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Chapter Text

A/N: Ok so I've always loved the dynamic between Robin and Slade, and was sad that there was no Sladenes in the final season except for the last episode. The whole fanfic however is a bit of a dare. I don't usually do fanfic unless it's stupid little shorts, but this guy is going to be long one. Please please review.

Summary: The Brotherhood of Evil has captured Robin. The Titans have lost their leader, and now they struggle to regain control. With all these events going on Slade spots the perfect oppertunity to regain what was once his. The Perfect Apprentice.

EDIT: 07/09/2019 on FFnet - I've been meaning to go back and FIX a lot of the errors in the first few chapters... while the entire thing is basically the same, I've fixed a lot of stuff... and added some to flesh it out a bit. I will be added notes like this to the rest of the early chapters after I have edited them.

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-Prologue-

He gritted his teeth. How had they lost? To a brain in a jar no less? The Brotherhood had captured him and the other Titans. "No!" his mind reeled. They had recruited enough people to fight along side them, or so he thought. But now looking back, it didn't seem like enough. Was it ever? Maybe they were just fooling themselves? Thinking that they could go up against these so called world class villains. "No." he thought. "We've bested better." It was true. They had saved the world several times over, from Hell itself even, and now how the tables had turned on them.

Robin wanted to scream, he wanted to deck out the so called jar head of a genius and the ape. He wanted to run, to break free from these bonds. But there was no way he could leave. Not when all his teammates were surrounding him, bound in chains or worse, frozen. And Robin knew he was next in line to join them. So he stood there, watching the Brains plan come to fruition. Still, in this time of peril, when his death seemed ever approaching, his mind was tinkering with ideas of how to get around this, how to come out the victor.

"It is time Robin, for you to join your friends."

"You wont' get away with this!" he snarled. Things had gone from bad to worse in an instant. If he was frozen who would lead the team? There was still many of his allies left standing. Although, things did indeed seem far more dire now. They surely needed him. And if it came down to it, then Cyborg. However, his second in command was no were to be found. Which gave him hope, but also made him not want to dwell on what could of happened to his friend. Shaking those thoughts out of his head, he reminded himself that he may be their prisoner for now, but he was still here and that's what mattered. If he was going to do something, he ought to do it now. If he got frozen, and with Cyborg MIA at the moment... he wasn't sure he'd like the outcome.

"That is where you are wrong, for I already have."

"Your wrong Brain, there is more of us then you know, someone will stop you." Robin glared at his foe. Then turned his attention to the guard that had come to retrieve him. He would fight this, he had to. The dread crept up onto the Boy Wonder, but he wouldn't let it win. He'd face this dead on.

As a few guards came to collect the hero, Robin put up a bit of a struggle. They were able to stop him, and with his hands restricted behind his back, Robin was pushed forward which forced him to walk ahead of the three men, all pointing guns at his back. The Hero frowned at the outcome. "Think Richard, think!" was all his mind kept repeating. He'd have to wait for the right moment. Until then, he would have to plan something.

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-Meanwhile deep under Paris-

He had been watching the Titans since day one. Capturing all their victories and all there defeats on camera. But even when defeated, the Titans always jumped back. But this time it truly seemed like the end for his apprentice's little team.

Oh yes, Robin was still his apprentice in his mind. No one could ever take the teenagers place. The boy was just to perfect. He held so much potential. And even though he got away the first round, his teachings for the young boy never stopped. Terra, The dust in the mask, all preparations for just the right moment.

Little did the Brotherhood of Evil know that by capturing Robin, they had also granted Slade access to all of their security cameras. All thanks to a little microscopic transmitter Slade had injected the boy with, so he could continuously watch over his favorite Titan. Initially meant to be simply used on the Titan Towers cameras, Slade had advanced it over the past couple of years, making it a much more efficient tool. Giving Robin the upgrades without the boy finding out was always more difficult then it really needed to be, being that it was Robin... However, in present, any secured area Robin entered, Slade had automatic access to the buildings cameras, which also lead him to tampering with their security right under their noses. They would have no idea.

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"This is it." he thought. They were going to encase him in ice for the rest of his life, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. How he hated the cheering and the taunting the criminals threw his way. Even worse was when the crowed roared when he was placed inside the tube.

"An end to a new generation of hero's.", the brains metallic voice spoke onto his audience. "Soon there will be no one to stop us, with the younger hero's out of the way, all that will be left is the Justice league. And soon they will have nothing worth fighting for."

Robins mind began to pace quickly through every scenario as he was placed under the heavy machinery, it's horrible purpose to turn humans into frozen trophies. This was not how he wanted to die. He had to get out, had to get away, had to come back and save the Titans. All of them relied on him so much and he had let them down. He should of known it was Madame Rouge taking Hot Spots form. He should of thought ahead. This was all his fault. All of it, it just made him angrier. Then...

Frost.

Nothing.

"An end to a era."

The crowd cheered once more.

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-Outside the Brotherhoods Base of Operations-

This he would not allow. Robin being captured by the Brotherhood of Evil was not something he was pleased with. He had to admit he was somewhat disappointed in the boy, truly Robins ultimate plan was brilliant, but something had gone wrong. Somehow, some way, the Brotherhood got a link into the Titans inside network and blew up the young boys plans right in his face. He should of seen it coming. It was something he would have to teach the boy in the future. But at the moment, Robin was on ice. He could care less about the other Titans. He only had a singular purpose for coming here. He wanted Robin.

Slade took a few steps back to admire his handy work, he planted a few explosives around the base, now all he had to do is plant a few inside and he should be good to go so to speak. With nothing else to do, the mastermind made his way into the lions den.

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"It is done, we have completed our task." The Brain had said to his gorilla companion. "Most of the Titans have been frozen, all we need to do is find the rest, and eliminate them."

The giant mammal nodded his head to his master. " I will send out a few units, and see what we can find."

"All the young hero's must die tonight."

"You may do as you wish with the Titans, but I want their leader." a voice came from behind them. Within the shadows. And it was not one of their own.

"Who is there?" Monsieur Mallah was the first to notice the intruding presence and quickly took to his masters side. Whoever was standing there gave only a faint chuckle in their direction.

"Guards!"

"I wouldn't bother, there is none." Slade smirked under his mask. Infiltrating their Headquarters was simple. He took out a few guards, bypassed a few of the so called villains that were still lingering about. And he kept to the shadows. Simple. A little too simple, if you asked him.

"Come out of the shadows, whoever you are."

"If you wish..." The man slowly revealed himself. "My my... Deathstroke the Terminator is it not?" The brain had heard of this man before. He knew him to be dangerous, cunning, cold and overall was to be quite brilliant at his work. He also knew that Deathstroke was not a man to mess with. This being his first encounter with the mercenary, he didn't want to take any chances.

"Why do you want the boy?"

"Robin and I have a special... contract so to speak." Slade inched his way closer to the Brain. "And I intend to keep it intact. Along with the boy."

"It matters not, even if you and the boy share some sort of bond, he is already frozen. The boy will die within a few hours and he will remain with us as a trophy."

Annoyed, Slade would of broken the glass from the brains case and tossed it across the room by now, if he wasn't a man known for his patience. With his hands clasped behind his back, the mastermind stood his ground. "Then it seems I will have to thaw him out then. Whether you like it or not, Robin is leaving with me."

"This will not do."

"No it will not."

"Monsieur Mallah, please take care of our 'guest'."

"With Pleasure."

Slade saw the attack coming and wiped out a controller before the ape could throw a punch. "You do that and this entire complex will burst into flames." The gorilla looked to his master. "That's right." Slade chuckled, "Now give me the boy."

"Why should I give him to you, I have won this day, I have won over him. He is mine."

"So the answer is no then? Quite a shame." Slade didn't give the villain any more chances. He gripped the controller and pushed the button. And within seconds, a series of explosions stormed the building. And with the Brain and his colleagues now trying to take cover, Slade quickly made it over to the frozen form of the Boy Wonder. He gave Robin a sedative that would make the boy go limp, and quickly caught him. The boy was still ice cold to the touch, it would take time to thaw the young hero out. Not that it mattered to him, he had time.

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The Titans were to late. Beast Boy had somehow managed to wrestle up a few of the honorary Titans and brought them far into the fortress, when they were caught off guard by the explosions. Something must of gone wrong if the Brotherhood were blowing up their own base. Eventually, Beast Boy caught up with Cyborg and the others. The explosions had done some heavy damage, but what really caught Beast Boy off guard, is that the Brotherhood were disorientated. This was not their doing. Someone had come and done this to them, someone had come in and shattered their entire base in mere minutes. The Base was still somewhat functional, for the moment. It wouldn't be once the Hero's were done with it.

Beast Boy and the rest of the Titans defeated the Brotherhood of Evil that day. But all the while someone was missing. Starfire brought it up a few times during the fight, but they had to defeat the enemy first. It wasn't until after the battle she asked once again, "Where is Robin?"

One of the lesser villains spilled that Robin was frozen with the rest of them. Starfire didn't want to think on it. If Robin was now a block of ice, it would of been easy for the statue to be shattered in the explosion. "No! he is still alive, we must find him."

"Star." Cyborg tried to reassure her. "There is no life signs, maybe he got out before then?"

"No! Robin would not leave us to fight by ourselves. He would of fought with us, like he always does. He is our leader, he would not abandon us."

The team didn't know what to do. Only to gather up the pieces afterwards. And be hopeful their leader was ok. However, it broke the alien a few days later to hear that Robin had been proclaimed dead. Killed in action trying to stop the Brotherhood of Evil. It was saddening to hear that Robins mentor has just given up so easily. Batman heard of the incident, and while he too had told them he thought Robin to still be alive, it didn't feel right to announce him long gone from this world. And as much as they tried not to give up or give in, it had a certain effect on the team as well. It really seemed like Robin was truly gone.

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Yep, Drop me a line, tell me what you think, I'd really like some feedback. And yes there will be more chapters. I wanted to redo the whole Brotherhood of Evil last episode thing to kinda give you an idea as to how Slade got his hands on Robin again.

REVIEW PLEASE =D

Thank you!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

A/N: OK! So there is some OC's in this chapter, they are kinda there for a reason and they will be around and about in coming chapters, but the next ones will obviously reflect more on the relationship between Robin and Slade. This part here I hope is well written enough to be entertaining since it is kind of a necessary small part. Noo big fights or anything yet... Emmm yea. Let me know your thoughts. REVIEW PLEASE =D =D

Also wanted to give a big thanks to anyone that has faved or followed this story thus far, I don't usually do fanfcitions and to get some nice feedback is kind of awesome. So big shout out to you guys.

EDIT: Ok I uploaded a newly edited chapter, there was some things I forgot to add and some things didn't squish right, so it's been done right this time. Promise! XD

EDIT 07/11/2019 on FF.net: Fixing up the errors and making it flow better.

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Paris itself was a magnificent city. Especially for those that loved to play in the dark. It's back alleys and small streets were made for people that easily became one with the night. Slade had no difficulty in finding his way around the city, since he had been here many times in the past. It was easy enough to sneak past the Brotherhoods little military units, even with the boy wonder tossed over his shoulder. Eventually however, this little chase, while all fun and games, had to end. He had to leave the city. And soon. Robin would be rousing from his slumber within a short amount of time. And he didn't want the boy to overexert himself, especially when he found out that it was his arch nemesis dragging him through the streets of Frances Capital. That whole argument was something he'd prefer to avoid.

Once he found a good ledge with a good overlook of the surrounding area, the mastermind set Robin down for a moment. Slade made his way over to the edge of the rooftop before whipping out a cell phone. He didn't like to ask for favors, but his base of operations in France was a bit to far out by now to be asking for backup. And with the Brotherhood out for blood... well it would draw more attention then he needed at the moment. What he did need however, was to get Robin some place where they could lay low. To keep the boy safe, a place where he could possibly be nursed back to health, since he was sure the boy would catch some sort of nasty cold just from being turned into an ice cube for a short duration. And she had the perfect spot.

The mastermind scrolled through his contacts before selecting one. The phone rang three times before someone on the other end picked up. "Slade? You never call."

"I need to pull in a favor."

"Really? Well, this is something new."

"Jillian..."

"I'll send you a location, meet some of my boys there. They will bring you to me."

"Tell them to make room for two."

"For two Slade?"

"I'll explain once I arrive. Oh, and tell them to bring something to keep our guest asleep. " Slade ended the call. If anything, the mastermind was known for doing things on his own. The man never did like working with others, and found them to be more of a nuisance then anything else. But little did anyone know, that Slade, the legendary Deathstroke, had a variety of some allies so to speak. He just never contacted them unless the need arise.

It wasn't long before his phoned beep with directions. He quickly picked up Robin, the boy still cold as ice, and began making his way to the meet up point.

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The boy wonder was beginning to stir. His eyes were fluttering, straining themselves to open, to see beyond the void. His mind was telling his body to function but he couldn't move. Why? Where the hell was he? He certainly wasn't a block of ice anymore, so where? He couldn't figure it out, everything was in one blurry haze. The bumps he was feeling didn't help any better either. Was he in a car? Where was he going? Who had gotten him out of the ice? His mind reeled with questions but he just couldn't concentrate on anything. But before he could think of anything else, he felt a prick in his arm and sleep took him once again.

Slade looked down on his apprentice. "Stubborn aren't we?" He was fighting the sedatives. Not that it mattered, he could fight all he wanted, he wasn't going anywhere. "This time I have you, and I will not loose my grip on you again Robin. No matter how hard you fight it."

The drive took awhile, as it usually does when one drives to remote locations. The forest was thick. All one could see is trees. However, there wasn't much shrubbery, so with the fog rolling in, made for a eerie sight. The elder women had a rather large cabin all the way out here. She preferred to be alone. Hence, why it made it the perfect spot to hide Robin.

"Sir. We will be arriving shortly." Slade nodded to the driver. Jillains 'boys' as she called them, met him at the targeted location. And brought them out here in a series of black 4x4 trucks. These men were ready for anything, since the vehicles were equipped with weapons for most occasions. Jillain said having a small army for hire was her so called contribution to France itself. Since a lot of the time, it was Jillian and her men that took care of a lot of terrorist threats in the country. They were by far, more efficient then the actual French military.

It would be another 20 minutes that would pass before he found himself on a porch and knocking at the door. However, who answered was not who he expected. A younger women opened the door. "Sariel" he thought, Jillains granddaughter. "Come in" she said before closing the door behind them. She walked passed the stairs calling out to her grandmother. "Grams, you got company!"

The girl disappeared into the kitchen, and Jillain made her way downstairs. "Good god Slade. You brought a kid all the way out here?"

"Jillain, I will explain later, right now I need him in a bed and covered in blankets."

The elderly women touched Robins forehead for any signs of a temperature but found none. "He's as cold as ice. Sariel! Blankets! And some hot water. Right now young lady!"

"Sure Grams." she said as she reappeared from the kitchen and went about gathering the items her grandmother required. "He will be fine." Slade reassured the woman. "The boys been through much worse." Jillain wouldn't hear it though. She had the boy set up in a room upstairs where he could rest.

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It would be a couple hours later when Slade decided he needed to check up on a few things. And had asked Jillain to take care of the boy. "And if he wakes up?" the old women asked as she tugged at her coat. Their conversation was on the porch as to not to disturb the boys rest.

"I won't be long."

"Who the hell is he Slade? Don't tell me..."

"Jillain, are you are so blind, did you not notice the uniform?"

"Of course you're still after the bird." The elderly woman sighed. "Do you really think you'll be able to accomplish what you could not last time Slade?"

"This time, Jillian, he won't get away. The boy is to good for so called Heroics. To much potential left to rot." Slade let out a sigh as Jillian passed him some keys.

The elder woman shook her head. "Alright, go and do what you have to do. I have Sariel here, and if he intends to run, I have her to track him down. He won't see her coming." The criminal nodded to the women before walking over to one of the large black trucks and driving off.

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Three days.

Three days and Robin was still out cold. "There must of really been some kick to those sedatives." Sariel thought to herself. "And we get to play house nanny." The young women must of looked angry since her grandmother came over to calm her down. "Slade will be back soon." was all she said before sitting herself on the couch.

"Grams... how the hell did Deathstroke get his hands on Robin of all people?"

"He never said."

Sariel resisted the urge to rolls her eyes. "Of course he didn't."

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He didn't wake up right away, it took some time. His head was still pretty hazy. Everything was a blur, but he was sure of one thing, he wasn't where he was supposed to be. "What the hell had happened?" he wondered. But better yet, where was he? This wasn't the Brotherhoods base. And if he wasn't there, then where were the Titans? He shook his head, he had to concentrate on the here and now. Wherever here was.

When his eyes fully opened he noticed the ceiling was white, with dark wooden beams going across it, reminding him of an old European cottage. Slowly, adjusting himself, he looked around the room. Wherever he was, it was old. Maybe it really was an old cottage? The Brotherhoods base was situated in Paris... so perhaps he was still within the French borders.

It didn't matter really, what did matter was the Titans. He slowly sat himself up and found it difficult and then noticed the large amount of blankets on top of him and the basin of water that was to his right. It had a cloth hanging from the side, looks like they had been using it on him. Perhaps, it was hot water to help him recover from any kind of fever he may of caught while on ice. "Ok..." he thought before slowly pushing the blankets off of him and turned around to place his feet on the floor. When he did, he noticed it was cold and he looked down and found his boots and socks were gone. Someone had redressed him into some basic black sweats and a t-shirt and he didn't see his uniform, nor utility belt anywhere. Which troubled him greatly.

Determined to find out where he was Robin began to move himself up off the bed, it was difficult, but then again he was frozen for god knows how long. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned and he fell to the floor.

THUMP!

"Shit." he thought before pulling himself back up onto the bed. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, but it was to little to late since he already heard footsteps coming up the stairs. And within seconds a young women entered his little room, and upon looking at him she smiled in his direction. She was pretty. Blue eyes, dark hair, and was built. And it wasn't the build that someone got from just doing exercises either, this girl had seen action before.

"Up and about I see." she said as she leaned on the door frame.

"How long?"

"Three days."

"Where-"

"Where are you? I'm sorry kid, most I can say is you're still in France. The rest is confidential."

"Kid?" he thought, "She looks to be around the same age as me." Robin groaned a bit, then turned his attention to the fact that she just admitted that they were still in France. That was something at least.

"Look, I'm sure you have some reason for... helping me. But I need to leave. Where are my things?"

Sariel put her hands on her hips and shook her head. "You ain't leaving to go anywhere kid. Deathstrokes orders. Besides, what you going to do? Fight your way outta here? You can barely even walk. It will take a few hours for the sedatives to wear off. If anything I can help you downstairs. I was cooking some soup up for grams and I, but I'm sure I made enough for three."

"Sedatives?" Robin held his head to try and ease the thumping he felt. "For what exactly?"

The girl chuckled. "To help thaw your ass kid. Kept you asleep so you can actually get the rest you needed. Seems you're the type to ruin yourself, if you had it your way, that is. I've been giving you one twice a day." Robin frowned. Ruin himself? Sure, he would always push the limits... but... perhaps he did go overboard at times, but how did she know? Who was this woman? He shook his head, and decided it would probably be best if he got up and ate something. Maybe he could warm his way up to this woman and her so called Grams, and get some information. "I think I could use some of that soup."

The young women helped him down the stairs. It seemed nice here, but things just didn't fit right. Who the hell was Deathstroke? Did this Deathstroke free him from the Brotherhood, and if he did, then why? And who the hell was this girl?

"Sariel."

"Huh?" That startled him. He flinched and Sariel took note of this. Where did that even come from? Robin hardly ever flinched, especially not over silly things like a introduction. Maybe he was still just tired.

"My name, it's Sariel... you didn't ask, so I thought I'd tell you, would be rude of me not to introduce myself I suppose."

"Sorry."

"It's ok... right now let's just worry about getting you some food and getting you back on your feet, ok?" Robin nodded and let Sariel help him down the stairs.

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That day, Robin spent most of his time getting his legs again. He tried to ask some questions regarding... well anything. But got no answers in return. Not from the older women or from the younger. He later found out that the older women was Sariels grandmother. Which made sense, because she always called her 'Grams'. But other then that, she didn't release much more information. On anything. Which frustrated Robin. It was like they were trying to keep him here.

Robin had already taken a look outside as well. They were out in the middle of the forest, meaning that if he did run, he would probably get lost, and he was already weak from his time on ice. Would Sariel come for him, or would they leave him to die in the forest? He didn't want to dwell on that. So, he stayed. He supposed he could take advantage of their hospitality until he was well enough to leave on his own.

Night came, and he had been able to walk up the stairs himself. The two were kind to him for the most part, but he had a feeling he had to get out of here and soon. He didn't know however, he'd be leaving sooner then later.

It must of been about three in the morning when Sariel shook him from his slumber.

"They found you." was all he heard before she shook him again. "What?" Robin muttered. She looked at him and then to the door. Her grandmother was downstairs talking to someone. "The Brotherhood, they believe you're here. Grams is giving us some time. We gotta get you outta here... And I thought your team put them on ice?"

"The last time I saw the Brotherhood I was on ice." he whispered. Sariel nodded. "One of them must of gotten free. They're looking for you, seemed pretty pissed. Grams cabin is a great hide out, which is why they came knocking. How they found it... dammit. We need to get you out of here and fast." Robin nodded." Here." she dropped some clothes on his lap and then moved to the door and gave him some privacy to get dressed. It was some olive green pants and a black shirt, along with some combat boots and a big black coat and toque. No where near his usual attire. But he wasn't going to complain. It was something, and with it beginning to snow out there, and temperatures dropping, he would need it.

"Ready to go?" Robin nodded and followed the girl out one of back windows, and jumped down into the deep snow.

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Next chapter: Slade returns to the scene and Robin learns the truth of who freed him. Also some big nasty fight scenes coming up next chappie. Plus is it really the Brotherhood that is looking for Robin? Or someone else?

This one may of been a bit slow but I promise the next chapter will get a lil' more exciting. =D This chappie is just kind of a needed thing to fill in the parts before the awesome stuff.

Thanks for all your reviews I do enjoy them! If you have any questions ask away. Thank you!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: TT, Slade, and Robin are (c) to DC Comics. Sariel and Jillain are mine tho'. I wanted to say thanks for all the faves and follows. It's been a awesome run so far. Anywho, here is the next chapter. Got some fight scenes in here. Hope you enjoy. Please drop me a review! =)

EDIT: 07/15/2019 on FFnet. Fixed errors and giving it more umph so to speak. Flows a bit better.

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They were booking it through the forest, while trudging through deep snow no less. All they could hear was their own footsteps. The forest itself. was vacant. No animals. no people, just the creeks of the trees in the distance. Nothing. It was as if the forest itself was keeping secrets from them. And no matter how far they ran, nor for how long, it would always withhold it's truths from their eyes. Everything was silent, until... gunfire.

Sariel's eyes immediately darted in the direction of her grandmothers cabin. The shots seemly rang out from that general area. But the girl knew better then to take the bait. Robin however, wanted to go back, but she insisted not to with a simple, yet stern "No."

"But your Grandmother?"

"She'll be fine."

Robin growled at the young women. "How the hell can you be so sure!?"

"Look!" Sariel turned on her heels and glared hotly at the boy wonder. They were evenly matched it seemed, for a moment the two just glared at one another, both taking a stand on what they thought was the right way to go about things. "She risked a lot to get you out of the damn house, if we go back now, everything she did for you would be in vain, and I won't let that happen."

Robin gritted his teeth, but as much as he loathed to admit to it, she was right. Even though leaving someone behind to die wasn't high on his list of priorities, going back would be a deathtrap. "We need to move forward." It seemed Sariel had the final say.

Crack.

"What the...?" The two huddled down and tried their best to blend in with the trees and snow. Both kept an eye out for any kind of intruder. However, it was pitch black, with nothing but the moonlight spilling in from the cracks in the treetops. They sat there for awhile in silence. There was nothing at first, but soon a small unit of the Brotherhoods troops passed them by. Robin looked to the girl beside him and put a finger to his lips to signal complete silence. The two stayed quiet until they thought it was clear. Robin automatically went into detective mode, looking for any leads as to where they came from or where they were going. "We should follow them. See how they got here so fast."

"It's easy to track someone down in three days Robin." The young hero narrowed his masked eyes at the girl. "We were the ones foolish to stay here." she said. "You can't trust anyone... We need to get going."

"AHA! Knew you were hiding somewhere." It was one of the Brotherhood troops. One of them must of doubled back to check if they were hiding out. The trooper pulled out a gun and aimed it at their heads. Sariel, seeing this, wasted no time and pulled a gun from her own holster, dropped to the ground and shot the man in the head, well before the trooper could even get a shot off. Robin was in shock, then in rage as he turned to Sariel whom was picking herself up from the floor.

"YOU KILLED HIM!"

"And?"

"WHY!?"

"He was going to KILL us!"

"That doesn't-"

CRACKLE...

"What the-?" It was coming from the body. They turned to look and saw it spark, as if it was never human to begin with. "This isn't-"

BOOOOM!

The two were startled at first, but now looking over to the soldier, they found it was nothing more then a smoldering robot. Robin ran over to it's remains. This technology, the way all the wires were connected, so neat, so tidy. He only knew one person that took such effort into electronics. His mind reeled. Screamed at him. The dark aura, that damnable presence. It was here. He took the mask off of the body only to find one of the iconic faces of one of Slades soldier like robots underneath.

Sariel walked over to the man. "He's all yours."

"Thank you Sariel."

The girl departed. Leaving only him. And that voice, he knew it anywhere. The Brotherhood wasn't after him. "Slade." The very name was laced with poison as it left his lips. How the hell did Slade find him out here, unless...

"It seems you woke up a bit premature." The man stood still, still as the forest it seemed. He was waiting for the boy to make his move. But he didn't attack, Robin just slowly turned around. His masked eyes narrowed in anger. He was seething, Slade could tell.

"Sariel, she..."

"Lead you out here as per my orders. She's a good actor you see. She was trained to deceive, trained to survive in any condition, and she can take orders... when it suits her." Robin growled at the man. Slade kept inching closer and closer with each word he spoke. But the boy stood his ground, he wasn't about to show his nemesis that he was in a weakened state. "Hello! He asked Sariel to bring you here dumb shit. He obviously has gotten a update on your health and well being." he bickered with himself. But It didn't mattered. The boy wonder was stubborn, he wouldn't fold for just anyone.

"Why?" he growled through his teeth.

"Why do you think?" Slade was only a few feet away before he stopped and placed his hands behind his back. The two were locked for a few moments as they both made eye contact. Mask to mask.

Robin just glared at the man. The forest was silent again as they stood opposed to one another, it was then it began to snow lightly, the cold once again tugged at the boy. "Your planning something! Is this some sick joke, to drag me out into the damn woods and then tell me your grand scheme of things!?"

"No." The first punch was thrown by the criminal. Robin barely dodged it by preforming a back flip and landing a few feet away.

"Then why!?" Robin burst forth from his crouching position. When nearing his enemy he jumped into the air and twirled around, intending to land a roundhouse kick to Slades head, but the mastermind saw it coming and caught the boys foot, and one single motion threw Robin into the nearest tree.

A bit dazed, Robin shook his head in just enough time to see Slade running at him, he dodged the fist again. The mastermind, seeing this, began to strike profusely. And all Robin could do was block, and it carried on like this for awhile until he saw an opening. Taking advantage of it, Robin punched the criminal right in the stomach, then dropped and did a spin kick, which would knock Slade off his feet and onto his back. With a smirk, Robin went to punch the man, only to have his fist caught.

"Trying to knock me out while still on my back, how dishonorable of you Robin."

"SHUT UP!"

Slade kneed him in the stomach. Hard. Really hard.

Robin fell backwards onto his knees, before crouching over and coughing up some blood. Slade stood up and shook his head at the young man before kicking him in the gut. The boy wonder cried out in pain. "No." he thought. "Not again." He kicked the boy again, and again. And all the boy could do was lay there for the moment, and take the brunt of Slades hits. His mind reeled in a fury that had come to be associated with the mysterious figure. This man kept popping up in his life. Kept him fighting in these brutal contests of strength. And right now he had nothing. No weapons, no proper armor, nothing.

Robin inhaled the crisp air and waited for another kick, anticipating it so he could make a move, but nothing. His masked eyes narrowed, his face calm, Robin looked up to the masked criminal and asked again. "Why?"

"Why what Robin?"

"Your Deathstroke... aren't you? Sariel, she said the name a few times, It fits now." The young hero was crouched over, trying to catch his breath, if he had any left that is after the beating he received.

"It's another alias. A rather popular one."

"Why... did you free me from the Brotherhood? I could be dead and out of your hair."

"And leave such good potential to rot? Your worth far more then being a slab of ice for a trophy Robin. The Brain wasn't wanting to let you go, but I convinced him otherwise." Slade looked down on his young foe. He could see the gears grinding away in Robins head. Oh yes the boy knew what he wanted.

"Forget it." Robin glared at the man. "If you think I'll ever be your apprentice again, you got... another thing... coming." The boy gritted his teeth, his body still aching from the beating. Slade just stared down at him. "You think you have much choice in that matter Robin?"

"Yes!" With a lot of effort, Robin shot up from the ground and decked Slade in the head. His fist connecting to the criminals metal mask definitely hurt, but it was worth it. Slade stood a bit dazed and Robin to advantage of it and went to kick the man, but nothing was going his way. Slade caught his foot again, and threw him to the ground. The boy grunted in pain.

"Getting a bit better Robin. But you forget, you've only recently recovered, you push yourself to far for someone that was on ice a short time ago. Admirable, but foolish." He hated to admit it, but the damnable man was right, he was pushing himself to the brink. He wasn't even close to being in top form, and it was stupid of him to even try and pick a fight with Slade.

His breaths were short, but he had to ask. "Why out here? Why order the girl to bring me out here?"

Slade bent down to help the boy up, not answering Robins questions. He simply, instead stated that they were going back to the cabin. "I can either carry you Robin or help you walk, it's up to you." Robin disliked both options, at first he insisted to walk. But in the end, it was Slade helping him when he felt weak, or out of breath. Robin would always fight the helping hand however, causing Slade more of a headache then he anticipated.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

When the two arrived back at the cabin. They found the older woman with a rifle in one hand, and a few dead rabbits in the other. Robins mind went back to the gunfire. "That's the shots we heard... and Sariel knew." He stared at the women in question, who was sitting on the porch. "She played on that, and made me believe..." The young hero slightly narrowed his eyes at the girl. She was taking orders from Slade. Did that mean she worked for the criminal? He now had more questions then answers.

Robin slowly turned around to face the man behind him. "The brotherhood never did come to find me did they?"

"No. They wouldn't be able to find you out here. Jillian's little hiding spots, ones just like this, are always excellent places to smuggle things in or out, whether it be weapons, artifacts, or in this case, people."

"I don't get it. Why drag me into the cold?"

"What is there to get Robin? I left you here in Jillian's care for a few days. When I returned, do you really think you would of taken care of your surroundings, and minded yourself when you saw me step into the household? No, it was for the best to teach you a few lessons out on the field as it were." Robin had a scowled etched onto his face. "The first so called lesson being?" his frown deepened.

"Do not trust anyone." Robin could swear the man was making some sort of joke only he understood and that he was smirking under that metal mask of his.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

-4 hours later-

"What are you going to do with the boy Slade?" Jillian found him in the basement. Where he had set up a few laptops to monitor the on goings of his 'business'.

"I believe it's time to take a little vacation. I've already made preparations. Where he is going, he won't come out the same."

"I see." Jillian sighed. "Well if you ever need any help, you know where to find me."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin was left under Sariel's watchful gaze. She wasn't about to let him escape, although that is all he wanted to do at the moment. But he knew he wouldn't get far in his condition. And with the snow coming down rather heavily outside, the outdoors could very well mean his death.

"I'm sorry." It was almost a whisper, but Robin heard it all the same.

Robin shifted his glance away from the woman. "What the hell for?" he spat.

Sariel shrugged it off. "My grandmother is good friends with your so called 'master'.

"He is NOT MY MASTER!" he panted a little after his outburst, clearly out of breath, the earlier actions seemed to really have taken it's toll on him. "Either way." she spoke up. "I'm sorry, I don't usually deal with Grams and her little army, nor do I usually have any dealings with her so called friends."

"Then what were you doing?" Robin leaned back on the couch and stared out the window, the night sky and the snow at that moment were far more interesting then the programs on the TV. "I was visiting my grandmother..."

Silence. Nothing. He wanted to say something to her, ask her something. It took a bit, but finally... "You shot that robot dead on in the head."

"If your asking what I do for a living you wouldn't like it. But no, I don't work for Slade if that's your next question."

"It wasn't." he said sharply.

"Uh huh... suuuuurrree."

-1o minutes of silence later-

"You know the snow is kind of pretty. It just covers up the whole world and swallows it whole, masking the ugly, the blood, the wars... and turning it into a temporary wonderland.' The girl just sat there and looked out the window. "And regardless of how fake it is, it's kind of nice."

Sariel smiled. "Cold, but nice."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Next Chapter: Robin needs to find a way to get away from Slade and he'll try and do so at any cost. But according to Slade that isn't going to happen anytime soon. It's time for a little flight to somewhere only Slade knows.

Emmm yep... angsty fighting and whatnot. PLS PLS REVIEW!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

A/N: OK! So I'm gonna try and update every Tuesday. Yes it's 1am, So technically it's Wednesday but hey I had some other stuff to do... so I'm sorry it's late! Please no throwing bricks at me ok? =)

Anywho please let me know what you think, People seem to like it thus far, which still confuses me but hey! So yea reviews are always appricated! Let me know what you think!

And Thanks to all that already have faved, followed and reviewed, you guys are awesome!

Anywho on with the story.

EDIT: 07/15/20419  on FFnet. Fixed the typos and errors and made it flow better.

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His eyes opened to the same, unfamiliar ceiling. This place was not his home. It wasn't his bed in Titan Tower, nor was it his room in Wayne Manor. It wasn't disturbing at first, the setting peaceful. But the thought of where he was, and whom he was with... now that was disturbing.

Robin rolled out of bed. Today was the day. Today, Slade was going to take him somewhere, and today he would make his escape. He'd have to plan this out carefully, he had to be slippery enough to get out of his grasp. But there was doubt that clung to Robins train of thought. No matter what he did, Slade would always be two or three steps ahead of him. In order to slip away unnoticed, he was going to have to be craftier then the Criminal Mastermind. Which didn't seem possible at times. Well actually, all the time. It seemed every time Robin thought he was ahead of the game, Slade appeared out of the blue, and pushed the boy backwards about five spaces.

There was some clothes left for him on the chair that stood in the corner of the room. He quietly got changed into the olive green cargo pants, that seemed more military issued then something you'd buy from the store, along with the black basic t-shirt. A coat was also left for him for his so called 'journey'. Once dressed, he noticed the bowl of water and soap that was placed on the dresser. Robin dipped his right hand into it and noticed that it was still fairly warm. The cabin had running water, why bring him a basin? Perhaps Slade was hinting at the fact that for the time being he should stay in his room? "Screw that." he barked to himself. The young hero shook his head. But, he was kind of grimy from yesterdays little fight in the woods anyways. Dipping the cloth and soap into the water he began to lather the hand towel, and washed away any grim from his cuts and bruises. But before applying it to his face, his hands traced the fabric of his mask. He hadn't taken it off for the entire time he was here and it was beginning to get a little irritating. Normally, he took it off at night when he was sure he was alone. But here... here he couldn't chance it. The mask could come off once he got back to the Titans. Or at least, once he got away from Slade.

Once he was cleaned up, he slowly opened the door and peered around the corner. No one. "Ok." he thought. "Let's do this quietly." Escape wasn't quite the option to take right at the moment, but he wanted to get more of his bearings.

Robin stepped out into the hallway, and slowly crept over to the banister. There was four rooms up here and one washroom. All of these rooms were small, and all of them on the right hand side. It wasn't exactly a hallway, once you came out of your room one could almost look down into the living room. Also making it really easy for him to be seen. Quickly and quietly Robin moved back to the wall. There wasn't anyone down there at the moment.

"Robin"

The boy in question turned his head to find the criminal lingering out of his room. "Of course they would set my room up next to his." Robin mentally cringed.

"And where do you think you are going, hrmmm?"

Silence.

Slade glared down at the boy, the silence was unacceptable. "I asked you a question Robin?"

Robin glared at the criminal. "No where." he finally said. "Just... heading to the washroom." With that said, the young man turned towards the bathroom, walked in, and closed the door. Slade watched him and his little inner fit. His mind was probably screaming at him for lowering his defenses. He knew the boy well enough that he would try something... not that he would really get anywhere, but Robins mind was always one that was churning away at the bit. Even if he knew he wouldn't get far, or anywhere for that matter if he ran, he was still going to take the extra precautions about his surroundings. Another trait he liked about the boy. For all his running off and going head first into battle. When it mattered, Robin used his head, and used his cunning, and prepared for whatever came next.

Knowing that Robin would abandon the idea of escaping for the time being the criminal turned back into his room. He'd let the boy stew for the time.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was still early in the morning. No one but the two of them were up. Jillain and her granddaughter were still asleep it seemed.

"Into the car."

Robin gritted his teeth and muttered a "No." before simply standing there and glaring at the man. Slade, on the other hand didn't have time for this. "Into the car, now Robin." The young hero didn't move. He stood there, not even giving the mastermind a spare glance. A bit frustrated now however, Slade backhanded the boy. Robin didn't see it coming and when Slades hand connected with his face, he fell backwards into the snowbank.

But before Robin could get back up, he grabbed the boy by the back of his coat and dragged him out of the clearing and closer to the treeline. Robin tried to fight off his grip, but it was to strong. "I do not need to be picking a fight with you this early in the morning again, do I?" Robin narrowed his masked eyes at the man. "We are on a tight schedule."

"I don't want any part of it!"

"You don't have much of a choice, Robin."

Robin fought off his grip, Slade letting him go. He quickly got to his feet. The two of them standing only at arms length from one another. Robin instinctively went into a defensive stance while Slade merely stood there with his hands at his back. The two merely watching one another, waiting for the other to make a move.

The man chuckled, breaking the silence between them. "Enough of this." The criminal attacked first. Grabbing Robins arm, twisting it, and receiving a yelp from it's owner. Then thrusted the boy into a tree. The impact was hard. Slade merely walked over to the boy and stood over him.

"If you've had enough as much as I have had with your attitude, then I believe it is time to get into the car." Slade watched him until the young man nodded as a response.

"Good. Let's get going." Slade turned around and walked silently to the vehicle. Robin, after shaking the snow off of himself, followed behind.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A few hours later and they had arrived at one of Slades much smaller bases along the border of France and Germany. However, it was well equipped for being so compact. Best yet, it had a few helicopters hanging around. Which was perfect for the trip.

Slade had Robin sedated, not wanting the boy to know all of his secrets just yet. Therefore, the boy was passed out in the car. Getting him in that kind of state, however, was difficult he had to admit. But eventually, the boy let his guard down.

He had a few of his workers that lived on the base prep the helicopter, as he moved his apprentice into one of the seats. Robin groaned a bit, but not much else. By the time he woke up, they'd be close to their destination.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Again. It happened again. He had spent most of the past few days asleep. All thanks to Slade and his sedatives. He got it, he didn't want the boy to know where he was going, but this was getting ridiculous. Robin tweaked his hand a bit before fully opening his eyes, only to regret it. "Had a good sleep Robin?" The boy in question narrowed his eyes at the man, his face stern, his mouth in a frown.

"Not really." he muttered. Which was true. While the sedatives kept him out cold, the ride was rather bumpy to say the least. His mind was always on the edge of being awake and a deep sleep.

"That is unfortunate." the man feigned concern.

He looked around his surroundings and noticed Slades choice in transportation. "A helicopter? Really? Where you taking me anyways?"

"Taking us you mean? You see wherever I go, you're coming along for the ride, as to where exactly..."

Robin wanted to shudder when he saw the mans singular eye glint for a few seconds, he could feel the man smirk at him from under that metal mask of his. "You will see soon enough."

The Boy Wonder sighed. He knew he wasn't going to get much out of the mastermind. His eyes wandered to the pilot and he briefly wondered if it was a real person, or another one of Slades mechanical wonders.

Silence hung between them, before Robins stomach disturbed the awkward moment.

"If your hungry, there is some food for you in one of the coolers to your right." Another glare was shot in the criminals way. But he couldn't fight his stomach, he was starving. Robin grabbed some of the food. He found some boxed cut up veggies and fruits, along with some cheese. It wasn't much, but it was a nice snack if anything.

"It isn't poisoned or anything is it? You're not going to put me to sleep again are you?" Robins eye twitched in annoyance.

Slade had pulled out a laptop to oversee any issues with any of his contracts. Looking up from it to his companion he merely grinned at the young boy, not that Robin could see it. "And why would I do that?"

"You've been doing it for the past few days!"

'Temper temper, Robin."The man chuckled darkly, Robin glared in his direction. "Perhaps I have, but only for your own good."

"My own good?"

Silence.

He never got an answer from the masked criminal, so Robin ate his food quietly and tried not to think of whom he was sharing a helicopter with. Instead, he tried to think of where he was. It wasn't anywhere he really recognized, but he kept his eyes open on the landscape for any idea of his location. He couldn't of been out for that long, it must of been around noon, at the very least. And for the time he'd been out, they could be anywhere in Europe, or beyond. "Not good." he thought. "Not good at all."

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Next chapter: Where is Slade taking Robin? What does he got up his sleeve? And is Robin going to at least try and make a daring escape... and probably fail? Or not? Who knows! Wait... I do. No I ain't telling. =P

I was thinking private jet, but I think all the countries in Europe are so close together, travel there takes no time at all. Slade would want to take his time, hence the helicopter..

OK So how did you like this chapter? PLS PLS drop me a review! Thanks all!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: TT, Robin, Slade and everything basically here *but some oc's* are copyrighted to DC Comics.

A/N: Ok so next chapter! YAY! So emm yea, this is kinda more of less a bit of a much needed filler so what happens in the next chapter can ya know... happen. But I hope it's enjoyable nonetheless. Also sorry this ones kinda short. But the next chapter will be longer ok? Thanks guys!

So anywho let me know what you think, Please review guys! I'd love to know what you think.

Anywho on with the story!

EDIT: 07/17/2019 on FFnet. Fixing some typos and minor issues and helping it flow better.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was another few hours of sitting in silence, and soon enough the land below began to change. And all Robin could think was "Middle East! Middle East! Middle East!" But where exactly in the Middle east, he had no clue. He'd been out here a few times before, but the Middle East consisted of multiple countries, and various terrains, and he didn't know them well enough to tell them apart. They traveled for a length of time, over deserts and settlements, apparently avoiding any cities... which was smart on Slades part, he had to admit. So with all this cruising over the sands, it should put him somewhere in Iraq, maybe Saudi Arabia perhaps? Not exactly a good place to be in at the time.

Finally, after a long period of time, Slade had ordered the helicopter to land. The pilot did so without question. It must of been about three or four in the afternoon, give or take. Not that he had any real concept of time, and he doubt Slade would be obliged to tell him.

"I have some business to attend to before we move on." Slade had said as he stepped down into the outside world, from the comforts of the helicopter. Robin sat there and looked on as the mastermind gazed in the direction of a small settlement, that in truth, seemed somewhat lively. "We will need to go the rest of the way however, on foot, we will pick up supplies once I've dealt with... Robin!" The boy in question nearly shuddered. His attention immediately cut to the man outside. Slade turned around and looked at the boy. "Do you intend to stay in there all day?"

Robin glared at the man as he stood up and stepped out of the helicopter. If he thought he felt the heat inside, it was nothing compared to being out here.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

This little settlement was actually quite large. It wasn't a major city obviously, but for being all the way out here, it sure had it's fair share of people, animals, cars and even some technology. The locals carried cell phones, no smart phones, but he figured a old flip phone was pretty cheap for way out here.

The area intrigued him, to say the least. He never really got to see any of the little towns when he came here with Bruce. These people were different... "and dangerous" he thought to himself as he saw that a few of them were carrying guns on their person. And even more dangerous, were the individuals with the much larger rifles.

Robin sighed, his mind wandered back to his captor. What the hell would Slade need here? In this small dinky little town? What could they possibly have, that Slade could want? He was sure the man didn't need any guns, although at the thought of Slade purchasing such a weapon, made his heart sink, not so much for the criminal, but more for himself. He knew Slade would try to get him to hold the weapon, to shoot it, and he just didn't have the heart for that. Not that he didn't know how, thanks to Barbara. Although he had to admit, he never practiced, and he only ever shot at targets with his friend. Regardless, he did just fine with his bo-staff and gadgets anyways.

The criminal had told him to wait in the corner while he spoke with another man, one of his apparent contacts. Robin agreed and sat quietly. While he did try to hear what they were saying, the two seemed to keep things pretty hush hush.

Disappointed, Robin tried to keep his mind on other things. His eyes looked to the entrance of the building, that seemed to be required for the two men to talk things over. He kept thinking on how easy it would be to just run. Right there, right now. But he knew better. If he was going to get away from Slade, he'd have to do it at the most opportune time, and right now was not it.

"We're leaving." was all that was said as Slade passed him by, not even giving the young man a glance, fully expecting him to follow without question. Robin sighed and did what would please the mastermind. The two stuck to the back allies, not wanting to be seen. This was a definite must for Slade, being in combat gear and his mask, which would probably terrify the local children. Which made him briefly wonder why he didn't go off and scare the locals in the first place. The thought of the villain running around the little village, freaking the kids out, amused him slightly. Another sigh, and Robin frowned at his own thoughts. But surely Slade wouldn't care about some kids. Not after all that he had done to this team.

"Deathstroke."

Robin mentally jumped. Deathstroke was Slade... Someone here, of all places, was looking for the criminal, and that someone had a gun pointed at the mans back. But Slade didn't even flinch. Instead, he turned around to face his adversary.

"Yes." he spoke, his tone bored, his stance the usual. The mastermind looked the younger man over. And mentally thought of Robins position. His apprentice had made his way to his right hand side, still a bit a ways off, but further away from the man with the gun. "Good." he thought. Now, this one with the nerve to point at gun at him. He was from this country, his skin tone and his accent gave that much away. He wore loose pants and shirt. He'd been wandering the desert, it would explain the light military jacket, to keep ones skin from getting burnt. Also the scarf pulled up around his lower face and the goggles also pointed towards this, but the patch on the right arm on his jacket, that gave him away.

"What exactly do you want?"

"For you to go to FUCKING hell!" Gunfire. The man must of shot his fill, which was about four shots before Slade whipped the gun right out of his hands. Within seconds, he had the young man on the ground, and his hand around his throat. "Who sent you!?" The mastermind snarled. Whoever the younger man was, he wasn't very good with a gun since Slade dodged only about two bullets and the other two were complete misfires. His reflexes were far to advanced for a rookie like the kid below him. Which actually confused him more. Why send a kid to do the job?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade was distracted. He wasn't looking, he wasn't paying attention. His mind yelled at him to get out of there while he could. And he did. He took his chances, and ran. The criminal noticed however, and called out to the boy, but he didn't listen. Nor wanted to. This was his ticket out. So he bolted. Robin ran until he couldn't anymore and quickly hid in one of the little hovels. After the whole gunfire incident, the people quickly took to hiding, others were even on the streets, still trying to find where the shots came from, most of them carrying weapons themselves.

He had to find a way out of this town and now. He quickly took one of the residents scarves and wrapped it around his head. It would hopefully help disguise him among a crowd of locals wearing the same idea.

Robin kept to the back streets, and tried to cut through as many buildings as he could, since most of them were wide open. He constantly kept looking back, but he didn't see Slade anywhere. He was actually expecting him to pop up at any moment now and backhand him for 'trying to escape'. But it never came. "Just a little further." he kept telling himself. But to be honest, he really didn't know where he was going to go. This town wasn't huge, and it was out in the middle of the desert. Maybe he just had to law low until Slade gave up? Robin kicked himself, Slade wasn't going to give up. And he mentally cringed at the thought of what the criminal would do to the people of this town, just to bring him out of hiding.

His thoughts were becoming depressing, but he kept pushing on, and kept looking back, just in case. However, it seemed he was in luck. In exploring the town in more depth, he found a small airport, and even luckier, an airplane was getting ready to leave. They were loading some crates onto a old fashioned cargo plane. Sneaking around, he got a bit closer to the plane. His breaths were heavy, he wasn't used to the heat and he had no water, not a soul noticed him though. Robin cringed at the idea, but no matter what, he had get onto that plane. It was his only escape plan at the moment, so it had to work.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The man lay dead below him. "League of Shadows." he thought. What would the League of Shadows want with him? Perhaps he had done work for them in the past... but him and Ra's al Ghul always parted on good terms. Unless... "Robin."

No. Even if the Batman had dealings with the League, they wouldn't want anything to do with Robin. He was always in the background... the boy never came into the light in the superhero community until he took leadership of the Titans. Something didn't add up here. Any member of the league was, by far, better trained then to just walk up to him and point a gun in his face. And how did they even know he was here? The man clearly spoke his name, albeit not one he had used in quite some time now. However, the man knew exactly who he was, where he was... and yet failed.

Putting the thoughts aside for the time being, Slade slid the body into an alley, then began his search for his apprentice. He would deal with the League later. Right now, Robin was his main concern. If one member of the league was out here, then he was certain there would be others.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slipping onto the plane was more difficult then it seemed. They obviously didn't want anyone around to see what they were doing, or what they were carrying. All the guards and work men here carried a firearm. There were patrols, not many, but enough to get under his skin. What were they transporting? Drugs? Guns? It could be anything.

It took time, and all his concentration, but he got on board the plane and quickly slipped into a hiding spot. He would have to remain hidden for awhile. How long he didn't know, but anywhere was better then being with Slade.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N: OK Sorry this chappie is kinda short, it's kinda more filler then anything. I just need to get this out there so I can get on with the next chapter, so yea its all kinda necessary. =P Next chapter will be more crazy ass fun I promise.

Next Chapter: Robin escapes onto a plane which seems to be his salvation, but is it really? All sorts of stuff goes to hell and Robin is left in ruins.

PLS PLS REVIEW! Thank you guys!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

A/N: OK so yea much longer chapter this time. Hope ya like it! If ya do pls drop me a review. ALSO uber thanks to all those that have reviewed, thanks so much yer a big help. Really! You all keep me motivated. Also every Tuesday is update day and I'm late by an hour again! Sorry. It's technically 1am... so it's really Wednesday. Well better luck to me next time.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Teen Titans, nor Robin and Slade. They belong to DC Comics peoples!

And on with the story!

EDIT: 07/30/2019 on FFnet. Editing spelling errors and making it flow a little better.

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The League of Shadows was an army of assassins built by Ra's Al Ghul. Anyone in the underworld or those who opposed it knew that much. The organization was one that has built over a long period of time, it was far more stealthy then this. Ra's wouldn't just send a man out with a gun to kill Slade. "No." he thought. "He'd do it a much more subtle way."

The Batman had a few ordeals with the Al Ghul Family. Robin having dealt with a lot of it as a result. But if anything, Ra's would always go for the Bat. Why go after Robin, if that even was the whole ordeal. But then again, the man didn't seem like an assassin. The boy lacked skill. His aim was off, he was a rookie at best. Making Slade come to the conclusion that the man that tried to kill him, wasn't League of Shadows material. So that begged the question as to who? And why? Well, there could be many possibilities. But what bothered him the most was how the hell did that kid sneak up on him AND Robin?

Speaking of Robin,"Where did he run off to?" Slades mind changed subjects as he was searching for him. The boy wasn't dumb, he'd keep to as many shadows, nooks and crannies as he could. It was then, when he thought he had looked nearly everywhere, he noticed the tiny airport on the edge of town. An old cargo plane was being loaded with flats of crates containing something akin to weapons. He was guessing that a weapons dealer would be making a few business calls, especially with this many crates. War was a huge business here in the Middle East. A business which he himself dealt with at times. Gunrunning really wasn't his style, but the dealers were always ready to dish out some deals, so to speak. The weapons were basic, but basic was good when you had nothing. The locals probably got their firearms, among other weapons, from these people. Rural towns like this, the dealers must of thrived off of these places.

"Robin." He saw the boy slip onto the plane without even one of those idiots noticing. He'd have to correct this. The boy wasn't going anywhere. Flipping out his phone he slid through his contacts, dialing one.

"Wintergreen. Time to move onto an ulterior movement. He's on a plane. A weapons dealer plane. He'll be heading over the desert. I'll need the details as to where he is going exactly."

He ended the call knowing that had have to put different plan into place. Robins little daring escape will get him far, or so he thinks.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

After the plane had all it's cargo loaded, and was ready to go, the cargo doors closed up. Robin concealed himself the best he could as a few of the workers sat down and buckled themselves in for take off.

"What the hell was I thinking?" Robin mentally cringed at himself. It wasn't one of his best ideas ever, he had to admit, but it got him away from Slade and whatever the masterminds intentions where for him. "No way, not again." Robin would never become that madman's apprentice again. In retrospect, the idea of jumping onto a plane seemed good at the time... if it meant escaping his enemy. But still, the plane itself was old, the people on board, definitely something fishing going on. They were smuggling something... what? He didn't know.

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It would be a couple of hours before he felt some turbulence. The workers were up and about however. Something was amiss. They seemed kind of frantic, but why? He couldn't understand their language. Not until a older man came into the back area where he had been hiding out and started speaking in Arabic, along with some English, telling them all to "dump it".

"Dump it?" he thought, it was only then he realized they meant their shipment, when they started opening up the cargo door on the back end of the plane. "Shit" he said also noting he said it kind of loud. Suddenly he went from being hidden, to being a target. The workers had their guns drawn. Robin gulped. The older man stepped forward and yelled out to come forward. The young hero knew hiding wasn't going to get him anywhere. But before standing up Robin took his mask off and put it in a pocket. If anything they wouldn't take to kindly to having one of the worlds Hero's on their plane. They would probably automatically think he was here to take them down. So putting it aside for now was probably for the best.

"Don't shoot!" he said aloud as he lifted himself unto his feet, and raised his hands above his head. "A Kid?" was all the man said before taking a puff of his cigar. "I just wanted to bum a ride... I got no home, I just..." Robin thought he played the fool well. "Not good enough kid." But apparently not well enough.

The man lifted a gun to Robins head and cocked it. He didn't flinch, after working in Gotham for so long the idea of guns didn't scare him so much. Sure he was shot once... that whole ordeal was why he moved to Jump in the first place. Bruce didn't want him running around the city anymore, so what does he do? Goes to find his own city.

"Your not a ordinary kid are you?" So probably not flinching is what gave him away, any normal kid would of been freaking out by now. "No." was all he said. The man laughed. "Bumming a ride eh?"

Robins blue eyes narrowed at the man. "Sort of..."

The man laughed again. He was a odd one, caucasian, dressed like a cowboy, boots and heel spurs to match. The scarf and cigar gave him the final touch. "Drop the whole load, including the kid."

"WHAT!?"

"Sorry kid, but I got a business to run and you just got into the wrong place at the wrong time. Boys! You all got a rat to kill."

Robin shot daggers at the mans back as he turned to leave. Letting his workers deal with the so called infestation. This guy was almost as irritating as Slade. Pissed off now, Robin began a fight with a few of the guards. A few punches, and a few kicks in their direction was given before they started to open fire. He wanted to get to the man in the cowboy boots. Wanted to get to safety and would preferably like to ring the cowboys neck.

Taking cover behind a few of the crates he began to noticed the planes subtle shift. The flats began to move on their own accord. "This isn't good." It wasn't long before the plane was in a upward direction and the cargo began to fully shift to the back of the plane. Hopping on top of one of the crates Robin did a roundhouse kick to one of the workers before he got a shot off, afterwards quickly jumping onto another crate.

The workers on the other hand at this time were scrambling to get into a seat. Very few actually caring what their stowaway was doing at the time. It seemed the cowboy didn't care for the health and safety of his workers. "Not surprising." he muttered to himself.

Robin leaped from one crate to another, all the while looking out for the guards. As soon as he approached one however, he made quick work of them, knocking the gun from their hands before rendering them dazed, but conscious. Quickly, he made his way up to the door that lead to the cockpit. There was to many lives at stake here, not just his own. This man was just going to let his own men fall to their deaths, if they didn't get to their seats in time. And time isn't something he gave them. Quickly, before another guard could attack him, Robin made his way to the cockpit door. It was wedged shut, and knowing his luck, probably locked. Again, he felt the shift, and Robin knew one way or another he had to get into that cockpit.

It was painful enough as it was, just hanging onto the handle of the door and fighting a seemingly loosing battle, just to open it, but even more so was his battle with gravity as crates began to fall out of the back of the plane, and as the pressure was literally tearing at him to let go and come back down to earth. If he didn't do something soon, the workers that were not tied in would fall into the desert below, and him with them.

Gripping onto the door he finally managed to open it. But when he did he was not expecting the cowboy himself standing before him.

"Level out the plane! Your going to kill your own men!"

He laughed. "Their expendable kid."

"I'm warning you! Level out the plane!"

"Fuck you kid." the older man went in for a punch to the kids head, but Robin saw it coming and blocked it. "LEVEL OUT THE PLANE!"

The two were having a power struggle just to keep level within the tiny door frame. The older man played dirty however, and a kick was the man's next move. He didn't have a lot of room, he was standing between Robin and the wheel to the plane itself, and he wasn't about to budge. Robin being just as stubborn took the blunt of the kick but didn't budge himself either.

All the crates were falling out of the back of the plane now, some even knocked themselves over and weapons splayed across the floor as they to began to slide out of the back. "Guns?" he thought. "He's a weapons dealer."

Robin growled before head butting the man a couple times in the head, rendering the man to be in a lot of pain before Robin punched his lights out.

Quickly, he seated the cowboy in one of the back seats before screaming at the actual pilot to level out the plane. The pilot slowly began to do so, and Robin felt a little more at ease, until a steel toed boot jabbed at his leg and the boy fell to the ground. His right shin was in agony and he turned to see whom was responsible. His mind reeled, was the cowboy faking it? It had only been a couple of minutes. There was no way he could of woken up from that kind of injury in such a small amount of time.

The older man smiled. "Get lost kid."The man grabbed the boy by the back of his neck. Robin yelped, and grabbed at the mans arm, trying to free himself. In doing so, he noticed the patch on his arm. It was the same symbol as the one on the man that attacked Slade. It looked like something from League of Shadows... but something was off.

The man glared at the boy. "It's been a fun ride kid, but now it ends. Go fly home!" With that said he tossed the boy from the cockpit and left the kid to fall to his death.

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Next Chapter: Robin falls to his death. While Slade puts a few more things into motion. And who are these people with all the patches? The symbols suggest something they are truly not. So what's up with that? All in the next chapter!

So yep there ya have it, see longer then chapter 5. Also I may have to come back and change to grammar errors but it's late, I'm bushed, I'll be back to do repairs tomorrow.

PLS PLS REVIEW, THANK YOU!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Robin, Slade and all that jazz is (c) to DC Comics. Sariel is mine tho' foo'!

A/N: SO I want to say I'm super sorry for not updating last week. I've had some major things going on at work that have been stressing me out to the max. I'm doing a bit better now. Plus I'm making a portfolio so I can go back to school. So yea... super extra STRESSFUL!

So sorry again guys!

So anywho this chapter... I kinda like it. Kinda. Anywho Read and enjoy and pls let me know what you think! Also in the last two chapters I've fixed up a bunch of errors that comes from me writing this thing at 2am and half asleep and can't write properally. lol Thanks to all that noticed my bad typos. I think I've had most of them fixed now. I'm not grammar wizard tho'. So hopefully I got most of them.

So anywho ENJOY!

EDIT: 08/14/2019 fixing some errors and making it flow better, and added some stuff... nothing major tho.

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The cowboy had thrown him from the cockpit. The impact was rough, the man truly packed more of a punch then he was anticipating. And because of it, Robin had seemingly bounced across the cargo hold, before his back firmly landed on a crate. He grunted in pain, the airplanes movement once again taking a steep path didn't help matters, and he and the cargo began to slide across the floor. Shaking the pain away, he quickly noticed the pile of crates he had landed on had already arrived at the edge of the plane. Instinctively, he put his arms through one of the straps that was holding everything together, before he and the cargo took the plunge. He swore however, that has he fell, he heard the man laugh at him.

The dark hold of the cargo plane had changed to a ocean of sands below him in a blink of an eye. The sun pierced his vision, but he didn't have time to adjust, the ground lay below him and threatened to kill him once he landed.

"Oh shit!" he looked at the height he was at. How he'd love to have his utility belt now.

Robin mentally cringed at his predicament. "Think Richard, Think!" It was then he saw a piece of the strap flapping around, it clunked against the wood of the crates with it's metal handle. "A parachute!" Robin grabbed for it, but quickly looked to how high he was. If he was to high up the parachute wouldn't work. He had to do it at the right time. When planes fly over and dropped cargo they are usually at a lower altitude. But being that they wanted to fly up so damn high and dump it all, he wasn't currently near the right point to pop the chute.

He'd have to wait for the right moment.

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He wasn't fond of the idea, but the second plan would have to work it's charm. He couldn't very well go out into the desert and simply retrieve the boy. No, let him learn his own lessons for the time being. This world out here wasn't as kind as Jump city. Nor was it the sheltered areas Batman had shown him, with only a bit of the nitty gritty here and there. No, Robin was going to see how the world really worked. Gotham may of shown him what a sinkhole the world can be, but the boy was like the Bat, he had faith in the people. But now he was alone, and no team or the Batman to help him. No one to reassure him. Out here, everything and everyone would work against him. However, Slade was positive Robin could handle as much as he could dish out to the boy. He had seen the young mans resolve first hand, to simply think the boy would just give in, was ridiculous. Regardless, he would have to meet up with the boy wonder eventually and remind him of his place. Although, he doubted Robin would know of his presence until it was to late.

Right now however, he was more interested in the man below him, shriveled up on the ground in pain. The man in question wore one of the patches on his right arm, and he was intent on getting to the bottom of this. Whatever this was exactly.

He had asked the man several questions on repeat it seemed. The man... or rather the boy, he must of been about twenty, and had said nothing for the longest time before blurting out something about the "ben Elohim", and began to mutter something in a foreign language before swallowing a death pill that was probably ingrained into one of his teeth.

Slade was not impressed, although he had a few more answers then questions at the moment. How long it would stay that way remained questionable.

Apparently the League of Shadows had nothing to do with it... which made sense, but who or what was this "ben Elohim"? It was something new. Or perhaps very old, something unknown. He briefly wondered how he hadn't stumbled upon it before. Regardless, there was one question that did remain unanswered. What did they want with him? Or with Robin?

Slade took the coat off the body and examined the patch, it was a dagger and a snake. Two things that were closely tied in with the League of Shadows. He was going to have to have a talk with other members of the Society when he got back from this little mishap of an adventure.

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The time was right, he was low enough to the ground. Robin grabbed the pull string and tugged at it, releasing a rather large parachute to billow out above him. The boy grasped at one of the straps to ready himself for the force that could possibly jerk him off when the parachute took in the whole amount of the wind.

When he was nicely floating down to the ground Robin looked around for any sign of the plane coming back to make another round. But there was nothing. He didn't think anyone was chasing them, but perhaps they had to dump the illegal cargo into the middle of the desert, since where they were landing there could be people waiting for them, to arrest them for gun trafficking. That or someone was actually chasing them. With the whole fight with the cowboy, he wouldn't of noticed. Either way, when he'd landed, he'd be in the middle of the desert with nothing.

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"FUCK!" she screamed. She was mad. Jillain could tell. The woman sighed and asked "What happened?" Sariel turned to her grandmother and sighed. "They want me back." was her only answer. The younger women shook her head and announced that it was always on her time off that they needed her most. Sariel turned to go upstairs to her room to start packing her things.

The report said something about a few deaths of their agents. Being killed off by some unknown being. All of them were tortured, and all of them had taken the death pill.

Before leaving, her grandmother told her one simple thing. "Be careful with the games you play."

Sariel left the little cabin in the woods that night, the thought that maybe they had found her out, that they figured out her plan, that they knew she wasn't truly one of them all along. The thought of being found out was almost nauseating. "No no... just go in, and take the assignment." She tried to reassure herself that everything would be fine. But she knew it wouldn't. "I should put a unit on standby." she thought. It would be a smart idea. Go in, take the job, leave, go back to her own little group. She already stole something important from them. Already, there was quite a lot of talk going around, and what pained her the most is that she had to keep showing up to keep up appearances. Since somehow, some way, she had already started to make a impact among those people. How? She didn't know, but she did know that with people like these, you couldn't just vanish, unless they wanted you to. She had hoped, it wasn't something she would have to deal with for very long, if everything went as planned that is.

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Touching down to Earth wasn't so rough. But getting to the ground took longer then he expected. Robin jumped off the crate and landed into a sea of sand. The dunes stretched out endlessly, there didn't seem to be an end in sight. However, enchanting as it was, the sight didn't appease him at this moment. He took a deep breath. He had no idea where he was. And he had no clue how he was going to survive out here. He had little knowledge of the desert, but he guessed it would suffice. Little was better then nothing after all.

First things first however, he was going to have to go through these crates to see if he could find anything useful. But he had to be careful, he didn't want to exhaust himself in this heat. But first, he had to find a means to open the crates. In their haste to rid themselves of their cargo, they had dumped everything, and not just the crates, but anything that wasn't strapped down went out the back door. There had to be something.

Walking around, looking in between crates, he nearly tripped over something. Looking down, he found it was a crowbar. "Perfect." he said before walking to his first box of cargo. Upon opening the crate he found what he expected. A stack of guns. Rifles to be exact. He frowned at his findings. There had to be some crates with water and supplies in them.

The second crate. Again, not what he was looking for. Guns. Not rifles it seemed, but a few cases that were probably holding handguns. "Wait a second." Robin grabbed at a parcel that was tucked into the side and opened it. "Probably ammo." he thought. But no, he found himself a combat knife. A few actually. He only needed one however. It would be useful out here, not that he'd kill anyone with it. But against the deadly spiders and scorpions out here, he rather have something then nothing. He took the knife and stuck it into his belt, the blade now resting against his hip.

"Maybe the crates that have supplies in them are marked?" He looked around at a few of the various flats of cargo, and he did indeed notice most of them didn't really have anything important marked on them. If anything they had logos of various companies on them to try and play up the idea that it wasn't guns in the boxes. Until he noticed one with a big red cross on it. "That's gotta have something in it."

Walking over to the flat of crates he soon found himself atop of it taking the straps off that once held all them all together. Upon finishing his task Robin opened up the crate to find indeed what he was looking for. A canteen of fresh water, and some medical supplies. He wouldn't be able to take a lot, but he'd take what he could. Robin knew the desert heat could kill a man, so he only took as much as he could carry for when he was in a weakened state.

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Looking into the tiny airports reports, the cargo plane Robin had snuck onto, wasn't on the list at all. Which was odd. No matter what, all flights had to be recorded, had to be listed somewhere. Slade didn't like where this was going. He figured hacking into their system would give him leads as to where exactly that plane had taken his apprentice. But nothing. The board was wiped clean.

Something or someone didn't want anyone to know where that plane was going. Meaning Robin was in for a lot more then what he bargained for if he was still on that plane. Which actually worried the mastermind. He was going to have to keep a very good, very sharp eye on the boy from here on out.

But right now he had no idea where the damn plane had taken him to. He was going to have to get some inside knowledge. One way or another.

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With all the supplies he had, Robin set out into the desert. He had no idea where he was going. But it was better then staying here. He did know one thing about the desert however, and that is that you have to keep moving, if you stay in one spot for to long you'll die. So there was no other options.

Mustering up all his strength and courage Robin took he first few steps away from the so called dump site and out into the open and deadly desert.

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Soooo what do ya think all? Is Robin gonna get lost in the desert? Who are these ben Elohim guys? WTF is going on!? Yea ok... tune in next week. =P

Next chapter: Robin wanders the desert alone, the heat is driving him mad, Meanwhile Slade is coming to get him back... or something like that lolz

Anywho let me know what you think! PLS PLS REVIEW

Thanks you alls! Yous da bestest!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

A/N: Again I want to say I am sooo sorry for not updating this. I will finish this story but I've had a lot of personal things come up in the past few weeks and anything artistic and creative has been put on hold. But no worries I'm kinda back now. I know I said that last time but I plan to update more okies? Thanks guys! Rock on! As for this chapter... DESERTS! WATER! THE STRUGGLE! Sorry if it's kinda like OMG so much desert but I had to get this outta the way to get to the next chapter. Bare with me!

Disclaimer: I do not own Robin or Slade or anything TT related, it all goes to the lovely DC COMICS y'all!

EDIT: 01/09/2022 Fixed up some spelling mistakes and all that as I'm slowly transfering the entire story from FFnet to here.

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The desert heat was something akin to be thrown into a oven, at its highest temperature. Robin felt himself getting weaker and weaker. But he struggled on. His pace was slow, but it still got him somewhere. He also kept telling himself only to drink from the canteen if he was really thirsty. He had to save some of it.

Hours felt like days and days felt like weeks. It was like he lost count altogether. When he did sleep, it was only when he found a odd structure of rocks, and quickly took shade underneath them. All the while being careful of the deadly predators the desert was home to. Scorpions and spiders... all poisonous. He had some medical supplies but he was unsure that he had something to sustain himself from any outcome that came from a spiders bite.

Breathing heavily, Robin observed the area around him. The desert did hold some surprises. Now was an excellent example of such things. "A well." he thought hopeful. In some areas of the desert water could be found three meters deep from ground level. Smirking at his find Robin began to tug at the rope that was laying on the ground. Soon enough he had the bucket in his hands only to find it void of water.

"DAMMIT!" Robin snapped and threw the bucket to the ground. He knew he was running out of water and had to find some source and soon before he had nothing left.

Panting he gathered his strength and stood up to once again to start the journey into the ocean of sand.

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"Three days", he thought aloud to himself. He's been out here for three days. He was kicking himself for not taking more supplies but in afterthought it would of slowed him down. One had to walk slowly in the desert as to not to exhaust themselves. But one also had to make sure only to carry what they could. To much and you'll be overexerting yourself and you'll be drinking all your water and be out in no time at all.

Still it seemed like he was getting nowhere. Like he was walking in circles. "Stupid." he thought. He had no idea where the hell he was or what he was doing. He never been stuck in a desert before. The very idea enraged him, he would of shown it to if he had the energy.

Even when he slept, if he got any at all, it was difficult. The temperature dropped to freezing. This place hated him, it wanted him to leave and he would gladly do it if he knew the way out. Last night was problematic. He couldn't sleep, it was to cold. And he had no blankets, nothing but a few supplies and the shirt on his back.

He was beginning to understand why many had called these places hell on earth.

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Fourth day. Today he came across what looked to be the remains of a plane stuck in the dunes. One wing was outstretched to the sky while the other was penetrated into the sand.

Quickly Robin wandered over to it, finding the plane was unfortunately empty. When the plane went down the pilot must of parachuted out, landing probably a few miles away from the plane itself. Opening the door the young man took a deeper look into the remains of the vehicle. There wasn't much of anything left however. No supplies, no water. The boy wonder cringed. There simple was nothing of use in the plane.

Letting out a sigh Robin knew that if anything he could at least use the plane to provide shelter against the heat for now. When it started to cool he'd begin walking again.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Fifth day.

"A settlement." Robin beamed.

Approaching the small town his mind reeled with the idea of fresh water. But it was cut short when he entered the small village. There was no one here, not a living soul. The place had been abandoned. But they must of left a running well behind. If you dig deep enough there would always be some source of water... if that was the case then why did they all leave? Water was scarce, there must of been a profound reason for leaving that kind of resource behind. 

Nevertheless Robin went on a search for a well of some sort. There had to be something here. It took him awhile before he found a bordered up area sheltering a old fashioned water pump. With a smirk on his face and some dread in his heart Robin began to pump. At first nothing. But he continued anyways.

Minutes later, which felt more like hours, there was still nothing. He pumped a little harder.

Nothing.

"Come on! Give me something here!" Robin barked. He should of stayed with Slade, at least he wouldn't be out here in this heat fighting with a old water pump. "Come on!" A few more pumps and then... something.

Mud.

Odd, but it meant water was coming. He continued to pump more. And more until... "Water!" Robin grabbed his canteen and pumped some into it before pouring it all over his head. His hair now sticking to his face, his skin felt like it was dancing in joy at the miraculous touch of the liquid. Knowing not to drink too much at a time, even though his body was screaming for it, Robin took a few sips of the fresh water. But before long he found himself taking in full gulps. His mind told him no, if the water was contaminated he would be throwing it up which would make him even more dehydrated, but at the time he just broke down. He didn't care what his mind was telling him, he wanted the water.

After having his share he quickly took a few more drinks and then topped off his canteen. Thankful that luck was on his side and the water was not contaminated, Robin began to wander the small ghost town. The settlement may of been abandoned now. But it must not of been to long ago that it held people within its walls. He would stay here for a couple days he figured, try and find something on where he was. It looked like for the most part the people here just picked up and left. It seemed all the important personal things were gone but the everyday needs were still here. First thing was first, he had to replenish his supplies. Which was not a easy task, when the people left this settlement they took most of their tools and everyday items, which he didn't blame them for. But he did find some rations oddly enough. Meaning the town at one point had some military in the area. All in all what he found wasn't much, but it was something.

Second on the list, he had to figure out where he was. If the place had some sort of military here, no matter how small the unit was, there must of been a base of command for them. And in there he was hoping to find some maps of the local area. Finding the office wasn't hard, but looking for anything in it was difficult. The place had been destroyed. Something had gone down here before everyone left.

Shaking his head away from any of the terrible feelings about the situation, Robin sucked it up and made his way through the office. The windows were broken, there was glass on the floor. Furniture was tossed across the room. Didn't make much sense but oh well. He made his way to a filing cabinet and began to go through files, all written in a language he didn't understand.

Finally however he came across a map. The boy wonder narrowed his eyes. Again in a language he didn't understand, but you didn't always need to know the language on the map to be able to read it. Turning around he wiped the desk clean of any objects that would get in the way of him laying the map flat on the surface.

"Hrmmm..." he pondered over where exactly he was for some time now, he had an idea. But nothing solid. Slade had taken him to the middle east. Saudi Arabia he figured, but where exactly he had no clue. But looking at the map told him he was on the border of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. "Shit..." Robin had landed himself right into the middle of one of the worlds deadliest deserts. The Rub' al Khali. Also known as The Empty Quarter.

Which begged a question. If he was in the empty quarter, how close was he to Yemen? The entire country was in the midst of a civil war. People were just coming up and killing each other for no reason it seemed. Children were forced to bare arms to protect their families. He sighed. Looking over the map again told him he was indeed closer to Yemen then he was to Saudi Arabia. He would have to make his way to a populated town and go from there. Hopefully he could also call in the Titans from there as well.

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He stayed in the settlement for two days. Enough time to gather supplies, take a scrub bath, and clean himself up a little bit. Soon Robin once again found himself setting out into the desert in hopes he could reach the next town that was on the map he acquired. He had some better supplies this time around, meaning his survival rate went up a few points. Which would make anyone glad. The best thing he acquired, other then the map he had commandeered, was the blanket he found himself to keep him warm during the night. Win win if you asked him.

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Sorry for any typos, I'm gonna go through it again. I got someone else to read it to so hopefully less typos. XD So anyways what ya think? I want this to be very much just a chapter of survival in the desert kinda idea. Yes I did do some reaserch so I wasn't blabbering about nothing. PLS PLS let me know what you thought. I would love to know, I love reviews!

So bare with me, less desert survival in next chapter, probably more Slade to...

Next chapter: Does Robin find a populated town, is he able to contact the Titans... and someone finds him but not who he would want to find him. All up next chapter.

Chapter Text

A/N: Ok here is chapter 9! Sorry for being so late, I've just had a lot of stuff come up in the past month or so that needed my attention. So emm yea... Robin gets lectured... by someone! You'll see. Anywho let me know what you think.

BTW if anyone ever needs to write about adventurous adventures in the desert, I highly recommend Uncharted 3's OST. I mean the music is great in the game but it's faboo when writing about that part of the world.

Also just so you guys know, there is now a link to a charrie sheet of Sariel on my profile. In case ya wanna see what she looks like.

Disclaimer: Robin, Slade is (c) to DC Comics yo! The Rub'al Khali belongs to itself, and Sariel is mine! No Stealies!

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Another five days in the desert is what it took for the heat to totally drain the boy of any energy. Robin always told himself he was resilient. Stronger then the rest when it came down to the final battle. But this desert had beaten him to a pulp. His mind didn't scream at him to not do it, to not fall. Instead it told him to give in, like it had been doing the entire time he'd been out here, but he always ignored its pleading call to give in. Now however, he couldn't help it. His knees gave in and he collapsed into the hot sand.

The sand itself burned, but it didn't matter. The relief from just laying there, with no motion at all... after walking so far was worth all the pain in the world at this moment. But he told himself he'd get back up in a few minutes, he'd continue the journey. But he didn't.

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Cold. But dry. He heard someone speaking in a tongue he didn't understand. His hand twitched a little. A sign he was waking up. The people seemed close by. It was a man in blue that sat above him. Robin could barely open his eyes with the sun being as bright as it was. But he noticed the concern the man had for him.

He began to cough, it hurt since his throat was dry. He briefly wondered how long he'd been out before the man rolled him over and started to speak to him again. His words making no sense to the boy wonder, but he was able to get across to the stranger that he was okay for the most part. The men were locals of the area it seemed, probably crossed this desert a thousand times. And here he was passed out in the middle of The Empty Quarter.

Robin shook his head, the man had given him some water and didn't realize it until he drank something just how much his throat burned. Coughing a bit more the men around him were talking amongst themselves. A few, about four of them mounted on horses. But one stood out. She dismounted her horse and walked over to the boy. "My my, what do we have here?"

Robin nearly spat his water at the mere sight of her. "Shit." he thought. "If she's here then Slade will know my whereabouts in no time." Sariel must of read his mind when she bent down and threw a smirk in his direction. "You need not worry about Slade. He won't be getting any help from me."

"I'm so sure about that. Unlike two weeks ago."

"That was different."

He coughed. "Really?" he replied as sarcastically as he could.

Sariel handed him another canteen of water, Robin taking it gingerly this time. Already having quenched his thirst for the most part. But water was water. "How the hell did you end up here of all places?"

"I could ask you the same." Robin glared, then a look of shock passed through his eyes. His mask! He didn't have it on.. then how did Sariel know it was him? Robin shook his head, and told himself at the moment it didn't matter. He could sort things out later.

She was talking to the men in their language. She seemed to speak it fluently. She did say she was a operative of sorts... but out here? What was going on way out here? Unless he was closer to Yemen then he thought.

He was stuck in his thoughts when she disturbed him. "Alright, we're taking you with us. Got a nice little outlook in a much more civilized town."

"I'll need to call the Titans from there, if that's ok?" His tone came out a lot more snarkier then he intended. If it at all bothered Sariel, she didn't show it. "It will take us two days to get there. I warn you, we're entering into Yemen. Civil war is at an unrest there. Your hero friends may not be welcomed."

"Why not!?" He spat out with the little energy he had, making him sound weaker then he wanted. With his little outburst he was unsure now how the young women would react. Instead of answering however she helped him up onto his feet, gave a few orders in that foreign language of hers and then proceeded to help him up onto the back of her horse. Only for her to follow and take the reigns.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They had set up camp for the night. Sariel and her little crew of people were far more prepared then he ever could of been. She must of had at least ten men with her, all of them in military garb in some form or another. It didn't seem that they stood for any nation. Perhaps they were a mercenary group, or part of a vigilante private military. Sariel to, she was part of all this. Things about her made a little more sense now. How she was able to shoot the robot right in the head in a single shot. Her idea of survival. even her grandmother... albeit Jillain was a mystery still to him but seeing Sariel here in some military get up with a bunch of guys with guns... something just clicked. Still she wasn't someone he could trust. This women mostly likely killed people.

"You should get some sleep." she said as she came down by the fire one of her men had made. The camp consisted of three tents. Two for sleeping, one for lounging, or battle planning maybe? "Not tired." was his answer.

"When your stuck out in the desert one should always get as much rest as possible."

Nothing. She sighed. "What you going to do when you call your friends. Last I heard you were declared dead."

This news shocked him. "What?" he said as he spun around to meet her. "They think I'm dead?"

Sariel shrugged. "Yea, everyone thinks your dead after the whole Brotherhood of Evil ordeal. Someone made it official. So it may be a big surprise to them to find out your actually alive. I wouldn't worry to much about them thought. Last I heard the Titans were doing just fine without you."

"Well that's supportive."

She looked to the stars and told him in a hush voice. "I meant what I said earlier. They won't be welcome."

He looked at her in a different light this time, she had said the words so softly as she looked to the sky. The stars loomed over them, enveloping them. "You never answered my question as to why? They are heros. They-"

"Are not welcome in a land that is consistently torn apart by war. America has it's hero's, it has its soldiers, it has its Supermans and Batmans. But here, out here we have nothing but the shirts on our backs. The Justice League could come out here, do some work around these parts. Help out the innocent and all that righteous stuff. Kids are dying out there and they do nothing. They stay in their cities protecting only the few. When there is millions more out here everyday that need help, that could use it ya know?"

She sighed. "But nothing is ever done to help these people."

Robin narrowed his eyes at the girl. He wanted to sneer at her in disdain, but he settled for a more disgruntled look. "Maybe because no one ever gave us a chance out here. Or maybe we're just not welcome." He smirked at his last comment.

"Oh please. You've had many chances to make a stand out here, but word for help has always gone silent."

"I doubt that."

"Robin, do you honestly think a bunch of kids want to arm themselves with guns to protect their families? Do you think it's right that they should have to sacrifice themselves to save others? To you it might be ok for you to do it. But you were trained in a city that gave you everything you could ever desire. You had a choice. Think of it, these kids didn't even have a childhood. Many of them grew up wielding a gun. This world is harsh and cruel and your so called heros see this every day on the news and yet they do nothing."

She sighed again, "And so we have to do it ourselves."

Silence. It was there again. The two sat apart from one another looking into the fire until Robin spoke up. "You don't even look like your from here. But you speak the language. I think you suited the cabin more." His eyes never once left the fire that danced before him.

"One could say that." she murmured. "But..." a little louder this time. "My heart belongs out here. I was an American like you once. My childhood was pretty good, until one summer my parents wanted to do some traveling. Jerusalem seemed to them like a interesting spot to take a six year old. We went on a trip to some of the surrounding ruins. Shit happened, it all went downhill and I got front row seats. I was then beaten and sold off to the highest bidder. It was a man that took me to Iraq..."

"So you were saved?"

"No, this man used me and about thirty other kids around my age. Over the course of a year he trained us, and then let us loose in a full battleground filled with adult soldiers. We were unexpected to say the least. Out of the thirty kids, four survived. And I was one of them." She shook her head a little to shake away some of the nightmarish memories. "After that I simply survived... Like I always have."

Robin was a bit shocked to say the least. What happened to this women was monstrous. Sariel was a survivor of being a child soldier."That's how I know Robin, that you gotta do it yourself, no ones ever going to come save you here. There isn't any heros in a war. Just victims. It's a different world here and that's why they won't be welcomed." She looked at the young hero with a smile on her face. One day he'd understand. "Get some rest, we got a long day tomorrow."

Without another word Sariel got up and left him with his thoughts.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

The plane was headed to Yemen. Finally after a lot of research he found his apprentices cargo plane. This was not good at all. Yemen was in a state of civil war. Literally being torn apart. However, it did fall into place with the secondary plan. Robin would learn of the world and it's wars. That its kill or be killed out here. It was risky. A little to risky. Knowing Robin he rather be shot at then pick up a gun and shoot down his enemy.

With this in mind Slade made arrangements to travel to Sanaa, and then move from there. If anything he'd keep and eye on the boy. To do this he may have to use a disguise or two.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N: Sanaa is the capital of Yemen in case your wondering. Sorry if it's kinda short. But I promise a bit more action and less talking next time!

Pls pls Review guys and Thank you! Keep in mind I will be going over it again probably and fixing any typos and errors but I think I got them all.

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Slade, Robin are copyrighted to DC COMICS. Sariel is mine tho! No stealies!

A/N from FF: Here's another chapter for ya! Hope you enjoy! I'm gonna try and update more regular from now on, but I've also been doing a lot of art lately. I posted a pic of Sariel is anyone is interesting. It's on me dev account .com

Anywho let me know what you think! I want to say thanks to everyone that has reviewed and is following this story. I'm just glad people are liking it. =) And I hope you find the story as rewarding as I do. XD

So PLS PLS Review guys, let me know what you think!

EDIT: 01/09/2022 - Slowly fixing edits as I swap chapters over from FFnet to Ao3

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Two days, and they had finally arrived at a city known as Sa'dah. It was apparently one of the capitals of Yemen or at least it once was until the capital was moved to Sanaa. Sariel explained that it was dangerous territory here since Sa'dah was currently under control of The Houthis. A group that's been going around and taking city after city. Bad thing was as Sariel also explained, that they had tried to take Aden a few months back. Also he noted that the girl said something under her breath about something else, another group. The one that funded all this? He could ask, but she probably wouldn't answer. Sariel kept a lot of things to herself, and never shared anything to anyone.

Although, from the little he did know of her, she seemed to have a lot of intel on her surroundings at all times. Perhaps she had some sort of operatives working on the inside to get her the info. "Sounds like something Slade would do." he thought to himself. Or maybe she just heard if from the grapevine. Either way the girl didn't seem like she wanted to get involved with this matter. Not to enthusiastic about helping out a side to win... And awhile ago she was preaching about Superman coming to save them all. About what a glorious idea that would be? But instead having to deal with the problems all on their own because no one would come to their aid. What was her deal? Now she wanted to stay out of it. Now she didn't want to help others... Or she really meant it when she said everything had to be done on your own out here. Meaning she was going to leave them to fight their own battles. She certainly wasn't going to help them. Not when no one came to help her all those years ago.

Did she want pay back? Revenge? "Who knows?" he thought as he shook the thoughts away.

The city was all hustle and bustle, but what disturbed him the most was walking past families and people trying to rebuild after what looked to be remnants of bombings. The stone houses were in ruins. These people had nothing to begin with and now it seemed they had nothing at all.

Robin almost lost himself in the thick air that filled itself with the sadness and grief of those that surrounded him. This was no city, it was the remains of a war zone. And if there was any indication that it could continue, then he was certain it would. And these people would be caught up with it. "This isn't right..." he muttered to no one but himself.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

The city wasn't large and it wasn't long until Sariel's tongue started speaking in that foreign language of hers again. They had stopped outside a old wooden door, painted green for color he supposed since the rest of the buildings were brown and rather dull.

She and the men dismounted their horses, he himself following suit. "We're gonna sell the horses, and we'll go by car from here on out." Sariel gave Robin a thoughtful glance. "We should be able to find you a place where you can call up your friends here to."

Robin simply nodded.

"We'll spend the night here, get some extra provisions... You ok?"

Robin jerked towards her. "Yea." he muttered. "I'm fine."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

That night Robin found himself amongst the company of Sariels men more so then herself. They spoke little english but that was fine by him. He liked to be left alone... for the most part. Right now however he really missed the Titans. He would love to have their company, but they thought him dead. Which presented him a new problem. It took him awhile but he found an American newspaper. The front page was evidence enough that the Titans were going on without him. "REVERED HERO ROBIN DECLARED DEAD" The mere idea sickened him. But it was something he could fix. His main concern however was how were the Titans doing without him? He had trained them well, he wasn't to worried about them handling the city. He was worried about their welfare. He knew that if he had lost anyone on that team he'd be grief stricken, he couldn't imagine how they were feeling right now.

The article itself was actually more then a page or two, he was pretty pleased with himself. Boy were they going to be shocked when he came home. He could almost imagine their faces light up when they saw him and he could almost hear the zombie jokes Beast Boy was bound to make.

"You from America?"

A man sat down across from him. An ageing man, probably about mid fifties he guessed. He had grey hair and a goatee that gave the man a bit of a rugged look. The eye patch however, that did it. It fit in with the whole assemble of the uniform he was wearing. Some roughed up veteran soldier looking for a place to rest his bones.

"I suppose...?"

"Ahhh that is why you cling to your heros eh?" The man eyed the newspaper. Robin just looked at the man, his eyes narrowed a bit but reminded himself to play it safe. He calmed himself down before answering.

"I live in that city... reminds me of home."

"You a soldier, boy?" His accent, was this man Russian? Would make sense. Yemen and Russia have a lot of mutual understandings at this time.

"Not really." Robin answered uneasily.

"Ah a tourist then?" The man smiled down at the boy, there was something odd about this man. Robin shrugged if off however. Probably just some old vet looking for someone to talk to.

"You could say that. What brings you here?"

The older man smiled at the boys question. "As you may or may not know, my country and Yemen are good friends. We have a little base on the side of town. I come here to drink. It's pretty good, for being all the way out here in a desert. Although, what I would do for some of my own vodka from my liquor cabinet back home... but I suppose this will do." The man poured himself a glass from the bottle he had purchased.

Robin smiled at the Russian, not wanting to give away that he was suspicious of the man. Try and act friendly, best way to uncover what they could be hiding. The rest of the night the man kept him company, only occasionally talking to one of the servers. It wasn't until about midnight that the man had said his goodbyes and Robin had said his.

He dragged his feet up the stairs into a tiny room. When he crawled into the bed that was prepared for him he felt exhausted. The old man really took a lot out of him. He wasn't expecting that sort of encounter at all, but overall it wasn't to bad... he had to admit though there was something about the man he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Robin let out a yawn. Right now it didn't matter much now that he was in bed, everything can wait. He hadn't slept in a real bed in weeks. It felt so good, it wasn't his bed in Titans tower, in all honesty this thing was old and a piece of crap but as of right now it was the best thing in the world.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The next morning he was told that Sariel had indeed sold off the horses. And she was supposedly in the process of buying vehicles. One of her men had spoken to the innkeeper and paid for a long distant call. And Robin couldn't help but put a smile on his face. He was going to call the Titans.

He started to enter the number for the tower, but all was cut off when an alarm started blaring. "What the hell is that?"

"BOMB!"

"What!?"

All around him the locals started running for cover. "Bomb?" he questioned. Could they be dropping bombs? Why not? They had before? And recently if his suspicions were correct. "Shit!" he spoke up. "Why now?" He needed to find Sariel and quickly.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Boy!"

Robin had run out onto the streets, not a smart move he had to admit but he needed to find Sariel. Her 'errand boy' didn't know where she was, but the two were determined to find her. It was then the old man from last night had found them.

"Over here!"

Robin and Asif, as he soon found out the young soldiers name, headed over to the older man and took cover from the chaos that seemed to erupt before them. "You two need some help?" The older man looked down on the two and shook his head. "This is no place for a tourist."

Something seemed to click inside of Robins head. What Sariel said earlier about heros not being welcomed here. What she said started to make sense. This place was utter chaos, and not just once in awhile, it was all the time. They didn't want outsiders here. It didn't matter if one was a hero or not, if you were an outsider you didn't understand the turmoil, you didn't understand the sorrow. To them you wouldn't nor couldn't understand their situation because anyone from America that lived there happily and freely didn't understand the sacrifices these people had made day in and day out.

He was labeled as a tourist and automatically labeled an idiot. Someone that didn't understand the world, someone that just wanted to see the view and not intake the richness of the land. Someone that didn't want to help them, but they were wrong. He did want to help, but how? The stage was already set, he was to little to late.

"Asif, we need to find Sariel."

"Ya ya!" The young soldier tried his radio again, while waving off Robins concerns.

"Friend of yours?" The older man had asked the younger. "More like an acquaintance." Robin answered.

"I see, sometimes I find those are more handy then actual friends." Robin wanted to lift an eyebrow at the man. But didn't, he had to keep his cool. Besides he still didn't know what it was that rubbed him wrong with this Russian. "We got to get to the temple." Asif pointed in the direction and the two men followed closely behind. Robin having no weapons, but noticed that the older man and Asif were both armed. If only he had his bo staff.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

CLIFFHANGER! Sorry... . Wait no I'm not! =P

So yea next chapter, lots of explosions and action! I know! I know! I've been promising some action for the last few chapters but next one I promise!

Anywho let me know what you thought, review pls and thank you! =D

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Teen Titans is (c) to DC Comics, Sariel is mine tho! NO STEALIES!

A/N from FFnet: OMG It's been like a month or more. I AM SO SO SOOO SORRY! Can you all ever forgive me? I have to say tho it's been hetic! I've been switching jobs and things are moving forward and I may be heading back to school soon, so everything is all over the map. And I'm really sorry that this got the band end of the stick. But I'm a little more stable now so I'll be back in doing updates for this guy. As you may have noticed I was doing some tiny updates for the Drabble corner. It's to Robin and Slade stuff. Mostly angsty stuff lol

I'm sorry I'm inserting some OC's into this, but trust me it gets like seriously awesome and fucked up later on.

PLS PLS REVIEW! And PLS PLS forgive me that it's taken THIS LONG to update. This chappy is a little bi short but My god! But anywho I hope you like it! ALSO NOTE! I am sorry for any and all typos. I will be fixing this tomorrow, I'm just dead tired and thought you'd want a update! GOOD NIGHT ALL! =D

EDIT: 01/09/2022, fixed some typos as I am swapping chapters over from FFnet to Ao3.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

Residents scattered to find shelter from the incoming threat. The bombs that would drop, or rather the missiles that were launched. He to should of been looking for a place to hide out, but he had to find Sariel. No matter how much the girl annoyed him he had grown a small amount of respect for the iron willed woman.

"Are they really going to drop them?' Robin asked to no one in particular. However it was the Russian the answered. "Who knows. It could be a ariel attack or it could be on ground." Robin looked to the man at his side. "I thought the alarms signified a bombing?'

"Yes most of the time... but something seems off. Can't quite place it." Robin couldn't help but agree with the man. Something did indeed seem out of place. No, perhaps he never participated in a war, but the streets of Gotham and his exploits with the Titans sure gave him enough knowledge to know something here just wasn't right.

"We need to get to your comrade and fast." Robin nodded as a response and turned to Asif. "She's where?" The young man turned to face the even younger, looking back to him he answered, "In a temple. on the north side of town."

What the hell was she doing there? Sariel was supposed to be selling the horses, and buying jeeps of some sort, not being inside a temple. But then again who knows what that woman did on her off time.

"We need to get to her, and now!"

Asif looked to the young man and curtly nodded. Yes, indeed his boss would need his help.

oooooooooooooooooooo

The temple was falling apart around her. It's construction was old, and it felt like it could very well fall apart and crush them beneath it's stone structure. And here she was, tied up to an old chair, in the same room as her.

"Trying to undermine me Sariel hrmmm? That's a brave move."

"Seriously a old temple? You send your freaky ghostly medium after me, and have me brought to a stinkin' old temple. I thought you had a little more class then that." The older woman narrowed her eyes at the younger, although all the while keeping a very cold face. Her red eyes were void of any emotion, making it much more difficult for Sariel to read what the woman would do.

"What do you know of class young lady? I would so love to hear your idea of such a thing."

Sariel glared at the woman. "I atleast, don't go around and kill all your little friends. Thanks by the way for that. You wiped out my entire unit." Sariel was still pretty miffed about that, and slightly terrified that it was always so easy for this woman to give such gruesome orders.

The woman brushed her scarlet hair back behind her ear before a mischievous glint entered her eyes. "Come now Sariel, you mean to tell me you've never killed one of my own men?"

Sariel bit back a growl before spouting out "What the hell do you want from me!?"

"You know what I want."

"I don't have it."

"So you say." Sariel glared at the women before her. She had to get away from the scarlet terror, being around her was dangerous.

ooooooooooooooooooooo

It didn't take Asif long to pinpoint the location of his so called boss. That's what he kept calling her. In Fact that's what they all called her. Boss.

It was in the remains of a temple where he said they would find her. And sure enough there she was. "What the hell?" was all he could say about the situation at hand.

Robin being as wary as he usually is, told his allies to split up and search the area before marching in. Something was up indeed. If Sariel was ok she would of just walked out and met them. But the bodies of her former unit suggested otherwise. Asif did not take it so well. When last he talked to the unit via the radio he knew something was amiss, but not this. Not all of them dead. Their bodies laying limp on the ground before him. It was only last night he shared a few drinks with them and now... now they were gone. But he was a soldier, he did not want to cry on the field. Especially when he still had a purpose. So he kept his pride, but you could see the sorrow in his eyes. Robin had no doubt he would feel that despair for quite awhile.

Ther trio had split up, only to reunite within a short period of time. What they found from their search was that Sariel was being held against her will. It seemed that no one was in the vicinity but only a fool would walk in now.

"We need to get in there and get her out." Asif seemed pretty persistent on that matter and Robin couldn't help but agree, any moment now there could be a all out war crashing down on this place and here they were saving Sariel from god knows what.

It was the old Russian that next spoke up about the matter. "Why you so persistent on the matter? Why not just leave her?"

Asif turned on the Russian quickly showing a rage that made even the boy wonder take a step back. "She is more then just our boss, she is a friend, a sister in arms. We do not leave our allies behind unlike you filthy Russians!"

The older man had a spark in his singular eye before he started laughing. Both Asif and Robin looked to the man like he had lost his mind. "I joke! I'm kidding."

Asif glared at the man. "It is not funny."

"Alright, alright."

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

The mysterious woman had left her to her own devices. But she knew she would be back soon enough. Sariel knew now if anything the sirens went off to get her attention. She was buying trucks and jeeps and the like before they headed further into Yemen. She was supposed to meet up with a old friend. But those plans got squashed. She really hoped Gus was ok.

