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Please note: this chapter contains bad language and violence.
Chapter Eight: Cracks
A bead of sweat rolled lazily down the side of Jason's face as he completed another set of sit-up jab punches. His mostly healed skin at his side twinged with the repetitive motion, but the young man didn't slow down. The sharp clank of the chain attached to the second Robin's wrist being jostled as well as his harsh breathing bombarded his hearing, drowning out Jason's thoughts.
Two weeks; it had been two weeks since Deathstroke attacked him in that alleyway. Two weeks since his supposed girlfriend betrayed him to her father. Two weeks since he last saw his family and friends on the horrid video call and Jason was starting to lose hope that rescue was coming.
When Bruce first took Jason in the older man had promised that he would do whatever it took to keep him safe. It was a reoccurring theme between the two. Bruce made it a point to always make sure that Jason felt safe, at home, at school, during training. Jason was really starting to believe that he could trust Bruce, but even Batman had let him down. Trust was overrated.
The young man felt his frustration spike as his unwanted thoughts broke through his effort to quiet them and pushed himself harder, ignoring his body's need for a break.
The now familiar sound of the basement door opening startled Jason momentarily from his exercise routine. Assuming it was Rose coming to try to convince him yet again that she wasn't his enemy while continuing to keep him locked up as her prisoner Jason continued his set with a scowl.
Almost immediately the young captive realized his assumption was wrong as heavy footsteps slowly progressed down the stairs. Jason jumped to his feet and turned to face his captor head-on just as Slade's intimidating form emerged. During the two weeks that Jason had been held captive the ex-military man had only visited him a handful of times. Preferring to leave Jason in his daughter's care. The fact that Deathstroke was there now set Jason's nerves into overdrive.
The merciless mercenary didn't say a word as he entered his captive's cell and swung a fist towards his face. Jason ducked under the attack, and tried to sidestep the dangerous man, but couldn't go as far as he needed. The second Robin's maneuver was sharply cut short with a loud clang as the chain attaching him to the wall ran out of length.
The restrained young man knew there wasn't much he could do being trapped the way he was, but he wasn't going to make it easy for his kidnapper. Gritting his teeth, Jason countered Deathstroke's punch with one of his own using his free hand.
The well-trained mercenary expected the young vigilante's counterattack and in one swift motion grabbed the length of chain and pulled it towards himself. The abrupt jerking motion successfully threw Jason off balance which he immediately tried to correct. However, he wasn't quick enough.
Panic seized Jason's chest as his free wrist was caught by Slade in a crushing grip and wrenched painfully behind his back. The second Robin's body was then slammed against the wall, and his chained arm fully extended by the forced position, straining his muscles uncomfortably.
"Aaahh let go of me!" Jason cried out.
Annoyingly, Deathstroke remained silent as he pressed his massive body against his captive to hold him in place while unlocking the cuff. The moment Jason's wrist was free he brought his elbow up and back, twisting his body with the movement which strained the arm being held behind his back further.
His elbow connected with Slade's temple causing the man to stumble back. Unfortunately for Jason the man didn't loosen his grip as he had hoped and the two went tumbling to the ground. Despite his best efforts, Slade had the young vigilante pinned in under fifteen seconds of a struggle. The mercenary's strong hands held tightly to both of Jason's arms as he yanked the young man to his feet and began dragging him from the cell.
Jason yelped in pain, and immediately tried to get some traction with his bare feet to try to stop the hulking man from taking him wherever he intended, but it was no use.
Still without saying anything, Slade hauled Jason from the cell and down the opposite direction to the room with the video camera from before. The young man thrashed and bucked against the controlling hold, but Slade had the height, weight, and strength advantage over the second Robin.
Deathstroke pulled Jason through a heavy door with little difficulty and in the same motion hurled his captive across the new room's floor. Jason's body hit the ground, rolled once, and slid a few feet before he stopped. Since the ground was covered with mats the impact only knocked the air from Jason's lungs momentarily, but otherwise he was unharmed from the unkind treatment.
