The Birth of Richard

Slade headed to the sickbay and Robin practically stepped on his heels in his hurry to see Cy. Trying to run ahead would probably not be allowed, so the boy tried to be patient with Slade's even, unhurried, strides. Just as they were about to walk in, the door opened and Professor Chang stepped out. He was wearing operation scrubs and Robin could see small smudges of what looked like both oil and blood on them.

"Is Cy all right?!" the boy asked, suddenly feeling very afraid for his friend.

"Oh quite. Although bio-cybernetics operations are always –heh- demanding I am sure he will make a full recovery." the professor lisped. Robin hated the way he seemed to giggle as he talked. The vile man then discovered what Robin was wearing and grinned a half toothless smile. He had more than one reason to detest this overconfident boy who had stopped his wondrous plan to destroy the city.

"Can I see him?" Robin was too worried to care what anyone, especially a half-dead-looking creepy scientist in a weird jumpsuit and a tube up his nose, thought about anything.

"No. He is -heh- resting at the moment, so run along little hero."

"I understand that you have quite the skill, professor." Slade said, placing a hand around Robin's neck "and I appreciate true genius. Would you care to take up a permanent position on my staff?"

Oh, great… Robin thought. Slade obviously knew how to butter this 'genius' up and Robin really didn't look forward to seeing this man around.

"-heh-heh- I would be delighted…" the man snickered. Robin briefly wondered what would happen if that tube was to be pulled out.

"Splendid. I will have several assignments for you, but mostly you will be working with Raven. She needs to perfect her skills both as a healer and as a weapon. You will of course have test subjects to work on."

"Really… will Robin here be one?" the professor seemed to be about to rub his hands together.

"No… the boy is mine and the rest of the Titans are also too valuable. You can have a selection of prisoners, though."

"… I'll… -he-he- make do, I'm sure."

Robin felt a wave of nausea hit him at the thought.

Those poor people… all my fault… he swayed slightly on his feet and Slade noticed.

"Attend to Cyborg for now and report to me later. I have to take care of my pet…"

"You do that, sir…" Chang giggled, and the red lights in his headgear flared with malice at the boy. Robin glared back, but his heart wasn't in it and Slade had no trouble ushering him back to the throne room.

"Your hair is a mess." the man commented out of the blue as they walked up to the throne. Robin looked up at him with a disbelieving expression. He was worrying about helpless torture victims and Slade chose that moment to comment on his hair? Did the man have no connection to reality at all?

Slade noticed the look and chuckled before he turned to the rest of the Titans who had gathered below the dais.

"Good, you are still awake. Raven, I want you to make Robin something to eat, something healthy. Starfire, why don't you go get a comb and tend to his hair… Beast Boy, you are excused."

Slade had sat down, but Robin was still standing.

"I'm not hungry." he told the man, and got a glare back.

"You will eat. And sit down. You should have at least learned your place by now."

Robin took a seat on the sheep pelts grudgingly.

"How many prisoners are there? Who are they? Where are they being kept?" after that glare it might not be the best time to ask the man, but Robin wanted to know.

"So it was that that bothered you…" Slade muttered. "The prisoners are just some random unlucky people who either tried to fight or escape the city…" he answered generously.

"Unlucky?" Robin asked back.

Slade looked at him for a moment.

"The lucky ones are dead."

"So… so there aren't just soldiers?" the boy now asked, afraid for the answer.

"No. I guess there are civilians… families…"

"There are children too?!" Robin exclaimed, sitting up on his knees by the chair and staring at Slade.

"Probably. If they are still alive."

"Let them go!" Robin demanded harshly.

"Aren't you starting to sound like Moses…? 'Let my people go…'?. The answer is no. You might trade for it, though."

"Trade? How?" Robin sounded eager. There was nothing he wouldn't trade, except perhaps other lives.

"You haven't forgotten out little deal? I said 'Pleasure for Pain' and that stands… but I also said that if you delivered I would consider giving you what you want… if it's pain, so be it, but you can wish for other things… as long as you don't expect too much."

"Okay, then the next time is for the prisoners!" Robin said quickly.

Slade laughed.

"Little one, you are not good enough for the release of even one prisoner yet… but I'm sure you will be if you pay attention. But don't expect me to free them all. Raven needs work material."

"She can work on me! Please let her! I will even be able to tell her what works the best… she'll learn a lot more that way!" Robin pleaded.

