Author's Note: I appreciate all the awesome reviews! Thank you so much! ^-^ I'm glad you're all enjoying it so much. ^^

So, about the timeline. To be frankly honest, I have no idea what the timeline is with Robin and stuff. I've seen things where his parents die when he's six, then I saw at eight, then I saw at ten. So, I have no idea. So, I chose eight years old. Then, I have Robin leave Batman at thirteen. He goes solo for a year and then at fourteen the Teen Titans come together. So, at the start of this story, Robin has been the leader of the Teen Titans for a whole year. That's probably different than canon, but it's not really clear even in the TV show. And TV Robin does not seem thirteen to me.

Beast Boy does, though… XD

As for the other Robins, they won't even appear in this story. I know little to nothing about them anyways. XD This story is solely on Robin/Dick Grayson and Slade as the main characters, with Wintergreen as a very close secondary, and the Teen Titans plus others as supporting characters. Yes, yes, Teen Titans are supporters. XD

As for the subject of the serum, no immortal zombies were injured in the making of this fanfic. XD LOL. Yeah, no. No immortal Robin in this. Nope, nope. That's a whole other plot to deal with; pun intended.

And man, I always crack up when reviews ask if I'll torture Robin more. XD So funny!

Also, more excellent news to ease your hearts: I will be finishing this no matter what. ^^ I ain't got an outline for nothing. ^_^ Which, bytheway, is 52 chapters long. We got a long way to go~!

On with the story!

Chapter Six

Prepared Efforts

September 12th, 2008. Friday, 8:43 am.

With newfound hope and zeal in his heart, Robin finished off the food on his plate. He had to admit, the old man was a decent cook. A little overkill on the portions, but not a bad cook at all. Robin felt pleasantly full. His headache had faded away nicely and he noticed that he wasn't in so much pain as earlier. What Wintergreen had given him must've really been a pain killer after all.

For a brief moment, he was content.

However, with the lack of anything to do, Robin began to feel edgy. Biding his time was easy to say, but he honestly wasn't sure what was expected of him.

So, he continued to sit in his chair. A fleeting wish for the power of invisibility ran through his thoughts. He didn't need super strength – he was strong. He didn't need flight – he could through acrobatics. But if he had invisibility, enemies wouldn't know what hit them. Robin held back a smirk. Now that was an enjoyable thought.

Slade was silent as he stood and left the room. Robin's eyes watched him warily as the man walked to the closed door near the hallway and entered it; shutting the door behind him. Robin thought he heard a distinct click of a lock.

Interesting.

Robin's head began to flood with scenarios on escape. That door probably held the way out. Else why would Slade lock it? Robin glued his eyes onto the door. Beyond that door lay his freedom – he was sure of it. He would show Slade that there was no way he could hold him captive for long.

After all, you can't cage a bird that was meant to be free.

"Look at me, child," said Wintergreen's voice. Robin blinked and turned his head towards the sound. Wintergreen was sitting in a chair with a damp cloth in his hand, observing him. He held up the cloth to show Robin.

"You still have some blood on your forehead and from your split lip," said Wintergreen, touching the cool wet cloth to Robin's forehead. Robin automatically laced his tongue over his lips. He tasted the metallic flavor of blood, but he couldn't find the cut anywhere.

"I don't have a split lip," said Robin, puzzled.

"You did," said Wintergreen, wiping firmly against Robin's skin. Robin narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing.

"What do you mean by…" Robin trailed off. He darkened his look as he stared at the old man. Realization dawned on him. "That wasn't just a pain killer, was it?" asked Robin in a slight accusing tone.

"Indeed it was not," replied Wintergreen. He moved the cloth to Robin's lips and continued, "It's a healing serum. Your broken ribs will be healed within another three minutes or so."

Robin's eyes widened.

"Slade created a healing serum? Not only that, it's fast acting?" asked Robin, incredulous and somewhat impressed. The man must be a genius, thought Robin, unable to quench the awe he felt. He had never heard of anyone who had been able to create such an amazing medical discovery. But why doesn't he sell it or offer the formula to the medical community? It could save a lot of people's lives.

Well, it was really a rhetorical question. There was no way Slade would help other people. Just no way. What was Robin even thinking – Slade helping people? The man would probably laugh outright at that. Probably would ask if Robin had a lose screw in that head of his.

"Slade is a man of many talents and abilities," said Wintergreen. "He is quite astounding, in fact."

"Why do you work for him?" asked Robin, as the man continued to wipe the blood away from his face. The man's hands were gentle, yet firm.

"He saved my life, I saved his," said Wintergreen, a light smile tugging at his wrinkled lips. "We thought it easier if we just stuck around each other. We have many war stories we could tell you. Besides, we became friends and I view him almost like a son to me. It's not like I'm working for him. I just stick around to keep him out of any real trouble."