The young man recovered quickly and sprung to his feet into a defensive stance. His green eyes swept over the room, his eyebrows twisting into a confused frown when he took in the gym like setting. It was then that Jason realized Slade was dressed in a grey tank top and black sweatpants with an annoying smirk playing on his lips. The hulking man stood about four feet from his captive with his muscular arms crossed. "You're probably wondering why I've brought you in here. I'd like to issue you a challenge…an opportunity of sorts."
Jason mimicked Slade's stance with narrowed eyes. "I'll pass."
The mercenary raised an eyebrow. "Really? I would have thought Robin wouldn't give up so easily. I'm disappointed." Slade finished in a condescending tone.
Jason snarled. "Screw you! I'm not playing your fucking mind games!"
Despite Jason's answer, Deathstroke moved closer to his captive who stood his ground with a defiant raised chin. "No mind game; just a deal plain and simple. You fight me and win; you can escape. I've left all the doors unlocked, all you have to do is get passed me, and I won't follow after you. What do you say?"
Jason suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of defeat wash over him. "Do you actually expect me to believe I have a choice?"
Slade tilted his head to the side with obvious evaluation in his dark gaze. The look sent a shiver down Jason's spine, feeling as though the dangerous man was staring directly into his soul. It was entirely unnerving.
Dread coiled in the young man's stomach with the knowledge that Slade could and would do whatever he wanted to him. It didn't matter if Jason refused the challenge or not, the mercenary would get whatever he was looking for either way. Despite knowing Deathstroke had all the control, Jason couldn't help but feel a jolt of adrenaline with the prospect of beating the infamous mercenary and escaping by himself. That would prove to Dick and Bruce he was meant to be Robin. That he was worthy of the mantle.
Slade's smirk twisted into a full smile that looked far more dangerous than friendly the moment he could tell Jason had made his decision. Without exchanging any words, the two slowly crouched into fighting positions and began to circle each other.
Jason took a few shaky breaths as he tried to steady his rapidly beating heart. The young vigilante did his best to convince himself that this was just like sparring with Bruce. That he could handle whatever Deathstroke threw at him. It wasn't the first time he had to go toe to toe with an asshole. Hell Jason had to step in between his father's raging fists and his mother more than a few times before he was even a teenager. This would be just like sparring.
However, that thought went completely out of Jason's mind the moment Slade lunged at him viciously. His fist connected with the second Robin's middle and the familiar crunch of a cracking rib could be felt by the young man. Breath exploded from Jason's mouth with a strangled gasp, and he knew with that first punch that Slade had no intentions of holding back.
The ruthless mercenary didn't let up and followed the first punch with three more, but Jason was ready for them. The young vigilante brought his hands up to block the attacks, stumbling back with the force from each hit.
"Plant your feet further apart and you'll absorb the hit better." Slade unexpectedly advised. He then stepped back and illustrated his suggestion by setting his feet apart and bringing his arms up to cover most of his body.
Jason growled at the comment. No longer needing to defend himself, the second Robin went on the offensive. The curly-haired man landed a hard kick to Slade's side and then followed up with another immediately to his middle. Annoyingly, both were blocked by the larger man's arms, so Jason switched tactics to a sweeping kick to his opponent's legs. If he could just knock the man down, he could make a break for it.
Deathstroke jumped just in time to avoid the attack and relaxed his fighting stance slightly. "Not bad, but you're telegraphing your next move the moment you think of it. You're too much in your head. Fight from your gut!"
The young man's green eyes blazed with fury. "Stop acting like you're training me!" Jason snapped at his captor just before he landed a strong punch to Slade's jaw.
The older man's head whipped to the side with the impact, but that didn't stop him from catching Jason's second fist by the young man's his mostly healed wrist. Deathstroke gripped his captive's curly hair in his other hand and dragged Jason closer, till their faces were nearly touching. Cruelly, Slade wrenched Jason's head back with his hair and tilted his face so their gazes connected. "I am." The mercenary stated matter-of-factly before he shoved Jason to the ground at his feet.
The young man landed on all fours panting, and seething. Who the hell did this guy think he was? Before Jason had a chance to give his captor a piece of his mind Slade continued in a commanding voice. "Try again."
Jason looked up from his position on the ground and glared. "Screw you! You're nothing but a bored psychopath who decided to fuck with his captive! This isn't training and you're not my mentor…you're my kidnapper!"
