Teen Titans; The Fighting Life: Epilogue Story; Chapter 3: Over the Ocean Blue

/

We can't even eat or sleep anymore? Raae! You just…urgh… Beast boy here, by the way! Rae made this video diary thingy to "push a bit harder" but…Dude! I need my rest like all those other gorgeous teens on T.V. She's a worse tyrant than your arch – nemesis! But, you think you don't have scary – as - heck, nightmares once in 'a while? I'm afraid of going ape every day of my life! Why? Well…Why did you have to run after that Halloween – masked freekazoid without us? …If you wanna' still stay a Teen Titan, tell me that much. The current time is now…. Watch battery needs a charge, sorry. I'm going with… five in the evening, 'cause none of the clocks work around here, like our time…. It just stopped because you aren't here…. Argh! Doesn't matter…Just…Find a way. We are counting on you to return to the Tower someday, oh – mighty leader! Don't let us down, dude! Fight back with everything you have, beat Slade's sorry butt to the curb!

/

The boat lurched and made a croaking sound as it wound past a wave of seafoam…goodness.

They were only a few miles south of the next rest area to stop and collect more information and supplies.

Robin had not seen any real sunlight in a few hours. He'd actually believed that the boat would have them going to a far away destination. Not true.

Slade had to keep an eye on all of his spendings. That included, the ones that were spread around in other areas of the coastal cities which neighbored Jump's own territory. For now, they were forced to go ahead while the Titans regrouped. Stepping foot in Jump again, meant a war would break out. He didn't have time for a game of capture the flag. The Titans could wait their turn in silence.

A laptop screen came into view on top of his desk, as Slade sat in his cushy chair while sipping a few slugs of some rather unappetizing coffee that he'd quickly whipped up. His dear friend William Wintergreen had not stayed. The coffee was what had reminded him of the man the most. Funny. Yet, who was this face in the crowd Slade was pondering, you ask?

A man of simple times, William Wintergreen was in debt to Slade through a long arrangement they'd kept going, until now.

Will had said that he'd rather keep the new lair in tip top condition while Slade, a longtime companion from their days in the army together, took to collecting his stock and bringing it home with him (for the remainder of his time "terrorizing" the citizens of Jump City California, he'd been pleased with the results.)

Yet, that wasn't half of what was on his mind.

He looked at the digital clock on his laptop screen in the lowest right – hand corner and sighed.

Then, with the click of one poke at a dormant key, he watched as a webpage link leaped up from the confines of the world - wide web browser's memory.

The video attached to the page was an updated news briefing. An update that had taken place after the man's stolen thermal blaster had been shattered to bits a top Wayne Enterprises' tower, located in Jump City as the originals' one of many, sister locations.

Slade saw the man standing with a look of sheer, dismal interaction; he did not raise his eyes until a reporter had come up to the man; a suave bachelor with his dark suit and tie, only to find that he'd been lost in deep thought. The male blinked and soon, the pretty – boy's face had changed to one who'd had some concern over the destruction this "mysterious thief had caused to Wayne Industries' tower, yet he did not seem perfectly stable over what or WHO had been the cause altogether...

Good. This person still hadn't figured it all out yet. Slade shifted closer to see into the other man's awkward gaze.

Slade knew enough, though he'd keep the rest of those thoughts to himself. Robin didn't need to know that someone else had their eye on his performance.

The screen was paused, as the man shut his laptop and put it into sleep mode. The crime lord readied himself to see if there was anything in the makeshift kitchen, he could whip up that didn't taste like dirt and rubble from the side of the road. He knew he wasn't the only one restlessly aching for a minute to get up a stretch off the cabin – fever, induced fatigue. His real hunger, was contained for now.

/

Robin had uncrumpled the paper and was seriously, regressing. His mind needed an outlet, and this…Was just a way to push and pull him into submission. Or out of it, cookies crumbling made the hunger pangs that much more unbearable…

Despite his roaring stomach, he still took to the pen and got to work.

One thing he DID NOT add into his "oath contract" paperwork, was what he wished to change about himself or the idea that he'd address anyone with the title of Master. With a final stroke of the inky tool, he signed his name along a well – drawn, make – shift, dotted line to keep the man impressed.

He has enough of an ego to at least appreciate that much. Robin smirked and folded his arms over his chest, proud for whatever reason – and in need of a decent hot meal and shower once this was all over.

He held onto the paper as if a prize in his hands. His only way to get what he wanted from that "killer croc reject."

"There, Slade can choke on that. I'm –

The Silver, black and red faced Slade bot, had the boy topple to his side, as if it had not been there before…He blinked up at the spooky misery – bringing, misfit toy.

