Disclaimer: Yeah, the Teen Titans still are not mine. I know I know, by now you'd think I would own something. But alas, fate is cruel and they still would never sell them to me. Maybe if I get close to Bruce Wayne, he'd offer to loan me some money to buy them... scratch that, I can't even travel to Gotham! Darn it!
Author's Note: Wow! I actually finished this is record time! I'm so impressed with myself. Also, I'm totally cured! Well, I still have an itchy throat at night, but hey it doesn't affect me during the day so I could care less. Anyway, I so loved writing up this chapter. I think people are going to like this chapter too. Thank you to all my reviewers by the way! Okay, enough of this and on to Chapter Fourteen!
-T-
What?
Chapter Fourteen
The day went by. I did the normal. I worked. I took a break every now and then. I had Wintergreen watch Robin for the rest of the day. The kid didn't want me there and I couldn't blame him. I had made him sick and who wouldn't hold a grudge for that? I wouldn't, so it doesn't surprise me that he would.
I trained in the gym. Simulations one after the other. Already a pile of debris was growing in the corner. I seethed some frustration as I breathed out. I was on level forty-three. I started on level fifteen. I wasn't angry, but being defeated only motivates me to try harder; to pull out more of what I've got. When Robin fails, he tries harder too.
I hate to lose and that was a real blow of defeat. Why was it defeat? The kid was just there; so dependent on others or mainly me. He struggled, but still, it was only in his fruitless fight for independence which he couldn't have then...or now. Robin is a free-spirited teenage boy. He's one where the only way that he'll be loyal is if he wishes to be. It's getting him to wish that's the challenge. I was so close to getting him to set down from the flight. I was so close to getting the bird to sniff at the seeds lying on the ground from the tree above him.
It's a matter of luring someone in. People won't want to be pushed towards what they feel is dangerous, so what makes Robin any different? Of course, Robin's own stubbornness is what keeps this from being anything but 'imprisonment' as he calls it. The kid is so much like me, in more ways then he realizes. It's frustrating, but still I can overcome it. It's like a fish and a hook. The boat is intimidating and not something that the fish wishes to go near. If you push a fish towards the hook with a net, then the fish will immediately swim away. If you wait and give it time, the fish will come for the little worm on the end of the hook. Then you have your prey, your goal.
And I screwed it all up, big time with one small sentence. He could have swam or flown closer, but no. I messed that up.
'Idiot.'
"Master Wilson, I brought you some... my word..." Wintergreen came in and it was clear that he had just spotted the mess my gym room was, "Master Wilson, I must insist that you stop."
"And why might that be, Wintergreen?" I breathed out as I went to start another simulation, level forty-four.
"Sir, beating your best robots to pieces is just a waste of supplies and resources," he walked over to the simulation station.
"I'm a criminal, I can steal more," I replied, determined to keep training.
"Slade," Wintergreen's tone changed, "The boy was likely to find out anyway. You need not beat yourself or your robots up for that matter because of that. I suggest, you go out and get some fresh air."
I nodded, "You don't mind cleaning up the mess?"
"No, just as long as you relax for the rest of the day."
"Fair deal."
I knew that dragging out a failure is not exactly helpful, although failure is something that I'm not accustomed to. I couldn't work. I really couldn't work. Wintergreen was right. I went out again in civilian clothes. That's twice in one week and not like me at all. I try to keep a low profile. So instead of sticking around the slums, I took a cab towards the outskirts and then another downtown. Big skyscrapers, cars running around like the sky would fall if they didn't get to their destination, people walking briskly from bus stops to their offices, the city, in other words. What a city was!
When I got there, I had no idea what I was doing there. I decided I just needed air. I walked for a good couple OF hours, just passing shops and crossing the street when needed. At one point I came to the park. Normally, I wouldn't go to such an open area, but something was egging me to do so. I walked around. Teenagers were playing volleyball. Elderly men played chess. Families were having picnics in front of a perfect view of the bay. I sat down on the grass. It was a clear day, not a cloud in the sky and the sun was leaning on the far side trying to touch the horizon. The gnats weren't bothering anyone, or at least not me.
