In Between One Shot
From Apprentice part 1

"So, do we have a deal?" Slade asked, repeating the same words Robin himself had spoken under the guise of Red X. Was it because those words came out naturally to Slade or was he just messing with the teen? Robin didn't really know, but he knew one thing…this was bad.

Robin glared at Slade, but no amount of glaring or hatred would solve this problem right now. Slade was serious and meant every word of his threat. The Boy Wonder eyed the screens with the nanoscopic probes that flowed in each of his friends' bloodstreams. There was no other way. Robin didn't have a choice, Robin couldn't say no. Serving this one-eyed nightmare was the last thing he wanted to ever do, but his friends' lives were on the line. For now, Robin knew he had to play along. Play along until Slade finally lets his guard down and Robin could snag the controller. It wouldn't be forever…just temporary. Just play along…

"Well, Robin?" Slade asked, drawing the teen out of his thoughts.

Robin looked away, not wanting to look Slade in the eye as he spoke. "Fine…I'll do whatever you say, just don't hurt them,"

Beneath his mask Slade was grinning, he knew Robin would agree to these terms. Of course they were just temporary, once the boy realized the sheer thrill of being a villain the probes wouldn't be needed anymore. But that would take time. Time and conditioning, and of course, on Slade's part, patience. Slade walked over to his new apprentice, feeling his chest swell up with pride at his fortunate success. Because, Slade had truly won the day. He stopped in front of the boy who continued to keep his head turned away from the tall man. Slade placed a strong and steady hand on the boy's shoulder and Robin abruptly looked up at Slade. Hidden masked eyes met one soul-piercing black eye. Robin didn't like the look Slade was giving him at that moment.

"I knew you would see things my way," Slade said answering Robin's response from before. "Now," Slade spoke as his grip tightened on Robin's shoulder. Slade held up his other hand. "I'll be taking what's mine…your mask, please."

Robin's masked eyes widened in fear. No, the mask stayed. The mask always…Robin suddenly saw the trigger come into view. Oh no. This was bad. But once again, Slade held the upper hand, literally. Robin once again didn't have a choice. Slowly, but surely, Robin peeled off his mask and gave it to Slade, whom graciously accepted it and then clenched his fist around it. "There, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" Slade asked as he looked into the deep, ocean blue, eyes of Richard (Dick) Grayson. It took all of the unmasked teen's strength not to snarl and retort something. It was hard to mask his anger when the windows to his soul were now exposed to his mortal enemy.

Slade removed his grip from Robin's shoulder and held up his hand defensively but calmly. "Relax, you won't have to be unmasked in front of me forever. You'll have another to replace this one..." Slade securely placed Robin's mask in one of his belt pockets. A souvenir perhaps for his triumphant victory. Slade placed his hands behind his back, a comfortable position for him, and began walking away to the left of Robin. "Follow." He commanded.

Dick did so, silently noting that despite being unmasked by his greatest enemy Slade didn't seem to acknowledge his alter ego. But why? Maybe Slade didn't know? But how could he not? Richard Grayson wasn't really a face people could casually not notice or forget. Everyone knew who he was even people who weren't Gothamites…so why…not say anything?

They came to a wall with a secret hidden panel, Slade typed in a cryptic code and a hidden compartment embedded within the wall revealed a folded up uniform very similar to Slade's own design on a shelf. A light shined from above inside the small compartment. Slade picked up the domino mask from atop the uniform. It had sharp spikes at the ends…just like Slade, and Richard felt his stomach drop as he realized what Slade expected of him to do. Slade held the mask out for Richard to take. "Since I know you don't want to be Richard Grayson right now, may as well put the mask on first."

Dick took it and looked down into the eyes of his…new mask. The teen swallowed trying not to show his fear. Slade knew.

"How…how long have you known…" Richard didn't look up at the villain.

Slade stared down at the teen for a moment before answering. "I've known for a while, since you were about twelve actually,"

"But I was in Gotham with—"

"With the Batman at the time, yes I know. You and I officially met once you were older, but I had been following you long before you ever set foot in Jump City,"

Richard shot his head up, his eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

Slade continued. "I'm not just some criminal mastermind. I offer my services to annihilate any target, for the right price of course."

Dick felt his blood start to boil. "You're an assassin."

"Not quite, though similar, I'm more of a hitman…a mercenary if you want to get technical. Taking over the world doesn't pay much. This way I use my talents to earn income, while also having a bit of fun."

"Fun?" Dick repeated with exasperation. "You kill people. How could you even—"

Slade interrupted. "It's business. I get the job done, I get paid. Easy as pie. I know this is all a bit of a shock to you, but in time you'll get used to it. Especially since now…"
Slade chuckled a bit and Robin felt a sea wave of chills wash all over him. Slade, was going to teach him how to…Robin immediately stomped on the break to that thought. 'Calm down,' Richard thought. Dick clenched his fists and asked. "What does this all have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you. I was going through a…difficult time in regards to my personal life. I needed to get my mind off things, and what better way than to throw yourself into your work? I accepted to take on a few contracts in Gotham. I had heard of the Legendary Dark Knight and wanted to take on more of a challenge. Of course, I kept to the shadows and hired other criminals to do my bidding. I merely wanted to observe The Batman, to test him. See how clever the big hero truly was. I laid out puzzles, riddles, and clues for him to discover and found myself impressed at the level of wit the Batman seemed to have. Every challenge that I presented to him was meticulously overcome. Imagine my surprise, however, when I discovered you were the one who had solved each and every one of my tests. Batman was hardly involved, if any. Then again, you didn't tell him about the hidden clues, did you? You kept it to your-self in order to prove a point to your former mentor.

