The Peace Contract
A/N: I know how it's going to end now! Woke up at 5.30 this Friday morning and there it was! There is a bit to go before then, though… but at least I know…
Chapter fourteen: All for Nothing
Slade ended the kiss, and to Robin's relief he didn't take it any further.
"Very good, my little pet… but it's still early in the morning, and we have plenty of time to enjoy each other."
Robin nodded briefly and stood up. He kept his eyes on the floor, afraid he still had that 'kicked puppy look' Slade had mentioned, and he didn't want to annoy the man. They left the bedroom and slowly started towards the throne room.
"You did very well, Robin. You should be proud of yourself. I was thinking… If you want inspiration I could arrange for some books for you? Or perhaps some movies or magazines would be more helpful?" Robin looked up at the man in horror and Slade laughed. "I didn't mean to embarrass you, but if you feel you need help…?"
"N-no! No… thank you…"
"As you wish. But if you get boring I will get you that help, maybe we can watch a movie together? Well. I think your first oral lesson deserves another reward. Do you know what you want this time?"
Robin thought quickly. He was longing for more fresh air, without terrifying deaths this time, please, and some exercise, but both things Professor Chang had already mentioned. He would probably get that anyway.
"It- It wasn't enough to free-?"
"No."
"O-okay… then- then I would like to talk to Bruce…"
"Really? Why?"
"I just want to see him, and… after what happened on the roof…"
"You think they were watching?" It wasn't really a question as Slade already thought he knew the answer. The location had been intentional, after all.
Robin nodded. "Yes… via satellite cameras. If I have your permission... I would like to explain…"
"You don't have to explain yourself to them, Robin. It's not your responsibility. But I will allow it."
"Thank you." Robin was actually grateful; he had not expected Slade to agree.
"Breakfast first, and then I have a surprise for you."
Raven outdid herself for breakfast and Robin felt almost bad about throwing up the food afterwards. It never occurred to him before that the girl actually enjoyed cooking. She did it by the book, though. Exactly by the book. He had almost laughed when he discovered a photograph on one of her recipes were the food were displayed just as his had been, down to the smallest detail. Robin suspected that Raven never had felt at ease in the kitchen before with the other teens messing things up and disturbing her, but now she was left pretty much alone and seemed to like it.
As Robin returned from his presumed bathroom break he was summoned by Slade who was surrounded by the other Titans. As Robin got closer he could see that the man was holding something in his hands. The other members of his former team turned towards him, and judging by the look on the other boys' faces he would not like it. Simply because they grinned. Raven had her usual bland look and Starfire smiled a happy little smile that meant just as much or as little as Raven's expression.
"I have a gift for you." Slade told him and Robin, who now had reached them, looked down at what the man was holding. He felt a chill run up his spine.
"A- a collar?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Yeah, man!" Cy laughed. "Even got your name on it!"
"Or maybe it's a work description…" Beast Boy sniggered.
Slade turned the collar over and the chill became a lump of ice. It was a very wide black leather collar, and on the front there was a row of sharp metal letters forming a word. The word was 'slut'. Robin felt a tear starting to run down his cheek as he stared at the… accusation? Description? TRUTH? Slade took a step closer and Robin straightened up, blinked away the wetness in his eyes and looked up on the man, trying to keep his gaze steady.
"The letters are changeable, so it can say anything as long as it is short." Slade told him. Robin stood still as the man placed the collar around his throat. "It looks like it fits." Slade commented. Robin was still meeting the steel-grey eye when the metal clasps clicked shut. Then they did, a small shudder ran through his body. Trapped. Trapped all over again. It was only a bit of metal and animal skin, he tried to tell himself, but it wasn't… it was more than that… it was…
"Very nice. A responsible owner should always make sure his pet has a collar…" Slade purred. "What do you say, pet?"
"… thank you…" Robin managed after swallowing a few times. Now he wished he had kept the food, because he was feeling lightheaded.
