Fan Fiction ❯ Ice Ice Baby ❯ Cut the Gordian Knot ( Chapter 6 )

Here it is! The moment you've all been waiting for!

 

….Or not.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Disclaimer: No owning going on here. Nope.

 

*Song is “Just Like You” by Three Days Grace. (Don't own that either).

 

 

******Chapter Six******

 

 

Robin jumped, his alarm clock sounding louder than it ever had in the quiet of Titan's Tower. He furiously wrestled with it, managing to hit the sleep button. The Boy Wonder held his breath, listening for movement from his teammates.

 

When he was met with silence, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. The spiky-haired teen looked down at the clock in his hands. The neon green lights read 12:00 A.M. He had no idea why he had even bothered to set it. It wasn't like he was going to get any sleep anyway.

 

In the course of a few hours, all of his strength and hope had been turned into fear and doubt. To beat Slade, he would have to give everything he had. He began to wonder why he wasn't bringing the other Titans with him. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't have an answer. But, he had made up his mind. He was going alone, and that was that.

 

But deep down, he knew that he hadn't told the others because he wanted to prove himself by finally defeating Slade. He also knew that he wanted Skye's adoration, and by beating Slade, he could win it. With the other Titans helping him, he would not get that gratification.

 

However, he would never admit that, as long as he lived.

 

Robin slipped out of his bed and tip-toed across his moon bathed room. He flicked on the light to his bathroom and shielded his eyes, trying to adjust to the new light. The Boy Wonder splashed cold water on his face. He didn't need to wake himself up, however. He was already pumped and ready to go.

 

Just three hours left.

 

And across town, in the depths of Slade's lair, Skye was donning the apprentice uniform, while the dark master himself stood by, arms crossed, grinning behind his mask.

 

 

****

 

 

Robin had nearly reached the pier. He gave a quick glance to his watch, which read 2:55. His stomach lurched. Now that he was here, he didn't know if he could go through with it.

 

The black-haired teen carefully rounded the corner to the docks. Fog had enveloped the entire area, which was going to make extremely difficult to see his attackers. There was a salty smell in the air, mixed with the catch of the day. He could hear water gently smacking against the pier.

 

Robin looked around him, mentally noting any obstacles that could get in his way. And that's when he heard it:

 

“Good Robin. You're on time. I would have been very upset if you had made me wait.”

 

 

I could be mean

I could be angry

You know I could be just like you

 

I could be fake

I could be stupid

You know I could be just like you

 

 

Slade.

 

Robin quickly dropped into a fighting stance, trying to pin-point the spot where the man's voice had come from.

 

“Show yourself, you bastard!” He shouted, while furiously searching for Slade.

 

Meanwhile, the fog had been slowly dissipating. Robin could now barely make out a figure sitting on a stack of crates. The figure jumped down and began to walk toward the Boy Wonder. Now, Robin could see the tall muscular frame of his loathsome enemy. The spiky-haired teen tensed, ready for anything.

 

However, he wasn't prepared for what happened next.

 

 

You thought you were standing beside me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be

Just like you

 

You thought you were there to guide me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be

Just like you

 

 

Suddenly, something—a boot—collided with his side, sending him flying. He landed flat on his back, all the wind knocked from his lungs. He could vaguely hear Slade laughing in the background. Oh, how he hated him.

 

Robin looked around to see who had landed such a blow. What he saw made all the air he had gotten back into his lungs disappear. What he saw, walking toward Slade, was blonde and petit.

 

“Skye” The boy whispered. He felt as if his heart had been wrenched out of his chest. She was wearing the uniform of Slade's apprentice; almost the same one he had worn. He wanted to puke.

 

Skye finally turned and looked at the black-haired teen. She slipped her arm around Slade's waist as he put an arm around her shoulders. Her blue eyes were cold and emotionless.

 

“Robin,” Slade began, “I'd like you to meet my new apprentice. I've found that Skye has filled the position much better than Terra ever could.” He twisted a piece of Skye's hair around a gloved finger.

 

What was he saying? Robin couldn't concentrate. Slade's voice sounded so far away. What about Terra? She was Slade's apprentice? That didn't make any sense. The Boy Wonder pulled himself onto his feet, trying desperately to clear his head.

 

“Now, I want to show you exactly what she can do.” Slade bent down and whispered something to Skye. The blonde smiled wickedly and literally disappeared, she moved so fast. Then, she was in front of Robin, and the back of her hand was smashing into his cheek.

 

 

I could be cold

I could be ruthless

You know I could be just like you

 

I could be weak

I could be senseless

You know I could be just like you

 

 

The black-haired teen toppled backward into some crates, knocking them over, while wondering how such a small girl could hit so hard. The crash to the ground jolted the Boy Wonder out of his dream-like state and back into survival mode.

 

Robin leapt up and blocked Skye's next punch. He was now filled with fury and a feeling of betrayal like he had never known. Skye kicked, Robin blocked. She kicked again, and he missed.

 

They kept this up for so long, Robin lost track. Skye was throwing punch after punch and sidekick after round kick. Robin was doing his best to dodge them, but took most in the face.

 

After one particular brutal blow in the stomach, Robin fell, unable to get back up. Skye fell to her knees. Both were breathing like they had run a marathon.

 

Slade chuckled, sounding absolutely pleased. He slowly waltzed over and kneeled next to the Boy Wonder.

 

“Now, isn't that impressive.” He said motioning toward Skye. The older man bent over and lifted Robin off the ground by the front of his uniform. The black-haired teen groaned. He was so weak, he couldn't fight back. This was not how it was supposed to happen.

 

 

You thought you were standing beside me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be

Just like you

 

You thought you were there to guide me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be

Just like you

 

 

“I will give you another chance to join me, Robin.” Slade hissed in Robin's ear. “The three of us together could be the greatest force this city has ever known. We would be unstoppable.” Robin hesitated for only a second. They could be….

 

“Over my dead body” He spat out. Slade released his iron grip. Robin fell to the ground with a grunt of pain.

 

“So be it.” The older man replied. His voice was pure venom. “Kill him.” Skye's head snapped toward Slade.

 

“What?”

 

“You heard me.” He replied, “Now do it.”

 

“What, no, you never said we were going to kill him!” She cried, leaping to her feet.

 

“It doesn't matter what I said. Just do it.” Slade turned, and walked away. He was becoming increasingly annoyed. Skye looked toward Robin's unconscious form. Her heart was beating so fast. She couldn't kill him, no way. But she was Slade's apprentice. She slowly crept over to the defenseless boy, kneeling by his side. The blonde gently ran her hand down the side of Robin's face. Skye clenched it into a fist and stood.

 

 

On my own, cause I can't take livin' with you

I'm alone, so I won't turn out like you want me to.

 

 

“No.”

 

Slade stopped in his tracks.

 

“What did you say?” He said, turning to face the girl.

 

“You heard me.” She replied. Slade was absolutely livid with anger.

 

“I will deal with you later.” The man said. He began to walk toward Robin's still form. Skye stepped between them.

 

“You will not touch him.” She whispered, sounding more deadly than ever before.

 

“You…ungrateful….” Slade leapt at her, and Skye received the first real blow she had had all morning.

 

 

 

And so, as the first rays of dawn began to peak over the water, master and apprentice fought, the fate of the unconscious Robin in their hands.

 

 

 

You thought you were standing beside me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be

Just like you

 

You thought you were there to guide me

You were only in my way

You're wrong if you think that I'll be

Just like you

 

***

 

~DarkLight