A/N: Another one! Am I spoiling you? I think I might… ;o) Noooo you deserve it! The ones who reviews, anyway… ;o) Yeah, and the ones who put me on their alert- and favorite-lists… love you too!

Disclaimer: -sigh- Do I have to keep doing this? I die a little bit on the inside each time… Ok: not… mine… -faints from lack of copyright-

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Chapter nine: Crime and punishment

As Robin was about to leave, Cyborg came up to him.

"Think you will be back soon?"

Robin nodded. "Don't think it will take long. He just wants me to come running…"

Cy swore quietly at the man and his twisted, controlling mind. "Just be careful, man."

Why do people keep telling me that?!

The motorcycle handled like a dream and Robin wished he had farther to go, so he could enjoy the ride longer. He started to push through the sleepiness, trying to find a bit more energy somewhere.

He handed the documents over to Slade and stood beside him while he reviewed them, trying not to sway and fighting an urge to close his eyes.

"You didn't use the gay angle. Why?" Slade suddenly asked.

"It would make me too noticeable in that situation and the mission would depend on my acting skills. I rather not take that chance."

"Good. No games."

Robin blinked. So that had been a trap? He sure hoped there wasn't any more of them.

"Explain how you came up with the method of death."

"It was supposed to be flashy, to send a message." Robin tried to stifle a yawn. "Since the main point of concern between the man's country and the client is oil, I thought that would be an excellent way for the man to die."

"So you would fill his lungs with unrefined oil?"

Robin shrugged, and Slade laughed at the gesture.

"To continue. The businessman. Collapsing brickwork? Risky."

Robin nodded. "But doable. The man is doing a presentation at the time, standing still at the podium in front of the building." Robin pointed to the spot on a photograph. "The architect has provided a lot of weapons." He certainly had. It was one of those old buildings that seemed to be decorated to the point that it resembled a cake. Filled with swirls, angels, pillars and unidentifiable stuff, more or less slapped haphazardly on to the building's surface. "The music and the voices from the PA system could easily be blamed for causing enough vibration for some of the stonework to fall. Investigations will reveal hairline cracks and deterioration caused by environmental issues like smog and acid rain."

"When in fact…?"

"It's something close… a special made acid in small, well placed capsules, that is actually set off by the vibration from the speakers. No way to trace it, as the substance disappears within minutes."

Slade nodded.

"This way there is the risk of more casualties, though."

"If the client doesn't mind, it's for the better. Won't single the target out."

"And the last one. The drug dealer… I see you have chosen to take him out on the street?"

"He's probably nervous; the street was the only way I could get close enough. There's an ally close to his home. I would do it there."

"By hand? Why?"

"I don't know how to shoot, yet, and it would be too dark, crowded and risky to throw something, I think."

Slade looked quietly over the files again. Robin started to get pretty nervous. The man finally put the paperwork down on the bench and turned to Robin, who eyed him guardedly.

"That was some excellent work, Robin. I'm pleased with you. Did you enjoy it?"

Robin's knees almost buckled in relief.

"I am a bit too tired to enjoy anything…" he sighed, now not being able to hold back a yawn.

Slade put a finger under his shin, lifting it gently.

"Anything?" he smiled, taking off his mask.

Slade lifted Robin up and sat him down on the workbench. Perfect kissing height.

"I have been eager to see you since you walked away in that uniform…" Slade grinned.

"Yeah, Starfire kind of liked it too…" Robin confessed and told Slade what had happened.

Slade roared with laughter, making the boy turn red. "She is quite the little truth-teller that alien of yours."

"Not jealous?" Robin smirked.

"No. I know that you are mine. Besides. She can't give you what I can…" he said, pressing up between Robins thighs, letting him feel his hardness.

"That's true…" Robin couldn't help agreeing, tilting his head back for a kiss. He got it. Slade kissed him with an air of ownership that left Robin gasping. The boy hoisted himself forward, pressing against the man, moaning between kisses. He threw his arms around Slade's neck and lifted himself up, so Slade, who had deftly unbuttoned the boy's jeans, could slip the pants of him.

Slade reached into a belt pocket pulling out a tube of lubricant.

"You walk around with that stuff, now?" Robin leered.

"Not complaining are you?" Slade growled. "Maybe I should send you out to buy some. Would you like that?"

Robin's eyes turned incredible round and wide as the thought hit him

"No… you wouldn't?!" he asked with panic in his voice.

Slade grinned. "Maybe we could buy it together?"

Robin gasped, but if it was the thought of the embarrassment, or the fact that Slade had just showed two fingers inside him, the man couldn't tell. With Robin on his back on the bench with his legs spread and held up on either side Slade's arms, the man had a very nice angle to work with. But as he was about to penetrate the boy a noise suddenly filled the air. A signal. A very familiar signal.