"Very generous of you, pet, but you will be in training for at least a week or two, and you will have no time to be a guinea pig. To take a prisoners place in the future might be allowed as a reward from time to time, though… unless Raven and the Professor are going to try something maiming. We can't let you risk yourself, you know." the man said and ruffled Robin's hair. "Where is that girl with the comb?" he then muttered.

Robin's eyes shone. He could save people! Could he even…?

"The Titans, are-?" he started but was cut off by Slade's chuckle.

"You will never be that good. I don't believe that's humanly possible." the man grinned behind his mask. "No, the Titan's are of course off limits, Robin. Don't be silly. I told you not to expect too much…"

But Slade could see the light in the boy's eyes and knew he had him. The need for pain might diminish but the urge to save people, to put others ahead of himself, would never leave the boy completely, Slade thought.

As Starfire showed up moments later, Slade snarled at her.

"What took you so long? Why aren't you flying?"

Robin immediately noticed the look on Starfire's face and the way she moved. He bravely put a hesitant hand on Slade's arm.

"Slade, please. Her powers are depending on her state of mind… she is depressed. If you punish her it will only get worse."

"Really? Well. You better do anything you can to cheer her up, boy, or she will be useless to me."

Robin swallowed and nodded, before turning to the slowly approaching Starfire. He smiled at her and tried to make it look sincere.

"Hey, Star. How are you feeling?"

To his alarm the girl threw her arms around him again, but this time started to sob.

Robin let his own arms close around the crying girl and really wanted to cry himself.

"Star… " he mumbled in her ear. "Husssshhh… what's wrong?" he girl answered in a mumbled mess of Tamaranian and English and Robin could only make out "failed", and "don't like me". He had a pretty good feeling what this would be about, and he also knew that he would not like to have this conversation at Slade's feet.

"Star… is this about Slade?" he asked her softly, and the increasing sobs confirmed it.

"Star… Slade likes you very much… he knows what a great fighter you are…"

"He does not! And I failed… and he… he… he doesn't want me!"

Yeah, thanks god for that… Robin thought to himself.

"You all did well in the fight." Robin said, trying to keep the grief and anger out of his voice. "Slade said so."

Starfire looked up briefly, she had buried her face in his chest and for a moment Robin almost felt like she was pouring all her own pain into his heart. It didn't matter, though. He would let her.

"Yh-es but…but… then he cared only for you… and- and- he took you with him again… and…" her voice trailed off.

"Star, I'm sorry…" Robin told her, searching for the right words. The lie he was going to make up had to be believable enough for the young woman. Her very life depended on her being happy again. "You see, when he was going to take you to his room…" Robin looked up at Slade briefly. Yes, the man was listening, and seemed amused to boot. Robin cringed inwardly at the thought at how much more amused he would be in mere seconds. "I… had to stop him, because… I was jealous, Star…"

"You- you were?" the redhead looked surprised.

There was a sound like a choked snort of laughter from above and Robin had to hold back from pounding his fist into the throne.

"Yes. You see, I though I was his favorite, and then he went with you I thought he didn't like me any more… but he did, and on earth we only have one favorite like that at a time. He really wanted to reward you, but according to earth customs he just can't… he's sorry about that, I know he is."

"But… he was surely angry with me right now…?" the young woman was not to be persuaded easily. Not this time.

"Don't you remember how snappish I can be when I'm worried, Star? Slade is the same way! You took so long he worried about you… he didn't know that you were sad, and when he found out he asked me to try to make you feel better. Wasn't that nice of him?"

The girl nodded, now, a bit more light back in her eyes.

"Please, why are you his favorite?" Star asked, and glanced up at Slade. "You act badly and you do not fight for him like we do…?"

Robin was a bit stunned at the question.

"I… I don't know." he admitted.

"It's because he needs training, and the rest of you are already perfect." Slade purred from above and played with Robin's hair again. "I wanted you to comb his hair, Starfire, because I know that you take care of my pet the best…" the man continued, and now Star's mode really improved.

"I do! I will care for him most magnificently!"

"I know you will." Slade nodded and the girl almost squealed with delight.

Robin when had to endure getting his hair combed at length. Star was careful enough, but she was also talking. She had apparently thought about what Robin had told her and come to her own conclusions.

"I am most happy you love him, Robin! I did not know the earth customs of love applied to boy-couples. Are you going to get the knot tied? Would you please explain to me the procedure in which you mate? What is it like? I am sure it is wonderful, is it not?"

