Disclaimer: I'm skipping in a meadow of roses where there are hippogriffs, pretty princesses, and I own Teen Titans along with a whole portion of DC Comics. Wait, no! My perfect masterpiece is being ruined by rain and water pouring onto my canvas! NO! It's so sad, but I don't and never have owned Teen Titans.

Author's Note: Oh, man you guys are so nice! I got more reviews for that last chapter then I ever had for one chapter! Thank You! Now here's the point where you guys get to understand a little bit of Slade's behavior. This one's an interesting chapter. Oh, how similar our protagonist and antagonist are and yet the irony of how events can play out! I love being the writer or this story. So much fun. I hope this sheds a little light. Why I wrote it this way, you have to wait till the next two chapters. I know, you love suspense, don't you? (Am I being a little cruel? Probably and I'm sorry, but I can't write chapters up that fast.) Oh, did anybody watch the music video (that I didn't make, repeating that for the billionth time)? Anyone? If you did, I hope you liked it as much as I did. Also, yes, this chapter is a little shorter, but hey, the last chapter was like a large fraction of Robin's thoughts, that Slade can't hear! He's not a mind reader like Raven can be people! He doesn't know what Robin's thinking, despite how similar they are! Now on to Chapter Eighteen!

-T-

What?

Chapter Eighteen

I woke up after only about two hours of sleep, which while for a normal person would be torture probably, I felt refreshed and ready for the day. Instead of getting in my normal uniform, I took out an old martial arts uniform and went to the training room. Before though, I checked my security system. Smiling when I found what I wanted, I left.

Unlike the previous few days, I felt in control of myself and took out the robots that simulations shot at me with ease. I did that for about two and a half hours before Wintergreen came in with a tray of pre-breakfast food. I took a small towel, wiped my face with it and went over to the table where Wintergreen was pulling off a cover to reveal a shake and a couple slices of toast.

As I gulped down half the shake, Wintergreen began conversation, "I see you're proving a real threat to those robots again."

I stopped mid-gulp, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You've got strategy back," Will responded.

I shrugged, "I've had off times before, nothing unusual."

"True," Wintergreen paused as I ate a slice of toast. I could tell he was waiting patiently for an answer. Oh, he'd get one.

"You're wondering about Robin in my room last night, aren't you?" I asked him and he nodded.

"A little bird collapsed on my door step. I let him come in," I saw Wintergreen raise an eye at me and continued, "I took him back to his room later."

"I thought you said that his room locks up, Slade, from the inside," Wintergreen stated.

"I wouldn't expect for you to be so surprised that I would find him outside of his room, Will," I put simply and gulped down the last of my shake, "When you unlocked the door in the first place."

Will's eyes widened slightly, but went back down after a milla-second, "You checked this morning, didn't you?"

"Why'd you unlock it?" I inserted.

Will sighed, "Locking the boy up doesn't do you much good, Slade."

"He's locked up in this place, Wintergreen, and he was going to go to sleep. What was the point?" I asked back.

"I guessed that he wasn't sleeping well, Slade. Even when just resting, he'd toss around a lot. And... I sensed some good would come out of it."

It was my turn to raise a brow, "Some good would come out of it?"

"Well, it did. Robin slept soundly and you seem to have your fire back. Those robot pieces on the floor are proof of that."

I looked at the gym and started to chuckle, "Touché, Will, touché."

I headed back for the gym, "What will you be doing today, sir?"

"Have Robin ready for martial arts, one-on-one training. I'll be out in about thirty after one more simulation and a shower," I said starting up the program.

Wintergreen left, a small smirk on his face.

Striking down the last of the robots, I shook my head. Looking at the pile of debris, I laughed. Will was right, I did have my fire back and I liked it. A lot. I guess no one really likes feeling unable to control a situation where they should be able to control it. And boy, did I like feeling in control again.

I got ready for the training day like normal. When Robin entered the room, I could tell by his stride, that he was also ready for a day's worth of training. There was almost a small skip in his step. I smiled. I guess Will was right. Robin and I both needed last night. I let Wintergreen leave before I started a conversation with my apprentice.

"You seem ready for a fight or two, Robin. Craving a little adrenaline?" I asked.

