Insaneiac: Heh heh…hope you are all ready for the next bit. And by all, I mean the three that do review. The good news is I have the second fic in the works. It's Dark Tribunal, and it will revolve around Raven. But don't rejoice (or boo) yet, as the fic will be a bit of a spin. To put it blatantly, I'm putting Raven through the ringer.

Reviews

Alexnandru Van Gordon: Heh, that was an awesome chapter. Get to see that Blink isn't the big bad villain everyone makes him out to be. Just wait, you get to see some neatness behind Blinks character now.

Slade:Yes, Robin should be close to snapping by now. But lest we forget, the boy is a stubborn little warrior. It may take some more twisting. And I love to twist…

Hex-Vain:Man, get over Bumble Bee's death already man. I needed to do it... You'll see why eventually. Just keep reading, and you'll be amazed.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans. I wish I did, but so does any other TT fic writer.

Chapter 8: Realization

56 miles west of Jump City, four weeks ago ------

The Middle of Nowhere, in the middle of nowhere, was a bar like most others. It had the long line of motorcycles parked outside, and the classic neon sign above the actual building. If anything, it looked like a prop from a classic western film… just with actual door. The walls were old, beat up and ran down, and the sincere smell of booze emanated quite freely from the building. Even a chunk of the roof was hanging by a thread, teetering over the ground.

Yet to some, it was a home like none other. Where you could go in and no one would remind you of just how crappy life could get. Even though you probably knew nobody when you went in, no one would toss you out. Even though it stunk of alcohol and bad hot wings, it was a breath of fresh air in a cruel world.

At least it was that to Blink.

Whom was currently sitting at a bar, in the middle of the afternoon rush (which brought in a grand total of 7 people, Blink included), sipping back a bottle of beer. Beside him he could hear the chattering of two people, obviously getting rather tipsy, and going on about two well known villains in these parts. Blink just turned to the barkeep, and finished his beer in his hand, before raising it to the tender.

"Hey… another beer mate." Blink muttered, before looking down. He was tall for his age, and his usual attitude would get him past most complains of age. However, most of the time, no one bothered to ask anymore. It was kind of sad actually.

"You sure you're of age?"

"Would I be drinking if'n I weren't mate?" Blink responded, receiving a hardy chuckle from the barkeep, and another brew. 'You're among friends here… yah right.' Of course, Blink had found himself more and more bored since his last act of infamy. That…of course, being a daring theft of a painting. He still remembered how baffled the news casters had been at trying to cover the story. That was when Blink could resist no longer. He turned to the two beside him at the bar, and paid closer attention to the conversation.

"Man, I'm telling you. Stay the hell out of Steel City. It's not safe at all. This mad man named Brother Blood totally trashed the Titans. I heard last that the city was under his control." One man said. He had a beard, and a lazy left eye. Why Blink noticed this he couldn't tell.

"Brother Blood is nothing. Slade is the real threat. He broke Robin to his will. Now they're partners in crime. I swear, the only way I'm going near there is if I'm gagged and forced too." The other grunted. Blink smiled. He knew deep down that it was all grade A BS. Slade was dead, and Brother Blood was rotting in prison, missing his precious little arms. Finally, Blink made his move.

"Mates… you ain't heard nothing." Blink stated, catching their attention. "Slade and Brother Blood are nothing but chump change. The real villains are much worst."

"Like who?" The bearded one retorted, signifying that Blink had indeed caught their attention quite effectively. 'This is going to be fun…' Blink had done this before, and every time it ended the same.

"Have you heard of the man they call Blink?" Blink opened, catching two simultaneous responses equivalent to a "no". "Where have you been! Blink is a villain of sinister caliber. He was born with this ability to teleport at will, freely. Didn't take long for him to become infamous, being that he could warp from place to place, do what was needed, and then disappear. Man though, he is infamous." Blink began, before ordering two more drinks for his audience.

"Go on…"

"Heh… So Blink goes to Gotham City to get even more famous, and that's where his true tales of terror begin. As it goes, Blink became a ruthless assassin for hire. He once broke the neck of a six year old girl for getting in the way of his next hit." Blink continued, obviously enjoying the looks of fear in the eyes of his audience. "But it gets better. The savior of GC, Batman, takes him on, and loses." Blink finished, listening to the collective gasp of the patrons. 'Oh this is just too damn easy'

"BULLCRAP!" Someone in the back yelled, prompting a laugh from Blink. This was too sweet.

