Teen Titans: The Fighting life - Epilogue Story

by Inkblot24

What if the apprentice arc did not end with a bittersweet mention of victory? What if five mighty heroes lost a war that could not be won? What if the only one who could fix what was broken, was already stripped of his pride, where the only way out was up. This is the recount of an arc that has seen the decades turn, and where a mortal master becomes a hero's only hope for closure.

26. Chapter 26

Teen Titans; The Fighting Life – Epilogue Story Chapter 26: Queen of Hearts

/

But be warned; this is a bit backwards and will be explained in next to last chapter. In previous chapter, the Titans were obliterated, but as Raven and Constantine both agree without dispute, THIS TIME LINE IS A FALSE ONE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED. So, Slade is forced away from Bruce's manor as we'll clarify by the end of this current chapter. Dark but dramatic so please take as fantasy but let me know if something offends if not. Playing outside the lines, do enjoy!

/

The part where bodies intertwined.

Where monsters could lust after pretty figures and not be shamed for their beliefs in as imperfect a harmony as this, lay.

This, was his hell.

Slade had won the Earth, and with it…

An apprentice and eventual equal to his vast empire.

The Titans had come to the conclusion that time here was impossible to tame. They'd retreated, and had even left the city. Jump, Bludhaven, and Gotham all belonged to the boy's master.

Dick lay across the mattress of his master's bed and looked at the opposing wall beside him. Staring, while the figure on his other end had started to stir.

"Good morning, Dick."

Richard felt fingers gently combing through his air; his body pressing back against a strange object, as his face controlled itself. All emotion, all involvement. All irrelevant. Whatever came, was expected.

Today wasn't it. He had to wait. It wasn't time to flee. To fly away. Not yet.

"Are you that lost in thought, Apprentice? Would you rather stay here? With me…" Slade had let him in, body and all, yet Dick didn't fight it. He'd secretly known how to fix everything, but it wasn't here. Not yet…not anymore than before.

"N…" Richard felt his cheeks grow hotter. Slade's thrusting between the boy's legs began. With his position a sure shock before breakfast, he thrummed away and let Dick be his toy for that while. Sliding between the ex – hero's body as if it were the chest of a woman, instead. His ass cupped by large hands and yet his cock did not enter. He only teased the teen. A simple parlor trick, but it felt so inviting to him, that Slade simply picked up the pace at each Clap of the boy's cock against his supple stomach. Each rub about with the cock in-between Richard's legs…. growing needier.

Dick clenched tighter as he prepared for the heat to build up between his slickened, young thighs. His own length was growing, his cock wanted to expel all of that tension against the far wall...

"You'll be next. I promise…I'll let you enjoy coming for me…." Slade purred to the teen as his protégé's eyes snapped open a bit. He was trying not to come so soon, but Slade always did everything without fail.

Even dry - fuck his apprentice, right to sleep. Guessing the man's face was at his side, the boy felt the brush of hair from the older male's beard and bucked a bit. He was nipped on his shoulder, mewling like a kitten. How adorably needy…

The tiger from behind him made an appreciative groan.

The sheets grew damp as he came, purring into the boy's ear as he finished on his end. "Morning rose."

In other words, he'd left a love bite on Robin's throat like a sexy vampire. Robin blushed even harder. All of his suits could hide it…. but not by tonight…

Not sexless, not Slade. Never.

Slade let out a single sigh to add. "Now, it's your turn, I think you've earned it."

Richard was gripped round his aching member as Slade decided to force out the boy's seed to thank him for that blissful relief he'd received. Dick bit his lip and suppressed a loose moan. His cock was near tugged as Slade's hand worked like magic to get him to release that hot mess all over the man's bed spread. He'd allow it. Dick would be cleaning up his mess, afterwards, anyhow…

"Good boy. You've pleased me well. Come for me, once more. Come for your master…R –

"Na- -Agh!" The rest came in a long, few shots. He didn't want that nick - name spoken. Slade taunted him with it, even with his new name that had not seemed all that popular in his time…

However, Nameless was still not as perfect as Robin... Not even as an Anti – hero.

Only a few seconds….and Dick was finally, spent. Slade patted the boy's hair, appreciatively. He liked to know that Richard was enjoying himself. What kind of mentor would he be if there was only a one-sided agreement between them?

Dick panted, with his face still slick with those beads of cool sweat. The bed had to be remade later, but it had been worth it to have his master in a better mood than the previous night. A dribble of saliva had trickled out of his apprentice's mouth from the extra ecstasy he'd been granted. Slade didn't mind. He almost found it, amusing to see the hero bleed in front of him like that.

Slade breathed out beside the teen as they laid there. "Just, a bit longer…I still want to drink in the afterglow…" Slade said this with a hint of a yawn to his voice. Spooning was easy, rising to meet the day was a challenge. For today, this was a new time to decide just that.

And Robin was no one's stuffed bear. Well, not stuffed full of cum…. But not today…Maybe later?

Unless the chance came and the man got hard again, while they were snuggled up like this…then, after lunch, perhaps.

He'd think about it.

/

The correct hierarchal position would have been as his, "right hand." His wingman or simply a glorified stooge, but it was something far more unobvious to Slade's biggest fans that Robin was no fan boy of the criminal genius he'd been forced to serve.

The men and women who had survived his reckoning had been the baddest clowns, killers, and mob bosses that had never existed – and heroes; not until Slade rectified what disorder he sought to accomplish in, altering of his new landscape. Sadly, Superman was gone. No Batman, Wonder Woman, Lex, or even Braniac to push his buttons. The world, had a new overseer. A new plan to be bought and sold as he saw fit.

Nope. No Trigon. Slade had his fire – powers as a parting gift, but any other gifts he simply, pretended were no more than ESP to the man.

And besides; what fun was it to be overpowered, anyway? His "partner" could eventually take his seat as long as he could hope to steal the crown.

Slade doubted his apprentice would want to see the world burn through a second generation's eyes. Maybe he'd try to find an early grave…

Today, the fee was due for his services and a mobster boss by the name of Henry Carlucci was going to plead his case before the ruler of both man and mortal. He'd sent his hitmen to collect the notice, before. Not wanting to dirty his fingers, it would come in time that the man would crawl out of the shadows to have a last glass of relief in a cup, overflowing. Slade just wanted to talk, was all. Henry seemed to be the one man he'd recently scared enough to go into hiding. Even Deathstroke from his hay- day wasn't capable of that much.

Well, Carlucci was still with that minor extension, but any pleas from his lips had since run dry. Slade was ready to collect. And, he'd also broken the law OF Slade's new world. Another serious offense to see to.

Slade sat at his throne of stone and metal. His apprentice was busy seeing to the men being all comfortable, all tied up in their punishment for that moment from when he'd dragged them off from their homes. Well, up to now. Where Dick had them tied back down as the messengers were seated before the king of castle – wreckers, on their hands and knees…ready to beg for dear, sweet mercy to release them from their suffering.

Something about this no longer fazed the teen. He'd sworn to uphold his part. It would be time, soon. So soon to see it…. Slade's eyes scanned their surroundings, knowing he had to keep an eye on the time.

Nameless licked his lips and spoke aloud to his malevolent master. Slade leaned in to listen from his metal throne.

