Thank you so much for all the nice reviews. I'm so sorry that I haven't been posting, we had a death in my family, my grandma… I was really close to her and I have been going back and forth between my relatives home that I haven't had time to sit down and write, but I'm here now and I'm on it.

I think I'm going to use Rose Eclipse's idea and show Bruce again… I just hope I have the right idea and did not read what she said wrong… if I did I'm sorry! And it may not be too good… I haven't been able to think since my grandma died… but I'm going to do my best so hold on… (Sorry about my last chapter being confusing!)

Yeah. Again I have an idea but I'm not sure if I like it too much so if you don't just say no and I'll delete it and put in a different one…(The dream part may not make since but if I keep with this chapter it will make since in later chapters)

"Be strong Robin."

That voice; it sounded so familiar. It was all around him, like a song drifting in the air. And it was close. So very close that Robin could almost feel the words against his skin as if the person who had said it was standing over him.

"You need to fight this Robin."

There it was again. The smooth, rich and firm voice flowed thickly into Robin's ears. His heart beat faster. That voice… he knew that voice. But- but it couldn't be, he couldn't be here. Robin didn't want him to be here, not with Slade over powering him, not with Robin lying on the floor like a sick animal.

"Be brave."

It was his voice all right. But why was it there? And why was it still trying to help Robin? It should e walking away as fast as it could and never looking back.

"Get up and fight."

Robin's mouth opened slowly then closed again, unsure of what to say. After a few moments of complete silence, Robin said the only thing that came to his mind. "I- I can't."

Robin felt a warm hand stroke the side of his face. It was a gentle reassuring touch. The hand slowly moved to Robin's forehead and brushed the stray bangs out of Robin's eyes. It was comforting to Robin; made him feel safe and protected. Nothing could hurt him or scare him as long as the hand was there.

The hand moved down to his chin and lifted his slightly and grasped it firmly.

"Yes you can, Robin. You're not weak, and you never have been. So get up and fight."

Robin flinched. Those words were somehow hurtful; it felt like the voice was criticizing Robin, telling him that he was a bad person.

"Open your eyes and fight."

Robin gulped down the lump in his throat. He tried to think of something else to say, something to tell the voice to go away without sounding mean, but there was no way of saying it… because inside Robin didn't want the voice to leave, he did want it to go away ever again.

Slowly Robin began to obey. His eyes flickered painfully, they were sore and heavy from lack of sleep and beating due to Slade.

Finally, Robin was able to hold them open and gaze at the person standing over him.

Batman.

Standing over Robin like a large black statue, Batman held Robin in a steady and hard gaze, as if afraid to blink because Robin' wouldn't be there anymore. His square jaw held a frown and his lips were tightly pressed together, like always. His black-gloved hand was still cupping Robin's face, which was the only thing that looked somewhat kind from Robin's angle. But Batman always looked like that.

Robin looked around at his other surroundings. He wasn't in Slade's dark and cold lair anymore; he was in a different room. It was a cozy, and warm room. After looking around Robin realized he was back in Titan's tower. He was sitting on the floor of his very room! But he wasn't really concerned on how he got there, he was wondering about Slade, about Batman… about his friends. And how he couldn't do what Batman was telling him to do.

"I can't fight." Robin admitted to his mentor again. Begging that Batman would understand Robin remanded lying on the ground, his back pressed against the wall for support to sit up, looking into Batman's firm eyes.

Batman moved his hand from Robin's chin. If possible he frowned a little more and then knelt down to be at Robin's eye level. Batman always did teach Robin to look someone in their eyes when you are speaking to them.

"You can.'

"I can't!" Robin said loudly. Batman's eyes widened at the sudden out break out, but quickly recovered and glared at his 'son'. "Look at me! Look at what I've done! How can you possibly even look at me? I'm a criminal."

Robin chocked on his last words and then dropped his head down to his chest and let out quiet sobs.

Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't everything just go back the way it used to be when his friends were safe and laughing, when Batman was in Gotham City trusting Robin to protect jump City, when no one knew who the hell Slade was? That's all Robin wanted, was for Slade to suddenly disappear off the face of the earth. The Robin could tell everyone way he did what he did, and then things could go back the way they used to be. Maybe Robin would still feel guilt and maybe his friends might still feel betrayed, but they would be together again. The happy family that they used to be.

After sitting in silence for a while Robin looked back into his mentor's dark eyes, hoping to see some form of light, a way to get him out of this mess.