Down the hill I was on, was a small, young family. A young mother with blonde hair and a father with red hair. They had two little boys. One couldn't be over the age of three and the other looked to be six or five. As the mother prepared sandwiches, the father picked up his oldest son and placed him on his shoulders. With his youngest, he picked him up under the stomach and started running. I distinctly heard what he was saying to his sons.
"Hold on! We're going to go as fast as Superman!" He yelled.
The oldest grabbed onto his father tightly, trusting his dad entirely. His younger son waited, not exactly sure what his dad was talking about. His waiting was rewarded by a being held out horizontally to the ground as his father whirled him around. The kid must have felt like he was flying. He laughed in glee.
His older brother held tighter and yelled, "Faster! Faster!"
The father complied, but it wore him out and soon he brought the two back for sandwiches with their mother. The little one sat in his mother's lap and the older one was climbing over his dad begging for another ride after supper. I smiled briefly. The site was...soothing. I stared back out at the horizon of the bay. The sun was coming so close to touching it.
That tower just sat there. The Titans were probably trying to enjoy a couple boxes of pizza. Those teenagers were nuisances. They just get in the way of things that are really out of their control anyway. There are always going to be criminals and police, right? To have good, there has to be bad or rather to recognize good, you would have to see bad as well. You can't appreciate your health without knowing what if feels like to be sick. You can't appreciate food without feeling hunger first. You can't appreciate friends or family without feeling loneliness...
What is wrong with me? This isn't me. No one needs to have anyone. In the back of my mind, I know that that is just bitterness talking. Bitterness that comes from bitter experience which I don't want to repeat anytime soon. I might go blind if that was the case. Ha, I actually made a joke. Yeah, there's something wrong with me.
Robin is here as my apprentice. He works for me. Nothing more. He reminds me so much of myself. His potential amazes me. Those are just two of the many reasons he was different from the rest of the Titans. His qualities allow him to lead himself and think for himself, but also adjust to taking orders from those more experienced. He's just a kid. And I've repeated that a number of times, but really it's a fact, and it's been more apparent after seeing him sick and bed stricken.
I got up and left. Three cabs got me back to the haunt. Honestly, what were the detectives in this city? Morons? It was mid-evening. Perhaps I could provide Robin with a little entertainment that would be beneficial to me in some way. I knew that the next day Robin wouldn't be well enough to do a full scale work out, but he certainly could exercise his brain a bit.
I got together some old building blueprints from a long time ago. They were from various cities and Robin would never be able to connect any of them. I had done the jobs myself and knew the ways in and out. I made duplicates to give to him. He wasn't getting out of homework because he had been sick, that was for sure (even if I did inflict it).
But something for his entertainment? That took a little longer then digging around old files. I found an old project I had been working on. It was to test a person's IQ and reflexes. It was an old cube about six by six inches. No reason I couldn't give it to him, now was there? So, I fixed the cube up and charged it.
The next day, Robin was well enough to work and so I brought him into the main chamber. He jumped when he realized I was in the room. Must he be so uptight? It's how it's going to be anyway. He might as well get used to it. I gave him the blueprints and the cube. I don't think that Robin thought that he'd be using the cube anytime soon. I personally bet that he would. Not today maybe, but sometimes soon.
The evening brought pleasant surprises. Robin completed the three blue prints I had given him with finesse. Some were risky and I gave him a hard time, but didn't think too much of it. At the end of his dinner, I got up to leave and he followed. It showed me a couple things. He was adjusting...somewhat, and he could pull this off. It pleased me... immensely.
Robin recovered fully and worked for the next two days on blueprints. He could have performed some physical work, but after getting him sick, I decided I owed it to him. The third day after I had given Robin his work, I went to the kitchen for a late breakfast or brunch. Wintergreen joined me in a couple minutes.
