Disclaimer: All copyright and credit goes to the original creators of the Teen Titans, Batman, and the DC Universe. This is for entertainment purposes only! I do not own any of the characters!

Author's Note: A huge thank you to everyone that reviewed! I appreciate the feedback!

Alright, chapter 5! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter

Starting to crumble

There was nothing in the room except a chair, a clock and a man. No lights. No Windows. No sound. Nothing.

It was sweltering hot.

Perspiration had begun to accumulate in small puddles under his mask, and he shifted his head left and right, allowing for some of the droplets to escape and slither down his face. He blinked, batting away the sweat droplets that clung to his eyelashes. Any way the man moved or turned, sweat seemed to stream down his skin like a waterfall. It poured down the man's face in waves and each droplet hit the ground with a roaring thud. Out of sheer and utter boredom, he had begun to count each drop of sweat that hit the ground.

He was up to 118.

The red clock glared at him from its position a few feet away. The glowing numbers burned into his eyes. It was the only source of light in the room and it cast a faint, eerie red light over the space. The man tried to keep his eyes adverted, but he found himself draw to its hypnotic glow. It beckoned to him. It called to him. It was his nightmare.

He couldn't resist the mesmerizing clock. His eyes would flash up and become trapped in its wicked, red light. And he would stare at it. For hours, he would stare and watch as each minute passed with such excruciating slowness. Every second felt like a year. Every minute felt like a decade. And every hour felt like a century. Yet he couldn't look away and fight the enthralling red light. It was making him go mad.

Sweat continued to roll off of his face, unconcerned by the fact that the man's throat was as dry as sandpaper. He inhaled a heavy breath, feeling the hot air rush inside of him. It seared his raw throat and the man let out a raspy cough. His stomach growled in irritation, and weariness was beginning to spread through his body and into his muscles. He needed food and water. He could survive for a few more days – at best. But if his captor waited much longer than that, he wasn't sure how long he could last.

Chains wrapped around his waist and over his back, holding him down to the chair. His legs were wrapped tightly from his calves down, effectively cutting off any form of movement. Every so often he would flex his muscles to try to loosen them, but it did little to alleviate the pain. He had lost feeling in his toes about an hour ago, and now he felt the familiar tingling feeling in his fingers.

He tried shifting in the iron chair, but the cold, rusty chains dug into his skin causing the man to hiss in pain. He groaned and pushed forward trying unsuccessfully to loosen his restraints. Five feet away besides the red clock, his utility belt hung from the ceiling. If he could just reach it…he could get out…he could escape…

But the man knew it was pointless to try. It was psychological warfare. There was no way he would ever be able to reach it – at least not when he was tied up in fifty pound chains. He would have to wait for something – anything at all – to happen before he could make a move.

So he would wait.

The clock flickered and a minute passed.

Batman sighed and leaned back in the chair.

He just hoped he wouldn't have to wait much longer.

Robin flipped through the air, his thoughts leaving a trail of fire behind him.

The Joker is in Jump.

Batman is being held against his will.

Raven is upset.

Slade is back.

Just when he was starting to get his mind wrapped around the whole Slade thing, life swung him in a completely different direction. The boy stopped on the edge of the rooftop and looked over at the dark skyline. Lights flickered and blinked with a dull radiance.

He was doing the right thing…wasn't he? By going after the Joker alone, he was protecting his team from danger. The Titans hadn't fought the Joker before so they didn't know what the psychotic clown was like. The Joker was evil, manipulative, unpredictable, and insane. He wouldn't hesitate to hurt any of them, and Robin cared for his team too much to see any of them get hurt.

He took a deep breath and felt the dark night wash over him. If that was his goal, why did he always seem to find a way to inadvertently hurt the Titans? The boy sighed and dragged a hand through his raven locks. When he tried to protect them, he always seemed to push them away. First with Slade and now with Batman…

Raven's violet eyes pierced into him and he feebly pushed them out of his mind. He had never seen the girl so upset before. Robin cringed. And it was all because of his decision to trust Catwoman over Raven. Just why had he trusted the masked woman in the first place?

The answer was a long and complex one that he himself didn't quite understand. He had known Catwoman a long time – longer than he had known Raven. She was the one adversary in Gotham that didn't frighten Robin, and he had almost grown to like the woman – almost.

He still could never guess the woman's motives or understand why she was an outlaw, a thief, and a fugitive. But if there was one thing he knew about the enigmatic woman, it was that deep down, she cared for Batman. At a young age Robin had seen it in her flirtatious, yellow eyes. He had seen it in the bright smile she always gave Batman. He had seen it in her movements – the way her claws had never quite hit their mark. The boy had spent many nights in Gotham watching the pair hash it out, and observing intense chemistry that had grown between them.

