Author's Note: So, I checked out some height stuff. The information I'm sure of is that Slade is 6.4. That's freaking tall. XD Cyborg is really tall, too – but he was a football player before his accident so doesn't surprise me. I found of scale height chart of the Titans, but I'm not sure if it's correct. I personally thought Robin was shorter than it said. Especially in that early episode when Cyborg says, "Yeah, it's four feet tall and smells like cheap hair gel." So, I honestly thought the kid was in the four feet range. Someone wanna help me on this? This only sure info I have is Slade is definitely 6.4.

To the guest that wants more emotional moments: That will definitely come. I do have a nightmare moment I want to do, but that will come with time. Thanks for reminding me…

Remember, on the timeline, it's still the first day! LOL. After all, I'm not expecting Robin to lose it on the first day. Starting chapter ten the timeline begins to speed up. Trust me, if you're looking for emotional moments, they'll be coming. I'm all about the character emotions and development. This isn't an action based fic – while there will be action scenes due to fighting/stupidity, it's mostly about all them wonderful feels. I hope to make your heart soar, tear, sob, laugh, giggle, and cry during this. And of course, gotta have some awes. ^^

Look forward to chapter thirteen. Emotional to the tenth power. Scheduled for May 8th. Gotta love the spreadsheet. XD

Oh, and I've officially projected at least 62 chapters. That. Is. Not. A. Joke. And that's not even the ending. Good day in the morning, we've got a looooong way to go.

On with the story!

Chapter Nine

Respect and Burdens

Father? A father?! As if!

How dare Slade even suggest a thing! How dare he even think that he was worthy to be like a father to Robin. There was no way this man could ever be a father to him. The man was a criminal; a psychopath. It wasn't like he was normal or was an actual real person. Slade, his father? Ha! That was insanity. That was weird. That was crazy. That was impossible. Such a thing could never happen.

Funny how sometimes in life the impossible can one day become possible.

"When pigs fly," snarled Robin.

"I was under the impression that your changeling friend has transformed into both a pig and a hummingbird," said Slade, his grey blue eye appearing to lift in a smirk. "Would you lookie there? I think we have a flying pig."

"Shove off, Slade. Don't insult my friends," snapped Robin, his hands tightening their grip on each other.

"Manners, boy," said Slade, his tone dropping to an icy one. "How many times do I need to remind you of that? Can't you have a pleasant conversation?"

"No. Not with you, anyways. And remind me after you let me out of this dump, all right?" said Robin spitefully, his tongue flying away with him. "I don't want to be here. I need to go home. I need to get back to the Titans. I need to get back to my job. Jump City needs me."

"Really? Tell me, Robin: how old are you?"

"If you're all knowing as you seem to be, Slade," drawled Robin, lifting his shoulders and gesturing his arms exaggeratingly, "then, why don't you tell me?"

Slade sighed, shaking his head. He stood up and took one step to stand over Robin, who stiffened immediately when the man moved.

"You seem to insist on doing things the hard way," said Slade, taking a firm grip on Robin's underarm. Easily, he pulled Robin to his feet and began to drag him out of the room.

"Slade—what—?"

"Shut up."

Robin began to panic. He dug his feet into the ground and pulled back, not wanting to go anywhere with this man – nor did he want this man touching him. His struggles were weak compared to Slade's strength and they didn't even faze the man. Slade dragged him back into the training room, kicking the door open. He tossed Robin into the room. He pulled out his bō-staff, expanding it and dipping the edge to point at Robin's face before he had a chance to stand.

Robin's eyes couldn't go any wider.

"I've been quite decent through all this," said Slade, his tone bitingly sharp. "Truly, I've held my temper time and time again with you this morning. I've let you get away with quite a few snarky retorts, but I think now it's time you understand."

The staff lowered, prodding Robin in the forehead.

"You are to learn respect one way or another," said Slade in a dark, ominous voice; his tone ever so soft. "I assure you there is a less painful way of learning this, but since you lost that chance, it's time to employ a little more… harsher means. This will hurt – quite a bit."

The staff swung and crashed into Robin's temple before he had the chance to react. Dazzling stars blared in Robin's vision, coupled with a sharp, burning pain. He heard the whoosh before it smashed into his back. He cried out in pain; rolling away along the floor in the effort to put some distance between him and his attacker.

