Forgotten Bonds – Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dichotomy

February 16th, 2009. Sunday, 6:41 am.

Dick was lying in bed that morning. He had woken up before his alarm and did his morning routine. But he was too deep in thought to be ready to see if Slade and Wintergreen were awake. So, he fell back onto his bed to sort out his thoughts.

The thoughts that were rising in his mind were beginning to startle him. He wasn’t sure what to think any more. But they were so confusing to him, that he couldn’t help but try to push them back into the far corners of his mind.

But no matter how many times he tried, something incessant would flutter them forward again. It was as if the thoughts had a life of all their own, forcing their way forward to announce themselves and make themselves known to every section of his mind and soul.

The thoughts were ridiculous, though; and Dick forced them back even more, trying his hardest to crush them down. He wasn’t going to think those things. They were impossible. Something like that was impossible. There was no way something like that could ever happen. Besides, it wasn’t like he was really feeling that way.

After all, wasn’t Dick in a situation that could never truly change in the way he wished?

Finally, unable to handle his thoughts any longer, Dick made his way down the hallway to the kitchen; his bare feet padding lightly against the wooden floor. He stopped two feet from the entrance when he heard Slade and Wintergreen’s voices, and he found himself quietly listening in on them. But he couldn’t help it – what Wintergreen was saying completely perked his ears.

“You should let Richard go with you. It’d be good for him.”

“No way.”

“Slade, I don’t believe this. Wasn’t this whole thing for him to become your apprentice? He can’t really do that sitting at home, twiddling his thumbs.”

“He’s not twiddling his thumbs; he’s in training and I don’t think he’s ready.”

Dick’s heart quickened. Ready? Ready for what? A mission? Was Slade really talking about a mission? Meaning, get out of the haunt? His heart began to pump excitedly. Dick ran his tongue over his dry lips. It’d been so long since he’d been outside. He’d be able to feel the warmth of the sun on his face and breathe in the fresh air. Plus, there’d be a change of pace, something exciting to do finally after so many months of just endless training that made life sometimes feel like a boarding school had kissed a boot camp.

“Oh, please; you’re not fooling me, Slade,” scoffed Wintergreen. “He was ready since he got here. You’re the one who’s not ready.”

Now Dick’s heart stopped.

“That is ridiculous, Will; and you know it.”

Slade’s holding back? But why? Dick couldn’t understand why Slade wouldn’t want him to help out on a mission. It just didn’t seem normal. But then, Dick remembered and dawning realization poured through him. Was Slade worried that the same thing would happen to him like what had happened to his son, Grant?

A soft, gentle smile slipped through Dick’s face. Slade could protest it all he wanted, but it was obvious that this fact was true. He was worried or at least subconsciously so. And while it annoyed Dick to be treated like a glass figurine, since it was Slade, it just didn’t seem to bother him as much. Slade knew of his abilities and praised Dick often for them. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in Dick; it was the man’s own worries that were holding him back.

“Is it really?” drawled Wintergreen. “How does the saying go? ‘The man doth protest too much, methinks.’”

Dick bit back a giggle.

“I’d say more, but little pitchers have big ears, don’t they, Dick?”

Uh, oh…

“Get in here, now,” called Slade’s voice, completely emanating a dangerous tone.

Dick swallowed and slowly walked into the kitchen. He smiled sheepishly and gave a single, nervous wave to the two men. Wintergreen straightened at his station at the stove to look over at him, while Slade was sitting at the table, his eyebrow raised.

“Uh… Mornin`.”

“Mmmm, yes,” drawled Slade, his grey blue eye flashing roguishly. “And just what, may I ask, do you think you’re doing?”

“Um…” Dick squirmed under the dark look that Slade was sending him, as if daring him to say anything other than the truth. “I, uh… I was listening to you guys talking.”

Truth was the best way to go with Slade. Most definitely.

“Yes, I figured that much,” said Slade, folding his arms and giving Dick a sharp look. “Who said you were allowed to listen to us?”

“N–no one, sir,” mumbled Dick, wiping the palms of his hands against his pants.

“So, you’re a naughty little eavesdropper, aren’t you?”

Dick flushed deeply and squirmed again. Gosh, he hated the way that sounded. He didn’t mean to be; he just hadn’t wanted them to stop talking as they would’ve once Dick entered the room. But… He had to suppose that it was still eavesdropping.

