A Different Identity
A Teen Titans Fanfiction
By: Nightingale0708

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It has the name fanfiction for a reason.

Robin knew he was defeated. There was simply no way around Slade's elaborate plan. Even Robin, the former protege to Batman, the World's Greatest Detective, couldn't figure this out. Even if Robin had the guts to stand up to Slade, there was still the trivial matter of the Titans' lives hanging in the balance.

"Fine." Robin said, defeated. He had long since accepted that there was no other way. In order to save his friends' lives, he had to become Slade's apprentice. "You win. I'll be your apprentice. Just leave my friends alone." Robin's shoulders slumped and he lowered his gaze to the floor. I'm so sorry, guys.

"I know it seems bad now, but trust me. You will-" Slade was abruptly cut off by a beeping noise coming from his multiple computer screens. He growled under his breath and stalked over to the massive screens. He pressed a few buttons and put a hand to his ear.

"What is it?" he asked gruffly.

He paused for a second, tilting his head as if listening to something.

"What were they?"

Another pause. Suddenly, Slade's cold and calculating blue eye widened in surprise. He looked at Robin in disbelief, who stood standing in confusion. What the hell is going on?

"Send it to me." Slade's voice was filled with sadness and regret and there was the barest hint of hope in his voice, as well. He walked swiftly to a printer that was sitting on the edge of a table and waited. Robin was still confused. The man's guard was lowered. Now was his chance. He rushed forward, his fist raised. He punched at the man, who caught his fist in his hand. Robin tried with his other hand, only for it to be caught also. His hands were crossed in front of him. He tried to pull away from the man, to no avail. For a minute he stopped struggling and just stared at the man in front of him. Something flickered in the man's blue eye, which didn't look so cold and calculating anymore. The emotion flickering in the man's eye was...remorse. For a second, Robin had the fleeting impression that the man wanted to say something. The man gripped Robin's wrists tighter, then released him.

Stumbling backwards, Robin rubbed his wrists. Damn, that man was strong. Suddenly, the sound of a printer printing something brought their attention to the table. The paper was out in no time and Slade took it in his hands. As he skimmed through the paper, his eye widened and he swayed slightly on the spot. If it was any other person, Robin would've rushed forward to help the man into a chair, but this was no ordinary person. This could be a trap, a trick. That's why Robin held his ground. It seemed like the man didn't need any help, though. He found a chair and lowered himself into it. Robin was left even more confused than before. The man must've learned something crazy for him to lower his guard this much. Even Robin would've kept himself together. Slade looked at Robin, remorse flashing deeply in his lone eye. Suddenly, the man spoke.

"You know, I've been watching you for some time, Robin." he spoke softly. "Ever since you were a small child."

"Suurre." he drawled sarcastically, but he was severely unnerved. Slade's voice had lost the quality that had always annoyed Robin. Did Slade know who he was? Did he know he was Dick Grayson?

"Oh, I have. I have several reasons that I've watched you grow over the years. Personal reasons."

"What twisted plan did you have in motion at that point, Slade?" Robin questioned, trying to get more information out of the man. "What are you, a D-list stalker?"

Annoyance flashed through the man's eye. "I watched you grow up. There's a difference."

"Now, why would you watch me? It's one thing to keep an eye on me because I'm a hero, but from a baby, Slade? Really?"

"I have my reasons."

Robin crossed his arms in front of his chest, defiance lacing every part of his being. "Spill 'em, then."

"Oh, and just because you told me to, I'm going to tell you every detail of my reasoning." Slade growled, annoyance clear in his voice.

"You're gonna need a better excuse than that bullshit your trying to say, Slade! Why have you been watching me?"

There was a pause before a tires sigh. Slade looked up at the ceiling before answering.

"I...I don't know why I did it. Wishful thinking, perhaps. But I never imagined that it would turn out positive. I... should've tested this sooner..." This threw Robin for a loop. It sounded like Slade regretted something, deeply so. Robin had a vague idea of what it was, but he chose not to think about it.

"What in the hell are you talking about?" snapped Robin, his patience finally wearing out.

"This." Slade turned around and typed a few keys on the keyboard. Duel sets of the double helix DNA models came up. Something wasn't right. Robin suddenly wasn't feeling well and he wasn't sure why.

"What is this?" he asked, his throat slightly hoarse.

"DNA samples. One is from you and another from me. I tested them against each other." Robin's blood ran cold. Slade couldn't possibly be implying what Robin thought he was implying.

"Why would you do that? There's no way we could be related...there's no way!" Robin finished his statement somewhat hysterically, his voice shaking. Slade related to him? No way. There way no way in hell that Slade was related to Robin! It can't be true...could it?

"Oh, but there is a way. The test showed it positive. Not only are we related, but we're closely related..." This had to be a bad dream. A scene out of Star Wars. Robin was Luke Skywalker and Slade was Darth Vader. Robin knew how that movie ended, and Robin would like to keep his hand attached to his body, thank you very much.

"No, no, no, no, no." Robin murmured, almost to himself. Oh god, this can't be happening... "This can't be happening. It's not possible. You're lying!" Robin couldn't stand it. There was no way that he was related-no, closely related to Slade of all people. Said man turned toward Robin, freezing Robin's blood. Slade moved his hand from behind his back and pointed it to the ground. The message was clear. Robin slowly walked forward, his legs still and his palms sweaty beneath his gloves. Slade looked down at him.

"Do you want to do another test just to prove me wrong?" he asked softly.

A fresh test? To prove he's not my father?

Yeah, this could work in my favor. I have to prove him wrong.

I cant' just leave without finding out, I'll go insane.

Not knowing what he was agreeing to, Robin nodded his head numbly. Slade raised a hand, which held a cotton swab. "Swallow and open you mouth." Robin complied. Slade gently brushed the inside of Robin's cheek and the edge of his teeth. He did this another time, leaving him with 2 samples. Slade did the same to himself twice, lifting the edge of his mask. Robin found that his hands were shaking. He clenched them into fists. He couldn't let Slade see weakness, even if he was his father. Robin suddenly felt a burning need to have a living, breathing father. John Grayson had been great, but Robin hadn't been allowed to spend his life with him before he was murdered. Now there was a chance that John wasn't even his biological father. Batman had taken him under his wing, but he had never tried to fill the role of Father. Batman nor Bruce Wayne had ever tried to fill the hole in Robin's heart. Maybe that's why it was so easy for Robin to leave his mentor behind. He had to leave because Batman was casting too big of a shadow. Robin had left to cast his own shadow, not be stuck for ever in Batman's, which is what would've happened if he'd stayed in Gotham City. Then there was the trivial matter of the Joker...

Robin was brought out of his musings by the sound of beeping and a printer printing something once more. While Slade faced the computer, Robin rushed over to the printer, eager to see what the results were. He lifted the paper. When he read the contents, the edges of the paper began to crumple in his hands. It fluttered to the floor noiselessly.

'DNA results show paternal connection with the child. Probability of paternity is 100%. Subject S is the immediate paternal parent to Subject R.'

How the hell did that happen? What could his mother see in this man? Unless...it was involuntary. Oh, crap. That had to be what happened, no matter how much Robin hated himself to admit it.

Slade was his father.

His field of vision swam in front of him. His vision was going black around the edges. He grabbed a chair to steady himself. However, his legs gave out from beneath him. The last thing he saw was Slade rushing toward him, his striking blue eye filled with concern. Oh, god. .

He had the man's eyes...

With that thought, his world went black.