Robin's face grew redder by each question, and Slade seemed to have trouble holding back those chuckles. Robin was surprised he even tried. Fortunately Star didn't seem to realize that he wasn't answering her questions as her mind constantly came up with new ones. Robin was relived when Raven came up and presented him with a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of milk. The girl was then dismissed by Slade.

He still wasn't hungry, though.

"You will finish it, or I will just order you to." Slade told him calmly as he noticed that Robin was poking at the food.

"I can feed him!" Starfire exclaimed and deftly took the spoon from Robin's grasp. Robin snatched it back

"Thank you, Star" he said, "But I want to do it myself. Maybe you can ask Slade if you can go to bed now too… It's very late."

"You can go, Starfire. I will need you rested to take care of him tomorrow…" Slade told the girl, who nodded and gave Robin a fierce hug.

"He truly loves you and so I will make sure you are happy! Then he will certainly love me also!" she whispered, rather loudly, in his ear. "Oh, will you please give him a kiss from me?"

Robin choked on his mouthful of oatmeal but had to nod to please Star. The girl seemed to hum to herself as she floated away, and turned to wave back at them before she headed out of the room.

Robin concentrated hard on the food after that and tried not to listen to Slade's chuckles.

The bowl was empty way too soon, though, and now Slade's fingers played in his hair again.

After all that work of Starfire's… Robin thought dryly to himself.

He yawned. It had to be passed midnight, and now, with a full stomach, he could feel his eyes closing by their own accord.

"Sleepy, pet? Well, you have had a big day, haven't you?" Slade purred. "Come. You can sleep in my lap."

Robin knew better than to argue, and got up to settle in Slade's arms. The man arranged him to his pleasure, and Robin just let it happen. Soon he was again resting his head against the man's chest. Slade hadn't bothered to put on the breastplate and the warmth from his body made Robin uncomfortable at first. With the armor between them he felt safer.

"Where is that kiss from Starfire you promised?" Slade wanted to know.

Damn, he heard that!

Robin tilted his head upward and as Slade had already pulled his cowl up slightly he met the man's lips. The man let Robin take the initiative now, probably wanting to test if he had learned anything, and the boy felt an urge to prove himself. The sooner Slade deemed him good enough, the sooner people could be free.

His concentration was chattered by the call signal, but Slade didn't allow him to break away.

"Anywhere, any time…" the man reminded him, before resuming the kiss. Slade then activated the screen and Robin closed his eyes tightly, praying to some weird higher power that might take an interest in this, that it wasn't the JL. A cough from the caller made Slade finally break the kiss and pull the mask down again. Robin refused to look up until he heard Slade identify the person.

"Mr. Luthor? Calling so soon?"

Robin sent a short thank you to that higher power and turned his head to look at the man on the screen.

Luthor's eyes met his for a moment, and Robin couldn't quite read the look. It wasn't amusement or glee, but then again their paths had never crossed more than indirectly through the Justice League.

"Yes. I wanted to congratulate you on today's victory. You have gained quite the following from it. I hope I didn't call at an inappropriate time?"

"Not at all. It is late, though, and I was starting to look forward to taking my pet to bed…" Slade said meaningfully and let his hand run over Robin's chest and abdomen.

Luthor gave Robin another look and nodded at him.

"Robin. I am sorry about how our last meeting ended… I have heard what… happened. I understand your wish better now."

He didn't say it, but Robin could almost hear the man regret that he hadn't done what the boy had begged for.

"What wish?" Slade wanted to know.

"Your 'pet' asked me to kill him." Luthor told him simply.

"It's… it's all right, sir… but… I told Batman some things…" Robin broke in.

"He knows you didn't mean it, whatever it was. I'll tell him from you if you want."

Robin nodded quickly.

"So, Lex… demoted to messenger-boy, are you? I take it this means you won't be joining me?"

Lex Luthor's cold eyes focused on the man.

"I can appreciate you efforts and the result. I applaud your strategy. I know all about breaking a man's spirit… but there are limits, Slade. No. I won't join you."

"Don't tell me you will side with your pal Superman in this?" Slade merely sounded amused, like the man's decline didn't mean anything to him. Maybe it didn't.

Lex snorted in amusement himself.

"I will be on the same side as ever. Mine." he retorted and ended the call.