“I’m sorry,” said Dick, his eyes glancing up at Slade and hoping his repentant feelings would show forth to the man. He tried to put on a penitent and contrite look, blinking his eyes a few times. Slade’s eyebrow twitched before he averted his gaze away from Dick. The man gave out a long sigh.

“How much did you hear?” asked Slade, tapping the chair next to him. Dick took this as an invitation to sit down and he did so; placing his hands into his lap.

“Um… something about letting me go with you?” said Dick. His voice got excited slightly as he continued, “Is it a mission? Can I come? Will I be able to go outside finally?”

There was another long sigh from Slade. Wintergreen chuckled over the sizzling, popping sounds of the bacon.

“I told you he’s been cooped up in this place for too long. Going with you will be good for Richard.”

“I agree with Will,” piped Dick impishly. Slade snorted and rolled his single eye at Dick, a smirk beginning to lift the side of his mouth.

“You would, wouldn’t you?” drawled Slade. After a moment, Dick sobered and gave him a serious look.

“Please, may I come with you?” asked Dick, trying to sound as polite as he possibly could. Slade looked a little taken aback by the soft request. But then, he smirked once again.

“What, you’re volunteering without even knowing what the mission is?” asked Slade. “What would you do if it’s a contract to kill some international crime boss? What would your answer be to that? Is it morally wrong for me to take down a man who has killed thousands and would continue to do so without batting an eye? Is it morally wrong for me to exchange one life for the lives of thousands of innocents, perhaps tens of thousands?”

Dick studied Slade carefully, not wavering in his eye contact with the man. He understood where Slade was coming from; one who experienced war. In war, Slade had to take down his enemies to save his fellow soldiers. Taking down a crime boss would seem no different. Sometimes to save innocents, one had to take out the evil.

But Dick’s mother had always taught against taking a life.

What was he supposed to do? He wanted to go on a mission with Slade. For so many reasons, too. Not only did he miss being outside or the excitement that came with going on such a mission, but he also wanted to prove to Slade that the man’s training had paid off; that Dick had listened to him and that he was worth the effort.

But he didn’t want to kill anyone and there was a part in his heart that felt it would die if it had to watch Slade do so. He wasn’t sure what that feeling was, though.

Dick bit his lower lip, his eyes softening. There was another long moment before Slade let out yet another sigh and shook his head.

“The mission is to rescue the daughter of a wealthy politician,” said Slade. “She was kidnapped for ransom and her father has hired me to get her back. He doesn’t think they’ll return her even when he fulfills their demands. I’m to go and retrieve her; alive, of course.”

“So, it doesn’t require you to kill anyone?” asked Dick. This time, Slade let out a growling sigh; running a hand over his face for a moment. Then, he leaned his elbows onto the table, clasping his hands together as he set a serious eye onto Dick.

“Just because the contract doesn’t require it, doesn’t mean I might not have to. If someone points a gun at me – or you, for that matter – you can be sure that’ll be his last living act.”

Dick’s mouth went dry and he could only give Slade an acknowledging nod. His stomach turned at the thought of someone pointing a gun at Slade. For some reason, he hated that thought worse than Slade turning a gun on someone else. But it wasn’t as if he cared whether Slade lived or died…

Right?

Oh, but he did.

“Do you still want to come even with that knowledge?” asked Slade.

Dick glanced down at the table. Yes, he wanted to go with Slade. He would just have to make no mistakes. That way Slade wouldn’t have to kill anyone. Dick would clear the way for him. The man wanted an apprentice; well, Dick was going to be the best apprentice ever. He’d do whatever it took to keep the man from having to shoot anyone. That’s what it would mean to Dick – that’s what it would mean being this man’s apprentice.

He’d protect Slade from having to kill people.

Dick looked back up and nodded determinedly.

“Yes, sir.”

An approving smile spread through Slade’s features.

“Well, all right, then. After breakfast, suit up.”

ooOOOOOoo

February 16th, 2009. Sunday, 5:53 pm.

Dick’s legs wouldn’t stop moving; causing him to bounce slightly as he remain crouched next to Slade. The man was motionless; completely still as if he were a statue in his crouching position. Dick tried to calm down, but the adrenaline was pumping through his veins far too rapidly. He glanced at Slade, but still he saw no movement.

