A/N: Hope you guys are enjoying this! Thank you for all the reviews and encouragement! Sorry this took so long to get out, I rewrote it a few times so all mistakes are mine. I am not good at fight scenes so this was pretty rough to write. It's forty-one pages so it's a bit of a long read. Sorry, but I couldn't cut it down really.

PLEASE READ ALL WARNINGS!

WARNINGS: Sex between two men, extremely filthy and lewd dirty talk, GRAPHIC sex scene at bottom, blood, wounds, major dom/sub dynamics, swearing, minor gore. Talk of mental disorders. If any of this bothers you please don't read.

Chapter Seventeen

The Raid

Robin stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel, drying off his body before running the towel over his hair. He let out a soft sigh as he looked at his face in the mirror and tried to accept everything that had happened to him in the last eight months of his life. It was still hard to digest and Robin had been given little time to really wrap his mind around what had happened to him.

Aside from the obvious trauma left to him by six months of torture Robin still had to come to terms with the fact that not only had his long time enemy save him and nurse him back to health but he had become Robin's lover and the only constant he had in his life right now. That little tidbit still felt like it was straight out of one of those romantic novels Raven secretly liked. Part of him felt like it was all a hallucination, or some dream brought on by the tortoure. Sometimes he felt like he might wake up from a dream at any moment and still be in the white room. If this really was a dream, he hoped he never woke up.

Despite his paranoid and nonsensical fears, something in Robin's chest continued to swirl warmly at the thought of Slade, at the thought of what they had become. He was...satisfied with this outcome. Him and Slade, together, so intimately intertwined. Goosebumps erupted over his skin as he thought about it and his hands tightened on the towel he was still holding.

He glanced down to spy his naked body, his mind imagining the man's large hands pressing across his tormented skin and wondering how Slade could find him attractive at all when every inch of him was nothing but scar tissue wrapped over metal brackets and sinewy muscle. Somehow, Slade seemed to have no issue with Robin's body, and the young man thought it was perhaps because Slade had been the one to repair it. He did have an ego and was not above admiring his own handiwork. Now, more of Robin consisted of parts that had been spliced back together, all of it done by Slade, over the course of a week and a half.

Maybe he does really just want to admire his handiwork, I'm his little Frankenstein and he is the mad scientist who stitched me together. I'm nothing but the product of his imaginings.

The door to the bathroom opened but Robin did not look away from his body, continuing to stare at himself and see every scar, gouge and blemish that showed the story of his six months in hell. He wasn't wallowing, and he wasn't really getting upset, but looking down at himself and seeing the marks, seeing the long thin slice across his chest from when Erik had tried desperately to elicit such perverse responses from him, he wondered how anyone could ever want to touch him.

I don't even want to touch myself.

Wrapping arms around himself, the towel falling to the floor, he didn't look away until he felt a pair of hands come to his shoulders, glancing up to see Slade standing behind him and gazing at him through the mirror, "Beauty in every mark." the man said softly and Robin's brow furrowed.

"I don't see it. I doubt I ever will." Robin murmured softly as he looked away and felt one of Slade's hands abandone a shoulder and snake around and grab his jaw gently, turning his face back to the mirror. Their eyes met and Robin sighed softly as Slade said, "There is beauty in every mark. They are a testament to your strength. If they weren't you wouldn't be alive."

"Sometimes I think...I'd rather be dead." he whispered and he could see the guilt on his own face for uttering something so pathetic. But despite everything that had happened, despite how quickly he had recovered and how close he was to saving his friends and family...despite how close he and Slade had become... sometimes...he wished he had died in that chair.

"No. You don't." Slade said in a rather low and dangerous tone. His hands gliding up Robin's sides, around his back, up his neck and into his hair.

Robin groaned faintly at such lavish strokes to his skin, his eyes closing as he tilted his head back and leaned against the man behind him.

Fingers grazed down his throat before coming to move his head to the side, so that lips could meet his and a tongue could slide into his mouth. The kiss was deep and hungry, determined in some way to prove that Robin had far too many reasons to not give up on his life, the main one being Slade's want of him.

As the man ended the kiss he whispered out a soft, "You chose life. And you fought for it, brutally so."

Robin hummed his agreement before he looked away and raised the heel of his hand to rub at his real eye as he whispered, "I'm just so tired." and Slade nodded, "I know. Once this is over, you can rest. I might even rest with you."

"A vacation would be nice." Robin said as a tear slipped from his eye and he quickly wiped it away, and he cleared his throat softly, "Sorry."

Slade ran a knuckle down his cheek, "No need to apologize. The tears will end when you finally rest. As for a vacation, I'd not be opposed. I had intended to take some time off after I returned from my dealings with the Triad. So, I'm still due for some R and R."

Robin let out a weak chuckle, "You? On vacation? I don't believe it." Slade wrapped his arms around Robin and brought lips down to kiss gently as his neck, "Oh yes. I've got a lovely little mountain retreat. A cabin, surrounded by snow and thick pines. Well off the beaten track and completely off grid. Just you, me and a fire in the fireplace." Slade whispered and Robin closed his eyes and imagined it.

For the first time in a very long time an excitement came to him that was about something other than simply moving forward with the plan, "Promise?" he asked softly as he found spending a few months in a cabin in the snowy mountains with Slade so very appealing.

"Oh, no need to make promises. It's happening. I've already cleared my schedule." and Slade gently pressed Robin to turn before hoisting him up onto the bathroom counter and cupping his face as he kissed Robin soundly.

Robin's hands ran up Slade's thighs, one moving to gently cup at Slade's arousal as he murmured against the man's lips, "Please-" Slade nipped at his bottom lip before he let out a soft hum and said in a thick voice of want, "Tempting, but time has run out, we will be leaving-" and Robin cut the man off as he started to rub and massage at Slade's length through his pants, "I want you...right now...between my thighs...I'll spread my legs right now...please fuck me, sir." it was probably the most lewd thing Robin had ever said. But he had learned early on that Slade had a rather kinky side to him, and though he had yet to really explore such things with the man on a more deep and intimate level, he knew two things for sure. Using the term 'sir' and begging for sex tended to drive Slade wild. Adding some dirty talk and literally asking for it would likely get him what he wanted without Slade getting annoyed by Robin's disobedience.

Slade's hands had dropped from his face to grip Robin's hips painfully tight before he shoved forward and Robin's head collided with the medicine cabinet behind him. Slade pressed his face to Robin's, nestling against him as his hips pushed firmly between Robin's thighs.

"You are being extremely disobedient-" Slade warned and Robin kept a hand on Slade's hard length, his other hand coming to tenderly cup the man's face as he whispered out a sweet, "Yes, Sir. Please, sir? Please fuck me hard. I want your cum-" and Robin heard how Slade had started to let out short little pants of breath, felt it ghosting over his throat and chest, "I am going to rip you apart when we get back for being so damn disobedient. And I expect you to talk just as pretty when I fuck you into the mattress." he hissed, running a gentle thumb over Robin's bottom lip.

The young man instantly opened his mouth, wrapping lips around that massaging digit and slowly sucking on Slade's thumb. Ice blue eyes locked with Slade's gray one and Robin saw the man's pupil dilate, the gray of his eye near disappearing and Robin's cheeks burned red with desire as his tongue swirled around the man's thumb and he saw Slade's jaw tighten.

"Enough." Slade breathed as he slowly pulled his hand back and dropped it down to grab Robin's wrist. Robin leaned forward and ran his lips along Slade's jaw as he whispered out, "We may not get another chance. Fuck me, sir, please-"

Robin noticed how Slade seemed to still, his eye narrowing before he pulled away and took Robin's chin in a harsh grip, "We will have all the time in the world. Believe me. Once this is over you're never going to leave my side again. Or our bed for that matter. Now, stop disobeying me and go change. Meet me in the fabrication lab in thirty minutes. I have a few more items I will be adding to your uniform before we leave. And you had better behave or you won't be able to sit down for the next week, understand?"

Robin sighed and nodded, a little disappointed at the man's firm hold of his discipline. Slade could shut off his arousal at a moment's notice it seemed. Something that Robin could not and had no desire to do. The ability to simply shut off your emotions, to shut off your wants to such a degree as Slade could seem extremely dangerous and unfulfilling. Yet, Robin knew he must have some effect on the man for Slade often seemed to respond whenever Robin pushed.

In fact, it seemed the longer they were together, the less Slade seemed to resist Robin's advances whenever he made them. It left Robin wondering just how much power he might actually have in this relationship. If he asked for something...anything...would Slade give it to him? The man seemed devoted in some ways. It was just one more thing Robin was going to need to sort out when this was all over. It also left him wondering how tight Slade would want to keep the metaphorical leash he had placed around Robin's neck.

Wintergreen seemed to believe that if Slade did end up allowing himself to truly fall in love with Robin, then there would be no room for Robin to seek separation in the future. While Robin had no desire to separate, people change and there could come a time when Robin might actually want to go his own way again. Though it seemed Slade would not be the type to let him.

Robin knew he needed to be focusing on the mission that was about to occur, but these thoughts continued to swirl around his mind as he met Slade's eye and said softly, "Yes, sir." Sliding from the counter, he headed for the door, a light smack coming to his ass as Slade murmured out, "Damn, brat." Robin just smirked as he left the bathroom, wondering if Slade would have to take care of his neglected desire or if he was strong enough to ignore it.

"Thirty minutes." he said with a nod as he walked out of the bathroom and started to put on his new upgraded uniform. The door was shut behind him and Robin shook his head at his own stupidity.

Slade has more self-control and focus on this mission than I do and it's my own damn family and friends whose lives are at stake. Why can't I focus! All I want to do is disappear in him. He's all I've been able to think about. All I want. I have got to be more independent. I can't fall into some toxic codependent relationship. I've got to relearn how to focus and compartmentalize what needs to be done and what I want. And I can't allow myself to be totally consumed by my desires for him, nor can I let those desires for him blind me to what needs to be done.

After clipping all of his armour into place and adjusting the belt and cross sash he looked at the full length mirror that was bolted into the wall behind the door and saw that he finally looks like himself again. His body was still a bit thin but overall he filled out the uniform and looked strong and confident.

He smiled a little and headed out, wanting to stop in the kitchen for some coffee before he met up again with Slade. He found Wintergreen reading quietly at the kitchen table and nodded to the man as he headed for the coffee maker.

"I must admit, you do look striking in Slade's colors. A true threat and rather deadly. A spitting image of the man himself." Will said as he looked after Robin who stopped just short of the kitchen counter, "Is that bad?" Robin asked without turning around.

"I don't know. Is it?" Will questioned with a rather rhetorical tone before he went back to reading.

Robin's eyes narrowed as he thought on Will's words, his mind seeming to pull back a little further as he realized he was able to see outside of himself for a moment. An image in his mind came of himself standing in a light, Slade before him, his friends and family behind him and for the first time since Slade rescued him, he felt a tug in his conscious mind to fight harder to resist these desires.

A flash came of Slade's hands on his body, the man's lips running up his throat as they rested on a couch in a cabin before a burning fire. The sudden tug to resist faded instantly and he licked his lips slowly as he finished his walk to the counter.

As he made coffee he ruminated once more on everything that had happened, but with the promised reprieve from Slade in the back of his mind to help hold onto something positive. His team had been captured, his home in Titans Tower destroyed, his adoptive father and sudo-sister kidnapped and the fate of the world resting on his shoulders. It all felt like too much for him to bear.