Robin shot a glance at me, but nothing in it would make it dangerous, "No, I'm craving to release a bit of energy."

I laughed for a moment, then continued, "Well, let's see if a one-on-one training session would help you release your energy."

We started with blocking maneuvers. Easy enough. Then I brought in the counter attack element into the fray and Robin's efforts had to increase. With every move he mastered, he sent me a smirk as if to say, "Ha! I beat your challenge." That's when I knew that I had to up the level of difficulty for him.

As I tossed him to the floor

He attempted to backflip over me, I said, "Think the situation over, Robin."

I almost lost my balance as he kicked my feet out from underneath me, but I flipped over and landed on my feet. Robin had returned to a standing position. His ankles were red from the impact, but his footing was firm and well placed. The only problem...

"I already did," He responded.

"Not thoroughly though, I see," Robin looked around and saw the gear behind him just before it's outmost nub hit his leg.

Retracting, I took the opportunity to force his shoulders to the ground. Barely putting any pressure on his chest as I put my foot down, I said, "This place can change to my likings, Robin. Don't ever think that you know a place entirely inside and out."

I released my foot and walked over to my chair where the water was. No, I couldn't drink it, but I poured a glass and handed it to Robin. I was a little surprised that he took it as normally he wouldn't and just grab another cup and pour some himself. He drank it down in two gulps, whipped his brow, and leaned against the table.

"You're doing much better today," I noted.

"I just got beat because I didn't pay attention to a gear, Slade," He said simply as he poured some more water out of the jug.

"True, but look at how many more successes you're had today," I returned.

"You're holding back."

"I'm only holding back so that you can practice, learn, and master. It is when you are tested that I won't hold back and neither will any other strong enemy," I said to him.

The rest of the training went on. I could see Robin grind his teeth in frustration. I saw his fluid moments add to his fierceness and the danger in his attacks. While he kneeled on the ground regaining his breath, I saw sweat drops on the back of his neck run down as though he was leaking water. His hair became wet with his sweat. Not a second later, he would attack as though he had felt nothing. I smiled knowing the endorphins were doing their job on his body. Not even knowing it, Robin would become use to an on coming thrill and love it more then he ever has.

It was one of the rare moments that he really, really tried. And I could tell. The difference, he fought smirking at his precious wins and victories, however small they were. I could see my choice was good. This was some of the ripest of his potential. To be able to smile at a victory won through his youth, skill, and fluid movements.

Fluid.

I started thinking. As Robin ate dinner, I got to thinking it was about time that he worked with ropes. Swinging, balancing, forcing cables to go where he wanted them to go. He ate quickly and even though it had been a hard day of martial arts training, he seemed ready to go for another day's worth of it. I knew that that wasn't the case and that he would probably collapse after he got to his room. So I sent him to his room to go to bed.

Wintergreen came into my room that night questions lingering, "How were things today?"

I could tell he was probing for thanks for unlocking Robin's door, "He was good today."

"He seemed much more lively at dinner today," Will said.

"He worked hard today," I said.

I was actually having dinner at the moment since I never have my dinner while Robin has his. I couldn't get over Robin's performance. It was incredible, with real effort, and barely an ounce of resistance. I smiled. I'd be able to mold Robin it the perfect protégée in no time if this kept up.

"You're smiling."

I looked up at Will again. The man seemed to know everything about me and yet nothing at all. It's interesting that people who know me always seem to be like that. Will is possibly the only one who knows more about me then anyone else.

"He's the perfect protégé, Wintergreen," I said softly.

"In what respect?"

I think he knows the honest answers, so I give him the vague overview, "All of them."

It was true. He could be the most valuable asset that I could have. He could be feared by both criminals and heroes. Robin could be the heir to my criminal empire. And he could be a son.

Wintergreen nods, but something is bothering him, "Slade, don't get too wrapped up in this."

"What are you talking about?" I inquired.

"I mean, don't ignore the boy. You can't gain his trust by being honest, trusting and understanding under some circumstances and not on others," He told me.

"I won't do that, Wintergreen," I replied back, not thinking that I could ignore my apprentice. I couldn't ignore Robin when he wasn't my apprentice.