The man’s Kevlar suit was slightly different than the suit that Robin and the Teen Titans had come across. While it was still dark grey in color, there was a two toned section across the man’s chest of orange and black – just like his mask. There was thin, pliable metal plating on the upper sections of his arms, elbows, legs and knees; while his chest to his waist had dark grey metal scales.

At his waist was his utility belt with numerous pockets and other gadgets. He wore powerful, complex steel boots that were covered with metal tips. He wore pliable steel cloth gloves that reached halfway to his arms. Over his elbows to his upper arms, there were more of the grey steel scales like there was on his chest.

There were also two large handguns strapped to Slade’s back in a sheath harness over his chest. Slade would only have to lift his hands to his back and remove them for a fight. Finally, there was a single broadsword also strapped to his back.

It was such a different image from the Slade that Dick knew.

This Slade was all powerful in his appearance. This Slade meant business. Dick was overwhelmed by the fact that the Teen Titans had barely even caught a glimpse of the true man. But Dick was fully aware of that; spending so many months with the man.

The Slade that the Teen Titans had known had merely toyed with them, like a cat playing with its prey.

Dick’s own suit matched Slade’s, almost identical save for the single Slade insignia on his chest; an S symbol. Like Slade’s mask and suit, half his chest was orange while the other side black. His boots were tipped with metal as well, yet the soles of the boots were silent whenever they walked. He only had a utility belt, however; not having any guns or sharp weapons at his disposal – which he preferred, anyway.

The suit felt so different than the colorful one that he had adorned as Robin – it felt far more powerful.

It had taken them a few hours to fly to the location – Dick wasn’t fully sure where they were. Leaving the haunt had been completely exciting for Dick. Not only had he been thoroughly curious where the exit was, he couldn’t wait to feel the outside breeze of fresh air blow across his face.

“So, where’s the exit?” Dick had asked the man before leaving the haunt; an innocent smirk spreading across his features. Slade merely chuckled at this and motioned for Dick to follow him. Dick didn’t need to be told twice as he tagged after the man.

Slade stood at the back of the haunt within the main room; the clinking gears grinding above their heads. He lifted his hand and pressed it against the wall. The wall shimmered with orange electronic lighting. There was a deep clicking sound before the wall began to shimmer once more. Then, a section of the wall slid open, revealing the interior of a darkened warehouse.

“The electronic sensors will only answer to my hand print or Will’s hand print,” said Slade. Then, Dick could tell that a wry smirk lifted the man’s face through his mask. “That being said, even if you could knock out either of us, the sensors require us to be awake. Thus, you could never leave without our permission.”

“Clever,” said Dick with a smirk of his own. There was a responding chuckle. But then, Dick frowned and he folded his arms. “Hold up, Will told me the first day I was here that you didn’t know the exit. That old man lied to me.”

Slade snorted.

“Are you quite positive that’s exactly what he said?”

“Uh…”

Well, now that he thought about it, what had Wintergreen said?

“Well…” began Dick, carefully drawing on his memories, “I think he said something about where to get the fresh food.”

“Precisely,” said Slade, smugness fully apparent in his tone. “I have no idea what grocery store Will visits. So, the ‘old man’ didn’t lie to you.”

As that sneaky turn around sunk into Dick’s mind, he let out a low chuckle; shaking his head.

“Sly, the both of you.”

“Of course.”

Dick smiled gently at the memory. Months ago, he would’ve been infuriated at Slade’s sly use of words. But now he only found it amusing. It was his own fault for not catching the use of words, anyway. Another thing that he found was that, even after learning the location of the exit, he hadn’t wanted to leave without Slade’s permission. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to leave – he did sometimes. He still missed his friends – deeply missed them. And he honestly wished he could tell them he was doing all right.

But there were currently some deep feelings that were waging a war inside his heart against his mind and he was doing the very best he could to ignore it. But it was only a matter of time before one side won and he wasn’t sure what to do, then.

It altered everything he knew about himself; altered the very course of his destiny.

