Alright, I know it's been a long time, but here ya' go, chapter 2! ... It's been a long process, basically the whole problem with posting this before now (because it was pretty much done) was that I didn't like it while I was writing it, and now ... it's okay. I think I could have done better and I don't know if I like it this way, but I'll let you be the judge of that, again, tell me if Slade or anyone else is too OOC

OH! Before I forget, Speedy is in this chapter, well actually, Titans East in general are in this chapter, and I just wanted to say; I don't like Teen Titans Speedy, so I based Speedy more off of Speedy from Young Justice. I did keep everyone else pretty similar to their original characters ... I think ... I hope. That's really the only thing I needed to warn anyone about. YJ!Speedy instead of TT!Speedy

anyway, on with the chapter, enough about me

~ Evi

As Robin lifted his head from the uncomfortable metal table, he groaned. He pushed himself into a sitting position but found he couldn't do much more than that. He couldn't even lift his hand to his head to try and ease his throbbing headache.

"You're awake, I'm glad." Came Slade's voice from across the room. "I thought you'd sleep through the show." He smirked. At first Robin was confused. What show could Slade be talking about? Then he saw them; Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire Speedy, Aqualad, Bee, even Mas and Menos. His team, and even Titans East, they were all passed out, and badly bruised, sprawled across the cold concrete floor across the room. The Titans leader had tried to get up, tried to help his friends, to at least get to them, but was still confined to the cold metal table. Finally Robin looked down to himself, his belt, his gloves, even his boots were gone, his cape was across the room lying next to Raven. Upon further inspection he found his wrists to be chained to the table. For a moment Robin wondered how out of it he was to not have noticed that before now, but pushed it aside when he got a better look at what was separating him from his friends, it was hard to see in the inconsistent flickering of the light, but it was there; a large glass wall. Even if he had somehow been able to get out of the restraints placed on him, without his weapons, it would have done little good. He wouldn't have been able to protect his friends, let alone even get to them. Without his weapons, he was useless … defenseless … but he didn't have to let the enemy know that. The young hero growled.

"What are you planning?!" the man accused tutted and shook his head.

"Really Robin, do you honestly think you are in any position to fight me right now?" Even if Robin couldn't see the older villain's face, he could hear that damnable smirk in his voice. Robin fought against the chains, thrashing about, so wrapped up in trying to get out that he didn't even notice Slade walk up to him. The hero was then informed quite violently when he felt the sting of the man's rough hand on his cheek. For a moment Robin was stunned into silence, Slade had slapped him, but that just infuriated him all the more, and his thrashing began again, the cuffs biting into his wrists painfully.

"Let them go!" Robin shouted.

"Now, Robin, there is one way, and one way only to save your friends … for now." He paused for the boy to look at him, when he didn't Slade grabbed the teen's chin and turned his face to him forcefully. His grey eye boring into Robin's own masked blue ones.

"I have been very lenient with you, but I will not tolerate rudeness. You will look at me when I talk to you. Do you understand?" Robin only glared. His reward being another sharp slap to the face, and without being able to move his face within Slade's hand, it stung all the more. Still Robin stood his ground. He growled and spat at him, all the while Slade staring him down like a disgruntled owner would to his disobedient puppy. Slade answered the teen's growl with a backhand to the boy's other cheek. "I can keep this up all night Robin, but, I'm not so sure you pretty face can do the same." Slade hummed into the boy's ear. Slade pulled back, his ash eye softening as he moved Robin's face side to side to assess the damage done to the little bird. He took in the bright red marks left by his calloused hand and smiled to himself, red really did suit his little robin well. "I mean really, you brought this on yourself. All I asked was for you to be polite, it's not an outrageous demand. I'm sure The Batman taught you manners, yes? Well, never mind." He gave a mock sigh of resignation "If you don't want to save your friends, that's on you. I get what I want regardless." That smirk in his voice was back. Robin could practically see it in his gleaming grey eye. Robin glanced to his unconscious friends across the room then sighed, might as well hear the psychopath out and then figure out how to drop kick the bastard into next week … if he was ever to get out of the damn chains that was. As things stood, he really didn't have a plan, and Batman had taught him to always have a plan. So he turned his glare back onto the man in front of him. Jaw set tight, his glare so intense that if the boy had had laser vision Slade would have been dead in a millisecond. Though, of course, Slade simply brushed it off as if it were nothing.