The ben Elohim were a very dangerous group indeed, but easy to play. Or so she thought. Sariel always played the rival, always on the opposite side of the one she was playing. The villain. But never quite so. She always loved to manipulate her prey, to make them do what she wanted them to, without them ever knowing. She was doing so good to, until the red headed bitch found out. But then again she was leader of the organization for a reason.

Shaking her head she knew she got in deep, deep enough they'll probably kill her now. They can't have their secrets all over the place now can they? One sad thing about it was that over the years all the knowledge she gained from infiltrating them, then becoming one of them while all along spying on them, would all go to waste now.

"Double agent would be more fun they said. Huh yea right." Sariel tried to move against the ropes that bound her. 

The temple could very well fall on her any moment and probably kill her, squish her to death. Maybe that's what they wanted. Let her sit there and die under the rubble. They would find her days or weeks later, a mangled corpse.

Sariels face twisted at the thought. "Not a good way to die. Gotta get outta here."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"We cannot stand here any longer, we need to go in and get her." Asif was becoming irrational. "Look..." Robin spoke up. "I know you want to go in and get her, but if we just march in we'll all get killed."

"Yes I under-"

"Why wait?"

The three looked to the figure that appeared behind them. He had pale skin, short white hair with long curly bangs that covered his right eye. His arms were metal, or atleast long metallic gloves if that made any sense. His fingers were like claws and he wore all white. His turtleneck, atlhough how he didn't seem to swelter in it in this heat was beyond him, and white combat pants seemed pretty offset for a uniform. Although he definitely still had a military like aesthetic. The only other color was the black harness and the holster. His appearance was odd, but his presence... eerie and nevermind the fact that he was hovering. Sure Robin spent a lot of his time with Raven and Starfire that could very well do the same thing but this... this was creepy.

"Why wait to die in there? When you can die out here?" He raised his arms and showed off his so called claws. "Time for a little splatter?" His accent. It was german, Robin knew. Not that it really helped much but hey, it was better than nothing.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The secondary plan was working much better to his advantage, but all this was a little more then he expected. But not only was he able to keep an eye on his apprentice but perhaps he could finally shed some light on this ben Elohim. Things were heating up and Robin was stuck out here for the time being, and if things went his way, he'd be stuck out here for a very long time. Giving him the advantage to carefully plant the seeds in the boys thick skull.

Everything else, part of the plan or not, didn't matter. He would use it to his advantage.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Seriously! New chappy coming soon! I won't let it sit so long. SO SORRY ONCE AGAIN!

PLS PLS REVIEW!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

A/N originally from FFnet: WOW! I AM SOOO SORRY! I know it's been months! I just got caught up with a lot of things going on in my life, work, trying to get back into school, kiddlet in school... yea... But I'm BACK! I am so so sooo sorry. I hope your still all out there and I really hope you enjoy this chapter.

I will hopefully have another one for next week, I really really want to get back into updating this guy again. Yes I know we've all heard that before, so many unfinished stories out there. But I DO WANT to finish this one.

Please  let me know what you think so far! Drop me a review!

THANK YOU ALL! YOU'RE ALL SO AWESOME!

EDIT: Slowly posting from FFnet to A03, this was originally posted on FFnet sometime in 2015 or 2016

oooooooooooooooooooo

What was he? This surreal creature. He was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The villains even in Gotham.. as creepy as they were, as terrible as the Joker is... This... this was on a different level. Robin cringed internally. Everything seemed so different in this world. How- No. He shook the thoughts from his head. He had to think. Now if only he had a weapon...

Possibly a bow staff, but that wasn't going to appear anytime soon. So he was going to have to find something different. Guns were out of the question. What else did he have? Robin thought for a moment. His knife, right. The one he took from the crash. He still had it with him. It was a regular combat knife but right now it was better then nothing.

"You bastard! Damn you!" cried Asif towards the white figure before them. "Geist, I should of known." So Sariel and her crew have met this Geist before.

The figure chuckled. "Yes. I'm sorry... well actually you all should be sorry... thinking you could infiltrate us so easily. She knew you know. All along. Why did she ever try to trust your precious little Sariel is beyond me."

Asif was enraged. "Someone had to stop you."

Geist laughed. "Stop us!? HA! We've been doing this for far to long... and to think someone like you could stop us?" Asif glared. Robin however took a stance. He looked to the old Russian to his right. "I never got your name."

The old man smirked in his direction. "Sergei"

"Ok Sergei... If we don't do something, we aren't walking out of this alive."

The old man looked to his young companion and raised a brow. Slade hid his smirk well. "What do you have planned Robin?" was all he could think.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

The chair she was tied to was old, brittle. But fortunately for her, somehow still stable. Quickly, while she was left alone, Sariel scanned the area for alternatives. If she could get something to cut through the rope... A knife, a lighter... anything. There didn't seem to be any visible options nearby. But if she could somehow shuffled over to that set of drawers, perhaps she could find something within.

As quietly, which really wasn't that quiet, as she could Sariel moved herself and the chair to the drawers hoping to find something preferable sharp inside.

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin had a plan... it wasn't a very grand or stable plan, but it was something. That was If he could get himself into the building. Again not a stable plan, it was literally winging it so he could get Sariel out of there hopefully in one piece. And once this was all done he had some questions of his own for the girl.

Right now he had to figure out how exactly this guy hovered around. Where did his powers come from? In truth, he was in the dark about his current foe. But Asif knew something about this guy.

"Asif, take care of him. Sergei your with me."

Before anything else could be said Robin and backflipped up onto one of the broken walls and swiftly touched down on the floor, before taking off. Sergei following behind. Leaving behind a very confused Asif.

"It seems your friends abandoned you."

Asif narrowed his eyes at the floating man. His glare however only made Geist chuckle all the more. "What a shame."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

SCREEEEEEEEECH

She stopped and look around. "Fucking hell... I'm making so much fucking noise. I'm surprised I'm not dead yet." Sariel reached out as much as she could with her feet and...

SCREEEEEEEEEEEECH

Again she stopped. It didn't help that her thighs were also tied to the chair, leaving only her lower calves to help drag herself and the chair.

SCREEEECH

"This is the most stupidest thing I have ever done."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"We need to kill the guards inside to rescue your friend, ya?"

Robin shook his head to the older man. "No. We take them down but we don't kill them."

Sergei laughed at his young counterpart. "You Americans, perhaps in your country you do not fight to defend what is yours. But in Russia we will kill if necessary. These people here... they are your enemy yes?"

"Yes but-"

"They have something that is yours, yes? A friend, yes?"

"I wouldn't called her a friend exactly." Robin retorted. "But yes."

"These people, they are from the desert. They know the harshness of life. It is all around them. They take what they can... So rarely do they give back. Very much so like the desert they are surrounded by, yes?"

Robin wanted to roll his eyes at the old man, but settled for a bit of glare instead. "I have no delusions that they would so willingly give Sariel back." Robin then started down one of the old decrypted halls. The old man laughed as he walked away. His chuckled leveled out as Robin turned to look at him. "Alright, alright. We do this the hard way."

Robin lifted a brow. "Meaning?"

Sergei's eyes glinted with a bit of mischievousness. "Your way. No deaths. Perhaps just a few bumps on the head ya?"

The younger nodded to the older before heading down the hall. He had to admit to be back in action felt good. This was his kind of turf, and although it was a different board, he would learn to play the game.

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OK SO I'll be back to update hopefully next week, everything has seemly calmed down so there should be no interruptions!

Take care all

-Fangy

Chapter Text

YAY another chapter! Sorry tho it's a bit of a filler between the new and the action sequences coming up. Also Geist is creepy.

PLS PLS Drop me a review! I want to know what you are thinking, ask me questions, whatever it's all good.

Thanks again for all the reviews and support, you guys are awesome!

EDIT: Slowly swapping all chapters from FFnet to Ao3, this chapter was originally posted in either 2015 or 2016

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He knew Geist, he knew somewhat on how the medium worked. Sven Reinhart could talk to the dead. Not only that, but he excelled in necromancy. Giving himself spiritual powers, hence the floating. But it wasn't just that... Geist was old. Really old. From what he and Sariel could tell from the intel they had gathered, Geist was the eldest out of the group. The ben Elohim had been around for centauries, hailing from as far back as the crusades. Maybe older. They didn't know. But Geist... he was born in the year 1444. His so called immortality stemming from his obsession with his occultish powers he has gained over the years.

In short Geist was out of his league. But he knew that Sariels young friend, along with the old russian, would find his boss.. He had to give them time. And although he knew Geist knew what was up... the man in white didn't seem to care.

"It is a shame you know. Sariel would of been a wonderful and beneficial addition to the team." Geists german accent rolled eloquently off his tongue. "Such... spunk she had in her step. The woman was such an excellent soldier. But then again, I guess one comes accustomed to the ways of war when it is literally all they have done with their lives. hrmm? What a good little killer she was."

"You dare speak of my boss that way again I'll..."

"You'll do what?" The man chuckled. "Punch me? Stab me? Shoot me? That wouldn't be a smart thing to do hrmm?"

Asif glared at the man before him. His legs unmoving. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he move? How...? Geist, it had to be him. His eyes darted to the man only to find a smirk on his face. The world was silent then. The two looking at one another. Only Sven broke the silence. "Beautiful isn't it?"

"What are you talking about?" he sneered at the man.

"Do you not understand? Do you not hear it?"

Asif tried to move a little but was unable to. His glare returned to the man ahead of him. "Hear what exactly?"

"This world, these people. All of them. Just sitting here waiting to die. The alarm sounds and they run into hiding. None of them move from their holes. All of them waiting to die. This silence, the mutters, the whimpers, the prayers inbetween. It is beautiful." Geist gestured to the city, as if referencing to all of the people that lived here.

"Fuck you."

"Ahhh yes, your from one of these little rural desert areas aren't you? Heh... then you know this silence all to well then don't you? Were you too at one point sitting in a little house waiting to die?"

"GO TO HELL!" 

Geist move closer to the young man and smiled. "That's not very nice."

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"It would seem this place was pretty big at one point yes?"

"It was seem so, yes." Robin narrowed his eyes, glancing at the guards in the vicinity. All of them were heavily armed. This would not be easy. But Robin always did like a challenge. Quietly, the two took cover once again. Robin quickly deciding on the best course of action. "We should split up."

"Agreed." Sergei nodded. "You know..."

Robin glanced at the man before returning his sight onto the guards beyond the walls they hid behind. "What?"

"For a tourist, your pretty agile and quick to take action yes? But you refuse to kill anyone."

Robin glared at the man. "What do you mean by that?"

Sergei smirked at his younger companion. "You've been trained boy. Although not as a soldier. But trained. Whatever you are, or whatever it is you do. You must be good at it, yes?"

Robin being a bit surprised by the old mans assumptions nodded his head. "I like to think I am, sure."

Sergei smiled at his young counterpart. "I will meet you on the second floor, possibly above us yes?" Robin looked to the ceiling, this temple was two stories, maybe three. In the middle area, where they were, the second stories floor had given way. But from the looks of it, it was still a somewhat stable of a place to meet up. Any place above these guards was better then being a few meters from them and behind a wall. Although he was pretty sure he'd meet some on the floors above as well.

"Sounds like a plan." Robin nodded to the old man.

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Close... so bloody close. "Almost there." she chided to herself. "C'mon girl..." A few more screeches, a few more swear words and she was there. Using her teeth she pulled on the knob to open the drawer. Jostling the chair she moved to the side to get a better view.

"AHA!" she proclaimed. "A very nice... dull knife. Ok... it's better then nothing."

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Stealth, it was something he knew all to well. Robin knew how to blend in with the darkness, it was something that he was raised with, it was like a old friend. He could easily disappear with a drop of a hat. Leave the entire building before they even knew he was there and gone.

Climbing up a wall was also not even a problem. Sneaking around these guards? He would have to be careful with them.

ooooooooooooooooo

Sariel kicked the drawer out from shelf itself, it's contents scattered across the floor. She had tried to pick the dull knife up with her mouth but to no avail. But the knife thankfully fell close to her. Obviously she couldn't reach it sitting up so she tipped her chair over, falling to the cold hard cement floor, her back to the knife. Quickly she shuffled as much as she could to get closer to the knife, her hands feeling for the handle.

Once she was able to grab the knife, after much more shuffling around and a lot of swearing, she began to cut the ropes that confined her hands.

Slowly but surely... she would get free.

oooooooooooooooooo

He hadn't expected to run into a few guards. They told him to stop, to stay where he was or they'd shoot... He'd heard that before. They could shoot all they wanted, he'd dodge in and out of the way.

Quickly he made short work of the three guards before they could even pull the trigger. He kicked one out from under his feet, the other he punched in the ribs and the third he knocked out using a round house kick. Short work. They were down for the count. Robin dusted himself off before continuing along his way with a smirk on his face. If there was any other guards that got in his way, he would deal with them just as he had done with these three.

ooooooooooooooooooo

His apprentice really did indeed want to save his little friend. But then again if he himself did not do something to help Sariel while he was in the same vicinity Jillian would never forgive him, and she was one ally and friend he did not want to lose.

Robin and he had gone their separate ways in hopes to find the little assassin... or was she a spy? Slade really didn't know exactly what Sariel did for a living but whatever it was, it was dangerous, villainous and she was definitely a friend that Slade prefer Robin to have rather then his little former teammates.

He only hoped that Robin would find her, since he stumbled upon some trouble himself.

"Your hands in the air now."

He obeyed them... for now. They would not be so confident when they were dead on the floor... sadly dead wasn't a option at the moment. He would of never played by another persons rules, but Robin was Robin. He was the price at the end of all this, an expensive one, but a price Slade was willing to pay. He would play nice for now.

So he would have to deal with them discreetly. Although he promised not to kill, and Sergei was to be the type to keep his promises, something a part of the identity that would make Sergei slowly more likable to Robin. It was a little something Slade had planned out in the beginning, although the disguise was a new addition. To gain the boys trust, he had to be different from the normal that Robin concluded was "normal" but still similar to what he saw as the norm, and perhaps challenge his ideas.

Overall in the end he never made any promises to be nice. Slade, still in his guise as Sergei smiled at the men before him. "You want to play with your guns yes?" He smiled at the men before his face turning into a stern resemblance of a much darker personality. Slade dropped the accent. "So you want to play... then let's play."

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Kinda more of a filler kinda update, but I promise the next chapter will be filled with more action! Slades gonna be a badass, while Robin goes to find Sariel. Will he find her still chipping away at the rope, or will she have them cut and by gone by the time he gets there? Also what happens between Asif and Geist? All up in next chapter.

Thanks for all your support guys!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original A/N from FFnet: OMG it's been like six months or MORE since I updated this! I am so sorry once again. But a update is a update. Please don't hurl bricks at me!? *cowers in a corner* I have to go over some notes again. I know exactly where I want to go with this, but I had some notes with some extra stuff.

Sorry for all the little mistakes... I've reread this thing a few times now and it's been sitting on my hard drive for about a month now... I guess you can say it's filler. The whole Geist/temple/thing... is coming up to a conclusion... and I swear something cool will happen. Just a little patience is needed.

Anywho where it is. Enjoy and drop me a review I want to know what you all are thinking!

EDIT: Fixing any typos and bringing this over from FFnet to Ao3, originally posted in 2016

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Freedom, it was a sweet thing freedom. No ropes to bind her, no annoying red headed lady to bicker at her side. It was good, if only she could get out of this damn place it would be all the better. It was bloody hot in there, sure the whole area was hot as hell... but the broken old temple seemed to be more "stuffy" as she would put it. Or maybe it was from all that work she did to actually free herself. Either or, she could use a drink. "A nice cold imported beer" was what her mind told her. That was the good stuff. Sariel could almost taste the beverage on her lips just from thinking of it.

A cold beer… and a soft bed. Now that was the stuff of the heavens. "Back to reality, booze later." she mentally scolded herself.

The young lady had freed herself from her bonds and was now on the verge of getting away, as far away from this hell hole that she could. She couldn't get distracted now, not when she was so close to obtaining that freedom. At this point she didn't even know what the hell was going on. How Ms. Warchild, the red headed bitch, found out about her on goings? Was her friend in danger? She had no clue. Gus was just a kid, well a much younger kid then her. They had been working side by side for a long time now. Kid was a god damn good hacker, and had the best feed on any intel you could ever want. He had some pretty amazing talent going for him. Sariel knew if anything Gus would cover his tracks well, so nothing could ever be traced back to him. Even if Sariel got found out. That was the deal. She got in, he collect the information she found. Simple really. But… no matter how good he was, there was always that chance. She would have to rendezvous with him later, in the meantime she hoped he was ok.

Momentarily she knew she needed to lay low… that's when it hit her. "Robin?" A few curse words popped into mind when she thought of the boy wonder. Where the fuck was he? When she went to trade in the camels for vehicles she had sent one of her men with him to call the Titans. "I wonder if he ever got through…?" She then briefly wondered if he was alive and well… with all the commotion going on, she pondered on what the hell happened to him? She had to find out once she got back into town… if she had time. If the ben Elohim were still around… damn she was going to have to find him. She couldn't let him go after them. It sounded like something he would do. He wouldn't be able to handle it. Hero or no, these guys were out of the boy wonders league.

Making a sharp turn Sariel saw a figure running in her direction, there wasn't a lot of light in the area, so without asking any questions she grabbed the figure and thrust him against the wall, her fist ready to beat the mans head into the wall behind him if necessary.

"Sariel?"

"Robin?"

"Yes.."

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Her eyes searched heros face. It was him, no doubt about it.

She let go of the hero.

"I came to get you! Sariel… what the hell is going on?"

Robin dusted himself off. He really shouldn't of been running, maybe he was a little over zealous, but he really just wanted to get in and out. At least his target was found unharmed.

"I'll explain later, but right now we need to get out of here."

Robin curtly nodded. "Agreed."

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"Where are you hiding little soldier?" Geist hovered his way through the ruins looking for his prey... "Come out and play. Hide and seek is such a boring game."

Asif, on the other hand was far more than willing to play this little game of hide and seek. Especially hiding. He wasn't that good at taking on his enemy with hand to hand combat. He was an intelligence officer with a damn good aim with pretty much any kind of gun. Although he did favor the sniper rifle. Hiding out for days to shoot down the enemy. That was something from his days in the military... Although no matter how silent of a sniper he was, he still had a knack for finding trouble, and trouble he did find the day he found Sariel, or rather she found him. She and a small unit were sent to take control of a cargo ship which at the time, he was stationed on. They were smuggling weapons out of the united states... stolen weapons. To feed the arms war in the middle east. She and her unit killed nearly everyone on board.

Some were set free. Most were killed. When she found him he thought he was going to die that day. But she had other plans.

It was him... he wasn't the officer in command. But she must of had intel on them all, she knew that he knew things... info that she could use... Intel he had collected for his current employer, and he knew most definitely it was also intel she could use. She came for him that night.

The choice was simple. Defect or die.

At first it bothered him, but as he got to know his new boss... he began to have a little bit of faith in the world once again. Sariel and her own boss did things their way. And although at times cruel, in the end it help more than it harmed.

Thoughts aside Asif quietly moved from behind the broken jeep, quickly rolled, and flattened himself against the wall of the temple itself.

"I see you"

The solider turned his head only to see his enemy seemingly emerge from nothing. He cursed himself that moment. Asif knew Geist was something on a different level, he also knew this was beyond his capabilities, but to give his boss some time, he would stand his ground.

"Nowhere left to run hrmmm?"

Upholstering his gun he quickly took a shot. Only to miss. The unworldly character stepped ever closer to him, and Asif kept firing shots, swearing he hit him, that he should be dead on the floor by now with a puddle of blood under him. But no... he was not. Geist at some point decided to plant his feet on the found, and was now walking slowly towards him.

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A kick to the head sent one to the floor. The other two quickly raised their weapons and readied their guns to fire. Slade didn't even flinch. He pulled a combat knife from his belt and quickly tackled one of the men, having the man aim his gun at his partner and fired at his legs. He then bent the man over and punged his combat knife right into his leg, specifically the area between bone and the kneecap. He took the man's gun from him and hitched it to his belt. The other he kicked across the room and then proceed to knock the first one out, with a good well placed kick to the head. The other had already passed out from the pain.

And just like that the fight was over.

Slipping back into his guise and state of mind as Sergei, Slade went back to the upper floor in hopes of catching his apprentice in action. He might as well let the boy take charge for a little while. Perhaps he already found Jillain's little granddaughter and was already heading out of the building into... well it warzone out there. There was no safety even beyond these walls.

Slade smirked at the thought. All of this, this entire world, it would change Robin for the rest of his life. And he would thank Slade for it in the future.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"We need to go and help Asif."

"Wait, he's alive?" Sariel said with a glint of happiness in her eyes as she looked around for an soldiers "You brought along that kid?" she smirked.

"More like he found me... he knew where you were."

The two were making there way down into the courtyard of the temple, it's halls had become derelict, all but for the soldiers that now loitered the once sacred place. The two took cover as they spotted a rather large group of armed men. Sariel huffed, "There is another problem." Sariel looked to the young hero. "And that would be...?"

"Some guy named Geist. I left Asif out there... Damn it all I shouldn't of done that."

Sariel gave a chuckle, but he noticed how the color drained from her cheeks. She looked a little pale at the mention of the man in white "Shit... Asif... he's one damn good shot... but against Geist. We need to take care of these guys. Now! We need to help out the kid, and get Geist and us as far from each other as we can."

"What the hell is he?"

"Geist?" Sariel raised a brow at the young man to her right. "He's no superhero... no Superman or Batman. But he's surreal. One would call him a medium. He communicates with the dead. They also say he's very old, meddled with some crazy ass occult like stuff, made him stop ageing. Some weird ass shit like that."

Robin sighed. "Another group of weird crazy super villains..."

"Not really... The ben Elohim has been around... for a long time. More like a secret society."

"Super villain group."

Sariel leered at ther boy wonder and then cocked her head towards the armed men beyond the safety of their current hiding spot.

"Lots of them... any ideas?"

"I dunno, but I like to think we can take these guys on."

"Charge in?" She smirked at the boy wonder. "Even without all your gizmos?"

He returned it. "Don't think I have any talent do you?"

"Less talk, more action."

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Good god I am so sorry once again for like taking 6 months... I'm trying to keep this story going. It's hard, I SOOOO want to finish this story and I will... even if it takes me forever!

Thanks again all!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original A/N from FFnet: I KNOW I KNOW! It's been how long? Like 11 months and no update. No the story is not dead... I do want to keep working on it, but work is crazy... life has been a nuthouse and oh yea I actually started working on my own webcomic... So that's taken up a lot of my time away from other projects like this one. But awhile ago, like randomly I got some faves and follows on this thing again and I was like OMG people still want to read it. So here, here is another chapter. I PROMISE I will try and update again, probably not until 2018 tho'...so a few weeks away.

EDIT: Originally posted some time in 2017

Thanks all!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Heavy footfalls made their way from one room to another. The floor giving away it's age with small loud creaks. It could easily notify anyone near that there was someone in the room. But Slade couldn't come to care.

He had found the room where he thought perhaps Jillian's granddaughter was once held hostage... but found that it was vacant. It would seem that either his apprentice had acquired his target, or the damsel in distress could truly handle herself.

Overall things seemed to be going... odd.

In all honesty Slade was not expecting all of this. Perhaps a little resistance from Robin, but this whole warzone with this "secret society"... well it was a little more then what he had planned. A war zone sure, training Robin in the middle of a warzone was the perfect idea. Him making friends with Sariel? It was unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome. This group of misfits they were currently fighting against? All together a waste of time. He had never heard of these "ben Elohim". Slade scoffed at the name. "The Sons of God." Where they some military with no nation? Or where they truly some sort of Secret Society. Which would explain why Slade had never heard of them before. And coming from a Society of Villains himself... well he knew all about secrets. But this group seemed to go to the extreme.

He had to admit they were something new and altogether interesting, and very intriguing. But still an intrusion. However it mattered little, he was at Robins side, and Robin unknowingly was at his, as it should be. In time it would become permanent.

The knowledge that he should meet back up with his apprentice soon is what tugged him away from the scattered remains of the chair and ropes that once bound Jillian's granddaughter. Therefore, quietly he made his way back to the center of the cumbling temple in hopes to meet up with Robin and Sariel.

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"There is a lot... Twenty or more. Fully armed. You sure you want to go out there?" Sariel smiled at the young hero.

"I can dodge some bullets, I come from Gotham remember?" he flashed a smirk back at the young woman.

"Yes I know... We do this, just don't get hurt ok, I can only cover you for so long. The idea is to get to Asif and get us as far away from Geist as fast as we can, ok?"

"Yea." Robin nodded. "One more thing though, there is a Russian man in here as well. Some sort of old military ver." Sariel gave him a odd look. "Russian you say? Maybe he just wanted to help... Yemen and Russia has some strong ties right now so it's not to surprising I suppose. You want to wait for him?"

Robin shook his head. "He seems like the type that can handle himself." Little did Robin know how right he was. "The main priority right now is helping Asif and getting out of this mess alive."

"I concur, let's do this!"

"No shots to the head, no killing." Robins look was stern.

Sariel sighed. "But they would gladly kill you, ya know?"

"I know. Count of three ok?"

The young woman could of rolled her eyes. "Yea" she muttered. "We'll play it your way, for now." She would give into the hero's ideas and stick to his plan of no murder and mayhem... unless it was truly needed. Then she'd do as she pleased. But for now she would play hero with the Boy Wonder.

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Shot in the knee, they didn't see it coming. Slade was looking down into the court yard when the chaos broke loose. Another and another where shot in non fatal areas as Robin knocked out the guards with expect precision. "Still following your old rules eh boy?" the criminal thought to himself. He chuckled a bit. Jillains granddaughter he had to admit was magnificent with a gun, she weaved herself into that deadly dance with no issues. She was probably doing pop shots on Robins behalf.

With a smirk Slade left the balcony to make his way downstairs.

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He had to admit, Robin was pretty impressed with Sariels aime. She was deadly that was for sure. And it just made him want to show off his own skills a little more. Almost like a competition. Then he remembered where he was and Robin shook the thoughts away, if this was back in Jump City, she wouldn't be shooting at peoples legs as he rendered them unconscious. No, they'd be training together against robots and working out in the gym. Not that he would every introduce the Titans to Sariel... She was more of one of those people that you kept far far away from all your other friends. And family. Bruce would definitely not approve of her.

But still as he weaved his way through the men and plunged his fist into their heads as he leapt from one to the other, he couldn't help but wonder what the Titans would of think of him and his new acquaintance in this situation. They would probably want to put her behind bars and that kind of made him feel sad in a way. They wouldn't understand her, nor her fight. Not that he agreed with it. But by now he thinks he has just a little more then a grasp on her thought process.

Sariel did not follow the rules. She bent them to her will. And possibly it didn't always go her way. But she still stood against them.

"There is more coming!" She bellowed.

Robin looked to the side, she was correct. How many were there? Before he knew it there was another small unit that had come around the corner. Robin briefly wondered where they had been before now. Did they just get called in as back up?

"We gotta get outta here! Robin! Watch out!"

One of the soldiers, leg shot and bleeding, stood up and ignored his pain and charged at the Boy Wonder. Robin ducked his attack however, and then grabbed his arm, placing it behind him and then kneed the man in the stomach, leaving him on the ground groaning in pain.

"We don't have much time we-"

BOOOOOOM!

"What the-" was all he thought before he saw the silhouette of a man in the opening of the blasted door frame. And from the rubble and smoke that filtered the area inside the temple, Geist walked in with Asif slung over his shoulder.

"Having all this fun without me?" the man in white smirked at the two before he promptly dropped Asif's unconscious body to his feet. "Your friend did not fare well against the likes of me. Useless little soldier. Why do you employ him Sariel?"

"What have you done to him?" She was mad, Robin could feel it flowing off of her, and absently thought that perhaps this is what his team mates felt when he was angry. "Nothing" Geist said with a smirk and a shrug. "He lives... for now." The man yawned, "He was... quite a boring opponent. But you Sariel, you and your little friend, now that will be some entertainment yes?"

Robin scowled. He wanted to fight them. This was not going to go down well. Robin hated to admit it, but he was sure hoping Sergai would show up eventually.

The man in white walked forward a little bit and gestured to the outside world through the door he had created. "You have given me all the weapons I need." He smirked at them before placing a hand on his hip, his stance was carefree, his eyes overlooking the men that lay before him. He frowned at them, these ones all seemed to be still alive. Robin looked over to Sariel, her face told him enough. She knew what was coming next and from her expression he knew he was not going to like it.

"Being a medium gives me so many opportunities. Speaking with the dead, controlling the dead even. Do tell little Sariel, do you remember your unit? Your men? How you took care of them, how you made sure that everyone made it out alive each and every little thrilling adventure you took. They were your responsibility and you failed them."

Robin narrowed his eyes at the man before them. Sariel stood silently, although he could still feel the rage coming from her. "They are pretty mad you right now. Did you want to see them again? To hear their cries of agony, to hear their words of spite? Their bodies may be rotting away outside but their souls are very much still here. Let's all have a chat shall we?"

The room suddenly got very dark, it almost reminded him of Ravens shadows that could cover entire areas if she saw fit. Robin readied himself. For he knew the only way out of this place was to fight this man, win over him and they would be able to escape. They could still win this he assured himself. They had to.

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I'm gonna try and update again, without so many months in between a update.

Thanks again guys, please please leave a review, I want to know what your thoughts are.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original A/N from FFnet: I know! I know it's been forever. I'm sorry! Been so busy doing so many other things and life is hectic as usual. But anywho here is a new chapter. Please read and review! Thank you all! NOW ONWARD!

Originally posted in 2017 on FFnet I believe. Or maye early 2018. Dunno really.

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There was nothing for it. Everything had turned dark. Robin scanned his eyes over every corner, every crevice... nothing but the horrible darkness. It reminded him of Ravens own magic that would turn any object held within her power to a pitch black... but this was different. It was shadows... and they were everywhere. Then it all shifted, and suddenly there was voices.

They were speaking to him.

Haunting him.

Gnawing at him.

"Do not listen to them." The voice was dark and heavy with a Russian accent. Robin twisted around to see the man he had entered the building with. "Sergei!" the boy shouted. He was almost happy to see the old veteran. Almost. The Russian had entered the fray and stood beside the young man with one hand on the boys shoulder. Robin almost wanted to shiver, but there was obviously more important things going on at the moment

Sariel gave Robin and their new ally a glance before turning her attention back towards Geist. The man in white smirked at the enemies before him. "Ahh a new addition ja? Three against one? Sariel that is very unfair."

The woman in question scoffed at their adversary "Shut up." she muttered before turning her attention to her younger comrade. "We need to take him down." Robin could only nod in response. He quickly scanned the room for any kind of escape route but found nothing... seems the only thing left to do was fight.

It was getting darker. The voices were getting heavier. The two look at one another with an understanding. They both knew what had to be done.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade grew curious of Robins unique growing relationship with Sariel. They seemed to be now so confident in each others company. If the boy could accept a killer like Jillain's granddaughter than anything was open at this point.

"Who is this? Someone you know?" Sergei shook the boys shoulder slightly. Slade noticed how he flinched at the touch. "Bad news" was all Sariel had said. The Russian smiled at the two youths. "If he's so bad, then let's get rid of this rubbish, yes?"

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Come then! " Geist shouted out with a smirk, his german accent rolling off his tongue smoothly.

And as if on que Robin and Sariel quickly darted towards Geist himself, Sariel pointing her guns at the man in white and fired. Robin whirled around expecting to see the german laying on the floor with four bullets in his head. But nothing... The woman had already moved out of Geists range as he went to strike her with his metal claws.

They had to distract him long enough so one of them could get to Asif.

Robin had no weapons but for the combat knife he had on him, but he had no training in such a thing. So he was left with only his fists. He went to punch the man only to seemingly fall short on his distance, almost as if he punched through him. "How is that possible?' Robin thought to himself.

What did Sariel say about him?

What was he?

A medium?

Mediums are known for the abilities to speak with the dead? Ghosts? The voices? The Darkness?

Suddenly six black shadowy figures walked out as if they came from the walls of darkness itself. Their slumped figures walked as if they were in pain. They spoke as if in whispers. They had no eyes...

"What the hell?"

"Do you not recognize them little Woman? Your unit? You're so called friends?" The mans laughter rolled through the black void. However, it was cut short when the Russian aimed a few bullets into the mans head, but to no avail... Slade was slightly amused. He himself was difficult to kill and a bullet wouldn't stop him. But for bullets to whirl right through his target. He had to admit, that was something new.

"What is he?" Sergei called out to Sariel. Their target had currently vanished. The medium had seemingly turned into thin air. Sariel shock her head. "I really don't know..." Geist may of disappeared but his laughter could still be heard. The room seemed to be getting smaller. The black phantoms were getting closer. Everything seemed to be caving in on them.

"What do we do now?" Robin called out to his companion. The young woman turned her head to answer. "What does one do against the dead?"

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Again very very sorry it's been so long and I know this chapter is kinda meh... and it's kinda filler. I'm sorry Things will get better!

Please drop me a review! Let me know what you think.

Thank you all!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

A/N from FFnet: I know! The last chapter was waaaaayyyy to short, but I felt like I needed to get that filter in to just let everyone know I'm still alive and kicking and doing this fic. I'm hoping this chapter will make up for the last. And I hope to update soon after as well.

Thank you guys all so much! You all rock! I LOVE YOU ALL! XD

Anyways on with the story!

EDIT: 01/09/2022 - Slowing brining this over from FFnet to Ao3. FIxed up some typos and whatnot. Think this was originally posted in 2017 at some point. Not sure.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Whisper.

Whisper.

Crying...

There was so many faint screams, and crying and just so much agony...

The darkness taunted him, the shadows took on forms of men and the voices seemed to be whispers in one's ear. They had failed them. Sariel was supposed to lead them, not let them die. Robin tried to shake away the words, but the whispers themselves made him feel the heavy burden, as if it was his own. He looked towards his companions and was surprised to see Sariel and Sergei taking it all on rather well. Narrowing his blue eyes at the situation, he too knew he had to shape up or he wouldn't be getting out of this one alive.

"What does one do against the dead?" was all she said.

Robin looked around him. All of this, it was... some sort of illusion, or was it? If this Geist character was a medium he could contact the dead, if so...

"We take out the one in control." Robin thought with smirked. "We need to find Geist, that's even if he's still here." he yelled out to his companion.

"This could be a distraction, for all we know he's long gone." Sariel answered. Robin agreed, he could very well be out of the picture by now. Leaving them here to die. 

The shadow forms of Sariels former unit grew ever closer, their slow pace made them seem like pitch black formed ghouls. "Like something out of a horror movie." Robin mildly thought. He grimaced however and pushed away the thoughts, this was no movie. "How would we even find the bastard? If he's still around..." Sariel readied her gun as the ghouls trugged ever closer. Robins eyes darted from one corner to another. "We have to get out of this... whatever it is."

"Pierce through the veil, yes?" Robin nodded at Sergie's explanation.

Sariels eyes darted towards her young companion. "And how do you want to do that?"

"They came through it." Robin pointed at one of the ghouls.

"The ghosts... I suppose they are part of it."

Robin smirked at the woman. "Yes! Put them back to wherever they came from. Overpower this void of...whatever it is. It's raw power, but any kind of power can be overridden if it's more then one can contain."

Sergei nodded at the boy before him, his smile was genuine. "Then let's push them back."

Robin nodded, "Ignore them, ignore it all. Act as if it doesn't matter and strike!"

Sariel smiled at the boy wonder, "They're dead, it doesn't matter anymore." She gave a curt nod before facing the ghouls that were approaching her. Robin didn't like the idea of "they didn't matter anymore" but he guessed it was a good way to go about defeating a already dead man.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"They're dead."

"They're dead"

"Let it go... just let them go..." It was all Sariel could think of in her mind and she kept replaying it over and over. "They need you to let them go." She closed her eyes and took in several deep breaths before she re-opened them.

"No..."

The black figures had changed.

"No..."

"Sariel!" The voice was faint. "Sariel!" louder... then "Sariel!" she shook herself. Robin looked at her with much concern in his blue eyes. "They're gone remember." the girl nodded before turning back to her old friend, Ehsan. His eyes were vacant of the shine he once always had, now so dark and void of life... "I'm sorry." it was all she said before she pulled the trigger and Ehsan was no more, his body turned black once again and pieces of him flittered away, seemingly back to the void. She nodded to herself. "One down... there is about ten more to go."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade himself had no issues in taking down a few of these men. They were nothing really. But the mastermind had to admit, Robins mind was slowly changing. This whole idea of his... was to kill the ghosts. And although they were already dead, Robins idea was to kill these "ghosts" to move onto the next phase of this fight... if one could call it a fight.

The man let a small smirk slide, his bird was changing.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin did a roundhouse kick that effortlessly ended the ghoul in front of him. Another met its end with a punch. Sariel had shot a few, quickly ending them and Sergei had seemingly switched to hand to hand combat to encounter the ghoulish spirits.

It didn't take long.

Soon enough with all the ghouls sent back to the void, it began to disappear. And reality seemed to flicker back into view.

Robin darted over to check on his fallen ally. "Sariel!, I got Asif!" The girl nodded as she followed him over to find her companion still slumped on the ground exactly where Geist had dropped him. Robin quickly checked his pulse, and was thankful to find him still alive. "Good" he thought to himself. "We don't need to be losing anyone else."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The temple was vacant, all that was left was the bodies of the unconscious men they had fought before Geist showed his face. Sariel knew now that a lot of them were probably dead. But she wouldn't tell the boy wonder that. She watched the young hero gather up her last surviving unit member and frowned.

Geist was nowhere to be seen. Meaning he probably left them to supposedly die. She didn't blame him really... Sven was the red headed woman's right hand. She probably gave him a lot of jobs to accomplish. Still though, she needed to get away from here and find her other companion. And Asif would probably need a lot of medical attention, which would come first. And she would have to find something akin to that here in this sandy little city.

Sergei had offered to go and find a vehicle of some sort since they would probably need one to get their "little friend" to a hospital.

Robin had slung Asif over his shoulder. And as soon as she approached the woman offered to take the young man off of his hands. He refused, Sariel had too much of a burden already on her shoulders. The woman only nodded. "He needs help. There is a makeshift hospital on the other side of town. Your Russian friend has already gone to find us a jeep or something."

The boy wonder nodded.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The two stood there in silence for a few moments until...

Whisper.

Whisper.

"What?" Robin turned a little to look towards the hole in the wall which Geist had originally created, only to find a black figure simply standing there looking at the two.

"Shit." Sariel muttered as she noticed the figure. "We need to go. Now!" Robin couldn't agree more. The two started moving. They were already on the ground floor, all they had to do was find the entrance. since the most easiest way was now blocked.

"Sariel... it's moving towards us."

"I know... I know. Just keep going. Seems like Geist left something behind to watch us."

The two started to walk faster, afraid if they went into a full run it may take chase. Robins shoulders were beginning to sag a little with Asif's weight.

"You want me to take him?"

"It's ok, it's my fault he got into this mess..."

Sariel shook her head. "If it's anyone's fault it's mine."

The shadow was getting a bit closer.

"We need to move." It was getting to close. "Geist must really be intrigued with us, but now he also probably knows we're still alive." Sariel took out her gun and shot a bullet right through it's head. It of course having no effect. She swore at it, although Robin was sure her words were meant more for Geist then the actual black entity.

They quickly rounded a corner and happily found the entrance. But before they could open it, the spirit took control of the door, the wooden boards went from being a badly faded yellow to black.

"Shit!" This time it was Robin who swore.

But suddenly the door moved, like someone was trying to kick it in, but couldn't. This entity really didn't want them to leave, but someone on the outside really wanted in.

A bump.

And another.

It stopped and there was nothing but the slight whispers...

Then suddenly a voice from outside shouted "GET DOWN!" They didn't have much time before a RPG had blown through the door and launched itself into the upper part of the temple.

The entity was no longer in sight and the door was now in shambles as the remerents of the entire building began to crumble at a brisk pace. "MOVE" was all they heard as they both got to their feet. Robin grabbed Asif and ran, Sariel was right behind him.

The two were greeted by Sergei with a jeep behind him and a RPG in hand. They then turned around to see the front temple fall into dust as if it never existed. Only the back wall and a bit of the right side was still standing. It was a pretty large temple, and already falling apart due to neglect and decay so when the RPG hit the upper floor it triggered an entire shift in the floors and everything just went to hell.

Sergei laughed.

Robin was enraged.

"Why are you laughing!? There was still people in there!" The boy wonder had laid Asif down on the ground, his back against the jeep's tire. His body shaking.

Sergei looked to the boy. "Really?" his smile still on his face.

Robin could feel his blood boil. "All the men we fought against, they were not dead...and now..."

Sergei shook his head. "What did you want me to do boy? They attacked you, they were the enemy. I saw that some of those black things had returned, yes? I could not get in, so I found another way." The Russian patted the RPG in hand.

"What did I want you to do? You were supposed to find us a car!" Robin narrowed his eyes at the old man and bellowed "NOT TO KILL EVERYONE!"

"Boy, the men you fought, they were probably already dead." The Russian waved it off as if it was nothing. Robin however, glared daggers at the old veteran. His actions only made Robin all the more frustrated, How could this man simply just not care? "NO...no, how could they be? I only knocked them out!"

"Robin..." It was Sariel. she was standing off to the side. "He's right, not many survive an encounter with Geist, that void we were in, it probably killed them. If they did survive... they'd probably be driven to madness... We got lucky."

"That doesn't give anyone the right to kill them."

Sergei put his hand on Robins shoulder. "What good is being alive if you're not yourself, hrmm?" Robin looked up into the mans one singular eye. Why the hell did this man remind him so much of Slade? He didn't want to admit to that before, but now... He just didn't know. The boy wonder shrugged off the mans hand and turned to Sariel, and with every ounce of strength he had, he calmed himself down. Asif was still alive after all and he needed medical attention. "We need to get Asif to a hospital, do you know where it is?"

"Not exactly, but it should be on the other side of town. In places like this it shouldn't be too hard to find."

Robin picked up Asif once again and placed him into the jeep. "Then we need to get going."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

The drive was silent. Robin sat in the front seat with Sergei while Sariel sat in the back and took care of Asif as they drove towards the hospital. He was injured but would survive. But the faster they got him to a hospital, the better.

It was so sudden how his life had drastically changed. It seemed like only yesterday Robin had been enjoying a slice of pizza with the Titans. He missed Cyborgs and Beast Boy's arguments over breakfast, and their banter while playing video games. He missed Ravens dark demeanor and heartfelt advice. And how he missed Starfires smile and her laugh. Robins heart sunk at the thought of never seeing them again. It kept gnawing at him that he never would. It already felt like ages.

He must of looked like he was reminiscing.

"Thinking about home?" The accent rolled off of Slades tongue as if it was natural, making his disguise complete.

Robin couldn't deny the mans curiosity and shrugged. "I suppose."

"Why are you really out here boy?"

Robin narrowed his eyes at the question. "What do you mean?"

Sergei smiled at the boy. "You're no tourist. You've been trained, but not as in the military. You refuse kill... but you had no issues in leaving all those men behind-"

"Well I didn't think someone was going to come around with a RPG and blow up the entire building." Robin sent a glare to the older man. His heart still ached at the sudden loss of life. He was a hero wasn't he? But he couldn't save those men. Even if they were the enemy.

"But it's better to leave them there and let them die?"

Robin grinded his teeth. "What are you getting at?"

"Out here, even if rendered unconscious, it could still be a death sentence." Sergei shook his head. "The heat. In the end it could kill anyone, yes? If you want to play hero out here you have to learn what kind of battlefield you're on. That includes the environment."

"That-" Robin was cut off before he could say anything else.

"You had no issues leaving them there boy... That is like killing them yourself. But also, out here one has to do whatever it takes to survive. Remember that."

Robin believed in the mans words. "No..." He was pretty shocked at this revelation. He honestly just wanted to get himself and his companions away from that place as fast as possible. He wanted to see the Titans again, he wanted to live, to survive.

"What does it matter though hrmmm? They got what they deserved, yes?"

"No one deserves to get killed like that..."

"Even if it means that you survive in the end?" Sergei looked to the boy wonder. Robin turned away, not knowing how to answer.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

And that's a wrap for now.

Please please leave me a review and let me know what you think and no we haven't seen the last of Geist or anyone of that group really.

Thank you all!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original A/N: WHAT IS THIS!? Two updates in like what? Two days? I dunno what is even going on anymore. I just got into a flow.

Anywho I have to go work on my webcomic... so this may be the last update in a little bit. I'm already behind on pages. EGADZ!

Anywho thank you all soo so much for the reviews and faves!

EDIT: Originally posted on FFnet back in 2018 or so. 

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Jump city had been busy as of late. The Titans without their leader were a bit of a mess, but they had managed to patch things up and keep moving forward. The city seemed to be as if it was crawling with villains. Anytime they had tried to reach out and look for Robin it was just one alarm after another. Any one of them would sure like some down time especially after the whole Brotherhood of Evil fiasco. But the world didn't want them to take a break. Seemed unfair if you asked any of the young heros.

They never did find his body amongst the rubble. Therefore Titans refused to think him dead. But that decision was up to the Bat. They told Batman everything about their encounter with the Brotherhood of Evil. The Batman himself refused to think his ward long gone, but something needed to be said to the public. The Titans without their leader could draw a lot of unwanted attention. And he couldn't simply state that the boy wonder was in the hospital. Because in all honesty he had no clue where Richard was. Finding him could take awhile.

Stating that his ward was dead was more difficult then he was prepared for. When he found Robin they could call the whole thing off, saying that he faked his death for various reasons.

"What if...?"

"What if what BB?" Cyborg looked to his friend. Batman was already in a discussion with the Titans. His face on the screen in their main room.

'What if Slade took him?"

"Slade?" Batman inquired.

Raven sighed. It seemed Robin kept a lot from everyone, including his own mentor. "Slade is one of our villains..."

"More like a arch-enemy..." Beast boy interjected.

Raven looked at Beast Boy with a slight glare, before turning her attention back to the screen. "Slade and Robin fight each other a lot, everytime Slade comes into the picture, Robin takes off to fight him."

"Yes, but usually Robin comes back home from his fights with Slade." This time it was Starfire. Her voice was sullen. "And how would Slade know where Robin was and why would Slade even take Robin?" A thought came to her mind. "What if he... like before?"

Batman look onto the Titans. Richard had really left his mark on this team. They were all somewhat off due to his absence. "I need you to tell me everything you know about this Slade character, and any of Robins dealings with him."

Cybord nodded. "I can send you all the files we have on him." Batman nodded before ending the conversation. The Titans grimaced. Sending files to Batman on Slade was a touchy subject. They all knew Robin kept a lot of info about Slade on his own private computer systems. But all actions against the villain, including Robins apprenticeship were recorded in the main computer system. They all looked at one another as Cyborg brought up all the files on the masked villain. Sending these files made them all feel unstable. Batman obviously didn't know about anything to do with Slade. And now they were giving all their source material on the villain to the Batman. They felt as if they were betraying Robin... But if it helped find their leader. They would do it.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It had been hours since he had his chat with the Titans. Bruce sighed as he leaned into his chair looking on at the main screen in the Batcave. The files and pictures the Titans had sent him lay open to him. But knowing Robin this wasn't all of it, the Titans were probably only able to send what they could, the rest was probably on Robins own laptop.

Bruce sighed again and took a swig of the now cold coffee Alfred had brought him about an hour ago.

Slade Wilson. A name he pulled up from the depths of files on his own computer.

According to the Titans pictures and information on the man, he knew exactly who this was. How the hell had Robin gotten himself involved with the world's greatest mercenary? Deathstroke was not someone who took anything with ease. It didn't seem much like the man to randomly show up in a city and play "the villain". Unless he was looking for something.

That's when he came across Robins account of his apprenticeship with the man. Which answered why Robin was seen stealing from a Wayne Enterprises building and fighting his own team. He remembered asking the boy on that subject and Robin just dropped it all together. He thought with time his son would tell him. But nothing...

Bruce sighed and took another swig of coffee. If Slade had really taken Robin, then there wasn't much time, and the man had connections all over the world. Deathstroke could of taken Robin anywhere.

He had his work cut out for him.

But where to start?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The sun still scorched the land beneath it. It was heavy and dry. The usual type of day out in this desert. It had been a long time since he spent his days willingly out in the desert, but he easily got used to it. His apprentice on the other hand, although he had been out here for some time, he could tell that the heat easily got to him. The boy was already sweating up a storm.

The older man handed the younger a canteen of water and Robin took it gingerly.

The rest of the drive was rather silent between all of them. He didn't blame them. They all just went through a rather unsettling series of events. This may of not been so new to Jillain's granddaughter, but Robin... although the boy had seen some gruesome things in Gotham, Slade knew this was a bit of a different level for the boy. Slade even had to admit this was pretty far fetched from what he had originally planned, but all was working it seemed.

Slade took a glance at the young mans form as he looked out beyond his side of the jeep and watched as little houses and shops passed him by, his arms rested on his lap and he could imagine a frown etched onto the boys face. His blue eyes probably still dancing with annoyance. He still had the canteen he had given him moments ago, the item itself resting in the boys lap.

Richard Grayson was a stubborn young man. Oh Slade knew who his apprentice was, he knew who Batman was. It didn't matter. Slade was only after one thing anyways. To be able to take the Bats protégé and mold him into the very thing the Batman stood against. That would be quite the victory. It wasn't as if he was bored with his time, on the contrary he really did need an apprentice. And Robin always was the perfect choice. All of his latest actions proved as much. Richard Grayson was having a shift in his persona, and the more time he spent out here the more he would change.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"There!"

It took a bit of driving around but they had finally found the hospital. And Robin really couldn't believe in Sariel when she had said "makeshift" until now. The building was small, so they also had tents set up outside. "Makeshift indeed" Robin thought as he got out of jeep.

"Is he awake yet?"

Sariel shook her head" He woke up once, but drifted back to sleep." The woman sighed, he could tell she was worried. Robin took Asif's arm over his shoulder, while Sariel took the other. The two carried their companion to the decaying structure.

"I"ll stay here, you get the boy checked in yes?" Sergei shouted out to the dou. Robin didn't even look back, he just waved his free arm in response.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Excuse me... Ma'am..."

There was some nurses and a few doctors filtering around checking on the men. "Soldiers." Robin mused. There was so many of them, all of them wounded, some more so then others. Glancing around some didn't even seem to be alive anymore. Their eyes simply staring upwards or out beyond the walls of the tent. Was this just a public hospital, or military... or perhaps it was both? The military seemed to have a heavy influence out here especially with the civil war brewing. Robin wondered if at one point this hospital was originally just for civilians... or was it even a hospital before? The building seemed small. To small to be a fully functioning hospital.

Robin couldn't help but notice the look of despair in the Soldiers eyes. Some where bandaged and were able to sit in chairs outside the tent. Many tried to have small talk and hold more cheerful conversations. Raising their voices and clapping their hands. Some even began to sing some sort of local song. But as it died down, they sat there looking at one another, they all knew they couldn't escape the world around them.

Robin turned his attention from the men to his two companions. So wanting to leave behind the heavy reminders of the world he to was now in.

It wasn't long before Sariel began using that foreign language of hers again to communicate to one of the nurses once she grabbed the woman's attention. The nurse called over a doctor and Robin and Sariel moved Asif onto one of the cots. The doctor began to ask Sariel a few questions before turning the conversation into a language Robin could understand.

"You speak english?"

Sariel nodded. "Yes. I may know arabic, but my friend does not. So english is probably best."

The doctor looked at the woman oddly. "Amusing to find an American woman that knows our tongue."

Sariel smiled in response. "I've actually been speaking it since I was ten."

The doctor smiled and didn't push the subject any further. "What exactly happened to your friend? He doesn't seem to be heavily injured?"

Sariel grimaced. The problem with Geist is that the man could cause damage and it would never be physically seen. "Please do me a favor doctor, check him for any broken bones or internal bleeding. He was... beaten up pretty bad." Asif did gain a few bruises and nicks and scrapes. "He got knocked out... I'm worried what was done to him while he was out cold."

The doctor looked up the woman. "I'll preform some x-rays and keep him on medication. That being said he should stay the night. Come back tomorrow and check on him, I'll have more information on his health in the morning."

Sariel nodded and the two left.

The woman made her way back to the jeep. Robin turned around to take in one last look at the hospital. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. Perhaps in movies or on TV... but seeing this in reality, this makeshift hospital in the middle of a warzone. It hit him. He felt responsible for Asif's injuries because he left him behind to go in search for Sariel, assuming that Asif could take care of Geist, since he had previous encounters with the ghostly man. But he had been wrong. And now Asif was paying for Robins mistakes. The young man shook his head. Why had be been so reckless? Hadn't he learned any better while leading the Titans? HIs team had taken down Slade, twice. Brother Blood and not to mention the end of the world. Trigon was something he was proud to put on his list of foes defeated. His shoulders slumped, then there was the Brotherhood of Evil. He failed his team then... but according to any local paper the team had somehow pulled through. But still...

Failure had riddled it's way through him every time he thought about the Titans. And he couldn't just shrug it off. Robin sighed. It was then he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was Sergei. "Of course it's him" Robin mentally cursed.

"You're friend will be safe with them, we should go and find a place to stay for the night." Robin turned to look at the man. The young hero nodded. He could use some food and a good nights sleep.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin sat alone, it was later in the evening. Sergei had thankfully let him be that night, seemingly wanting to catch up on some sleep. Why the man had stayed with them he had no idea. He simply stated he wanted to help... But Robin supposed the older man just got as swept up as Robin did with the whole ordeal. The man was military so he should have to report back to his base or something at some point in time... Really the only reason he was out here was because of Slade. He couldn't even blame Sariel for any of this, she was just out here doing what she normally did he supposed. He still wasn't sure on what that was however. But he supposed that didn't matter right now so Robin shrugged the thoughts away.

He had his food in a quiet corner as to not to draw any attention to himself. The motel they were staying at was across the road, it was run down, the beds were not really comfortable. But doable he supposed. After he dropped off whatever belongings he had, he went in search for something eatable. He supposed he should of cleaned himself first. Fresh water in a bowl and soap was left in the room for him. It seemed the showers didn't work. But his stomach took priority.

"Hey." Sariel had found him.

She sat down across the table from him. The restaurant she had found him in made all sorts of food, most people from the west didn't like the food out here. But then again even if he didn't, she assumed he was just really hungry. "Soooo..." she began. "Did you ever get though to the Titans before all the mayhem broke loose?"

Robin shook his head. "No, never got the chance." Robin took another bite of his fatoot, which was general Yemeni dish.

"I see, did you want to try again? We can try and call them tomorrow morning?"

Surprisingly Robin shook his head. "No."

Sariel raised a brow. "But... why?"

"I want to make sure Asif is ok first... I don't want to leave without knowing. Besides I'm sure Slade is still out there looking for me, if he's not here already." Robin instantly thought of Sergei but he couldn't prove anything, as it was right now the Russian military man was simply just that, a Russian military officer. That and deep down Robin knew he didn't want for his team to see this place. Perhaps it would be good for them or perhaps not. He didn't want to know either way and asking them to come all the way out here was selfish. He'd find another way. A way to get back home and then he'd contact them.

"Ok if that's what you want...?"

Robin nodded. "For now, yea... Sariel?"

"Yea?" she looked more tired then she let on and he instantly felt a bit of concern for the woman. He then wondered if this is what his teammates always felt when they would see him every morning with bags under his eyes.

"I'm sorry about Asif... I thought since he knew about Geist... That he could-"

"Robin don't apologize."

"But-"

"Asif did his best, we should be thankful he's alive unlike the rest of them... "

Robin looked down to his food. "I'm sorry about them to."

The woman reached out to touch Robins hand. "Don't be." She gave it a squeeze before using her palm to rest her chin on. "They knew what they were signing up for... if anyone should be sorry it should be me. I couldn't get them out alive this time. We all just got to deep."

"What were you doing anyways?"

"Infiltrating the ben Elohim. What you would call a crazy super villain group." she smiled at Robin and he smiled back. "I got in rather easily, or so I thought. Got all the intel I could, and as of now, after a couple years, I left... or more like got found out. Can't really say I want anything to do with them anymore though." she sighed. "The ben Elohim kinda went into hysterics when they found out I double crossed them. A few days ago, when I was still with the organization I got a rather disturbing call that put me out here in the first place. Someone was killing all of their men. Just randomly being shot up in the streets, many being tortured. But what I found out later was that the men that were killed, they were not really Soldiers... but random people they used to cause distractions. Generally a bunch of kids that think it will be glorious to sacrifice themselves for her."

Robins looked at the woman for a moment. "Distractions?"

"Yes, but some where just being hunted, and not fulfilling their jobs. They would call themselves the most devote. But in the long run they are all just scapegoats. They tend to target bigger named people in the area, if there is anyone in the area that is well known, and if the ben Elohim wants something done about whoever it is, they will send what most would think a rookie Soldier out there and just start shooting. It causes alarm and mayhem and allowing for whatever the ben Elohim want to happen, happen."

Robin stopped short.

"What's wrong?" Sariel nudged the boy wonder.

The emblem... "Do these people wear a emblem of some sort?"

Sariel nodded. "Like a dagger and a snake, yea..."

Robin was taken aback. The man that waltzed right up to Slade and shot him wore that symbol, as well as the cowboy like figure on the plane that day. If these people were used as distractions, as horrible as that was, did the ben Elohim want something to do with him? It would make sense since the man in the small town distracted Slade enough so he could make an escape... and hide away on that cargo plane.

But If they did want him to escape from Slade, then why have him thrown off a plane? Or was it all just coincidence?

"You ok?" Sariel nudged him once again.

Robins blue eyes looked into Sariels. "Yea... I just think I've encountered one of them before... How I was able to escape Slade in the first place. Some Soldier just walked up and shot him."

Sariel frowned. "I assume that Slade was unharmed however, I cannot see that man taking on any kind of damaged really."

"The bullet never reached it's target, but because of the panic he caused I was able to escape and sneak on board a plane, which eventually dumped all it's cargo in fear of getting caught I suppose. It was carrying guns." He didn't mention the cowboy. He was still all to confused about this himself. "I just happened to be with the cargo."

"Ahhh so that's how you ended up in the desert. You really should be glad to be alive, not many survive The Empty Quarter."

"So I've heard."

"Well either way," the woman got up from the table. "You're here now, I guess you better make the best of it before you call that team of yours. Treat it like a holiday yea?"

"Exactly what kind of holiday is it when I get shot at, or have to fight zombies and race through a cramped town to find a hospital?"

"The adventurous kind?" She threw the teen a smirk. "I'll see you later tonight. Enjoy your Fatoot."

"Is that what it's called?" Robin look down at his food. He had to admit, it wasn't exactly up to his standards but it wasn't half bad. Sariel waved her goodbyes as she walked towards the motel leaving behind Robin with his thoughts. Something was very off. Slade was one thing, the ben Elohim were another and Sariel knew much about them. But he bet she wouldn't spill all that she had on them. He didn't blame her however. In a ways, her keeping her mouth shut also kept them all a bit safer.

Robin shook the thoughts away. He would have to deal with all of this in the morning. As much as he wanted to slip back into his 18 hour days as he used to back in the tower... his body felt like it already had been through a rough 48 hour day. And at this point he simply concurred with his mind and body agreed to rest that night.

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WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON RIGHT!? But atleast now we're making some sort of connections here. Also BATMAN! YAY!

Please please review and let me know what you think! =)

And thank you all!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: ANOTHER UPDATE!? What is going on right? I dunno. But enjoy any who. Big thanks to all those that have read and to those that have reviewed. I really look forward to what anyone has to say about this lil' fanfic of mine.

TT is not mine, it is (c) to WB and DC Comics. =P

EDIT: Swapping this over from FFnet to Ao3, fixed some typos along the way.

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It didn't take him long to eat his meal and before he knew it Robin found himself slowly climbing up some creaky old stairs and into his room. He had to admit it was pretty big compared to the last motel he stayed in. The room was kind of long in shape. There was one bed that laid against the back wall along with a old chair that kind of hung out off to the side. A couple old and faded pictures hung crooked over the bed itself. There was a dresser to the side and a closet close to that. It was a distressing setting to be sure. But the one thing he had to admit that he took a liking to, was the windows. They were more like arches. There was six of them, all of them kind of narrow, all of them seemingly were left open. A couple of them had broken glass but nothing to major. He could hear the buzz of the little city below him. The talking, the cheering, the drunk fighting, the random car honking... actually that happened a lot more then he liked.

The teen sighed, the showers were unavailable at the moment. So the innkeeper gave them all a wash basin and jug. The bowl itself was rather fancy, the jug was plastic and didn't seem to quite fit with the eloquent floral basin. Putting the face cloth in the water, Robin began to wash the sweat and grim away from his body.

Once finished he felt a little better. Tomorrow he would have to go back to the hospital and find out how Asif was doing. Not wanting to hit the hay so soon, the young hero Pulled the chair from the bedside and placed it closer to the windows so he could watch the streets below, Robin took a seat and began to let his mind drift away with his thoughts.

He watched the people below him for what seemed like hours. He observed how they interacted with one another, watched as scooters weaved in and out of the people on the streets. There wasn't many citizens out at night he noticed, he saw more military personnel then anything else. But as Robin began to look beyond the dusty road in front of him, the more he saw of the city itself. And it was a city in ruins. There was many old buildings here, many of them in traditional designs to this area, but he could also see where the remnants of older buildings had once been and briefly wondered how many people were killed when the building collapsed on them. Were they given any warning? Did any get away? And yet this city and these people just carried on... as if it was normal. But then again, maybe it was normal to them. Besides... "Where would they go?" It was whisper and a verbal conclusion that escaped his lips.

"They have no place to go..."

With a heavy sigh Robin stood up and walked over to his bed. He was about to prepare himself for what he hoped would be a good nights' rest when he noticed the new clothes at the end of the bed. There was also a note. Picking it up it read;

"You've been wearing the same clothes since my grandmothers more or less. Have these new ones on me, I know they're probably not up to your standards, they're military basics, but it's better then what you got. Plus keep the shemagh, it's good to have one out in the desert.

-Sariel"

Robin looked down and did indeed find a white and red scarf on top of the folded clothes, which contained a new pair of taupe colored military pants, a white cotton shirt that buttoned down half way and a olive drab military jacket that seemed to have numerous pockets. She even gave him a pack of new boxers. He would have to thank the woman in the morning.

Exhausted, Robin placed his combat knife on the night stand, kicked his boots off and fell into bed.

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This night seemed warmer then all the others. So before heading to his room to get some "rest", Slade managed to find himself a bottle of Scotch. Now that being said, Slade Wilson was not a man to drink a lot, if anything at all. One in his profession had to keep in shape at all times and while he did have the benefits of the serum that was injected into his system all those years ago, it still meant constant training, a steady diet and no alcohol.

But tonight he would make an exception.

Pouring a bit into a glass, he held it in his fingers sliding the glass to and fro, making the liquor move in a circular motion. He stood looking out his window. There wasn't much to see really. But his thoughts wandered to his apprentice.

Robins mind had become addled with everything he has witnessed, this world has been forced into his veins and it wasn't going to leave any time soon. Taking a sip of his Scotch, Slade mused that a bit more time with the boy in disguise as Sergei was needed before he can show his true colors. He had time, to make his apprentice understand, he would always have time for Robin.

With a sigh, Slade downed the liquor and placed the empty glass on the table, and poured himself his second and final drink of the night. The boys train of thought was changing for sure, he was after all being forced to partake in a warzone. Regardless of his actions being on the outskirts of the Civil war itself, Robin had become intertwined with this land, its people and the ongoing timeless wars that took place here. However, the boy still wanted to help those in need. Which wasn't always a bad thing he will admit. But he had to understand that he can't help everyone, that he didn't need to be the hero for everyone. That he had choices. And that sometimes the best way to allow one to live was for the other to die. If Robin kept up at the pace he was going beforehand, Slade knew he'd be in the thick of it, trying to save god knows who or what. Without a thought for himself, which would ultimately push himself into exhaustion. He didn't want that for the boy. He wanted something better for him. Which is why Slade was glad he found him when he did. He wouldn't allow the boy to ruin himself like that. No, he wanted to push Robin, to open his eyes, to allow him to see the world from a different point of view... But the idea of him jumping into full scale war. Even he didn't think the boy was ready for that. No one ever really was.

He knew that Robin already felt responsible for Asif's injuries. And he couldn't blame him. That sense of leadership he wouldn't have the boy loose. One must always take responsibilities for one's actions, even if you screw up. He learned that long ago.

Pushing the past away, as this was not the place nor time, Slade looked to the door, knowing that Robins room was down the hall. Putting his drink on the nightstand Slade stepped out into the hallway. He made sure to be as quiet as possible which seemed impossible since the building was so fragile it creaked with every movement. Upon reaching the boys room there was another creak when opening the door. It seemed that the young man didn't see it fit to jam the door with the chair to stop anyone from trespassing. The kid was too trusting at times.

What he saw was as he expected. Robin was passed out on the bed. "Good" the mastermind thought. The boy never slept as it was. He watched for a moment as the boys chest rose and fell, his heavy breaths meaning he was in a deep sleep.

Reassured that Robin was resting, the criminal returned to his room. But not to sleep. Again thanks to that serum, he didn't need sleep for a few days at least. Instead he'd make a call to Wintergreen, see how things were going around home. He had asked his old friend to keep tabs on The Batman and the Justice League while he was gone. So far he had kept that Titans at bay with releasing every villain in Jumps prisons time and time again, but the Batman... he would have to think of something soon to deal with the Bat.

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Robin woke with a startling jolt the next morning. Quickly his eyes darted around the room. His breathing felt rapid, but he mentally told himself to calm down. Which he did after a couple minutes. Why did he feel so fearful all of a sudden?

Taking another deep breath Robin reprimanded himself for feeling such a thing. Maybe it was just all the stress getting to him? He didn't know. Regardless he banished the thoughts away. Instead picking up the new articles of clothing Sariel had give him, he began to get changed.

Once finished he tugged his boots on and clipped his combat knife to his belt. And gingerly slipped his mask into his pocket. The mask had seen better days. But he would need it for when he decided to return to the Titans.

Existing his room he began his walk towards the stairs that would lead him to the lobby below.

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He had to admit, the new clothes, while a big baggy, felt great. He rolled up the sleeves on the olive military jacket, fully knowing that while out in the desert he would have to roll them down to protect himself from the sun. As much as you boiled in pants and a long sleeve shirt, it was the best option out here. He also wore the scarf around his neck, keeping it handy for when he would ever have to use it.

Robin was waiting in the lobby when Sariel had walked down the stairwell.

"Hey it seems to fit."

"Still a bit big, but it's workable."

The woman gave him a smirk. "Well it's better then the stuff you had."

"Thank you by the way... you didn't have to though."

She shrugged at the Boy Wonder. "To be honest those clothes were beginning to stink."

Robin gave her a disapproving look before the two exited the lobby and walked out onto the cities dirt streets.

"Are you two ready to go? We do not have all day." Sergei spoke up as he leaned against the jeep. The motel they stayed in was a short trip from the hospital, but still not short enough to be within walking distance. "Boy up front eh?" Robin internally sighed, why did this man like him so much? Sariel didn't seem to care about Sergei. If he did rub her the wrong way she didn't show it. Or at least he thought she would of said something to him about it by now. Instead she didn't seem to have a care in the world about the man. Maybe it was because she had just met him the other day and hadn't come up with her own conclusions? Or maybe it was because they both were on the same kind of level with regards about how the world worked. She never did seem to care when the Russian blew up the temple. He really didn't know. Maybe it was just him?

Robin didn't say anything and just got into the front seat while Sariel jumped into the back.

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Sariel herself seemed to ignore the rest of the people in the jeep while Sergei drived through the small little streets. He had to honk the horn a few times to get the villagers to move out of the way. This was nothing new.

Pulling out her phone when it vibrated she smiled. Gus was fine. This was great news. He somehow had managed to get away before they could ever know where to look for him. Pleased with the news Sariel just sat back and watched the world go by.

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"New clothes?"

"Huh?" Robin jumped a bit, his thoughts being interrupted. "Oh yea... I suppose." Robin wasn't entirely convinced that the clothes were actually new. The pants and shirt from a military locker, the lightweight coat as well since he had seen some of the soldiers wear a very identical jacket.

"Look, I know you are still very angry with me over the temple incident."

Robin looked to the man. "Just a bit."

Sergei sighed a little. " I am sorry. But to me there seemed no other way. I saw that one of those ghouls had returned, the door would not budge." Sergei shook his head. "I saw no other means of your escape. The only ones that seemed to be alive and moving in that building was you and your two comrades. And one of you was terribly injured, yes? So I took action."

Robin sighed, the man was apologizing? "It's ok... Sariel, she would know better than any other, she was right, they were all dead the moment Geist walked into that room. I actually think he killed them all and used their souls to create that black void... but I honestly can't be sure. I just... I try to protect life when I can."

"But how does one protect if one refuses to kill those who would destroy everything you hold dear, hrmmm?"

"I don't see what your getting at. You don't have to kill anyone to be able to protect anything."

Sergei kept his eye on the road. "But that's where you're wrong my boy."

Robin frowned. "How so?"

"How many soldiers have died to give you the freedoms you have in America? How many lives did they have to take before it was ever enough?"

"War is different." Robin didn't like where this was going. This man definitely screamed Slade.

"War is always an ongoing event one might say... Truly though, do you not think it better to kill your enemy so they cannot stab you in the back later on? Leaving your enemy alive is asking to be killed yes?"

"Not if you tie them up so they can't get down."

Sergei laughed. "And one day you will come across someone very skilled and you will tie them up, but your ropes and cages will not sustain them. They will come crashing down on you, killing you in the end. Because my boy the world does not work in such a carefree manner." Sergei became a little more serious with his next words. "Do not let the world vanish before your eyes so you see only what you want to see, take it all in my boy. Even the darker parts, especially those. At many a times, those darker parts show a truth of the world so very few see."

"Well-"

"Oh no..." Robin was cut off by a whisper from the backseat. He turned to see Sariel looking up into the sky. Robin looked up as well. Shocked that he didn't notice it before, especially since there was a large amount of it billowing in the sky. Smoke.

"What the hell?"

"Can you drive a bit faster Sergei?" Sariel had asked the man behind the wheel. He only nodded in response and drove as fast as he could in between the people and animals. He sped up once he got more into the outskirts. It only took a couple minutes.

"No no noooo..." Sariel jumped out of the jeep and ran towards the hospital, only making it a few steps before she stopped to look on, a feeling of heavy guilt took hold in her heart. Robins eyes looked on at the scene in horror. Who would do this? Why? Why would someone do this?

The hospital had been set ablaze. The small building structure and the tent were gone, the fire enveloping the building was not a good omen. The flames destroyed all within its touch as it cast smoke out as a signal for all to bare witness to its conquest.

Robin got out of the car and strode up beside Sariel, Sergei followed.

"War is a business. No matter how many lives it costs, the wars keep coming, and what freedoms do they fight for? None, just for the ever growing trade of war. Do tell me Richard, is it fair for them to give up their lives? There is no beat them up and win the day out here, you kill or be killed. Because your enemy simply doesn't care. War is not 'different' as you would say boy, it's real, it's all around you, and it devours all that enter it."

Robin took in Sergeis words. They seemed to be more true when looking upon the hospital in flames that once held so many wounded soldiers, including Asif.

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Oh shit son! What the fuck happened right?

Anywho let me know what you all think, and thank you guys so much for taking the time to read this thing up to this far.

Pls pls leave me a review and let me know what you think.

Thank you all!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original A/N from FFnet: This is a bit more of a mellow chapter but it is needed. But no worries there is some fun and exciting action coming soon... .

Oh and by the way the Houthis are a real group in Yemen and they are considered a "Islamic religious-political-armed movement", and yes the whole death to everyone is their slogan. This is not meant to be mean in any way, but the point of bringing in an actual real part of what is happening in Yemen today *actually something that has been going on since the 90's* is part of what is making Robin think on the world around him. Why are these things happening around him? That sorta thing. Plus I just like bringing in current events every now and then to actually give it all a bit more realism or something... Besides they are simply just mentioned and not really part of the story. But yes go look them up, they are real.

Oh and by the way I'm also making this thing a proper cover picture... I believe I have the line work on my twitter, I go by the name Fangalang there. So if ya want to check that out, it's there.

But onwards with the story!

This chapter was originally posted at some point between 2017 and 2018, not to sure.

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It had been two days.

Two days since the fire. And nothing was the same since.

The fire as it scorched the sky still burned its way into his mind each night and left him feeling raw and brittle. He still couldn't believe it. Each day had felt like nothing had changed, until one remembered. Asif was gone, everyone in that damn hospital was gone.

They had asked around, and they soon found out it was an attack by the Houthis, a Islamic religious-political-armed movement, or so Sariel had called them. They were bad news and caused a lot of havoc. Their entire trademark was "The God is great, death to the US, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam". Robin shook his head. Why would anyone proclaim such a thing? It all sounded like something from Beast Boys action movies he had seen back home in the tower. Or something he had seen on the news in the morning. The idea of what was going on out here in Yemen, it was always something so distant. Something he would never have to deal with... until now. He couldn't understand how a group of people could hate so much. There wasn't any use in it. The world would turn with or without you. Regardless of your actions, time would move on and leave your husk behind.

The boy wonder groaned from the heat. His little room was like an oven, it almost felt as if he hasn't left it in weeks. But of course he had, to retrieve food and water, but that was about it. Sariel had closed herself off from the world and he simply waited for her to open up to him again. She needed time, he knew. And he would give it to her.

With nothing to do Robin contemplated on calling the Titans but thought against it. Again he felt that if he left now, he'd be abandoning something important. He didn't quite understand why, but after everything that had happened... After Asif... Robin stiffened at the thought. No, he wouldn't leave now. He to felt a pang of responsibility for Asif's death. He was put in the hospital because of him. Because he was reckless, because he momentarily lacked foresight, lacked in leadership skills. He was careless and Asif paid for it.

In the end Robin didn't know Asif all that well. But he knew his name, and that seemed to be enough in his eyes.

The chair he was sitting on creaked a little as he shuffled in the seat. Robin almost wanted to imagine himself back with the Titans... but he just couldn't. They seemed so distant now. He could clearly remember them all, their voices, their laughter. As crisp and clear as if they were standing next to him. But they weren't. He was alone here.

His room vacant, all but for his still figure sitting on that chair looking out the window. Contemplating the world. The fan was at the highest speed but it couldn't seem to cool him down. It wasn't quite useless however as the sound muffled a bit of the banter from outside. All he could think about was the fire, Sariels eyes that burned with anger and sorrow, and Sergeis words.

"War is a business."

Robin had to agree with that, The gun trafficking was evident enough.

"No matter how many lives it costs, the wars keep coming."

For the profit. Was it so simple? Did lives not matter out here?

"is it fair for them to give up their lives?"

Not it's not, it never was.

"There is no beat them up and win the day out here, you kill or be killed. Because your enemy simply doesn't care. War is not so 'different' as you would say boy, it's real, it's all around you, and it devours all that enter it."

There was always a choice to kill or not to kill? Wasn't there? Robin never wanted to hurt anyone, he never wanted to kill... but lives where taken for granted out here. Why was this place simply about survival? Did everyone have to stand on their own out here? Did Sariel speak the truth to him all those nights ago? Shaking his head he told himself he would not kill simply to justify the means of some broken unsaid laws of the desert.

"Then why did you leave all those people to rot and die back at the temple?" Robin jolt at the dark thought. It was almost as if someone had spoken to him, but it was his voice. However, he swore he heard it as a whisper that poured like honey into his ear.

Feeling a bit awkward, Robin picked himself up from the chair, gathered his things and decided to go for a walk to loosen up.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade had seen the boy become distant over the past two days. At first he thought it concerning, but thought it better to leave it be. He would give Robin the space he needed to think. He had hoped that his words would settle into the boy. In reality he wanted Robin to soar above all this, but for now Slade knew he had to clip the birds wings to bring him crashing down into reality. When Robin was ready he would regrow those tattered wings and become stronger for it.

But as with all things, it took time, and a delicate hand.

The young man had exited the motel and taking the chance he called him over. He stifled a laugh when Robin frowned at him. But he walked towards the mastermind regardless. Today he would start to change Robins views on the world around him.

"Your friend is still not doing so well hrmmm?

Robin looked back to the motel. "Sariel hasn't really come out of her room. She must feel pretty bad about the whole ordeal." Robin lied, he knew she felt horrible about it, they talked for a little bit yesterday. She expressed that she felt she had to"chill out" to get her head back into the game and figure out what her next move was. And whatever that was, Robin was unsure if he was going to be involved or not. In some weird way he hoped that he was. He didn't know why exactly. Maybe he was just growing an attachment to the woman.

"I am sure with time she will get things in order." Sergei had put a reassuring hand on the boys shoulder. Robin didn't frown or narrow his eyes, the past couple days he has just seemingly been accepting the mans friendly gestures.

"So where are you going?"

"Just for a walk." Robin shrugged. There really wasn't much else to do other then visit the tiny markets, which he did yesterday.

Sergei smiled at the young man. "I found a few men in a courtyard near to here playing a game of horseshoes. Care to join me for a game?"

Robin wanted to say no, but with his ever growing suspicion he agreed to the game.

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Again.

And Again.

Robin never missed when throwing a bird-o-rang, but this, oh this he couldn't do at all. The premises was simple, toss the horseshoe at the metal stake in the ground. The horseshoe having to hit the stake itself. The more you could pile up around the stake the more points you gathered. He tried various ways of throwing the horseshoe, but to no avail...

Sergei was winning, Robin hadn't been able to get one damn horseshoe anywhere near the metal stake. He grunted at every throw and he couldn't find a way around it. This shouldn't be this hard.

"Have you ever even played this before boy?"

Robin shook his head. "Not since I was very young." He threw another and missed the target. He sighed, and walked over to other end to retrieve all the horseshoes. Was he loosing his touch?

"Let me show you the trick on how to do this, yes?"

Robin walked back and dumped all the metal horseshoes from where he originally had gotten them from. "Ok." he shrugged.

"Pick one up."

Robin did as he was instructed. "Now feel it's weight, feel where it is more heavy then the rest of the metal. It's that part you want to toss at the stake. The weight will guide it to it's target."

The middle was obviously the strongest part of the horseshoe. Robin brushed his fingers over the molded metal. "Now you want to gently toss it. This is more about accuracy and direction then strength or speed."

Robin nodded and began to line up the horseshoe with the metal stake, then with just enough strength but not to much, he tossed it. The boy wonder was surprised when it met the metal stake in the ground, the two pieces making a "clunk"sound.

"Hey, I did it." Robin smiled to himself. This felt like one of the first victories he's had in a long time. Even if it was something very simple.

"Ahhh see what one can do with a good teacher."

The smiled still graced Robins lips, but as he turned to Sergei it became more of a smirk. "Ok so another round?"

"Of course."

The two played a few more games before they simply started walking aimlessly around and talked for what seemed like hours. About everything and anything, the world, politics... At times they would agreed to disagree, and whenever they did disagree about something Robin would gain a monologue from the Russian. But it wasn't all that bad, the mans company wasn't so awkward as it had been in the past. He was still suspicious to be sure. But even if the man was Slade in disguise he could use this to his advantage. If Sergei was Slade he could uncover the villain, but if he was not then he somehow gained another interesting ally.

No matter which way it worked, he could benefit.

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Robin felt a little more rested that night when he returned back to the makeshift remnants of the motel. He had knocked on Sariels door, with no answer he slowly opened it. "You decent?" he asked. But no answer. The lights were all turned off, but as he looked around her room he found her sleeping. Robin smirked. Leaving her to her rest, he walked out of her room and closed the door gently behind him. Slowly he wandered down the hall and turned the corner to a longer hallway which held his and Sergei's rooms. The Russian and him parted ways some time ago. Sergei said he had some work to do before he came back to the motel. The mans room was at the end of the hallway. Robins in the middle, being closer to Sariels.

Upon entering his own room, he removed his boots and placed his knife on the nightstand, he briefly wondered why he kept taking the knife with him, but he guessed it was better kept on him then to have someone steal it or use it against him. Robin shrugged and allowed himself to melt into his bed, where he began to casually wonder about the Titans. The more he spent away from them, the more he missed his little group. But he didn't have time for them now. He would see them again... he kept telling himself that. A reassurance. He would. And hopefully sooner than later. But he knew he had to take care of all of this first. Whatever was going on, he felt like he needed to be involved. Although, he wasn't sure if he was going to like the road it was going to take him down.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The Batman still didn't know where to look, he was still in the dark. But Slade knew that being the world's greatest detective he would figure things out eventually. According to Wintergreen however he hadn't left Gotham and the Titans hadn't seem to given any word to the rest of their honorary members that Robin wasn't dead, he was just missing. It seemed they wanted to keep this "in the family" as it were.

Slade shook his head. He had just gotten off of the phone with Wintergreen. Things were still going as planned. He still had time to do what he needed to do, and by the time Batman did find Robin. He wouldn't be the same young circus boy he knew all those years ago.

No Robin was already beginning to change, and soon enough there would be no going back for the boy.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

ANNNND that's a wrap for now.

Like I say there will be more action adventure soon. This chapter is just kinda mellow... and it's mean to be that way... yeeep... .;;;

Anywho please please review, let me know what you think!

Thank you guys!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original A/N from FFnet: This chapter is a little shorter then the last few, but the next ones will be longer. It's kinda like some needed filler to move onto the next more exciting chapters.

And yes Madaline is one of mine.

Anywho thanks again for all the reviews and whatnot. I do appreciate anything you guys have to say about this lil' fic of mine. =)

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Fire.

Everything had turned to ash and the fire blazed over him. The hospital was burning, the people were burning. Their screams taunted the night as no one answered their calls. It then all slowly turned into the pitch black void and their bodies rose up as Geist himself played the puppet master. He was trapped. No where to go. He began to panic.

Robin looked around to find himself alone. Just the void to keep him company. The darkness swirled around a bit, then it suddenly began to shift into a very familiar scene. One he had seen a thousand times in his minds eye. It was a place he called home since the day he was born, but that night everything changed. A single tear crawled its way down his cheek as he watched his parents plummet to their deaths once again. He looked down to see a figure of himself when he was just eight years old, crumpled on the floor and crying. Begging for his parents to wake up.

"No... no..." Robin turned his back to his younger self and ran away. He didn't like this. He didn't want to endure all of this again. So he ran into the darkness. His one safe space. A place that could hide all of his fears. Where he could meld with something bigger then himself and be stronger then the child he left behind. But it wouldn't last.

Fire again. And so much of it. It reminded him of the pits of Hell itself, much like the environment he and Slade journeyed across together during Trigons emergence. It was so hot, it burned. It hadn't even touched him and it burned.

"Robin." It was as if on que that the man showed his face. His hands clasped behind his back. His stature imposing. "It's time to move on." the masked man simply said.

Robin looked at him with a blank stare on his face. "What?"

"Stop carrying your past wherever you go. It does not define you. You have to get up and get going Richard. You have to keep moving. Your struggle will only make you stronger, isn't that what you want?"

The fires had died and he was left alone with the mastermind once again in what seemed to be the unsettling black void. The fires were gone, it was just him and Slade.

"GO AWAY! I hate you!"

"Do you really?" The image of Slade wasn't convinced. "Are they so much better then I? They haven't found you yet, as far as you know they've left you out here to die." Slade's hand extended to point beyond the boy, noticing this, Robin slowly turned to face what was behind him.

"Guys..." His mouth hung open. His eyes widened, and his emotions stirred. It was the Titans. All of them, they just stared at him. None of them said a word. They were not themselves. Their faces void of emotion. They didn't stay long however, and soon they all began to simply fade away. Robin almost leapt out to grab them, to bring them back to reality. But before he could grasp onto any of them, they were gone.

"It's time to move Richard. Get up and move. There is no other way then forward."

Robin spun around to face Slade once again to find the mastermind gone. And once again he was left alone.

The void was about to swallow him whole... until he heard a voice. It was faint at first, but then it got louder, and louder...

"Robin!"

"Robin!"

"GET UP!"

Robin bolted up out of bed. His eyes wide as he took in his room to find Sariel standing over him. Taking heavy breaths he looked to the woman. "What's wrong?"

Sariel threw his shirt and jacket at him, "Get dressed, we gotta go!"

"What? Why? It's only like three in the morning..." He groaned, he was still pretty tired, and the nightmare sure didn't help.

Sariel had moved to the windows. Looking at the chaos that was erupting below them. "Did you not hear it?"

"Hear what?" Suddenly the uproar from the streets below began to filter into his room and an assault rifle echoed through the vicinity, causing panic amongst the civilians. Robins eyes went wide. "What is going on?" Robin got dressed quickly as Sariel looked to the streets below giving him the privacy he needed. Once done he laced up his boots and once again he attached his combat knife to his belt.

"We need to leave, like right now..."

Robin joined her at the window. There was troops below gathering up citizens and threatening them with their assault rifles. "What are they doing?"

The armed men had pictures of the three people they were looking for, they were searching the city for these people. And they would do whatever it took to find them. Sariel listened to the conversations. "They are looking for us. Two Americans and one Russian. Sounds familiar don't you think?"

Robin nodded. "Who are they... Why are they looking for us?"

"It's the ben Elohim."

"Again?" Robin mentally cringed. "Not again..." he thought to himself.

"Yea... see that chicky down there. The one with the Russian officers coat draped over her shoulders?"

Robin looked out the window to the scene that unfolded before him. People were being taken out of their homes, the soldiers drilling them with various questions in arabic. But when they had told the soldiers they had not seen anyone like in the pictures they were threatened with a gun to their head, then if not their own the their children's. The citizens became more fearful and the woman he was interrogating began to cry. She screamed and yelled and begged for her life. It was ironic that Robin had recognized the woman from simply being in the area, he owed her nothing so at this point she had obviously not been paying attention to her surroundings and not even seen him or truly thought nothing of his presence.

There was one woman that stood out amongst them. Her form was muscular, more so then most woman. She wore what he thought to be a mechanics jumpsuit but it was brown, like a khaki color. He feet were covered by black combat boots and she wore two gun holsters. One on her hip the other over her shoulders. The suit itself has not zipped up revealing a black tank top underneath and a Russian officer military jacket lay across her shoulders like it was some prize. She was blond and had a large scar that ran from her jaw, crossed the middle of her eyes and ended on her forehead. The cigar in her mouth gave her the final finishing touch.

"Who the hell is she?"

"She's one of the higher ups. Her name is Madaline Borisova. She's no Geist but she can be equally terrifying." Sariel sighed. "We need to move out of here now. Geist knew we survived the temple, that thing was left behind for a reason. We should of moved earlier... but Asif." She took another sigh and shook her head. "It doesn't matter right now, what does matter is that we get the hell out of here."

"But... the people-"

"Will be less vulnerable if we are not here." Sariel had interjected, but she didn't need Robin to go into hero mode at this time.

He hated to admit to it, but Sariel was right. They needed to move. And now. "What about Sergei?" It was odd, before he wouldn't of cared for the older man.

Sariel turned to face the boy wonder. "He and I both heard the gun shots, we bumped heads in the hallway. It seemed he got the understanding that they are looking for us. I just came to get you."

It didn't feel right, he was worried that someone might be killed and being a hero and all he should be there to prevent it, but moving away from this area now was probably for the best. Not only for them but for the people in this city.

"We don't have much time, we've been here for to long as is, someone down there will tell them where to find us."

Robin only nodded before following Sariel out the door.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Shhhhhh" Sergei had met them around the corner. He was looking down the stairway, something was going on downstairs in the lobby. There was only one stairwell and the lobby was small. The innkeeper was being asked to come outside to answer some questions. The older man opened the door and spoke to them in their native tongue. When he said he had no such costumer's he was taken outside and beaten.

They could hear his screams, the beating, the kicks to his person, the grunts that followed. Robins heart pounded in his chest. "Not in the head you fool!" it was a voice of a woman with a deep voice, and a heavy accent. Russian.

The trio backed up a bit up the stairs. Careful as to not make so much noise.

They could hear a singular person enter the lobby, her walk was that of a person that had only ever known the military, her steps steady and with purpose. The room was dark, but with the door open her silhouette was cast across the room. "I know you are here."

No one spoke up.

"Cowardice dogs..." The woman stood her ground.

However Sergei motioned them to move back up to the floor above. "My room faces the next building over. Perhaps we can jump over, yes?" his voice was low as to avoid the woman downstairs.

Sariel nodded. "It's better than facing her."

The trio walked back down the hall and around the corner, the floorboards still creaked but they moved slowly to avoid so much noise in fear that it would give them away but it mattered little at the moment in time. They all really knew their time was short. She would hear them regardless.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Madaline looked up at the ceiling as she heard slight shuffling. She smiled. "So you are here my little milaya."

She turned to her men and walked out the door. As she passed them she gave them an order. One that no one would refuse her. Nor dare to try. Madaline was not a woman known for kindness. Not even to her own men. "Burn the place down, all of it. Let the fire spread. All traitors will die by flame. None shall be spared."

Madaline lite herself another cigar and inhaled. She had been here for a week and already had burned down that hospital. Would Aurora really get mad if she burnt down an entire city?

She hoped not. She hadn't before...

Two of her men retrieved some gasoline from their vehicles. Twisting the caps off the two began to pour the liquid all along the floor and even throwing it on the walls and the furniture. Once done the pleasure was all hers.

She simply threw her cigar into the lobby and the place nearly burst into flames. The fire would spread through the whole building, and then to the next and to the next.

Lighting herself another cigar, Madaline would sit and watch the show.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin heard the flames roar into reality. "Oh shit! They just lit the place on fire."

Sergei opened the window and looked outside. There was another building indeed just a hop, skip and a jump away. The downside was that it was a pretty far jump. But he knew it was a jump they could all accomplish with ease. "We need to go!" Sergei shouted out to his two younger companions. "This fire won't stop with just this motel, they are going to burn down the whole town."

Robins heart skipped a beat. "Everyone is going to die... all because of us." He suddenly wasn't feeling so well.

"There is no time!" Sariel grabbed Robin. "We gotta move and now, I'm sorry it came to this, I truly am. But we have to survive ok? Meaning we gotta go now."

Robins own blue eyes looked into Sariels. He nodded. "Yea, we need to go." It was like a new determination set into the boy wonder. He knew what he was about to do went against everything he was taught, and against the code he swore to uphold when he became Robin... but he also now knew that there was a huge difference between this world and home. There was nothing he could do and although he did feel incredibly useless, he also knew he could make differences in his own way. If he was going to survive out here he was going to have to make some sacrifices. He knew now, he would have to survive another day to make up for any past mistakes.

Robin leapt out into the night, and safely landed on the rooftop of the building next door. Sariel and Sergei soon followed. They were now on the run.

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Just so everyone knows Madaline is Russian, and Milaya means something almost like sweetheart in russian... but then again I don't speak the language I just did some research.

Anywho please please review! I know this chapter is short but the others will be longer. I promise.

Thank you all again!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: Hey guys, back again with another chapter. Chapter 22...wow. Made if so far. Joys of joys.

Big thanks to everyone reading this thing. Still got a ways to go, and I'm just hoping you're all enjoying the ride? I hope so anyways.

Also I think I've reread this chapter to edit it so many times now... there is probably still mistakes but it's late and it looks ok now. Ughhhhh...

Anywho! On with the story!

Chapter was posted sometime in 2017 ot 2018. Dunno really. Slowly uploading it all from FFnet to Ao3.

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People were screaming.

They were running for their lives.

He could hear their cries, their shouts, their pleas.

And he could hear the gun shots.

Why were they doing this? All to get to them? This was all a bit to much for his heart to bare. People were dying because they were looking for him, looking for Sariel... Why the hell did he even get involved with the woman? But... even if he didn't... even if he was here or elsewhere, what could he do?

It was a grim realization when the answer was nothing.

The trio was making their way across the city on rooftop. The fire was spreading. Before long there wouldn't be any place to escape to. At least in this district of the city. Over 800 thousand people lived in out there day to day lives here. They didn't have much to begin with, and these fires could leave many homeless... and tis ben Elohim didn't care. People's lives didn't mean a thing to them. The mere thought angered the young man. How could this all go on out here? These people lived in fear of private militaries such as these ben Elohim that came in and just took and took. And not to mention the Civil war. There was no Superman to save the day, there was no Batman to swoop in and beat up bad guys. Sariel was right, all they had was themselves out here. What damn good were heros for if they just protecting one country? And not to mention country, no, they protected a singular city. Robin became angry at the mere thought of the idealism behind the "superhero". Shouldn't they help everyone? Why didn't he help everyone when he could? Robin looked back on his days as a Titan. He thought the world was so much simpler back then, and so much smaller.

Robin was so lost in his thoughts he almost leapt to the next building with or without his companions. "Wait." Sergei placed a hand on the boys shoulder, halting his jump. Robin looked down and watched as two men entered the building across from them. Both with gasoline in their hands.

Two shots bellowed through the air and one child ran outside. Crying and screaming the child put itself in a corner across the street. It wasn't long before the building beside them went up in flames. What they didn't expect was the sudden explosion and the building they were standing on started to catch fire.

"We need to move!"

The structure they were on was a bit larger then the others. But the fire began to spread regardless. The flames engulfed them. The building itself began to sway...

"Let's go! We can jump down to-"

"You will be going no where moy malen'kiy shpion."

Sariel turned to her companions. She briefly wondered how Madaline had gotta here so fast. But then again she shouldn't expect anything normal from this group to begin with. Everything about them was surreal. "Go, get out of here. I'll take care of her."

Robin shook his head. "No, we do this together or not at all."

"This isn't up for debate!"

"It does not matter little one. I'm not here to fight you." Madaline began to walk towards them as the fire seemingly rose up around her.

Sariel eyed the woman with suspicion. "Then what do you want?"

"You. Aurora would so easily forgive you. She knows talent when she sees it. As for Robin... One of Americas young heros. That is worth something do you not think so? I wonder how much the little hero would sell on the black market?"

Robin flinched a little when he realized she had said "Robin". How was he so recognizable without his mask? The mask itself was the ideology of Robin, without it he was just Richard Grayson. It was not a thought he'd want to dwell on, if they knew who he was then Bruce...

"Let me guess it's join or die, right?" Sariel answered.

"You do not have much of a choice moya kroshka. Aurora wants to speak with you."

"No thanks... but tell the red headed bitch I say hi."

The building was started to burn around them, and the roof was beginning to gave way. They needed to get out of this place before they all fell into the flames. "I see there is not other way then." Madalines right arm raised to her left shoulder and stipped the coat off and let it flutter out into the wind. "If you do not come then I will take you both by force. And I will kill your companion."

Sergei looked to the woman. "What a thing to do to a comrade yes?"

The laughed at Sergei's input. "Russian or no, it does not matter to me. I turned my back on my homeland years ago. The motherland will get no such sympathy from me."

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One punch was swung by Robin himself, starting the fight, but as fate would have it the building began to fully erupted. The flames engulfed them all, the roof tore open and they began to run leaving Madaline behind. The woman stood her ground as if nothing could ever begin to bend her will. The flames behind her giving her a deathly look.

"RUN!" The building was falling apart, the choice was clear. So they ran as the building began to deteriorate beneath them.

The roof was tearing itself apart. It was almost like an earthquake, the ground beneath them splitting apart. They could make it. Almost... It only took one fatal step. Robin heard a yelp, he turned and ran back towards Sariel, his hand extending to find hers. Her footing didn't quite make the crumbling foothold beneath her, and she fell into the burning void of the building.

"SARIEL!"

Robins eyes searched for his companion amongst the burning floors beneath him. He screamed for her again and again. He nearly fell into the collapsing building itself if it wasn't for a steady arm that grabbed him and pulled him away from the crumbling edge.

"If she is alive, she'll get out on her own." Sergei pulled him away. "We need to move now!"

"No... no... I can't... I can't loose her to."

Sergei shook his head and moved the boy against his will knowing full well if they didn't move now they would surely fall to the same fate as Sariel. Well Robin would, and Slade would have no such thing happen to his apprentice.

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It took them awhile, but they had made it to a safer area. It was dark, there was very few lights on in the area. They couldn't feel the flame anymore but they could still see it as it devoured the city. The military was already being called in to evacuate the people and to bring water in by air.

Robin was still in shock. His breathing was heavy, his eyes were ablaze.

"Why...?" The boy looked down to the ground. Robin was taking a chance here, but at the moment he had nothing to loose. If Sergei was Slade he'd find out soon enough.

"Why what?" Slade was keeping a eye on the streets in case any of their little friends found them, he had thought the boy was in shock after loosing Sariel. He did hope the girl survived however, regardless of her being Jillian's Granddaughter, the girl had talent. But he didn't expect the next thing that came out of Robins mouth.

"Why did you bring me here Slade?" Robin was exhausted, he leaned his form against a cement wall. But the glare he gave the man spoke volumes more.

The older man smirked. So the bird had figured it out. Slade dropped the act all together, suddenly shifting from Sergei to his much more usual darker aura, and loosing the accent completely. "How long have you known?"

"I've had a hunch for awhile."

"And you've been waiting this long to call me out on it? I must say I'm impressed, you've grown Robin, to be much more patient. Taking your time to gather information rather then just rushing in? Impressive."

"You didn't answer the question Slade."

"I brought you here so you could see the truth of the world. That not everything is so cut and dry as it were."

"SO IT'S OK THAT THEY'RE ALL DEAD!?" the young man panted. " Sariel, Asif, all gone and for what!?"

"I never said that." the boy was being irrational he knew.

"I HATE YOU! You brought me here to this HELL!" Robin threw the first punch, the man easily blocked him. "I'm tired of running away!" Another punch and another block from the mastermind. The two continued in this fashion as Robin screamed at him.