"This mob's syndicate boss has broken five rules under your new law, that was issued only in the past month. Master Slade, I would imagine you're ready to display your hand to them?"

"Yes, Apprentice. Do stand aside, while I negotiate with these fine…gentlemen." Slade directed the now seventeen-year-old teen to do just that. How many birthdays had gone by? Two? He had been fifteen going on sixteen when Slade had done everything, he could to break the boy's spirit. One thing had remained; Dick could still reject his advances, but he chose not to. His master's offer to stay was still, absolute. There was a reason, but that wasn't important now.

Breaking every bone in this man's face and body, was important. To the boy, he'd gladly come at him in his sleep if given the opportunity.

Slade had the Slade - bots punch and kick the traitors until they were whistling through their noses.

Disfigured by the beatings, the men's whimpering didn't leave them with a leg to stand on inside Slade's microcosm of a dictatorial utopia.

"As per our arrangement with you boss, you are to clear your tracks and submit, or there will be no second chances for your family to live by…Do I make myself perfectly clear?" Dick looked on. Slade hadn't had to move from his seat. The drones had done the dirty work for him. And Richard, was just another special addition to Slade's essential, drone collection.

"Remove them from my sight." Slade waved for the bots to dump the crew out by their legs into the shallow end of the bay. They'd run home to "daddy" with their tails tucked between their legs.

Walking dead. The men had gone, and the room now echoed with buzzing machinery, whirring mechanisms, and turning gears. Always a flair for the dramatic, his master took to breaking the silence.

"Well done, my apprentice." Slade nodded in his favor, to the boy.

Dick had predicted; he was going to "monologue" soon…

As he awaited the lecture's beginning and end, he wondered if he was still in need of a bite from the kitchen.

Slade looked confused, as if he had a feeling the boy wasn't being very frank with him. Richard had discovered that the man had quite an ego, even if he masked it well enough. He was also a dark humorist. No surprise there. So, making conversation meant being depressed afterwards. He tended to avoid politics unless it was for future lessons.

"With the Carlucci family out of line, we'd have had a drop in order from within the criminal underworld." He spoke to the ex – hero as 5Dick stood, nodded and listened. Like a war hero spouting his glory years about, Slade knew how to draw you in, and push you away. He was just that clever about how to use his words and what to say to get inside of a person's head.

"I can't have idiots like Carlucci toting their ideologies in broad daylight, and not behind my back. One thing that I despise, is a criminal who cannot keep his word."

"They would have marketed the taffy drug to those who weren't supposed to have it. You told them to watch themselves; or they'd just go against your law and they'd be punished severely, then he has no other option... Do you want me to finish Henry Carlucci off?" Dick offered. "I'm sure their security is full of hole at best, and I'll have some good news to bring back if we put them out – permanently." Dick instinctively smashed his palm into his fist. Like Robin might have…

Slade blinked, very surprised by the boy's interest in his master's affairs.

"Robin…. that was underhanded, dishonest and ruthless…"

Dick looked up a bit taken aback by the comment.

"Excellent work. In a few more years, your training at my side will have been worth the wait…I can't wait to see what kind of man you'll end up becoming, as my right hand for an eternity. And eventually, my heir to this vast criminal network I've built to survive by..."

"Yes, Master Slade. I live to serve you and no one else."

Guessing that gave the older man his daily shot of Vitamin- C for the day, Dick leaned forward a bit in a mock bow, to show his respect to the older man. Slade was older, but not ancient yet. He had to hold off.

Just…

"How long are you going to wait, a decade? Another millennium?" Slade peered back in question.

"Come now, Richard. I can see right through what you've failed to hide from me. That "thrill" you've gotten before is now gone, as if you're saving it for later…"

Dick blinked and composed himself to explain. "I'm sorry, we've been taking over land development projects and securing government resources…. It gets to be, somewhat tedious…" He admitted and swiped a metaphorical hand over his brow. A quick save…Not yet.

"I suppose. Not even your usual rewards these days have done any good…I fear I may be losing my touch. So, tell me…" Slade readied himself to leave the throne. He came down from it, over to Robin; each tap of his boots was the descent of a demon. Richard never budged. He soon let his chin be lifted to meet the man's masked gaze, who was Nameless in face.

"Secretary work's too boring to you? You are not supposed to oppose it, but I see…You want that thrill, apprentice. Just tell me…" Slade made a hiss through the grates of his mask. A growl, or a purr. A yearning desire to gather information from those who lay defenseless before the hunter.

"What will you do to have it back?"

"I need…"

Seriously! Dick had to… just…

Cool it.

"I need, a challenge." He lied.

"Very well." Slade released his protégé and realized a spar was not enough…not here, to change a thing.

"I should have told you sooner…. The Titans, not all of them escaped."

The man had his hands behind his back, looking to the dais as he spoke his latest truth.

Dick was hit with a not - so literal - bullet to the skull; he couldn't really sympathize due to the pact. The trick from Trigon's, no…. Slade's oath.

"Yes, Master…but…? Do I need to pity them, anym –

"Do you? That is very questionable, apprentice. You never seemed to go after Raven or the others when they left the city." He reminded the boy and lifted a finger for what followed that sentence.

"You even decided to sabotage their last attempts to turn back time. I was pleased then, but now I wonder if you were holding back."

"I…I wouldn't. Not to you, Master –

"Save your energy. We'll soon find out just how truthful you have been to me; now, for two years. Let's keep up the good work, shall we?"

Slade ended his conversation with the teen and with a flick of the wrist, a button was pressed and a gaping space in the floor opened up.

The chained and contained body of a young, yet robust male.

A green beast.

A Meta -human…

From a platform, under the floor... There must have been a lab, or a prison. Why didn't Robin…

Oh, he didn't trust anyone. Slade was "paranoia - incarnate." Robin was no such exception, even as the man's prized pupil.

Dick's eyes recalled the face behind the fur, and he felt his resolve slightly, cracking.

Slade knew. Why? He wasn't going to leave! He'd sworn to do all he could to stay loyal…Was this, a test?

Of that loyalty?

"You know this Titan's face. He can't change back. We've done some tests but the beast -side transformation is nearly, permanent." Dick felt himself gulp, but didn't realize what he was feeling yet.

"Best boy was the last to run back here to beg that I let you go, but…We've since then…had a change of plans. Professor Chang, ring any bells?" Slade asked the boy in his shocked stance, as he sputtered out a clear enough answer.

"I, yes. The Red – X persona that I created used a special belt; the suit itself was powered by a chemical known as Xenothium. The supplier was Professor Chang, and at the time it was illegal to buy anything that unstable. It was a black-market steal, behind closed doors."

"But you risked even your friendship and trust with your team to unmask me." Slade reminded the boy of what X's appearance had truly wrought onto the Titans' lives. "I applauded your efforts then, but not at the thought of having my apprentice disfigured by the chemical's side effects."

The faint reprimand made Richard turn red. He was upset that it was such a big deal and that he had to be lectured about the suit's properties, years later. However, the man cared? Well, he was a test subject that had gone right. He was a valuable asset to the man. All he cared about, he kept close to him.

Including Robin.

"At least you were wise to seal it up tight. Surely, they've forgiven that stunt…I'm sure…. but I think it would be interesting to see the look on Beastboy's face if you relived those glory days right in front of me…. As a way to honor, X's memory."