"What. Do. You. Want?" he almost hissed with a venom Slade hadn't known the boy was capable of producing, seeping into his words, he could almost hear the chains melt as the acid hit them the way Robin spat out the question.

"Now that you're listening hero I can move on to why you're here. What I want is you, little bir-

"I already told you I—"

Smack!

The sound echoed in the empty building, and Robin would be lying if he said that one didn't hurt, but, that was just what he had to do, lie. He wasn't going to be weak in front of this man.

"Interrupting is rude Robin. Now, as I said before; you will address me as you would anyone else, properly and with your manners. Now, as I was saying. I'm not asking you to be my apprentice; that ship has sailed. No, I want you to be my entertainment. You see, I get oh so lonely sometimes." He chuckled and rounded the table the young hero was still constrained to, never taking his hand off of Robin. As he walked he let his hand fall from Robin's face to his chest and trail back up to his shoulder. Once he was directly behind Robin he stopped, and leaned forward over the young titan's shoulder to speak directly into his ear. "Of course I would take care of you." Slade picked up, not missing a beat. "I would feed you, I would train you. Bathe you." He smirked as Robin turned a wonderful array of colors from red to green in under a minute. "I can't very well keep a dirty bird now can I?" he chuckled to himself again, low in his throat, and Robin could almost feel the vibrations of the sound in his ear. "I would take care of you." He repeated. "Protect you even. I do take very good care of my possessions you see."

"Protect me? From what? You want me to be your … your pet or something?! Is that it?"

"My bird, you are already my pet. Look around, don't you like your pretty new cage?" Slade laughed a deeply, it shook Robin to his very core. "And I would protect you. I could protect you from your enemies and all your demons."

"You're my enemy! And you know nothing of my demons." The last part was quiet and more for himself than the sake of the argument he was having, he hadn't meant for the older villain to hear him, but as fate would have it, Slade had. And how could he have not? The man was looming over him like a vulture.

"I could if you would let me. I don't have to be your enemy, we could get along very well if you would just get rid of your useless pride and ridiculously skewed sense of right and wrong. Robin you should know by now that the world isn't only black and white. There are many different shades of grey as well. I could even protect you from your own choices." Slade straightened up and walked back to the glass wall. "Though, I can't say the same of your friends. And they won't live to see tomorrow if you do not accept my gracious offer. Because either way Robin, you will be mine. Willingly or by force, if necessary."

"Never!"

Slade sighed.

"What a shame. Oh well, I had preferred an intact little bird when I started this, but I guess it's irrelevant. I suppose a broken bird is still better than no bird at all. Perhaps you'll change your mind with a bit of persuasion." 'After all I still want you to sing for me, and if you break completely now, I won't have the proper satisfaction when it comes time to break you later.' Slade added to himself, pressing a red button to the side of the transparent wall and spoke again. "Time to wake up Titans. I hope you enjoyed your little nap, but the show must in fact go on I'm afraid." Slade's voice carried through a sound system, Robin could hear it, muffled as it was, bouncing and echoing off the walls of the cell his friends were in. Robin breathed a momentary sigh of relief when he saw everyone move on the ground. Raven groaned, Cyborg's lights came whirring back to life, Beast Boy gave a small moan of protest as he pushed himself up off the damp, cold, brick ground. Starfire put her hand to her head then went to help Bumble Bee and Aqualad. Speedy pushed himself up and looked around, took out his bow and reached for an arrow that wasn't there, realizing his quiver was gone he threw the useless bow at the glass, cursing. Many of the words the archer spewed Robin hadn't even heard Batman use even in his angriest of fits. Mas and Menos rushed to Speedy's side, speaking quick spanish that Robin could only catch bits and pieces of.

"Where are we?" being the most he could catch.

"Now, now Mr. Archer, that won't do. You should work on your anger management." Slade chuckled.

"Slade what have you done with Robin? We know you have him!" Raven shouted, obviously peeved. When Robin opened his mouth to speak, Slade held up a hand to silence him.

"I do have him, he's just fine. He's right here actually. We were just working on our manners ourselves, were we not my precious bird?" there was a purr to Slade's voice as he said "precious" one that made Robin shudder.