And to add to the seemingly never ending list of things for him to worry about, last night Robin had unintentionally proven Slade's theory of Robin suffering from SPD. Something Robin wasn't sure he even wanted to face right now, if ever. As Robin waited for the coffee to brew he crossed to a shelf to retrieve a mug and thought of the last twelve hours which had been a bit of a whirlwind.

After dinner the night before Slade, Robin and Wintergreen had started both planning and packing. There wasn't much they could do prep wise for the actual run through Erik's base as while they now had the layout thanks to the old rendering of the mine, they had no idea what changes Erik may have made or where guards would be stationed. They did, however, need to prepare for as many scenarios as possible.

As they packed gear, prepared their uniforms, filled their belts and selected their weapons Slade ran through possible scenarios they may encounter and Robin had given his thoughts on how best to respond to each.

They were also going to be loaded down more heavily than normal with gear and weapons as they did not know what they might run into while inside so Slade had given Robin's uniform a few upgrades and the man had been adamant about preparing for every contingency.

They had worked through the night and at around five a.m. had taken a break to eat, bath and rest. Robin had jumped into the shower after breakfast to wake himself up while Slade had gone over the drop and retrieval plan with Wintergreen.

It was going on six o'clock now and to say he was a bundle of nerves was an understatement. It was why Robin had wanted to have sex with Slade. He thought it might help to calm him. But Slade had been right, now was not the time. They had to keep moving forward as they would be leaving in the next hour. Still, Robin felt wired, his whole body on edge as this was going to be it. They were going after Bruce and Barbara and nothing would stand in their way or stop them. He felt both relieved and jittery. No doubt the coffee wouldn't help his jitteriness but it would help to keep him awake.

He poured some coffee from the pot and added some cream and sugar before he looked to Will, "You got the time?"

"Ten till six." Will said without bothering to look at his wrist watch and Robin sighed, "I'm going to meet Slade in the fabrication lab. Hopefully we will leave when we are done." Will simply nodded and Robin left the kitchen and walked down the dark hallway and was even more jumpy than before. His outward appearance was calm and collected, but inside was pure electricity as he wondered what Slade was up to.

When he entered the room Slade turned around and as their eyes met they stared at each other a moment. He was freshly showered and was now in full uniform as well save for his mask which rested on the table behind him.

The silence that rang between them was tense and Robin wasn't sure why it was so. In the bathroom they had been relaxed and comfortable but Robin had a feeling Slade was about to say something important and so he set his coffee aside and waited.

Finally, after several long moments Slade spoke, "Stand before me, Robin." and the young man's eyes narrowed as he moved forward, doing as Slade asked and lowering his head in submission as he realized this was going to be a hard conversation, whatever it was.

"Look at me." and Robin complied, meeting his sharp and narrow eye as the man said softly, "This is it. We leave in Twenty minutes." And Slade crossed his arms, cocking his head to the side a little as his cold gray eye continued to stare at him.

"Are you ready?" The man asked and Robin nodded, "I am."

"Best to be sure. Once we leave there is no coming back until the mission is done. You understand we are liberating Batman and Batgirl, but do you understand we are going in for the kill. We aim for the throat. We remove whoever is in our way and do not stop for anything or anyone until we have your family and are clear of Erik's base. This is a straight run, in and out, no stopping, no elegance. No sticking to the shadows. Once we enter Erik's base we will be exposed the entire time."

Robin nodded again as he said softly, "I understand."

"We do not know how many Triad are down there and cannot afford to simply knock the men out. I'll dispatch them, but they need to be put down as there is only one way in and one way out. If someone blocks off your escape route and I am not there-"

"I end them. No hesitation." Robin said with a firm nod, his emotions seeming to fade out as his mind focused on the task at hand.

"I will do my best to keep you out of that situation, but if you need to make that call-"

"I'll make it." Robin assured.

"If it's them or you-"

"I choose me." Robin agreed and Slade nodded before he held out a hand and Robin came to him slowly, their eyes never breaking contact as Slade pulled him close, a hand running through his hair before dropping down to cup his jaw, "If your split comes out, I want you to let him. Don't fight him or resist, he will make sure you make it out. And you stay next to me until we have to part ways."

"Yes, sir." Robin said, his focus sharp as he continued to meet Slade's eye, "You need to be aware, while I know the goal is to free Batman and Batgirl, for me, if I am put in a position where I have to choose between saving one of them...and saving you...it will be you. Do not expect anything else from me. I will help you get in and help you get them out, but the variables are unpredictable. Anything could happen and I will not lose you in order to save one of them. Do you understand?"

Robin swallowed, a sort of cool dread coming to his stomach as he realized exactly what Slade was saying. He would keep his end of the bargain and help Robin try to rescue his family, but if something went wrong and Slade had to choose who to leave behind or possibly allow to die, it would not be Robin.

"One way or another, you and I are walking out of there. I can only hope that by being honest with you now, you won't hate me later should I have to make that call, because to me there is no choice. It will always be you. To me...no one else matters. I cannot change that about myself, so don't ask." Slade said as he ran his thumb across Robin's bottom limp gently and the young man sighed so softly, "I...understand. Thank you for being honest." Robin said as he looked down but Slade was quick to pull his face back up, "I will always be honest with you. That is a true and solemn vow. There are no more lies between us, no more manipulations or deceit, our games have ended, this is real. As you said so long ago, we cannot pretend we are the same as we were back then. You mean too much to me to be considered a second choice. You come first, always. That is my promise, but with that promise, comes the truth that no one else will ever take precedence over you. Not even the people you'd ask me to save."

A long time ago Robin would have been disgusted by something so unheroic as Slade sacrificing others to serve his own needs. This led Robin back to his previous thoughts on having formed a toxic and codependent relationship with the man, Slade obviously more than willing to forsake all others for Robin. But Robin wasn't so sure he wouldn't do the same. Still, perhaps it was because he'd found himself so enamored and in love with the man but at Slade's honesty Robin had only found Slade endearing himself more firmly in Robin's heart.

He couldn't say he agreed with Slade's resolve to abandon all others if it came down to saving Robin or them, but it honestly made him feel some kind of way he could not describe or put into words. His cheeks tinged red as he leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to Slade's lips before his hand came to cup the man's face, "I will accept your decision. But let's plan to do this right so you don't even have to worry about making that decision in the first place. We'll get in, save them and get out. If we're lucky Erik won't even be there, and while you lay waste to the men, I'll save Batman and Batgirl. We'll get them out, get them someplace safe...and then I'll say my goodbyes."

Slade's hands slid around Robin's sides before he gripped at Robin's back and said softly, "It's not forever. When things calm down, you can see them again. I won't keep you away from them unless they try to take you from me. Until then, I've no reason to hide you away."

Robin smiled, "You'd let me go visit?"

"They are your family. I'm not against family, Robin. I'm against people taking things that belong to me. You belong to me, just like I belong to you. I'll play nice until they give me a reason not to. If they try to take you away from me-"

"I'll just find my way back to you." Robin cut in with a smirk before he pulled Slade's face down to his and the pair kissed deeply for several seconds. After, Robin pressed his forehead to Slade's, "I don't ever want to exist without you by my side. But that's not to say I don't want a life outside of us. I want to be able to see my family...my friends...just like you'd want to see your daughter if you were given the opportunity. But I swear to you, Slade, if they ever try to keep me from you, I'll fight tooth and nail to get back to you. You're mine, and I'm yours. Forever." Robin said so gently and Slade purred out sharply as their eyes met, "Forever."

After a moment of standing in the quiet of the room Slade said softly, "I have something for you to add to your uniform. You will wear it the whole time, no buts."

"Alright." Robin said and as Slade pulled away to walk towards the fabrication machine's final station he felt a warmth spread through him and he smiled softly at Slade's back.

When the man turned around he held in his hands a rather intense looking chest plate, one that would sit just below his breast plate but would cover his entire torso and rest just above his belt. Slade walked over and placed it over his head, slowly beginning to buckle the sides tight as Robin looked down at it.

"What is this?" Robin asked and Slade smirked, "Consider it a modern day version of Lamellar, accept instead of being large square plates laced together via punched holes and wire I've streamlined it into something more akin to a bullet proof skin, and the range of motion is even better than it's original design. It will keep whatever bullets the Triad are using from hitting you. They are a unique type, no doubt a new design from the late Professor Chang. I've never seen anything quite like them as they were able to dent your titanium leg plating, no small feat and I haven't been able to find anything on the black market that would indicate they were a new item. I think Chang was producing them in mass for the Triad specifically."

"An edge that would no doubt serve them well once they used the scrolls to try and take over the world." Robin said with derision.

"No doubt. I don't think he managed to perfect them, but what better way to learn and improve upon a weapon than to have a large number of people test it out and report back." Slade mused.

"So, this will protect me?" Robin asked.

"It will, I made sure of it. However, if you do get hit and see where the bullet lands, grab it and bring it back home. I'd like to study it."

"Will do." Robin said with a smirk and then Slade looked up at him from his spot on the floor, having taken a knee to tighten the final strap.

Robin looked down at him and smirked, "This is a nice change, I could get used to you down there." He joked as his hands came to run through Slade's hair gently and the man let out a soft sigh as he closed his eye which caught Robin off guard.

His brow bent up in confusion at such a sudden display from the stoic man in front of him before he continued to massage at Slade's scalp and leaned down, gripping the man's hair as he tilted Slade's head back a little and whispering against his lips, "My loyalty is only to you. I love you."

Slade's hands came up slowly to cup his face as his mouth opened and the kiss deepened. Robin's cheeks were burning with want by the time they pulled apart and Slade murmured in a smooth purr, "Let's go kill us some Triad, Lover." And Robin gave a rather wicked smirk in agreement.

Page Break

Hawk and Dove sat outside a rusted and chained gate, well hidden from view but able to see most of the area that the fence encompassed. Old warehouses and outbuildings that had long since been abandoned were built in a seemingly haphazard way and Hawk scoffed indignantly.

"Why the hell would Superman send us here?" Hawk asked and his brother looked at him from his spot on an old crate.

"Come on Hank. You know why. You're just being impatient. Robin will show. And when he does we can signal Superman and head back home." Dove said knowingly. The pair had been here for over six hours, setting up wireless cameras and mapping the layout as they waited to see if Robin would show.

They each took turns going to get food and drink, taking bathroom breaks and keeping an eye on the old compound. They remained hidden as well but Hawk's patience was growing thin.

"I know why we are here, Don. What I mean is, why are we just being used for recon? We could subdue Robin on our own. He's just a kid." Hawk said irritably.

Dove stood and crossed to his brother, placing a calming hand on his shoulder as he said in a rather knowing voice, "Superman cares for Robin. They are like family. He doesn't want to take the chance of him getting hurt. He wants to handle it himself. Wouldn't you if it was me?"

His brother looked away with a grunt before he gave a nod and said, "Yeah. But I still feel like we are being underutilized." Hawk said begrudgingly.

"We are, but in this case, I think it's a good thing. Superman just wants to bring Robin home, he doesn't want to fight him. So, let's just do the job we were given and then get out of here, okay?"

"Yeah, alright. Still would have liked a shot at fighting Deathstroke." Hawk said and Dove smiled, "I'm sure you'll get a chance."

