A/N: The beginning of this chapter was partly inspired by one of the pics in the Music meme -Sladin- by Bakkazaruon Deviant Art… since FF doesn't like links, you have to go search for it on DA, or go to my bio, click "homepage" and check out the favorites… it's in there!

Oh, and this chapter will seriously freak you out… no matter what you want from this story, either the first or the last part will do it, I'm sure… -giggles- I had so much fun with this….

Robin was hanging by his wrists, arms stretched out painfully on either side of him like he was being crucified. His feet barely touched the cold, metal floor and his naked body shivered in the dark room. The pain from the restraints was not so bad now. They had been replaced with worse.

He whimpered as he heard a door open behind him and the sound of footsteps closing in. There was no talking before it started. Again. The whip dug deep into his shoulder blades and Robin's head whipped pack in pain. His mouth opened in a silent scream. Silent, because there had been too many screams like this, and somewhere along the way his voice had broken. Now he could barely speak, but that didn't matter. He was rarely spoken to.

The whip slashed across his skin again, expertly working its way over his body. Stroke after stroke. Soon the skin on his back was almost completely flayed off, with the white knobs of his backbone poking through the wounds. Slade had broken his back with the whip more than once. The pain at those times had been too much and he had passed out. Slade had learned from it. Learned how to keep him conscious for as long as possible.

Like now. The whipping stopped. Again Robin heard those terrible words.

"Heal him."

Another presence. The ghosting touches of cool hands. Robin cried then. He would live another day. And another. And another. The blood, draining out of him from his back was stemmed and replenished. It wasn't cleaned off, though, and his skin was by now covered in a black crust of the dried liquid, back and front.

Days later. Slade changed his methods sometimes. Blades, whips, nails… the last one was a new favorite: hammering nails into Robin's bones, arms, legs, shoulders, hips, and then letting Raven heal the wounds around them. When she was done, Slade started to pull the nails out.

Robin had tried to get him to stop. From the very first day when he was brought to this metal chamber and had seen the chains and the cruel tools of torture he had begged, screamed, cried, pleaded… he had asked, oh, he had asked so many times what Slade wanted from him… he was prepared to give the man anything, but Slade wanted nothing. Nothing but to bring pain.

A hand on his chin, tilting it up. Robin could barely make out the silhouette of his torturer.

"You disappoint me, Robin. You are useless to me. I'll just take the child."

Robin looked down, not understanding, and suddenly realized that his stomach was abnormally bloated, like a boil about to burst.

"Lights please."

Suddenly the room was flooded in a harsh white glow, blinding Robin and sending flashes of pain through his eyes. When he could see again, he looked down in time to feel a cold blade press against his abdomen, too low for him to see.

"…no…" The weak word was all he could muster, and he pulled uselessly against the chains. Hopeless.

The pain as Slade sliced his belly open was new, different and excruciating, but it was nothing to the feeling of his guts pouring out, coiling at his feet. With them, a big, red bloated sack fell, hitting the floor with a wet sound, tearing at the rest of his organs as it did. Something inside was moving. Something that was clawing its way out. Robin screamed in terror as the sack, the womb, he realized, was sliced through and the skeletal looking thing inside crawled out. It was all bones, claws and teeth.

"What a beautiful boy we have…" Robin heard Slade purr. Robin's body was shaking and twitching as it died. Too slowly for Slade's taste, though, and he pressed the tip of the bloodstained knife to Robin's throat.

"Goodbye, pet. You were never good enough."

Robin felt the pain of the thrust as the blade slid home.

Sitting up in bed with a cry, soaked in sweat, Robin wrapped his arms around his knees and sobbed violently.

He cried out in alarm as he felt a hand on his back, half expecting it to dig into the wounds he thought was there.

"Shhhhh, pet… just another nightmare…" he heard a voice say, clearly trying to sooth him. The sound of that voice again, though, was too much and Robin shrieked in terror.

"No, please! You can't! Please, no, not again, NO!"

Slade caught the flailing limbs and gathered the boy up, carrying him to the shower. They both needed it by now, and he thought the boy had actually wet himself during the nightmare. It was hard to tell, though, since the sleeping pants Robin wore was soaked through with sweat as it was. Slade pressed a button on the way, calling the robots in to clean up and change the bedding.

Robin stopped fighting and instead clung to the man, slowly coming back to his senses as the nightmare washed away with the warm spray of the water. It had been so real… and it seemed to him like it had lasted for weeks and weeks. He could still feel the pain in his shoulders, probably from tensing up completely, and his whole body shook from pain that wasn't there.