So when the woman had showed up with news regarding Batman, Robin knew she was telling the truth. She would never do anything that would purposely endanger Batman…right? She cared for the man too much to lie about his well-being. She was telling the truth. Raven was wrong. The girl had to be.

Or maybe you're wrong.

The thought sent a pang of uncertainty and panic through the boy, and Robin quickly squashed it down. He buried the traitorous thought under layers and layers of false confidence and locked it away. The boy threw himself off the edge of the rooftop, trying to eradicate the doubt from his mind. A cool breeze wrapped around him as he flipped through the air. For a brief few seconds, he experienced the thrill of weightlessness that accompanied his free fall. It reminded him of being on a trapeze again…

Robin snapped his eyes open and let out a yell of frustration. His scream echoed through the noisy air and burned into his ears. He launched his grappling hook and growled to himself. Why was he thinking about the Circus so much lately? He flipped up onto the next rooftop and rolled to a stop. Thoughts of his parents were plaguing him everywhere he went.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Flying Graysons….

The voice rang in his head and pulled his resistant mind back in time. He remembered the flashing lights that had spun around him in any color he could imagine. Red. Blue. Yellow. Green. He remembered the thunderous applause that had sent chills racing through his body. He remembered the glittery costume his parents had convinced him to wear. He remembered the thrill of flying through the air and the satisfaction of nailing difficult tricks and flips. He remembered the sight of his parents, dancing gracefully through the air. He remembered their reassuring voices, and their kind and loving faces. He remembered that fateful night…the screams…

Robin jerked his head away, snapping himself out of the memory. He sprinted and dashed off of the edge of the rooftop. He would not think of his parent's deaths. Not at a time like this. There was too much at stake to be distracted by his feelings. Besides he had gotten over their deaths a long time ago. He had to focus.

The air rushed by the small figure as he flipped and landed on the next rooftop. Slade was back in Jump, planning who knows what, and now Batman's life was at stake. He needed to track and find the Joker's hideout and successfully rescue the Caped Crusader. And he needed to do it soon. He couldn't afford to mess up. He couldn't afford to be distracted. The stress and anxiety of the situation slammed down on Robin, and the boy staggered slightly under the weight. He tried to shake off the growing feeling of dread, but it seemed to hang over him like a dark cloud. A treacherous thought wormed its way into his brain. Maybe he should….call in the –

Nope. Robin cut the thought off and shoved it away. No chance of that. He had sworn to himself the day he left Gotham that he would never ever ask them for help. The fact that he had even considered doing it disturbed the boy. Jump was his city and his team could handle anything that was thrown at it. He didn't need the Justice League involved. He could do this by himself. He was Robin, the fearless Boy Wonder. He didn't need help.

The boy took a deep breath and winced when he thought of his team. They had wanted to help him and he had pushed them away. The Titans were probably beyond upset with him. He could only hope that they would forgive him for all the pain he had caused them.

Starfire was probably worried sick at the fact that he had turned off his communicator. Her piercing green eyes rose up before him and bore into him. They dug into his mind and dragged him back to that moment where she had extended out her hand, wishing, hoping, that he would take it. But Robin hadn't. And now he was going to pay the price for that decision.

His mind replayed Starfire's face before him over and over again. Her eyes, those deep green emerald eyes, had looked at him with such a cavernous pain. He had never wanted to hurt Starfire. He had never wanted to hurt Raven. He had never wanted to hurt his team. But it seemed he had done just that.

Faint moonlight pierced through the dark night and illuminated his surroundings. He released a shaky breath and collapsed to his knees.

First Slade, then Batman, then the Joker…and now the Titans….

"I'm doing what I think is right," he muttered under his breath.

Maybe you don't know what's right.

The thought crept up on him before he could shove it down. He felt so empty. So alone. This is what Batman would want him to do. This is what the Caped Crusader expected him to do...right? Robin was supposed to be a hero. He was supposed to be fearless. A cold wind whipped around him, sending chills racing down his back. Was he wrong? Should he have asked his team for help? Should he have dragged them into this mess? Should he have listened to Raven?

He slammed a fist on the ground and a loud smack sounded through the air, shattering his thoughts. The sharp pain in his hand brought him spinning back to reality.

This wasn't a question of right and wrong. This was life and death. If he messed up, even the slightest bit, Batman would be killed. He didn't want the Titans involved in this. He didn't want them to bear his responsibility, and most importantly, he didn't want them to see the shadows of his past.

Robin reflexively balled his hands into fists. He'd rather keep his life with Batman and his life with the Titans separate. A deranged laugh escaped his lips, and the boy shook his head. He had an odd feeling that his two lives were soon going to collide with a loud bang.

He walked up to the edge of the building and stood there, his heels grounding him to the rooftop.