Hawk was about to respond when their conversation was cut off by the high pitch whine of a jet shooting over them from above. The sound was faint so the jet was pretty high up but it did not sound like a civilian airplane and so the pair waited and after a moment Hawk looked to his brother, "Come on, it's heading East. Let's round the perimeter and see if we can spot it." Dove nodded and the pair took off on foot around the outer perimeter, skirting piles of rubbish and debris as they went.

They came to the far side and ducked down behind a pile of metal scrap and waited, "You have the binoculars?" Hawk asked his brother and Dove nodded, pulling them out and scanning the surrounding area slowly.

It was going on one in the morning and so Dove activated the binoculars night vision. The moon was bright and so shadows were cast and it gave a rather eerie glow to the empty landscape around the outer edges of the warehouses.

Dove felt his brother's hand on his shoulder and he glanced at him, the bigger man pointing up to the sky and Dove saw in the darkness two persons silently gliding to the ground with small parachutes.

He raised the binoculars and looked, hitting a button which zoomed them in and though it was dark the night vision clearly showed Robin and Deathstroke as they floated down.

"It's them, call Superman." Dove said softly and Hawk nodded as he raised a hand to tap on his earpieces, "Hey Supes, the kids here and Deathstroke is with him. Do we engage or-"

"Do not engage. I am on my way, keep an eye on them and let me know where they go." Superman said adamantly.

"Ten-four." Hawk whispered out and the brothers watched as Deathstroke and Robin landed and started to unclip their chutes before balling them up and stuffing them back in their bags. They were a long ways away so listening to their conversation wasn't an option.

"Should we move closer?" Dove asked and Hawk shook his head, "No way to get closer, but this area is where Batman and Batgirl are supposedly being held, they will come this way at some point. Superman said not to engage and let him know where they end up going, so stay quiet, not a sound. They figure out we are here and they could run."

Dove nodded and after a few minutes the pair in the distance tossed their chute bags aside and turned, walking slowly towards the outer fence which surrounded the compound. Their voices grew louder as they moved closer though the pair were talking in hushed tones.

"Have you decided where you want to take Batman and Batgirl once we get them out?" Deathstroke was asking.

"I don't know. I keep thinking I'd just take them back home to Gotham, but...once we get them out...Batman's going to want me to go with him...he might even try to fight you...then again...if he's been tortured like I was...I won't know what I want to do until we get them out." Robin said, his voice nervous and soft.

"Very well. But you are going to need to make the decision quickly." Deathstroke offered.

"I know. My goodbye might not actually happen right now. Might have to wait and do it later." Robin said regretfully and Hawk and Dove glanced at each other but said nothing.

"Whatever happens, I'll be right beside you. Now, once we hop the fence we are silent. Is your eye on?"

They watched as Robin reached up and tapped his temple, "It's activated now."

"Alright, ready yourself. Remember, one way in-"

"One way out." Robin said with a nod.

"I'll take care of the men you focus on getting to your family."

"Yes, sir."

"And if anyone gets in your way and I am not there to remove them-"

"I will remove them." Robin said and the pair of men crouched down as if preparing to start a race.

"One more time, Robin. Lock it in your mind, if it comes down to you or them…"

"I choose me." Robin said darkly and Slade nodded, "Good boy, now, on three….One...two….three."

The pair shot off from the ground, racing at the fence and at the last second Deathstroke and Robin grabbed hands and the man swung the younger around and tossed him over the top, Robin clearing the barbed wire easily as the bigger man gave a massive jump and followed him over.

The pair ran off into the dark and Hawk and Dove followed quickly, climbing some crates nearby and hoping over, ducking behind buildings and keeping to the shadows as they tailed the pair in silence.

"The cameras are on, right?" Dove asked as he ran next to his brother.

"You bet they are." Hawk assured.

It was when they got to an isolated outbuilding that Deathstroke and Robin halted and seemed to crouch down in the shadows. Hawk and Dove ducked behind some wooden pillars which held up an elevated crane and they noticed a random and singular guard approaching from out of nowhere.

As the guard entered the tiny shed the silence of the night seemed to permeate the air and the brothers felt a tension rise. After only a minute or so the guard exited the building and it was a split second before Deathstroke pounced from the shadows, taking the guard by the head and snapping his neck swiftly.

The man fell to the ground and lay silent, the crack resonating out into the air. Robin emerged from the shadows and looked down at the man, his masked eyes narrowing as he watched Slade, who bent down next to him and searched the now dead guard.

Hawk and Dove were too stunned to speak even if they wanted to and they observed Deathstroke and Robin signing silently to each other, but what they were saying was unknown, it wasn't standard American Sign Language and so they could not decipher the conversation.

Just as quickly as they had emerged from the shadows they melted back into them, Slade having taken something off the guard before they had turned and were moving.

Hawk and Dove followed, spying the pair as they came to a set of metal doors in the ground, looking like nothing more than an access hatchway for sewer maintenance. Deathstroke held something up to the doors and after a second they opened and the pair rushed down.

As the doors closed Hawk tapped his ear piece, "Hey, uh Superman, we have a problem-"

Page Break

Robin and Slade made their way quietly down the long corridor, the walls seemingly a mixture of rock and dirt, now braced with metal beams instead of what had most likely been old wood ones when the mine was originally built.

Along the ceiling a single run of thick cable was placed with lightbulbs hanging down to light the way. They didn't run into any guards right away, finding the entry hall was long and the gradient sloped down over a long period of time.

They said nothing as they ran, keeping their feet quiet and their breathing under tight control. They reached the end of the hall in good time and found it split.

Robin looked to Slade and the man pointed left and then they were off again, the silence pressing and Robin felt his heart racing as excitement and dread grew. He wanted to free his mentor, he wanted to save Batgirl, but he also knew once they were free the questions would come.

Slade had not demanded answers from him about how they were going to handle Batman and Batgirl, or where they might take them, which Robin was grateful for. But that did leave the young man to wonder what was going to happen. If Batgirl and Batman were heavily damaged, getting them out would be even harder but if they weren't damaged then they were going to try and get Robin to come with them.

He'd not made up his mind about how he would handle it, and as they ran into their first guards the worry left his mind.

Slade dispatched one of the two quickly before he grabbed up the other one and hissed out, "Where is Batman being kept?"

The man looked utterly terrified as he pointed a thumb over his shoulder and rambled out quickly, "Down the hall, take a right and it's the second door on the left! Please don't kill me!"

"Sorry, not sparing lives today." Slade said before he twisted the man's neck and tossed him aside. Robin didn't even hesitate, the twinge of guilt over the man's death barely registering as he followed Slade and the pair continued their run.

It was when they skidded to a stop before rounding the first corner that they ran into real trouble. There was a group of guards standing outside of the room where Batman and Batgirl were being held, no doubt placed there in case one or both managed to escape. They also realized that everything they had seen thus far had simply been an ignored part of the underground mines.

As Slade peeked around the corner to take count of the men his hands signed quickly and Robin looked at them, Real compound around corner. Metal plated walls, ceiling, floor. Bright lights. Bullets will ricochet. Cameras. No going back. More guards will come.

Their signing had grown more complex, often working on it after their morning sex as they laid in bed. It was loosely based off ASL but they had modified it enough that at first glance no one would be able to understand.

Slade looked at him and held up eight fingers and made the sign for guns and swords. Robin nodded and held up a thumb before Slade signed one more thing, I take guards, you get bat.

Robin nodded again, knowing that if they did this quickly they could be out of here before more guards could come and cut them off.

Robin held up his hands and sighed out a question, Too easy? And the younger man saw a gleam in Slade's eye which meant he was smirking behind his mask as he signed out, We aren't expected. But yes, eyes open for traps.

Robin gave one last nod before Slade held up three fingers and silently counted down. When he made a fist the pair rounded the corner and charged, Slade drawing his swords as he jumped into the fray of men and Robin darted for the door only to see it needed a card to enter. He quickly pulled out the badge from the guard Slade had killed aboveground and tried to swipe it but the light turned red and beeped.

Given their cover was blown Robin yelled out, "Slade, I need a key card, start sending them over!" Robin yelled as he took a fighting stance and prepared to deflect any man who might come at him. Slade quickly used his sword to cut a card off of one of the guard's belts and flicked it in Robin's direction, the man continuing to slice, cut and block the onslaught of bullets and swords.

Robin jumped to grab the card and as he swiped it he kicked a leg out behind him and sent a guard who had been running at him flying. The light flashed red again and Robin growled, "Another!" he said.

Once again Slade used his sword to cut off and flip another key card to him just as he kicked a man in the head and Robin tried that one only to see the light turn red again, "Son of a bitch, fuck this!" and Robin yanked a gun from his belt and fired at the keypad. Electricity sparked and the light turned green, the doors only opening halfway, "GOING IN!" Robin yelled and Slade grunted, "MAKE IT FAST!" as a handful of other guards came around the corner.

Robin ran into the room, noting that it seemed to be a large area that had been dug out with side rooms that had metal rings built around the doorways.

"Bruce! Barbara! Are you in here! Talk to me!" Robin called, noting how much darker it was in here as the lone bulb in the ceiling hardly cast any light.

"Dick, over here!" came Bruce's deep voice and his heart leapt as he raced to the very far end of the room and looked into the largest holding cell. There, suspended in a full body bind hung Bruce and Barbara.

"Oh my god, I found you! I've got you! Hold on, I'll get you out!" and Robin felt his eyes watering, his heart hammering and he begged himself that this not be an illusion. He went to the control panel and dropped to his knees, yanking out the bottom hatch so he could see the wiring.

"Where have you been!" Barbara asked and Robin glanced at her and then to Batman whose eyes narrowed and Robin swallowed, "Busy. But I'm here now, we are going to get you out! Everything is going to be okay!" he said as his voice wavered from the tears.

"We?" Batman asked and Robin kept working, yanking at the wires and trying to make sure he didn't cause the system to blow. It was one thing to shoot the console of a pair of sliding doors as he had to get into this room, but shooting a console that controlled an energy field could be extremely dangerous. He just needed to find the main run of wires.

"Slade, he's been helping me." Robin offered with little other explanation.

"Why didn't you go to the League?" Batman asked and Robin yanked a set of wires and the shield dropped. He stood quickly, stepping into the cell and rushing to Batman, choosing to not answer the man's question.

Now's not the time, later, I will explain later when I've had time to think about it-

He looked at the metal lock for the bindings, "Fuck, it's old. Fine, I can handle it, I can pick it." Robin said to himself as he dug into a pouch on his belt and his shaky hand pulled out some lock-picks. He began to work on the lock, hearing the cacophony of noise coming from the hall.

"Calm, stay calm, don't panic, it's fine...don't split...stay in control-" Robin muttered to himself, oblivious to how Bruce and Barbara glanced at each other as he spoke.

"Robin...what happened after we separated?" Barbara asked and Robin took a deep and slow breath to keep himself calm as he said softly, "The Triad ran me down, cut off every means I had to contact my team or the League for help. They took me to China and held me there for six months. Slade got me out. I've been trying to find you ever since." Robin offered, not at all wanting to tell them what had happened to him given they were in the middle of an escape.

You can tell them later, not now, focus, get this damn lock open-

"That's all? They just held you prisoner?" Batman asked.