"It was a bad one, this, wasn't it?" he heard Slade murmur. Robin was slowly coming to terms with how much trouble he had caused the man.

"I… I'm sorry… please… go back to sleep, I'm sorry! I… I got you wet… I…. I'll make it up to you, I swear! I… god, I'm sorry…. please forgive me!"

Slade ignored the rant.

"What was the dream about?"

After some hesitation, the man heard a quiet;

"You."

"And what did I want from you, scaring you like this?"

"N-nothing! You wanted nothing! Only… only hurt me… but. I… I was worthless… you f-finally re-realized th-that and… and then y-you…"

"I see…" Slade, still having to support the boy, started drying him off with a towel, before bringing him back to a newly made bed. The robots had even changed the mattress, slade noted, as it had that slightly stiffer 'new' feel.

Well, he figured with a grin, we just have to break it in…

Right now was not the time, though. Robin seemed more in the real world now, but the terror in his eyes as they met Slade's, still lingered.

"Please promise me something?" the boy next to him whispered, a mix of pain, fear and pleading making his eyes big and dark.

"What?"

"That… when you don't want me anymore you… you'll just kill me? Please?"

Slade smiled down on his little pet. That dream must have been something. He would have to ask Raven to investigate it.

"I promise." he said, and instantly felt the boy relax. Really…. Robin still trusted him… it was quite endearing.

Robin soon fell back to sleep, and this time there was no nightmares. He had all but forgotten the terror when he awoke the next day, until Slade asked Raven to look into that memory. The girl complied, but soon turned from her usual pale complexion to stark white. Maybe it was a revenge for what he had been put through, but Robin's mind refused to let the link go until he had poured all the dream's content's into the empath's mind.

Raven cried out in distress as the link was finally severed, and the sound made even Slade worried.

"What was it? What did he dream?" the man demanded to know.

"I… I can't… I can't tell you, Master… I have to show you… will you let me?"

Slade nodded, and suddenly the nightmare rushed into his mind instead. Slade only barely was able to stop himself from crying out as well.

Afterwards he looked over at Robin, who had his eyes glued to the floor, and Slade quietly wondered how it was possible for the boy's brain to dream up something so real. He understood the boy's fear now, and even though he, surprisingly, felt some degree of pity, he now knew how to use that fear. It was all to his advantage.

Robin was jumpy long into the afternoon, but Slade overlooked the flinches and the strangled gasps that seemed to erupt from the boy if Slade as much as moved. He seemed ashamed of this himself, however and by the evening he was back to normal, although clearly nervous about the upcoming night.

As they lay in bed, Slade reading as usual, Robin was twisting and turning, trying to settle down. After a while Slade felt the boy's eyes on him, and snorted.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Is it true-? No… forget it." Robin turned his back on the man.

Slade had a feeling he knew what the boy would ask, and he grinned. He wouldn't force the boy to say it, it would be so much better if he asked himself… but he could give him a push along the way, though…

"All right, pet…" he therefore said gently. "Sweet dreams."

Robin's back stiffened, and there were only moments before the boy sighed and turned around again.

"Is it true that I won't have nightmares when you hold me?"

"Well, you seem calmer when I do, but there are no guarantees, naturally. Why do you ask?" Slade tried very hard not to smirk.

Robin took a deep breath.

"Then-will-you-hold-me?"

"What was that?"

Robin's eyes narrowed. He had caught on now. Slade was having fun on his behalf… but then again, when wasn't he? The nightmare had been so bad, though, that Robin felt like he had no choice. He would never dare to go to sleep again otherwise.

"Can. You. Hold. Me?" he hissed.

"Well, naturally… all you had to do was ask…" Slade couldn't hide the grin this time, but Robin chose to ignore it. Muttering low curses, the boy moved closer until he could rest his head on Slade's shoulder. At first he laid awkwardly and stiffly with his arms down his sides, but Robin realized that he would never fall asleep unless he got more comfortable, so as Slade put away his papers and turned the lights out, Robin turned slightly and draped an arm across Slade's middle. His slightly bulging stomach pressed a little into Slade's side, but at least Robin was comfy. He didn't much care about Slade. Robin sighed and soon fell asleep, feeling safe in the knowledge that Slade would chase the dreams away. Why wouldn't he? No matter how scary the man appeared in them, it was nothing to the real thing, after all…

When the clothes waiting for Robin the next morning included a baggy t-shirt, the boy immediately knew that something was up.