More paper. It was holding two extra sheets in its clawed fingers.

Robin's cheeks flushed hotly up at the bot. He'd not cared if the completed sheet was on the ground …closer to that clanking –

Robin shook his head by what the bot was now holding, unable to wind down by the anger he still carried to his core.

That, was why it was here?

"More…?" Robin snorted at the coin – operated freakshow.

In triplicate.

He rolled his eyes and sat up from the floor. He got up and crunched his fists. Wanting that damn relic to stay down. It curiously craned over to meet his eyes and left the new copy - paper closer to his chest. Robin bit his lip and held back a growl.

"Bite me." Robin snarled and snatched the paper from between the bot's claws. Thankfully, no tears or claw cuts were present, he'd checked it to be perfectly sure.

Robin easily turned his back to the ugly creation and sighed. It cocked its head to the side, as if puzzled by the boy's level of courtesy.

Robin snorted and ignored the cat – like stare it threw in his direction. He'd not have to worry, as long as this was a fake note and Slade never caught on, he could be rescued once –

"Are we all finished?"

"Slade!" Robin swiveled around, seeing that the man was worse than that stupid robot and his fancy footwork. Like a thief…

Wonderful deduction…. A bit later than never, don't you think?

"I'm still onto the first draft. Robin lied.

"Oh? And this wasn't what you've already completed?" The bot handed the male graciously onto one knee, the finished "oath contract" and slipped off to the side while Slade easily skimmed over the contents of the boy's lazily written style.

Robin seethed at the traitorous thing as if it had no soul. If it did, he'd never compare it to Cyborg. The bot was nothing but a living puppet. It served only one master.

"Do it over, I don't agree with this at all."

"What?"

"You are here to learn, so put some more effort into this oath. It might as well be your future in this single slip of paper. Do it again, and this time, five pieces will do."

"What?!" Robin gawked up at the man in annoyance. He'd put all of his two – cents into that garbage! The dean at any ivy league school would be swooning over his proficiency! What gave? Was Slade –

"I did what you asked, I don't need to be lectured on how to write a crappy letter from some low – life criminal!"

"Is that what you think this is?" Slade brought the piece to his eye and then…

He decided it was just another distraction and tore it up right in front of Robin's masked eyes, those slits now hiding some serious contempt for his soon – to be teacher for a lifetime of hurt.

"If at first you don't succeed," Slade let the bits flutter to the ground; as petals around the time of D. C's annual cherry blossom event. "You'll just have to correct the problem before moving on."

"Screw this! I'm not wasting my time –

"Then we can just skip ahead to YOU, killing off the Teen Titans."

Robin; s anger hit a mild speed bump as the man struck another nerve. "No." He turned his head, and his stance grew sloppier. He was losing his nerve, alright...

"Would you also prefer a crash course in gratitude? You have so much to learn, Robin. I'd change that attitude if you ever –

"No more threats, Slade! This ends! –

Slade did blink back; that was a bit harsh. Had Robin been debating on whether to attack?

"Are you sure you can fight back? I'm not going to offer even a scrap of food to you until I've seen that fully -written apology letter, five – times…. And TEN Oath contracts in bold ink ought to lighten your sentence." He held up a set of fingers to narrow down the count. Robin looked positively worn down. He opened his mouth to respond, "I'm your prisoner…. Why can't you just –

"Would you rather I explain the arrangement to you a fifth time?" Slade watched the boy flinch by the added emphasis in his tone. "You know the reason. I'm not backing out of our deal. You should just accept this fate while you have something left to cling to."

"I won't let you do your worst. I'm getting off this ship, and you're not going –

Robin took up the pen that was still in his hands and flung it at Slade. Slade ducked, which gave him a second head start to blow this pop – stand out of the water. He then, used his own bit of stamina to rip past the mad man, and at the Slade bot as he brutally tossed it over onto its back like some lame turtle.

However, his stomach seemed to protest as it gave his position away. Wide eyed, Robin bolted for the iron door –

"Child's play, I should have kept you talking." Slade's hand was there, but he was not tightly trying to drag him back…

Slade's grip at the back of his neck was withdrawn as Robin attempted to ram open the metal barred exit with his whole body up against it. Slade…Had lost it? Was he losing his head out here, too?

Robin glanced back but saw that the man wasn't chasing him. Instead –

The bots had the right to hunt down the little traitor as Robin ran for dear life, and towards –

The stairs were blocked off. The back, the only way out!? He panicked and scrambled out of the way of those high – flying menaces. He ran over to find out where he'd ended up… The bots were crawling on the ground like spiders, on the walls, by the ceiling. The scene was impressive though bizarre as the lights below and above, flickered violently by the motions of the ship's new course.