"I sincerely hope that you won't as well," I raised a brow at this, "Don't forget what happened last time you weren't."

Wintergreen left. I pondered what he had said. I felt reassured that after last night though, that I didn't need to worry. Robin seemed to have gotten to a point where adjusting was almost over. Only a couple more rough points and Robin wouldn't barely be homesick for the Tower.

That night I found myself sleeping again, but this time much longer. I'm sleeping more. Something's wrong, but I don't seem to mind. I also don't feel like I can argue that anything is wrong. I sleep hearing distant sounds. So many that I can't connect them. Images flash. Things seem positively still and at the same time so fast. I open my eye at six in the morning. I had planned two hours of sleep, but had the entire night.

I don't really mind. After my morning routine, I go into a side room and glance around checking the surroundings. There were a bunch of ledges, chains, etc. I walked up the steps of the spiral staircase and set up a tightrope between two ledges. Simple enough. Easy lesson. If Robin was as cooperative as he was yesterday, this would be cake for him. As I finished, Wintergreen brought in a croissant for a quick breakfast.

"Tell him to get into the uniform I gave him," I said.

"The combat one?" Will asked.

"Yes, that one," I replied, "Bring him in here, not the main room."

Wintergreen left and came back around fifteen minutes later with Robin. I smiled in the darkness. I was hidden in the shadows, which Wintergreen knew as a sign to leave the two of us to the training. I hear the lock click as Wintergreen left. It was always fun to surprise Robin like this. A couple times his eyes would pass over and miss me. How fond I can be of the dark and how it can hide almost anything. I watched his senses pick up the slightest little things. For a moment, he tensed as though feeling like he could be in a dangerous area. Well, he could be, but that's besides the point.

For a while, I just stood there looking at him. I had spent so much time getting that particular uniform to fit him. Designing it from top to bottom. It was supposed to be like my own. It was meant to be similar. Even when I collaborated my own uniform, I looked at the dark colors and made it so that my enemy could be intimidated before they even fought me. I wanted everyone to know I wasn't one to be messed with.

The silver "S" shone and streamed on Robin's chest as though trying to proclaim to me, "Here I am, here I am, and look at who I work for." Robin's searching seemed to be asking me to come out. I smiled as I walked forward.

Coming out of the darkness, "Robin, how'd you sleep?"

Robin spun around and I saw his shoulders drop as though he had been holding his breath, "I slept fine."

"That's good," I said, striding past him, "Then I'm assuming that you have a lot of energy for today as well."

In his usual rebellious manner, "Well, I'm able to train today if that's what you're asking."

"Good," I told him looking back at him for a moment.

It was interesting how Robin's tone of voice could be rebellious, but at the same time, he could show small hints of eagerness to get the day started.

"So what are am I doing today? Robots, combat, hacking...?"

"No," I replied, "We'll be doing something different today. It's not that much of a challenge. All you will need is patience for it."

I pushed Robin forward to the doorway leading to the staircase. After opening it, I motioned for him to go up. So he did. At the top, I unlocked the door and stood. To the side. It looked like Robin was recovering from a slight dizziness, but when I spoke it vanished.

"Go on, apprentice," I said, gesturing to the door.

Robin nodded, grasped the handle, and turned the knob. He walked forward slowly as there was still barely any light in the room. Whether he knew that we were in the same room again, I didn't know. But he'd realize it soon enough. I walked out behind him and saw Robin halt in his path as his shoe felt the edge of the ledge. As soon as he had stopped, my apprentice backed up and into me. He looked at me and then over the side of the ledge.

"Uh, we're on ledge," He said at last.

"Exactly," I replied.

Pressing a button on my belt, I activated a skylight. It wasn't really a skylight, but it might as well have been one. In truth, above the shades that were being pulled to the side was a glass dome with a dim light coming from it. Even so the light was only enough to see the tightrope in front, which until now had been hidden in the shadows. Robin stiffened a bit as this happened.

"You, Robin, will be working on patience and balance today," I told him as I placed my hand on his shoulder. He didn't relax.

"Huh?" Robin replied. He probably thought that this was a waste of time, but he was going to do it anyway.

"I'll be downstairs and giving out commands to you," I continued.