Deathstroke walked steadily towards a wall filled with training weapons. He picked up two bo staffs, and twirled one deftly in his hand as he made his way back to his downed opponent. "I said try again. Now get up." He punctuated his words by tossing one of the weapons down in front of Jason on the ground.
The second Robin pushed himself to his knees and defiantly roared back. "Fuck you!" But the young man had to abruptly roll out-of-the-way as Slade's weapon swiftly swung down towards his head. In the same motion Jason snatched up the other bo staff and used it to block his opponent's vicious attacks.
For a while Jason held his own against the well-trained killer, but it was clear to the young vigilante that Slade was just toying with him. Jason's attacks became more and more sloppy as rage fueled his movements and exhaustion leaked into his limbs. The young man's mostly healed side twinged with discomfort from the exertion.
With all his effort Jason was able to knock Slade's weapon out of his hands and swung immediately for the man's head. His hit didn't land as the mercenary was able to catch the staff before it made contact and used it against Jason, knocking him back to the mats. Deathstroke tossed the weapon aside and straddled his captive. The mercenary pinned Jason to the ground with a firm grip on both of the young man's hands as Slade held them above his head in one of his large, calloused hands.
The young vigilante frantically thrashed in blind panic shouting at the man to let him go, but his struggles did nothing to stop Slade from clamping two sleek black metal bands around Jason's slim wrists.
The moment the grip on Jason's wrists loosened the young man knocked Slade off him and scrambled away. He stumbled to his feet and away from the dangerous man until his back hit the far wall and without hesitation tried to pry the metal bands off.
The black bands were secured so snuggly against his pale skin that Jason couldn't even wedge his nails underneath the metal. Frantically, the young man twisted and pulled at the cuffs to no avail while his heart hammered painfully in his chest thumping at an unhealthy pace. Completely caught up in the task of trying to free himself, Jason jumped in alarm when Slade's rumbling voice sounded.
"Those are specially made cuffs. Perfect for obedience training."
Jason's green eyes burned with outrage as they snapped up from the sleek metal to glare at his captor. "Obedience…fuck yo—aaahhh." The young hero started, but his angered words were cutoff into an agonized scream of pain as an unexpected jolt of electricity traveled through his body. Jason didn't feel his knees connect with the mats beneath him or taste the blood in his mouth from biting his lip involuntarily. The only thing he could feel was an all-encompassing agony coursing through his very being.
As suddenly as the pain hit Jason it was gone, leaving behind an odd prickling sensation dancing just under his skin. The tormenting jolt left the young captive panting and reeling with one jarring thought filling his mind. He was just electrocuted. The second Robin had been stabbed, shot, had broken and dislocated bone, but never electrocuted. It wasn't a pleasant feeling at all.
"Now that you've had a demonstration as to what those cuffs are capable of, we can get down to business." Slade said smugly as he crouched in front of Jason only an arm's length from his captive.
Still trying to catch his breath Jason responded weakly. "Go to hell."
The mercenary sighed as if disappointed and calmly pressed a button on a band, that could easily be mistaken for a watch, around his own wrist. Jason screamed again as another shock ripped through him. The immense pain and tremors assaulting the young man's body caused his arms to give out and Jason crashed fully to the floor. The electricity halted sooner than the last time and after a good thirty seconds the injured vigilante realized he had tears falling from his eyes.
"Let's try this again." Slade said in a condescending tone, as if talking to a small child.
Jason gritted his teeth in an attempt to hold back the snarky comment on the tip of his tongue. A task that only increased in difficulty when the mercenary smirked at his lack of response.
Slade hummed in approval. "Quick learner."
Jason squeezed his troubled eyes closed tightly, turned his forehead to the mat, and used a breathing technique that Bruce taught him after a particularly nasty nightmare to calm his racing heartbeat. The frustrated curly-haired vigilante just hoped it would help him not rise to Deathstroke's bait.
Eyes still closed Jason didn't see as Slade reached out towards him. He flinched when the dangerous man's hand tangled into his unruly hair and yanked his head up with an unrelenting grip. "You will show me the respect I deserve and look at me when I'm talking to you."
