The city was quiet when they left. Birds sang and rustled through tree's leaves, interrupting the otherwise silent atmosphere. As the sun rose above the horizon, turning the wakening sky a mild violet and pink, the Titans crept out of the Tower and into the streets. Only a few cars were heading out to long days of work and only a few lights were on in the windows of apartment buildings.

They followed the path as directed by Terra, keeping their voices down all the way. It didn't matter if anyone around them overheard, but they were weary of Slade's hidden cameras. As they grew nearer, though, they took the plan into the first step. Terra stopped on the street, her back to what she knew was a hidden camera belonging to Slade. It was hard to detect, but she had found its location on the way back home yesterday. The rest of the team stood in front of her, some shaking their heads and holding their hands up.

"Listen, Terra, we can get him back by ourselves," said Cyborg, a concerned expression on his face. "We'll work as a team."

"No, you can't. Slade won't let you. I have to go back, now." Terra took one step back towards the camera.

Finally, Beast Boy said, "Terra, don't. You don't have to get Robin back to us by sacrificing yourself. Please, wait!"

"No, I'm going, and there's nothing you can do to stop me!" Without further staged arguing, Terra turned and ran down the street, abandoning the rest of the team. Feigning frustration, the team walked in the opposite direction, pretending to head back home.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, hoping Slade bought their act, Terra continued to where she knew he was hiding. Little did he know, but the Titans were also doing the same-they were taking another way, a longer way, which they had worked out together using the city map. The air she breathed in was cold and sharp, like most cool mornings. I hope you saw that, she said to Slade in her mind. And I hope you believe me.

Standing in front of his screens, hands behind his back with his wrists held together, Slade was thinking. Not of Robin this time, but Terra's actions seemed curiously strange-then again, he decided, she was a strange girl herself, and was expected to do strange things. It was possible she was acting on a sense of justice that wasn't quite right. He was hopeful.

Robin was pacing around, a frown on his face. It seemed like the scowl may have finally and actually engraved into his face, permanently. Was it worth it, he wondered, being a hero, a leader of a team the city counted on, if he was now trapped with a villain as his personal sidekick? Did he mean anything anymore, to anyone, if this was the case? It wasn't being forced into apprenticeship by Slade that bothered him. It was that he could no longer do what he believed he was truly meant to. He couldn't protect his friends, his city or anyone else. All his training was worthless if he was going to use his techniques against things he used to fight to protect. It was only him and Slade now-Rose had gone, to where, he had no idea. But it was clear she was no longer there, wherever she went. Maybe she knew something was going to happen and left so she wouldn't be caught in between it.

Robin found Slade and said, "So what are you going to make me do, anyway? What do you want to steal this time? Lives, or objects?"

Slade held up his hand, signaling Robin to be quiet. "Nothing as of now, Robin. I've got something much more interesting to consider at the moment. Why don't you wait a little with me? You may be pleasantly surprised. . . ."

Robin let out a sharp, annoyed breath. He wished Slade would stop his vague talking, because it was more irritating than helpful or informative. It was never direct with him. There was never a clear response of any kind. It had to all be mysterious, cryptic, and hazy. He wandered off, letting Slade to his own affairs. He definitely did not want to wait with him.

Terra came to the doors of Slade's hideout. When she pushed on them, they opened, as if no security had been in place. She knew better though. Slade had probably seen her and unlocked them himself. That's good, then, she thought. It means he saw me earlier. She headed further in, her footsteps echoing off the bare walls.

She saw him where she imagined, in front of the screens, watching in silence. "Slade," she breathed, panting from running. "You've got to let Robin go. He doesn't belong here with you."

Slade turned to face her, excited. He couldn't imagine where she was going with that. "Why is that, Terra?"

She took a deep breath, pausing. "Because," she said, "I do. I belong with you, not him. He's the leader of the Titans, and I'll never replace him, or any of them. I'll never even be like a real part of their team. But I can be a part of yours." She made herself look wide-eyed and dazed, hoping for the appearance of having just made a great discovery about herself. It was horrible hearing her say what she was, but it was their only chance at getting to Slade like he knew how to get to them. He knew what they wanted most, their deepest desires, and he knew how to play with them. But Terra also knew what he wanted and she was going to show him he wasn't the only one who could play with them.

Slade fell quiet for a long time, so long that Terra worried he knew she was lying and was just thinking about how to get her out of the way. But instead, he put his hand under her chin again, lifting her face up to his. She tried her best not to look nervous. It would ruin her entire plan if she did. "Now, tell me," he said, "why just the other day, you told me the exact opposite of that."

She knew what he meant and was caught off guard. He meant when she'd told him off, half asleep, on the floor before she left. It wasn't that long ago, but when planning, she completely forgot about it. She had to make something up, something unplanned for. "I-I was . . . just so sure you wanted Robin more than me, so I tried to convince myself I could go back with the Titans and take his place. But being with them, I realized, it's his spot, not mine. Mine was here . . ." She closed her eyes and finished, "All along." Originally she had thought crying while admitting this false truth to him would be difficult. The more convincing she could be, the better. She closed her eyes tight and let tears fall onto her face. They came so easily because it was terrifying to hear herself speak like she was to Slade, fake or not. Let's make this end soon, she thought for comfort. "I was so confused, before, I'm so sorry. Let Robin go."

When Terra felt his arm move around her small body, she tried her best not to cringe. Was he hugging her to try to further encourage her acceptance of being his apprentice, or was he actually trying to comfort her? She hoped it was the first. Otherwise she might actually feel bad for him. She held on to his utility belt, as it was at her chest level since he was so much taller, and pulled herself closer to him. He smelled like metal and dust. Hurry up, Titans, she thought. I can't take much more of this.

"I'll let him go," said Slade, releasing Terra from his unwanted grip at the same time. She was relieved. "I'll let you go free of my control as well."

Terra glanced up at him, sending him a puzzled look. "Really?" she asked. This was not what she had expected. Not the last part of what he said.

He moved to his control panel, switched a couple of levels and typed in a short command, and Terra felt a part of her back loosen. She reached to her shoulder and caught Slade's chip. It'd fallen off.

"As long as you're so willing to stay here with me," he said, "there shouldn't be any reason to leave that on you. After all, it was for Robin, not you. It was to convince him to come to me in order to save you. But it seems you're more willing than he'll ever be, therefore, it's not needed." Slade took it from her hand and tossed it into a box beneath the control area she assumed was trash.

She couldn't help but smile a little. Everything was going far better than they had thought. They wouldn't have to worry about how to get that off her now, since Slade did it himself. I guess I'm not so bad at this lying thing, thought Terra, her smile growing. Now it was the Titan's turn to step in.

Author Note:

I had originally planned this part to be all one chapter, but I think it will be better broken into two. Also I made Slade a little creepier than originally intended, sorry about that. It's for writing purposes. ~ ._.'