"Yes. That's all, just asked me questions, smacked me around a little. I'm fine, hold tight, I think I got it...focus...stay calm and-" Robin jerked one of the picks and Batman's restraints clicked open. Robin started to pull and yank, allowing Bruce room to move and after several seconds he dropped free and stood on shaky legs, leaning a hand against the wall.

Robin's eyes were wide as he looked at him, noticed how thin the man was, and after a moment he dropped to the ground. Robin rushed over to him, "Bruce! Are you alright!?"

"I've been restrained and suspended on and off for over eight months...my muscles...I'm weak...might have mild atrophy...get Barbara out, she's in better condition to help you fight." Batman ordered and Robin turned and rushed to batgirl, starting the process all over.

"You are going to have to help me get Bruce out, think you can walk?" Robin asked her quickly as he began to pick the lock.

"They've let me up enough, I should be good. We've been flexing our muscles as they held us, keeping the blood flowing...but that will only help so much. I can walk...Bruce...we are going to have to carry him."

"Alright, I should have you down in a minute...your lock is the same as-" suddenly the doors to the room blew open and Slade came flying in, smashing against the wall just outside the cell and falling to the ground.

Robin abandoned Barbara's lock and was moving to him when Slade suddenly sat up and cracked his neck, "They have sentinel bots. Hurry up." Slade deadpanned before he stood and picked up his swords and ran back out the door.

Robin returned to the lock quickly and after a few more seconds it clicked and he helped Barbara out of her restraints. When she dropped to the ground she stood and instantly started to stretch.

Robin grabbed her wrist and dragged her over to Batman, the pair dropping to their knees before Robin embraced them both. Barbara's arms coming up as Robin whispered out, "Thank God. I'm so glad you guys are okay. I love you."

"Love you too, Dick." Barbara said.

"Now's not the time." Batman warned and Barbara scoffed, "You always have to ruin the moment." Robin just chuckled, "Come on, let's get him up." Together they hoisted Batman up, the man's arms on either side of their shoulders as they started to head towards the exit.

As they entered the hall they were greeted by a blood bath, dead men laying spread out across the ground, blood spatter and the smell of death hitting them hard. Slade was further down the finished section of hall taking on two sentinel bots, which were a rather basic and outmoded design but seemed to still pack a punch.

"Slade, I got them!" Robin yelled and Slade deflected a spray of bullets from one of the bots as he yelled, "Then get moving! I will bring up the rear!"

Robin nodded, reluctant to leave the man alone but knowing it would take both himself and Barbara to get Batman out. He turned and started down the hall, Batman trying to walk but his legs seemingly useless.

"How far is the exit?" Batgirl asked and Robin sighed, "A long way. Slade dispatched the guards we ran into but more could show up any second."

"Call it what it is, he murdered them." Batman bit out and Robin looked away as they walked, Barbara glancing between the two.

"Why didn't you go to the league for help." Batman ground out and Robin felt his eye start to twitch but he kept his mouth clamped closed.

"Richard-" Batman started and Robin snapped out, "LATER! We don't have time for this bullshit right now! I've gotta get you out and to safety. I still have to save the Titans and we can't afford to-"

He was stopped as they rounded the corner of the main hall by the sight of at least twelve men, his heart nearly stopping as Erik stood before them, arms crossed and hood down.

"Hello, Robin." the man said in a smooth voice and Robin's eyes went wide, a hand coming to tap the mic in his ear as he said, "Slade, he's here, Erik is-"

"On my way." and an explosion sounded from behind them further down the hall and Robin felt his insides run cold, "I knew you'd eventually come for them. You'd remember our little conversations. Just had to hope it would be sooner rather than later." Erik said, "Now I have Batgirl and Robin, the location of the scrolls is as good as mine, once I get you two to tell me exactly where they are that is."

"We aren't going to tell you shit!" Batgirl spit and Erik started to laugh, "You will, all in good time. I am really curious to see if you'll make it another six months under my knife." and Erik's two toned eyes landed on him and narrowed as a rather disturbing smile filled his face.

Robin felt himself starting to breath heavily, "Stay calm, don't panic, don't split...Slade's on the way...Batgirl, I need to clear the hall. Take him." and Robin shifted Batman's weight from him to her and she managed to get him over to the wall and set him down.

"You aren't leaving, Robin." Erik intoned sternly.

"I sure as hell ain't staying." Robin seethed as he reached his hands up and pulled out a pair of gleaming swords. Erik's face turned rabid as he pulled a familiar sledgehammer out from behind him.

"Look at you, all patched up and back in working order. Slade did well fixing you. Looks like I'll have to take you apart all over again. Such a pity." Erik said in a light voice.

Robin's breathing intensified as he felt something shift in his brain, "Don't split, don't split-" Robin muttered out over and over as he took a fighting stance.

Slade told you to let me out, why are you blocking me?

"This is my fight!" Robin suddenly yelled and Erik's smile turned cruel, "Want to kill me yourself? Well, I suppose you can try."

Batgirl moved towards him but Robin held up a hand, "You get Batman out, I've got them." Batgirl looked between Robin and the group, eyeing the sledgehammer and then Robin's metal clad leg.

"You can't take them all on by yourself!" Batgirl yelled.

"Oh you'd be surprised what your brother can accomplish when he's scared enough." Erik laughed out wickedly and Robin's face twisted into rage as he started to growl and screamed, "STOP TALKING!"

"We have unfinished business my sweet little bird." Erik said and Robin felt a haze filling his mind as he snarled out, "YOU ARE INSANE! AND I AM PUTTING YOU DOWN NOW! PERMANENTLY!"

"ROBIN!" and his head snapped to look over at Batman who was trying to push himself up from the wall, Barbara helping him to stand, "Do. Not. Kill. Him." Batman ordered in a deathly low voice.

Robin looked back to Erik, his eye twitching harder as he growled and his hands tightened on his swords, "Ah, good old Batman, such a sweetie. You heard him love, best to listen to your old master." Erik chidded and Robin saw red, "I have no master!" before he charged.

PAGE BREAK

Slade rounded the corner in time to see Robin engage with Erik, the guards charging from behind with their swords. He noted Batgirl had left Batman to rest against the wall as she ran in to help draw the guards away from Robin and Erik's brawl and Slade didn't hesitate to join the fray.

As he passed Batman he felt a hand grab his wrist and he looked down at the man who looked like he'd lost quite a bit of muscle, "What the hell did you do to him?" Batman asked and Slade's eye narrowed dangerously as he pulled his hand free from that tight grasp and said, "I put him back together after they mutilated him. If you have a grievance with who he is now, take it up with the Triad, I've done my best with what they left me to work with." and Slade turned and kept running towards the fight, smirking wickedly as he saw Robin attacking Erik without hesitation.

That's my boy.

Slade slid in next to Batgirl, "Truce!?" Batgirl yelled to him over the blaring sounds of gunshots and clanging swords, "For now!" Slade yelled back and they placed their backs against each other as they faced off with the remaining men.

As Slade worked his way through the group of men with Batgirl weaving in and out around him he kept a weathered eye on Robin who was most likely letting his Split lead as he was being overly ferocious and aggressive.

"Batgirl, get Batman out!" Robin suddenly yelled but his voice was shrill and sounded slightly insane and the girl was so shocked by the sound of it she lost focus and Slade had to block a bullet from hitting her in the head via his sword. She glanced at him, "You heard him. Get Batman out, I'll cover you." Slade said coolly and Batgirl gave a rather suspicious face before she rushed from the mess of men who continued to try and subdue them and made it to Batman.

"Can you walk?" Batgirl asked and Batman nodded, "Barely,"

"That's going to have to be good enough, we need to get to the exit so Robin and Slade can disengage." Batgirl said and the pair started moving past the men, Slade shifting to stand between them and the men who were slowly being dropped as Robin continued to clash with Erik.

"You miss me yet?" Erik laughed and Robin growled, "Shut up!"

"I wasn't done with you ya know. The day Slade took you from me, I had already planned to get you out. Make it look like an escape. Then, I was going to sic you on my father. All that programming I did, wasted so you could run off and fuck around with Slade. He's an assassin's by the way, ironic that you'd shack up with him and not me." Erik barked out angrily.

"You didn't brainwash me, and Slade is way better than you will ever be. I love him, you on the other hand, make me sick!"

Erik let out a wicked scream as he swing the hammer swiftly and Robin flipped back and out of the way. He lost his footing however and went rolling.

Erik pursued and smashed the hammer into the ground trying to land a blow to Robin's legs as the young man shifted away and out of reach.

Let me out! He's mine!

I'm fine! I don't need you right now!

Robin stood back up and charged at Erik who laughed happily and the young man's anger.

Slade glanced back at Batman and Batgirl who were moving steadily up the incline only to have his eye snap back when Erik screamed out, "FORGET ABOUT DEATHSTROKE AND STOP BATGIRL YOU MORONS! SHE KNOWS WHERE THE OTHER SCROLLS ARE!"

The men had dropped from twelve to six, thanks to Slade's swords and so they gladly turned to abandon their fight with Slade in order to rush after the pair who were creeping along the corridor at a snail's pace. They skirted around Slade, keeping their distance but Slade was quick to pull out one of his guns and start picking them off as he followed them.

'SLADE! GET THEM OUT!" Robin yelled.

"Focus on Erik!" Slade said as he continued to fire off bullets and once again wedge himself between the pair of struggling heroes and the few remaining men.

The exit wasn't far off, and Slade could still easily block their advance and keep an eye on Robin. What he had not counted on was a massive explosion occurring. All parties involved either fell or lost balance and as the silence rang out and the smoke cleared all eyes turned to the massive hole in the ceiling of the tunnel and the man who had caused it.

"SUPERMAN!" Batgirl yelled, "Over here, Batman needs help!" She called and the Man of Steel turned and flew over, the remaining Triad members scattering as Superman landed next to the pair and scooped them up, sparing Slade a hard glare before flying both Batman and Batgirl out of the hole he had created.

Slade instantly brought a hand to his mic and said sharply, "Revenge will have to wait, Robin. Superman is too big of a threat. Your family is safe, it's time we make our exit."

Even as he said it the remaining Triad was quick to dash towards the main doors, whether it was to try and escape Superman or retrieve Batgirl Slade didn't know or care. Clark could easily hold off the men's attempts to steal back Batgirl and no doubt more members of the League would show up any moment to help get Batman to safety.

He harnessed his sword and holstered his gun before he moved back down the hall to where he'd last seen Robin and Erik only to find the pair gone.

Slade's eye went wide and he spoke into his mic again, "Robin! Report! NOW!"

"Erik ran! I'm tailiing him!" Robin barked over the mic, his voice sounding rather unhinged.

"YOU WILL COME BACK TO ME NOW!" Slade ordered angrily into his mic but Robin didn't respond and Slade cursed as he instantly took off after the pair. He pulled a tracker from his belt, (he'd built a tracker into Robin's new chest plate) activating it and finding they weren't that far ahead but they were moving deeper into the mines.

There must be another way out. There has to be. Erik's insane but he wouldn't run away from the only exit with Superman in the base. I've got to get to Richard before Clark does or...no….I'll get there before Clark. I have to.

Slade picked up speed, seeing he was growing closer on his tracker and as he turned another corner he came across a ladder leading up. Slade double tapped his mic, "Will, fire up the jet and head our way, we need to get out of here now!"

"On the way." Will said and Slade looked up the ladder to see the hatch was open and so he began to climb.