Jason's eyes snapped open with the gathering of tears. The second Robin clenched his teeth together to stop himself from crying out as his captor pulled him up by the hair to sit on his knees.
Slade released his grip on his captive and moved to stand his full height towering over the injured young man. "I see potential in you little bird, and my daughter is rather taken with you."
Jason's breath faltered with a growing sense of horror. He really didn't like where Slade was going with his statement and couldn't stop the quivering that racked his already abused body. The young vigilante wasn't sure whether the involuntary spasms were from the electrical shocks or his mounting fear. A few tears slipped from his green eyes and traveled down his cheeks as his face morphed into a look of utter horror at his captor's next words.
"You're going to be my new apprentice. We start your training tomorrow morning and I expect you to obey my orders to the letter or you will be punished."
Jason felt like all the air was sucked from his lungs as his mind raced. Deathstroke wanted him to be his apprentice? What the hell? Why would Slade Wilson, expert hired killer and mercenary want him? He wouldn't join Deathstroke…the man must know that. Jason had no intention of ever betraying Bruce or the Titans whether they truly cared about him or not. He needed to escape and fast.
Still reeling from the unexpected revelation Jason didn't immediately struggle against Slade as he was grabbed by the upper arm and roughly dragged from the room. He did begin to struggle however, when his captor deviated from their normal route and instead of returning Jason to his cell turned toward the staircase. The young man landed a solid punch to Deathstroke's middle as the two reached the main floor, breaking at least one of the man's ribs and causing the mercenary to drop his prisoner. Out of instinct, the second Robin jumped to his feet and ran, but only made it a couple steps before he crumbled to the hard wood floors as the cuffs were activated once more.
Jason writhed and cried out in pain with the intense volts of electricity assaulting him. Black spots started clouding his vision and the young vigilante was sure that if the punishment lasted much longer, he would lose consciousness. The thought of being passed out and vulnerable around Deathstroke made Jason's skin crawl and stomach clench with anxiety.
Mercifully, the relentless onslaught finally cut off leaving the young hero breathless and dazed. Jason was barely aware of the strong controlling arms lifting him around the middle and carrying him through the modern home. However, awareness slammed back into Jason as he was unceremoniously tossed onto something soft and bouncy. His slightly unfocused eyes swept over the new space and an overwhelming feeling of apprehension took hold.
Jason found himself in a modern-looking bedroom with sleek furniture, cold grey walls, and most surprisingly two large windows. Light streamed into the room from the windows, stretching across the carpeted floor to illuminate the open door to the ensuite bathroom. Overall, the bedroom was mostly barren with no personal touch nor artwork on the walls and was completely devoid of the warmth that Wayne Manor had. The bedroom Slade had brought Jason to was larger than the young vigilante's room at Titan Tower, but smaller than his room at Wayne Manor and nothing at all like the shit hole he grew up in during his childhood in Crime Alley.
Slade noticed how Jason's gaze lingered on the window. "Don't get too excited. This entire room is lined with a boundary that will trigger your cuffs the moment you get within a foot of the walls or windows. Your cuffs internally monitor your heart rate and if you trigger the sensor the cuffs will activate and won't stop until either I turn them off or you lose consciousness."
Jason's heart sank further and further with every word Slade spoke and any hope of escape slipped through his fingers. "I don't understand…why me?" The young man asked brokenly.
Deathstroke's heavy footsteps brought him closer to his captive. "As I said, I see potential in you. Plus, what better way to hurt Dick Grayson than taking his younger brother from him and turning him into a weapon against him and his little Titans."
Fire returned to Jason's eyes as he glared up at his captor. "I'll never join you. I don't care what you do to me. I won't betray my family or my friends."
"We'll see, Little Bird." Slade responded, clearly amused by Jason's minor show of defiance. "I'll bring your dinner later and I expect you to finish everything on your plate." The cruel mercenary ordered his captive firmly and turned to leave the room.
Fury filled Jason with the indignity of the situation, and he unwisely snapped back at the retreating man, halting his progress to the door. "Why the fuck do you care if I eat or not?!"