"I'm tired of always playing your games!"

"I'm tired of losing people!"

"I'm tired... just so goddamn tired of everything!"

Rounds of punches kept being thrown at the man, they were hard and fast Slade had to admit, but Robin was being sloppy, he could understand with the boys sudden loss of someone he perhaps considered a friend. But this would simply not do. Therefore, Slade began to counter attack, a single punch is what it took to send Robin across the street.

The boy shook himself from the sudden jolt of pain that had sent him flying, but it didn't stop him. Robin gritted his teeth and pounded the ground beneath him as it to deserved punishment.

Robin stood up and instantly took off in a sprint before leaping at the man to plant a roundhouse kick into the criminals chest, but his leg was easily grabbed by the mercenary and his body was thrown against a stone wall. Slade still had a hold on him when Robin kicked the man in the face with his free limb. Causing the mastermind to let go of the boys leg and stumble back a bit, more so out of surprise then of actual pain.

He then attacked the man out of sheer malice. He punched and kicked at Slade so fiercely it became hard to predict the boy. His attacks became brutal and deadly as if he wanted to kill the man. The boy wasn't even playing by the Bats rules at this moment, he was just a sheer figure of rage. This part of Robin was the one he wanted at his side. The boy could kill. So easily with the right training.

The boy kicked him and he staggered back a little. A small smile had graced the masterminds lips.

"Excellent form Robin."

"SHUT UP!"

His breathing was heavy, he hadn't had to fight like this in quite awhile. Any battle against Slade always took so much out of him, and with everything that had gone on that night... he just let it all go. He didn't care anymore.

"Was this all you're plan to, let me guess all these ben Elohim work for you? Was Sariel working for you to?" The last question hurt. Sariel had worked for Slade in the briefest of moments back at the cabin, would she be doing it again out here?

"No." The answer was simple. "My arrangement was much more simple for you Robin, but it would seem the world had other plans."

Slade looked to the burning city. "If you're done fighting with me, we should get going."

Robin shook his head. "And go where? I'm not leaving Sariel behind. If-"

"I didn't say we were out of this quite yet."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

She had fallen about 5 stories into a burning building. How was she still alive? The fire, it was burning all around her.

Sariel coughed, the smoke was thick in here. Looking down she felt the cuts that were bleeding out on her body, and thankfully she felt her legs as she began to move them. Nothing seemed to be broken which was amazing in that of it self. But it did seem like she had twisted her ankle.

It mattered little, she began to pick herself up, coughing all the way. She had to find a way out of this building. The young woman began to stumble, she looked all around for a exit but did not seem to find any. A window or a door would be great, but she didn't see one. She just saw a figure walk towards her. Her eyes narrowed at the sight, trying to see more clearly in the smoke.

It couldn't be, but it was undeniable. But how... how could...

"Asif?"

"Sariel."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yeeeeepppppppp

Robin finally called Slade out on his disguise. About time, the kids known for awhile now. XD

Anywho please please give me a review and let me know what ya think.

And yes is Asif back or is Sariel seeing and hearing things? XD FInd out next chapter.

Also! Here is some translation for Madaline's dialogue.

*moy malen'kiy shpion means My little spy.

*moya kroshka means My little one.

Again I don't know the language so I'm trying to translate things as best as I can, but I'm pretty sure I've made mistakes. Wish I knew someone that actually knew Russian. =P

Thanks again all!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

FFnet Original A/N: OMGS Been working this chapter for like... 2 days now. Have had to edit it a few times, so I'm sorry if there is any typos, I'm probably gonna post this and see like ten zillion mistakes. But hey let's move the story along shall we?

It feels a bit short... maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Not sure. But hey I'm tired and I'm gonna hit the hay now.

Also thank you for all the reviews, you guys are awesome! And I love you guys! I'm simply happy enough that some people are enjoying the ride as much as I enjoy writing it. XD

Speaking of the story, LET'S GO!

NOTE 01/22/2022: Slowing moving this from FFnet to Ao3. This was originally posted around 2017 or 2018ish

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"But the hospital... you were in there... and... the fire..." she coughed out the words. The smoke was bad in here.

"It burnt to the ground, I know." Asif stood before her, his gaze looking down, showing what seemed to be a glint of sorrow for his former companion, or was it perhaps for himself and his situation? Sariel struggled to stand but in that feat she was on her own. Asif offered her no aid.

Sariel was coughing up her lungs, it burned each time but at the moment that seemed so unimportant. "How..." another cough, the smoke was suffocating her. "How did you get out?"

"I nearly didn't."

Confused, she looked to the man before her. Her eyes trying to piece things together. "What?" she spit out before another cough violently tore at her lungs.

"I burnt the hospital down."

"What? WHY!?"

"I gave him the order. And like a good dog, he obeyed." Sariel was panting, her vision wasn't the best, but she knew that Madaline had entered the room. "Shit." was all she thought. This wasn't exactly how she planned her day.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

"If she survived, she'll be trying to make her way out of the burning building at this point, or already has. If you so insist on going back there my apprentice then you'll need a weapon or two. The area is filled with military personnel, all equipped with automatic rifles, and perhaps a few handguns tucked away as well. This is nothing like the temple Robin."

It was odd, Robin didn't even flinch or scream at the man when he had called him apprentice. Somehow it just seemed... right. Even though his mind screamed at him, begged him to yell back to tell the man NO! But there was nothing for it, right now Slade was all he had. And as much as he hated to admit it, he was going to need some help.

"Then we'll have to find some on the way and make do." Robin frowned at the man before him.

"And we'll have find a way back towards the burning structures, and hopefully not through them." Slade look to his young companion. "Any ideas?"

Robin began to eye an abandoned jeep just down the road from where they were. Everything seemed pretty silent, either it was parked for the night or simply left there.

"We could take the jeep?" the boy had suggested as he eyed the vehicle.

"Stealing Robin?" Slade chuckled.

The young man ignored the masterminds quips. "We could drive it back, then use it as an distraction."

"How so?" Slade had grown curious. What was Robin planning?

"If Sariel is alive... Then they'll be after her. We blow the jeep up. We cause a disruption in their planned evening. Make everyone loose their eyes on the target and anything else around them and we book it out of there. The rest we make up along the way."

"Blowing up a vehicle, Robin that is dangerous and could cause far more damage to the surrounding area. More people could get hurt." Robin frowned, Slade's tone sounded far to amused. "Possibly die even."

"The whole area has probably already been evacuated." Robin had hoped to make his plan sound far less reckless and potentially less violent then he knew it was.

"Probably Robin?"

"That or... or they're already dead..."

"And what of the enemy soldiers hrmmm?"

Robin narrowed his eyes and before he could stop himself he blurted out "I don't care about them" the boy almost flinched. Had that really just come out of his mouth? He should care... he really should care, he was a hero wasn't he? He should care about the lives of everyone, even the criminals. Shouldn't he? But he couldn't bring himself to care. He was so angry at these people, these ben Elohim, this military without a nation. Robin thought he could bring home something positive out of all this, but this world had suffocated him. For most of the time he had been trapped out here he generally felt agitated and a bit angry. It was different to what he felt now. Right now all he felt was hate.

Lately it seemed that everything was slipping away from him. The past few weeks or was it months now that he had been out here? He was unsure at this moment, but it seemed that everything from his life as a Titan was just now so far out of reach. He could still hear them all, the Titans, so clear, but their words were becoming muddled and while the memories were vivid they meant less to him now. It was as if his past meant nothing to him and the only thing that mattered was surviving this bloody mess of a desert.

Slade looked down to the boy, Robin not at all making eye contact, probably still not coming to terms on admitting that he didn't care if his enemy died or not. He could of rolled his eye, but instead Slade pushed the boy a tad bit further.

"And if she's not alive?"

It was the single statement that he didn't want to hear. Robin looked around the cold streets that were slightly lite by the blazing massacre that was happening just a few blocks away. If Sariel was dead? Then... Then what? He didn't know.

"I don't know, but I do know if I don't go... I'll regret it for the rest of my life. If she is dead... Then it was my fault. I left her there. I have to go back, to make sure."

Slade put a hand on the boys shoulders. "Then let's go." Robin looked straight ahead. "But remember Robin, they're seemingly after you as well, and I highly doubt you want to put up for sale on the black market."

The boy turned to the mastermind, "Well if they do catch me... Who knows it might be better then hanging out with you." The smirk was evident on his face. His eyes danced with a dangerous kind of mischief. Robin then turned towards the jeep and took off, once reaching the vehicle he plunked himself into the drivers seat, trying to hot wire the damn thing. And failing...

Slade let out a sigh. He would not interrupt the boys plans to stand beside Sariel in some sort of blazing end all be all battle. He knew very much what one would do for an ally. Especially one whom he had fought along side with during this entire incursion. Will came to mind, and he briefly wondered how the man was doing. "Probably sitting at home, reading a book and drinking some tea." Slade really didn't have to wonder what Wintergreen was doing, the villain already knew.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A punch to the face. It dazed her for a moment but she saw the next one coming and blocked. There was another, and another. Where the hell had Asif learned to punch like this? His strikes were brutal. Did he always have this talent and she was just never introduced to it? The man was an amazing sniper... he never shown any talent in hand to hand combat. Nor did he even look to be the type that could hit this hard.

Another punch and she missed the block and the downward thrust sent her to the ground. She was panting heavily. Sariel was already out of breath , her body seemed to be breaking down on her. If she could just get out of this burning building. The weirder thing was that her two opponents didn't seem to suffer from the smoke at all. It was as if they were breathing fresh air.

A stair case fell behind them, the walls began to creak more, and the fire was intense. It was odd she was noticing so many little things at this moment, she didn't even hear Asif's words until Madaline spoke.

"Aurora only wishes to speak with you moya kroshka."

Turning herself over and gathering herself up to her feet Sariel eyed Asif and wanted to ask again "Why?" Why was he doing this? Why had he turned on her? She had known him for years. She brought him on board. Why would he... but then again he turned against his former unit to join hers. He went from one nationless military to another. Did they threaten him? Or did he go willing? In some way Sariel didn't want to know. But she knew, regardless of their past, she was going to have to finish this.

Taking a deep breath Sariel turned to the woman in charge. "You can tell Aurora to go fuck herself."

Madaline smiled at the young woman. "I'd knew you would say something like that." she tossed her cigar to the side and raised her fists.

Sariel didn't see it coming, before she could even try to block the incoming attack she was punched in the chest, the power of the woman's thrust sent her flying out onto the streets, breaking the burning door as she went.

Gasping for air in-between coughing Sariel finally was able to thankfully breath. She didn't take notice to the two figures that walked casually out of the burning building as it collapsed behind them. But she did see the incoming kick and rolled just in time. The woman grunted. She had enough. She didn't care if Asif had betrayed her. She was going to either take him back or take his head.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade watched the boy miserably fail in hot wiring the jeep a couple times already before telling him to move over. Thankfully the boy obeyed. Fiddling with the wires he found what he needed and within an instant he got the jeep up and running.

Robin frowned, but didn't say a word. He knew he couldn't give the man shit for doing something he himself was trying to do. But he had to admit he was curious as to how he did it. Perhaps he would ask later.

"Ready to go?" It was the only thing Slade has asked and Robin only nodded in response. Stepping on the gas the two were inbound into some very dangerous territory.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sorry, it's kinda short, but things will start heating up soon, PROMISE!

Also please please review and let me know what ya think.

See ya soon

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: That is how I feel at the moment. lol

Want to say thank you to everyone reading this damn thing and to all those giving me reviews you are the best!

Sooo it's 2am...and I've like edited the shit outta this and my brain is fried so I may of missed something lol. Anyways I hope you all like the newest chapter.

EDIT 01/22/2022: Originally posted sometime in either 2017 or 2018. Not sure. Brining everything over from FFnet to Ao3

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Sariel had almost thought he was an illusion. She had hoped she was hallucinating. Maybe the smoke had clouded her mind. But as she took in his form before her, she realized he was real. He was blood and bones. And the worst is that he had betrayed her.

He was just a kid she found working for the wrong group. He had an amazing shot with any gun and he was smart enough to obtain intel on anything or anyone she had ever needed while on the field. The two had been working with one another for awhile now. A frown etched it's way onto her face. Why would he throw it all away?

It wasn't like she hadn't been betrayed before. It came with the territory. But she had to admit, Asif's betrayal was one of the most amusing yet. But Sariel was done playing games.

"You know he wasn't always on our side, he is a recent addition moya kroshka. We know where he was and what he was doing before his encounter with you. Such a pretty little informant you had gained. But he had to take advantage of the situation he was placed in. And the injections we had given him did quite the trick, allowing him to survive that hospital fire. He was dyeing in those flames, and you left him there all alone. We stepped in and in return for his life he aided us. You would of done the same." The woman rested her hand gently on Asif's shoulder, showing the younger woman of her former ally's newest loyalties.

Madaline stood between her and Asif. "Injections? What the hell?" Sariel thought back on the little information she had on the group from her time spent with them and it wouldn't surprise her that they had something that could alter genetics, speed up the healing process allowing someone to survive whatever befell them. The group afterall did have an entire scientific department for such things. "Damn this woman." she mentally cringed. Sariel knew her opponent was stronger then her physically in every way. But she wasn't going to go down without a fight. Even if her lungs were still filled with smoke. Even if the entire place around her was burning to cinder and ash. Sariel was her own person. She had her own ideas and her own morals. She would simply not allow herself to fall into their clutches.

The buildings began to creak, the flame roared above them all. She could hear a few cries of panic coming from the citizens that had gotten away from the fire, but only to escape into the clutches of these madmen.

"Just come quietly. All she she wants to do is talk to you."

Sariel looked beyond the buildings and wondered if Robin and his Russian friend had gotten away. Hopefully he did. She wasn't expecting him to come back for her, and if he did she'd call him a fool. Besides at this moment he probably thought her dead.

Sariel sighed and looked to the woman before her. "And what if I don't want to have a chat with Ms. Warchild, hrmmm?"

"Must I tell you again malen'kiy, you don't have much of a choice."

Sariel smirked. "What does it matter Madaline, She'll just kill me once she gets the information she needs out of me."

The Russian laughed, "Perhaps she will, or perhaps not. She liked you a lot moya kroshka. She might give you a second chance, da?"

"I rather not take it."

"Perhaps you should boss."

It was Asif that spoke up. She shook her head at the young man. "You know what they do Asif, you know what they are capable of. We infiltrate them for a reason. Or have you forgotten what they did to your sister?" She had hoped that speaking about a past long since buried would bring something back into her old ally's mind. Asif was a soldier in any mans war. But the ben Elohim had used his sister against him. Two years ago he watched her die. Two years ago they were sent on a mission that would send them all in a spiral and would ultimately make her a double agent of sorts as she wiggled her way into the heart of the society she wished to destroy. Asif was heart broken. He wanted revenge and she would gladly give it to him. But now...

Her former companion took a step closer, and then another and another before he was right in front of her. His hand went out to touch her, plucking her chin to look up, for her eyes to meet his. "Come with me Sariel, they can give you so much more. You can stop fighting. You don't have to endure all of this anymore."

There was a moment of silence before she seared at the traitor.

"Get. Away. From me. I want nothing to do with you."

Asif looked saddened by her words. As if he truly thought she would so willingly come with him. "That's a shame Sariel." He raised his hand to smack her, but just before the back of his hand graced her face, she grabbed his arm suddenly putting a halt his movements. She then kicked him in the stomach, pulled his arm back further then it should bend and snapped it.

Asif yelped in pain. But she refused to let go. "You betrayed me, now you're going to pay."

"Oh you hurt the dog. Da?" the thick husky accent cut though the air like a knife. Madaline's fist came at her, but Sariel quickly delivered a kick to the woman's side making her hunch over, and then turned to add another kick that would of hit the Russian in the head, but the woman had caught Sariel's leg.

The younger woman swore as the older tossed her to the side and into a burning structure, her grip on Asif was gone the moment she received the blow.

Sariel coughed. She was back from where she started. In a building burning away, it's air thick with smoke. What was this woman's strength? It was unreal. Getting to her feet, she quickly tried make it out of the building, but a punch to her head from behind surprised her.

Dazed she fell to the floor. Her sight blurry. But she got to her feet once again.

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Slade was driving the jeep at full speed. Whoever these people were they had found them, and unfortunately they were now being shot at by a fully armored gun that nestled itself in the back of another jeep that was chasing them in and out of alley's of the blasted city.

Thankfully it was very early in the morning so people were not huddled around the streets making it much more of a obstacle course then it already was. The streets were narrow and they twisted and turned a lot.

"You need to do something about them Robin."

"What the hell do you want me to do? Wave at them and ask them to surrender?"

Slade looked to his apprentice. "Use this" he dropped a handgun in Robins lap and the boy froze up. His eyes becoming like a void when looking down at the weapon. Slade frowned. He was going to have to do a lot of work to be able to undo all the brainwashing the Bat had done to the boy. Guns were not bad. It was merely a weapon. A tool. Nothing more, nothing less.

He knew he could very well ask the boy to drive and he himself could shoot the men. But he wanted Robin to feel the weight of the gun, to push him more to realize he had to do what needed to be done to survive out here. Taking a life was not always so simple, but at times it's what had to be done.

However, seeing the boys shocked expression the mastermind gave out a short sigh. "Not to kill Robin, just... shoot the tires out. Dismantle the jeep before they kill us."

Robin slowly nodded. He could do that, he could shoot the tires out.

"Just be careful of the recoil."

Another round of bullets came flying at the duo, the windshield was now even more riddled with bullet holes then beforehand. Slade was half tempted to shattered the entire piece of glass, simply so he could see where he was going.

Robin moved himself from the front seat to the back. His breath was heavy as he tried to aim for the tires but Slade kept driving at a faster speed and whisked around corners. One jolt and the boys aim was off.

Slade watched Robins shaky movements in the rear view mirror. "If he can aim one of his bird-O-rangs at peoples heads he can shoot out the damn tires." he thought to himself. But perhaps it was because of the weapon he was holding. Robin knew how to hold one it seemed and to aim. But he had never taken a shot before. He briefly wondered where the boy got instructions on handling a gun when the Bat was so against their use? Perhaps the commissioner, or perhaps even Gordon's daughter. Maybe even Sariel.

He didn't know but Robin had to get moving.

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Another round of what felt like hundreds of bullets passed his head as he ducked for cover in the back seat. What the hell was wrong with him? All he had to do was shoot out the tires. He could do this with his eyes closed.

But the gun...

It felt so heavy in his hands.

But... Robin shook his head.

Why was he stalling? This wasn't the time to think things through. The only thing to do was act. But the gun... why did Slade give him a gun of all things?

"Probably because it was the only thing he had on him." Robin thought to himself. It made sense. Slade put himself into a disguise as a military officer. 'Sergei' wouldn't of been carrying anything else.

With a huff, Robin dared to take a look out beyond the safety of his confines only to see the jeep that was chasing them had sadly gained on them as well. He knew he had to do something and now. So before they could shoot another barrage of bullets there way Robin sat up and aimed for the tires. It was difficult with Slade's driving, given that he was turning at every road that he came upon to avoid being shot at. But after a few shots he was finally able to get the tires in line of sight and pulled the trigger.

The first bullet didn't hit it's mark, but a few afterwards did. He would of called it more luck than skill. The recoil was not entirely unexpected, but it hurt regardless. The armed jeep swerved to the right, but they forced themselves back onto the road, however they were losing speed. Robin took aim again and after a couple more bad shots he took out another tire, which caused them to swiftly be redirected and crash right into a building.

Robin did not look back to see if anyone survived. He simply handed the gun back to Slade.

"Not bad." Slade looked to the boy that had returned to the seat beside him. "You're aim could use some work however, especially after the recoil." Robin already had a natural ability with any weapon it seemed, even the ones he hated. The boy was truly made to be a fighter.

Robin glowered at the man across from him. "We need to get to Sariel."

"And we will, let's just hope none of them find us again."

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Before they knew it, the two were entering what seemed like hell itself. The fire had taken everything in it's greed and there was no end to it. Slade had slowed down and the two drove quietly past the husks of what was once peoples homes, the fires still feasting upon them.

"If she is still alive, she's either long gone, or with the rest of them. I doubt they have left since we had our friends so feverishly chase us through every street I could find. Are you sure you still want to do this Robin?"

"Yes."

A glint of satisfaction appeared in the masterminds eye. The boy was finally starting to do things a different way. He was taking a different approach to this then what he would of done beforehand.

With his hands on the steering wheel Slade looked to the young man beside him and nodded. Robins plan wasn't exactly a stable one, but if the boy wanted this, then he would gladly give it.

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Another cough and a yelp came from Sariel's bloodied lips. She was really having enough of this giant steroids' junkie of a woman. Sariel always knew the upper elites of the ben Elohim were something always so surreal. She knew about Geist well enough, after a couple times of going out on missions with the ghostly man during her times spying on the society, but Madaline... She always stayed far away from the woman. And for good reason.

The things even her own men said about her were disturbing, No one trusted her, everyone feared her. The only person that seemed to respect the Russian woman was the head of the ben Elohim herself. Aurora Warchild. The red headed bitch.

Madaline was a brutal woman. She never lost a fight.

But Sariel to, had a reputation to uphold.

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I personally always thought that Robin knew how to use various weapons, including a gun, even if it went against Batman's teachings, Robin may have never shot one before but I always figured he'd know his way around one since he's probably been shot at many times. He is the type to gather information and use every scrap he can get. Plus comic wise he does grow up to be Nightwing and a Budhaven cop who uses a gun so... Sorry if it seems out of character (but it's not really =P) lol

Anyways please please review and let me know what you all think.

I keep updating this thing very late or rather early in the morning... So sleepy

Also Da means yes in Russian...

Anyways thanks again all! Hope you liked it

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: It's very short, It's not like my 2000+ words chapters, but I wanted to let you guys know I'm alive and I haven't been able to write much because I threw out my back...and yea. Today has been the best I've felt in a few days so hence some fanfiction!

Again I am sorry, my back has been feeling better, so hopefully this all blows over soon and I can start writing a bit more again.

Also thank you all so much for the recent faves and follows and of course the reviews. You guys are all awesome and you all deserve more then this tiny chapter.

Anyways I do hope you enjoy

EDIT: 01/23/2022 Fixed up some errors and made it flow better, also transfering this from FFnet to Ao3.

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What was he getting himself into? He kept asking that to himself over and over, but he never received an answer.

"Do you still want to use the jeep as bait?" Slade had parked the vehicle just outside the fires. Although he was sure the flames would soon engulf this area as well within no time.

Robin only nodded. It was all they had. And he would put it to use. The only problem was that he didn't know exactly how he was going to achieve such a feat.

Slade noted the look of concern on his apprentices face. " Once we get closer to our targeted area, you get to Sariel, I'll take care of the jeep, then join you. Sound fair?" Once again the mastermind received a sharp nod from the boy wonder. Slade looked to the back of the jeep. Surely the soldiers they stole the jeep from had kept some sort of weaponry in the vehicle.

With a sigh, Slade looked from the jeep to the eager teenager in front of him that so badly wanted to start his journey into the flames before him. He noticed the look in his eyes, and they looked upon the flames with a disregard for the danger they represented. There was also concern for his friend yes, but he could see something else developing. Robin enjoyed a good fight, and he was definitely in for a good one. But the boy had no weapon at his side, other then the knife he kept. The boy running off weaponless was concerning, even though Robins skills in the martial arts were probably beyond anything that these men could dish out. He would however, feel safer himself if the boy had something on him. "Before you go, I have gift for you."

Robin frowned, he didn't want the man to hand him a gun again. He couldn't do that. With a smirk, Slade took something shiny out of his pocket and tossed it at the boy wonder. It wasn't a gun that's for sure.

Quickly catching the item, Robin recognized the cold and smooth surface once he held it in his hands. "My bo-staff? How...?"

The mastermind gave the boy a shrug. "I've had it on me since Jillian's. Thought you could use it now."

"uhh.. thanks... I suppose." Robin really didn't know what to say to the man. But he guessed a thank you was good enough.

"Get going, we don't have much time."

And so with a nod the teen disappeared into what seemed like hell itself.

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At first there was no one, no guards, no people. The environment was the most dangerous enemy for the time being. But as he moved more into the flames he began to hear voices. Robin retracted his bo-staff as he ran. He was getting closer, the smoke was getting thicker and then he started to hear gun fire. He saw the shadows of people dance on the walls and decided it was time to make an entrance. Leaping over a upturned car he found himself behind two armed men. Thankfully he had landed quietly enough, and the roar from the flames did cover him well enough whether he ghosted his footfalls or not.

Quickly he dismantled one man by thrusting his staff at the mans knees bringing him full on to the ground and then hitting the man in the head, rendering him unconscious. The next he swiftly took down with a hit to the head and then a jab to the gut. Both were soon out like a light. The two men would wake up soon enough, but right now he didn't need them causing any trouble.

Looking down at his fallen victims and then to his bow staff Robin was reminded of his adrenaline rushes he had when facing off against a variety of villains in Gotham and in Jump. His heart pounded wildly, his blood coursing through his veins begged for more. And tonight he would listen. There was many more to take down.

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The building she was in was burning to ash, and she would use it to her advantage. Regardless of how many damn bruises and scars she could obtain, she always found that the world would always give her what she needed to turn out the victor. Maybe it loved her, or maybe it loathed her and she just got lucky all the time. She was never to sure on that.

Regardless Madaline Borisova was not a woman she could fight as a equal. She was no where near the woman's caliber. So she was gonna have to fight dirty.

Sariel took to the comers and crevices. As dangerous as that was it also gave her an advantage. Placing her hands over her mouth to quiet her coughs she knew the smoke was filling her lungs, and she longed for fresh air. She was going to have to end this quickly before the smoke killed her.

"Enough of this!"

Madaline was enraged. Which gave Sariel another advantage. Coming out from behind the woman, Sariel struck her face, the Russian stumbled back a bit. Dazed, Sariel let out a scream as she thrust the older woman into a collapsing wall. The structure gave way and the two fell through not only the wall, but the floor in the next room as well, into what seemed like a cellar.

It took a few moments of darkness and mentally telling herself to wake up before Sariel fluttered her eyes open. Her hand went to her head to hopefully cease the oncoming headache but she was soon assaulted. Madaline towered over her. Her hands wrapped around Sariel's throat.

"If you will not come then you will give us what we need or I will kill you here and now."

"I don't know what you're talking about." her teeth gritted and her eyes narrowed at the woman.

"Oh yes you do moya kroshka." she released her hold on the younger woman, Sariel gasped for air only to have it taken from her again with a sharp kick to her stomach.

"You stole information from us, you also took part of the legacy. Where is it Sariel?"

Sitting up, the woman smiled at her opponent. "I don't know. I don't have it."

"You lie you dog!" another kick to the stomach. "WHERE IS IT!?"

Another kick and then another. Until Sariel grabbed her boot just as it was about to hit her once again. It took all her strength to hold Madaline back and even more so to look the woman in the eye. "I don't have it. And you'll never find it." Sariel broke out into a bit of a laugh then. Feeling as she had gone insane, the woman could torture her all she wanted, she would get nothing from her. She was trained better than that.

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Robin found himself quietly taking down various armed men without even so much as a whisper. He was doing so good until someone saw him.

"You there, hands up! NOW!"

Robin sighed. and turned around but refused to put his hands up. "I don't take orders from you." The boy smirked before he took off towards the man. The soldier fired his gun, but Robin ducked just in time and slid right underneath the man. Twirling his bow staff and then adjusting it into his hands Robin jabbed the man in the back, nearly sending him to the dirt road beneath him. But the soldier held his ground and began to turn around. Knowing that the man would simply fire his weapon at him again, the teen struck the man across the chest and once in his side, and then with some pent up anger, he struck the man in the head earning yelp of pain from the man.

The soldier fell limp.

Robin stopped himself. What had he done?

Quickly picking up the man's wrist he felt for a pulse, and thankfully he found one... he didn't kill the man. But how long would he be alive for? This man would be knocked out much longer then the rest. To long in fact. And he couldn't take the man with him... Robin frowned, the only choice was to leave him behind. Perhaps some of his comrades would find him? He shook his head. He hadn't meant to kill, that blow to the man's head was meant to knock him out... and it did, but the force he put behind it. It was nearly a killing blow. Just a little more and then the man would of been dead.

Shaking himself, he walked away from the soldier, he reminded himself what he was here for. He took a deep breath, and took one last look at the soldier. Muttering a "I'm sorry." before taking off.

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Again I'm sorry it's short, but I will have better and longer chapters coming up!

Please please review!

Have a good one all!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: First off I know, it's filler, I know, I know... but I'm building up to something. Have patience with me! I swears it will get better. XD

Anywho not entirely better, back is still outta shape but... better then I was last week so hey. That's good I suppose

Also I've edited this thing like ten fucking times now...and there is mistakes... I know there is still mistakes. Also I edited chapter 25... because omg the mistakes. So yea the last chapter is better now and not so riddled with typos. I need a editor I swears.

Anywho thanks to all you lovely folks that have been following this story and have faved omg that means so much to me and OMG you reviewers are just the best!

I promise another chapter in the next few days to, been in the process of switching jobs and omgs it's been a hassle but an ok one.

Anyways I love you all and thank you and let's get on with this story!

EDIT: 01/23/2022 Fixed up some typos and transferring this over from FFnet to Ao3

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He couldn't think on the man he left behind. No, he had to keep going... He couldn't think on how he may of left a man to die. All he could think of was how he had to survive, how he had to get to Sariel. She was the reason why he came back to the flames in first place. All around him reminded him that this damn place was a warzone and it wanted him dead. But Robin refused to give in. He would survive. And so would Sariel, he just had to find the woman.

The people here didn't have much to begin with, but they did have a life, and now that life was burning away and being turned to ash. The buildings were homes and shops to many of the locals he had walked amongst the past few weeks that he had been here. They didn't deserve this. And Robin couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt rise up in him. They only came to torch the place down because of Sariel and himself. He couldn't take himself out of the blame although he really knew Sariel had been a cause of a lot of the problems. Although it was not her intention. But in the end he got involved, and now he was as much a part of this mess as Sariel was.

With a new eagerness to find the mysterious woman, he now called a friend, Robin began to pick up the pace. In his haste, he found a few other armed men along the way but kept to the darker corners and back alleys as much as he could. Although the fires were bright, they also cast dancing shadows along the streets and onto the buildings across the torn up road. The men didn't see him. Which made his travels easier.

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Slade started rummaging through the jeep itself soon after Robin had left. The boys absence was a strange feeling. He had for awhile now been standing at Robins side slowly directing him towards the right path, but it was cut much shorter then he had intended. It mattered little however. Robin was already well on his way to where he truly belonged. He knew the boy at this moment, still believed himself free from the masterminds grasp. They were working together for now, but as soon as this was all over he'd be going back to the Titans. But Slade knew better. Robin would see the truth sooner or later, if not already, and when that happened the boy would see things his way.

The mercenary had nearly pulled the jeep apart in looking to retrieve any type of weaponry, of course what he needed would be in the last place he would look. Under the seat he found a couple assault rifles. Slade grabbed one and slid it over his shoulders so the gun itself rested upon his back. Looking again under the seat he reached even further back to feel something familiar. Grabbing onto what appeared to be a handle of some sort Slade pulled the weapon out from under the seat to be thankfully surprised with a handheld missile launcher. The perfect way to cause a distraction. All he would have to do is drive the vehicle into position and then create some distance between himself and the jeep and then a nice little explosion.

Simple.

Slade looked into the flames, in the same direct Robin had wondered off into. A feeling of tension took hold of the man. Almost as if he was worried for the boy. "Perhaps" Slade freely admitted to himself. The boy was much more then a tool to him. He did indeed admire the boy for his talent, but that wasn't all of it. The boys attitude was one of a winner, a survivor. Someone that would endure. Which is what brought him to his attention the first time.

"No." Slade mused. The boy would be fine. If the Robin could handle anything he threw at him in the past, albeit he wasn't going all out on the boy back in Jump, but surely Robin would endure this. Slade nodded to himself and then began to prepare for the inevitable attack.

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More military personnel and vehicles meant he was getting closer.

There was six ahead of him. He knew he had little time and he would have to act fast. Sticking to the shadows Robin put himself behind two of the armed men. Narrowing his eyes at the soldiers backs, he knew they wouldn't know what was about to hit them. Robin had the element of surprise and he wasn't going to waste it. Within seconds he leapt out of the shadows and klunked the two men's heads together, flipping over them he darted to an abandoned truck which cast a brilliant shadow for him to meld with.

It wasn't long before another soldier spotted his two comrades seemingly sleeping on the job. Curious, the man wandered over to the two men and began to jostle them with his foot. Now confused he began to look for any intruders. He was about to radio in for help but before he could do so he felt a sharp thud at the back of his head and then he to fell to the ground and joined his friends.

"Three down, three more to go." Robin bent down and looked the men over. All where breathing, all would wake up, eventually. With a nod Robin melded with the shadows once more.

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There was no sign of Robin, not yet. The boy was probably having more fun then he was at the moment. It took a bit of working, but Slade had found the perfect spot to literally blow up the jeep that would cause as much of a disturbance as one could with a RPG and a jeep in-between two buildings on fire. He had only hoped Robin would get here soon and find Jillian's troublesome granddaughter.

This was a pretty sticky situation, even for him.

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"Where is it!? Who did you give it to?" Another slap graced her dirty bloody face.

"Not telling." Sariel let out with a smirk. "Torture me all you want, you won't get anything out of me."

"Did you give it to Robin? I could find him you know. He's probably coming for you."

"I doubt it, kid probably thinks I'm dead."

"Really now? He's one of those dreadful American heros, the idiotic things they do to save the people of their cities. Pathetic really. They nearly die themselves to save a small handful of people and yet they let the world go to waste. Typical American. Thinking only of themselves."

The younger woman laughed. "There is Russian super heros to you know... albeit they're not as popular." she giggled at Madaline's frown as the older looked down on the younger. She would of laughed more if not for the kick in the ribs.

"Hey... that's pretty low."

"I will not ask again Sariel, if you do not have it then who does?"

Sariel laughed, the blood dripped from her lips, her blue eyes sparkled from the tears that wanted to grace her face from the horrible pain she was in. Her body told her to give in. But her mind... Her mouth parted. "Not telling you anything." A smile took it's form on her lips before a fist pummeled it's way across her face.

Darkness wanted to take her, but she wouldn't let it. Not yet, she would fight it for as long as she could. She gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes. Sariel moved her head and Madaline's fist hit the cold cement instead of the younger woman's head. Using her legs as leverage Sariel was able to kick the woman off of her. Madaline landed on her back and let out a heavy grunt.

As quickly as she could Sariel scrambled to her feet, She was wobbly but she walked over to the woman who was getting up herself before she received a sharp pain in her stomach from Sariels boot.

"Doesn't feel nice does it?"

Another kick. and another. Before Madaline caught her boot and quickly yanked it back and Sariel fell off her feet and onto her back as well.

"You bitch."

"Takes one to know one moya kroshka."

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Robin knew he had to get moving once again, every second mattered, as well as every action. Every moment he told himself to move. The six men he had taken down were of no difficulty. And with a few more that lay unconscious under his belt Robin moved along the blackened streets at a steady pace and soon he quickly found himself in what seemed to be a courtyard of some sort, or maybe it was a marketplace? He couldn't tell now since the place was up in flames and literally crumbling into itself. It seemed there was a lot of men just hanging around, but there was no sign of that Russian woman.

That wasn't a good sign. Or maybe it was. If Sariel had survived then maybe she was with this Madaline character? Robin frowned. He was going have to find out what was going on. All the men seemed as if they were waiting for someone. And he could bet it was for Madaline. The other thing that bothered him was that they were just waiting in this place, no one dared to leave. The area was crumbling around them and they seemed content to sit here and wait.

If the Russian woman was here... was she in one of the burning buildings? Why? It seemed the most logical... well actually illogical. But at the same time there was no where else for the woman to go. Maybe Sariel was a live and maybe she was fighting in one of these buildings against the Russian.

Robin frowned. This was not going to end well.

The boy wondered if Slade was actually nearby, and he quickly noted the jeep in an alley, it's front headlights catching the orange light. "Oh course." Robin looked up to the opposite side that the car was parked on and had almost hoped to catch the man standing there, but nothing. If Slade was up there he'd be hiding out. Or maybe he was in one of the alleys. He didn't know, but the bait was parked and ready to go. He would have to trust the man for now. Robin sighed. This wasn't going to end well at all.

Taking a mental note as to where Slade had left the jeep Robin carried on.

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I know I know, it's filler, but I'm setting up for something, Bare with me! Please don't throw bricks at me! *hides*

Anywho please please review! Let me know what you think. SInce I'm not so happy over all with this chapter... to be honest sometimes I think my writing skills have been lacking as of late. Maybe it's just me. *shrugs*

Anywho love you all and have a good night!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: Oh my god... It's been a MONTH!

I'm sorry... I've been on and off this chapter for a bloody month and it's still not up to par... but I'm SLOWLY BUILDING TO SOMETHING! I promise.

Anywho for those that have faved THANK YOU and to my reviewers YOU ARE TRULY THE BEST!

Thanks you everyone for reading this lil' ol' fanfic of mine. It means a lot. =)

Anywho ON WITH THE STORY

As usual Slade and Robin and the DC verse are not mine, all belong to DC Comics... ALL but Sariel and Madaline and Asif and Geist... THEY BE MINE! Mwahahahahaha!

BTW Asilla thank you for the gold bricks... Now I can finally afford a house... or maybe not.

Anyways ONWARD!

EDIT: 01/23/2022 Fixed some typos and moved it from FFnet to Ao3

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Melding with the shadows Robin slithered his way further into the little set up the men had put up out front and right in the midst of the burning city. They all just stood around, waiting for an order, a snap of a finger to tell them to move along. It was as if they would rather face death at the ravaging hands of the fire then death by some cruel punishment for running away. Where they so afraid of this Russian woman?

His eyes darted around, looking beyond just the men. He tried to see any sign of Sariel but of course there was nothing. But something strange did indeed catch his eye. Robin did a double take, he wasn't so sure at what he had seen.

"Asif?" No... how could he be alive? He died in that hospital. Unless... "He got out somehow?" It was a whisper of a question, but it begged to be answered. Robin knew he would have to get closer to see if what his eyes told him held true. If Asif was very much alive, then what was he doing with these men? Were they holding him hostage? Were they using him as some sort of bait against Sariel? Or did Asif simply betray them?

The last thought staggered in his mind. Asif wouldn't betray them... or would he? He didn't known him that well, but usually Robin was pretty good with getting an idea of how one worked with the basic information on an individual, how they walked, how they talked to one another, hand gestures, and various other body movements. A lot of basic things Batman taught him in the early stages of his training. He had to admit Asif didn't give off the traitorous kind of vibe, even from a few hours of knowing him outside of the journey from the desert to the city.

Robin frowned. Things didn't add up, but yet out here... Things never did. Regardless he was going to have to find a way around all these men and see if he can talk to Asif himself, whom looked pretty injured at the moment, and not just physically either. Asif seemed kind of out of it, as if he was coming down from some kind of high or something. Did they give him some sort of drugs?

"Looks like his arm has been pulled right out of his socket... Have they've been torturing him?" the boy mused. "Why aren't they giving him medical attention?" They were just letting him sit there in pain. Robin narrowed his eyes. Even if Asif did turn on Sariel... who he sided with wasn't treating him very well. Frowning, Robin knew he couldn't think on that right now. He needed answers more than anything else. And first he'd start with Asif.

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There was twenty men out here. All of them fully armed. And he had no idea what exactly Slade was planning. But he did see their jeep stashed in between two buildings that were catching fire, meaning he had to be fast. Time was not on his side.

Quickly he hid himself behind one of the barricades the men had made. Looking up for a moment Robin noticed that there was a few grenades and a handgun just left there. "What is this a video game?" the young man mentally cringed. All of his newly formed instincts was telling him to pick up that gun. But the boy shoved the thoughts away. "No." he thought. He was not going to kill anyone.

"Never." Robin reforged the Hero incentive within him. Even though he felt that it's fire was small and fading in this dangerous arena. The need to move forward burned... but then he remembered the man he left behind to die.

"You killed him." A whisper told him in his mind. A voice he wished would vanish. It didn't happen often but when it did... it was like his mind was coming to terms with things in a manner he didn't particularly like.

"You left him to die, it's the same thing as killing someone. That man's blood is on your hands."

"It was leave him there or be killed" He tried to rebuttal... Robin's eyes widened for a second. Was he trying to argue with himself? "Great" he mentally scolded himself. He was going mad.

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The fire was roaring, even down in this cellar she was beginning to feel the heat. She could hear the creaks and the crashes from above. She knew she would have to get out of there soon, if not then the whole building would crash down upon the cellar leaving her no way out and kill her.

This was not an option. Not when everything was at stake here.

Sariel was back on her feet but unfortunately so was the Russian. "Do not even try to escape." her heavy commanding accent rolled off her lips. The blonde woman looked over to the brunette and smiled.

"There is no where for you to go moya kroshka."

Sariel looked to the woman. "One can try."

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Robin didn't like the idea. But he picked up the gun. It felt heavy and uneasy in his hands. "You're not going to kill anyone." he reassured himself. "But Sariel... she could use this when I find her." Robin shook his head, the voice came back.

"Giving her a weapon to kill is just as bad as killing them yourself."

Robin took a deep breath, and told himself relax.

"Use the weapon yourself. You know how to somewhat use a gun. You know how to defend against one as well. You don't have to kill to defend yourself."

His breathing hitched. No... he didn't have to kill anyone, but anyone that would get in his way... "No..." Robin shook the thoughts away. What was he thinking?

No, Robin would not kill... but he would bring Sariel her weapon of choice. Which lead to a problem he still hadn't solved. Where was Sariel and how to find her?

And then there was Asif who only sat a few feet from him. Robin sighed and took the gun and started to aim at a soldiers leg.

"Damn it all..." Robin whispered to himself as he pulled the trigger.

The man went down with a yelp of pain. Robin quickly took cover. They were either going to open fire into the area in which the bullet came from or be cautious and look for the intruder. And from the looks of it they were taking the second option. "Good" he thought. "Let them find me."

It only took them a few seconds before he had half of the men surround him, all of them aiming their assault rifles at their target. One of them yelled at him to get up. The man roughly took the gun out of Robins hands.

"What do you think you are doing boy?"

Robin narrowed his eyes at the man "Great this one knows some english." The boy mentally scoffed at the man before him.

"Just fucking with you." The boy smirked at the man. "Why? You got a problem with that?"

The man slapped him across his face. "You're that little American hero aren't you?" He grabbed the boy by his collar and held his face very close to his own. 'What is filth like you doing all the way out here?"

Growling he answered. "I'm here for a friend." So they knew he was a hero. They were probably all informed on the way over on what and perhaps who they would be dealing with. It did indeed seem this society knew more about the ongoings of the world more so than most others...

The soldier grabbed the boy, a smile plastered on his face, his lips reaching the boys ear. "You have no friends here." The man laughed and then harshly grabbed him and threw him in front of the other soldiers. "Get moving" The boy frowned, all weapons were now pointed at him.

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Asifs eyes went wide when he saw the men bring over none other than Robin himself. He heard the shot from behind him. And briefly wondered if someone's gun went off accidentally, but then he heard the cry of pain as a man fell to the ground, his leg bleeding out. He wondered if they would give him medical attention or leave him to rot?

He did not expect Robin to have pulled the trigger.

Nor did he expect them to actually find him, it was not at all like the boy wonder... it was almost as if he wanted them to capture him.

The men didn't know what to do with him, there was no place to hold a prisoner, and they were sure that Madaline would want him alive. She had said so herself. And now they had him, there was no place to keep him. Asif sighed and volunteered to keep the prisoner under surveillance. Assuring the men that the boy before him would do him no harm, and that he could handle his own, even with a broken arm.

It was pure silence for awhile. But Robin asked first.

"How did you survive?"

Asif was at first reluctant. But gave in soon enough. "They came to me, gave me some sort of medicine... I felt better soon after. Told me there was some sort of nano technology involved and that it would help me heal up in no time." He he clutched his chest with his good hand. Whatever they gave him, its run through his system was coming to an end. " Then they burnt down the hospital... There was nothing I could do." his breaths were deep and jagged.

Robin gritted his teeth. "Nothing you could do? Or didn't want to?" His words were like a whisper. But the anger was evident enough.

"You betrayed-"

"Betrayed who? No one holds allegiances out here, it's just about survival." Robin frowned. Again it was back to survival. What about loyalty? What about kinship? Or friendship? Did these things mean nothing?

Asif looked to his younger companion. "Sariel would understand." Robin eyed Asif's broken arm. "Did she do that?"

Asif shrugged. "Maybe?"

Robin took a deep breath. So she was in the area, now he just had to find out where. "After she snapped your arm do you really think she understands? Sounds like she's more then just mad at you. The problem is I think she understands it to much. She knows the feeling of betrayal. Didn't she always do everything to help you guys survive? That is what a leader of a team or a unit does. They sacrifice much so your load is lighter. If anything, I say she knows what survival means more than you do."

Asif seemed to shudder then. In anger perhaps? Or was it the drugs he was on? But he kept himself calm. He took a deep breath and glared at the young man beside him. "What the hell do you know?"

"A lot more than you think I do." Robin closed his eyes and all over again he say his parents fall to their deaths, then the Joker with a gun pointed at him, the clear sound of a gunshot... then all the blood, so much blood. Bruce's look of horror, his panicked behavior...

"A hell of a lot more..." Robin looked to Asif. He didn't want to believe it. But Asif had betrayed them. Not just Sariel but in a small way, Asif betrayed Robin as well.

"You should join."

"Join?"

"Yes I'm sure Madaline already-"

"No Thanks."

Robin knew the clock was ticking, Maybe now was a good time to get Slade to blow up that jeep. Give him enough time to get in there and find Sariel. Asif had betrayed him. He would definitely get left behind. He was sure Sariel would have no qualms about that.

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Sorry if it's got typos... I've checked it a few times... I will check it again tomorrow... but in the meantime I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm gonna try and update a lot more again. Life has just been crrraaaazzzzyyy... But a good crazy.

PLS PLS Review and let me know what you think! =) I'll give you a cookie if you do. =D

Anywho see you all later.

Have a good day guys.

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: AGHHH Again I'm sorry... It's been so long since the last chapter. BUT FINALLY HERE IS ONE FOR YOU! =D

Also went and saw the TTgo to the movies, uhhh movie. And it was pretty funny, *The way they ever so seriously say Slade is to cute* but OMG the part in the credits where it hints at season six... That would make my year my dudes! I know TTGO is not our TT, but it's still funny and even the odes to the original series are worth the money...Plus there is one very intense *well as intense as you can get for TTGO* Slade and Robin battle. But we kinda all knew that would happen.

Anywho!

Thanks to all my peeps! Thank you so much for all the faves and the follows and YOU REVIEWERS! YOU DA BEST EVERZZ! And as promised here is some cookies! They're magical! So they are any flavor you want.

Also I'm sorry if this has typos in it... I think I got them all. ANYWHO ONWARD!

STORYTIME!

EDIT: 01/23/2022 Slowing moving this from FFnet to Ao3... was originally updated between 2017 and 2018. 

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Fully knowing that Slade would have his eyes on him, Robin placed an arm behind his back and gave the mastermind the thumbs down. Hoping that Slade would understand in what he meant, Robin prepared himself for the eventual fallout of events.

And as usual Slade delivered as promised.

It was odd he thought. There was so much noise around him but it all seemed so distant. Even when the jeep exploded, and the buildings around the vehicle began to crumble. There was nothing but silence, there was only action. Narrowing his eyes at his once ally, Robin grabbed Asif buy his shirt and proceeded to kick him in the stomach rendering him momentarily disabled.

Leaving the crumpled mess of the traitor behind, the boy dashed over to the soldier that took his weapon, seeing the gun in his belt Robin punched the man in the gut, took the man's arm and twirled him around slamming his face into a pile of wooden boxes full of supplies.

Bending down to take the gun from the man he noticed the soldier was bleeding from where his head impacted with the supply boxes. Stepping back Robin looked at the man. Had he used that much force? Shaking his head Robin knew he didn't have much time. His thoughts could wait. So he turned his back on the man and ran towards the flaming buildings. All the while his inner thoughts were screaming at him. How could he do this? How could he break that code of honor he pledged to Batman all those years ago? He didn't know, the only thing he knew right now was that he had to move amongst the chaos.

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-A few minutes earlier-

Slade overlooked the entire area, the little set up this society had was indeed small but from where Robin was standing it must of felt like an entire army was upon him.

He had to admit he was a bit surprised when Robin picked up the gun, even more so when he shot the man in the leg. He knew Robin had such knowledge but as always the boy refused to use it. Regardless he still refused to kill. instead he injured a man and had nearly the entire unit stationed outside on him within moments. All weapons pointed in his direction and the boy got cocky.

"Typical." Slade mused.

He had to admit however, he was surprised to see their little friend alive and well. Although from the looks of it Robin wasn't to pleased. And neither was Asif with that snarl on his face. A few moments of talking to one another and Robin seemingly confirmed what he suspected. Asif had betrayed Sariel and in a small way Robin as well. And from the looks of it the boy was pretty pissed at his former friend.

That's when Robin gave him the signal. Thumbs down. Death. Did the boy know what he was asking for?

Regardless he would keep to some strict rules in manipulating Robin to his side. Although Sergei had served his purpose, now it was time for Slade himself to gain a little of that trust. He would not kill the men, directly anyways. If they got caught up in the blast or the debris from the remerents of the buildings that blood was not on his hands.

Taking aim Slade launched the RPG right into the stolen jeep and the vehicle took to flame in a instant. Causing much chaos and allowing Robin the time he needed.

With a smirk plastered on his face Slade dropped the weapon, no longer needing it. He walked to the edge and jumped down. Once Robin was on his way to find his little friend, Slade would make sure they could all get out of this mess.

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-Back to the Present-

Anyone that crossed his path was swiftly taken down. Staff to the legs, fists to the stomach, kicks to the back and a good punch to the face. And his enemies fell unconscious before him. Robin didn't have time to think, he just did.

"Leaving them to die!"

"You're leaving them to die!"

"No one will save them!"

"You're supposed to save them..."

Robin plunged himself into a crumbling building, the heat intensified once inside. As did his thoughts. They plagued his mind as he kept taking steps into the building looking for his friend.

"They tried to kill you, leave them behind. They deserve no better."

Robin twitched a little. but kept up his search. The smoke was thick and the more he tried to see, the less he could. Regardless he kept going further and further into the building. The floor creaking under his footfalls, threatening at any moment to give way and plunge him into the unknown. His lungs were on fire and his throat was dry. The fire seemed to suck all the life out of him in a instant. But he had to find her.

"Sariel..."

He stopped to catch his breath or what was left of it. Robin checked himself for his knife and for the gun. His hand placed over the unknown weapon and his fingers twitched. He couldn't believe it, still just couldn't... he shot a man. Not killed, but shot him regardless.

"You did what you had to do to survive."

"This isn't Gotham. There is no Batman here."

"And it definitely isn't Jump. The Titans would fail here."

"All you have is yourself."

He took his hand away from the weapon in question, his hand covered his mouth as he began to couch again. "Damn" Robin wiped the blood away from his mouth. He had to find her. Soon. The only problem was he had no clue where to start.

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Sariel needed to find a way out of this cellar and now, but Madaline just wasn't going to let her have her way. She kept going on and on about the damn legacy. Sariel so far was able to keep up with the woman, but Madaline was by far the stronger opponent. She needed an out.

The only problem was that she and the Russian fell through the wall to get to here. And the hole is a bit further up then she could reach with her being in a basement. The cellar was large however. And from the looks of it, hasn't been in use for a long time.

"If you think you can easily run away, you would be gravely mistaken."

The two stood apart. Both regarding one another with sharp eyes, each waiting for the other to strike.

"Even if I did want to run away I would have to ask you for help. There is no way out other then the way we fell in. Seems like a stalemate to me."

"Indeed, so why not just hand over what is ours?"

"I told you before I don't have it." Sariel gave the woman a smile. "It's far far away from here by now. In another's hands, in another country. Miles away. It is unfortunate you came all the way here for nothing."

SMACK!

"Filth!"

Sariels hand went to her cheek. If Madaline was expecting a cry of pain from her she would not receive it. Instead the younger woman smirked at the older and plainly proclaimed, "Ow."

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"Sariel!"

"Sariel!"

Foolish. Calling out to her when there was enemies around. He knew it was such. But he didn't care.

"SARIEL!"

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

She winced at the sound of her name. "No" she thought. "No no no noooo..." But again he called her name.

"Sariel!" It was faint but not unnoticeable.

"It would seem you're little hero has come to save the damsel in distress."

"I'm no fucking damsel." It wasn't much, but there was enough force behind her punch that it forced the Russian off her feet. Quickly she turned around to the opening she and her "friend" had created whilst coming down her and shouted out for help. "ROBIN!"

If the kid had come for her, she would gladly take the help in getting out of this situation. Especially this damp cellar.

However, she was going to have to kick his butt for coming back for her. The whole area was on fire. He had a chance to walk away and go back to the Titans. But he didn't take that ticket home. No, he stayed put and came to help out a possible... ally? Friend? To be honest she didn't know what to call the Boy Wonder.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"ROBIN!"

He perked up a bit. She was here!

"ROBIN!"

Where the hell was she?

"SARIEL!"

"ROBIN!"

Her voice was louder.

"Down here!"

Following her voice he found a hole in the wall, looking down it seemed like the structure had just given way, since she had fallen through two levels into a cellar. He was glad to have found his objective. But he also found the Russian. Madaline was slowly getting back up. It seemed the two had been through a rough fight with one another.

"Sariel!"

Robin leaned down, braced himself on whatever he found sturdy enough and reached out to the woman below him.

"Grab on!"

She didn't question him, she jumped against the wall to grab his hand, her feet skittering on the cement surface. He had almost pulled her up when a force started to pull her down. Madaline grinned at the duo. Sariel kicked the woman, but the Russian took the brunt of it to her face and didn't even flinch. She kicked her again, this time Madaline let go.

Robin had her half way up when the Russian tried again, grabbing onto one of her legs.

"You are going NO WHERE MOYA KRUSHKA!"

Robin looked to her. "In my belt, at my right side."

Sariel looked to the boy and nodded. Her hands reached out and grabbed the weapon he halfway laid upon. It's smooth surface feeling perfect in her hands. Sariel grabbed the gun and quickly turned. The woman was upon her, and she tried to break free. In her haste, she landed one well placed kick into the side of Madaline's head, which staggered the woman, although she refused to release her grip from Sariel's legs. Frustrated, she placed another few kicks that landed right into the woman's gut. This however got the Russian to let go, only to fall back into the cold concrete below. She heard the woman's cry of pain. "Good." she thought. She wouldn't be getting up to stop her. Her eyes narrowed, her aim was set. Her fingers held no hesitation and pulled the trigger. Within seconds Sariel had killed the great and fearsome Madaline Borisova.

She left go of Robins hand. Her feet landed heavily next to the body. The woman's eyes were looking up as if in shock. The bullet had put a nasty mark into her forehead, and the blood started to stream it's way down her face, through her blond hair and onto the cement floor below her..

Sariel closed her eyes, only to open them to find Robin with his hand out to her. She only silently nodded. They needed to move.

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So is Robin gonna break it to Sariel that Sergei was Slade all along or just let her figure it out? Or maybe Sariel has known all this time... or maybe...just maybe... SARIEL IS SLADE!?

Yea I know I'm being silly.

PLS PLS leave me a review, let me know what you think this far... please? =)

Anywho I'm outta here, you all have a good night!

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: YEEEEPPPPP! Another chapter! Trying to update whenever possible but ya know life and such. Anywho... I want to say Thank you to all my peoples that faves and follows my lil' fanfic here and as usual YOU REVIEWERS ARE AWESOME! And you all get cookies!

Sorry for any typos, I've reread this thing a few times, and like I THINK I fixed everything... HOPEFULLY! Ughhhh!

Anyways my awesome peoples ONWARD WITH THE STORY!

01/23/2022: Fixing some typos and transferring this story from FFnet to Ao3. Originally posted between 2017 and 2018. Dunno exactly when...

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He pulled her up, and even though it was from one bad scenario to another, she was glad for it. Although she was a little troubled with Robin. Sariel looked at him in a different light now. Something had changed. She couldn't put her thumb on it. But the winds had changed for the boy. He didn't even flinch when he told her to take the gun, knowing full well what she would do. It was like he understood there was no other way, there was no arguments, no glares, just a kid wanting to get out alive.

She closed her eyes, the smoke clogging her throat. "We need to get out of here."

Robin only nodded. The building was coming down a bit faster now. They had to find the exit. Hopefully Slade would still be around to help out in the end.

"Of course he will."

"He'll always be around."

Robin shrugged the darker thoughts away. The voices sounding so sure of themselves. But they were right, one way or another, Slade would always be around.

"Sergei..." He sighed, he might as well just tell her. "Sergei was... or is Slade."

There was no hint of hatred, no anger, just a simple tone.

"Huh... So that's what he looks like under the mask. Kinda fits..." she coughed. "So ya stuck with him huh?"

"It was the only way to get you out."

"I see... So what now?"

"If I know Slade, he's already got everything under control before he even started."

Sariel smirked. "Yea that sounds like Deathstroke."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Asif stood there, his mouth agape. His feet started to take steps backwards. Wasn't this man that Russian that helped them with Geist? Wasn't this the man that drove him to the hospital. It was... but the accent was gone. The much more pleasant aura had vanished, all that was left was this ravaging darkness as this man took little time in killing all the men before him.

And this man was getting closer and closer to him.

He had to do something, he had to get away before it was too late.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Where was he?" Slade was growing just a tad bit angry at his apprentice. "The boy should of been out of there by now." His thoughts made the mastermind worry a little more than usual about the boy. Robin was always good at getting out of tight spaces. He dreaded that this was perhaps a little to tight.

"Nonsense" he mentally repeated. "You picked Robin for a reason."

Slade narrowed his singular eye at the younger man a few feet away from him. The boy that had betrayed his young apprentice. Asif would get what was coming to him, but not by his hands.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"We gotta get outta here!"

"I couldn't agree more... " Sariel answered with a wheeze of a cough. "But the smoke is so bloody thick... Can't see a damn thing."

"This way!"

Robin saw a exit, glimpses of the nights sky hung just outside what seemed to be a back door. Throwing Sariel's arm over his shoulder he helped his friend walk to what seemed to be a way out. Until the staircase above said door collapsed in front of their means of escape.

Sariel laughed, then coughed. "Well shit..."

Robin looked to his friend, she had been in here to long. She was already breathing heavily, although she tried to hide it, and not to mention she had a serious fight with that Madaline character.

"The beam, doesn't look to heavy, we could move it." she suggested. Robin frowned. "I don't think you should-"

She glared at him. "Oh shut it." Sariel moved to the beam and put her shoulder to it in an attempt to move it. "Well you gonna help out?"

Robin nodded. "Yea I suppose... I'll hold it and you go ok?" She shrugged in response. "Ok, 1, 2, 3!" The two pushed the beam back to make room for one to get out.

"Ok go!"

Sariel darted from underneath the beam and made it outside. Robin gritted his teeth as he held it for her, the beam feeling ten times heavier with only one to support its weight. Once she was out however, he to made his escape. The interior structure falling apart behind him.

Sariel gasped for air, she panted heavily. Robin felt the weight of the smoke in his lungs as well. But felt for her. He briefly wondered if she was going to need medical attention for all the time she spent in there. Normal people would just go to a hospital but Sariel... she couldn't go to a hospital. There was no hospital. Here anyway's. He wondered what exactly she did in these kind of circumstances. He was thinking to much, so much that he hadn't noticed he was staring until she smirked at him. "Thanks. For getting me out of there."

He smirked back. "No problem."

With the blazing fire in front of them, and the dark behind them, it felt like they were free from some sort of long term imprisonment. Their breaths were heavy and ragged, sweat and dirt clung to their skin. Both felt disgusting. But they were out. For Sariel it felt like a miracle. She didn't know if she was going to make it out of there alive.

The two stood there watching everything fall apart before their eyes. The cool nights air felt so good on their skin. The silence that hung between them was nothing new. The two were just looking on to the chaos in front of them, both lost in thought.

Robin felt different there. He didn't feel like a Titan anymore... He felt more like he was in one of those bizzare spy movies. But Robin knew he wasn't in any movie. The reality of it all hit to hard for him. He helped kill people. Maybe he shouldn't be a Titan anymore? Overall maybe this should bother him a bit more than it was, which was slightly.

He sighed. He'd figure it out later. Sariel looked over to him. "What's next?"

"Huh?"

"What's our next move leader boy?"

"I thought you knew?"

She laughed then. "I just go where the wind takes me I suppose. Luck's gonna run out on me one day I know that." She looked grimly at the building in front of them. "Thankfully it wasn't today."

Robin kept looking on at the burning homes. "Did you break Asif's arm?" his eyes never moved from the scene in front of him.

"Yea..." she looked at the boy wonder differently. His aura slightly darker then moments ago. "What about it?"

Robin shrugged. "It's nothing..." he shook his head. "We should leave him behind, let him stay with his new friends... It's good." He looked to her then. "It's good that you did that, broke his arm. He totally betrayed you. He doesn't deserve-"

"Robin." He winced at the call of his name.

"People betray you all the time to get whatever they want. This is nothing new. Stop getting your panties in a twist about it. You just gotta find the right people. Sadly Asif wasn't one of the right people."

Richard frowned at her. But he understood.

"Soooo Sergei is Slade huh?"

Robin nodded. "We shouldn't keep him waiting."

Sariel crossed her arms. "Yea I hear from Gram's he gets rather grumpy if there is a delay."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

One piece after another fell to the floor, the once apartment perhaps, was giving way above him, crumbling to ash. Much like the people of this land, the buildings were nothing more than remnants of the past. Most so old that he found it amazing that the structure's still stood whilst burning away. The shoddy workmanship on these buildings were understandable however. Easy to fix, a simple roof over one's head. It's all one really needed out here.

They would all rebuild in time. The people had grown accustomed to this way of life. One thing is taken from them, they rebuild on top of the old.

This land was a land of war. It took so many lives each and every day, as it had done for thousands of years. It was no surprise to him that it would claim hers as well.

Geist look over to Madaline's body and snickered. What a place to die. In a empty cellar, it's dark crevices would make a perfect spot for a tomb. Her body would soon either turn to ash when the fires reached her or the building would collapse on her, the sands would erode her body to nothing within time.

Either way it wasn't sightly.

Aurora would be disappointed.

One of her best lay here dead. No wonder why she wanted to test the girl. Unfortunately little Ms. Sariel got away with the Legacy. "Not half bad" he thought. Sariel was doing better then he gave her credit for. He wondered how far she would go or how far she would get away with all this? He chuckled at the thought.

His eyes looked down onto the woman beneath him and kicked her. "Get up!" It was a command only the dead could answer. "You still have a job to do."

No, this place would not be her tomb, at least not this cellar. The desert? A good possibility. But not here, not while he could make use of her.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Dead. So many already dead. But so many more showed up. Slade had found himself in a bit of conundrum. Where were they all coming from?

The twenty or so that was already stationed here were already dead, all but for Robins little friend. He'd leave that one alive, for now. The boy was taking cover behind a barricade, a little off to the right. Or so he thought.

This Asif character was lighter on his feet then he remembered.

Twisting himself around, his gun pointed at the young man. And amazingly enough the kid also has a weapon trained on him.

"You... Who are you?"

The kid was nervous he could tell. But he still expertly held his gun. Even with his broken arm he made do, completely ignoring the pain. His hands had done this to many times, probably since when he was a kid. How many lives had this kid already taken? It was a shame Slade had thought. Such talent wasted on a traitor.

However, he had no time for any of this. Asif wasn't someone he wanted to deal with, it wasn't his problem. He wanted Robin and Sariel to deal the hand, after all this was mostly Sariel's business and not his own. Robin got himself to involved with the woman. And for now he would leave it up to the boy on how he wanted to play the game.

"Get down. Or they'll see you."

"They're not going to shoot at me."

"So confident about that are we?" Slade scoffed.

There was a unit that had been sent in as backup, only about six or so. "Let's see what they think of you?" Slade took aim and shot one of the incoming men in the head, all of them fired into the shots general direction. Asif jerked and took cover.

Once they stopped they began to speak to one another, all of them splitting up.

Slade looked over to his companion. "Do you really think they won't kill you now?" The kid was shaking a bit as he sat there, his back up against the barricade. "But... but..."

The mastermind smirked, "You put your lot in with the wrong people."

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Asif was cra-cra enough to point a gun and Sladey kins. Whaaaat? Asif you a crazy mofo!

ANYWHO Drop me a review! Let me know what you thought and hopefully I'll get the next chapter up soon.

Later you guys, you stay awesome out there!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: OK guys, I made this chapter muuuch longer. SO enjoy!

ALSO to all that read and fave and follow this lil' fanfic, you guys are so awesome. Reviewers you keep me writing. Seriously I love ya guys. I really wish I could give you all cookies. YOu have all been the very best!

BUT ENOUGH SENTIMENT! XD

ONWARDS WITH THE STORY!

EDIT: Originally posted on FFnet around 2017 to 2018. Slowy transfering story from FFnet to Ao3

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Bruce had tracked down several leads, until one matched up, or so he hoped. Yemen was in a state of disarray. A civil war was running rampant throughout the land. It was an obvious choice on Deathstroke's behalf. A place where he could easily turn Robin to his side. A place he himself would of never taken Robin. It was a void full of death and destruction, a place that never seemed to get better. Richard had probably heard of it on the news. He was pretty good at keeping up on current events. But going there and being in the thick of it was something else completely.

War changed people. Was that what Slade was hoping to do with Richard? From what he learned of the Titans, there was a probability there.

Slade was looking for an heir. Someone to take control of his business whenever he decided to step down. Someone that could adapt easily. But why Robin? Surely there were many others that would willingly be Slade's apprentice? Bruce fully knew how talented Richard was having trained him himself. He could understand Slades side of this as well. Robin was already well versed in many forms of combat. All Slade would have to do was give the boy a little push in whichever direction he desired.

The Batman frowned. Gotham would have to work it's own problems out for the next little while. He was going to have to make a trip out to the desert it seemed. Hopefully he'd have no issues with Ra's on the way over. He was crossing the man's territory to get to where he needed to go. Not to mention the man had people everywhere all over the middle east.

Bruce stopped himself for a moment. Ra's did know everything that went on, especially areas close to his home. Maybe he should pay the man a visit.

With a heavy sigh Bruce rubbed his temples. It was going to be another long night, and the coffee Alfred had brought him hours ago was long gone. Picking himself up from the very large and very comfortable chair in front of the Bat Computer, Batman began to head upstairs. He was going to have to pack a few things for the trip out. Bruce hoped that Ra's wouldn't mind if he dropped in, not that the man would ever decline him a visit, especially if he just came to talk. Ra's al Ghul was always a difficult person to speak with, but if anyone knew any solid leads it would be him. And for Richard, he'd go and talk to the The Chief Demon.

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Again and again, she tried. But nothing. Her and Robins link should work anywhere in the world or in any of the various dimensions. But every time she tried she came up empty handed. Had Robin broken the link somehow? He must of. The only other explanation was that Robin was truly dead and gone, and she refused to believe that. They never found a body. And even though she could not connect with Robin through their link, it was not completely severed. Merely shut down. But there was enough of it there to let her know he was alive. Somewhere out there.

But why had he closed off their link? That bothered her more than anything else. Robin wouldn't of done that unless he didn't want her to know where he was. Or what he was doing. It was concerning to say the least, she felt as if he was in danger, and the more she reached out the less she felt from him.

Her eyes looked on in sorrow. What had happened to their friend, their leader? She wanted to know. They all wanted to know. But everytime they found some sort of clue, it turned out to be a fake. Something thrown at them to keep them distracted. That's how they all felt as of late. Like they were being kept busy. But by whom? And why? They all knew somehow it had to deal with Robins whereabouts.

They all instantly thought of Slade. It was indeed a sure thing he could do something along the lines of having the city in turmoil while he proceeded to do as he pleased. But they had no proof. Infact they hadn't seen Slade nor heard of him in awhile. Regardless... this was still highly regarded as something he could pull off. He was the only one in the entire city that had that many connections.

While fingers were still pointed at their archnemesis, at the end of the day, they had nothing. Every day they spent their mornings, afternoons and evenings on edge, waiting for the alarm to sound. As it usually did these days. Perhaps five to ten times a day or more. Many within minutes of one another. The criminals were having to much fun, and Raven was getting easily annoyed. She didn't have the time like she used to for her meditations. Although she did find it highly amusing when Dr. Light would automatically turn himself in once he laid his eyes on her. The old man truly was terrified of the dark.

"Friend Raven."

Her door opened and let in the light from the hallway. The darkness of her room seemed distant for a moment as Raven turned to meet her friend.

"Starfire."

Her hands clasped together Starfire entered Ravens room, a feat it seemed that only Starfire could do these days.

"Have you connected with Robin?"

Raven shook her head. "He's still alive Starfire, but the link is weak, almost as if he doesn't want me to know where he is."

"How is that possible? Robin is our leader, he would let his team know he is safe, wouldn't he?" There were tears in her eyes, and Ravens heart ached. She was never good at emotions, having to control them her entire life. But the sadness for Starfire, she'd let it slide.

"I don't know Starfire, I just hope he's not in trouble. But even if he is, we'll find him."

Starfire nodded in response to her friend. "I hope you are right friend Raven." Raven could only nod to try and reassure her friend, when in truth Raven was just in the dark as the rest of them.

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"Fuck me, everything is coming down." The fire seemed to tear it's way through the wood and stone, burning it all away to ash. Pieces of the small houses and apartments fell to the ground, only to be engulfed by even more flame.

"Yea, the fire is spreading throughout the entire area as well. Seems to be no way to stop it, even with all those that have come out to try and put it out. There isn't enough people... And so many more don't even know. It's spreading so fast. I don't think... many will get out..." Robin looked to his companion, a hint of concern in his voice.

"With no warnings... yea no doubt. Fuckers gotta come in and do this shit." Sariel was a vision of disappointment and a hint of rage that she hid well enough. Her arms crossed as she looked forward. She frowned then, her eyes capturing the fires that would claim so many lives. She knew damn well why they had come here. They wanted her, probably to kill her and oddly enough, for Robin. But then again he was a Superhero in a strange place. Maybe they really did just want to sell him on the Black Market, or perhaps he was another person they could use. They were always looking for people they could abuse. But mostly they wanted the Legacy. Something valuable she had stolen from them. But little did they know it was far away from here. In another country, in another city. Miles away. Or so she would have them believe.

Sariel pulled at Robins jacket. "Look, we gotta go and get Deathstroke and get the fuck outta here. Once we're done I gotta get somewhere and fast."

Robin gave her a confused glance. "Why?"

"They came here for us correct?"

"Yea..." The sorrow was evident in his voice. Robin felt responsible for all of this, the fires, Madaline, Slade blowing up the jeep, the men he left behind... The man he shot, all of them he left to die. All because these "ben Elohim" showed up and felt they could do whatever the hell they wanted.

"It wasn't all they came for."

Robin looked up to Sariel with a confused expression written on his face. "What?"

"When I 'worked' for them I stole something from them, but I no longer have it. It's in the hands of an ally, miles from here."

His eyes narrowed at her, Sariel was someone he could possibly call a friend, someone he could trust... somewhat. But he had to remind himself she was not always truthful. She had the good intentions ideology, but played by very different rules.

"What did you steal exactly?" Robins mood lightened a little, it was almost playful. Whatever she did steal from this Society would have to be big. Big enough for them to send out an entire army to hunt her down and whoever she had connections with in the area.

"We should get moving."

Sariel started to walk quietly away from the burning wreckage of what once was a somewhat sturdy building. She distracted herself by looking for a way out of their current mess, hoping to find another way around so they could find their third party member.

"You're avoiding the question." Robin followed, jogging a bit to catch up. The fire kept the two at bay. "We need to find a way around." she looked to the young man. "And why are you so interested? Going to arrest me for stealing?" She joked and Robin could only smile at her question.

"No."

"Then what's the big deal?"

Robin shrugged. "I'm curious is all."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Tell that to Catwoman."

"I might next I'm in Gotham, although I'll tell her you send your regards."

Robin smiled at the thought and shrugged. "She wouldn't care."

"Maybe I'll tell you later, if your good." Robin nodded. "Promise?"

"Promise. Now to find good ol' Sladey Kins."

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The kid was falling apart. Or maybe he had been falling apart for years and it was all finally coming to a breaking point. He didn't know. Asif just sat over there and shook his head. What did he truly think would happen though? That his betrayal would lead him to a greater victory? Slade mentally scoffed at the thought. If you were going to underhand someone make sure you do it with precision. Plans within plans within even more plans.. It should never be on a whim, as it seemed to be with Asif's case.

He let out a faint sigh. The secondary unit was drawing ever closer. Six fully armed soldiers to be exact. The back up seemed to be more equipped, as expected.

Slade knew all about Secret Societies, being part of one himself. He and a handful of others kept the villains of the world at bay, unlike the Justice League, their society used much more permanent ways of dealing the hand. Although many did not know of it's existence. Slade was truthful in being a mercenary, but he did indeed have other endeavours. Much of this he would have to explain to Robin in time. But this so called Secret Society seemed to truly live up to the term. And the military power they had? He briefly wondered if it could match his own.

Ignoring Asif, Slade began to plan for his next attack. There was six, fully armoured. But he could handle them. The mastermind smirked more at himself then to anyone else, being that Asif was the only other around and the kid wasn't going to be helpful any time soon. Without pause Slade merely stood up once they were close enough. His hands clasped behind his back. His aura menacing.

"Hello."

His voice was chilling. But it was simple enough, it was all that was needed to have every one of these men have their weapons trained on a singular man.

"Now that I have your attention..."

The first attack was swift and unreal. Slade moved to fast for them to counter attack, and within seconds they all heard the crack of the neck and their comrade was down.

The soldiers began to circle the man. All of them now knowing this was not a normal person. They all looked at the man, he was in a Russian uniform. But there was no accent. If anything he sounded... American.

"Who's next?" Slade sounded so casual.

The armed soldiers aimed at the man before them. The man only frowned at them, his face emotionless.

Slade had found more than just a RPG in that jeep. It was a good thing he decided to raid the entire vehicle. The mastermind pulled out a smoke grenade. The armoured men instantly shouted and went to open fire. But Slade had already pulled the pin and let the grenade drop to the ground as it made it's clinking noise as it rolled across the floor.

Taking advantage of the smoke, Slade had easily taken out four more of the soldiers. All of them never heard him coming. They were basic military. They took orders, learned how to use heavy weapons, but the problem with these men is that they were not ones to think for themselves. They were not innovative, which made them easier to kill. But then again for a military this was what you needed to make up the mass amount of your army.

Slade knew he had to take care of these soldiers and now. They were the backup. And if there was entire units dedicated to back up. Well he didn't want to know if there was back up to the back up. Nor did he have the time.

Another twist in the neck and another was down.

"Where is the sixth?"

The smoke shrouded not only him but his enemy. Usually he could hear their footsteps. But this one was remaining silent.

"It seems someone is a little smarter than their dead companions?" A gun touched the back of his head. The mastermind was amused more than anything else. "Congratulations, you snuck up on me. That is a feat most cannot do."

"And now it's time to die you worthless dog!"

"Such horrible manners." There was amusement in his voice.

"SHUT UP!" The soldier jabbed the gun into Slades head, making it very evident it was indeed a gun aimed at the back of his skull.

"You killed my entire unit! What the fuck are you?"

"Not what, but perhaps whom?"

"You're not some fucking Russian! You sound more American to me. Why the fuck are you out here?"

Slade tilted his head, getting himself ready to turn and confront the man. "That's not for you to know." In a instant he had turned himself to face the soldier, his hand grabbing the gun that was once aimed at his head and used the butt of the weapon to punch the man in the face. It made the soldier step back a bit, although he did not falter. Slade took the opportunity to throw the gun as far away from him and his adversary as possible. And once again the mastermind stood tall, as a predator leering over its prey. He pulled out a combat knife. It seemed this was going to take a little while.

BANG!

The soldier in front of him fell to his knees and began to cough up blood before he completely fell face first into the dirt road. Slade looked up to only see Asif with a gun steadily in his good hand, the broken one to his side. His breath was hitched, his eyes wide. Slade wondered for a moment what made him take action? Regardless it was a welcomed outcome.

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"We need to get back over there... but we'd need to head through the burning structures again and I dunno if my lungs can take another bout of that."

Robin could only agree with her. The smoke and fire wasn't something he'd want to face again, unless necessary. He was hesitant however, although not about the fire. There was a part of him that wanted to walk away from all this. Leave Slade behind. He told himself he could deal with the man another day. But then again... after everything that has happened. Robin felt like Slade was a connection to all this he couldn't loose, not yet anyways. He had to many questions that never got answered. One being Slade's ongoing insistence for his apprenticeship. Why drag him out here? Why him? Just why? Slade always gave him the same answer. "Who else could endure? Who else is worthy?" Robin always scoffed at his words. There was many others that would kill for the chance to be Slade's apprentice. But that singular eye always came back to him. In the end he knew he had to go back to Slade. Since everything seemed to end or begin with the man. And even if he did leave, Slade would come looking for him, the man would chase the boy across every desert, and beyond every ocean. So for now he would stay put, play it safe. Slade had the information he sought. Also the mastermind was helping Robin. He couldn't... shouldn't just leave.

The Titan sighed, he felt as if his mind was going into overdrive. He tried to shut it down a few times now. But everything just kept coming back to him. Over and over again. Everything, but for the Titans... They seemed so distant now. A faint memory.

"You cannot go home, you are no longer a Titan."

He took a deep breath. The voice again.

"The only place you belong is at Slade's side. After all that you've done..."

Robin closed his eyes. He couldn't help but agree. He'd done to much. How had he fallen so far? How? Why? Sariel was right about this part of the world. Life out here wasn't so simple. One had to fight to survive. It was you or them. And as selfish as it seemed, he wanted to live. So others had to die. Or be left behind... Slade was also correct, on so many things, so so many things. Robins anger for the man raised its ugly head in that moment. How he hated the man. Bringing him out here, to this god forsaken place. And once again the questions rose up in his mind. Why? Every time Slade entered into his life it was never a good thing. And now... out here. Was the mastermind right about him all along? Robin still didn't trust him, the man after all brought him out here for some sort of crazy field trip. Robin had hoped he wouldn't be effected, but even he knew it was to late. Nothing he did now seemed to make him flinch anymore. All there was, was just action. He had to move, and keep moving. The faces of those he left behind when he could do nothing but move were etched into his mind. Robin shuddered at the thought. He would have to have a talk with that man once they got back.

"How are we-"

Robin looked to her with a grim frown. "We drive through it, or go over."

"Drive through it?" She liked where this was going. Robin only nodded at her. 'Yea."

"Let's go acquire a car then."

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Cold. Darkness. A voice.

"Get up!"

"You need to finish your mission."

"They are making a fool of you."

A boot to her side. She moaned in pain.

"Madaline."

"Madaline Borisova. Make yourself useful."

How is this possible? How? Sariel. She aimed a gun at her head. Pulled the trigger. Then there was nothing. Nothing but the cold. Why was it so cold? There was fire all around her. The heat... she could no longer feel it. Then...

"She would be displeased."

"No." she opened her eyes and saw a white figure. Her vision still blurry.

"Can you see me?"

"Geist?"

"Ja? Can you see me? Or did that bullet cause you some damage? Other then killing you that is." The man chuckled. She blinked several times but to no avail. "No... I cannot... everything is so blurry."

Geist smirked at the woman. "It does not matter."

"It does to me!"

"But you have little time Madaline. And it's getting shorter."

It dawned on her then. Anger crept into her voice "You resurrected me, only so that I may fulfill the mission?"

"Ja." Her anger flared out of her in form of a punch, which she missed because of her vision. "How dare you!?" Geist stood off to the side. He chuckled. "It was a simple task. Now get back to work. Fulfill your mission as she requested of you. Then I may let you actually die..."

"Sariel doesn't have the Legacy."

"I did not simply bring you back from the dead for that. You have other alternatives. Complete your mission."

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Annnd there ya go. I promise there is a lot, and I mean A LOT of Slade and Robin dynamic coming up soon... but the two have been separated and that doesn't help much so yea.

ANYWHO! Let me know what ya think. PLS PLS leave me a review.

Until next time guys, you all have a good one out there, and I'll see ya next chapter. OH just so ya guys know I have a twitter, come pester me! I usually also post "updates" for this fanfic and for the webcomic and ya know... just various stuff. (link is in my bio)

Anywho Laters!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: Sorry sorry this is late, but better late then never I suppose.

Just want to Shout out to all the people that faved and followed this lil' Fanfic and THE BIGGEST amount of love goes out there to you reviewers. You guys keep me writing. Yer all awesome.

Anywho I wish I could give you all much longer chapters all the time. This one is a bit bigger then the usual, but not overly.

Anyways... ONWARD!

EDIT: Originally posted on FFnet, slowing brining story over to Ao3

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What they had found was not a jeep, but a fully armoured truck. Definitely military issued, not a armoured bank truck that delivered money. In all honesty it was far to good of a find. What kind of luck did they have at the moment? Seemed to good to be true. Nevertheless they would take it. However, there was a driver and three other men that came along with the vehicle.

"You get the driver, I'll get the other three." Robin nodded. He easily sneaked up on the driver, open the door and rendered him useless for the time being. Sariel killed the others and Robin grimaced at the idea. But he knew he couldn't talk her out of it or give her shit for it either. She wouldn't have listened to him, besides... this was her world, and overall this situation was a little more dire then say going after the Brotherhood.

His mind scolded him at the thought. "Just because you're in a sticky situation doesn't give you the right to kill, or let others kill." He kept repeating that in his mind like a broken record. But again Robin was on the move. And he left the thoughts behind.

Sariel took the wheel, told him she knew how to drive one of these, although it had been awhile. "This baby should definitely get us to where we need to go."

Robin nodded. "The buildings are already in tatters, it should be easy enough to plow through them. Let's just not hit anyone ok?"

"I doubt there is anyone around, probably all ran for their lives as they should have or... they're dead by now. Not much you can do about that."

The boy wondered frowned. She said it so casually. Robin may have been going through some mental changes unbeknownst to him, but the loss of this much life still saddened him. Something had to be done about it.

"Ready to go?" Sariel punched a few buttons, there was no keys to this truck, it all relied solely on the internal computers. Robin only nodded and took a deep breath. He was going back to Slade, he was going back to only hope that the man had fulfilled his end of the bargain. But he already knew that Slade had. The mastermind wouldn't simply just walk away, not now. Not after bringing him out here. What worried Robin the most was how as he going to leave?

"You're never going to leave. This is your life now."

Robin took a deep breath. He had a sneaking suspicion the whispers were right.

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Asif was shaking, his arm was in a lot of pain, nothing that Sariel had done to him was done with kindness. But he would prevail, in some form or another. He looked to the so called Russian man before him. "Who are you?"

He saw the man look in his direction, the dark aura still present, his face emotionless... Just who was this?

Slade let out a sigh. "Most know me as Deathstroke."

Asif was taken aback. THE Deathstroke? "What?" it was all he could mutter in that moment. Looking up to the man before him he gained the courage to also ask another question. "Why the hell are you way out here?"

Amused, Slade answered. "I have an investment out here, a personal contract that is nearly complete."

"A personal contract?"

"Yes, something you should mind your own business about..."

Deathstroke had said his last words so sternly it gave Asif a chill up his spin. He didn't want to have any dealings with the infamous Deathstroke, it was never a good ending for anyone that did get involved. Asif would keep his distance, but he wondered...

"You're out here because of him, because of Robin. You're waiting for him out here. And for Sariel."

"Perhaps." It was a cold answer, but it was all Asif needed. The young man nodded to the mastermind. "I would like to make up for my past mistakes. My... betrayal wasn't the best planned out thing I have ever done. I should never have... But that is in the past, all I can do now is try to make up for my mistakes."

Slade understood this young man well enough. If he truly felt this way he could be a good asset not only to Sariel, but to his young apprentice as well.

"If you really mean that, then stay close, we may have more enemy arrivals soon enough."

Asif only nodded in response. He would make up for his mistakes, he would earn her trust again. He would make sure of it.

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Hot, sweaty, sticky, and bumpy. This ride wasn't the most fun thing he had ever done, although Sariel found it entertaining enough. The heat from the flames was excruciating, especially now that they were inside a large armoured truck that seemingly just became a sauna.

"I have no clue where we are going. Got any ideas?"

Robin shrugged, he really wasn't paying that much attention, all he knew is that when he came looking for her, his journey from the outskirts of the fires just brought him closer and closer to the flames before he was in them. "Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention on the way here. But where I left Slade was basically just outside the building you were in with Madaline."

She nodded, "Ok... then..." before Robin knew it he was clinging to the door as Sariel made a sharp turn.

"The hell!?"

She shrugged, "I think it's this way."

"You so sure about that?"

"Not really..."

Robin sighed. Either this was going to be a much longer night then he originally thought or Sariels presumptions would be correct. Then the show would really get interesting.

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Backup that got called in from the last backup arrived. This was getting irritating. Where the hell was Robin? He should of found Sariel by now and... unless... unless he left with Sariel? Slade pondered that thought before shoving it aside. Slade knew damn well at this point Robin wouldn't just turn away from any of this, if anything he would face it all to the brink of death.

The boy would be back.

However the mastermind did not expect the fashion in which the boy would be returning. He clearly did not expect a rather large armored truck to burst onto the street as it cleaved its way through a burning structure, taking half the supposed 'back up' along with it. He was glad to see Robin in the passenger seat along with his objective in the drivers. Sariel always did seem to take things to the extreme.

The girl jumped out first, and shot the remaining two soldiers in the head. Both clear shots. It seemed she wasn't playing by the hero's rules anymore. What surprised him even more is that in a small amount of time Robin seemed to care less and less. No jolt, no look of remorse from the boy. He just drew his bo staff and prepared himself for a fight.

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She ignored the infamous Deathstroke, ignored the Boy Wonder, and walked right up to him. Asif knew what was coming to him, a bullet to the head. And he deserved it. So he closed his eyes, not knowing what was truly going to happen.

A slap.

Then a kick.

He fell over onto the ground. Half of his face in the dirt road. He then heard a click and he knew...

"What the hell do you have to say for yourself?"

He opened his eyes and looked up to her. She was the embodiment of rage in that moment. Her finger ready on the trigger. He could understand why she was so angry. He had betrayed her. Of all the people, why did he have to do it to her? After all Sariel had done for him...

"Go on." His voice lacked any kind of emotion. As if it was dead before he was.

She narrowed her eyes at him. She only looked down on him. Why? Why had she not pulled the trigger yet?

"I have betrayed you! Betrayed your trust! Nothing I can do will earn that back. So shoot me! Get it over and done with..."

"God fucking dammit Asif!"

She kicked him then, in the gut and he fell over onto his side.

"WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF!?"

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY!?" He still layed there on the ground, his good hand holding onto his broken arm. "THAT I'M SORRY!? I'M NOT! I DID WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO SURVIVE!"

"There is better fucking ways of DOING IT! But Nooooo... You go off and join the people we are fighting against! Maybe I should just shoot you now!"

"GO AHEAD THEN!"

"I'll shoot you when I damn well fucking please!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin and Slade both stood off to the side and simply watched. It was kind of awkward to say the least. It was like they were both on the side lines of something very surreal. One moment Robin was making headway in an armoured truck smashing its way through a burning city, the next he was standing next to Slade as the watched the argument of the century go down.

Nothing felt real anymore.

In truth Robin didn't know quite what to make of it anymore. He was standing next to his arch nemesis, no fighting involved, no all out brawl, just the two of them wondering the same thing. What was going on exactly? Everything was a blur. Maybe it was all just a bad dream? Some horrible nightmare his mind had conjured up for him with his lack of sleep. Maybe? That did happen to him sometimes.

But it didn't feel like a nightmare. The heat from the flames was far to real... Everything just... it was far to real. It couldn't be what he had hoped. He had to face reality. There was no going back.

The voices began to fade into the background, and Robin became lost in his thoughts. Sariel and Asif could fight all day and he wouldn't care. Let the whole place burn down why not? It didn't matter to him at the moment. He kept thinking about everything over and over and over again. Faces and names, people he hardly knew. So many dead, so many gone. But he was alive. He was here.

Suddenly he felt Slades heavy hand on his shoulder. He shook him back to reality, the fighting had stopped. Sariel had taken on a fighting stance and Asif to had raised his gun.

"What?"

Robin looked in the direction they were aiming at.

"No..." Robin muttered. "She should be dead..."

Slade heard the boys quiet words. "Dead?" The mastermind was intrigued. Who pulled the trigger? Robin didn't take long to answer. His gaze never left the woman in question. "Sariel shot her. In the head. I gave her the gun."

Slade brought his attention back to their adversary. "Interesting." he mentally grinned. "Interesting indeed."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Her breathing was heavy.

Her head hung low.

Her legs still seemed strong enough to hold her still.

"The fuck?" It was all Sariel could question at the time. Her eyes never leaving the should be corpse in front of her.

Asif turned to his companion. "Geist?"

Sariel nodded. "Only solution."

A chuckle came from the should be corpse. Her head was lowered and her blonde hair covered her face. "Did you really think you would get rid of me so easily Moya Kroshka?" Another chuckle came from her lips and she slowly raised her head to reveal that Sariel did indeed shoot the woman in the head. The bullet hole was evident enough. The blood that crept down her face was somewhat disturbing, but it didn't seem to bother her. The woman should be dead. If Geist brought her back... then perhaps she didn't have a lot of time? She was indeed a corpse. But why? Why bring her back?

"So Geist is behind this I would assume?"

"He's always digging around in graves moya kroshka, of course this was his doing."

"Why?"

"If you do not truly have the Legacy, nor want to participate in our activities, then it is unfortunate that the slate must be wiped clean. No one must know of us. So you all must die."

Madaline smiled at them all. She was going to finish the game.

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Yea I know, cliffhanger...

Anywho pls pls let me know what you think and I'll hopefully see you all again next week sometime.

Laterz!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

HEY GUYS!

Yes I'm alive... kinda... maybe... not really. XD

Anywho this chapter... this chapter toook me so long to do. I warn thee it's not my best but it had to be done. I really dunno how I feel about it. But PLEASE BE GENTLE! The next chapters will get interesting tho...

Anywho Thank you to all the peoples that have faved and followed this lil' Fanfic of mine and THANK YOU to all my Reviewers! You guys are the best. Truly! You keep me writing! Also I have answered some questions for you all to.

EDIT: 01/31/2022, sorry just fixed some things that were bugging me. Also moving this from FFnet to Ao3

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

This was wrong. All wrong.

How? How is this even possible?

It wasn't just Madaline, but the black entities or spirits made a return as well. They seemed to surround them. Sariel would be correct. Geist would be behind this. He'd have to be. Robins mind flickered back to the Temple incident that happened a few weeks back. Richard flinched, how long had it really been since then? Days? Weeks? A Month or two?

Regardless, Robin felt the same way he did back in the temple. Confused, and a bit frightened all at the same time. Emotions he had overcome thousands of time, but the temple? The temple was different. The temple had a different air about it. Back then he may of been out of the game, but now he was far to involved. To the point they wanted to kill him and the rest simply to silence them. He could not allow this.

He would not allow this.

Madaline was a walking corpse, so finding Geist probably wouldn't do anything. It seemed she was simply given time, and that time perhaps wasn't up for debate. He doubted even Geist had control over that. He had to think of something.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Her phone buzzed. Vibrated in one of her belts multiple pouches.

She ignored it for obvious reasons. The number one reason was the walking and talking corpse standing in front of her that wanted to kill her and her little group.

"You think you could get rid of me so easily, hrmm?"

"Can't blame a girl for trying."

"Perhaps not. I really don't fault you Sariel. I would of done the same."

"Gee thanks..."

"You should have become one of us. You would of done so well..."

"Sorry I may have done some stupid shit in my time but secretly backstabbing the entire world into some sort of subtle submission isn't my idea of fun."

"In time you would of thought differently."

"You people just don't get it, do you?"

"Get what moya kroshka?"

"How horrible you are? You think yer shit don't stink but you are all the most foul things around. For centuries you have done nothing but create wars, slaughter innocent people, divide countries, and for what? I don't get it."

"Unfortunately it is not your place to know little one. Only she knows."

Sariel narrowed her eyes at the mention of her. Her phone vibrated again. Who the hell was calling her? And at a time like this?

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"We need to do something."

Slade looked down to his apprentice, his hand still sitting on the boys shoulder. Curious that the boy didn't shrug the man's hand away or give off his usual flinch whenever he appeared to the boy.

It was good. The boy was becoming to accept him, and he hoped also accepting his knew role in Robins life.

"And do what exactly Robin?" Was the boy planning something again? The young man's mind was always reeling he knew, always planning ahead. Slade himself thought of various things he could do to come out of this one alive, but he wanted Robin to put his head to use. He wanted the boy to start thinking more and more of how to survive and what that meant. What would he do to survive? To stay one step ahead of the enemy? Also the consequences, the repercussions. Robin was intelligent, not doubts there. He knew how far the boy would go to obtain the outcome he had wanted. Red X was evident enough of that.

"I don't know." Robin turned to look up the man. "But we can't just stand here." Looking back to the walking corpse that was Madaline, Robin shook his head. What happened at the temple seemed to be happening all over again. The Spirits, the black shadows. Robin curled his fists in anger. He was tired of just standing there, it was time to take some action.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He didn't know what overtook him in that moment, all that he knew was that he had to do something. Anything was better then just standing there.

Robin pulled out his bo-staff, leaving Slade's side he went into defensive mode and stood along side Sariel and Asif.

"Look who has joined the party." Madaline's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Feeling left out?" The woman stood there, taunting them, her stature however wasn't as threatening as her words, albeit a little bit creepy. She was sluggish, leaned over a little bit. She almost looked drunk, and he would probably think she was intoxicated if it wasn't for the bullet mark in her head. However, being brought back from the dead can do things to people, he wouldn't think her any less powerful then before.

Robin narrowed his eyes. And hand once again graced his shoulder and Robin didn't need to look to confirm it was Slade standing next to him.

"The both of you hrmmm? You do realize this really has nothing to do with either of you. But you have dug yourselves in too deep. Shame really, what a good bargain you would of fetched." her dead eyes looked on to the young man before letting out a sigh. "It was a mistake to come here, this is our world. You'll pay for your blunders. But if you wish to die instead, then I shall grant it."

Robin smirked at her little speech. "Not today, but if anyone is going to pay for their mistakes, it's gonna be you."

Slade internally smirked in glee at Robins response. He wouldn't show it on the outside but Slade was amused by Robins little rebellious streak. The boy was taking a stand, a bit of his heroic flair had popped back into place, but it was a much more somber outlook then it was ever before.

The corpse of a woman laughed. "You're as useless as Sariel."

"Hey I resent that." The woman in question spoke up.

The boy wonder shook his head. "I think you're the one that is useless." The Russian glared at the young man but he disregarded her and continued. "You're the one that wanted out of that hole just as much as she did. You fucking clung onto her to try and bring her back into that cellar, you didn't care if the both of you died together down there. The real funny thing is you didn't even see it coming. When she pulled that gun out at you, when she shot you in the head, you were scared. Because you knew it was over. Your actions were like that of a scared rodent skittering around, clinging to any form of hope that you were going to get out of there alive. And now look at you. You're nothing but a rotting corpse that has very little time left on this earth. The clock is ticking and you haven't even done what you came here to do."

Madaline smiled at the boy wonder. But it, malicious or not, did not reach her eyes. They were dull, glossed over. "I'd watch your tongue boy."

"Make me."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin was really giving it to Madaline. Did the kid always have this sharp of a tongue or was it a more recent development? Regardless it was a shift she didn't mind.

It was as she was looking over at Robin she noticed his position beside Slade. The kid was at Deathstroke's right side, and he hadn't really left it. He'd walk away, Slade would always come up behind him. Kid didn't even care anymore it seemed. She mildly wondered if it was just her or in that moment did he truly look far more imposing? The fire behind him, that anger in his eyes. Slade looking dead on at Madaline with his hand on Robins shoulder. Deathstroke would be correct, they would make one hell of a duo. Master and Apprentice.

She would of laughed if they weren't in such a dire situation.

Her eyes shifted to the woman in front of her. The dead woman's eyes were looking up. Completely ignoring Robin in turn. He didn't seem to happy about that.

What was she looking at?

Could she see something they could not?

What-?

That's when she heard it. A helicopter in the distance. And not a ordinary model either. Her eyes went wide. The phone calls, the texts, she was never able to check them. Would he actually come?

No...

Well probably yes. Gus, aside from Asif, was her informer. While Asif had at one point had been her military informant, Gus did the hacking, the coding and all that jazz. And he was her own historian, the kid knew more about the ben Elohim's history then anyone out there. History was kind of a big thing when you were trying to take down a few millennia old secret organization. They had been working together for awhile now. This was the same kid she had been worried about when she got found out back at the Temple. And now he may of come all the way out here to find her.

She knew he was alive, she knew he got away. He emailed her the details. But to come all the way out here to lend a helping hand? Maybe. To come all the way out here to cause some trouble in the form of lending a helping hand? Definitely. And if anything this kid was going to do it in style.

"Shit. The hell did he do this time?"

Robin looked to her confused.

"TAKE COVER!"

The helicopter was closer, Madaline kept looking to the sky for a moment before she seemingly realized she was wasting time. Taking the gun for her holster she started firing off random shots.