Dick didn't like where this was going.

"Sir? … -

"Beastboy was not infected wholly by the nanobots, but we've changed all that to make him see things differently. The world isn't so cut and dry, Richard. To get to you, he offered himself as a test subject. Knowing the repercussions, he lost to the big bad villain, without a fight."

Slade sounded annoyed; as if recalling Bb taunting him in a one-on-one battle.

"So? You are going to uphold it –and…I also have a gift for you." Slade then snapped his fingers and two Slade bots came out from the shadows. Two slim metal boxes that Richard immediately recognized were in their clawed metal hands...

"Master? What –

"You'll be sure to not seem too "rusty" in my presence with your, present. It should be like riding a bike, you should never lose the knack."

The first box was opened by the bots, very carefully. Dick's bags showed under his eyes, vividly and even harder to hide than this morning. His demons really loved to pile on the hurt, decade by decade. This was, his new hell… after all.

"The suit wasn't recovered from the commando's last break in of the Tower sadly, but the gloves they were able to procure without getting too scuffed up by your former friend's efforts to interrupt my plans, was a success."

"Plans?"

"Not really a plan, more…. for your amusement. Something to help you adapt a little." Slade corrected. He walked up to the hero and picked up one of the gloves – then, he brought up the second box as it was opened to reveal the piece de resistance of the "gifted package."

His Xenothium powered belt. Minus one X - mask and suit….or the boots that completed the costume…

But the gloves and belt could be used, they were what made the costumed thief so deadly in the first place.

Dick almost jumped at the belt's perfectly preserved image. It was like looking behind a glass case at the Jump City Museum. He felt old already, and filled with a growing dread…

"What use is half of the suit if there is no belt, let alone the entire ensemble to make it feel authentic? I thought it best to return and steal the other pieces, but you'd be better suited to taking back your gadgets, later. For yourself." Slade said.

"The tower has become a sad place to reconcile for those, heroes. In fact, it is a grave. A memorial and burial ground to their endeavors. There was one way in, and it took patience…I hope you'll appreciate your master's efforts, Nameless."

"I…Don't know what to say…" Dick didn't, in fact. He was afraid to lose his mind to the reminder of his own personal beast – not the one Slade was hoping he'd teach him about –

"What are they supposed to be for, master?"

Slade knew Robin was stalling. It was simply how he'd concocted this little test to see if the boy would kill a Titan of his own accord.

He was about to find out.

"Beast boy didn't get to see you, until now. You should show him; how deep your oath to me has run in the time you've both been apart. These toys were brought here to help you work off some steam. You said secretary work was boring, didn't you? And now that we have what we need…You can strike first, act later. I want you to fight him."

Dick just looked at Bb. He was, so weak…

"Just as he is. Beastboy is not turning back into a human again, so I know you won't feel guilty if he falls with the face of a strange creature."

An execution. Slade was…. serious.

/

The belt was clicked soundly around Dick's waist, as he was afraid to let the man's hands touch him.

Even, if they'd already crossed that line.

The gloves he already had on were soon replaced with the lethal tools that X had used against the Titans, years ago. The same gloves that had been used to harm his fellow…Robin's heart rate pattered on, as Slade continued to monitor his apprentice's vital signs from his throbbing Nano – bot machine that controlled the many probes.

The nanobots were still in his body. Slade had promised to take them out, only once Dick was completely his.

Here, he could prove that – before the man decided to kill off another Titan, and another…Yet, it wouldn't be an overnight affair. He liked having Dick under him. Why would he lose his leverage so soon?

"Impress me here, Nameless…. And I will excuse your later digressions. Now…" Slade released the boy's arms as the gloves were a tad tighter than how he remembered, but not tight enough to cut off his circulation. He'd been up all nigth searching for Slade in the tower. Barely eating or taking it easy…He was stiffer with muscle and

The beast was in chains. The pillar that held him in his animated state, was released and Beastboy soon returned to his body as a boy a few years younger than –

"Anh...Dude…you're alive!"

He was…. No!

Dick turned to stare at Slade. The man simply looked on and was impassive regarding his reasons, still so secretive around his protégé.

"The effects must have worn off…Science is so unpredictable, sometimes…. Yet, I still expect to see you, deliver the final blow." Slade moved his head, which meant he was activating the bots – in Bb….

Dick reached out to warn his old ally, but it was too late.

His own body had been left untampered with; the bots weren't needed for Robin to receive that thrill he'd not shown the man. He was unappreciative. For fuck's s –

"RRAAAGHH!" The beast returned and threw down a heavy paw to swat at Slade's little soldier.

Dick moved and tried to use his gadget from X's one glove to block the other teen's attack.

"This is a test, Nameless. His execution. If you fail to bring your master his head, then you will be severely punished. Do as I command. DEFEAT the BEAST. Kill the TITAN."

His heated demands were vitally the ONLY anchor Robin had used to keep his loyalty as real as the nose on his face. Now, he was starting to wonder if this lie could go on.

It was just to get ahead, always to leave his master with that faintest reminder of what he'd taken to fall from grace.

Dick grew ANGRY. He went on the offense and attacked Bb with his gloves only there as a precaution.

In the way, he was…. he could die, this would be all over…. he would see it happen!

Slashing at the beast's chest with his Slade – insignia rangs, the creature rebelled and shrieked aloud to show its displeasure. Dick flung backwards to crouch away from its minor tantrum. It rattled his ears, reminding him of the man behind the scream. Nameless's gut twisted with malignant guilt. Hiss poison he'd been forced to swallow was coming back up.

"Good, Nameless. Throw it off course; make it lose its focus. Animals don't use their best judgement, not like you or I…can."

Dick panted and dodged another paw swipe.

Slade was teaching him? Great, he'd gotten his giddies off of their gladiator duel. How archaic a practice could you get –

"Hah!" Nameless rushed in again, this time to form a sword by the tech's power. The word Xeno in Greek meant "different," so the energy could be worked to change its shape by the power core's allowance. As long as the belt stayed fully juiced.

No doubt Slade had examined the belt to make sure that it would stay fully operational for his apprentice's, play date.

Beastboy was stunned by the blade's backlash as he fell into a heap. His face half – changed; between man and beast, Richard was stuck on autopilot. Slade had ruined him, too. They were both broken toys…

"Dude…. Rob… -

That name, he HATED it.

As if this were the bots making him kill, Dick relented. He discovered that it was all him.

He had killed Beastboy.

/

Bb's head slipped off of his shoulders as Dick didn't end it there. He grabbed both the bloodied boy's body and his dismembered, wide-eyed skull and came before Slade, standing firmly at the base of his master's iconic throne.

There was something in the boy's eyes that just screamed Déjà vu to Slade as he acted pleased, but also, concerned.

"You made that fight a quick one for yourself, are you feeling any less confident?" Slade asked and leaned his chin in his palm as before. Was he examining him? With everything Dick barely knew of the man's past, he could have cared less. This Slade, was a tyrant. He wanted to control Robin, who was still the bane of his existence, and his liberator as well.