Page Break

I'm going to fucking kill him! I'm going to rip his throat open. Watch him bleed!

Robin chased Erik across the open ground, warehouses flying past as the man headed to some unknown location. It was just them and Robin honed in as he picked up speed, his heart felt like it might explode and his lungs were burning but he wasn't going to stop.

We can't stop! Get moving kid!

What's going on!?

I'm in charge now! We're going to kill him, together!

...okay...I'll help...I want to...want to…

We both do! Let's kick up dirt!

Robin pressed harder, closing the distance and hearing Erik laughing, the man took a sharp turn and yelled out, "Get the chopper going!"

"No!" Robin barked in fear, the man could not escape. Robin saw nothing but Erik as he yanked out a sword and stopped, throwing it over his shoulder and watching as it went spinning through the air. It met its mark, piercing through Erik's upper shoulder and the man went down.

He went into a handspring, flipping multiple times before he landed near Erik's head, the man heaving for breath as the sword stuck out from his shoulder. Robin grabbed the handle and yanked it out, "Time to fucking end this." Robin seethed and Erik laughed as he used his good arm to press himself up.

"You think this is over sweetie? Even if you kill me, you'll still have to deal with my father. He wants the scrolls just as badly. You and Batgirl won't ever be safe. The Triad is massive, and wave after wave will keep coming for you and yours until they have the scrolls! At least in my hands, I have a plan. I have a goal. A new world, a better world. And you and I could exist together in a beautiful harmony."

"You're a fucking pshycopath, Erik! And I've had enough of Psychopaths to last me a lifetime." and Robin raised his sword above his head, preparing to slice his head clean off.

KillhimKillhimKillhim!

Suddenly he was sent flying backwards, his sword clattering free of his hand as he went tumbling across the ground. When he raised his head he saw Batgirl standing before Erik glaring at him, "No way in hell am I going to let you cross that line little brother." she warned.

"Get out of my way!" Robin yelled.

"Or what!?" Batgirl asked as she crossed her arms and stood her ground.

"Or I'll go through you! He deserves to die!" Robin screamed and Batgirl's face fell to one of shock as her arms dropped to her sides, "Robin...please...come back with us...don't do this, don't make me fight you."

"Step aside and you won't have to!" Robin snarled, "He's mine! He's the one who did this to me! To all of us! HE RUINED EVERYTHING!" Robin screamed as his eye started to twitch and he snatched up his sword.

"Robin-" but before she could finish she screamed, it ripped from her throat and Robin's eyes snapped down to look at her thigh, which had a knife sticking out of it, Erik's eyes looking crazed as he yanked it out and smiled, "Best stay out of the way, girlie. The men need to finish talking." and Batgirl fell over, grabbing at the bloody gash in her leg as her teeth grit and she kicked out her good leg, connecting with Erik's nose and he let out a grunt from the impact.

"Bastard!" Robin yelled before he charged forward and chased after Erik who had already scrambled up and was once again going for the nearest chopper, "Grab the girl!" Erik yelled and Robin slid to a stop, looking back to see three Triad grabbing up Batgirl and dragging her away towards a second chopper.

Where the hell is Superman!? And Robin quickly scanned only to find Batman and Superman weren't in sight.

He looked back towards Erik who was jumping into his chopper. He looked back at Batgirl who was kicking and screaming, trying to get the men to let her go, "ROBIN!"

"Go get her, Robin, I've got Erik." Came Slade's silky voice in his ear and Robin smiled as he said swiftly, "Yes, sir." and he saw Slade running out from behind some buildings and heading towards the chopper with Erik that was taking off. Robin turned back and raced after Batgirl, the men nearly having her in the second helicopter.

When he was within a few feet he launched up from the ground, his sword sliding right past Batgirl's head and into the chest of one of the men. She gasped but Robin kept going, yanking out his sword before swinging and loosing the head from the second man's shoulders before kicking out a foot to the last man's chest and shoving his sword through the man's neck and into the metal plates of the door.

Batgirl slid from the floor of the craft to the ground, looking up at him with wide eyes as she asked in a ghost of a voice, "What did you just do? Why did you...you...you killed them-"

"I did what needed to be done. I love you Barbara, but if I have to choose between you or them, I choose you. I hope...when this is over...you'll still love me but...the mission isn't over, and I can't stop. Not until Erik's dead, not until I make it right. Tell Batman...tell Bruce...I love him...and that when I'm ready...I'll come back to say goodbye." and then Robin turned and left, running back towards the chopper that was now in the air but swinging violently.

Robin activated his mic, "Bring it down!" he yelled and Slade hissed over the mic, "Working on it!"

The chopper swung dangerously low to the ground and Robin saw Slade jump out with Erik in his arms as the helicopter crashed to the pavement and went skidding across the cement. Robin was moving towards Slade, his sword drawn and ready.

Slade saw him coming and tossed Erik towards him, the man grunting and yelling as he tumbled across the ground. Robin let out a scream as he raised his sword and prepared to plunge it into the man's chest.

RIGHT THROUGH HIS HEART, KID!

Through his heart, right through it, straight through to the ground!

A kick to his back suddenly sent Robin flying sideways, his body once again rolling across the ground but as he came to a stop hands were on him and he was being hoisted up. He looked to his left, saw Slade standing next to him and holding on to him tightly.

"Batman and Batgirl are free, it's time we make our departure." Slade said softly into his ear and Robin looked back to Erik only to see the man being held up by his hood, dangling above the ground as Superman floated there and looked at him.

"If you want Erik, Robin, you are going to have to come with me. We can make sure justice is served, for you and your team, for Batman and Batgirl."

Robin felt rage fill him and he yanked free from Slade and stumbled forward, "GIVE HIM TO ME!" Robin screamed.

Superman looked at him, his eyes narrowing, "Robin, this isn't the answer. It won't change what happened and it won't make you feel any better!" Superman called.

"You've no idea what happened! And killing that monster will be the most satisfying feeling I've ever had!" Robin yelled, "Now give him to me! He's mine!"

Robin's eyes jumped from Superman down to Erik who seemed to be unconscious before his eyes jumped to look at a shuffling figure on the ground just below Erik's left foot. There was Batman, shaking but standing as he said sternly, "It's time to come home, Robin. It's time to forgive and let go."

Robin felt his eyes go wide, his head shaking gently as tears came and his throat constricted, "Do you even care what these assholes have done! Do you even care about what they did to me! HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE!"

"That is not your decision!" Batman yelled back as Batgirl suddenly appeared, leaning heavily on her good leg, the slice in her upper thigh having been wrapped with a torn off piece of her cap.

"It became my decision when that bastard tortured and mutilated me for six fucking months! Either you give him to me or I take him from you! One way or another he is going to die!"

A hand came to his shoulder and he turned to look at Slade who said softly, "Another day, Robin. Pick and choose your battles. This cannot be one of them. The Titans are still waiting, and Will is on his way, let's go home." he'd said it softly, gently, in the voice that Robin liked so much and suddenly the anger died and he took a deep breath, looking around to see the devastation clearly for the first time, dead men, a wounded Barbara, the three heroes staring at him with sharp and narrow eyes, a burning and smouldering helicopter off in the distance and Erik hanging unconscious in the grip of a man that Robin knew he couldn't beat.

The red seemed to fade and he swayed a little as he pressed a hand to his head and gave it a little shake, "I...I split again didn't I?" he asked, this time finding he had vague memories that were choppy and in pieces. It was like he had been there through the whole thing, but he had been watching everything through a foggy lens.

"We will deal with it later. It's time to go, we still need to get the Titans. Erik can wait for another day." Slade cooed gently and Robin nodded, "Right. Another day. After I'm better."

"Yes. Now, say goodbye. Will is inbound." Slade said, his gray eye raising to connect with Batman's and the Dark Knight glowered at him.

Robin looked up to Batman and Batgirl, saw the way Superman was staring at him and he swallowed, "I love you. I'll...I'll come back when the mission is done to give a proper goodbye. Just...I need to get better first….Batgirl...get your scrolls someplace safe. I'll leave mine hidden until this is done-"

"Dick, wait! You can't trust Deathstroke. He's warped your mind, he is toxic! Deathstroke is not an ally, he is-" Batman started but Robin cut him off.

"He's the only one who can help me! The only one who understands! I'll be fine! E-Everything will be fine, as soon as the mission is done...everything will go back to how it was. I...I have to go. I just wanted to say goodbye." and Slade took a few steps back, pulling Robin gently by his wrist, the young man walking backwards as he stared at his family with sad tear ridden eyes.

"So...Good-Bye." he whispered as the sound of a jet approached and he turned away from them, pressing his forehead to Slade's chest, "Let's go home." he said softly.

"DICK! DON'T!" Batman yelled suddenly but as the jet passed over a tow line swung down and Slade grabbed it, the pair being yanked up and into the sky.

Robin let out a small gasp from the sudden jerk and Slade wrapped an arm around him tightly as Robin felt himself being pulled away and he glanced back to see Superman was about to follow only to be stopped by Batman who held up a hand.

The Man of Steel halted his pursuit and Robin buried his face in shame, "Climb up!" Slade called over the sound of the whipping wind and Robin started to climb. They made it to the open hatch in the bottom of the jet and as soon as it closed Slade called into his mic, "Get us the hell out of here, as fast as we can go, afterburners, everything...we need distance between us and Clark."

"Very well." Will said over the mic and Slade, who was still sitting on the floor looked over to Robin who appeared dejected and lost. He stared at the hatch, his body trembling as tears fell from his eyes.

Slade felt something in his gut twist, and his eye narrowed. He supposed this was as good of a test as any, "Richard-" he said softly and the young man looked over to him.

"Come to me." and Slade held out a hand, waiting to see if the young man would reject him or comply. No doubt seeing his mentor, Batgirl and Superman in one sitting was hard, but the way they had looked at him must have been even harder. Not to mention he had been only seconds away from killing Erik outright and they had stopped him. Still, they had come to free Batman and Batgirl and they had done it. Superman showing up had been unexpected but they had still managed to get in and out without losing each other in the battle.

This was the moment, though surely there would be many more down the road, where Slade would know if Robin was truly his or if he had only ever been a means to an end for Robin. Slade had actively taken Robin from his family, giving him only enough time to say goodbye before they had run.

And yes, Slade had definitely run. It was one thing to face Superman if he had his sword, Deathstroke, on him. It was another thing entirely to face the man with nothing but a gun and a pair of regular swords. Slade was crazy at the best of times, but he wasn't suicidal and even pretending like he had a chance against the man without his most powerful weapon was just plain stupid. His only thought once Batman and Batgirl had been freed was to get Robin and make a clean getaway. Now, as Slade saw how utterly devastated Robin was from his family seeing him in such a negative light Slade wasn't so sure Robin would look upon him as devotedly as he had before. No amount of gentle fucks or tender touches could win back Robin if the young man had decided that Slade was in the way of Robin's family accepting him back.

Their eyes met and after a single beat Robin stumbled over to him, yanking Slade's mask off and tossing it aside before he pressed his lips to Slade's and moved to straddle the man's lap. Slade kissed him back, Robin crying as they did and when Robin pulled away he whispered out in quick succession, "I'm sorry. I...I didn't mean to make it look like… they must think you've...I didn't mean to disobey your orders...it was the Split...please forgive me. I'm so sorry...I tried to get him to turn back when you said but...he just kept-" and Slade gently took Robin's chin, "Shhh. I knew it was a possibility. I knew that while the Split coming out would protect you by any means necessary, he doesn't answer to me. I know your control is limited when he comes. Rest now. We will talk more when we get home."