Thus, Slade and Dick were currently on the roof of a warehouse, in the shadows, looking down on another warehouse that held the location of the girl they were to rescue. Dick noticed the area was somewhat rundown. The area smelled of mildew and garbage; while the buildings were rusted and dilapidated. The sun had set over the horizon, blanketing the surrounding buildings further in rustic colors of amber gold; soon turning into the dusty blue dusk of the night.

A chilled breeze fluttered through Dick’s stiffened, gelled hair. He took a deep calming breath, trying to still his nerves. He wished they’d get on with it. He wasn’t sure if he could handle the anticipation of the upcoming fights any more. It’d been so long since he fought against an enemy – since he didn’t consider Slade an enemy any more; although what the man was to him, he was trying not to think about. Perhaps another mentor like Batman? But somehow, Dick knew Slade seemed even more than that to him.

But he was trying to ignore it.

“What do you want me to address you as during this?” asked Slade in a low whisper. Dick looked over at Slade and their eyes connected – Slade’s single eye from beneath his metal mask and Dick’s pair from beneath his domino mask. It had been a little strange putting on the mask after having it off for so long. This mask was a little different than his original; the edges tipping upwards slightly.

That’s right. Just who was he?

He shouldn’t go by Dick; there was no need for a mask then if his enemies heard his name. Should he choose a new name for himself? He wasn’t Robin any more, was he? Wasn’t Robin still a hero? Even though this wasn’t a mission where they were actually doing anything criminal, Slade was still a criminal himself.

But did Dick want to throw away the name Robin? Did he want to throw away the very name that his mother gave him? Was he going to give up that part of his essence?

“Robin; just call me Robin,” said Dick, returning the low tone. “I’m still Robin. If I let him go, I think I’ll lose something inside of me. I’m not ready for another identity yet.”

Slade’s eye widened in surprise. But then, Slade gave him a nod and a quick reassuring pat on the shoulder before resuming his stiff stance of waiting and watching. Dick shivered slightly as another breeze blew by; more frigid than the last. His suit was good against heat, but against cold weather like this he wasn’t protected as well.

“It’s time,” said Slade; standing up and preparing himself to jump. Thankful for the movement, Dick did the same thing; his heart beginning to pump rapidly in excitement. He took another deep breath as new adrenaline began to energize him. He was about to help rescue a little girl. He was going to do it at Slade’s side; as his apprentice; as his partner; as his heir.

He’d prove that he could do it, too.

Slade silently leapt from the roof to land skillfully on the ground; still ever so quietly and stealthy. Dick followed suit; landing in a roll to stop in a crouch just as expertly as the man next to him. A strange number of feelings rose up inside Dick’s chest. He was reminded of the first time he ever went out on patrol with Batman. He had so wanted to prove himself to Batman; that he had grown strong from his training. That time had long passed, though. He had tried to prove himself with Batman and only ended up failing. Now he wasn’t going to fail. He would prove that he was strong and worth having by this man’s side.

Dick was Robin, the Boy Wonder; apprentice to Slade.

Slade placed a small round device on the electronic keypad near a door. Dick stood close to him; watching the area carefully in case of someone approaching. Slade quickly began to type into the keypad. Within a minute, the door clicked open. Slade removed the device and motioned for Dick to follow. Dick slipped into the darkened warehouse right at Slade’s heel. He kept close to the man; feeling the need to stay as near to him as possible. It was strange; usually he wasn’t like this with the Titans.

But somehow, staying near meant he was closer at being the best he could be.

An arm across his chest stopped him suddenly. Dick looked over at Slade and, in the very dim light, he saw the man looking into the darkness.

“What is it, sir?” whispered Dick.

“Something’s… not right,” replied Slade in a similar whisper. Dick’s eyes widened beneath his mask before they darted around to see through the darkness; trying to catch sight of whatever was making Slade feel unsettled. He hadn’t noticed, but Slade had. What was it that made the man feel that something wasn’t right?

The arm dropped, before Slade said, “Come on.”

Dick obeyed; following after the man into deeper darkness. He could barely make out Slade’s broad form in front of him, but it anchored him in the darkness. Dick breathed in the musty air of the warehouse as he stepped lightly. After a few minutes of walking, Slade stopped so suddenly that Dick ended up bumping into his back.

