A/N: Hi once again, everyone! It's Tuesday once again, meaning another updated chapter. Oh and here's a suprise threat for all you readers. Tsuki the Avenger made a beautiful fanart based on the last chapter on the last scene with Slade and Robin. (I recommend reading her other fics there as well.) If you want to check it out, go to my homepage and I'll post it there. Or if that doesn't work, go to livejournal and search for tsukiwriter under username/journal.

Ch. 32 Pleas upon deaf ears

Slade laid Robin gently on the leather seat before slamming the black door to his hummer shut. Entering the driver side, he drove off towards the interstate and soon found himself emerged in the traffic. Passengers were pointing out their windows towards the massive plume of smoke rising from the fire. Helicopters zoomed overhead as did the high pitch hailing of fire trucks. Robin groaned next to him before his body jerked forward in a coughing fit. Blood dripped down onto the mat and Slade shook his head. He would make the boy clean his truck when the two had some free time.

Pulling off his mask, Slade revealed continued to drive down the interstate leaving Jump City behind, zooming in and out of traffic, making his way to the new rendezvous point with Lex. Freeing one hand, he turned the radio dial, an image of the destroyed, dripping wet inside of Titans Tower gracing the small screen.

"Report."

One of the robotic voices crackled through the speakers. "A couple of road transportation is missing, along with a jet ski and a boat. The computer in Cyborg's room is absolute, the remains of Raven's mirror underneath the bed. In the alien's room, the carcass of a baby moth is found lying in a pool of blood, a knife in its' body. The changeling's room has signs of a fire with a charred bed and a pile of ash in the middle."

Slade spared a glance at Robin's unconscious form. "Interesting. How about the cell?"

"The cell is intact but holds the remains of broken plate. No sign of forceful entry or exit."

"He must have been able to reach the pin pad or…Replay last activity in cell." Slade flickered his gaze between the traffic and the screen, watching as Mikhail opened the cell allowing Robin to leave. "Blackmail, is the only possible answer. You have learned the trade quickly, Seir."

Driving onto an off ramp, the hummer entered a smaller city lying between Jump City and Gotham. "Find and destroy all the bugs both the new ones and old in the Tower, understood."

The robot responded, "Yes sir." Communication was cut off as Slade drove up to a small corporate building, the Luthor logo clear underneath the company name.

Sliding out of the car, he placed his mask back on and went over to pick up his apprentice before locking the hummer. Frowning, Slade grunted, "You need to stop bleeding so much, Seir."

Carrying the boy into the building, he hiked up the stairs, noticing how tiny robots followed behind wiping the blood, ash and dirt away. Opening a door, he walked in and placed Robin on a leather couch. He heard quick, precise steps and soon Lex joined him.

"Well, isn't he a mess," snapped Lex.

Slade peered up to the bald man. "Medical supplies and an extra pair of clothes, please."

Luthor nodded and snapped his fingers. Mercy appeared and he relayed the message. Gazing down at the young villain, Lex shook his head. "Must have been one heck of a fight."

"Of course, you did not expect it to be so easy did you?"

Lex scoffed, "No. But I did not expect the Titans to go so rough on him."

Mercy entered the room with the supplies. Slade began undressing his apprentice, biting the edge of lip at the sight of the purple swelling of the wound and broken, cracked ribs. "Most of the injuries were caused by Batman."

"Oh." Lex's eyes widened with surprise, "So the Bat did not hold back on his own flesh and blood."

Slade narrowed his eyes up at the Lex, "If you are done, I would like it if you would leave and keep a lookout."

"Then I leave you to your privacy," Lex bowed slightly, before reaching out and ruffling Robin's hair. His hand pulled away was covered with a light layer of ash, "You did well kid." He frowned down at his hand, "Might want to give the kid a quick shower."

Slade shot him an annoyed look and Lex took that as his sign to leave. Shifting his one eye back on his apprentice, Slade waited until he heard the click of a closing door before grabbing Robin's broken arm and with a quick thrust he reset it, a painful scream escaping from Robin's mouth.

