HOWDY Y'ALL!

Sorry... it's been awhile. Been busy! OMG SO BUSY! Also I want to say super sorry because this is kinda short and it's more like a filler for what is to come. THAT and I just wanted to let you guys know I'm still alive and kicking!

BIG AWESOME THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS! You guys are the best and ROCK ALL!

Raregrace: I'm sorry, really =( Robin kinda goes bad, BUT! There is some stuff that happens along the way and I can't say or I'll spoil it.

Asilla: Seriously this cat is more like a dog then a cat, he looooves to cuddle. And I know longer chapters. I'm getting there eventually =) Thanks again for sticking around and putting up with me short chapters XD

Top Hat Elephant: LOL yea it's kinda like that, you kill it and you gotta get rid of it XD also YAY for Cats!

Roxanne: Yes you may pet the kitty now and thank you =)

EDIT: 03/28/2022 Fixing up some errors and making it flow better and moving this story over to A03

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Three days. Three days of sparring against Slade. Three days of coming to terms of all that he had done, and all that he was becoming. All that he had lost, and all that he had gained. He guessed the saying was true. When one door closes, another opens.

Although Robin never thought it would happen this way. He figured eventually down the road he'd go solo again, take up another mantle. But he figured this was pretty close. His life had changed and he had to flow with the punches. Literally at times.

The sun beamed down on them without mercy and the sands were unending. Dune after dune after dune. Robin could still see the speck of the town. He glanced at it before a fist had reached his face. His form being thrust off his feet, his body hitting the hot sand.

"You're distracted."

Robin picked himself up from the ground and dusted himself off. "I guess..."

"You're letting your mind wander."

A suttle "hrmm" came from him as he look away from Slade out onto the dunes. The mastermind crossed his arms looking onto the boy.

"What is it then?"

"Huh?"

"What is on your mind?"

"Nothing!"

"The Titans? Robin you should know there is no going-"

"I made my bed and I'll damn well sleep in it, I know that much."

"Then what is it?"

Silence. Robin knew he couldn't let it go on forever before Slade would expect an answer. "Well?" And it had already begun.

The young man let out a sigh. "So how long? We've been sparring for the past three days. But it's the basics. So when are you going to do it?"

Slade shift his arms to place them behind his back as he looked on at his apprentice. "Do what Robin?"

"What you've always wanted to do. Teach me how to kill?"

Amused, Slade let a smirk slip onto his features. "So eager?"

"I never wanted to break that code but-"

"But you've come to realize that some of the rules we make for ourselves and for others must be broken. In taking a life, you realize it is a sacrifice one must make in this world. You understand that going into this battle you may have to kill for you to come out on top."

"I don't... really know..."

"I will teach you how to kill Robin, that's already part of the deal."

"I know, but..."

"But I will also teach you that taking a life is a responsibility that will follow you for an eternity, one that is not taken lightly. You've been taught from a early age that life is precious, and I won't disagree, but there is some lives that deserve to be taken. However peaceful Jump City may of been, in that area of the world one forgets that the world we do live in, is always at war. It's not so cut and dry as it were. There is no black and white. Just the grey. Many a times you will have to take a life Robin, but you also have the choice to stay your hand. But also know that in doing so you could very well end yourself in the long run, and that I will not allow."

"I know."

"You've only begun to delve into this world and you choose to go deeper. There is much more you will learn along the way and much more I have to teach you."

"I know."

"We can start today if you choose."

The boy looked to his master and only gave him a curt nod. He knew that killing would be hard, but he had already left those behind to die. His mind screamed at him multiply times that he should of pulled the trigger himself. If he was really going to go deeper, he may as well gain some new skills to not only defend himself, but Sariel and Asif, and even from far away the Titans and Bruce. They would never understand, but Slade would. Slade would always understand.

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It was later in the evening when the two had walked back from the desert into the small town, and already Sariel had started up a debate with the others on what exactly they should do from there on. Or better yet, where to go.

"I'm only saying it may work."

"Boss, it's really risky." Asif shook his head, as he stood off to her far left.

"But it could work if we prepare proper." Gus was to her right, sitting in the computer chair. The small living room behind them was gently flooded with a warm dim light. The furniture was old but well taken care of.

"Exactly, this may be our only shot. They already hate me, they ain't gonna take me back into their fold."

"What is your only shot?" Robin interrupted as he took his boots off. Slade walked past him, only to eventually lean against the wall to the far right. For now he would observe Robin as he handled this situation. From the looks of it they were planning to attack. Or something at the very least.