And Robin wrapped arms around his shoulders as he kissed Slade's jaw and said with such relief, "Thank you." Slade wrapped arms around him, held him tight as his eye closed and for just a moment his heart pumped a little harder.

A sort of pulsing relief spread though him, something that was so foreign compared to his often stagnant feelings that for a moment Slade had to study it and try to sort out where it might be coming from. Relief that his lover wasn't angry at him? Relief that he still seemed to be the most important thing to this young man? Maybe it was both and more. Still, at this moment, all Slade wanted was to get back to the base and take Robin to their room, lay him down on the bed, and devour him.

Robin sighed and said softly, "Batman stopped Superman from pursuing us. Which means, they are going to regroup and come back harder than before. And if Superman knew where Erik's hideout was, he'll know where the Titans are too. If we go after them, we will run into them again...I can't abandon my friends...but you don't have to get caught in the crossfire. I can go on my own, if I get caught...I'll go along with whatever they want of me until I can find a way to escape and get back to you. If they catch you...you'll be buried so far down in the system it could take years to escape. The meta-human maximum security prison is a fortress, and it would take a lot of time and resources to bust you out."

Slade's eye opened to a dangerous slit and he sat up straight and yanked Robin's face to look at him, "You listen to me very carefully and hear me when I say this-" Slade said in a soft yet deadly tone, "You will not act on your own. You will not go off on your own and you will notallow yourself to be captured."

"But-" Robin started only for Slade to give his jaw a little jerk to silence him as he said darkly, "If you try to leave, if you even think about going off without me to finish this mission on your own, then when I find you...I will drag you so far away from the real world you'll never see anyone you love again...and yes...that is a fucking threat. You listen to me, you do as I say. You don't put yourself in harm's way to spare me, ever. I can take anything the League wants to throw at me...you can't. I won't allow them to cause you further pain. End of discussion."

Robin stared at the man's eye, saw the anger in it, but he wasn't sure what the man was angry about. Robin thought about what he had said and how Slade had responded before it occurred to him what might have caused Slade's sudden and vicious reaction.

His cheeks grew red as his eyes softened and Robin leaned forward and whispered against Slade's lips, "I love you too."

He pressed their mouths together, tongue sliding into Slade's mouth as his hands came up to run through the man's snow white hair and seconds later Slade was jerking up only to lay Robin down on his back as he said softly, "Prove it."

Robin smirked as he pulled Slade's face back down, "What can I do to prove it?"

"Don't ever say something so foolish again. We started this disaster of a mission together-"

"We'll finish it together. I'm sorry I even suggested we wouldn't." Robin said and Slade finally smiled, "Good boy. Now, you will go in the back and rest. I need to go speak to Will. I'll be back shortly." and Slade pressed a kiss to Robin's throat as a hand ran up the young man's thigh and Robin groaned, "Yes, sir."

Slade stood and Robin sat up, "I mean it. If I come back and you aren't resting-"

"Don't worry. I took a few hits, my head is on fire, and I'm pretty sure I'll have Clark's footprint on my back for the next week...I need to lay down." Robin agreed as Slade pulled him up and then pressed him towards the door that led to the small bunks in the back.

Slade watched him go before he turned and headed in the opposite direction, his mind abuzz with thoughts on what had just happened.

He climbed a set of utility stairs and proceeded down a narrow corridor until he came to the cockpit and opened the door. He came to sit down in the second pilots chair as he raised his arm and pulled a bullet from his side.

He grunted as he pulled it out before placing it in his belt, "Got a bullet from them. I'll be able to study the composition and figure out what makes them so special."

Will said nothing and so Slade glanced at him, "What is it, Will? Your grumpy-old-man is showing." Slade teased.

"That was too close and you know it. Superman could have caught us at his leisure. But he let us go. Why?" Will asked.

"I believe Batman had a hand in Superman's decision not to follow. And Robin seems to think it's because they plan to regroup and make another appearance when we go to retrieve the Titans." Slade mused as he turned an uninterested eye out the window.

"So?" Will asked expectantly.

"So what?" Slade asked right back with annoyance.

"Don't play dumb! It was one thing running this mission when it was just you and Robin versus the Triad. But now Superman and the League are truly involved. Last time you went up against the League you were nearly killed. Actually killed, Slade. As in done, no longer on this plain of existence. Rotting in Hell!" Will nearly yelled and Slade rolled his eye, "Last time was different. I miscalculated and I didn't expect Rose to show up. She's been getting in pretty heavily with Ra's al Ghul's daughter. I needed to make sure she wasn't in over her head."

"Yes, and you nearly lost yours in the process." Will muttered.

"Are you concerned for me, old man?" Slade asked with a smirk.

"Yes. I fucking am Slade. You're my fucking friend! And it's one thing to take up Robin as some project and try to rehabilitate him! Lord knows the boy is completely enamoured with you! I almost believe him when he claims to be in love with you! But this is getting too heavy! What do you think will happen, eh? That you two will just be able to sneak past the Triad, sidestep the League and run off with Robin into the bloody sunset? They are going to come after him. They are going to want to get to the bottom of this! And if they find out you and Robin have been sleeping together the full force of the League will be up your ass so hard you won't be able to shit! They won't see this as mutual! They will see it as you taking a tortured youth and manipulating and isolating him until he bends to your wants! They see everything in black and white! There is no gray area-"

"Enough!" Slade snapped, the man bringing a hand to slide down his face as he let out a very heavy sigh.

"What do you recommend? That I let them take him? Allow them to actually manipulate him into turning away from me? Hope he can resist their guilting and disgust and find his way back to me?"

Will was silent a moment before he said softly, "I suggest you cut the baggage and leave. Take Robin and go. Let the League rescue the Titans and you and Robin go into hiding for a while until things cool down."

"You want me to break my promise." Slade said darkly as he looked at Will and glared.

"What is more important to you? Keep your promise to Robin or keeping the young man himself? You know better than anyone that you can't always have your cake and eat it too. If the League captures him during the next run you might never get him back, even if he wants to come back to you. How much are you willing to risk in order to keep him?"

Slade thought about that a moment and then said softly, "Everything."

Will glanced at him, studying the side of the man's face as he asked softly, "Do you love him?"

Slade said nothing, staring out the window for a long time before he stood and said in a quiet voice, "I'm going to go check on Robin. Just get us home." And he left the cockpit, leaving Will to ruminate on Slade's inability to admit something so simple.

Page Break

Slade sat down on the small cot across from Robin. The young man was sleeping soundly. He was wearing nothing but his pants, the rest of his uniform folded neatly and set off to the side.

It was a tight space, bunks built into either wall and only ever used by Will who often stayed in the jet waiting for Slade's orders for pick up.

The cots were small and narrow yet Robin seemed to fit on it just fine. As Slade's gray eye slid over his body he looked at the scars, every single one a pale mark of pain and agony across the young man's back, on his arms, his face, his hands and Slade felt something swirl in his stomach as his heart gave a singular hard beat.

He looked away, staring at the floor as he thought about Will's words, and thought about how Robin had responded to Slade's blatant threat to hide him away.

It wasn't that Slade wanted to isolate and control Robin, he was beyond such simple things now. He didn't need such devices, Robin was already his.

But Will did have a point. While Slade had promised to help Robin free his family and friends from the Triad, the variables were different now. Once the League came into play the game changed, and the rules would change as well.

Robin had willingly left Batman, Batgirl and Superman behind without much thought to it once he knew they were safe. He'd even abandoned his desire for revenge against Erik as soon as Slade prompted him to.

But that had all happened in the heat of the moment, everything just falling into place because their mission wasn't done. Robin had to leave them behind because he still had work to do. But would he be so ready to go with Slade once the Titans were free? Once the mission was over?

Slade had no intention of breaking his promise to Robin, but the contingency plan he had thought of several weeks ago might have to be re-examined and dusted off from his mental files. It had consisted of wearing Robin down with sex and affection until he conceded to Slade's desire for him to stay. There had been a part two to the plan but Slade had not felt the need to implement it as part one had been rather successful.

Part two had involved a much less civil form of control. Namely a collar and cuffs that would not allow Robin to be further than a mile away from Slade at any given time. It was something he would have considered back in the old days, when they were enemies, when Robin had been forced into the role of Apprentice. His contingency plan had been to spirit Robin away to one of his very isolated bases, so far removed from society it would be impossible for Robin to seek help. Slade would use the collar and cuffs until the threat of Robin leaving no longer existed.

He'd put it in the very far back of his mind, left is to sit there as a last resort option if the first part of his plan didn't work. But when Robin had responded so positively to their intimacy, and had so quickly admitted to feeling something more than just lust, Slade had nearly forgotten about part two.

Now though, he'd once again log it away in the back of his mind, determined not to use it, wanting desperately not to need it. But they had gone too far now. Slade wasn't willing to let Robin go, and the man knew damn well how toxic and twisted this could become if he had to implement such insane and cruel methods. Hell, their relationship was already messed up, even he could see how ripe with codependency this was becoming.

When Slade had been married to Adie, it had never gotten this bad. Yes, Slade was possessive and controlling but he knew when to back down, to let Adie have her own life, to see her friends, to be her own person. He wasn't abusive, wasn't manipulative in the grand scheme of their relationship and marriage. It had been healthy, and he had worshipped her. But there had been plenty of times when Slade had wanted to whisk her away, hide her and his family in order to keep them safe and away from those who might hurt them.

After having lost both Grant and Adie, knowing his remaining children didn't want to see him, well, it pushed Slade to want to give in to all those horrible and unrealistic urges. He could still leave to go on missions, could still make money and gain power and cause havoc. But Robin...Richard...his companion would be kept safe, far away from all of it, from the wicked hands of all those who might try to hurt or take Richard away.

You can't actually do that to him. It's one thing to fantasies, it's another to actually take Robin prisoner and keep him as your companion against his will. It's not what you want. You want a partner and someone who understands you, someone who wants to be with you because they….they want you. As tempting as it is to simply lock Robin away you can't. And you damn well know it. You're just damaged and insane. Richard saw your threat to lock him away as empty because you promised him he could have access to his friends and family. He sees it as your way of expressing how much you care. If you actually go through with it...he'd start to fight you again...he'd deny you what you want. You'd get angry, most likely start to hurt him in hopes of getting him to submit to you….and then you'd be no better than the Triad...but instead of a white room...it would be an earthen hole in the ground, surrounded by darkness and metal. You can't allow yourself to think this way...you've got to keep your desires under control. He is your equal, not a prize to hide away. When you get back to the base, destroy the collar and cuffs. Do not even let yourself have the option.

Slade pressed fingers to his temple as he continued to talk himself into not doing all the things he wanted to do. Keeping Richard for himself had become his only goal, his only focus. But there was much more he needed to focus on than just his lover. He was the best assassin on the market, and despite his falling out with the Triad he would still be called upon for jobs. He also had his own plans, things he had hoped to do, such as trying to fix things between him and his remaining children. He'd keep his promise to Robin and finish out this mission, but he could not allow Robin to become his sole focus or he would end up fixating and allowing it to consume him.