"So, how do you believe the boy is adjusting?" he asked.
"Fine," I said after a moment.
"How does he do with the prints, in all honesty?"
"He's done well with what I've given him. I think tomorrow I'll do something else with him, though."
"Such as what?" Will inquired.
"I don't know," I told my friend.
We finished. I went back to my room. It was one of those times where I just wished that an idea would land in front of me. I searched through my room looking for something to give me an idea of what to do with Robin tomorrow. I looked through drawers, files, weaponry and so forth. As I looked in my bedside table I dragged out two things: an old address book and an old picture. I placed the book aside and stared at the picture. I closed my eye. I didn't want to deal with this now. Opening my eye, though, and seeing three pairs of eyes staring up at me, I realized that perhaps I should deal with it a little bit now.
I sat down on the side of the bed. Staring at me was a family, much like the one in the park. Two little boys and a proud parent. The woman had curly brown hair and green eyes. The older son had wavy blonde hair that reached just past his ears with blue eyes. The younger son had curly blonde hair and his mother's eyes. The father wasn't in the picture because he had taken it. They had just moved and he was home for a little while after a job.
This picture could never be taken now. I closed my eye and fought off sleep that begged to be satisfied. I opened my eye knowing what I'd do for tomorrow.
When I got to the main room, I looked in on Robin via cameras. During the second half of the day, I found an... amusing sight. Robin was staring at the little cube I had given him and it seemed that he was debating with himself as to whether or not to use it. In the end, he gave in. I expected as such. Boredom has a way of doing that to a person. Yes, I knew he was bored, but that was part of learning to be patient. As you wait, you learn to occupy yourself with other things.
Dinner came. Robin seemed too tired and too bored to really care that he was about to eat. He gave me the blue prints and waited impatiently for me to let him sit down.
"Nice to see you too," I said.
Robin sneered, but I'd have none of that, "Robin, I'd like you to look at this."
I pointed to a blueprint route that he had drawn, "That is in an interesting path; why did you choose it?"
"I'd rather deal with infra-red beams than cameras," came the reply.
"Why?"
Robin paused, "Cameras have a way of seeing more than an enemy would want."
"But there are less cameras then sensors," I said in contrast.
"Infra-reds only record time, not who or...what," He said.
"Wise judgment, Robin. Either paths are good with your logic. Go on and eat," I told him.
Robin turned to go and fell on the ground. As he turned to see what had caused him to trip, he found one boot that had crossed his path.
"One more thing. Quit the attitude," I don't let up on my expectations.
Robin scrunched up his face, but turned back and took his seat at the other end of the table. While he seemed...irritated, he didn't express it much at all. In fact he seemed pre-occupied with other thoughts. I wondered what they could be. I know for a fact that sudden changes that are...dramatic are while hard to adjust to, also cause one to think about many things that one has done in one's life...people, places, friends, family, choices, etc. Perhaps such was on his mind.
The Titans possibly could be a subject in his mind. Maybe Gotham. His family? I think everyone who has ever heard of the dynamic duo thinks the two are father and son. I wonder if that's really the case. Are they really such, or are they merely giving each other something? Is the bat standing in the place of a father? I wonder... He makes me wonder. The title 'Boy Wonder' really does suit Robin.
Robin broke the silence, "Slade, why do you want me to join you at dinner? You don't even eat, at least not in front of me."
"It's a manner of respect. Nothing more," I say.
"Oh, all right," He sounds like he's about to brood. He probably is.
His questions are subtle and quiet as though not to draw attention to them. It's interesting that he has begun to ask me questions and not realize the meaning in those simple phrases. He seems to be accepting the apprenticeship and what he doesn't realize is that he is beginning to welcome small benefits that come with it. Benefits that he could never know if he was not my apprentice. If Robin knew what he was doing though, he probably would stop immediately and try to revoke the meaning of any of it.