"Beastboy was always too trusting." Dick replied with a huff and shoved the body and head higher above his head in separate hands, to display his implausible feat to the man. "I took the Titan's head. Can you tell me, Master; who else are you going to tell me you've let live –

Slade stopped him as a tap of his boot was a slam down onto one step. He was now, getting up. "That question was unnecessary, apprentice." Stepping down from his dais, Dick felt ready to freeze to stone. He knew that look. He was going to fight. And no matter what he did to stop it, Slade was always one step…

Stepping forth, he took the bleeding skull with a swipe from between X's gloves. Letting the blood drip as it did, Dick still said not a word.

Slade admired the work, but getting to the point of his argument…

"You took my orders too far –

Slade chucked the unmoving skull only inches past his apprentice's side. A splatter of the dead teen's blood sprayed his apprentice uniform and a bit flew onto his pale cheek. Dick didn't look anywhere else but the man's way. He simply waited to hear his punishment. His master was, displeased….He'd done it, he'd ki –

Slade shook his head - no.

Richard gasped in his chest. No…This was like that time with kissing Aqualad…

He nearly lost his resolve, and felt his legs shaking. No….

"You killed off something that was still of use to us, to me. So brutal…I guess I should have kept you tame. But, in your defense, you could always…replace him?"

Slade knew Robin would stick to the plan; always the strategic leader, never one for working outside the lines. So, some well needed homework would set the boy straight on the path…

To decent tyranny.

Dick was as stone; he couldn't move. Had to be the bots. He didn't –

"Then you'll go to the tower, make up for your mistake. Maybe, even look for the Red – X suit….It could come in handy…" He was talking role - play. Before a mission, of course. That glint was hard to miss.

"I'm sorry –

"Tell, me that once you have captured a Titan. My lab isn't going to become obsolete. I haven't even told you…"

Slade's eye was wide as he turned to the boy. A hiss of steam escaped the gears as the wafting atmosphere made Richard feel dizzy.

"She's alive. And she wants to see you again, Robin."

His own eyes would have wept, but they were dry. Surprised, but still dry.

"Bring me the alien, dead or alive. I'll accept your apology, only then."

Slade turned back to the glowing monitors and was probably delighted to have let his big mouth open at the exact time he'd predetermined would elicit some regret in the kid's heart.

As Dick collected himself in his wobbly state, Slade left one last request before the teen had reached the exit to the main room.

"Oh, and Robin?"

He still liked to us it…Dick had no such name…

"Yes, Master Slade?"

"What you did to Beastboy, do to the Tameranean ONLY if she resists. Is that understood?"

"Y…yes…"

"Good. Suit up, ready yourself. The Bots will act to weaken her; I'll let you grab her from the tower by your best jurisdiction, but…. if she fights…"

Robin gulped. He didn't want to answer, so Slade did for him. With a miming effect of a swipe by his own neck; swift and sure, Slade gave Robin the kill – switch. He just had to engage it…

"Off with her head. You may go." He directed the boy to the door with his finger aiming at the exit.

Red. It was as if all eyes were on him.

The Queen of Hearts…

Broken ones, scattered along the way. Left in his bloody wake.

"Yes, Master Slade." He bowed, and then was gone from plain sight.

/

Starfire had started out with a chronic cough, fatigue and a headache the day before. On a note, the Tower was supposed to be abandoned. But before the heroes could flee, they'd been grounded.

Mainly by Slade's newly, super – powerfully equipped army.

Raven had recovered to see it; her father's power being used by a maniacal monster, a bigger one than Trigon.

Roy had lived, so had Aqua Lad and KF. He'd been caring for Jinx ever since her meltdown. She'd changed her gear to become more of a fighter than a freak show to the H.I.V.E. Whereas Gizmo and Mammoth had abandoned her for good to join in on destroying the heroes.

They were strictly restrained and kept bound to their little island in Jump, only knowing that Slade controlled the ports, the world's next destinations.

Starfire had been monitored by her team, and Raven and Cy (who'd been saved before S.T.A.R labs had been shanghaied by the Slade – bot army in the next city over,) who had come to discover by the concluding evidence that Starfire's central nervous system was attacking her other organs. How, you ask? They had a few not so lucky theories.

"That monster…. Cough! Cough…*…. He will not make me pay in such a –

"Lay down, Starfire." Raven redirected the Tameranean's energy to her weakened shape. "You're not wrong…. But…" She turned to Cy, who scratched his head. "It's a new mutagenic effect from Slade's bots, then we have to act –

"No! We…. we must not giv –

Starfire hacked up more in her throat as her body began to fuss again. Cy made her still with a proper dose of something to slow down the Nanobots' damage to her lungs and heart…But…

Kidney, pancreas…this was bad….

"Not getting' to return to the same time as when Slade was defeated in THAT time line…" KF came through and had interesting news to bring to the table. "We failed, and Jinx is talking about going hard on the one who mangled her mind like that."

"She's just as upset as the rest of us." Roy added and threw on the surveillance to show them what was going on, outside the tower….

"Is that…"

"No way!"

Cy slapped his face as Kori blearily tried to see what it was. Who was…?

"Send word to everyone in the Tower. We have a level 8 intruder alert – no one is to let Slade's goons breach the –

"Waah!"

"Jinx?"

KF ran. She must have been a target. He had to go after the scream, but Raven didn't go. Starfire was unsafe. She could feel it. "Wait! KF, Roy. You two, go get Jinx. This person…They're trying to distract us –

"What should I care? I'm off!" KF was a hero in love. He'd lost Uncle Barry to the Nanobots. He didn't want to lose anyone else he cared about.

In a flash, the Titans rushed to their stations. Raven stayed in the med bay. Robin would be coming. She'd sensed him by the tower. Outside…. now, in.

He was here to execute a Titan.

/

Slade had told him it was ok to make a mess, just not make it look too ugly. Slade was watching. Grading his performance.

Slade's little soldier had snuck into the vents to find that his target was below. She was hugging her arms to her chest with a sigh. She must have taken a real blow to the –

Dick dropped down, quiet as a cat. Too bad, Jinx heard him and he dove at her. She screamed, before he'd had a chance to throw his hand over her mouth. If he bit her…. swear to ….

Dick exhaled. Shit. He was behaving like a true criminal. That rage was uncalled for…Barbara Gordon's voice in his head made the red in his heart obstruct his vision. Like an animal with superhuman radar, he was not to be stopped from completing his mission.

Have Starfire; trade Jinx for the Titan or kill her, then…. the suit. His master wanted it too.

~Such a tall order. ~

Right now, Slade wasn't in his head. Dick could sigh a breath out and not think to wallow in his misery as before.

He had a task, and he was willing to go to bed happy for once, tonight.

Well…Slade said…X's suit wasn't…. for Role – play…. didn't he? Maybe, that was all in his own head –

Jinx kicked back, but he just knocked her own with a blow to the neck. Out. One down. If he used her as a hostage, then this could fuel KF to come running.

"Halt!"

Scratch that. He already had.

/

"Drop her." Venom in Wally's voice, he was in love. And Dick had crossed a new line.

"I'm not staying. But you have something I want –

"Wall –

"Shit! Get down!" The ex-hero shot off an X themed blast from the man's old glove. Slade said he could use it. Well, what was the harm in testing it out a bit, for old times sake? He could swap out his gear once it ran out of juice. Slade was that confident in his perfect little soldier.

To get the job done.

Getting the feeling that Jinx was better off as deadweight to some other villain, he switched and ran through to break past the door. Getting by long enough, he left a smoke pellet storm to keep those bozos off his trail.

