Nightmare

PortofSeas, a.k.a. Shigure-Sensei or Talon.

Disclaimer: I was in the comic book store and saw an original Teen Titans comic. Robin was glaring. I think it was at me. I think it was because of this story. Insolence like that would not be tolerated if I owned Teen Titans.

Sorry for the long break, but I'm back. Yeah, this is pretty much another unedited chappie. And by the way, if you want to tell me things you dislike, OOC, or any mistakes you find, feel free to tell me. My plan is to pretty much edit it AGAIN and post it again when it's finally perfect.

Chapter Seven: Long Time no See.

"Go away!" Robin screamed, clutching his head. Some part of him knew he shouldn't be here, but he was. Summoning all his strength, he ran toward Slade and aimed a kick at his head. Slade caught his leg and threw him up against the wall.

"I don't understand why you dislike me so," Slade told him. Robin stumbled to his feet, clutching one arm.

"There's nothing about you to not dislike," he growled.

"How can you say that when we're so similar?"

"We're both persistent. Not much else for you to brag about, is there?"

"Still in denial, aren't you?"

Robin stumbled forward.

"You're here; I've accepted that, isn't it enough?"

"Good boy. Now understand that I'm stronger, faster, and better than you."

"I don't believe lies!"

"Don't you now?" Slade said cockily. The next thing Robin knew, Slade was behind him, knocking him down again, and following with a quick succession of kicks and punches. Robin cried out and reached out toward the distant wall.

"Don't even reach for that light switch. It won't work."

He lifted Robin into the air and heaved him at the distant wall. His body broke on impact.

"No!" he cried, sitting bolt upright in bed like so many other times. Shakily, he pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his head in his arms. Someone touched his shoulder and he jerked back, catching whoever's wrist.

"Who are-Batman?" he stuttered, a smile touched the cloaked hero's lips.

"Surprised?" he asked, wrenching his hand out of Robin's grip.

"Wh-What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you're in line and not causing trouble."

Robin chuckled.

"I don't cause trouble."

"I wouldn't say that," Batman told him. "I remember a time not too long ago when I caught you stealing a tire off the bat mobile."

"That was years ago," Robin protested.

"Time flies," Batman chuckled. They were silent for a few moments.

"It's good to see you again," he said. "It's been a while."

"Good to see you too," he set a gloved hand on Robin's head and ruffled the boy's already messy hair. Robin batted him away.

"So, how's Alfred?"

Meanwhile, the other four titans peeked in through the partially open door.

"He is very comfortable with Robin," Starfire pointed out.

"They're like father and son," Cyborg insisted. "I never knew Batman could be so compassionate. From what I hear, he's not exactly the 'emotional' type."

"Well, Raven turned out to have emotions," Beast Boy put in. Raven glared.

Batman sat back in his chair, his mannerism suddenly characteristically serious.

"Your friends tell me you haven't been eating lately."

Robin stared hard at his sheets, ashamed. Batman's gaze was stern, even when he didn't try to make eye contact.

"Robin, what's wrong?"

"I've just been having some nightmares," he muttered.

"What kind?"

Robin shrugged.

"Fighting bad guys and stuff."

"Same one?"

Robin hesitated, and then answered.

"Yeah. He's called Slade. We've run into him a few times."

Batman seemed intrigued and leaned in.

"Tell me more."

"He's obsessed with taking us down," Robin explained, fiddling with his blanket. "Me in particular, and I guess I just wanted to stop him before he destroyed the city."

"But that isn't how it ended up," Batman finished.

"After a few of his mystery-man routines that didn't seem to have a point, I got kinda desperate. I went undercover as Red X, to gain his trust, and didn't tell anyone. That blew up in my face. Eventually, I found out he wanted an apprentice, and he had me in mind."

"Did you accept?"

"I didn't have a choice," Robin sighed. "He had it within his power to kill my friends. I even had to fight them when they caught me stealing for him."

"Right on a Wayne Industries building, I was wondering where that bill came from."

"Was that a joke?"

"Supposed to be. Go on."

"Eventually, I got him to let me go, but after that he just found a girl named Terra and did the same thing to her, only she really did join him. He gave her control, but in the end he went too far and she stopped him, freezing herself in the process and supposedly killing him."

"But you don't think he's dead."

"I should," Robin sighed. "But…I saw these hallucinations of him, and he was real, at least to me. He almost killed me fighting. It turns out it was just one last trick that I worried myself sick over, literally."

"That explains a lot."

"And the other day I heard everyone talking about how he might still be out there, or at least someone."

"I thought you were sick."

"I was," Robin assured him. Batman smirked.

"Eavesdropping again, I expect."

"Maybe…"

"I knew it!" Beast Boy insisted. Batman turned to glance at the door.

"You're not the only one, it seems," he commented.

"Now would be a good time to get out of here," Cyborg suggested, and they all fled. Batman shook his head and smiled.

"Quite a team you have here," he noted.

"Yeah, it's pretty cool here," Robin said with a smile. Suddenly, he found a steaming bowl of chicken noodle under his nose. He pushed it away.

"You need to eat Robin," Batman instructed.

"I'm not hungry."

"That's because you've taught your body not to be. This isn't healthy, Robin."

Robin shook his head vigorously.

"Eating just makes my stomach hurt worse," he explained.

"If you don't eat eventually you'll die. I don't care if you can't keep all of it down."

"I do," Robin muttered.

"You won't get better until you eat something," Batman told him. "And I'm going to sit here and watch you until you eat it."

"Fine," Robin replied, staring at him back in the eye. It was really quiet for a few minutes, neither of them willing to speak or even break eye contact. Each, of course, being just as stubborn as the other.

"You do realize I can blackmail you," Batman threatened.

"You wouldn't dare."

Batman leaned in real close, seeming much more intimidating than a skinny kid in blue pajamas.

"Wouldn't I?"

Robin's eyes narrowed.

"Fine," he grumbled, taking the bowl of soup. Batman leaned back in triumph, watching as Robin hesitantly took a few spoonfuls of soup. Then, expectantly, he dropped the spoon and clutched his stomach. Batman placed one hand on the boy's back and leaned over him.

"It's okay Robin," he assured him. "Just let it pass, you're doing good."

"Get me the trash can," the boy rasped. "Please."

"Not until you finish the bowl, Robin. Your body needs these nutrients."

"I can't-"

"Yes you can! What you feel is hunger, and it's only going to get worse if you don't eat something."

Robin bit his lip, sweat dripping off his forehead as he fought to keep the soup down. After a few seconds, the nausea passed. But, he suddenly felt hungrier than he had imagined he still could be. Ravenously, he finished off the bowl. Batman sighed in relief.

Robin set the bowl back on the bedside table, still clutching his stomach.

"Think you can do it again?" Batman asked. Robin nodded. "Can you keep it down?" Robin shook his head.

"No…could you…?"

Batman grabbed the trash can and handed it to Robin, who promptly retched into it. Batman just patted him on the back.

"You're doing good, Robin." Robin glanced up at him and smiled weakly.