I guess I was so preoccupied in thought that Robin had to say something to get me out of my trance, "Um, I finished."
I looked back at him, "So you have. Go on back to your room and get some rest."
Robin nodded and went back to his room. I didn't give him anything to do the next day. He had the cube and that was enough. I tried to relax. Tonight I would take care of what needed to done.
When Wintergreen came in my room in the morning, he asked, "And you are not giving the boy work to do today because...?"
"I'll be teaching him to control his sleep patterns tonight. I don't want him overworked, but I don't want to make it easy on him either," I told him.
"I see. What will you being doing today then?"
"I have some business to deal with."
"Petty criminals?" Wintergreen inquired.
"Well, they're all petty criminals, Will," I said.
Wintergreen smiled, "Well, compared to you I'm sure."
"The H.I.V.E. have one last appointment with me is all," I responded.
"Oh, so I'll have to be serving chili cheese fries for that little munchkin again," Will's face scrunched up in disgust. He and Gizmo didn't get along last time I had a meeting with the H.I.V.E.
After laughing a bit, I reassured Wintergreen, "I don't give Robin the liberty of ordering pizza every night, Wintergreen. Go ahead and force the twerp to eat caviar for all I care."
"If you insist, sir," Wintergreen said with a smile on his face, "Will your apprentice being joining you?"
"No," I said, and Will left.
Around 11:50, the H.I.V.E. headmistress came in along with the three juveniles that were the 'top graduates'. Honestly, pathetic. None the less, good connections with the H.I.V.E. are necessary to keep the uprising villains under control when they got older.
"Headmistress," I took her hand politely. She, at least, deserved some respect.
"Slade, you invited us to lunch," She said.
"Indeed, I did. Come, it's this way," I led the way to the dining room where Robin ate his dinner. Added to the table were four extra places, none as nice as the two at the ends of the table, but still compatible with the table's design. It was something that Wintergreen liked. I really couldn't care less.
"Have a seat," I said pulling out a chair adjacent to my own for the headmistress.
"Thank you, Slade." As she sat down, Jinx seated herself beside her. Mammoth took a seat across from Jinx. It was Gizmo that I was irritated with.
"Oh, cool," he said looking at the chair across from mine. The seat must have been twice as big as Gizmo.
"Gizmo," The bald genius looked up, "I'd prefer that you wouldn't sit there, if that is all right with you."
The headmistress gave Gizmo a stern look and he grudgingly took a seat across from her. As Wintergreen wished, he did serve an elegant lunch, one that none of the H.I.V.E. agents looked too pleased with. Jinx had the decency to eat it politely without making faces. Mammoth decided to eat it as fast as he could in one bite. And Gizmo...well, all he really did was poke the food with a fork. I, of course, ate nothing. As the headmistress finished, she decided it was time to get down to business.
"Slade, while the agents didn't fulfill what was expected, they certainly got what you really wanted done," she said.
"Yeah, and we paid for it in the slammer," Mammoth added, rather rudely.
"Agents, why don't you look around the room while Mr. Slade and I talk," the headmistress suggested.
"Better then eating this stuff," Gizmo said and quickly got up.
Jinx looked at Gizmo and then at me, "I'll keep an eye on him."
She left and Mammoth decided to join her.
"As I was saying, we were wondering if you would compensate for the jail fine," she finished.
I sighed, "Headmistress, I understand you're reasoning. It is logical for me to pay..." Out of the corner of my eye, "Gizmo."
I could sense the jump-suited kid turn around, "Would you mind, staying away from that hallway?"
The kid snorted and I heard him grumble, "What's so special 'bout that stinkin' hallway?"
'Too bad kid. No one's going down that hallway.' I didn't want Robin to hear all of the noise, "As I was saying, I see what you are asking, but I will only pay for half."
"Fair enough," she said.