Robin readied his bo-staff, gave it a twirl before charging off in the woman's direction disregarded everything else around him, his eyes only full of anger. The spirits, the black ghosts...they meant nothing to him in that moment. He was mad and it seemed he was going to do something about it. Leaping from the ground he did a roundhouse kick but Madaline caught his foot and threw him into a few random crates that had been set up as barricade.

"Dammit!" Asif looked to Robins form as the boy pounded his fist into the dirt, and a faint growl could be heard from him. It didn't take long for him to gather himself up to his feet and try to attack again.

Pulling out his gun Asif fired at the woman while taking cover behind the crates, each of his bullets hitting their mark, but they had little to no effect. Sariel wanted to roll her eyes. She told them to take cover. "Why does no one listen to me?"

It was actually Slade that seemed to disappointed her next, as the man did a series of punches on the woman and had seemingly caused her some damage, but that didn't even seem to be enough.

It didn't matter however.

The helicopter was hovering above them, and hopefully it was who she hoped it to be behind the wheel. The chopper itself was defiantly military grade, something he would definitely snatch if he could, especially with the big guns attached to it. Weapons which seemed to be aimed at Madaline.

"Sariel!" a voiced echoed from a speaker on the chopper.

Yep, it was him. She looked up to the helicopter as it hovered up above her. She smiled. That little bastard.

"GUS!"

"I'll take it from here." she nodded before taking cover.

Everyone, now realizing the reasoning as to why Sariel had told them to take cover, darted to get behind something as the helicopter began to fire millions of bullets at the woman. It should of killed her within seconds but apparently zombies were not so simple. She didn't want to know how many bullets were actually unloaded into her body.

She never screamed, she only laughed.

When the guns had stopped, she dropped to the ground.

Curious, Robin walked over to the body. He looked down on her, the hatred still in his eyes. There wouldn't be any coming back from this. But he had to make sure. She looked up to him, she was barely even there. Alive but gone. Her breaths were heavy. She saw him and laughed a pitiful laugh. Her eyes turned from him to look to the sky. "I could of burnt it all down, I would of, for you. I'm so sorry Aurora..."

She truly died then.

The black spirits, the ghosts... They all vanished. As if they were never there to begin with. And Sariel wondered if Geist was disappointed in Madaline's progress.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The helicopter landed, and the door slid open.

Gus looked onto them from the pilots seat. "Care for a ride?"

Sariel smiled at her friend. "You sneaky little bastard, where the hell did you steal this from?"

Gus looked at her and Asif and noticed some unfamiliar faces behind them. "They coming to?

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade looked down to Robin. The boy only looked to the pilot and nodded. Anywhere was better than here. The city was gone, there would be daylight soon and he wasn't sure if he wanted to deal with the aftermath.

No, Robin couldn't... not after all he had done that night. It may of been selfish but he didn't care. He didn't want to see the sunrise on that tortured city. He'd rather leave it's carcass behind.

He didn't care where they went, he needed sleep, and he needed to think.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yea I know it's kinda short but again I wanted you all to know I was alive. Life has been crazy as usual. And honestly it took me awhile to write this one up.

So where is everyone off to next?

How many little friends does Sariel really have?

Gus is not a huge OC so yea... but I have mentioned him a few times in the story before.

ANYWAYS, pls pls leave me a review. Let me know what ya think.

Later guys!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: OMG HELLO!

I AM BACK! WITH ANOTHER UPDATE! SO SOOON RIIIIGHT?

LOL! I feel like I'm getting my groove back. Which is good. I shall not abandon this story! NEVER! I will see this thing to the end. Because I honestly hate when you find a good story and it's not complete and you really really want a update but it's been 3 years.

Not going to happen!

Sorry for all my typos in the last chapter, I actually fixed a lot of that shit today. No more submitting things when I'm tired, I promise. Because yea... I reread it so many times and still... need to be AWAKE! Reread the cursed thing today and OMG I'm so sorry! XD Anywho you guys rock, thank you guys so much for the support, yer all amazing and all get GOLD FUCKING STARS OF AWESOMENESS! Especially you reviewers, yer the best!

BTW do people still do challenges? Would anyone be interested in a challenge? To write something cool? Let me know...

Anyways I'm sure your gonna skip this part and be like OMG FANGY ENOUGH! STORY PLEASE! XD So here it is! Much longer to! ENJOY!

EDIT: 02/06/2022 Slowing swapping things over from FFnet to Ao3, also fixed some typos.

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He didn't know what to do.

He remembered sitting there in the helicopter looking out the window down onto the fiery mess below. His mind wandered to all the things that transpired that night, and frowned.

What had he done?

All those people? All of them were meant to live, to walk away from this. But Robin figured a lot of them were dead by now.

Even if he hadn't killed them himself, he did leave them to die. What was the difference? He was a murderer now. He should of just pulled the damn trigger himself. The sad thing was that it didn't bug him as much as he thought it would have. Or maybe he was just really tired. Sleep constantly beckoned for him. And it wouldn't be long before he gave in.

It was odd. Being this kind of tired. He knew all about being sleep deprived, but this was different somehow.

Although he never showed it. Robin was always tired, always up late trying to catch whatever villain was in town. Always thinking of things he knew he shouldn't. His mind always going down a darker path. He was used to being awake. Always awake. But now... Now he was exhausted, mentally and physically. He hadn't felt this tired in a long time. Not since then... all those years ago.

"You should get some rest."

Robin looked up to the owner of that irritating silky voice. Slade... This god damn man always came back into his life when he figured he was gone for good. Regardless, it was that same man that stuck by his side amongst those fiery buildings, and when everything seemed to be falling apart. Slade was there. Even now the man was here. There was a lot he wanted to ask the man, a lot more he wanted to beat out of him as well. The man had dragged him out here to teach him a so called 'lesson'. A lesson that unfortunately he had learned quite well by now. The world wasn't kind. He had always known that... But this... This world was like a cancer. And you did whatever you had to do to cut it out from your life.

"Yea... I will... Thanks" Robin, already seated, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall and left himself drift away.

His thoughts went to the memories and emotions of an all to familiar feeling, the last place he felt he belonged. Jumpy City. Other than Wayne Manor, he called Jump his home. It saddened him when he realized he couldn't just waltz back into Titan Tower. Not now, probably never again.

But upon thinking on it more, did he really want to go back? He knew how much of a lie everything was. Sariel was right. No one was going to come out here and help you. The superheros only take care of their own. Their people, their families, their city. That's it. No one gave a damn about these people out here.

The Justice League? Justice for who? For those with money? Those that lived in America? Did they not even give a damn about the rest of the world? A whole city got burnt to the ground today, He didn't want to think on the death toll. And where were they?

No where.

The mere thought angered him.

He wanted to punch something. He would of, if he wasn't just so tired. So he finally let sleep claim him. Maybe when he had more strength in him, then he could punch a wall. Get it out of his system. Until then he left it up to everyone else to take care of things.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

When he was sure that Robin was asleep, Slade lifted himself from his seat and walked over to Sariel who sat in the co-pilot's seat chatting away to her supposed friend who was currently flying the helicopter.

He was amused at first, this friend of Sariels looked to be much younger then herself. Around the age of thirteen or fourteen he assumed, and he operated the chopper with ease. He seemed to be much more chipper than her other friend, Asif. Who was currently keeping to himself in the back of the helicopter, across from where his apprentice slept. His head was hung low, he was probably thinking on all that which he had done. Regrets? Perhaps.

Regardless, it wasn't his problem. What was his problem was where they were going.

The helicopter was military grade, where from exactly? Well he may have to ask the pilot that later. The cockpit was almost like a seperate room onto that of itself. The back of the chopper was like a step up from the cockpit.

Slade Leaned his arms against each side of the doorway and peered in.

'Where are we going?"

Sariel looked up to him and smiled. "Far away from here."

"Specifically?"

"Gus?"

The pilot answered. "Some place I can get gas next. Running low, gotta fuel up, then we can all decide our next move from there."

The mastermind nodded. These kids weren't half bad. They would get far in this world. Lifting himself up from the doorframe he turned his back to them and walked back to his sleeping apprentice. Gingerly taking his seat next to him.

Robin had been through a lot more then he had originally planned, but it seemed to have a good effect on the boy. He wondered what Robin was thinking, what was going through the boys head these days. But for now he'd let the boy gain the much needed sleep he craved.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It had been a couple hours of silence now, albeit their quite conversations. Slade didn't even come to pester them anymore. He had come back and started asking questions on his second round. All of which Sariel had answered to his expectations. Or so she hoped. She had to admit she had been cautious around Sergei, knowing full well that was not exactly who he actually was. But she thought she'd leave it be and see what would come of it. Sergei being Slade, the infamous Deathstroke. It didn't surprise her, especially with his interest in Robin.

Gus was a bit off on having Deathstroke of all people among them, but Sariel wasn't to bothered about it. It wasn't the first time she had the man around, although she never really talked much to the mastermind. Still though, she respected him enough not to run him around the bush on things. That and... well her grandmother would be disappointed with her if she did. And her grandmother being the only family she had left, well she didn't want to distance herself from that. Her times spent at that little cottage in the woods in France were some of the best times she ever had in her life when she found out she actually had family that was still alive.

She often wondered why she never knew about her grandmother as a child, but as time passed and the more she knew, the more she understood why. Her grandmother was a dangerous woman. Even at her age she still commanded a few small unites throughout France that took care of things when shit got to far out of hand.

They were there to defend, although many would disapprove of her methods.

The woman however was sad to see how her own granddaughter had gotten herself involved with so many various violent activities. First a child soldier, and now all this. She always repeated herself every time Sariel visited that little cottage. "Be careful with the games you play."

Perhaps she should of taken her advice more seriously. She sighed, nothing she could do about it now.

"Sar..."

She looked behind her half expecting Slade to be standing there wanting to know more about locations and whatnot, but no, it was Asif. She still wasn't to pleased with him, but in the long run it seemed he had come back to his senses.

She really shouldn't be giving second chances, she should of shot him back there, he'd be dead and gone and out of her life. But... she just couldn't. Not Asif. She had to many memories with him, good memories. If he decided to do it again, well that would be a different story, but at the moment she doubted his mind was on betraying them.

"What's up?" The co-pilot seat creaked a bit as she turned her body around in the chair to face him. He looked somber. Maybe he was still feeling sorry for himself. She didn't mind really. After betraying her he can feel bad about it for awhile. Maybe learn something from all this.

He sighed, his gaze didn't leave her eyes and Sariel for the first time felt the regret he was enduring. "When... when we get back..."

"I won't say a word."

"What!? But-"

"You gotta promise me though that this shit will never EVER happen again, mkay?"

His shoulders slouched and he only nodded. "I don't understand."

"There isn't much to understand Asif, I'm giving you a second chance. And it's the only one your going to get. Clear?"

"Crystal."

Asif knew damn well she should of shot him back there in that burning town, should of left his body to rot in the sun. But she didn't. She was willing to cover for him, and in return he would never break her faith in him ever again. He owed her his life. In more ways than one. Asif just turned from her and left her behind only to take up the seat he had just left a few minutes prior. Sariel let out a sigh. It was never going to be the same between them again. It was a sad thought. But time would move them all forward, and there was little control she had over that.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade usually did everything on his own. He never asked for help, and why would he? The man had an entire military at his disposal. He gave the orders and they followed them. A military without a nation, much like this ben Elohim it would seem, although they were something else entirely and completely off the radar. He would have to check up on everything soon, the last he spoke to Wintergreen was a couple nights ago and everything was going according to plan. Although he also had to endure Wills rants about keeping everything organized. He had left Will in charge while he was away and while he knew Will could handle it, it didn't stop that man from complaining about every little thing whenever he called to check in. If it wasn't the soldiers or the recruits or any various missions, then it was Will being a nick pick on how terribly dirty the place had gotten since he had very little time to clean. He remembered his old friend ranting on and on about how filthy the new boys were. Slade shook his head and took a deep breath. Things were going to be chaotic whenever he got home.

Looking over to Robin, he noticed the boy was sound asleep. Not having much rest the night before and coming down from an adrenaline rush seemed to tucker the boy out completely.

He briefly wondered what he was going to do now. Slade would obviously not allow Robin to contact the Titans or Batman. That was out of the question. But the boy had been through so much, and not only was Robin drained physically, but also mentally. Pushing the boy to far may mean a mental break down and he already saw him on the verge of one back in that forsaken city. Robin had been so angry, so much so that he just outright attacked him with no thought to what the circumstances could be.

That rage.

That drive.

That skill.

All so promising.

Robin was determined to put an end to this. He then wondered if the boy would want to continue this path. If he did, than there would be no going back to the Titans, nor to the Bat, nor to basically any of the heros.

In the end, all he would have left would be Slade.

And that was something he had no issues with. The boy had already changed his mind on the world itself. He could still see the anger in his eyes. The clarity of the situation he was now in, and while the boy still refused to kill, he had left many behind to die. Knowing full well that things could go to hell at any moment and their lives could be taken in a split second. Even if Robin didn't deal the killing blow, their blood was still on his hands. Robin did what he had to do to survive, and while he still tried to play by the hero's code, he couldn't completely comply. In the end, Robin showed no regret for his actions, although what he was thinking was another story. Regardless, on the outside the boy held himself up as he always had. And Slade knew then that Robin wasn't going to go down without a fight. He'd have to appeal to the boy to get him to work alongside him. In truth, in the beginning of all this, Slade thought he could force the boy into submission. But his will was far stronger than even he thought it to be. And he got away. Twice. Once during his original apprenticeship, then again when he stowed away on that plane. But now... now he saw how truly worthy Robin was. The boy would not break, he would not simply fall apart so easily. Which was good for the both of them. Slade didn't want a broken apprentice, he wanted someone that he could teach, and in the end someone that would stand at his side, that would be his right hand.

He sighed, looking out the window he noticed they were traveling over the desert, which he would presume to be the Empty Quarter. If they were passing over that, it would mean they would be in Saudi Arabia soon. Since the desert itself spanned over 650 thousand kilometers on the border between Yemen and southeastern Saudi Arabia. Most of it actually in Saudi Arabia itself.

Meaning Sariel and her 'friends' were probably going to look for a place to fuel up outside of Yemen, which was good. The sooner they got out of this country the better. They'd have to lay low, perhaps land outside of a village and go in by foot. But leaving the helicopter behind wasn't a good idea either. Sand storms could be a problem. But in the end he figured he'd leave that to them. These kids seemed to have been trapped in this world for awhile now. They knew how to play the game. They knew how to survive, even if it meant backstabbing one another. Sariel befriending Robin was a positive to all this, it was an introduction to this side of the fight. And it seemed to be quite the eye opener indeed.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He was asleep he knew, but he could still feel the flames, they burned. He was in pain. So much pain. But not from the flames. These faces, they haunted him. Why the hell did he bother to even look at the soldiers that he knocked out. He should of just kicked them in the head and moved on. But no... he looked at them and now their faces plagued him.

He killed them.

He knew, but he didn't want to admit it out loud.

It was just a deeper hole he just kept digging.

He kept telling himself that some must of gotten away, some had gotten out of the fire. But he knew if any did, it would be a small number. The fire took everything with it that night. It left nothing behind.

He had to just accept it and move on...

"No..." he mumbled out in his sleep. "No..."

Slade looked to the boy and shrugged it off as sleep talking, going back to the more important matters he was reviewing on his phone.

Lost in his own mind, Robin felt so out of place, like he was lost to the void. He felt so alone in this world. But at least he knew Slade would always be around. Since the man seemed to like popping up at the most inconvenient of times. It was like a reassurance. Things can go to hell, and Slade will pop up back from the dead, literally.

Maybe he should become the mans apprentice, maybe it was time to end the fighting, the exhausting amount of time he put into trying to figure out what the man was up to, trying to get at least one step ahead of him. Only to fail each and every goddamn time. It was tiring to say the least.

His mind wavered, it kept showing him everything he had done that night, it kept scorching his body with the flames, trying to remind him of the horrors he had seen. But through it all, there was that steady hand on his shoulder. Reassuring him that it was all going to be ok, no matter what came there way. It would be fine. They could handle it.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He laughed.

And laughed.

She had failed, he had given her a second chance and she carried herself with such a distasteful mocking smirk on her face. She never wanted to complete it. She wanted to remain dead, to forget about her failures. So she went to find it, her second death.

Fool.

It mattered little though. No matter how far she fled, they would find her again. Sariel had the legacy, or knew where it was. Something that must not be placed into the hands of their enemy. The ben Elohim had spies everywhere, it was only a matter of time before they found them again.

Geist looked down to the remains of the reanimated corpse he once called a 'friend'. Perhaps more like a comrade. The two had some history, working together for so long. But nothing significant enough to want to mourn her death. His bosses orders were all he cared for. Speaking of Aurora he'd probably have to report to her soon. She wouldn't like what has transpired. And another plan would be put into motion.

All this action, it was good. It had been a long time since he had seen this much action. And he could only guess there would be a lot more in the future. He knew Sariel wouldn't go down without a fight. It might just get interesting.

He turned and left Madaline's remains behind, he would be boarding a jet himself soon, leaving this dreadful country behind him. Surely Aurora would set an all out war upon her enemies, and he could not wait for such bloodshed. War was always the best of times. There were no rules, just kill or be killed. And he was sure to be the one to kill them all.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

What's gonna happen?

I dunno, you tell me. O.O

LOL Anyways, let me know what you all think. I love feedback! Appreicate it! And it makes me want to keep going! So PLS PLS REVIEW!

Love ya guys, have a good night, take care and BE GOOD!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: AHHHHHH! GOING CRAZY!? Yea me to. ANYWHO ANOTHER UPDATE!? I know right, I'm just full of surprises for you all. I hope you all enjoy this one! Since things are really brewing! And things will get even more crazy from here on out! Yep CRAZY!

Challenge ? I want to do one, and I think I will, I'll probably post it on my bio page soon enough so yea...

Also many of you may not know but I'm also an artist, and was wondering if you guys would like to see any fanfic doodles? Like what characters would you like to see drawn out? Some I already have... if you'd like to see let me know.

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE! To all you favers and followers' that are reading this, thank you. To all my reviewers thanks to you as well. Like I always say you guys keep me writing!

ANYWHO ONWARDS WITH STORY TIME!

02/07/2022: To be honest I'm not entirely sure as to when I originally posted this on FFnet, but I'm slowing bringing this story from FFnet to Ao3

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Three hours had passed, it was around seven in the morning or so when they stopped to refuel. There was silence among them, it was a somber start to the morning. In one night everything seemed to have changed. For better or worse she really didn't know. But she knew one thing. Everyone here was used to this, the wars, the fighting and the bloodshed. But the Boy Wonder? She knew Gotham was bad but this was different. Robin wasn't going to come out of this the same. This land, this world, it did that to people. And once you placed your foot firmly into it, there was no going back. All there was in this land was war, killing, and survival.

It wasn't for the faint of heart, which is probably why of all people Deathstroke himself choose Robin to be his heir. The hero took everything with stride. Even when he seemed to be falling apart, he quickly picked himself up again and carried on.

"So wait..." Gus had nudged her out of her thoughts. "You're telling me that Deathstroke... of all people, has been looking for an apprentice, and he choose Robin?" Gus had refueled the helicopter about thirty minutes ago, everyone was out stretching their legs it would seem, leaving him and Sariel to catch up in the cockpit.

"Yep."

"Like Batman and Robin?"

"Yes." she giggled at her friend.

"Titan leader Robin?"

She rolled her eyes at her companion. "The very same."

"Damn, I thought he was dead. So what's his deal?"

"Hrmmm?"

"Isn't Deathstroke like a villain to them?"

"Deathstroke, from what I can gather, has been for awhile Robins arch nemesis. But apparently Deathstroke sees something more in the kid. Wants to train him or something."

"And he's been with you guys the whole time in disguise?"

"His accent gave him away, although I admit he's good, but regardless I knew he was not who he said he was."

"Why didn't you call him out on it though?"

Sariel shrugged. "I was bored, wanted to see where it went, I thought maybe he was with the ben Elohim... but apparently I was wrong. Instead I got Deathstroke the Terminator."

Gus was silent for a moment before he turned his attention back to the dashboard in front of him. "What do you think on it?"

"What do I think?"

"Yea... About Robin."

"I think Robin has to make a choice. I dunno how that will end, but I think he better make one soon... Although I have to admit, it would be interesting to see Robin turn his back on the Supes. I personally think he's changed, he's not so... misguided anymore. I really can't put my finger on it though. I could be completely off."

Gus gave her a smirk. "Imagine all the intel he could bring into the fold..."

"Even if he turned his back on everyone he ever knew from his superhero days, do you honestly think Deathstroke would allow Robins knowledge to just fall into anyones hands?"

He smiled even more. "Robin knows you well enough from what I can gather, and Deathstroke is good pals with your grandma, sooo..."

"No no no... don't even start planning anything."

"Oh come on."

"Hell No! And that is final."

"Ok fiiiine, be that way."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was very early in the morning. Robin had woken up when he felt the jerk and the sudden shift in their landing. It seems that they had some walking to do. And although he was asked if he would like to sleep a little longer, he refused.

Asif said he would stay with the helicopter while the rest wandered into a small town. Regardless of how quaint it was, Sariel knew that someone would have the fuel they would need. There was a war ravaging this land, someone would try and benefit from that.

When they got to the village itself it seemed everyone went their separate ways. Sariel and Gus wandered off to find some fuel. Slade went off to god knows where, and him? He sat on the edges of that little town, looking up into the sky. It was warm out, the sky was changing itself from night to day. The blue was beginning to peak out but you could still see the stars that laced the sky. He sat out there for awhile it seemed. Just him, the sky and the dunes that stretched out endlessly. Him and his memories. Him and his lies.

Tranquility turned itself into a nightmare. And he kept asking himself how it all had come to this?

"Robin."

The boy wonder knew exactly who was behind him, but no longer cared. "What?" he sneered at the man in distaste, his eyes never leaving the view before him. It certainly was a much better one then what he grown accustomed to over the past few days. Less fire, Less death...

"We should be getting back." He only received a mutter from the boy as an answer. "Robin?"

The boy huffed, he'd been wanting to ask this for awhile. "I don't get it." Robin shook his head. He briefly wondered what the man had been up to beforehand and perhaps thought to ask, but he squashed the idea all together. Maybe it was best not to know.

"Get what exactly?"

The boy stood up then and turned to face his adversary. "Why? I don't get it..."

Slade, amused, prodded the boy further. "Why what Robin? You have to be more specific."

"I know why you brought me all the way out here... but why. Why did you pick me? Of all the people out there WHY ME!? DAMN IT SLADE! You could literally have ANYONE as an apprentice. But you picked me. Why?"

"Is this you accepting your new role in life? Or do you just need to get something out into the open before you can move on? Is that what this all about?"

"Just answer the question Slade."

The man stopped to think for a moment before proceeding to answer the boy. "Because... out of everyone else I have ever watched, out of all of the youth around the world that have some sort of talent or another, you exceed them all. You stand at a different level then the rest. And yet... there is so much more you could learn... You hold potential not many possess." Slade looked to the boy, his face unchanging. It was simple. Why didn't he see it? "It's simple Robin, you're the best there is."

There was silence between them. Slade watching Robin's subtle movements while the boy having turned his back once again to the mastermind. His eyes looking upon the desert sands before him. The silence didn't last long however when Robin started to laugh. Once again he turned to Slade with a smile on his lips and a laugh reaching Slades ears.

"Is that all there is to it?" He kept giggling. As if it was the funniest thing in the world.

Slade smiled at his younger companion. "Does it have to be so complicated? I told you when this first began how I have watched you, left you clues, puzzles, all which you have figured out, easily I might add. But you past those tests years ago Robin. And you've only gotten better."

"Gee thanks..." his laughter died down. The smile had faded...

"I mean it Robin."

"I guess there is no going back now is there?"

"No. There isn't. But look on the bright side of things."

"And what the hell would the bright side of all this be?"

"I'm not like your former mentor. I will let you finish your work. I know you are planning to help Sariel. She wants to take out this 'ben Elohim', and you want to be part of it."

"How did you...?"

"We think alike, remember Robin."

"So you want to get rid of them to? Doesn't sound very villainy Slade."

"Situations like these are not always so black and white, you should know this by now. And war is not something you can so easily control. But they seem to do it quite well, and have apparently been doing so for centuries. Color me intrigued."

"Huh." Robin let himself sink back down into the sand, he sat there with his legs stretched out and his arms crossed, this time however he was facing towards the mastermind. He was lost in thought for a moment before he spoke up.

"I'm not calling you master."

"It would be more appropriate if you did."

"Then to bad for you."

"Are you agreeing to the position but don't even want to give it any clarity Robin?"

"I'm agreeing to stay... here, like this... whatever this is?"

"Then it's my turn to ask why? What changed your mind?"

"Just..." Robin slouched his shoulders in defeat. Slade thought the pose didn't look good on the boy, Robin always held himself upright. He wouldn't have an apprentice that thought badly of himself.

"Speak up."

Robin sighed. "I can't go back, after what I did, after I left them all there to die. You were right..." He could tell this was hard on the boy but he patiently waited for him to finish. "I left them there to die, there is no difference then pulling the trigger myself. Plus..." He lingered. Slade let out a sigh. The boy was guilt ridden.

"They didn't come, why didn't anyone come? No one tried to save these people and most of that city was torched to the ground, there was no one that came to help them. Why is there no help for these people? It's like no one cares, they figure it's ok to just let them die. Like... like they're some sort of cattle to the slaughter. There was kids in there Slade. Bloody fucking kids. And they just-" he cut himself off then. "I want to finish it. I want to stop them. And I know if I go down that path there is no going back to being a Titan. But I think... it's for the better."

"Then you'll need a teacher."

"A partner."

"Perhaps in time... But if you insist on going down this path Robin, you'll need someone to watch over you. To be a guide through this side of the world. I'll make you a deal. We can call each other by name in private but you will call me master in public in front of my various contacts. I do have a reputation to uphold."

"Agreed..." They shook hands on it and the winds changed for the two of them. "Master."

"Apprentice."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sariel was the first to notice that Slade and Robin had returned. She was also the first to notice that something had changed between them. There was far less of a tension between the two. Well at least it seemed that way from the way Robin was walking and Slade seemed much more confident then usual.

"So he made a choice." she thought to herself. "I hope it's worth it."

It was Robin that made his way into the helicopter first, his feet guiding him towards the cockpit. "Where are we going from here?"

"I got a lot of work to do, so I can drop you guys off-"

Robin shook his head. "I'm going with you. Sariel... after everything, I just can't let it go. They need to be stopped."

She was prepared to cut ties with the two, but Robin wanting to stay was something she wasn't ready for. She let out a sigh. "This isn't about being a hero Robin."

"No it's not, but we got to stop them regardless... Isn't that your mission?"

Slade had snuck in and had taken a seat in the back, she eyed him wearily as he pretended to not take any interest in their conversation. Her eyes looked back to the boy wonder... or maybe it was former boy wonder now?

"Robin... Yea but-"

He placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her that he was willing to move forward. "I know there is no going back after all that is said and done and I've dug my own grave. I'm not a Titan anymore. I'll accept that. I can't go back to them, not after what I've done..."

"Robin you only knocked people out-"

"And left them to die. Sariel... They wanted to kill you and me, and everyone else that got in there way. So I say we go after them, chase them around until they have no place to hide and end it."

She had to admit, he got dark there for a second. But then again he was Batman's student. Darkness was kind of their thing. But it wasn't like that now was it? "Robins darkness would only get darker." she mused.

She sighed. "If your really up to it. Then we're heading off to Syria."

"Syria?" The boy frowned. "Great, another place in the midst of a civil war."

"We're not staying for long. We'll figure out where to go from there."

"Why Syria though?"

She smiled at the young man. "I got a few good contacts there. Well one is good, the other... well we might have to use a more of a forceful hand on him, but he usual talks with the right kind of persuasion. Plus I have a nice place to stay there, not some crummy hotel room."

Robin could only nod before taking a seat.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Gus had started up the helicopter, Sariel was beside him. Slade had seated himself and seemed attached to his phone, and Asif seemed as silent as he had been for the past few hours. As for Robin, he sat himself on the edge. The door was open, and he sat there looking out at the horizon, his feet dangling in the air. It wasn't like he wasn't safe either, he had one of the safety belts strapped around him so he wouldn't fall out and plummet to his death.

For the most part, everything seemed normal.

But he knew it wasn't.

He had done what he always thought he would never do. He agreed to work with Slade, and not by force either. He willingly gave up his hero mantle to Slade. He sighed. No, not to Slade. He gave that up the other night in that city. He knew he did this to himself. Although Slade would carry a lot of the fault as well. He did bring him out here in the first place. But Robins actions where his own, he knew that much.

"Accept it and move on, there is so much more to this world that Slade can show you. More than anything Batman ever could." It was that dark little voice again. At first he hated the darker thoughts but now he more and more agreed with them.

He should be screaming, "What have I done!? What have I done!?" Or so he thought. But in all honesty for the first time in a very long time. Robin felt relaxed. Even though he was bagged and tired beyond even his limits, there was a weight lifted off his chest. Bruce would be in hysterics right about now. The Titans would call him a traitor. Would they attack him so eagerly as they did the last time he was in this situation? That hurt him. They probably would. But he guessed in the end it didn't matter, they couldn't defeat him anyways. They couldn't last time. He had little to worry about when it came to with them. In retrospect, really the one person he would truly miss would be Alfred. He'd be a disappointment to both him and Bruce, and worst of all to his parents. What would they think of him playing the villain? They would of probably thought of him to be a better person then what he was right now. He felt sorry then. He couldn't live up to their expectations... But he also knew then he had to put the past behind him. He had to grow, he had to get stronger, faster... In the long run this would work out better for everyone. Robin knew what he had to do now. And he wasn't going to look back and mourn for himself. What his friends and family had given him, he would still use, but on a different frontline.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He knew the boy would join him, he had always known. Robin just needed a push in the right direct and he seemed to have hit his mark. Robin had given in, and changed his life willingly. In the end this is what he wanted from the very start. An apprentice that had a mind of his own, not some slave, someone that would stand beside him and help take on the world. Someone he could teach, someone that would carry on his own Legacy.

His first steps into this new outlook would be helping Sariel take down the ben Elohim. And he wasn't going to go in as a hero as he did with the Brotherhood of Evil, no he was going in as Slade's Apprentice. Not as Robin, the Boy Wonder... But... Perhaps the boy should pick a new name. Or not. Robin may not be the most lethal of names but everyone knew who he was. Everyone also knew what he was capable of. Perhaps leaving the boy to his old name would give them an advantage. Even if it did draw unwanted attention. Plus the benefit of everyone knowing that he had made the change in Robin, and he and the boy were working together, and that he had finally selected an heir and it was a former hero. Protégé to Batman no less. That would inflict some fear into people.

Looking down at his phone as he browsed his emails, Slade figured it would be something he would leave to Robin himself. How much of a risk did he want to take, that was on his shoulders. Although, he would not allow the boy to fall directly into harm since he was now officially in his charge, he still thought he had to give him some room to breath.

He sent Will an email regarding all the recent events. Including Robins sudden trust in himself and his acceptance to being his apprentice. He knew then that perhaps that was not the most wisest of things he had done today. He knew that Will would then be responding with the whole "When are you coming home" speel. The pestering would begin anew. It was then that it hit him. Will would want to know more about the boy since he would be a new addition to their unit. Especially being his heir... And possibly since this was Will he was speaking of, making Robin comfortable living arrangements in the base. William Wintergreen was a close friend, hence Robin would be getting to know his old friend very well himself. Amused, Slade wondered how the two would get along. He had no doubt they would. Although Robin may think Will to be a crazy old man at first.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

And there you have it! It has been said, it has been done. Is Robin Seriously serious? Does Slade look good in a fedora? Is William Wintergreen a crazy old man with a dust pan? Is Batman ever gonna get to see his birdy again? What about Raven? Does she ever get to buy that new cloak she found on sale at ?

Ok I'll stop...

Anywho PLS PLS Leave me a review, tell me what ya thought on this chappie and I'll see you guys real soon ok? Promise!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: YEEEP Back with another chapter, see I told ya all I was getting my groove back. *dances around her living room*

Anyways, this one is not as long as the last 2, although it's still kinda long. ANYWHO it's got a history lesson involved, and not a boring one. Now class pay attention to what Ms. Sariel has to say. It will be on a pop quiz tomorrow.

lol in all serious tho this chapter has some explaining to to, literally.

So yeeeep. But big thanks to all the people reading this story and all those that have faved and followed this lil' fanfic. I love ya. To all my reviewers you guys are the best and literally keep me writing chapters and whatnot.

ANYWHO ONWARDS RIGHT!? I'll be quiet now...

EDIT: 02/08/2022: Fixing some stuff and slowly moving story from FFnet to Ao3.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was later in the evening. The skies were dark and the moon hung in the sky. He knew better then to ask on the whereabouts of Ra's. He'd have to find the man himself. But of all places, it was in the middle of Saudi Arabia, in the middle of the god forsaken desert. It made sense for someone of Ra's stature to have a fortified base of operations. But in the end actually finding Ra's al Ghul's residence was a little more difficult then he'd hoped. Not that he was expecting the man to have a sign pointing directly to his home but still... it was like Ra's didn't want to be specifically found at the moment. And usually if Batman had come for a 'visit', he didn't make himself scarce. Regardless here he was, and he had already welcomed himself inside. Even if Ra's didn't want to talk he wasn't leaving without an answer. He didn't just sneak into a heavily fortified base for nothing.

Batman hadn't come all the way out here to be ignored.

"Bruce..." it was a voice that came from the darker confines of the mansion. His eyes scanned the area. But he didn't need to look to know. It was a voice he knew all too well.

"Talia" the mention of her name brought her out from the shadows. "Where's Ra's?"

"You're looking for my father?"

"Why else would I be here?"

She sighed and looked at the caped crusader, "I was perhaps hoping you had come to see me?" He lost his words, as he always seemed to do around her. "Talia..."

"But I suppose your business with my father would come first. Come. I'll show you to his study."

Without question he followed her further into the mansion until they came across a much fancier set of doors. "My father is inside, he already knows you're here."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "Of course he does."

Opening the doors, leaving Talia behind, he found the ever famous man with book in hand, sitting on a luxurious Meridienne, a roaring fire behind him and the walls filled with what he assumed to be an assortment ancient books, texts and scrolls. He looked comfortable as anyone should be in their own home. But then again this was Ra's al Ghul. The man looked comfortable anywhere.

Batman lingered there for a moment before walking in. Ra's still looking at his book. Not even taking a glance at him. Bruce didn't wait however, he didn't have the time.

"Ra's."

"Detective, as always you seem to be astute in breaking and entering into ones home. I would assume you're looking for something?"

"Information."

"Is that all? For what and for whom may I ask?" he put the book down on his lap, finally giving Batman his full attention. The Caped Crusader frowned, giving information to the Chief Demon wasn't something one would normally do without there being circumstances, but Robin was in danger.

"It's Robin."

"You're little ward? I thought he was doing fine out in the world, showing you how much of a inspiration he can be even though you seemingly lacked faith in him."

Batman narrowed his eyes at the man but didn't make a move. He didn't want to be rude towards perhaps the only one with the knowledge he needed, especially in his own hearth and home. "He's missing."

Ra's looked to the masked man with a mild look of concern. "Robin? Missing?"

"I was wondering if you knew anything. He's been taken."

"If you're insinuating that I took him you would be horribly mistaken."

Batman shook his head. "No, not you. Deathstroke."

"Slade Wilson? Mercenary extraordinaire... The very best there is in the field? What would he exactly want with your Robin?" Ra's would always keep the conversation lingering for as long as he could before actually answering anything. Most of which he told was a lie, but there was truth as usual in-between the lines.

"Yes. Apparently Deathstroke has need of an heir."

"Don't we all?"

"He wants to train Robin, take him under his wing, He the Master. Robin the Apprentice. And Deathstroke almost got away with it once before. That was until the rest of his team got involved. For a time it seemed that Slade had moved on, but now it seems his target has always been the same. He wants Robin as his successor."

Ra's looked to the Bat with an inquisitive eye. "I see... What made you come to me precisely?"

"He brought Robin out to the middle of the desert. Wanted to perhaps throw him into the middle of a war. You know everything that goes on around here, and then some."

"Ahhhhh... you want to know if I have any intel on the whereabouts of your precious ward?" The older man sighed before placing the book aside and standing up and walking towards the fireplace. "To be honest Detective I haven't heard of anything regarding Slade Wilson in awhile, other then that he set up a base of operations in your wards city."

"Jump."

"Yes, In fact the last I heard of him was when he did something only I thought I could do."

"Meaning?"

"He apparently returned from the dead, literally from falling into a pit of lava. Even with that mans near immortality and healer factors, the lava should of put an end to him. But the next I heard he was alive and well."

Batman frowned, after going through the Titans files, he found nearly all the information he thought was of use. But there was something very vague about the world almost coming to an end, everyone being turned to stone and a demon known as Trigon being summoned to destroy the earth. In amongst those files that there was something mentioned on Slade himself, how the man had worked for the demon then turned betrayer and started to work alongside Robin and the rest of his team. They apparently all saved the world, returning it back to its natural environment. He wouldn't tell Ra's this however. The actual less he knew of Robins ongoings the better.

"But there has been something going on in Yemen." Now this was getting somewhere. Batman watched the man as he stood before the fire. "It's a country in the midst of a civil war, but there has also been some unusual activity over there as of late. Although I cannot say for sure, I heard that your ward was there, as well as Deathstroke himself. Although I could be gravely mistaken. It was after all, just a rumour."

"Yemen?"

"Sa'dah, one of the bigger cities in the country to be exact. But it has recently been wiped out. A massive fire purged the city."

Bruce was shocked. Was his son there in that city? What had happened? Was he... still alive? "How? Who did it?"

"Not Deathstroke. But it seems there is something out there far older than even I, going about and purging cities and overall causing quite some havoc. If your ward was there... then you may go to find grave news indeed."

Ra's turned around to face the Caped Crusader only to find him gone.

"Good luck Detective. You'll need it."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They were still flying over sand dunes and tiny little settlements. The small cluster of lights from each town shone brightly in the dark. It felt odd to Robin, he'd flown over the Orient, Europe and most of the United States. But this was different. Asia did have it's desolate areas... but nothing like this. The desert didn't change. He was pretty confident that if he flew over this same stretch of land three or four hundred years in the past it would probably look the same. Flicker of lights here and there, then nothing of pitch darkness in between.

There was silence between them all. Sariel had come to sit in the back, leaving Gus alone to pilot the helicopter. It was late, they were all pretty tired. Asif seemed to be already asleep in a corner. As everything had settled down Robin remembered something from the night prior. When Madaline's corpse had come to find Sariel, when the woman approached them for the last time she mentioned that Sariel may of not even had this "Legacy" that she was looking for. Which is what she was apparently so angry about. No Legacy? Then the slate had to be wiped clean. Nothing left behind. And Sariel had admitted to stealing something from them in her time posing as one of their teammates.

Sariel sat beside him, almost in a daze, like she was thinking some things through. He simply nudged her to gain her attention. And her eyes soon found his.

"What is the Legacy?"

She sighed then. Even Slade had his interest piqued since he looked up to her. She frowned. So now everyone was expecting an answer. It was only Robin and Slade that didn't know the details. Asif and Gus already knew most of the story.

"Well... OK. I suppose it's time for a history lesson."

"A history lesson?"

"The legacy is in all truths a very very large sum of money. I'm not just talking cash and coins. I'm talking gold bars. Old money, from old rich families from eons ago. Templars, Kings, Empires. Ya see, the ben Elohim have been around for centuries. Thousands of years maybe. Far longer than what we can actually date them back to. They don't seem to have an origin. Nothing that we can trace anyways. They are very good at keeping their secrets."

"How the hell can anything be that old without anyone knowing about it? Wouldn't there be something? Anything? Myths even?" Robin crossed his arms.

"Even if you did spread around a supposed Myth about yourself people begin to vaguely believe in it. If the ben Elohim are good at their job then being a myth means they are like a shadow in an already dark room. There, but unseen. People don't want to tempt the shadow, especially one that has been around for a long time." It was Slade that had answered, Sariel only nodded in his direction.

"They are in truth the background players of every nation. They control the wars and the people. They are like a very real and dangerous illuminati, but less of a corny name. As you know most of its members are somewhat surreal. Majority of them are metahuman or something else. Anyways back to the Legacy itself. It became something of legend during World War II amongst Nazi and ally troops alike. During that time the ben Elohim had already benefited from one world war, so why not a second?"

Robin looked to Sariel somewhat shocked. "Are you telling me they started World War II?"

"No, Hitler started World War II by invading Poland with his quest to kill anyone that wasn't a blonde haired blue eyed german. But the ben Elohim, they were a part of it, in behind the scenes. Germany was flat ass broke after they faced defeat from World War I. Who do you think gave them the funding to start another world war?"

"The ben Elohim."

She nodded to her younger companion. "Exactly. They went from nothing to Nazi Germany."

"But the term ben Elohim I believe is hebrew. Why would the Nazis take funding from a society with a jewish name?" Slade looked at Sariel questionably. She simply smiled in return.

"I doubt they went under that specific name at the time, we asked the same question and found various small answers with all points leading back to them. But you are right, ben Elohim is hebrew. It means Sons of God. We always kinda figured it came from some sort of religious meaning from the era of the Crusades, but could never find any evidence on that. In fact the more we find out about them, the less religious they are. I mean that as in they have no connection to the church or the Vatican. But they do like to use religion as a tool, hence their involvement with the Crusades."

"No origin though?" Robin had asked and she shook her head. "None that we can find, and the more I get involved the longer their history gets."

"How far back have you gone?" Slade grew curious. "What is the earliest record you've been able to find?"

"Ancient Rome, but what we have found from that time period is muddled. There isn't much, although I would assume they would have more information in their database."

Robin let out a chuckle. "And I thought the Brotherhood of Evil was a problem. The society that makes up the brotherhood is massive, and while I'm sure they've made their riches through their various activities, knowing all this, it makes you wonder. How much does this ben Elohim pay out to keep the supervillain groups blind to them, not to mention the Justice League."

Sariel gave a shrug. "I've honestly thought about that as well. No one knows. If anyone were to know it may be someone like Ra's al Ghul or something since that guys been around forever. But that's a wild guess. Anyways..." Sariel then began to dig into one of her pouches. "In the end I was only able to obtain a small amount of their fame, fortune and their bits of involvement with mankind's history." she held up a USB drive.

Robin smiled at his friend. "I thought you said you didn't have it."

She smiled in return. "I lied. I was able to transfer a portion of the legacy onto this drive, I also was able to steal some data on them. I'm hoping to find something interesting whenever I'm finally able to put it on a secure system. From what I did see, they have a lot of shit in motion. Once we get to Syria, we'll find out. "

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was the afternoon when Raven felt it. She suddenly felt unhinged, unbalanced, as if someone had just taken a piece of her and tossed it aside, forever lost.

"Robin?"

She placed a hand on her forehead and took a seat. "No..." she thought. "How...?" Raven felt before that Robin was keeping something from her, he disconnected his link on his side, but kept it lively enough to let her know he was indeed alive out there and their search was not entirely in vain. But now... it was gone. Where there was once static, now there was only dead silence it seemed.

"Robin? Where are you? Please be alive."

Picking herself up she knew she had to tell the rest of the team. The link was gone. Either Robin shut it off himself or he's... he would be dead. Neither of these two options were any good. If Robin had turned it off it meant he was in more trouble than he could handle and being typical Robin, he would not want to get his team involved if it meant them getting hurt.

"Maybe there is still time?" she told herself. "God dammit Robin where are you?"

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So emm yea... YAY HISTORY LESSON! So obviously I had to fit my little secret society in there so of course it's not 100% accurate. But yea...

Also writing Ra's was fun, I just hope I did him justice. And yes he's a villain but he's been known to be helpful from time to time, especially when it comes to everyone's favorite Bat. But ya never know...

No worries things will start to role again soon with some more action and whatnot. So PLS PLS PLLLSSS leave me a review and let me know what ya think? I'll give ya COOKIES! =D

Thanks guys, take care and be good out there.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: HEY ALL!

YES! I am alive. Just been busy and whatnot. So here is a new chapter for you all, I'm trying to make each of them longer. And by the end of the story (which isn't for awhile yet so no worries ok.) each chapter will be even longer. Hopefully.

Anyways again thank you to all that have been reading this lil' fic of mine, your faves and follows... my dudes it means a lot. =)

You Reviewers are the best as usual tho'. I will say it again and again and again, you guys keep me writing and you keep me wanting to improve and keep me creative and ya know... yer all just awesome. Thank you so much

EDIT: 03/28/20222 Originally posted sometime in between 2016 to 2018.. Dunno anymore really.

Anyways... ONWARDS WITH THE STORY!

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Syria was in the midst of a civil war, it was something that was all over the news back home. But people in America didn't understand the gravity of it. They didn't understand the feeling of being forced from your own home simply because you wanted to be ensured your own safety. These people had to worry about bombs, terrorist groups, and the military as well. Even though multiply countries came here to help them, there was little trust. And he didn't blame them. These people were unwilling participates in a war they never asked for. And once again he was questioning "Where was the help?" and again he received his answer in a deafening silence. There was no help, and there wouldn't be anyone coming to save the day.

Robin knew then that he alone would not be enough to change anything, the world was neither black nor white but a void full of grey. But he wanted to do something, and he already knew the path he was taking would spiral far from the reach of the hands of the Justice League or Batman, and even further away from the people he once called his closest friends.

It was odd now, how he had a new batch of friends. All of them once again from different walks of life. All of them had decided to pick up a weapon and fight, much like the Titans. But Sariel, Asif and even the newer member of the party, Gus. They fought on a much different level then that of the Titans. In a much different world.

They fought to kill.

They fought to win.

Because if you didn't, you'd die. And Robin didn't want to die. He didn't want anyone to die. But how many had up until now? The boy let out a sigh, the thoughts began digging a little too deep again. Perhaps he had been thinking on it to much these past few days? His mind wandered instead to the good news that Sariel had informed him of. It seems she had made contact with one of her so called acquaintances, and she had set up shop in her 'friends' office.

Him? He was just wondering around the little town. Well it was technically a city. What did Sariel call it? Hama? Yes... Hama, it sat on the banks of the Orontes River in west-central Syria, from what she had told him. It was an ancient city. And one of the few that were not currently in complete ruins, although from what he had read it to had suffered from the use of chemical weapons, tanks and overall hostile takeovers. But for the moment, things seemed to be peaceful for the city. That was until there was another raid.

However, since he was here he did grow curious about some of the cities more interesting landmarks. Azm Palace that was of Ottoman architecture. A castle, and some sort of fancy ancient water wheels dating back a few thousand years or so, he wasn't to sure, nor cared that much about the latter. The city was a mix of modern and ancient structures. And he had to admit, there was a part of him that wanted to get lost in the city, and find new things. It wasn't everyday one was in Syria.

"Exploring?" Robin knew the voice well, it was one that had haunted his dreams for so long, but now he found some sort of odd comfort in the fact that someone, even if it was Slade, was sticking around with him.

"A bit. Kind of bored really. Sariel's doing her thing and..." Robin shrugged. His eyes turning to meet the man. Slade had long since abandoned the Russian uniform and replaced it with a pair of khaki military pants, combat boots and button up white shirt. The snow white hair, goatee and eye patch remained the same. He had never seen the mans face before, until recently. Hence why 'Sergei' kind of blind sided him.

"I'm surprised you're not there with her."

"She's got a lot of work to do."

"Perhaps you should be there. You did want to lend your hand to the effort did you not?"

"Well yea... but... I don't think she needs me. She's got things covered. I told her to give me a shout if she did need help."

"And so here you are."

Robin meekly shrugged and gave the man a bit of a smirk as a reply. "Got nothing better to do."

"I disagree. I say we put your time better to use, apprentice."

The word still tinged at his seams but it didn't overall bother him like it used to. "Like what?"

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sariel's so called 'friend' wasn't the most nicest of people. Hence why she had him tied up on the floor with a gun to his head. Well more like an assault rifle to his head. Sariel went to work and Asif was on guard duty. Meanwhile Gus hovered anxiously around the computer Sariel typed away at.

"What the hell did you find anyways?"

"Money."

"That much is obvious. I'm the one that found out about it after all, remember? Things on the Legacy went pretty hush hush once World War II was over. I'm amazed I found anything at all to be honest." Gus was pretty proud of himself. When he found something good, it was pretty damn good.

"You do always tend to come through."

'Damn right Sar. So, let's see what you actually found."

"Give me a minute will ya?"

Gus leaned back in his chair and looked back to Asif and their bound prisoner. "To bad douche head didn't want to play along. Sure is missing out on a lot of awesome shit." Gus gestured to the gagged man. Omar was another great hacker, intel extraordinaire. It was a shame that he didn't play well with others. How the hell did Sariel know him one may ask? One could say she has always been in contact with him, always directed towards his little house when she was in need of information on the surrounding area. And he's never been very willing to share information. So as usual, Sariel has had to do things the hard way. Although it wasn't always this way between them. Word is they were once friends.

"Shiiiit." Her tone was more of astonishment then anything else.

"What?" Gus leaned in to see what Sariel had dug up and smiled. "Damn... 500 mil, in US dollars to. And that's a small portion? Fuck me..."

"No wonder they can continue on as they have."

Sariel stood up and stretched her legs. Gus took the mouse in hand and began to scroll through her findings.

"It's gonna take time to open the rest of the files Sar... Obvious reasons being that they may be encrypted with something and it will just shut our shit down. You just took files, and we don't know what's in them. Although from the looks of it, you took some good ones. Look at this shit." Gus eyed some of the folders, "Maps, War involvement from 1059 to 1109, 1308 to 1509, 952 to 1005, weird dates, don't really have any history book quality to them. Hey look, Queen fucking Elizabeth the first. Wasn't she the one with that guy, the magicy science advisor guy?"

"John Dee."

"Yea that guy... there was something fishy going on in those bonny days of London."

"If they have files on Queen Elizabeth it could mean they had control over the British Empire at the time. Perhaps still do. Even the Queen of England has to answer to someone."

Sariel leaned on the desk and looked at her friend.

'We'll have to go through all of the files, if they actually are what they say they are."

"That's the trick. Jesus Christ on a fucking motorbike. You took them to town. Let's get the money off of here first though. If it will even allow us to do that."

"And if you can't?"

"I can, one way or another. I'll have to transfer it first, make it look much more natural when it it goes into an account already full of money. Although this is a lot more then I was thinking. May have to do various accounts..."

Sariel patted her friend on the shoulder. "Once you do your little filtering job, send it to the Swiss bank account. Not that I'm sure they don't have Swiss banks of their own. But what a better place to store stolen money?"

"That's the plan." Gus laughed and continued his work. Sending it directly to a Swiss bank would look to suspicious. Even for a Swiss bank account.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He was not expecting Slade to guide him to a empty sandy courtyard, and suddenly attack him. It was a good thing he still had his bo-staff handy. The man had almost completely caught him off guard. Luckily he was able to dodge the attack. but it would seem that was all he was going to do. Dodge.

"You need to start honing your senses far more for this territory then you would if you were back in Jump or even Gotham."

Robin dodged another attack from the man. Then another, and another. They had been at this for awhile now and Robin was already running low on fumes. But he kept moving his feet.

"Each place in this world has something to teach you. The desert as you know is far different than that of the forest. Even so depending where you are, forests vary as well. Use your surroundings."

Robin growled, he was losing this fight. Even if it was sparring and even if he had accept the man as his master, he still hated the idea of losing to him. "Use your surroundings huh?" Robin thought to himself as his hand sunk into a pile of sand. He already knew this, it wasn't something new. But it would seem Slade thought it best to go over the basics with him. Looking around, taking in his masters consideration, he noticed that the entire courtyards floor was sand with bits of vegetation. The buildings that made up the courtyard were old, and seemingly hardly lived in since one of them still remained in shattered pieces from the last bombing. They were falling apart, leaving bits of rubble to be buried beneath the desert.

Robin narrowed his eyes and let out a growl as he grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at his counterpart, earning a grunt of pain from the man. Looking like he hit his target, Robin moved in and jabbed Slade in the gut with his bo-staff before releasing a series of punches into the man.

It didn't last long however. When Slade recovered he started dodging Robins attacks and quickly grabbed one of his fists. "Anger is good, but don't let it guide you."

Robin squirmed a bit. "You have to control that temper of yours." Slades words sparked something in the boy. He narrowed his eyes at the man and then kneed him in the stomach as hard as he could. The mastermind grunted and dropped the boy. Robin picked back up his weapon and readied himself for the attack he knew would come.

He was expecting something, anything from the man. But not the chuckle that was escaping from his lips at the moment. He was a bit confused to say the least. What did he do exactly to earn such a reaction?

"Well done."

"I don't get it."

Slade gave the boy smile, and for a moment Robin got slightly nervous. "You've gotten stronger. It seems the very thing you didn't want to partake in only made you better."

"I'm not the one that brought my ass out here."

"Didn't you, I do recall you running away and slipping onto a cargo plane. What did happen on that plane anyways?"

Robin shrugged, his form relaxing and he dropped his defence, but he still held onto his staff, one end in the ground as he put some of his weight on it. "I got found out. The entire plane was full of rifles and other weapons. So I guess they didn't want any freeloaders, so they dropped all their cargo, me included. I only survived because I clung to a crate that had a parachute attached to it."

"I see." Slade internally frowned at the idea of someone throwing his apprentice off a plane. The boy always did seem to attract trouble. The two were really alike in many aspects. "I would then assume you landed in the desert?"

"The Empty Quarter. Yea..." The boy shrugged. "Wasn't exactly a nice trip."

"I would also assume it was a rather aggravating journey." The man prepared to continue their spar. Robin responded by going in for the first strike. Slade dodged his movements easily taking note where Robin was making mistakes and where he could help the boy improve with his punches.

"You have no idea." Robin quipped. "Sand is a horrible thing." He dodged a blow from Slade. Amused, the mastermind asked. "Is that so?" Another punch and another dodge. "It gets fucking everywhere." Slade couldn't help but chuckle at his apprentice. If this was any indication of how they were going to work together then he couldn't wait to get Robin fully up and running.

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What he found was remains. Remains of a city, remains of people, bodies after bodies. Residents, soldiers, children... This was a complete massacre. Who wielded such power with such blood lust was beyond him. It all seemed so pointless.

Batman had witnessed many horrors in his time. This however, got put high on the list. War was something that made even the bravest of men squirm at night from terrors of the things they had seen or done. It was something that would haunt them until the day they died. It brought good humans to their knees or it made them turn from the light. But this... this wasn't war. This was just hate and spite. Slaughter. Bruce hoped that Richard was not here when this happened. He hoped that Robin was safe somewhere far away from here, trying to get home.

And hopefully far away from Deathstroke as well.

Batman scanned the city for any kind of word on his ward, but there was very little next to none. Although one woman spoke of something familiar. A young man and woman that took on the military force that came to their town. The two apparently stood up to the people that had done this. There was a fight. But there was no word if the two had won or lost.

With a frown Bruce thought the young man in the story had to be Robin, especially since she mentioned the kid was also a foreigner.

The Batwing hovered silently over Sa'dah as Batman looked over the remains. Ra's had told him some truths it would seem. He was grateful for that at least, it was another step in finding his son. The only problem from here was where did Robin go next? He knew the more time he spent here the further away Robin would be, but he'd have to collect more information before heading on. He couldn't spare any time if he got something wrong.

"Alfred."

The butler appeared on the screen with a yawn. "Yes Master Bruce?"

"Sorry for waking you..." Batman knew there was a huge time difference between Gotham and Yemen. Seven hours to be exact, but Alfred did want to help, since his concern for Richard was just as much as his own. Plus, Alfred did say it was okay to wake him if he did indeed need him.

"I need you to find any information you can on the burning of Sa'dah. It's a city in Yemen. I think Richard was here."

"My word, I hope he is alright."

"I've heard a few rumors that a foreigner stood up against those that had burnt the city to ash. It could very well be Robin."

"It does sound like something Master Dick would do. You don't think..."

Batman shook his head. "He's alive Alfred, I just have to find him. But this is where his trail ends."

"I'll see what I can find on my end." Batman nodded at his old friend. "Master Bruce..."

"Yea Alfred."

"Find him soon, that place... it does things to people."

Batman gave the butler a curt nod before ending the transmission. He would find his son. No matter where Richard was, he would find him.

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More Batman!? What is this world coming to!? *Sips her tea from her Batman mug*

So what will Sariel and Gang find on that disc of hers other than moneyz? Will Slade ever stop wearing casual clothes and get BACK INTO HIS AWESOME UNIFORM ALREADY!? Will Alfred fall asleep at the computer? Will Batman just terrorize the poor remaining citizens with his Batwing and make screechy bat noises at them? Raven never bought that cloak on sale and now it's full price. What will she do?

I dunno... .;;;;;

Anyways Send me some love and PLS PLS REVIEW!

Be good out there and see you later.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: Hey guys!

How's it going? You're all doing well I hope? Staying out of trouble? =)

So OMG big thanks to everyone, this story has gotten a few more follows so I'm like super hype about that. Thank you so much!

Again you reviewers keep me going. I thank you guys so much for everything! You guys are awesome and amazing and totally make my day.

EDIT: 03/28/2022 Fixing things up and slowly moving story over to A03

Anywho ON WITH THE STORY!

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Sariel wasn't one to dread anything, but some of the files she and Gus had gone through were indeed dreadful. Taking apart the ben Elohim wouldn't be easy. But this was the first step. Information was always the first step in anything. No knowledge would equal immediate failure and that was something she could not allow.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes. It was pretty early in the morning, going on about four, maybe five... she didn't look at the time, instead she had her head perched on her woven hands and stared at her findings on the screen before her.

Things were getting more complicated by the second. And while she did indeed score a jackpot of information, it was old. It was their history, there was nothing recent in these files. She kept them safe regardless. Knowledge was powerful afterall, and the more she had the better. If anything, to simply figure out more of the puzzle, Sariel would have to confront them again. And prior experiences have told her that it would be easier said than done. They wanted her dead. They wanted the small portion of their Legacy back. And they would kill anyone in their way to obtain it. Which made it extremely difficult and dangerous to ones health.

"Unless..."

She rubbed her eyes again. Bed was beginning to sound like a good idea.

"Unless we fake our deaths?"

Sariel smiled at the idea. It would be risky. Very risky. But they could pull it off. They would need to copy the information from the USB drive she stole and put it on another and make it look as authentic as possible. Gus should have no problems with that. He could make a fake good enough to keep them happy for a few hours, until they figured it out. They keep the intel and the money. Trade away the fake up for... well whatever they wanted.

What would she want?

She'd have to think of something. In the end though they would 'kill' her and whoever came along with her. Make them think they got away with it, then in the midst of everything get a goddamn tracker on one of their trucks and follow them into one of their own bases. Sounds easy enough. In theory. She knew however it would be a lot more difficult.

If they were to go through with it, they would have to plan it out bit by bit by bit. She could get Gus to get involved, he was pretty faceless to them, he could pull the trigger. Gus would know that she would be wearing a bulletproof vest so he'd know exactly where to shoot her. And when they were gone, he'd give them the que.

Could work.

Too risky...

Very risky...

But it bloody well could work.

Where to meet them then?

Aurora Warchild was English, from London herself apparently. But to her and the others that worked against them, well everyone knew London wasn't her town and hadn't been for a long time. The ben Elohim had called Berlin home for over seventy years, ever since the war. She was pretty sure they had dozens of various headquarters around the globe. But Berlin being the nest... it could work.

If this was really going to work however, she'd have to talk it over with the others, see what ideas they could come up with. Maybe inquire if the almighty, all knowing Deathstroke had any good ideas on how to go about this. She yawned and leaned back in her chair. It was odd, Slade letting Robin take the reigns. But then again for the kid to change so drastically it was probably Slades idea to let Robin hang out in the midst of a warzone and let it happen naturally. It worked, to an extent. If Robin truly had changed sides... well it would be good for the villains of the world. For her? She didn't really consider herself a villain. She didn't take sides, she just did whatever it took to achieve her goals. Although some would call her a villain of sorts she supposed. But in truth they just didn't understand the world and how it truly worked.

But Robin switching sides... after all he had seen, he couldn't just walk away. It was the same for her. As a child, after all she had done, after all she had seen, all the blood she had shed... She couldn't walk away. The world was a mess, and it couldn't clean itself up. It needed a caretaker. Multiple caretakers. But no one wanted the job. Someone had to have the balls to do the right thing, even if the right thing was shooting that murderer or pedophil or rapist or child trafficker in the head. The world would put them in prison, only to be let out a few years later. No, it was better to shoot them. Kill them so they could no longer cause any harm to anyone else. Ever. After being used as a child soldier, Sariel was pretty headstrong on saving as many kids as she could whenever she found any sort of military using children for experiments or having them serve as soldiers. War was all she knew, it wasn't a good life for a kid, she had enough experience in the bloodbaths one called war since the age of seven. She couldn't stand by and let other children see the same horrors she had.

With the old memories once again fresh, she briefly wondered if Robin would pick up a gun and shoot someone in the head as she had done so many times before. If the kid had truly switched sides Deathstroke would teach the boy how to kill, and under Slades tutelage the former boy wonder would become deadly indeed. But Sariel knew Robin wasn't completely new to the darker side of things. How many horrors had he already seen in his first years as Robin? Being a child, running around the streets of Gotham must of done some serious stuff to him, being such a young age when he started. Sariel smirked at the thought, the two had roughly been at the same age when they both entered a very dangerous path in life. But now Robin was embarking on a much darker path then anything he had ever done before. And oddly enough he seemed ready for it, like it had been a long time coming.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes once again. "Confusing." That is what Robin was. Regardless, she would like to stay in touch with him, even after all this was done. She had to admit she really liked the kid. And being good chums with Deathstroke's heir to his empire... well it could help her out in the future.

"Still up?" Looking at her screen, Sariel shook her head. Speak of the devil and he's bound to appear. She looked over to see Robin leaning against the door frame. They were all still in her 'friends' little apartment. Which was technically hers but her 'friend' had taken up residence.

"Yea, probably gonna hit the hay soon though." she gave out a yawn along with the answer. "What are you doing up?"

"Can't sleep much myself."

"I see..." Silence, it was a old friend when it came to these two. It took a few minutes but eventually she asked. "You serious... you know, about everything?"

Robin looked away. "Yes."

"I thought you'd die a superhero or something. What the fuck is Batman gonna do without his Robin?"

Smirking he answered. "He's been doing fine without me, I left to lead the Titans because he wanted me to quit being Robin. And... I just couldn't do that. So I left."

"And went to Jump?"

"Yea... "

Silence.

...

...

"You know... at first, when Slade offered me the position and the opportunity I hated it. Abhorred it. I've always had the obsession of taking him down like the good little superhero I was, and he always had this obsession of taking me under his wing. And I hated him for it. To the point I just wanted to kill him, to just get rid of him. And I hated that, because heros don't kill people. But in truth he always brought that side of me out to play, and then I started to hate myself."

"And yet here you are."

Robin sighed. "Thing is... I don't know if I hate him anymore. Although, I do hate him for bringing me out here." The former hero scoffed. "But if he didn't I would-" he took a deep breath then, not really wanting to finish the sentence. "I would probably be dead. The Titans, we were going after the Brotherhood as you know. I would still be on ice, maybe. I know eventually we would of figured it out. The Titans from what I have read did win against the Brotherhood. And-" he stopped himself again.

"And what?"

"I'd probably be back in the Tower with the rest of the Titans. Moving forward with the team to face whatever threat came next."

"Would you like to go back to the Titans?"

Robin gave out a chuckle then. "No." it was such a simple answer, but the implications were huge. "I don't belong there anymore. It's odd really. I have saved the entire world with them at my side, but at times I feel more at home talking to you or even to Slade of all people. Why? I don't know."

"Well we did go through a chunk of bullshit together."

"Sometimes I still see the faces Sariel. All those I left behind. I killed them, because I left them to die. It haunts me. All my life I was taught that true heroes don't kill. They bring about justice. But that night Sariel, there was no such thing as justice. It didn't exist. All those innocent people that died... Sariel, someone's got to make them pay."

She smiled at him then. She was just thinking about all this moments ago. About how the world needed it's caretakers, to do what was right. Because no one else would.

"Whole world will move against you, ya know that right?"

"It always has."

"Do me a favor then."

"Yea?"

"Since your now Deathstroke's heir and apprentice, let's remain friends shall we?"

"Sounds more like you want something." His smirk was evident.

'When do I not want something? But seriously. Friends? Let's make a deal never to cross each other on bad terms. Be good for business on both of our ends. Plus a few years from now when everyone is terrified of you I get to sit in that room and shrug it off."

"You want gloating abilities?" Robin almost sounded surprised. Almost.

"Fuck yea!"

"It's a deal then." one hand grabbed the other and the two shook on their bargain.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Asif had long since dragged Omar's body out onto the streets and left it in an alley to be found at some point. They would all be long gone before then however.

"Did you dispose of it properly?"

He had to admit, Deathstroke freaked him out. Why the hell would Robin join this guy was beyond him. What vexed him more was that Sariel seemed to fine with the man. Gus didn't even care that a living, breathing, walking legend of a killer was among them.

"Of course." Slade was talking about Omar's body of course, Sariel's little 'friend' that they had previously taken hostage. For a brief moment he got free and started causing some havoc, he tried to kill Sariel. But Asif would have none of that, so he shot him. Thus it was his responsibility to dispose of the body.

Slade just stood there outside of the building with his hands behind his back. What was the man doing out here anyways?

"Good." It was all he said as Asif quickly slipped past the man into the building.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He didn't trust Asif, and he would keep his eye on him. He betrayed them all once. He would betray them again. If it meant he could get an upper hand in life, he would definitely think on it. Slade had originally just been outside to get some fresh air so to speak. He didn't need to sleep. He could be up for a couple more days before he would actually need any form of rest. That's when he noticed Asif wandering off to drop a body off in an alley, behind a dumpster most likely.

He could tell that the feeling was mutual. Asif didn't like him either. But most likely for different reasons. He knew that his presence gave the young man a bit of what one would call the jitters. He had to admit, he did find that amusing.

He actually prefered the cocky newer addition over Asif.

To be honest however, other then facing off against the Titans, it had been awhile since he been surrounded by a group of youths. In some ways it was rather refreshing. Albeit quite a few of his men within his own military were young, but he hardly ever had to deal with them.

These kids however were not part of some sort of military, although he couldn't quite tell who or what Sariel worked for, it did seem she had more control over things and that her higher ups did indeed trust her to do things on her own, and she definitely had a more of a military background then the rest of her little team. He figured one day he'd find out since her and Robin seemed to be quite close these days. She really wasn't the type to tell all about herself, although she seemed to tell enough to get people to believe her. But he knew there was far more to her then what she lead on. In the end it didn't matter, the only thing that did matter when it came to Sariel was Robins interest in her. The boy would make alliances. Over the years some would stick, most would fail. It would be interesting to see the two interact ten years from now. Would they be allies still, or enemies?

Again it didn't matter, all that did was Robin's loyalties to him. Not to his little friends.

However, at the end of the day these "kids" were different then the Titans. They were not molded to be the good guys, they didn't want to be heros. They just wanted to live, and that is what drove them. Wasn't that what drove everyone? The unfortunate part of these kids was that life had been cruel to them at some point and somehow they all got involved with wars and the killing game.

Shame really. But he wasn't going to get sympathetic.

He would still need to get back soon enough. But for now he would let Robin take the reigns and decided on what he wanted to do next. If this ben Elohim was as big as threat as they were sounding, he to would want them out of the way. Not all things were meant to last forever.

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Don't worry things will pick up eventually, more action and whatnot to come. It's just a slow period atm. They all got to get their shit together kinda moments. XD

Anywho...

PLS PLS REVEIW! I'll give ya cookies and gold stars and I'll let you pet my cat. His name is Max and he actually loves cuddles.

See you all later!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: 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!

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

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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

Chapter Text

Original FF N/A: HEY GUYS!

I forgot to tell you all something cool, for my birthday I got sent to FanExpo, best birthday pressie ever. Anywho I got to see and meet and shake hands with Mr. Ron Perlman. That's right, I shook hands with Slade. XD Thought I'd share that because it was kinda cool. *Also no one else can play Hellboy, seriously the new movie is gonna suck*

I wanna Thank you guys so much for everything! I know I say it every chapter but no really thank you. To be honest I never expected anyone to ever read this thing or it to get so far. So thank you again!

Everyone else: Thank you so much! Here everyone gets to pet my kitty! *inserts Max*

Anywho ONWARDS right...

EDIT:Originally update on FFnet around 2018 maybe???

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"Hold it steady" He shuffled on his feet, digging them deep into the sand. He probably shouldn't do that and he mentally scolded himself. If he had to move, getting out of the sand however easy, could still slow him down by a few seconds. And a few seconds sometimes is all that it took.

"Steady."

The gun felt heavy in his hands, but not so unfamiliar. They were all preparing for their trip to Berlin, it would take awhile until they were ready. Sariel wanted to make sure everything was perfect before heading out, which he didn't blame her for. One mistake and they could all wind up dead.

"Steady..."

Slade had set up a few bottles and cans on a stone wall, it was low enough to be a fence. Perhaps at one point it was a part of a much larger fortress, but now all that remained was the remnants of a once larger structure as the sands devoured it whole. With a sigh the former hero took in the sights before him, what lay ahead was his makeshift targets and endless desert. Slade thought it best to take Robin a bit outside of town. While close enough to walk back within less then five minutes. The locals would hear the gunshots, but none seemed to worry so much about it. The gun itself was one of the pieces that Sariel had littered around her little house.

"Do as I taught you and fire at the glass bottle on the right."

Robin sighed and did as instructed. Pulling the trigger, hoping he had hit his target he then instantly regretted looking. He missed.

"I don't get how Sariel does this with such ease."

"Sariel has been shooting a gun since she was a child. You just started."

He was correct. It was actually just yesterday that Slade finally allowed him to fire the weapon. The first few days Slade instructed him on all the various parts that made up the gun, how to put them together and how to dismantle it. He drilled Robin on that for awhile, got him to rip it apart and put it back together again. He was also taught basic care for any firearm. The next was how to defend yourself against any kind gun. A lot of that part Robin already knew from his days in Gotham. Once all that was out of the way, Slade put the gun in his hands, set up a makeshift firing range and here they were.

And after all this, he missed.

"But I can throw a bird-a-rang at anything, I never miss."

"Your skill in your use of throwing knives, or bird-a-rangs as you call them, is a great skill Robin. But firing a gun is a bit different. It's more of a fixed aim I suppose. Although firing a gun is not any easier then throwing a knife. It is a different mind set."

Robin slumped his shoulders.

"Remember the horseshoes?"

Robin looked to the man and arched a brow. "Yea...?"

"Fixed aim. When throwing a blade your body is more in motion, you have to apply enough strength to get the blade from point A to B. Your fingers have to let go of the blade at the right time. In many ways that is much like the horseshoes, but remember you had to look on dead ahead at the peg in the ground. When wielding a gun your not throwing a blade, concentrate on your target, look dead on to your target, prepare for the recoil and keep moving. Fix your aim, you're to used to thinking ahead of when and if your blade will come into contact. The bullet will hit, you just have to lock onto what you want it to hit."

Robin nodded and raised the weapon to try again.

"Steady yourself, look dead on at your target, they are never to leave your sight. Then pull that trigger."

BANG!

He heard it, the glass shattered. A smile crossed his features. "What do you know."

Slade placed his hands behind his back and looked to Robins now shattered target then back to the boy. "See what happens when you actually listen?"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So far so good. Gus had played the role on the phone well enough. He got in contact with one of their people, told him that Sariel wanted to trade the Legacy for something of value and within the next week they had a meeting set up. Sariel knew however they would already be planning their demise, their deaths scheduled as soon as they walked in the door. So she had Gus set the meeting up in one of their local pubs, they had a few of them specifically for the type of trade they were going to do. Many of the bars were old in Berlin, many of them with rooms above or below the main floor. Perfect for any kind of secret meeting. Pubs were a normal thing, they were anywhere and everywhere. In many truths they were the perfect cover. Especially in a city like Berlin.

There was no doubt that everyone in there would be a member of the ben Elohim of some sort. Lowbies, but it would allow them to cause some havoc on the way out, make it look like at the last minute the deal was off, they would send all their people after them, they would probably get shot in or around the pub, and Aurora would move on with the fake Legacy. Giving them the opportunity they would need.

If it all went to plan that is, and like everything else in her life, Sariel already knew it would not go as planned. Which is why she had the back up plan. That plan, well it was a little rough, it would have to be something she would make up on the way.

Giving out a yawn she rubbed her eyes. She had not slept well the night before. She was anxious. Nervous. This plan could very well work, but it also could get them killed. She talked it over with everyone. Asif was insistent that she not go and meet them but it was kind of cowardly not to show up at this point. She'd have to go with another. And Robin instantly volunteered. At first she disagreed, but the kid was persistent.

So she said yes.

Who was she to say no to a kid that so wanted to march into the arms of his own death. Although she knew Robin better then that. But still, this time around she couldn't completely cover for him. Which is probably why Slade was out there teaching him the basics on using a firearm.

They were not going to just go in there to knock a few people out, if these guys were going to go down they would have to stay down. No one could follow them, no one could alert Aurora to their plan. They would have to kill as many as they could and sneak around the rest.

"Boss."

Her tired eyes turned to see Asif standing above her, she was sitting down in the living room, lost in thought. "How the hell did he sneak up on me like that? I must be more tired than even I realize." she mused to herself.

"Yes?" she rubbed her eyes.

"Take a nap."

"I can't."

"Look Sar, if we are going to do this, we gotta leave in two days, so we can set up shop in Berlin. Once we are there then you can start to worry. But for now leave the trip planning and all that to Gus and I ok? You look tired."

She huffed. "Didn't know you cared after everything you have done little traitor."

"You would of done the same."

"Perhaps, but only to fool them. I know were I stand, and whom I stand with."

Asif sighed, he knew he had lost a great amount of trust with Sariel, but he would work to gain it back. "I was wrong. I'm sorry. You know I'm sorry."

She closed her eyes. "It's going to take time Asif."

He only nodded. "I know."

"Your sister wouldn't of been so proud of you, you know that right?"

"Yes, I know."

She sighed then stood up. "Perhaps you are right though. I'm going to take a nap." Asif only nodded as he watched Sariel move towards her bedroom.

"Give me time Sariel. I will win your trust again." he spoke only to himself.

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It was later in the evening when they were returning to their makeshift headquarters, Sariel did seem to have a thing for this little house. It wasn't large but it was big enough for anyone wanting to hide out for awhile. It sat on the edge of town and hard a bit of what one could almost call a yard. But it wasn't grass, it was just dirt and sand with a bit of a fence. The interior, however a bit rough around the edges, was nice enough inside to have marble floors to cool your feet down. But then again it also had old retro furniture from the late 80's or perhaps early 90's. He knew enough that nothing was really modern around these parts and Sariel probably just bought what she could to accommodate the house and it's guests. And while her couch was old, it wasn't uncomfortable. The atmosphere was kind of nice, cozy and well lived in one could say even though Sariel rarely visited. It was more of a safehouse for other allies of hers. Hence there was a lot of tech scattered about, computer parts and whatnot.

It was a safe haven for any who called Sariel friend and he briefly wondered if he would ever return here in a similar situation. Speaking of the woman where was she? All he saw was Asif and Gus who was currently clicking away at the computer.

"Do you ever think of them any more?"

Robin was in the kitchen when her heard the smooth voice of his master slip into his ear. He continued to watch Gus and Asif go about their evening. The kitchen was dark, the others knew he had come in but weren't paying much attention to him nor to Slade.

"What?" he turned to face his former adversary.

"You don't do you?"

Robin looked away, feeling ashamed. He knew what Slade was talking about.

"The Titans are like a very distant thought now, and once this is over so to will these three."

That made the boy frown, he really liked Sariel and company. "These people have made such a impact on my life tha-"

"And didn't the Titans?"

His shoulders slouched. "Yea..." Slade was right.

"In the end Robin, all you can do is look out for yourself. That is the number one rule in this game. While Sariel and her little friends you may call allies, in the long run it's best to only have ..."

Robin look up to the man with a bit of wonder, there was never any 'howevers' with the man.

Slades frame relaxed a little when he saw Robins posture change. "When one is in my condition of having a young apprentice, one must also think of them as well. You've always been a social bird Robin, it would be a shame to dismantle that ability which could draw in many allies when needed. So just be cautious of your acquaintances."

"If you're telling me to be careful just in case someone might betray me from the inside, I know all about that thanks to you." Robin scowled at the thought of Terra.

"Another lesson I have taught you."

"Whatever" Robin placed his things down on the kitchen counter before making his way out to the living room to stretch out on the old sofa. However he didn't stay there for long until Gus called him over to get him to look at something on the computer. Within moments the two were laughing at something playing on the screen.

Slade found amusement from the shadows. Robin was indeed the more social of the two. The boy could make friends anywhere and at anytime. It was a good trait, but it was also one that could land you in heaps of trouble in this world. Best to warn the boy, but also best to leave him to his own devices.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sariel had woken up awhile ago from her nap, however she didn't feel the need to leave her bed. So instead she stayed and had set up her laptop. She was going over current events to try and spot anything in which the ben Elohim were responsible for. There was many possibilities.

The fire in Yemen was still all over the news. Apparently there was some sightings of Batman in the area. Odd. Perhaps he was looking for Robin. But then again wasn't Robin pronounced dead from the whole Brotherhood of Evil fiasco?

Not that it really mattered to her. But why was he there of all places.

She thought she should tell Robin, but thought against it. She didn't need him wanting to go back there to find the Bat. She and the others didn't have that kind of time. Besides didn't he turn his back on the capes anyways.

She shrugged the whole idea away. If Robin really wanted to know about the Bats ongoings he could damn well google it himself. Plus he was pretty mad at Batman right now, pretty mad at that whole community actually. She sighed and swapped to another news stream.

This one had something going on about the Flash, how he saved the city at great cost. And at great risk. She sighed. Apparently the news only had super heros on tonight. "Of course" she muttered. "When do they ever show any real news of the rest of the world?"

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Ok ok I know short as well, but things are moving along! YAY! Plus RObin shot a gun! ooOOoooOOooo!

Anyone PLS PLS leave me a review and I'll give ya cookies! =D

Thanks everyone and be good out there

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: Hi guys!

I'm soooo sorry I haven't updated in awhile and I know that I keep saying life is a bitch and keeps getting in the way of my doing this story and yea... Life has really dumped on me and the hubs atm... so for the past two weeks... even though I had half of this done I just... couldn't do anything. Everything has been hectic and yea. Sorry guys. =(

But I'm gonna try and be positive and writing this story helps... so yea...

So ANYWHO I want to say a extra thank you to all my followers and and BIG HUGS to all my reviewers. You guys really really push me and even tho my grammar is horrible and whatnot just, yea thank you.

Anywho ON WITH THE STORY!

EDIT 03/29/2022: Fixing some typos and making it flow a bit better, also slowly starting to update this to A03

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It took awhile, but eventually they left Sariel's little house behind. Packed everything up and went to the nearest airport. And soon... desert turned into green. They were going to Europe. To Berlin. Or to be precise, the lions den.

Once back in civilization. It felt... weird. Like he almost didn't belong here. He was used to the sands and the dunes and that dreadful heat. Oh how he hated the heat in that vile place, but now as he stood here in Germany's capital he almost missed it. It was slightly chilly out, and he felt as if he was freezing. It was around midnight and they had just gotten off a plane.

"Grams has got a place we can use to set up shop." Sariel carried her luggage along as they exited the airport.

"Where exactly in Berlin?" Slade was mildly curious of the properties his old friend had acquired in her time, he knew she did have a thing for Berlin. Even though she wasn't quite the city person. But even he would admit, Berlin had a different atmosphere then say Paris or London. It wasn't so touristy, although the amount that came to the city was rather large, especially for Christmas. The markets always seem to draw a crowd.

"Spandau."

"Spandau?" Robin couldn't pronounce the word correctly but gave it his best shot regardless.

Sariel gave the former boy wonder a shrug and a smile. 'Yea. It's an old part of the city. It was originally just a village way back, but Berlin grew and now it's part it. Most of it hasn't changed since I'd say the early 1200's or so. The citadel is still there with an old fashioned drawbridge, towers and a fancy moat."

Asif yawned and looked on at his companions. "Can we please get to this place then?' He allowed another yawn and Sariel couldn't help but yawn herself. "Yes." she nodded. They were all tired, they could all use the rest.

"We'll have to get a taxi from here." the group started to head off to the so called Taxi area.

"Why don't we just rent a car?" Gus spoke up. His voice as loud as ever. Someone slept very well on the plane. Sariel hoped he wouldn't get any kind of jet lag later on.

"Yea, like I'm gonna let you rent a car after what you did to the last one." Gus shrugged. "That and a couple of other deposits I'll never get back because of you."

"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad."

"The first one you blew up on some bridge out in the middle of India of all places."

"I was in a bit of a snare, so I blew up the jeep and the guys who were shooting at me to smithereens."

"The second was a 4x4 we took out into Mexico and it to got blown up... again. We had to go on by foot from there, and the third you left out in the water after you nearly ran through Versailles."

"But I fly the helicopter good." He frowned.

"Apparently that is the only thing you can do well then." It was Asif that stepped up this time to take a jab at his friend. Gus slumped his shoulders in defeat and put his hands in his pockets.

"Fine then, don't look at all the other times I drove us away to safety."

Robin couldn't help but laugh as he walked through the airport, Slade ahead of him and Sariel and the others behind. He had is passport pulled out, since once you got off the plane the airports customs was right there ready to stamp your passport and the conveyor belt was just beyond that. It all seemed rather handy to say the least.

It was kind of odd that no one recognized him. He was a bit worried about that, but that was before looking at the name on the passport itself. Richard Wilson. Slades last name. He guessed it was the perfect cover. Someone normally of his age would be travelling around with his parental figure, and most would recognize him if it said Richard Grayson. And while he had a recognizable face they wouldn't question it if his passport told a different story.

If this had happened the first time around, Robin would of been furious. But he understood they had to smuggle themselves in and around between different countries. A different name was needed. Perhaps it was time for a change for everything.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Spandau was indeed as Sariel had said it to be. Medieval. It was like he had stepped back in time. The little town of Spandau welcomed them with the lovely sight of the area all lit up. It was about two in the morning when they finally arrived. It took awhile to get a taxi and it was a bit of a drive out. Or in he should say. Spandau may seem like a separate entity from the city, but it was indeed just another area of Berlin as a whole. He was bagged and he should be sleeping, but here he was, in a nice cozy bedroom all to himself looking out onto the quiet streets below.

The streets were old, the buildings were old. He'd been to Europe before, although Berlin wasn't a place he had stayed at for very long in the past. He much liked the charm of the setting around him, it would seem he never gave the German city much credit in the past. The city itself was calm and he felt strange having gone from cities where the people have next to nothing, their homes were bombed all the time, to some place like Berlin that had the same thing happen to it over 70 years ago. Apparently by the end of the war there was nothing left of capital. They had to rebuild everything, and still are from what he had seen. Especially some of the older parts of the old East Berlin. When the Russians were in charge nothing was taken care of. The city and it's people were left to rot. And even back then the people had to do the work themselves. No Superman to the rescue.

They themselves took that wall down, and in time the east flourished. It was a lesson. You cannot restrain people. They will revolt.

A wall was never the answer.

Robin frowned at the idea of so many families being torn from one another. The US, UK and Russia were so afraid that Germany would start another world war. But what they didn't understand that tyrants can come from anywhere.

Robin sighed. Sariels grandmother had a lovely little apartment right in the middle of town. The building was old. He didn't question how old however. Everything in Europe was older then you thought it was. The whole apartment was rather large, like she had just taken half of a whole floor and remodeled it, making it into one large apartment. The place literally had everything. Weapons room, training rooms, two kitchens, multiply bathrooms and bedrooms, a tactical room, and one very large living room. Very modern but all the while keep that old look. Actually if he had to guess he would say the building was from the 17th century. So it was "newer" compared to the rest of the little so called medieval town.

"Wow I thought you'd be out like a light."

Robin turned and found Gus standing in the door. "Not much of a sleeper are you?" Robin chuckled a bit before shaking his head. "No, I'm really not."

Gus shrugged. "I know that, I never sleep. Up all night, usually clicking away at the laptop or ya know just goofing around. Sleep doesn't seem to be an option open to me so you know, I just roll with it. Helps get a lot of work done at least."

"I suppose"

"Sooo... what do you think?"

"On?"

"The soft and fluffy sheets, no the plan dumby." Gus took a seat in one of the vacant chairs and nonchalantly crossed his legs.

"It is risky, but I can see it working."

"Yea... Sariel always goes for the big bang way of doing things. I think she likes the attention."

Robin chuckled. "Yea she does seem to go to some extremes."

"I'm a little worried though." For someone that seemed so upbeat, to hear worry in his tone. It in return worried him.

"Why?" Robin looked over to his friend. "I'm sure she's got it covered."

Gus smirked. 'Yea she usually does, I just got this bad feeling you know. She went to deep last time. How far is she willing to go now? She gets this idea stuck in her head and she doesn't easily let it go you know. Taking down the ben Elohim won't be easy. Sometimes I wonder why we even bother?"

"Because if you don't no one else will."

Robin looked at Gus with a serious dark gleam in his eyes. "No one is going to come save the day for you or us rather. We have to do it ourselves."

Gus only smiled at his shorter companion. "You're right. We got a job to do and it's time to get it done. Buuut... I still worry about her." Robin nodded. "I'm going in with her, that was already decided. I'll help her out. All you gotta do is pull the trigger on us..."

"Yea, I suppose over the next few days I'm gonna have to smuggle myself into their little gang. That's going to be fun." He let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. "Sooo much fun."

"Gotta be the tough guy for once huh?"

"Heeeeyyyy I can be tough to you know. I've been in a few fisticuffs in my time."

"A few?"

"Used to get into scraps all the time as a kid, then I got myself into the business hacking into shit, nearly got arrested a couple of times. But I fought them off, punched a few of the cops and ran away. As bloody far as I could."

"Really?"

"Yea! Bastards were gonna pepper spray me, that shit stings you know."

"I wouldn't know." he smiled.

"Well maybe one day I'll surprise you with one, then you'll know what true pain is." Gus gave out a rather loud laugh. Then suddenly there was a pounding on the wall beside them, and a faint and muffled, "Will you keep it down in there some people are trying to sleep." The two laughed. Apparently they had been keeping Sariel up.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was rather ironic that they were in Berlin of all places. Slade used to do a lot of work here. Lots of contracts were fulfilled in this city. Lots of euro had filled his pockets. It seemed like a lifetime ago now.

But never had Jillian ever shown him this little gem in the city. He had been allies with her for years, and he always found her in that damn cabin in the woods. Although he knew she owned property other then the woodland area in France, since she had talked about it before. But to this extent... well he was going to have a few questions for her about it once he saw her again.

Slade looked out onto the city. Berlin was massive and it held many secrets, and although he hadn't been here in awhile he did have various small bases all over the world, including Germany's capital. Tomorrow, while his apprentice and his friends plotted and schemed, he would go and retain a few of his own supplies for the attack to come. As well as his uniform and Robins new one as well. He had already spoken to Will ahead of time and had some of his men drop off some supplies to the city.

It would be interesting in the days to come, for Robin to wear Slades colors so willingly. Everyone would know who he was, who he stood with now, and they would all know who he had betrayed and they would all fear him. And Slade would delight in that tiny little fact.

They would fear Robin. As soon as reports filtered in to the Justice League, and they would, and they saw him there in Deathstroke's colors... Oh he would love to be a fly on a wall in that room.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So that's it for now, I'll have some more for you guys soon and hopefully not like a two week period of no updates. Again I've never sorry

PLS PLS PLS Review and let me know what you think.

Take care and be good everyone.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: First off... I AM SO SORRY, it's been like nearly 2 months. My bad. Things got crazy, and then there was CHRISTMAS and yea. I hope everyone did have an awesome christmas tho! And just think we're only a few more days until New Years!

Anywho to all my peoples you are awesome, thank you for reading this, anyone that has found this and even tho I haven't updated in like 2 months and if yer reading it, thank you.

My reviewers yer awesome and seriously I wish I could express more how much I appreciate you guys! I actually feel so bad for not updating because of you guys.

EDIT 03/30/2022: Fixed some typos and moving over to A03

Anywho... I'll shut up and let's MOVE ON WITH THE STORY!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They had five days to get ready. Five days and they would meet Aurora face to face. They had a lot to prepare for. Gus would infiltrate himself into their little gang of nobodies that were everywhere in this damn city. Asif would be their sniper in case things really got out of hand. Robin and Sariel would be going in themselves. And Slade volunteered to be behind the computer screen, which made Gus a bit sad since that was normally his job.

In the meantime they had to plan their attack out thoroughly, all the while making sure that the ben Elohim were oblivious to the fact that they were planning anything at all. This proved difficult, since they had eyes everywhere. Jillian had assured her granddaughter however that the tactical room was state of the art, any plans should be discussed within those walls. Thus Sariel took her grandmothers words to heart and that tactical room became more lived in then most other areas of the apartment.

Now was even such an occasion. Gus had come to make a report as Sariel had sipped on some fresh coffee.

"I had to go and beat the living shit out of some poor kid... guy must of been like sixteen. What the fuck is wrong with these people?" the young man pulled up a chair beside his friend before sitting himself down.

Sariel looked to Gus, intrigued by his so called adventures getting into one of the little gangs around town.

"Why would they do that?" Sariel was genuinely intrigued.

"Kid owed them money... but damn. I get it, pay up. But it seemed kind of crude to make a newbie like me to beat the shit outta the poor kid."

Sariel frowned, the kid in question was probably borrowing money to pay for drugs, and the gangs were king when it came to any kind of drug deals. Shame really.

"You know once I fully get into this lil' club, you won't see my handsome face for awhile."

"I know, just be good, play along."

"Bastards will probably put me on call for everything..." he frowned at the mere thought of constantly being on call to do their dirty work.

"Do what it takes to get up there. Like last time with those jerks in France."

"Yea yea... I know the drill lady. Don't got to tell me."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade stood there for a moment reminiscing, looking through this old building, a small but complex haunt underground. It had been a very long time since he had last been here. And the place held some good and some bad memories. The soldiers he had posted here were indeed just as Will had told him they would be. Terrified. He never visited, it was usually Will he sent out this way to check up on things. But never himself. So one can assume how all the soldiers felt the moment he walked in the door unannounced.

They scuttled out of this way as fast as they could when they saw him walking down the corridor. Their feet probably never moved so fast in their lives.

He would be lying if he said it didn't amuse him.

Overall the base seemed to be all in good order as expected. It was fully functional, and they handed their reports in on a regular basis. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Which did in a way worry him.

If this was the ben Elohim's hometown so to speak, then why hadn't any of his men noticed anything out of the ordinary? But he knew that if he had control over the city, he too would make sure it would seem that everything was normal. So normal that any private military in the area or even to go as far as the countries own forces wouldn't notice a damn thing.

In all honesty he didn't expect much during his brief visit to the old base. Berlin was more of an outpost where he sent new recruits, it was a city base, nothing abnormal was expected to happen. It was more for keeping eyes on the city itself, and the countries government and worldly activities. All information was valuable.

Slowly Slade made his way to what would be considered his own private area of the base. The men around him only spoke to him on a professional basis, probably too scared to do anything else. But soon enough he found himself alone, which he was thankful for. The men he kept around in his home bases knew him much better, they gave him respect, and while still somewhat fearful of him, they didn't scurry away at the mere sight of him.

Opening up a few cabinets build into the walls, he soon found what he was looking for. He pulled out the duffle bag, opened it and put it aside. He would be filling it soon enough.

He saw his own uniform waiting there for him and he was glad for it. Casual clothing, while still military, were somewhat getting to him. They were lighter colors, and Slade much preferred his black. And while he couldn't wait to don the mask again, there was something else that caught his eye.

His hand reached for it and he gingerly pulled it into the light.

A uniform for his apprentice.

Again the idea of Robin willingly wearing his colors put a smile on his face. The boy would make the news eventually that's for sure. And what would the dear Batman think of his former son wielding a gun? Killing people? He was sure one day they would meet again and what would the Bat think of Robins new outlook on life?

It was not something he would miss that was for sure.

Happily, Slade placed the article of clothing into the backpack, along with the metal guards that went along with it and the utility belt. The outfits design itself was new, and while it still resembled Slade's own, it was not a remake of the old one from Robins first apprenticeship.

Soon after Slade placed his own equipment and a few new toys into the bag before closing it up and throwing it over his shoulder.

When he left he was sure the soldiers were glad for it.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin had more or less kept to himself and trained. The punching bag had sure taken more of a beating from him then it probably had in the past while.

His mind wasn't so much of a mess when training. Usually he was a bit stressed but for once he was not completely in charge of an operation, the lead this time being Sariel. But he still felt the pressure to make things run smooth, and since the very moment Sariel had launched this idea, he had been helping her smooth out the wrinkles. In a way, he put himself to be just as much in lead as Sariel. While it was her idea, the two of them were both calling the shots, or so it felt like. And while getting everything prepared was indeed stressful, it wasn't the same kind of stress he felt when leading the Titans.

There wasn't these huge uncalled for expectations.

The entire world's eyes weren't on him anymore, ready to object to anything he would try to say or do. That burden seemed to have been lifted from his shoulders.

And he didn't have to keep trying to prove himself to Bruce, over and over again to feel like he had failed time and time again. Slade so willingly accepted him for who he was, what he was, and that he had made mistakes. And told him that those mistakes can be rectified. It did kind of scare him how much he actually believed Slade for that.

If there was any stress, he would admit it wasn't coming from the operation. It was however, from any lingering guilt he felt for betraying Bruce, but yet at the same time... he couldn't wait to tell the Bat to shove it.

Robin would always carry a piece of Batman with him, the great detective did teach him some amazing things that would remain embedded until the day he died. And he knew that whatever Slade would teach him would also remain with him for many years to come. He wondered if in the end would he become some sort of villain with Batman's sense of justice wrapped around with Slade's logic.

"All in time." he thought. Later on down the road he figured he'd find out one way or another. Presently he knew he'd have to start making the best of this situation for himself as well. There wasn't any going back, not that he wanted to. But he also knew that in the long run he was going to have to make name for himself. Just being Slade's apprentice wasn't enough, while the title would give him all that he had wanted, for Slade he knew it wasn't enough. Slade didn't want a robot, he wanted an apprentice. He wanted a heir, someone to stand next to him. He wanted Richard Grayson, not Robin. Not the cape.

"Hey"

Robin turned from the punching bag to see Asif standing in the doorway. "Huh?" was all he could say.

"Slades back, he wants to see you."

Robin nodded, "I'll be there in a minute." Robin started to unravel the bandage from his hands.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

No leads.

Dead end.

Everyone he had talked to, even the ones that said they had seen Robin, didn't have any good leads on to where he went.

There was nothing. It was like he just up and vanished.

He felt hopeless, and for him that was something.

All that he knew was that Robin got on a helicopter and went... where? He didn't know. The helicopter was one of "theirs", it belonged to the people that razzed the city. From the looks of it, it seemed Deathstroke and the others Robin was with had stolen it and left. But from other reports it was said that the helicopter came to pick them up.

Was Robin with these terrorists?

Had they something to do with Deathstroke?

"If you were to go anywhere to get out of this area, to escape a civil war... to lay low. They couldn't have gone far."

Alfred was woken up again at an ungodly hour. But he never protested besides a few yawns.

"They would of escaped to somewhere else within the middle east sir."

"Seems logical."

"Hidden in plain sight."

"Hrmmmm... How long does a standard helicopter last in the air Alfred?"

"I would say about three to four hours sir. Depending on how much fuel they have."

"Alright so they would of probably left Yemen, and stopped for gas somewhere in Saudi Arabia. The next stop after that would be... Syria."

"And then where then sir?"

"If your going to escape one civil war, why not lay low in another?"

"And Syria is having difficult times indeed, do you really think he's there sir?"

"Only one way to find out."

Alfred nodded and yawned. "I do hope you are correct Master Bruce, the sooner we can get him home the better. I don't like to think of him out there."

"Neither do I Alfred."

"Be safe Master Bruce."

And with that Batman cut the communication, letting his butler finally go back to bed. The batwing was on solid ground at the moment, but it wouldn't be for long. After Batman would gather any last tidbits of information he would leave and head to Syria. Hoping to find Robin. To find his son, and bring him home.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So the next time I'll post will probably be in the new year, I'm gonna try and sneak one in before then. Try is the keyword, but in the new year I'll be back at it.

Anywho let me know what you think, again this is kinda filler but soon we'll be seeing some action and Robin in a new attire looking awesome and flashy and shiny and sparkly... ok maybe not sparkly. That would be bad.

So yea PLS PLS review!

Love you guys, have a good one and be good!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: HEY ALL! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Yea I know it has long since past... *it's only been like 5 days guys so I'm still gonna say it =P*

SO I'm back at it again! I'm hoping to get more chapters pushed out there since things have slowed down at work. and I want to say a big thank you to all those that stuck around and were excited for when I posted something after like 2 months... yea that was horrible of me.

Again I'M SO SORRY! *bows*

As for you my reviewers! I love you guys, you make me want to keep posting! And I do want to see this to the end because A. OMG HEHEHEHE *thinks about the ending* and B. You all seriously deserve to get to that point, I will not abandon this story, even if I vanish for a couple months, I'll come back around.

