Author's Note: Oh my gosh! Two weeks since initial release. So many awesome reviews in that time – I truly appreciate it all. Thank you so much! ^-^

Oh please. I haven't even bothered to watch it yet. When a show is only 11 minutes long, you know the animators and writers are just being plain lazy. Completely lame. Not to mention the really pathetic chibi look. I mean, don't get wrong. Love the chibi look, but NOT for a whole show time. Really, our American cartoons are just getting more and more mindless. No plots, no character developments – just silly moments to get a laugh. It's totally mind numbing.

Anyways…

*Anthy looks at Robin* "You know, they must really hate you. Four people are begging for your torture."

*Robin folds his arms in a huff* "That's your fault, you know."

*Anthy shrugs* "True. But honestly, there is a method to all this madness. See?" *Anthy shows Robin the outline. Robin's eyebrows narrow near midway*

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no! You are not doing that to me!"

*smiles happily* "Oh, but I think I am. Oh, don't worry. It won't be too bad…"

*Robin goes pale with a hint of embarrassment in his cheeks* "Yo—you can't! That's the worst thing ever! I rather get my arm broken!"

"Hehe, you have no say in anything anymore. I'm so sorry."

*giggles madly*

On with the story!

Chapter Eight

Opportunity to Learn

Slade lifted a hand in the air and shouted, "End sparring sequence."

The robots ceased their fighting immediately; backing away and lining up at a wall. Robin blinked, surprised as Slade glanced up at him. He scrambled to his feet, getting tangled for a brief moment in the bars of the railing. He stepped down the rest of the stairs hesitantly before stopping as he reached flat concrete ground. Slade's chest heaved once in a deep breath, the bō-staff still in his hand.

He then tossed the staff to Robin, who expertly caught it. Slade detached another bō-staff from his belt, before expanding it. He readied himself into a stance and motioned a welcoming hand to Robin.

"So, what do you think of your room?" asked Slade, beginning to circle Robin slowly. Robin returned the movement, stepping a few feet away from the stairs.

Robin wasn't sure what to say. While he was impressed with it, he was also afraid of what it meant. He wasn't staying here – that much he was sure of. He didn't want Slade to know his every living detail. He didn't want him to know the other Titans' either.

But after what he just saw, Robin was even more terrified that he would never be able to escape this man.

However, that didn't stop his stubborn, unruly mouth.

"Pretty nice, Slade," drawled Robin, smirking widely. "Same clothing size, same bathroom essentials – right down to the hair gel, expensive furniture; all in all, pretty nice. Stalker much, Slade? Although, honestly; you always came across as the cheap type to me. I was definitely sur—"

Slade bolted towards Robin suddenly at top speed, cutting him off midsentence. His staff swung with a terrible whoosh through the air and connected against Robin's side. Pain erupted from the spot and Robin was thrown to the side, viciously tumbling against the ground until he came to a stop. Robin rolled over onto his hands and knees, coughing hard; his hands still clutching his bō-staff.

"Still haven't learned the lesson on respect, I see," said Slade, his voice low and frightening. "But what you really need to learn is gratitude."

Robin looked up at Slade with a furious glare.

"Gratitude? Gratitude?" snarled Robin, coughing once in between his tirade. "For what, exactly? Tell me, Slade: what the heck am I supposed to be grateful for from my kidnapper? Huh? There's nothing to be grateful for from a kidnapper!"

Robin bit his tongue, his eyes widening behind his mask. He really needed to keep his mouth shut. It wasn't too smart to backtalk the man who could dominate him like a bug. Robin knew that. But his rebellious soul demanded to be free. It would not allow itself to be caged by this demon of power.

Slade lazily motioned to Robin's left with a tilt of his head towards the far wall on the opposite side of stairs. It was a door.

"See that door there?" questioned Slade. "In there is a dark, dank, cold personal dungeon of mine. You have a choice, Robin. You can choose to be pleasant about your new arrangements, enjoying the comforts and rewards that comes with that; or you can be unpleasant, which will only bring you punishment, pain, and discomfort. That little room will be a last resort of mine, but I must warn you: my patience doesn't last long."

Robin exhaled through his nose as he pushed himself to his feet.

"So, what will you choose, Robin?" asked Slade, taking a step closer to him. Robin tensed, wincing slightly as small flash of pain rose from his side.