"Do you still wish for the agents to work for you on other occasions or are our business ties cut?" the headmistress asked.
"They are not cut, but I won't be requiring your agents anytime soon."
"No big plans coming up?"
"Digging a little bit, are we?" I said back.
"Just wondering, with Robin seemingly out of commission, it would seem the perfect time to pull something...large off."
I grinned underneath my mask, "Robin's absense isn't what I'm waiting for, headmistress. In fact, it's probably going to be his re-emergence back into the public when I strike."
"You wish to get rid of all the Titans at once?" she was fishing around.
"Something like that."
"Do you think he is ill or off in some other city?"
"Who knows, headmistress, who knows?" I asked, "I'll send you a bill when I get the chance."
The headmistress nodded. I didn't want other criminals to know about Robin becoming my apprentice; not yet anyway. I walked with them to the secluded exit. As they left, I couldn't help smirk at Gizmo's face which spelled out hunger. Wintergreen would be happy about that.
The rest of the day, I decided to read the newspapers and browse the TV and radio stations for news. Not much. I had Robin eat dinner in his own room that evening and about an hour later I came in to get him for the night. Robin looked up at me and glared.
"I'm guessing being locked up today didn't improve your mood at all," I said, slightly smiling at his face. It was really all he could offer in resistance and it was pretty low, almost amusing.
"If you have to ask..." He began.
"Well, I have a reason for it. Come," I'm guessing the command did nothing to improve his mood. He came though and that was what I wanted. When we came into the main room I went over to the controls and gave Robin a short little lesson.
"Robin, have you ever considered the advantage of being able to control one's sleeping patterns?" I asked him.
"No. Why?" he said after a moment.
I thought that would be his response. I turned on the screens of his late nights. If he ever once stopped to realize that he could spend his time more efficiently by learning to control his sleep patterns, he probably would have. For a second, Robin looked shocked at the screens because of my ability to hack into the Titans tower's systems. The expression quickly vanished though.
"If you are able to control your sleep patterns, you are able to take on a state of insomnia or set in a deep sleep. That is what tonight is for. On occasion, I'll have you stay up for the night to get you used to controlling your sleep patterns," I continued.
"So the point of making me dead bored was so that it would be harder to stay up?"
"Slightly," I responded.
"So, what do you want me to do tonight then to keep me up?" Robin inquired.
Simply put, "Stay in here. I don't mind really what you do."
I turned back and began to work for the night. I could tell that wasn't what he expected. Robin just stood there staring. I could tell. Soon though, he looked around. I heard him walk over to the gears and start climbing up. He would enjoy that. Once he finished, he went over to some old pipes. Curiosity was festering in me. Old pipes? I stole a glance and was pleased with what I saw. Robin was twisting, turning, and swinging on the pipes as though they were for a gymnast.
'Clever, my apprentice, very clever.'
I suppose even that got boring though because the boy got tired. I heard him come up behind me. Robin didn't say a word, but I could tell his gaze and attention were on the screens. I was developing a new line of Sladebots. I decided to give a small lesson.
"You can stop gaping, Robin," I said calmly as he tore his gaze away from the screens, "You'll be ready for some of these technical elements soon enough. For now though, you'll stick with some more simple items."
Trying to say something in defense, "I can already understand most of these, Slade. The titanium? It re-enforces the armor your robots have with more strength and a resistance to heat. I use it in my cape."
Impressive, but that last comment..."Yes, that's true, but explain to me then how the titanium can bend so easily for the muscles?"
Robin was silent, so I gave the explanation, "It isn't all titanium. Inserted inside the center of the titanium and in several layers inside other areas of the Titanium are heat rods that have been pre-melded into it. Heat is easier to conduct in titanium from the inside, so this allows the muscles to move. While outside, the Titanium remains cold and hard. One more thing, you used to use it in your capes."
Robin seemed to want to sulk slightly at this, but I didn't want him to go into a mood like that.
