A/N: Please let me know what you think of the story so far! If have any questions or suggestions feel free to review or message me!!
Also, I know the timeline isn't going to be perfect, but this is my story so whatever. *mic drop*
...
09:54 PDT
November 30th
Titans Tower, California
Six Titans, four of the main five, an East member, and a solo Titan, gathered around the kitchen table in silence. The normally rowdy group of teens didn't say a word as they picked at their rapidly cooling breakfast, minds drifting off to their ailing leader. Speedy glared fiercely at his full plate of waffles, and without warning, he slammed his fork down and stood.
"Sorry, but I can't just sit around while my little brother is in pain."
"That goes for me too," Kid Flash added and finished his plate in two seconds flat. He had a speedster's metabolism, so ignoring his food wasn't really an option.
The two redheads strode purposefully back towards Robin's bedroom, and the Titans watched them leave in surprise. No one went into their leader's quarters without a death wish, but these two were able to come and go as they pleased. As far as they knew, their leader seldom communicated with the two, so then why did they all seem so much closer? Why did Robin trust two former sidekicks he rarely saw over his own team?
Wally was the first to enter Dick's room, and his shoulders sagged at the state of his best friend. The acrobat that had once been so full of life looked as though he was on the brink of death itself. It wasn't natural, and he could care less how many times the goth chic said otherwise. She didn't know him like he did. This wasn't normal for a human being. The speedster was jarred out of his thoughts as he felt Roy's hand clasp his shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry. Dick's as tough the Bat himself. He'll pull through."
"I'd rather it was me on that bed than him," Wally admitted, "He doesn't deserve this."
"No one does," Roy agreed, "And we both know that I'd trade places with him in a heartbeat, but I can't. And neither can you. So we've gotta suck it up and be there for him."
"Aw, you guys," Dick coughed, his sweaty face breaking out in a tiny smile. The paleness of his skin tone made the black lines of his mask contrast starkly with his ashen visage.
"I didn't know you cared," he laughed before coughing into his fist. It was a heartbreaking sight for the two older teens.
"Shut up, circus boy," Roy huffed in an attempt to make something out of this crazy case seem normal. But then his eyes landed on a serious complication, and Wally noticed the same thing milliseconds later.
"Dude! That's blood on your hands!"
Dick looked down at his clenched fist in confusion, as if he only just now saw his pale hand was splattered with bright red droplets. For a moment, all he could do was stare blankly at the offending color. He felt so lightheaded; he could barely focus on any one thing. A sickening feeling rose up in his throat, and he leaned over the side of his bed. A moment later he felt himself throw up into the trashcan Wally had left behind.
Speaking of, the two teens rushed to his side in an instant, providing stability and support as he convulsed violently. What was only a few seconds felt like a millennium till Dick finally stopped and gasped for air. He felt something trickle down his chin, and he moved to wipe it. Bringing his hand back into view, he saw that it was stained the same shade of red as the inside of the trash can.
"That is definitely not a good sign," Roy stated seriously, "We need to get you down to the medbay."
"He needs a hospital," Wally argued, "I can get him there in less than a minute."
"And possibly make everything worse," Roy countered, "What if your super speed causes something else to happen?"
"What if it saves his life?!"
I'm right here, you know, Dick thought but couldn't work up the strength to voice it. He felt so tired...so cold. Something terrible was happening, and he didn't even know what it was.
"Ra...ven," he choked, catching their attention at last, "med...bay."
"Well, you heard the man. Let's go. Come on, easy now," Roy said and looped one of Dick's arms around his neck. Wally zipped on his other side and copied the motion.
"Just hang tight, bro. We'll get ya there."
...
10:02 PDT
November 30th
Unknown Location, Jump City
Slade sucked in a deep breath through his mask as he surveyed one of his old haunts—one that hadn't been blown up by a certain renegade apprentice. He closed his single eye and listened as the gears above churned in a steady rhythm.