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The first thing he felt was the soft leather cushion underneath his exhausted body. The cool material was a welcomed sensation for his muscles. Shifting slightly he buried himself deeper into the leather. Taking a deep breath of the clean smell, he almost began to drift back into sleep when light coughs spilled from his mouth.

Moaning softly, Robin cracked opened his eyes in agitation. He was about to raise his right hand to wipe away the spit when pain shot up his arm. Jerking upright, Robin hissed as his ribs strained against the binding. Glaring down at his chest, he took in the white cast that surrounded his right arm. Memories of the intense fight fast-forwarded before his eyes like a movie.

Reaching up, he gently pulled off the last audio bug and tucked it in his pants pocket. He had done it. He had burned his last bridge to the past and now he could fully accomplish his goal of protecting people any which way he saw fit. Despite being a villain, Robin still clung to the idea that if he could gain enough power in the criminal world, he could stop disasters from happening. Shaking the sleep away, Robin took in the rich surroundings of the small room. The leather couch that he laid on was in front of massive plasma screen TV and off to the side was a small bar that held a bowl of fruit. Glancing down, he took in his new clean clothes of a simple jeans and a tee shirt with the Lex-corp logo on it. Sliding his bare feet of the couch, Robin realized that he was in Luther's headquarters, the cleanliness starting to get to him once more.

Shivering, Robin stood up and took a step forward. Dizziness assailed his vision and for a minute he blacked out. Biting his lip, Robin forced himself to stay conscience and covered his mouth with his left hand as another tiny coughing fit hit him. Clearing his throat, the young villain quietly opened his door and peered out into the small hall. His stomach rumbled and he quickly glanced down, "ssh," and raised a finger to his mouth. The tip of his finger touched his nose lightly and he let out a tiny hiss. He had forgotten that Batman had broken his nose. He could hardly wait to see his reflection.

Voices echoed down the small hallway and from what he could tell they were arguing. Tiptoeing, Robin clung to the wall as he snuck closer to the room where the voices were, one he right away recognized as Lex's voice. The mocking cold voice was discernable anywhere. He was about to peer around the corner to see whom Lex was talking to when a familiar hand grabbed the back of his shirt. Peering up, Robin's eyes stared up at Slade's face. The man now had long blond hair tied in a low ponytail. His eye-patch was gone and a fake eye was now placed in the empty socket. Blue eyes stared down at him freezing him in place.

Raising a single finger over his lips, Slade motioned for Robin to stay put and quiet. Robin nodded but leaned far enough to barely peer over the edge. In the room, Lex's face held a permanent scowl that darkened his features. Rage flushed lightly against his aristocratic features. Shifting his gaze, Robin took in the massive figure of Superman who stood before a broken window. Beyond, he expected to see the familiar skyline of Jump City, but instead was greeted with the buildings of another city unbeknownst to him.

"Have you ever heard of a door," joked Lex.

Superman sighed, clearly not in the mood. "Lex, just tell me what you know of Deathstroke and Reaper."

"I already told you all that I know of Deathstroke. The man is an enigma. If you want more like what is his favorite color or what is his favorite food is, I suggest you go talk to Batman. The two are practically twins, mirror images of each other."

"Don't compared Batman to Deathstroke, Lex," commanded Superman, pointing a finger at the man.

Lex rolled his eyes, not in the least bit intimidated before crossing his arms. "Don't start ordering me around, Superman."

"Lex just for once will you just play along. Now, we know that you were somehow involved in the stealing of a very important disk. Where is it?"

"What disk?"

Robin grinned mentally. No one would be able to find the real disk anymore. It was unrepairable at the bottom of Jump City Bay.

"Lex."

The bald criminal shrugged, "I don't know what the hell you are talking about, Superman. I do not have this disk you are talking about, I am not involved with Deathstroke and I do not know this Reaper fellow."

Superman shoulders' sagged and Lex raised an eyebrow. Fake concern trickled into his tone, "What's the matter? The big man in blue is blue."

"Nothing…" muttered the leader of the Justice League.

Lex shook his head and placed a hand on Superman's shoulder, "Listen, despite the broken window—which you are going to pay for—and all these accusations and questions you have been bombarding me with…I feel a bit generous tonight."

