Dick sat at his desk, searching through piles of paper. There had to be something, anything here. Slade couldn't just disappear. That jerk was going to jail after what he'd done to him and his friends. No one messed with his friends and got away with it.
His communicator started beeping. He sighed and picked it up, not bothering to open it and just pushing the button on the side to activate the audio.
"Cyborg, I told you, I'm not going out for pizza tonight and calling me on…"
"Hello Robin."
"Slade," Dick stiffened.
"Did you miss me?" Dick raced out of his room, immediately starting a trace on the signal.
"Tell me where you are and I'll come talk to you in person." The trace locked in the pier district.
"I'm sure you already know where I am," Slade replied. "See you soon." Dick hung up the communicator and ran to his motorcycle.
Dick swooped down through the broken window, landing in the middle of the warehouse and looking around carefully.
"Alright, I'm here, what do you want?" he demanded.
"Nothing new," Slade drawled from behind him, making him whirl around. "All I want is you to let me help you become better."
"And I'm bringing you in," Dick retorted. Slade chuckled.
"Oh, I think not," Slade replied, tossing a small bag down to Dick. He caught it deftly, continuing to glare at Slade.
"What's this?" he demanded.
"I'd suggest opening the bag," Slade replied. Dick pulled open the bag, and dumped the contents onto his green gloved hand. It was a lock of red hair.
Starfire! How had Slade gotten her? He'd seen her only an hour ago, wasn't she still with the other Titans?
"What have you done to her?" he demanded. Slade was clearly grinning.
"What do you think?"
"Haven't you messed with my friends enough?"
"You're the one letting me," Slade replied. Dick gritted his teeth.
"Tell me where she is now," he snarled.
"So you do care," Slade announced. Dick watched Slade for a second, and grinned up at him.
"You're bluffing," he replied. Slade couldn't have Starfire, or he'd have the other Titans, and would be telling him about it. And if he did just have Starfire, he'd have gotten something from the other Titans by now.
"Am I?" he sneered. Robin glanced back down at the hair. If he did have Starfire…No, he couldn't. And the hair wasn't really the right color. "My, everyone speaks so highly of you, Boy Blunder." Dick froze. That nickname still freaked him out a little. And how had Slade know it? Then it hit him. He glanced down at the hair again.
"Now I get it," Slade drawled. "You thought I was talking about that little team mate of yours. How sad, you don't even remember—" Dick clenched his fist around the lock.
"Where is she," he demanded, glaring up at Slade.
"Do we have an understanding now?" Slade asked, jumping down from the catwalk and landing nimbly on his feet.
"I will never work for you," he snapped.
"I'm sure you can reconsider," Slade replied. "I don't see what makes me so terrible, now that I've met some of your old friends."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You couldn't put it together yourself?" Slade drawled. "I've made some interesting aquantences this past week. Though I must say the Jokers a little crazy, even for me."
"Will you just shut up?" snapped Dick.
"You know what I really don't get?" asked Slade. "I'd think you were in the market for a new father."
"I told you," he seathed. "I already have a father."
"Well, it seems like he does just fine without you," Slade said.
"Why won't you just leave me alone?"
"Because I want to help you Robin. You wouldn't want to let your friend down?"
"Leave her out of this."
"I'll leave her out of this as soon as you become my apprentice," Slade drawled. "We could accomplish so much together." Dick leapt at him, but Slade dodged out of the way, turning and smiling back at him.
"Just leave her alone!" he snapped.
"Watch the temper," Slade cautioned. Dick threw a punch at him, which Slade easily caught, but Dick kicked him in the side, making him let his arm go. He pressed his advantage, aiming another kick at Slade's side. Slade snatched his boot, spun and released, tossing Dick into a pile of crates. Dick heaved himself to his feet just in time to sumersault out of the way of Slade's blow.
Once more on his feet, Dick lunged at Slade again, sidestepping an initial punch and throwing his elbow into Slade's ribs. Slade winced, but recovered quickly, tripping him and knocking him to the ground. Dick tried to roll out of the way, but Slade kicked him in the side, making him wince in pain. He tried to get to his feet, but Slade kicked him again, sending him sprawling into another stack of crates. Now scraped and bleeding, his uniform torn, Dick staggered up, only to have Slade grab him by the collar, lifting him off his feet.
"A valiant attempt Robin," Slade said. "But you should really stop now, I don't want to have to hurt you, or you're friend."
"Just let her go," Dick conceaded, letting his head droop.
"You should have given in when you still had a choice in the matter," Slade replied. "I'm actually thinking that maybe I should have to apprentices now."
"NO!" Dick slammed Slade's arms, forcing him to release Dick's collar. He landed in a heap at Slade's feet.
"Come now Robin I don't—" Slade was cut off by ropes rapping themselves around him, binding his arms and legs securely to his body. He swayed, and crashed to the ground backwards.
"I warned you not to make enimies in Gotham; they tend to stay with you." Dick saw a black and yellow figure swoop down from the rafters, and the world faded to black.
A/N: Did you think Slade had acutally caught Barbra? Muahaha I was just messing with you! (well, actually Slade was just messing with Robin but same diff) Anyway, thanks for reading! -Vanessa
