Chapter 10: What is He Going to do?
Robin was at a complete loss at what to do. He was alone with Slade, his friends had no idea where he was, and there would be no way to efficiently fight back with an injured leg in such an enclosed space.
Panic constricted his chest painfully once again, and his breath hitched at the man's voice.
"We have a lot to talk about, Apprentice."
The teen's mind was in complete turmoil as Slade slowly retracted his hand. It caused a pang of brief relief to flow through him, but it instantly disappeared as Robin saw Slade made no move to distance himself any further. He simply stayed in front of him, his eyes narrowed as he studied the teen, like a predator would its prey.
Robin's heart felt as though it was beating out of his chest from adrenaline. His breathing was erratic, going from silent to ragged in a matter of seconds. His eyes were wide and remained on the single one that was trained directly at him.
Yet, even though he was panicked, there was always a defiant glint in his eye. Slade surely saw it, but chose to address Robin's other primary emotion instead.
"I don't wish to hurt you, Robin, I merely wish to talk about your options for the future." Slade said this as casually as a parent would talk to a teen about college, and that seemed to scare the bird even more, if that was even possible. "You see, you have many paths in front of you that can be taken, but which one will you go towards? I want you to mull over that question after our little chat," then, adding dryly, "think you will be able to manage that?"
Robin's brain was currently out the window, and he found himself slowly nodding. Slade seemed to smirk from the slight curve of his eye, and then stood to his full height, his dark shadow enveloping the teen in his own miniature darkness.
The bird could tell the mercenary was smirking behind the mask. The familiarity of this action, one he has seen countless times in all of their scuffle's, seemed to make some of the fear turn back into defiant anger. He managed to give a weak glare in the man's direction.
Slade gave a slight huff of amusement. "I see that you are finally coming back to your senses. I must say, with the bravado act you put up on the field, I wouldn't pin you as someone who got so easily paralyzed by fear. Must fix that." he clasped his hands behind his back, another familiar act.
Robin had now gained control of his breathing yet again, and even though his fear was still very much present, the anger was starting to take over, slowly enveloping the fear in a red hot blanket.
The ebony moved backwards towards the wall and away from the man. Slade simply watched, intrigued as Robin pushed up against the wall of the shipping container with his good leg and attempted to stand. He managed to get to his feet, but when he attempted to put weight on his injured leg, he let out a pained gasp and it immediately buckled beneath him.
Robin growled. He felt so helpless, at the mercy of this man. Fighting back would be fruitless against his kind of skills. Tears of frustration began to pool in his eyes, but he refused to acknowledge them. His head hung low, his ebony locks falling over his eyes, and his breathing was now more ragged from the pain rather than panic. He couldn't care less that he could no longer see the man.
"My friends will come. Whatever you're planning, it won't work." the ebony said this in a tone that seemed he was also trying to convince himself. But even Slade couldn't miss the rage seeping into his words, the last one coming out in more of a snarl.
Slade said nothing, simply tilted his head in a curious manner, still studying the 'hero' in front of him.
The mercenary took a step closer to Robin, who immediately snapped his masked eyes back up. They narrowed as he came to stand only a foot away, that analytical eye never leaving Robin's face.
"I know that those other sidekicks will come for you, I'm counting on it, actually. However, I wouldn't go so far as calling them your friends." this made Robin's eyes narrow even further, and a snarl now openly adorned his lips.
"You don't know anything about them." he spat, glaring at Slade with much more conviction than before.
Slade can ridicule and torture him all he wanted, but Robin's friends were off limits. They were like a third family, an extension of himself. If any comments about them were made, you can bet there would be hell to pay from Robin.
The mercenary, however, didn't seem to catch on, or in the more likely case, simply didn't care. He simply met the birds steely gaze head on, not in the least bit intimidated by what was most likely a pitiful display in front of him. They stayed like that, Slade's body shadowing Robin's hunched figure, before the man began to speak.
"I'm afraid I do." he said softly, in an almost sympathetic voice that got Robin somewhat confused. Slade? And sympathy? Those words shouldn't be in the same sentence.
"Yeah, I know, you're a stalker and probably know how to beat all of them in a battle." Slade simply sighed slightly and gently shook his head.
"That's not what I meant. Tell me, Robin, when you first went out on your own, which of these 'friends' came to try and bring you back?" Robin opened his mouth to reply, but, he realized that he couldn't give an answer that wouldn't prove his point.
His breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened. No one came for him. Not even Batman came, and the only one who ever attempted to keep him close was Alfred. And Robin was so bitter at the time he never returned any calls, and eventually the Englishman stopped calling altogether, probably figuring he was a lost cause.
Desperately he tried to sort through his memory to a time where anyone, anyone besides Alfred, anyone he knew in the superhero community, or just someone he was close to, tried to bring him back.
Nothing came to mind. It was saddening to think about, but that's exactly why he left. Robin knew he wasn't going to reach his full potential with his 'friends' holding him back.
