Chapter 11

Wow.

Okay. Hi. It's been a while.

I'm really sorry about the long wait! I've had a lot of medical issues going on recently, and I've been caught up in school work. But I'm going to be working a lot on this now, so don't worry! I'm going to try and do a chapter every week (they should be posted on Saturday), so there should be no more long waits.

Okay! I hope you enjoy it

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, or Batman, or the Justice League. Or the Joining. Or…yeah, I think that's it. Okay.

Previously:

As Robin stumbled upon the answer, Slade smiled, his grin stretched out wide across his face. "Yes, Robin." Slade murmured. "Be my apprentice again, and I'll stop. Everyone else gets to live."

"And if I refuse?" Robin whispers, his voice treacherously close to breaking.

Slade beamed, the wide grin growing wider. "Every single life form on this planet will die. And you will watch it all. You'll be the last to go."

Being Slade's apprentice, or watching all of humanity die…there really was no choice. He had been Slade's apprentice for just the lives of his friends. But now all of humanity was held hostage in exchange for his freedom.

As Robin drowned in the terror of becoming Slade's apprentice once again, he was vaguely aware of an insane laughter coming from Slade.

He had won.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Robin breathed heavily, not believing what had happened. Slade. Slade was behind it all, and now…now he had to give up his freedom for humanity. He would always be stuck in the shadow of the most despicable man in he had known, always be held back, be forced to fight for the opposite of what he wanted…he would do it, he had to do it, but that didn't mean he would like it.

"So? What's your answer?" Slade asked, his voice venomous and taunting.

Robin mumbled something underneath his breath.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you. Could you repeat that?" Slade drawled, his voice commanding and fierce.

"I said, I'll do it." Robin forced the words out of his mouth as though they were acid. The room's dark appearance shadowed over him suddenly, reflecting his inner thoughts on the situation. Slade grinned, his mouth turning upwards slyly.

"Good. Training will start tomorrow morning. Show up at six, precisely. Any later will resolve in…consequences." Slade paused, walking past Robin and almost out of the doorway.

As he reached the doorway, Slade turned his head to face Robin and spoke once more. "Just so you know, this wasn't all for you. I'm not that desperate. The Joining approached me, weak and vulnerable. I…improved them. It was in my interest to rule this world under an iron thumb. You just happened to be an extra incentive."

With that, Slade walked out of the room, giving Robin time to mull over the situation in private.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR R

"You're seriously doing it?" Cyborg asked, the memories of the last time Robin was forced to be Slade's apprentice forcing their way to the surface. It was a terrible time for everyone involved; Robin was at the center, he had to go against his own morals and destroy everything he loved. The Titans had to fight their friend; they had to deal with the possibility of Robin having betrayed them. No matter what, no one (besides Slade, of course) wanted Robin to go back to being Slade's apprentice.

"I don't have a choice." Robin replied, his chin resting on his hands, folded together and vertically upwards.

"So, what, you have to be his apprentice or he destroys the rest of humanity? That's kind of overkill, don't you think?" Beast Boy piped up.

Robin nodded. He had only told the immediate Titans of the news, while the honorary Titans and the Justice League had no idea. He had brushed right past Batman when he had gotten out of the room, ignoring his calls.

"That's Slade in a nutshell." Raven muttered, turning away.

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Starfire asked. "I don't- we don't want you to have to go through this again. This shouldn't have to happen again."

Robin shook his head. "No, I don't think so. If something turns up, I'll let you know."

Cyborg nodded. "What's the plan? Just go with it until something turns up? Is that all?"

"Yes." Robin said. "Don't…don't get into trouble, alright? If he thinks something's going on, even if it's just a feeling, he'll start killing again."

"Alright, alright. We'll lay low. For now." Cyborg promised. "But…how long will this go on before we can do something?"

"I don't know," Robin murmured, almost musing to himself. "I…I don't know."