"Enjoy the gears?"
"Well, they provide an interesting view of the place," came the reply.
I realized that he must be tired as it was already very late, "Water?"
"After the broth, no," Robin said bitterly.
"Didn't expect you to take it, anyway," I actually did think that he would take it, but considering that fact, I understood his reasoning.
After that, Robin went quiet. He went back to what he was doing before, although he soon came back. Quietly, Robin sat down next to my desk. I saw him, but said nothing. If he wanted a conversation, I'd let him start it. Wintergreen came in at one point and gave Robin the cube I had given him earlier. Robin put the little thing aside. I had the impression that he didn't want to use it in front of me. Robin's eyes started to get heavy under his mask. I saw the shadows growing as his eyelids began to fall. He fought for a bit, just shaking his head, but his arms and the back of the desk must have felt too good because he slipped into a stage of rest before dreams.
'Oh no, Robin, not tonight.'
"Ahh!" came a yell from Robin, as I grabbed his hair and gave it a good yank to wake him up.
"I told you to stay awake, my apprentice, I assume that you can do that with all of those late nights in the tower," Harsh, but I told him before that tonight he would be staying awake and I'd keep him to that. I didn't want to pull the trigger. It's hard to stay up at first, so I can understand that. If this had been deliberate, I might have threatened to push the button.
Robin didn't see this as me being generous or brushing this aside. He got up and tried to throw a punch. I wasn't going to take this non-sense at this time of night with my apprentice. I grabbed his throat, pushed him back down to the ground, and placed a boot on his chest to keep him from going anywhere.
"Angry, Robin?" I smiled slightly, but knew this wasn't helping any. "Well, perhaps you do need some fresh air. Go up to the windows, here's a grapple, and take some time on the roof."
I took out a small grapple which he caught nicely. As his temper was acting up, when he turned around to go I grabbed the back of his shirt to clip on a small tracker. As Robin turned back to face me, I could tell that this wasn't going to improve his mood at all.
"Don't leave or you know what will happen," I said.
As defiantly as he could it seemed, Robin stormed out to the roof. I heard the click of the windows opening. I sighed. At least this way, Robin could cool off. I was trying to decide what sort of metal to use to meld into the head pieces of the soon-to-be updated versions of the Sladebots, when I heard the sound of water pattering onto the windows above. Was he going to come in?
After a couple minutes, I got up, grabbed a grapple, and made my way up to the windows. I had the intention of bringing Robin inside, but as I opened the window a sight met my eye that still stuns me. There in the rain, was Robin. On his face, a smile. From his mouth, laughs. His eyes were wide in enjoyment behind his mask. He didn't notice my presence and all of his attention was focused on the rain. He splashed in puddles, let rain drops fall into his mouth -- he was playing in the rain.
I was silent. I just watched. Recently, I had noticed that he was just a kid, but right now I was realizing how anybody, no matter what their age, can seem like a child while doing the most innocent of all things. Seeing that innocence in him was so...different than seeing him as a leader of the Titans or even as my apprentice. It was as though I was looking at a stranger with a mask on; almost like this was a part of Robin that he concealed, kept hidden under the mask. I stood there watching the site unfolding.
Robin fell to the ground laughing. His laugh and smile were genuine, true. His enjoyment, not an act.
Clash!
Robin sat up and looked up at the sky, seemingly shaken up.
Bang!
He knew that it wasn't very safe being up there and started to get up. As he did, his gaze fell on me and he froze. The innocent enjoyment in him turned to innocent anxiety, uneasiness. He really hadn't known that I was there.
I had to break the silence, "Rain has interesting qualities to it...It has a way of relieving people. I'm guessing you noticed."
"I..." Robin started.
"It's fine. You've been cooped up, I know. It's not fun to stay inside all of the time," I finished, trying to put him back at ease. I didn't care about what he had been doing.
Clang!