"All right, who is expected to visit?" he snorted.

"Clever pet." Slade nodded appreciatively. "Lex is coming by. I expect you will behave?"

"If he does…" Robin muttered, but as Slade cleared his throat the boy added; "Yeah, sure."

"Very well. I don't have to tell you to keep quiet about your… situation… do I?"

"Like I would want for someone to find out…" Robin struck a dramatic pose with the back of his hand against his forehead. "A bastard child, born out of wedlock… a sin and a shame combined… it must be kept from the world!"

Slade chuckled and shook his head.

"I think Chang should cut back on your vitamins…"

"They're not so bad… with mustard…" Robin muttered.

Lex started by greeting Slade, before giving Robin a glance.

"Hello, Robin, and how are you?"

Robin, half hidden behind Slade, took a step forward.

"I'm okay." he shrugged. Slade's hand, placed firmly across the boy's chest, stopped him from getting any closer to the businessman, not that Robin really had planned that. The boy glanced up at the mercenary, sighed and it was his turn to shake his head. Slade's testosterone was definitely acting up again. With Robin in the same room as another alpha male, Slade's subconscious told him to mind his mate.

Lex noted that something was slightly strange, but couldn't really figure out what. His years as a businessman had taught him to read peoples body language pretty well, but now he was confused.

"Glad to hear it. Seems things changes around here every time I visit… when I was here a month ago, Slade told me you were being punished?"

Robin flinched at the reminder, he still had nightmares about that room and adding the new nightmare to that… but he knew that Slade wouldn't put him back in his current condition… the pregnancy was in a much too fragile state right now.

"Yeah… I… I'm okay now…" Robin insisted.

"Well, good." Lex brushed the boy off and turned back to Slade. "So, should we get started? I have some polls you might be interested in… By the way, where is your mask?" the question was quick and intended to startle. Slade had expected it, though, and didn't move a muscle.

"I decided it was time…"

"Actually, " Robin started "I-"

"That's enough, pet." Slade interrupted.

"Sorry." Robin muttered, as he felt it might be appropriate.

Robin sat on the floor on Slade's left side, leaning back against the soft chair and enjoying the sun streaming in through the window. It wasn't the blazing hot sun of summer, but it had been dark and cloudy for a few days so it was welcome anyway. He had been nibbling on a banana and mustard sandwich, which had made Lex's face turn slightly green.

"You can't feed him that, Slade!" the man had exclaimed, and Slade had sighed.

"I'm not. He insists. But don't worry, that's not all he eats."

Robin had his eyes closed now, and had almost dozed off, as something in the conversation caught his interest.

"What?" he exclaimed and twisted around to face the two men.

"Pets should be seen, not heard." Slade commented.

"And megalomaniac tyrants should be feared and hated, not… what was it you said, Mr. Luthor?"

"Call me Lex, boy… and I said that according to our latest poll, Slade has the support of 89 of the measurable population."

"You mean he has conquered..?"

"No, I mean the people support him."

"But so many can't be under the contracts influence… it's impossible!" Robin objected wildly.

"Yes, and this has nothing to do with the contract. Well. The people are not bound by it… what they see, though, is a new world… an organized world, with very few disputes and, now, a rather stable economy-"

"All thanks to you…" Slade raised his glass of water to Lex, who nodded in appreciation.

"Are they crazy?" Robin spluttered. "They cheer him on? What about those who have died? What about freedom!?"

"Oh, it's very easy to concentrate on your own family and your own situation in these circumstances, Robin… you turn a blind eye to all else…the war is over. It has been, really, for quite some time. People tend to forget… and speaking about crazy…" Lex smirked "Slade, the new temple is about to open in New York. As usual they would like their god to make an appearance…"

"I'll do it on screen… answer a few questions, grant a few wishes…" Slade chuckled as he saw Robin's jaw drop.

"Y-you… they… they… they turned you into a god?!"

"Oh, well, I'm not as big as Oprah…" Slade smirked.

"Actually, you have passed all the major religions according to popularity…" Lex disagreed "But let me make it clear too you, Robin, we only call these places "temples" they are more of administration buildings… none the less, you master has a rather big following, almost a cult-like organization, who, it seems, do regard him in a god-like manner. And, to an extent, you too…"

"What?"