Robin leapt to his feet in time to see another swing; he ducked and rolled away, breaking into a dart. Complete fear flowed through every fiber of his being. He had to get away. He had get away from Slade; the man meant business now.

He was going to get the crap beaten out of him.

He reached the stairs before a hand grabbed the back of his shirt, choking him momentarily as he was pulled back. Robin was slammed into the wall, pain bursting along his back from the harsh contact. A fist punched him in the stomach; causing him to collapse to the floor, gasping for breath in pain. Another whoosh warned him a second before the pain exploded across his back; sending him flat onto the hard concrete floor. He groaned deeply.

"We have about another hour of this, you know," said Slade in a soft undertone. "One whole hour where you can be dipped into pain, only to heal moments later; and then back into a never-ending cycle of pain and healing."

Robin was grabbed by the hair and forced to look upward into the masked face of Slade.

"I keep telling you to learn, but you're too stubborn," hissed Slade; chills slid down Robin's back at the man's tone. "Pain is an interesting element, Robin. It is master over all – it is master over the will. How long can you last before your will submits to the pain in your body?"

Robin was grabbed by the throat and pulled to his feet, before being slammed against the wall again. Two swift blows; a backhanded slap and a punch to his stomach. Robin could taste the metallic copper flavor of blood over his lips. Slade grabbed him by the chin; his cheeks pinched in Slade's grasp.

"Let's try this again: how old are you, Robin?"

Robin was once again thankful for his mask. He was sure that if it had been removed, Slade would've seen the absolute terror and pain flooding through his eyes. Robin didn't want to answer. That would give Slade control. But it was obvious that the man did have control. He had complete control over him. Slade was right: this could go on for one long, terrible hour – a never-ending cycle of pain and more pain.

He was powerless against this man.

"…Fo—fourteen…" rasped Robin finally.

"Very good, Robin."

Robin closed his eyes briefly, feeling sick.

The pressure on Robin's chin lessened slightly.

"To continue our pleasant conversation from earlier – mind you, we could've done that without all this unfortunate trouble – What makes you think Jump City needs you?"

"I'm… I'm the only one who can protect them," breathed Robin, still gasping through the pain. It was beginning to fade again, which he was greatly thankful for; nonetheless, he didn't really want to aggravate the man who was towering over him any more. His height compared to Slade made Robin feel very, very young; almost truly like a little child. With over a foot in height difference, it made Slade extremely intimidating.

But Robin doubted he could keep his mouth shut for very long with his annoying hot and quick temper.

"Why? Why you? You're just a child."

"I am not a child!" hissed Robin, completely irritated by the term. He jerked away from Slade's grip. It was temporary, however, as Slade pushed Robin by the shoulder to smash against the wall again. Slade grabbed his chin again and forced him to look up at the man.

"Yes, you are. Think of it like this: what other fourteen year old fights crime daily?"

"Kid Flash," replied Robin swiftly. He was backhanded across the face before being forced again to look at Slade.

"Try again. And not a vigilante in tights."

Robin tried to squirm under the hard grip that was squeezing his chin, but he failed. His cheeks burned terribly. The pressure intensified and his eyes began to water from it. His body was hot and sticky from the sweat that had begun to pour from his skin. His heart thudded against his chest.

"…n–no one…" said Robin finally; grudgingly.

"Exactly. Other children your age are enjoying the comforts of being a teenager. They don't have adult burdens like being a leader of a team that goes out and acts like a special police force. They go to school. They have normal lifestyles."

"So what! I've never been normal," growled Robin.

"I never said you were normal, Robin. But who says you have to carry such a burden?" said Slade, his tone painfully soft. He leaned in closer to Robin's face, his voice turning to a whisper. "You can be freed from that burden, Robin. That is what I'm offering you."

Slade pulled back, letting go of Robin's face. Robin took that chance to turn his head away, staring at a spot on the floor. Slade's words were reverberating through his mind relentlessly. His chest lifted as he breathed deeply.

'You can be freed…'

Could Robin be freed from such a burden? He had seen the way Batman devoted himself to his work. He was practically buried in it. Patrols at night, office work during the day, charity events in the evenings – the man rarely even slept. Robin had developed that way of life far too easily after his parents' deaths, since it was the only way to hide from the empty loneliness they had left him with.