Lightning illuminated the sky and directed our attention to the bay. The tower glowed briefly in the electric light. Robin was hypnotized by it.
"It's refreshing, isn't it?"
Robin ignored me, which was a little annoying, but still I understood. My apprentice walked over to the side of the building closest to the bay. Was it taunting him? Probably, but I couldn't help that. Something else etched itself into his face. His eyebrows dipped sharply behind his mask. It looked like guilt. Guilt for what? Whatever it was, I didn't like that look at all. I walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up.
"Robin, I want you to look at the city right now. What do you see?" I asked my apprentice.
Robin sighed, "Deserted streets, lights on in the skyscrapers downtown, Titans Tow..."
He didn't finish and that look became more apparent. Not what I wanted, so another go, "You know that the underworld of criminality can run from the highest skyscrapers of a city down to the sewers? It can link to anything and never let go, if it so chooses. Could you imagine, holding all of the strings of this city?"
"No, because I'll never hold the strings of my own life. I'm always going to be your little puppet, aren't I?" Robin's tone was bitter as though he were spitting out acid.
'That was still all he saw this as?'
I sighed and looked him sternly in the eye, "Robin, can't you see this as an opportunity? Stop being so stubbornly blind. This apprenticeship could be so much more to you if you would just give it a chance."
Robin yelled out his response to that, "Yeah, like what? Being hated for being a thief and at the right hand of the city's crimelord! Doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, Slade!"
There was silence for a second. The child I had seen playing in the rain was now screaming out in fury at me. He meant what he said. A thief and a crimelord? Why not a master and an apprentice? Robin stared at me, waiting for what I would say next, waiting for the lecture that would follow.
"Is that all you see me as, Robin? Just a crimelord?" No, Robin, not a lecture. A question.
"You, Slade, are a criminal. You have set the city outskirts aflame, you have stolen and destroyed the property of others, you've probably killed people too, and you have kidnapped me from my home. What else would you be?" Robin replied, but the bitterness was not the fire it once was. Rather, it was more like a hot flow of lava.
He was right about most of that, but..."I am a crimelord and a criminal, Robin. I am not however, a kidnapper. You are here because you chose to not let four people perish. I also believe that you came here in search of me, correct?"
Robin stiffened, "I came to bring you down, not to become your little apprentice."
"You miss what over there, Robin? What did you have over there? Yes, you were a leader. Yes you had friends and yes, you had the respect of so many in the city. What do they give back to you, though? Sure, you form bonds with friends, but those are weaknesses. And the city won't be there to help you when you're older and need help yourself because you will never remove your mask that guards your friends," I told him.
The little kid in the rain was debating with himself about what I was saying and I knew it.
I took Robin's chin so that he would look directly at me, "I could be a valuable teacher to you, Robin."
Robin's eyes contained all of his secrets. While he looked at me, I could tell that he found what I had said a counter to what he had thought.
"I don't need a teacher, Slade."
"Perhaps, then, just a person who has advice?" I tried.
Robin's answer came out slowly and controlled, "It's hard to see you as anything resembling a teacher or someone to come to for help, Slade, when the first thing I see every time I look at you is my captor and enemy."
I let out a sigh, "Typical, of you to think that."
"Why?" His curiosity apparent.
I smirked slightly, "I'd probably think that as well if I was in your situation."
Robin looked away from me and returned his attention to the bay, "I'm not in the mood for comparisons, Slade."
After that, there was only the sound of rain water coming down. Robin's stare didn't seem as directed towards the tower anymore. Instead, he seemed to focus on something else. What though, I'm not sure. I stood there. I would wait until dawn if that is what Robin wanted, but I wanted him to want or need to go back inside. Why? I don't know.
BOOM!
