BWAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA! You're gonna love this! X3

13

The night before was cold, but it was better than staying in the tower alone. Robin managed to get off the bus roof gracefully, but that was about it. He was a mess and he knew it, but all he could do was keep moving; there was no telling how many days he'd been in this uniform, and he didn't care. A duffle bag was slung across his body, his metal case firmly attached to the outside, and Peanut was held tight to his chest.

How he was able to walk the streets of Jump safely in his state was a mystery, even to his fogged up brain. Several times he stopped in an alleyway, sat down on a closed garbage bag, and rocked back and forth, holding his elephant closer. The voices in his head were getting louder, making it clearer every second he was doing the right thing. He lost track of time while sitting and crying, so he didn't realize the night had past and morning was nearly gone when the rumbling of his stomach finally got his full attention.

'He won't like it if I'm starving and weak,' a thought told him, convincing his struggling hands to fish into his bag and take out some rations he pilfered from Titan Tower. A banana and granola bar came out and slowly he managed to eat the meager meal down. His stomach wanted to protest after not having much the past… two weeks? Had it been two weeks since he first learned the truth about how his friends thought of him? It was so hard to concentrate.

Robin didn't bother to throw the trash into a bin when he was done, merely stuffing them into a nearby bag in one alley. Jump was a lot larger than it looked from afar, he realized as he pushed himself back up, especially when you aren't feeling your best. His water bottle was already empty – he'd fill it up as soon as he found a fountain – and he still had a long way to go. His short time on the bus roofs were more like passing thoughts and to make sure no one could follow him. Now he was on foot alone, not trusting his steering very much. The lad was already bruised from running into things along the way. Another one was growing from running his thigh into a corner not two minutes ago.

Sighing to himself, Dick looked at the sky. His head hurt, his heart hurt, his body hurt, and he could not clear his mind. More voices were playing in his mind, and he could swear the people he ran across were telling him the same things. The one voice he was following was getting stronger, sweeter, with every step forward.

Once he got there, he would be safe.

He'd be wanted.

He was going to the one person who liked him.

"When you're ready my boy, I'll be waiting for you at our old home. I'll make all your troubles go away."

Focusing on that, Robin kept on walking. It was the only thing left to do and he would get it right. He could do this much without screwing up.

High above him, Slade smiled, very pleased. Everything was going according to plan. Yes the Titans realized their leader was missing a lot sooner than expected, but there wouldn't be much they could do to follow up now. Doctor Light was pulling a glamorous heist on the opposite side of town, as was Ding Dong Daddy, Cinderblock, and quite a few other troublesome criminals with splashy entrances. The team would not be able to save their fair city and their leader at the same time.

So long as they did not stop Robin from coming to him, by choice, he didn't care what happened to them. Smirking, the assassin kept his vigil going, ensuring the lad did not run into trouble the entire way to his lair of choice.

Back where it all began.

Chaos in the city stopped their search, whether they liked it or not. They knew Robin would never forgive them if they chose him over the safety of the city. So instead of doing the search and investigation they wanted to, they had to fight lower tier villains who didn't care if their antics got people hurt.

The only thing they succeeded in doing properly was send a message to the League and their reserve Titans, spreading word that Robin was not where they thought he would be, and they couldn't get in contact with him. So when Cyborg's com went off, he didn't feel an ounce of guilt as his metal foot made contact with Ding Dong Daddy's face, holding him on the ground. "This is Cyborg! Any news on-"

He stopped, jaw dropping for a moment. After a few seconds just listening the other end, he started to talk. There was a lot to say, and not a lot of time.

The sun was almost set when he finally made it. The lair Robin served his apprenticeship in was somehow still stable despite the fire and fallen debris from before. The last time he was there, he was terrified and believed Slade was tormenting him before striking for the kill. It turned out to be dust and he ended up bruising himself, a lot. Thinking back, the acrobat had to concede that it was a lot like Scarecrow's fear toxin. If he wasn't already sure Slade was alive then, he wouldn't have fallen for such a simple trick.

'Why did that happen?' Walking seemed to clear the lad's head a bit, letting him question his actions just a little. 'If Slade really did care about me, why did he expose me to a hallucinogen that would have killed me?'