"Go to hell Slade!" Robin bit back. Slade sighed loudly.

"Alas, we didn't get very far. Oh well, it's a work in progress I suppose."

"Robin, are you okay man?" Aqualad asked looking around.

"Where are you, you son of a –

"Language, language young lady." Slade interrupted as Bee made a mad dash at the wall to break free of the room.

"Manners Slade." Robin mocked "Interrupting is rude, remember?" The masked boy smirked. "Or are you the exception?" Slade growled.

"Don't test me boy, you will regret it."

"What? Are you gonna hit me again? I'm a hero, remember, I'm used to physical abuse. Harley Quin hits harder than you do for that matter!" Robin snapped, trying to distract Slade, maybe if he got mad enough at him he'd forget about his friends and let them go? It wasn't much of a plan but it was all he had ... and it really didn't seem to be working as the man's eye narrowed on him.

"Perhaps I need a new method of discipline then." Slade's voice took on a darker tone as he spoke of punishment. "My dear Titans, this whole room that you are in is made of indestructible two way mirrors, I have modified it even further to be impervious to both the variety of powers you all possess and brute strength. There is zero chance of you leaving that room alive unless I permit it."

"Which you won't do, will you?" Beast Boy groaned, leaning against the back wall, his head in his hands, fingers tugging on his hair almost painfully, looking greener than usual.

"On the contrary, there is one way to leave."

"What? Make you king of the world or somethin'?" Bee asked sarcastically, a hand on her hip, and her eyebrow raised sardonically.

"No, you hardly have that kind of power." Slade chuckled. "No, the only way you will be leaving that room is for our little Robin over here, bound and helpless to save you all, to accept my offer." The smile in his voice and the pure mirth in his eye as Slade turned to him made Robin's blood run cold, and his skin crawl.

"Robin would never join you! He never has and never will!" Cyborg shouted.

"Leave Robin alone!" Speedy demanded over Cyborg's objection. Starfire gasped and started to tell the two younger boys what was going on, her Spanish fluent, and fast.

"As I told Robin earlier, I don't want him to join me any longer, to be my apprentice, I want him to submit to me." He lowered his voice, but not enough that the other's couldn't hear "You will be mine Robin, one way or another."

"Don't do it Robin!" Speedy called to him.

"¡No! ¡Señor Robin, no lo hagas!" Mas shouted as well.

"We'll be fine man, don't listen to him. There's nine of us and only one of him!" Aqualad added his two cents into the fray of exclamations directed at Robin. Robin was shaking almost, he wanted to listen to his friend, he wanted to tell them that he would never give in, but at the moment, … he really couldn't see the upside in the situation. Slade had the upper hand, he held all the cards, he could end them in any fashion he wanted and Robin wouldn't be able to do a thing.

"I don't want to …" he almost sobbed quietly, only just barely keeping his voice in check, he couldn't let his team know how truly terrified he was for them … for himself even. "But he said he'd kill you." Robin screwed his eyes shut tight, shaking his head violently, silently praying that the whole thing was a nightmare and that he'd wake up and everything would be just fine. He had to keep the mentality that nothing bad would actually befall his friends and teammates, even though in his heart and in his head, he knew it was only wishful thinking. "I … I can't risk you guys!" Robin bit out louder. And even though he was speaking so softly before, he knew that they had heard him. And even if they hadn't, they had definitely heard the last part. Robin had to will his eyes open, it was an uphill battle and when he finally was able to crack them open, he almost wished he hadn't even tried. The others were all wearing looks of shock and confusion. Some were even scared. Their fearless leader was caving, he was chipping and breaking. And there was nothing they could do to help.

"Dude, don't give in to him! He's tried this before, remember, we'll get through it like we always do!" Beast Boy tried to reason. Slade just stood back. Sooner or later he'd interject, but not just yet.

"Friend Robin, you must not worry about us. We shall all be okay." Starfire told him looking to the speakers where she could hear them rather than see their leader and assailant through the walls.

"Star …" Robin whispered. He really wished he could run in there and hug her, tell her it would all be alright, but as it stood, he couldn't even hug himself, tell himself it would all be okay, let alone convince anyone else that everything would work out.

