A/N: It's time for another cringy crossover fanfic! Posting this now before I have time to regret it. Happens in an au where the Titans never discover the nano probes, and Phantom Planet never happened. Criticism welcome!
Robin knew something was off about this mission. It wasn't based off of anything rational, just an instinctual gut feeling, raising a platoon of red flags for him to stare at while he flung himself towards the target. It was the random chills in the air, the sound of rustling fabric, the unshakable sensation of being watched. Robin just cast it off to his training with Batman. Being a hero without powers was a disadvantage in it of itself, so being alert and aware could be the key difference between you and tomorrow. But although it was helpful, he'd gotten false alarms many times over the years. So he neglected to tell the other person over the comms about the troubling danger signs. It was all just paranoia. Deep down, Robin hoped he was wrong. With a rushed stop, he skidded onto the nondescript rooftop of RAY Tech Labs.
"Good." The roaring static in his ear relented as the voice began speaking. "Now, I trust you've studied the floorplans well?" Robin was tempted to give back some snarky retort, but all he managed to make out was a hushed "Yes."
"Yes, what?" The static seemed to grow louder through the earpiece, choking out the last syllable of the question. Robin sighed.
"Yes, master."
Before he had time to let what he had just said sink in, Robin took off towards the vent. One tool and four loose screws later, the vent cover fell to the floor, Robin catching it right before it could hit it with a loud clang. Then he slipped in.
The lab had terrible security. From what Slade had been drilling into him, they had only recently opened up a base of operations here in Jump, and apparently didn't feel the need to install any anti-theft measures so soon. Just two dozen guards, posted here and there, and a few oddly placed cameras with laughably large blind spots. And, of course, an alarm sending a signal straight to the Titan's Tower. In fact, the lack of security was weird for a lab with such allegedly powerful tech that Slade deigned it worthy enough to steal. It sent an uneasy feeling down Robin's back as he practically walked around the building in the open. If it wasn't for Slade's assurances, he would think he was walking into a trap. He chalked it up again to the paranoia.
Getting into the main room was a joke. Apparently they were stupid enough to give common guards their own keycards, so it was only a matter of knocking one unconscious and stealing it.
Robin was finally right where Slade wanted him to be. In front of him was a small metal circle, roughly the size of his palm, resting in a glass case in the middle of a messy workspace. Green rings decorated the outside, but aside from that it looked hardly notable. Robin himself didn't know what it was supposed to be for, but what Slade wanted, Slade got. Quietly, trying not to fidget with his tools, he cut open a hole in the case, setting down the separated glass next to his feet.
He knew he wasn't supposed to close his eyes, to stay on the lookout for any stray guards lining up a shot, but Robin did so anyways as he reached for the object. He could pretend, and as childish as it seemed, it helped. He could pretend he wasn't here, as a petty thief working for the most dangerous man in the country, stealing priceless technology. He could pretend he was once again the boy wonder, reaching for something out of his utility belt, ready to save the city. Maybe he was disabling a bomb, about to detonate and blow up downtown. Sometimes he would pretend he was reaching for a carton of milk in the fridge, and that he was back in the living room with his friends. His family. He could even ignore the "Excellent" crooned into his ear.
Robin only opened his eyes when the alarm went off, and with it came a kick of adrenaline. With a practiced turn he booked it down the hall, searching for the vent he exited from on his right. The guards were firing at him, the shots just missing the thief's body as they tried to incapacitate him. They were easy enough to avoid, and if he ran fast enough he could possibly escape before the Titans hit the scene. He was being a little too hopeful.
"Robin!" From the voice, he could tell Cyborg was right behind him. Robin didn't spare him a glance as he launched himself at the vents, starting his escape towards the rooftops.
"Here I thought you would be excited to see your former friends," Slade taunted, apparently uncaring that Robin had enemy forces hot on his heels. "But I wouldn't try backing out of this confrontation."
"I have the object, what does it matter!" Robin answered, not bothering to hold back his tongue from both the annoyance and adrenaline coloring his tone. Maneuvering through the tight airways, he was the least of all concerned about whether or not Slade would get to see his little apprentice fight. There was a beat of silence at the other end before Slade replied.
"We'll discuss your behavior when you return to the haunt. For now, fight. That's an order."
Robin once again opened his mouth, an angry outburst he knew he would regret later, before a couple sharp thuds emanated from the shafts behind him. The apprentice attempted to turn his head as best he could in the confined space, only to find nothing. Heart in his throat, he checked to make sure the device was still on him and then clambered out of the building as fast as he could. Eventually, Robin burst out the same way he came in, not stopping to revel in the cool air that hit him as he came out. With both of the brunet's feet on solid ground, he immediately began making his way to the building on the left before something slammed in front of him. With a grunt, he turned around to find the source of the chunk of rock now lodged in front of him, only to come face to face with Raven. The shock left him momentarily stunned, and the opportunity was immediately seized by Beast Boy. The superhero, now the form of a green cobra, wrapped around his arms with breakneck speed, faster than Robin had had time to process what was happening.
"Now, Phantom!" Came the regal, clear voice so distinctly Starfire's, as all the red flags he had seen before started to fall into place. This was an ambush. Panic seized him as he flailed wildly, trying desperately to escape from Beast Boy's grasp. The air around him froze. He was faintly aware that Slade was barking something into his earpiece, but he was too focused on escaping to care.
Robin's eyes widened as he felt a bone chilling breeze hit him in the chest, tearing away his consciousness as his eyes rolled up into his head and his body went limp.