"It's.. It's the Titans communicator…" the boy panted. Slade leaned down and found the gadget in Robin's pants pocket.

"What… what are you doing!?" Robin sounded scared. Slade tossed the gadget onto Robin's chest.

"Answer it."

"What?!"

"Do. It."

Giving Slade a desperate pleading glance Robin flicked the device open.

Pleeeease, don't let it be Raven!

"Hi, man. What's up?"

Cy. It was Cy. That wasn't so ba-… uhgnn!

Slade had chosen that opportunity to ram into the boy.

"Rob? What's happening? Are you hurt?" Cyborg looked concerned.

"No… I... We're in a… ah… middle of.. of an training session."

"You sound really out of breath! Hard, eh?"

"Quite." Slade half whispered and quickened the pace. Thankfully Cyborg didn't hear him. Robin bit the inside of his cheek to keep from moaning.

"We're having dinner in an hour. Are you coming?"

"What.. did… you say?" Robin was really having a difficulty concentrating. He could feel Slade's hand start to move up under his shirt.

"Are you coming?"

"Yes, he is…" Slade chuckled in that low voice again.

"Yes… Yes, I think so…" Robin groaned slightly, shooting a dirty look at Slade for the comment. "But start… without me if I'm late, ok?"

"Sure. Man, you shouldn't let Slade ride you so hard!"

Robin half laughed, half gasped. "I'll tell him that…"

"Good. See you. Cy out!"

Robin clicked the communicator shut and tossed it away.

"You… are… ahhh… really… such… a bastard… Slade!" The boy grunted, arching his back.

"That I am." Slade confessed, grinning down at Robin, who was making such wonderful noises at the moment. "It's lucky for you that you like it…"

"I … don't… ! Ahhhhhrg!" Robin couldn't continue, as Slade had lifted him slightly off the table and spread his legs even further to be able to bury himself deeper into the boy.

"Oh, you like it, all right." Slade laughed. "What if I should visit you in the Tower one day? Drag you up from that comfy couch of yours, in front of your friends, and take you into your bedroom, to make you scream just- like- this!" the man accented his words by thrusting into the boy faster and harder than ever.

Robin bucked wildly, the though of his friends outside the door, not knowing what was going on… someone knocking… Robin threw his head back and screamed as he came, feeling Slade coming seconds afterwards.

Robin's hands, which had been clutching Slade's arms, flopped down, hitting the bench top, and his head slumped to the side. Slade, who had still not pulled out, leaned forward over the boy, grating their bodies together, and nibbled at Robin's neck. Too flooded with pleasure to be able to take anymore, Robin whimpered.

"Now, tell the truth, Robin, tell me you liked it."

"Yes… yes, Master… I- I did..." the boy almost sobbed. He turned his head to meet Slade's lips, but he was so out of breath, that he really couldn't kiss back.

"You are such a good little slut, Robin…" Slade purred in his ear, making the boy gasp louder.

"… yours.." he managed.

"Yes." Slade smiled down on him. "My little slut."

It took Robin another fifteen minutes to calm down. Slade had carried him to the bedroom and stretched out beside him; cradling the boy in his arms… he just loved hearing the boy pant. As he slowly regained his breath, Robin turned a pair of very serious eyes on Slade.

"Is… that all I am to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is that all I am…? A slut?"

Slade, for once, had trouble deciphering the look in those baby blues.

"Do you want to be more?"

Robin's eyes turned uncertain and his gaze flicked away.

"I don't know… Could… could I?"

Slade stroked his cheek. "Robin… you would have to give me everything…heart, body and soul…"

"But… I can't…!" he answered with a soft, sad little cry. "You already own my body, you know that… maybe you could even get my heart if you really wanted, I don't know… but my soul? That's mine; no one should demand to own someone else's soul, Slade. This is my life! One way or another you are taking my life from me… I'm afraid that if you start to think that there's really no chance for you to get me to join you, you'll… you'll…"

"Kill you?" Slade asked carefully. "Maybe. You are mine, after all. But it won't be necessary, I assure you. And Robin…? You made me so proud today…"

Robin only made a low, wailing sound and buried his head against the man's shoulder.

Soon, Robin… soon…

After resting together a while longer Slade told Robin to call his friends and let them know he wouldn't come home that night. Robin made up a story about a night excursion and the team grudgingly agreed, what else could they do? Slade let the boy rest a while longer after that, while busying himself with preparations, but then he went to shake Robin awake.

"Robin? Wake up, boy."

Robin groggily sat up, he had not had nearly enough sleep the last forty-eight hours and it was becoming harder to find that extra energy.

"What are we doing?"

"Well. You have done the theory. Time to put it to the test."

The boy suddenly grew cold.

