Robin panted heavily, ignoring the sharp pain that kept stabbing in his torso. Earlier, Harley Quinn had landed a solid blow, which had probably bruised, if not broken, a rib or two. But the clown-girl was now down for the count, kept that way by the other Titans, while her "sweet Mr. J" didn't spare her a glance as he kept dodging Robin's attempted blows. The Titans knew Robin well enough not to interfere with the battle; this was Robin's fight to finish.

The Joker eventually danced out of reach long enough to taunt, "Egg-head, what do you think winning this little skirmish will do? Whatever you do will turn out to be the wrong choice..." His mocking smile grew wider, if possible. "If you don't eliminate me, this will never end. Imprison me; I'll escape. Let me go; I'll come back for you. Kill me: your golden reputation as the Boy Wonder will be sullied. It seems you have no other alternative, BratBoy."

Robin growled through gritted teeth, "You killed my brother."

That condescending smile burned itself into Robin's vision. "He was never really your brother. Two-Face took care of you real brother ages ago."

"Tim was my brother," Robin said softly. He was doing exactly what he shouldn't have been doing; letting the Joker's words get to him. Psychological attacks were always more fun, from the Joker's point of view, and this fight was no different. As the villain wheedled and distracted, he was slowly sneaking closer to the only possible exit route.

"Batman adopted us both. I was the first, then Tim. We were his sons, his heirs, and we were brothers. Maybe not by blood, but we were brothers in one of the clearest senses." Robin suddenly realized that the Joker was on the verge of escaping, and he threw a Birdarang cleanly through the door handle, effectively locking the two of them in. When needed, the Titans could easily make an exit for themselves.

Robin reached around, wincing a couple of times because of his sore ribs, beneath his cape to his utility belt and took out his bo staff. He twisted the center, and it shifted, becoming longer at either end. He held it loosely by his side, an odd smirk twisting his features.

"Just you and me. Slade," Robin hissed.

For an instant, the insane façade slipped, showing emotions of surprise, shock, anger, resolve, and cunning, all within the space of a few seconds. Robin caught them all. Then the veneer of madness returned, and Joker laughed wildly. Though not as wildly, Robin noted, as he had before.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Boy Blunder. Maybe madness is catching." The rogue tried again to laugh, but faltered at Robin's unwavering gaze.

"Slade," Robin called again. "I know you're in there. Show yourself!"

Joker's features twisted into a face that Robin vaguely recognized. It was the face that had been revealed to him for only a moment the night that he gave Slade an ultimatum: heal the Titans, or lose an apprentice.

A grim sneer altered Robin's mouth and he spat out, "Welcome back." He added sarcastically, "We've all missed you terribly."

The voice that emanated from Joker's visage was the cold, smooth accent of Slade rather than the hyper, high-pitched enunciation of Joker.

"Robin," Joker/Slade greeted him. "How... nice to see you again. Though I may be in this disgusting guise" the criminal glared down at his purple and green attire "you may rest assured that it is I within. I do not wish to test your wits with stupid questions as Riddler might, but I came because you called. What is it that you desire, dear little Robin?"

Robin tossed back his head to shake the hair from his eyes as he advanced upon Joker/Slade. "I desire to know how you survived the magma you fell into when Terra accidentally created a volcano. I desire to know if Terra's condition can be reversed, and if so, how I can do it. I desire to know why the two of you are the same person. I desire to know why you have chosen me, of all people, to torment. And I desire to know why Joker killed Tim."

The crook's face remained stoic, but an eyebrow quirk revealed just how these questions affected him. He was disconcerted by Robin's tone and anger.

"Death does not affect me. A simple matter of technology and intellect has insured that I cannot die."

"What are we in, Harry Potter?!" Robin snapped. "Answer my questions," the teen vigilante whispered dangerously.

Cyborg glanced at the other Titans, worried about his friend and leader. He was acting crazy, as if he'd eagerly turn to violence or torture to get answers.

Slade answered leisurely, "What you saw destroyed in that magma was simply another of my drones. Terra can be revived out of her stone state, but I do not know how. If I did, she would certainly be fighting by my side at this moment. I am a part of Joker because, when Joker fell into that vat of chemicals all those years ago, they affected not only his features but also his mind, creating me. I do not torment you. And as for why Joker killed Tim... I need not say that that is a question for Joker."

Author Notes

Okay guys... I got four reviews! Yay me! And now to address them:

Rose Eclipse: Lovely review, m'dear. Thank you for recognizing the obvious DC Universe implications. But please note that Tim Drake is Grayson's adopted brother. After Grayson's parents died, Wayne adopted him. Wayne did the same for Drake. And Robin is just Robin; that's why he can figure out the connection between Slade & Joker.

Mike9: There's a reason that this site is called fanfiction. Not everything here will be canon. Deal with it. No, this is not rude, this is normal.

Madi( ): Aw! You're so sweet! You get... you get a passing grade in English!!!

maroonedpirate11: Wow, I can't believe I messed that up. Thanks so much, but I've based most of my fic on it being Tim that died... Thanks for catching that, but since this is fanfic (not canon), I don't think I'll change it.

I love you guys! Passing English grades all around!