"Good boy. Now. Let's call daddy."
Robin stood before the big screen as it flickered into life. Slade sat on his throne behind and above him and Robin felt dwarfed by his presence. At least he wouldn't have to speak to Bruce from a position at the man's feet… or worse… this time. Robin wasn't sure what to say, wasn't sure what he was allowed to say, he just needed to see him. Needed to know that he, that someone, was still out there.
"Robin? Batman! Come here!" Superman had been the one answering, but soon Bruce appeared on the screen.
"Richard! Are you…" his voice trailed off and Robin shrugged… 'are you okay?' the man had intended to ask, but he had stopped himself in time. It was such an idiotic question. Of course the boy wasn't 'okay'.
"I… I'm fine." Robin said, the lie obvious to all, but what else could he say?
Bruce's eyes narrowed as he spotted the collar, and he shot a glare at Slade. The man on the throne chuckled.
"Nice, isn't it? It was a gift. This call, though, is a reward. Your boy did very well on his first…. shall we say 'oral exam', this morning, and he wanted to call you. So don't mind me…"
"Richard?" Bruce sounded tired, drained. Suddenly Robin felt bad about calling him… if the man didn't see him, then maybe it would be easier for him to… forget about him?
"Bruce… I… did you see what happened… on the roof?"
The man nodded.
"That," Robin continued "was my fault. He… he was a prisoner… I… I tried to free them, and…"
"It wasn't your fault, Robin!" Bruce said.
SO predictable… but does he even believe that himself?
"It was. And I had… I had a choice…" This was what Robin had wanted to tell his mentor, he realized. Warn him about what Slade had wanted to know in exchange for the man's life. But Slade wouldn't…. Robin turned and looked up at the man, and to his amazement the man nodded and did a 'go ahead' gesture. Robin turned back to the screen again. "There… there was a price."
"What was it?" Bruce knew it had to be something big for Robin not to pay it, he was sure the boy would have done anything in his power to protect that man.
"Superman's identity." There was gasps around the JL headquarters and Robin realized the others where there too, even if the screen was zoomed in on Bruce. He wanted to ask about Flash, but that would have to wait. "I couldn't tell him, I couldn't let more people get hurt… I…"
"Please, Robin, don't worry about us! We anticipated something like this would happen and we have made sure that everyone is safe." Bruce had only intended to comfort the boy, but too late he realized what his statement actually meant. Robin realized it too. The boy recoiled from the screen, taking several steps back until the heels of his feet hit the dais.
"He… I… he died for nothing?" the boy whispered.
"Robin, come here." Slade ordered and the boy climbed the steps quickly. Once at the top he found himself engulfed in Slade's arms, too shaken to object as he was pulled down on Slade's lap.
"There, there…" the man cooed, but with evident amusement in his voice. "It's not that the young man died unnecessarily, pet… you know what the real issue is, don't you?"
"They… they didn't trust me…" Robin mumbled.
"That's right. They didn't. They thought that you would sell them out, didn't you Bruce?" Slade looked up at the screen, acting annoyed that the bat had upset his precious little pet.
"No. Robin, it wasn't like that. But the things Slade could put you through… we…"
"Didn't trust me." Robin said flatly.
"He can order…" Batman tried.
"Only my body! Not my mind! I'm still ME! I'M NOT A TRAITOR!"
"No, you're not! Robin, calm down!" Batman begged. "We never thought that you would willingly betray us, but you are only a boy and he…"
"Please, Slade, I don't want to talk to him anymore." Robin told the man in a broken voice and turned his head towards he man's chest so he didn't have to look at his former mentor.
"Then you shouldn't have too…" Slade told him and turned looked back up at the screen. "I'm sorry to cut this short, Bruce, but I won't let you upset him any more. I really thought you had more faith in him." Before the other man had time to respond Slade had switched the screen off.
Robin bit his bottom lip hard, trying to hold back the emotions that surged inside him.
"May- may I go?"