I faced the door to go when I heard Robin call out. "Slade."

I turned back to see him and he continued, "I can't do this."

I think my eye must have widened slightly. Of course he could do this. It was the simplest thing in the world for a fighter of his status. It was simple. Nothing hard. Nothing even challenging. All he had to do was go out on the rope while I called out instructions to him. I was practically giving him the day off it was such an easy task.

"Excuse me?" I asked, irritated.

I saw Robin swallow. Again, "I can't... do this."

"Robin, I think that you can do this. It's a simple tightrope," I told him sternly. There was no way he was backing out of something this easy.

"No, I really can't, Slade," This defiance wasn't like the type that he gave me during normal training. It had no reason. Or if it did, it was for no good reason.

My eye narrowed at him, "You run and jump off rooftops, fight robots, swing around cities to get to places, I think you can do this."

That was that. I went back to the door, when I felt a hand on my arm. I stopped. A plead, "I can't."

I turned my head back so that he saw my eye. It was a simple task. If he wanted out of this task and I gave it to him, what was next? There was no way he wasn't doing this and if he pushed me too far, I'd change plans and we'd do something a bit harder. I grabbed the wrist of his hand that was on my arm and wrenched him off.

I squeezed his wrist hard and knew that underneath his glove, his hand's skin was turning purple from the block, "I believe I told you that you would do this, apprentice. I expect you to do so."

"You'll have to push me off!" He yelled.

That was no tone to use with me, "No, I will be downstairs telling you what to do, Robin."

I leaned in close so that I was right in his face. Barely audible, I told him, "And I wouldn't want to have to pull a trigger to do it."

He was treading on thin ice. I didn't want to put up the sign saying "if you go any farther, you'll reach a point you hadn't", but I did. I didn't want to bring up the probes, but I did. Whatever was going on in his head? If he thought that he would be able to get out of this, Robin would find himself begging me to stop those probes. It was tough punishment. Sure. But that was all. And I only would use it as a last resort and I highly doubt Robin would be defiant long enough for the probes to actually kill the Titans.

He had been good yesterday and before this he had been as well. I would only use it if I had to, to get him to listen. I would not allow Robin to think that a bunch of good behavior one day could cover for the next. That isn't how life works. And I wouldn't let a good mood make my decisions for me. I was going to be as strict as I always had been. His good behavior was rewarded by respect, not by getting the day off.

Robin nodded slightly, numbly. I let go of his hand and went through the door. I heard the jingling of the door as I went down the stairs. It stopped. Reaching the bottom, I locked that door as well and went to the middle of the room. I looked up to see Robin peeking over the side of the ledge and staring down at me.

Looking up, I boomed up, "Apprentice, I want you to walk out to the center of the rope and just stand there. And if I see your arms go all the way out, I'll break them!"

I saw Robin nod slightly. He looked at the rope and slowly got up. Very slowly, with only his fingertips slightly out, Robin took his first step and then his second on the tightrope. I could see him hesitating. I shook my head. Acting wasn't the way to do this with me. Another step and the rope shook. Robin stuck out his arms slightly, but brought them back as though if he kept them out, something would bite them off.

He continued. With every step, Robin seemed to pause for a moment. He kept a stern face on. At about a quarter of the way across, Robin paused and looked up. I wanted him to have a steady pace, but this was ridiculous.

Sarcastically I yelled up, "Well, done apprentice, you've made it a quarter of the way across."

I clapped to try to emphasize my sarcasm. For a moment, Robin just stood there, balancing on the rope. He didn't move his feet an inch. Only his head. He looked like he was having a sudden headache. Then he blinked and shook his head. The quick look was gone. If this was acting...

"Robin, this exercise is to test your patience, not mine," I told him.

Robin glanced down at me and gave a nod to tell me he understood. For a second, he waited again, then began walking again. It was the steady pace as I had asked for. I was somewhat satisfied. Then his pace began to slow down. He was barely halfway across. He shook his head as though shaking off something unwanted. Then took a step, then another, and then a last one. He halted and I squinted up at him. A slight doubt entered my mind. Even three stories up and away from me, I could sense something was...distracting Robin.

"Robin, just get across the rope!" I yelled up.