“Sorry,” whispered Dick, rubbing his nose after hitting it against Slade’s tough armor. The man didn’t say anything. Dick noticed that there was light seeping through the cracks in the wall in front of Slade – a door, perhaps? Slade placed something on the door before slowly opening it. Light flooded through the darkness, dispelling it instantly. Dick blinked rapidly, trying to get his eyes adjusted to the bright light.

Sometimes Dick wished he could see part of Slade’s face during times like these. The man was merely standing there in the doorway; waiting and watching. The mask completely covered the man’s face with only his eye visible. Dick had grown accustomed to watching his face and seeking for answers there. But the mask made it impossible to read the man now. Dick was briefly startled by how much he relied on such things. While Slade’s expressions were generally impassive, Dick had learned how to read the subtle changes within them.

Slade stepped forward into the room. Dick stiffened, unsure if he should follow. There was a quiet moment before Dick stepped into the room after Slade. Dick’s eyes widened as he took in the interior. There were steel walls with intricate patterns; almost like random steel bricks. There were metal rafters above and many shafts. Dick frowned, his eyebrows furrowing. This seemed too advanced for a rundown warehouse.

Suddenly, the ground gave out a tremor. The two of them tensed as the tremor intensified. The walls began to pull apart at the pattern lines. Then, within a swift moment, before Dick could even think to do anything, the walls moved; sealing them into a large, steel box. The walls slammed together, sealing away any light. Dick gasped as the room became perfectly black; not a speck of light peeking through any cracks at all.

They were completely trapped.

There was an annoyed click of the tongue.

“Blast it,” growled Slade’s voice through the darkness.

Dick tried very hard to calm down. For some reason, the fear was beginning to rise in his chest. The blackness seemed to be all suffocating; the darkness bearing down on him to a choking level. Maybe it was because he had been off the field for so long and maybe it was because he was out of practice, but whatever it was – he was frightened. Something was off; something wasn’t right – and in that moment he felt young; younger than he’d felt in a long time.

The blackness just made him feel so alone.

“Slade?” asked Dick, unable to keep the anxiousness out of his tone. “Where are you?”

A hand clasped on his shoulder and Dick suddenly relaxed. Peace flooded through his soul. He knew that hand; it was okay now – everything was going to be okay now. It was so strange – that one hand could calm everything in Dick’s heart; could anchor him back to reality.

“Stay close,” whispered Slade. Dick nodded, but then remembered that it was pitch black. So, he verbalized his reply.

“Yes, sir.”

There was a snapping noise and then vigorous shaking; Dick’s eyes were suddenly filled with green light. Slade handed him the glowing light stick as the man worked on removing something else from his utility belt. Dick was thankful for the light; but as he looked at the surroundings, he was all too aware of their predicament.

They were completely sealed in.

“I’m under the impression that this warehouse is more high tech than the outside would lead one to believe,” said Slade; the sarcasm dripping throughout his tone. “You know that shifting tremor we felt? I believe this warehouse can change its corridors.”

“So, basically we’re trapped in a maze like a Pacman?”

Dick could see Slade raising an eyebrow through the eye hole of his mask; the eerie glow of the light stick making the man’s mask far more creepy for Dick’s taste.

“Interesting analogy. Yes, a bit.”

“So, what do we do?” asked Dick. He was ignored for a moment while Slade continued to work at something on his utility belt. Then, finally Slade let out a small noise of exclaim as he pulled something from the belt.

“Aha, here we go,” said Slade, his hand holding a small round device. Dick recognized it as one of the explosives that Slade had taught him how to make.

“But we’ll get caught in the blast; it’s too small in here,” protested Dick. The light from the glow stick lit up Slade’s mask in an almost ominous way.

“No, we won’t,” said Slade. It was more than obvious to Dick that the man was smirking beneath that mask. If he hadn’t had it on, the green light would’ve probably given his smile an eerie look – more than likely sending chills down Dick’s back. Even now he could feel a few spilling down his spine. Then, the man waved offhandedly, “Probably.”

“Probably?”

Slade pressed the black button at the top and rolled it across the room until it tapped against the far wall.

“Sla—”

Dick was cut off as Slade pushed him back into the corner of the wall at the opposite side, turning him around. He was further pushed to his knees. Dick felt Slade crouch around him; as if shielding him.

“Curl up; cover your ears and head. It’s going to be a bumpy ride,” instructed Slade. Dick immediately obeyed the man. He could feel the weight of the Slade’s body crouched over him; the arms of the man overlapping his own arms.

