A plan. Robin had a plan. It'd come to him suddenly, struck him like lightning, but if he could make the plan work, he might have a chance. Just last night, a single thought had floated into his semiconscious mind right before sleep, and Robin had struck gold. If he could get Slade to trust him, to believe that he had him and that he enjoyed staying here and being under him, then there was a chance that Slade's watchful eye would become lax and turn the other way for just a moment. Then, he might have a chance of escaping or freeing the Titans or . . . something.

Robin had woken up at four hundred hours in order to prepare. After requesting use of the shower, he'd bolted himself up in the bathroom, spending the next four hours in front of the mirror, practicing and even convincing himself to believe the things he said. Making sure every mannerism was spot-on, Robin sighed and grinned at his reflection. He couldn't mess this up. The instant he reported for breakfast, the plan would begin. Then Robin would see how good he really was.

"Robin."

Robin started a bit, then took a deep breath and relaxed his body. "Yeah?"

"Report for sustenance."

"Okay. Sure." So far, so good. Robin felt that he was staying casual and light, not overplaying his hand or trying too hard. He had to make this perfect. Exiting the bathroom, Robin walked into the dining room where Slade waited. Robin caught the protein supplement Slade tossed to him, and he casually leaned against the wall as he swallowed his allotment of food. "So, what are we doing today?" Robin asked.

Slade looked at him, saying nothing.

"Are we going to train, or do you have a job for me?"

Slade's eye narrowed, so Robin countered by raising his eyebrows and smiling a bit, inwardly wanting to run or scream or fight. No, he to make this believable. He had to do this.

"Come here."

Robin, forcing himself not to falter or pause, walked over to Slade and stood in front of him, staring up at him in curiousness. "Yeah?"

Abruptly, Slade placed a hand on Robin's arm, and Robin tensed for a millisecond before

relaxing, praying that Slade hadn't felt the change. Slade felt his other arm, then his chest and stomach before drawing back and taking something from his utility belt. Robin, still forcing his expression to be friendly, watched Slade pull out a small container. He opened the container, and Robin saw several small, white pills. After examining the container's contents for a moment, Slade pocketed the container and turned to Robin.

"What are you doing?" Slade asked.

Robin blinked, then smiled hesitantly for good measure. "What are you talking about—"

"I'm pleased that you are lying," Slade interrupted, "however, your ability to convince needs work."

Robin frowned, then threw a playful grin up at Slade, almost becoming sick at what he was doing. "I'm not lying, Slade. I just . . . like it here."

"Is that so?"

Robin looked up at Slade and nodded. When Slade reached down and grabbed Robin by the chin, Robin's face twitched for a moment before melting into an expression of contentment. He could only hope that he was convincing.

Slade chuckled and pushed Robin's head away, then made a move to leave the room.

"Are we going to train?" Robin asked, forcing himself to run after Slade instead of staying in the dining room like he wanted.

"We will not," Slade said. "I have a pressing matter to attend to."

Robin blinked, then nodded. "Can I help?"

Slade looked at Robin again, then seemed to smile. "You can assist me in my preparations. Come."

Robin followed Slade into the training room, and he was surprised to see a table at the other end of the room with parts of some sort of weapon lying on the table. Slade turned to Robin, and Robin paused his walk and looked up at Slade, flashing the man a smile.

"Do you enjoy being here?" Slade asked.

Robin swallowed and smiled again. "Yes."

"Do you enjoy serving me?"

Robin forced himself not to cringe as he answered. "Yes."

"Would you do anything I ask you?"

Robin blinked, holding back a frown. "Yes."

Slade's eye now glowed, and he suddenly rushed Robin, pushing him against a wall. "Anything?" he whispered.

Robin, struggling briefly, realized that he might blow his cover if he fought back and went limp a few seconds later. He looked up at Slade. Though Robin neither liked Slade's tone or the situation, he needed this to work. "Y-yes."

After a moment, Slade released him and turned away, and Robin took a shaky breath before straightening up.

"Assemble this."
Robin, thankful for his reflexes, caught several parts of what looked like a laser gun. After assembling the weapon, he noticed Slade's looking in his direction and began inspecting the weapon with excitement. "Cool," he said, handing the weapon to Slade. "What's it for?"

"There is something I require," Slade said, taking the weapon from Robin.

"Great. What do you want me to steal?" Robin asked, rubbing his hands together.

Slade paused and looked at Robin again, then turned away. Robin thought he saw the man smile. "We will leave this compound at twenty-one hundred hours."

Robin blinked as he thought it over. So Slade already starting to trust him if he was allowing his accompaniment on solo missions. That was good. So far all was well, but if he could only figure out some way to make Slade trust him completely . . . Robin glanced over, saw Slade looking his way, then panicked for a moment before smiling at the man. "Awesome. I'll be ready. Where are we going?"

"To Jump City."

Well, that was a stupid question. Robin frowned a bit. "What'll we be doing?"

Slade turned away. "Be ready, Robin. Until then, we will train."

Robin smiled, this time actually being genuine. Training, or more specifically, fighting Slade, was something he enjoyed immensely. Having his skills matched while simultaneously striving to be better always gave him a rush. Slade faced him, and Robin nodded and pulled out his bow staff. In an instant, their fight began, and the two didn't stop sparring until many hours later when it was time to leave.

"You know," Robin said, facing Slade in the dining room as he took another drink of water, "you're really good at fighting."

Slade paused and looked over at Robin. "You are not convincing, Robin."
Robin blinked, then smiled even wider, not understanding but still not wanting to blow his cover. "What are—"

"Do you think I am unaware of your motives?" Slade whispered. "As if you could pretend, for even an instant, that you enjoy being in my presence in an attempt to cause me to drop my guard. Robin, are you that naïve?"

Robin blushed once, then tried to cover his tracks. "I-I don't know . . . what you're talking about."

"Yes, Robin, you truly do not," Slade said, his eye now glowing.

Robin blushed even deeper this time, and he drank the rest of his water rapidly, coughing as the last swallow went down wrong.

"We leave now," Slade said, walking toward the dining room's exit. He glanced back at Robin. "Follow."

Robin, shaking off his nervousness, laughed a bit as he followed Slade and vaguely wondered if he was fighting a losing battle. No, he had to do this! What other choice did he have? He'd already tried everything else. If this didn't work, Robin might as well give up. This was his last hope. This needed to work.

The two of them left the compound and raced to Jump City, and, after dodging through the shadows, Slade led Robin to the side of a tall building.

"Where are we going?" Robin asked.

"Up." Slade took out a weapon, pressed it to unsheathe the blade, then pressed a button on the outside of his wrist. Instantly, the weapon seemed to be drawn to the palm of Slade's hand and stick there, and Slade did this with another weapon so that he now had two hooks to climb with. Even if he let go of the blades, they wouldn't come off.

Robin, taking his own weapons out, followed Slade's actions pressed a button on the outside of his wrist and feeling the weapon instantly be drawn to his hand as though pulled in by a magnet. The weapon stuck, and Robin did the same with the other weapon before standing in front of the building he was to scale. Pushing the blade into the structure, Robin tested it for a moment and began to climb, hardly afraid of heights due to his days in the circus and his refusal to look down. Slade began his quick assent as well, and soon the two of them were on the roof. Robin, glancing over at Slade, saw the man press the same button on his wrist again and pocket his weapons. Robin did the same, feeling the weapon detach as he pressed the button. Next, Robin watched as Slade took out the laser gun he'd assembled several hours before. Slade attached a scope on the gun, then checked the sights before nodding.