"It feels good to be back," he stated, to which Wintergreen nodded and stretched.
"Definitely beats that outpost in Eastern Europe. I've missed the California sunshine."
"Careful," Slade teased coyly, "you're starting to sound like an old man."
The elder Brit scoffed, "You'll be right behind me before you know it, so I'd watch that silver tongue of yours."
Beneath his mask, Slade grinned devilishly, and he shook his head, "Just start up the monitors, Will. There's a certain bird I need to check up on."
"You're obsessed with that child, Slade Wilson. That boy is going to be the death of you," Will reprimanded.
"Wintergreen," Slade warned, and the old man sighed. Now was clearly not the time to bring up this ancient debate between them.
With great reluctance, Will turned on the massive computer, and one by one, live feeds from multiple cameras across the city came to life. Slade stood a few paces behind the man, arms crossed over his chest as he analyzed each frame.
"Wait! Enlarge the one in the Titans Tower," he commanded and was swiftly obeyed.
"By George," Will breathed in shock.
On the screen, they saw two of the lesser known Titans practically carrying Robin through the main room. The image erupted to life as the other teenage heroes gathered around their leader in alarm.
"He needs to get to the medbay. Raven is there anything you can do? He was coughing up blood!"
"I can try, but we need to get him stabilized. I can feel him slipping! We need to hurry!"
"Come on guys," Cyborg ordered and scooped the dark haired boy into his arms, "Follow me. I'll show you where the medbay is."
"Oh, Robin! Please be okay!"
"Why is this happening?!"
"Slade," Will called out and turned around. His only friend had his fists clenched by his side as he watched. Even from the small distance between them, the butler could see something shift in the man's cold gray eye.
"Slade," he repeated. The assassin turned around and marched away from the screens.
"Slade! Where do you think you're going?!"
"I'm not going to let those insolent kids kill my apprentice. I'm going after Robin."
"And what makes you think they'll let you within three feet of him?"
"If they value their lives and his, they'll stay out of my way."
There was the sound of a heavy metal door slamming shut, and Wintergreen facepalmed. There was no way he could stop the enraged mercenary when he set his mind to something, and he wondered why he even tried.
"Those two are going to be the death of me, if not each other," he groaned, "Might as well get another bed ready."
...
10:20 PDT
November 30th
Titans Tower, Jump City
Slade noiselessly trekked down the empty hallway, and he made a mental note to thank his apprentice for being so paranoid as to go making secret entrances and exits throughout the building. A rueful thought told him that he was probably the leading cause for the boy's paranoia.
The orange and black clad man paused as he passed a certain door. If he recalled the layout correctly, it was Robin's room. Perhaps there was something inside that could leave a clue as to why this was happening.
The door slid open at his approach, and Slade stepped inside. He was momentarily surprised that such a brightly clad hero had such a dark room. It was simple in style, but the main thing that caught his attention was the desk in the far side of the room. Slade stepped closer to it and observed what the young man had been working on in his absence, and he was pleased to find that the boy was still on the hunt for his rival.
One of his old masks hung above the table, right where Robin's eye level would be. How many times had the boy wonder stared at that mask? And Wintergreen said he was the obsessive one; Robin had a wall-length scrapbook of their encounters. They were more alike than Slade initially realized.
The assassin turned around and made his way to the Titan's bed, instantly taking note of the blood spatter on the sheets and inside the trashcan. He crinkled his nose in disgust at the sight. However, his eye narrowed dangerously as he gazed at the large white feather on the boy's nightstand.
The enhanced speed and strength.
The sudden strike of deadly sickness.
The fierce, lethal rage.
The white feather of an owl.
Slade bolted out of the room. He had seen this only once before, but it was forever scarred into his memory. How did I not see it?! Of course Robin is one of them! Any regard to silence was ignored as he charged through the empty halls and rooms. He guessed everyone was with their leader, but he didn't care. The thought that his apprentice was turning, just like the man he'd seen years ago, was enough to spur him on.