"Very touching, really, but I'm afraid that none of you have a real say in this. Whether you make it out of that cell alive is completely up to Robin." Slade walked back over to Robin and leaned down to face him at eye level. "So, Robin, are you going to agree?" Robin looked between Slade and his friends, they didn't want him to give in, so he wouldn't. He steeled himself and narrowed his eyes on the taller man.

"I'd rather die!" he growled. Slade chuckled before a full out laugh boomed from his chest then picked up something from next to Robin's bed, a remote.

"That's the spirit, I was hoping you still had some fight left in you, it really wouldn't be any fun if you gave in without letting me play with your little friends first. And even if you'd rather die, that's not on the agenda." he pressed several buttons and suddenly he couldn't hear his friends words anymore, and when he turned away from Slade to look over to them, they were all staring at him. Bee, and Starfire had a hand over their mouths and their eyes wide. Cyborg and Beast Boy were banging on the glass angrily, shouting something that he couldn't hear. He didn't know what was happening, he whipped his head back to the mercenary in front of him.

"What did you do?"

"Oh nothing much, I merely muted their room, can't have them swaying your opinion now can I?" He pressed a few other buttons and suddenly there was a gas falling from the ceiling and everyone froze.

"W-What is that?"

"Don't worry, the gas is harmless, all it does is temporarily immobilize you. Your friends are fine. It'll wear off in under a minute, plenty of time for what I need to do." he answered casually as he walked over to the glass wall and rounded the corner to where it met the brick wall, and opened a door Robin hadn't known was even there. He slapped himself in his head, of course there was a door, how else had Slade gotten them in there? phasing them through the ceiling? Even Slade couldn't do that. As he watched Slade walk farther into the glass room he was horrified as he saw the man saunter up to one of the youngest members of Titans East; Mas. He took in a desperate breath as he watched, helpless, as Slade produce a large needle from somewhere on his person, his struggling renewed as the needle penetrated the flesh of Mas' arm. The transparent liquid in the syringe being injected slowly into the young hero's bloodstream. Robin pulled and twisted, he contorted himself into whatever shapes he could think of to try to get out of the chains binding him, but nothing worked. He couldn't help the pit in his stomach as he saw the villain leave the glass room .

"W-What was that?" Robin asked quietly. Slade relocked the door and waited a moment before answering not even bothering to look Robin in the eye, knowing that the young hero would be a mess once he knew. He waited for the effects of the gas to wear off before he spoke again.

"Hydrophis Belcheri venom." Robin wasn't sure what a Hydrophis Belcheri was but he did know "venom" was never good.

"What does it do?"

"It is a neurotoxin that affects the central nervous system, breathing and heart rate. It breaks down muscle and red blood cells, which plugs back into the liver so that it becomes acute liver failure. The victim can not move their arms nor legs. It causes severe pain, joint stiffness, muscle cramps and spasms, blindness, unconsciousness, and shortness of breath. With the amount I gave him, he'll be dead in two minutes or less." Slade recited, turning to Robin. "There is no antidote. That boy will die, and it will be all your fault." As Slade was speaking Robin could hear Mas start to gasp for air, his small hands going to this throat, scratching at it, trying to get the air to flow correctly. He watched horrified as the small boy's face turned blue and purple from suffocation. The cell was still muted, which right now, he thanked, he wouldn't be able to take hearing that. He could tell that Menos was panicking as he watched the other twin start crying as he grabbed his brother's arm, Starfire was trying to calm him down and Raven was doing her best to heal the dying hero, but neither seemed to be making much headway. Just as Slade had predicted, just a few moments later, Mas was dead. Not only had this been a death, it also effectively stopped Menos from using his powers as well. Robin could feel the tears rolling down his cheeks, and curled into himself as much he could.

"Stop." being the only thing that could come out of his mouth, almost like a mantra. He shut his eyes tight as he said it louder and louder each time. "Stop. Stop. STOP!" He didn't know if his friends could hear him and he couldn't open his eyes to see their reactions. Robin just wanted to find a nice quiet corner and die. He couldn't protect anyone, not himself, not his family, not his friends, and certainly not an entire city. What kind of joke had he been living up until now? All he was, was a circus brat with a few good toys. He had no powers, he had no way of helping anyone, let alone himself.