A few seconds later, the blast rippled through the air. Dick felt himself yelling in shock as he felt the gust of white hot air blast over his body. After a moment, it stopped and Dick was left gasping for breath. Then, he felt Slade’s weight lift from off him. There was a low groan from him. Dick whirled around on the ground to look up at Slade.

There was light streaming in through the hole that the explosion caused; illuminating Slade’s mask from behind. Within the shadows of his mask and within that single visible feature, Dick could see that he was in pain.

“Slade, are you all right?” asked Dick, worry flooding through his tone. There was another groan as Slade flexed his shoulder muscles.

“I’ll be fine in about sixty seconds,” said Slade stiffly, another groan slipping through his lips. “Some of the flames decided to lick my back. They were so hot, the suit couldn’t resist them all. Didn’t burn it, though; just toasted my skin a bit beneath the Kevlar material.”

“But—”

“I heal in sixty seconds. You do not,” said Slade, staring down at Dick with a firm eye through his mask. “Don’t even bother finishing such a stupid statement.”

Dick bit his lip. Slade could read him so well now. How did the man know he was going to protest against shielding him like that? It was nice to know that Slade would protect him, but Dick just didn’t like the thought of the man getting hurt because of it.

“Get up. We’ve got to get moving,” instructed Slade. Dick nodded and stood up; grabbing the light stick before he did.

“Leave it. We don’t need it,” said Slade, peering through the hole carefully. Dick obeyed and trotted over to Slade’s side; his heart beginning to pound nervously. Something obviously didn’t feel right about the mission any more. Something was definitely off.

“Slade, why do you think there was a trap like that?” asked Dick. “It seems odd, doesn’t it?”

“Because the whole thing’s a setup,” answered Slade in a flat tone.

“What?”

“There’s no daughter to rescue,” explained Slade further. “It’s obvious someone set me up. They wanted to capture me, but they’re going to have to do better than that. Looks like I’ve got a few demons to work out. Not too much of a problem, though. I always pay my dues.”

Dick’s eyes widened beneath his mask. Who the heck would set up Slade? Who was stupid enough to do that? The man was all powerful. Who would—could defy him?

Slade let out a low breath before he turned his gaze to him. Dick could see a terribly serious light enter the man’s grey blue eye and suddenly, he felt unnerved.

“D—Robin, I need you to listen to me carefully,” started Slade quietly, clicking his tongue through the slipup of the name. Dick nodded silently in response; almost holding his breath nervously. “I need you to obey everything I say from here on out. No questioning it at all. You do it the second I tell you. This isn’t an option; disobey and be punished. It’s disobey and be dead. Do you understand me?”

Dick nodded again. “Yes, sir.”

Slade turned his gaze back through the opening in the hole.

“If I had known this was a setup, I wouldn’t have brought you along. This is a whole new game plan now.”

Dick took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He didn’t like this. Slade was sounding far more serious than normal. It was as if Slade didn’t control the situation. Since when wasn’t Slade in control of everything?

“Let’s go. Stick to me like glue,” said Slade, stepping through the hole. Dick followed immediately. They walked down the steel grey corridor carefully; metal rafters above their heads. Slade’s steps were so silent as he walked that Dick was impressed. Dick kept alert; his eyes scanning the rafters for any movement.

Suddenly, someone fell from the rafters. Dick leapt backwards in a flip to put some distance in between him. Slade whirled around immediately and began to engage with the opponent. Dick could only assume that the enemy was an assassin. He noticed, as he bolted forward to help, that the enemy was dressed in all black; his face completely covered in the darkness of his clothing. Dick joined the fray as the excitement pounded in his chest.

Slade and Dick made an excellent team.

Dick could instantly tell their opponent was highly skilled. Alone, he would’ve had a lot of trouble with him. But being by Slade’s side did have a perk, of course – he wasn’t going to lose.

Using his new skills that he obtained over the past five months, he fought fiercely against the assassin – easily combining with Slade. He blocked at attack from the assassin before swinging his leg around, only to have it blocked. He flipped backwards to put some distance between him and the assassin. But as he stopped, his opponent was no longer in front of him. Dick whirled around hurriedly, trying to find the attacker.