"No man. Three times they tumbled, and Bats lost each round. Eventually, Blink left Gotham, offended by the incompetence of its crime fighters. Now he roams around, looking for jobs, and killing people. You all might want to watch out, cause he'd kill you all for a nickel mate." Blink finished, tipping back the beer, and listening to the mumbling and gossip.

It was then that five men walked into the bar. Five men with five equally large guns. A man in front walked into the middle of the mumbling bar, and fired his shotgun into the ceiling, silencing everyone in the bar. As quickly as the shot went off, did the men spread out, guns aimed at heads.

"Gentlemen, listen up! We here are looking for a man by the alias of Blink." The leader began, the entire bar enraptured by silence. "Get your backs up against that wall…" He continued, raising his shotgun to the eastern wall, "And shut up! We'll find him and be gone."

The patrons all did as they were told. All except for one, who continued to sit at the bar, taking swigs of his beer. His back was to the men, and as far as attention goes…

"Hey! Barkeep, another beer please!" Blink hollered, placing his empty near the other one. After a few seconds of nothing, Blink shrugged to himself, and reached over the bar, grabbing the first bottle he could feel. "Jack Daniels hmm… It'll do." Blink muttered, before feeling a large hand grab his shoulder, and spin him around. Blink came eye to eye with the leader of the armed men.

"Are you an idiot? GET UP AGAISNT THE WALL!" He yelled, pointing his gun at Blink.

"Mate… you need to chill. Let me get you a beer."

"First off, I'm not your mate! Second, how about you start by calling me 'sir' from here on out!"

"Nah… I'd prefer not mate. Honestly though, let me…" Blink tried again, before a shotgun shell tore apart the bottle of bourbon he had in his hand. Blink slowly turned to the destroyed bottle, and then back to the armed gunman. "You don't SHOOT AN AUSTRALIAN'S BEER MATE." Blink yelled.

"So what! Now get moving!"

"Wait… what's that." Blink muttered, seemingly out of the blue, gaining himself a curious look.

"What?"

"Don't blink! You might miss it!" Blink countered quickly, before snapping his fingers beside his ear. The gunman… in turn, blinked, and when his eyes opened again, Blink was gone. About another second after that, an elbow drove the man's head hard into the bar, and knocked him out easily.

"Screw it, OPEN FIRE!" Another yelled, acquiring screams from everyone in the bar. One handed, Blink flipped over the counter, and ducked under the bar as bullets flew. Grabbing the first bottle he could, Blink tossed it to his left foot, and kicked it at one of the gunman, hearing a successful shatter, and a pleasing drop. Grabbing another bottle, Blink blinked behind another gunman, and smashed the bottle over his head, dropping him like a fly.

"You're a flipping idiot homes." Another retorted, spinning to meet Blink, but instead seeing nothing. Quickly, he spun around to take a shotgun to the neck, knocking him to the floor. Quickly following up the jab, Blink span 180 degrees to his right, and tossed the shotgun into the face of the last gunman.

In no sooner than 5 minutes, each man was tied up, and tossed outside. The patrons, still surprised, watched the man sit back down at the counter, and start another beer. Little did Blink know that outside, a small robot flew away.

Slade's Lair, present day ------

Blink quivered on the floor as he felt the pain leave his body. Immediately the first thing he realized was his eyes hurt. Slowly, Blink stumbled off the floor, and to his hands and knees, before hurling all over the ground. The pain had been so vicious, so unending, and so merciless. It was like hell on earth. As he contemplated the pain, Blink felt himself shake uncontrollably, his legs not working properly, and his entire body feeling like it had been through the ringer.

"What…the…hell…?" Blink spat out, before hurling again. His insides felt like a blender, and trying as he could, he felt like his mind was on fire. He couldn't get control of anything. His sight was blurred, his hearing was poor, and he could just barely breathe. Slowly, and with great pain, he raised his head to look at the legs of Slade. The legs of a man who suddenly became a lot less appealing to work for.