Richard couldn't believe what he was hearing, he cringed a little when Slade had said "former" mentor. Slade was acting as if this was going to be permanent.

Suddenly it dawned on him. "Wait…I remember that…you went under the alias Deathstroke."

Slade smirked beneath his mask, "So you do remember. When I found out that it was you solving my clues all along, I guess you could say I became 'curious' about you."

Dick narrowed his eyes. Obsessed was more like it. Robin remembered. "You stalked me."

Slade shook his head, "You always did have good instincts. I could tell you knew I was watching from somewhere. I followed you everywhere you went and observed every single move you made. It wasn't long until I discovered who you were and who the Batman was. Once I knew your identity I began making plans to obtain you. A plan that has finally been carried out as we speak."

Richard tried to process what Slade had been telling him. Slade had been planning this Apprenticeship before the Titans, before Jump City. Robin was hit hard with reality, and reality felt like being hit by a truck.
Robin looked back down at the mask. He hadn't made any attempt to putting it on. He felt his hands start to tremble.
Slade shook his head. "You take this the wrong way, Robin," Slade took the mask from the teens hands while gently tilting Richard's head up. "Think of this more like…" Slade paused a moment as he placed the mask over the teens eyes. "…an adoption." He finished. For a moment, Robin seemed almost hypnotized as the elder man stared down at him with his one eye. Slade's hand released the boy's chin as he placed his hands behind his back to observe the boy in front of him. Robin started feeling almost lightheaded, like he was going to pass out. Slade snapped the boy out of his gaze.

"Take your new uniform and go change in the back room that is open to you. Come back in here when you're done and I'll instruct you in how to put on your armor, it will be tricky at first but you'll get used to it,"

Robin nodded numbly and went to do just that. Stumbling a bit as he left. Slade had to nearly repress a slight chuckle from slipping out. The boy was obviously in a state of shock, and had not seen this coming from a mile away. Knowing Robin though, he would snap out of it.

A familiar elderly man in a white suit and gloves emerged from the shadows and appeared behind Slade. "Dinner…" He spoke in an eerie and shaky voice. "…will be ready shortly." There was also an English intonation to the old man's dialect.

"Thank you, Wintergreen. My apprentice and I will be joining you soon." Slade said.

"I see that your mission… in obtaining the Boy Wonder…was a success…he isn't talking much though, is he?" The pale, spooky, gentlemen inquired.

"He's in shock. That will change once he's a bit more settled in."

"Very good, then. Excuse me…while I go set up…the table," Wintergreen excused himself with a bow and left.

Wintergreen wasn't gone for less than five minutes when Robin came back wearing his new Slade insignia uniform and steel toed boots. Of course the uniform wouldn't be complete without the armor, but already Slade was becoming excited. He had been looking forward to the Boy Wonder wearing his colors and now it was finally happening. The boy looked so much like him. He had scored more than just an apprentice. Slade knew this. He circled the teen, observing and noting the fit of the material on Robin's body. It looked like it fit and was comfortable enough for the teen to fight in. Slade stopped in front of Robin and placed a hand under the boy's chin tilting Robin's head up again like before. Both were greatly aware of the height difference and why Slade seemingly had to hold Robin's chin up to look at him, but it made Robin feel smaller than he really was, like a little boy in front of daddy. Which was a terrifying thought for Robin. Robin knew he was short for his age but couldn't Slade just bend down to eye level like before to talk to him…on second thought, maybe not. Either way Slade approached him, Robin felt like a little kid, which irked the young teen more than anything. Robin jerked his head away from Slade and Slade's hand hung in the air for a moment.

It now irked Slade that the boy had done that, but at the same time he understood why Robin did it. Robin hated being treated like a child, even though in Slade's eye he still was one. 'Give it time', Slade thought. 'He'll see things my way sooner or later.' And with that, Slade dismissed Robin's behavior.

"Your uniform…how does it feel on you?" Slade asked. Wanting to make sure the uniform truly did fit. If not it would be altered.

"It's…fine." Was all Robin could managed to say. It was almost scary how well the uniform fit him perfectly like his old uniform did…old uniform…that was a sad thought to think. It was clear Slade had been watching him very closely and it was creepy to wonder how much spying and stalking Slade had done. Slade smiled beneath the mask (Though Robin couldn't see that). He accepted the answer the teen gave and patted Robin on the cheek a couple of times before walking back to the shelf where the rest of Robin's uniform (his armor) was waiting patiently to be put on. Robin's mouth slightly gaped when Slade had patted his cheek gently and walked away. 'Did Slade really just do that?'

"Now…about the armor," Slade started.

-ST-
A rewritten One-Shot. There may be more that follow this one. These will focus of the rivalry of Slade and Robin during the first season. No Slash!
(BTW A new chapter to my other story:Redemption, will be up hopefully this week or the next. Thanks for reading!

-Swallow Tale