So, Slade and Wintergreen were in the army together…?

Robin snorted. "You haven't done a good job. Why do you allow Slade to do the things he does?"

Wintergreen stopped and turned his eyes down towards Robin, his eyebrow raised as his whole face lifted into incredulity.

"Allow him? Dear child, do you not even get Slade at all? Have you ever known the man to allow anything to stop him? No, I'm just the… filter, you could say."

"You shouldn't aid him in my kidnapping," said Robin, hoping he could persuade the old man to his side of the matter. "You should let me go."

"I cannot. There's no exit out of this residence," said Wintergreen, continuing back to his cleaning of Robin.

"There can't be no exit. How else could I've gotten in here?" asked Robin dubiously.

"It was sealed off once Slade brought you here," answered Wintergreen. "Nothing can get in and nothing can get out. He is determined to train you as his heir and apprentice."

"But what about food?"

"We have enough supplies to last the three of us for five years. Slade prepared well. He's been planning this for a very long time."

Yup, totally a stalker…

"But you had fresh food this morning," countered Robin.

"Well, yes. I can still get fresh food. I have my ways for that," said Wintergreen, a smirk lifting his mouth.

"You could let me out through there…"

"I could not," said Wintergreen. "Not even Slade knows where I get the fresh supplies."

Robin raised his eyebrow and folded his arms. "Why don't I believe you?" said Robin. Wintergreen chuckled, his aged voice warm.

"Believe what you want, child."

"Why do you keep calling me that?" asked Robin, trying not to sound as annoyed as he felt. He supposed the old man used it to be endearing, but it was seriously getting on his nerves. How many times did he have to tell these thick headed men that he wasn't a child?

Wintergreen laughed deeply, his head tilted downward as his chest trembled with amusement.

"When you're as old as me everyone is a child to you," said Wintergreen with a wry smile.

"Even Slade?"

"Ah, well. Slade's a unique case," said Wintergreen, looking pensively to the side. "A part of me thinks that Slade never was a true child."

Feeling the conversation wasn't going in the direction he was going for – hence, his escape – Robin fixed the old man with a serious stare.

"You'll go to jail if you don't let me go."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah. You know that. And if you don't let me go…" Robin hesitated, biting the interior of his lower lip. What he was about to say was, honestly, a flat out lie. But he was desperate. He had to do everything he could to escape this prison. "I just might imply that Slade was… less than virtuous with me."

Oh, he was walking on dangerous, slippery ice. But he was willing do try anything at that moment for the small chance it would work. After all, desperate times called for desperate measures and this definitely counted as a desperate time.

But it didn't work.

"Don't make me slap you, young man," said Wintergreen, sticking a fierce disapproving glance at Robin that made him want to wither away beneath it. "How dare you insinuate such a thing. Slade has nothing but pure intentions with you."

Robin gave the old man an incredulous stare.

An extremely wry smile spread across Wintergreen's face as he continued in a considering tone, "Well, pure is a relative term. But I assure you: you have nothing to fear of that sort. I suggest you obey him, though. Don't want a repeat of today, you know."

"If you let me go…" started Robin, "I won't press charges against you."

Wintergreen smiled warmly and patted Robin on the arm kindly.

"I appreciate that, child."

Robin opened his mouth; but, after a moment, closed it with a sigh.

He obviously wasn't going to get anywhere with the old man. Wintergreen seemed completely set in his ways with Slade. Robin couldn't believe that Slade even had a friend. It was unnerving to see the human side of Slade.

He wasn't just a criminal, he supposed.

"There, all cleaned now," said Wintergreen with a satisfied nod. He shot Robin a stern glare. "Don't get into any more trouble, young man. I particularly don't like cleaning blood off of children."

Robin clamped his tongue between teeth in the effort to hold back the retort he wanted to blast at the old man. Who did these two men think they were? He had gone for two years without adult supervision. The first year he had lived completely on his own before the Teen Titans came into his life. He could take care of himself, thank you very much. He had long since proven that he wasn't a child – no matter what Slade had to say on that subject.

Robin did not like being talked down to – not at all.

Nonetheless, Robin forced a fake smile on his face to placate the old man. It seemed as if it did because Wintergreen patted Robin lightly on the arm.

"Put your dishes in the dishwasher and I'll show you to your room afterward."

Robin gathered his dishes and stood up from the table, walking over to the dishwasher that was built into the countertop. He opened it and carefully placed the dishes inside. He turned to see Wintergreen waiting by the hallway, which was now lit.

"Follow me, please," said Wintergreen, turning down the hallway. Robin followed him, glancing once more at the locked door that Slade had gone down.

His freedom laid beyond that door – it just had to be.