"Where, boy?" Slade wanted to know.
"I… just… just want some time alone… please?"
"If you promise to behave for the rest of the day…" Slade said warningly.
"Yes, yes I do! I will…"
"Go to the bedroom, then. But I will come get you in a minute."
As soon as Robin had closed the door behind him he collapsed on the floor. The man, the blood, the pain… all for nothing! He could have told Slade about Clark and the man would be alive now! His sobs shook his whole body and he pounded the floor with his fist in rage. They didn't trust him! They thought he would give them up! If only he HAD, then… Oh, god… he was in so much pain…
Robin started clawing at the collar, tugging at it, trying to rip the letters off, but they wouldn't budge.
"Is it too tight?" Slade asked coolly behind him, and Robin got to his feet and twisted around to face him.
"Take it off!" he screamed, still trying to rip it off himself, unable to work the complicated clasp without seeing it. "Take it off!" he repeated and started pounding at Slade's chest with his fists like he was a little kid. "I don't want it! I'm not a-! I… don't… want… to… Please… please…" his voice faltered as his the strength in his punches did, and soon he just leaned against the man, sobbing. "so... much… pain… he was so scared, Slade! So scared, and… he screamed… and… please help me? Please…I… I need…" he turned around abruptly and walked up to the wall. Pushing on a sequence of invisible pressure points he got a small panel to slide to the side.
Slade watched carefully. He hadn't known about the hidden safe and that made him uneasy. Did the Tower hold more surprises? Then Robin reached into the open space and the man tensed. He didn't think so, but it could be a weapon the boy was reaching for. He relaxed as the boy took out a piece of card, no, a photograph, and then watched as Robin withdrew into a corner and sank down on the floor, clutching it.
"What do you have there, boy?" he asked carefully. Things had been going well, and he would allow the boy some more leeway before shortening the leash again. He didn't want to destroy what he had so carefully built up.
"Mine." the boy mumbled and clutched the piece of tattered paper closer.
"No." Slade said decisively and kneeled in front of him. "Give it to me." The boy shook his head forcefully and curled up tighter.
"Give me the picture."
The boy sobbed as he helplessly handed the photo over and stared up at Slade in horror.
"Please… they… they are my parents… I… I only have that picture… please don't take it away!"
Slade looked down at the bleary image in his hands. It was a Polaroid, and poor quality at that, of a smiling young couple with their arms around each other, and a little boy between them, grinning widely.
"There are other photos…" Slade told him, feeling a bit puzzled. "In the papers, when I did research…"
"Black and white." the boy mumbled. "That… is the only one I have in color… except for a poster, but that is painted… mums eyes is the wrong color…" Robin sounded resigned, and his shoulders were slumped. No more fighting left in him for the moment. He just watched the man and his precious photo warily.
"I should burn this." Slade told him and Robin's eyes widened. "I won't allow these childish little tantrums over something as insignificant as the past… but I will let you chose… Your mother or your father?"
"Wh-what?"
"Chose."
"M-mum…"
Slade tore the photo in two. Robin gasped like it was his soul that had been shredded, and got to his feet.
"Here you go." Slade handed the boy half the image and Robin took it in shaking hands, looking down on it. "I'll hang on the other half. Maybe when you learn to behave better…"
To the man's amazement Robin shook his head and handed the torn piece back.
"No." the boy said in a quiet voice. "No, they… they need to be together… here… take it… just… take it… like everything else…"
Slade asked as he threw the pieces back into the hiding place and closed the panel. "You will not open this without my permission again." he turned back to Robin who still stood in the corner, hugging himself, "Feeling a bit sorry for ourselves, aren't we?" the man sneered.
The boy said something, but did it so softly that Slade couldn't hear. He walked up to the boy again, grasping his chin. He let his thumb explore Robin's lips briefly, as he just couldn't help himself. "What did you just say?" he implored.
"That was all I ever wanted." Robin answered.
Slade followed the boy's eyes back to the now invisible safe.