Love was a very dangerous emotion, and Slade found that whenever he allowed himself to love, he became greedy, territorial and compulsive. He'd smother and try to control the person and become blinded to his own actions until it was too late.

I won't do that with Richard, I can't allow myself to do that. I have got to stay above my feelings, not allow myself to get pulled in too deeply or I will suffocate him...and I won't see what I am doing until it's too late to take it back or fix my mistakes.

Slade often wondered if this unhealthy desire to control and dominate his lovers, this aching insecurity and clearly unbalanced view of his partners had developed because of the enhancements he had received. Prior to them he had never been this caustic or abusive. He had been...normal. But after the experiment Slade had noticed all too quickly how his small insignificant insecurities had grown, his need to control becoming like fire in his brain.

Things had started to go south with Adie after he had been modified, and then Grant had been killed and his wife had lost it. But he had seen it coming, knew that whatever physical and mental changes the serum had made to him had worked to his advantage but had also crippled him. His mind could now function on a much higher level, but because of this he noticed everything and because he noticed everything he read into everything. Every gesture, tone of voice, facial expression...he could see it all in such detail and then his mind would go running off with him and extrapolate and create variables and try to figure out if there was a hidden meaning or an ulterior motive.

He'd gotten so much better about controlling his mind, had been living as a metahuman for so long now, that keeping his mind from running off on him into some made up scenario that didn't even exist was easy. But it seemed that when his emotions got involved and coupled with his mind's ability to predict and analyze it turned into something more akin to the paranoid jealous husband who thought his wife was always stepping out on him even if she had simply gone to the store for groceries.

I refuse to fall victim to my own mind, and I refuse to put Richard through hell simply because I have personal issues. I'm too old for this shit and I don't want this to become something toxic. I've got to keep my mind from going off on some side tangent. I must allow myself to trust Richard completely. I have to allow him his freedom and trust that he will come back to be as he promised. If he doesn't….then I have to let him go...even if I don't want to...even if it would be physically painful to let him go...I will not be his villain anymore.

Robin shifted, rolling to lie on his back and Slade saw a few minor bruises and a single thin slice where a sword must have grazed him. He moved forward, coming to kneel next to Robin's cot and look the young man over. He removed the metal plating from the brace and then too the brace off as he gently rolled up Robin's pant leg.

All the bruising on his leg was gone, though the scarring was still present and always would be. He checked the young man's knuckles and they seemed fine as well. He gently pressed on the bruises and then looked at the small cut before he scanned over Robin's body one more time.

A hand came to his cheek, and Slade's gray eye glanced to Robin's face, spying groggy blue peeking out from under a half-lidded gaze, "I'm fine." the young man whispered out with fatigue.

"Go back to sleep. It will be another five hours before we are back at base. And when we get there-" and Slade trailed off as he brought a finger to trace Robin's lips.

"Yes, sir." Robin said, understanding right away what Slade had in mind. The man had, afterall, told Robin what his rather wicked teasing in the bathroom earlier would bring upon him later.

"Mm." Slade said with a small nod and Robin yawned as his own fingers ran along Slade's jaw, "Do you think we will be able to get the Titans out? If the League knows, if Superman shows up-"

"We will talk about it later. For now I want you to rest. You did very well today. No doubt Erik will be rather unhappy when he wakes up." Slade mused with a rather wicked smirk on his face.

"I...I wanted to kill him. I regret not finishing him. But...Batman...when I was helping him out of his cell and down the hall...he might as well have called you a murderer...and it...I won't lie and say it didn't affect me-"

"Do not think about him now. It would not be good for you to have a panic attack on a jet. Do as I say and rest. I promise we will talk about everything when we get back." Slade said.

"Not before you fuck me into the bed." Robin whispered and Slade's eye narrowed as he felt heat start to burn in his stomach, "Don't start."

"You sure?" Robin asked.

"Yes. Sleep. Or I punch you in the head until you do." and though it was a jest and Slade would do nothing of the sort it seemed to work.

Robin smiled, "Alright." and his hand dropped as he rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. Slade continued to sit next to the cot, watching Robin sleep for a good while before his eye slowly turned to look at Robin's uniform.

He stood up and walked over to it, slowly unfolding it as he searched through the fabric and armour. He checked each pouch of Robin's belt and both the breast and chest plates before he was satisfied Batman had not planted a tracker on his old partner.

Slade knew the man probably didn't have anything on him to begin with, Erik no doubt having stripped the man of everything save for his uniform and cowl. But Batman was sneaky and it would not do to have the League showing up at his base.

He searched through Robin's uniform and supplies one more time just to be sure and when he found nothing save for the tracker than Slade himself had built into Robin's armour he was satisfied and left the room and headed for the cockpit.

PAGE BREAK

Superman laid Batman down on the medical table in the tower, the man looking well fed but having lost a large quantity of muscle mass due to his prolonged inactivity. He had signs of atrophy but thanks to Batman's training he had been able to keep his whole body from seizing up.

A special combination of breathing techniques and flexing his muscles had kept blood flowing and his muscles from deteriorating as quickly. Still, it would be months before the man was back on his feet and he would need several weeks worth of rehab to get back to his true form.

J'onn went to work right away, taking blood, running scans and checking him over, the man so weak and exhausted from the escape and subsequent show of strength to Robin he was currently unconscious.

As soon as the jet had disappeared Batman had collapsed, Robin's departure with Deathstroke belaying the man's need to appear strong.

"I need you to find him, Clark. Save him from himself, get him away from Deathstroke. Find out what is really going on and bring him home-"

Clark looked at Batman's still form, the man not having suffered through months of torture but having been incapacitated to such a degree his body was near useless.

Batgirl had fared better, the Triad often taking her out of the restraints over the two month period that they had her and allowing her to walk to and from the cell. Both had been fed and given water, and both had been spared any form of true torture.

Superman quickly turned to Batgirl who was laying in the medical bed next to Batman's, the girl still awake as she was being examined and looked over, "Batgirl, I need you to tell me everything. I've managed to piece most of it together but I need you to fill in the rest."

Batgirl looked at him, the Man of Steel seeing her bruised and swollen face and her tired eyes met his as she said softly, "It's a really long story, but to narrow it down, essentially, the Triad got their hands on some really old scrolls that can summon armies of demons from another dimension. Whoever has the scrolls controls the monsters. The Triad was planning to use the scrolls to take over everything. Robin and I stole them, and the Triad put a price on our heads. Robin and I hid the scrolls in two separate locations, tried to track down Batman, but he got caught in Paris. I don't know how. You'll have to ask him for those specifics. I went looking for Batman and Robin planned to wait at the agreed upon meeting point. I guess the Triad found him and chased him down. Captured him. I followed Batman's trail through Paris for a month, trying to figure out what happened and who had him. When I realized it was a secondary gang, the Komainu group, and not the Triad, I spent another few months trying to find the location they were holding him at. By the time I figured it out, the Komainu Group had tracked me down and spent nearly three days running me into the ground. They caught me at a temporary safe house I'd made. Dragged me back to China and tossed me in the same cell as Batman where they grilled me for the location of the scrolls. That's all I know."

"Why did none of you reach out to the League for help? Why so much secrecy? Why didn't you-"

"I was following Batman's orders. He wanted to keep this quiet. I don't know why. I thought about calling several times. But honestly, I'm so used to either working alone or just with Batman that I really didn't question it. And anyway, only Batman and Robin have a com device to reach the tower. I don't. So I would have had to try and get a hold of Alfred to call you guys and I didn't want to get him involved...the Triad and Komainu Group are really good at picking up signals. Within hours of trying to call Batman or Robin they would find me. So, I elected to-"

"It was dumb and foolish. You should have called us as soon as Batman went missing, as soon as the Triad put a price on your heads. All of this could have been avoided, including the damage to both Batman and Robin. When will you three ever learn that you don't have to do everything on your own!" Superman yelled angrily and Batgirl looked away with a glare.

"It's too late now. All that matters is getting the scrolls. I saw what happened to Titans Tower. It made international news. So we have to help get the Titans back too. Then we need to get Robin away from Deathstroke, the man is polluting Robin's mind! He killed three men without even batting an eye! Robin would never-"

"Robin spent six months being tortured by the Triad. There is a very good chance he's no longer in his right mind." Superman countered and Batgirl winced as her hands fisted at the blanket over her lap and a tear leaked from her eye, "Damn it. We've got to find him. He can still be saved! The only reason he attacked those men was because they were trying to take me. I think he can still be reached. I don't think he is lost. Will you help or not?"

Superman stared at her a moment, sizing the young woman up as Bruce's desperate words to save Robin rang in the back of his mind. He was frustrated beyond belief that this had gotten out of control so quickly. And in a grand total of nine months, Batman, Batgirl and Robin had been through hell and back. All of it could have been avoided, none of this had to happen, if Bruce had just trusted him with the information and told him what was going on.

"I want you to rest for now. I have the head of the Komainu Group in custody and plan to question him. I also have some surveillance footage from the compound I need to review. I will send for you before we make our next move."

Batgirl wanted to argue but instead gave a begrudging nod and Superman turned and walked away, giving one last look to Bruce before he headed for the observation deck.

When he arrived John, Diana, Wally and Shiera were waiting, looking at what appeared to be a frozen image of Robin being tossed over a barbed wire fence from a distance.

"The recordings?" Superman asked.

"Hawk and Dove did well. They covered the entire area, we have footage of the whole thing." Wonder Woman said as she crossed her arms and looked at him.

"I'll review it all, but for now, show me the final moments before Deathstroke and Robin left. When I spoke to Robin directly."

Green Lantern nodded and fast forwarded the images. There were six smaller video feeds on the large screen and as each jumped forward Superman focused on the camera that had been set up near where the helicopter had crashed. The angle was from behind Deathstroke and Robin, above them and to the side and as time progressed the small group of six came to stand across from each other. The camera showing Batman, Batgirl and Superman from the front and Deathstroke and Robin from the back.

"There. Play it and turn it up, I need to know what Deathstroke said to Robin." Superman said and John hit play and turned up the volume.

"Batman and Batgirl are free, it's time we make our departure."

"If you want Erik, Robin, you are going to have to come with me. We can make sure justice is served, for you and your team, for Batman and Batgirl."

"GIVE HIM TO ME!" Robin screamed.

"Robin, this isn't the answer. It won't change what happened and it won't make you feel any better!"

"You've no idea what happened! And killing that monster will be the most satisfying feeling I've ever had! Now give him to me! He's mine!"

Batman appeared next to Erik's dangling body, "It's time to come home, Robin. It's time to forgive and let go."

"Do you even care what these assholes have done! Do you even care about what they did to me! HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO LIVE!"

"That is not your decision!"

"It became my decision when that bastard tortured and mutilated me for six fucking months! Either you give him to me or I take him from you! One way or another he is going to die!"

Superman saw Deathstroke place a hand on Robin's shoulder and lean in close, saying in a soft voice, "Another day, Robin. Pick and choose your battles. This cannot be one of them. The Titans are still waiting, and Will is on his way, let's go home."

Superman saw the way Robin seemed to shake out of something, as if he had been someplace else and had only just joined the battle. His trembling voice said softly so the rest of them could not hear, "I...I split again didn't I?"

"We will deal with it later. It's time to go, we still need to get the Titans. Erik can wait for another day."

"Right. Another day. After I'm better."