Dang it.

The man probably broke his one of his ribs again – that was the second time that day and it wasn't even noon yet. He stayed silent as he tentatively placed a hand to test the spot where Slade had attacked, waiting for the wince of pain he was sure that would follow. However, the pain was very light and, puzzled, Robin pressed harder.

The pain was slowly fading.

Seeing the perplexed look on Robin's face, Slade said, "That's the brilliance of the healing serum Wintergreen gave you." Slade readied himself into a stance, appearing to pounce at any moment. "For over an hour afterwards, you'll heal faster than normal. Perfect for an all out sparring session, don't you think?"

Slade rushed forward, swinging the staff towards Robin's side again. Robin blocked it, the metal twanging as the two staffs the connected. His feet skidded against the floor against the sheer force of Shade's blow as he struggled to hold his own with his strength. Slade's power was overwhelming. The staffs disconnected, smashing together again as another blow was swung towards Robin's shoulder.

Robin gritted his teeth. He could already feel the intensity from the man. He was being dominated in a test of strength. Slade pushed through the staffs, knocking Robin's aside and gaining an opening, which he used to swing into Robin's shoulder. There was a cry in pain as Robin was blown to the side; rolling out of the fall.

Robin jumped to his feet, trying to ignore the blaring pain that raged his shoulder. He was determined to fight back. If the man wanted a fight, he sure as heck was gonna give it to him. Slade swung the staff and Robin countered, spinning around and swinging his staff back at Slade.

The clang of metal blasted in the room as the two staffs glanced off each other.

"Good, Robin," said Slade in a low, approving voice, before continuing with another swing. It connected with Robin's upper shoulder and he smashed into the wall. He dropped to his knees; the staff dropping from his hands as he clutched his shoulder. He hissed through his teeth at the pain.

Slade swung again; Robin rolled to the side, away from the wall; grabbing his staff and swinging upward. There was another clang. Robin swept his feet beneath his body towards Slade to bring the man to the ground. It was easily dodged before another whoosh came for Robin's head.

Robin's eyes widened as he flipped backward in fear, crouching down on the ground afterward. He rolled out of the way again as the staff's end smashed onto the floor in the exact spot he'd been in only a second before.

"Attack, Robin. You can't always evade your enemy," said Slade.

"I know that," snapped Robin.

"Oh, really? Could've fooled me, Robin," drawled Slade.

Robin slowly stood, one hand supporting his aching shoulder and the other still clutching his staff; keeping a relaxed pose in the effect to show Slade he wanted to pause the fight.

"So, what now?" asked Robin. "Since you claim I won't ever be able to escape, what happens now?"

"You're curious as to your fate, is that it?" said Slade as he straightened his stance to a more relaxed one like Robin.

"Who wouldn't be? I just wanted to know what to expect from my… kidnapper."

"Isn't that cute. Well, I've much to teach you and we have all the time in the world to learn it. So, there's no need to be hasty, Robin. Come what may, as they say."

Robin stiffened, his grip on his staff going white from the intensity of his hold. His injured shoulder was already healing, the pain slipping away. He was irritated by Slade's flippant attitude over the situation. Kidnapping him was bad enough, but the unknown would be the greatest torture of all. Give him bruised shoulder any day.

"So, you're not gonna tell me my torture itinerary?" spat Robin bitterly, sending a deep glare towards Slade. There was silence between them for a few moments. Then, Slade let out a long sigh; his bō-staff retracting into its compact size. He attached it onto his utility belt before motioning to Robin to follow him.

"Come with me," said Slade. He turned away and walked towards a door in the room. Robin hesitated for a moment, before complying with the request; retracting his own bō-staff. As Robin walked after him, he took in the surrounding room that he hadn't had time to observe.

It was a very large training room, similar to what he had at Titans Tower. The roof was vaulted, hence the long decent Robin had experienced. There was plenty of equipment for all types of training from punching bags to an assortment of dumbbells. There was also a major all-in-one home gym system. There were a few benches along with a rack of water bottles.

What really surprised Robin was the complete gymnast set; including parallel bars, uneven bars, high bar, balance beam, a vault, and a pair of still rings – all perfect training supplies for the acrobat. Robin was amazing by the sheer volume. He was sure Slade wasn't an acrobat – he'd never seen the man do any of the flips that he could do.