After Robin changed for his new, black outfit, they walked into the training room. The boy relaxed slightly, seeing a robot standing in the middle of the floor. At least he thought it was a robot. It was standing absolutely still with its back facing them. Walking around the machine Robin gasped. It looked exactly like the young drug-dealer! Touching it, the skin felt warm, but otherwise the bot seemed inactive, eyes closed.

"This is your target. It is quite a step up from the dummies, let me assure you. Do you think you can do it?"

"A robot? I don't care if it looks real, I can take a robot. It's not alive!"

Robin sounded sure of himself and Slade smirked.

"Let's start with your equipment." The man walked up to him and fastened a belt around his slim waist. The belt was black and had pockets, although, judging from the weight, those were empty at the moment. "The only weapon you are allowed to use, if you choose to, is a bo-staff." Slade fastened the weapon at Robin's belt. "But you will also bring this." Slade showed the boy a short-bladed but tough knife, before he tied it to Robin's right side.

"What's that for?" Robin asked uncertainly.

"For helping you to bring me back the man's head." Slade said smugly.

Robin tensed. He suddenly had a feeling there was more to this robot then he had thought. Slade slipped his communicator in one of the pockets, and that was all.

"Get ready, and don't forget the mask" The man ordered.

Robin put on the black shoes, adjusted the belt and, at last, slipped the hood over his head. It felt strange to wear a mask that covered everything but the eyes, but he was content knowing he wouldn't be recognised. Slade had begun the robots start-up sequence and suddenly the machine opened its eyes.

"Robin. Come here." Slade ordered and position the boy in front of the still empty, staring eyes. He then stepped behind the robot and started to speak.

"Run simulation 'pray'. Enemy input commence." At this the robots eyes started moving across Robin's body, scanning the image into its memory. A beeping sound seemed to indicate that it was finished. "Difficult level 8. Enter and run."

The robot suddenly blinked, gasped as it saw Robin, turned on its heel and ran out the door.

Robin only gaped.

"Well. You better get after him. You don't want to run all over the city to find him, do you?"

Robin snarled something and started chasing his prey.

The boy saw the robot as it ducked into an ally and sprinted after it. He was so irritated at having to chase a machine… oh, you want the real thing, do you? ... and he wanted to finish the job as quickly as possible.

Robin caught up with the thing rather quickly. The 'man' was about to climb the fire escape to the roof as Robin caught its leg. The bot kicked out, turning his head around and stared at Robin.

"No, let me go!" it shouted in a terrified voice. Robin jumped back, stunned.

It can talk?!

As Robin hesitated the bot continued climbing and would soon disappear over the edge of the roof. Robin shook his head and followed. He couldn't loose sight of it now.

They ran and jumped across rooftops. Robin started to feel good about being out in the open air, and there was something else… the anger had died away and the thrill of the chase taken over. After a while Robin could see that the man was tiring. The machine, he reminded himself. It didn't move or act like a machine, though, and it was getting harder for Robin to think of it that way. As his target stumbled slightly, Robin couldn't hold back a grin. As it jumped onto another roof Robin knew he had it trapped. He knew this part of the town. His victim ran a bit longer and then slid to a halt, letting out a small frightened whimper. The buildings in this part of town started to get higher, and from the lower roof they were now standing on, there was no way forward. The buildings around them came up wall to wall with theirs, towering over them, creating a dead end.

The robot spun around.

"I didn't do it! Please! Just… just let me go!"

Robin's stomach lurched. This was just too much… He slipped out his bo-staff, though, extending it.

"No!" The terrified man shook his head. "No! Help!"

Robin knew he couldn't let the man call attention to them. He threw himself at him, hitting him in the stomach with the staff. The man crumpled, moaning, but got to his feet again and started to defend himself. His attacks were clumsy, though. He really doesn't know how to fight. Robin really needed to end this now. He hit the robot in the face and there was a sickening crack as the nose broke. Blood splattered across the ground and took Robin backed of again. This was too real! He couldn't! The man, frantic now and seemingly numbed by pain, launched an attack on the boy, actually making him retreat a few steps more. Robin closed his eyes. Only a machine. He lashed out with his leg, making the man fall to the ground and then… like a replay of the fight with Plasmus, his foot flew towards the man's throat. But, this time, nothing stopped it. He hit the man's throat, right over the Adams apple, and he could hear the crunch of cartilage and bone. Pulling back he watched as the man slumped back, blood and liquid frothing from his mouth, as his breathing got harder. Staring up at his killer the man took one, final, strangled breath and fell still. Robin just watched. Then he turned away to go and throw up. Knowing what he had to do next, made his stomach heave again.

Severing a human head from the spine, using only a knife, isn't that easy, Robin unwillingly discovered. He tried to focus on the small sparks emitting from the cuts, one of the few signs that it wasn't, in fact, human. It bled. There was blood everywhere. Robin knew it was some sort of fake blood or maybe red oil, but it didn't help much. Not much at all.