"Yes. Now, say goodbye. Will is inbound."

"I love you. I'll...I'll come back when the mission is done to give a proper goodbye. Just...I need to get better first….Batgirl...get your scrolls someplace safe. I'll leave mine hidden until this is done-"

"Dick, wait! You can't trust Deathstroke. He's warped your mind, he is toxic! Deathstroke is not an ally, he is-"

"He's the only one who can help me! The only one who understands! I'll be fine! E-Everything will be fine, as soon as the mission is done...everything will go back to how it was. I...I have to go. I just wanted to say goodbye. So...Good-Bye. Let's go home."

"DICK! DON'T!"

Superman watched as Slade grabbed onto the tow line and the pair were yanked off screen and he walked up to the console and hit the pause button. He thought for several seconds on what had been said before he asked, "Does anyone have any thoughts on that interaction...or what Robin might have meant when he referenced splitting?"

It was John who spoke first, his eyes sharp as he said softly, "Maybe." and he searched through the videos, the rest of the group staying quiet as he looked.

It was about three minutes later when the man selected a video feed that showed Robin chasing after a tall man with greasy black hair, the same man Superman had apprehended. He turned the knob for the camera speed back and forth several times, watching as Robin gave chase but noticing his mouth moving, though he didn't seem to be yelling at the man in front of him.

He hit play and once again turned up the volume, this camera having been over ten yards away.

"I'm going to fucking kill him! I'm going to rip his throat open. Watch him bleed! We can't stop! Get moving kid! What's going on!? We're going to kill him, together! Okay...I'll help...I want to...want to…We both do! Let's kick up dirt!"

"Is he...talking to himself?" The Flash asked in confusion and John let out a sigh, "It looks that way. And if that is the case then we might be dealing with a case of SPD. I mean, it's a shot in the dark...but Robin said he 'split' as if he hadn't been fully aware of his actions. And here he's having a full on conversation with himself."

"SPD?" Shiera asked in confusion and John rubbed at his eyes, "Split personality Disorder. It's...kind of like a more severe version of PTSD. I've seen it before when I was serving overseas. Soldiers in the military have been known to develop it after prolonged periods of torture. But it can affect non military persons as well. Especially young kids who grew up in an abusive environment. Six months being tortured could do it easy. If that's the case, then all of the violent actions Robin has taken, may not have actually been done by Robin himself. If he does have a split, then whenever he feels in danger or is overwhelmed the split would take the reins and control until Robin was out of the dangerous or traumatic situation. It's kind of like a shield, meant to protect him from more trauma."

Superman digested this a moment before he looked back up to the first video they watched and rewound it a few seconds before hitting play.

"I...I split again didn't I?"

"We will deal with it later. It's time to go, we still need to get the Titans. Erik can wait for another day."

"Right. Another day. After I'm better."

He paused it again and thought about the conversation, "John, if Robin had suffered from SPD...and he has spent the last two months with Deathstroke-"

"Depending on how Deathstroke helped Robin manage his trauma...he could be all kinds of messed up. SPD is no better than having a fractured and broken mind. Who ever helps Robin try to piece it back together is going to have the biggest pull. They would hold the most of whatever trust Robin had left."

Superman looked back up at the screen and hit play.

"Yes. Now, say goodbye. Will is inbound."

"I love you. I'll...I'll come back when the mission is done to give a proper goodbye. Just...I need to get better first….Batgirl...get your scrolls someplace safe. I'll leave mine hidden until this is done-"

"Dick, wait! You can't trust Deathstroke. He's warped your mind, he is toxic! Deathstroke is not an ally, he is-"

"He's the only one who can help me! The only one who understands! I'll be fine! E-Everything will be fine, as soon as the mission is done...everything will go back to how it was. I...I have to go. I just wanted to say goodbye. So...Good-Bye. Let's go home."

"DICK! DON'T!"

Superman replayed it again, noticing Robin's body language, the way he pressed his forehead to Deathstroke's chest, the request to go home. It was all telling of something Superman didn't even want to consider.

"I'm going to review all of these in my quarters, I don't want to be disturbed. I want you four to focus on trying to get information out of Erik. I want to know where the Titans are being held in the Triad's main base, I want to know exactly what that man did to Robin and I want to know exactly what he planned to do if he got his hands on the scrolls and any information you can get about the scrolls themselves."

The group nodded and Superman turned to head to his own quarters. The remaining four heroes look back to the frozen images of Robin, not even recognizing him with all the hate and anger on his face.

Page Break

Robin gulped down breath as his head was pulled back and the fingers in his hair tightened. Saliva dripped down his chin as his cheeks burned red and his eyes held tears, yet his arousal was burning and his heart beat wildly in his chest.

A finger came up to trace along his jaw, around to his chin and up to his lips were it rubbed gently, "Say something pretty-" came a silky voice and Robin took another gulp of air before he managed out a breathy, "More...please, may I have more? I want to taste you...your cum...in my mouth, please, sir?"

Slade's sharp gray eye softened a little as his fingers continued to smear saliva and precum around Robin's chapped lips and he hummed, "You're going to have to do better than that if you want any hope of my cock in your ass tonight. I could leave you unsatisfied...I want you to beg Richard...sweetly...prettily...just for me." and Slade pressed three fingers into Robin's mouth and said softly, "Suck."

And Robin did, he sucked so vehemently at those three fingers he thought he might choke on them. But there was a fire inside of him. Their mission has been a success, even with Superman's appearance, they had managed to get Batman and Batgirl out. And all of it had been made possible by the man who was under him.

Slade had made all of this possible, and given Robin everything he needed and wanted to continue with his mission. He was wanting to desperately show how utterly grateful he was, how thankful and how much he loved and worshipped this man who had saved his life, put him back together and helped Robin to keep pushing forward.

When Slade pulled his fingers away spit came with them and Slade rubbed those soaked fingers across Robin's lips and chin before he said in that same silky voice, "Now, let's try again...say something pretty."

Robin breathed in deep, licking the salty slick off his lips as he met Slade's eye and leaned forward, pulling against Slade's tight grip in his hair as he knew exactly what to say to get what he wanted and to make Slade happy. He'd lay it on thick, and Slade would concede.

"Please, I want to pleasure you, let me please you, Master."

Slade's lips parted and his brow shot up into his hairline for a moment before his eye narrowed and he let out a growl, suddenly shoving Robin's head down and the young man's mouth was back his length.

Robin choked and gagged but Slade's hand held his head in place as the man's hips started to thrust and buck mercilessly, the man's length pressing deep into the back of Robin's throat. Though his eyes watered and he couldn't breath, though his nose was full of snot and the ache in the back of his throat was intense Robin felt desire and arousal explode in his belly as his hands gripped at the bedding.

He heard Slade growling and moaning loudly, the first time he had done so and Robin wanted to hear more of it. He forced his throat to relax and Slade slid deeper, the man letting out a strained, "God, yes!"

He came suddenly, coating the back of Robin's throat with his seed and holding Robin's head down, the full length of him in Robin's mouth and down his throat.

"Beautiful." Slade hissed out softly as his hand in Robin's hair loosened and his hips finally sunk down to the bed. Robin raised his head, releasing Slade's length from his mouth as he panted and coughed. His eyes kept watering and his throat ached but as he looked up the length of Slade's body and saw how the man was panting and breathing, his lone eye staring up at the ceiling in a rather euphoric state. Robin smiled and wiped at his mouth with a wrist.

Suddenly gentle hands grabbed him, pulling him up and along Slade's body in order to hold him and run a gentle hand through Robin's hair as his other hand reached down to gently cup Robin's hard length.

"You were a very good boy. Do you want your reward for being so obedient? For pleasing your...Master?" and Robin could hear the utter euphoria in the man's voice from Robin willingly giving him the coveted title of Master.

"Yes, please. It hurts, I need...I need you to...touch me please...fuck me...stroke me...anything-" Robin groaned as he kissed gently at Slade's jaw and throat.

Slade stroked a hand through Robin's hair as he whispered out, "Say it one more time, I want to hear you say it one more time, be a good boy and-"

"Master, please, will you help me cum?" Robin whispered into the man's ear as softly as he could, taking the man's earlobe into his mouth and sucking gently. Slade rolled then, pressing Robin down onto the bed before he grabbed the young man's hips and yanked them up.

"Head down, like a good boy." Slade said and Robin moaned as his face erupted in red, the fire in his lower stomach burning fiercely as his hands fisted at the bedding and Slade lined up his length before shoving in hard and deep.

Robin yelled into the bedding, "God!"

"Sing pretty for me, Richard." Slade hissed as he gripped the young man's hips painfully tight and started to slam into him fast and hard.

Robin yelled and grunted in between Slade's powerful strokes, his body filling with electricity as his stomach exploded with pleasure and his balls tightened.

"Ah! God! Don't stop! PLEASE! MORE! HARDER!" Robin screamed and Slade complied wonderfully and seconds later Robin shot through his end, cumming hard and thrashing while he cried happily into the bed. Slade abandoned his hold on Robin's hips to wrap arms around the young man to hold him still so he could keep thrusting.

Robin's body was overheating, his breathing coming in heavy pants and he moaned softly into the bed, "Ride it out, easy now…" Slade whispered into Robin's ear as he knew Robin's prostate would be overly sensitive.

Goosebumps erupted over Robin's skin and he shivered and shuttered and groaned, the ebbing of pleasure being followed with twinges of hypersensitivity that made him want to buck and shift away.

Slade eventually slowed to a stop, sinking down onto his side before he pulled Robin against him and let his length slip out. The pair lay in silence, resting together as their breathing evened out and their muscles relaxed, pulsing with the fading effects of adrenaline and pleasure.

Eventually Slade ran fingers gently down the young man's arm before he kissed a bare shoulder and said softly, "That was a lovely little gift you gave me. Calling me Master, I'll admit, it was delicious to hear that word pass your lips so willingly."

Robin smiled as he closed his eyes and laughed a little, "I thought you'd enjoy that. Consider it a thank you for everything you've done for me."

"I'll do even more if it means we can play these little games in the bedroom." Slade murmured absentmindedly as he continued to gently kiss and suck at Robin's shoulder and the young man hummed as he stretched out a little and then rolled to face the man behind him.

Their eyes met and Robin reached a hand up to caress the man's face as he said softly, "I'll play, if it's just in the bedroom...we could...explore certain aspects of...a dom sub relationship….I think I'd...enjoy it...if it's with you...if you'll...respect my boundaries."

Slade pulled him close and murmured against Robin's lips, "Have I disrespected any boundaries since you came to me?"

"No. But to be fair, I haven't set any boundaries with you yet." Robin chuckled as he nestled his face against Slade's and gave him a soft kiss, "I planned to talk to you about all that after our mission was over. Remember?"

"Mm, yes I do. But, it may not hurt to lay a few boundaries now...if you think you'd want to...experiment."

Robin yawned, "Maybe tomorrow. I am exhausted and we still need to figure out what we are going to do next. For now...I just want to sleep. With you next to me. Hold me for a little bit...I'm cold." Robin managed out.

"Then sleep. I'll be here all night." and Slade pulled the comforter up over them as Robin pressed closer and let out a contented sigh. Slade kissed the top of his head, Robin's voice of ecstasy echoing in his mind as the night passed swiftly by.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this! Next chapter should be up soon! R&R if you have time!