Even though my voice echoed off the walls, Robin didn't acknowledge me. That was irritating. But even more, I found it disrespectful. I normally could control my temper, but right now I was having trouble restraining it.

"Robin! I said get across the rope or I'll make it a little more interesting!" I called to him.

This time I saw Robin nod, but I also saw him shaking. My brow furrowed, "Robin?"

This time, Robin started walking, but was considerably struggling. It wasn't an act. And I knew acts. This wasn't one of them. Barely four steps more and Robin stopped. His shaking didn't diminish. If anything it got worse. His knees became loose. His arms went out. I saw his foot slip, then the other.

"Robin?"

He fell, "Robin!"

I ran and skidded to a halt right underneath him. I broke Robin's fall as he fell the three stories. I grunted at the sudden weight. I shook my head and looked down at Robin. His mouth was slightly ajar. His eyes were wide and his face was pale. I felt him quivering, still shaking. What was wrong with him?

"Robin?" I asked.

For about a minute, Robin didn't respond to anything that I said. Then I felt him shift his weight. He seemed to suddenly become aware of his surroundings as if he had been some place else. His head moved side to side as though frantically searching, identifying the surroundings. Then he looked up at me. He truly looked frightened now that I could see him.

"No," His voice was at a higher pitch.

He struggled lopsidedly out of my grasp, and ran.

"Robin!" I yelled, but it was cut short as he ran through a door and slammed it shut. I went to the door and found the hallway empty. I sighed heavily. I went to the security room, did a quick sweep of the outside of the Haunt and the halls. They were empty. He was in a room. Wintergreen came in.

"Where is he?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

Rewinding the camera feeds, I searched for the route Robin had taken. I soon found him running down the halls. He went into the main room. I pushed a button labeled "lockdown". The bar raised to 100 and I left.

Walking down the halls, my mind was troubled as to what had happened. Something happened, but I didn't know what. And I was angry at Robin's reaction to it. Whatever it was. He wasn't to run away like that. At the same time, I couldn't' help but wonder what could have caused Robin to act that way. Normally, Robin always attempted to put on a face and stance that read, "I can handle myself. I'm cool, calm, and collected." This time, it was worry, fear, even despair.

I gritted my teeth as I used the override key to open the main room. The bottom floor was desolate. Deserted. I looked up at the gears and rolled my eye. Of course, he just had to make it harder. I searched through the levels of the gears. At least I could brush over some areas because I knew they were much too small for even Robin to fit in.

By the end of it, I was annoyed, a bit tired, and angry. My worry was now thin and when I found him, Robin was in for it... I kept reminding myself though, just get an explanation out of him and take it from there. Soon I heard the noise of clothing moving and armor hitting, scratching against other metal. I rounded the corner to see Robin sitting up against a gear panel. I swiftly walked over and grabbed Robin by the bicep.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do, young man," I said. I wasn't in the mood for anything but cooperation.

Instantly, I noticed that Robin's cheeks were slightly shiny; like two rivers had flowed down his cheeks and had just stopped. I softened a bit, but that was ended by the one simple sentence that came out of my apprentice's mouth.

"What...is...going...to...make...me?"

My temper got the best of me, as I threw Robin head long into the wall, "What did you say to me?"

Robin stood up and screamed back, "I said, what is going to make me?"

I felt a bit of sympathy, but with every word he was getting himself into a deeper punishment that if he kept it up, would be too deep to get out of, "Do you realize the deep water you are getting yourself into, Robin?"

"Yeah, and I don't care!" Robin yelled at me, "I'm already in deep enough water and I'm able to swim just fine!"

If he had been only willing to be reasonable... I went up to Robin, who defensively backed away from me. Avoiding what was to come. I grabbed him again and brought him down. Throwing him on the floor, we began to spar. If only, he had been a bit more respectful he could have avoided it. Robin was careless, his method off. I knocked him down numerous times. In the background, I heard Wintergreen enter the room. I could tell he was watching in silence.

"Poor quality, Robin," I told him.

"What... do you... know!" Robin yelled between attacks.

"What do I know?" I asked back, "I know that you're in over your head by fighting me. Something you don't seem to want to admit."