Gus was the first to answer. "Ms. Sariel thinks it's a good idea to make an appearance to Ms. Warchild herself, fake our deaths, and then follow their tails to whatever hidey hole they got."

Robin looked to Sariel, who just shrugged. "It doesn't even matter what base they take us to, they would all be integrated somewhat. The intel we stole from them is old data, however informative it is, it's nothing current. We need more on them to be honest. Plus gloating to the red headed bitch that we're all still alive and well would be bloody worth it."

"You want to infiltrate a base?"

He only received a nod from Sariel.

Asif gave out a sigh before walking over to Sariel and Robin. "This is ludicrous. We're all going to get killed." He shook his head. "But... I suppose there is no better way then."

Gus gave out a laugh. "Might as well, you know I got you covered for intel, you guys do the dirty work and I get to sit in front of a computer and give directions."

Asif norted. "We die and I'm coming to bring your ass with me, Gustavo."

Sariel just shook her head. Robin however smiled at his new found friends. No, The Titans would never approve of them. They were wild and untamed. They were free to do as they pleased, they took what they wanted and killed to survive, that is what this world had made of them, but he wouldn't change them. They all had something new and inspiring to him, something different that he had never tasted before. They were in truth criminals, villains, but they weren't in his mind. He now saw them as they truly were. People living in a world normal people could never comprehend. It was odd, but he enjoyed it.

Robin crossed his arms. "So what is the plan? How are we going to do this?"

"Better yet where are we going?" Asif joined in. Gus laughed at him. "Ya don't know?"

"No."

Gus shrugged and waved his hand towards Sariel suggesting she fill him in.

"Berlin."

Asif took a deep sigh. "Great. Their backyard."

"No better place."

"Berlin?" Robin looked to Sariel inquisitively.

"Ever since the end of World War II, the ben Elohim has made Berlin their own city, although the citizens and the government know nothing of it, the ben Elohim have taken up residence in Berlin for the past seventy years. Most of their bases and archives are there."

"But didn't they lose the war."

"Did they? Remember they only funded the Nazis for their own gain, ask yourself. Did they really loose anything at all?"

Robin frowned at this. "So Berlin then?"

Sariel nodded. "Berlin."

"When do we leave?" the whole room look to Slade at that moment. Sariel's only answer was, "As soon as possible."

The mastermind stepped further into the circle. "We shall need to prepare then."

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Robin couldn't sleep that night, he had to much lingering in his mind. He had done something he never thought he'd ever do in his career as a hero. But then again... was he a hero anymore? Perhaps not. At least that is what he told himself. But to ask Slade to teach him how to take a life? To kill? What was he thinking?

Maybe he was thinking on the spot. To be honest he wasn't really thinking of much these days, just on what was expected of him. Slade had insisted they go over a lot of the basics the past few days. He constantly tested him and pushed him beyond his limits, the first two nights he was exhausted, but the last night he seemed to have gotten a little more vigor in his step.

And right now? Right now he was curled up in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep. He tossed and turned but nothing. Sleeps embrace never came to him, so his mind wandered, and as usual, when sleep was denied to him his mind wandered to places he opposed.

Which was nothing new.

Sleep was never something he easily obtained, even during his younger days. Not in Wayne manor, nor in Titan Tower. In fact the last time he slept well was when he was very young, he would sleep in his soft bed or in hay stacks around the circus. When his parents were alive. That's the last time he could think of when he slept well. But ever since that night... nothing had ever been the same.

Robin sighed. What would his parents think of him now? What would they say?

Shutting his eyes he didn't want to think of them, didn't want to think of the things they would say. They would of been so proud of him being Robin, the hero. But now... now they had a son that asked to be shown how to kill. Kill to protect, but still to kill. He took a deep breath in. All his thoughts were joggled, but he knew what he had to do, where he had to go.

"Mom... Dad..."

He turned over once again giving sleep another try, his eyes closed, he allowed his mind to drift into the void. Nothing, deep dark nothing. The only place sleep was possible.

He couldn't stop the tear that rolled down his cheek and caress the pillow.

"I'm sorry."

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I know I know, it's short, I'm sorry but I just wanted to let you guys know I'm alive and well and working on shit.

So PLS PLS leave me a review and let me know what ya think thus far.

ROCK ON GUYS AND BE GOOD!

-Fangy