Robin walked into the base, holding the head by its hair. There were streaks of blood on his chin and his hands were cowered in the red liquid. Slade thought that he had never looked more beautiful.

Tossing the head and the knife at the man's feet, Robin looked up at him.

"You're sick, Slade."

"What was that?" The man had expected this. He looked quite forward to it.

"You're SICK!! Robin screamed. "You are a sick, fucking bastard and the deal is OFF!"

The boy turned away.

"I don't think so, Robin."

"Yeah, well… you know, what, Slade? I DO!" In an instant Robin had reached for his bo and attacked. The man was pleased to see that even if the attack was violent, it was still controlled. He smiled as he blocked the first swings with his arm guards and extended his own staff.

They had never fought like this, but then again, thanks to Slade, Robin had never been this deadly.

Breaking apart for a moment to regain their breath, Slade spoke.

"I will have to punish you for this, Robin."

"You can try!" the boy snarled back.

"I will give you one chance to submit to the punishment willingly. Thirty lashes, I think."

"Never!"

"No? Well then."

The man attacked again. Robin suddenly found himself fighting for his life. He realized that every time he had fought Slade previously, every time, the man must have held back. Blow after blow hit its target, blows Robin didn't even see coming. He cried out in despair as his staff was wrenched out of his hands. I'm dead. I'm dead now…a powerful strike sent him to the floor. He rolled unto his stomach to get up, but then felt a heavy boot at the small of his back, holding him down on his hands and knees. Pain and desperation made him sob, pounding his fist against the floor.

"I'll give you one more chance to accept you punishment, Robin. Only one. I will let you go now and I want you to stay still."
Robin turned his head to the side, just able to make out the man above him. He glared, but the stare soon faded, and as Slade removed his foot, Robin dropped his head in submission.

"Good boy…"

Robin heard the strike coming, as Slade's bo hissed through the air. The thin, flexible metal rod, lashed across Robin's back. Searing pain made the boy cry out and try to crawl away.

"Stay. Only twenty-nine left."

Robin thought that it would never end. The strikes were measured, not to break bones or create any permanent damage, but to cause pain. Blazing, crushing pain. The lashes created welts in his skin. Some so deep they bled. He screamed and sobbed, sinking lower and lower towards the floor. His whole world was pain. Red, red pain. Then it stopped.

Robin's body shook with repressed sobs, waiting, tensing, for a strike that never came. He then heard Slade walk away and he lifted his head slightly, gasping. It was over. It really was. Letting his forehead rest against the cool floor, Robin tried, once more, to pull himself together. It was getting harder and harder. He wasn't sure were all the pieces were meant to go anymore.

"Get up, Robin." Slade was back. The boy made a frightened noise and tried to scrabble to his feet. He felt a hand, grabbing his collar and lifting him upright.

"Do you understand why I punished you?"

Robin, unable to hold himself up, slumped against the man, ragged breath making his body shudder.

"Answer me."

"…Yes…"

"Good. Anymore outbursts like that from you and I'll do it again."
The boy only whined, wanting to run from this man so badly, but only able to lean into him.

"I'll send you back to your friends now. I shouldn't, but as you finished the assignment, I will."
"Thank… you…" the boy whispered, feeling a piece of that precious soul slip away.

"Come back tomorrow. We'll finish this discussion then."

Robin found himself outside. He shivered in the air, which was quite chilly, even though it was late June. He fought an urge to just collapse on the ground. He had to keep going; he had to get to the tower. Limping, one hand stretched out against a wall for support, he started to make his way home.

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The man's attention suddenly perked. He had watched earlier, as two shadows had left the building, one apparently chasing the other. For a moment he thought about following them, but he had decided against it. Later the smaller of the figures had come back, carrying something in his hand; the man couldn't make out what. The smaller one must have been the boy, as it was him that now walked out, dressed the same way, but without the mask. Something must have happened, though… the kid was moving slowly and looked to be hurt.

The man smiled to himself, his heart rate quickening. This is it. He quietly left his lookout-point.

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Robin almost made it to the keypad that unlocked the tunnel, before hearing footsteps behind him. Slade! Slade's come after me! Robin wasn't sure if that thought scared him or made him happy. Then a piece of smelly cloth was pressed against his face. This is not Slade! He tried to fight, but as the person holding him pressed himself against the boy's back, Robin cried out in agony. His back burned with pain. The boy sank slowly to the ground and his captor kept pressing the chloroform-drenched rag against his face until he went completely limp and still.

To be continued…

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A/N: Even more trouble… Told you the man was going to be back! So what does he want? To tell Robin he won the lottery? Buy him chocolate? Teach him to play the harmonica? Who many picked "none of the above"? ALLRIGHT, I might as well tell you already that that is the right answer… sorry to spoil the suspense…

See you next time… don't forget to tell me what you thought of this chapter, as there was a lot going on…