But there was nothing, just an ocean of dark azure swirls. Robin gazed at those blue eyes harder, still nothing. No. This couldn't be, the one time he truly needed Batman, and Batman had nothing to help him with, there had to be something.

"What can I do?" Asked Robin. Who knows? Maybe Batman still had some hidden tricks up his sleeves. "You have to help me."

Robin extended his hand out to Batman. It was covered in a green glove again; his uniform, it was back where it belonged, on his body.

Batman just looked at his hand, but he didn't grab it. He didn't reach back and help Robin, just stared shaking his masked head.

"Only you can do this."

"That's not fair." Robin said. His shoulders began to tremble. Why? Why did he have to do it by himself? Couldn't Batman help him?

"Life isn't fair. But you have to fight him Robin. You can do it. Look at what your doing right now! You're a hero."

"I'm not." Whispered Robin. How could he be a hero? He was letting people take control of him. He had let Slade win; he had put his life in danger. How could he ever be a hero?

"You are." Batman told him. He placed his strong hands on Robin's shoulder and squeezed slightly. "Your saving your friends very lives right now. That's a hero thing, Robin."

His words were smooth, yet emotionless, like always. And yet, somehow, they were trying to push Robin on, they made Robin feel hopeful. But what was hope anyway?

Was it something Robin had?

No.

Was it something he fought crime with?

No.

Did it get him threw his day?

No.

Was it something he needed?

Yes.

"They think I betrayed them." Shaking his head Robin could almost feel his heart rate increasing. It was harder to say then it was to think. "They think I'm doing this because I want to. And I can't tell them that their wrong because Slade will- he'll… Oh' god he'll kill them!"

Robin wanted to cry; he wanted to bang his fist on the ground and just scream like a child throwing a tantrum. But he held back, he sniffed in his tears and just pulled at his cape slightly.

"Exactly." Batman shook Robin's shoulders gently trying to get Robin to stop feeling sorry for himself and pay attention. "He will kill them, and you know that. That's why you're here and that's what makes you a hero."

Robin said nothing. Batman did have a point; he was keeping his friends alive by selling himself. But at such a price. He had to do things that he never imagined on doing. But it did help his friends.

"And that's why I can't fight. He could hurt them. He already tried it once. And seeing Starfire like that- like she was going to- God I love her, I can't put her life in danger."

"That's why you have to fight. Other wise he'll just make you do more and more things that you don't want to do. So go and find a way."

"How?"

Batman said nothing. He just pointed to Robin's badge on his chest. Robin, who was confused with what his mentor was trying to tell him, shot a questioning look at Batman.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just what I have been trying to tell you." Was all that Batman said.

What the hell was that supposed to mean! What was Batman trying to tell him?

But before Robin could voice out what he was thinking Batman began to fade away. He was slowly disappearing before robin's eyes. The hand that was pointing to Robin's chest was slowly moving away from, as if someone or something was pulling it back.

Batman wasn't the only thing changing. Darkness began to wash over the cozy room. The room and Batman were being devoured by shadow and Robin was just sitting there to dazed and confused to do anything about it.

Robin shook his head in disbelieve. This couldn't be happing Batman couldn't leave yet. Robin had so many question left to ask him still.

But the darkness had other plans, it wanted life to remain horrible for Robin, it wanted to get rid of Batman.

"Bruce! Bruce!" Robin tried to run at the disappearing man, he tried to pull the black vines that were closing gin around him, but it did nothing. Nothing was helping.

And then, right when Robin blinked his eyes… Batman was gone.

He was surrounded by eternal darkness. No one was around him. He was alone. All alone hidden within a blinding black blanket. And no one was there to help him. No one was there to care for him.

Robin fell on all fours and let his head drop. Ebony unkempt hair feel in front of his face shielding his eyes as he wept. Tears began to fall from beneath his black mask, only to suddenly vanish in a second into the darkness as they made their way to the ground.

"Now, now Robin." A voice filled the darkness It was loud and deafening, like a just fired gun. "Is that anyway to show that you're brave?"

"Slade." There he was, the man that caused all this. The man that beat him, the man that threatened his friend's lives, the man who made him steal from his 'father' the man who-

The man who turned him into a villain.

And he was standing right behind Robin; Robin could feel him. His somehow cased his own eerie showdown on top of Robin; somehow he brought more darkness into the already black room.

"Get up."