"Well, you are their leader's favorite-"

"They- they know about me? All of them?" Robin was staring at the men disbelievingly.

Slade chuckled darkly and reached out to pat the boy's head. Robin just sat there, too stunned to even duck.

"I told you, Robin. You can never go back. They all know who and what you are now… what was it that T-shirt said, Lex…?"

"You mean 'Pleasure pet in training'?" Lex answered. "Yes, well, many want to take your place…" he explained, meeting Robin's dark look.

"They are welcome. Hold an audition. Just don't forget to mention the perks." Robin muttered, unconsciously clutching his stomach.

"Feeling sick? No wonder, considering what you just ate…" Lex said.

Robin just snorted. He was about to answer back when he caught a warning glance from Slade and closed his eyes. He didn't want to slip up. He would, after all, have to stay here and face the consequences. Besides, he had told Slade the truth before, he did not want anyone finding out about the spawn, and that, at least, was something Slade had kept from the masses.

"I was thinking that perhaps you should show him off?" Lex suggested, eyeing Robin. "It would be great publicity."

"And make Robin a bigger target…" Slade frowned. "But I'll consider it…"

"The people are crying out for more, though… they want to get to know their leader and his inner circle… Especially after the latest rumors…" Lex studied Slade closely.

"Which are?" Slade asked, seemingly unconcerned.

"A sound file online… it's said to come from your mainframe and it's the sound of an unborn baby's heartbeats. A human. At least that's what those analyzing the sound have concluded… so the rumor is that you have an heir on the way…"

"Really, now…?" Slade chuckled in a way that made Robin want to punch him even harder than usual. The man seemed to sense that, though, and his hand tightened somewhat in Robin's hair before going back to playing with it.

"So… is it true? And is it Raven or Starfire? One of the prisoners perhaps?"

"You saw Raven and Star on your way in. Did any of them look pregnant to you?"

Lex shook his head.

"No, and the mother would be showing now, I've heard."

"You have heard quite a few things, haven't you?" for some reason, Slade sounded smug "If this file is real, saying it came from my mainframe sounds ridiculous… who in the world would have the skill to hack it? And without leaving any trace? Doesn't seem plausible, does it?"

Lex leaned back in the chair with a cold little smile on his face.

"So you are not going to tell me?"

Slade laughed and leaned back himself.

"Lex, Lex, Lex… so you believe the file is genuine… no… you know it is… and you know were it came from… that is very interesting… considering I set it up so only one person could have the slightest chance of finding it; Bruce Wayne."

Lex frowned. He had been bested, and he knew it. Robin couldn't help but chuckle quietly at the look on the man's face, something that earned him a softer, almost affectionate, stroke on the head from Slade.

"So, Lex… tell Bruce he has to call me to find out…"

"What do you mean?" Luthor objected, almost spluttering. "The JL has been nowhere to be found for months-"

"Yes… strange that… it was almost like someone were hiding them… someone with enough power and resources… hmmmm….." Slade mockingly seemed to ponder this.

"I have no conta-"

"Save us both some time and deliver the message." Slade cut off, done playing for now "Tell him my pet has something to say or something else to perk his interest enough… I don't care how, just do it."

Luthor sighed and seemed to slump a bit in the chair.

"All right. You win. But I don't have frequent contact with them, and even I don't know exactly where they are… it may be a few days."

Slade nodded.

"That's fine. Just get it done."

Robin was standing by a window, looking out on a wonderful summer day. Suddenly the bundle in his arms made a little noise. Robin looked down and smiled at the beautiful, three months old baby boy in his arms.

"Hi, you… hungry?" he whispered, and big, grey eyes fluttered open behind long, dark lashes. Black curls framed the round face, that seemed unable to decide if it should complain any further or not. The baby made a little meeping noise and Robin laughed. "Yeah, I know, I'll get the bottle… it should have cooled down by now… stupid daddy overheated it again… yes… stupid daddy, right?" he cooed.

"Is that supposed to be me?" Slade appeared in the doorway, and Robin looked up at the man with a big smile on his face.

"Hi honey… we were just discussing your cooking skills."

"Ahh… I'm sorry about that… he hasn't been too hungry I hope?" Slade smiled ruefully and came up to embrace them both.

"Nah, he's been sleeping…" Robin admitted, before tilting his head back, begging for a kiss that he immediately received. "I love you…" he murmured as their lips parted and Slade chuckled.