So ANYWAYS ONWARD WITH THE STORY RIIIGHT!? Ok I'll shut up now...

EDIT 03/30/2022: Fixing typos and adding extra flow. Also moving it to A03

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin watched the bandage fall to the floor as he unraveled it from his hands. Like everything else in his life it crumpled to the floor in a weightless heap. He picked them up and tossed them into the garbage, he had a bit more where that came from.

Asif stood silently to the side, watching him, waiting for him to do something perhaps? The boy wasn't to sure about Asif these days, then again he never knew the kid... it was a strange relationship between them. He knew Asif just about as long as he had known Sariel... and yet with the woman, he felt he had known her for years. Asif... well he was a different playing field. One he thought he knew, one he felt somewhat sorry for when he fell into a path of betrayal back in that desert. But now... Robin wasn't too sure on what or how he felt about Asif.

He knew that he wanted to prove his loyalty to Sariel... but would that even be possible at this time? Robin wondered if Asif would ever recover from his mistakes. He guessed that would make two of them. Robin knew he had a lot to make up for.

There couldn't be any more mistakes.

He just hoped that Asif knew that as well.

Robin knew Sariel wouldn't let him off the hook so easily the next time. If he ever thought of betraying them again she would probably put the bullet into his head herself. No, Asif especially couldn't afford to make any mistakes. And he knew it all too well.

"Where is he?" Robin looked to his lone companion.

Asif shrugged. "He said for you to meet him in his quarters."

Robin only nodded before trying to leave his colleague behind. It was then that Asif caught him by his wrist and stopped the young man in his tracks. Not liking the idea of being grabbed, Robin looked to Asif and glared. His blue eyes giving off a warning themselves.

"What?"

Asif only returned the look, his eyes steady, a spark of curiosity.

"Why do you side with him? You had it all. You were the hero..."

Robin pulled his wrist out of Asif's hands. "Why don't you mind your own business."

Robin was about to take his leave but Asif kept inputting his comments. "You could of gone home, back to the Bat, back to your team, back to a home. So why not? I want to know."

"You want to know why I stay?"

"Yes."

"Fine, I stay because we have a dirty traitor in our midst, I stay because I worry that you will put a gun to Sariel's head in her sleep. I stay with Slade because now I realize that the world isn't just heroes and villains playing along in some grand scheme of things. I stay because the world isn't so black and white, someone has to be the grey to get shit done. Slade can give me newer and better opportunities. But most of all I stay because I'm goddamn tired of this filthy world and it's unrealistic expectations. I could go on and on... But I think I made my point."

Asif only nodded in the boy's direction before Robin stormed off down the hall.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade had asked of Asif a simple task, not to anger the boy. Robin tapped on the door and was allowed entry but he could tell the boy was somewhat disgruntled.

"Asif said you wanted to see me?" Robin sneered.

Disgruntled indeed. "Is that any way to speak to your master?"

"Whatever Slade."

The mastermind would have sighed if not for Robin actually being in the same room as him. "Did you two exchange words?"

Robin took the bait. "He just doesn't get it, I don't know why Sariel brought him along with us."

"So you did have a conversation with the young man I assume."

"It was more one sided."

Slade looked to his apprentice and could see Robin in his mind yelling at Asif, punching him perhaps? Letting his temper get the better of him. He vaguely wondered what exactly happened between the two to make Robin be in such a foul mood. "I see." was all the man said before strolling over to the duffel bag that had been seemingly tossed on the bed.

"So what's up? You wanted to see me?" Robin had his arms crossed as he watched Slade's movements.

"I did, although I'm still ensure as to how you will react."

"React?" Robin became highly curious at that point, trying to see what exactly Slade was now pulling out of the duffel bag. From the looks of it, it just seemed to be the mastermind's uniform. Mask and all.

But what Slade pulled out last... "What... is that?"

Slade looked at him, not even missing a beat. His monotone voice slithered through Robin's memories of his first apprenticeship under the criminal. "Your own uniform."

"Ok..."

Slade passed it to the boy and Robin surprisingly took it without a hint of regret. "Try it on, I need to see if it fits, although it should. I had it specifically made for you." Robin only nodded before taking the uniform and heading towards the room's private bathroom.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sariel was in the tactical room, her eyes never leaving the screens before her. She had to make sure everything ran smooth as bloody silk. Therefore she really shouldn't be drinking. But she was stressed. And a few rum and cokes wouldn't hurt.

Once again she found herself delving into the files she had stolen. Information, The Legacy... was it just money? Or was it something more?

The legend and the stories and whatever else she could find on the Legacy always spoke of it as simply being a fortune. Untold treasures from empires of old. Many even said it contained long lost artifacts.

She did know they had a huge... no, massive sum of wealth. That sole reason was how they could continue on in the fashion in which they had been doing. But for how long? "Too long." she muttered to herself.

Something nagged at her however. If the legacy was just money and they being the top of the top people of the world. Why not just take the money back? Steal it back? Hack the banks blind?

It didn't make any sense.

The money wasn't important, it was a commodity easily obtained. There was something else.

She had Gus go through the files a million and a thousand times, and everything looked to be in order. It was just basic files. History files. Nothing specific. Lots of information, sure... but all old information. Nothing that she nor Gus could see that they could use against them.

But there had to be something.

They wanted the Legacy back, they wanted Sariel herself to deliver it.

She frowned. Something told her that the Legacy wasn't just a large lost trove of gold.

Information was always key to anything and everything. And here she was staring into files upon files of information on the Ben Elohim. So what was it? Surely they had back up files... So what was so important in this small piece of the Legacy?

Sariel closed her eyes only to open them again after a few moments. She sighed and picked herself up again. Slowly she contemplated everything over in her mind again and again as she walked to the mini fridge and pulled out a two liter bottle of coke, filled her glass half full, then opened the bottle of Rum that sat on top of the small table next to the fridge and filled the remaining bit of the glass with Rum.

Walking back to her laptop she placed the glass next to her work area and sat back down. There was something missing to the puzzle, and she would find it.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

To be honest, Robin was expecting this eventually.

He sat there in the bathroom and looked at the uniform. It was mostly black, but it was seemingly missing the metal neck guard, which he was thankful for. He hated that thing the last time around, it annoyed him how heavy it was.

The uniform was a once piece suit, much like his old red and green uniform. The collar was high but not unusually so. However, this time it sported a zipper in the front which lead down his middle to a bit passed his chest. Slade had only given him metal shoulder and arm guards. From the looks of it Slade didn't want to bog him down with to much metal. Unlike the last time.

The utility belt was empty but it was pretty much the same as the last one he had. The uniform itself was almost all black. The only two things that were much akin to his last apprentice uniform was the one side being orange, this time the color ran halfway down his leg and ended before his knee, and the other being the metal 'S' that would be placed over his heart while wearing it. Robin briefly wondered if this was just a Slade thing or if the metal on his chest actually had any tactical advantage or protection.

Sighing, Robin put the uniform on not wanting to keep the mastermind waiting. Once done he tugged on his steel toed boots, which actually reminded him of the ones he had while he was a Titan, then he tugged on the gloves. The armaments went on next, the belt last.

Robin looked at himself in the mirror.

It was odd. The last time he was dressed up like this he would have done anything to rip off the damn uniform and toss it in the fire. But now... now he was just amazed at how comfortable it was and rather how odd it was being back in this sort of get up after he had been wearing some sort of standard military issued clothing for so long.

Opening the door Robin walked out and found a very pleased Slade. "Looks like it fits?"

"Yea... But..."

"But what?"

Robin shrugged. "I dunno how I'm gonna get used to the whole Kevlar thing again."

Slade chuckled at the boy. "In time it will feel like home all over again."

The boy wanted to flinch, but didn't. "I suppose." He still wasn't used to this side of Slade. The one that chuckled and made snide non threatening remarks. Although he was sure that this newer side of Slade was just another layer of the man, and that he would find more and more layers the longer he stayed with him. Slade may have been more 'friendlier' with him, but that in no way made him less dangerous.

The mastermind turned his back to the boy before grabbing one last item from the duffel bag and handing it to him.

Robin looked down on what Slade had put into his hands and saw that it was his mask. No, not his usual domino mask, it was the same one from his first apprenticeship. So much like his own, yet the the sharp tips on each end were definitely not part of his original mask. Robin mentally noted that he still had his mask from his hero days, it was folded up and placed in a drawer with a few other unmentionables. And while the old mask was still sentimental to him he knew he'd never wear it again.

Robin placed the newer mask over his eyes and he suddenly felt safe again. The domino mask always did that. He looked up to Slade. "So does it make it look complete?"

The mastermind looked on at the boy before replying, "Very much so Apprentice." Robin only smirked in response.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Gus had gotten in, maybe gotten in too deep. Maybe he was too good at this damn job. Should have gotten Asif to do it. Not him, no, he didn't want to do this anymore.

"She owes us a lot of money. Gus you listening to me?"

"Yea yea." He replied.

"Good." The larger more muscular man handed him a gun. "Kill her for me will ya?" Gus nearly gulped, he nearly backed out completely, went back to Sariel and told her to go fuck herself.

But this was for taking down the biggest, largest, society of them all that basically controlled it all as far as they knew. So he took the gun.

"Why you putting all this work on me?" Gus feigned annoyance.

It wasn't like Gus hadn't killed someone before. But, people that only owed money... people that were basically innocent. That he didn't do. He didn't want to... "Fuck." he thought. Sariel was counting on him.

He had to pull through.

He had to earn some sort of loyalty points with these assholes.

"How much she owe anyways?"

The other man grinned. "Oh about a thousand."

Gus cringed. "Death for a thousand dollars?" he mentally scolded these men.

"Fine whatever..." He sighed and acted uninterested. Gus walked right up to the woman who must have been in her early thirties, maybe late twenties, and he looked right at her. "I'm sorry, it's nothing personal."

BANG.

Her body slumped to the floor and Gus felt disgusted with himself.

The older man patted him on the back and told him "good job" and "great aim". Similar remarks were made from a couple of the others that were in the room.

Gus just looked at her slumped form. The blood slowly seeping from the wound that took her life. He frowned, there was nothing to be done about it. "Gus my man." a pat on the back. "Let's go for a beer, ja?"

Gus then smiled at the older man. "A bar you say?' the others laughed. "Yea, one of the best in town, and it's owned by us."

Now this was getting somewhere. A bar was Sariel's favored location for the drop off, he was supposed to get them to a place where they could do the swap. "Sounds great, I could use a cold one." Gus smiled at the others. One way or another he would get this set up in the way it needed to be done.

He took one last look at the body before leaving with his new formed 'friends'.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Alright! That's it for tonight!

Please please leave me a review and let me know what you think. I'll give ya cookies if ya dooo... *waves around a plate of cookies* They are fresh from the oven to!

Also let me know what you think of Robins new uniform? I always loved the original apprentice uniform... so I didn't want to stray to far from the original design.

Anyways you guys have a good night, be safe, and be good out there!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet A/N: HEY GUYS!

How's it going out there, you all doing good, you all being good? You better be good. Or else...

=D

Big hugs to all you reviewers, new and old. Seriously I will always say this... THANK YOU! Literally, I wouldn't of made it this far if it wasn't for all your kind words. Thanks again.

Honestly I never thought I'd make it this far or even meet some fabulous people through this... you have all proved me wrong. =)

EDIT 03/30/2022: Fixing up typos and whatnot

Anywho ON WITH THE STORY!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Three days left.

And they still had a lot to do. Although Gus, from the last he had contacted anyone, had gotten himself quite involved with the ben Elohim's little underground gangs. Although one could say he wasn't quite enjoying himself, he was getting to know all of their little secrets well enough.

Asif had stayed away from Robin since their little 'incident'. And honestly, Robin still wasn't sure where he stood on him anymore. Asif just didn't hold the same kind of value to him as he once did. He betrayed them once, he'd do it again. At least that is what the little voice in his head kept telling him. But there was another little voice that kept telling him to give Asif a second chance. Which made the boy question the whole ordeal a bit more then he would normally. With a sigh he shook the idea from his mind, the whole ordeal with Asif could wait until everything was settled.

Sariel however, had been steady at work. Never taking a moment for herself. As far as she was concerned this HAD to work. There wasn't much room for error here.

Robin often joined her. He knew well about the burden of leading a team just as much as she did. So to lessen the weight upon her shoulders he gave her a helping hand, feeling he had to have some involvement regardless.

"I heard you got a new suit." Sariel started to clean the table that was in the center of the tactical room. She had piled up a bunch of information in her search for answers, amongst the papers and her laptop she had a pile of books scattered about.

"Yea, it's weird getting back into the kevlar." He didn't ask if she needed assistance. He simply started helping her clear things away.

"I dunno, it's like riding a bike. Although I much prefer sweats and a baggy shirt to the so called 'sneaking suit'. While it breaths nicely enough it still gets awkward after awhile." Sariel mentally cringed at all the times she gotten sand in the suit.

Robin chuckled. "Yea, try wearing a cape."

"I thought you liked your cape."

"I did."

"No capes anymore?"

"Probably not, but maybe a long coat instead?"

"Stylish."

"So what's up with all the light reading?" he gestured to her stack of books.

Sariel shrugged. "A few things don't add up I suppose, doing some research."

"What doesn't add up?"

"The Legacy itself..."

Robin looked to his friend a bit confused. "Isn't it a bunch of money?"

"I dunno, the more I look into it, the more I'm not so sure. I think the money is part of it. It's what keeps them going. But why this deal? If they wanted the money back so bad they could of just taken it by now, right?"

Robin crossed his arms and put a hand to his chin in thought. "You're right, they could have. So if the Legacy isn't all about the fortune... then what is it?"

Sariel shook her head. "That's what I've been trying to wrap my head around, but I can't find anything. Gus did a good job on opening up all the files. And while it's a wealth of knowledge, it's kinda dated."

"Maybe it's the clues left within the historical articles?"

"I looked through a bunch already. I'm honestly not too sure. There is some stuff that doesn't add up, but there is also no connection to them that I can find."

"Huh... It's a bit of a dilemma then?"

The woman nodded. "Which is why we need more information. But for now I think I'm going to leave it be. All of that going through my head is not what I need right now."

"So when we do get more knowledge of them and their past, mind if I take a look? I might be able to solve a thing or two."

Sariel smiled at her friend. A bit of the old Robin was shining through. "You're more than welcome to. In the meantime, Gus sent us something."

Robin watched as Sariel picked up a cardboard tube. "What exactly did he send?" The package intrigued him.

There was a reason why she was clearing the table, it was to make room for this. Opening up the tube she pulled out a bunch of large rolled up papers. Discarding the tube she placed the papers onto the now clean table and unrolled them to reveal blueprints to what looked like a bar, and maps of the surrounding area, and all sorts of other various information. Including a couple USB drives, which she guessed would be more intel on gangs and their on-goings.

"Gus got us blueprints?" Robin seemed kind of impressed.

Sariel only nodded. "This guy can get anything, he's much better at the computer game, but being a sneaky bugger... he's great at that to. So yes, Blueprints."

Robin smirked at the idea of Gus smuggling these out. "Now we can really start planning the actual 'drop off'."

"Yeeep."

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He took it a lot better than he thought he would. Robin didn't turn away from the suit in disgust. Instead the boy wore it with a smirk on his face, and a bounce in his step. It seemed the boy truly had decided where his place was.

And Slade was all the happier for it.

The only problem at this point was the Bat. The damned caped crusader had made his way to Syria already. Although from the looks of it, the Bat didn't have any general direction, Syria was big country, and for all the cape knew he was still there with Robin. While Batman was on their trail, the mastermind knew it would take the caped crusader awhile yet to catch up. Slade had his old friend keep tabs on Gotham's protector. And the moment Wintergreen knew of the Bat's whereabouts, he gave Slade the news. He could hear the worry in Will's voice. Although he assured his old friend that they were halfway across the world by now, that didn't ease Wintergreens' mind however. And Slade knew that Will had every right to be somewhat concerned.

If the Bat could find his way to Syria, he would find his way to Berlin as well. And that would most defiantly cause a problem, and in many various ways.

Robin and his little friends were going after a very dangerous secret society, and Robin was fully involved with taking them down. He doubted at this point even the Bat could persuade him to stop this endeavor.

Regardless, having the Caped Crusader in the middle of a heated fight with these ben Elohim could get nasty. Batman was coming for Robin, and Slade knew Robin wouldn't be going back anytime soon, although there was still that nagging idea of the boy running back to Gotham. Shaking his head, that idea was quickly tossed aside. No, Robin wanted this. He wanted this fight, he had even asked to be shown how to shoot a gun - how to kill someone. The boy was planning for a better future already, by simply asking Slade for direction. And it was only a matter of time before Robin put what he had learned to use. Then what would Batman do? Put Robin in jail? Slade mentally scoffed at the idea. "Oh probably. He rather let Robin rot in a cell for shooting a man who deserved it, then put the skills to use."

That was the thing about the superheroes. They saved people, and put the 'bad guys' in jail. Only to have the criminals get out of jail a few days later and do harm once again. Slade had a better idea of how to deal with those types.

Put a bullet in their head.

Then you don't have to deal with them ever again.

In the meantime he had to keep Batman busy, and perhaps put his men to some use and have them lay various clues that could perchance lead the Bat away from Europe as a whole. Which would mean another phone call to Will. Which would also mean some more nagging from the old man. Sighing, Slade swiped his phone and dialed a number, knowing full well that Wintergreen would probably be in the middle of something and probably be annoyed at the phone call.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was sometime after dinner.

They all had little time to spare. So to be prepared for any fight Robin took to the gym and trained. There had been a lot of things on his mind lately. Punching a few things might ease his thoughts. Or at least that was the idea.

Ever since he got out of that god forsaken desert and came back to civilization, he thought of the Titans and Bruce. Not in the way he once did however. Presently he found himself angry at them.

He was pronounced dead, by pretty much every paper in the world. But what did that mean exactly? Did they just not find a body and simply stated that he was gone? What the hell did Bruce think of that? The Titans, his own damn team, reporting to him that he was dead and gone. Did they ever think to look for him? He and Raven shared a link, although he had boarded that part of his mind away from her by now, but he questioned as to why hadn't she used it before? If she had reached out when he was still in that desert, before the fires... What the hell did Bruce do after hearing the news? He must of known he wasn't gone. There was no body. Maybe it was Bruce that announced him dead. That was the more likely story. Didn't he ever think of searching for him as well? Was he somewhere out there searching for him? To 'bring his son home'?

Robin scoffed at the idea of 'going home'.

There was no home for him there anymore. But still... the thought that they simply proclaimed him dead and went about their lives angered him. Before, he didn't have time to think on it, he just wanted to call them and tell them he was alright.

Then shit hit the fan.

Now he just felt angry. He felt betrayed. Bruce at least should have caught up with him and the others by now, but no sight of the Bat, and he was supposed to be the greatest detective the world has ever known. Robin doubted that now.

Robin frowned at the thoughts running through his head while the punching bag was taking a serious beating. He really shouldn't think too much on the past. It was where it should be, in the past. What he should be thinking about was the future, but the past and its memories beckoned. The boy stopped himself however and continued his attack. No, the future was where his mind should be dwelling. Robin paused at the idea of being Slade's apprentice. What would the world think of him now? Slade himself was something to be feared, he was a power to be respected. Being the apprentice of one of the world's most deadliest men is bound to have it's benefits.

Smirking at the idea, he realized this entire situation wasn't something he even thought of before. Never in his career as a hero would he ever imagine he would turn against those he called friends and family. "Times have changed." Robin mentally told himself. "Knowing so much more of what the world is truly..." his thoughts went to a darker place. "It's all beyond repair." Robin would learn all that he could for himself from Slade, since the man was so willing to teach him. And when he was ready he would rise up and teach the damnable heroes a real lesson on reality itself. He'd show them how much they truly are a bunch of failures. Cooped up in their cities, on call if there's a major threat, leaving the world to rot while they only helped the ones they thought were worthy of it.

"They will come for you, and you will have to hold your ground. Only you alone can show them your own meaning of justice." Slade's words rang through his head from a discussion the two had had earlier. His eyes narrowed, oh he'd show them alright.

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I know, I know... it's short. But the next couple of chapters are kinda them getting ready for the big bang of a day. Robins going through some shit and Slade is happy about. Sariel is trying to make sense of things. Gus is doing his job and Asif is being a moppy jerk. *shrugs*

What can ya do?

Anywho PLS PLS leave me a review! I HAVE COOKIES! FRESH FROM THE OVEN! *holds out tray of lies- I mean cookies*

Thanks again guys!

Be good out there.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: HEY GUYS

Before anything, let me get this out of the way. This chapter and the next are filler. I know, I know, OMG FILLER!? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US!? Because it's important filler ok!?

You'll see why once things get going again.

ALSO all you guys are awesome and deserve KUDOS GALORE! Thank you all so much for reading and faving and OMG you REVIEWERS ARE SIMPLY THE BEST! I know I say that all the time... but seriously tho. Thank you. *bows*

So anywho.. ONWARDS WITH STORY!

08/22/2022 EDIT: Fixed some typos

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Two days.

It was quite the countdown. Two days to train, two days to prepare themselves physically and mentally. For what exactly? Robin wasn't too sure. Slade had gone through firearms with him once again, pinpointing exactly where to shoot someone. While in full knowledge that Robin wasn't quite ready to kill anyone yet, he took Robin through vital areas that could easily put an enemy down for the count. Firearms were a bit different then wielding a bow staff. While many areas on the human body took the same damage regardless of what you were wielding, a gun did indeed pack more firepower.

"Go for the knees." was all Slade had really said. He was correct however, it would disable his opponent, probably indefinitely. However, Robin knew it wouldn't last long. He knew that eventually he'd be taught how to aim to kill. The thought still struck a chord through him though. He had to remind himself that he had left the Titan part of him behind, and in its place would be something more.

At times he felt he hadn't come very far at all... until he reminded himself of the desert.

The fires.

The bodies.

Robin hummed to himself as he bound the bandage around his hands. The sight and smells of the desert vanishing, being replaced with a sense of change. He no longer felt afraid of the visions, more like angered by a different source all together. Last night he took some of his pent-up frustrations out on the poor punching bag. With the way he was feeling, he'd be amazed if anything were still standing at all in this room by the time they moved locations. Tonight however, he would push the thoughts away and gain some sort of control over his frustrations. Once his hands were bound, he realized he had a visitor.

Turning around Robin was almost expecting Slade but was greeted with another face entirely.

"Sariel? It's late wha-"

"Need a sparring partner?"

Robin gave her a weak smile and nodded. "Sure, I suppose."

The woman didn't seem to be in any kind of attire to fight in, although he wasn't either. She sported a pair of dark grey sweat pants and a navy-blue baggy T-shirt with some sort of logo on it. He basically wore the same ensemble, but with a tank top instead, and his color of choice was black on black.

"Be forewarned." she put herself into a defensive stance. "I won't hold back." Robin mirrored her. "Neither will I."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He kept himself to his room, he felt so afraid these days. Sariel didn't trust him, although she seemed somewhat willing to try. But how much was he willing to do to gain her trust once again? Why did he even throw it away in the first place?

The question plagued him. Was it power he wanted? Revenge? Revenge for what? What did Sariel ever do to him? Nothing. In fact she did more for him then he could ever give back. He knew deep down when he said he betrayed them, that she to would of done the same to purely survive in that god forbidden world... he knew that Sariel wouldn't of done that. She didn't need power. She had an abundance of it. That girl had done much for him. She was there for him when his sister... Asif caught himself before he could shed his tears. God damn... his sister. What would she think of him now? She probably would have slapped him for his betrayal. Survival be damned, he rather be dead right now.

Why? Why did he do it?

It was simple. So simple it stared him right in the face but he didn't want to admit to it.

He was scared.

So very, very scared.

Scared of them, scared for his life, and for those he knew and loved.

They had come, fully knowing he was there. A friend of Sariel's was an enemy of theirs. And that could not stand. Or so he thought. They had offered him his life in exchange for his services.

He should have refused. In the end they would have killed him anyways. He was just another tool for them to use and he fell right for it. It was the reason why he screamed at her that night. Begged for her to kill him. To put a bullet in his head. To relieve him of his misery, of the monstrosity that he was.

Getting up, not wanting to think on the past anymore, the young man left his room in hopes to find the very woman that somehow found the strength to forgive him.

Asif took in a deep breath and exhaled. In the end, he was still here. Still with her, still with Gus, and overall still a part of this team. And while the group had newer components, it still functioned as it always had. Living each day on edge, always preparing for whatever came next.

He could even hear them now. Sariel and Robin, the two really had seemed to hit it off. He leaned against the doorframe and watched the two spar with one another. The two had years of combat training. Years and years in the field. While their environments were different, Robin being a hero taught not to kill and Sariel having wielded a gun since she was a child, they were somehow similar while being so strikingly different. Somehow the two had become friends. Odd how two people from two different worlds can collide like that.

The two were going for each other's throats, but in a far more playful manner than expected. They both had smirks that graced their lips, their eyes were mischievous, and their punches were not held back. This was a match of wits and brawn. They traded insults and did ridiculous things like stepping on each other's feet.

Asif left them to their playful battles, knowing they would likely end up both sitting on the floor laughing at the end of it. He knew he would have to speak to her eventually, but it was not today.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He had everything ready to go. Two more days and the show would be on the road. The gang was all hush, hush about the boss coming for a visit. Apparently, there would be some sort of drop off then they were supposed to take care of the supposed traitors.

"Bang, bang Motherfucker!", was what they were laughing about, as the gang leader reenacted what he would be doing to Sariel and Robin. His fingers the gun, his voice the bullets. Gus as usual acted uninterested. Since he was on the inside, he really didn't care. He knew what was really going to go down and he couldn't wait for Sariel to shoot these guys full of holes. He cringed every time one of them tried to make a joke.

Every time they killed an innocent.

Every time they threatened the locals for money.

He watched them. Carefully.

Gus wasn't much of one to deal the deathly blow, he was the intel, the one getting info to his boss one way or another. He had killed before. He wasn't against it, some people deserved it, but that wasn't his field. He wasn't a master of Death like Sariel.

The child soldier who earned her name.

These people were nothing to her. Nothing to the woman who had survived the horrors of war, the onslaught of thousands. A mere child when she had dealt it out. And when Sariel came on that night, he would stand aside and gladly let her do her job.

Better yet in all of this, they had the infamous Deathstroke on their side. And Robin, Slade's apparent apprentice and heir, which was still something odd to get used to in his mind. They couldn't loose. All he had to do was wait. Only two more days.

He could wait.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The spar had tuckered them out. They both let loose, both stressed from everything going on around them. But the banter between them hadn't stopped, even as they sat there on the floor.

"Your upper cut hurts cupcake."

"As do your kicks buttercup, you got some power in those legs of yours. Surprising for being such a stick." she giggled.

"I am not a stick!" Robin blurted out.

"Whatever your scrawny ass says." she retorted.

The boy rolled his eyes. "Whatever your cheeky ass says more like."

Sariel picked herself up from the floor and turned to her companion. "Oh, I do say so." she lent him a helping hand, which he took gratefully as he stood up.

The woman walked towards the bench and grabbed a water bottle and a towel. "What are you going to do once this is all said and done with?"

He smirked. "You think this is going to be done so easily?"

"Slade's not going to want to be going to war over all of this, while I do realize he is a tad bit curious about them..."

"Slade is also willing to pull the plug on them. He thinks they'll get in his way."

"Oh they will, or they won't. Depending on how important they see you. But after everything. Probably a big fat yes. So, I can see why... But if we do take them down, then what?"

Robin shrugged, "For that moment, I guess wherever Slade has planned. I'm not too picky. You?"

She smiled. "Hrmmm... Probably a nice beach somewhere. With lots of martinis." she chuckled. "Or at least that is what I'd like. To be honest, I don't know what I'll be doing. It's always been about going off on an errand or two. One battle to the next." she looked to Robin who stood beside her. "Maybe I'll go back to the desert. Always did feel more at home there. But would probably have to check in on Grams before doing anything really."

"The cottage in France."

"Yea the place you don't like so much."

He chuckled. "It's not that bad really. Your grandmother really does value her privacy though. I dunno if I could live that far out in isolation."

"Yea she likes it that way. Keeps her underground and that way she can let her boys do their job around Paris and the rest of the country when need be." she shook her head. "Sometimes I do wonder how far her connections go. And the vast amount of properties she owns. All of them seem to be much like this, like she's preparing for something." she shrugged. "My grandmother is also a big worry wort, she feels she has to be prepared for anything and everything. So, yea..."

"Really? She didn't seem the type."

"Oh, trust me when Slade brought you to the cottage and you were like a sheet of ice she was a worrisome mess."

Robin looked down for a moment and reflected on the past events. "Tell her I'm sorry, next you see her, ok?"

"Yea, I will."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Geist was not a man to sit around. He usually took action. But Aurora had told him to hold still. Be patient. "That woman is too... difficult." he merely thought as he brought the glass to his lips. Difficult indeed. But he would listen. So he sat there, the window open, the night sky quite the luring landscape. The air filled his lungs as the wind tugged at the velvet curtains. The posh apartment he sat in was such a façade. Not even she truly cared for such things. No, she was not the luxurious type.

He reminisced of their times during the war.

She was brutal then. Her thirst for revenge could never be sated. The blood on her hands and face was has red as her hair. As vibrant as a blood moon. As red as the Nazi flags that she tore apart.

He remembered her then.

Finally free.

She took his life, and he gave it to her willingly. He wanted to die and she would gladly take his life for what he had done to her. All those years at his side, forced to become something she did not want.

And yet she rose above it all.

It was true, nothing could sate her. Not revenge, not murder, not even sex. She just wanted more and more blood on her hands. She was something to respect. And he did. Greatly.

Now... now she was something far more then even she could of possibly imagined. And as long as she led the ben Elohim, he would be at her side. Her beck and call. He would follow her every command.

So he sat there and waited. Berlin may of looked majestic tonight, but he would not disobey. He smirked at the thought of Sariel and her little troupe of friends. What did they think they could do? Topple them? He wanted to laugh. The ben Elohim had been doing this for centuries, and he should know. He had been there for more then half of it.

"One more day Ms. Sariel. And we shall truly see what you are made of hrmm?"

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Thanks again guys! You da BESTEST! So PLS PLS PLS leave me a review! I have something better then cookies this time! I HAVE CAKE! You know you want some cake! You get cake if you leave me a review! lolz

You all be good out there ok, have a good night/day/afternoon/whatever...

BYE

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: HEY GUYS!

I know I know... It's been a month. You may slap me for not updating. I'M SORRY! FORGIVE ME! =(

Anyways thanks to Asilla again for editing my dumb shit mistakes XD You awesome girl! =D

Also want to thank all of those that have been putting up with me and my long wait in between updates, thanks again for reading my story, you all rock and deserve many many kudos!

Reviewers! Thank you all again. You guys keep me going. I know I say it every chapter but it's true, thank you so much for your support. =)

Top Hat Elephant: Yes Asif had a sister, I think it was mentioned back quite a few chapters ago whilst they were all still dealing with Madaline =D, although it was a small thrown in part, so I don't blame ya for not remembering.

Norsewolf: Thank you muchly

SeleneRaven: Thank you so much, I really do try my hand at character development and whatnot. =) Thank you for reading. =D

Alright so on with the story? OK ONWARD!

EDIT: 01/01/2023 Fixing up somethings

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

One more day.

It was all they had left. Tomorrow they would see what they were made of.

It was around noon when they had started to go over everything once again. Robin had wanted to train in the morning and Sariel had wanted to go over a few things before their little meeting. However, that time came and went, and here they were.

Sariel had unraveled the blueprints that Gus had smuggled out. It was decided that Sariel and Robin would be entering the building and Asif would be back-up via a sniper rifle. Slade himself had told them he would be behind a computer screen to keep them all posted on events taking place in and around the area, which in turn would be  keeping them all alive.

They were prepared, but they kept going over and over everything. Making sure there were no mistakes. This all had to go swiftly if it was going to be a success. Failure wasn't much of an option.

"The building structure is old, but not nearly as ancient as the others. I say 16th century. Of course, it was blown to bits during the war. But it was rebuilt back to its original design and also has since been slightly modernized, wiring for TVs and all that. But it's mostly kept it's old school charm. So generally 16th century foundation, late 1940s remodeling." Sariel sighed. "No wonder it's on her list of properties." Sariel had made it known that Aurora was also a bit of a historical collector. Which not only included an apparent treasure trove of historical artifacts but entire properties as well. The woman liked her history.

"How many exits?"

"Only two. The front door, and the back door in the kitchen. Unless you want to jump out a window."

Robin nodded to his companion.

"How many floors?" It was Slade this time and Sariel answered him without even skipping a beat.

"Only two. The second floor is where the office is, that is where we'll be making the drop. It's a small staircase on the far left that leads up to the second floor. It's small, but that's expected of a building so old."

"How many rooms upstairs?"

"Possibly three, the drop off room, which I assume they use for meetings and the like. And there is an office and a small room down the main hall, which is likely used as a washroom or something, since it seems to have a small window in it. The main office has one large long window, looks like it's stained glass or something. Typical bar thing."

Robin folded his arms. "Place looks a lot smaller than I thought." Slade looked across to his apprentice. "A lot of the older civilian places were back then, unless you were royalty you didn't get much space."

Robin shrugged. "If they modernized it, why not expand on it?" Sariel giggled. "They just don't do that in Europe. They kinda respect their history and leave it as it is. Hell, even the slavery statues are still around oddly enough, although I would of taken those down long ago. Anyways while the city itself grows, the old stays the old. They don't change much, they just seem to add."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They had all spent about two and a half hours going through the blueprints and any and all possibilities. Sariel had also pulled out maps of the surrounding neighborhood. Berlin was massive, but she tried to find as many little things as she could to help them out. Once the bar scene was done, and Gus had shot them, the ben Elohim would go elsewhere with the fake legacy and they would follow them into the lion's den.

In the meantime, they were all taking a break. They would all gather again in about an hour or so. Robin thought it best to do a little food shopping at the local market. Perhaps grab some snacks for their meeting that evening. He went alone, knowing full well that if anything did happen, he could take care of himself. Not even Slade seemed to have any issues with him stretching his legs for a bit.

Berlin seemed to be an interesting city. He had been to London and Paris, but not Berlin. At least not for this long. The last time he was here was for an overnight stay and he and Bruce were gone the next day.

The city itself seemed quite more artistic than one would think. Graffiti was considered more of an art form here, and they had alleys and courtyards decorated with beautiful pieces of art. He would definitely put it on his bucket list to come back here when the situation wasn't so dire.

Soon enough, he found a interesting little grocery store. He found a lot of various snacks and items he had not seen before. Everything was obviously in German, so he went by the pictures on the box and just picked what looked appealing.

Once he was done, he found himself with a plastic bag walking back to the apartments. However, he noted he had a bit of time. "Wouldn't hurt to take a look around." he thought to himself. Spandau was one of the oldest parts of Berlin. In fact, it was just the village of Spandau, before Berlin merged with it. America had its large cities, it had it's Gothams, Metropolis' and it's New Yorks and Chicago's. But European cities always held a certain aura to them that separated them from the rest. Indeed, they were old and ancient. So too was the city in Yemen. So many cities on this side of the world that had been lived in for so long. Berlin itself had nearly seen the end, but they rebuilt. Hell, there was still parts of the city being rebuilt to this day. 

Mentally noting his surroundings, Robin found a small alley that looked like something right out of the medieval times. It was tiny, the buildings built very close to one another and the roads were cobblestone. A smile came to his lips, he really did enjoy exploring, especially old cities.

Robin walked a bit further down the old street before he suddenly felt very cold, the excitement to explore being swept away. He even shivered, "What the...?"

"You shouldn't be here."

Robin heard the voice almost as if it was whispered into his ear. He jolted around quickly only to find it was only him in the old alleyway. He swore, however, he felt a brush of hair on his neck.

"Go home." Again, the voice came from behind him. Robin's eyes darted around, but found nothing.

"You'll all die... I would hate to see that happen."

The young man turned around to see a woman in a business suit. She had a pencil skirt on, a blouse and a blazer to match. Her clothes were black on black, but what really stood out was her flaming red hair and eyes to match.

"The red headed bitch." Robin mentally cringed. Was this Aurora? The leader of the ben Elohim. If so, then why was she here?

"I've come to make you a proposition. One I'm sure you'll refuse, however- "

"Aurora?"

"Yes." The woman didn't seem to flinch, she merely stood there, looking down on the young man with mild curiosity. "That would be me, I suppose you want to ask some questions?"

There was something off about this woman, her skin was pale, and she had red eyes... who the hell had red eyes? There was something unearthly about her and he suddenly realized why Sariel was always so worried about their encounter with this woman. The aura that surrounded her was dark, vile, and like the rest of her crew, surreal.

"Why would you, of all people, come down here to offer up a proposition?"

The woman shrugged. "I grow bored of playing all your games. I will still meet you all tomorrow if you wish to continue your schemes against me, but you will not make it out alive. But I don't think that's really what you want to do, now is it Richard?"

Robin flinched at the sound of his identity being rolled off the lips of this woman. She said it like she always knew, like she had been calling him that for years. Robin narrowed his eyes at the woman. She didn't have that right.

"You rather stay alive, correct?"

"Don't we all?"

She smirked at his comment. "We can end this now, bring me Sariel and the Legacy and you and the rest will be free to go. Although, I say this fully knowing that you will not accept."

"Then why fucking come here in the first place!?"

The woman nearly shrugged. "She's trying to figure it out, isn't she?"

"Huh?"

"The Legacy? Sariel, she's trying to figure it out. She's a smart one, I had such high hopes for her. She knows the Legacy is more than just money and information, but she doesn't quite know exactly what it is. She doesn't have the other pieces to the puzzle, which is why she wants to meet again. Am I correct?"

Robins eyes were still narrowed at his adversary. He wouldn't let this woman get any information out of him. Whatever conclusions she came to were on her own.

The woman chuckled. "I see."

"Well... it seems you all have a lot of preparing to do, I believe the snacks are just for that hrmm?" she eyed the plastic bag Robin had been carrying. "I assume I shall see you all tomorrow. 7pm sharp. Don't be late."

"Ms. Warchild." Robin's breath hitched as Geist rounded the corner. "Shall we go?" his German accent rolled off his tongue like silk, his eyes were only on the red headed woman before him and never even gave Robin so much as a glance.

Aurora looked to her companion and nodded. Geist then lead her off up the alley she had seemed to come out of. Robin moved up a bit and watched them all get into a nice luxury black car. He watched them for a moment and as he was about to turn back, she called out to him from the window.

"Remember you had your chance to run away."

"You already knew I wouldn't take it."

She smiled at him then. "Just like Sariel. Such a waste." the window rolled up then, he could no longer see the woman, but being that the windows were tinted, he was sure she could still see his scowl etched across his face.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Wait... you fucking saw her!?"

Sariel was up in arms about this recent development. "Shit... So she knows we're up to something, that's never been out of the question. I always knew she'd know something was up. She'd be dumb not to." The woman put a hand to her temple. "But how much does she know? We don't have time to revise everything. And we can't pull out, or she'll come looking."

"We have enough to go forward." It was Slade that spoke up. "She may know you are doing something, like you said she'd be a fool not to. But what exactly? I'm sure she doesn't have enough intel to decipher your plans. Although there are many possibilities, she has most likely played out this scenario before."

"Meaning?" Robin asked. His arms crossed, his entire frame was far from relaxed ever since he had his little run in.

"She's gone through every possible situation that we could throw at her. What we all have planned is something she may have thought of before. However,... if Gus can make it look good enough, and she doesn't know who he is..."

"Then there is still a chance we can pull this off." Sariel sighed. "The last thing we needed was her confronting anyone."

"I'll be in the tactical room going over everything again. I'll see you all in about an hour when we resume the meeting." Slade picked himself up off from the wall he was leaning on and walked out of the room.

Once he was gone, Robin had to ask. "Sar. What or who is Aurora?"

Sariel shrugged. "She's a freaky one, gives off a bad aura. Some say she's been alive since World War II, but that would make her like ninety years old."

"Geist was there."

"Yea... whenever he's not on mission, usually wherever Aurora goes, her faithful servant goes. Geist never leaves her side. Like some sort of spooky bodyguard."

"She has some sort of weird abilities, she was behind me, then gone."

"Yea she does that."

"Is there any historical information you guys have on the leaders of this group?"

"All we've ever read on them is bizarre and out of date. Lots of things about the devil and sorcery, blood baths, lots of dark shit. Like their background is more of an occult. The heads of the society however, we never found much on former leaders...."

"Her name is Aurora Warchild. She's head of an entire secret society, she's got money, there has to be something on her."

"Yea, we looked it up to. She comes from England. We knew that, but we never got to far. There is a bit of info on the current day head huncho of the society because like every good billionaire she donates to charities as a tax write off, but its very very vague. Not that we had much time to dig any further anyways. During the time I was working with them, I heard that she was older then she looked. Geist is a medium and deals with some weird occult stuff... he did something to make himself look a lot younger than what he is. Aurora... I don't know. When you're a part of the group you find out various tidbits of info on the core group... but on the leader herself. Nada."

Robin shook his head. "Whatever she is, it's like she's not human." During his time as a Titan Robin had dealt with Raven, and her being half demon gave off some small sense of dread. But nothing like this. Aurora's presence was overwhelming.

Sariel shrugged. "Maybe she's not."

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The car was spacious. But then again, all the luxury cars were. she sat there and simply watched the city go by. She was somewhat interested as to what tomorrow would bring. What exactly would Sariel and her band of misfits do to try and outwit her? She smiled at the thought. So many possibilities. Either way she supposed it would be fun while it lasted. Even if the end would be in poor taste.

Her eyes shifted to her singular companion that sat across from her looking out the window on the opposite side.

"I suppose Madeline's sacrifice was not all for nothing?"

Geist looked the woman and smirked. "HA! Sacrifice? More like utter disappointment."

"Oh, don't be so harsh. Some people don't take it so well, being brought back to life."

The man wanted to roll his eyes. "You sent her there for a reason."

"And she failed. However, that does prove something."

"You actually worried about what they have in store for tomorrow?"

"Not in the slightest. I know she will pass with flying colors."

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And there ya go. Hope you liked this one, it was kinda filler... kinda not...although I did say that this chapter would be filler. Anywho next chapter is when the fun is gonna start up all over again. Shit will go down! Will Batman find his son? What the fuck is Aurora anywho? Seriously let me know what you guys think she is? Science experiment? Demon from Hell? Or something else?

Anywho PLS PLS leave me a review! I'll give you cookies AND chocolate cake! *holds out tray* See! Yum yum!

Thanks guys, you all take care out there, be safe, and be good.

-Fangs

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: First off, yes I know it's been FOREVER! A MONTH!

Secondly, Asilla, I'm sorry, I'll get you to edit the next chapter, I just felt like I really needed to get this one out there... because it's been so long and I feel like I just needed to let people know I was alive. Besides next chapter is cooler! *puts on her heart shaped shades* SO much cooler!

Thirdly, I wanna say thank you to everyone that has faved, favorited, followed this lil' story, I know I say this a lot but THANK YOU! This means a lot to me. and you reviewers... my god you guys are amazing! I cherish you guys a lot! And I mean A LOT! I probably wouldn't of gotten this far if it wasn't for all you guys. SO thank you guys so much. You are all fucking gold stars and are amazing. Thank you.

So on with the story? OK ONWARD!

EDIT: 01/02/2023 Just fixing up some things.

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The day was finally upon them, and they've most certainly had their share of ups and downs. Especially the incident yesterday. Sariel knew then, that this was going to be a lot harder then she initially thought. Shit was gonna go down, but she was afraid to admit she didn't know how far down. People could die tonight. They all could die tonight, with the exception of Slade of course. Oh yes, she knew about his little secret.

Regardless the pressure was on.

No mistakes could be made.

They had to be perfect.

She had communicated with Gus earlier that day, and he was antsy for a little payback. They were ready. They were prepared as much as they were ever going to be. It was literally now or never.

Sariel double checked everything on her person. She was going in a nice pencil skirt suit. Navy on navy, with black blouse and black heels. This night was gonna kill her feet she was sure. She had a basic holster over her shoulders and under her blazer, they would be checking her for weapons, and this would be the first thing they would feel. She knew this, but she went with it anyways, she wanted to send a clear message. She wasn't screwing around. Knowing they would probably strip her of her weapons she also had one stashed, strapped around her right thigh. They may find both, but if she gave them the holster without a fight and a little charm they may leave her alone. Some of the so called thugs were not the sharpest tools in the shed.

Gathering the remainder of her things, and swung fancy black leather purse on her shoulder that carried the fake legacy, Sariel headed towards Robins room. He was her companion for the evening after all.

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Robin was doing the same as Sariel. He patted himself down to make sure he had everything. Including the gun Slade had insisted he take along with him. If felt weird to have such a thing on him, but with Slade's lessons on the weapon in question, he didn't feel so offended by its existence anymore, he was a little more confident with the gun. The weapon didn't scare him as much as it used to. He had to admit it took awhile before he could start shooting the gun, but once he started... it wasn't so bad.

Of course he had only shot targets before. Mere things like bottles and cans. Which he had to admit it was a lot more difficult then it had initially looked. People, human beings? He had yet to fathom shooting, although he knew Slade didn't show him how to shoot a gun just to shoot cans. He knew one day he would have to shoot a person, a human. Take a life. And while that still bothered him... it didn't at the same time. The fire had taught him that some deserved it. In truth, it was like he still wasn't ready to let go of the Titan at times. But he was willing to accept the circumstances of this new path he was taking.

To be honest he wasn't really sure. He dwelt on it a lot, but never really confirmed anything with himself. If he really had to be honest with himself he already knew his mind had gone to darker places than ever before, but he was also moving past that.

It was the knock at the door that made him jolt up in surprise. Taking a deep breath he recomposed himself realizing it must be Sariel.

"Robin, you ready to go?" it was evident it was her, although her voice was a bit muffled since she was standing in the hallway. The former boy wonder took a deep breath and walked to the door and opened it, revealing Sariel on the other side. It was odd, he kind of stood there for a moment, looking at her. He had never seen her in any kind of "normal" attire before, nevermind formal.

"You gonna let me in or gawk at me all day?"

Robin shook his head and smiled. "Sorry." He held a hand towards his room, gesturing her to come in. "Just never seen you so formal before." He softly chuckled. "Just different I suppose."

She laughed."This is hardly dressed up, more like 'professional'. You know it's not the first time I would of gotten all glamorous, I do like to wear the big dresses and whatnot from time to time. But sometimes it's just so hard to find a special occasion for them."

"What? You've never crashed any fancy balls or something?"

She smiled at her friend. "Ok maybe a few. But I should say the same to you, most of the time I've personally known you, your always in that military attire I gave you. Then there is the infamous boy wonder get up" Sariel giggled at her last remark.

Robin smirked. He was wearing black slacks, with a light pink lavender button up shirt. His sleeves were rolled up and he had no intention of wearing his black blazer, he'd probably just bring it to swing over his shoulder to give that added effect.

"It's not like I've never worn a suit before. I've done the whole tux ensemble. And my costume wasn't that bad."

"Whatever you say." She sighed and seemed quiet for a moment.

One pair of blue eyes look into another. "We ready to go?"

She only nodded in response.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She smiled as she walked out the door.

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Asif was already in the area, Slade would drive them to the location and set up shop a couple blocks down. As for Gus? Well, he was inside with the rest of the gang he had infiltrated. Being a sniper meant perfection in ones task, not only to shoot the target with ease, but also to gather a grasp of what was going on in the scene below and communicate with the rest of the team. He did have a better look of what exactly was going on then they did.

He already saw Gus down below. He was with the rest of them, a lot of them had already drank a fair bit, but Gus stayed sober. The kid never liked alcohol in the first place. How he was even allowed in there at such a young age was beyond him. Then again Sariel was only 19, and she got in anywhere she wanted. She always did. Gus did seem to have the same effect as she did. Only he was a fair bit younger.

Either way he didn't seem too happy to be there. But he bet he was probably happy just to be getting out of there tonight. Gus was never one for violence. The kid had done some serious stuff in his past, but he ever talked about it. It just wasn't him. Sure, Gus would try and destroy you by hacking your bank account, make you broke. But physical violence was just not his thing. And he only did it, if it was asked of him by Sariel or the higher ups.

Sighing, Asif kept an eye out for Aurora herself, but he didn't see anything as of yet. The back of his mind the thought flickered that she wouldn't be showing up.

"Hey up there!" It was Sariel coming through his commlink. "See anything yet?"

Asif pressed a hand to his ear, keeping his eyes on the area below. "Not yet."

"Damn... she better show."

"Where are you?"

"We're on our way."

"Sar, if she doesn't-"

Silence.

"If she doesn't... what?"

A car had pulled up in front of the bar. The front door opened to have a man step out and open the back door. The first person to step out was Geist. And that was when Asif knew for sure. "She's here."

Geist offered his clawed hand to the person in the car. A smaller, paler, dainty hand was placed into his and she herself stepped out.

"Yep, she's here alright."

"You got a visual?"

"Geist stepped out first and helped his boss out of the damn car."

"Roger. Alright, we'll be there in a few."

"Alright. I'll keep a lookout."

"Asif."

"Yea?"

"Be safe ok."

"Yea yea."

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"You have quite the set up here Sariel." They had parked a few blocks away from the pub itself. The van was her grandmothers of course, but she had been enhancing it over the past week or so to help prepare for this night. She added a couple new computers, installed them with some extra software and tracking systems and... well just overall really good spy equipment. Gus was far better at this sort of thing then she was. So she thought to herself she must of done something good when Deathstroke himself told her he was impressed with her set up.

"It was mostly stuff Grams had around the apartment. I don't think she uses it very often but still gets things delivered there."

Slade placed his hands behind his back as he continued to examine what he was given to work with.

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Sariel and Robin were taking a good look at the surrounding area when Asif reached out to her.

"Sar? You guys here yet?"

"Yea we're a couple blocks away, Robin and I are gonna be coming in soon."

"Ok, you should be warned tho. Some of these guys here... Drunk or not, they may be a problem if we're still doing what you plan to do."

"Plan is still on, regardless how big the brutes are."

"Alright, you know it really should be me telling you guys to be safe. These guys look like they really could mess someone up."

Sariel chuckled a bit. "It's probably because they have in the past."

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There were all now wearing communicators, and Slade was connecting it all on his end. Sariel even had some drones set up to help keep an eye on things when they were heading in. Although he found it much more useful to hack into the security cameras actually inside the pub itself. He wasn't lying when he told her she had quite the set up here. It seemed she thought of everything. She tried to store whatever she possibly could in here for whatever circumstances came their way.

It seemed she picked up some traits from her grandmother. He briefly wondered if Jillian knew how much like her, her granddaughter really was.

Slade pushed the thoughts away as he started to filter through the camera angles in the pub. Sariel had told him that Aurora was in the location, but he couldn't see her. Not a soul that matched the woman's description.

Unless the room she was in didn't have any cameras. Sariel did mention something of a upstairs where they would most likely trade up the fake Legacy. But the only thing on the cameras that he could find was the main floor.

Smart and risky.

It seemed whatever this Legacy was, was worth any risk. But ultimately annoying. The room Robin and Sariel would be directed to, to complete this deal, he would not be able to overlook. He'd be in the dark until they vacated the room.

"Robin."

"Slade?" The commlink was a bit staticy at first but cleared up within no time with some quick fine tuning. 

"I hacked into the security cameras within and around the pub, however I do not see any woman fitting the description, the only thing coming through the feed is the main floor. Which means the upstairs room, where she probably is, is without any security cameras."

"Shitty." That was Sariel.

"The only thing we'll have once you enter that room is the commlink." Slade didn't sound to pleased about this discovery.

"I'll let you know one way or another before we enter that room."

"How?" Slade was intrigued.

"I'll think of something."

"Do that."

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Ok What do you guys think? We're going into some more STORY AND ACTION DRIVEN parts here! So buckle up yer seat belts!

ALSO PLS PLS leave me a review and let know what ya think guys! I have CAKE! Chocolate LAVA CAKE! And of course COOKIES! *holds out tray* You know you want to review! =)

Love ya guys, take care of yourself and be good ok! Until next time!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: HEY ALL! How you doing out there. SO I had this chapter sitting around and I was going over it and whatnot, then... my computer crapped out on me and I had to get it fixed. For awhile it seemed like I had lost all my data. But my computer guys are AWESOME! They managed to save all my data. I had to redownload all my programs but that's no biggie. So once I got the computer back I was able to finish this off.

So that set me waaay back.

Sorry guys, I was gonna update this like 2 weeks after the last chapter but life decided to screw around with my electronics. XD

So on with the story? OK! ONWARD!

EDIT: 01/02/2023 Fixed a few things

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Asif had the best view in the house, he was across the way, a little off to the side. The perfect spot. No one could see him, but he could see everyone.

He watched the patrons through his scope, all of them seemed like nobodies, but he knew otherwise. This whole thing was a set up, just as they all thought it would be. If they knew that this would be a set up, then all the guys down there most definitely knew that they knew. It was a set up inside a set up inside another set up. Anything could go wrong tonight. The young man took a deep breath. They were used to this. That horrible feeling of dread, that gut wrenching feeling that told you that you really shouldn't be here. All to be ignored. Asif knew how to ignore these feelings, he had done so time and time again.

He just hoped that his companions below were doing the same. He smiled at the thought of them, as they came into view. The two were most definitely in for a ride tonight, all of them were really, but those two were the ones touching base with the mother of monsters. They were literally the stars of the show tonight.

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"Ready?"

"Nope."

"Neither am I." The duo looked to the entrance of what was very obviously a trap. 

"It doesn't matter if we are or not, we gotta go in."

"Yep."

Sariel sighed and looked to her companion, giving him a firm nod. "We've come this far... might as well go all the way."

Robin smirked. "Go out gloriously?"

Sariel chuckled. "I don't plan on it, but sure. Why not?"

"We're on our own once we get onto the second floor."

"Then we gotta be careful not to fuck up then."

The two were standing across the street from their destination. Asif had informed them that moments ago Aurora had made an appearance and was probably already inside waiting for them. Ready to spring a trap. To end them, to see them fall. Robin was very sure of this, but then again so was Sariel. Most of this plan was hers, although he had a few say in things here and there.

The two began walking towards the entrance. Robin slung his blazer over his shoulder. His collar not fully buttoned up and his sleeves rolled up gave him a much more laid back look, it also made him look confident. Sariel to, saunter her way in, giving the guards a smile as she walked past them.

The pub was old. And full of patrons. It probably wouldn't close until about four or five in the morning. This city never seemed to die.

"We're inside." Robin quietly spoke.

"I see you." Slade responded through the commlink. "There is a lot of people tonight, probably all of them are being paid to be there. None of them are actual costumer's."

"So it's more like the gang's' hideout, they all just get together at a pub. That's cliché" Robin found the idea amusing. For such a high end secret society, they had some real plain and uninteresting ideas for hideouts.

"They didn't even bother to pat us down." This time it was Sariel.

"It's technically a public bar. Your weapons are concealed for now. But I would probably still expect one once you get up to the second floor." Slades voiced buzzed into their ears.

Robin nodded. "Noted."

Sariel took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. She looked to her companion and gestured him to take a seat "They know we're here, and like usual, it seems we got to get a second invitation to actually visit face to face. So until that happens..." Sariel lifted the glass to her lips.

Robin looked to her a bit wide eyed. "How the hell did you get that?"

Sariel smirked, "Legal drinking age here is sixteen."

"What? So any bar, we could get into?"

She giggled. "I shit you not. Drinking here isn't such a big deal. I mean it's Germany after all."

Robin sat at the bar with her, but didn't order anything. To be perfectly honest he had drank alcohol before. Broke the rules, started drinking early like any other teen. Plus, he had attended balls and that sort in Gotham. Drinks were always available, and he got pretty good at swiping them off the trays pretty fast. It was nothing new to him, but Sariel was right, they were in Germany, and Germany was known for its ale. They had different values here and therefore different rules.

"When do you think they'll come and collect us?"

She shrugged, "I got a feeling pretty soon."

As if on cue a man came down the stairs, his attire was... unusual for around here. He wore beige military like pants, a white button up shirt, and a burgundy vest over it with a bolo tie to match. The spurs on his cowboy boots is what made Robin jump. As soon as he heard them he whipped around on his stool and was greeted by the cowboy that had threw him off of that plane all those months ago. The man wasn't too old, probably about in his mid to late thirties, blond hair, a bit long, and a roughed up unshaven face with piercing blue eyes.

'Well well well, lookie at what we got here." The cowboy strolled up to the two. "Looks like you actually survived the drop." The man chuckled.

Sariel looked to her friend and gave him a mischievous smile. She knew the story, but he didn't tell her it was this guy on the plane. He probably didn't think it important. They had talked a long while back about the people that the ben Elohim use to cause distractions, to get their way, to obtain whatever objective, the ones with the snake like emblems, the scapegoats. This guy... he was in charge of them, the executioner. He also did a lot of side jobs. Weapon deals and trafficking, bought and sold child soldiers. Jack of all trades. John Love Cassidy was his name, and Sariel often wondered if he made it up from various past cowboys or if it really was his actual name. Either way, it was ironic that Robin had already came face with face with him so long ago now.

"No thanks to you." Robin sneered at the man.

The cowboy laughed. "No I suppose not. But I reckon your not here to even things out with me now are you kid?"

"You're the ones that's gonna deliver us to her aren't you?" Sariel spoke up. Robin simply glared at the man. His distrust for the cowboy was evident. And Sariel couldn't blame him.

"Yep, however, without a pretty red bow, shame really. Boss lady would probably appreciate it."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade was listening in on his end. It seemed that Robin had an unfortunate run in, but nothing the boy couldn't handle. He watched them as they were lead towards to the stairs that would eventually lead them to the larger room on the second floor where to deal would occur. To give him the heads up he had Robin give him a signal to when he got there so he knew where exactly the stairs where since not even the entrance to the upper level was on camera. 

The signal that Robin gave him however, was something he nearly wanted to smack the boy for, although he did admire his supposed creativity.

Robin had given the camera a middle finger behind his back as the two approached the stairs. Perhaps it was more of the case of lacking creativity. Regardless now his apprentice and Sariel were off camera, all he had now was communication with them via the earbuds they all where wearing. And while he could talk to the team, Robin and Sariel couldn't respond without giving them all away.

"Do you have visual yet?" Salde contacted Asif, who should be able to see something of the ongoings on the second floor.

"Not yet. They should be coming up pretty soon."

Hands clasped and were rested upon his lap, Slade sat there and look at the screens in front of him. He had multiple views, but obviously none on the second floor. Perhaps he really should send out a drone? But at the moment he didn't want to risk it. Although he doubt they would really ever notice it until it was too late.

"Is anyone in the room at all?" Slade has asked.

"Negative, not even Ms. Warchild. But there is more than one room upstairs."

"Understood." No visual on even the enemy yet. Which wasn't strange. They would probably come out of hiding when Robin and Sariel where in position. So far everything seemed to be going to plan.

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Two flights of stairs was all it was to get to the second floor. Nothing major, except the stairwell was very narrow. The top floor was very very fancy, looked something akin late 18th century design, including the paintings that littered the wall.

"This way." John Love opened the door for them, and gestured them to enter. "Now you two be good, I'll go inform the pretty lady you're ready to see her." And with that he closed the door and left.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I got them in my sights." Asif had informed Slade of his visual on the two as they entered the exact room they presumed the trade would go down.

"Good, keep an eye on them. I'll start getting everything ready."

"Right. I'll inform you if anyone else goes down."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin glared at the door, even after the man had left.

"So that's the guy that threw you off the plane?"

"Yea, bastard really has it coming."

Sariel smirked. "Don't they all?"

Robin looked to his friend and nodded. Taking a deep breath he looked around. "This place sure is fancy. You got the Legacy?"

Sariel padded her purse. "Right here."

"Right." He sighed. "She's taking her time." Robin looked around, just being left here was a typical move, they wanted them to feel insecure in enemy territory. He wouldn't give them that satisfaction, no he would stand strong. Like he always has. But he was getting a bit impatient. Robin really didn't like to be kept waiting.

"She'll be here."

"Obviously, but she wants us to feel uncomfortable in her home."

"I doubt the bar is her home." A soft giggle emitted from the young woman.

Robin smirked at his friend. "You know what I mean."

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Aurora Warchild sat in a elegant wooden carved chair, behind a desk. There was no stack of files on it, no laptop, no mess at all. It was rather too clean to be honest, unlike her desk at home. It always cluttered and had a pile of paperwork on it, it seemed never ending. This desk seemed somewhat surreal to her.

One would think there wouldn't be much paperwork in her line of work, but they would be wrong. Especially when one was head of the organization. She sighed, just thinking of the mountain of paperwork gave her a headache.

Infact, as far as all of this was concerned, it was all just one giant headache.

The two children in the room waiting for her were most definitely more of a migraine. First it was Sariel, now it was Robin of all people. Which amused her. She kept up in the world of... well, everything. And it seemed Slade Wilson finally got the Apprentice he always wanted. She didn't blame the man, Robin was a excellent choice. However, they were now all involved with them. And as much as Aurora pried into the world, and it's various lives, the world didn't need to know so much about the ben Elohim and herself.

She looked over to Geist who silently stood there, looking out the window. He was having one of his quiet moments. Which she would give him. Whenever Sven got lost in his thoughts she gave him time. The man had an uncanny talent of being rather loud and annoying most of the time, although his voice was not entirely unwelcome. But she did enjoy these quiet moments.

There was a knock at the door. She already knew who it was. "Enter." The door opened to reveal John, the ever faithful cowboy.

"They be waiting for you Boss."

Geist looked to her. "It seems it is time, ja?"

Aurora sighed and stood up. "Apparently so." she looked to Geist. "Shall we?" The man in white only nodded. The two would go together. Not that she needed backup, oh she could handle the children herself if it ever came down to it, which knowing Sariel, it would. The two had something planned. It didn't matter however, none of them would survive tonight.

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Let me know what you think guys? Things are gonna get hoppin' real soon, and shit is gonna go down.

PLS PLS LEAVE ME A REVIEW! I have cookies and cake and ICE CREAM!

Be good and stay safe out there guys!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet notes: Alrighty then! Another chapter. In LESS THEN A MONTH! Shocking I know.

Want to give a big shout out to everyone that has stayed with me on this adventure for so long. Thanks guys, Also to me Reviewers, you guys are truly the best of the best! Honestly never thought I would get such great people reading this. =)

Also big shout out to Asilla, who helps me out with editing, and scolding me when I do something bad typo wise lol (I'm kidding)

SO ONWARDS WITH THE STORY! Because I'm sure everyone wants to know what's going on.

EDIT: 01/02/2023 - Just fixing some things

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The place itself was hot as Hell, but the man didn't flinch, not even a bit. He came here in hopes to find something, anything. Hama was a small city not far from the border of Lebanon. It was in the west-central area of Syria, and it didn't gain a lot of attention. He had gone to Damascus first, but found nothing. This was his next place to go.

The Batwing hovered above the streets, only to land when dark, allowing him to investigate a few times at night. He questioned Hama's people, but found no wealth of information. He was about to leave when he noticed a small group of little houses outside the city's ancient crumbling wall.

He checked the structures only to find most had families living in them. However, the one he was in now was empty, but with recent signs of life. Unfortunately, they all seemed to have left some time ago. If Robin had been here, there was no immediate sign left behind to say that he had. Batman began to dig around anyway. After some time, he still found nothing of significance. Whoever was here, sure didn't want anyone to know that they were, and where they had gone.

He brought his eyes back to the computer and all the equipment in the living room. He had glanced at it before, and thought nothing of it. But looking at it now... the whole set-up looked far too high-tech compared to the rest of the place with its old furniture. The computer seemed to be the only thing worth anything in the whole dump.

Batman wheeled out the chair, sat down, and booted up the system. He had to admit whoever put a lock on this computer knew what they were doing, again it seemed all a bit too fishy. Whoever owned this computer didn't want anyone else on it. Passwords were one thing; this was a bit different. Thinking on it, he knew if they were smart, they would have wiped all they could on it and took whatever information they had, with them. The computer may hold nothing, but Bruce had to make sure. It took him a little while, but he eventually got in. It was just as he thought, nothing immediate. Nothing out of the ordinary.

He began to check the browser history. If they had caught a plane, they might have done the payments online. Not that they wouldn't have deleted that too, however, he was in luck. The last recorded website that was visited was for a travel website. He couldn't see any other information but it was enough. Whoever was here, had left a while ago.

Batman leaned back in the chair and started to ponder over where and when Robin would have left here, and if in fact, he had been here at all. The Caped Crusader started to analyze the interior again, searching for any clues. His eyes fell on the wastebasket right beside the computer desk. He leaned forward, surprised to see a crumpled-up paper inside.

Slowly he took the piece of paper out and began to unwrinkle it. It seemed the printer had a malfunction, and made whatever it was they were trying to print, unreadable. But he was certain of one thing. This was flight information. Including the gate and terminal information. Some airports didn't always have this information around the airport, especially if it was a smaller one like the one out here.

Batman began to try and flatten the paper out as much as he could. He found various names. But two stuck out to him a like a sore thumb. Slade and Richard Wilson.

Now he was certain. They had been here at one point, and Slade was taking Richard to Europe. Disguising him as his son. The Batman frowned at the situation. His fists curled at the thought. He had also found where they were headed.

Berlin.

Within moments the house was silent once again, the presence of the Bat, gone. It would take a while to get to the German Capital, and according to the flight information he had been in Europe for a while. And here he was, still in the Middle East. Batman cursed at himself. He just hoped he was quick enough in getting to Berlin before anything major could happen.

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"I hear footsteps. Heels included." Robin was analyzing the situation, his mind reeled with every possibility of how this could go down. Every escape root they could take if things really took a turn for the worse. There were only two options, the door they came through, or the window. Sariel had said only the window if absolutely necessary, but she also said to play it by ear, see how things came about.

Sariel took a deep breath and recomposed herself. "It's time."

The two looked to one another and nodded. It was time to Rock n' Roll. Although both felt a pang of fear once she entered the room. From then on out, nothing was predictable.

"Good Evening." the woman said in the utmost professional manner, as she strolled into the room, not even sparing the duo a glance. "I trust you have everything in order?"

"And I trust you have what I want?"

The woman smiled at her. "You've grown little girl. You're not so afraid these days. I don't see the child soldier anymore. The scared little girl trying to find her way in a warzone. In fact, you've mastered it by now, haven't you?"

The woman shook her head with her eyes cast down. "Hrmmm..." The small sound emitted from her before she leaned on the table in the room. Her on one side, the teens on the other.

"And as for you." Her red eyes had no problem in seeking his own. "The little Robin from Gotham's streets. Leader of the Teen Titans. But now the Apprentice of a man you once hated. Whom is also one of the most dangerous, most wanted men in the entire world." She chuckled. "It seems the little bird has betrayed everything and everyone he once knew. You too have come a long way. Freedom to do as you please in this world, without a team to guide, and without a Bat to constantly restrain you. Refreshing isn't it?"

Sariel glanced at the former Boy Wonder, amazed however, to see that he didn't even flinch; he just smirked at the woman. "Seems he's not denying it at least." she mused to herself.

"Regardless however..." she looked to the both of them this time. "Even with all of your time and effort put into getting to where you are now. You have failed today. Give me the Legacy."

"I have a question."

Aurora eyed Sariel. "Yes?"

"The pieces... in this portion we obtained. They don't all fit. The Legacy isn't just money is it?"

The head of the ben Elohim smiled. "No, it isn't. But you knew that already, when you were trying to steal it all those months ago." The woman reached out; her hand open. "It is time for you to return what you have stolen."

Three fully armored guards had entered the room at this time, and just as Sariel had predicted, they were going to have to fight their way out. These three were going to be tough to fight, but he knew that they were here more for Auroras protection than anything else. Robin looked to his companion as she dug into her bag to retrieve the item. She looked at him then, her eyes bore into his, then looked to the door, then back to him. Robin understood the signal. Shit was going to go down and she probably didn't want to deal with the glass. Thus, bar fight seemed to be the way to go. Even once they rid themselves of the guards behind them, they would have to escape by going through the pub below. Nothing about this was going to be pleasant.

Sariel held the item in her hand. The chip was small, but wasn't worth anything, since the real copy was safe with Slade. Hell, who needed a safe when you had Deathstroke guarding it? She and Robin had quite a good laugh about it.

Carefully, she handed Aurora the item. The older woman handed it quickly to Geist, who gingerly took it within his clawed hands and placed it into one of his pouches.

"Unfortunately, I won't be holding up my end of the bargain."

Robin crossed his arms. "We figured."

The older woman smiled. "Kill them."

"Not playing fair." Sariel spat at the older woman.

Aurora looked at her playfully. "Do you ever?"

The guards came up behind them and attacked. Robin swung around and grabbed one by their arm and threw the heavily armored man to the ground. Sariel punched another, her fists had stung from the contact, but the guard had staggered back a bit. "THE DOOR!" she shouted and Robin and her bolted towards their only means of escape. In order for the rest of the plan to work, it would have to be Gus that had to shoot them. The tracker was already in enemy hands. They just needed to do their part.

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The teens had left in a hurry. Already out the door. She was somewhat amazed at how they had managed to escape their deaths... thus far anyways. She wanted to test them first. She knew the guards wouldn't be a match, but the armor they wore would be a deterrent. They would have to deal with the rest of downstairs before they could truly escape.

Aurora was amused to say the least. "You three stay here." The guards were a bit shaken; it seems Sariel and Robin had used their own armor against them. "Smart" she thought. All three had wanted to give chase. But she wasn't about to have them go off and start destroying the downstairs bar. There were plenty that wanted to please down there. The job would get done.

"Shall I pull around the car?"

Aurora turned to her old friend. "Yes, but I don't want to leave just yet."

Geist smirked in return, and then left to prepare for their departure. Soon enough, it was just her and the three guards in the room. Geist's form had dissipated into thin air.

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The door slammed open and hit the cowboy right in the face, sending him stumbling back. "What the...?" he muttered to himself as he saw the form of Robin and Sariel run down the stairs. "Well shit." he mumbled as he gathered himself up from the floor.

The cowboy was about to give chase when Aurora called for him. "Boss... you want me to...?"

"No, there is hardly any need."

The cowboy nodded his understanding. These kids would never be getting out of here alive. And if they did... well he'd tip his hat to them.

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The two had ran down the stairs in a mad dash, all the while knowing what awaited them. However, reality had really sunk in once they were on the main floor. And in present, now that they were standing here, this whole fight looked like it was gonna hurt. A lot.

They all had guns on them, they knew, but luckily, they didn't want to draw too much attention to themselves so no one used them, yet anyways. However, it didn't stop any of the thugs from pulling out a knife or two. Furniture of course, was also a possibility. Bar stools made for a great way to knock someone out.

Robin scanned the room, but didn't see Gus. The plan was to shoot them once they made it outside and into an alley. He rubbed his wrist in anticipation of the fight to come, also feeling the bulletproof vest beneath his clothes.

A thug started to walk over to the duo, his eyes beady, and his breath smelt of liquor. "Looks like the kids wanna play with the adults tonight boys." The man's German accent was thick, Robin could hardly understand what he had said, but he got the jist when the man took a bottle and shattered it, intending to use it as a weapon.

"Head towards the kitchen."

Robin nodded before he found out that the man had lunged at him. He dodged, and the glass had just missed his cheek by an inch. The former hero grabbed the man's arm, and struck him in the crock of his elbow and the man instantly dropped the broken bottle. But the man wasn't down, he tried to punch the boy with his other free arm, but Robin quickly caught it as soon as he had tried to land a hit on the kid. He kneed the man in the gut before he sent him flying into the nearby wall.

"This is gonna be easy." Robin muttered to no one but himself. However, someone had heard.

"Easy eh kid?"

Robin turned around to find a rather large man step up behind him. The man's form was huge, he was probably even taller than Slade... and dare he say, more menacing?

"Great." he mumbled, as he dodged a punch. "Juust great."

Robin gritted his teeth and punched the man a few times, finding weak spots on this man was easy, the problem was that he was so big...and could take, apparently, a lot of damage. Robin's punches seemed to do little next to nothing.

He punched the man again, the man grunted. "Stupid kid." The man instead turned the fight into his favor and quickly started to attack. One punch, two, three. Robin dodged them all, but he grew tired of this fight. He quickly gave a few punches and then did a flip back and came at the man with a lower kick that sent the man to the ground. Robin quickly ran over to the man before he could get up to put him out for the night. However, he did not expect the older man to grab him, get back up and toss the young man at the counter. Robin's back hit the bar itself, his feet had kicked off some drinks and his head had smashed into the countertop a little too closely to a few bottles. It took a moment but the former hero shook himself awake and somewhat sat up on top of the bar. "Fuck." he muttered to himself.

He opened his eyes and saw the older man approach. "Shit." he thought. "Gotta get rid of this guy." Robin eyed the rather large wine bottles that sat just behind the bar. He reached into the bar for them, without letting the man know about what he was doing.

"Didn't have what it takes eh, kid?" The large man cracked his knuckles, and walked over to the hunched over form of the boy. "You landed some good punches though; too bad they had no effect."

"Try this then!"

Robin swerved around, wine bottle in hand, and completely smashed the bottle against his face as it shattered into a thousand pieces.

The man screamed in pain, the shattered glass had not only scratched his face up, but it had left bits of glass embedded into his skin. Blood rolled down his face. Only adding to the man's panic. Robin lifted himself back up from the bar and did a series of attacks on the man, leaving him a bloody mess, and unconscious.

"Right." Robin rubbed the back of his right hand. "Who's next?"

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Slade had been watching the entire time, waiting for them to come downstairs. And it seemed that so far, everything was going as planned. The fake Legacy was upstairs, since it truly was a tracker in disguise, and Robin and Sariel were downstairs causing trouble as they should be at this point.

He cringed at the beating Robin had been receiving from the much larger opponent. However, the boy got creative. He had to admit, the glass bottle across the man's face was something he hadn't fully expected from the boy. But even he had to admit, this whole excursion, this singular mission, was an excellent way to see how truly far Robin had come from his time in the Middle East. Injuring a man to that degree... wasn't something the old Robin would have done.

Just a little more and Robin would be killing.

Slade smirked at the thought, as his fingers tapped against his metal mask, which he currently had sitting on his lap. Oh yes, he had already shifted back into his uniform. And he had Robin's waiting. When the two came back to regroup. They would definitely be needing their Kevlar gear if they did indeed intend to find the ben Elohim's base.

Tracking them wasn't going to be hard. They hadn't noticed the Legacy was a fake... or perhaps they did, and this was all a well laid trap on their part. Which was surely something to consider.

The Mastermind let out a sigh. Whatever was going to happen, would happen. He would just have to try and keep his apprentice and his little friend alive long enough to see tomorrow.

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More action to come in the next chapter to.

So what do you guys think? What's gonna happen? Is Batman gonna actually catch up? ooOoo I dunno! Anyways please leave me a review! I have cake and cookies for reviewers!

Thanks again Asilla!

You all be be good out there!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: First off I really want to say I'm sorry for the absence. In truth, it's convention season, and I've actually been attending cons... as an artist in artist alley. So I've had to spend a lot of time making various prints and all that fun stuff, and get it all ready for the cons. It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. It was a ton of fun!

Unfortunately, this got put on the back burner, Somewhat. I have been editing the first few chapters, they are now dated as to when they were changed/edited. I didn't really change anything, if anything I may of added a liiiiitttllee bit more to some chapters, just give it a extra umph I suppose, and to clarify some stuff, but overall just fixed all the spelling mistakes. Because honestly in the beginning I didn't think this would get anywhere, and it was originally a bet, so I didn't care... I dunno... *shrugs* But now is different, so don't worry.

BUUUT! I'm back. So thanks again to everyone for the faves, follows and you AMAZING reviewers! Because seriously it if wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't be at chapter 49. OH SHIT!

If you want updates on my fanfic, because sometimes I don't update, like often, I will post about it on my twitter, so feel free to chat me up there. I go by Fanglicious, or Fangalang.

So on with the story!

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The bar fight was much more than either had anticipated, but both were still down for whatever came their way. Sariel had to admit, she was impressed with Robins reaction. It seemed the kid had really wanted to punch someone out the past few days for whatever reason. Now perhaps, he'd finally get it out of his system. The kid really wasn't the same. The former boy wonder had changed a lot. Not to be unrecognizable, but his attitude towards the world, after seeing what he had seen, he had changed his thought process. Robin wasn't a Titan anymore, he wasn't the blind hero neither. He was well on his way to becoming something else. Therefore, she wasn't to surprised when he took Deathstroke's offer, you'd be a fool not to.

"Hey, pretty girl."

"Great..." she sighed. Her thoughts interrupted, her sight shifted away from Robin to an older, short, scrawny man."Another one of you idiots." she muttered under her breath. In truth, she hated bar fights. There was always some old guy that looked at her in that way. To many that eyed her body. To many that would die by her hand for thinking such things about her.

He grinned and eyed her form, Sariel didn't flinch, but she was displeased with his actions. "Yer more muscular than I like, but still a pretty thing. How does one like you, get all into this kind of mess anyways?"

She turned and smiled at the man. And he only smiled in return. A dangerous glint entered her eyes as she looked at him and whispered, "Because someone has to take care of filth like you." Sariel took a knife from under her skirt, which she had hidden, just for this type of occasion. She was careful to unsheathe it so the man didn't see what she was doing. Not that it mattered, in a flash she had punched the man in the gut and as he bent over in pain, Sariel swiftly and silently moved behind the man, only to grab him and stand him up right. Her arm holding him still as she tugged at his neck. Her blade quickly found his throat. He laughed, and she sliced into his gullet, and watched him sink to the floor. The blood began to pool beneath him, and Sariel simply walked away to find her next opponent.

They would have to leave here soon, follow the plan, and act as if they were fooled all along. But in truth, who was the one really getting tricked tonight? Sariel had truly hoped it was not them. She knew damn well what these people were truly capable of.

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Robin was not having a hard time in finding those that wanted to fight him. Every step, every corner, some crony would step up to take on the young man, and each fight left more and more unconscious forms spread out on the floor. And left him more and more agitated.

His breaths were heavy, but he was still able. Fighting like this, against so many... he hadn't done it in awhile. So openly, and so bravely. The criminals all came after him, judging a book by it's cover, they all thought him weak, the ones not being able to defeat such a child simply didn't know what they were doing. But they were wrong, for it was the boy that was the most talented in that room. Another swift kick and punch, and another one down. Robin felt the adrenaline pump through his veins. He gritted his teeth. So many thought they could take him down, and they were sorely mistaken.

The former hero had noticed that he and Sariel were becoming more and more separated with each fight, and while this was something they both knew would happen, in the end they had to exit this place together. So, slowly Robin made his way back to his companion.

"Hey!" a man had grabbed his arm, jerking the boy towards him. "Boss says-" Robin snarled, "Yea whatever." A punch had graced the older mans face, and his body crumpled to the floor. They were running out of time.

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Eventually the two found one another. Back to back, the duo fought a onslaught of thugs and jagged criminals. The fight was a thrilling exercise, but the two could agree, it was getting a little crowded in here, perhaps it was time for some fresh air.

"We need to get out of here!" Sariel's voice carried over the sounds of her fist impacting upon another's face. Robin nodded, it was getting a little too much in here. "Kitchen?"

Sariel could only agree. "Sounds like a plan."

Another swing of his fist, another impact, another down. Robin began to make his way to the kitchen. "We need to get rid of these idiots first."

She smiled. "There is to many."

He smiled in return. "Let's get outta here then!"

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The two cut down as many as they could, before making a dash towards the kitchen, which was downstairs. It's walls covered in tile, the steps down were wooden and pretty old from the creaks it made. They didn't think anyone would be down here. However upon arrival, they were met with gunshots. It seemed whoever was down here was armed, and didn't like the idea of people bursting into their kitchen.

Sariel sighed as the two leaned against the tile."Shit" Robin looked up towards the door frame that lead them down here. He frowned. "They're coming."

"I know."

The woman looked around the corner, only to have another bullet wiz past her face, embedding itself into the tile, shattered it upon impact. It was a chef from the looks of it and soon enough he started to scream at them, but she couldn't understand it, since his shouts were in German.

"Of all the fucking things."

"You're armed right?"

Sariel look to the former hero. "Yea, but he's got the bigger gun." she edged around the corner to see the man in white, holding a sawed off shotgun. "Much bigger gun." she grimaced as she looked at the door to the back alley, it was so close, yet so far.

"Come out!" The duo's ears perked up. The chef was speaking to them, It seemed he knew some english. Robin frowned. "Dare to take the chance?" he asked as he looked to his companion. She shrugged and looked upstairs. "Don't have much of a choice. Can't go back up there, and soon they'll find out where we rushed off to."

Robin nodded. The decision was made. Slowly, the two moved out into the open. The older man aimed his shotgun at them." Look we-"

"THERE THEY ARE!" The two looked to the top of the stairs to see that some of the mob from before had found them. "Shit" she had said. In a flash she saw a man whip out a gun, he took aim and pointed it at her, she dodged, but the bullet still grazed her shoulder.

"Fuck!" Sariel quickly covered her wound, her hand grasping at her shoulder. She was bleeding, and blood wasn't something she was good at getting out of her clothes. She cursed again, she was hoping to save this outfit. The shot to her shoulder was enough to distract her for a few seconds and that was all he needed. The chef, in all this chaos, took advantage of the situation and prepared himself for the recoil of his shotgun, he had them in his sights, but then... nothing... the boy... His form crumpled over. "MY LEG!" he bellowed. The pain, and the blood... he couldn't walk. The boy was fast, within seconds he had kicked the shotgun from his hands, the weapon now on the other side of the room, far away from him, and out of reach from the others that had joined them.

Sariel didn't even truly see it. Robin had pushed her down, and within a mere second he had pulled his gun out of his holster and opened fire on the man before them. "Did... did Robin just shoot someone?" Her eyes were wide. He did it with such ease... It was... strange. The chef was still alive... but for how long? The wound that was inflicted upon him wasn't fatal, but... Sariel smirked. "He really went for the legs."

She shook herself from the shock. "You ok?" she looked up to him." Yea." her eyes narrowed at the men. "Let's finish this." Robin nodded. The former hero may still go for the knees, but she was going to go for some heads.

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There was one camera in that kitchen and Slade watched with intrigue. He chuckled, the boy took his advice. "Go for the legs". A smile was evident under the Criminals signature metal mask. How long he wondered, how long would it take for the boy to aim for the torso, or for the head?

He could tell the boy still didn't like the use of a gun, his body language seemed stern and in control to those around him, but the frown etched on his face told it all. He was still uncomfortable using the weapon, but the mere fact that he did use it, now that was something truly amazing indeed.

Perhaps the boy was becoming more at ease with the idea of using them to help those around him. After all a weapon is still a weapon. All of them could kill. Even the ones that Robin once wielded as a Titan. Anything and everything that boy could do, could kill anyone.

Amused, he waited for them to escape the kitchen. Sariel it seemed, didn't care anymore for following any kind of rules, she would leave behind full bloody bodies. Robin took aim, but he only shot out their legs from beneath them, only making it all the more easier for Sariel to take down her own targets.

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Gus could hear the commotion coming from inside, there was a few of them out there. He and his so called 'boss' were hanging out here in the back alley, ready and willing to kill the two kids if they tried to make their escape.

"Looks like they're having all the fun."

Gus frowned and then let out a sigh. His 'boss' continued.

"They'll probably be dead before they can even make it out of the goddamn building."

Gus smirked. "I wouldn't count on it." If he knew Sariel, she wasn't a quitter, if she said she would make it out there she would. She would follow the plan. One way or another.

The head of their little gang looked to Gus, the kids eyes had never left the door. There was something off about this kid tonight. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

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I KNOW I KNOW! It's short! But it's better then nothing yea? Once again I'm sorry it's been so long, hopefully I'll be able to get back to things here and update more often. I promise you, I will finish this story, I'm not gonna leave it and let it be one of those stories that has no ending, 'cause that always makes me sad when I find stuff like that. So I promise I will finish it.

Anywho PLS PLS leave me a review! I love reviews! I have cake and cookies and ice cream for reviewers!

Take care all and be good out there!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: OK, I'm sorry... It's been like 2 months. I know, my bad. Thing is, I went from having a job, to being laid off, then to making art and doing conventions with help, to doing lots of commissions to get extra money. So this got put aside. And my artness got put up front. Which was fine and all I suppose, I do make money on the side with it. However, I recently got a full time office job. So I can go back to doing prints I wanna do art wise, and I can work on other things I like, such as this!

Sorry my life just got to hectic... and yea, stuff like this felt it. And it I didn't mean for it to happen that way, it's just... life I suppose.

So all those that have read this and have faved and followed it in my 2 month absence, you're awesome! To those that have reviewed, you're amazing. To my regular reviewers... dudes I would not be here at CHAPTER 50 without you guys. I love you guys all so much. It means a lot to me, so thank you.

So here we go, chapter 50...

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"GO GO!"

The mob was upon them, Aurora was probably still upstairs biding her time, and the chef was still crying over the current loss of his leg. Their backs were to the door. So far, so good. "Just a little more..." A few of them had taken it upon themselves to arm themselves fully, their guns drawn, it was the perfect time to try and make their so called 'escape', as it were.

Robins hand managed to find the doors handle, his other with a gun drawn on the men before him. He held onto it for a moment, and let all the thugs come just a little closer, before he pulled down on the handle and the two nearly fell backwards, out the door.

Quickly, the two regained their balance, and slammed the door on the oncoming mob. "We gotta find some way to keep this bloody door closed!"

"I wouldn't worry about it." As if on Que, a few of the fellow mob, with Gus included, came sauntering out of the darkness, and into the the light, which the flickering lamp over head provided.

"Oh fuck." Sariel spat. Her eyes narrowed at the intruder. She noticed Gus within the little group, but her sight never left the so called 'ring leader' of the little gang.

"That's right sunshine. You're in for some fun now."

"Go ahead and try it." His voice was low, but threatening enough. "You won't survive her. Or me." Robin narrowed his eyes, but not even he saw it coming.

"Really, I doubt she'd survive this!" a gun was drawn, Gus' hand was steady, the two bullets hit, and the impact was sudden. "Damn, he just came out of nowhere..." Sariel knew Gus was getting tired of this. But wow, just to boldly shoot them like that, she kinda felt hurt. Somewhat. He was doing his job. But, maybe she should put him in these kind of positions more often. He did come off surprisingly arrogant and chill about the whole ordeal. "He'd might kill me for real if I did that though..."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Robin had taken a real bullet before, he knew what the pain truly felt like, and in any way did this feel anything less than the real thing. Sure the vest stopped the bullet, but it still bloody well hurt. He grinned as the blood packs started staining his shirt and Robin doubled over in supposed pain. "You fuck!"

The Ringer Leader laughed. "Nice one! Bet they didn't even see it coming?" his chuckled continued until a familiar car pulled up. The windows were tinted, but they knew to whom it belonged to.

What they didn't expect, was for her to come out the back door, pushing all others aside, and closing it once again on the remnants of those that remained in the kitchen. She was seemingly amused by the trouble that her former guests had caused.

"I suppose a congratulations are in order." she looked to the young man, her face holding no emotion. Her eyes were still. Seemingly void. She sighed then. "Such a waste."

She bent down to look at the two. "Now your just heaps of garbage sitting in a back alley waiting for someone to find you." She smiled at the two. As if she knew something they didn't want her to know. "Throw them in a garbage bin and be done with it."

Aurora walked away from her own employees and sat herself in the back seat of the black car.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Geist turned to her as she entered the vehicle. "Well?"

She smiled at him as she closed the door. "They're still alive, the blood is fake, it doesn't give off the same aroma."

Geist chuckled. "They think they've won?"

"Indeed."

"Play the game a little longer?"

She hummed her approval, and that was all Geist needed. He nodded and started to drive to their destination.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Other then Gus, there was three other men. He knew he'd have to take care of them before Sariel and Robin could get back on their feet. And he knew, now was the time to strike, with Aurora out of the way, and the gang supposedly having such misplaced trust in him. Well, there was only one thing to do. He let out a sigh and shot them, all of them in the head. Sudden impact, no time to question what had happened. Gus was never one for bloodshed, but he understood that sometimes it was necessary.

The young man put the gun back into this jacket, just as casually as he took it out.

"They're gone. You all can get back up. Quickly, before anyone inside comes out to take a look."

Both Robin, and Sariel, opened their eyes and looked to one another. Their smirks evident on their faces. "It seems to have worked."

She agreed. "For now."

"Time to move guys!"

The duo looked to their companion. But it was Robin that spoke up first. "Nice to have you back, Gus."

"Ha! It's good to be back, got so tired of these guys and their stupid rules, but at least I don't got to worry about them anymore." Gus gestured to the bodies on the ground, and Robin cringed. Three more dead, and he basically did nothing to save them. Three more, that would be on his conscious. But it was also three more dead, so he and his companions didn't get caught. Three more dead, so they could hopefully get to the end of all this. It seems Slade was right all along, Sacrifices would have to be made.

Robin took to his feet, his tone was even, no amount of remorse was found. "Let's go." They had a job to get done after all.

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They had already left the alley when she called him.

"It's done?"

Sariel confirmed, "Yea, get yer butt down here."

"Be there as soon as I can." Asif reconfirmed before ending the conversation.

Sariel turned to her friends. "Let's head back to the van, Asif is gonna meet us there. Gotta get ready to do some infiltration."

Robin crossed his arms, and Gus simply nodded.

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The trio had made their back to the van, and Slade was outside to greet them.

"Everything went well it seems?"

Robin nodded. "Yea..."

"A little too well." Sariel piped up.

Gus shrugged. "Nah, we should be fine. Even if Aurora has caught on, she's still leading us right to where we want to go." He doubled checked the tracking device from his watch to find that the beacon was still on the move. "We can make up whatever else we gotta do on the fly."

"Maybe it's been a trap all along then?" Robin put in his two cents. "We got to be extra careful if this is the case. If she wants us to follow, we'll take the bait. But the whole idea of her setting us up is something we need to think of."

They all nodded. "Let's get you all prepared then." The mastermind approached the back of the van, and upon opening it up, he revealed three Kevlar sneaking suits, and their choice of weaponry.

Gus groaned at the thought of wearing Kevlar. He didn't know how Robin or Sariel could get around in it, not to mention all the running and back flips and all the other whatnot they did in them. He sighed. If he knew he would have to suit up for this, he wouldn't have volunteered to be the third person to go along into god knows where to find Aurora. Gingerly though, he took the uniform, and got into the truck to change. Sariel and Robin could wait until he got out.

Sariel looked on to the assortment of weapons. The door was adorned with hand guns, and Slade also had rifles sorted and spread out on the trucks back floor. Literally, the guy could be a weapons dealer just opening up shop for some adventures to come by and spend their cold hard cash on some pretty guns. The girl smirked, "Looks like you sorted through all of grams stuff? Found some interesting things too I see?" Sariel's eyes spied the flame thrower. "I doubt we need to cause that much commotion."

"Perhaps not." Slade agreed. "But I thought it best, to have it around. Just in case."

Sariel ginned, and Robin just shook his head. Asif had made his way to them and was wondering what he had missed.

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Robin jumped down from the back of the van, his uniform fit him nicely. Slade was impressed, the boy willingly wearing his colors was a sight to see. And soon it would make a statement to the rest of the world. But for now it was more of a reassurance that Robin had the proper equipment this time around, before running off into Hell.

Unlike the last trip, Robin was fully armed, he would still carry his firearm from earlier, along with the combat knife that the boy seemed to carry everywhere. But Slade also supplied the boy with a few extras. A few weapons he was familiar with, along with his bo-staff.

While the boy was uncanny in his creativity to strike down his opponent, it was still better to have him armed then not. And although he would hate to admit it, it also gave the man a piece of mind when it came to the boys safety.

Slade looked onto the group of four before him. Robin had made some exceptional friends. And who would've ever thought that the boy would be comrades with a bunch of criminals? Terrorists, one could almost call them. The man smirked. Terrorists hunting down other Terrorists. Military's without nations. Secret Societies. He knew this world well, and Robins integration into it went smoother then he could of ever hoped.

"Shall we?' he gestured to the van.

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Gus was tracking them. It seemed Aurora hadn't figured anything out yet... or she had and was leading them to their deaths. But hey, one way or another, things were going to get pretty exciting.

"I hate this city. Everything is in German."

Robin wanted to smack him in the back of the head. "Obviously. What's the big deal anyways?"

"I don't know German. Plus all the roads got similar names... but..." Gus enlarged the map on his laptop, displayed on it was a map of Berlin, and one constantly moving red blip. "Roads are roads. Cities are various, but kind of all build the same, especially the old ones."

"Unless it's Paris, and he nearly drives through all of Versailles." Sariel remarked as she went about polishing a combat knife, counting bullets for each gun, and just overall preparing each and every weapon the trio would use once they entered the fray.

Gus shrugged and ignored his friend. "From the looks of it, she's heading into old East Berlin. It's just all these goddamn street names. I don't know where to even begin to know how to pronounce any of these."

Robin patted Gus's shoulder. "Keep tracking her."

Gus sighed. "Yea yea..."

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So emmm... yea... and we're off to catch Ms. Warchild. No one guessed correctly what she is. Mwahaha. What has the same kind of essence of a Demon. But was once human?

I'm not giving anymore hints. I shouldn't even be giving them at all...

Soooo PLS PLS Review! I have cake, and ice cream, and since I'm Canadian and we just had Thanksgiving here, so I do have left over Pumpkin pie. With lots of whip cream. You know you want it.

Thanks everyone! And you all be good out there. Or else...

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: Heeeey all, yep chapter 51. Gonna try and update more often and frequently. Because I'm excited for these next few chapters. Shit is gonna go down, things are gonna twist, you'll see why by the time you get to the end of this chapter, and the chapters after. And hopefully yer all excited as I am. *dances around*

And thank you to all you guys, anyone reading this from chapter One, to now. Thank you for the reads, the faves, the follows, and the reviews

And to my regular reviewers, I know I say this every chapter, but thank you so much for still being here! And trudging through this with me, yer awesome, and you all deserve golden stars!

But I'm sure you all want me to shut up, So on with the story!

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"I know where she's headed."

"Huh?' Sariel looked to her companion, "Oh yea?" Robin turned his attention from the road before him, to the back of the truck, since he had snuck up front to get away from Gus's constant complaining.

"She's headed towards Museum Island. Look, she just went past that Victory Column." Sariel looked at the map that Gus had up on his screen. "And now she's driving up past the Tiergarten."

"What is on Museum island, other than museums?" This time it was Asif that had posed the question.

"Everything!" Gus exclaimed. "It used to be home to the Royals way back when, there is also old Universities there, the Opera House, a huge ass fancy Church, Art Galleries, that sort of thing. Oh, and lots of funky old buildings that I'm not too sure what the use of them was for, but they look neat. And yea, it's got lots of museums. Pass me that pamphlet." Gus waved his hand at the stack of books beside Sariel. Once given, he sifted through the books in search of the flyer he was given one night in one of his solo adventures around the city. "They started calling it museum island after archaeologists started bringing their findings home, and well... a lot of museums were built to house the artifacts. She's gotta be headed somewhere into that area."

"That's right, the bust of Nefertiti is here. She would definitely like it there."

Asif folded his arms. "The island itself is historical then. There is a lot in this area she would like. I wouldn't doubt she funds most things that go on here."

Gus nodded. "Yea the island is home to shit like the Ishtar gate too, in the Pergamon Museum. Which also holds entire areas of ancient cities."

Robin had made his way into the back to join his friends. He remembered something Sariel had told him about the mysterious woman. She liked artifacts, and the older the better. "She's a collector, right?"

"She likes the really old stuff." Gus shrugged as he looked back to his screen. "And not just the simple stuff either."

"Yea, we're talking go big or go home."

"If she is head of such a prosperous society, then she could certainly afford a museum or two. Perhaps, she has some other facilities underneath." Slade's words were clear, and all of them couldn't help but agree with his logic.

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Robin brought the laptop up front to give Slade a better gist of where Aurora was headed. The mastermind looked at the map and had an idea of where the woman was headed. "We'll have to park close to wherever she stops, and go by foot from there. We need to be cautious. It's better she doesn't find you before you're able to enter her-"

"Lair, haunt, evil headquarters?"

"Property."

"Well, that's no fun."

"Trying to be the hero again?" Slade glanced at his young apprentice, knowing full well the boy was jesting.

"No, but property just sounds boring."

"She stopped." Slade pointed out, which made Gus pop his head out into the front. "Where?" he asked. The mastermind pointed to the now still blip on the screen. "The Berliner Dom."

Gus blinked "Huh..."

"What?" Robin looked to his companion with a frown.

"It's just that.... it would seem odd if she actually owned this, its technically a church."

Robin shrugged. "Church or not we go through with this, unless you're scared?"

Gus waved his hand. "Hardly."

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Robin looked up at their location and Sariel let out a sigh as she strode up to stand beside him. "Of course, she would pick a bloody church."

"And not just any church, this building is protected, bit of a historical site. It's open every day to tourists." In other words, Asif was telling her nicely, not to break anything while in there.

Robin smiled at his friend as she looked on at the structure in dismay. The building was massive, and her thoughts twisted and turned in every direction to try and detect a possible way of doing this, without causing too much trouble. But the moment was dashed when Gus entered with his own inquisitive nature.

"How the Hell are we going to get in?" Gus looked defeated. And Robin shook his head with a smirk. "One way or another."

Soon enough, Slade started handing out weapons, and Asif made himself at home with Gus's computer set up in the back. He would stay with Slade, and go in, only if needed. In the meantime, they had parked somewhere as inconspicuous as possible, since the city of Berlin never truly slept. They were going to have to be careful breaking into this church, since the last thing they needed was the local authorities showing up and asking questions.