Slade hummed to himself slightly and then started tapping at the control panel with a free hand, bringing maps, plans and reports up on the screen. The private detective in Robin tried to focus on the work to find some clues to Slade's next move, but now the warmth from the man's worked against him. He felt himself drifting off to sleep and, giving up, he turned towards the man and closed his eyes.

Slade noticed Robin's breathing deepen as sleep claimed the boy and he smiled to himself. Making him sleep in his arms was another way of forcing the boy to accept him, even feel a small sense of security around him. He had actually planned to head to the bedroom, but Robin needed sleep and he needed to work. This was satisfactory.

So, Luthor had declined. Well. It didn't matter much… it was the man's brains more than his power that might come in handy. And he wouldn't consider the door closed. Lex was a businessman, and with enough pressure… as the man said, the only side he was on was his own… He had considered not flaunting Robin's position when he saw who was calling, but the man had, as Slade suspected, already known. No, Slade would not hide Robin away. He was pleased with the situation, proud of it. If Lex could have Superman on a leash he would probably jump at the chance. Hmmm… maybe that offer would make the man reconsider? Ah, well, he was too busy to play matchmaker, he had a concubine of his own to train after all.

It occurred to Slade that he still hadn't specified the rules of their little deal to Robin. Maybe he wouldn't have too, not after his suggestion that the boy might be able to save some prisoners. He smiled to himself. The still so innocent boy had no idea what he would have to do for that to happen. Slade wouldn't give him anything easily, after all.

He gave himself credit for the idea, though. The destructiveness he had seen in Robin had to be kept to a limit so it wouldn't get out of control. It would probably get worse too, even if everything seemed calm at the moment.

Slade worked for another hour before getting up. Robin mumbled something in his arms, but didn't wake as the man carried him to bed. The boy didn't even wake as Slade took of the pants, but that might have more to do with the garments construction than anything else. He exchanged them for the pajama pants after considering letting the boy sleep in the nude. He dismissed that idea, though. If Robin were to wake up naked in the man's bed without remembering how he got there any microscopic sense of security that might be lingering in the boy's subconsciousness would be shattered. Not that Slade really believed there was any. Not yet. But he would build it up slowly. The boy hated him at the moment, and feared him. That was all acceptable, but the trust Slade wanted the boy to feel had already begun to be established. The boy knew by now that Slade was true to his word and didn't make empty threats. That was a sort of trust that would, in the end lead to the security of him knowing that the man would not hurt him unless he stepped out of line or asked for it. And with trust and security… Slade smirked… the sky was the limit.

Robin woke up slowly, and for almost a whole second he felt warm and cozy. Then he noticed where he was. He laid still and listened closely. He thought he could hear deep, even breaths and there was a warm body behind him. Not quite touching, but he could sense the heat radiating off it. Was Slade sleeping? Robin knew that if he had a weapon he would risk it and attack. Deal or no deal, he didn't want to stay in the bed any longer. Although Slade had someone, probably a robot, change the sheets Robin still felt like he could smell blood and sex. Maybe it wasn't the bed. Maybe it was the whole room.

Robin took a chance and slipped off the bed as quietly as he could. He headed for the bathroom. If Slade was awake he surely wouldn't stop him from going in there. Nothing happened and Robin gratefully closed the door behind him. He actually needed to go anyway, and afterwards he spent some time looking through the bathroom quickly. Slade had to shave. Shaving meant razors, which meant razorblades… which meant… hope. But the bathroom was clear of anything that could be remotely harmful to him or be used as a weapon… at least as far as he could see. There was always the mirror, but breaking that with Slade outside… not so smart. He had noted that Slade must have changed him out of the stupid zipper-pants… He wondered why the man had bothered with the pajama pants but felt a bit grateful he had.

He sighed and left the bathroom. Slade hadn't moved. The man's breaths were still even. Robin looked at the bed. He did not want to return there. He knew that he would have to, he knew what the training Slade mentioned would mean, but not tonight. He eyed the door to the corridor. No. Too risky. Instead he opened the door to his 'own' room and snuck inside. Robin curled up on the bed. Finally alone. He pulled the blankets over himself and curled up tighter.

He drew a few deep breaths. Everything that had happened the previous day… it was too much… Slade's victory over the military, the rapes, Batman, the punishment, the JL battle and the deaths… and then Slade had taken control of his body in a new way… and after that… the deal…

Yeah, 'big day' indeed… Robin thought grimly, feeling tears spill down his cheeks. Slade had already made sure that the dam had burst, and he didn't have the same strength to hide his emotions now. He started sobbing softly, but then the door flew open and Robin yelped in surprise. Slade stalked up to him, and Robin could tell the man wasn't happy, even before his arm was grabbed roughly.