I would stop when he wanted to. I had gotten the fight going, but it was Robin who would stop it. Either by him apologizing for being on bad behavior or by him lacking the ability to fight anymore due to the bruises. I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all. I was one who liked things to be as quick or as slow as a person wanted it to be. I, though, prefer things to be quick and painless.

As Robin fought, I could tell that he was being fueled by anger that came from who knew where. It was a quality in him that I liked, but not here. If only it were someplace else. Someplace where his big mouth could do him good and not harm him. After a good forty-five minutes, Robin was lying on the ground, out of breath and hardly able to move.

He still gave an effort to rise, but that was before I raised him by his hair for him, "A quick apology for your behavior could end this fight, Robin."

His masked eyes narrowed; he wasn't going down without a fight, "No... way, Slade. No way."

For some reason, I smiled once again for the thousandth time in two days. I sent him to bed without dinner that night. But I had smiled at that. I couldn't help but think that it was the thing I had been waiting for. If he was that defiant against his enemies. That was what was needed. Wintergreen came in after bringing Robin to his room.

"That was what I was worried about," he said calmly.

"It was what was needed. He's got that spark that I want. Two days," I replied.

"Excuse me?"

I sighed, "In two days, he has his first assignment."

"Which is?"

"I'll be thinking about it," I said.

I think Wintergreen must have disapproved because his closing remark was, "I'll be in the bomb bunkers in England."

I laughed slightly. I stayed up that night working. Doing research, sifting through shipment plans, and reading the latest in science and economy. I came across the Wayne Enterprises prototype. I remembered the announcement and smiled. Perfect. Sure, security was high, but I had a gut feeling Robin could handle it. Although...

I kept sifting through. This time: weapons. Nothing. As of yet. I'd have something in two days' time. I sighed as I took a small break. I headed for the kitchen to grab something to keep me up. While normally, I have a distaste for caffeine (I prefer long term energy sources), I grabbed a Coke off the shelf of the fridge and drank it in small moderation.

While I could now say that Robin was ready for his first mission, I could not help but let my mind wander back to what had caused him to be so disobedient. He had been happy before. He seemed eager. There wasn't a reason for it. Then the tightrope and then he starts yelling at as though I did something, when I was on the ground. I didn't think it was me telling him that he would do the tightrope. I told him to do a bunch of things all of the time. What made the tightrope so different? Nothing, or at least I didn't think that it was anything.

If Robin had wanted to stay on good terms with me even after, he would have explained. But no, he didn't. The best negotiators know that starting off sour was a key ingredient to arguments. It occurred to me that Robin didn't want to be around me and hoped that by being disagreeable, he'd be permitted to leave. Although I highly doubted that. Whatever it was, I had a feeling that I should at least try to get some explanation out of him.

Finally I came to the conclusion that it was probably the fact that he was tired. He had worked very hard the other day and it would be natural to be tired the next day. Perhaps it was even a fainting spell that caused him to fall. That could have been it. Also, being irritable with others is an easy sign of being tired. And... if he had been crying, that could be another sign.

While I felt that there was more to it then that, it was all I had to go on. I resolved to ask him in the morning when he was more refreshed. I left a note on the counter to tell Wintergreen to let Robin sleep in. Hopefully, he'd be more reasonable and we'd be able to resolve whatever happened yesterday with a matter of words. Possibly a bribe as well, but that was probably all it needed. Just a little attention. I hope. Then he would be ready for his first mission.

By one in the morning, I couldn't take it. I fell on my bed and was out within a minute.

-T-

A/N: Oh, he's clueless, isn't he? Ha! Now come on, wouldn't you be very irritated with someone who was being, in your view, disagreeable and disrespectful? Wouldn't you? Yes, you would. Admit it! And don't forget, Slade is a little worried about him. So he did notice something was bothering him. He's not oblivious to that sort of thing. He just didn't address it yet. And also, don't we all act impulsively sometimes? Repeat, after me, "yes we do." Please review! Don't flame me because, I promise, this is vital to the story! If this doesn't happen then other events won't happen (which you'll see later, of course)! Hope you liked it! Thank you again to all of my reviewers! You guys so rock! Later!

Rena