"Where did he go?" Dick heard Roy ask, once the smoke had probably gone down.

He didn't care, so Richard kept running.

Nameless, kept running.

/

He was trapped in the hall, so X's suit was…

Down a flight. He was so close. The exact lay - out of Titans tower was –

"You're not walkin' outta here, Robin."

Great. Slade wasn't here to direct him to another route. Richard turned around to see Cyborg with his arms crossed. Big bro. Hah. More like big bully.

Though, he was also pretty capable. Dick flicked a switch on his wrist, indicating to his master that he'd soon require back up.

Even if that meant facing, him. His old compadre. Dick readied his stance.

"Not without a fight." Cy finished with a snort.

Dick roared at the metal man as he had possible any other comebacks to be uttered from his lips, pressing on the kid's ego to best his sonic boom attack. They came hard at one another. Dick's power was in his S.W.A.T style, while Cy was a brick wall. About to –

/

BOOM!

Raven jumped. He had to be –

The door flew open as Cy stood there, his eye piece shattered and body held up like a doll. Raven gasped.

"Who –

Her stance changed; it wasn't –

Dick let Cy drop to the floor, a tin can. He wasn't playing games today., however.

"Hand her over, Raven."

"Is that you, Robin –

"My new name is "Nameless." And, don't bother. She's what my master wants. You can't stop me from taking her." He smirked. "You all never could."

"Dick…" Raven said his name with some sympathy, and Richard froze a bit by it. In her utterance of speaking through to his…his humanity, Dick was not sure…Was it a spell? Was he being manipulated by her powers?

"You don't want to help him –

"How would you know? I already gave you guys a hint; he took everything, but you couldn't save me. No one can –

"You never tried to save yourself." Raven interjected, just as Starfire had begun to stir. Dick never twitched a muscle...

"Is this what you want?" Raven asked him. Dick's eyes were, confused.

~She's too much…~

~Should I activate her probes? ~

"Are you speaking with him?"

Even as if Raven had known it, she'd never been one tango with demons. Being, she was a cambion.

"Trigon is gone, but his influence; his hatred, it's still inside Slade whenever he uses my father's power. He's only going to become more corrupted by them if –

"He's always been a bit of a bastard." Dick snorted and shrugged in agreement as he walked a bit closer, with X's gloves both held up to threaten the heroine. "Don't get me wrong, I'm trying to go up in the world…But it's not my time. Not yet…"

Raven's eyes widened, then… she nodded.

"Just, do what you must…if you can try…. AZARATH METRION! –

"UNNGH!" The Nanos took hold, just as Slade had Richard to scoop up and sedate Starfire. "I could have you sleep, forever…" Dick gulped by how light she felt. It made his bones ache to see her so…

Dead, to him.

Raven trembled as her powers went hay - wire. Sparks flying from the med bay tech, and now…. Dick had to go after item number two on his list…

~ Go over to the window, apprentice. ~ Slade commanded, and Robin obeyed.

There, a Slade bot had a hover vehicle to bring Starfire to his master. Dick would stay to retrieve the suit.

~ You have my word. No harm shall come to the alien. I'll save that punishment for you to enjoy, later. ~

Dick nodded and handed Starfire over to the bot. Yet, it didn't bother to acknowledge his presence as the nanny bot had on Slade's ship. That ship had since sailed, right to the edge of the world.

/

Raven looked at him as he walked to the exit, his steps heavier. He turned back to see Raven's eyes glowing white again, as she shut the door, and fell into a deep darkness within her memories.

"I'm sorry Raven. I'm not ready yet, to go back to the past…" He teleported with X's belt to where the suit was being stored.

The last hurrah, at the end of the world.

What a way to go….

/

The suit was an easy steal as Dick made his way back to haunt. He was a super – soldier. He'd been enhanced by his master, like drinking the blood of a vampire. He felt as if the world should back off.

But…

Still, his stomach twisted into knots.

"Slade has Starfire, he's not going to make me –

The iron doors opened wide as Dick went before his master's throne and knelt quickly onto one knee.

"I've done as you've asked, Master Slade." He said, politely. A show of respect to his stance, he'd had time to practice "proper" groveling.

Slade was quieter than earlier on; this wasn't all that unnerved Richard, however. What he did want to know, though…

Was if Slade had kept his "word."

"Sorry...Master, where is St –

"You still have yet to present to me your "other" prize." Slade drawled; ignoring Richard's light plea - for another subject to be regarded, instead.

Dick nodded and from in his extra pack, he'd taken his dues from the tower – the boots, mask, and suit all in one fell swoop.

"I've not failed you, master."

"No, I didn't think you were planning to…" His eyes narrowed, a cat's eye as Slade flicked a switch by his station and bright lights by the throne went on at once. There, at his side in binds and bolt – proof cuffs, was her…. The struggle upon her awakening to her newest, hell was real. Just as it had probably been for Robin.

She was bruised up a bit in the arms and legs, but she was safe. He still felt; in spite of his master's promise, that she was anything but secure.

He wasn't wrong, as she groaned and tried to clear her head. Disoriented, her gaze fell onto Dick and her green eyes looked up as she cried out –

"Robin! –

"Ung!"

"Wait! Master! She's not –

"You pity, this girl? Even after your promise with me, apprentice?" Slade activated the bots as she yelped out beside him, in a biting amount of pain. He took her chin in hand just to irritate the boy. Dick was wearing his own, torn attire. He looked ready to the sack. As long as he listened close…

"You have a choice; three, actually. I'll let you choose since you've been on your best behavior." Slade looked Star over as Richard breathing stilled. He still cared…no! Slade knew…He already knew that Nameless was a fake –

"Master…She…she's not –

"Be silent." His master snapped, before continuing.

"She may live as either a toy, a lab rat, or…A servant girl who will not betray your master….and if she should overstep those boundaries -

"Toy? She's sick!" Dick felt the words come out, but he almost believed them to be wrong. He was, Star was shaking from what Slade had allowed the bots to do to her body…What she'd allowed anyone to do to her…Even a former hero…

"Then, should I ask you to put her out of her misery?"

Slade saw the boy from his throne as he tensed up. Dick couldn't harm her…He wouldn't.

"I read from those files of you team's that the tower was built from using the old remains of a Gordanian command ship…. They are known to be sworn enemies to the people of Tameran." Slade mused at the fact as Robin watched in horror. He couldn't stand up yet, so he came to both his knees instead, and begged the man to not speak ill again of the girl at his side.

Such hostility in those eyes, that they'd break her with one glance.

"What should we do with you, alien girl? Hmm? Does your "former" friend have a verdict, or is he going to sell you back to your old enemies, to live out your days as a simple house pet to a tyrannical –

"Servant!" Dick blurted out. "She…. she can stay, and clean. Something…. but not that!"

"What good would that do us, apprentice? Use your head…She's much better for dissecting than for –

"Stop!"

"You still care…" Slade let go of Star's chin as he dropped his gaze from her pretty face to look into another's. His apprentice was brimming with hate. She either lived or died? Maybe, he had to lay this punishment on a bit thicker.

"Punching bag."

Slade said and Robin flinched.