So… that meant it had been all prepared solely for Robin.

Slade opened a door to the right of the stairs and entered, with Robin trailing after him silently. He wasn't sure what to expect from the man. He was confusing; all too confusing. The need for self preservation was becoming a strong motivation in everything that Robin did, especially after the fight he had witnessed from the man. It was far too obvious that the man held back with him, so much to even let Robin land hits on him. Robin was all too aware of his powerlessness against Slade.

The room they entered had a strong appearance of a comfortable living room; brightly lit with a few tall lamps. There was a five seat corner sofa; brushed with dark brown leather and a number of comfortable pillows. There was a mahogany coffee table with a few books on it. At the right wall, there was a decent sized TV set on a wooden case, surrounded by other wooden cases. The wooden case on the left of the TV had a glass case with a number of entertainment systems. On the end of each side were expensive, older looking speakers, cased in wood.

Behind the sofa, was a small mini kitchen with a fridge and freeze combo and a microwave. Next to the fridge was a shelf of some dry foods and snacks.

Overall, the room had a true homey feeling. It surprised Robin greatly. He had always been under the impression that Slade was a villain, therefore, villains weren't people any more. But that obviously was a foolish thought.

"Sit down, Robin. Let's talk," said Slade, taking a seat on the sofa. Robin slowly walked the couch and took a seat on the other side of the sofa, comfortably far away from Slade, but not rudely far. The couch was soft, so unbelievably soft. Robin set his bō-staff onto the coffee table. He clasped his hands in his lap and began to stare down at them, as if finding them fascinating; in the effort to not look at Slade.

He had the strange notion that he was about to be given a long, very long lecture. It felt like those times Bruce had sat him down for long uncomfortable talks about misbehavior or even before then when Robin's father would lecture and scold him. But those old times with his father had always been done with love – firm love. Bruce had a coldness to him that always made Robin feel as if he could never repent for those misdeeds.

Robin couldn't help but wonder how Slade would make him feel.

The familiarity of the room was so strange. Sitting comfortably on a couch with Slade had to be the absolute oddest thing ever. A few awkward moments passed.

"Look at me, Robin," said Slade, his tone void of any malevolent tendencies. It was almost in soft coaxing. Robin swallowed slightly, before lifting his gaze upwards; settling his eyes on the man's plated armor around his shoulders.

"Robin," started Slade. "My 'itinerary' for you, as you say, has never included torture."

Robin's eyes flitted up to gaze into the man's grey blue eye.

"You're too pessimistic over this arrangement."

Robin glanced back down at his hands, holding back the angry retort that wanted to burst from his mouth. He wasn't within slapping distance, but Robin wouldn't put it past the man to stand up and do it.

Of course he was pessimistic over this! He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to live with a psychopathic creeper! If by some terrible misfortune Robin's stay here turned out to be longer than he wished, he was sure to miss his friends – he already missed them now. He would miss his job, his lifestyle – everything that he had established for himself over the past two years and more so over the past year.

"Try to think of this as an opportunity to learn," said Slade, leaning forward to rest his elbows onto his knees; his hands clasped together. "I know you relish in challenges. You could learn a lot here – far more than you could even imagine."

"I don't want to learn from you," murmured Robin.

"I know," said Slade, sounding almost empathetic. "But think of it as a forced boarding school, such as one as a father would send his son to attend."

"You're not my father," retorted Robin. There was a low chuckle.

"Perhaps now, but who knows. I just might become like a father to you."

Next Time: Chapter Nine: Respect and Burdens – Robin learns yet another lesson in respect and finds out a little more on Slade's point of view.

Author's Notes: One more chapter and the time line speeds up! ^-^

*Robin glares at Anthy* "You mean I don't escape on the first day?"

*Anthy smiles* "Nope!"

"But–but what about the Titans!"

"Oh please, they barely figured you were kidnapped. You really think they can find this place?"

"But—!"

*Anthy wraps an arm around Robin's neck; clasping a hand over his mouth*

"Shhh. It'll be all right—Oi! You lick me or bite me and Slade will be the least of your problems."

*pause*

"You know, you really are quite short."

Alrighty, I'll stop with these impromptu conversions with Robin. XD Yes, compared to my 5.9 height, Robin is quite the shorty.

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