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Once they were ready, they started to look for openings around the old building. It was the dead of night, and with the cover of twilight, sneaking into a church should be easy, right?

Wrong.

The trio had separated to cover more ground, since the building itself was fairly large. And there could be many hidden doors as well. For all they knew there was an outside entrance that could lead into the mausoleum that lay beneath the grounds.

Robin grunted. The place had more locks and sensors then most other places he had ever been to. But then again most historical buildings in Europe were wildly protected. Not that he really wanted to damage the place, unlike many others, he just wanted in for his own purposes. But then again, perhaps they were right to try and lock everyone out. Robin couldn't imagine getting into a fight with Aurora and company, and not having something break.

Another frown had etched onto his young face. Getting in through the back door seemed just as impossible as getting in through the front. "Seems like we're gonna have to get in another way." Robin thought to himself. Then something occurred to him. "They gotta keep this place clean and tidy and looking immaculate right? So, there's gotta be a way in from up top." And with that thought in mind Robin began to scale he building. At first it was just simple bricks his hands were grasping, but soon enough he found himself grasping onto Angel's wings, while using the heads of supposed saints for his footing.

One angel, then another. The wear and dirt on the statues gave them an ever-tiresome look as they stared out onto the city's people. As if they too were tired of all lies and deceit humanity plagued itself with. Robin looked up and kept climbing. Just a few more and soon enough he found himself leaping up to grab onto a statue of an angel with a rather large trumpet gracefully touching it's lips, as if playing some sort of angelic tune for the entire city to hear that it's herald had arrived. But what gave him the most hope, however, was when he found himself flipping over a railing to land his feet on a balcony.

He turned to look at the view and was amazed. The mere sight of his surroundings was breathtaking. They city wasn't made of skyscrapers, most of the buildings had remained the same and the only towering object in the distance was the TV tower. And the entire city spanned across the horizon, and all lit up as far as the eye can see.

Robin smiled and put a finger to his ear. "Hey, head up. There is a balcony here. I'll look around and see if I can find a door."

For now, he would let the others catch up and he could investigate the area for himself. "There has to be a door to get down for this balcony, even if it's something they don't use anymore. Something is better than nothing."

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Gus looked up at the monstrous building in despair, "He wants me to climb this thing?"

"Gus, you coming?" It was Sariel on the other end of his ear piece.

"Yea, yea."

"Hurry up then, I'm just getting to the top. And I'm not coming all the way back down to help you."

Gus huffed and sighed. He was still on the ground. He hated climbing... anything. The young man sighed and started to look for a good place to get his footing before he started climbing up the 269-year-old church.

"Please, please don't crumble beneath me."

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It had only taken him a short amount of time to fly from Syria to Berlin in his Batwing. But the city itself was massive and he had no idea where to start looking.

Bruce landed the Batwing in a discreet hiding spot, as to not to be seen. If anything, he didn't want Deathstroke to know he was in the area. He was going to have to be far stealthier from here on out, if he wanted to find Richard and get out of the city with his son and himself intact.

For now, he was going to have to look for clues as to where Dick could be at this moment. He already had Alfred investigating if Slade had any hideouts or headquarters in the area. And thus far, the butler had turned up with nothing.

The two of them were getting antsy, since they both knew the longer the boy stayed with the criminal, the more mentally damaged the boy could become. He knew Robin to be strong, but he also knew Deathstroke was very persuasive.

"Any sightings? Rumors? Anything at all?" Bruce's voice was deadpanned, emotionless, and very serious. Buy Alfred could tell he was exhausted. "Nothing of note sir. It seems they have kept pretty quiet since Syria."

"Hrmmmm... This isn't good. With no leads..."

"Well sir, there was something odd that did happen tonight, but it seems doubtful Master Richard would have played a part."

"What happened?"

"There was a bar fight, many were injured, three were found dead."

"Dead?"

"Gun to the head, sir. Apparently, the whole ordeal was pretty violent, and it is somewhat scaring the locals. Many of them are dreading terrorism. Ever since that attack back in 2016, it's seemingly played on in the back of people's minds."

"When did this happen?"

"Just a short while ago."

That didn't sound like Dick... but it could very well be Deathstroke. But then again, it didn't seem like Deathstroke either. Unless Slade was caught unaware. And everything went downhill from there? There were so many alternatives. And none right now that he could conclude to be a solid choice.

"Also," Alfred injected, "While it hasn't made the news yet, there was word around on social media that there was a bit of a car chase that happened afterwards, although it reminds known if it is connected to the bar mishap. What stands out is that this car chase did not involve the police."

Batman was silent for a few seconds until he spoke up. "Where did the chase end Alfred?"

"That last tweet I read was from somewhere on Museum island sir. There haven't been any odd reports since then."

"That whole area is pretty big, and clustered with old buildings. No wonder it got people's attention. It's not really a place one would race through."

"Yes sir. It does seem rather suspicious."

"It's better than nothing. Thank you Alfred."

"Take care of yourself sir, if Deathstroke truly is there and he has Master Richard-"

"I know, I'll bring him home."

Batman flicked off the screen while he sat in the Batwing. He would take Alfred's lead, and see where it led. One way or another, he would find his son tonight.

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Thanks guys, what do you think? Are you excited to see the Bat? I know I am. What's gonna happen? Will Bruce find his son? What will Robin do? Is Slade gonna have a argument with the Bat? Are they gonna flap their arms at one another and nag and whine at one another over who gets Robin?

Who knows.

PLS PLS leave me a review. Let me know what ya think!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FF.net NOTES: OH SNAP! Another Chapter!? I know riiight? What is going on!?

I hope I can get another one out soon, but this may be more of a weekend thing, we'll see as we go along. But who knows, I have my evenings to myself since I'm off at 6pm.

Anyways thank you all for your faves and follows and overall thank you so much for the reviews! You guys are always gonna be the best, you all know that. I give thee all sorts of wonderful golden stars! I can't thank you all enough!

Also I like to give a big thank you to Asilla for the wonderful edits!

So emm yea ON WITH THE STORY!

EDIT: 06/13/2023 just updating typos and fixing things 

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The duo had made their way up the old structure, Gus being the last to reach the top. He huffed and panted once he was over the balcony.

"That was... quite... the climb."

Sariel placed her hands on her hips as Robin watched the two. "At least you didn't fall."

"Yea, you would of gone splat." Robin added. Sariel laughed. "Might be an improvement."

"Shut... up.. guys. Did you find.. a door?"

Robin shrugged. "Yes."

The trio walked to the small and narrow entrance Robin had found in his little trip around the walkway. It seemed to go right around the roof of the old church. There were a few doors, but they too were locked. It seemed this one should have been as well, but as luck would have it, it was left open. Although, Robin hardly thought it was luck. He knew she wanted them to find a way in, and it led right to an old stone spiral staircase. The entire area was close quarters, and they all had to bend down a bit while going down.

"Man, this thing feels old."

"I think they use it quite a bit themselves, so it should be fine." Robin reassured Gus.

"Probably" he shrugged. The staircase led them down to a narrow hallway that seemed to twist and turn until it gave them another spiral metal staircase. It too, was small and inconvenient. But at least it was sturdy. Robin didn't worry about it as much as Gus. This was probably open to tourists, so it would be sturdy enough to hold quite a few people each day.

When they finally came across another hallway, then a set of regular stairs, the trio knew they were getting somewhere.

Once they were out of the narrow and stone halls they arrived into a much grander location. The floors were pristine, there were large and tall Candelabras, and opened doors that seemingly led the to upper balconies of the church.

Gus peaked out to look for any guards or security. "Talk about grandeur and corruption."

Sariel nodded. "Yea..."

"There doesn't seem to be anyone here." Robin grew a little concerned. "Are we sure she actually stopped here." Gus looked to his watch, and it relayed the same map his laptop did. "Yep."

Sariel shrugged. "This place is an 'old school' church, it's got layers. For all we know she could be below this whole thing."

The two boys nodded.

"Let's just be careful, she might have someone waiting for us."

Sariel made a face. "The last thing we need to do is fight Geist... in a church, with a mausoleum right under it."

The two nodded at her in agreement, indeed that was the very last thing they needed.

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"He's there."

"Will... are you sure?"

"He dropped off the damn radar hours ago, now suddenly he's in Berlin. He's cloaked himself well. I just know he's in the city, as to where in the city, I have no clue."

Slade stood outside of the van, his gaze fell onto the church. Asif was inside, keeping an eye on what his apprentice and companions were doing in the church. There wasn't a security feed he could tap into. Well, none that he could find. Although, he was certain there would be security cameras inside such a historical site. But hacking into them seemed, at the moment, unavailable. So without camera accessibility the only connection they had to the team inside was via earbuds.

The mastermind took in a deep breath before he continued. "Damn. Will, try to find out where he is in the city, I can't pull Robin out now. If anything does happen we'll have to deal with it as we go along."

"Shall I send some troops?"

"No."

"No?"

"I want to see for myself. What will Robin do if he encounters his former mentor?"

"I understand, but do you at least want me to send a chopper? I can have one sent out from the Berlin base."

"I'll put the idea on standby. Have them ready, just in case."

"Understood, I'll make the call."

"Good." Slade pressed the end button, and let out that deep breath he had been keeping in since Will called. Having the Bat around will definitely complicate things.

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Batman leaped out of the Batwing and with a press of a button it seemingly vanished and a shield popped up around it. With his vehicle secured, Batman turned towards the open city. First thing was first, he was going to have to get up to a higher point to get his bearings. Taking out a grappling gun, Batman achieved just that. And soon enough he found himself toppling over the city.

The sensors in his cowl gave him instant schematics of the city. Everywhere he looked, a bubble popped up beside various buildings giving him the history of each one and the overall use and reason for them as well. His cowl also searched for heat signatures within the area. But his search didn't find much, the area was rather large, perhaps he just had to delve further in.

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"Shit." she muttered under her breath. "Security Guards?" The trio hadn't even made it downstairs yet and already they had found themselves faced with some problems.

They took cover in a darkened area surrounded by pillars. "Maybe we just sneak around them?" Robin suggested.

"Seems like the best plan, makes you wonder how good their security is however?" she smirked. "Regardless these guys got nothing to do with any of this, I doubt they're hers. Best to avoid them altogether." Sariel explained. They all agreed that they didn't want to start a fight to early on and perhaps ruin their best chance at encountering their target. There was an end game to this and they had to make sure it happened tonight. Although all knew that their plan may likely come to ruin, the chances right now at this moment were to high to just let it go. Yet Sariel thought to herself that this was all most likely her plan. These security guards were either legit or she had some of her men parading around with the security companies uniform on. She like to think not however. 

Gus sighed. He didn't do so well at the whole sneaking thing. "Let's just go."

"If we can make it to a balcony, maybe we can climb down from there. Although, for all we know she could be waiting for us by the damn alter." Robin offered

The cringe entered Gus's eyes "Let's hope not." 

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Slade looked to his companion. "Get ready, we may have some unexpected company."

Asif could tell Slade was not pleased, which was different for him since Asif could never really tell what the mercenary was thinking or feeling usually. The man was a closed book most of the time, so to see him a bit on edge sort of had the young man worried.

"Company?"

"The type we don't want. The superhero quality."

Asif sighed. "Fuck."

Slade agreed, "Indeed."

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Quiet, still, and stealthy. It was all they could hope to be. Getting into any kind of fight could alert their target that they were within the vicinity, not that she probably didn't expect them to show up. If anything, Robin already knew that she was waiting for them in the bowels of this holy place. But alerting her to their presence now would very well work against them. 

And it seems the rest of his little team understood that as well. Sariel seemed all too professional at this, while Gus seemed less so. But he was normally used to being behind a computer screen. His work on the field was few and far between.

But it made more sense to have someone like Asif, who had combat experience, come in for back up if truly needed. Although, Robin doubted they would need it. He had the confidence that he and his little unit could take care of the job. Which brought about the thought of what would happen afterwards? He knew now his fate was sealed; his place was at Slade's side. As to where he would end up next would be up to the Mastermind. Robin vaguely wondered about the next mission, the next location, the next job. He had to admit he was more than curious about the man, perhaps he would find out more about him once this mess had all settled. He could only hope at least some of his questions would be answered.

He had always wondered how much power Slade truly had. How big of an influence did this man have across the entire world? There was a lot he wanted to know and he knew in time it would come to him. He just had to wait.

Robin shook his thoughts away. The answers would come in time. Right now, he had to think on the present.

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He had found them, or at least he found Deathstroke.

"Where is Dick?" he would have thought Richard would be at least close by, but he wasn't. In fact, it seemed Deathstroke was somewhat alone, with only one companion at his beck and call. And the young man that had jumped out of the van was definitely not Richard.

Did Dick get away? "No." Bruce muttered to himself. "He would have informed me by now." Or so he hoped. If Richard was laying low, then he may not have reached out quite yet. Trying to contact Batman may alert Deathstroke to his whereabouts. But then again, wasn't that a risk Richard would have been willing to take?

Something didn't seem to fit here. Unless Richard was here and Slade had him out on a job? Theft? From a museum? That really wasn't Slade's style. Batman sighed, nothing seemed to click. He was going to have to hack into the computer system down there. The van had to have some sort of systems within it, since it seemed, at the moment, Slade and his friend there, were on standby. Which was another thing that seemed out of place. When was Deathstroke ever on standby?

Unless... he had Richard doing a job?

Which could be feasible. But an on-site support center was something different indeed. Bruce frowned. None of what he had seen seemed to make any sense. But he would find out exactly what the hell was going on. One way or another.

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The trio had made their way to the main floor. They were able to silence any guards that had been posted along the way, nothing too conspicuous. But once they got to the main hallway, they started to see something a bit more disturbing.

"Their dead."

"There's blood everywhere." Sariel's eyes darted along the walls. The entrance was silent. "She's here."

Robin nodded. "Yea, she's waiting for us all right."

Sariel sighed. "Let's go."

"Yea."

"We shouldn't keep her waiting."

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Soon enough, Batman had found what he was looking for. A way to tap into Slade's systems. Which he identified were actually not part of Deathstroke's own database. They belonged to someone else, another thing that confused him. Regardless he found some information on Richard. More like he heard it.

For the first time in what seemed like a millennium, Bruce was able to hear Richard's voice. "He's alive." Thank god. And for a moment Bruce just simply listened in. It seemed Robin was not alone, however, he had two others with him.

"Why would she do this?" It was Richard that asked the question.

"Who the hell knows? But I say we go have a chat." a female this time.

"We end this, now." Robin again.

Batman frowned. What the hell was going on? Maybe he should have a more in-depth look. He traced the signals and found them to be located within the Church just ahead of him.

"Why is he in a church?"

Nothing added up, but he would find out soon enough. In the meantime, he would have to make sure Slade didn't know he was around. Sneaking in to find his son, without Deathstroke spotting him would be difficult, especially when he had his eyes on every aspect of the area. And Knowing Slade, the villain had everything secured.

Nothing was ever simple with the mercenary.

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Soooooo? Let me know what ya think! PLS PLS review! I have ice cream, and cookies, and cake, and well... anything ya want. I got. Just to bribe you all into reviewing my story! Mwahahaha!

So what do you all think is gonna happen!? Huh? huh? HUH!?

XD You guys take care out there!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: OK SOOOOO It's been awhile, and I wanted to get this short chapter out, and I'm sorry it's short, because I'm taking my computer in to get ENHANCED... so I won't have it for about a week, therefore Asilla I'm sorry I didn't sent this to ya, I just wanted to get it out before... I had no computer... for a week... and I know people want the next chapter sooo... yea...

Anywho thanks again to all of you, you guys are totally all awesome. Thanks to all the peoples that have faved and followed this little story of mine and UBER THANKS to all my reveiwers! You are all awesome and amazing and I love you guys.

So Thanks again!

AND ON WITH THE STORY!

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They past through a few wooden carved archways, to finally come across the main room. And indeed it was a sight to behold. It's ceiling was majestic and incredibly carved from stone. The organ to was impressive. But nothing so much so was the alter. Although, Robin might of thought it to be more beautiful, if it wasn't drenched in blood, and if bodies did not lay strewn across the floor.

And right in the center of it all was the very person they had come to see. Ironic, how she wore a white skirt and blazer. And not a drop of blood seemed to of caught her in whatever demise she had cast upon her these men. The bodies that lay beneath her, they were not dressed the same as the others. These were her own. Although, they were not the same from the bar, these were more of the type in suites and hand guns and ear pieces. They must of been her own kind of special services. But apparently not special enough to be spared from her. The main question was why? Why would she kill her own?

"So, it seems you found me?"

The trio stood so close and yet so far. "Sariel, do you know what exactly the Legacy is? Have you wrapped your little brain around it yet? Surely you've must of come across some form of conclusion?"

The woman in question frowned. "Maybe."

Aurora stood with her back to them. "Hrmmmm? Then tell me, what do you think it is?"

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Slade had placed a hand on Asif shoulder and the young man nearly lost his balance, if he hadn't grown somewhat accustomed to the man he might of fallen off his chair entirely.

"The drone, send it out."

"Ok." Asif took in a deep breath, but didn't flinch in taking the order. He knew what the drone would be used for. Slade wanted to find the super in the vicinity. "Who is it?" He shouldn't have asked, but curiosity got the better of him.

Slade looked to him with a bit of a glare. Asif could only answer. "The super, I mean."

"Your friend is a former superhero. You should know who has come looking for his lost bird."

Asif took in another deep breath, "Oh, Batman. Well... that's..."

"Not good is it?"

"Are you going to tell Robin?"

"No, and neither will you."

Asif frowned, but agreed that any clash between the two now... may lead to far to many possibilities. One was that Robin went home to Gotham with the Bat, which ironically, Asif didn't want. As for the other options...? Possibly the two getting into a fight, Robin becoming incredibly injured. What if Batman turned on Robin? There was too many possibilities. So Asif would do as he was told and send out the drone in search of a Bat. He wasn't about to let the caped crusader just waltz in, and take his friend away. Besides he still had a lot to make up for, he just hoped this would help along the way.

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Robin looked to his companion in interested. Had she figured something out? Intrigued, he remained silent and hopefully let Sariel explain.

"The Legacy, as you call it, is knowledge... Such knowledge that is not known to the public. Knowledge that you keep to yourselves and whoever you deem worthy of it. It's bloodlines, money and power. Its control over everything."

Aurora looked down to the trio. "Hrmmm, correct, but your missing one singular thing."

Sariel looked up "It's what makes you, you, isn't it?"

The elder woman smiled. "Indeed."

"You're not 'human' are you?'

"I have not been for some time."

"When?"

"Nazi Germany, 1940."

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Asif had done what was asked of him and had the drone up in the air in no time scanning the area for any kind of Bat problem. He sighed, of course he gets this kind of job. Normally, if it was anyone but Deathstroke he would of told them to hell with it, he wasn't going hunting for a god damn super. Especially Batman.

He had to admit however, he was pretty shocked when he found out he actually, somehow, made friends with the Robin. The Robin to Batman. Robin of the Teen Titans. But Robin... Robin was different from what he initially thought of him. Or at least he thought so. Robin could mold himself into the environment around him. The former hero wanted to stand for the people the supers never dared to visit, nor help. Robin saw the same world he had been born into and Robin never backed away. The other Supers... he knew damn well they really didn't give much of a shit. He never did like any of the capes and here he was looking for one. And it had to be Batman, the other side to Robin, the other half to the dynamic duo. He really wanted to tell his friend, but Deathstroke's wrath didn't seem like something he wanted to test.

The world seemed a little cruel at the moment.

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"What exactly did you find in that small bit of knowledge that you stole hrmmm?"

Robin narrowed his eyes and looked to his companion in concern. Sariel only answered. "Stuff I really didn't want to know. How much do you really control anyways?"

She chuckled and it echoed through the dome. "How much? Really? How much?"

Her laughter filled the empty void of the church. The trio, the only living souls around to hear it. Her own men lay dead at her feet and she laughs. And once it had been subdued her eyes became like a fire, intense and a certain kind of malice filled them. "Everything."

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He could climb to the top of the church and find a way inside and then travel down. But the drawback being to that, is that action may draw attention to himself, which he didn't need at the time. So he would have to find a way from the main floor.

The main entrance was out of the question, so he found a backdoor instead. And of course it was locked. However, Batman was never against breaking and entering, he was never there to steal, just to gain information. Therefore, breaking into this old church wasn't much of an obstacle.

It was, once he was inside however. He figured out he would have to climb up regardless since he ended up in the mausoleum. "How the hell?" he muttered to himself. Batman was slightly annoyed. But he kept moving regardless.

It didn't matter in the end. Bruce knew he had to make his way up. His son was up there, and he had to get to him, now.

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"Everything?" Robin perked up. "How can one person control everything?"

Her eyes shifted to the former hero. "It's simple really. You let them all believe that they have control over themselves, their lives, that they have power and free will. Give them a government, let them believe they have control over who gets into power by letting them vote. All a facade. Humans are weak minded creatures and they are easy to control. Even your former friends. The so called Heroes of Justice. All of them are mere instruments in my game."

"Your game?"

"Of course, who do you really think funds them?"

"Funds them?" This didn't make any sense, Robin was perplexed. He may not consider himself a hero now, but still... he knew that Bruce and many others funded each other when they could, along with any equipment needed for the Justice League overall.

"War, we create war. One war after another. It keeps the money flowing as you would say. Also Keeps peoples thoughts and eyes as far from us as we can. But people need to also feel secure. The justice League works for me, in their own little way. Just think Robin, at one point, you were actually one of mine. Shame you decided to leave."

Something clicked then that didn't make sense awhile ago. When Madeline came looking for Sariel and the Legacy and supposedly him as well. It was all nonsense before, but now... it seemed like they wanted him back on their side, go back to being a hero, back to being a blind fool. But there was more to it, why just create war. One after another? Sure it makes money but.... But then again money was control and control is power. But why, at the end of it all, why? What was the end game here?

"I fund them all you see, while your old mentor is able to fund his own expeditions and to help the Justice League in their times of need. Who do you think helps all other others? The world needs its heroes. It needs it's light to face off the darkness. Or so the world thinks, because that is what they want. In reality the Justice League creates the very villains they fight against, and the amount of damage they create is extensive. In truth, they are nothing more than terrorists in capes. But all with purpose." She smiled then. "All of them are just another bullet in a gun, just waiting to be used. Another tool to get the job done."

Aurora raised her hand above her head as if to display her point and give it more validation. "A complete and entire system of hero's built entirely to make sure this pathetic population feels safe and secure."

Robin interjected. "So you can do your work on the side."

She smiled then. "exactly."

"What lengths have you gone to, to keep yourself in the shadows..." It was Sariel this time.

"Fuckers." Gus the third time.

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"Find anything?"

Asif shrugged. "Nothing. Either he's already here, inside the church, or he's not around this area."

"Which I doubt." Slade knew the Batman well enough, having had a few meetings with the cape in the past. While he usually kept his distance from Gotham and it's notorious villains and it's Caped Crusader, he unfortunately had to deal with the Bat on a few occasions. "He's here, somewhere. The Bat is at times, to smart for his own good. And far to meddlesome."

Slade's eye watched the young man. "Keep looking."

Asif merely nodded.

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Coffins, coffins, and even more coffins. This place was massive and so far there wasn't a way upstairs. Which was impossible, the place was up kept, and there was signs scattered about the place, possible to mark certain notable coffins for the tourists that would eventually make their way through here each day.

Therefore, there had to be a staircase that lead to the upper floors. What he did not expect was the large bang that came from the level above. The ceiling rattled as the building shifted.

Something had happened, and he needed to get upstairs, now.

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Anyways I'm sorry it's super short...but yea. I'll be back in about a week with another chapter! In the meantime, PLS PLS give me a review! Give me some love and I will give you cake and cookies!

Be good out there!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: OK...I don't have my computer back... so I wrote this up on the hubbies laptop, and I'm just gonna post it. (Sorry Asilla, next one, since I should have the compy back by then...hopefully) So that way it's done. The hubby likes to hog his own laptop (He plays his games on it, that dork)

Thanks again to all my reviewers! You are the best of the best! I love ya guys! Also lots of love to anyone that has faved or followed this lil' fic, and ya know... read it. You guys are awesome to!

So ON WITH THE STORY RIIIGHT!?

EDIT: 06/15/2023 Fixed up some typos and things

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"What the hell!?"

Robins eyes darted from one end to the other of the massive church. "What was that rumble?" he thought. "What was she up to?" The questions came pouring into his mind as he graced his eyes upon the woman in white. The smile on her face was evident enough that she was behind the sudden shift in the environment.

"In the beginning you see, there wasn't any Justice League or Super Hero teams, There wasn't any Superman's or Batman's. Tt was just soldiers with a gun strapped to his back and a knife in his hand hoping that he made it back home to see his family once again. These people make the true differences in this world, the supers are mere pawns." She smiled in Robins direction. "Honestly? Batman? Ras Al ghul? Lex Luther? Tights and capes? All useful tools. You see, can have your underground wars with the Joker all you like, and you keep putting him back in jail, instead of simply killing him. Because why? Some pitiful sense of justice that all life is valuable? Even a madman's? Society looks to you all for guidance and you can't even keep them safe. Or maybe it's because you know, deep down, that even when he is dead and gone, it never truly ends. The cycle continues, a never ending drama. And as you know, society loves a good drama."

Robin frowned at her words. She made it seem like everything he had done up until now was useless. Perhaps it was, or maybe it wasn't. Regardless he did hang up his cape for a much more sinister suit. And right now if he was sure of anything, it was one singular fact. Now he had a purpose. He wasn't the hero anymore. He didn't follow the rules anymore. Therefore, there was one thing he could finally admit to."You're right about that, killing the mad man wouldn't of stopped the never ending cycle. But in truth, Batman should of killed the Joker long ago. That "monster" doesn't deserve much."

"And Batman should of let you kill Tony Zucco, but he didn't, did he?" Robin wasn't shocked by any of her words. He was once one of her own as she would put it. But in his own thoughts, he couldn't help but agree with her. Bruce never did let him have his revenge. And still to this day, he wasn't sure what he would do if he ever came across Zucco himself.

"The Justice League are responsible for the Deaths of many, and they boast about how many and whom they save. But how much do they destroy in the process? The desert is proof enough of how little they care."

Robin felt a tug in his chest. His anger flared up but he kept it under control. Why didn't Bruce and the others see what was happening around them? Why didn't they see who was truly pulling the strings? Batman was supposed to be the greatest detective alive and yet he couldn't figure out that he was a pawn right from the moment he put on that cowl. Sariel was correct in what she said all those months ago. The Superheros were never truly welcomed in that desert, and they never will be. They were false heroes and Aurora's words spoke to him of how little they truly cared for others around them, it hit a little too hard, as he thought back on the evidence he had seen for himself, out there, in that fire, all those nights ago. The night that all Hell was let loose, the very night that changed everything for him.

"The world may be corrupt. But Evil, you see, is irreverent." She spoke so casually on that alter as if she had done this a few times in the past. Perhaps she had? How many has she killed while giving her speeches? Robin glared at her through masked eyes. "Because what humans label as evil changes with the tides of time. Nearly eighty years ago this entire city was once enemy territory. Now you stand here as free people in a foreign land that welcomes you into it's borders. Nazi's are still considered "evil" to this day, but the idea behind the Nazi has changed. Their locations are now numerous. A Nazi could very well be your neighbor, and you wouldn't know. While Germany retains it's past, as it will never forget it. It is one country I'm sure, that will not repeat its mistakes any time soon. Instead it will sit and watch others do themselves in."

"What are you getting at?" Sariel spat at the woman. Gus stood behind her with his arms crossed. The woman returned her smile to the younger.

"My question to you now, is what are you going to do with this information?"

Sariel frowned. "The hell you mean!?"

"The Legacy, my dear, what is it?"

Sariel frowned, "Information, not for the public. Hidden within each file... it bits of a code. Knowledge about things that shouldn't exist, documenting the creation of immortal life. Which is ridiculous really..."

"Who else to better control the world then someone that has the time to spend on the ever most mundane things? Plotting a countries downfall or rise can take a few years. Even if you control or kill my pawns, it will do you no good. You stand here now thinking you can change something? I must say you do amuse me."

There was another sudden bang as there was before, the trio felt it as well. Again Robin questioned what she was up to. Certainly she wasn't going to bring this whole building down upon them, would she?

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"We got a problem."

"Which is?"

"Some sort of large explosions going on, I'm picking up rather large vibrations coming from underground, even more interesting is that it's beneath our church. Also the Drone picked up some sort of activity. But whoever just busted through that door into the mausoleum just disappeared. Think it's the Bat?"

Slade smirked under his mask. "Stay here, I'm going to go check up on Robin and company."

Asif nodded, and before he could even bat an eye, Deathstroke had vanished. He sighed. Things just got more interesting as the night went by.

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Another explosion of some sort. It didn't seem to be coming from outside. Underground perhaps? Berlin was filled with underground tunnels that passed through the entire city, some more ancient than others. The more modern ones were created by the German military during WWII. Was such a tunnel perhaps underneath this church? If that was true, what exactly were they planning to achieve from this? To have caused such an explosion, and have the entire church demolished as it fell into whatever crater that would come from it.

Batman frowned, but soon found himself with a smirk evident on his face as he, at last, found a way upstairs.

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"It is unfortunate these men lost their lives, such a noble sacrifice. All so that I may have enough to wield."

Gus backed up a bit. He got a really bad feeling suddenly and if there was anything in life he trusted, it was his gut. "Guys... this don't feel right."

The bodies seemed lifeless, but they moved slightly, and for a moment Robin expected them to get back up on their feet. But there was something different about... all of this. The bodies didn't climb to their feet, they remained lifeless as ever. It was when the blood seemingly lifted itself up off the floor, to become an extension of Aurora's self, when his thoughts all seemed to shatter into pieces.

"What the..." What was going on? How was she even able to do this? Her own men, dead, and now it was like she summoned their blood to her, to use as some sort of weapon. What was this woman?

"It seems that if you won't be of any use to me boy, then I'll simply have to deal with you now. Shame really."

The blood seemed to change at her command, and within seconds crimson blades flied in his direction. They were to fast, his body kicked in to survival mode, he went to duck, to try and dive out of the way. But they were to quick, to sudden. This woman had completely caught them off guard. Everything was happening all to fast. Whatever she was, her skills and her abilities were something on an entirely different level. He flinched trying to move, but move he did not, until he was pushed. The blood like daggers never pierced him. It seemed they had stuck another.

Robin whirled around, seeing what he had hoped not to.

"SARIEL!"

She gasped for air, and a hand grasped one of the blood forged blades that pierced her chest. She clung to it tightly, trying to remove it. Her eyes never left the woman however, there was still a bit of defiance left in her.

"Well at least that's one down..." She didn't look to pleased however, and she retracted her weapons. Sariel was released from the from the crimson blade and she fell to the floor, automatically coughing up blood and her body still gasped for air. Gus had already taken her into his arms when Robin had reached his friends.

"Sariel... Sar, can you hear me?" Robin knelt down beside her. He tried to remain calm but his thoughts were a mess. It happened so sudden, to fast. Sariel was... dying. Humans were so fragile. Defiant one moment, laying in their own blood the next.

Her eyes were dim, they had lost that spark she had mere moments ago. Robin analyzed her condition. The gash in her chest was large and she was loosing far to much blood, way to fast. "We gotta get her outta here." Gus looked to Robin, his tone pleading. "We... we can't her die. Not here..."

Robin checked her pulse, there wasn't much of one. His breaths became deeper, there wasn't enough time. Why wasn't there ever enough time. He couldn't loose Sariel. She was his friend. They had come so far...and she... she pushed him out of the way. Robin narrowed his eyes. Those blades were for him. Not for her. He was going to lose her. He was going to lose her, and... He couldn't...

"You gotta... " she coughed and blood speckled her lips. "Gotta leave... ok? Just... leave..."

"I'm not leaving you here. Why you do that anyways? What the fuck Sariel?" Robins words were emotional, although he tried to remain in control.

"Been taking... care... of my own... team... for so... long. Gotta take... care.. of my... fri-"

"Sar?" Robin took her hand in his.

Her eyes looked at his face, the panic evident but she mustered a smile. "She... is... is the...."

"Sariel!?" Nothing. The small grip she had on his hand loosened. 

"No..." Gus looked up to Robin, he noticed the former hero's scowl. It seemed he had made up his mind on something. "Get out of here Gus."

"I'm not leaving her behind, nor you!"

"She's gone." He sighed deeply. "I'll take care of Ms. Warchild."

Robin stood up from the body of his friend. He turned his head to look at the woman before him. Clothed in white, bends blood to her will. What the hell was she? Some sort of freakish vampire? No way. Just no. There was something else about this woman. She said something about the Legacy, how it made her what she was. Then she also admitted she had been around since the early 40's. Vampire was a easy answer. To easy to be possible.

He drew his gun, took the safety off and fired a few shots at the woman before him. If anything he was going to stain her god damn pristine clothing. He would make her bleed tonight. But his efforts were fruitless, and Robin grew quick to anger.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?"

Another squad of the black suited men had arrived on the scene. He sighed. He didn't have time for this. Robin narrowed his masked eyes in remembering the items he had equipped in his belt.

With a flick of his hand, Robin had tossed out a couple smoke bombs. He couldn't see them, but he could most definitely hear them.

Silently he crept up upon them. He broke the neck of one, stabbed another with his combat knife, the others he had shot. A few in the head, others in the gut. Robin took aim and pulled the trigger, he shot to kill, there wasn't any turning back now. No one in the Justice League would want him after this manslaughter. But he didn't care. That bitch had killed his friend, and he was going to make sure to get pay back.

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Another rumble, Slade looked around him. "Curious..." What the hell was going on? Asif had told him they had lost contact with the trio a few minutes ago. He was working on regaining contact, but it may take awhile. This sudden change had Slade worried. And he could tell Asif was concerned as well.

Something wasn't going as planned. Call it a professional hunch, but Slade knew when shit was hitting the fan. And right now, gave him that exact feeling. The only problem is that he couldn't tell for sure, he had no direct contact anymore. He was outside, and Robin and company were inside.

He was going to have to break into the damn church. But Slade would use the front door. He didn't want nor need to be stealthy. If things had gotten as serious as he suspected, then he didn't have time to mess around.

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SO what ya think!? PLS PLS LEAVE ME A REVIEW! I got pancakes! And waffles! and whip cream, and fruit! I always offer sweets, let's try a breakfast thing this time. XD

Be good out there and stay safe!

-Elsie

Chapter Text

ANYWAYS! I'm back! With another chapter! I wonder if people even got to read the last chapter, I remember posting it then Fanficnet just like... stopped working, for like a good day and a half or something. So emmm... if you haven't read chapter 54...emm please do so XD It's just back there *points to the past chapter*

Also I'm not sorry for making Robin shoot someone, there I said it XD It's part of the story, besides you all know it was coming XD

Anyways UBER THANKS to Asilla for editing my bad grammar and whatnot. You rock and are amazing! All praise Asilla!

Also BIG UBER THANKS to all my readers, new faves and follows! And you reviewers man... YOU DA BEST! My utmost thanks go you guys, I know I say it each time but I meant it, if it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't be posting chapter 55. SO THANK YOU!

Anyways I'm sure yer all sick and tired of me now. SO ON WITH THE STORY!

EDIT: 06/15/2023 Just fixing some typos and things

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Panic was evident in the air. Shots rang out from all directions. Blood was split that night by many, but in Robin's rage he seemed to cause the most damage. It even gave her pause. His movements in and around the men became a blur. So much so that her own men couldn't keep up. He weaved around them as if they were nothing to him. His instincts roared and his hands did the work, while his mind reeled at what he was doing, what he had become. To him, all of that was mere background noise compared to the panicked voice that kept screaming in his mind. "She's Dead! She's Dead! She'll kill you next! Keep going! Sariel is Dead!"

And indeed, she was. There was no coming back for Sariel. Her blood pooled around her body and she laid there in a quiet heap as Gus clutched onto her. Robin grunted. Gus hadn't listened to him. "Shock" he scoffed, knowing full well how Gus was being affected by all of this.

But it didn't matter so much at that moment. All that did matter to him was the fact that she was dead.

She's dead!

She's dead!

Sariel... She's dead!

His mind wouldn't let it go. Again, and again. It tormented him.

She was gone. They would never share any of their silent moments again. She would never tease him again, or get away with her small silly gestures towards Slade.

She was gone, a friend, an ally, a companion. Just killed before his eyes as if she was nothing. This wasn't like his time with the Titans. He realized a while ago that although the Titans had been in some form of danger in their crime fighting crusade, and while at times their lives were on the line, along with many others... It was nothing like this. Death wasn't always knocking at your door as a Titan. But here... on this side, in this world, it was a constant battle. A war that had opened his eyes to the insufferable ways of the Western world and their privileged "hero's".

Sariel told him long ago. He didn't listen then, but her words meant something now... Now that she was gone. He just snapped, it was like instant clarity, knowing now what had to be done.

Looking over the scene, however, Robin knew he had overreacted. He supposed he hadn't changed that much at all over the past few months. Although, he did realize his methods had drastically shifted. Robin cringed at his own handy work. How many were dead now? Killed by his own hands?

He didn't know. He didn't count. But what he did know now was that no matter how many he did take, it wouldn't equal to his friend.

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Another shot rang out, another man was dead. Another bullet aimed in her direction, redirected to kill one of her own.

"Are we going to do this all night? I do have plans... Although, I must say you are much more entertaining."

Robin appeared from out of the smoky haze he had created, his gun draw, a bullet just for her. He fired, but once again, no effect. The bullets did hit her, but no blood was drawn. No pain seemed evident; no muffled cry escaped her lips. She acted as if it were merely a sting instead of a bullet.

"I have not lived so long to be taken out by someone such as yourself, and with a mere bullet. You must try better Robin."

Frustrated, Robin fired a few more rounds.

Nothing. Again. Maybe a fist to her face would slow her down?

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"Gunfire?"

Slade had already made his way into the cathedral, but it was vast. It seemed he would have to make his way through a series of halls and rooms before he could get to his apprentice. Regardless, he was close. Close enough to hear the cries of men dying and the evident muffled grunts of pain that would come from any kind of battle, and from the sound of it, things had turned sour. He would not leave his young apprentice in this kind of mess. Sariel and Robin had devised a basic, yet sturdy, plan. Something had gone wrong.

He cursed himself. He was a damn fool for giving Robin this much freedom. For all he knew the boy was dead. The guilt swelled up in his chest and settled there. Slade disliked that feeling. For it was a familiar one from years ago, from another life, from another dead body.

Slade gritted his teeth. No, he would not allow that to happen a second time. Robin would out-do them all. Robin would live. He just had to get to him.

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Her footsteps were delicate, but purposeful. She strode over to the body of his fallen friend; Gus still looking down on her, holding her in his arms, clutching her to his chest. His friend was dead. And he couldn't get over it. He couldn't leave.

"Get up! Get out there!" His mind taunted him as he watched the woman approach. "Gus GO!" God damn him, why didn't he listen to him? Robin mentally scolded his friend from his hiding spot. He had run out of bullets and Auroras strength, he had learned, was overwhelming. He had tried to strike, but he soon learned it was in vain. Before he could even land a punch, she had caught his fist then proceeded to punch him right in the face, breaking his nose in the process. His form slumped to the floor, his mind in a daze. Her strength was something else. She then proceeded to kick him a few times in the stomach before he was able to actually catch her foot and send her stumbling back. He then took advantage of that and found himself hiding out behind these pews.

To be honest, he didn't know where to take this battle next. The church was constricting and he knew that he couldn't take it out into the streets. It would give her way too many advantages and she could end up killing many more in the process.

His eyes narrowed. "Still thinking like a goddamn hero when we know we're done with that shit." The voice from the fires had come back, only to taunt him, but he knew now how correct it was. Robin didn't consider himself a hero anymore. Perhaps he was more akin to a renegade these days. However, he really did not need a body count out in the middle of the streets of Berlin, he knew that would attract all sorts of attention.

"Gotta end this here. One way or another." Robin looked to his friend; she was getting closer to him. "Wait..."

Aurora looked down on the boy clutching the body of his friend. Robins mind screamed again. "GO, GO, GO!" Without a moment's thought, he gave his location away. He stood up and shouted at his friend. "GUS! RUN!"

But he didn't. Aurora looked to him, she bent down and picked up Sariel's gun, and fired.

Nothing but a gasp.

Not even a cry.

Just a terrible thud.

The woman then turned to him, aimed, and fired.

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Batman was on the main floor now. All he heard was the evident sounds of a struggle and gunfire. The Caped Crusader cringed; what kind of danger had Deathstroke put him in? What exactly was he making his son do in a goddamn church filled with gunfire?

He knew he would get his answer, he just had to get to Richard first.

Apparently, he was on the back end of the church. it didn't matter though. He could hear Robin, he could hear his son, and it didn't sound good. He sounded angry and a bit terrified.

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Robin took cover while she let off some steam, firing in his general direction. Even when he moved; being as quiet as he could, silent, stealthy, she seemed to pick up where he had moved to. "Impossible." he thought, but then again Slade could do that. So perhaps a lot more was possible than he thought.

He was out matched, but he didn't want to give up. Robin had picked up one of the suited men's firearms, but he couldn't pull the trigger. It seemed the guns were locked down and coded to be only fired by the DNA imprint of the original owner. Smart really, but right now, really frustrating.

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"You can't hide forever you know."

Silence.

"You can move about all you want, from one point to another, I will always hear you. Although I admit, Batman trained you well. A normal person wouldn't be able to pick up on where you were so easily."

Silence. She sighed.

"It's indeed a shame you left my services. All you hero's make such excellent decoys."

"Why do you use them like that?" She grinned, finally an answer.

She couldn't see him but answered anyway. "Why not? Organize a system of people that strive to protect what they think is theirs. The people need to feel safe Robin, humans are such needy creatures. But if you give them what they want, they keep to themselves and their happy little lives. But you see, you can't have too much security or people become too secure, too safe. And as you know, this world is hardly a 'safe' place. You have to keep the wars going somewhere, it funds the other projects you see. The heroes decide whom they want to keep safe. But people are selfish, they only want to protect what they consider their own. Their own families, their own cities."

"You use people. And you call them selfish?"

"Darling, everyone is a tool."

"Yea, but it makes you no different than anyone else."

"While possibly true, I do hold far more superiority than most."

Silence again.

Was the boy staying in one spot, waiting to die, waiting for her to come and shoot him? No, he had too much vigor, that boy. For a moment she stood there, as if she was waiting for him to simply come to her and admit defeat. She did not expect the knife in her back.

She smiled, and turned to him. "Well done." The knife was embedded deep into her flesh, and she knew then that there would be no saving her white suite. The blood stains would be impossible to get out. Shame, she really liked this one.

"But it seems you have more interesting company approaching, someone much better than myself." She smiled at the boy and simply vanished, her form turning into ash. "But I'm sure we'll meet again. I'm sure you'll want some form of revenge for your little friends. If you can get past one of my best that is."

"Her best?" Robin blinked, not knowing what she had meant. Was she sending in someone to finish the job? With that in mind, he picked up the gun she had dropped. He knew he would have to keep his guard up but... he couldn't help but walk over to them.

Dead.

Gone.

Two in one night. How did this happen? Why couldn't he save them?

"You had to think about yourself first. You had to live, you had to survive." The damnable voice haunted him again. Didn't they deserve to survive? Sariel...? Gus? His friends. His goddamn friends were dead. Killed by some freakish lady with some sort of James Bond villain complex.

He had to get back to Slade.

He couldn't have his master walk in on him looking over the bodies of his friends. What the hell was he going to tell him? That he failed? He could barely stand against Aurora and Sariel and Gus where fucking dead! He began to panic.

What was he going to do now?

They were dead! Gone!

He had to get back to Slade, Slade would know what to do. What the next step would be, where to go.

Slade would know.

Slade always knew.

But he couldn't take his eyes off of them. They were so lifeless, so void of emotion. They were dead. He knew he would have to move now, soon, but he couldn't leave them like this. He frowned. He knew his friends would be on the five O'clock news. Two dead found in a Berlin historical church. His breaths were deep, his body finally calming down from the adrenaline rush. He was beginning to feel every bruise, scratch, cut and wound.

He must have looked so lost, confused and utterly helpless. He heard his name being called out to him, that voice was filled with a hollow sorrow and confusion, begging to ask why. He must have looked like he had shot them. He wouldn't understand.

"Robin?"

It was not Slade.

His blue eyes found the white pair in an all too familiar cowl.

"Batman?"

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NANANANANANANANA BATMAN! BATMAN! BATMAAAAAANNNN!

Ok, I'll stop.

BATMAN!

Ok seriously now.

Anyways, what do you guys think? What is Batman going to do? What is Robin going to do? When is Slade gonna get there? WHAT IS GOING ON!? WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN!?

Well... find out next chapter!

PLS PLS LEAVE ME A REVIEW! I have cookies and cake and POP TARTS!

Take care guys, stay safe and be good out there

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Anyways I want to thank everyone for reading this lil' story of mine, I want to thank all my reviewers, you guys know you are the best of the very BEST! And anyone that has taken the time to just read this thing... you are goddamn awesome as well. I honestly don't deserve this for this lil' story but thank you all so much for your kind words and support. =) You all rock!

Anyways I'm sure you want the story more than anything so I'll shut up now ON WITH THE STORY! WOOHOO!

EDIT 06/15/2023 just fixed up some typos and things

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

His son...

His partner...

Robin...

Richard was holding a gun in his right hand, and two bodies lay beneath him. His expression was of heartbreak; he was quiet, perhaps a little in shock, not at all like his ward. He could feel Dick's depression start to settle into the boys bones. This was a scene he would not soon forget.

"Richard...?"

The boy looked at him as if he was an apparition. A faded memory. The spark he was familiar with, the spark that deeply resonated with the boy, was gone.

"Batman?"

"Bruce?"

His masked eyes could hide his identity, but Bruce knew the boy well enough to know he was in pain. The boy that looked up to him seemed so small and distant. In that moment, he saw the same eyes of the frightened eight year old that had just lost his parents. He was lost, afraid, and full of sorrow. But soon that sorrow changed to anger. Something had changed in him in that instant and now he was beginning to see the hints of rage that peeked out as his eyes narrowed at the man before him. This was same anger that he had to wrestle with the boy all those years ago. The same anger that wanted to kill Tony Zucco, it was now directed at him.

"Dick."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

This is what she meant. She spoke of controlling the worlds hero's, it's Justice League, all pawns to reach her own ends. Batman was truly one of the best. And here he was. Bruce was here, Bruce had come for him. And Richards heart sunk just a little.

Bruce had come too little, too late. If this had been back before the desert, before the fires... if Bruce had come to rescue him out in the middle of the Empty Quarter, or even in Jillain's cabin in France, he'd be back in Jump already. Back in the tower, with the Titans.

But fate didn't deal him that hand. Instead, now it offers him something on a different spectrum. Richard knew he wouldn't go home with Bruce tonight. But, he couldn't lie to the man that raised him, he did owe Bruce that much.

"Why are you here?"

He saw the mans face become riddled in concern.

"I came for you."

"You're too late, you know that right?"

"Dick, I can get you out of here, away from Deathstroke. "

Suddenly the building shifted, there was a slight rumble, much like the ones before, albeit a lot shorter. It gave up a wailing sound too, as if something was straining. It didn't bode well, whatever it was.

The duo felt it, and both knew that if they didn't depart soon, they would be caught up in it, whatever it was.

"We need to leave."

"Yea, but I'm not going with you."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He heard voices, one of them was Robins... the other. He knew that voice. "The Bat." Slade frowned at the Batman's intrusion.

"We need to leave." That Bat seemed eager to depart.

"Yea, but I'm not going with you."

Slade kept to the shadows, and hid himself amongst the multiple pillars and watched as his apprentice interacted with his old mentor. He was mildly curious as to where this would lead.

"What do you mean Robin? We need to get out of here. I know what Slade has done, I'm here to get you away from Deathstroke. You can come home Dick. You don't have to be here anymore. Whatever Deathstroke is holding over your head. It doesn't matter anymore."

"And what if I didn't want to go with you? What if I told you, I didn't want to go home. Back to Gotham or back to the Titans!" Robins rage was breaking though just a tad, and Batman looked down at his son with a frown, there was disappointment in his eyes, anyone could tell, even with that cowl on.

Robins eyes darted to the fallen bodies of his former friends, before he found himself scowling at the all to familiar cowl. "I'm not going back, not after all I've been through, not after all I've found. And certainly not after all that has been sacrificed. There is a horrible truth behind everything you do Bruce. And perhaps you're actually more of a villain then you think you are. Maybe it's you that should be put behind bars."

"Richard, what the hell are you talking about... what is going on?" Batman looked to his son in curiosity and concern, he frown at Robins choice of words. "Whatever has transpired had obviously clouded your judgement. What lies have you been told, what sort of hell were you forced to partake in?"

Slade could only wonder what questions edged at the front of the Batman's mind, as he stood there in wonder. The mere thought that his ward had betrayed him, it was coming. The betrayal, the idea that Robin had back stabbed him, it wasn't quite lodged into the Bats thick skull. Yet, anyways.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Another rumble, it was less violent then the last, but the moan from the structure definitely wasn't good.

"We can talk about this later, we need to go. Now."

"I'm not going with you. Goddammit Bruce, get that through your head."

"Richard."

Robin narrowed his eyes and gripped the gun in his hand. He gritted his teach and pointed it at Batman.

"Dick?" Bruce had frowned at his wards actions. His gaze hardened a little. This was something Deathstroke had obviously done to his son. Dick wasn't a killer. This wasn't him. "Put the gun down, Dick."

"NO!"

"Dick..."

"If this is what it takes to get you to back away, then so be it. I'm not going home with you. I'm staying here. This world has torn me apart, but I'm just a small piece of it now. I can't go back. My friends are dead, and I avenged them as much as I could. She killed them! But I couldn't kill her..." Robin was out of breath, he was nearly yelling at Bruce. He was taking deep breaths, but continued regardless. "It wasn't enough... but I realized that no matter how many of their filthy lives I took, it could never add up to them."

"Richard, what did you do?"

"I killed them Bruce." his free hand directed the Bats gaze to the scene behind him. "Because she killed them." Robin looked down to the sight of Sariel and Gus.

"Killed who Dick?"

"Fuck! Look around you Bruce!"

Batman had noticed the bodies before, but he didn't think... Richard wouldn't have, couldn't have done this. There was a lot of men, dead. Throats slit, cracked necks, gunshot wounds to the head and chest. "No..." was the only thing that parted the mans lips as he surveyed the scene before him. "Why...?"

"They were trying to kill me, this isn't Gotham or Jump. If I didn't kill them, I'd be dead. And I needed to stay alive, because they couldn't. One of us had to live Bruce!"

His gun was still aimed at Caped Crusader. He wasn't going to budge. "I'm not going back with you Bruce, I obviously can't. After all that I have done. They won't except me anyways. I'm just another monster to you now."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Slade grinned of the current events. The boy had made his stand. He had killed many in the process, and how ironic that the Batman, of all people, would show up at exactly the right time. It couldn't have happened at a better point in Robins journey. One might even think he had planned it this way, but it seems fate dealt him the right cards for once, and just by chance things had seemed to turn in his favor.

If anything, now seemed like the perfect time to make a grand entrance so that he and his apprentice could leave together, and possibly make the Bat hate him for all eternity. And that was something he would revel in for many years to come.

"Apprentice." he spoke out to Robin, and the boy just stood there with his gun drawn on the Batman. Slade smirked beneath his mask as he walked out to stand by Robin, his hands clasped behind his back, the ever intimidating stance that had frightened so many in the past.

His singular eye never moved from the contact he made with the Bat as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Deathstroke."

"Batman."

"What the hell have you done with him?" the anger was evident in his tone. Of course the Bat would put all the blame on his shoulders. And while he might take a fair amount of that blame. Robin himself did a lot of that change within him on his own. But in reality, there wasn't much to change. Robin only needed a push in the right direction, and here they were.

Slade cocked his head to the side just slightly. "Nothing really. Robin has come a long way on his own. He's become quite something hasn't he? Quite possibly a threat, wouldn't you say? Unfortunately, we do not have time for idle chatter."

As if on Que the building groaned again, and the floor shifted beneath them.

"This building is going to come crashing down into itself, like something below it is sending out some sort of vibrating waves to collapse it. I believe she meant to bury us amongst the rubble. Even if we get out, it's a good way to hide any evidence of their involvement until it can be taken care of at a later date." Robins glared never shifted, his aim steady, and Slade only nodded at his comment.

"Then I suppose we should leave. Before we get caught up in it." Slade suggested, his words were meant for his apprentice. Although he knew the Bat could hear them perfectly well. "I've had Will send out a helicopter. Asif is waiting outside."

'Does he know... about Gus and Sariel."

"I didn't know until now." Slade frowned as his eye caught the sight of Jillain's granddaughter laying in a pool of her own blood, along with her friend. This was not something he would enjoy in telling his old friend. "We can tell him later."

Robin sighed. "We need to leave."

"Agreed."

"Richard, don't do this."

Robin frowned. "Are you so afraid Bruce, that I have betrayed you? Is the idea of me not going home with you finally sinking in?" For the first time ever, Bruce was at a loss for words. Richard... had become an enemy.

"I'm leaving. This is goodbye"

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Yea... enough Drama llama for you all? Feel that angst, that drama! ooOOoo it burns yer soul!

Ok I'll stop... Anyways PLS PLS leave me a review! I have cake and cookies and pop tarts... Thank you guys all so much again for being patient with me... I know I suck at updating.

Take care guys! Be good! Stay Awesome!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: Ok Guys... I know... *sheepishly comes back into the room* I'm late... by a lot.

But to be honest, as I'm sure all you guys have felt it as well, this pandemic is painful. I'm an essential service and honestly, I'm just tired most of the time.

I hope everyone is doing well. I really hope all my regular readers are ok, that your safe and healthy, and I'm sorry this has taken me awhile to get out there. But I guess better late then never. I really want to push out more chapters, but yea, I'll try, but it may be another month before the next. But when I started this one I told myself I really wanted to dish out a little bit more, but we'll see.

Anyways thank you so much guys, all of you. To all my new and old readers, thank you. To my reviewers, you guys are amazing, gold stars all around and thank you. You are all literally the reason why I'm still writing this and am GOING TO FINISH IT! Also thanks to Asilla for being an amazing editor.

Anyways thank you all and ON WITH THE STORY!

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Another rumble. The ceiling shuddered, particles of it coming down on them as dust. This structure wouldn't hold for much longer. "I'm leaving. This is goodbye."

"Robin!"

The boy had already turned his back on his former mentor only to look to his master. Slade looked down towards his apprentice, his posture was ever the same. It was a staple that was known for the ever-threatening mercenary. He could only nod to him as the boys masked eyes looked to where his master had come from. Robin was leaving the Bat in the dust. He was saying goodbye. And since they would never stand side by side as allies ever again, it would seem that this was the official end of the dynamic duo.

Another rumble, it seemed gentle at first, and then it took a violent turn. It felt as if the entire cathedral was going to collapse. This wasn't far from the truth as one of the interior pillars became unhinged and tumbled down between the Mercenary and the Bat. Its fall shattered the pillar, the floor rumbled again, the ground beneath them was no longer safe. Slade stood still regardless of the centuries old delicate marble floor crumbling beneath him. He looked to Robin already making his way up to the mercenary's original path. The Mastermind was about to follow when the Bat called out to him. "This is far from over Slade." Batman knew that in this moment there was nothing he could do. He too, would have to get out of this area alive.

The mercenary smirked under his mask. "I would be disappointed if it was."

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Deep Breaths. In and out. In and out... He narrowed his eyes as he watched Slade leave with his son. He couldn't start something here and now. The place was falling apart, he could already hear the creaking of the other pillars that threatened to fall down upon him.

Deep Breaths.

He'd deal with this later.

That's what he told himself as he watched Robin effortlessly make his way up to an upper level. The doorway was dark and when he walked through it, the boy vanished.

Deep Breaths...

He would get his son back. He had come so far. Robin was within his grasp. Yet, within seconds he was gone.

Another rumble and the ground began to give way.

Deathstroke was gone.

As was Robin...

Deep Breaths.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Meeting Bruce again after all this, Richard didn't know what to say other than goodbye. He was actually somewhat surprised that it took him so long to find him. Was it because he had gotten derailed from the path? Or simply because in some small way he didn't want to find Richard, afraid that the mercenary had won-over his son? Was Bruce already so aware of Richard's darker side that he worried he would betray them all? If Bruce thought as much, he was not wrong. It didn't matter now though. He would have to figure out what to do next. Sariel was gone. Sariel would want him to finish this. Sariel... she... his friend. She deserved some sort of reprisal, didn't she? Sariel and Gus... their deaths would not be in vain.

That damn woman, what was she thinking? Jumping out in front of him. She probably didn't think it would cost her her life. She probably thought she could deflect... whatever that was. Thought she could whisk them out of harms reach. But she was wrong and it got her in the end, that wasn't how she was supposed to go. She was supposed to go back to the desert after all of this. She had plans; Gus had plans. Slade and him were eventually supposed to separate from Sariel and her team... but now... His heart wrenched.

"Asif is outside waiting for an helicopter I called in."

The boy nodded. His fist tightened. He wanted revenge.

The two didn't have much time to think however as the building began to shift under another terrible quake.

"We need to get out of here." the mastermind spoke. "And now."

Robin nodded. "Yea."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Another rumble and another pillar crumbled to the ground, shattering as it landed on the floor which gave way to the mausoleum below. Batman darted for secure ground as more of the structure around him seemed to fold in on itself and the floor began to give way.

It seemed everything was now coming apart. He looked briefly to the bodies laid out before him in that room. The same room his son had committed those murders in. And he wondered for a moment where he had gone wrong with the boy?

Another wretched creak.

And another pillar tumbled to the floor. It fell apart before it could even hit the ground below. The floor had become a crippling mess alongside the gaping hole in the middle. He couldn't waste any more time.

A few jumps, a few flips, and after breaking down a door he found himself outside. Dust filled up the area around him creating a haze as the building began to fully collapse. Hundreds of years of history, gone in a single night.

Carefully, the Bat backed away from the building. He took pause for a moment before he stepped back into the shadows of Berlin's streets.

"Richard..." He didn't know what to tell Alfred. That man had raised Richard just as much as he had, and probably had done a better job at it. Alfred and Richard were close, just as the three of them were. They were family. Or they used to be. But now... No, he couldn't tell Alfred now. Not tonight.

It didn't matter if he told Alfred or not, really. He was going to get his son back. Slade would pay for this transgression against his family.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

It didn't take long for Robin and Slade to exit the building, they turned around just in time to watch it turn into a heap of relics. The two seemed disinterested. Robin looked more distraught than he had in a while, which was understandable. He heard the helicopter in the distance, it wasn't far.

"It wasn't your fault."

Robin looked away.

"Casualties happen." Slade continued.

The boy crossed his arms. "It shouldn't have happened to them."

"Perhaps not... but life doesn't always go as it should. You can prepare for a lifetime, thinking you have the correct keys and the right answers. But life has a way of showing you that no matter how prepared we are, we can always still lose the game."

Robin sighed. "I want revenge."

Aahhhh there it was. Slade smirked behind his mask. However, his voice never showed any hints of his amusement. "In time Robin."

"She controls them."

"She who?"

"Aurora, she controls them all, even Batman, although they don't know it. They don't know that they're all a part of something bigger, something they can't control, something they would all probably fight against if they knew and probably lose to." Robin sighed and shook his head. "They fight to protect their foolish cities and their people, but all the while they are just goddamn pawns in her game."

Batman? As far as Slade knew the Bat never worked for anymore. Who were the 'they'? What extensions of power did this society wield and what had this woman spilled to his apprentice?

The helicopter was close now.

"The Justice League is a giant cover-up for everything she does. We take them out, we can get to her."

"And then you can have your revenge?" it was an amused question from the mastermind. The boy shrugged. "It would take time."

The boy nodded. "A lot of time."

"Call it a personal project then."

The boy looked up to the man. "Huh?"

"I'll always be willing to help you in regards to your endeavors Robin. However, there are some things I have to check up on. And for now, it's probably in our best interest to get as far away from Berlin as possible."

Robin scoffed. "Like she'd stay here anyways."

Slade narrowed his singular eye. "I know you want payback, but recklessly scouring a city much larger than Jump and Gotham put together, not knowing the local language, or much about the city, isn't the best idea."

Robin narrowed his eyes in return and Slade could feel the rage emitting from the boy. His anger was once a small and well hidden flame that had built up over the years. But it had become much more dangerous in the last few months. It had become a bonfire and it was that same flame that killed those men. The flame held the boy up and urged him to keep going forward, to survive, to win the fight regardless of any and all odds. The flame was from the same spark he had witnessed every time he fought the boy as a Titan. It was still there, greater then a spark now and Slade knew that Robin would find a way to avenge his friends and kill that women in cold blood. The fire was a flicker of murderous beauty in his eyes, deadly to the touch.

There was no going back for this boy now. Nor did he think Robin would even feel comfortable in the skin of a Titan ever again. Robin was his now, and each step into the dark the boy took, the more he would belong to the mastermind. All for him to mold, train, teach and then release onto the world.

Robin looked from his master to the helicopter, as he could see it in the sky above him. A ladder was dropped for the duo. "It seems our ride has arrived. Up you go."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Asif looked to the newcomers with a smile on his face, Robin was the first to climb up, next came Slade. However, when the mercenary had his two feet settled onto the floor of the helicopter, he began to lift up the ladder. Asif was confused by this.

"Wait what about the others?"

Robin looked to the young man, no emotion on his face. Just a blank canvas. "Asif..." The name slipped from his mouth... but that was all for the moment. Not even Robin wanted to say what had happened. But Asif deserved to know.

"What is going on? Where are Sariel and Gus? They should be right behind you, we can't leave without them."

"Asif."

"Look I know you and I haven't had too many kind interactions in the past few days, but..." Asif looked into Robin's blue eyes as the boy took the mask off. Something was off, even Asif knew that much. Robin just didn't look the same. "Are we meeting them elsewhere? Sariel, she..."

"Asif... Sairel, she's dead."

"What?" He really shouldn't have been shocked, they all knew what it meant by going after the Ben Elohim. They all knew they could die. But she was... Sariel was always so careful. How could this have happened?

"Yea... she, stepped in the way. It should have been me..." The image played over and over again in Robin's mind as he kept asking himself why? Why would she do that?

Asif sighed; he knew she'd try to save the blasted kid if it came down to it. "She would of done it for anyone." he mentally reminded himself. Probably didn't think she would get herself killed though. Unless... He sighed. No, she wouldn't do that. He pushed the thought from his mind and asked the next dreaded question.

"And Gus?"

Robin frowned. "She got him to."

Asif's face turned from sorrow to anger. "That fucking bitch!" He buried his face into his hands, not wanting to face the reality of the situation. This wouldn't end would it?

His world had turned upside down so unexpectedly that he didn't feel Robin's hand on his shoulder at first, however when he realized, it was not unwelcome. "We'll get them. I promise."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Beast Boy had crawled out of bed a bit earlier than the others. Which was shocking really. He, out of all of the Titans, loved to sleep in. But after the whole Brotherhood fiasco, he just hadn't been the same. Something always got him out of bed at an early time these days. Was it grief? Fear? Pain of loss? He didn't know. The team still hadn't gotten over Robin. They all knew he was alive... somewhere out there. But other than their talks with Batman, the team had been left with nothing. It was a waiting game and they were all a bit tired of waiting. There weren't any answers to any of their questions. It was getting difficult between the four of them as they tried to protect their city and search for any clues in the meantime.

Raven had been trying to contact their leader and she came to the dreaded conclusion that while he might be alive, he was ignoring her and shutting down the link between them. Meaning he was somewhere or with someone he didn't want them to know about. Or perhaps he didn't want them to worry about him. Which gave all of them the impression of Slade being involved. The whole thing reeked of the man. And to be honest, Beast Boy wasn't cool with Batman literally telling them he'd deal with it and then ignoring them. Didn't the Bat know that they all knew Robin as well? He was their leader, their friend. He meant something to each of them.

After grabbing his bowl of cereal, Garfield sat himself in front of the living room's rather large television and flicked it on. He frowned when he realized it was the news.

"We have an aerial view of the Berliner Dom, a historical church in Berlin, now in complete ruin. Again, we have no idea how this has happened, but it is clear that the building has collapsed. Authorities are investigating whether or not the collapse is connected to a violent fight that took place last night in a pub across town. Locals are saying that the people from that fight somehow ended up within the church... could they be the ones responsible for this horrible outcome? Officials are currently looking into the details. Now as you can see here, we have some footage from the pub fight, that show very clearly the suspects that were reported in and around the church-"

"Dude... I don't need this in the morning! Uugghhhhh!"

Beast Boy was about to flip the channel when the footage from the pub played. When he saw a familiar figure, clear as day, Garfield's eyes went wide. His mouth agape, he stood up. The bowl of cereal and its contents spilled onto the floor. "No way!"

"No way..." He repeated as his breath became heavy before he realized he should wake up the rest of the team. They would want to know that he had just found Robin.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So what you all think? What is Robin gonna do? Where is Slade taking him. What is Asif gonna do? Ya know some of you were right as to what Aurora is. Mwahahaha!

Anyways PLS PLS Review, I have cake! *offers cake* Let me know what you thought on this chapter.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Original FFnet Notes: HI EVERYONE! I'm not dead. I'm sorry to disappoint you all. Anyways I know it's been since MAY OK!? I KNOW! I'm a bad fanfic author. Please don't throw bricks at me, I'm trying. OT be honest this whole pandemic has just made me feel... very meh and blegh... and I haven't been wanting to do ANYTHING creative, at all. So I'm sorry this has suffered, I just haven't had the urge or wanting to write... and I rather drop you guys a chapter that I WANTED to write instead of forced. I'm sorry, forgive me?

I want to thank everyone that has read this while I've been away and thank you for giving it a chance. All you reviewers, honestly you are all the best, and the reason I keep writing this thing. Even tho it's been since May... Thank you all

Asilla next chapter is all yours, I kinda been writing this one on and off and I just wanted to push something out. I'm sorry =( I hope your well. This pandemic is crazy, and I just... kinda shut myself out of here...and yea. My bad.

I also want to thank dlsky for the advice, I only wish I had done it a bit sooner.

This chapter is a bit of a filler, I'm sorry but it's a bit of the aftermath of all the other shit that went on.

Anyways enough of me, ON WITH THE STORY!

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Deep below the rubble that was once a historic church lay two bodies. One is beyond repair, the other... Aurora smiled softly. Everything had gone as planned. She was correct, it did work, she really should of given her more faith in her abilities. She had let them all astray after all. It was time to bring her back into the fold. Aurora's summons would not go uncalled.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Two weeks. It's been a full two weeks, and he can't get the incident out of his head. The gun in his hands, the recoil that shook his arm every time he fired, his anger, his rage. She was dead. He was dead. Both of them... gone. And so were a bunch more by his hand. In this aftermath, he thought the act would be more... distasteful to him, that it would be Slade to make him pull the trigger. But he did that all by himself. He thought it would leave a bitter taste in his mouth after everything was said and done. He thought he would be going mad with guilt. He had killed so many, but as far as he was concerned they had all deserved it. Every last one of them. The only guilt he felt was not getting her. He had stabbed her in the back. The blood soaked through her nice white once pristine suit, but all she had done was mock him in the end.

He was angry more then anything. Angry and a bit depressed he had to admit. They had come back to the cabin in the woods. Jillian's cabin in some rural area of France, Sariel's grandmother... She didn't take it well. It was expected. She was mostly quiet for these last two weeks. The only family she had left and... now she was gone.

Robin was surprised regarding Slade's kindness to his old friend. The two talked for awhile. There was no blame tossed around, simply remembrance that night they had arrived back on her doorstep. Jillian telling stories, soft laughter and tears. It was a solemn evening. One that will last with him until the day he dies.

Asif was doing better then he thought he'd turn out, more so that perhaps Robin was beginning to think he was the one that become soft. The two had talked of revenge. To kill Aurora. To murder all that serve her. To put an end to the ben Elohim. But even Robin knew at this time that it just wasn't possible. They would have to manipulate every action, every word spoken. It would take time. They would have their revenge. But first thing was first, in order to dismantle the ben Elohim, he would have to raze the Justice League to the ground. Doing so would just be enough to gain her attention and... then what? That part he hadn't figured out yet. Killing every member of the Justice league wasn't something you could just walk out and do and he would know. But maybe he didn't have to. Maybe there was a way to bring them crashing down just long enough to get to her...? He couldn't stop it all in the end. His own mind consumed him. All of these thoughts have been running through his head every day since they had arrived. Slade had wanted him to take it easy while they were here. But his mind was reeling. Relaxation just couldn't come to him in any shape or form.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I see the boy finally decided to quit the hero show." she chuckled softly. The woman had taken them all in regardless the horrible news they brought to her doorstep. "Did they become friends out there?'

"Sariel and Robin? Yes, they did for the time." Slade replied. The two were sitting at her kitchen tablet. The woman had made some coffee and had offered some to her old acquaintance. "We need to be leaving soon."

"He isn't taking it well."

"No." Slade had sighed a little. "I suppose he's not."

"Leaving to go about your business Slade won't ease his mind, even if you plan to take him to a tropical island to get some R and R. He's still stuck there. He's still in that loop. I knew what my granddaughter was getting into, I knew what she signed up for. I didn't want her to die. Much less be... murdered in such a way. I can't even bury her Slade. The boy... he's reliving it every moment, day in and day out. It can't leave him. First kills do that... but from what you told me he slaughtered a whole room Slade. The boy is angry at them, the world, even himself. He feels he failed. Not for killing those that took her, he's mad because he couldn't save her. Some of the hero still lingers. He believes he failed Sariel."

"And did he?" Slade's tone had taken a harsh turn.

"You know who I blame Slade and it's those blasted Illuminati's she was chasing around. She got to far in, too deep. I told her to be careful..." Jillian looked away for a moment and took in a deep breath before she exhaled. "She never did listen though. If the two had become friends, he lost someone important to him. And he took revenge. It's enough to fuck with anyone's mind Slade, you know that."

It was the masterminds turn to let out a sigh. "I suppose your right."

She cracked a smile then. "I know I'm right. Where do you plan to go anyways?"

"For now, it is probably in our best interest to lay low since it seems our activities where on the news the other night. I don't need any Titans around. I also have to let everyone else know in the Society about our little adventure."

"I could let them know."

Slade chuckled, "But your retired remember? Regardless, if I don't return home soon Wintergreen will have my hide."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Two weeks and he had tried to locate Robin again. He lost him, and he couldn't believe that he had slipped through his fingers. It took him much longer then he had anticipated the first time around to find his son. But now... after their little argument in the church... There was nothing about the boy. No leads, no intel. Nothing. He just... disappeared. Obviously Slade had gone underground. Laying low... Richard along with him, and the idea of that had pissed him off beyond words.

He hadn't told Alfred yet and the elderly butler was growing more and more concerned by the second. Bruce had returned home empty handed. He had went down to the Batcave the evening he returned and he had not left since. Which had put a lot more stress onto Alfred's shoulders. The butler did worry for Master Bruce. But he knew that Bruce was holding something from him. Exactly what, he didn't know. Regardless, Alfred had a lot more questions now then he had answers.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Are you sure about this BB?" The green Titan had insisted that the young man he saw on the news that night was Robin, it had to be. It looked so much like him. Even without the mask on. Although they couldn't be sure. None of them had ever seen Robin without his mask. Regardless though, Beast Boy had insisted on making them all watch the clip again.

The youngest Titan whipped around to poke a finger at Cyborg "Dude I showed you guys, it was him!"

"It certainly did look like our friend Robin." Starfire smiled a little, hopeful in their current quest to find their lost team member and leader.

"It did look like him." Raven had entered the conversation. "A lot like him. If only he hadn't shut his mind to me."

"If it is him friends, then should we not go and try to rescue Robin?"

"Not that easy Star. What Beast Boy showed us, it happened 2 weeks ago, and in Berlin. Plus they are a lot of time ahead of us, about nine hours exactly. If it was him, then by this time he could be anywhere. Being on the other side of the world puts you basically a day ahead."

Starfire looked to the ground. "But we must try something."

"Don't worry Star." Cyborg had placed a hand on her shoulder "We are going to do what we can. I already contacted some of our honorary Titans. They'll keep their eyes peeled. They have been notified that we believe Robin is alive. But something has forced him go underground."

"Something or more like someone." Beast boy huffed. He was sure Slade was behind all of this. As were the other Titans. But without proof or any leads, they were kind of left empty handed.

"But still... to end up in some pub, in the middle of a fight. Doesn't seem like him." Raven wondered aloud. "It doesn't make sense."

Starfire smiled a little at her friend. "I am sure that once Robin returns to us, he will explain all that we need to know."

"Nah I'm with Raven on this one. Something don't add up, and the Justice League ain't gonna help us any time soon."

"So what do we do dudes?"

Cyborg smirked. "We find him ourselves."

"But... friend Cyborg, the city?"

"Relax girl, I can get Titans East to help out for awhile."

"Sooo... where do we even begin?" Raven brought up a world map. "That recording was taken in Berlin, and it didn't exactly show any details on where he may of gone afterwards."

"Well then, I guess the only place to start is our only lead, the pub. Everyone get your lederhosen, we're going to Berlin."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I know! I know, it's short. Longer chapters in the future.

So what does everyone think the Titans will find in Germany? Actual lederhosen? Lederhosen on sale for a great deal! Schnitzel? Amazing chocolate? Currywurst? All these things and more. Oh yea did you pay attention to the first bit?

I more or less just wanted to give you guys a short brief look into the direction of what I may or may not be doing lol.

Later guys

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFNET NOTES: Hi guys... I know, I'm late... yep. But better late then never riiiight!? So the story is heading into the right direction, it's taken me awhile to get there, a bit longer then I had planned to get here, but yay... emmm sorry.

Anyways I want to say thank you to everyone for being awesome and tagging along on this adventure. You all mean the world to me, you really all do. I wouldn't still be going with this if it wasn't all for you guys and I know I say that every time but it's true. Merry Belated Christmas and HAPPY NEW YEARS!

ON WITH THE STORY!

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"It's time. 6am, tomorrow morning."

"We're leaving? Already?"

"Yes."

Robin nodded, he knew their departure would happen sooner or later. "What about Asif? It would be a shame to just leave him here. What would he do? He has no where to go."

"You can bring him along if you wish. Perhaps he could find a new purpose amongst my own men."

"I'll speak with him. Where are we going?"

"Although I've had many bases throughout the world in my time, there is one I call home more then the rest." Robin crossed his arms. Back in his hero days he would of been thrilled to hear that. It would of meant he was correct all along, Slade had an organization, it really wasn't just him and a bunch of robots. And he had a hunch that Slade knew that Robin had suspected all along. Although he supposed at this point in their relationship Slade telling him they were going to a specific base was... nothing special anymore. But Robin had to admit, he was curious. "And that is where, exactly?"

Slade chuckled, "You'll find out."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I dunno Robin..."

The former boy wonder had found Asif sulking around in the cabins supposed back yard, although it was more like a small clearing and then miles of forest then what one would normally consider a backyard. No fences to keep the wildlife at bay. Just dark beautiful forest. He found Asif here, sitting on a stump at the edge of the clearing, starring off into the distance. When he found him he figured Asif wasn't truly looking at anything at all, instead his vision was internal, his mind going over future prospects. His friend was so lost in thought that he swore he made him jump when he finally noticed Robin had walked over to him.

"What is there to think about? Come with me and we can-"

"Can do what exactly? Go after Aurora? Just the two of us, tackle down one of the worlds biggest, if not the biggest, secret spooky societies all for revenge?" Asif crossed his arms, and slumped into his makeshift stool. he never left the stump. He still sat there with his legs crossed. "It's a bit much."

"I'm sure we can get more to join us, it won't be just the two of us."

"I doubt Deathstroke is going to help you on that request."

"Perhaps not right away. But in the meantime, we can prepare. Gathering intel, isn't that something your good at? Isn't that why Sariel brought you on board in the first place becau-"

"Because I knew something she wanted to know, I had information she needed, that she specifically targeted me for. I lived and joined her side and thus in return I got information for her whenever she asked. I get it. But I don't have information for you Robin. What you know about the ben Elohim is what I know as well. I failed her then... at the church. I... I dunno."

Robin sighed. "Look I'm facing a lot to you know. Slade has this entire network of soldiers and military mercenaries, robots, engineers, meta-humans and literally god knows what else he has. Network right. So he's pretty much got everything. And then there is me right?"

"Oh so full of yourself now that you are ok with being Deathstroke's apprentice." Asif smirked in his friends direction. His jab was more playful rather then full of spite.

Robin waved his hand at his comrade. "That's not what I mean, Look at me." The boy gestured to himself. "I'm some ex hero kid that is walking into this place with high expectations placed upon me. I'm going to get a lot of different looks. Hell some may even hate me, think I'm not worth Slade's time or effort. They're all going to want me to fail or perhaps run back to Batman..."

Asif scoffed, "And will you?"

"No..." the former boy wonder shrugged.

"Then what is there to worry about? I'm sure you'll prove yourself in no time."

"Perhaps, but back to the network... If we get people within Slade's own network to helps us out, because I'm sure Slade as some of the best help around, and if we can get them to be our help... plus it's not like they'll be defying orders or anything, after all they will be helping me. So win for them... maybe. Anyways, we could use the extra help is what I'm saying. And you Asif, you're good at what you do, I need you on board with this."

"Wait." Asif looked at his friend a bit bewildered. "Let me get this straight. You want to build a small group of people, that are loyal to you... within Deathstroke's own military?"

"Well I'm going to have to build a reputation anyways, but yes, something like a special ops unit... maybe some will volunteer?"

"Ok but what are you getting at? Why?"

"I'm sure Slade will want me to build something within his forces, to gain some sort of favor amongst his own men. A reputation, I am his apprentice, they will have to learn that one way or another, and once that is achieved, which won't be hard to do, I can then gather up a small group, military unit, something like that."

"You think Deathstroke will allow you to build a team?"

"I'll talk to him, we need something to fight against them. Just the two of us, we won't stand a chance. Besides, if we're going to take down the Justice League we're going to need one hell of a team."

Asif shook his head. "You are fucking crazy you know that?"

Robin smirked. "Yea but that crazy has gotten me this far."

"Alright, alright." The young man sighed, "You got me, but this is for Sariel and Gus." Asif put out his hand and to seal the deal Robin took it. "For Sariel and Gus, For Revenge!"

Asif nodded. "For revenge."

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The next morning came a little to fast, and perhaps a little too early for his tastes, but Slade had insisted. The man had wanted to get on the road as early as possible, but even the mastermind could wait a little bit.

Jillian had spoken about how much Sariel had come to love this little cabin over the years, so the idea was to "bury" her here, so she was always close to home. But there was no body to bury. No service to carry her to the heavens, no songs, just the forest, and a plaque one of Jillian's boys had made until something nicer had arrived. It was a odd comfort to know that he was always welcome back here, even if he just had wanted to come to speak with Sariel. He thought about where her body lay currently, under the ruins of an old church and thought about the desert. Interesting how once the very thought of that place brought up horrible visions and sensations of the fires. But now... he just through of her. The desert was hers, just as she belong to the desert.

There was a lot to do, a lot he would have to work towards to achieve any form of revenge against the ben Elohim. But he was sure the path wouldn't be too boring. He was Slade's apprentice after all, he was sure he would make new allies and new enemies along the way. There was a whole different world ready for him and he wasn't going to deny himself any longer. Sariel was around his age give or take, and had more freedoms then he could ever dream of, and he had to admit he was somewhat jealous of her adventurous lifestyle. While being a hero sure had it's fair share of adventures, it also came with a lot of high expectations not only from his mentor, but also from the media. Things would be different now. Which brought his thoughts back to Slade. Perhaps by now he had made the mastermind wait a bit longer then he had originally planned.

Robin look down at the plaque beneath him.

Sariel

Loved and lost yet again,

Once met but never Forgotten.

She lays in rest, not here, but in our hearts.

He read the words to himself, memorized them as he did with his parents so long ago and took one last look at the marker and turned away, he would be back, he would always come back.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The truck ride was bumpy. And the truck itself was of the bigger variety, but Robin swore Slade was still to tall for it. It was as if Slade was about to bang his head on the roof every time they hit another bump, he would admit, he would of laughed if it did happen.

Asif grunted in the back as they hit another bump. Robin would admit, this did seem a bit drastic. 4x4ing through the forest, the back lanes as Slade had called it. A shortcut. To where he had asked and Slade had simply said "a helicopter."

However, he was not expecting the small military base that was slowly coming into view. "You have a base, all the way out in the middle of a forest?"

Slade looked to his young apprentice and smirked. "Why not?" Robin shrugged. "Seems out of the way."

"Yes out of the way, no one is going to come all the way out here. It's to far removed. Perfect really." Robin pondered on that, They were only about five hours out from Jillian's cabin. It was around 11:30 in the morning. The cabin itself was so far removed... no one ever found Jillian, or him when he was hidden there.

When Slade had parked the truck, and when he stepped out of that vehicle, he could already feel the eyes on him. He should be used to this kind of attention by now... and while this was similar, it was a different ball game altogether. These weren't the eyes of the every day citizen eyeing him because he was Robin the boy wonder. No, these soldiers were staring at him because he was Slade's apprentice. The kid their boss had chosen as his heir. "No pressure" Robin through to himself in amusement.

Robin let his eyes search the area and he caught the attention of a few soldiers as they quickly averted their eyes. Did they know ahead of time? Did they know who he was? What his role was? Were they, dare he say it, scared of him? Or just curious, mad even? It was hard to tell.

Either which way, it wouldn't do at all, while fear may be good at gaining control in many situations, him making an entrance as Slade's apprentice into Slade's own organization wasn't one he wanted to make where everyone was fearful of him. No, he wanted some admiration. To catch the attention of people he could possibly use later on. He wanted something to build on, not fearful minions.

Regardless however, at this moment he did believe that this was a rather intriguing point in his life. They didn't know what to think or say to him, so he just walked by them. It would take time, he noted to himself, time to build himself a reputation that was worthy of being Slade's apprentice. Not to Slade of course, but to be an role model to his men... that was going to be interesting. And dare he say a bit challenging, maybe a bit of fun as well.

He was thinking to himself a lot these days, so when he felt the heavy hand on his shoulder Robins eyes found Slade's singular. "We're taking the helicopter the rest of the way."

"You still haven't told me where we're going."

"I figure, with everything we have gone through, that we all could use some R&R. So from here we're going to my more favored base in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. It's a place that is close enough to home without straying to far away."

"Far away enough from home, but close enough to keep your eyes on everything."

"Precisely" Slade looked in the direction Robin had been glancing at, "Don't worry about them."

"I'm not." Robin crossed his arms.

"In time, they'll be taking orders from you as well." Slade had patted his shoulder and left the boy behind. Slade had to get the men ready to prepare a helicopter. There was work to be done before they could depart. Robin looked ahead, "Not now anyways, but one day" He turned his back to the men and followed in the masterminds footsteps.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So everyone what ya think? I'm so excited to finally get to this section of the story, I've been planning this for so long and I'm almost there. The friendship of Robin and Asif, the fight against the Justice League, and all for what? Bloody wonderful revenege... there is obviously more to it then that, but you'll find out.

Leave me a review if you enjoyed it, tell me what you thought, I have cake and cookies and so much left over Christmas chocolate, PLS PLS leave me a review! *pouts* Yes I know it's kinda filler... bite me lol

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Thank you to all my followers, reviewers, you guys are the best. I'm so grateful to anyone that has read this and keeps reading this. I still am kinda surprised by the amount of people that read it and like it so thank you so much. But yay Chapter 60. Still not done yet, this is supposed to be a long story, I'm thinking the 100 chapter mark but I know I need to get my ass in gear.

Anyways ON WITH THE STORY!

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Helicopter rides were something he had come accustomed to. It seemed to be Slade's favored choice in transportation and he could understand why. While helicopters were tracked like any other vehicle, they were more likely to sneak past various security measures. People saw helicopters and they generally thought military or police force, most didn't bat an eye at it. That and in more recent days Robin had found the helicopter to be much more comfortable as it was much easier to lose himself in his thoughts as he flew over towns and forests, which was something he didn't mind these days. Time to think was welcomed. Richard sighed as his gaze past Asif's form passed out in the cockpit, next to the pilot. He hoped from here on out the two could work together. Asif was the last remnant of the people that welcomed him into the desert and beyond. Sariel would be upset if he didn't take care of "the kid" as she often had called him.

Time moved along slowly as he looked out the window. The scenery had changed from the landscape of France to the west coast of Africa, where Slade surprisingly had another base in Liberia, where they had stopped off for some more fuel before they continued their journey over to Brazil, then on to the Caribbean. It was sunny and hot outside. The heat was beaten away by the air conditioner they had in the helicopter, but Robin was rethinking his choice of attire, which was a pair black sweatpants and a hoodie when he had changed back in France. He frowned knowing what awaited him when they landed.

"Be prepared." it was a sudden change in the silence he and his master had shared for the past while. Slade had no mask on, but hadn't changed from his uniform. "Both of them are down there."

"Both of them?" Robin was perplexed. Was there some sort of threat within Slade's own base?

The mastermind smirked. "It's been awhile since they have seen me, I'm probably going to get a earful from both of them."

"Who are you talking about?"

Slade's singular eye caught his apprentice, "You'll find out."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Germany had welcomed the Titans. And if this wasn't such a grim task they would probably be enjoying themselves. But they were here for a singular purpose; to find Robin. Or at least something that could lead them to their missing leader. The first thing they had decided upon was setting out to find the bar where the security footage was from. That took a couple of days, mostly because the German police were not being very helpful and Raven had felt the essence of Robin linger heavily from some other random spots before finding the bar in question. One such spot was an apartment, a large one. Knowing that they were trespassing they entered the building anyways. And after a brief search, they had found hardly anything. If they were here, they were not planning on returning. Likely had another place set up for after... whatever it was that Robin was doing. But Raven had found Robins essence and strong emotions had lingered all throughout the entire apartment, along with some others that she didn't know. Then there was one she did. She took a deep breath. They were right all along. Slade had been here, along with Robin.

The team currently was standing in front of the pub that was on the news that night. Raven looked on at the damage that had been caused because of fight, and frowned. "This doesn't look good."

Cyborg crossed his arms. "Place looks trashed, man what was he thinking or even doing here?" The mechanical titan shook his head. He just couldn't wrap his brain around the idea of Robin being here of all places. In a bar, in a bar fight, it just didn't seem like Robin.

"Looks like they still serving brewski's yo. Nothing stops these guys from a having a beer. We should go inside."

"Yo BB! We can't just go inside." He bent down Beast Boys height. "It's a bar."

Beast Boy was about to give his remark when Raven glared at him. "We are on official business. It's not like we would be drinking even if we were of age."

"Yes." Starfire had spoken up. "I do believe that in this place of a hardy beer and lederhosen, they even allow the smallest of children into a place of drinking."

"She's right." Raven looked to the boys. "We can go in, just can't order anything."

Cyborg nodded. "Alright, but let's not cause these guys more of a mess then what they already have to clean up. We go in and see if we can get any answers from the bartenders, waitresses and anyone that is willing to talk with us. If you need any translating come to me, I downloaded me a handy translator. So I should be able to translate most of what they got to say."

The team with some reassurance from Cyborg took the first few steps into the bar to hopefully find some sort of clue on what and where to go next. However, Raven wasn't so sure. While the bar may of been the last location of Robin's whereabouts, it didn't mean they would find anything. If anything she wanted to see that church. The one that had crumbled into itself. She had a hunch they would find something more there. This bar felt off. The air was to thick here.

She watched her teammates walk in. "If anyone of them want to say anything at all." She soon followed them inside.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

With the helicopter now being on solid ground the three had climbed out to be greeted by a old man with short white hair and a mustache. He was dressed in nice slacks, a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a vest over top. "Will." Slade had addressed the man as he walked towards the trio, although Asif felt as if he was invisible. He wouldn't blame Slade for it however, he knew it was of unimportance, unlike Robin.

"Oh about time you showed up. You've been about every other bloody place in the world but here."

"Will, this is Richard. Richard, this is my long time friend William Wintergreen."

"Oh so your the one this whole kerfuffle is about." The two shook hands before Will looked to his friend. "She isn't happy Slade." The man would of rolled his eyes if not for spotting the flash of red marching his way. "When is she ever? I should of never have hired her."

"Now Slade she may be in your face, and at times you do deserve it, but she's the best assistant you've ever had and the only one tough enough to have stayed alive this long. Also the only one ever to keep any of your mess of paperwork in control."

"I suppose... Still you could of kept up with the job."

"Babysitting the boys when your gone is one thing, doing all that paperwork you keep lying around? No thanks. Besides I do everything else around here."

Richard and Asif took one look at one another then looked at the woman approaching them. She seemed very professional, all business. She wore a navy skirt suit, red high heels and she wore a pair of rectangular framed glasses. And her hair was probably just as red as Starfire's, although this women kept it short and neat, with a few long ends in the front.

"Goddammit Slade, where the hell have you been?" she had directed her question right to the man in question. Suddenly, Robin wasn't so sure about using the term professional to describe her anymore.

Wintergreen nudged his old friend. "I told you she was mad."

"Chloe, it's nice to see you to."

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You need to have your ass plunked in yer damn office for months on end with all the requests and jobs that have surfaced while you've been gone. Jesus Christ ya know how much convincing it has taken to get that society of yours off our backs. Where is Slade they keep asking, fuck if I know I tell them. They never listen tho'."

"I trust everything is in order."

"Fuck, you've kept me around for 10 years, what the hell do you expect? Of course everything is in order. Everything has been filed, contacts have been kept, stupid jobs got the shredder and anything interesting I left on your desk. As for the society, they can shove it. Been a thorn in my side the whole time, but I kept them occupied enough they never knew ya weren't really around. Hell I even got the kid a room set up, although I wasn't expecting more the one kid." the women motioned to Asif

"Oh you don't need to worry about me."

"No no no, you'll get a place to rest your damn head, I'll make sure of it."

Will laughed. "Oh look at you go. See I could retire with her around."

Chloe gave him a scowl. "Oh shut it old man, like hell yer retiring. I ain't doing your job to."

Slade let out a sigh and motioned everyone to head back. "Shall we?"

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Alright kid. I got you a good room, one of the best in the entire facility. Its got a nice view, lots of space, and a dojo is down the hall. Obviously since the boss choose you then you must like to do yer whole martial art whooha thing" Slade had Chloe show Robin to his room while he and Wintergreen went over everything that had happened in the past while. "I also made sure we got you some fresh clothes, kinda basic, but ya know it'll do. Although I'm sure if you ask you can go shopping at one of those fancy resorts a island over. But I made sure you had everything ya will need and it's all clean and proper. But don't come crawling to me when yer stuff begins to smell ok, that ain't my job. Take that to Wintergreen. Old guys is like Slades personal butler or something..."

"His butler?" Robin was reminded of Alfred. Did Slade have a butler?

"Yea well.. yes and no. But Will does a lot of stuff around here as is. Anyways, if you need anything Just gimme a call ok?" Chloe said her goodbyes and left him to his own devices. Robin had decided that she was from New York... or close to it. Maybe New Jersey? The accent gave him that idea. One day, once he got to know her a bit better, he would have to ask. Still, the idea of Slade having friends or just even employees that have stuck with him for years... was still new to him. While a Titan, Slade was always a threat, a menace to society, not someone that got told to go sit in his office and do his paperwork by a 5'5 red headed mouthy lady. He honestly never thought he'd see that day. Regardless Chloe was close to Slade and Wintergreen... she was someone he would have to gain favor with. Then there was William Wintergreen. Slade's old friend... Richard wondered exactly how long those two had known each other. Wintergreen seemed to be able to push Slades buttons and without gaining serious injury. That was a feat in itself.

Robin was about to sit down and just forget it all and relax when there was a knock at the door. "Enter." It was Asif that opened the door. Robin smirked in his direction. "Did Chloe set you up with a room?" As shrugged, "Nothing as grand as yours, but it will do."

Robin sat on the edge of bed and gestured to the small sofa. Asif took it and sat down. "So, what now?" Robin shrugged. "Not much we can do now. I suppose we should just go with the flow for the time being. See what options will be presented to us. In the meantime I think Slade wants me to take a vacation."

"Probably the reason for the tropical island."

"I can't say I blame him for having a base here. A home away from home."

"Okay." Asif crossed his legs. "So for now we take it easy."

Robin nodded. "We need to keep an eye on the Justice League. See if they do anything strange or unusual for them. Remember little by little we can take them down. But I'm also going to have a few other responsibilities put on my shoulders. After this mini vacation, Slade is definitely going to make me work."

"Then let me be your eyes when you can not watch them."

"Thank you."

"In the end of it all, Aurora won't see what hit her."

"Cheers to that."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I'm still amazed."

"About what Will?"

The two men sat across from one another in Slades office, a bottle of scotch between them. 

"That you got him, that you managed to convince the Bats kid to join you. I'm guessing he's not to happy. The Bat that is."

"Not at all." Slade sipped on his glass. "Although, I must admit that encounter was very interesting."

"I bet... I heard about Jillian's grand kid." Slade shook his head. Sariel was in truth none of his concern. However, she was family to one of his close friends and allies. It still didn't sit well with him how she died, and he knew her death affected his apprentice as well. "Do me a favor Will and check in on Jillian every now and then." Will gave a nod. "You can count on it."

"So..." Will twirled the liquid in his cup. "What are you going to do with the kid now that you have him?"

Slade sat up and reached for the bottle to pour himself another glass. "Robin has been through Hell and back, he is in much need of a vacation."

"As I'm sure you do as well." William had interjected. And ignoring him Slade continued. "So he'll have some time off, then we can begin with proper training and getting the boy started on missions."

"Putting him to work so soon Slade?"

"The boys first kill was a massacre as he tried to avenge his fallen comrades, while I believe he needs some time to adjust, he's more than ready."

Wintergreen shrugged. "So you've told me."

"There is much work to be done Will."

"Lots of work you've been skipping out on."

Slade let out a sigh. "You're never going to let me live that down are you?"

"Not in your life. Besides, pestering you is really what I do best."

"One of these days I'm going to put you on a boat and leave you in the middle of the ocean."

Will laughed. "I'd find my way back. One way or another. You can't get rid of me that easily. Besides I'm pretty sure you'd begin to miss me at some point."

"Hardly."

"Then I'll warm myself up to the kid, then he'll miss me."

Slade chuckled. "Richard would probably like you once he got to know you. However, he might think your some insane old coot right now. Although that's not far from the truth."

The two men chuckled. For tonight and for the next little while Slade was contempt with the world as it was. A vacation might not be so bad. Robin could use one and perhaps so could he. A week or so of down time wouldn't hurt anyone. Although he was sure Chloe would complain, but she always did her job the fullest. He could count on her and Will to run things.

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Yep, gonna try and make newer chapters longer... anyways sorry for the filler, it was kind of important filler. Also Chloe is a new OC, but she's nothing major, she's just gonna kind be around here and there. But doesn't play a massive role. Plus I like the idea of some short fiery woman giving Slade shit. Also we are now moved along into the story where we are now in Slades territory, literally. This man has bases everywhere.

PLS PLS LEAVE ME A REVIEW! I LOVE REVIEWS! It motivates me more to update... *sighs* I have cookies and cake! If you leave me a review you get a cooookie!

Thanks you guys

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Hello all again, just a quick chapter update for you all. See! Trying to get back into the swing of things. Sorry it's kinda more filler, but some important filler.

Thanks again to all my lovely reviewers and readers and newcomers. Thank you all so much for everything. You're all awesome! Gold stars to you all!

So enough from me, ON WITH THE STORY!

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The first day of settling in wasn't so bad, the second day however... that was something else. Robin had gotten Asif to tag along with him as he explored the base for himself. He had asked Slade if that would be ok and the man had given him the go ahead, telling him that various bases like this would soon come to be his home. In their adventures, what they had found was that Slade wasn't just prepared for the Justice League or any other random group of Super Villains to come marching in. Oh no, this man was prepared for anything and everything. Robin had come to find that this base was one of the bigger ones outside of the United States, as well as one of Slade's more favored spots. The mastermind had numerous facilities across the world, that part he already knew, but the depths of this organization ran deep. Then there was this "secret society" that Slade was supposedly a part of. That part he didn't know much about, less than what he knew of Slade's own system of operations.

"What the hell have we all gotten ourselves into?" Asif had said while looking up at a bipedal tank. Robin strolled up beside him. "Whoa... that is kind of cool." Asif rolled his eyes. "You would think it's cool. Where I come from things like this only mean one thing when they show up, death and destruction."

Robin looked to his friend. "That is technically two things. And while true, you got to admit, it does seem pretty cool."

Asif smirked at his friend. "Perhaps, but only if your driving it. Like in one of those anime's."

"Someone's a fan of Gundam."

Asif shook his head. "Still, this is pretty advanced. It does make you wonder... what else does Deathstroke have lying around?"

"Knowing Slade, a lot more than what he has out in the open." Asif eyed his friend knowing full well he was correct. "Ok so we've wandered around this facility for a bit now, want to hit the beach?"

The former hero shrugged. "Sure. Why not? I could use a tan."