...
Flashback 27 years ago
A thirty year old Slade Wilson watched with wide eyes as the young man before him doubled over in extreme pain. What had shocked the soldier was that he had just watched this same man fight off an entire street gang by himself with not a weapon to be found. From what he had seen, the stranger didn't have a scratch, but he still writhed in total agony as though a terrible sickness or lethal wound plagued him.
"Stupid family curse," the man growled and slammed his arm into the pavement of the European town Slade was stationed in. Gray-blue eyes widened as the concrete cracked.
"Sir," he began hesitantly, "What can I do to help? Sir?"
"I've put it off for far too long," the man groaned as if he didn't hear the soldier, choking up blood as he did so.
"Sir?" Slade tried again. When he got no response, he knelt down beside the stilling man and attempted to gain his attention. The dark haired stranger gripped his sleeve, and the soldier gazed with muted alarm as the other's blue eyes shifted into an unnatural gold.
"I'm not exactly normal," the man grinned weakly, "You'd best leave me."
Slade narrowed his eyes, "I'm not going anywhere till you're okay."
"What's your name?" the stranger asked with a small chuckle, the color slowly coming back into his features after several painfully long breaths.
"Major Slade Wilson. You?" Best keep the man talking and prevent him from slipping.
"Army brat? Nice," he commented as the soldier helped him into a sitting position, "The name's John Grayson, trapeze extraordinaire. I work for Haley's Circus a few miles from here."
"Pardon me for asking, but how did you—?"
"Long story that I'd rather not tell."
"Why's that?" he asked before he could stop himself. The golden-eyed acrobat stared ahead with a noticeable glare.
"Because then they'll send me for your head."
But by the end of the night, Slade learned more about the Court and their Talons than any other outsider before him. All because he helped one man make his way home, and it wouldn't be the last time he ran into a Flying Grayson. He just didn't know it yet.
...
Robin groaned and lifted his heavy eyelids. Through his hazy, masked vision, he could see Raven pouring over a spell book in barely concealed frustration, and the rest of the team stood scattered around the room. He closed his eyes and bit back a grimace. In short, he felt awful, and all he wanted to do was go back to sleep.
With his eyes firmly closed, he allowed his hearing to drift, catching whispers of worry from the heroes around him. But there was another sound that was growing louder that he couldn't pinpoint as he started fading back into unconsciousness. It sounded suspiciously like footsteps...
...
All of the pieces fell into place in Slade's mind as he drew closer to the medical room. Memories of that night long ago reverberated through his head as he remembered what John had told him and what he had witnessed the man do. His reveries had to be cut short; however, as he slammed open the medbay door, startling the group of teens inside. This wasn't exactly what he had originally planned, but he was going to roll with it for now.
"Slade!" they yelled in shock. Beast Boy threw up his hands, as if he was just done with the world.
"Just great! Just what we need!" he ranted and was promptly smacked upside the head by Cyborg.
"Titans," the assassin greeted slowly and strode into the room, his stance oozing confidence. While the teens appeared ready to take him on in a fight, none of them made a move until he was within a few feet of their comatose leader.
"Not another step," Cyborg ordered, his sonic blaster aimed squarely at Slade's face. Slade paused and tilted his head, unnerving the cybernetic male.
"If you wish to ensure your leader's survival, then you will let me through."
"Tt, you're probably the one who put him in this mess. Whenever something bad happens to Rob, you're always there!"
Slade snapped and backhanded Cyborg into Starfire and Kid Flash. Raven threw up a black shield around Robin to prevent Slade from reaching him and aimed a dark blast at the man.
"Do not dare assume I would cause this upon my apprentice," he sneered.
"He's not your anything," Kid Flash grounded out, "And by the way, October called. They want their Halloween costume back."
