Disclaimer: Same old, same old, I don't own the Titans or Batman.

A/N: Whew, squeezed in this chapter real quick. And on time too!! It's a miracle. But yeah, enjoy this chapter folks, cause I don't when I'll be able to update next week. It's all papers and midterms once again. But-gasp-after that week, tis Spring Break!!! Yay!!!

Chapter 20 Lost and finally found

A long, sleek black vehicle roared to a screeching stop. The top slide open allowing a blur to skyrocket into the sky before slamming shut once more. Doing a black flip, Batman landed quietly on the roof, sprinted and leapt onto the next roof. Word leaked out onto the radio that there was a fire down on 5th street where the police where met with Cyborg and a group of men from the League of Shadows tied up on a post. The leader was already identified as being a general from some part of Russia and was a key leader in the organization. The police were already beginning to praise the young superheroes; it was one of their biggest victories.

And that was when the radar picked up a signal from the coastal warehouses. Normally, Batman would not have bothered but his instinct was telling him otherwise. After reviewing all of Robin's notes on Slade, his ex-partner said the man tended to lean towards abandoned places and after his brief apprenticeship warehouses were a common theme. Thus, that this signal seemed to come from an abandoned warehouse just now when the Titans had arrested League of Shadow members in the aftermath of a technical malfunction, made the Dark Knight verve down to the docks.

Landing softly on the roof of the warehouse where the beacon's signal was the strongest, Batman noticed the broken window of a skylight and eased into the building. The wood groaned underneath, making him freeze. When nothing occurred, Batman crept along the rafters, making his way slowly downwards. A soft, neon glow seemed to peek through the crevices of a wooden doorframe that separated the warehouse into two sections. A black boot raised itself and when it eased down in a complete step, part of the wooden wall exploded outward, an object blasting through the debris before rolling and skidding onto the concrete floor.

The object came to a stop revealing a young man panting, his black and orange clad uniform moving up and down rapidly. The black mass that constituted as his head bowed down drips of blood splashing on the ground. A large, imposing figure framed itself into the manmade hole, the shadow stretching forward, falling upon the fallen man.

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG THIS TIME!" screamed the man, his voice almost laced with despair and fear, but it was rage that predominated the tone.

The older man stepped through the debris, his feet crushing the shards of wood, "Why do you think I am punishing you, Apprentice?"

The apprentice's head shot, bright blue eyes narrowed, his chin set firm but was clenched so hard that he could have cracked his teeth. Batman fought back a gasp. He would know that face anywhere, those eyes anywhere. Fighting back a rising rush of emotional overload, masked eyes took in the rising form.

"Like hell this is training!" spat Robin.

Slade chuckled, "Maybe I felt like turning it up a notch, Apprentice."

With a scream, Robin's hand shot to his belt and threw round disks with Slade's insignia painted on them, eyes blazing in pure rage. Slade bolted forward, dodging each deadly projectile, a bow staff snapping to life in his right hand.

Robin yelped in surprise, ducking in time as the metal poll flew over his head. Crouched, he spun around, grabbing a plank of wooden, completing the spin with him rising and sending the plank towards Slade's masked face. Slade merely pivoted on his foot and blocked the plank with his pole. The wood shattered upon impact, pieces flying in a dust cloud up into the air. A scream was quickly cut off. Batman leaned forward as Robin staggered backwards, splinters sticking out of his left shaking hand. The boy had little time to recover as Slade drove the end of his pole into Robin's stomach. Robin lurched forward, his jaw dropping, a dry heave hacking out of his mouth. The bow staff retracted. Robin continued to fall forward, but Slade's metal hand shot out and grabbed the boy by the tuff of his collar. Steel-toed boots screeched as Slade dragged than lifted Robin's limp form off the ground.

The half-tone mask was an inch away from Robin's trembling cut lips. Yet, despite this small distance, Batman could hear the man's purring voicing. "You've got to be better, got to be stronger, have to become your enemy…mind, body and soul. If you ever wish to defeat me…Robin…"

Robin's blue eyes seemed to fall into themselves, all the fight that was present in them before dying. Slade's eye narrowed in glee as he raised his fist to deliver one more blow to the battered form. Unlucky for him, Batman had had enough. A bat-a-rang whizzed through the air. Slade turned his head towards the projectile. Robin spotted his chance and sent a high kick crashing into Slade's face. The man let go of Robin, allowing the boy to finish a back flip, the bat-a-rang flying between the two, embedding into the far wall. Landing, Robin's eyes widened as Slade with inhuman speed hit him in the upper chest with a sidekick. Flying once more, Robin slammed into a hard wooden crate. Stars burst into existence that he wasn't sure weather the black clad monster that flew out of the rafters was a real person or not.