"Wondering as to what it was that happened…Damian." Slade muttered, staring down at the quivering child. What he didn't notice was Blink's now wide eyes, fear and astonishment escaping easily as he slowly turned his head to Slade's, and stared barely at him, eyes to eye. "Or is my knowing your name troubling you more?"

"What…did…you…" Blink muttered, before Slade's rough gloved hand clamped down on Blink's blue hair, and raised him roughly to his feet. As soon as he was standing, his legs kicked in, allowing him to barely stay upon his feet.

"The headband you wear now. It allows me to deliver a near lethal shock directly to your nervous system. The length can vary, depending on how long I press the button." Slade proclaimed, watching the shock pour from Blink's eyes. He did so love watching the horror upon his face.

"How…did…you…"

"Your name? The band gives me access to your memory, history, and everything you've ever seen. I could know everything about you in a heartbeat. So far, I only decided to uncover your name… Damian Grace. Yet never forget that at a moments notice, I can find out everything about you. Your life, your loves, your friends. If you resist me further than I will allow me to be pushed, I will torture on of them. Or maybe I'll just make you relive every waking moment of pain and suffering you have ever come across, just for fun." Slade whispered into his ear, smiling as he saw him shake with anger.

"You…bastard…" Blink muttered out, his eyesight coming back.

"I believe we stated already. To you, I am nothing but master." Slade retorted, slightly amused. A second later, Slade's fist came crashing into Blink's stomach, leveling the child like nothing. Blink keeled over, falling to his knees and letting out a pained breath. 'This shouldn't be happening!'

"Oh, it should." Slade replied, smiling as Blink gasped in a mix of horror, surprise, and hopelessness. "I can also tell what you're thinking Damian. In basic terms, I can know, see, hear, and tell what you are doing at any time. I can choose whether to give you sleep, or force you to stay awake. I can make you relive your worst nightmares." Slade poetically detailed, looking down at Blink as he watched him cave. "I control you're every thought Damian. The only thing I can't control is you."

At that moment, Blink slowly raised his arm to Slade, and attempted to fire a blast of energy at the man, only to once again find himself thwarted. No matter what he did, he could not deliver the energy to his hand. And at this, Slade laughed. Not a laugh like one among friends, but a demeaning laugh. An evil laugh. A laugh of one who enjoys the sight of pain, agony, and defeat.

"Once again, I can control your abilities. That headband gives me access to your entire brain. In a heartbeat, I can make it so you can't even teleport." Slade uttered, before kicking Blink in the side of the head, and sending him tumbling. "And that was for believing you could do something about it." Slowly, Slade made his way to Blink again, before grabbing the child by the back of the head, and driving his knee into Blink's stomach. Feeling himself go limp, Blink gagged on some blood in his throat, before feeling himself get dropped onto the floor, and sent sprawling with another strong kick.

Now Blink felt the tears come. He held back against it, but even in his strongest defense, he felt hope seep away from him. Slade knew everything he would do, could do, and had done. Slade could bring Blink to his knees in a heartbeat, and not even break a sweat in the process. What could Blink do to contest against Slade now? Where was that freedom of which he cherished so very much? 'Maybe…' Blink thought, raising his hands to the band upon his forehead.

"That won't work either. The band is locked onto your head. It may only come off after I determine you are useless to me." Slade muttered, before stepping on Blinks elbow. "Did you truly believe me to be so foolish?" Insulted, Slade grabbed Blink by the hair, and swung him into the pillar hard, before tossing him further through the room. For the entirety of this fight, Blink had been a rag doll. It was time for some offensive. Even if Slade had his little band to control him, Blink was sure he couldn't read his movements.

"DAMN YOU SLADE!" Blink screamed, his adrenaline kicking in hard. Pushing himself to his feet, Blink charged the imposing man, and threw a vicious right jab, only to have it slam into the palm of Slade's hand. Closing around it quickly, Slade delivering a brutal kick to Blink's stomach, before flinging him by his hand into a pillar near by. As Blink hit, he could hear Slade laughing.

"Yes, that's it. Hate me. To even think that being my apprentice would be easy was an insult. You see Damian; I want you to realize that you are mine. I need you to realize that despite what you think, I am your true master now. You need to realize that you are alone, and that the hope you hold so strongly is useless to you now. Most of all, I need for you to realize your place in this world. It is in my service, and under my rule. That is what must come.