Superman sent a question glance at his archenemies, warning signs blaring in his head. Lex patted the man of steel on his shoulder before turning and walking to his desk. "I'll keep an ear out for anything mentioning a stolen disk. And the next time I see Deathstroke, I'll ask him about Reaper. Sound good enough for you?"

The superhero frowned. "Why don't you tell the two people who are hiding behind the wall to come out and maybe then I will believe you?"

Lex groaned. If he was in the least caught off guard, he didn't shot it. "Come out."

Robin shot Slade a questioning glance and the man nodded pushing him lightly into the room. He quickly regained his footing and stared down at the floor, hoping Superman wouldn't recognize him. Slade stood next to him and in a heavy southern accent greeted, "Hello."

Superman eyed the pair, his gaze halting on the nervous, shifting figure of the younger man. "May I ask why you were spying on us? And what you are doing here?"

Lex replied, "They are business partners of mine."

Slade smiled softly, "Yes sir, I run oil rig down in the Gulf of Mexico, friend."

Superman nodded and narrowed his gaze on Robin, "Then why may I ask is Richard Grayson doing here?"

Robin smiled sheepishly up at Superman, irked that the man could identify him under all the injuries. "Mr. Wayne thought I needed to learn the corporate trade."

Lex cleared, "Yes. When Wayne called me I whole-heartedly agreed. I could always use an intern."

Superman scowled, remembering Batman's almost frantic nature over Robin. "Interns don't break their arm or nose?"

"Polo accident?" laughed Robin.

"You're coming with me."

Slade took a step forward, knowing their charade was pointless and shifted so he was slightly in front of Robin. "Sorry but Seir is staying here with us."

"Seir?" But before Superman could question even more, he screamed out when Lex shot a powerful taser right at the man's neck. Crashing on his knees he fought to get up but a familiar pain coursed through his body. Clenching his stomach, the great superhero groaned as Lex dropped a powerful piece of kryptonite next to his body. Eying Richard with the silent plea to help him, Superman gasped in surprise when Robin frowned.

Frowning, Robin glanced up at Lex with disgust, "That's it? That's all it takes to bring the Man of Steel onto his knees. I always pictured more."

Slade grabbed a marble statue from the table and rammed the base into Superman's face. The superhero's neck snapped back and he crashed on his back, blood trickling from his nose and split lip.

Lex shook his head, sighing like a disappointed parent. "Yes. A piece of rock brings down the invincible Superman. Pathetic isn't it."

A ring came from the phone. Lex hit the button as he watched Robin stand at Superman's feet. "What is it Mercy? Oh, Green Arrow and Canary are on their way? Ok."

Clinking off, the bald man and Slade watched with fascination as Robin bent down to pick up the kryptonite with his left hand and with a detective expression, he ran the rock over Superman's body.

"Ro…Richard…"gasped Superman. "What…what are you doing?"

"Are you deaf as well? My name is Seir." Robin paused the rock over Superman's heart and the man yelped in pain. With an almost childlike curiosity, Robin muttered, "I wonder what would happen if you stab him with a kryptonite knife?"

Lex scoffed, "Been there done that, he pulls it out or one of his little allies, then the sun comes out and boom Superman regenerates like the energizer bunny and he's back to his old cocky, dumb self."

Robin narrowed his eyes and Superman knew that look. It was a look that Batman had when the man would be thinking of countless situations to trap a villain.

"Seir."

"Huh?"

Slade jerked his head slightly to the side, "Time to go."

Robin nodded and placed the kryptonite on Superman's stomach. Superman grimaced and felt his strength seep out of him faster. Robin rose to his feet and coughed lightly before turning his back on Superman and picked up his walk to catch up to Slade and Lex who were already at the door. Superman could only watch as the young man that he considered a nephew follow Slade like a dog followed his master before the blackness came.

The next time he regained consciousness, Superman saw the fuzzy faces of Canary and Arrow gazing at him with concern. And all he could say was, "Robin" before he fell back into darkness.

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A/N: Well hoped you enjoyed. I figured I got two more left before I finish this story :( Sad I know! But in the meantime, check out Tsuki's fanart and read and review like the old times. Take care and have a good week until I update once more!!