If I just Breathe

Authors Note: I don't own the Teen Titans ... shame. I own Immojen however. She belongs to me. Oh and Ruby ... she's also mine. (c) Oh and Immojen's powers are like Pyro's .. I'm fully aware of that so all cred to Pyro... what a guy!

Chapter 9 - Broken a second time

"B-B-Bruce?" Robin stuttered, using the wall to fall upon. "No! It can't be you!"

The dark silhouette of a small man walked forward. Robin suddenly came to his senses as Lukean appeared before him. He had dark, copper coloured hair and unnatural, yellow eyes. He had smooth, clear pale skin with the exception of a small scar falling like a tear from his left eye to his visible cheek bone, staining his face as it fell. Robin, relieved that it wasn't who he thought it was shook away the shock and braced himself.

"Robin. I have been awaiting you," He said, his low voice, far too low for a boys, echoed in the confinement, hitting every wall and refracting back to Robin's ears.

"How, how did you know my real name?" Robin questioned suspiciously.

Lukean starred, with a small snare upon his face and paused before answering the intruder. "Guessed." Silence fell upon the cell. Robin was confused and bewildered at this, and for once in his life, he was unfocused.

"Lucky guess," Robin added, sarcastically.

"Would you like to see a marvellous trick my guest? I assure you it will greatly amuse you."

Robin didn't answer, but Lukean took two steps backward, returning to the darkness without Robin's approval. Robin, then prepared himself and remembered his mission. Like lightening, Robin reached for a weapon and prepared himself to attack. Then, Lukean stepped forward and once more Robin was shocked but this time, he was stunned. Stuck to the spot as he froze with shock as he saw approaching him … himself! He opened his mouth as Robin walked toward him sharply and struck his face with a metal fist. As he felt the fist collide with his jaw, he turned sharply from the force of the impact, and smashed his head upon the cell wall, knocking him out.

When Robin awoke he was strapped with both hands to a wall. He was stripped of his apprentice suit and instead was wearing the same clothes Lukean was wearing when they met in the prison cell; a stained, baggy shirt and some three quarter length trousers that were of the same material of the shirt and equally as dirty. Robin, adjusted to his surroundings as his blurred eyesight became once again clear. He was then suddenly gripped by the jaw which made him cry out in pain caused by the assault by Lukean earlier. His eyes met the single eye of Slade.

"Well, well, well. Finally awake Lukean," Robin's eyes widened and questioned Slade as they starred into his. Behind his mask, Slade smirked and looked behind his own shoulder and Robin followed. He saw himself in the apprentice outfit he had once worn. The impostor Robin was standing with his arms crossed, smirking. The only give away that he was the impostor, was his yellow eyes. Robin's mask was not in place over his eyes. Slade let go of Robin harshly and paced the room. "You see, Robin, Lukean here is a bit like a mirror. He reflects what he sees. You, Robin, currently are that reflection. I must say it is indeed impressive. The perfect, assassin. When he takes the form of another, he takes on their power also. Perfection. I knew Robin that when I adopted you for a second time as my number one apprentice, you would never agree to my, tasks. Perhaps at first to amuse me while you thought of some clever escape plan, but eventually, your heart would deceive me and you would refuse the intentions I so greatly desire,"

"And what is that Slade?" Robin said, dangerously.

"Death Robin. Where as you have a conscience, Lukean here has lost all emotion through the intensity of his, mutilations. As I said, the perfect assassin. You see, your stupid little friend Starfire will eventually loose herself and tell all of your other little team mates of your capture and you would have willingly proceeded to depart with them when they eventually came to rescue you from my evil clutches. But now you will refuse and insist you now aid your Master from now on, and they will, broken heartedly of course, accept their leaders decision and let you to me, not suspecting a thing. Immojen of course will also have no choice put to accept your decision and stay also, for she can not leave without your aide. You see Robin? I'm always two steps ahead of you,"

Robin felt his chest go tight and he swallowed his own bile. "So, I was never intended to be your Apprentice?"

"No Robin. I never repeat my ill actions. It did not work before and it would have not worked a second time. But now I have the perfect Robin to aide me. One with all the intelligence, skill and attack skills that you have, but would do anything, even kill,"

"So what am I now?" Robin chocked. "What are you going to do?"

"Leave you here. We can't have two Robin's roaming the streets of Jump City now can we? Of course, Lukean here will need training once in a while and what other effective way to improve yourself than sparing with the best Robin? You'll be needed for that of course."

Lukean interrupted quickly after Slade had finished talking, tiring of this game and eager to cause destruction. "Master? The eyes?"

Slade turned to his new Robin and remembered the yellow of Lukean's eyes. "Ah of course!" He approached Robin and bent down to his face. Robin new he was about to reveal his identity and tried to struggle to prevent the inevitable. Slade grabbed Robin's black hair forcing his head to be still. Gently, he removed his foe's mask. Robin's breathing increased and he prevented eye contact with Slade. Refusing access for Slade to stain his eyes by seeing them. Slade clutched the mask in his hand. An overwhelming sensation then consumed Slade as he turned to place the mask to the imposter Robin to complete the transformation. He stopped and looked at his discarded apprentice. "Robin," He said slowly and almost concerned. Robin flinched at his voice, at the realisation of defeat and the revealing of his identity. "What colour are your eyes?"

Robin blinked as he starred at the floor, dazzled by the question. Robin felt desertion and afraid. He felt the same emotion he had when he watched his family and his life fall to the floor and die. Why not co-operate with Slade. He had everything now. He had won, why not give him the last piece of dignity he possessed. Robin sharply looked up to Slade, not with anger, not with fear but with self disappointment. Something twisted in Slade as he did so. If Slade had been truthful for once in his criminal life, he'd have admitted revealing the emotion known as guilt as he realised he'd taken the life from a child. Though Robin was developing into a fine, young man, he was none the less a child and Slade remembered what it was like to be so vulnerable and alone.

"Blue." Slade said softly and he and his new apprentice left, leaving Robin alone, cold and in the dark. Broken.