Then again, of course the man he had once dreamt about long ago was flying towards his rescue. Slade raised his arms, blocking his mask as Batman's fist slammed down onto his arm guards with such force that Slade found himself skidding backwards. The Dark Knight didn't waste time. Landing onto his feet, he spun around slamming a kick into Slade's exposed side. Slade staggered but spun around, the cape following his movements. Block after block, Slade matched Batman's speed and punches as he felt himself being pushed back towards a pillar. The criminal took in the restrained rage that tightened Batman's masked face.

A cold smile spread on his lips, Slade couldn't help but gloat, "So much like Robin, Batman. I'm surprised you've lasted this long on the side of justice."

"Shut up, Deathstroke," growled Batman, bringing his knee up to ram into Slade's chest.

Slade leapt to the side, hooking his arm with Batman's right arm, causing it to yank backwards. With his free left hand, he drove it into Batman's kidneys. But the Dark Knight knew where Slade was going with the move. With brute force, he jerked forward catching Slade off balance before sending his elbow slamming into crock between his jaw and neck. The criminal staggered backwards, shaking his head.

"Little on the deadly side, Batman, trying to kill me are we?" prodded Slade as he regained his whereabouts, body tense in defensive mode.

Batman turned and eyed his opponent, his body taunt underneath the cape, "Just trying to keep a dangerous criminal off the streets."

"Does that include your little bird as well?"

Masked eyes widened barely a fraction but Slade caught it. Seizing his opportunity, Deathstroke lunged forward in his counterattack. Raising his right fist, Slade drove forward, but as Batman rose to block the attack, he smashed his steel boot into Batman's ribs. Stepping backwards, Slade narrowed his eye and fell into a catlike crouch, swiping Batman's legs from underneath him. The criminal smirked as the hero fell onto one hand. Yet the victory was short lived. Lunging forward to finish the fight, Slade's eye snapped wide as Batman pivoted around and threw a smoke grenade right into his face. The small bomb exploded, encapsulating Slade's vision with thick black smoke. Some of the smoke seeped through his mask and the man started to cough. His eyepiece quickly switched to infrared and just in time.

Batman leapt into the air and smashed the heel of his boot down on Slade's head. Falling forward, Slade could do nothing as Batman landed in front of him and snapped his head back up with a powerful uppercut. Slade drove his fist forward, hitting Batman's jaw. Yet the Bat's masked eyes narrowed into slits, a split second later another kick hit his upper chest sending Slade flying into the pillar. The concrete pillar groaned and cracked. Slade took a step forward and popped his shoulder back into place, the large indention behind him crumbling softly. A small sound that sounded like a growing annoyance seeped through his lips as a black-gloved hand slammed into his mask, driving Slade back into the crater in the pillar. Slade felt the pillar begin to give way but he locked his neck into place and kept the punch from following through. Taking in a small breath, Slade pushed forward. Seeing a small opening between him and pillar, Slade slide to the right, the fist sliding off his cracked mask. When the fist finally left his face, Slade spun around and sent a spin kick hard into Batman's chest, hearing with satisfaction the cracking of body armor.

The Dark Knight bit back a scream, feeling his armor crack apart in his chest area. The shards dug into his already bruised sides. Flying backwards, Batman pulled out two bat-a-rangs which both held a strong metal cord. Flinging both rangs, he smirked and landed on the ground hard. It was all about timing. He watched as Slade's eye blossomed into full out anger and frustration as the rangs wound themselves around his body and dug deep into his upper leg and right arm. Kneeling on one knee, Batman pulled on the two strings with all his remaining strength, jerking the criminal forward just as pillar caved in, sending the second level wooden platform crashing down on Slade.

A massive cloud of dust spread through the warehouse, leaving a pile of rubble. Batman let go of the strings and took in his cut gloves, revealing two bleeding cuts. It was the first time he had used the string, for if Robin had turned he needed a whole new arsenal of weapons that the boy and Deathstroke did not know of and couldn't counter against. Frowning mentally, Batman realized that he still need to refine some things, such as making his gloves more cut resistant. Light footsteps echoed in the room. Batman looked up and watched Robin skid to a halt a the foot of the rubble, his eyes wide with shock.

"Wh-what…"

Batman sighed, "Let's go."

Robin spun around, making Batman halt in his steps. It was not just shock that racked the boy's mind but fear as well. "No! He…he…doesn't go down that easily."

"He did this time." Robin just shook his head, his body now shaking. Batman wanted to yell at the boy to get his grip together, that they did not have time to waste chatting in the warehouse. Remembering past experiences with Deathstroke, Batman knew the man had backup plans, hell he would and as some of the Justice League members liked to point out, Deathstroke and him were so much alike.

And then it hit the detective. Taking a closer step, he watched Robin stare at the rubble, trembling, his fingers trying to curl into themselves. Was the boy shaking due to the shock of his captivity finally being over with and the man who was the source of all his pain was buried underneath wood and concrete? Or was the boy because, due to living in pure terror for months now, the boy was expecting Slade to rise out of the rubble and punish him even more? Or…was he shaking in anger in that his master was taken out so easily?