"Your parents? We all lose them sooner or later. Get over it."
"No… yes… but…"
"What?" Slade was getting slightly irritated. He could spent this time either working or fucking the kid, both options was time well spent in his opinion, but this was wearing on his patience…
"…. a family… I always wanted a family…" the boy confessed, and Slade knew he had never told anyone about this before. That made some of the man's patience return and he chuckled softly.
"I see. Superheroes makes lousy father's though… you know that…"
"I… I wouldn't be one… I would have a job… something safe where I could still be home a lot and didn't have to travel. I would be there. Protect them. Love them. I… I can't have that now… no past… no future… no one to-"
"To what, pet?"
"….no one to love. Ever."
"It sounds like you think I have won?"
"Like- like you said… even if someone defeats you, I still would… would only be…" Robin looked up at Slade and made a gesture to himself. "Who could ever love this? I'm… I'm useless now… I can't even protect anyone. I can't be trusted… I…"
Slade drew the boy close, meeting no resistance.
"That's right, pet. That's why you will always stay with me. No one else wants a broken, used toy like you. But I will take care of you..."
"No you won't! You can't! You only take! You take and take and take, and when I think I have nothing left you find something else! And… when you give." Robin pulled as his collar again "it's only intended to hurt too!"
"And the day that started out so well for you, Robin… you disappoint me…" Slade felt the boy tense against him, and he heard a deep sigh. He felt the boy shaking softly and thought that he had started to cry, and was very surprised when he heard soft chuckles. He pulled the boy with him and sat down on the bed, making Robin lie down on it.
"What is so funny, pet?" he asked as the boy still didn't stop laughing.
"Me…" Robin managed to burst out between giggles. "I… I told you I was too dumb to train! I had to go and make you angry again! I… I told myself not to, and… and then…" Robin's hysterical laughter died away as he remembered why he was in this room again in the first place. "That man died without… Slade? Did… did you know that they had made sure that their families were safe?" the question was so innocent and so open that Slade felt compelled to answer truthfully.
"No, but I suspected it. I would have done the same in their situation."
Robin nodded.
"Me too… but if I had told you, you would have let the man live, even though the information was useless?"
"Yes. I keep my word, Robin. Always."
Robin closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. Then he looked up at the man.
"I'm calm now. I apologize for all this… I was childish… I was just in pain and I lashed out… are… are you very disappointed in me? Are you angry?"
"A bit disappointed, I expect you to better composed… but I'm not angry. If you come with me now and behave perfectly the rest of the day no one gets hurt."
Robin nodded.
And Robin did.
A little over a week later Robin was still behaving well. He was throwing up every meal he could get away with, though, and that had begun to be noticeable. Slade had started him on a work out schedule, but the boy could do less and less of it. Professor Chang did a lot of tests on him, but fortunately no one got the idea to ask Raven to check his mind… they all saw that he was eating, and still his blood sugar was dangerously low and he had lost weight.
Slade looked over at the boy who was curled up on the sheep pelts at the foot of the throne. The man himself was sitting on the floor with Raven, working on the magic nuances of the contract. The parchment was placed between them and Raven moved her hands over it like she was feeling its magical texture. As it happened, that was almost exactly what she was doing. She had explained that the contract was like a piece of knitted sweater… hundreds of threads interwoven to create the complete product, all having their specific use. Slade understood the concept but he was not as adept in magic as Raven was. He was, after all, all human, while she had magic in her blood.
Right now his attention was on Robin, though. The boy looked very pale against the black furs and his eyes were closed. He was sleeping, or at least resting. It seemed that he could sense Slade's eye on him because he suddenly opened his. The look in the blue eyes was serious but attentive. The boy almost never smiled, but then again he had little reason to, Slade admitted. Sometimes he smiled at Starfire, often a forced grin, just to keep the alien happy. Once in a while Slade caught a look of grief on the boy's face or a sign of tears, but Robin tried very hard to hide that from him. The boy was afraid it would irritate him and was always more eager to please the man when he happen to catch him in those moments. Robin still watched him, but when Slade didn't make any sign that he wanted the boy to do something, Robin closed his eyes and let his head rest on his arm again.