"Test dummy, sacrifice in battle. That will be all she's good for if you choose to make her a simple servant to our cause. I won't be lenient, Dick. I've seen what her powers can do…What she's done to you –

"She was…my friend…" Dick hugged his arms to his chest, as Starfire's eyes had begun to tear at the scene. "Robin…" She whimpered softly.

"As I've told you before –

Slade gripped Star's arm and squeezed it too tightly. She was starting to bruise, while Dick found that the Nano- bots had made him unable to move like before from his kneeling position.

"Master Slade!... Please! Don't hurt her…I'll do anything…Anything you ask…Just…."

Slade contemplated simply throwing the girl on a ship to be sold off and out of his life. His apprentice, might see things differently if she hated him…

A cold smirk graced his lips below the mask. With the nanobots at his command almost instantly, he could make that happen.

"Very well…If you want to save her here and now, you'll fight."

"She's…the nano –

"Right now, they are set to kill. Did you forget about their true purpose?" Slade quizzed the ex – hero as he stumbled to stand up and speak…

Dick croaked out. "Hospital….surgeries –

"Which means they will heal her in time for your fight. Only, you won't be Nameless for this duel…."
Dick looked where Slade was staring.

"The suit…" The man smiled like a crocodile as the threat was there. This, was punishment.

Richard dropped the bag and with a gaping jaw now ajar, he was mortified by what he had done.

Slade wasn't going to have Robin kill Starfire…He was going to make him mercilessly BEAT her, senseless!...

"I…"

"Should I phone the Gordanian leaders, now…or later? It's your choice, apprentice. Tick – tock…"

Dick nodded. He was…

"If you don't do as I expect of you, apprentice…. I'll just go along with her the same way YOU did with Beastboy –

"You are a very bad man! What have you done to our dear friend, Slade?!"

"QUIET." Slade's own glare had the girl shrink back as the bots hadn't finished making her well enough to brawl, but well enough to attack him verbally.

"Starfire can't fight without her –

"She's going to be limited in what she may do to you." Slade explained. "Her bolts will stay obsolete. I want a fair, clean fight. Now, go change. All of the costume, but leave off X's mask. Only as my apprentice, only as the anti - Robin. You won't disregard an order. Now, leave and return once the outfit is on."

Slinking in from the shadows, four to five Slade bots came to escort the boy to a room where he'd be fitted in his old deep cover outfit of Red X. He looked over his shoulder at a bewildered Starfire, as Slade once the doors had gone from view, took her in close…

/

She can't use her bolts…

~And Master Slade forbade you from getting too close. ~

~But I saved her! She'd rather tear this place apart than…~

Sitting on the welded metal of Slade's intricately designed haunt, the renovations the bots were working on in the background made it hard to think clearly. The main room was originally where he'd been headed, but Dick...had cold feet.

"You guys wanna keep it down? I can't hear myself think!" Scowling, he trudged back off to his room. He had that…But his Master's room was a normal "event" for them at night as he went right by the lone S on the male's door frame. Shivering, he'd been called over to stop, drop, and roll so many times that it was now commonplace.

At least there wasn't any pain involved in their sessions in a –

He suddenly stopped and heard a faint weeping, loud sniffling from a few floors below, or just one…Super soldiers could hear a pin drop. Wow, no shock to the man without fear…

But to Robin? He went after the sound; his ears red with curiosity at who could –

To his sheer disbelief, the lab door was only mildly encrypted, so he made his way inside. He wanted to know when THIS had been built…

Was Chang now working for Slade? It was possible. This place had some level of security, and it was further below the usual floors where Slade and he stayed to rest and recuperate.

Mask up, he knew that just in case he'd be told to leave, at least his blue eyes could hold no contempt like the one from his master's apprentice uniform.

He was supposed to change and go find his master in the main room. Slade would come here, so he had to be quick. The X suit's belt was with a teleportation setting. Slade knew he wouldn't get far, so Richard just walked about to see what was so important…

Gar's remains were in a place that he'd only considered….

Burial, no. Cremation…. Holy…

Dick ran from the spot and came to back into a glass tank with ….

Plasmus? Guessing it was easier to keep tabs on the big bad goo wad, he could have opted for a bigger jail cell. Slade ruled the world, almost. So, he could have what he wanted, where and whenever…After removing himself from that way, Dick turned and heard the weeping sound again, a bit melancholy now that he was closer to it.

"She…. it's a woman…. No…" Dick expected to see the figure behind closed and barred walls. He wanted to shout out to it, but could not.

Dick's bags were showing again. He had to stop and run out for some face serum later…No, he didn't…. He was effing immortal and a half... But…who was that, crying in the dark? Was it…?

He walked on into the shadows and saw a similar containment tube, with only one thing inside.

Starfire, in her cuffs and inside the generated field. She was the one who'd pulled him to her…

She was the one who'd been crying all alone.

He went up to her slowly, and reached a hand out, but then retracted it.

"I –

She gasped and a flicker of contempt revisited those glowing orbs.

"Wthulliffgorfnnakkat! Signilllitito srang norbkilnor! Ro – troe tamaer!"

"Star! It's me!" Dick pointed at his masked face as he tugged off the apprentice mask to show her his sincerity…

He wasn't. She'd been captured because of him, but he did it anyway.

She huffed as if a fire – beast within their own gilded cage to be rescued from, or slain inside of.

"You are just as despicable for coming here…We are not friends, as your "marteruis" says?" She raised a brow at the ex – leader. He imagined in her language that meant…Master, or keeper. What had Slade told her? Was she really upset because of his manipulation tactics?

"We…can't be…. not yet, or in this…. time…Raven knows too much…And…."

Still, Slade could be listening…He too in a new breath to finish, "Still, I'm going to stay here…but you don't have –

"I was called by the Citadel upon MY capture, "Rutha." Starfire said with her eyes lowered, painfully trying not to become like Slade with such anger to fuel her.

"Ah –

"It would mean to you earthlings; Weak. Insignificant, small. And as I look from my prison at the leader I too once admired, I find him as only good at being RUTHA." She dictated this, and Dick knew she'd have a hard time believing what he was doing was to save the world…but in another way.

"I know, Star…I can't stop him any more than I can resurrect –

"Your dear friends were all dead; nearly annihilated, BECAUSE of your reluctance to wish in defeating this…monster…Having failed…. given up…We survived, with the help of our heroes that did know of his plans." She gritted her fists and tried not to let go to her raging heart.

"I am not giving up, I'm planning." Dick rebuked. "When the time does arrive, you and everyone else…might finally –

"You speak in riddles, as far as I can see of you now…" Kori frowned and pointed her cuffed arms at her former leader. "We claim that there is a way, and yet you tell us that two years is never enough time!? Why must you try to run from yourself? He is a villain and many mighty and brave heroes always defeat –

"Wait!" The platform was slowly…rising, as Dick threw himself atop the shifting spot until he and Star were in each other's faces. She saw him look at her, but from this show of affection? He'd only be a drone; a robot like all the rest.

If only she knew the half of what was to come…

/

"It's time; Robin?" Slade stood and saw the hero clinging to the girl's cell like a cushy body pillow. Sexual tension, no. There was something else…He'd find out later, he squinted at the scene. Right now, Dick was wearing X's full gear, minus the mask. He was going to hold his own against the powerless Tameranean girl. A one – on - one, where the winner would submit…

/

Slade started up the fanfare in his own dramatic way to built up momentum. Slade's robots came and tugged the ex-hero back from her cage, as Star didn't bother to defend her old crush. That, and she'd be lethal if he allowed it.

