A/N Well, I would just like to say that I have recovered from my mild case of writers-block! Yay! It's a good thing I did something about it, or else this story might have died! (lol, I love metaphors) Anyways, here's chapter thirteen! Get ready for some drama!

Chapter Thirteen: My Nightmare's Dream

"You have got to be kidding me!"Robin's blue eyes were wide as he stared in unbelief. There, right in front of him, stood Slade wearing his cocky grin, twirling the keys to the library around his finger. "Why is it even locked, anyways?"

At this Slade's smirk deepened. "I have an innumerable amount of rare items in my collection." Robin felt like he was going to drool. The teen absolutely loved libraries and the mercenary's mysterious statement had his curiosity burning brightly. "Well..." Slade gestured towards the door to their room and Robin's furry came back full-force as he was reminded of the man's demand.

"So let me get this straight, if I want to get into the library I have to go steal something for you first?" Slade only nodded and Robin huffed. Figures, he thought to himself. Yesterday had been wonderful; love had been confessed, sex had been had, Robin had woken up with the man still in side of him... The teen blushed as the thought created a mental picture and caused his backside to tingle.

Slade watched in amusement as his bird's expressions switched between curiosity, anger, and then, for some reason, embarrassment. The assassin really wanted to know what was going on in the boy's head but he knew that that would only make matters worse. After yesterday the villain had felt very un-villain like, talking about love, so he had decided to be evil again today. And judging by Robin's pissed look, he was succeeding. "Shouldn't you be getting ready, Race?" Slade stressed the boy's alter-ego's name. He knew that he was playing with fire; at any given moment Robin could go away and the man would be stuck with Race, but the challenge excited Slade. His little bird was oh-so interesting.

Robin huffed again but turned on his heel, mentally preparing himself for the change that was about to take place. "You're just lucky that I want to know so bad." The teen muttered and a second later the assassin yelled back "curiosity killed the cat!" With a sigh Robin ducked into the bedroom and located his hair dye and contacts. Slade was right about him after all, and the ex-hero didn't have all 9 of his lives left.

The moon was bright out and Robin felt more awake than ever. After sleeping in till about one the teen had eaten, argued with Slade, and then spent the remainder of the day getting readu for his mission. And now the teen found himself flying from rooftop to rooftop. That familiar adrenaline was back and coursing through his veins. Everything was as it should be. When Robin did this, it was like getting a piece of his old life back. Sure, he wasn't soaring along with the titans, but if he closed his eyes and focused on the cool wind and the noise of the busy city, he was a hero again, doing what he loved most.

All too soon the teen reached his destination: the warehouse district of Jump city. Back when he had been fighting crime, Robin had only come here when he needed to catch someone. It was the only place in the city where illegality was guaranteed. The currently yellow-eyed boy dropped off the roof and landed in a dark alley, loving the feeling of constricted freedom that his tight-yet-stretchy uniform gave him.

Robin had been surprised when Slade had handed him the Kevlar-infused bundle of clothing. On his first missions the teen had carried them out in athletic-like civilian clothes, and he had gotten the feeling that Race really wasn't supposed to exist. If Robin had been surprised then, he was down-right shocked when he looked at what the mercenary had given him. Despite the teens earlier prediction, it in no way resembled his old apprentice uniform. The new one was black with a dark blue color. It had two white stripes, one running vertically down the middle of his chest and the other running horizontally over his ribs. The torso and legs were black and the arms, collar, and the very tips of his pants were blue, leading to his blue boots that matched his blue gloves. The only thing personalized about the uniform was the small embroidered

S

R

on his left shoulder. Robin was touched to say the least. His suit had both of their initials, as if they were a true team. It was almost couple-like.

Robin quickly shook his head and tried to solely focus on his mission. It was actually a fairly difficult one. The warehouse that he had to break into was owned by a high-roller who was also very paranoid. The ex-hero could tell just by watching the guards stroll around. They were on the inside, and looked highly trained. Yes, whoever this guy was, he obviously knew what he was doing. And that made Robin that much more excited. It had been a long time since he had been truly challenged, and he was looking forward to a good fight.

As per-usual, Slade had given the teen as little information as possible, and the yellow-eyed boy wasn't even sure of what he was stealing. All the man had said was "you'll know it when you see it." And so Robin began his mission. Using his acrobatic skills, the teen made his way over to the warehouse that was situated near the middle, but still close to the forest. It took a little bit of time; his target wasn't the only heavily guarded building out there. Once he had arrived, Robin began to scale the wall, muttering about evil villains and libraries the whole way up. The ex-hero was almost to the top when he felt his body freeze up. Somewhere in the back of his mind Race was trying to surface. Robin gritted his teeth and tried to shove the other boy away. He didn't need Race right now, there was no one around for his other persona to mouth-off to.

