What if Robin stays Slade's apprentice? What if the Titans don't find the nano-bugs?
Robin is alone. No one can save him from the situation he's in. It's up to him to somehow make contact with the Titans, or better still... Batman.
The apprentice steps back, hardly able to breathe through the burning in his chest. His eyes are fixed on Slade, waiting for the slightest shift in his body language that would betray whether his friends will live to see tomorrow.
Slade looks down at the drive in his hand, delaying almost deliberately. Robin tenses, widening his stance. If Slade decides he was too late, Robin's prepared to fight with all he has to keep Slade's finger off the trigger.
Finally, Slade closes his fist, and chuckles. "Well now, this is certainly unexpected."
Robin falters, his guard slipping.
"...What?"
Slade shrugs and slides into his stride, circling Robin slowly. Robin shifts as he does, never leaving his back exposed. His master rolls the drive between his fingers, then holds it up for Robin to see.
"You did not hesitate one moment before giving me this. Before giving me all of the Batman's personal information."
That's—
Robin slips up again, his shoulders slacking as Slade's declaration sinks in. He tries to recover quickly, tightening his fists, but it's a cheap facade. He can't force venom into his stare when it's already brimming with fear. Slade's own gaze sharpens, honing in on the emotion with predatory precision.
"Not only that," he adds, driving the knife in deeper, "but you removed his tracker, and attacked your friends the Teen Titans without me having to prompt you. Never have your endorphins and adrenalin been so high. Don't even try to deny that you somehow enjoyed this challenge."
Against his better judgement, Robin turns away. He won't give Slade the satisfaction of seeing his shattered expression. He can't deny Slade's claims. It's all he can do just to stand there, clench his fists and stare at the cold concrete floor.
Suddenly, Robin feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up sharply to see Slade by his side.
"I'm proud, Robin. I couldn't ask for a better apprentice."
Robin shrugs him off with an angry glare, but this anger feels different. It's directed inwards. All Slade's done is list Robin's actions, Robin's crimes. How is he supposed to defend against that?
Slade angles his body towards the elevator behind him."Take a break, Robin. Explore the facilities."
Robin hesitates, glancing at the elevator and the hole he'd come down from to reach this place. Why should he go down? Why shouldn't he try to fight him again, and get the remote out of his hand?
He sighs, and walks towards the elevator. It wouldn't change anything, Slade definitely already has a contingency for that. Robin has to free his friends of the nano-bugs before he can take any obvious action against him.
As the elevator doors close over Slade's shadowed form, he stares Robin down and says "I'll see you in the training room in one hour."
The doors seal shut, and the tension in Robin finally snaps. He slumps against the wall, expression crumbling.
"What am I doing?" he whispers to himself, and doesn't move until the doors open again.
The hallway is long and pristine, the white walls and floor practically glowing from the ceiling's bright LEDs. Robin walks forward dazedly, passing identical featureless doors until he reaches one with "Robin" etched carefully into the metal. The door slides open automatically upon recognizing the chip in his suit, the automated lights inside flicking on. Robin halfheartedly scans the room before stepping forward, the door immediately sealing him in.
The room is large, and although it only has basic necessities (bed, walk-in closet, desk, and punching bag), its design and use of the space give it a certain elegance. Behind a wall of lit-up glass runs a waterfall, and Robin begins to wonder just how long this base has actually existed, and if the other base was set up just to throw Robin and the others off this one's trail.
He refocuses his vision on a matt grey box left on the otherwise empty desk. His eyes narrow and he lifts off the cover.
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On a bed of grey silk sits a new mask, with dark grey eye covers instead of his usual white. There are words on the inside of the box's lid:
Heat vision
Night vision
Motion sensor
Flare-proof
Steel mesh
It's all the characteristics of the new mask, most of which could have been helpful on his last mission.
Robin's eyes widen, and all he can do for a moment is gawk at it.