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Slade thought it best to try and get some of the paperwork out of the way since Will had mentioned that a lot had stacked up while he was away. Chloe was someone he had originally hired to give a helping hand to Wintergreen and she had done an amazing job at keeping everything organized and up to date, so much so that she simply started to do a bit of everything around the bases. She organized everything so well that one could just simply slip back into the routine, and his current mindset was that he should get back into the swing of things. But he just felt no need to comply with any form of work. Perhaps Will was right, maybe he to needed a vacation. He had told himself he would relax once he got here, but he just couldn't. Slade had always been a man that got his work done, regardless of wanting to do it or not, and paperwork was definitely on the not wanting to do list. Regardless it was part of a efficient organization, which he gladly maintained. No matter how much work it took, in the end, when every piece fit perfectly and it ran smoothly, it was well worth the ordeal to get it to that point. But also, it all meant work, a lot of it. Slade hardly ever took a breather, even though Will had suggested it many times.

Lifting himself up from his seat Slade found himself watching his apprentice from his window. Robin and his friend had found a group of his own soldiers on off time and they had begun a game of beach volleyball. He seemed to be enjoying himself. It was nice to see Richard interacting with others on a field not tattered by war. The past few months have been hectic, and at times up right bizarre.

The mastermind wondered about the Bat, how was the caped crusader taking all this? It was just a short few days ago that Robin had made if official he was never going home to play the hero again. He smirked at the thought of the Batman left in a insufferable amount of rage and sorrow. Gotham's villains may hate their existence for awhile. Then there was the Titans. It seemed they were the only ones putting in any type of effort at the moment. The Bat had gone quiet for now, while the Titans were running through all of Berlin looking for their lost leader. Little did they know how far behind they were, although he himself knew he gave them little credit at times. His apprentice did train them. They would catch up soon enough. And then what?

Chaos?

Mayhem?

Some nasty interactions?

Most likely. But a welcomed one at that. He knew that Robin couldn't hide from the Titans for long, and he knew that the boy now had a grudge against that woman in white. Robin have given him a briefing on the situation. Interesting that this ben Elohim had somehow, while not directly controlling the Justice League, they definitely enabled them, and thus enabling the Titans. It was in their best interest to get rid of both parties. Or at least the ben Elohim. Imagine being the one behind the Justice League, the one secretly lining their pockets and creating a perfect diversion. The world could be yours, no questions asked. Slade could understand the concept, it was a basic one, but at times the most simplest things worked the best. One way or another the Justice League would have to go, that is something he has been working on for awhile now. Getting Robin to betray them and stand at his side was only a small part of a lengthy tale of future conquest. The ben Elohim was just another group of super villains he would have to get rid of. Simple as that.

The man continued to watch the boy from his window. Maybe he should take a bit of a break. Just a little one. It couldn't hurt.

The door opened and he heard the heels click on the floor. "Lex is on the phone for ya. He's been the only nice one in that whole Society of yours that hasn't been pestering' the shit outta me. Going on and on about where the hell ya were. At least someone has some manners. Anyways, I said I would see if yer up for taking a call."

Slade nodded. "Send the call over."

"Will do." Chloe said as she left some paperwork on his desk. The new small stack he examined as he sat down and opened his laptop. Lex Luther appeared on the screen shortly after.

"Finally back amongst civilization I see."

Slade shrugged. "Somewhat."

"So... no updates, no news, I am curious... Did you finally win that brat over or not?"

Slade knew this was coming, but unlike last time he had a more favored reply. "Robin is currently enjoying some down time after the series of escalated events that he was forced to endure."

Luther nodded. "Well with you behind the wheel for the whole trip, I can see why." It was a joke, Slade brushed it off.

"I may have had a thing or two to do with getting the boy out there, but he made the decision to stay."

"Well you can be quite persuasive."

"There were some interesting things that developed along the way, interesting as in there is a possible threat out there that we can perhaps bend to our will."

"Oh? Do tell."

What Slade had to tell was... different to say the least. But Luther took it in all the same, knowing Slade wasn't one to give out lies about something so serious. The man was known for his manipulations, but riddled within those manipulations was a load of truths, depending on how you looked at it. But something to this degree. Lex believed him, for the most part. It seemed the world was full of surprises.

"It's time to unite the rest, they enable the league, we could use this to our advantage in many ways."

"Imagine that, and they don't even know?" Lex had a smirk on his face, probably thinking of how he was going to break it to Superman that he was a fraud. "I'll get things prepared on my end and try and contact the others. In the meantime-"

"In the meantime." Slade had interrupted, "We gather intel. I'm giving the boy some time off as well."

"I'm sure it's well earned."

Slade nodded, "Indeed it is."

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Alfred had become concerned. Master Bruce had locked himself away in the Batcave for days now. Something terrible had occurred. He had returned, but without Master Dick. And his mood had turned sour. Alfred had decided he was going to ask, but every time he did, he was shot down. And this concerned him even more, not just about Bruce but for Richard as well. His thoughts had turned grim at some point but he then realized Master Bruce was still looking for for his ward. All the data was compiling on the screen was evidence of that.

The butler placed the teapot and cup and saucer on the tray, along with the daily newspaper. He let out a sigh before picking it up and making his way down into the cave, where he was once again greeted by Batman sitting at his chair, cowl off, just staring into the screen as he look though various reports, and a file on Slade Wilson that he kept up at all times.

"Master Bruce, your morning tea."

He never received a answer, only a nod. The older man had already placed the tray down and traded the hot cup for the empty one. Once he had gathered all he had needed, he went to turn away. But at the last moment he figured he would ask again. "Master Bruce, what happened?"

Bruce Wayne, The Batman, had looked defeated, he had for the past few days since he had returned home. "Where is Master Dick?" the butler pushed a little more and Bruce frowned. "Not with us." was the man's only reply. Alfred looked a little perplexed, but curious. "Yes, I can tell."

Bruce scowled. But Alfred pushed a little more. "What happened?"

There was nothing but silence from man. Alfred shook his head and gathered up the tray to leave and just as he was about to climb up the stairs to the mansion, Bruce spoke up. "I didn't bring him home because he didn't want to come home. Slades done something to him. But I don't know if I can chase after him anymore."

Alfred turned around to face the master of the house. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't Master Dick come home?"

"He killed someone Alfred." It was blunt and to the point.

"What?" Alfred looked to him in surprise, surely he must not be speaking of Master Dick, Robin the boy wonder, the son of Batman. The butler himself helped raise that young man. Richard wouldn't kill anyone, it just wasn't who he was.

"It wasn't just one, it was a lot, he told me himself. He pointed a gun in my direction Alfred... I..." Bruce's shoulders slouched over. "I failed him. I need to know what happened, I need to know why he's acting like this."

Alfred had put a hand on Bruce's shoulder. "And we will Master Bruce, and we'll find out together. Have you told the Titans?" Bruce shook his head. "No, they don't need to know all this right now."

"Alright, but do keep in mind they will find out one way or another."

"Agreed, but right now I just need to find him again." Alfred could only nod in response. Richard? Killing? This must be some grim mistake.

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Bruce finally dropped that bomb on Alfred, I'M SORRY ALFRED! PLS FORGIVE ME! Anyways let me know what ya think, pls pls pls leave me a review! I have cookies and cake for all those that leave me a review!

Thanks for everything!

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOTES: HELLO EVERYONE! I know it's been since August. Sorry again.

Anyways I want to thank everyone that has been reading this lil' story of mine and all the lovely reviewers! You guys are truly the best. I know I take forever to update and for that I am sorry.

So anyways on with the story!

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Two weeks was the allotted amount of time Slade had extended his vacation to. It already had been a week, and he was getting a bit bored. But Richard understood the reasoning behind it. Even Bruce took time off every now and then. It helped the mind resettle, and put everything back into perspective. But two weeks was a bit too long in his own opinion, but Slade had insisted. He was going to spend another day exploring the island when he found himself involved in a conversation with the man himself.

"How are you liking the island?" The man had approached him when he was about to step out for another day on the beach. He turned to face the man and shrugged, "It's just as nice as any other island, although the excessive amounts of weaponry kind of gives it a different feel."

Slade couldn't help but chuckle. "Even the most tropical paradises need a little assurance that it stays a paradise."

"I suppose..."

"Do you like hunting Richard?"

Robin looked up to the man and shrugged. "Never been."

"Would you like to change that?"

Richard chuckled, "I guess it's something to do." To be honest Richard wasn't to sure about hunting animals, but he wasn't going to deny the man and his idea of entertainment. Besides, it was better then getting burnt to a crisp on the beach.

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Hunting was not something he had done before, it wasn't something Bruce ever did as a hobby outside of being Batman, so it was something a little fresh and new and rather bothersome. But he got used to it, eventually. Slade was using this whole activity to test his aim he was sure. Since there wasn't much in terms of game on this island then some deer and birds. So far it was just the birds he had been aiming for. He kind of took a second look the moment he saw the deer. As far as he knew they weren't really native to the area, but Slade had explained that European settlers brought them here in the 17th century. Apparently you do learn something every day.

He was given a hunting rifle, which wasn't something he was used to. It felt out of place for him, and then when Slade told him he had to be patient and wait for his prey... he grew bored.

"It's not always going to be fast paced, sometimes it's about taking the time to get the prefect shot." Slade had noticed his younger companion had lost a bit of interest in the hunt. Maybe the rifle wasn't fit for him. Perhaps it was a good idea he brought along the bow as well.

"Pass me the rifle." Richard had looked at the man and shrugged before passing over the weapon.

Slade had pulled out a quiver with a few arrows and passed him a bow. "Try this instead."

Robin took hold of the longbow and inspected it. It was nothing fancy, just a simple wooden bow. The wood was nicely polished and the carved grip felt good in his hand. He pulled back on the bowstring and it was tight, and required a good amount of strength to pull back. He was actually surprised that Slade had switched his rifle out for a bow, a basic one at that, it wasn't your typical compound hunting bow.

"This might be a little more up to your standards. Your agile, the bow is light, you could probably even do all your backflips while wielding that."

Richard huffed. "Attacking deer from tree tops seems kind of unfair."

Slade ignored his comment. "You do know how to use a bow, don't you Robin?"

The former hero looked to the mastermind and nodded. "It's been awhile though. But it shouldn't take me to long to get adapted to it again."

Slade smirked at his young counterpart. "Lets see how little damage you can do to a deer."

Robin was confused. "How little damage? Aren't I supposed to kill it?"

"Indeed. However, when hunting you want to kill the deer while causing as little damage to it as possible. If you go for the brain... if the shot is well executed, it will drop the animal instantly, but it is a difficult target and if you miss and perhaps hit the jaw the deer will run off and simply die of starvation. If you go for the neck, if you can hit the deer's spinal cord it will lose consciousness and die, but slowly, it could survive if you miss the target and again it will starve to death. I recommend going for the lungs and the top of the heart. This shot may or may not cause instant death, but you'll be able to stand where you shot the deer and see the carcass."

Robin grimaced at the thought. "So I get to watch it die."

"It won't take long."

Robin sighed. "Ok."

"If you do it right."

"Alright."

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Isaiah Crockett was a hot headed individual refusing to work with others unless absolutely needed. He struck out being a solo hero to fight crime on his own terms. That was until he joined Titans South. And while he may hate to admit it, he kind of liked working with others, and having backup wasn't such a bad thing. However, he still liked to go off on his own, have his own little adventures, bring down some bad guys, then go home and have dinner with the rest of the crew.

He was given a huge tip that this island, regardless of it's natural beauty and its hospitality from the locals, was actually a secret base for one of the bigger villains out there. Was he given a name of said villain? Nope. For all he knew this entire thing was bogus. But he wanted to check it out anyways. He kind of doubted it, but if it were to turn out to be true, this could be huge.

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"Go hunting he said, it would be fun he said." Robin sighed. He had wandered out into the jungle as Slade had instructed and found a place to lay low as he was to lay in wait for a deer to stumble by. But of course Richard being Richard decided to do it the more interesting way. Instead of waiting around somewhere by a bush, Robin had found himself perched in a tree.

He hated it, but the former hero had to admit the longbow suited him much better then the rifle Slade had originally provided. It wasn't necessarily easier, but it was a lot less difficult to carry. Still though, the boy felt that nagging feeling, that one that stirred deep in his bones, that this was just another one of Slades crazy training sessions. But he couldn't really just go back to the man empty handed, he did after all agree to this escapade.

Another sighed escaped his lips. He thought about jumping down and finding a new spot, but he figured the deer would be smart enough to know when a human is around and perhaps going from spot to spot might just scare them off indefinitely. He wasn't to sure mind you, that's just what he was feeling at this moment and he dare not risk it. So he stuck it out with nothing of interest happening. That was until he saw a familiar face.

Robin smiled. Perhaps Slade wouldn't agree, he would probably get a stern lecture about almost giving away a location at one of his bases. But Hot Spot wouldn't see Slade, he wouldn't make it to the facility, besides if Robin allowed a hero just to wander around and make his way to the base, Slade would definitely give him more of a lecture. Besides, he was ready to get back into action. Maybe it was time the Titans knew he was still alive and kicking.

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The jungle in this area was thick, but nothing Hot Spot couldn't handle. That was until a fist hurled his way, impacting with his jaw. Hot Shot nearly fell to the ground from the speed of the attack alone. Shaking his head Isaiah gained a clearer sight in front of him. He blinked twice before he dodged another fist. Narrowing his eyes, he looked to see where the attacker had once been. Seeing that whoever was attacking him had enough skill and speed to move out of sight within a short amount of time made him realize that whoever it was, was indeed a more then average threat.

"Hey, whoever you are, it may not be such a good idea to keep attacking." Calling upon the fire within him Hot Spot began allowing the flame to consume him.

There was a laugh to his right and he turned to meet it, but no one was there. It was then he realized that was the exact thing his attacker had wanted him to do. He turned to greet another fist, this one hard enough to send him to the ground before he could transform.

The hero shook his head before opening his eyes, the world around him a blur, but it would seem his attacker was making themselves known. He could see boots. Hot Spot picked himself up and put himself in a defensive state while glaring at his enemy.

"Don't recognize me? It's ok, I hardly recognize myself these days." The young man smirked at him. Isaiah squinted, he knew that smirk, that voice.

"Robin?"

His attacker smiled. "So you do remember me? And here I was thinking you had forgotten."

"Robin, your alive? How is that possible? The brotherhood, everyone thinks your dead. Well everyone but your team. They think your alive, I guess they're right."

"Yea, that would make them correct on that assumption."

Hot Spot didn't lower his guard, there was something off about all of this. Robin was a hero, the right hand of the Batman, the ultimate sidekick. He should be able to trust the Boy Wonder. But something about him, and this whole situation just gave off bad vibes. And lots of heebie-jeebies. Robin always did have a bit of an intimidating stance, but this felt more... sinister.

"What are you doing here Hot Spot?"

"I... I dunno, looking for a good beach. I should ask you the same thing."

The former hero smirked."You won't make your way to the facility, that is where you were going right?"

"Robin, I don't know about-" Hot Spot felt himself backing up.

Robin only moved forward ever so slowly. "Then why are you here? Who told you about this place?"

Hot Spot stopped and put his hands up. "I dunno, it was just a silly tip. What's wrong with you, why are you acting this way? This isn't you."

Robin smirked. "Your right, it's not me. The old hero you once knew is dead. Nothing is left of that poor lonely kid from Gothams streets." Robin turned to look at the jungle before him. "You really should go. You wouldn't want my master to find you here, now would you?"

"Your Master?"

"Go. I'm allowing you to go before I have to hurt you."

Hot Spot nodded and then quickly took off.

Robin chuckled, he wouldn't go back to Slade empty handed. Perhaps not with a deer, but information that a honorary Titan had been on his island was sure to amuse the Mastermind.

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He had made his way home, it took him awhile but when he arrived he nearly ran into Pantha. He had to tell them, he had to relay the message to the other Titans. He had to tell them that he ran into Robin... But there was a clear message in what the Boy Wonder was saying. He was alive, and he was no longer an ally. What had happened to the Titan leader to make him like this, he didn't know. But regardless, he had to let the other Titans know.

"What, you expect me to believe that?"

"I swear Pantha, I saw him, I spoke with him. I saw his eyes."

"He never takes that mask off."

"It was him, you gotta believe me."

Pantha looked to the rest of her team before her eyes rested on Hot Spot again. "Alright, we'll inform the Titans in Jump City. They can take it from there, that is the least we can do."

Hot Spot nodded. Everyone had to know, but Robins own team was a start. Perhaps, some wouldn't believe it. But they had to know that Robin was no longer a friend, but a foe. And if Robin and turned against them, he was not a foe Hot Spot would ever want.

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Robin had made his way back to Slade a few hours ago and told him the news of the intruder. The mastermind wasn't too happy that it was indeed a Titan that recognized him but it couldn't be helped. It was either let the young man get into the facility or Robin putting a stop to his little journey. The man did tease him however about not getting a buck, but let it go after Robin had told him he didn't feel like sitting in a tree all day.

So eventually, he found himself back in his room holding the copy of Sariel's legacy in his hand, his mind deep in thought as he turned it over and over. Money and power, that was what was on here. Secrets centuries old was something Gus was also sure was on here but couldn't decipher without all of the information. He briefly wondered if any of Slade's top hackers could dive in a bit more then what Gus was capable of and decided that when he had time he would get someone to upload the information from the USB stick, perhaps dig around a little bit more. He frowned at the thought of the two. Both gone now, but they left something with him. There had to more to this Legacy then perhaps even what Sariel knew. Or maybe there was something she knew that she wasn't willing to tell him.

The more he thought about it, the more he questioned it. Why did Sariel push him? Sure it could of just been a reaction to save a friend. But she was smarter then that to just up and sacrifice herself. Her actions made no sense. The woman had been a soldier all of her life. Instinct alone should of forced her to move away, but training would of made her act differently then just using herself as his shield. Unless she wanted to make it look like that... But why would she want to get stabbed?

Robin pocketed the Legacy for now. He was sure that by now with the Titans knowing he was definitely alive and well, Slade and him would be on the move soon enough. Meaning their vacation would come to an end. And soon he could start putting his own plan into motion.

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If you are liking this crazy lovely story of mine pls pls leave me a review. They mean so much to me.

So Robin may be onto something... Why did Sariel just sacrifice herself? Makes no sense right... or does it? Hrmmmmm...

Anyways if you leave me a review I have chocolate cake for ya!

Take care out there guys in this insane world we live in.

-Fangy

Chapter Text

ORIGINAL FFnet NOES: Hey all!

Anyways, want to say a big thanks again to everyone and anyone that has been enjoying this story, thank you. Really, you enjoying something I've put out there is pretty awesome. So Thank you. And you reviewers, you are again the best. Thank you so much for keeping me going.

I am determined to finish this story, so lets try and get it done this year!

ANYWAYS ON WITH THE STORY!

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It didn't take long before word spread of Hot Spots little run in with the former Titan leader. The situation was already a precarious one amongst the original Team having been to Berlin, to find the exact bar, and to follow the trail to the ruins of the once beautiful church... to find absolutely nothing. No leads. It was a dead end. All they had was a surveillance video with someone they assumed was Robin. They had all but seemingly lost hope, that is until they got the call. It was in the early evening when it came. The team was still in Berlin trying to find leads as to where Robin may have gone next. Raven had been meditating on the hotels roof top late into the evening when her friend had joined her to have a chat.

"What?" Cyborgs entire form stiffened the moment the person on the other end began speaking. Raven noticed the sudden shift in her friend.

"Are you sure?"

"Really sure?"

"Ok."

Cyborg nodded a few more times as the individual on the other side continued to explain. "Alright... Hey Pantha... Thanks." And just as quickly as it begun, it was over. Victor stood in silence for awhile in disbelief until Raven broke it. "Well?" Her voice alone shattered the gripping thoughts that danced in his mind.

The man before her was like a blank slate, she'd never really seen him like this. "Cyborg? Was that Titans South?"

"Yea..."

"What happened?"

"Raven, I think I know why you can't contact Rob... I..."

"Cyborg."

"I mean it could be nothing, maybe he's been forced into it, like before?"

"Cyborg." she pressed a little more, puzzled by his words.

"We came all this way looking for him and... there is now way Rae. No way" Cyborg turned to look at his friend and shook his head. Raven looked at him seriously "No way what Cyborg? What happened?"

Cyborg was glancing at the ground before his eyes met hers. "Hot Spot came into contact with Robin."

Raven looked on. "And? Where is he?"

Silence hung in the air. "Rae..." he started, Raven turned to the night sky. "I dunno."

"You don't know?"

"No."

He let out a heavy sigh before slipping the new found information to Raven. "Hot Spot said he ran into Robin on some island in the Caribbean, Pantha said he had a hunch on some big wig having an operation there. She told him not to go but he went anyways." He sighed again. "It's been a few hours. I doubt he's even there still. Pantha gave me the coordinates, but the island is privately owned. No way of getting there without trespassing."

Raven turned to her friend. "What did Pantha say exactly, what else did Hot Spot tell her?"

Victor hummed, he eyes darted to the ground. A overwhelming grief took hold, he was unsure how to follow through but spoke the truth regardless. "Pantha said when Hot Spot went to check it out, the island that is. He... that is where he saw Robin. Thing is, he said Robin beat his ass to the ground, acted like Hot Spot was the enemy. He said that Robin had told him to leave or he'll beat his ass again, threatened him, the whole bit. In the end however, he said that Robin was letting him go. Hot Spot also reported that something was different about him, he wasn't acting normal. And get this, he also said it was better that it was him that found him and not his master."

"Master?" A chilling conclusion came to Raven's mind. "He's blocked me off for a reason, because he doesn't want to be found." she finished as her eyes searched the stars. "We need to save him... if we can."

Cyborg nodded. "Yea, and we all know who had Robin calling him that in the last attempt."

"Slade. When it comes to Robin, it's always Slade."

"Rae, what are we going to tell the others?"

"The truth. They can handle it, we've been through this before, we-"

"Rae... we have to... we gotta tell them what we know. That there is a possibility, that even if we do find him, that he ain't coming back. That he won't want to come home."

Raven looked away from her friend, her eyes once again finding the night sky. "You're right." she let out a sigh. "There is always that possibility."

"I promise you Raven, we're gonna try and bring home first."

"Promise that to Starfire." Cyborg gave another nod to his friend. She was correct, while the two were not in a relationship, there was definitely something going on between the boy wonder and the alien princess. "Yea, I will."

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"We're leaving?" Robin had caught Asif in a hanger bag while he was inspecting one of Slade's many technological wonders.

Robin looked to his friend and jested, "Don't tell me you wanna stay and live out the beach life for the rest of your days?"

Asif shrugged it off. "Not necessarily. But why the sudden rush to jump back into action?"

"Came into contact with a honorary Titan." Robin scoffed and gave Asif a look as if it was nothing.

"A Titan? One of your old teammates?"

Robin shook his head. "No, but still a Titan. There was three other teams that were created during our fight with the Brotherhood of Evil. Many of them I recruited myself."

"So this Titan came here, and you caught them sneaking around? I see..." Asif mused. "Wait, did they come looking for you?"

The former hero shrugged. "I doubt it. He was pretty shocked to see me, he didn't know I was here. If they had intel on my whereabouts he wouldn't of been so surprised."

"True. Did he make it far into the island by chance?"

"Nope, Slade thought it would be a good idea to spend some quality time and go hunting and had sent me off into the jungle to fetch a deer. Although, I didn't exactly find a buck."

Asif was not surprised Deathstroke now wanted to mobilize his military after having a younger hero in his territory, not that having a Titan was specifically a problem the villain couldn't handle, but if a Titan got wind of anything important and said something to the Justice League, then that could be a problem. In the end however it came down to Robin. Especially Robin. He would have to move the former boy wonder as soon as possible less the Titans or anyone else come looking. And Asif was sure that was not a fight he wanted the former hero involved in at this moment.

So they were on the move now. To where? He wasn't even sure Robin knew. But he did know that soon it would be time for Robin to start enacting upon his own plans, then on top of that there was also whatever the Master had in mind for his Apprentice. Things were going to get hectic from now on. He could feel it in his bones. And as long as Asif followed the former hero around, there was going to be bloodshed and murder.

"So Slade wants us on the move. You sticking around or...?"

Asif put a hand on his friends shoulder. "I got your back, you know that right?" Robin nodded. "Lets get to work then."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"So, where are you running off to now, and might I add leaving me with more work, since a former team mate of that apprentice of yours has most likely made it known that the boy is indeed alive and kicking and possibly even allowed them to be informed that the kid has changed sides?"

Slade sighed and would of rolled his eye if not for himself trying to get some last minute paperwork done.

"Metropolis. Going to make a visit with Luthor."

"I see."

"I have to make amends with the rest of the society for being away for so long."

"They're going to be mad."

"It doesn't matter, they are simply a means to an end."

Wintergreen did roll his eyes. "You always did prefer to work alone anyways." Will knew Slade had plans for the so called secret society, although he was beginning to wonder if he would ever act upon them after being an active member for so long now. He did know that Slade hated the society with most of the fibers in his being, but being a bigger villain meant bigger responsibilities he supposed. "So I suppose you told him, Lex that is, about the kid. What do you think Luther's going to say when he sees Robin in the flesh, you know just casually hanging out with you?"

Slade shrugged. "I did inform him of the situation earlier. He was a bit surprised, but Lex knows I wouldn't lie about such a thing. So what does it matter to him?"

Will gave his friend a blank stare. "Really? The kid was Batman's protégé, the ultimate sidekick. You gaining him to your side is a big loss on their end and a gain on this end of things. Lex will see it for what it is. Probably try and get some sort of profit out of it knowing him."

"It still doesn't matter what he thinks. Robin has chosen his side."

"With a little help..."

It was Slade's turn to give his friend the blank stare. "Perhaps, but he needed it."

"Mhrmmmm" was the only sound that Slade heard escape his friend. The old man was being sarcastic. "More like you needed him. Maybe it is a good thing you did give him that push. You have been much more at ease having him around. You finally have someone else you can pester instead of me. When do you all leave anyways?"

"Tomorrow." was all the mastermind said as he continued on with his work.

"I'll have the metropolis team put on stand by then."

Slade nodded. "Good idea, after everything that has happened so far, I'm unsure as to what events will play out once we leave the island."

Wintergreen gave a chuckle. "Better safe then sorry. After all the crazy stories I've heard from the reports the last thing you need is some supernatural underground society following you around."

"I must agree, it was... strange. The whole ordeal. Although I say it's a safe bet their not gone for good, besides Robin wants his revenge."

Wintergreen sat himself down in one of the two comfy chairs Slade had in front of his desk. "And you're gonna let him have it, aren't you?"

Slade continued his work as he spoke with his friend. "Of course. Why not help the boy gain some attention in the underworld, solidify his choice sort of ordeal. And in doing so, allow the entire criminal underworld get a good feel for the boy and his abilities. Would help them know where he stands. That neither hero nor villain should think themselves in for a good time when he appears."

Wintergreen chuckled. "Your setting him up for fame and fortune."

Slade shrugged. "In a sense. He is my apprentice after all. Now is good as time as ever to take the next step."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was well into the next day when Cyborg and Raven brought the news to the rest of the team. Hot Spot had found Robin... but it wasn't the good news they had wanted to hear. No, instead they heard about how Robin fought against Hot Spot, as if they were foes instead of allies. And how the Titan was warned to leave unless his master find him. Each of them understood that this path could only lead them to one individual. And as they all knew, Starfire didn't take it so well. Beast Boy on the other hand actually took it better then he thought he would, but after everything the green kid has been through he shouldn't be to surprised. If anything maybe he saw more of a glimpse of determination in him. Like everyone else on the team, Garfield just wanted Robin home, safe and sound.

But Starfire... she walked away. Not hover or floated away. She walked.

It was upon Raven's insistence that he spoke with her. "Star?" He knocked on her door lightly. "Star...?"

"Please, I wish not to speak with anyone. I only wish to be left alone." Cyborg swallowed as he could her the strain in her voice. She had been crying.

The girl had bordered herself up in her and Ravens room for a few hours now. "Star you can't just shut yourself out from the world." Cyborg was left standing outside her door without a response. "Look Star, we are gonna do everything we got to do to bring him home, ok?" He was greeted with more silence. His thoughts at that moment were that this was a waste of time, she would need time and he didn't know if he could provide it. He was going to leave. But then she opened the door.

"What if he doesn't come home? What if-" Her eyes were a bit puffy from the tears.

"Star, we all know what happened last time right? We gotta give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Yes, this is all Slade's fault, again."

"Yea... look Star, there has got to be a reason behind all this, don't you want to know, help figure it out, and get Robin the hell out of there?"

The alien princess sighed and then nodded as her eyes looked to the floor. "Yes, I do friend Cyborg. Do you think.. that we should call the Man of Bats?"

"Batman? No way. He told us to butt out. He may not like it that we're looking for Robin. Kind of went against his orders and all that." He gave her a quick smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. Something he did out of habit when something or someone made him a bit nervous.

Starfire clasped her hands over her chest. "Then... we are alone in this?"

"Hey Star, it don't matter if we alone or not, we've survived worse right. We got this."

The princess nodded. "Yes, let us go find him."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Alright, I know it's a bit of filler, but it fills in some gaps with the Titans. Hope you all enjoyed.

PLS PLS LEAVE ME A REVIEW! I have cookies if you leave me a review.

Thanks again guys

-Fangy

Chapter Text

"Metropolis?" Robin rolled his eyes.

"Yes." was all the mastermind had said before moving towards the helicopter. "I need to speak with an old ally of mine."

The former boy wonder crossed his arms as he followed. "I'm putting my bets on Lex Luther." Slade ignored the former hero has he began to load up some luggage. But Robin continued regardless. "I mean who else could it be?"

"There is a variable of options but you would be correct in your assumption." the mastermind had placed the last of the suitcases and bags into the helicopter before he turned to face his young apprentice. "Luther is a old 'friend' of sorts. There is a few things we need to discuss including the news of your little run in with the Titan. It will surely make its rounds through not only the underworld, but will eventually come to light with the Justice league as well. Everyone on either side will know something is wrong although they all won't know quite what yet."

Robin crossed his arms. "Not my fault Hot Spot came to explore."

"I never said it was."

"Sir." one of Slade's men approached the duo. "We are good to go for take off."

"Thank you." was all the criminal said as he dismissed the young soldier before his singular eye found Robin once again. "Lets get going." Robin could only nod in return.

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Slade was not just moving his apprentice to a different location, he was also taking a few men with him as well. Three helicopters left that base that day and Asif was on one of them. The rest of the base would mobilize and be ready for whatever may come, as he was certain so would the rest of Slade's operation. But Asif didn't care about the all mighty Deathstroke. No, the only one he could call friend out here was Robin, and even that friendship was shaky at best. But he had made some progress reobtaining what was once lost.

Asif couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right however. They left Berlin behind so quickly and now... he didn't know what was going on. Everything seemed like a sudden shift and to be honest he still wasn't over Sariel. He had no clue if even her superiors knew about her death, although they most likely did... How her boss would be so heart broken, or so he would be lead to believe. From what she had spoken of about him, the two seemed pretty close. But neither Asif or Gus or anyone really had met him. He gave her orders, she did the work. Recruitments, missions, everything really. She was in charge of making the team. The team would report to her and only she would report to the boss. In the end he still felt a bit guilty for just leaving it all behind, but one had to survive. Maybe he really was only good at betraying people? He tried to shake the thoughts away as quickly as they came.

Still though even in his grief, Asif couldn't stop thinking of the events that had transpired. They hadn't seen any sightings of the ben Elohim in a few weeks now. But he figured being on a fully armed private island may have something to do with that. But the questions remained. Where was Aurora? What was her next step? She never truly obtained what she wanted... She just left, she... Asif's eyes went wide for a moment. Robin still had the legacy. Aurora never got it back. The questions began to claw even deeper at his mind. What was the Legacy? Truly? What had Sariel found in her late night investigations?

He sighed and rubbed his temple. If Robin still had the legacy, then they may see Aurora very soon.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"I think its time." The duo were airborne, one sitting across from the other as they always have.

"Time for what?" Robin answered a bit confused. He looked at his master with a tinge of curiosity in his eyes.

But Slade found himself looking over the waves as they flew over the vast unending ocean. He knew the boy may not want to follow through with his request, but he would push the topic further if he must. He never brought it up before mind you, but he figured now was good a time as any to mention it. "You may not agree, but I think it is indeed time."

Robin crossed his arms. "Ok... time fooor?"

The mastermind never moved but for his singular eye that now rested on the boy, "A name change."

Robin shifted and he glanced away from his master to the view below them. Slade knew the boy didn't like the idea. "It doesn't have to be right away. Perhaps for now still going by the name of Robin is a good thing, stir the pot as they say. But in time you will need to change it."

The former hero sighed, "Yea I know its just... I've never gone by anything else."

"Think on it, you have time."

"Well" Robin shrugged. "I guess I'm open for suggestions. Just nothing stupid ok?"

"Meaning?"

Robin laughed. "You know how many villains I fought with the most ridiculous names?"

Slade smirked, "And do you know how many hero's I've tackled with absurd names? There is always someone in this game that decides to call themselves something ridiculous. And that goes for this side to."

Robins chuckled was still evident, "You mean like 'Deathstroke'? By the way I've always wanted to ask, do you like Halloween or something?" The smile was still plastered on the boys lips. If Robin was still a Titan he would of rubbed the smug look off of his face in no time. He was thankful things were different now. "Have you been talking to Will?"

The boy snorted and answered with a soft "No." that was mixed in with a giggle. At that moment he knew Will and him had some sort of conversation at one point during their stay on the island. Will probably lightly made fun of him to get the boy to ease into his company. And it seemingly worked, like it normally did for for his friend. Slade relaxed into his seat. He didn't envision this when he set out to make Robin his apprentice but he would accept it all the same.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It had been how long? What day was it? Hell, what year was it even? She couldn't even open her eyes and every time this happened she began to panic and then she felt what she believed was a sharp prick and then... nothing. Black. A constant void. She briefly wondered if the deal had gone sour? Was she still there, under all that rubble? What did she die for... Die? Did she die? When? How? She couldn't remember. If she died how was she here... wherever here was.

She didn't like this.

Any of this.

"Ja, she is coming along fine."

She knew that voice, but from where? Who? Why did it scare her?

"She just needs a little more time."

It was a man and he had a accent, but shouldn't place it. What was going on? Where was she? What happened? She began to panic again and then the sharp prick that she knew so well let her fall in a void of nothing once again.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The flight was roughly around four hours give or take. They had landed and once Robin stepped out he felt rather odd being back in America. It was almost as if he didn't know what to do with himself, and it wasn't the idea of going to Superman's city that was so imposing but the general feeling of being home. Normally he'd be happy. But now... now it just felt odd. Robins eyes wandered around the base. It was a smaller one then the island, but not as small as the one in the woods. It seemed a lot of the men Slade brought with him were to be stationed here and the facility on the island was used to train them. He wondered again how far Slade's influence truly reached.

"I have the base ready to receive the men and your friend, Asif will be taken care of here. You and I however, will be staying in one of my safe houses in the city. Tomorrow we go see Luther. I have a feeling we'll be here for a bit while we sort things out."

"Alright" Robin shrugged. "This is going to be strange."

"How so?" Slade lead the way to a nice sleek black car. He supposed this would be their transportation to the safe house. And Robin wondered for a moment if Slade had a thing for fast cars before answering him. "Only had interactions with him from one side of the fence."

"Well then I suppose tomorrow you'll gain some intel on Lex Luther that you never knew before. This is a change I understand, one you'll have to get used to."

"I understand, I don't have a problem with that its.. just strange is all."

Slade nodded and began walking towards the car. "Lets get going, its still a long drive and I rather get some dinner before my favorite place closes."

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Thank you all so much

-Fangy

Chapter Text

Safehouse? More like luxury apartment with a nice view of the city. Slade had taste, he'd give him that. The two had eaten take out from a rugged worn down looking Donair joint. It looked more like a hole in the wall but from his own experience those were the best places to grab some grub. The two had talked for awhile once they arrived at the apartment. But soon enough Slade retired letting Richard know he should probably do the same. "Long day tomorrow" and such as he headed towards his room. But Robin was always more a night owl.

The request to change his name had haunted his mind the entire evening. That and seeing Lex Luther in person tomorrow... well it was a bit to take in. But he would face whatever challenges came his way regardless of his feelings towards the situation. He wasn't a Titan anymore, he was apprentice to Deathstroke.

The former hero breathed in deep and let out a sign. His fingers began fidgeting with the flash drive he carried with him. The Legacy. He mildly wondered if Aurora would randomly show up and ask him to simply hand it over. Or was she already waiting for them with Luther. He wouldn't be to surprised. With her heavy grasp over the hero's of the world why wouldn't she ever have power over the villains? Why was that? Why didn't she? Or maybe she did... maybe the ben Elohim had more of a influence then he could ever imagine.

What Aurora wanted he could only guess. She apparently already had a lot of say in the world. It seemed like she had it all. So he could also see her taking her time in gaining back what was once lost. She didn't seem to sad when she left it behind. She didn't care about the deaths of his friends, rather just disheartened that they didn't give her enough of a good show. He remember how he got dragged into all of this. How Sariel got kidnapped. How she freed herself and met up with him as they both went toe to toe with Geist's fiendish abilities. It always seemed she had been combating the ben Elohim for so long. Going up against a global superpower is not easy, especially one that technically doesn't exist.

He had to ask himself though, what was Sariel's end game in all this? She wanted intel that much as obvious. But to go up against a centuries old, well hidden, secret society full of bizarre meta humans... It was a bit of a stretch. What was in it for her? Who did she exactly work for? Was she on her own? Robin stared out the window onto the city. He came to realize that while he called her a friend, he never got to truly know her. Or more about her. He knew what had happened to her in her youth. The experiments, the forced military training, being told that you must survive in a warzone filed with adults twice your size and being told to kill... he could only image what kind of trauma she carefully hid from the world. He knew she loved the desert but it must of held nightmares for her as well. He wondered what kind of world she lived in and why such a drive to go after something so beyond her.

He pocketed the Legacy. He had to try and get more information. He wanted to see if someone else to dive into the information the USB drive held and see if they could find anything else beyond what Gus originally had, even more then what Slades intel team could find, which was basically the same intel Gus dug up. Nothing much more than a few dates, a few names. There just has to be more information on them somewhere.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The morning after was made with promises of coffee, bacon and eggs. Promises that were indeed delivered. When he thought of it he never really seen Slade cook anything before and to be honest, he never imagined it either. There was always someone else around on their little journey that whipped up the meals for the day. So seeing the mercenary in the kitchen this morning was a bit of a surprise he would admit.

Soon however, Robin found himself in the passenger seat of the same car that Slade drove them here with. And soon after that the two found themselves in a elevator on their way up to see Lex himself. It was one of the so called "back door" elevators that didn't connect with the lobby. Obviously having villains in full uniform from head to toe in one of his buildings would be harmful for his so called good reputation.

"See Lex often? "Robin inquired.

"He is one of the more upstanding members of our secret society so perhaps more then I'd like."

"So he's really that annoying huh?"

"Lets just say one has to keep on their toes around Luther." Robin frowned at Slades answer. "While Luther is a reputable colleague, it does not necessarily mean that you should lower your guard. The man is indeed dangerous, keep that in mind. But he has his uses from time to time. Luther has a reach that measures far into the world. He makes himself quite the monetary ally."

"I see... sooo... "Robin crossed his arms. "What is the deal with this Secret Society of yours anyways. Can't be as secret as the Ben Elohim."

Slade looked to his young apprentice. "Perhaps not as secret, but a necessity. Simply, its a group a few people formed quite a few years back. Before my time even. It was created to watch over and to "keep in line" various aspects of the world, such as wars, private militaries, political endeavors, and the so called super villains of the world. Most of the founding members were actually political figures, a few millionaires and some other people that had a certain grasp on society at that time."

"Older then you huh, like how far back?"

"I believe it was founded after World War II, generally in a response to keep Germany at bay."

"After World War II?" Robin thought back to the legacy for a moment before the elevator dinged. "We're here." was all Slade had said before stepping out on to the pristine marble floor.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Lex Luther sat at his desk on the phone talking up a business deal or two. He really hadn't changed that much since the last time he tagged along with Bruce in one of Clarks requests for back up. His suites were still pristine and he was still bald so two for two. Still... it was odd being on this side of the fence. It felt more real now, his betrayal, much more real that he thought it would be. There was no fight to get ready for as he looked on at the man. For the first time ever in the company of a so called Super villain, other then Slade of course, he didn't feel that there was a epic showdown that was about to erupt. Instead, being here opened up a new world of possibilities.

"Ahh sorry about that." Luther had ended the call and came to greet his guests. "When some of them get going they never shut up. I'm sure you know that all to well."

"A little to well." Slade commented, his singular eye staring deep into Luther's own as if he was already bored with this conversation. And if this at all phased Luther he never showed it as he moved to stand over Robin and began to chuckle, his gaze went from the boy to the mercenary. "You really did it." he shook his head as his eyes looked back towards the former hero. "Well I'll be damned."

Robin made a face and crossed his arms. "Do I got something on my face? Or you envious of all the hair on my head baldy?"

With that Luther laughed. "Still a cocky one isn't he?"

"There is a lot we need to go over Luther."

"Agreed. To much I would say. If it's not the Justice League then it's something else. The others?"

Slade shook his head. "After we go over everything." Luther only shrugged "Alright. I've read the reports, this is quite surprising to say the least. But there isn't much on them is there. We're kind of drawing blanks at this point aren't we?"

Robin grasped at the Legacy in his pockets. "I have something that can perhaps change that, that is if you can dive beyond the depths of what is actually on here?" Robin held the flash drive in his hands. "Everything is in code. I believe a friend of mine actually found something of value on here but never got to share it before she was killed."

The former hero handed the Legacy to Luther in hopes that his people could find something more than what he already knew. "The files were already downloaded to one of Slade's own systems and we already have a small team working on deciphering it. But the more the merrier."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Alfred was becoming more and more concerned. Not only with the striking news that Master Bruce had returned with, but also due to the fact that Bruce himself was just... well he was becoming a pain in his butt. He wouldn't sleep, he barely touched his food and he had to nag at him to rest. The elderly man could hardly get any of the other work he had to do around the mansion due the master of the house being so... obstinate. It took him days but when he finally won out, the great Batman listened to his butler to get some sleep and before he knew it Master Bruce was down for the count for a solid two and a half days.

In that time he did something he knew Master Bruce would probably get a tad bit anger with him for, but Master Richards young friends deserved to know. He was surprised however that they already knew a bit more information then he thought they would. But he would suppose that would make sense with Hot Spot being a Honorary Titan. They had more of a direct link then even the Justice League, they probably knew about it before they did. The team seemed a little saddened, he couldn't blame them. It wasn't necessarily the best news. When Master Bruce got wind of that little run in he nearly went into a frenzy, it was the last night Alfred let him be alone, from then on he insisted he rest.

He was a little proud of them, it seemed that Richard had taught them well. The team was looking for their friend and following any clues they could find. Alfred had high hopes they would find him first since Master Bruce wasn't fit for... well anything at the moment. And if something had indeed changed, as in truly changed with Master Dick then perhaps his friends would be the best option to bring him home. It seemed the team knew the risks for not only disobey a member of the Justice league, but for going against the worlds best Mercenary... well he couldn't stop them now could he? As much as he had wanted to, they were already far deeper in this then any of them were really. He read the reports the Titans had given Master Bruce on Slade Wilson. Their little run ins with the villain was no coincidence

The little chat was awkward at first, the group wasn't expecting a call from Batman's butler after all. But Alfred explained everything he could regarding his own status with the Bat family.

"I am terribly sorry but there isn't much else I know." Alfred looked at the small team through the screen. Their disappointment was evident.

"Nahh it's alright, we really should thank you for checking in on us. Sorry we also kind of disobeyed the Bat..." Cyborg felt kind of bad but this Alfred character seemed pretty nice. Robin never told him he had a butler.

"It's quite alright, I'm sure he would understand that you are all concerned as well." Beast Boy side eyed at the comment and mouthed a sarcastic "suuure." If the Bat was anything, it clearly wasn't understanding.

"Where exactly are you at this moment?" Alfred was curious. How far had they dug into this?

Cyborg shrugged "Europe." Raven who stood beside him just sighed before taking control of the conversation. "We are currently leaving Germany. The last bits of the trail had ended here. We knew that he had moved locations but not as to where exactly until now."

"I see, will you be returning soon?"

Raven nodded her agreement. "With Robin last spotted on a Caribbean island, Slade is most likely moving himself and Robin into plain sight."

Alfred smiled "Home."

Raven nodded. "Yes." Robin was either on his way or already in America.

Chapter Text

The night carried on for the trio. Luther had food brought in and Robin kind of missed the Donair shop. But it was something to fill his belly regardless. He was slightly caught off guard about how involved he was during this meeting. He wasn't taking a back seat and letting Slade explain the details. Generally this is how it would of worked with Bruce, but with Slade... the mastermind wanted Robins input on the situation since he's had more first hand experience.

Robin explained all that he knew gladly. He spoke of how it seemed like they were dealing with a Illuminati like group with a massive amount of resources and a fully trained personal military to boot. He told Luther about how surreal and supernatural the group was. And while someone like Superman could fly... Superman was also an alien. Geist was not. As far as Robin knew the man in white was human. Next he spoke of Madaline whom held a strength far superior to a regular humans, her resurrection and then of course the star of the show. Aurora herself. And then piled on top of that was the tid-bits of history they knew of the group that dated back centuries. And while many of these occurrences could be brushed off as run ins with a group of super villains and meta-humans, Robin pushed the idea that this group wasn't your run of the mill like villain team. They had far more advantages then any society should and held a certain kind of power in the world that allowed them to do as they wanted at any point in time. And as much as Luther may not like to admit it, that was something not even he could do.

"Supernatural indeed. I would assume you've tried running background checks on all the individuals?"

Robin shook his head. "Yea, never found anything."

"Well if your good that is the obvious answer. Of course you won't find anything. But.. everyone has left a finger print or two somewhere."

Robin wanted to agree, he whole heartedly wanted to agree. He was hoping that a different set of eyes could possibly find something he had over looked. Which is why he entrusted the USB drive to Luther. Obviously of course he obtained it back once the information was downloaded. It was more then just the Legacy, it was one of the remnants left behind by his friend.

"I'm sure we'll find something." Luther was always so sure of himself. "It may take some time however. So Slade, there is a private function of sorts for tomorrow, some of the other members will be there. I'm sure they'll want to see you for themselves." The mastermind nearly rolled his eye but refrained himself and only nodded. "I'll try and make a effort." Luther only laughed at his response. "Bring the kid to. I'm sure they'll want to see him with their own eyes."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was late when the two left Luther's offices. Slade had already begun to drive back to the safehouse when Richard asked, "You really think he's gonna help us?"

"Luther doesn't like the idea of someone else wielding far more power then he does, he is never content with what he has. So in the long run, yes I believe he will."

Robin sighed. "Ok. If you say so."

"You did well tonight despite your previous feelings towards the situation."

The former hero shrugged. "Didn't have much choice in the matter did I?"

"No, I suppose you didn't. But regardless you held out well."

"Soooo..." Robin crossed his arms. "Who Am I meeting tomorrow? I get that Luther wants me to come to this function of yours-"

"His function."

"Ok his function. Is the rest of your secret society going to be there?"

Slade still kept his eyes on the road as he drove. "Possibly some, but I doubt all of them."

Robin smirked. "Anyone I know?"

The mastermind removed his mask as he tossed it into the back seat with his free hand. "Perhaps some of the lower members, such as Cobblepot-"

Robin looked a bit shocked. "Wait, the Penguin is part of a secret society!?"

"Well his family has been members since the end of World War II."

"Wow." Robin looked onto the road as he leaned back. "And here I thought he was just another villain on Gotham's streets."

"I wouldn't say he's an important member however. But, Cobblepot helps to keep the funds running I suppose."

The former hero smirked at that. Knowing Oswald he probably thought he was a very important member. Would go on to proclaim he did a lot of even more important work. Robin wondered how many old money families played their part. If Slade's secret society had to run on anything then it ran off the money of its members. Or at least he suspected. It was odd they didn't exactly have a name but he supposed "Society" worked just fine being that it was a secret. Or maybe it did have a name and no one was allowed to utter the words. He had seen stranger things. But still... "Who runs it?"

"Hrmmm?"

"That Society of yours, who runs it?"

"There is a group of 5 members that run it, Luther and myself are two of them."

"And the others?"

"You'll find out."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

He knew he would be upset. But throwing his own favored chair from the cliff into the depths of the Batcave wasn't something he was expecting. The butler nearly rolled his eyes. Master Bruce was having a bit of a small fit. But he couldn't blame him, the butler did indeed tell the Titans information which Bruce had wanted to keep out of their hands. However, he did also tell Master Bruce that regardless of his secrecy the Titans already heard of Master Richards involvement with the situation that had happened in Berlin awhile back. And while he may like it or not, the Titans were getting themselves involved. He reminded the master of the house that they were Master Dicks friends as well. Of course they would be looking for him.

Alfred watched on as Batman had taken his anger out on his chair. But when the haze of anger lifted from his eyes and he realized he just tossed his most comfortable chair into the void his eyes began to show the sorrow that had built up within him since Master Dick's disappearance. Alfred stood by patiently waiting for him. "Are we quite done sir?"

"Alfred. They were not supposed to know."

"To be honest sir, you give them to little credit."

Bruce sat down with his head in his palms.

"They're too smart." Alfred poured some tea into a cup before serving it. "And a little rebellious. Remind you of anyone?"

The Caped Crusader looked up only to see past his old friend. His eyes finding the darkness in the cave and beyond as if he was lost. "Why don't you help them?" Bruce's eyes began to focus on the man in front of him. "Help them?"

"Yes. I'm sure if you all work as a team you can clean up this mess quite a lot quicker. Bring an end to this... whatever this all is."

Bruce looked to his old friend. "Alfred I don't know if I can bring him home. After he..." His eyes looked away to the computer screen that had various windows popped up, all information regarding the mercenary Deathstroke. "Master Bruce, one way or another your going to have to face this. We all will." Alfred too felt the pull on the heart strings. The idea of Richard possibly being a criminal still didn't sit to well with him. But he couldn't just let Bruce Wayne sit in his grief for days on end.

"I know."

"Does the League know?"

"They only know he is missing."

"Call the Titans."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The next morning was normal as any other until Slade took him to a local tailor to acquire a tux for that evenings function. The mercenary didn't want to go to the little party he could tell. And when he asked if he to was going to purchase a tux himself the mastermind informed the young man that he always had one ready for these types of events.

"Always ready to party?"

"Luther likes to show off a little here and there, I have learned it's just best to have formal wear ready when in metropolis."

Robin nodded, Bruce always had parties at the mansion to keep up with appearances of how he wanted people to see him as Bruce Wayne. And while he didn't mind them, sometimes it got to be a bit to much. Because of this Richard generally always had some formal wear in his closet. So he understood Slade's feelings towards this whole shindig. It was all an unfortunate unnecessary event.

"We're not going to stay that long are we?"

Slade actually smirked at his young apprentice, "I certainly hope not."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The Titans had landed back in America that morning. The team checked in with Titans East who had been over seeing the city since they went on their little journey and it seems things had settled down for a bit. Cyborg was more then glad for it. If anything the Team needed at least a day to rest. He knew that Ravens emotions were a mess at the moment, Starfire was still walking and BB... well BB was angry and he needed a bit of a time out. They all needed a time out really. Things were becoming more and more complex and Cyborg was feeling like he was loosing more of a handle on this then he'd care to admit. Robin was also so chill about his leadership role. He always knew exactly what to do, how to do it and was so confidant about his choices in the moment. Victor didn't feel like he could pull it off. He found that he was questioning himself on his own choices involving the team. He knew he wasn't a great leader like Robin. But he still kept it up, still kept trying to fill in the void Robin had left behind. And he was tired.

He really REALLY wanted things to go smooth for just one day, but being a Titan always meant more bumps and dirt roads then a newly paved one. It never went smooth, nor ever their way. He felt his stomach drop the moment the call came in. It took him a few moments to answer it. The questions rattled through his mind. Did he know they disobeyed orders, did he knew they were in Germany looking for Robin? Did the butler tell him? What was he going to say to the Caped Crusader. He didn't know nor did he have time to think it over. So he answered and Batman's face come up on the screen before him.

"Cyborg."

"Batman?"

"We need to talk, get the rest of the team together."

Chapter Text

The next morning was uneventful. Luther had spoken with Slade early in the day. He had a team working on deciphering the information that Robin had given them and so far they were turning up empty handed. Except for one minor thing. There was a coding in there that was actually a generic code, but riddled with information on molecules that had been enhanced beyond human comprehension. Had the ben Elohim done some experiments in the past? Most likely. It may explain the supernatural like abilities of the members. But there was other meta humans out there. Yet the Ben Elohim had somewhat of an edge on all them. Were the methods used by the group so unlike the rest of the world? It may be another good reason why they kept themselves so well hidden. They didn't want to share their secrets with anyone.

Robin stared off into space as he pondered about the existence of such things. He had encountered many meta-humans in his life. All of them remarkably strong and powerful. But every one of them had a back story, an event that made them that way. Something was done to them to make them a meta-human, whether it be by design or accident. So it begged the question. What was Aurora, who was she exactly? Or rather who did she used to be? She's definitely not a normal human, if he even could call her human anymore. So what made her what she is now? Maybe... just maybe the Information on the DNA they had found could lead to that.

So many questions and so little answers. But it would have to wait. Slade made sure he was going to drag Robin to this function. The afternoon went by without incident and before he knew it Robin was slipping into his tux. He was slicking back his hair when a knock came at his door and a question that was posed if he was decent.

Robin responded with a "Yes" and the door opened and what entered was the mercenary in a tux himself. Seeing Slade all fancied up was yet another odd sight. The idea that the mastermind could definitely pull off the stereotypical villain in a spy movie was something that ran through the young man's mind. The eye patch was definitely a give away, honestly he should of seen it sooner when the man was posing as Sergai.

"Ready to go?"

Robin fixed his bow tie. "Yea." It was odd looking in the mirror with his own blue eyes looking back at him. He knew he would have to keep a bit of a low profile at the event. He didn't want anyone recognizing him after all, for all he knew the newspapers still thought he was dead.

Slade nodded. "Then let's get this over with."

Robin nodded in return. If anything tonight was going to be an interesting night.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"We need to talk, get the rest of the team together." Cyborg gulped a bit. He didn't know what was about to go down but he did as he was asked regardless.

Soon enough the Titans were all in front of the large screen looking up at the Batman in concern and worry. They were in for it now.

The Batman was stoic as ever and the words that would tumble from his lips were completely unexpected to all of the young hero's present. "I know that you went to Germany looking for Robin... I know that you've been searching for him and disregarding any orders given to you by a member of the Justice League such as myself. Normally these actions would be seen as a great disappointment."

The team cringed, they all felt their stomachs drop and their hearts sank just a little.

"However, it is now clear to me that you all should of been involved from the beginning and... I'm sorry for not including you. Robin is your friend before he is your team lead." The group look around at one another in shock. Did they just hear right, did the ever infamous Batman just apologize?

"We need to work together if we are to find him and right now I need something from all of you."

Cyborg answered for the group. "Alright, what do you need exactly?"

The team could feel the Bats eyes on all of them. "All of you have had incidents with Deathstroke, or as you call him, Slade. I don't believe Robin included all of the details with his or the teams confrontations with him in any kind of proper statement. The reports were simple and to the point. I need a report from all of you on the specifics of your own personal encounters with him and any kind of details regarding Robin and his own, other the the apprenticeship, from your own perspective. The two may be enemies but I have no doubt that if needed Robin could work with Deathstroke for some type of mutual benefit." The team would agree, they all remembered the time Robin and Slade worked together when the world had been turned to stone. Enemies or not, even Cyborg had to admit that the two had some sort of weird respect between them. "We don't have a lot of time left to us. I believe he and Slade are somewhere back in the United States at this time."

Raven nodded and stepped forward. "We came to the same conclusion. We just don't know where."

The Batman nodded in return. "Once you have completed the reports, call me and we'll plan a location to meet. Batman out." And with that the screen went blank leaving behind a very perplexed group of teenagers.

Raven turned to to their current leader. "Well?" and the man in question just shook his head. "What else? We do what he asks of us."

Beast Boy however was still in a bit of shock. "Duuudes THE Batman just apologized to us... seriously what world are we living in? Did we switch dimensions?" Raven shook her head. "Things are bad then. Something happened that he's not sharing... I don't know him well, but something was off. He was keeping up appearances and he didn't want us to think anything was wrong but something most definitely is."

"I mean there's gotta be something big going on if he's asking for more reports on Slade. I mean getting further information on the man... and our own personal encounters with the villain? Didn't we give him everything in the reports?" Beast Boy shrugged. "I think most of the reports were made by Robin dude." Cyborg shook his head, that did make sense. Robin would most likely have avoided putting certain information in the file, probably keeping the very important stuff to himself. Everyone here had a run in or two with Slade and in one way or another that man had affected all of their lives. "We know Robin well enough, remember how he would hide away from us all when Slade was around, he kept diving deeper and deeper into reports when-"

Raven nodded in agreement. "When he came across to many dead ends. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Which means..."

Cyborg let out a sigh. "It means we're all in the same boat without a damn paddle."

Starfire looked on at her friends. She was worried anyone could tell. She wrung her hands and she hadn't flown in days. To her everything just seemed to be falling apart. Everyone she knew, even someone she cared for deeply, they all just seemed to leave her in the end. Everything was going so well until all of this. "You still have your friends." she thought to herself and she looked on at the three that squabbled amongst each other. Well more like Cyborg and Beast Boy Squabbled, Raven just stood to the side and frowned and their behavior.

Starfire wondered what Robin would do in this situation and the answer was simple. He wouldn't let anyone worry about him. He would put a smile on his face, he would make jokes with the other teammates and he would never want anyone to worry for him. Starfire frowned. She knew she wasn't in any condition to fight or to help anyone and that is not something Robin would want. "You need to try, for Robin." she thought to herself and she tried to smile.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Richard Grayson stepped out of the vehicle and looked up at the tower before him. Already there was socialites arriving on the scene, all of them decked out in their finest outfits as they left their equally fancy vehicles and walked onto the carpet laid out for them. It somewhat reminded him of home. Bruce was always a little extra. He always said it was part of the image but Richard always secretly questioned it. Slade was unimpressed by the sight and wordlessly tossed the keys to a valet and the duo walked into the fray.

To Slade this was as much enemy territory as any other and he told Richard to keep alert at all times. Robin was given the reminder of his former life. The mastermind may be one of the five main leaders of their Society, but others may notice who he was and without realizing who he was with... well they may not be so kind. The young man shrugged it off, he could handle himself he knew. It wasn't his first rodeo after all. Slade insisted he wore a communicator however and Robin agreed.

It was like any other function he had ever been to. Politicians, millionaires, influential people of all sorts. And Slade was correct there was some people he did recognize. Lower end so called villains and various faces from the news. People that didn't stand out in the community as a criminal but at this point they obviously has some connection to illegal activities. Robin could laugh. It made sense really. Anyone of any kind of power did something illegal and generally down right bad to gain that kind of wealth. Power and money doesn't come to those that don't look for ways to oppress those around them.

Slade had at some point in time picked up a glass of wine and swirled the contents in the glass a few times before taking a sip.

"See anyone you know?" It was a off hand question, but he could tell Slade was somewhat curious.

Robin shrugged, "A few." Robin eyed some wealthy couples that would always be regulars at Bruce's little get togethers "But I'm honestly not surprised."

"My my, so it is true. The bird has left the nest to fly different currents." Robin knew that voice, it was as slick as it was sharp and heavy with an accent. The former boy wonder turned to greet Ra's al ghul with his most trusted servant Ubu following behind. Robins mind quickly reeled in all the facts he knew about this man and instantly knew that he must be one of the five ruling members of this Society. It would make so much sense for the most part. Other then Ra's al ghul wanting eliminate the human race, but then again one should have control over the population before deciding to obliterate it he supposed. There was also the known fact that the Chief Demon was notorious for manipulating world events. With five leaders it would mean each of the five would have their own organizations, their own little criminal empires. And in times of need they could merge their forces together, just like any other nation when a war broke out. He briefly wondered who the other two remaining members would be.

Slades interest was piqued. "Rumor's I suppose that have already begun to spread of Robins betrayal?"

"I suppose you can say that it has, although many are still in disbelief. Many more will not come to accept that the Detectives own student has left his side. They would prefer to think him to be something akin to that of a spy."

The mercenary could almost laugh. "We will have to change that."

"Indeed, if he is truly loyal to you Slade you will have to show the others where he stands."

"And I assure you that won't be a problem."

The immortal nodded. "Robins loyalty towards the detective was never something I personally questioned, nor did any of the others. A Hero dropping his mantle is not entirely unheard of. I do not think it will take much to convince them."

Ra's al ghul look at the boy before him and admired how much he had grown since he last saw him. Robin just crossed his arms and looked at the two men before him. "However, with the Leagues Prodigal son abandoning his allies it will prove to be entertaining to say the least." The Demon's gaze then held the mercenaries own. "I believe I will see you in the meeting?" Slade gave singular nod. "Then I shall see you there."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The Chief Demon had made his point, Robin knew he would have a lot of work ahead of him. He had to not only gain a reputation as Slade's Apprentice, but also find a place for himself in this secret society. "This is going to get interesting." he thought to himself as he sipped on a glass of Fanta. The bartender looked at him oddly and just slid him a pop when he asked for something to drink. Made sense, he supposed he was an exception other then a few stragglers. There wasn't really any kids here, nevermind teenagers. He may of perhaps spotted one or two. But again, they were the exception. Also villain get together or not, no bartender is going to simply hand a kid a alcoholic drink.

Slade had left him behind as he and the other higher ups had their little secret meeting. He had hoped it wouldn't be long and he really hoped Slade didn't expect him to mingle as Bruce did. The millionaires showing off their wealth didn't amuse him. Their small talk on finances and the weather or their new yacht wasn't something he wanted to particularly deal with at the moment. So he stood off to the side trying to hide out amongst the plants that took up residency by the windows. It was a clear night and the stars shined brightly in the sky. He thought back to the night he was found by Sariel, after all the work he had done to try and stay alive in that damn desert and the sands still nearly won if she hadn't found him. Ironic when he thought about it. He sat there that night with a evening sky similar to this one, ever so clear and beautiful. And he sat there and debated with her that hero's should be welcomed everywhere. He remembered being somewhat outraged. And now he planned to dismantle the League himself.

The world was truly something.

"Hello."

Suddenly Robin felt a presence behind him. He was a bit surprised since normally people didn't catch him so off guard so easily. The former hero turned around to meet eyes with a child. A young girl who must of been around the age of ten give or take. "Emm Hello?" he responded.

The girl looked at him. "Are you Robin?"

Richards eyes' widened at the mention of his name. How did she know? She's just a kid, he's not wearing a mask. He looked at her oddly and when he was about to say something he noticed she wasn't in normal clothing. She was in Kevlar, a uniform.

"Are you going to remain silent?" Robin didn't feel quite right in answering her. Why didn't anyone else see her? The party kept going on as normal. It was as if she wasn't even there.

"Who...?"

"Endora is my name. She wishes to speak with you, she is being courteous."

There could only be one woman who would wish to speak him. "You can tell her no thanks, kind of tied up at the moment." Slade was in his meeting, he had his communicator but he couldn't use it when this child was right in front of him.

"She will not like your answer, but I will deliver it. However I am not alone. He may be more forceful."

Everything right now was just blown of the water. It went from being a boring night at a party to having a possible member of the ben Elohim making contact. It was not something he needed at the moment. Again like the others he had encountered, the girl was strange. For instance why was a child decked out in military gear?

"He?"

The child smiled and then vanished. "What the fuck!?" was all Robin had running through his head. He looked around only to see the child had re-appeared hovering above a group of the guests. None of them saw here, they all kept chatting as if nothing was wrong.

"You should be aware that she is well, but no longer is she one of yours." the child smiled again and then vanished. Robin scanned the area, he even double checked before he would report anything to Slade. This wasn't good.

Chapter Text

Automatically he was calling Slade via the communicator earbuds the instant that the child vanished. He didn't care if he would be interrupting an important meeting, Robin had to report the incident. And when Slade was taking to long to pick up the call, the former hero started making his way down the hall towards the office that held the most important members of this entire little get together. He stopped however when the mastermind finally answered. Slade did not expect what came from his young apprentice however.

"They were here."

"What do you mean?"

"A kid, a little girl, maybe around ten. No one saw her, she just walked up to me. She asked me... if I was Robin. I didn't respond, but she then said she would like to speak to me. Kid disappeared afterwards. It was like no one even knew she was there. As if only I could see her." Robin wasn't necessarily panicking, but he felt he needed to get every last bit of info out before he forgot any minor details.

"Make your way to the-"

Gunfire. Bullets tore through the ballroom leaving behind shattering remains of the bustling room that was just mere moments ago filled with dance and laughter. Robin threw himself to the floor. He had only turned the corner and exited the ballroom when had made contact with Slade.

"Gunfire?"

"Yea..."

"I'm on my way." Slade cut the line then. Robin knew he'd be seeing him momentarily since the office wasn't to far down the hall. In the meantime however Robin inched himself towards the entryway. He kept his back to the wall and slowly moved along the surface until he could see the damage that had been done. "Holy shit." he muttered to himself as he looked on at the bodies strewn across the floor. He noticed there was survivors but he didn't know for how long. One woman screamed at the soldier and he simply shot her in the head, her limp body falling to the ground. The action caused others to cry out in fear. They however only seemed to gain threats from the soldiers to simply behave or they to will get the same treatment. He could hear their muffled cries as they agreed.

There was a few soldiers in the ballroom and they were scouting the area, looking over every dead body, threatening every survivor. They were looking for someone, possibly even for himself. The soldiers here were the same as the ones in the desert he noticed, but their uniforms were all black this time around. But they wore the same badges, had the same equipment and the same carelessness regarding the people around them. They didn't care for the lives of those in this building, they were given a task and they would complete it. Careless as they were with who they killed, their skills in doing so were not as reckless. All these men were fully trained in combat.

"There is more of them." Robin nodded, he knew it wouldn't take long for his master to meet up with him. "They've seemingly taken out a few of Luther's men and dismantled a lot of his own security systems, all within a short period of time. He's not to pleased obviously. Usually Luther's systems are... better."

"Or maybe Luther's systems are not as good as he says they are. Generally, he makes most of his security dedicated to combat Superman. Considering that is who visits Luther the most. It would make sense for most of his defenses to be dedicated to ward him off. The soldiers are just human, so it would make it easier for them to slip through and start a gun fight."

"It would seem that way. But even Luther has enemies that are as human as you and I."

Robin looked on at the scene before him and shrugged. "Then maybe their just that good."

"Perhaps." Slade on the other hand was not to convinced.

"They're not here for no reason, their looking for someone or something." Robin jerked his head towards the soldiers. "I think I know what they want."

"And will you simply hand it over to them?"

Robin watched a soldier shot another victim in the head. It was a heavy burden he supposed, but he wouldn't simply just give up. "No."

"We need to get back to the others."

Robin could only nod. Retreat may be the best course of action for now.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The lobby of the tower was empty minus a few bodies and remnants of a once normal business day. Soon they would begin to make their way towards the upper floors, but for now they would let the soldiers do their work. Aurora had sent them to cause a disturbance, and disorder and confusion was something he was always good at creating.

"Will he come?"

"Hrmm, the boy?" The man that stood next to the child smirked as he took a puff from his cigar, blowing out smoke rings the next moment.

"Yes."

"I doubt it kid."

"Athrilius?" Her eyes found his green ones. The child never asked why his skin was red nor why his eyes glowed a bright green. She found this man to be her ally unlike the others that tried to harm her. Many would call him a demon, a monster. But Endora called him a friend. The man in question looked down on the child as he snubbed out the remainder of his cigar with his fingers and pocketed it. "Hrmmm?"

The girl looked unto him with dead eyes. Her hair hung over the left side of her face leaving only one pale yet striking blue eye to look up at him. "She only wanted to talk." the young girl sounded disappointed. The man crossed his arms. "She expected it." was his reply.

"He has the Legacy."

"He has a portion of it yes."

"Sariel... she... why did she leave us? She had the Legacy. Why did she give it to him?" The child had grown close to the young woman he knew. Athrilius smirked. The kid didn't know yet. The young woman's death had been hard on the child, but Geist insist she was not to be told. For all Endora knew was that her friend was brought home and taken to the medical wing. There was no sign from her and so the child came to the realization that she had lost her, she believed she had died. Although she proclaimed that Sariel had come home, even if it was just her remains that had returned. Arhtrilius took a puff from his cigar as he watched the child knowing someone was approaching.

"Because." It was not the demonic like man that answered her. "It was all part of the plan. My betrayal, my death... all of it." Endora looked beyond the dark lobby and say a woman approach. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw who it was.

"Sariel..."

The woman smiled. "Yea."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The conference room was smaller then he thought it would be, but he supposed it did the job. Oddly enough there was only 3 members in the meeting. It seemed the other two had attended via video call. And Robin felt a little let down by that, he was quite curious who the remaining members were. Slade said that he may only know some of the lower end members but Ra's al Ghul was definitely a familiar face. However it was unimportant at the moment since the rest of the building was being raided.

The trio were discussing their next move when a women entered the room.

"Your not going to like what I have to report."

"Do I ever Mercy? But give it to us anyways."

Robin smirked. Mercy Graves, Lex Luther's own personal bodyguard. She looked like your typical chauffeur, but thinking her harmless was the first mistake you could ever make regarding this woman.

"If you insist." she nodded before giving her report. "The entire building is shut down, systems are on lock down, no one has access. Except for the enemy that is. You may of already come to this conclusion but they are looking for someone or something."

Luther could laugh. "That was obvious, we know what they came here for." The man looked at Robin. "They want the information you gave me, they want that so called Legacy of yours. It would seem that has become valuable information indeed, I'll be damned before we just hand anything over."

"How is it possible that no one knew this society even existed?" Ra's al Ghul still sat at the round wooden table. He sipped at his tea, ever the depiction of calm and collected. "It's not possible. While it is not too hard to keep hidden, developments must of taken place to put them in such control and as history has marched forward perhaps they created even more events to keep them hidden and in power. Perhaps even we all have played a part in their grand schemes without knowledge of it. We all here have had our own collisions with the Justice League. We obviously cannot give them back such knowledge they so foolishly lost. Where is this information now?"

"I transferred it, its safe. But..."

Robin held out the USB drive "I still have the original."

"I say we split up." Slade crossed his arms. "One way or another this is going to end up as a bloody mess." The mercenary knew all too well how this would end, these people would spar no one and if the remains of those in the ballroom were any indicator of what was going to happen. Then he didn't want to take any chances. If they wanted a war, they would have one.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The team was home, Raven had finished her report as did the others. And now they waited for Batman's command. The team would work with the Caped Crusader and end this once and for all. But she felt uneasy about the whole ordeal. Nothing felt right, she was going to lose someone very important to her. Perhaps she already had. Raven couldn't reach out to him anymore. She was in denial because she wanted to believe he was alive, she wanted to believe he was alright... in the beginning she was afraid he was dead, but the remainder of the link told her otherwise. But when he severed it. She became afraid. He did it on his own will, or perhaps it was subconsciously. Something had happened to her friend that made him lose himself. She knew then that the Robin they were searching for was not the Robin they knew and loved.

Titan leader Robin was dead.

But she didn't want to admit to it. Raven took a deep breath. She knew these emotions had to be controlled, she knew that she had to be resilient. Or it could literally be the end of her. She knew the risks the moment she became afraid, when she felt fear and anger rise up in her. So she took up extra time for meditations. Raven knew that she would do anything to keep her friends free from harm, even if it meant keeping them safe from her. This betrayal hurt, but she could not deny she needed to see it with her own eyes.

Then maybe she'd believe it.

The young woman had taken to meditating in the main living room simply because she wanted to be close to her fiends, and although her emotions tried to best her, she didn't give up without a fight. She needed to be close to them right now. It was difficult for all of them, and guilt would plague her if she didn't remain where they could easily speak with her.

She knew it was odd behavior for her. But lately she had been helping take command along with Cyborg. And someone in command needed to be there for their team.

"Hey Rae..."

She opened on eye to find Beast Boy smiling up at her before his expression changed to worry. "Oh sorry, I... I didn't know you were meditating."

Raven let out a sigh. "You...didn't know I was meditating while I was levitating off the ground with my eyes closed?" Garfield smiled sheepishly "Kinda."

She rectified her position and took a seat on the couch. "You want to talk?" Beast Boy smiled. "If.. you got time?" Raven only nodded in return. "Ok so..." Beast Boy began and then stuttered. The two sat in silence for a moment, the green boy was not even sure if he wanted to bring up the topic. But he wanted to know, he had a right to know. "What... what are we gonna do?

"About?"

"Robin? He's not coming home is he?"

Raven shook her head. "No. I... don't think so." Ever since they got the news from Panthra regarding Hot Spots run in with Robin the entire team had been a little deflated, but honestly she couldn't blame any of them. They were all in mourning, grieving the loss of their friend. It seemed that any kind of hope that Robin would return to them as a Titan died in Berlin.

"He's changed sides, betrayed us all!" She could tell Beast Boy was really upset, there was already tears in his eyes. It was possible he was hanging onto these emotions for so long and now he just needed to talk with someone. Get it off his chest so to speak. "Why do we even bother!?" There was a lot of spite in his tone, he tried to hide it but Raven could see through him. He was angry and hurt.

The goth stood up. "We need answers." Garfield looked a little defeated. "I know but... I trusted him... I-"

"We all trusted him. With everything. With our lives, our secrets..."

"What are we going to do when we find him?"

Raven looked at the young man before her. "I... I don't know."

Garfield looked down the ground. "I'm sorry Rae... I know your going through a lot."

"Don't be sorry, we all are."

"I'll uhh...I'll leave you to your meditation then."

Garfield turned to walk away, he took a few stops when Raven called out. "If you like I can teach you." Beast Boy turned around. "Teach me?" She nodded in return. "To meditate." Beast Boy smiled at her and gave her a nod before he joined her on the couch where she gave him simple step by step instructions on finding your center and finding yourself and your peace.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

NOT RELATED TO STORY BUT....

Here is the doodle I did of the members of the ben Elohim.... ya know just for fun.

Had to shrink it down but it can also be found on my deviantart account 

From left to right is as follows

Athrilius, Sven Reinhardt AKA Geist, Ms Aurora Warchild, Madaline Borisova, and Endora.

Chapter Text

"We need to split up."

"I agree. Divide and Conquer as they say." Ra's looked to Luthor and simply nodded. "I've already notified some of my men nearby." The Chief Demon was never one to be unprepared, if he was in town so were various members of the League of Shadows. And Slade had already notified his nearby base to send out a unit. "In the meantime, we need to make our way out of this building. It would be in all of our best interests to not be involved when the authorities arrive or perhaps even Superman himself. That is if there is anything left when they arrive, or if they can even access the building itself. However, that may be somewhat out of our control." The mercenary really didn't want to battle it out with the man of steel on top of the soldiers that had already breached the building.

"Are you saying they are just going to destroy my building and kill everyone in it? And we're just going to run away?" Luther was not to pleased of the apparent outcome of this invasion of his property. Mercy stood at his side with a frown etched onto her face. It wasn't like they hadn't faced this type of situation before. But Luther always did find a way to sulk about the damage that occurred.

"I'm not suggesting we simply flee. But I doubt they intend to leave anyone alive. So I believe we should remove as many as we can before our eventual departing. I have a bit of a feeling this is not going to be as simple as we would all like it to be. We need to plan our exit carefully. These soldiers are trained as any other, and like in any other military there is some that are more skilled them others. Most of these soldiers may be taken out easily enough, but the others won't be as transparent. The real problem may be the number of units sent into the building."

The fires entered his mind and Robin shook his head. "It's never easy with them."

Luther crossed his arms. "You sure know how to make some enemies Slade." The Mercenary ignored him and instead asked him if he had any blueprints of the building tucked away somewhere. Luther could only nod to his bodyguard to collect a black plastic tube. It would seem Lex had a couple of spares for each building located in primary locations, in case of emergencies such as this.

Lex laid out the blue prints across the table. "Considering that the enemy is just about anywhere at this point, any route we take is a risk." Slade could only agree, but anything was better than staying here. Robin stood off to the side and watched as the two men went about creating some sort of master plan. "You know this, as in your presence, is quite unexpected. Are you so sure about it?" Robin looked to the man beside him as he sipped his tea. The Chief Demon was never one to prod too much into people's personal affairs, but given their past with one another as enemies, Robin couldn't help but smirk. "Yea, I am."

The man could only nod as he took another sip of his tea. "Although not to unexpected I suppose."

"Meaning?" Robin looked the villain beside him.

"Your just like your mentor. The detective is stubborn in his ways. He insists that his moral code is the only ethical one. He does so much good yet there is a darkness in him that is undeniable. You are much the same. Yet you are the only one brave enough to explore your darker half. Its been quite the journey I would presume?" Robin could only nod. "It has been."

"Good. Let the journey continue, let it shape you and your mind to better heights." Robin didn't know if that was some kind of advice or a compliment from infamous Ra's al Ghul, perhaps it was both? He was unsure so he simply gave his thanks instead. The demon did nothing but smile in response.

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It was decided that Lex and Mercy would take the so called back door elevators out, Ra's al ghul would make his way to the roof where he would have a helicopter meet him and since Slade and his apprentice were apparently the ones they wanted, so the two decided to make their way downstairs and head into to the lobby. Front door exits were always the most dramatic after all.

The members of the society exited the the board room and wished one another good luck. But Robin knew that while everyone here would face their own challenges in departing, he and Slade would be taking the most difficult route. He knew they were here for him, for the Legacy. The former hero grasped the USB drive in his pocket and told himself that they would not be getting what they wanted, not today.

As the duo moved down the hall Slade stopped them from going any further and then pointed to a door. Quietly Robin hugged the wall and opened it. Master and apprentice both darted into the small closet and quickly and as quietly as they could, closed the door as a small group of soldiers appeared from around the corner and began to walk towards the direction of their current location. The two remained silent as they heard the men walk past.

With the soldiers voices and footsteps growing more faint Slade took a chance and took a peek out the door and found the coast to be clear. "Let's move."

The two would move in silence and directed one another when they heard voices or any type of movement. Stealth was key in this type of situation, Neither of them wanted to give the enemy an advantage on their whereabouts within the building. But Robin broke the silence when he moved ahead and turned a corner to find a massacre.

"Oh god..." Robin looked away. These people were not the ones that deserved to be shot in the head multiple times, many of them being guests. But there was some security guards mixed in with them. Slade rounded the corner to find what his apprentice had found and as he expected, considering Robins reaction, it was not kind. "It would seem mercy is on the floor."

Suddenly there was a loud screech, as if metal was being torn asunder and the building itself shuddered.

"What the fuck?" was Robins only response as his vision began to looked beyond the bodies and down the dark hall. It looked like a lot of the lights were shot out allowing some of the lighting fixtures to dangle from the ceiling adding to the eerie effect.

The mastermind however walked over the bodies to find the remains of a couple of security guards. He turned one to their side and collected any items on its person that would come in handy. A gun and ammo was a good start. He checked the second and found generally the same items. He passed one of the weapons to his apprentice who then set the safety to off. "I don't think we should hang out here. Whatever that screech was, I bet it's not friendly." The boy narrowed his eyes at whatever threat there was down the passageway.

"I agree." Slade turned to head down towards another hallway when it erupted and caught fire. The two stood for a moment and within a blink of an eye there was a small girl that stood in front of the blaze. "Its her, that's the girl." Slade frowned. It seemed the members of the ben Elohim became increasingly more peculiar.

"You cannot go this way." The small girl seemed abnormal amongst the flames, time seemed to slow itself down and the three were somehow locked in a moment.

The two pointed their weapons at the girl. Normally not even Slade would harm a small child, but this one seemed quite different.

"I am sorry. But your weapons will not have any effect on me."

Robin took in deep breaths. His anger evident. "We can test that theory."

"You may, but it will result in you wasting ammunition, which you will need if you want to escape. I am sorry... But you cannot got this way."

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Clark Kent hovered over the tower. Superman may dislike his old friend but not even he could leave Lex Luthor in a building raided by an unknown source. This all seemed very unlike him, normally he wouldn't stand to have his property raided by a military force. More likely he's known to build one. He watched from above as the police arrived on the scene and prepared to raid the building themselves.

He scanned the building himself and found numerous heat signatures within, there was a lot of people in there. And sadly there was a lot of them dead as well. This grim reality made him wanting to take a bit more action, that was until a squad team of the police force were about to raid the building, they were in proper formation when a shoot out soon developed as they were met with a larger force as soon as they entered the building.

Clarks eyes widened at the brute force of those that fought against the police. The Metropolis department was trained, but no one would withstand that much gun power. Quickly he joined the fray to aid the officers.

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Another pounding sound, as if someone or something was ripping its way through walls. Robin looked down the hall and then back at the girl before him. She smiled and then she was gone. Robin frowned and looked to his master. "This is getting old."

"They wish to remain ever the mystery."

"Where do we go?"

Slade shook his head. "We can't go back the way we came, we won't get any further."

"Sooo... dark spooky bloody hallway it is then?"

"It would seem that way."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ok so not entirely story related... But is but isn't but is... Ok I wanted to make a doodle of Sariel and I hope you like it, I know she's a bit of a bigger OC in this fic. She's actually a older character of mine that I've had for awhile and I figured I'd use her and the ben Elohim in this. Anyways here is the doodle. If you like my art pls hit me out on my Deviantart page.

Chapter Text

Another loud bang. Robin kept his weapon at the ready and kept his eyes trained on dark hallway as the two made their way forward over the bodies and the pools of blood. He noticed at one point that the deceased were all in a group, meaning some people tried to make an escape and didn't make it to far. Which also meant that the ben Elohim planned to take out everyone. If they had soldiers up here just waiting for escapees then the plan was to never let anyone leave here alive, which also meant there was probably a lot more soldiers then they knew of.

The duo came across another fork in the road and Slade had mentioned that they should take the right corridor. However, the risk was that the path forward was along a hallway that was full of windows. But considering Luthor's building was a bit of a older one with many modern renovations, the windows didn't span from floor to ceiling on the regular, not so elaborate, floors such as Luthor's own office. Robin agreed. Technically they were without their gear, all they had on them was a couple of handguns and not nearly enough ammo. The faster they got out of here the better.

As they made their way further along it remained as silent as ever, which never bode well. "I don't like this, it's to quiet."

And it was as if on queue that a helicopter flew by the building. Robin grunted, he couldn't tell who the vehicle belonged to nor did he care. For all he knew it could of belonged to the ben Elohim or to the Metropolis police force. And honestly at this point he didn't want attention from either of them. It didn't matter one way or another, they didn't want to be sighted and so the two ducked and now sat with their backs to the wall. The windows above them light up as the helicopter flew past. Robin took a deep breath, if there was one there would be more.

The lights were soon gone and Slade insisted they move.

They had made it to the other end when another helicopter began to shine their spotlight in the windows. The two ducked once more and kept silent as the helicopter left. But as the light faded in the pitch black of the hallway, a figure soon began to take form. The child made a reappearance. She raised her hand to the the chopper and grasped the air and as she did so the helicopter itself hovered in the sky as if it was being held against its will. The Girls fingers aggressively wrapped around nothing and he watched her in awe as the helicopter outside slowly began to implode. Indents that would be from the girls fingers shattered the vehicle. The child playing with it as if it was a mere toy. Her arm suddenly swung violently as she had thrown something aside and quickly Robin realized that the helicopter was about to crash into the building.

"SHIT!" Slade swore as the two darted down the hall fully knowing they may not make it in time. The explosion behind them sent the two into the wall at the end of the hallway. Both hit the surface with a large and painful thud and then sunk to the floor. The scene before them raged with an intensity from the crash as the smoke from the fires began making its way into their lungs.

"Robin." The boy in question shook his head and began to cough. "I'm... ok" was his only response. A hand was given to him and the boy took it. "This is... getting crazier and... crazier." Slade agreed. Robin could only grit his teeth as he glared at the hallway. But something suddenly caught him off guard. He noticed that the child was joined by a man that stood behind her. "No way." he muttered. All of his time spent with Raven alongside the whole experience of defeating Trigon could tell him that he was not human. And he thought for sure Slade could sense it as well.

"I'm not the only one that can see it right?"

Slade never broke his gaze with the man. "The demon?"

Robin could only nod, he was a bit relieved he wasn't going completely mad. "Of course they would have a demon on staff."

"No point in staying here, we need to move." Robin agreed, but he could only glare at the man behind the now massive gap in the building, the entire hallway was now no longer accessible. It was almost felt as if he blinked the man would be in front of him or behind him. His mind reeled, how the hell did the ben Elohim conjure up a demon in the flesh and blood? How was that even possible?

Regardless Robin broke eye contact and moved forward.

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After a few twists and turns the the two found themselves moving quickly down a hall when Slade felt his cell phone buzz. He answered the call and the first thing from Luthor was, "We got a problem."

Slade backed himself up against a wall and had Robin do the same. "What kind of problem?"

"The super hero kind. Superman is here."

Slade took a chance as he walked over and looked out a window looking for the familiar red cape. "Where?"

"He's helping the police downstairs, but I suspect he's going to be busting in soon enough."

"This could be a problem."

"Yes I know. As if we don't already have enough problems."

"Ra's?"

"He's already out." The mercenary nodded as his singular eye searched for the man of steel. "We're still moving to the lobby but have had a few run ins. Any strange occurrences on your end?"

"Taken out a few troops here and there, nothing to strange yet. I had a few ask about your Legacy. You still have that flash drive right?"

Slade Eyed Robin for a moment. "We still have it."

"Good, I put the copy on a personal drive. They're not finding anything here but if the kid still has it on him... well you get what I mean."

Slade understood what Luthor was trying to tell him. As long as Robin carried a portion of the Legacy with him they would always be in danger. But if anyone truly knew the man, then they would also know that he was the same man that told the world to "bring it on" as it were. "I understand."

"I know you do but you never follow the rules anyways. Look once I'm out of this mess, I'm going to get them to work some extra long nights to get more info from that Legacy of yours, if it really does have anything valuable on it, especially against the Justice League, I think it may be a perfect bomb to drop. If the League has been secretly working with a society that has funded every major war up until all the way back to what, the cold war? World War II?... its not going to look pretty."

"Not at all. We'll need to talk once we're out of this mess. If the ben Elohim are as good as they say they are, then there isn't going to be a straight connection to the Justice League."

"Nothing we can't do to fix that." Leave it to Luthor to tell a white lie that would get the whole world invested.

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The Metropolis Police force wasn't having the best of days. That was until Superman joined them. It would seem that the superhero's presence changed their luck for the better. For now that is, they still were not able to get inside the building without loosing an officer.

"Any hostages?"

"We assume so Superman, but there hasn't been any kind of declarations or ransom demands. They just started to tear all this shit up. Whoever it is, they took over the whole building within moments. We had some helicopters patrolling" The officer shook his head. "We lost one, like they lost control and just crashed into the building. I knew these boys Superman, they wouldn't of lost control."

"Maybe I should go take a look."

"If you find anything, let us know please. I don't want any more people hurt."

Superman nodded before be flew upwards, if he couldn't get in through the front door without getting anyone hurt then he'd make his usual entrance if needed. For right now he was going to check out the building from the back.

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The further they traversed into this building the more they felt like they were being followed. Every now and then there was loud bangs and Robin thought of the Demon with the little girl. Was it him that was possibly stalking them, watching their every move?

Lights flickered in every hallway. Main power was not available so instead the building began running on the emergency backup generator. And while it was possible to use a elevator the two agreed it probably wouldn't be best idea. So the stairwell was the best option at the time.

"Great."

"This will only get us down about ten floors."

"Fabulous." Robin was obviously agitated and Slade stopped the boy in his tracks. "We do not need you losing your abilities to anger."

Robin was a bit taken aback. "What?"

"Your getting agitated."

"I am not."

"You are." Slade took a step forward and Robin instincts kicked in and he flinched. "Your on edge and you've gotten yourself worked up."

"I'm fine."

Slade took another step. "I need you to be in peak performance tonight, do not let your emotions get the better of you. Understood?"

Robin frowned knowing there was no use in arguing. "Understood."

"Good. Lets go, we'll only need to go down a couple floors."

"Why not go all the way down?"

"Too easy to find us then." Robin nodded and followed the mastermind down the stairwell.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Superman hovered at the back of the building as he began to scan the structure for life signs but a frown soon etched its way onto his face. He noticed a lot of bodies throughout the entire structure. Normally Luthor wouldn't obliterate his entire guest list, he normally always used these parties to show off as it were. But to kill all of his guests? Not to mention that he couldn't find the man himself anywhere in the building. It was as if Luthor was attacked.

It would seem there wasn't nearly anyone left alive in the high rise except for a mere few people in a ballroom, the soldiers and few stragglers hiding out in random spots throughout the building. He knew he would have to get to all of the remaining survivors and he didn't have much time.

He was going to survey some more in another area when two people suddenly popped up in his vision. Two guests it would seem had come out of a door and began to cautiously make their way down the hall. They were dressed in tuxedos but at this point they were both a little worse for wear.

The two didn't notice him at first. However it was only a few moments before the older man did and grabbed the teenager and pushed him into a room all while the one eyed man glared at the superhero.

He couldn't believe it at first, the boy was curious why the man was grabbing him, it looked as if he was going to say something before he got pushed into the room, obviously trying to keep the boy out of sight. It was only for a second. But he knew that face.

"Richard."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Asif had taken the last couple of days to get to know the people around the base. He felt pretty good networking again he had to admit. He was finding people he and Robin could use in their little crusade against Aurora. Little by little he was making a mental list of those he found acceptable and those that were innately skilled. Normally the base was actually pretty quiet other then the idle chatter. But tonight they got a call for backup. Asif knew that if Slade was asking for reinforcements then it could be a possibility that both Master and Apprentice were in some type of danger.

And Asif's mind went directly to the ben Elohim.

"Are you coming?"

A blonde Russian woman approached him, her accent was heavy yet beautiful. The day he met her he wondered what it was that she brought to the table. She seemed to keep to herself mostly but then he saw it, the reason why she was probably here in the first place. She was a good soldier, her combat skills were a little above average and a lot of the men here respected her while she didn't have any sort of title. Evert soldier on this base knew who she was. "Or are you going to stay around here all day? Do your little intel around the base?"

"Really? Your going to make fun of me when you have to get ready yourself Ksenia?" she looked at him, her face showing no expression. But he could almost see a glint of a amusement in her eyes. "Of course." She then threw a jacket at him. "Gear is in the armory, get ready. I'm sure your friend the apprentice would like to see you."

Asif caught the jacket. "His name is Robin."

"Ahhh is he still going by that? He should change it." Asif could only agree, but he supposed those things took time. "Give me five minutes."

"Two and a half. Either your here or you're not and we are leaving."

Asif gave her a nod before he ran off to gather up what he needed.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"What the?" Robin wanted to complain but Slade had shushed the boy. "He's here."

"The demon?"

"No, Superman."

"The man of steel is outside? If you go out he will surely find you. Or you can stay with me?"

The two turned to find themselves confronted by the child and yet again it seems as if the two where stuck in a moment, time slowed, the world around them became a blur. The child herself seemed surreal. But there was something that stuck out to the boy the more he looked at her. She seemed sad. Sorrow seemed like a never ending cycle for the girl. His heart pounded in his chest as he took a step forward. At first no words were spoken as Robin looked at her, their eyes met and he could almost feel her.

"Why are you so sad?"

"You'd be sad to if you didn't exist."

"What do you mean?"

The girl smiled, "Energy, the paranormal, myths and legends. Sometimes something is created with mere words."

"I don't understand."

"I don't exist as you do. I was conjured on a battlefield. I carry the sorrow of those that died there with me." The girl smiled at him, the world around him erupted and the room caught aflame. The world seemed to twist and turn around him. "Their sorrow is now mine." Robin's eyes darted to every corner of the room only to find himself alone with the girl. "Where's Slade?"

"I thought you hated him? Wasn't he the one that forced you to fight your friends, that took you out to the desert?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"He's somewhere else." The girl smiled again and then faded, the room itself returning to how it once was. Robin look around the room and while she was physically gone he could hear her speak one last thing. "The stage is set, she would like to see you again."

Chapter Text

Teleportation spell? No... But perhaps? One way or another however Slade was back out in the hallway while his apprentice was locked up in that room. The mastermind went to grasp the handle only for the doors to be sealed shut. Even with all his strength he couldn't budge them. He would have to find another way in. But that ordeal would apparently be side tracked for the moment as he just nearly dodged Superman's fist. The villain narrowed his singular eye at the Kryptonian. He really didn't have time for this.

"Where's Richard!?"

The mastermind nearly let out a sigh. Of course he had seen the boy and of course the man of steel would recognize him without the mask. "I haven't the faintest idea." Which was a statement that wasn't to far from the truth. Slade hadn't even had much of a chance to figure out how to get to Robin. For all he knew the boy was also teleported to a different location. And while Slade knew the boy could take care of himself, he couldn't help but worry just a little bit for his young apprentice.

"Deathstroke I'm not playing around." The man of steel made quite the entry and had broke though one of the windows causing glass to litter the floor making it now a difficult area to walk in. "Neither am I." Slade looked to the hero, his posture indicated that he was in control. But in his mind Slade knew he couldn't win a fight with the man of steel with only a gun and a few bullets, especially without his gear or any kyptonite... well it wouldn't really be a fight worth fighting. He'd have to play this another way.

"Where is he Slade!? He's been missing for months now and if Batman knows it's you-"

Oh this was delightful, it seems the Bat didn't tell anyone of their encounter in Berlin. Slade smirked at the red caped wonder. "He didn't tell you did he? Although I suppose that is where Richard does get it from, thinking he can take on the world by himself. Keeping secrets..." Oh now he had the hero thinking. "Maybe you should ask him yourself? Ask him what Richard did in Berlin."

Slade smirked as he saw the hero process what he was saying and possibly coming up with... well nothing. Only perhaps now the need to call the Batman into action. Superman would question the cape crusader and find his answer, one he would undoubtedly not like. The mastermind turned to walk away when the superhero called out. "Slade."

The man kept walking. "You came to help those in need correct? There is still some survivors. Perhaps make yourself useful and save some lives instead of questioning me."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"You nearly did not make it on time."

"But I'm here right?"

Ksenia rolled her eyes. "Two trucks should be fine, you can make yourself at home in either one of them." Asif crossed his arms and look at the woman as she began to place her things on the seat of a motorbike. "How are you getting there?" The woman cracked a smile at him and nearly laughed. "The best way, I will be going head of the trucks."

"Take me with you, I can ride on the back, cover you if we get into any trouble."

The woman shrugged. "Suit yourself." The blonde hopped on the bike and revved up the engine. Putting on her helmet she then tossed a spare to Asif. "Get on then." He placed his own helmet on without question and soon enough the two where out on the road.

"How long!?" he bellowed over the wind.

"Not to long, 30 minute drive. At this time of night probably less."

Asif looked to road ahead of him. It wouldn't be long then before he was back entangled up in all of this mess. But he knew that he and Robin had to clean it all up, for Sariel's sake at the very least.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Superman watched as the mercenary walked away. He hated to admit it, but the man was right. He couldn't just stop what he was doing, he had people that were still alive in this building, people he could save. He swore however that Slade had pushed Richard into this room. And even the man acknowledging that the boy was with him... but suddenly wasn't.

Clark pushed the door open to find a dark empty large room, possibly used for meetings or conferences. There was nothing and no one in the space. The hero frowned. Where did he go?

The fact that Richard had slipped through his finger's made his heart sink. He would have to ask Bruce what was going on. Deathstroke was many things, but when he tried to manipulate the situation for his own benefit... well there was always a bit of truth to what the villain said. Superman instead scanned his surroundings and took note of who he could save. He would let the mercenary walk free, for now. After doing so he was going to have to have a word with the Batman. Bruce should know that his son was here, Richard is alive and that he was with Deathstroke. Probably because the man held something over the poor boys head. The Justice League would have to come together and they would have to make a plan to rescue him. The boy was missing no longer. And maybe, just maybe they would be able to bring Deathstroke the Terminator to justice.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Finding Richard was top priority now. That room was sealed to him but as he walked away he saw Superman easily open the door to find nothing. Perhaps the door was sealed to him because he was transported away from that specific plane of existence where Robin now is. So the seal wasn't exactly locking him away from the room itself, just the plane of reality they all occupied in that moment. Which would be the reason why Superman found it so easy to access the room to find nothing.

As his apprentice would say, "This was getting weird." The thought popped up in his mind as it was spoken by Robin himself. Slade brushed the thought away. While the mercenary himself didn't know to much revolving around the world of the occult he had been to hell and back. Quite literally. And because of these interactions he was seemingly able to pin point out a demon, as was Robin.

Maybe that is where he should start.

"Now how does one find a demon?"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The room was black as night with the exception of the light coming from the door behind him. It was closed but one could see its silhouette. Robin tried to adjust his eyes to the dark but the more he did so the more he found it difficult to spot anything in at all. He noticed he began to slightly panic but he settled himself down. He reminded himself to remain calm and collected, and with a deep breath he wrangled his fear into place.

He took a deep breath then...

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

Then there was another...

If Robin didn't have control over his body so well in that moment his breathing would of hitched. The last step was not his. He hadn't moved. He scowled at the general area where he heard the footsteps. Someone was making their way over to him.

"Who are you?"

The footsteps stopped, it seemed like whoever it was didn't intend to come any closer, for now that is.

"You know me."

"Huh, I'm sure I don't." Dread began to fill the former hero. The voice gave a giggle and he began to doubt his words. The voice sounded so familiar, as if he only heard it yesterday.