"Your strength…Tameranean child, will be halved to that of a mere human." Slade announced.

"If one of you is knocked out, then the match will continue. This will not end until a true victor is to be decided. I'll be judging everything from my post, so no close contact or anything that will explicitly violate the other participant and 'their' rights, respectfully."

Such a goody – goody. Robin wanted to roll his eyes, but Star beat him to it.

"We'll begin with both participants being bound to their word, that includes the ref." Slade pressed a switch by his control panel of knobs and buttons as Starfire soon had her cuffs released. They were going to go back onto her slim wrists by the end of this fight. If she knew of such duels out in the Galactic Quadrant, then Slade was going to want a round two to make up for any losses.

Richard wasn't as ready to brawl as Slade had hoped. So, the man decided to remind Dick why he needed to fight her, instead.

"Apprentice. Don't let your feelings for the alien cloud your judgement. I've noticed that you refuse to look away…But once this is all over, you're going to wish you'd taken my earlier advice…"

Slade was talking about the lost chance to behead his friend. His…. enemy? No! She was, right to hate him…He was a criminal –

"Fighters, ready? Then…BEGIN."

/

Starfire's alien martial arts were still quite lethal, even without her full power to keep Dick on his back.

She didn't speak; it was as if he'd only seen her this violent towards him when she'd first crashed onto earth….

When she'd tried to kiss and kill him…

Now, it was only to kill and prove her honor was not lost.

"Star! Wa-

"Do not speak! You must fight! Your honor is to this man, correct? Then, stand your ground and defend it if you must! HRAAH!"

She was fast, even without her powers, and she could flip with her lanky form to seem untouchable. Like Dick as a Flying Grayson, he just evaded and tried to push her…careful not to –

Well, that wasn't an option.

He got hit, right in the nose as it trickled blood from the teen's right side. He wiped the red stain (that was made by Star's heavy punch) away, and it hit him…She had to go down to listen at all…He had to find an opening.

Or, Slade would do something despicable. He knew that glint. It wasn't a "I plan to fuck you into the bed spread tonight with everything I've got" glint in his one eye. It was a "you think she can win this with me holding all of the cards?" look. A smirk from that wily tiger, and Dick knew it oh – so - well after two years of sleeping, fucking, eating, and killing with the sociopathic –

His wish came true, as Slade blinked and the Nano – bots inconspicuously gave Slade's apprentice the edge he'd need to put the warrior alien girl in her place.

She saw him really lay down his wild card, as Dick's revving of powerful hits and kicks was amplified. Only, almost like Slade as a fist hit the wall, shattering a good chunk of it…

Dick growled and went at her. She dodged and sent his arm back to ram her head and chin into his. They both fell; seeing stars, at first. She was grabbed and pulled to fall up onto his chest on the floor. Gasping and with a shrill shout, Dick was just as traumatized and let go immediately as Star smacked his stained cheek, unappreciatively. He couldn't –

"You will not touch me! Not while we must defeat this criminal and his delusions!" Proclaimed the alien as her next battle cry kept Dick on his toes. He flipped to get away, but she boxed him to lie back down. He swiftly tripped her, grabbing her boot, and she had to grapple him to the ground as a precaution. The fight was getting feral. Slade waited before he'd considered calling off the match for a –

She'd said, WE…. that made this a problem.

"Robin. I order you to immobilize the girl – do as I command, right this minute, apprentice."

"You are being summoned." Starfire scoffed and let her hair flip behind her head with a sheer twist. She used it to disorient him – but Dick could tug weeds out of the ground much faster. She cried out as her locks were pulled by his monster – power grip. Dick knew he'd worn gloves to prevent himself from further infecting her; Slade was watching. Time for some…

X marks the spot.

Dick used the Xenothium belt's power and his suit to let the gloves shock star as she was left frazzled and sizzling a bit from the attack. He let her go, but Slade had found that he'd rather up the ante. Star's minor bolts had been no more than bee stings, but they could still pack a mighty punch.

"We have to stop the –

"Why give up, now?" Slade raised a hand and had Dick as much a puppet as he'd made Starfire. She was struggling to hold back her arms, but those pure tears in her emerald eyes, flowed – Dick saw and he screamed back for Slade to desist with this barbaric game.

This, gladiator fight to the death.

"Slade! Please, stop! She can't do this! I'm not going to –

"So, you admit to an attempted rebellion, apprentice? Would you rather I punish you both for your misconduct –

"No! She's going to –

He was coming closer, and his older gloved hand was beckoning Dick to keep fighting, which he did so without question.

And finally, Slade had her in a bind. Starfire was hit and punched, bitten and her hair tugged nearly from her thin scalp.

He made Robin straddle her to the floor, keeping the frightened and disturbed boy and girl as he wanted; they were going to pay for that act of insubordination. Starfire was alive, but she didn't have to be…

"After you kill the alien, make sure to clean up any remains; burn that image into your mind, Robin."

That tone grew darker, still. Still, as Dick held up his hands as they shook.

Still, as the gloves made up a dagger to pierce the princess in that pretty throat….

Dick cried out, and missed just by her ear. They didn't move as his breathing was ragged. His eyes had a tear just coming down …. Starfire felt it plop onto her cheek…He let the gloves be peeled back as the blade reverted into red energy. Glop. She opened her eyes, which had been squeezed shut from the impact. Slade was walking over, and then…

Dick took out the X spear and chucked it at Slade's head. Starfire watched as Slade rushed at the boy, trying to pull him off of Star's stomach. Batting at one another like a parent and child who wouldn't obey the rules, she used her mosquito sized bolts to rebel against both, but mostly Slade.

Her Robin…he was still fighting!

Somehow getting free, she saw Slade blink as her bolts were capped back up. The end…Was this her rebellion?

Dick was kicked in the face as he now nursed a loose tooth…His eyes looking for his attacker.

"Your choice was a poor one, boy. Your "teammate" is only expecting you to return; but you know that as well as I…" He turned his head to Starfire as she threw up her fists, as if bolts would magically appear.

"Is far from possible, any longer."

Slade narrowed his eyes to her, then took the spear of X's and made it go flying as a boomerang to knock the Titan girl out cold.

"No! Don't hurt –

"OOmpH!" Robin was kicked in the ribs this time, but he still managed to crawl and beg. Such a devoted idiot…. A Titan? No…he wasn't anything more than Slade's shadow. Starfire had to see it; how he seemed ….

"Ah, you don't know the whole truth…do you?" Slade's voice was a bit to a hiss or whisper as he suddenly had another plan…

"Starfire doesn't know about us, does she? –

"I do…. And I cannot approve of such a union while Robin is still not willing to form such a twisted "partnership" between two male human beings! He is being harmed by your evil logic! His body must not be objectified by your mad desire for pure conquest… That is why you cannot defeat us; we are far superior, and this is why you'd see us fall into the trenches of Gothara by your cunning and vile trickery! You are spiteful and a horrible person that Robin –

"And that, is why you don't stick with powerful women, Robin. They'll rip you heart out…. unless you strike first –

"He will NOT!" As Starfire's limitless energy was still left to her, she had to fight the man off. Slade dragged Dick by his collar to be shoved into the dais's many steps. She ran after, only to lose her grip on the situation.

