- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Chapter Ten
- Chapter Eleven
- Chapter Twelve
- Chapter Thirteen
- Chapter Fourteen
- Chapter Fifteen
- Chapter Sixteen
- Chapter Seventeen
- Chapter Eighteen
- Chapter Nineteen
- Chapter Twenty
- Chapter Twenty-One
- Chapter Twenty-Two
- Chapter Twenty-Three
- Chapter Twenty-Four
- Chapter Twenty-Five
- Chapter Twenty-Six
- Chapter Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Twenty-Eight
- Chapter Twenty-Nine
- Chapter Thirty
- Chapter Thirty-One
- Chapter Thirty-Two
- Chapter Thirty-Three
- Chapter Thirty-Four
- Chapter Thirty-Five
- Chapter Thirty-Six
- Chapter Thirty-Seven
- Chapter Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirty-Nine
- Chapter Forty
- Chapter Forty-One
- Chapter Forty-Two
- Chapter Forty-Three
- Epilogue
- Interlude
Chapter Four
Opportunity to Learn
September 12th, 2008. Friday, 9:47 am.
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 a 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 descent 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 amazed 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 freezer 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.”
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, anyway. 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 was punched in the stomach again; 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 jump 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
September 12th, 2008. Friday, 11:57 pm.
Robin groaned as he rolled over in his soft bed; trying to find a comfortable position, but failing terribly. His entire body ached with raging bruises and the ice packs had long melted; losing their effectiveness. His body was throbbing. His head was pounding. Even with the covers kicked off, he was hot and sweaty; his body protesting against its harsh reality.
It seriously had been a long, long day – and it was only the first.
Of many.
Robin was too aware of his situation. Day one, and he already knew and understood that there was no escaping the man that held him captive. He was completely under the man’s control. That helpless feeling was not sitting well with Robin. He hated it. And the thing he hated the most was that it frightened him as well. He was afraid of being so powerless. He hated it so much. He hated every freaking second of it!
Being so powerless was such a terrifying thing.
Slade had sparred with Robin until past one o’clock pm – or really, Robin got tossed around a lot like a rag doll. For the first hour, true to his word, Robin felt the effects of a massive punch, then heal, rinse and repeat cycle. Slade didn’t hold back during that first hour and Robin did his best to defend against him. After that, Robin had been a little more receptive to what Slade had to say.
He had to be, though.
Slade had been right: pain was the master over the will. Robin was proud of himself usually. He had a pretty high pain tolerance. He could withstand a lot of blows in a fight. However, after one mere hour, Robin had been done with it. It had been so bad, he never even wanted anyone to touch him ever again. He just wanted to crawl away and hide from the world; licking his wounds in peace.
But there was no place to hide here.
After that torturous hour, Slade commenced with training. He started up a robot and instructed Robin to spar with it. The robot had fought on an easy setting, Robin had been told, and yet he still couldn’t keep up with it. In the words of Beast Boy, he had totally gotten his butt kicked – and by a hunk of metal, too.
By the time Wintergreen came down the stairs to call them for lunch, Robin was thoroughly exhausted. Worn and torn from the inside out. Wintergreen scolded in that grandfatherly tone of his about how they can’t miss lunch. Robin had wordlessly followed the two men as Wintergreen griped about how thin he was again.
He had been too tired to care.
He had been in too much pain to care.
He still was.
The rest of the day had been a blur. Slade had gone over a training schedule with him – studying in the mornings, physical training in the afternoons, sparring in the evenings. Robin had noticed that it was pretty rigid; however, there was an hour or two of free time every day. When Robin questioned this, Slade had told him he could do whatever he wanted during them.
That’s what confused Robin.
Throughout the day, Robin caught many moments of softness and gentleness from the man. But they were always instantly overshadowed by a cold or harsh reply, or a slap across the face. In just a single day living with the man, Robin was discovering things he had never thought he would even imagine; so many intricate things that one could never discover in the heat of battle.
‘Who is Slade?’
Robin was slowly learning who the masked man was. Although, it wasn’t a pleasant situation, it was almost the best for learning about this strange masked man. Once Robin reeled in his tongue, Slade was… decent, to say the least. But the man wasn’t consistent and already Robin was beginning to be wary of the man’s flippant moods. What Robin thought wasn’t an insult, Slade did; and Robin’s cheek paid for it. What Robin had meant as an insult sometimes went underneath the radar – but Robin didn’t really believe that too much. Slade was impossibly intelligent. The man knew exactly what he was doing.
And that was far more frightening.
ooOOOOOoo