"Master?" A voice cut into Slade's thoughts.
"Hm? Oh, I apologize, Raven. My mind was elsewhere."
"I saw, and it seems the latest things we have discussed are already working on some level. I think I have found out how to do it. Shall we try, Master?"
Slade smiled under his mask.
"Yes."
Robin was tired and had a small headache. That was the worst thing with hunger, he thought. He could get used to the stomach pains and the dizziness, but the headaches were dangerous, they made him less alert. Well, Slade didn't seem to want anything right now, so he had gone back to resting. He knew he was pushing it with the food issue. There was no way he could starve himself to death, his little rebellion would be discovered long before that anyway… and with all the attention Chang was paying to him, there was only a matter of time before someone figured it out. Maybe he should stop throwing up? The scary part was that he had thought about that before, and somehow… he couldn't… He touched his collar. He had gotten used to it now. Today it said simply 'pet'. Slade didn't change the word every day, but since it had to come off in the shower anyway, he sometimes amused himself with it while Robin finished washing. Robin always worried when he saw the box of letters, wondering how Slade would mark him this time. As he saw that the man had written 'pet' that morning, he had nearly smiled at him in gratitude. His stomach almost turned at the thought. He knew he had given in, letting himself fall… he hadn't lost focus though, still thinking about that sharp piece of steel… but he hadn't had any new opportunities. If he wasn't with Slade he was with Chang… it all seemed hopeless.
Suddenly he opened his eyes and raised his head again. Slade? He looked at the man, feeling puzzled. It was like Slade had just…? Both Raven and Slade was watching him intently in turn, Raven with a small smile on her face.
Come to me.
Robin found himself walking towards the man and then sank down next to him. What was going on? Slade had told him so rest, and Robin had not wanted to disobey him… he looked up at the man with a confused look in his eyes.
"Slade…?" he reached out for the man's arm. It had become second nature to Robin to touch the man, especially when he thought Slade was annoyed over something.
"See Master! It worked!" Raven sounded delighted.
"Seems it did." Slade nodded and Robin relaxed. The man didn't sound angry at all, he sounded pleased.
"What-what worked?" Robin dared to ask carefully.
"Raven had a theory. The contract creates a bond between us and the commands follow that bond into your subconscious. The idea was that the commands didn't necessarily have to be vocal, they could be sent mentally."
Robin looked between the two magic workers. "So… you only have to think now, for…?"
"I can probably only send you simple commands, a mix of words and pictures… and I can only sent you commands, that is all the contract allows. But let's do some training…"
The next half hour Robin was ordered to stand, sit, open and close his eyes, nod, shake his head and even kiss Slade. Slade then tried to make him fetch things, but those kinds of commands were harder as they were more complex. Both Slade and Robin got annoyed when they didn't work, although Robin got increasingly anxious. The simple commands Robin could hear, or see, inside his head, but the complicated ones became a jumble of words and images that usually didn't make any sense.
"All right, that's enough for now." Slade finally said, and Robin sank down in his lap, wrapping his arms around the man to try and sooth the irritation.
"My head hurts…" Robin whispered. "I'm sorry I didn't understand… what was the last one?"
"What did you see?" the man wondered, letting his own arms curl around the boy.
"Not sure… I think it was a wheel…. and the world spinning…"
Slade laughed. "Interesting. I was trying for 'cartwheel'…"
There was an amused sound from Raven. "Well, Sire, whatever images you send, Robin's brain will sometimes interpret differently. But for the first time you both did exceptionally well."
"Thank you, my girl. How about some lunch? Will you work with Chang afterwards?"
"Yes, Sire, it's very exiting. I have learned to reattach severed limbs and now we are trying to re-grow them!"