"Well, aren't you the clever one," Slade drawled sarcastically and turned his ruthless gaze back on the metas standing between him and his apprentice. He was sorely tempted to use more lethal means of getting to the teen than any of the children before him had ever witnessed, "I will not say it again. Move or I move you. Robin needs someone with experience in this field."
"And that's you, right?" Speedy shot back, arrow notched and ready to fire. The ginger secretly hoped to take the evil mastermind's other eye out.
"Anyone else here know how to handle a changing Talon?"
The teens weren't given long to revel in their shock as Robin pounded on the shield surrounding him, obviously awake. Raven visibly gasped at the amount of force driven into his hits, and it wasn't long till she had to drop the force field.
Robin sat up, masked eyes honing in on the mercenary instantly and, for once, vision clear. His lip curled upward in a snarl, and before anyone could stop him, he launched himself directly at Slade. The two rivals fell through the wall and into the main living room, both locked in a bitter struggle.
"What are you doing here?" Robin seethed as he clawed mercilessly at the man beneath him. Slade kneed him in the stomach and delivered a sharp blow to the side of the boy's head, effectively getting out of the hold.
"Come now, Robin, I thought you missed me," he replied, his voice eerily calm.
The two exchanged blow after blow at lightning speed, to the point only Kid Flash could follow the moves as he and the other Titans watched from what was left of the wall. This was their first time actually witnessing a dual between them, and with Robin's emerging Talon abilities, they put on quite a show of both strength and technique. But their chance to watch soon ended when a legion of slade-bots stormed the building just as their master had ordered them to.
"Robin," Slade commanded, "you need to calm down. It's only going to make it worse."
"Calm down?! What do you know!?" he snapped back, dodging a fist by mere inches but was unable to get away from the fierce kick that sent him flying into the giant flatscreen TV. Robin grunted as he landed harshly on the floor, the anger numbing his pain as adrenaline kicked in.
At that moment, the only thing he wanted to do was tear Slade apart. The man had been the leading cause of his night terrors, and now, after almost a year of not seeing him, he shows up in his home while he's sick. Slade's timing was impeccable, and he hated him for it.
This wasn't part of the plan; Slade thought. He was originally going to just see what on earth was wrong with his apprentice, maybe leave a calling card to let him know he was back in town, but after he discovered what was happening, rational thought had taken the backseat for the first time in years.
Even as Robin lunged at him, Slade knew the boy was in no condition to fight. Pale, ragged, disoriented, and out for blood were just a few of the ways he'd describe him. He needed to end this, and he needed to get Robin out of here before he damaged himself further. And with his newly discovered super-strength, that was something he could not afford. He would just have to hope the boy had the same weaknesses as John did.
Robin threw a sloppy punch, and Slade gripped the boy's arm and twisted it behind his back. Pulling him closer to his chest, the assassin slipped a small orb out of his belt and slammed it over Robin's face. The sudden blast of cold air caused the teen to gasp and hiss in both shock and pain. For all of their power, the cold was not an ally to a Talon, and Slade was inwardly grateful that he still carried the small freeze bombs he had invented many years ago.
Robin was tired and sick, and that explosion of frigid air right in his face seemed to be the last straw for the struggling Titan. He fought to stay conscious, but his body wasn't listening to him. He could feel his strength waining as he writhed in Slade's iron grasp.
Where was his team? Where were his friends?
The last thing he saw was his teammates locked in a death match against an army of robots and a strong arm readjusting his grip on him. Then he knew no more...
….
Slade surveyed the distraction, if that's what he could really call it, and was proud to see the useless metas too preoccupied with their own safety to worry about their precious leader. His mind returned to the task at hand as he finally felt Robin go limp, and he carefully adjusted his hold on the boy so that he could support the dead weight.
Was his apprentice always this small?
Maneuvering around the chaos, the assassin vanished from the battle with Robin in his grasp. And he had no intention of letting go...
...
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing this one, definitely took a turn I hadn't originally planned, but I like it. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions or questions!!