For a moment Jason thought that Slade would just leave and ignore his question. Maybe that would have been better, but the young vigilante didn't like to feel powerless, cornered, or controlled. There was just something ingrained deep within his soul that made Jason want to push back.
The dangerous man turned around deliberately slow in a threateningly manner. His voice rumbled deeply as he surprisingly answered his captive. "We need to build your strength back up if you're to handle the training I have planned for you."
Jason clenched his teeth at the threat and pulled himself off the soft bed with more difficulty than he would have admitted. He squared his shoulders and lifted his strikingly sharp jaw, making his resistance clear. "And if I don't? Are you going to force feed me?"
"No." Came the immediate and definite reply.
The curly-haired young man blinked rapidly in surprise at not only the pace in which he received his answer but the answer itself. Jason didn't have very long to contemplate the answer he received as Slade continued unwavering.
"If you don't eat everything, I'll take out my favorite rifle and put a bullet between the green-haired boy's eyes."
Jason flinched at the threat against Gar's life like he was physically punched. His heart thumped unsteadily as the kidnapped man fought the feeling of utter hopelessness that reached out to strangle him. Why was he such a poison to the people around him? Gar was kind and welcoming. He was the only one to try to make Jason feel like he was important when he first came to Titan Tower. The shapeshifter seemed to be the only one who actually wanted to spend time with him despite Jason's often times prickly disposition. He couldn't let Gar pay just for trying to be his friend.
Slade Wilson didn't get to where he was without being masterful at reading people and the mercenary could easily see the effect his threat had on his captive. All he needed was a bit more pressure and he could add to the cracks he had already created in the young vigilante. Once he had made enough Jason would break and then Slade would rebuild him how he wanted. So Deathstroke pressed on. "He seemed rather distressed during our video call. I'm assuming he's one of the friends that you refuse to betray."
Jason averted his gaze from the taunting man and willed away the burn of tears behind his troubled eyes. It was all the encouragement Slade needed to keep pushing his distraught captive.
The mercenary strode forward with the struggling young man countering every step until the back of his knees hit the bed and Jason crashed back onto it. Each step Deathstroke took was punctuated with disheartening words. "You don't understand yet, but your life as you knew it is over. You're mine. You're not going to escape me. No one is going to rescue you. The sooner you accept your new reality the easier it will be for you and the safer it will be for your loved ones."
Slade reached the side of the bed and stood towering over Jason who pressed himself against the headboard with a scowl on his face that couldn't fully conceal his fear. "It's okay. You'll understand soon enough."
Jason opened his mouth to deny everything the cruel mercenary said. The people he loved; the ones that cared about him…they wouldn't give up. They would find a way to rescue him. Surely Bruce wouldn't let him down. But before Jason could tell Deathstroke off a flicker of doubt crept back into the young man's mind and sealed his mouth shut.
Slade observed Jason for an unnerving moment, expecting some type of opposition, but when none came turned and left the bedroom without another word. Jason watched him go numbly, a tear slipping down his cheek as the click of the lock sounded. The young vigilante scolded himself for not speaking out and couldn't help but feel like he gave Deathstroke exactly what he wanted. The sickening thought that it wouldn't be the last time made Jason crumble.
Later when Slade returned to retrieve Jason's dinner plate the mercenary found his captive staring intently out the window. Jason had pulled a chair from the room as close to the window as possible without triggering the sensor for his cuffs. He didn't acknowledge the mercenary when he entered nor when he picked up the dirty dishes.
Slade frowned as he noted the sliced peaches completely untouched on his captive's plate. His eye narrowed at the fruit before shifting his attention to Jason's rigid form. It was clear the young man was aware of his presence, and was keeping track of his movements, but was refusing to acknowledge him. That was fine. If he needed more convincing, then he was more than willing to give it to him. It had been a while since he got to take a long-distance shot. Slade was almost looking forward to it.
The mercenary made his way to the door and just as his fingers brushed the cold metal doorknob Jason's weary voice sounded, dull green eyes never leaving the window. "I'm allergic to peaches."
Slade smirked at the confirmation of his control over the boy and left the room.
End Chapter
Poor Jason. Please remember to leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter! Until next time.