"Robin…" Batman was about to continue when he heard debris slide down and clatter on the ground. Like from a horror movie, he watched Slade stagger out of the pile, his back to the pair. One could see that the uniform was tattered and that his head seemed to be different, like something seemed to sticking out of it. But before Batman could discern the hair of Slade's unmasked face, shadows enshrouded the man whose right hand rose up holding a small round device, thumb resting on a red button. The thumb pressed down and a beeping noise picked up speed from somewhere in the warehouse.

Batman sprung into action, as Slade bolted into the darkness. Grabbing a shocked Robin, Batman darted out onto the street, flinging himself behind a dock wall, wrapping himself and Robin with the cape as the warehouse exploded into a volley of fire, raining wood and stone around them. When the destruction ceased, Batman lowered the cape and stood up, taking in the little remains of the warehouse and the black scorched marks.

He felt Robin stand up next to him, his face losing the paralyzing fear only to be replaced by a dark look of relief. "It's over…finally."

Batman turned and eyed his ward, "It has only just begun, Robin."

With that, the Dark Knight dialed up the batmobile as he pulled out a pair of tweezers. Grabbing Robin's hand roughly, he started to pull out the splinters. "You have a lot questions to answer."

Robin stared at Batman, a frown tugging down his lips. "I know. Ow!" Anger lit his eyes for a brief second as Batman pulled out the last and longest splinter. Tucking the tweezers away, he pulled out a small bandage and began to wrap the boy's hand. Robin continued to watch. "I…can't…believe I finally get to go home…"

"You're not going home."

"Huh?"

"You are not returning to Gotham."

Robin raised his eyebrow, "The Justice League headquarters then?"

"No."

"Where?"

"Titans Tower." With that, Batman spun Robin around, pulling both arms back.

Robin peered over his shoulder, "What are you-" The click of handcuffs answered his question. A pout tugged at his young features, "What the heck are you doing Batman?"

Batman didn't even pause, "You, Robin, are under arrest and will be placed in Titan's Tower's jail until we can prove that you are who you say you are and are still a hero."

The surprise and utter pain that passed over Robin's features tugged at Batman's heart. He knew he had just betrayed the boy. Robin probably was picturing a perfect reunion; his friends and family welcoming him back with open arms. Not being handcuffed and accused of being a criminal. Bruce Wayne had wished for the same thing, but Batman knew that that wish could never become true. The boy had been under Deathstroke's wing for far too long. Not to mention their little conversation earlier before…and not to mention the journal he had taken from the child back at the hotel. The Batmobile roared up to the pair. When the vehicle stopped, the top slide opened revealing two leather seats.

Robin smiled softly, as he eyed the car, "I understand, Batman." Looking up at his mentor, the younger man nodded, "I would have done the same thing."

With that, Batman watched Robin walk with his hands handcuffed behind his back to his side of the mobile. All the shaking that was present in him before was gone, which was strange. Then again, Batman couldn't help but think if that was due to Slade's influence or just Robin's personality, for the old Robin he knew would have done something similar, hide away everything deep in his mind when the dust had settled. Sitting down in the driver's seat, Batman sent a glance back at Robin before closing the hood and driving towards the familiar T that glowed like a beacon off in the horizon.

A few minutes passed, the fires from the explosion were now just small bonfires. Stepping out from one of the alleys of the warehouse next to the explosion, Slade stared at Titans Tower. His uniform was ripped, blood oozed from many of his cuts and scraps, not to mention a broken arm where a piece of concrete had fallen on. His face held a deep cut where his broken mask had cut him when he was pulling himself out of the rubble. Slade knew he should have put in a robot placement to fight in his stead, but the fight had to be real. Robin would have sensed that something was different and would have reacted differently, hold things back. No, even the boy's reactions had to be genuine for the Bat to even begin to trust his ward.

A click sounded in his ear, "Deathstroke, I presume everything is going to plan?"

Slade raised his finger to his ear and touched the earpiece, "The infiltration of the JLA headquarters is not a go, but I figured as much. The boy is going to be questioned at the Titans' tower. You can turn on the devices"

Lex's voice seemed to be disappointed, "What a shame. Oh well, he is still the perfect bait to attract even the biggest fish."

"Met you in thirty minutes." Slade cut off communication, his face taunt in disgust. A rising feeling of uncertainty rose in the criminal for the first time since the three of them thought out the plan. He could no longer do anything to influence Robin's infiltration. No hiding cameras or regular check-ins like he did with Terra. All he could do was monitor the process through the hidden camera and audio bugs planted on Robin. This time everything was in Robin's hands. The boy better succeed or all hell would pay.

And thankfully, Robin knew that tiny fact.

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A/N: Hope you enjoyed. I had a blast writing Slade and Batman's fight. It was different from the other fights that I've done. Not much flipping around, just pure punches and kicks. Well, until next week take care!