Robin quickened his steps to match Wintergreen's longer strides. The older man was much taller than him, but not quite as tall as Slade's towering height. Robin noticed a bathroom on the right side before reaching a door right at the end of the hallway. Wintergreen stopped abruptly and Robin had to avoid bumping into the old man. The hallway forked and Robin could see a few more closed doors on both sides and ends of the hallway.

"This room is yours," said Wintergreen, opening the door, which had a label that said 'Robin' on it, in front of them. Wintergreen motioned for him to enter. Robin stepped into the white walled room, his eyes gazing and taking it all in.

Two feet to the right of the door, forward towards the corner, lay a four poster full-sized bed. The wooden poles rose to Robin's chest level and the bed itself had a thick, dark blue comforter. Next to the bed was an end table with a lamp and a digital alarm clock. Next to the end table was a mahogany desk with a simple wooden chair. Robin turned his head to the left and saw a tall three drawer dresser next to the door. Past that, Robin could see an open door that seemed to lead to a bathroom.

"This…" Robin trailed off, feeling a little startled by the extravagant looking furniture. He honestly hadn't been expecting much. He had imagined some prisoner cell, complete with little scuttling mice. His hand lifted subconsciously, touching the beautiful wood of the poster ends of the bed.

"Slade prepared this room for you," said Wintergreen, looking approvingly over the room. "You'll find clothing in the dresser – in your size, of course."

Slade prepared this for me?

Robin marveled at that fact. He quietly walked to the dresser and opened the top drawer. Inside were a number of t-shirts of multiple colors. He pulled one out and checked the size.

Yup – his size.

There were a couple of styles of shirts as well. Robin continued to observe the contents. There had to be at least thirty shirts, if not more, in there, including a number of pajama shirts. Puzzled, Robin closed the drawer and opened the second. Inside this drawer were a number of types of pants and shorts. Dress, jeans, slacks, sweats, pajamas – Robin was amazed by the volume of the collection.

Robin closed the drawer and moved onto the final drawer. There were numerous articles on underclothing, along with just as many pairs of socks. Robin wordlessly shuffled through some of them before closing the drawer.

What was the man playing at? How the heck did he know Robin's size and taste? Not to mention, there was a ton of clothing here – a complete wardrobe.

"There are a few more articles of clothing in the closet here," said Wintergreen, walking past Robin to stop next to the dresser. Wintergreen opened the folding door of a closet.

"There's more?" Robin couldn't stop the question from leaving his mouth. Wintergreen gave him an amused look.

"Well, of course."

Growing ever more bewildered, Robin stepped to stand next to the older man to peer into the closet. Inside the closet, were a number of jackets of different types on hangers. There were a few button down dress shirts, along with a few suits; complete with a number of ties. Robin's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a Kevlar suit that had the appearance of an apprentice outfit – however, the style was unlike anything Robin had ever seen before. Lastly, at the bottom of the closet were a number of different types of shoes and boots.

Despite the unpleasant apprentice suit, Robin was surprised by his feeling of amazement over the complete collection.

Slade had been prepared for him.

Robin closed the door to the closet, a whirlwind of emotions beginning to slip through his veins.

He had always felt like he had been a charity case to Bruce. While he knew that was stupid, he just couldn't help but feel that way. Robin always felt that Bruce had taken him in because the man felt that it was his fault for the deaths of Robin's parents, since it had been at a charity event he'd been hosting. Robin could still remember the first time he was taken to a large mall to supply him his needs.

He hadn't enjoyed that trip very much. Robin could remember his wishing that he could see his mother's smile just one more time – even if she were embarrassing him over what type of underwear he should use so loud that every other customer in the store could hear her. The shopping trip with Bruce had just intensified the feeling of his terrible depression over the deaths of his parents and of being a burden to a man who he barely knew and who barely knew him in return.

But, of course, that was stupid. Bruce was a generous man. But nonetheless, Robin could never shake off his own insecurities.

But this…

Slade had prepared for him beforehand. He had expected and prepared for Robin – he actually wanted him. He wasn't taking him in because he had to.

Of course, the idiot had kidnapped Robin to bring him here – there was no denying that much. Nonetheless, Robin couldn't help but feel a little warmth in his heart. It was a conflicting and strange feeling. He just couldn't understand the man. First, he was cold as ice – a complete controlling nut case, and then he showed such deep consideration. Robin was confused, to say the least.

Slade truly had been prepared for Robin.

Now that was extremely confusing.

Next Time: Chapter Seven: Knowledge is Power – Robin continues to find out the extent of Slade's seemingly endless knowledge.

Author's Notes: Ah, more excellent Wintergreen funny moments. I think he's becoming the comic relief. XD

Thanks for reading! Next update will be on Wednesday! See ya next time! Reviews = love and ideas! ^.^