'Ah, but he was dead at that time,' another, growing stronger voice, reminded him. 'How could he know you would be the one exposed to the dust? It was there for your 'friends', not you. Never you.'

Accepting that answer, Robin went back to looking around the place. His heart raced with each step. Memories of his training and treatment in this place battled with the voices in his head. The adrenalin pumping through him only made them louder, pulling him and pushing him in one particular direction. His feet were heavy from a long day and night of walking, and if it weren't for the pain, he probably would have passed out by now. This was the right thing, right?

Before he even realized it, he was opening the heavy door leading to a large monitor room. He saw it only once when he was staying there, but once was enough. The first time around, the place creeped him out. There was this throne-like chair on a sort of dais near the middle of the room. Back then he thought the entire layout was overkill supervillain. Now… it was where he had to go.

"S..Slade?" he almost whispered in the dark. There were a few working lights, helping his night vision a small degree. He could see the throne fairly well in the gloom, and he could swear it was turning towards him. "Are… you there?"

Silence greeted him, letting his heart drop. Maybe in the end not even Slade wanted him. The coaxing words he told him not that long ago could be just as false as his friends. Saddened, he started to turn back, only to hear a sound further in. Looking towards where the sound came from, Robin let his curiosity, and a little hope, lead his feet. The heavy door shut and locked behind him, but he really didn't care. Carefully he went forward, calling out once again. "Slade?"

"I'm here Robin."

The teen snapped around as fast as he could, only making himself dizzy. Just a few feet away and fairly close to the door, stood Slade. The man stood tall there, almost shining in the minimal light of the place. He could hear the man smile behind his mask, and he didn't know what to do. Part of Robin wanted to run, to get out of there as fast as his two feet could take him. The other part, the one that brought him there, made him stay. This was what he wanted right? He wanted to find Slade, and not to fight or take him in for once.

"Is something the matter?" The casual way he asked, made the lad swallow what was in his throat. Despite being fully clothed and his mask being firmly on his face, he felt naked in front of this man. Trembling, he opened his mouth.

"I… I don't wanna be alone." Looking down, the vulnerable lad tried to vocalize what he was feeling. "I… I'm scared. My… my friends… they hate me."

"It seems so," came the calm reply.

"They left me alone," he went on. "They… They don't need me. They said I was useless. Weak. Maybe I am…" Robin sniffed, trying to hold back tears. His breathing became ragged and the thoughts forming in his head lead him down many dark roads. "I… I couldn't…"

"Everything is going to be alright Robin." Slade's soothing voice promised him peace, making him look up hopefully. "You don't have to stay with them. Your place is open to you at my side."

Pausing, his lower lip still trembled. "You… you really mean that? I can…"

"Come here Robin," the man told him in the kindest tone imaginable. His voice was music to his ears right then. He offered out his hand, letting Robin choose. "Come to my side. I will be your teacher, your father, once again. I will be your ally for the rest of time."

Hesitant, the teen expressed his doubts. "Even… Even after I… I betrayed you? Tried to arrest-"

"None of that matters," Slade assured him. "I know you weren't thinking clearly then. False friends lead children down dangerous paths. Convince them to believe what they are doing is best. Robin, I hold no ill feelings towards you. Please, come here. Join me. Forget about your friends, your past. Focus only on my voice. Trust me. I will take care of you."

The part telling Robin to run nearly died as he took a hesitant step forward, arm leaving his elephant to reach out and grab the man's hand. Doing this would make everything better. He knew it. Every step grew surer as he got closer to the man. Yes… this was the right thing to do. Just take his hand and-

A mass of black bulldozed into Slade, millimeters from making physical contact with Robin, and breaking the spell between them. Snapping mentally in place, the lad jerked his eyes to where black furiously struggled with orange and silver. It couldn't be-

"KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY SON!"

A/N: XD Guess who's baaaaack! Daddy isn't very happy at that moment, and he had the element of surprise. Fighting (vaguely) tomorrow. and the titans will be returning as well. Until then!

Oh yeah, please comment and tell me if you want to read that YJ fic I offered via pm. I have a few offers and I want to make a well rounded decision so I'm likely to pick tow or three people. Don't forget to comment!