"And what, pet, are you doing in here?"

Robin gasped from the pain in his arm and the anger he glimpsed in the man's eye.

"I- I-"

"Don't bother." the man dragged him up like he was a weightless dummy and stalked into the main bedroom with the boy in tow. "When I put you in my bed, I expect you to stay there." he growled, throwing Robin down on the mattress with the last two words.

Robin stayed still on his side, grabbing his bruised arm.

"I… I just wanted some time alone…" he stammered. "I wasn't trying to run, I swear! If I'd known it would make you angry I would never…" Robin remembered that Slade had told him that it was his friends that would pay for his disobedience from now on, so it was them he pleaded for. If he had been the one who were going to get punished… well… he would had probably just spat at the man.

Slade stood in front of the bed, glaring down on him.

"You should have known better." the man said. His voice was completely calm again, but Robin heard the chill in it. "You should have come right back."

So he HAD known… why wasn't that a surprise? But why had he waited for several minutes before coming to fetch him back?

"Yes." Robin agreed and crawled to a sitting position "I should. I should at least have asked. I just… I…" new tears joined the old ones on his cheeks. "… please...? Just… too much…" he lowered his head. "I… I want to go home…" the child in him begged.

Slade grinned under his mask. The regression again. Well. He knew how to deal with that…

"You have been a bad boy, Richard." Slade told him, deliberately using the boy's childhood name.

"'m sorry…"

"You know that you belong to me."

"…'es…' the boy nodded, looking down on his hands.

"And you know that I should punish you for this, don't you?" the man pressed on.

The boy only nodded this time, sobbing slightly.

"Do you want me to forgive you, Richard?" Slade asked.

Robin looked up, quickly.

"Y-yes…?"

Then Slade did something so completely unlike him that Robin's mind would have boggled if it wasn't currently busy with being five years old. The man sat down on the bed and reached out to the boy with his arms. Robin, in his right mind, would have drawn back or at least sat still, but the child recognized that gesture and dived into it. Hugging the man fiercely Robin sobbed even harder.
"'m sorry, soo-oo so-horry, do-don't be an-angry!" he choked.

Slade's arms closed around him tightly and a hand stroked his head.

"Shhh… Richard…. see? I'm not angry anymore… as long as you keep close to me, I won't be angry… understand?"

"…y-ye-hes…" the boy sobbed slightly less now, but had still trouble speaking.

"You don't want me to be angry with you, do you?" Slade asked deceivingly softly.

"N-no. I-I'm scared wh-when you are an-angry…" Robin told him and curled closer to the man.

"I know. You should be. But I don't want to be angry with you. I want you to be a good boy so I can be proud of you. Will you be a good boy for me, Richard?"

"…yes…" Robin, or rather, Richard, whispered and nodded against Slade's chest.

Fifteen minutes later the boy was sound asleep again. Slade had stretched out on his back and even in sleep Robin clung to him. Slade thought it was rather cute. Mostly it was convenient, though. Dealing with a frightened child was so much easier than dealing with a rebellious teenager. He would have almost preferred to keep him in that state if it wasn't for one thing. He couldn't possible fuck a child. Oh, he knew he was a hypocrite. Robin was still a child in many people's eyes, but Slade didn't see him as one. The boy was fifteen and he was sexually mature and therefore his for the taking. He knew that 'Richard' technically also was fifteen, but he acted too much like a small boy for Slade to be able to touch him like that. If Robin had known that, he would probably have preferred to be Richard from now on.

To be continued…


A/N: Professor Chang? Lex Luthor? Starfire as the ultimate yaoi-fangirl? Robin/Richard? Any thoughts/comments/questions? I know it wasn't the most eventful of chapters, but again… some things need to happen for later, or this will just turn out to be a 'plot? what plot?'-slash-story and I had planned to do a BIT more with it than that… just a LITTLE bit… ;o)

OMG it was SO much fun (and slightly disturbing) to read your thoughts/comments about pain! (Goats, GraysonGirl? Really? Still not over that one… -grin-). And all of your suggestions were also great! I will definitely use some of them later on in the story (not the goat-thing though… Yeah, BB could turn into one but… yeah… no… I'm just… Oh, go read the damn review people! It's actually a real torture method!). –grin-