From The Inside Out Chapter 8: Bloodspill, a teen titans fanfic

Fight. Win or lose. No matter what the turnout is, people always feel the need to fight. The earth is slowly dieing from wars and violence. Children lose their innocence and turn cold hearted at a young age, because they want to be like what they see around them.

Why do we fight? Honor was no longer the reason. Many times it was for something stupid. Religion, disagreements, or an unwanted comment. It seemed that the littlest things could tick someone off and set off a blood feud.

Then there are secret wars. Wars that the super heroes-as we call them-fight. The villain would try to take over the world and the hero would come at the last second and save the earth…or that is what we imagine at least.

What would people say if they knew that their wars were so much more than that? That no war could go on with pain and misery. That often times there was no winner. We believe our heroes always to be victorious and strong. The truth…they don't have a choice.

If Robin didn't win this battle he would but his friends in danger again-maybe even death- surrender himself to a life or crime again and worst of all Slade would win.

Robin never took defeat well. He usually went crazy or even scary and hibernated in his room as his friends put it.

Which was why he never let it happen. Not again.

"TITANS! GO!" He yelled to his friends. It felt good to say those words again.

It felt even better to see his friends following them.

Starfire flew over Robin's head; he felt a gust of wind from her body sweep over him and caused his hair to sway in the direction of her flight. She flew close to Cyborg and together they charged at Slade.

Cyborg lifted his now gun like arm at Slade, Starfire had star-bolt ready at hand, and they attacked together.

The first hit that Slade received was from Starfire's star-bolts. The green orb crashed against the side of his face and sent him spinning to the side. Before he could recover a blue blast hit him in the chest and he fell crashing to the ground.

Robin smiled. Slade was finally losing. He could easily see the villain's frustration from his body language. His arms and back were tense and his hands shook. It made Robin happy that he was getting sweet revenge.

Raven levitated from Robin's side and flew high in the air, her eyes glowing white and black orbs surrounding her hands. It was her turn to punish Slade.

"Azarth, Methrone, Zinrose!" She cried.

A black sphere engulfed Slade's feet. Taken by surprise Slade was lifted into the air upside-down. Raven held him in place for a moment then swung his body hard against the metal wall.

Slade feel to the ground, his chest was shaking. Robin could almost hear his horrid heart beat in his chest. It pounded hard and fast, Slade was tired…

And Robin was happy.

The titans stood in place as they waited for Slade to stand, not sure if he was knocked out of just giving up. But they all knew that he would not give up that easily.

Slade brought a gloved hand to his head and tried to hold his broken mask in place to keep it from falling off his face. Shaking like a leave Slade slowly stood and rounded to the titans.

A green tiger flew across the room at him and extended its long claw out. Before Robin had the chance to understand what it was that Beast Boy was doing the green tiger attached Slade, swiping it's loge claws across his chest and tearing open thick armor letting splashes of warm blood seep out and stain the green fur and black clothing.

Slade doubled over with pain and clutched his chest with his free hand. The tiger fell to the floor and rounded back to Slade, hissing and roaring at the psychopath, but it did not attack.

"My turn." Whispered Robin.

Feeling his determination and the fire with in him burning hot he took his chance to get back at Slade. He ran as fast as he could then he jumped high in the air still sailing across towards Slade, leg out.

There was a moment he had to think when he flew through the air. He felt like he was flying. He was a Robin… and robin hunting. He was the Robin and Slade was the worm, and Robin was ready to pry him from the dirt and chop him in half with his beak and rip him to shreds with his talons.

Closer. He could see Slade's eyes widening. Robin let out a cry from his throat as if the sound waves would crash on Slade and knock him over; like a bat hunting moths.

… He was a robin hunting like a bat.

POW

His foot collided with the side of Slade's face. The steal on Robin's book scratched against the metal on Slade's mask and sent sparks in the air. The came a loud cracking noise and Slade cried out when he his mask snapped in half and sharp edges cut into his cheek.

Slade fell to the floor and robin slid across the metal floor a few feet away. He stopped himself by bending at the knees and resting one arm in the air and one to the ground and turning his body back towards Slade.

Robin gasped to himself when he saw the orange side of Slade's mask lying on the floor a few feet behind him. Slade was on the floor on his hands and knees panting hard and holding the now open side of his face from view, the titans stood watching.

Slade's arms shook and his breathing was hard, Robin could hear sharp gasp and slight groans of pain from where he was. Robin could see a small river of deep red blood travel from Slade's mouth down his arm staining his armor. A small red bubble formed at the corner of Slade's mouth then popped within an instant splashing his check with blood.

Robin felt his insides burn with a fierce fire. They had won. Slade was finished, helpless, done. He was bleeding because of Robin… just as he had made Robin bleed. Slade's blood was visible and flowed from the inside and out of his body, Robin's blood was thick and heavy but was invisible to any but himself, and it didn't flow out of his body, but to his heart and through his veins.

Payment: blood for blood.

Slade slowly stood up and swayed to the side slightly; he looked unbalanced. He hobbled to the control center of his lair glaring at Robin still covering the side of his face so Robin couldn't get a clear view of hid face. The blood river still flowed down his arm and turned black as he walked into the darkness. Robin felt a sickening feeling wash over him as he saw Slade's free hand grasp a lever that he did not recognized.

"This isn't over, Robin." Slade hissed. "Not now… not ever."

And he pulled the switch…and he was gone.

Robin tried to run after him but found himself blinded by a swift flash of darkness… then flinched as the room turned blood red and then before he could blink it off it was pitch black again. The cycle repeated and repeated soon adding a loud beeping noise.

"Robin!" he could hear someone yelling his name over the sound but found it impossible to tell where it was coming from.