"And I love you…" he kissed Robin on the forehead. "And you, David…" he kissed the baby boy on the forehead as well, getting a few happy bubbling sounds as a reply. "…and you…" the man kneeled down and kissed Robin's stomach. Robin gasped and then his wide smile lit up the room.

"Does that… does that mean…?"

"Yes, love… Raven just confirmed it. You're pregnant."

"I knew it! I knew it would work this time!" Robin exclaimed, alarming the soon-to-be big brother who decided that everyone had forgotten about his meal and now the world had to pay. Robin hurried to get the bottle and sank down in the plush sofa by the windows to stop the racket. Slade joined him within moments.

"He's quite strong-minded, isn't he?" he chuckled, as the boy started eating like there was no tomorrow.

Robin smirked, leaning back against the man, getting comfortable feeding his son.

"Well, where in the world could he have gotten that from?" he wondered innocently and Slade chuckled again, wrapping his arms around his family and helped Robin support the child.

"What a beautiful boy we have…" the man smiled, completely engrossed by the sight of his young son.

"Yes… and another one on the way…" Robin purred.

"I'm so proud of you, Robin… you are everything I could ever hope fore… I'm lucky to have you…"

"And don't you forget it…" Robin grinned teasingly.

"I won't…" Slade promised. "By the way, how would you like to celebrate the good news?"

It was Robin's turn to chuckle.

"Should we check if Raven and Star could babysit tonight?"

"Why wait? Why not right now?" Slade smirked, letting one of his hands slide along Robin's body seductively.

"Mmmm… I wouldn't mind that…" Robin agreed and sighed happily. "I love you…"

"It's amazing, really…." Slade whispered.

"What is?" Robin smiled.

"How affectionate a whore can become."

Once more Robin sat up in bed, not soaked in sweat this time, but still in shock. As Slade made a move beside him, Robin's fist shot out.

"You don't call me that! You don't!" the boy screamed, not even aware that his fist had been caught before it could do any harm.

"Calm down!"

Robin blinked. A dream… Damn, and this had seemed so real too! Robin suddenly realized the reason why Slade were gripping his fist and slowly withdrew it.

"I'm sorry… just… dream…"

"It must have been another bad one?" Slade commented.

"I… loved you…"

"Yes, I can see how that can be scary…." Slade smirked.

Robin snorted.

"It wasn't, okay? If was bloody wonderful! You, me and David were a family and we just found out I was pregnant again, and-"

"David?"

"Uhh… yeah…" Robin blushed a bit. "It was a dream! You couldn't even warm milk correctly!" he countered.

"Ouch." Slade grinned. "So 'Spawn' is now 'David'?"

"No! Spawn is spawn!" Robin hissed.

"I see… well, and what made you wake up? Were you about to change the diapers?"

Robin glared at him from under his bangs.

"No." When Slade didn't seem satisfied with the answer, Robin sighed and continued. "You told me you loved me. Loved us. And… we were so happy… and… then…"

"Then?" Slade prompted.

"You called me a whore. You were so pleased with yourself because you had gotten me to fall in love with you…" Robin said quietly.

"I see… so the dream turned, then…" Slade said as a matter-of-fact.

"What do you mean?" Robin asked tiredly.

"Well, even your subconscious was probably too troubled with the dream, so it changed it… but you didn't seem to like that…?"

"Of course I didn't! You… you…"

Slade had a feeling he should back off, and, for once, he didn't prod any further.

"That's all right. It was just a dream. Go back to sleep, Robin…"

Slade stretched out on the bed once more and soon Robin did the same, close enough so that Slade could feel the boy's body heat, but not so close that their bodies touched.

As Slade was about to fall asleep again he heard a voice say, very quietly;

"…you broke my heart."

To be continued…


A/N: Scary, huh? And I'm talking about the last dream here… ;o).
It's the first of may next week, which is a holiday in Sweden… AND I have taken Friday off as well, so I'm hoping to get a lot of time to write…

Talking about that… what would you like, drabble wise? Any ideas? EXCEPT the Terms-universe, I'm sorry, but I'm planning the next installment in that series, but since that will be somewhat longer I'm not going to start until after this story is done… so ideas for shorter drabbles are welcome… original ones or spin-offs/what if-s from my earlier stories… as long as it's Sladin or Sladin/X (or Rob/Red or any combination… you know…)… Can't promise anything, but I'll save your suggestions for later if the time should run out… Oh! Also pic-suggestions, please! The weather is supposed to be bad, anyway… ;o)

/W