"I'm sure you do."

It couldn't be... it couldn't.

She was dead.

Dead. It was a trick, she was dead.

"Did you miss me? Seem to be having all sorts of fun without me?"

Robin look around in the dark. He cursed himself for not having a flashlight on him. Something, anything would do at this moment. It couldn't be her. He felt disgusted then. Why were they mocking her in this way? Robin gritted his teeth. "I'll ask again, who are you?"

"Maybe I'll just show you. Make it easy right." Whoever it was had a flashlight of their own and when they turned it on it completely blinded him. He turned from the light, his hands shielding his face. But as his eyes adjusted he saw a familiar face.

"No..."

Slowly Robin turned to face her. He shook his head as he looked on at her form. It wasn't possible. He watched her die, he remembered as her blood dripped down his fingers and stained his hands, his arms, his clothes. How her blood pooled around her body. He remembered how Gus clung to her begging for her to get back up. Begging for her to be alive, for all of it be some kind of nightmare he could wake up from. He remembered his anger and his rage. The deaths, the killing, the sorrow and all the pain. He lost her that day. He lost Gus to. Aurora pulled the trigger on him and he to was gone. To much loss in one day. "No... how... how is this possible?"

She smiled softly at him. "Hey Robin."

"Sariel."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Everyone was out, everyone was safe. Superman was able to get retrieve all of the hostages... the strange thing was that the soldiers didn't seem to care if he rescued anyone. There wasn't much of a fight other then some of the soldiers firing off a automatic weapon, as if to put on a show to make an appearance that they were at least putting in some kind of effort to stop him... but as anyone knew that really didn't do too much to cause him any harm.

It was almost as if they didn't care if he came to get them. Was this all some kind of set up? Something seemed off. Deathstroke was a known acquaintance of Luthor's but only on occasion. And Luthor himself was nowhere to be seen. The building being attacked by some outside force was the only logical conclusion. But if that was so, who were these people?

The real problem was that Robin was still in there somewhere, along with Deathstroke. It seemed it was time to make a call. What did Batman know? And if he knew that Robin was missing and with Slade then... why wasn't he out here trying to get Robin back? There was to many questions and not enough answers.

Chapter Text

The conversation was not the best. Nor was it wanted. The Batman was mad, upset and was somewhat dissociated from the whole ordeal of this entire call. It was a touchy subject he just didn't want to talk about. Clark could tell even if he was trying to be polite. He knew Bruce sometimes got a little to blunt when he was stressed. "What do you mean Richard is in Metropolis?

Clark shrugged has he hovered over the scene. He was keeping an eye on those he had rescued as the police took control over the situation. Something about... well everything didn't sit well with him. The police could take care of the hostages, he knew soon enough they would have to deal with whoever was in the building. It seemed so simple but something else was going on and Bruce definitely knew more than what he lead others to believe.

"As I said, I just saw him. Then he disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Clark could hear the groan from the other end of the line.

"Deathstroke, he has something over the boys head doesn't he?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because he's also here."

"Of course he is."

"Bruce." At this point nothing was making sense, Richard had been missing for months now. There was pieces of the puzzle that just didn't fit, something had happened recently. Something that Bruce wasn't telling him. And he knew Bruce wouldn't just not believe him. He knew that Clark wouldn't lie to him about something so sensitive. "What is going on?"

He could hear the heavy sigh. "I'll be there soon. There is a lot we need to go over. For instance I believe Deathstroke doesn't have anything to hold over Richards head, he's there by choice. Or so he thinks."

"By choice?"

Another sigh. "Right now there is a lot going on, I have to try to bring him home. But it will be costly. And I don't even know if I can... He may be to lost at this point. I have to make another call."

"Bruce I- Wait!" Clark was met with silence once the call ended. "What is going on?" he questioned the phone before he pocketed it.

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"Master Bruce?" The manors butler noted that his employer had just gotten off a call with Clark Kent. "Is everything quite alright?" A call from Superman wasn't out of the ordinary in this household, but he noticed that Dick was mentioned. "Did Superman find him?" Normally if things were alright with the world Bruce would of teased Alfred regarding his pay for spying on the master of the house. But nothing right now was considered normal. There was a tension in the air that grew each night and it was threatening to suffocate them all right now.

"Not on purpose, he was evacuating a building in Metropolis. He was there. Clark said he just disappeared however."

"Disappeared?"

"He can't explain it. He was just gone."

"Are you going to call them sir? The Titans, as you promised?" Bruce nodded as he adjusted his cowl. "I don't really want to have Superman involved, but knowing him he'll find a way to get entangled and I know he won't leave it be." The Caped Crusader let out a sigh. "And I understand why. Especially if I show up with Robins team."

"The League knows he's missing."

"Clark also encountered Deathstroke."

"Ahhh that would complicate things."

Batman grabbed a few things from his computer desk and began to walk towards the Batwing as the vehicle lowered itself to become accessible. "Remember the Titans sir." The Caped Crusader nodded. "I'll make the call when I'm en route."

Alfred could only wish him good luck as the Batwing rose up beyond the cave itself. Although after knowing the truth he was unsure of how the next events would play out. Or if he even wanted to see it all come to some wild conclusion. But that was what they did, wasn't it? With a heavy heart Alfred turned back towards the caves and the manor. His eyes over looking all of Bruce's work and spotted picture frames that sat to the left. One frame held Bruce's parents, an ongoing symbol of why Bruce became Batman. A picture of himself and of course one of Master Richard. His heart broke just a little. The boy was so young when that picture was taken, possible around the tender age of ten. His face carried a mischievous smile for one that had lost so much only two years prior. Alfred approached the picture and gingerly picked it up. His eyes drinking in the image before him. The young boy in that picture, he wondered now if he could be saved from the brink once again.

The butler sighed and spoke softly. "That is what we do isn't it?" He could only hope for the best at this point.

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"But you died."

"I did?"

"How are you alive?" The look on his face was of pure astonishment. Sariel was here, right in front of him. She was alive and well. But the how he couldn't grasp. He watched her die. And while he could not retrieve her body he buried the memory of her out in those woods by her grandmother's cabin in France. His breaths were deep, she wasn't supposed to be here, she wasn't supposed to be alive. And for a moment everything flew out the window. All thought and all logic.

"How do you think? Do you think it's not so impossible for people to presumably come back from the dead?"

His mind snapped back to reality and images of red flash through his mind. "She did. Didn't she?"

"No. Not exactly."

"But-"

She smirked at him. "I guess you can say I'm very lucky. If one wants to call it that. She did make a call however. And she did somewhat save me from the rubble I suppose. It seemed death wanted nothing to do with me that day. Although the reasons for my coming back from the brink of death are not necessarily my own. I made some promises in my youth that I need to keep you see."

"What?"

"I'm a child soldier remember. I've never known the freedom of choice. The freedom of what I wanted to learn, the skills I wanted to weild, who took care of me, the languages I speak. All of it was decided for me, everything was imprinted from the beginning. Even my place of birth, who my parents where, their deaths. Freedom was taken from me. All so I could be the better soldier, my education was meant to be used on the battlefield. Its all I was ever supposed to know, all I was ever supposed to be. Nothing is by chance, it's just one carefully manipulated battle after another. There was nothing else for people like me. Until I found him. And for the first time I did something for myself and I made a promise." Her eyes looked beyond him, there was a sorrow there as she looked on. Robin never did ask much about her past. In truth he hardly knew her, but at the time it didn't matter, in those particular moments, back in the desert, she was a friend. But now... he knew anyone could betray you at any time, everyone had a reason to stab you in the back.

"What keeps you here Robin?"

The teen narrowed his eyes at the woman.

"Is it your education, your now mangled morals, or perhaps some sort of disfigured remnant of faith that keeps you here? You could be looking into the depths of your own demise, your complete destruction and yet you still think that help is coming? The world you were born into Robin, it was made to save you. No matter how dark you painted your image now, your background is still that of a hero. And hero's get saved while so many others die. Can you truly say you can look death straight in the face and take it all on." She laughed. "It wouldn't matter, no sacrifice changes the world."

Realization dawned on the teen. "You're with them. You've always been with them. You never betrayed them."

"I see rubbing your nose around in a battlefield finally taught you something." She smirked as Robin pointed his gun at her. "Digging yourself a deeper hole into hell I see. Humans are truly capable of horrific things. They act so coy but lash out the moment the pretty image fades around them."

"How long?"

"Never."

"I don't understand." his gun was aimed at her head. One shot and she would drop to the floor, this nightmare would be over. And Sariel would be dead. Again. She smirked and suddenly within a blink of an eye she grabbed his hands, twisted around him and flipped him onto his back, taking the gun right out of his grasp. Robin looked up and saw her taking the gun apart leaving only pieces that she tossed behind her, the only remains of the weapon was the ammo that now lay at her feet.

"Never." She smiled again and walked backwards a few steps back into the dark until she turned the flashlight off and vanished from sight, her footsteps even became silent as if she suddenly vanished from the room. She was gone. The only thing he could hear was the sound of the flashlight as it rolled to his feet. He was about to pick it up when he noticed that there was a red USB drive in his hand. "What?" Robin thought back to the moment she flipped him. Did she take the gun out of his hand only to replace it with this? If she had given him something... what did that mean?

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The Batwing was a sight to see as it tore through the clouds. It wouldn't take him long to get to Metropolis, he had only hoped the Titans had a resource to get there just as fast. "Computer, call Titan Tower." there was a small screen that popped up in front of the hero and he watched as the young team assembled in front of their monitor, most of them being half asleep. "I have an update. Meet me in Metropolis."

Cyborg looked a bit confused. "Tomorrow?"

The Batman narrowed his eyes. "Now. Robin is there, right now."

The team looked at one another and it was the green one that spoke up. "For sure?"

Batman nodded. "His latest contact was with Superman. He's there and we need to get to him before he can leave the city."

Raven spoke up however, she was always the most logical of the group. "If Superman was there why didn't he just grab Robin?"

"Things got complicated. I can explain more once you get here. I believe you have a reliable method of transportation."

The group nodded. "We got the T-Ship."

"We'll meet up, I've send you the coordinates." And with that the Batman cut communication. Once the call was over Bruce sat back a bit in his chair. He hated to admit it, but he felt like he was going to need all the help he could get. Even though if he had to the chance to sort this out by himself he would gladly take it. But everything honestly just kept getting more and more complicated and there was to much on the line here. He wouldn't endanger his son's life for his pride. Even if Robin had taken a darker turn.

Chapter Text

He wasn't sure if he himself underestimated the demon or if the creature had underestimated him. Perhaps it was both? Either way neither of the two were giving up so easily. It even got to a point where the red skinned fiend was laughing at him. Or maybe it was at the situation? With Slade's brief experiences with Demons it was hard to tell. In truth, it was hard to pinpoint anything with his adversary. Instead, he let the man laugh and when he settled the villain readied himself for the fight to continue. But instead he received another small chuckle. "I honestly do not know where your little apprentice is."

Aware that the fight could continue at any given moment, he kept his guard up while he casually looked on at the man. With his hand clasped behind his back, his silent footsteps, and his piercing gaze the man could strike fear into almost anyone. But a demon wasn't just anyone. "I highly doubt that."

The beast of a man shrugged, "We can fight all day, regardless there would be nothing for me to tell you. Kill me, slaughter me, it doesn't matter. Even if I knew of every little thing that was going on in this building, even if I knew where the girl and your little apprentice are at this very moment I wouldn't say anything anyways. At least I know where my loyalties lie."

The mastermind scoffed. "Demons don't have any loyalties."

Another chuckle, "You spend a short period of time in hell and you think you know all about us? So cocky, I think I know why Trigon picked you."

"I don't work for Trigon."

"True, you don't. Not anymore."

"That girl of yours can warp entire atmospheres from one reality to another. Literally change entire plans of existence. She has great power over her own abilities, and yet you seem to have no power over the girl."

The demon scoffed, "She does as she pleases."

It was Slade's time to laugh. "Your an utter failure of a commander if that's what you are. Robin has a piece of the legacy and you just let others do as they will... possibly losing what you came here for?" The mastermind knew that if perhaps he mentioned their precious legacy it may give him a upper hand and while it may be giving a bit of information away, he knew they would have to have known who and what they were looking for.

The demon smiled. "Oh we know Robin has a portion of the Legacy, but that's not what we are here for, that piece can fit into the puzzle at a later date."

Slade narrowed his eye. "Explain."

"Your own little secret society of villains, trying to control the world. You have all this power and yet you try to keep the population in line. Making sure no other villains grow to powerful, but for yourselves. It doesn't surprise me the founders of your little group kept it a secret. After the war the entire world was split apart, the money from the Legacy funded many projects, your little society was one of them. But your founders turned their backs on us and took a large portion of the Legacy for themselves."

"If we had a portion of your Legacy I'm sure we would of heard of it by now."

"I doubt it, in fact I bet whatever they found in their portion of the Legacy they have kept hidden away. Although I'm sure they've used a fair sum of the wealth that was left to them."

"If it is true, what your insinuating, then why come back for it after all these years? Surely the amount of wealth that you say would of been given to the founders is hardly anything compared to what you have now? Why start all the trouble?"

"HA! Didn't Sariel teach any of you anything?"

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She's alive.

Sariel.

Alive.

But how? Robin shook his head as he looked down at the USB drive she put into his hands. What was on it? Did he even want to know? Did he even care anymore? The answer would be yes. Yes he wanted to know and yes he cared. His friend was alive, but she had also betrayed him. On the other hand she was also giving him possible information. That was the only logical outcome that he can think of that would make sense, the only thing that she could of given him was more intel. But why lure him here? Why speak with him and then give him this? She could of easily signaled them, told him where she was, that she had survived. Was she playing the ben Elohim again? He tossed that thought aside knowing full well they would not be that foolish. But what else was she hiding? He sighed. Knowing Sariel, probably everything. Sometimes he didn't know who was more mysterious, Slade or Sariel?

Robin closed his eyes and then gripped the flash drive. He would have to live another day and make his way out of here to see what Sariel had provided him with. If she had made it out of that obliterated church, then he at least owed her that much. Pocketing the red flash drive, Robin looked around the room. He noted that wherever the child had taken him to, it most certainly was not here as it were. It was almost, for that brief period of time, that he was on another plain of existence. But at this moment, it seemed like he was back in the correct dimension.

Heading out the same door in which Slade had pushed him through Robin took note of the glass strewn across the floor. He briefly wondered what had occurred until he remembered the mastermind mentioning the man of steel. The boy frown. If superman was indeed here, then he would have to leave as soon as possible. Running into Bruce in Germany was enough and honestly he didn't have the patience to deal with a former ally. The League was a pawn in bigger game he knew and right now Superman's involvement, regardless of him knowing of his participation or not, didn't sit well with the boy.

The former hero began to message Slade via earbuds, but he received silence on the other end. "Wells thats not comforting." Robin frowned. At this point he decided he was just going to have to go and find the man himself. If Superman was here, did the hero toss Deathstroke from the building? Only to catch and detain him? Not unlikely, that is if Slade didn't put up a fight which he knew he would, but yet... he had a feeling that was not what happened. Somehow his gut told him that Slade simply walked away.

Regardless Robin made up his mind however to continue the journey downward, the end goal was still to reach the lobby. If anything he would have a higher chance of bumping into the man along the way.

"Hey!" Quickly Robin turned around to find an empty hallway, fully expecting to see someone there. He was half embarrassed however when he realized someone else was speaking to him through his communicator. However, his embarrassment changed to a delighted sense of relief.

"Asif."

"Glad to hear your voice!"

Robin smiled, "Yours to."

"We got Deathstroke's call for backup, we're almost there. What the hell happened?"

Robin began to walk down the hall. "Not entirely sure, don't have all the details, but it's them."

"Positive?"

"Yea... Asif..." A moment of silence swept over the boy as his eyes found the ground.

"Yea?"

"Did Sariel ever have any kind of weird abilities?"

Asif found the question rather odd but answered regardless. "Not really, she was a child soldier I know that much, so she was really good at her job I suppose. Some would say she was a little to fast and a little too lucky, until it ran out. But nothing to much out of the ordinary. Why do you ask?"

"Asif... She's alive."

"What? How? But... you watched her die!"

"I did. But... I saw her, just now. She gave me something."

There was a cautionary tone in Asif's voice, "What did she give you?"

"Another USB drive."

There was a silence between the two. "What do you think is on it?"

Robin frowned. "I don't know, but I want to find out." Asif could only agree.

"We're almost there, stay alive until then ok? No dramatic nonsense by taking on some supernatural being ok?" Robin could almost laugh. "I'll try."

Robin had hung up on the call fully knowing Asif and the rest of the backup was on its way. Robin knew at this moment he had to find a way to the lobby and he couldn't just let anything stand in his way anymore. He tried to contact Slade again but no response. He came to the conclusion that his master was elsewhere in the building, but was keeping radio silence for a reason. "Guess I better go find out what's keeping the old man." There was a few obvious reasons why Slade was being silent, all of them possibly to keep his apprentice safe and out of reach from the ben Elohim. But Slade really should know by now that Robin doesn't like to hide.

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The boy kept buzzing him as it where and he kept ignoring the call. He couldn't exactly answer after he found his target. Although, he was glad that he was getting some kind of notification that his apprentice was still alive and kicking as it were.

"Didn't Sariel teach any of you anything? Did she not tell you what the Legacy is? I suppose not. All you know is that is wealth, but it is far more than that. It is power, it is creation and death. The Legacy is secrets, thousands upon thousands of years old. In fact I really don't expect you to understand any of them at all. But you must understand this much. That those that have this knowledge rule over all."

"And what exact kind of knowledge is in this so called Legacy of yours?"

"Why do you think they call it the Legacy?"

Slade nearly frowned, sometimes he really hated being without his mask. Keeping up appearances was always a little more difficult without it. He glared at the demon however only to find that suddenly the man was not alone. As if out of nowhere the child appeared at his side. She giggled and looked onto him. "He's out now, you can find him again if you really want to."

The mastermind didn't answer the child. But she did giggle when she caught his gaze. "We need to go." The young girl turned to the demon. "She wants us to leave, she needs us elsewhere." Slades mind processed that it was Aurora that was issuing the withdraw orders. He looked on at the two. "Leaving so soon?" The demon looked to the human and shrugged. Deathstroke stayed his ground when the child hovered in front of the fiend and almost as if they melded into the darkness they were gone.

Within moments Slade had called his apprentice. "Where are you?"

He could hear Robin walking at a fast pace as he scoured the hallways. "A few floors down from that room I got locked up in."

"I'm near the lobby, get down here ASAP and let's end this tonight."

Robin could only agree, it had been a long night and all he really wanted to do right now as curl up in bed. "I'm on my way."

The information that was given to him that night however ran through Slade's mind as he quickly processed the more important tidbits that were shared with him. If the monstrous creature was correct, then the Society may of been a part of the ben Elohim at some point after World War II, in fact it was most likely the Ben Elohim that helped fund its very creation. Tonight they were here to claim something that was once theirs. Something they had lost and something so valuable that the founders deemed it necessary to cut ties with the illuminati like society. It made him wonder, if the Society did indeed have a portion of the Legacy, then where was it? Who had it? They had to find their answers tonight. Right now Robin and himself were the only ones available to stop them.

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"You know, that we know, that you are one of the family members of one of the original founders of this little society hrmmm?"

"I don't know what your talking about. Please. I-"

While other survivors were rescued by the man of steel, Geist made very sure to keep this one hidden. She was a young women, blonde, blue eyes, quite beautiful really. She was the daughter of one of the multi billionaires that helped run this little secret society of villains and criminals. She was one of the last of her family that held onto the secrets of what was once given to them in hopes that a bond could be forged between one society to another. But like all good things it came to an abrupt end when they had betrayed the ben Elohim, taking the Legacy's money and its secrets for themselves. It seemed they were so selfish even that they shared it with no one else but only to whoever was in the family. Not even those that ran this operation today knew of the Legacy's existence.

"Aubrey." his accent rolled off his tongue. "I'm going to kill you, you know this ja?" The man held both of his hands out. "Why not just tell me hrmmm? Dead or alive, I'm still going to find it. Do you have it with you, access to it on your phone. Who doesn't want that much money at a tip of your fingers?"

"You don't care about the money." she sneered at him. "You just want the old texts."

Geist chuckled. "You got me ja? So just hand it over?"

"No."

"No? I don't like it when people tell me no little girl."

She glared at him. "It doesn't matter what you do to me, its safe. The Legacy will always be safe from you."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

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Hey guys, so I made a cover for this story, like if it were a actual published book or something lol. Because why not? I'll put it here. You can also find it on my DeviantART account.

Chapter Text

Cyborg had made the call to Titans East and while an explanation was needed, he didn't have the time. Bumble Bee had to reassure him a few times before she literally had to tell him to get on the ship and get going, that his team needed him now more than ever and that he need not worry about Jump City since it would be in capable hands. He was grateful for her and her ability to see beyond his apologies and to understand what he needed to do. The mechanical man however couldn't help but feel a bit guilty since he felt he had been asking much of Titans East in the past while. But it couldn't be helped, Batman had given them coordinates and specific orders. It was time to end this.

He climbed into the T-Ship that night with a calm and collected appearance but deep down he was apprehensive of what lay before them. He knew that whatever tonight would bring, it would not include Robin returning home. It wouldn't be the victory they had all wanted, the team wouldn't regain their leader. Instead it would come to an unparalleled hollow conclusion of all that had been lost. He knew deep down that this night, and how he hoped he was wrong, but this night would damage them all.

Cyborg gripped the wheel, it was odd sitting in Robins seat. Ever since he vanished he had taken up the mantle of leader and he hoped that he was somehow making Robin proud. The team was getting the ship ready and he himself was running diagnostics on the new installments on the ship. With the borrowed technology from Starfire's home planet the team could be in Metropolis within minutes. Normally he would be excited to test out something akin to warp speed. After all he had been working on this well before the whole Brotherhood incident, it actually only got side tracked because of them. But like the others he couldn't really think to straight. They all knew where they were going, all the possibilities. He grimaced at the idea of meeting up with Batman, he knew the Caped Crusader had more information then what he was currently sharing. Would he divulge what he knew of Robins disappearance and of his apparent betrayal? One way or another they all had to know more. Robin betrayed them. This wasn't like the first time, there was new rules now. If it is true, then it wasn't just his team he betrayed, but the entire Superhero community. Things were serious. But Cyborg couldn't let it go. That little bit of hope that this was just like before...

Victor sighed. "This is getting ridiculous." he muttered to himself.

Raven flew up to her seat and latched her bubble canopy shut. "I think we're ready." she spoke through the intercom. Starfire and Beast Boy also announced they were good to go once they were buckled up in their seats. The acting leader of the Titans nodded. "Alright, let's get this over with." The team nodded in unison. While they didn't want it to come to this, they wanted answers and they would get them from the Bat himself. One way or another this would end.

"Preparing the engines, this wasn't really how I wanted to test this but I guess we got no other choice." The team grimly nodded.

Cyborg began to escalate the ship into the sky and began to hover high above the tower in just the right direction. He looked at the newly added dashboard and sighed before flicking the switch as it were and within moments the ship and its crew were gone. Seemingly vanished as some would say but in reality the team was hurtling towards their destination.

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Lights flickered.

Floors were littered with glass from a few busted windows.

Items from the offices were tossed astray across the floor.

Sparks flew from hanging outlets.

The back up generator was still supplying minimal power. However, some areas were still darker then others. Which didn't help him as he was trying to find a means to make his way towards the lobby. Robin felt that he could curse out the entire world at this very moment and it still wouldn't be enough to satisfy him. However he kept his cool. He may be agitated but he knew better then to let it get to him. Holding in a sigh Robin quickly looked around the corner and found it to be a empty dark hallway like the others before it. The boy frowned, where did all the soldiers go? He knew that this must be some sort of mind game that the ben Elohim were playing. Invade the building, leave it in ruin, send some demons out to play why not? And then what? Abandon it?

Robin shook his head before moving forward. Silently he crept along the hallway keeping his back to the wall as much as he could. It wasn't long before he heard a muffled noise. A wheezing. It was quiet however, as if someone was trying to hide themselves. There was a small hallway before him that interrupted the main corridor he was in and if it was like the others he had passed along the way then there would be two or three doors leading to closets or perhaps offices. Knowing he couldn't just run passed Robin instead quickly turned the corner to find a woman.

He bent down. She was covered in blood. It looked like she had been brutally beaten, almost as if she had claw marks that had taken a chunk out of her. Her breath was ragged, she honestly didn't have much time left. There was nothing he could do for her, but before he could stand up she grasped his wrist with an uncanny strength for someone breathing their possible last few breaths.

"Ever... since... you got involved. We've been keep... keeping and eye on you Richard... or Robin if.. you prefer... But we knew... it was.. only a matter of.. time. It.. Its what they... would do..."

The boy knelt back down. "How do you know my name?"

She woman laughed "No time... The Leg.. Legacy is not safe."

Robins eyes went wide. "What do you know about the Legacy?"

"It is...many things. Human... generics, untold... history, ex..experi..iments." she laughed slightly. "Even.. time...travel...if you could...imagine that. You've... only seen.. a p-portion, we... know. She... must be warned. She...lives in...a cabin in.. France. Warn her... please. They.. will come for her..."

"Jillian? Why are you telling me this?"

The woman shook but with all her remaining strength she smiled, grateful that the one that found her in her last moments knew about her friend by name. The last keeper of the Legacy. "Ye..yes... Tell.. tell her to.. hide. Time... it is not.. on our... side."

Robin could only nod. "I will."

She dying woman smiled again. "Thank you." was all she said as the light left her eyes and her body became lifeless. Robin stood up and looked down on her form. He didn't know what this woman had been through in her final moments, but judging from the wounds on her body it was not kind. Turning away he continued on his path down towards the lobby. He wondered how this woman knew of Jillian? He had somewhat of a guess that since Slade and her were old buddies she must of had connections to this Society. But who she was back in her day he had no clue, but she must of been someone big. And what exactly did the Legacy have to do with Slade's and companies little secret illuminati. To many questions and never enough answers. Still... Jillain was in danger. She could die and not even know her granddaughter is still alive.

Buzzing Slade to only receive no answer made his already prominent frown etch itself even deeper on his face. "Dammit." Robin took one last look at the body below him before taking off down the hallway. He needed to get to Slade, he needed him to warn Jillain, if what the woman had said was true and they wouldn't be able to reach her in time, then all of this would be in vain. It would mean a victory for the ben Elohim and another loss for him. Sariel may of come back from the dead but at what price? What about Gus? Didn't he deserve the same kind of second chance? But he supposed that wasn't up to him.

But maybe that should change, maybe the options should be given to him instead.

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He wasn't left alone for long, it would seem the ben Elohims special forces had arrived on site soon after the demon left. And Slade took to hiding in the shadows as he made his way to the lobby. He would see what they were up to before making any grand entrance. What he did not expect however was for the lobby to so suddenly be set on fire. The mastermind sighed. Of course it was on fire. It seemed like every unit they had there was a few soldiers equipped with flame throwers. The next question really was why did a tank drive through the front entrance of the building. Well actually the answer to that was simple really, they didn't want anyone leaving. But did they just drive the tank down the road, had the military been called in? It seemed unlikely that it was the US forces and he doubted that the metropolis police force had the funds for a tank. And upon glancing at it Slade knew this tank wasn't the typical US military standard.

Everything at the moment was sheer chaos and truth be told Slade was somewhat enjoying this. It had been awhile since he got to let loose. But it did get a little old a little too fast. They were easy prey, all of them. But if they kept coming then he would have to keep taking out as many as possible until his apprentice arrived.

The environment most definitely worked in his advantage however as he crouched and then attacked from the corner of their eyes. He broke their necks before silently bringing the bodies to the ground. He then took their weapons and ammo for himself, which he was glad for since it looked like most of these soldiers were equipped with M4 rifles and a better handgun then what he previously had. By the time another soldier may have noticed the corpse, the villain was long gone. The knew he was here, or at least someone was here, since the soldiers that found the bodies immediately reported it via communicators. Even more so the ones that tried to call in the intruder alert would get shot, alerting the other soldiers around them. Him striking from different locations then disappearing baffled the soldiers.

"Why is the lobby on fire?" the familiar voice rang through his own communicator as he turned to see the boy hiding behind a pillar.

"When is it not on fire?"

"Sounds like nothing has changed."

"Get yourself a weapon, just be care of those equipped with flame throwers."

"Considering the fact that you've already left some laying around with all the bodies, this shouldn't be to hard."

"Don't get cocky."

"No promises."

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"Approaching Destination"

"You have arrived."

The T-Ship suddenly appeared over Metropolis. Cyborg looked out onto the city realizing they were only roughly about forty feet from the ground above a busy street, which Beast Boy was grateful for as he opened his cockpit and threw up on to the ground below. He muttered a "Sorry" before pushing himself back into his seat. Cyborg sighed, at least the new additional engine worked and brought them all here in once piece. Even though Garfield looked a little pale.

"Where are the supposed to meet?"

"We don't have time." The Batwing flew past them as the Batman himself showed up on their screens. "Follow me. I wish I could give this to you in a more professional setting, but it will have to do. I'm going to transfer you a file containing everything about Robins disappearance and his involved with more recent events. Get acquainted with it."Cyborg nodded as the screen flickered off. "Raven, I need-"

"I'm already on it. I'll see what the file holds." She gave him a stern look before returning to the file in question. Cyborg was about to open his mouth to speak but quickly shut it and instead let out a sigh. "Alright." was all he could muster knowing full well that what Raven may find may be detrimental to well... all of them. "We still gotta follow the Batwing." Starfire and Beast Boy both nodded.

"Just no warping everywhere alright? I can take flying but that... ughhh."

"Yes, we musn't let our friend grow to sick from the speed of warp."

Cyborg smirked. "No problem BB. Just get your stomach back in shape. Gotta feeling we're gonna be putting out some fires." Taking the wheel Cyborg put the T-Ship into full throttle and followed after the Batwing.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The backup unit had entered the city, they weren't to far off now. Asif looked up to take in the sights, to get a feeling as to where exactly they were when he noticed the Batwing and another red like ship fly past. His eyes widened a bit. "Well that's not good." he muttered to himself. Or so he thought.

"What's not good?"

"Batwing."

"Hrmmm, yes well the hero's are never a good sign. Regardless we still need to keep to the orders."

He chuckled. "You think I'm saying turn around?"

Ksenia cocked her head slightly and shrugged, her eyes never leaving the road ahead of her. "Most don't want to get involved with the hero's" Asif could laugh. "Yea well... I'm not like most people I suppose. Got a good friend that is a former Leaguer afterall." The woman chuckled. "So you do."

"When we get there, how are we going to get in?"

"Front door."

"Front door?"

"Yes, The police force may be there, but they don't ask to many questions when the military shows up."

"But it's a private military right now that is causing all the havoc."

"True... but they'll think we're allies, that we are there to help. There won't be to many questions. Trust me."

Asif smiled. "Alright, if you say so."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The building had caught fire. Soon it too shall collapse in on itself, just like all the others. The lobby was a good size, it was a older building but modernized. Lex Luthor did have good taste she would have to say. Shame that it was going to be destroyed. Aurora stood on the balcony overlooking the foyer. She watched as the boy joined his master. She lingered as he waited patiently for his chance. She looked on as he silently struck an enemy and how he carefully tucked the body away as to not give away his presence. And she watched as the boy reloaded the weapon and readied himself for whatever could possibly come at him next.

Everything was going to plan.

The Justice League needed someone to betray them for any of this to work and in a way Robin was always the right choice. A little push in the right direction, unbeknownst to them all of course, and soon Robin was leading his own team. The boy was out in the open, free for the picking one could say and Aurora knew that Deathstroke was looking for an apprentice. The grapevine never lied. She also knew that the boy and the criminal could work perfectly together. And throughout the boys career as Robin the boy wonder, their little fights and schemes against one another proved that point. Thus making him a perfect choice for an apprentice.

She knew that eventually with all the options open to him, with a man like Slade Wilson opening doors for him that he secretly always wanted to explore... that the boy would ultimately backstab them all and lead the ben Elohim to the Society that had betrayed them so long ago. Although she also knew the boy was stubborn, he didn't want to see anything that was handed to him as an actual good opportunity, he didn't see the offer for what it was. So she had to separate the two for a while in high hopes that Slade would once again find the boy, which he did.

The desert was a variety of tests not only against the boy wonder but against Sariel as well. The girl passed with flying colors. But she supposed Sariel was another story all together.

The little society of villains had kept themselves hidden well enough over the years and while Aurora knew of their current existence and residence of some of the founding families she would go out of her way to make it seem as if the ben Elohim didn't worry nor care for this little society, but in truth they still needed a key before taking action.

To be honest they didn't have a way to unlock the doors beforehand, there was no knowledge for the longest of time of who even ran the society currently although once they discovered the leaders names they weren't all to surprised. Even worse, after their investigation they still didn't know who had the Legacy. The only members the ben Elohim knew of that had any connection to the Legacy at any point were the families of the original founders and unfortunately they didn't seem to have it anymore. They had given it to another, passed it down through generations it would seem. Over time the Legacy was forgotten, which is exactly how they wanted it. But she knew that the families were as meticulous as she was and kept their eyes on everything and everyone. She knew that as soon as Robin became Deathstroke's heir word would spread, the families would know immediately. Rumors spread, the families began talking, they knew what the Justice League was, they knew of its connections to the ben Elohim. It was old news to them. Yet talk of the Legacy became like wildfire and all the doors opened at once for her. It was in France now, she knew. But France was large, now she needed names. 

It was time to turn the tables on them.

Someone of the Justice League, that was once an foe but now a friend within their society could cause a lot of damage she knew. It was a risk. That she was well aware of. Being that the League was secretly funded by the ben Elohim and its massive various operations listed under weapons and armour manufacturers, many of them cleverly disguised as different arms of the government. Bringing in a former sidekick, a youth of the Justice League now turned villain, apprentice to one of the men in charge of the very society they now seeked to destroy...

Perfect.

The society would have their secrets ripped out from under them and returned to their rightful owners

Robin had betrayed all he knew and loved by turning his back on the Justice League, betrayed the ben Elohim without him even knowing it and handed to them the means to dismantle those that took from them so long ago. Soon once again the Legacy would be complete, its secrets once again withdrawn from mortal hands.

"It's in a forest on the outskirts of Paris. it is being kept by a woman by the name of Jillain." Geist had appeared beside her. "She wouldn't speak for me as she slowly bled out, but she gave the boy her secrets."

"Send a unit there, kill whoever this woman is."

"Ja, of course." Geist bowed. "But what of the portion that the boy has?"

Aurora shrugged. "That will come later."

Chapter Text

Raven could not believe the amount of intel the Batman had obtained regarding the horrors his own ward had committed. She skimmed through the file before her multiple times thinking it was all a lie. But no matter how many times she read it, the number of people that Robin had killed and the atrocities he had participated in remained the same. It wasn't a trick and Raven knew Batman wouldn't just send them a faulty drive or mix up Robin's information with another. He was too good for that. With the information aside, all that remained was the constant nagging question of why Robin had betrayed them in the first place. They all wanted to know what it was that made him turn his back on them. Why throw away his life as a hero? But this... to find out he had killed, no murdered, so many people. What had changed in him and drove him to these extremes?

Hatred, anger, sorrow, depression, trauma. All of these events that he was in left their mark. Raven bowed her head and closed her eyes as she remembered her own emotions, telling herself to keep them in check. And she knew that if she didn't, she too may of done such acts of horror. Even the best of us fall. But it seemed when Robin picked himself up, he didn't bother rectify the reasoning for why he fell in the first place. It was as if he just didn't care anymore. She also knew that Slade himself had a hand in Robin's ultimate downfall. This was of course what the man had wanted the first time around. A student he could mold, to train.

She knew she would have to share this information, she knew she couldn't wait. The Batman would want them all to see this, this is why he gave them the file. So they could overlook it themselves. It was a warning. They could either keep getting themselves involved and face off against their former leader and help bring him to Justice, or they could turn back now and keep the Robin they once knew in their hearts.

"Are we still following Batman?" her tone was grave, even for her.

"Yea..."

Starfire noticed her friend's change in mood. "What is wrong friend Raven?"

Raven looked away and closed her eyes as she shared the file with the others. "The Batman wanted us to see this before we met him again, it's a warning, it's what we are going up against. Who we are facing. This is not our Robin. This is Slade's apprentice."

It was only a few seconds of silence but it was enough to set the mood for the entire ship. No one expected, however, for the alien princess to speak up first.

"Robin has truly betrayed us then?" Starfire's sorrow was evident as she read the report. Her eyes looked at the evidence of what he had done. "I see..."

"Dude..." Beast Boy sighed. "We can't let him get away with this. We can't- We need to stop him! He was our leader, isn't it our responsibility to take him down?"

Cyborg let out a sigh. While Beast Boy seemed adamant on bringing Robin to justice he knew that this new information had hurt him. It hurt them all. Robin had now killed people, he participated in a massacre in Yemen, he murdered numerous people in Berlin's church and now he was involved with a military takeover of one of Lex Luthor's buildings. This was insane, none of this made sense. In fact nothing made any sense ever since Robin left.

"Fucking Slade." Cyborg mumbled it but he knew the rest of them heard.

Raven looked to her co-leader. "What do we do now?"

"We keep going. We shut this down."

Raven could only nod her response. "If any of you don't want to go any further then-"

"Stop."

Raven looked to Starfire. "You don't have to Starfire, if you don't want to."

"Stop, please just stop. It just... it hurts."

"Star?' Beast Boy looked at her with concern.

"Robin may truly be gone from us. But I'm not going anywhere. I will not abandon my friends. We will face this together will we not?"

When the alien princess looked up at her teammates they all saw a bit of the old Starfire in her demeanor. There was no joy or happiness, but there was hint of determination in her watery eyes. The team reassured her that they would all be in this together to the very end.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"So front door?"

"Yes." Ksenia stopped the bike and waited for Asif to get off first before she followed. She looked back and saw a few trucks pull up as well. "Just act natural, we're a military force, we're here for back up or have you forgotten that much?"

"Sure" Asif pointed to the police force as they were seemingly having a few problems as they took cover from enemy gunfire. "But not their back up, won't they find it a tad bit suspicious?"

"The metropolis police force depends on two things. Superman and the military. Not at all like the GPD, those ones are a bit more difficult to deal with. Besides, right now I don't think they will turn away any kind of help. It will be easy, just follow my lead."

He could do nothing he knew other then go along with it and that is exactly what he did. Ksenia approached the Police Chief and gave him a spiel about being dispatched from the local military base, which wasn't really a lie and technically the US military did have a base of operations not to far from the city. He watched as she weaved her lies and looked on as the Police Chief surprisingly took the bait. Hook, line and sinker. He briefly wondered how she ended up working for Slade, what was her back story? But he supposed that didn't matter in the end. He would however be steering her in the direction of Robin and his idea of a unit to combat the ben Elohim, once of course all of this mess was taken care of.

She began to walk back towards the trucks to tell the men to get themselves ready, when she passed him she gave him a smile. "Easy."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Jillian, she's in danger." The two were still separated by the flames that were enveloping the entire lobby alongside a large number of soldiers with a variety of weapons. In hindsight, Robin was now glad Slade had insisted they both wore communicators.

"How?"

Slade stood behind a pillar for coverage. He was still silently taking down the men, which was keeping the entire unit on a constant alert. There were a couple of soldiers approaching him and he let them pass before he snuck up on one and silently broke his neck, and before his friend could turn around to see what had happened he to lay dead alongside his comrade. The mercenary looked down on the soldiers. Another two dead. And honestly, he was getting a bit bored. They needed to end this and soon. Other than himself growing a disinterest in the hunt, it was getting hot in here. Which had him worried for his apprentice's health. If they didn't make an exit soon Robin could pass out from dehydration not to mention the damage that the smoke in his lungs could do. Plus the news the boy had just given him was quite alarming.

"Robin?"

"She has a part of the Legacy."

The mastermind went back into hiding after he was able to pinpoint Robin's location. "Explain."

"I ran into someone, she was tortured by them. She was dying and it was in her last breaths she told me that Jillian was the last keeper of the Legacy. Slade, this woman, whoever she was... She knew about Jillian's cabin in France. She knew her by name, she knew her location. Everything. We need to-"

"And we will, but we have to focus on what is in front of us right now."

"I know."

This did worry Slade. He knew that Jillain's past had her in a position of being one of the five leaders of the society and that she had a certain kind of relationship with the founding member's families. In fact it was one of the reasons he began to befriend her. More information on the ever-elusive wealthy founding families. And while he knew they held their secrets, them forming a pack with another secret society after the war and to hold a piece of wealth beyond their comprehension known as the Legacy... It was all a bit beyond what he expected if he were being honest. Slade frowned. He never did find out too much about her, the only thing he did find however was a friend. One that selected him to become one of the five after she retired.

The woman Robin encountered must have been one from one of the founding families. Perhaps someone within the family still held onto its secrets. He had to admit it didn't always sit well with him that they withheld so much from the leaders. But he supposed it was all out in the open now.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Batman knew he was leading the Titans into a bit of a sticky situation. But as Alfred suggested, they were old enough and had proven themselves time and time again to be able to take on more responsibilities. And admittingly, he to had seen enough through their reports that had proven to him that while they were still children, that they were ready. If they could save the world from a Demon lord and a league of supervillains then they were ready to face their former leader. He knew that like him, they had questions to. And while he wanted to keep this entire fiasco to himself, he knew he couldn't. Robin's team deserved better than that. The Batman frowned. Yes, they deserved much better than that. They deserved a good leader, and they had one, they had the best as far as he was concerned. Even though he and Robin had a few qualms regarding his residency in Jump City and leading a team of his own besides that, Batman always found himself being very proud of his ward whenever he read up on reports regarding Jump City. 

And he saw now, how Robin had touched each of the Titan's lives in such a positive way. 

A frown etched itself onto his features. They deserved much better than this. They had trusted him with their lives and now it seemingly all meant nothing to Richard. He conceded that in the end of it all, it wasn't very fair. To any of the players on this field. Even Robin himself. 

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It grew silent. Eerily silent. The fire stopped crackling. The soldiers seemed stuck in time and the world fell into a hushed apprehensive terror. Both Robin and Slade looked out from their hiding positions to find that the area had been affected by the same effect that they had both witnessed when the child appeared. Robin looked to Slade's position to find the man had headed towards his location. It seemed whatever had affected the area also meant that no one saw them, making it incredibly simple for the master to join his apprentice.

It would seem that after setting the atmosphere the child then hovered above the ground before them.

Slade looked at the girl, "I thought you were needed elsewhere."

Robin frowned. The child smiled and looked towards the former hero. "I wanted to tell you. Specifically you. They are here. They have come to find you. What will you do?" She looked deep into his eyes. "What will you say once they arrive to find that their friend is no more? How would they respond regarding your betrayal?"

Robin swore he heard Slade scoff, but he kept his attention on the girl. "I'd tell them the same thing I told Batman, that I'm not going anywhere." The boy smirked. "I'd laugh if they would try to bring me in for some kind of justice. I know the truth now. It doesn't matter what they think."

The child looked into his eyes to find that his words indeed rang true. "Hold onto that then, they're coming."

"Why bother to tell us?" Slade kept his intimidating posture around the girl. If the Titans were indeed here and if they were indeed the pawns of the ben Elohim then that would mean something was about to go down. The hero's were here to take out the bad guys, expelling the ben Elohim completely from the list of players. Heros could always get away with lengthy damages to entire city blocks. For the most part that is. So them being here meant that they were trying to perhaps hide something.

In truth, it was all designed that way. The hero could get away with anything. And while many look on at the hero's through clouded eyes, believing that they can do no wrong, there are other civilians living in most of these cities that do hold a certain disdain for the hero's. And while many agreed they had their uses for the everyday citizen, many more spoke out on how much damage the hero's have truly caused. Which told him that whatever was going on, they wanted Robin to come head-to-head with his old team. Creating a little chaos and perhaps a distraction.

"Why not?" the girl's eyes found Slade's singular one. The man did nothing but smile back at the girl. In all honesty, he really didn't want to have himself and Robin separated again by her ability to form entire dimensional pockets outside of reality, simply to have a chat.

Robin however narrowed his eyes at the girl. Why did he think she wasn't quite human? Every time he encountered her something was off. What she said, back in that room, that she was conjured on a battlefield... What did that even mean?

Then as suddenly as she came, the girl was gone. And everything returned to normal. It must've been odd for the soldiers. Suddenly their targets were standing in the middle of the lobby.

"Oh shit."

Slade could only agree.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Hey all here is the doodle I made of Ms Warchild. I hope you like it, any kind of Live what you Learn work I've done can be found on my DeviantART account.

If there is any other character in this entire fic that you would like to see via my doodles I'm open to suggestions. 

Thanks so much all!!

Chapter Text

"We're arriving at the location, Superman is in the area. But he is currently trying to find Lex Luthor himself. I would not expect his help unless it really comes down to it." It was all the Caped Crusader had mentioned before cutting communications between them for the time being. The Batman had been keeping them updated on every little inch of intel as they flew towards their destination, only to cut the link and re-establish it every time he needed to speak with them. From this moment on, Cyborg could only look ahead, whatever may lay in waiting for them would happen. Regardless of their preparations or feelings, the truth would come out for all to see. The world had been working against them for some time now, it was probably best to just get this over and done with.

"One of the many Lexcorp towers. Mr. Fancy and his villain money." Beast Boy crossed his arms as he looked on at the building they were fast approaching. His heart sunk a little knowing full well that Robin was in there, somewhere.

Raven took a deep breath before pulling the hood over her head. "We do this now or not at all." Starfire and Beast Boy nodded in her direction. They were ready.

Ready that was until something unexpected happened. She sensed it first, "it" was a power that surged through all of them. It didn't take long before the others noticed that something was off. No one knew what this power was, but the environment around them seemed to stand still as if it entangled them and pulled them all into a different world, a different phase of existence.

Then suddenly the ship itself seemed to come to an abrupt halt.

"What the... it won't move!"

"What? Friend Cyborg... that is not possible."

"I'm telling you!" Cyborg fiddled with the controls. "It's not gonna budge!"

Realization dawned on her quickly. This power... it was magical in essence but yet... something so very beyond even her grasp. "We need to get out!" Whatever this power was, Raven knew it could kill them. She was proven correct when the ship began to cave in on itself as if it was going to implode. "NOW!"

The team scrambled for safety. In the mere seconds that they were forced to exit, Raven noticed a child below them, her hands crushing the air as if she herself was using her abilities to impact the ship. The girl vanished however as the Batwing fired warning shots at the child's feet. However with the child gone, the T-ship was in rough shape and Cyborg had lost control of all of the systems, and it began to spiral out of his grasp.

"What Raven said! OUT NOW!"

Waiting for his team to evacuate first, Cyborg tried to steer the ship to the best of his abilities but to no avail it was headed down and towards the front door of the very tower that their target was located in. "Well this is one way to make an entrance," he thought to himself as he ejected from the ship. Once the team was safely on the ground, he did the mental headcount, regardless of his team being a smaller group.

The Titans watched their ship burst into flames, taking down the front door and a good portion of the wall as well. Raven looked to her co-leader. It was time to make their move. Robin was here, there would be nothing that would keep them from him now.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Below was Asif and Ksenia, the two watched as the plane lost control and crashed into the base of the skyscraper. "Oh that's not good." Asif nodded in agreement. He noticed however that the heroes survived, jumping out before any harm could come to them. Before he knew it, the Titans were speaking one on one to the Police Chief and automatically the team was allowed entry and soon they were inbound toward the tower. At this point, a team of young heroes literally dropping in their laps was too good to be true. And on top of that, the group was joined by the Batman. What a day for them to have so many heroes come to their aid. Asif however could only grimace at the thought however, the hero's being here was going to make everything that much more difficult for them. "We need to get inside."

The woman could only agree. "It seems we may have to be a bit forceful after all." Ksenia moved to the troops and in a hushed tone she told them to move out. And silently the unit disappeared one by one. When she returned he asked her, "Front door still?"

She nodded in return, recalling how a tank just mere moments ago came rolling down the street, pulverizing many vehicles and would have possibly killed many more people if they hadn't simply jumped out of the way. "It seems like these enemies of yours brought in a tank and took down the front door. I wonder if we'll get lucky enough that the hero's ship hit it instead of Slade and your friend. So yes, front door. We have no time to spare."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The former boy wonder grimaced, "Why bring a tank to the party?" he mildly wondered, he glared at the canon as it was aimed in their direction. It seems the ben Elohim was just going all out on them. "Aren't we special?"

"Surround them!"

Robin gave a few nasty looks to the soldiers that besieged them. Slade only stood ever so still with his hands placed at his back, the ever-imposing stance never failed to feel threatening, even as Robin stood at Slade's side, he could feel the hints of speculation and a bit of fear radiating off of the men. They knew that this was the man who was picking them off one by one.

The boy smirked. If anything he knew how scared they really should be. Deathstroke had a reputation to uphold. And Robin knew that a few soldiers would be nothing to the man. But before either of them could move, out of the corner of his eye he saw a rather large object hurling their way. "What the hell is-" Before he could even finish his sentence Slade had thrown him a few feet away before he himself took cover.

It was mere moments afterward when he opened his eyes and groaned. Slade may have thrown him to safety but the landing wasn't exactly the most comfortable. Robin groaned as he got to his feet. This was the second time in one night he had been thrown to the side due to an explosion, and he had hoped there wouldn't be a third. His mind wandered to the vehicle, being tossed at him or not, he knew that ship. "They're here." he thought to himself. "Of all times..."

"Robin."

He would have answered that he was alright, but it was not Slade that called out for him. "Hero's, always showing up at the last moment," he muttered to himself, fully remembering the times he and his team arrived a little too late to the scene. But at least their little entrance had flipped the tank. Whoever was in there, now was either dead or unconscious. Either of those options suited him just fine. He chuckled to himself, maybe he should at least thank them for that much.

Robin stood tall and turned around to find his former teammates standing in the once pristine doorway, which was now just an even larger gaping hole as the T-Ship had crashed into the back of the lobby, when apparently it took out the tank on its way there, and right now it was setting the place even more ablaze if that was even possible.

"Robin." This time he did answer. "I'm ok." Slade had dusted himself off as his apprentice made his way over to his side. Him volunteeringly walking over to the mercenary was a way to send a very clear message to his former allies. He was here, he had made up his mind about his place in the world and he wasn't leaving.

"Good." The mastermind saw the Titans in front of him but seemed to care little about their sudden appearance. To be honest he was a bit more worried about the more recent news his apprentice had presented him with. He had to warn Jillian. But of course, like normal the Titans appeared at the least opportune moment. "We need to get in contact with Jillian."

Robin nodded as he watched his former mentor join his old team. He sighed. "We don't have time for this." His eyes searched for the soldiers nearby finding all of them dead, their bodies lay where they died as they were tossed across the room from the impact. "Unfortunate," he thought, they would have made a great distraction while he and Slade could have fled the scene to take care of more important matters. Although, perhaps if he were to get his hands on one of the flame throws the soldiers had... He was sure at this point in time not even Slade wanted to stay and watch the fireworks.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was him alright, after all these months of searching, he was right here in front of them. Cyborg narrowed his eyes at the man who stood in a strikingly all too familiar pose. They knew from the files that Batman had sent them, that this was Slade's real face. And next to him was their leader, their friend, their Robin. "Was, former." Cyborg had to remind himself. But he couldn't help it and called out to him. Seeing him lying in some rubble wasn't exactly how they wanted to find him. But as soon as he straightened himself out and walked over to Slade's right-hand side, they all knew at that moment, none of this was going to end pretty.

Robin had betrayed them, he had found a new place to call home. Everyone knew Robin had a bit of a darker streak, but when growing up on Gotham's streets it was to be expected. But this... he didn't think anyone would have expected this villain that stood before them now.

"We don't have time for this." Robin looked around.

"Yea, I'm sure you do. Considering all the time and effort we've put into looking for your skinny ass."

The former boy wonders attention was drawn to the now team lead. He crossed his arms and surveyed them for a moment. "I see you taken up the mantle of leadership. Figured you would. And let me guess, you got Raven as your second in command. That would be the most logical outcome and the most practical."

Raven glowered at him. "You cut the link didn't you?"

The boy shrugged. "At the time I just didn't want you all in any danger, so to ensure you didn't come looking for me and possibly get yourselves into the thick of things, I severed it."

"It's time to go home Robin, and you." Batman looked towards Deathstroke. "Are going to serve a nice lifelong sentence."

Slade would have laughed if he didn't have a lot of other things on his mind at the moment. "For what? You have nothing on me you can prove in any court of law."

"Kidnapping is kinda big one you jerk." Robin looked at the green boy and chuckled. "Do none of you understand? I'm here by choice. I know so many truths now, so much that has been kept hidden from your end of the world, so many things that I just didn't see or grasp in the past. But my vision is clear now, and I do not wish to be a blind fool any longer." Richard glanced at Starfire who stood off to the side and noted that she was standing not floating, shame that she let herself succumb to her emotions. He really liked her once, he wasn't so sure he felt the same now. As for the rest of the team, Beast Boy was evidently upset, Cyborg he knew was holding it together for the sake of the team, and Raven... well she was the same unemotional Raven he always knew. Although, he also knew she must be just raging on the inside, possibly grasping at every thread to keep her sanity intact.

"The hell you talking about!?" Cyborg heard Beast Boys comment and he had to admit, he too wanted to ask what the hell Robin was going on about, but he kept quiet trying to survey the room around him. He nearly missed it but kept still anyways, two people had approached them from behind.

"Sorry, we're late." Cyborg looked to his right as a young man and woman walked past them and right up to Slade himself. Cyborg sneered at them, the idea that he just let them walk past him, he hated that. But he also knew to stay his hand since who knows what these two brought to the table. The blonde woman was the first to speak. "The unit has infiltrated the grounds, they are now at your command." His eyes narrowed at the mastermind. A unit has infiltrated the grounds? Just how much power did Slade really hold? He was just a small-town villain, just a mercenary right? They all thought the same until Batman handed them that goddamn file. The very idea that they were all going up against Deathstroke at one time made him anxious, in the past they knew nothing of what they were going up against and now... well now they knew about Deathstroke, the very best mercenary money could buy. His precision at killing was apparently unlike any other. But the depths of his power? Color Cyborg intrigued. But realistically it didn't change much else. But with the knowledge of who Slade really was, it put a lot of things in the past into perspective.

"I'm sorry I'm going to have to cut this reunion short, it would seem we have some more important issues at hand."

"Think you're just going to run away? I don't think so, Slade!"

"Yeah, I think that is exactly what's going to happen, seems they got a few more important things than you lot." Robin looked at the young man. "You sure?" the former hero only received a nod and Robin shrugged. "No dying on me ok? We made a promise. And I will hold you to it." The other just waved him off. "Yea yea yea..."

It was then that Cyborg noticed what the woman had meant by being infiltrated, all around them were various soldiers, all with a gun pointed at their heads. "Shit." Batman had noticed the new company as well. "We need to be careful. This isn't Jump." The Caped Crusader looked to the team's leader. "They will kill you." Cyborg frowned in response.

"If you came here looking for a fight." Robin still had his arms crossed as he looked on at the group. "Then I'm sorry to say I can't give you one tonight, but in the future, I promise to bring it all to the table. As long as you won't disappoint either. But right now, I have to go."

Slade placed a hand on his shoulder, it was a symbol generally of possession but right now Robin swore it felt to be more of a sympathetic move on the mastermind's end. And while he wouldn't admit it now, down the road he would think of how difficult this all had been. You can switch sides, and you can betray all that you had known and trusted, but in the end, the memories are still relevant and it's still a harsh goodbye. Robin looked to his former mentor one last time before he nodded, the Bat looked at him, he knew there was concern there but it wasn't something he could show in front of the Titans.

It was time to leave. But Robin couldn't help but feel he had played this card before, he walked out of that church in Berlin and now he was just going to walk away from this massacre. Just another event that could be added to his list of oddities.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was odd looking at them all from this side of things, as their enemy. He smiled at his former teammates as he and Slade left the building. Both were wearing formal wear, they would be treated as survivors and victims the moment they existed. And Asif and his new friend, part of the military that came to help them, and before the Titans could even find them outside of the building they would be long gone. He knew that Asif would hold them in place, allowing them to slip out unseen.

He knew there was no victory for the Titans today. Cyborg had tried to reach out to him which caused a warning shot to be fired at his feet. Raven hovered over the group as she put up a shield. Beast Boy was telling him off in every swear word he knew and Starfire... she just stood there and watched him go, but there was a fire in her eyes. Although it seemed it was just newly rekindled.

So strange, this entire evening.

But as he left that is when he saw  her . Sariel was hunched over a balcony watching the events unfold before her, and alongside her was Ms. Warchild herself. The two of them talked about the events as if they were merely guests watching a play and he and the rest were the actors. She looked directly at him at that moment, her blue eyes meeting his own. And in a matter of moments that seemed like decades, she smiled and waved in his direction. He turned away from her in that moment and walked out the front door.

Chapter Text

The outskirts of France were always so quaint, she enjoyed the forest for its subtlety in finesse and praised it for its coarseness. When she had retired she imagined a perfect life, cut off from all the world's obscenities, she would find herself living off of the land, and within the harsh workload, she found herself at peace. But while Jillian had retired, she knew that enemies could draw close at any time. Anything or anyone that could hide, could also be found.

She knew one day they would find her. Today wasn't an exception. Jillian had been collecting vegetables from her garden when the first whispers came, silence itself is quite the messenger.

"What did you do to my boys?"

It was a blonde child who greeted her with a smile as she turned to face her enemy. The girl shook her head. "No longer at your disposal." The older woman glanced at the girl, the anger evident in her eyes. "Is that so?"

The forest around them was so still, as if the trees themselves knew of the dangerous intentions this youth possessed. Jillian knew that in more ways than one, the forest itself would speak when it wanted to. And it was literally screaming at her right now. Run, hide, whatever it took to get away from this child. But that would be useless she knew.

"I don't have what you want."

She smiled. "I think you do."

The older woman grunted "Who sends a child to murder an older woman?"

"You know who."

Jillian grunted.

RIIIIIIIINNNGGG

The woman's ears perked up. Her cell phone was going off. The woman cursed herself at that moment for leaving her phone in the house. She always had it set to be as loud as she could, because as stubborn as she was, she would admit that her hearing was starting to go. Although she hadn't considered hearing aids quite yet.

RIIIIIIIINNNGGG

She cringed now at the sound. She had picked a old vintage phone ring. She understood now why Sariel had disliked it, it was rather annoying after it rang a few times. She sighed then. Whoever was calling her, it seemed urgent. But she couldn't answer.

Her eyes shifted to the child and readied herself for a fight. "Time to show you what a old woman can do."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

The so-called US military had dispersed from the scene. Leaving the Metropolis Police force to clean up the mess. It took a while for Ksenia and Asif to make their way out, leaving behind the Titans and the Bat, and even longer for them to clean up the mess with the Metropolis Police department, who were practically begging the military unit to stay. But Ksenia was a resilient one. She played colonel or lieutenant or whatever it was she had played at, extremely well. She was mind you, a little harsh, but when the military rolled in to save the day, you didn't ask them questions afterward.

In the end, she did agree to leave one truck behind. Of course, as mandatory regulations go, a truck of soldiers was left behind to play out the deception of them all truly being sent by the US forces. Slade's own were all equipped with standard US military garb and provided with firearms to keep up the illusion. The group, when ready to depart would of course retrace their steps, and destroy all evidence that they were there, leaving behind virtually nothing, other than a police force that said the military had joined them to combat an unknown force. And when the MPD made their report the government would most likely deny they had any involvement. And truthfully not much else would or could be done since there was nothing left behind that could trace the events back to Deathstroke.

But it wasn't all this current clutter and chaos that seemed to put both Master and Apprentice on edge. It would seem Slade's soldiers were all trained in subterfuge. Trained so well that at this point he probably considered all of this to be beneath him. Which perhaps it was since he didn't have to do anything as he boarded one of the trucks and once everyone was on board they simply left the scene. Just like that.

But to be honest, he had never seen Slade like this in all of his time spent with him, the man was worried, he kept dialing the same number over and over. Asif was a little put-off but approached Robin regardless on the matter.

'What's going on?" his tone was hushed, just in case whoever the mastermind was trying to call actually answered.

His friend let out a sigh. "It's Jillian."

"Sar's grandmother?"

"Yea... "

"What about her?"

"She's the keeper of the Society's portion of the Legacy." Robin shook his head. "What do you know about Sariel? Nothing fits, was Jillian even her grandmother?"

Asif shrugged, not at least surprised that Jillian was more than what she portrayed. He didn't know of course, but was he surprised at this point? Not really. "Like I said about an hour ago, not much. Child soldier, she was a great shot. Pretty fast, sometimes a little too fast. But nothing like a meta-human or something. That and she was also so lucky. All the time, until... But I guess now we know that her luck is still running. She always said the only family she had was her "grams" in the woods. From what I know her family was killed when she was a child, that's how she ended up in that camp with the other kids."

Robin shook his head. "It doesn't add up. Why? Why get herself killed and then show up here, with them? She was there, talking to her as I left. Overlooking everything below them as they stood on the balcony, chatting like they were old friends. I just... don't get it. Who does she really work for?"

"I don't know, she always said she had a boss... but we never saw him. He was always a bit of a mystery. We followed Sariel because of what she was able to provide for us, which was safety, food and water, and a place to sleep. Which isn't much of a commodity in the desert."

Robin thought on this, "She mentioned something when I saw her, it was for a moment but there was a glint of sadness in her eyes, as if she was looking at me and remembering someone else. But she said something about how there was nothing for people like her, for child soldiers. Until she found him and she made a promise?"

Asif crossed his arms. "Who's the him? What's the promise?"

"Exactly."

Asif frowned, "She had always been a bit mysterious but I never questioned her. I don't think anyone did. Her rebellion against the ben Elohim was always heavily funded, she was part of something else that we were not. In many ways, we were only affiliated with her and not with whom she had taken her orders from. However, she never really received direct orders in front of us, that being again because we never saw her boss. But her plans were always so calculative, we hardly lost." he shook his head. "It made no sense to me that day at the church. Why send Gus in with you guys? Sure I would have made good backup if something went wrong, but Gus was a hacker, his area of expertise was in front of a computer. It just seems like such a rookie mistake. But she insisted it would work that way because you all were meeting up with him at the bar and not like Gus couldn't hold a fight it's just..."

"Weird right?"

"Yea. She always seemed to have the best intentions, although she was a bit reckless at times. But that was..." Asif shook the thoughts away. "Do you at least still have what she gave you?"

Robin instinctively clutched the two flash drives in his pocket. "Yeah, I do."

"We need to get that intel uploaded ASAP."

"Agreed."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

She wasn't answering the call. He didn't know how many times he dialed her number and still nothing. She always kept her phone on the highest volume setting. This was unlike her, she never did not just answer her phone. Especially if he called her a multitude of times. Not that he called often but... this just wasn't like her at all. If anything she would have called back by now. He sighed as he dialed her number again and gained the same response. No answer. And before he knew it that gruesome feeling of dread was seeping into his entire body, blanketing over him with profound anxious thoughts that now plagued his mind. What if she was dead already?

Slade was usually a man of manipulative words and actions, all working towards his own goals. For the mercenary to worry over someone else was... offbeat for him.

This time he dialed another number and got an immediate answer.

"What do you want now?"

"Will." Robin looked to his master knowing that if he was calling Mr. Wintergreen, then things just got a little more serious. "I need you to send someone to check on Jillian."

"What? Why?"

"Will! I don't have time!"

"Alright alright, I'll make the call over to the base in France and get someone over there asap." William must of sensed the urgency through Slade's more serious façade. "What's going on? Is she hurt?"

"I don't know. Just send someone."

"Alright."

"Report to me as soon as possible."

"You don't have to worry about that, you'll be the first to know. I'll take care of this personally."

"Will... Thank you."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"What the hell do we do now!?"

Beast Boy was enraged, Cyborg could tell they were all a little pissed. They come all this way and Robin waltzes out, along with Slade, like it was nothing. Apparently the former boy wonder had other more important things to deal with at this time... and it just infuriated him deep down in his core. But Cyborg was the team leader now, he couldn't show that, at least not in front of the Batman.

"Must be nice for him to get his Spaghetti Western "riding off into the sunset" kind of fucking ending while we're still all left here, like.. DUDE!"

At least Beast Boy was able to let off steam for him.

"I wonder." Raven turned to her co-leader, "Who were the people we just encountered anyway?"

Cyborg didn't really think too much of it until now. "Some people Slade hired?"

Raven shook her head. "I don't think so, one of them knew Robin personally."

"What do you think they are?"

"I think Slade's military expands far beyond a slew of robots."

"You're right, Deathstroke has a massive operation. Quite the mercenary force. A military with no nation is a dangerous foe." The two looked at Batman. "Maaan why couldn't we have fought back?" The dark Knight looked at him then and studied his features. "I know you want Robin back, we all do, but what they were equipped with was a little different than your canons, and with this many people close... " Cyborg frowned, "I get it."

"Are we still going to continue our search?" Cyborg looked past the Caped Crusader to see Starfire standing there. "We should continue shouldn't we?" She looked angry, as if something had been robbed of her. "If Robin wants to continue this path then we must bring him to justice. We will continue the search will we not?"

"We will."

Starfire smiled at the Batman. "Together?"

The Caped Crusader could only nod. "We have a lot of work to do if we are to catch him, and Deathstroke."

Raven could only sigh, "Alright. But we need to move soon." was all she had said as she walked over to Beast Boy's side to help calm him down.

Cyborg nodded. It wasn't the task they wanted, but it was the one they were given. "We've come this far, I ain't gonna let him slip out of my fingers again."

Chapter Text

She made the journey, although she probably shouldn't have. It had been a few days since Endora had made her fateful visit and it seemed the child knew how to make quite the mess. Yet, she didn't know how to clean up after herself. Furniture was broken, and knickknacks that were once valuable to the old woman were now shattered or damaged. It wasn't the same little house she had come so accustomed to. The warmth she normally felt when entered through that front door was gone now, stripped away as if this little house meant nothing to no one.

She would suppose by this time someone, whoever was remaining of her boys, had come to collect the body. She frowned at the thought of not being able to attend her funeral if there was going to be one, that is. Sariel knew she was the only remaining family the woman had. Or so she had led the woman to believe. Jillian was useful and a bit gullible. Miraculously her granddaughter had survived her son's family's murder at the hands of a mercenary, was then sold off into a nationless military, became an efficient soldier as a child, and then... well it wasn't too far off from the truth, she survived the terror of being a child soldier; she endured various programs set up specifically to train children. So it wasn't a complete lie. She had overcome so much in her short life. But this was the hardest. She knew all along Jillian had the Legacy, which was why she always kept close to the woman. Over time, she played her cards right, and she won this round, but it may have cost her something she cherished. She mentally noted the marker in the open space in the house's front yard but denied herself a look at it, knowing full well whose name was there. Her own. Did the woman care for her so much?

Yet somehow, some way, she still managed to get the woman to trust her enough to give her the Society's portion of the Legacy, the missing link some would call it. And in turn, she gave it to Robin. In the end, it all went as it should. Jillian was going to die. That part couldn't unfortunately be changed, but it was all so she could get the Legacy into Robin's hands. All of the weakest links had to be snipped away. And unfortunately, her "grandmother" was one of them.

She wondered if she knew all along. She must have. Jillian was too smart to fall for her tricks. But then why? Why give her a home? Give her comfort and warmth. She grimaced at the thought. She had little of that growing up. She had a home, but she was always on the move. Even after she left the nightmare of her childhood behind, when she joined him, even then there wasn't really a house to call home, just people she loved and cared for. The walls to grow up in? A place to call her own? It didn't exist. Her home was just military bases, outposts, and safe-houses. Her entire life has been one tumbleweed of travel, letting the wind take her from one area to the next. She sighed. It was her own fault really, she knew that was going to go down the moment she stepped into this damn house.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," silence was the only answer she received. "I'm sorry I had to deceive you in such a way. It was nice, though, for a little while."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

They didn't return to the safe house that night. Instead, they directly went back to the base on the outskirts of town. That night he remembered asking Slade for any news on Jillian and when the mercenary had told him "nothing yet" he just went to his room and passed out, hoping for something better in the morning. It was unfortunate, however, that the good news he was hoping for was not what he received the next day. Jillian was dead. And Slade didn't take too kindly to the murder of his old friend.

Now, it had been a few days since their escape from Luthor's function. And all of them just seemed to be going in the same mundane loop every day. That was until Luthor called Slade asking for Robin.

"You want what?" Slade stood behind the boy as the two looked on at Luthor's image as it appeared on a screen before them. "You heard me kid. I need names." Robin crossed his arms knowing full well that he would have nothing to do with the Justice League in the future. But to come to him directly, when he had uploaded every piece of the Legacy to his systems. Surely there was information on there.

"This Legacy is more massive than you and your little friends got into. The Justice League is as you say, a pawn in one of their games. There are lists of government departments, and various weapon manufacturers such as Wayne Enterprises, Kord Industries, and Queen Consolidate, not to mention all the other illegal weapon trafficking. I think you've been the key all along, the specific names are not on the list but the subtle or rather massive hints are there. Your little friend said she left this to you right?"

Robin shrugged at the mention of Sariel. "Yeah."

"They knew who you were right?" The former hero nodded, "Yeah, she did. But what's that got to do with it?"

"I think they knew more of what's going on than you thought. I think they left the Legacy with you for a reason. We have the information on the Legacy to back up any kind of information you give us, but I need the names directly from you. You knew everyone there. You got names, and I got the intel."

"Are you trying to strike a deal with me?" the boy nearly scoffed and Slade gave him a nudge as a warning. "Alright, show me what you found first." He could almost see how Lex Luthor nearly rolled his eyes in annoyance, but the smirk on his lips didn't vanish either. "Alright fine, here." Instantly a massive catalog of various companies and government departments were listed. "Good enough for you?" Robin smirked, "Who do you want the dirt on first?"

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"What are we gonna do Rae? He's up and gone again." Cyborg shook his head. "All this time and effort. And for what? For him to just up and walk out of our lives again. We looked for him, we fought for him... and now." The Team hadn't left Metropolis. Instead, they were kind of stuck in the city until Batman had his talk with Superman and the rest of the League. And right now Cyborg felt pretty useless just sitting around waiting.

"I know how you feel about it. I've had to do a few extra meditation exercises the last few days." Raven placed a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort her friend. "But we do need to find him again." Cyborg looked up at his co-leader. "Do we really?"

"What are you talking about?"

Cyborg shrugged and looked over to Starfire and Beast Boy who were chatting with one another. "Are we going to keep putting them through this?"

Raven looked at the remaining team members and then back to Cyborg. "We've been through this before."

"Not like this we haven't." Cyborg shook his head and looked at his feet. "Terra doesn't count, she wasn't our leader, she didn't spend a few years with us. Don't tell BB I said that." Raven could only nod. "I won't, you know that."

"How much more of ourselves are we going to sacrifice just to find him again?' Raven sighed. "That answer I cannot give you, but you already gave them the choice to back out, we're all still here Cyborg, we all want this to end as much as you do. I think perhaps we are at the toughest part. But we have to pull through. We can't give up remember?"

Victor chuckled. "Look at you, giving reassuring speeches," he smirked. "Robin would be proud."

The young woman frowned. "Shut up."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was later that evening when Master and Apprentice bumped into one another in one of the windowed hallways overlooking a hanger. Robin had placed himself on one of the black leather unused seats that were positioned along the wall and caught himself in his own thoughts as he looked on at the people and the planes below.

"You shouldn't dwell on it too much." The boy shrugged at the man's entrance.

"I should have been able to get to you earlier, then you would have been able to tell her or at least given her a heads up." his gaze was still fixed on the activities below.

Slade took a deep breath and put his hand on his young apprentice's shoulder. "I don't think there was anything either of us could do." Robin looked at the man and slowly nodded realizing that the man was correct. Jillian was on the other side of the planet. What exactly could they have done?

"When her boys found her, she was lying outside in her garden. They didn't know how she died, there were no bruises or cuts. It was as if the damage was done internally."

"That kid..."

"Unless they have someone else."

"But how did she get there? So fast?"

"When you were trapped in that room I ran into Superman, he recognized you and questioned me about your whereabouts. Ironically at that time I actually had no clue where you were. I couldn't access the room, but Superman opened the doors with ease. I'm not exactly sure what kind of powers that girl possesses, but I can imagine that if she trapped you in that small pocket of another dimension, then traveling across the world within minutes would be nothing to her." Robin nodded, he knew what needed to be done now. "We need to tear apart the Justice League and I need a team to do it."

Slade could almost chuckle. "Wanting to be a team lead again, missing the Titans?" Robin could only shake his head. "No, but leading a team, that I do kind of miss."

The mastermind's gaze strays from his apprentices as he too begins to follow along with the ongoings of the hanger below. "Then you'll need to find some candidates, there are some that may join you, but most right now-"

"I know, but I can build a reputation by leading a team, I just need a few to start with."

The man looked down at his younger counterpart. "Then you better start with the interviews. Most of my men are very good and would be an excellent addition to any unit, especially if you're going to go after the ben Elohim. But many are only loyal to their unit, or myself alone. You will have to show them that you are deserving of being my apprentice. Show them why I picked you in the first place. Right now you have Asif, and you may have the possibility to have Ksenia at your side as well, which would be a good place to start since she has a pull on many of the men already. Get her on your team first, then work on the others."

"So you're really letting me build a team?"

"An elite unit, it would be wise to have one."

"Don't you already have elite units?"

"I do."

"But then-"

"But none to fight off someone such as Aurora, whatever she is, she's not your typical meta-human." Robin could only nod in agreement. "Have you thought of a name yet?"

"For the team?"

"For yourself."

Robin crossed his arms, catching the sight of a young man trying to fix something as he grasped for wires. "I have. But I'm not so sure about any of them. All seem kind of cheesy. Robin just kind of fit for the longest of times. I think in some way it's still me. But I know I need a new alias."

"Care to take a recommendation?"

Robin shrugged as his attention turned towards his master. "I'm down." Slade still faced the window but his singular eye at found Robins. "What about Renegade? Seems fitting."

The boy blinked a couple of times. "You know that's not half bad."

Chapter Text

Slade had journeyed back to his suite after his discussion with Robin, or perhaps it was Renegade now. The boy did like the name. He was about to settle in for the night when Luthor gave him a call. The man had wanted to get the ball rolling. A speech would be best. The world knew of the man's general disapproval of the Superhero community, calling them a nuisance. What the world didn't know, however, was he was Superman's arch-enemy and quite the villain himself. Although there were always rumors. But regardless, the general population of the world just thought of Lex Luthor as just another eccentric billionaire. And while most probably didn't think much of him, his genius was never ignored. If he spoke on something important, people would take note.

"It needs to be done and Luthor you are the best candidate. Besides." Slade took a seat before he continued. "You are the best qualified for the speech. They did nearly obliterate your building after all."

"I'm not saying that I don't want to give the speech. It would of course be my "honor" to take the first step toward annihilating the Justice League. But have we truly planned enough for this, or are we just gonna rip it open?" Slade gave a shrug to the image on the screen. "Why not?" Luther raised a brow at that. Deathstroke was always known for his plans within plans and his great precision for making everything look so damn easy when it probably took him months of carefully manipulating the situation. "Well if you and the others agree."

"I think it's time that the world knows just who exactly protects them. And how much of a threat they really could be."

"Are we planning to throw the world into a panic?" Luthor chuckled at the idea.

"No, in fact, this will get the world to take notice, to take action. People will start looking into their favorite heroes and people will begin to notice every little detail. The internet is wonderful for that. Give it a taste of the truth and they will expose it all. No matter how much or how little information you have, you bring to light a subject and the people will find so much more than even we thought possible."

And there it was, Deathstroke stirring the pot for the inevitable chaos. "So we're ripping it open?"

The mastermind nodded. "And we are not mending it."

"Could do it tomorrow night? Making arrangements would be easy enough."

"Good."

"Good?"

"Yes and good night." And with a press of a button, Luthor vanished from his screen.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"So Ksenia, have you seen her around?" It had been a day since the night in the hangar and Robin was ready to start the preparations and the series of interviews for his new team. The first person he's approached thus far? Possibly just Asif. His friend countered his question with a shrug. "She's around but I wouldn't say I know exactly where she is." Disappointed with the idea that he was now going to have to look around for her, Robin thought it best to request Asif's assistance as he searched for the elusive blonde.

"Is this really necessary?" Robin shrugged and responded with only a mutter of "Possibly."

Although Asif didn't like the idea, he let himself be dragged around in a quest to find Ksenia. "So, we doing it tonight?"

"Doing what?"

"Checking the flash drive Sariel gave you?"

Robin nodded. He knew it should have been done days ago, but with everything going on and with Jillian's assassination, it just didn't seem right, or like the appropriate time. It was ridiculous really, he should have done it the next day. Was he scared as to what he was going to find on it? He didn't know, but perhaps just a little. "Tonight. Meet me in the main computer lab tonight around nine." Asif nodded in return. "I hear Luthor's going to announce something in the next few hours." Robin laughed.

"Yeah, I know. It's going to cause a whole lot of problems. We should watch it tonight while we dive more into the Legacy." Asif could have sworn Robin was trying to be a bit dramatic as he said "Legacy".

"I heard he called and asked for you specifically, wanting names."

Robin shrugged. "And I gave them. What of it?"

Asif smiled at his friend and shook his head. "Nothing really." He stopped and pointed to the Russian woman standing grabbing a coffee from one of the many vending machines that littered the hallways. "I think I found her. But why exactly do you need her anyway?"

The former hero looked at his friend with a smirk. "I got the go-ahead to build a team. Slade recommended her. Saying that while she's relatively new, her skills are impressive and she seems to have a sway over other soldiers. Getting her on my team could be beneficial." Asif could almost laugh himself. "You know I was actually going to recommend that you speak with her. She handled the last mission so professionally." Robin could only agree. "Which is why I think it best to recruit her first."

Asif threw a smirk at his friend. "What about me?" and Robin chuckled. "Oh, you're already knee-deep."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"You're building a team?" Robin just shrugged. "Slade would rather call an elite Unit, but yes." She pondered that for a moment as she stared at her cup of coffee. "So." she began. "Why do you want me on board specifically? I'm not exactly the best around or perhaps the most famous amongst the whole crew. There is others that would be more fitting to your needs I'm sure."

"But you are popular," he stated and she shrugged in response, but he continued. "Slade even recommended you, said you've been picking up some attention from some of the higher-ups. He also says you seem to have a pull on some of the stuff that goes on around here."

"I just keep track of people. One has to protect themselves. You can't trust anyone here." Robin nodded. he would have to agree with her there. "From what Asif said about the other night, you kept your head cool, you managed to slip right under the MPD making them believe you were there to help them. You've also seemed to make friends around here. It seems a lot generally seem to like you. So you tell me, why would I not ask you to join my team?"

"You need someone who's been on the inside so long to help make a former hero such as yourself more likable in their eyes. And you're right, I have made friends and connections and you want to benefit from that."

Robin just smiled at her and shrugged. "Yea, I do. But you also get to benefit from it too."

"How?"

"What brought you to Slade's forces in the first place?"

"Good pay, great benefits, and general safety when not on the field."

"You remember Slade chose me to be his apprentice right? The eventual heir to everything here?"

Ksenia shrugged. "What are you getting at?"

"You'll be working with me, on my team. Could get you a lot more than just great benefits."

She took a sip of her coffee and sighed. He had a point. One day the organization would be handed over to Robin. He was the apprentice and if she could dip her fingers in early enough into his career, then she'd be doing well for the rest of her life. Although she knew agreeing would also be risky. This business was not always kind. "Fine, I'm in.' She looked him in the eye then. "But don't make me regret this." Robin could only chuckle. "You won't."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

There was a lot of talk among the Society members regarding the names he had given Luthor. What was to be done with the information that was in the flash drive and what exactly were they to do with the names of the heroes Robin had so eagerly supplied them with? The conversations could probably go on for months before they decided on an action. And possibly many would say it was seemingly rash when Luthor just decided to get the ball rolling at the last second. He gave the heads up to Slade last night and he had to admit, he was a bit curious as to how this was all going to play out. He could only imagine the amount of dread Bruce would be feeling the moment his name was mentioned.

His little speech had made it to the six O'clock news where he announced that he had created a fund to help a variety of third-world countries, a good cover for a press conference that was in reality about dropping information to the world. He made a valid point that the heroes of the world could not or rather would not answer their calls for aid. He went on to speak out against the hero community, speaking of their power and wealth, and how does one exactly have enough money to sustain such a lifestyle, living as superheroes and their alter egos being the mask they use to portray themselves for the public, it was expensive. The world was in a constant state of tearing itself apart. If it wasn't Climate change it was genocide. And still the heroes of the world kept their secrets. At first, people were most likely not going to believe him, since he was a billionaire himself. people were already calling it bullshit on social media. But there was a shift the moment he dropped the lists.

Names, businesses, and entire bodies of government. All within seconds. The internet went wild.

Discovering the large amount of funding that the Justice League obtained yearly was not only from the US government but from multiple others became questionable. And on top of it all, they also received funding from businesses like Wayne Enterprises, Kord Industries, and Queen Consolidate. It was ambiguous, to say the least.

It also became quite clear, whether the Justice League knew it or not, that there was a variety of military-like businesses that also put a lot of funding into the wars in the Middle East and various parts of Europe. They partook in arms trafficking, child soldiers, slavery, pirating and god knows what else. And a lot of that money somehow ended up funding the League as well. Robin would more or less believe that the latter was more likely to more relatable to the ben Elohim themselves, but they did fund the League and therefore the League while using these funds to protect their cities had in turn helped slaughter thousands of innocent lives. The Justice League lived off of Blood money.

"Do you think this will be the end of them?"

Robin shrugged. "I don't know. Being from the community myself I like to think every hero is incredibly stubborn."

The two were going to start looking at the flash drive Sariel had placed into Robin's hands. But before they started they had wanted to see the beginning of the end as it were. For the hero's at least.

Asif shook his head. "Things are going to get crazy."

"It already has." Robin passed him his phone with a news report pulled up that mentioned the actual names of Superheroes. "And it's not going to stop any time soon."

"What do you think is going to happen?"

"Who knows?"

Asif frowned. "So are we going to actually get some work done?" The former hero laughed. "Yea yea." he flicked the TV off and took a seat. The two decided to take up residence in the main computer lab. It was best to do it here, much easier access to upload anything they found into the main system. He sighed and looked at his friend. "Are we even ready for this?" His only answer from Asif was a subtle shrug. He knew at that moment neither of them were ready for anything they would find tonight. But he did suppose it was time. If Lex Luthor could start the ball rolling on his end then perhaps he should keep up. There were hopefully answers to many of his questions on this flash drive.

So to simply carry on with their evening, Robin put the USB drive into the PC and up popped a folder. Asif leaned over his friend's shoulder as Richard opened it. There were two folders. One was the actual portion of the Society's Legacy, the other... "Odd how one is labeled "Watch me first!" Seems like such a Sariel move." Robin agreed and clicked on it, finding a video. "Alright then." The two looked at one another before they came to the same conclusion. "Let's play it, I just hope it's not some sort of weird dark web stuff."

Robin could laugh. "If it's a video of us doing what we're doing right now I would be questioning Slade's security." Asif chuckled at his response. "Alright, here we go." The former hero clicked on the video and at first it was black and then a very familiar face appeared. "Sariel."

"Hey Robin, and I'm hoping Asif is with you too, so Hello to you as well my old friend. I suppose you have a lot of questions regarding, well... everything. So, I made this video to explain. The other folder on this flash drive is the Legacy, the very same that Jillian had protected with her life." Robin made a mental note of that. He had a hunch that what Sariel had given him was another portion of the Legacy, but to find out it was the very same one that Jillian had kept a secret gave him a bit of relief. The ben Elohim had come looking for this, they killed Jillian and they left with nothing.

The door behind them had a subtle creak as it opened, Robin paused the video. "Starting without me?" Robin looked to the man who was the master and chief of this entire base. "Just a little bit." Asif gave the man a nod as he entered. He distinctly remembered a time when he hated the man that stood before him, but now? Now he had a little more respect for him, but since his life had been a roller coaster his entire life, he still didn't completely trust Slade.

Slade pulled up a chair and took a seat behind the two younger men. "Let's see what exactly Sariel gave us."

Chapter Text

"First off, you're probably wondering why, or rather how I'm still alive. How exactly did I survive being stabbed in the heart? That is a simple answer. I was born with Congenital insensitivity to pain, rather simply known as CIP, meaning I don't feel pain. I'm also unfortunate enough to have dextrocardia. A condition where the heart is positioned on the right side of the chest instead of its normal spot on the left side. Which in turn has given me the appearance of being incredibly lucky in the past. I've survived multiple encounters before where I was shot in the heart and was able to walk and disarm my opponent. The look on their faces when they see me still standing is always hilarious. Learning how to fake pain has made me a pretty decent actor as well, to the point that I always think of myself as putting on a show. Every day, all day. All of my life I've acted as if I was in pain, when the pain should occur, when I was not. The only times I seem to feel anything is when I'm caught up in a fire and start coughing up my lungs because smoke... whether I feel it or not, it's still doing damage to my lungs. And long falls... I generally survive them because my body doesn't tense up from the pain and I'm usually able to walk away unscathed. Even being stabbed in the heart... no pain, just a few stitches, a few needles, and god knows what else they did to me." She shrugged.

"Sorry about that by the way. I had to play my part you see. Much of this I will explain later. Anyways, it was because of these conditions that a variety of other tests were run on me, and possibly as to the reason why I was so successful as a child soldier running around and popping off shots at fully armored soldiers. But that is in itself a whole different discussion."

The men in the room watched the video with such intent, devouring the knowledge she was contributing to them. Their eyes all being on the screen before them. Neither of the three of them said a word as the video continued. It would seem that Sariel did indeed have a lot to say before they could delve deeply into the other file.

"The thing is, I'm just one of the things the ben Elohim created. The camp that was set up for a variety of experiments on child soldiers was funded by, you guessed it, the ben Elohim. Crazy right? But in reality, not so crazy. They got their dirty fingers in everything. But they suppose they have the right because they are the "righteous" keepers of the Legacy. As you know it's an absorbent amount of wealth. But it's more than that, that much you should know by now. It's knowledge, for whoever wields the knowledge holds the power. In this folder here you will find the portion of the Legacy in which the ben Elohim had entrusted to the Society. What is involved may sound absurd. But considering all that you have seen thus far Robin, you should question if the normalcy of the world is the part that is crazy. And ask yourself what is really out there and what is this world truly capable of producing. Ha! Now I sound like Slade." She smiled then, perhaps remembering all of their time together. However, the smile soon faded as she proceeded with the rest of the video.

"What's in this folder is information on genetics, how to make meta-humans, basic human structure, and how to develop beyond what we know is human. And not just the regular type of meta-humans like the ones you run into in all those supervillain rings. Evidently, every meta-human in the entirety of our history owes the ben Elohim for being a meta-human, all genetic mutations were developed by the ben Elohim and then sold to a variety of governments. But of course, they would never let any country or government have the good stuff. This is why any kind of meta-human the ben Elohim throws at you, they're very different and kinda creepy, to be honest, from any other. Because at this point we're talking about genetically enhanced beings that you can only classify as a Vampire, and you saw it, she can wield blood like a weapon. Aurora herself was involved in World War II, so she's old but doesn't look it. I've never seen her drink blood but she can smell and sense it." She chuckled. "Bizzare right? Their tricks of the trade involve vampire like beings, immortality, occult... things that I can't describe. It's like a lot of lost knowledge involved in some dark shit that's like a big secret of theirs. Hell, they even have a key to time travel. And probably some sort of dimensional travel as well, I'm sure you've seen the girl Endora and the big red guy Athrilius. And yes he's a full on demon." Robin frowned at the mention of the Demon.

"Hell, one of their biggest abilities is to see and travel through time and changing events..." She sighed then. "Back to that time travel thing. Which is why everything ends up going their way. Which comes back full circle and is one of the reasons I'm here and not there. Remember that a portion of the Legacy, a portion of which they shared with the Society is here, and a portion of that is essentially the instructions to gain the ability to see through events, shift through history itself. Along with the ability to Hop through time and to control events. They wanted it back. So to do that they wanted a younger member of the Justice League to betray them, to betray the League, their puppets. It was all to gain access to the Legacy itself. If someone such as yourself were to side with anyone in the Society it would make it easier for them to track down the Legacy. They had to work it around the hard way because their time-shifting abilities were limited. They were missing keys, keys which you now have. However, there is a bit of a problem. They now have me. Due to the whole CIP thing, you know the not able to feel pain thing, when I was a child they inserted millions of these tiny microprobes in me as a test, this microprobes held within them their knowledge and key to time travel. If anyone can experience hurdling themselves through time it would have to be someone who couldn't feel pain to give them the best results. And you know, kids are expendable. But in the end, it worked. It gives me this insane ability to shift in and out of time in history, to see events as they once unfolded in the past and a bit beyond.

"However, only periods of time that are not so far from my own are accessible to me, so no traveling to the French Revolution for me. So honestly I don't do it often, I generally only do it for brief moments when I look into the future to see different outcomes, or when I travel a few years back in the past to try and undo something I had done. But the real problem that they don't like is that I created a paradox the last time I did it, but that was part of the plan. It didn't make them too happy, unfortunately." She smiled then and for a moment it felt as if the warmth in her eyes met Robins. "And that is why they insist on keeping me close ever since they "saved" me."

Robin paused the video and looked at his two other companions. Asif was a bit stunned. "Did she just say she was a time traveler?" Robin shrugged and looked at Slade. "Thoughts?" In all honesty, none of them were expecting this. Unexpected, is what he wanted to say. "It seems like she can shift through some sort of time stream and see events, possibly even jump through time?"

"I never knew this about her." Asif was a little shaken by the knowledge. "I mean, even if she told us back then I'd doubt I'd even believe her. This is all... insane. Sariel may not even be from our timeline."

"You heard what she said, she's a good actor, one would have to be when they have to act out pain to appear normal." Robin frowned at the thought. It must have been difficult to learn how to act something out that you didn't know or never experienced before. She must have watched and mimicked others around her and she did it so often that it became believable.

"So far," Slade was leaning over on the chair with his head resting on his clasped hands. "She's mentioned she can only travel to periods of time not too far from her own, does that mean her current position or the time she was born in? If she is unable to travel to wherever she wants then her power, or her ability to contain them, must not be strong enough to hold her in one place, or rather in one time. I would imagine if she were to travel, it would be more likely that she travels for moments at a time. So I doubt she's from a distant future. Seems like she uses this ability to more or less peer into the future, if that was the intended use the ben Elohim had for her, then it's no wonder they keep her close now. It is alarming, but after encountering the other team members-"

"You think they always intended for her to be a member." Slade looked to his apprentice and nodded. "She's very talented, her skills are beyond her age. Much like yourself Robin. But she's been a killer since a very young age. But somewhere along the way, she got out." Robin then looked to Asif then. "The elusive "him" and the promise she mentioned."

"Him?" Slade raised a brow and Robin nodded in response. "She mentioned a promise to someone in Lex's building when I get stuck in that office, I put it in my report." Robin shrugged and Slade acknowledged that he indeed had mentioned Sariel. But the specifics were jumbled in with everything else that had been going on for the past few days. "Let's finish the recording." The mastermind looked to the screen wanting Robin to unpause the video. Robin looked to Asif and back to his master and nodded. His fingers clicked the mouse allowing Sariel's voice to fill the room once again.

"I know this all sounds strange, I'm sorry to drop all of this on you. But I suppose I have high expectations of you to figure it all out, you've always been so smart. There isn't much time left. You may think I can start this over and over again because of the whole time travel thing, but that's not how it works. I can make it only work at certain times and only travel to periods not far from my own. But my ability to see the future and shift through possibilities is something I can do frequently. The paradox I created is unraveling. We got one shot to take the ben Elohim down. It needs to count, so let's make it worth it." She smiled then. "If you make it far enough I'll let you in on my biggest secret. But for now, this is goodbye. Make sure you look into every article within that secondary folder. There is a lot. Jillian held onto it for years, she defended it with her life. Please, she didn't die for nothing or no reason. She died for this, she knew I had it, she knew that for the plan to work, for me to be able to give it to you, she would have to die. She never meant to betray anyone of you. In fact, you can blame me, I put her up to it, even though she agreed." She looked down and away from the camera that was filming her, her eyes looked away from the screen and he could see the hints of tears in her eyes. "Please don't let her death be in vain. Goodbye." And with that, the video stopped.

For a moment the three of them were silent. Until Asif broke the silence with a staggering question of "What the fuck do we do with this?" Robin looked at his friend and found him slumped in his chair, he looked absolutely defeated.

"We use it." Robin clicked out of the video and opened up the folder containing Jillian's portion of the Legacy that she died for only a few nights ago. When he clicked on it another window popped up and within it held hundreds of other folders. All of them dated and labeled for everything from genetic human mutation failures to their eventual success, occult history, witchcraft trials, goddamn religious cults, government, politics, arms manufacturers, weapon trafficking, and names of presidents. It just went on and on. Information was their power, knowledge of things that he couldn't explain. When he briefly looked at a more occult based folder he thought of Raven and wondered what she would think if she was granted this kind of knowledge. "We're going to need a team to go through this."

"And we have one of the best, I'll get someone on it tomorrow." Slade stood up, it wasn't necessarily too late, but it was late enough that he didn't think it best for Robin to start working on something now. He knew the boy too well, once he got to work on something he wouldn't stop "I think it's best we all rest up for the remainder of the evening. And tomorrow we can tackle this with fresh minds." He could see the glare that Robin had shot him. But the man wasn't going to back down. "And I mean it, Robin." The boy let his shoulders sag a bit, he was probably hoping to sit up all night and review each and every folder.

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"Any word?" Starfire asked as she flew into the room. She had recently regained her ability of flight, it was almost like she had a new resolve. A spark of determination. Raven was glad to see her friend doing better, but it was unfortunate that she didn't have anything relevant in terms of updates for her teammate. The goth looked up from her book and shook her head. "Nothing yet." The team was on standby until they received new orders from Batman himself. And they were now all in a base used by the League in Metropolis and quite frankly they were a little bit frustrated and overall, bored.

She sighed a little and Raven placed a hand on her shoulder. "We don't know when we will be on the move next, maybe you should get some rest." The princess looked to Raven and shook her head. "I have tried, but after the reporting of the news on the TV, I cannot rest. I feel as if something bad is going to happen at any moment." Raven frowned and felt like she had to agree. It was mere hours ago, but what Lex Luthor had done would damage the Superhero community for many more years to come. False or not, people would believe anything. She had witnessed many times how quickly people can turn on the very heroes that shelter them from annihilation. Although she was certain in a way they would be able to fix this. A lot of these accusations must be false. Hero's were meant to help people, not harm them. Helping people was the whole reason why she joined the Titans in the first place. To help as many as she could before her demonic father could have his way with the world. An event that was thankfully thwarted.

"Do you mind friend Raven, if I just stay here?" Raven shrugged, it was a standard signal from her that meant she generally didn't mind or care what others did around her. "If you want." The princess smiled and took a seat by her friend. "Do you have any good book suggestions?"

"Honestly, not here. All they have is magazines and recipe books." It was then that Starfire noticed what Raven was reading, a cookbook. "Have you taken an interest in cooking friend Raven? I can teach you how to cook and prepare blorthquark." Raven just frowned at her friend. "I think I'll pass." Starfire just giggled at her response and Raven had to admit. She had missed that laugh.

Chapter Text

Robin entered his room and took off his shoes before flicking on the TV. But his mind didn't seem interested in anything the screen had to share. He pondered that night on what exactly was going on. Was it even possible that Sariel was a time traveler? Slade didn't seem to think so. But he began to think back on all of their exploits together. She never seemed to bat an eye at the possibility of Sergei even being Slade. At the time he chalked it up to the fact that her grandmother was a personal friend of the man, that perhaps while she wasn't aware that Slade was in disguise, he expected something from her when it came out into the open of who the man was, but she just didn't care. It would make sense in that shape and form that she would shrug it off as if it was just another random occurrence in her life.

He still remembered the moment he told her.

"Sergei was... or is Slade."

He remembered saying it as if it was the most simplest thing to admit to.

"Huh... So that's what he looks like under the mask. Kinda fits..." she coughed. "So ya stuck with him huh?"

"It was the only way to get you out."

"I see... So what now?"

"If I know Slade, he's already got everything under control before he even started."

He remembered her smirk, looking back it was as if she knew all along. That or again it would seem like nothing ever surprised her. She was a woman after all that flowed with the punches.

"Yea that sounds like Deathstroke."

He remembered the day he nearly died in that desert as well. Even after finding a settlement and finding himself enough supplies to last him for days, he still succumbed to the heat. And while it seemed fortunate enough that Sariel found him... it was rather odd that she found him in time. He was never the luckiest person. Although he remembered asking her about it, she shrugged it off, saying it was all a coincidence. And perhaps it was. But it never sat right with him and for the longest time he thought that she still could be working for Slade... but she wasn't. She never did. And it always led him to the same question. Who did she work for? Who really was this woman known as Sariel?

Supposedly she was a meta-human that could control time and was originally meant to be a member of the ben Elohim, meaning her training in her abilities was lacking because she got out at a young age and perhaps had very little help in containing her power or whatever she does know on how to control it, she learned on her own. Or perhaps it was the mysterious him that taught her. She seemed to be able to control them enough to not slip up in letting out her big secret. As if she really did have full control over her own abilities this entire time. Maybe the him in her story taught her more than she leads on.