There was a clash of steel directly behind him.

Dick whirled around towards the sound to see Slade wielding his broadsword against the assassin, who was wielding a longsword of his own. Dick automatically backed up a few paces to avoid getting slashed by a sword. The battle between them was fierce, blade crashing against blade as the clang of steel rang through the corridor.

Dick was about to join in the fight, but was stopped by Slade’s sharp command.

“Stay back.”

Dick felt helpless as he watched the two men fight, but nonetheless, he obeyed the man without question. He had never seen such a fight before – not even when Slade dominated his robots in a five to one fight. The clash of blades was so lightning fast; the sparks dancing in the air with every glance. Dick could fully tell Slade’s power here, and yet, the assassin was holding his ground pretty well.

But then, something happened. The assassin snapped something onto the ground and a flash of light glared through the air. Dick was momentarily blinded by the light. Once he opened his eyes, he noticed that the assassin was missing. Frantically, Dick tensed for a fight, whipping his head back and forth before it settled its gaze onto Slade.

It happened so fast; a mere split second.

Slade swiftly grabbed a gun from off his back and aimed it at Dick. The moment was lightning fast, but within that quick moment, Dick’s heart froze. The man wasn’t going to kill him – that much he was sure. But facing the barrel of that gun still chilled his heart. He was still very much afraid of them. But luckily he wasn’t thrown back into the past in terror – he had grown much stronger now. The gun shot immediately after and blasted past Dick’s ear. Ringing blared through his hearing and he went temporarily deaf in that ear as he became disoriented from the sound.

Something warm splattered his cheek.

Dick whipped to the side to watch the assassin drop to the ground; a long knife dropping from his hand with a light clink. Dick’s breath caught in his chest. The man was dead; completely dead – bullet wound to the head. Blood was beginning to pool beneath the assassin. The smell of fresh blood assaulted Dick’s senses. He put a hand to his cheek and tried to wipe the blood off that had splattered there.

He suddenly felt very sick.

“Let’s move,” said Slade; depositing the gun back into its holster on his back and sheathing his sword afterwards.

“Y–you didn’t have to kill him,” cried Dick, looking back at Slade in shock.

The grey blue eye narrowed through the hole in his mask.

“No? Of course, I did. It’s us or him. That assassin would’ve kill us if we gave him the chance; would’ve killed you.”

Dick swallowed; shocked by the coldness in the man’s eye. He wasn’t used to this. He was used to the warmth that he felt with Slade around. He hated this new look in the man’s eye. Perhaps, it was something that Slade the criminal always had within his eye, but it wasn’t something the Slade Dick knew held.

No, Dick didn’t want to see this. He didn’t want to see this side of Slade. He only wanted to see the teasing, warm, stern, soft Slade – the one who taught him patiently, the one who reprimanded him sternly, the one who anchored him securely, the one that clasped him on the arm in just the right way to tell him everything was going to be all right. Dick did not want to see criminal Slade, mercenary Slade, assassin Slade, killer Slade.

His heart churned at the very thought.

“It’s us or them, Robin,” continued Slade, power emanating from his grey blue eye. “I won’t lose you because you’re worried about someone else’s life. Your life is precious. Compared to you, theirs is not. If I have to choose, you will always be the one I save.”

Dick sucked in his breath; shock rippling through his soul by the man’s words. His eyes burned fiercely, but he held the tears back. Only his mother had ever told him that – that his life was precious. Those words had fallen from Slade’s mouth so easily. It brought the warmest of glows into Dick’s heart.

And not only that, Slade would always choose to save him? Dick lowered his eyes to the floor. It was amazing to hear that – from Slade, at any rate. There was no denying it – it warmed his heart even more. It brought a whole new level of safety into Dick’s soul.

But that still didn’t mean he wanted the man to kill to protect him.

“You could’ve shot him in the hand or something,” said Dick weakly.

“These men will kill you,” said Slade, his tone turning ice cold. “This isn’t a game like the ones you and your friends play. This is reality.”

“I know that!” snapped Dick hotly. “I’ve faced people like this before.”

