Title: Stockholm Interlude I
Author: Katarik
Fandom: Animated Teen Titans
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Slade/Robin

Summary: What if, during Robin's time as Slade's apprentice, Robin had developed Stockholm's Syndrome?
Disclaimers: DC Comics owns the original characters.
Warnings: DARK. I cannot emphasize that enough. DARK DARK DARK.
Notes: Beginning from the scene in Chapter 2 where Slade is unbuckling Robin from the straps.

*---*---*---*---*

His mouth is parted, just a little, and if it weren't for that damn mask Slade would know if his eyes were open or drifting closed; Slade can see his face and the way he shudders. The way his muscles tense against the straps and the way he shifts on the white sheets.

Because eventually Robin won't just shudder and move, he'll *beg*. For anything Slade chooses to give him: pain, pleasure, or both. That, Slade's willing to wait for.

He's beautiful. Even with the burn marring his back, and it won't be marring him once it heals. Then it will be a reminder of exactly how far his boy will go. How far Slade can *make* him go.

Slade unbuckles the arm-straps, accidentally-on-purpose running his fingers over the boy�s arm. Near-silent catch of breath, and Robin lies still.

The boy isn't moving, even though he could now get free easily. Even injured as he is, pretty little bird with a broken wing. Well. Not *broken*, not unless he tries to run. Slade's *not* letting him go so easily as that.

Slade rests his hand on the small of Robin's back, testing how far he can go before Robin says something. He can feel the heat from the boy's skin even through the gauntlet; Slade wants to do this bare-handed, trail a finger over scarred flesh and see if Robin reacts differently to someone touching scars and someone touching unmarred skin. See if the boy screams as prettily in pleasure as he does in pain.

Watching Robin cry had been... indescribable. The only thing that could have made it better would have been to hear the boy whimper Slade's name through his reluctant tears.

But enough of this teasing. For the moment, at any rate; Slade wants to test something. "... Get up, my Robin."

The boy moves awkwardly off the bed as soon as Slade tells him to, shrugging Slade's hand from his back with a lack of his usual grace. Robin turns to face Slade, raising his chin to look Slade in the eye. "I'm *not* yours."

The test was successful; Robin will have to be broken more thoroughly. Slade makes his voice stay calm, even amused. "Are you not, then?" Robin is his. Whether or not Robin *admits* to that fact is irrelevant to its truth.

Robin's eyes narrow; his voice shakes just a fraction. Slade wonders if he noticed. "No. I'm not."

Slade hums. "Well, then. We'll have to see what I can do about that." A very great deal, actually, given sufficient time and opportunity. He has both. Slade turns away, outwardly dismissing the topic. "Did you change your mind about wanting to go to the infirmary, Robin?"

The boy is silent behind him, until he isn�t. "... Will you come with me?"

Slade will bet everything he owns, up to and including Robin, that the harshness of the boy�s voice when he asks is due to Robin gritting his teeth. Slade hates to ask anyone for a favor, and Robin is just like Slade.

Slade turns his head to see Robin�s face; his estimation was correct. Robin�s so-expressive face is twisted into a furious grimace. How far can he get the boy to go, Slade wonders. "Ask nicely, and perhaps I will."

The boy bites his lip, white teeth gleaming against his pretty mouth. "... please."

Robin asking for his company, even though it's only for practicality's sake. Robin *begging*. Slade bites his cheek to keep from moaning; the taste of his own blood restores most of his control. "... Well, Robin. Far be it from me to refuse such a prettily-worded request."

The boy snarls faintly; Slade�s head tips in amused satisfaction as he turns completely, taking hold of Robin�s arm to support the boy past the drug numbing his back.

They walk through the halls. Slade notices Robin's face tightening slightly, but he isn't quite sure why. He puts it down to having to beg; Robin's pride does not permit that.

Nor does the boy�s pride permit submission. Yet the fact that Robin barely hesitates before lying down on the clinical bed--*choosing* to make himself more physically vulnerable than he already is... Slade is finding control a harder thing to keep than he had originally thought it would be.

"The burn appears not to be infected. However, it is going to need to be bandaged. It should really have been bandaged yesterday, but you were bleeding too much." Burns of this nature require a great deal of care; Slade will have to be careful not to damage the boy too greatly until the wound heals. After all, Robin is useless if he�s *completely* broken.

Speaking of damage... the boy�s arm is bruised. In precisely the shape and size of Slade�s fingers.

That explains Robin tensing during the trip to the infirmary. It�s also rather disturbing knowledge: Slade hadn�t known he was holding the boy so tightly. Hadn�t intended to do so.

He will need to deal with those, as well. He wouldn�t, if he�d meant to cause them, but since he *hadn�t*... Slade removes his gauntlet quietly: the ointment he plans to use will not be improved by the metal there. Swirling his fingers in the lotiony substance, he rubs it on the boy�s arm gently.

Robin jerks under his touch, but stays silent. His skin is soft and warm under Slade�s own; Slade wonders idly what he would taste like. What Robin would do if Slade took off his mask, leaned in and trailed his tongue over the rise of the boy�s shoulder blade and the arch of his spine. What Robin would do if Slade bit him there.

At the moment, such an action would not be worth the satisfaction and enjoyment he would derive. Later, however, once the boy is made more... amenable...

Slade has no intention of breaking Robin entirely, nor does he want to. But... Robin�s attractiveness is due in large part to his fire, his passion, his utter and complete devotion. Those qualities are what will keep him from being totally Slade�s, while their similarities will make him a partner too useful to let escape.

Slade would rather have Robin, even just a broken shadow of the boy, than let the Titans and Batman keep what is so obviously *Slade�s*.

Not theirs. Robin isn�t theirs.

He belongs to Slade. Whether he wants to or not.

--Fin Interlude I.

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