"Don't you dare call me Damian Slade. I refused that name long ago, and I still refuse it! Even now!" Blink muttered, standing up, and charging again. He didn't get far, as Slade pressed the button on his wrist and watched Blink drop to the floor again, twisting in pain and screaming in horrible torment. The screams that had once amused Slade had little effect on him as Slade's amused demeanor had gone, and a brutally serious one replaced it.

"Where do you get off thinking you can tell me what to do?" Slade growled sinisterly, before delivering a strong kick to Blink's ribs as he convulsed on the floor. The room filled with the sound of a blood curdling scream, and bone snapping. Still, even through the breaking of the bone, the brutal pain continued, and Blink soon felt his voice leave him. Yet he still suffered. Every nerve in his body was burning, and every inch of his flesh felt as though it was being stabbed by molten needles. And yet, Blink watched in agony as Slade stared down at his suffering, at his torture. Blink was so sure that behind the mask, Slade was smiling.

Finally, Slade stopped the pain again, and allowed Blink to lie on the ground, and weep bitterly. Slade felt himself smile as he heard the sobbing, enjoying the once arrogant and cocky individual, whom thought to invoke the name of apprentice to his advantage, now cry and suffer upon the floor. That the once self important pathetic little child now quivered in weakness at his feet, crying and whimpering like a beaten dog.

"Once again, you will start by calling me master." Slade began, in a stern voice.

"Go…to…hell…" Blink muttered out, as he wept on the floor. Suddenly, he felt the hard grip of Slade's hand around his neck, and choked as he was lifted off the ground, and into the air. Hoisted up by a single arm, Blink looked down to see Slade's eye, staring into his eyes with malice and cruelty.

"Arrogance will only gain you suffering, pathetic child!" Slade growled, as his grip tightened, as the silence was filled by the gagging chokes of Blink. "But servility will gain you reward."

"I…refuse…" Blink panted out, his hands locked firmly around Slade's wrist. "I…QUIT…"

A sick laugh, low but painfully audible, pleasantly escaped Slade's lips. "You can't quit. You are mine now. And until you learn that, your life will be painful, and miserable." Following his statement, Blink felt Slade's other hand drill into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. As Blink fell to the ground, released from Slade's grip, he felt a Slade's knee crash into his side, pain roaring through him as he bounced off and onto the ground.

Kneeling down beside Blink, Slade gripped a handful of hair, and lifted Blink's head off the ground, forcing him to stare up at Slade. "Damian. I think I will enjoy watching the hope drain from your eyes. I see them now, and they burn with hatred. Yet behind hatred I see sickening hope. And we will have to change that…won't we?"

Blink wouldn't respond with verbal action this time. He only lifted his hand was what little strength he had, and raised his middle finger up, pointing it at Slade. Even in defeat, the arrogance burned brightly. Slade growled angrily, before driving Blink's head hard into the ground, and sending him sprawling with another hard kick to the stomach. Blink flew down the hall, and smashed hard into a pillar. Blink's body had contorted to match the impression left on the pillar, and the steady flow of blood was now streaming down his left arm. Slowly, Blink felt himself gag up blood, and watched it splatter on the floor, before noticing the menacing figure of Slade standing over him, staring down at him.

"Damian, you will learn submission. And in turn, I will teach you of your true potential. You were put on this pathetic world to be a killer, and a killer I will make of you. For now, I give you sleep. Savior it well, for when you wake up, your lessons begin." Slade growled, as he picked him up by the back of his neck, and led him to his room. Not even bothering to turn on the lights, Slade recklessly tossed Blink in, and shut the door.

Yet before walking away, Slade waited. Waited to hear the sobs come again. This time though, the sobs were not of defeat, or of hatred. These sobs were matched with something much more appealing. Something delicious as it pertains to human suffering. Something so blissful to Slade, he felt himself laugh.

The sobs of realization.

A/N: There you have it. The whole deal. Slade, the tricky evil genius he is, has began his lessons to Blink, and in turn, has left him a broken shell of his former self. Or has it. Well this is only the beginning, and I guarantee, it will get worst for Blink. Wait and see.