What? Was Slade going to tell him the same thing that Batman did? Was he going to tell Robin that he needed to fight, and that he needed to be strong.

No. That wasn't Slade. Slade wasn't and never will be a good guy. He was all bad, from his dark and scary mask, all the way to his dark and cold heart. He just wanted power. Nothing more. He didn't want a son. He didn't need one ether. He just wanted Robin for the minor, power hungry reasons.

One; Robin was the leader of the Teen Titans. He could make the whole city fall apart.

Two; Robin was strong and knew how to fight. He knew kung fu, he could ride a motorcycle and he had courage like no other could imagine.

Three; Robin was human. Punch him… he'd bleed. Attack him from the heart… he would fall. It was only natural. He had chosen to be a hero and heroes fall on their knees to love.

And it wasn't to hard to see that he loved his team mates… and that his was IN love with one. All Slade had to do was simply get them away from robin for a short time. Which wasn't too hard, Robin tried to hard to take things one by himself. And then when their protective leader was gone… he could strike.

And he did. He stabbed Robin right threw the heart. And Robin bleeds.

So when Slade was telling him to get up he probably just wanted Robin to do something else for him. Because there was no way that he wanted Robin to fight him. It would take power away. It would ruin his whole plan. Why would he want Robin to win?

"I said; get up!"

Robin's eyes snapped open very suddenly. And what he was looking up made him want to close his eyes again and return to his dark world… because being alone had to be better than this.

You can tell a lot about your life when you first wake up. Maybe you wake up to a colorful and lightly decorated room, just as the sun's rays hit your face, reassuring you into a happy day. That was the way Robin used to wake up… then he'd stretch and spend the day with his friends and FIGHT crime.

But now he woke to see a tall and dark man standing over him. Slade had his arms crossed in front of his body and Robin could tell he was glaring at him from behind his mask. Not a very good picture to wake up to…

"Get up off the ground apprentice." He said slowly and thickly.

Robin sighed and shook his head to wake up a little. He rather not do what Slade said… but what choice did he have?

Slowly and painfully standing up Robin tried to remember his latest dream, and if it had anything in it to help.

What was he thinking? It was a dream; of course it didn't have anything to help him! Dreams weren't real. They couldn't help him… not now… not ever. Dreams were things that die-hard and you hold them in your hands long after they've turned to dust. That's all they were, and nothing more.

"Yes?" Robin hissed in anger to Slade, refusing to look him in the eyes.

"Don't use such a tone. There is no reason to be angry with me." Slade shook his head at Robin as if disappointed with him. But Robin knew he was just trying to piss him off… and he did.

"No reason to be mad! Are you crazy! There's every reason to be mad!" Robin was so mad.

One; he had been woken up.

Two; Slade was fucking taunting him!

Three; he didn't want to be here

"Really? What have I done wrong? You're the one stealing. You're the one who is fighting your friends… not me." Slade took a heavy steep closer to Robin. Was he just looking for war or something? Did he want Robin to fight him?

If he did Robin wasn't going to let him down on that one.

Out of nowhere Robin lashed out. Feeling the rage that was bubbling in him for a long time, he finally let it escape to the surface. He was going to let it out, and he was going to take it out on Slade.

Robin swung his fist as hard as he could at the moment at Slade's chest. Thinking he had finally caught the villain off guard, and that maybe he could win…

He thought wrong.

Slade was too fast… AGAIN! He was somehow able to catch Robin's hand in mid attack. Maybe he did know Robin's ever thought… his every move and his every feeling.

Robin didn't want to think that that might be the case.

"Do you want to do this again? I do have your friends lives in my hands need I remind you."

Robin's fury stopped. He had forgotten the possibilities of his actions once again. He quickly loosened his grip and when Slade let go of his hand he took a few steps back until his back hit the cold wall. Chills of ice sent through his body when his back his the wall… but the cold on the outside was nothing compared to the cold on the inside.

"That's what I thought." Slade hissed. "What do you say apprentice?"

"Sorry…." Robin hesitated on his last words. He knew he had to say it, but he rather not… but what choice did he have? "Master…"

"Good boy. You are learning."

How low could he get? He was really calling Slade master… he was really saying sorry to that- that thing! There was no way Slade could be a man… no way, everyone has to have a little heart, but Slade showed none. Because who with a heart would threaten children's lives? Who with a heart would force a teenager into a life of crime?

And who with a heart would make a hero fall into becoming a villain?