He kept running. He looked for a latch, hatch or window in this crazy place until he was sweating and clutching his stomach that would not stop groaning out. They were outside the windows…. He couldn't jump out…

Robin winced as the hunger pains seemed to drag him back onto the ship's floor, so he scurried and crawled as best he could. Where were they? Chattering, whizzing, electrical sounds and then –

He could have died. Slade was beside the bot that had stood by the cell door, and its clawed hand was mere inches from the teen's terrified face. He held his breath and felt his head rock along with the boat on the waves to their fabled destination. A bead of sweat met the boy's side with a silenced Plip*onto his apprentice uniform.

Slade stood there a minute as Robin sweated it out, waiting for the bot to be given an order. even if it meant being stricken by those evil claws it held against his forehead. He gulped and couldn't even speak. No…he was so shaken…to afraid to be skewered to death here…

Where no one could here you scream.

The bot was motioned to act, by a very "vague" nod from its cruel master. Robin looked at the bot, then at Slade. What did that mean? Wait!

There was another bot that joined the first, and so they did as they were expected. Robin crawled backwards and tried to refuse the robots' treatment – they grappled him by his arms and dragged the boy, still on the floor, down the hall. Slade made another "head bobbing" gesture to the one bot that still held his glance. It raised a free hand up, before Robin shouted back in protest, "YOU CAN'T DO THIS! SLADE! LET ME GO! SLADE!...UGH!"

The bot had been ordered to take the boy to his room. That cell was just for a time - out, and it wasn't doing the man any good by letting his apprentice's time in there to stew go on for this long on their trip to the boy's new…training ground.

As long as Robin was done playing games, they could see eye to eye. It would take a bit of motivation on Slade's part. Though, Robin's measly fits were another matter.

/

Slade knew that Robin needed to eat and rest first, but first…He had a suspicion. Robin earlier, had been injected with a stomach medicine. He'd not said a word, but the boy's groaning gut was proof. The sewer water was possibly the cause, so he'd need to gather a kitchen full of ingredients and put the child back in his place. Only, once he was well enough to throw a proper punch.

/

Robin rolled over and clutched his stomach; as if it were trying to impale him as he dreamed of another time and place…He couldn't stop…it –

"No more of this." Slade opened the door to Robin's new room and had brought along a mug of what looked to be…hotter than this unwelcomed illness had made of his apprentice.

"If you didn't push me away, I could have prevented that little virus from stealing your strength."

"Nnn...gnn!"

"You can eat, get up."

"No…just –

An arm pried the boy from his unwanted nightmares.

"Sit up. I won't ask, I'll make you take the pills. You'll survive." He reassured the boy, who was looking bluer than the deepest waters by now.

"We can treat your stomach first, then you'll need to continue with anti – biotics until –

"Not…going…"

Slade sighed and sat the boy up against a pillow on the mattress he'd been throw across. He propped up a few more pillows to be sure Robin wouldn't turn down his treatment. He'd simple gotten a little ill. A few pills would be about a week, tops. He wasn't this ungrateful –

"Is your life worth that little to you? What about her's?"

"Stop…"

"Then take the damn medicine. BE Robin the Boy Wonder and show me you aren't going to stop fighting." He grabbed the boy's hand and placed one pill into his apprentice's clammy palm. "There is soup here, to help hydrate you. You need to drink it."

Slade was seriously trying to keep the teen alive. As if…Wait. He was contraband. A prize, nothing at all! But…

~ I don't want to suffer like this…~

Robin sat up a bit more, and with a shaky set of fingers, took the cup from Slade and downed both broth and the elephant – drug sized pill. He nearly spat it back up from drinking too quickly. As Slade coaxed the teen to ease him up a bit, the hero moaned in his throat and laid himself back onto the plush pillows behind him.

Slade saw as Robin's breathing softened up. He was too tired, to tired of fighting a losing war. Slade wasn't very good with…

"Rest, apprentice." He put a hand gently onto Robin's back. "You'll feel better once we've gotten to the next port for supplies. I'll not tolerate your behavior as of then, yet you'll still be expected to make up a new oath once you've recovered. So, sleep, for now."

The light soon died down and Robin could breathe a bit better, with the bad – bacteria killers in his system, kicking major tail…

He'd try again…And again, to find a way back to dry land…if he had to…There was no other choice…He would be swimming back to them soon…As long as it took to find his way back home…