What was Bruce hiding from?

It was a heavy burden to bear. The worry, the fear, the long nights, the fights – although those were thrilling, the paperwork, the pressure… Could Robin truly be freed from all that?

Did he want to be?

"It's not a burden," said Robin quietly, not looking up.

"Don't fool yourself and don't try to fool me, Robin. Of course it's a burden."

"It's not. It's not, really," repeated Robin. "Somebody has to protect the innocents from criminals like you. Someone has to protect—"

Robin punched again in the stomach; a cry bursting unwillingly from his mouth from its sudden attack. He doubled over, coughing before he was lifted up and backhanded across the face. Robin closed his eyes against the pain that followed it. His face was grabbed again as his head was slammed against the wall; forcing Robin's head to tilt upward. Robin opened his eyes to see his tormenting assailant.

"You make it sound so honorable, Robin. Touching, really," said Slade; sarcasm dripping from his voice. "But tell me the truth: tell me what you really think. I have time; I really do. But you won't find me so pleasant."

Robin squeezed his eyes shut.

No.

He did not want to admit anything to this man. Nothing could make him spill the contents of his feelings to this unfeeling demon. There was no way. There was absolutely no way he was going to tell Slade what he really felt about being a vigilante.

"Tick tock, Robin. I'm losing my patience."

Robin's heart fluttered in his chest as it began to palpitate rapidly. His body was beginning to associate this man with pain. If he didn't say what the man wanted to hear, it would hurt. It didn't like that. Robin's breathing intensified.

Slade raised a fist in warning.

Robin broke down.

"All right!" cried Robin, wrenching away from Slade's grasp to glare up at the man. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand; ignoring the trail of blood that stained his skin. "You're right, okay? Happy? Yes, it is a burden!"

The troubles of his heart fell from his lips before he could hold them back. Words flowed continuously, speedily leaving his mouth as he barely paused for breath. He just couldn't stop himself as the words spilled from his lips; their departure lifting the weight from his chest.

"There're times I hate it and then times I love it. I'm sick and tired of my friends getting mad at me for making stupid mistakes. I know I make mistakes; it's not like I mean to make them. Red X was the biggest mistake of my life – I admit it. But I'm only fourteen! I'm bound to screw up here and there. Everybody does. I try, I really do. But it is a terrible, heavy burden, all right? But that's okay, because I chose to bear it. I chose to become a hero to help others; to protect them. I don't want any other child to experience what I—"

Robin stopped suddenly, his eyes widening in shock at what he was about to let escape. He clamped his mouth shut and jerked his head down away from Slade's prying eye.

He had been about to mention his parents' deaths.

It was true: he had been thrilled to fight by Batman's side for the sole reason to protect other children from having to be separated from their parents through death. No child should be orphaned. Robin never wanted any child to experience the pain of despair and loneliness – that same pain he had felt every day since his own parents' deaths.

He just couldn't bear the thought of another suffering the same.

"Don't want any other child to experience… what, Robin?" asked Slade. Robin tightened his mouth shut even more, shaking his head once. "Answer me, Robin."

"No," snapped Robin; whipping his head back to glare up at Slade as he folded his arms obstinately. "No. It's none of your beeswax."

Robin was punched in the stomach before being slammed into the wall again by the shoulder. Slade bent down to stare at Robin face to face.

"You're the one who emptied your soul out. I'm just encouraging you to finish. Such a pity, though… that you're so stubborn. This will be a long day, don't you think?"

"Shove off, Slade," snarled Robin, dropping his weight suddenly and sweeping his foot to bring Slade off his feet. It caused the man to jumped back to avoid the attack. Robin rolled to the side, away from the wall, and stood up; readying himself into a fighting stance.

"It's too bad the serum will only last another hour," said Slade, flexing his fists. "After that, your injuries won't heal so fast."

Slade barreled forward in an aggressive attack and Robin could do nothing but try to defend himself against his foe.

ooOOOOOoo

Next Time: Chapter Ten: Recurrent – A week passes and Robin is still dealing with his capture.

Author's Notes: Mmmm… I really like this chapter. ^^ Timeline speed up in the next chapter! As time passes, now the real drama begins. XD

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