A flash alerted me to lightning striking a nearby building. A ripple of thunder vibrated through the Haunt. As I regained my footing, I noticed Robin wasn't there. He wouldn't have left now, so -- what...? I heard a bolt snap off the side of the building and the sound of water rushing downward. I heard a couple coughs and quickly went over to the side of the building. Robin was holding onto the gutter which was slowly breaking off the side of the Haunt. In an instant, I reached down and grabbed Robin's wrist. I hoisted him up and over the side.
He knelt down and choked out the water in his lungs, "What? Did the building..."
"The building just across the street did, we're fine," I informed him as he continued to choke out the water. "Best get inside, now."
I led him back over to the windows. We went inside and grappled down. As we reached the main level, I noticed that Robin was shivering from the cold water that had drenched him. One of the many qualities Wintergreen has is knowing when something is needed or will be needed. Robin noticed the towels in Wintergreen's hands and gladly took one and used it as a blanket.
I shook my head, took a towel myself, and said, "Take off your gloves."
"Why?" he asked. I wanted to roll my eye, but instead took his gloves off for him and dried his hands for him. If Robin wanted to stay warm, he needed to keep his blood warm and the blood farthest away from the heart is normally the coldest. Once I finished, Robin started drying his wet hair off with his own towel, I'm guessing understanding what I was doing.
"It's about 3:30, you can go and get some rest," I told Robin and he nodded in response. I continued, "Tomorrow we will start on some combat maneuvers, nothing like the other day though. I don't want you to worry about it. Just rest okay?"
"'Kay," Robin looked as though he was about to go, "Slade?"
I turned back to face my apprentice, "Yes, Robin?"
"Why did you ask me what I saw you as?"
The question surprised me, caught me off guard, so I gave the best answer I had, "I merely wished to know how you've been adjusting. That's all."
"Oh," Robin looked down as though his detective training had been sure that there was something more than that, "I guess... that makes sense. I'll just..."
I waited to see if he would continue. He did, "Could, do you... I guess, I mean... Do you want me to see you as something in particular, Slade?"
There was a pause. I walked straight up to him and looked at him hard. For a teenager he had such a curiosity about him, "You, Robin, are an inquisitive young man. I don't degrade you for that. It's a good thing. Your intelligence will grow because of that. As for your answer... I'd say this: what you see me as gives me an idea as to how to teach you, train you, and how you've been reacting to this change."
"That doesn't really answer my question," Robin stated.
"Then I'll let you think what you want on that one, Robin. It's not one that I really have an answer to. Now, go off to bed," I answered simply.
Robin again nodded numbly and went off to bed. As his shadow disappeared in the darkness, I shook my head. I was now realizing that that answer was a lie. I have an answer.
I do what I do best. I am a mercenary, an assassin, a criminal. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I enjoy the rush from a theft as much as the next guy. Jump City has been good for me. I have made a name for myself, and now no one dares cross my way unless they want a trip to the hospital and jail.
And now what? An apprentice. An apprentice is what I have. One taught by the Dark Knight of Gotham City. One that was once the leader of Jump City's defenders: The Teen Titans. One only known as Robin, the Boy Wonder. Him? An apprentice? Some would say it is a waste of my time to teach Robin and choose him. Why did I want an apprentice in the first place? To fill the void that is still there? The void of losing my sons? Is that why? Perhaps so. Or perhaps to replace the chance of being a father to them; or anyone for that matter.
"Can I get you something, sir? Maybe some herbal tea?" Wintergreen asked.
"I'll take it in my room, Wintergreen, thank you," I said as I went down another corridor.
-T-
A/N: YES! Slade out rightly admits to himself that Robin might be there as more then an apprentice and might be there to replace or fill that void! I finally got to that part! I don't think he would have admitted it automatically 'cause it didn't seem at all the sort of thing Slade would do. Also, with the HIVE showing up, I had to add in a bit of humor with Gizmo. I'm still open to hearing what you people think of having the Titans' and Wintergreen's POVs showing up and this is the last chapter before I decide to or not. Again, thanks for reviewing! And Chapter Fifteen will be out soon! Later!
Rena