“No, you haven’t,” retorted Slade. “Think about the Joker. Yes, he’ll kill you, gleefully in fact; but he isn’t trained to kill. He does it for the thrill of it, for pleasure. He wasn’t trained to be a killing machine.” Slade walked closer to Dick; leaning close to him to whisper. “These people will kill you without pause, without hesitation. This isn’t a game to them; this isn’t done in their free time for pleasure – this is their job; their occupation and they take it very seriously. You haven’t faced people like these.”

“I still don’t think you should’ve killed him,” murmured Dick, looking up into Slade’s masked face and staring right into that sharp eye.

That steel grey blue eye narrowed.

“So, you’d sacrifice your own life to save your enemy’s?”

“No, there’s always another way.”

Slade growled and grabbed Dick by the collar of his suit; pushing him back against the wall. Pressure weighed down against Dick’s collarbone as Slade crossed an arm in front of it. The man wasn’t hurting him, though – and Dick wasn’t afraid of him any more; he wasn’t afraid that the man would hurt him.

“There is no other way!” growled Slade deeply, leaning closer to Dick’s ear. “Not everyone thinks in the grey area. Some people are just black and white, kill or be killed.”

“Like you,” whispered Dick. Slade withdrew his arm as his eye narrowed.

“One day on the warfront will do that to a person. Either you shoot that gun or become fertilizer for the enemy.”

“I still think there’s another way,” said Dick. Slade let out a low scoff and shook his head.

“That’s why I always call you a child. You’re naive to the ways of the world. You’re like a little cub, flopping around without its mother.”

“And that’s my fault?” cried Dick. “I’ve had to live without a mother, without a father for half my life!”

“That’s why you should listen to me, you stupid boy,” snarled Slade through gritted teeth.

“What, learn how to shoot someone?” retorted Dick with an obstinate cross of his arms.

“Now this is why I lose respect for Batman,” said Slade with a shake of his head; his tone dripping with contempt. “He so drilled it into your head that guns are taboo, it’s completely warping your view of the world – and I’m not talking about your trauma, either.”

“He didn’t—”

“Yes, he did,” said Slade in a flat tone, overriding Dick. “And all because his own parents were shot down.”

Dick’s breath caught in his throat.

“What?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” drawled Slade, his tone heavy in mocking.

“How do you know?!”

“I know everything, boy,” said Slade. Dick could’ve sworn the man was smirking beneath his mask. Dick narrowed his own eyes beneath his mask. Slade didn’t always know everything. He was wrong about two things and Dick wasn’t about to let Slade think he knew everything.

“You didn’t know that this was a setup,” said Dick in a low, flat tone. He regretted those words immediately. He tried very hard not to gulp at the icy light that filled Slade’s eye.

“When we get home, you’ll pay for that. Dearly,” said Slade, his grey blue eye glinting dangerously.

“And it wasn’t Batman who taught me not to kill,” continued Dick; trying very hard to ignore Slade’s ominous threat – a shiver down his back betrayed him, however.

“Don’t even—”

“It was my mother,” said Dick sharply, overriding Slade hurriedly. Slade stopped, his eye widening slightly. Dick pressed on.

“My mother taught me that life is precious. Every life is precious and shouldn’t be taken away, because once it’s gone, it’s gone – you can’t bring it back,” said Dick, his tone still sharp. Then, he dropped his tone to be more reverent. “She was the first to tell me that my life was precious.”

Dick turned his head to the side; his voice dropping to a low whisper.

“You’re the second.”

There was stillness between them for a long moment. Dick laced his tongue over his dry lips nervously. He was a little anxious. He really didn’t want Slade bashing his mother now. It was one thing to bash Batman, but his mother was off limits. He swallowed once; trying to get rid of his increasingly dry throat.

“She was right,” said Slade flatly in a low whisper. The man whirled around and motioned with a hand.

“Let’s move.”

Dick almost couldn’t move for a brief second; stunned by the man’s answer. Once again, Slade was surprising him in so many ways. Slade was far more complex than Dick had ever imagined. He was powerful, strong, fierce, intelligent, militant, indomitable, warm, firm, quiet, stern, soft, and above all – unwavering and secure.

Dick ran to Slade, so that he could catch up to the man. He couldn’t hold back the smile that was spreading through his features. He disagreed with Slade on the topic of killing, but he was thankful that the man hadn’t dismissed what his mother had said. The man had actually respected what his mother had said.

Dick’s heart glowed at that thought.

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