Slade felt Robin tremble slightly at the description. The boy knew these experiments were carried out on prisoners.
"Very interesting. Tell Chang I want a word with him while you prepare Robin's lunch, though."
"Yes, Master Slade."
Chang had just appeared when he and Raven got something else to do, as the rest of the team rushed in. Best Boy was clutching a bleeding arm.
"Damn rebels!" Cyborg swore.
"Oh hush! Robin is here!" Starfire cautioned him, but Robin had already heard.
"Rebels?" he asked.
Slade stood up abruptly, letting the boy tumble out of his lap.
"How many this time? Did you catch any?"
"No. Killed a few, though. Sorry, Master, but it was a surprise attack." Cy confessed while Raven tended to Beast Boy's arm.
"Where?"
"The slums. We think it's pretty close to their headquarters."
Robin's head was reeling. There were still people in Jump fighting back? He carefully came up to Slade's side.
"Who are these rebels? Why hasn't anyone mentioned them before?"
"Because they aren't any of your business!" Slade snarled, and Robin flinched. The man had not been this angry since he found Robin in the basement.
"I'm sorry." the boy mumbled. "I didn't mean to pry." he carefully reached for the man's hand, playing with his fingers. It seemed to do the trick as Slade's stance got a bit less aggressive.
"It's a small group, but they are irritating nonetheless." he told the boy and turned to the others. "I think it's time to deal with them once and for all. I will come with you. Robin, you will take the food and eat in the bedroom."
Robin turned to leave, but felt a hand around his arm, pulling him back. When he looked up on the man Slade had pulled his mask up a bit and grinned down at him.
"What? No kiss goodbye?"
As the boy left Slade called after him. "As I said, go to my bedroom, and stay there until someone comes for you."
"Yes, Slade." Robin nodded and disappeared down the hall.
Finally.
Finally he was left alone.
He had no time to lose. Robin put the food he was carrying on the desk and paced the room for a little while, until he was sure they must have left. Then he hurried into the bathroom. He locked the door securely behind him and fished out the blade from behind the doorframe. It had become slightly dirty and he went to rinse it off. As he did he suddenly laughed at himself. Yeah, dirty blade… dangerous stuff… could have germs on it… he shook his head at himself. He caught his reflection in the mirror and discovered the collar. He would not die with that on. It took a bit of effort, but he had seen the clasp many times now, and knew how it worked. He threw the hated 'gift' in the corner and went over to the shower cubicle. He was shivering and turned the hot water on, stepping in under the spray without taking any clothes off. He was wearing a short sleeved top and glanced down on his wrists.
How to do this? He sat down with his back against the wall, pressing the blade against his skin lightly. The blade was sharp, but it wasn't a razor. He needed more pressure.
I better cut along the arm, it will probably make it bleed more... he decided. The first cut wasn't that deep, but the next one was. And the one after that. And the one after that. He made sure to slice both arms, but the cuts in his right wasn't as deep as he had to do them with his already injured left hand.
Wow. It's really bleeding… Unexpectedly he felt a bit afraid. He didn't want to die! But… he had to… it was the only way… it was all about freedom now, not only the worlds, but his as well. He would be free.
He watched the blood. It drained out of him with the beating of his heart. The hot water was not enough to wash all of it away. He started to feel dizzy. And then it started to hurt.
It shouldn't hurt, right? Not now! The cuts were over and done with, that was the worst part, wasn't it? But pain was suddenly everywhere as his heart struggled to pump too little blood around his body. He gasped for breath, but there was barely enough blood to transport the oxygen. His heart was racing. One last stray thought crossed his mind.
Freedom might be red too…
To be continued…
A/N: Cliffie! Well, I know that you are not worried… It WILL be interesting to read what happens after Robin dies, right? –very very evil grin-
If I haven't answered your review (if you had any questions/comments/special opinions or so that is) I'm sorry… I would love to answer them all, and I usually TRY to, but I have been quite swamped…
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