Slade might have had a heart… but only a cold one that pumped cold and raw blood threw his body. He didn't have the kind of heart that gives off feelings? How could he?

Robin was wrong with his first opinion of Slade. When Slade told him that he wanted an apprentice, Robin assumed that he wanted a ward. Well a ward was a child under the care of a loving guardian. Robin knew that, he had been a ward before. But this- this was not what you would call ward love.

This was torture. Slade wasn't a loving guardian; he was an evil, mask villain. And Robin wasn't a child who needed care. He wasn't even a child anymore. He was a teenager, a leader, and old enough to live on his own if he really wanted to.

But he didn't want to live alone. That life really sucked. He wanted to live with his four best friends in the world. He wanted to go back to his home in titan's tower, and just be a kid again and be a hero again… not a thief.

Great, there he goes thinking about his old life again. Thinking of the past, dreaming. The past got you nowhere. It only slowed you down. The way Robin saw it was once it was over, the past died… there was no way of going back so why even think about it? All it did was cause pain and misery. The past might still hurt… but it only hurts if you look into it, if you just forget about it… you forget about the pain too.

That was what Batman taught him at least. When Robin was younger he didn't agree with this kind of logic. He thought it was wrong and somewhat mean. Because, if you were to forget about the past, then it never happened. And you can't learn from your mistakes.

But now he understood. Robin now knew why Bruce had chosen to try to forget about his horrible past. It held happy memories. You could think back to a happy time, a time when all was well, only to open your eyes and let it all be snatched away from you. Then your back where you started with nothing but a tear stained face and an upset stomach.

That was why Robin tried to live in the present now… and maybe the future if he could. He tried to imagine how he could get out of this hell of a mess and get back to his team… somehow.

But you could forget the past all you wanted… but you can't forget about the pain.

"Did you have a good sleep?" Slade asked sarcastically. Robin bit on the inside of his lip slightly and narrowed his eyes.

"No. Nothing's good here." He hissed.

"I'm so sorry that you feel that way."

"No your not. You don't care. You just want someone to do your dirty work." Robin started to walk away. There was nowhere he could really go. Anywhere he went would be lonely and cold… and still apart of Slade's lair. But he just had to go somewhere.

"I didn't say you could go yet, Robin." Chills ran up Robin's back to his neck when he heard Slade use his name. He almost preferred 'apprentice' better. But then again, he felt sick to his stomach when ever he heard that.

"What do you want?" Robin asked. He moved to cross his hands in front of his chest, but felt the cold metal of the 'S' on his right side, and lowered his hands to his side again… he rather not be reminded that he was wearing a 'Slade Suit'… a mark of slavery.

"You need to get something for me. Up for it?" Slade asked in his monotone voice.

"Do I really have a choice?" asked Robin coldly.

"No."

Robin sighed. "What do you want?"

Even thought Robin couldn't see his face… Robin could tell that Slade was smiling behind his mask.

Another steal… just another night on the job. The stealing wasn't even the part that bugged robin anymore. He had grown even used to it if it was possible. It was the principle of the matter. What he was doing was wrong, and that was that. And Robin didn't like doing what he knew was wrong; it gave him a bad feeling on the inside. The feeling was almost like guilt and sickness put together. And he didn't like it one bit.

But he was doing it for his friends. He had to do it, other wise the feeling on the inside would be much worse. And it would never go away, no matter what Robin did. And Robin knew this, that's why he stole, that why he fought the police off and that's why he gave the object to Slade.

For his friends… to save their lives…from the inside out.

"The cool thing about Slade is, he's sorta the 'Bad- Batman." Producer of the Teen Titans.

HOLY FUCK I HATE HOE THIS TURNED OUT! Like I like the whole Slade and Robin thing but I HATE the dream thing. I put it in there because… don't laugh… it kinda happened with me and my grandma… I had this like 'day' dream thing at her funeral of her telling me I had to be strong and not cry. It was really something she told me before she dies, that I had to be strong and not cry when she died.

ALRIGHT I THINK I'M GOING TO REDUE THIS CHAPTER OVER, LIKE TAKE OUT THE DREAM AND DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH BATS TELLING ROBIN WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS RIGTH.

BUT IF U LIKE IT JUST SAY SO AND I'LL KEEP IT AND IF YOU DON'T DON'T FEEL BAD TO TELL ME SO BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER IDEAS… I DON'T WANT THIS STORY TO GO ALL BATMANISH ON ME SO YEAH….