He looked out onto the bright skyline and listened to the city shift with life. Lights flashed in the distance, and car horns added to the chaotic air. Robin's highly honed instincts told him that there was going to be trouble tonight. He just hoped the Titans could handle it without him.

And most importantly, Robin hoped that Slade wouldn't try anything tonight.

Slade. Freaking Slade. Of all the blasted villains to show up right now, it just had to be Slade.

Robin reached into his utility belt and pulled out the jagged metal 'S'. He rubbed the smooth metal in his hands as he flipped it over and over. He didn't know what to think about Slade anymore. He didn't know what to expect from the masked man. Slade was almost as unpredictable as the Joker. Robin snorted once and put the haunting piece of metal away.

Almost.

Robin glanced around him, a dark feeling crawling up his back. Chills raced up his arms and he wrapped them around himself in a protect shell. Even thinking about the masked man made him paranoid. He expected Slade to walk out of the shadows any second now and gloat about his latest win against the Titans. That sickening smooth voice filled his head…drowning out all of his thoughts…and plunging his mind into darkness…

Robin abruptly stepped back from the ledge and shook his head, shattering the darkness that had begun to creep in on him. He needed to put this behind him. As a matter of fact, he had to put this behind him. Right now his number one priority was Batman. He needed to find the Joker's new hideout and rescue Batman.

Forget about everything and rescue Batman.

He repeated the thought over and over again in his mind, drowning out all other worries. Robin pulled out his grappling hook and soared off the building, the air rushing past his face and clearing his conflicted mind.

Slade could wait…hopefully.

The Tower was deathly quiet.

Starfire floated through the empty hallway until she came upon the closed door of her friend. The girl let out a heavy sigh and sunk the ground. The carpet conformed around her bare feet, offering the girl a small amount of comfort. Her hand lightly knocked on the door.

"Raven?"

Her soft honey-sweet voice floated through the door. It pierced through the oppressive silence and cut through the heavy atmosphere of the tower.

"Friend Raven, are you in there?"

Concern bled into Starfire's voice as she knocked with more force. Her hand trembled slightly, and she pressed it against the cold metal. The young alien girl sighed and closed her bright, green eyes. Her heart held a heaviness that seemed to anchor her to Earth. It had taken an immense amount of effort to summon her powers and fly back to the Tower after Robin had left. The weight of worry and pain dragged at her heart and was slowly beginning to consume her.

The door slid open, and Starfire jumped at the sudden appearance of her friend. Raven stood in the darkly lit doorway. Her hood was raised and her cloak was wrapped around her body protectively. Starfire could dimly make out the girl's pained, violet eyes.

"Need something?"

Raven's voice was hard. Each word was a toughened ball of pain and landed at Starfire's feet with a loud smack. It unsettled the alien girl, and Starfire stuttered over her next words.

"I was…wondering if y-you were the ok-okay?" she asked hesitantly.

Raven's eyes darkened under her hood as she held Starfire in an uninterested gaze.

"I'm fine," she replied shortly. Her statement broke off with a harsh snap and Starfire flinched, taking a step back.

"Oh well, I just wa-"

"Is that all you needed?" Raven asked, slicing the girl off mid-sentence.

The alien girl's green eyes melted into a cold sadness and she dropped her gaze. The carpet bore into her as she let the next words slipped from her lips with a quiet breath.

"Yes. I suppose so…"

Raven's cold nature hammered down on her, amplifying the weight in her heart. A burning sensation filled Starfire's eyes and the girl turned away as a hot tear escaped her eye. It slid down her cheek, stinging her icy skin with warmth.

"I am sorry to have disturbed you, Raven…I will go now," Starfire whispered while more tears threatened to overwhelm her weak barrier. First Robin and now Raven…what was happening to her friends? Why did they not wish to talk to her?

The thoughts plagued Starfire and she took a hesitate step forward, trying to fight off the powerful force of gravity on her body. A soft sigh echoed from behind her and a gentle hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Look, Starfire," Raven broke off as an unusual emotion entered her voice, "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I'm not mad at you."

Starfire sniffled and turned around. Raven slowly lowered her hood and gazed at Starfire. Glistening, green eyes met soft, violet eyes.

"Are you mad at Robin?" Starfire asked in a very quiet voice. More tears slid down the girl's cheek and Raven sighed, grabbing Starfire's hand and pulling her into her bedroom. The door slid shut behind the two girls.

Raven's room was dimly lit and furnished in various purple hues. Her circular bed was in the center of the room, and a couch and a bookshelf were tucked away in the corner. Raven dragged her sniffling friend there and seated Starfire on the couch. The alien girl buried her eyes in her hands while tears bled passed them into her lap.