That's why he created the Titans. He wouldn't go as far as saying they were substitutes for his old team members, but so far they proved much more loyal than Young Justice. They came after him when he disappeared, and actually worried when he didn't seem to be himself.
They cared, even if no one else would.
"The Titans are-"
"Your team, yes," Slade interuppted, making Robin growl lowly at him. "but did you ever stop and really think if you were anything more to them besides their leader?" at this, Robin raised a slightly curious eyebrow.
Slade was definitely acting strange. Why exactly hadn't he dragged Robin off to his lair, yet. He did want him as his apprentice again, didn't he?
"Not...really..." Robin found himself hesitantly answering, still confused as he could tell the man was now smirking beneath the mask.
"Well, maybe you should. Are they really your friends, or are they simply fiercely loyal to their leader? I have already shown you that your previous 'friendships' meant nothing, so why would the Titans be any different? I believe that in the beginning of your Young Justice, most of you weren't acquainted, but you were all loyal to the Atlantian."
"But then we became close, over time." Robin rebutled, but Slade merely shook his head again.
"Yes, and that bond was put to the test when you ran off. Does it look like any one of your 'friends' passed that test? You Titans have been together for barely a year, and the people you have known for the majority of your life abandoned you when you left the safety of the nest." Robin stayed silent now, mulling over these things very carefully.
He knew that Slade was trying to manipulate him, twist his thoughts, but he couldn't help but see what he was saying.
Robin has known Kid Flash since he was ten, and they fought together for years. He saw Wally as a brother, and what did he do when Robin suddenly stopped coming to the Mountain?
Nothing. No calls, no attempts at contact, and no attempted mental communication from the link.
In fact, the only person in the superhero community who even bothered talked to him after he ran away was Roy, who called him briefly to congratulate him for growing up and seeing the real picture, before he hastily hung up.
But the Titans were different, weren't they? They didn't have mentors or any adult figures in their life that could possibly sway their opinion and stop them from doing certain things. All they had were each other and their city. They saw him as more than just a leader they needed to obey and protect. They had to.
Starfire was always exclaiming how great of a friend he was. Beast Boy and Cyborg always begged him to play video games. Raven taught him how to handle his emotions and was supporting him when they arrived at Mount Justice. Those are all things that friends did, not team members simply loyal to their leader. Right?
Though, he had done similar things with Young Justice, and they turned their back on him when he left. What if the Titans were just the same, and they only came after him because they couldn't function without him? Was he just a chess piece that they need to win?
Robin quickly shook his head. Slade was getting to him. Putting thoughts into his head that weren't his. He couldn't let the enemy get to him like that. He was taught better.
Slade brought his index and middle finger to rest beneath the ebony's chin, and lifted it up so Robin could meet that single, grey eye.
"I do not like seeing you suffer this way. Being deceived in the worst of ways. As my apprentice, I can assure you that I will never abandon you as your fellow sidekicks have. I can give you what you need, what you deserve." Slade paused, studying Robin's now stony face for a reaction of some sort. When he saw none, he continued. "All I would ask in return was your undeniable loyalty."
Robin simply stood stock still and looked deep into that lone eye.
With all the jumbled thoughts flitting around his head, Robin unconsciously found himself thinking about the man's offer.
He thought back to his previous apprenticeship, how horrible he felt. Wearing Slades colors made him mortified, and the haunted looks on the Titans faces would forever remain in his memories.
But that was when he was unwilling. When Slade commented that he enjoyed stealing for him, he didn't admit it right away, but when he was alone in the Tower, rescued from the man, he found that he actually did. It gave him the same thrill that stopping muggers did, but in a new way. An almost better way.
If Robin was willingly the man's apprentice, things would no doubt be different. Lives wouldn't be hanging in the balance. He could focus on actually learning from the man, as even Robin couldn't deny that the mercenary was a master in almost every fighting style, almost better than Batman.
He shouldn't be thinking about this. Slade managed to get inside his head, and now he was pulling strings, just like he wanted to be.
A sudden explosion sounded from close by, followed by sounds of a fight. Robin knew it was the Titans and Young Justice, but for some reason he couldn't feel relieved just yet.
Slade took a step away, and turned around towards the small light. When he was right beside it, he turned back to Robin, who was still leaning up against the side of the container, his weight entirely on his good leg.
"Of course, this is quite a big decision to be made. So I will give you two weeks to make up your mind. If you choose the right path for your future, I will be waiting for you." with this Slade reached out and smashed the small light, leaving Robin in pitch darkness. There was no sound to indicate the man left, but the ebony could tell when he was no longer with him.
But despite the mercenary leaving, and the sounds of the fight dissipating around him, he couldn't move from his place. His arms came around him and he hugged himself tightly. The darkness enveloped him, and as he clenched his eyes shut, feeling tears beginning to build once again, he slid to the floor of the container, ignoring the panicked voices that called his name. Robin couldn't see them right now, not so soon after Slade put all of these doubts into his mind.
The little bird had a lot to think about in the next two weeks.
Our favorite bird is going to absolutely hate me for the emotional roller coaster I am about to make him go through.
~Atatami