"Robin." The voice was soft now, and Robin could feel Slade's large hand pat his head, and it just felt so nice to have someone comfort him. He never let people comfort him because he never let people see this side of him, so when he caught himself about to lean into to feeling of that big, warm, tender hand running it's fingers through his hair … he almost wanted to be sick. He choked back a sob, curling up more, ignoring the pain in his joints as he pulled against the chains. "He didn't have to die." Slade whispered. "He could have lived, all you had to do, was say yes." Slade was almost too thrilled when he got an almost positive response from the cracking little bird.

"Don't kill anyone else." it was quiet, but Slade had heard it.

"You know how to make that happen. You just have to say it." Slade answered simply, his thumb wiping away one of the fallen droplets of salty water. He didn't want to make his bird cry, but he did need him to realize that he didn't have a say in the matter and that Slade would have his way, one way or another. He would admit that murder was a bit of an extreme way to go about persuading his little bird, but it seemed that that was the only way to get through to the young hero. Robin shook his head, still adamant as ever to not give in. "Robin." Slade said again, his voice harsher than before. "I have no qualms with killing all of your little friends today, but they don't have to die. If you keep denying me, they will all go one by one until you comply. Next will be the other boy, Menos I believe his name is. Then next, that pretty little empath, Raven. Followed by Beast Boy and Miss Bee. I will continue right down the list until they are all gone." he paused. "Don't think I wont." Robin's eyes snapped open and he sat up as best he could, his head whipped around to look Slade in the eye.

"No!" he shouted. Slade, from behind his back, pressed the mute button again so that Robin could hear the others, not that they were making much of any kinds of sounds at the moment, still grieving their lost teammate.

"What do you have to say to make me stop Robin?" Slade asked, that damnable smirk back in his voice.

"Yes." He choked out, looking away.

"Yes, what?" Slade prompted.

"Yes, I'll … submit … to you …" the last part was mumbled low and quiet, but it was loud enough that Slade could hear it. But just to engrave it further into his little birdie's mind, what he was truly agreeing to …

"Louder Robin." Robin clenched his eyes shut tighter, sobs wracking his body as he tried to get a hold of himself.

"Yes. … I'll submit to you." He said louder, feeling worse and worse about it every second. Slade was pleased.

"No." Starfire gasped, Slade couldn't have timed it better himself. Robin's eyes snapped open as he heard the small gasp and looked over to see Starfire, and all the others staring at him, all of them shocked.

"Why … How could you Robin? Did Mas die for nothing then?!" Speedy shouted. Robin tried to cover his ears as best he could, trying to block out the sound of the disappointment his friends felt towards him.

"I don't want more of you to die!" he shouted back.

"Forget about us, If you give in now, what would have been the point of-

"Speedy!" Robin looked up to Roy, to look him dead in the eye. "I don't want more of you to die! If sacrificing myself means that you all can live, then I'll do it!" Robin tried as hard as he could to not let on how much it hurt, but Roy was one of his best friends, one of the few people who knew who he was, under the mask. One of the few people he could trust with anything, but that also meant that Roy could see right through him. Speedy's angry look fell as he sighed. Speedy knew just as much as Robin did that this was for the best, that the more people that made it out of this whole thing alive, the better.

"Dude, Robin, what are you thinking?!" This time it was Beast Boy. But before the changeling could say any more, Speedy pulled him away.

"He's thinking, kid, that in order to save your life, he'll do anything." Speedy snapped. He had hoped that he could talk some sense into Robin, but he knew that it wouldn't matter, and that Robin would never forgive himself for Mas's death either.

"Well kids, it has been a pleasure, but it seems our time has run out," Slade spoke up, his tone condescending. As much as he loved seeing his little bird squirm, he had what he had come to get, so he would take his spoils and leave. He unlocked Robin's chains and sat him up, taking his arm and leading him to the back door of the warehouse. "The door is under time lock, by the time it opens, we will be long gone, if you try to find us, there will be no mercy, I will kill you. Do you understand Robin? Tell them not to search for you."

"I-I'll be okay guys … just don't get killed, please." Robin's voice cracked as he walked out the door with Slade. The only thought going through his mind now was this was the beginning of the end.

Soooooo? What did ya' think? Tell me tell me! please? ... I didn't abuse the italic's button did I?

I like to hear from you all because it makes me want to write~

Love you all to pieces,

~ Evi

P.s. again, sorry for the long wait!