As Dick hit the first step, his teeth rattled. Starfire was blocked by a dozen or so more Slade bots to subdue her. She grew anxious. This was…

"Robin! You must not give up! We know you are still a hero, somehow! Please! Fight him! –

The bots took her arms and legs, making her as helpless as he was as she screamed out and kicked out with what she could muster. This horror, as Slade still tugged Dick's collar to sit by him, to not move away and disobey…and to watch as the violent reminder was as if she were trapped in a stampeding cloud of grabby Slade bots.

"STARFIRE!" His eyes brimmed with tears that would not come.

Dick seethed at the man who held his throat, he wanted to speak his mind…

"Slade…...how could you?…. She's a –

"A warrior, and she'll only be recaptured to be sold off to the highest bidder; the Citadel."

"More like a slave! You can't do this!"

"I can, boy!" Slade dragged Dick up the rest of the steps as he scrambled to clutch anything to pull him back to her. As she was hurt and scared…. like him…. he was terrified…. what was…

He forgot how to breathe…. he was panicking…. No!

"Take the alien back to her cell and keep her locked up. Sedate her if you must," Slade commanded the bots. Dick violently shook shaking his head, as Slade forced them both to move; his ascent to the top being his soon to admit…punishment…. mouth and tongue…. or whip and s…. goddamn! Why!? He was still waiting for the time! He was supposed to let this happen…. No….no!

"Slade…. stop…. plea –

"Another word and I'll TAKE you HERE before they put the girl into confinement…!" Threatened the male as Dick went bleach white. "I'm…. not…a -

"But, aren't you? You should be, by now." Slade made it to the last step. His throne was where he wanted the boy to beg him properly.

"The Citadel is more ruthless than I am when it comes to punishing, prisoners. They have the ability to use a form technology that is light-years more advanced that our own. If she goes there, they can decide if she lives as a pet to some noble, or if she's worthy to fight in their games for her very sanctity. You should have left her to her fate. DEATH would have saved the girl, but you are so noble…. You, think this life is so sacred? Even by what it's taken from your team? Your family? Know this, apprentice…" Slade hissed in his ear as Star was already sedated. For this, Slade had allowed the bots to do with as tey were expected. She must have been too strong….

"Death might have once been able to save you from me, but now…. You'll just have to live with the consequences…. You won't die. I won't stop, Robin… I won't let you break the oath you swore to me." Slamming the teen into his throne's seat, Dick was shaking. He didn't want to relive his moment of dying every time! That was, cruel…Why would Slade decide to keep his powers if he thought they only brought misery and suffering? Was he waiting to die?

"If you think that the "punishment" that the Gordanians subjected on Starfire was tough…. wait until you see what I can do to the rest of you heroes…. Obliterate them. Send them with broken limbs into the depths of space…. Where not a sound, echoes out…" He touched Dick's outfit before pulling it to shreds. Leaving him with a few more layers to go.

"Do you think the Bat was better off dead? If he saw what you became…it would drive him insane like that clown he chose to be his arch - nemesis…. But you and I? We're perfect for each other…." Slade said this with a sultry hold over Robin's mental state. The boy's wide eyes could not cry. He would not. He'd sworn….

"You can come after me, any time…You've had the practice, just let it take hold… -

"I…. I…."

"Cold feet? Here…. I'll warm you…"

Star wasn't here, she didn't hear the moans made out as Dick was sucked off by his worst nemesis made a master of his fate. How he arched into the throne; a perfect fit. He had gotten a few centimeters in height, that year he'd been brought to the new haunt. Slade was brimming with desire, and also…. He had reason to punish the boy…but was not ready to reveal his weapon.

Dick didn't have to love or like anything, he simply had to endure. For that alien, and for his whittled pride.

The Titans weren't coming. No one was going to save him; this was going to happen…

And there was nothing he could do to stop it, as Slade lifted the boy and plowed him deep. Bucking, crying and kicking wildly for his body to be set free, Dick stood less of a chance than his deceased mentor did of killing any god.

Slade didn't care for either option, and kept up the pace. A mess he'd made of the man's throne. Bad, Robin… Looks like Dick would be the one to clean it up, after the boy's reprimand was through.

As he'd made it inevitable for Starfire; a mess she'd been on his conscience, he decided to undo the noose round Dick's slender throat.

"I told your lovely, princess…" Slade admitted as his cock pulsed to have Dick's masked eyes bulge outward.

A quickie wasn't possible, too bad…

"That you and I weren't just perfect…we were one and the same…. You, won't leave my side, because you enjoy my body too much…As I enjoy making you come every time –

"S- sl- slaade!...Ngh, ba –

"No." Slade flipped the kid onto his stomach and handed a backhand to his exposed rear. Dick yelped. * The man was still inside him, stretching his hole out as if it could go any wider…. Gaping and sucking him in…Dick's face got even redder from the thought of their tangled bodies…being a perfect fit…He shuddered as Slade grew even harder from the boy's light vibrations.

"We're past the insults, I'd assumed by now…She was made crystal that your affections can't be returned…. She was so upset!...What kind of friend decides that abuse is actually love? Hmm? She's too jealous, and THAT is why…. You'll sever those ties…. right…"

Slade thrust in, as Dick cried out. The pleasure…but he was supposed to…. have punish…ment? He…liked it?

"Now! Here!" Slade shot his seed, as the catcher graciously took it all inside him. Robin moaned; a sheer cry of ecstasy. The sweat coating his entire body was real.

The power this beast held over him, was real.

The look in her eyes as a part of Dick again went to sleep, was so real...

And his aching and throbbing body as it stayed bent over the man's throne seat –

Yelping, Slade wasn't done.

"Your, punishment. You did have it coming." The slaps were more like whip strikes as the man's gloved hands made his apprentice yowl in the dark, hoping that alien would like the show if she heard it…

Maybe her mind would fall apart. Maybe she'd forget how to smile…

Maybe, she would finally forget about Robin and the Teen Titans….

The last thought put a smile on Slade's masked face. Even if Trigon's power had made him a loathing, lusting animal, he still held all of the cards.

Dick shouted out something then, that made the man perk up his ears…

"Ahg…master! annn…. slade..." He came onto the seat as his as was soothingly caressed, his thanks to the man for being so honest.

"Good boy…. And very soon, you'll be a perfect marvel to embody all that I've built…Good, apprentice…."

They stayed in the dark, as Dick hid his eyes and was even sprayed by his own cum a bit from the release. He tried not to cry, but those tears and the semen he'd been left to recall…. he felt like a part of himself had been let go of with that shout.

~ I'm disgusting…. I can't save them…. I can't even look at them…. make it stop…. please…. I'm done…~

But, that time would come. The longer it took. The greater he'd be at finally resisting his urges.

Yet, did he actually want to stay? Was Slade right?

Did he enjoying coming from the man's hand?

/

The day came that Star was let to the Citadel soldiers; he was forced to watch with the bots keeping him at his master's side. His heart throbbing to say her name…. But, she didn't even look his way before setting off on her long journey to a new life. His fists unclenched once she was gone, and Slade expected no less from his apprentice's elf control. They went back inside, then…all a blur….

/