The girl inhaled a sobbing breath, and her body shook uncontrollably. She vaguely became aware of an item being pressed into her lap and a presence that moved to sit beside her. Starfire blinked the tears from her eyes and focused on the mysterious item.

A purple box of tissues.

Raven let out a soft smile and handed the girl one. Starfire gratefully accepted it and wiped away the flood of tears traveling down her face. Tissue after tissue was pulled from the box as the young alien girl unleashed all of her emotions into the white, fluffy material. Raven's hand gently patted her back as the alien girl sobbed her way through the box.

"Why did he not believe you Raven? Why did he trust the woman of cats over you?"

The broken words caused Raven to move her hands across Starfire's back and hold the girl in a half-hug. Starfire's tears quieted slightly, and silence quickly spread through the room. The two girls sat near each other, embracing the small amount of comfort that it gave them.

Raven sighed and leaned closer to Starfire. A deep weariness and pain entered her words.

"I don't know, Star. I can only guess…" she said. Her voice sounded as soft and smooth as gentle waves washing up against a sandy shore. "I think this whole Slade thing has overwhelmed his mind. When Catwoman showed up…he just wasn't thinking…"

Starfire shifted in Raven's hold and turned to face her.

"But Raven, we are his team! Why would he not trust you!"

The desperation in Starfire's voice made Raven turn away and tightened her hold on Starfire. She let out a very quiet sigh and turned back to face Starfire. Raven's eyes glittered in the dim light. Tears were threatening to break through her strong barricade.

"I don't know, Star."

Starfire leaned her head against Raven's shoulder and let out a quiet sigh.

"What if he does not come back, Raven? What if…" Starfire whispered, closing her eyes.

The statement hung in the air and Raven's arm tightened around Starfire. The unspoken words echoed through the girl's minds and sent a pang of fear through them.

What if something goes wrong?

"He'll come back Star," Raven said in a low, soothing tone. "He'll come back…"

But both Raven and Starfire knew that there was always the chance Robin wouldn't.

Soundless footsteps echoed through the wide cavernous space. A figure moved though the shadows and with a calculated ease followed a discrete path through the still gears. Cobwebs loomed over the ground and a gloved hand reached out of the darkness and brushed them away, unperturbed by the annoying obstacles. Finally the gears fell away, abruptly revealing a vast space with large panel screens lining the walls. The air held a quiet expectancy about it as the figure moved from the shadows and stood in the center of the cold, metal dungeon with two hands clasped behind his back.

"You've let the place go," the figure said while smoothly looking around.

A second figure, shorter than the first, walked out from the shadows with shout of surprise.

"Well you weren't supposed to be back for another month!"

"I got back a few days ago. I had a change of plans."

"Something go wrong?"

"No," the tall figure said slowly, "Paris is just really not all that interesting."

"That's a shame. I hope you didn't get into too much trouble," the shorter figure said while whipping out a rag from his pocket. He moved to the table in front of the screens and began to wipe away the various cobwebs that had accumulated from months of neglect.

"None more than I usually do," the figure in the center of the room replied. He walked to the far wall and ran his hand up and down, searching for something.

"It's good to have you back, Slade."

With a click, and a deep rumbling growl, the gears in the warehouse began to turn again.

"It's good to be back, Will."

William Wintergreen let out a chuckle, and glanced over his shoulder at Slade.

"There's coffee in the kitchen if you'd like some."

Slade slowly shook his head at the older man, and started to walk toward a discrete alcove on the other side of the room. A keypad slid out and his fingers moved over the numbers in a flash.

"Maybe later. There's a contract I need to take care of first and a few associates I need to visit," Slade responded as the wall slid away, revealing row after row of various weapons. The masked man began to load his utility belt while Will shook his head in disbelief.

"I'm sure those associates will just be ecstatic to see you," the older man replied while rolling his eyes. Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

Slade turned as the weapons alcove slid shut behind him. He walked toward Wintergreen, a sly smile concealed under his mask.

"I am quite an amicable person, aren't I, Will."

"Oh you're just dashing, Slade. A real charmer."

"Anything interesting happen in Jump while I was away?" Slade asked moving to stand behind the smaller man.

Will sighed and shook his head, "No, it's been pretty quiet. I'm sure the Titans are all worked up at your arrival. Couldn't you have made it….hmm I don't know…more inconspicuous?"

"What's the fun in that, Will? Besides its good to keep your enemies guessing."

Mr. Wintergreen hummed thoughtfully to himself while batting away a rather large and obtrusive cobweb. He paused and looked up at the towering man. He reached out and grabbed Slade's shoulder gently.

"Try not to cause them too much trouble, Slade."

"I'll keep that in mind Will."

Author's note: Next update will hopefully be Saturday! Thanks for reading!