A couple of seconds passed before the artificial blonde could begin moving again. As soon as he reached the top floor's window Robin swung himself inside silently. The teen soon figured out why there were guards everywhere as the notice Lex Luthor's company logo on all the crates he was hiding behind. High-roller is right, Robin thought to himself before his fire of curiosity was lit. What in the world did Slade want to steal from Luthor? And why did Superman's nemesis even have a warehouse in Jump?

Suddenly there was a strange commotion as three very-threatening guards and a scientist in a white lab coat entered carrying a high-tech looking brief case. Robin was willing to put his money on the bet that that was what he was supposed to steal. With watchful eyes, the ex-hero began mapping out a plan in his head.

After another minute of formulating, Robin began to move into position. The teen made his way over to the ladder that led up to the rafters quietly, being everything short of invisible. Too easy, he thought to himself as he started to climb, not taking his eyes off of the brief case, which had been set down on a small table in the center of the room. The brightly lit room, Robin noted with distaste. Then again, he had wanted a challenge.

Once at the top of the ladder, the teen hoisted his body onto one of the small metal rafters and began to walk across. To anyone else, the experience would have been terrifying and Robin silently thanked his circus up-bringing. Soon he reached the middle of the warehouse and balanced directly above the brief case. The acrobat was about to just jump down and rush out of there with the object when he heard a sound behind him. Turning slowly as not to fall, Robin glanced down to see none other than Lex Luthor's face on the giant TV screen.

"Any reports?" The businessman/villain asked, glaring coldly at his employees.

"No sir. There has been nothing seen or heard." The timid scientist replied in a shaky voice. Robin almost laughed out loud. No doubt the guards were probably lethal in combat, but when it came to being observant they were helpless.

Luthor cursed under his breath. "Damn it, he said the kid would be here." The ex-hero felt the blood drain out of his face. Had Slade set him up? It seemed unlikely, but not unbelievable. The only problem was, Robin couldn't think of why. The man always had motive behind his actions, and even as the boy's sharp mind went through all of the possibilities, it didn't make sense.

"And what about Slade? Will he really want this?" Luthor's gaze went from cold and indifferent to murderous and the scientist asked this. Next to him one of the guards glanced at his boss before socking the smaller man in the stomach.

"You know we don't speak names." The guard said gruffly before returning to his impassive stance. The scientist coughed and tried to straighten up from being doubled over. The figure up in the rafters let out a sigh of relief. So the mercenary wasn't in on it.

"Oh, our dear friend has been after this technology since he was introduce to it so many years ago." Lex's feral smile made Robin nervous. What was in that brief case? Deciding that the best way to find out was to go get it, the ex-hero tensed his legs.

"And what if it does get stolen?" The guard on the other side of the scientist piped up.

"That cannot happen." At this all of the guards in the room grimaced, knowing that they would all be killed if it did happen. "But no need to worry, I have backup that has never failed before." With that the screen went black and everyone in the room visibly relaxed. Robin saw this as his opportunity and in one swift movement he back-flipped down out of the rafters, landed on the small table without so much as shaking it, grabbed the brief case, and began to run.

All of the guards were frozen in shock for a whole moment, before someone shouted and the chase was on. The fake blonde sprinted towards the window and jumped through it, spanning the width of the alley in one leap and crashing through the glass of the warehouse next door. He rolled for a moment, before getting up and shaking the shards off of him, silently thanking Slade for the uniform. Robin was about to hit the stairs when he heard a door crash open and Luthor's guards pour in. Apparently, he was going to have to take this fight to the sky. With that in mind the teen found the fire escape ladder and climbed until he was on his territory, the roof.

The ex-hero was about to jump when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Without thinking the teen punched the guard in the face, hearing the sickening crunch as the man's nose broke before he began taking out all of the other guards that had followed him. It was a bloodbath. Slowly Race had been gaining control and the massive injuries were proof enough. Robin was just thankful that he still had his mind, but nothing good can last forever.

"Robin." That voice, that familiar voice so full of demands and pompous authority. Upon hearing that voice Race broke through completely, grinning like a mad man in victory. "Robin." Said the voice again, only closer this time, and Race turned to face none other than Batman himself.

A/N I know! A cliffhanger! Ah, you all hate me! But look how long this chapter was! I impressed myself! Anyways, you guys know the drill. Please please please review! I enjoy hearing your opinions! Voice them! Please!