Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.

A/N: Hello!

Aside from TBP (which, again I'm still working on!), this will be my next big project. This is one of the most requested fics, but I have refrained from putting the actual request in the story description so that it won't be spoiled for people who don't read my blog. People who know: please do not spoil it for other people.

For this fic I'm combining a couple of ideas into one. This will be told all in first-person POV because…well…let's just say that it'll be important to know what's going on in the character's heads. It's also another way to make this apprentice fic different from my other apprentice fics.

Other than that, I hope you guys enjoy this! Onward!

Part 1

Red X. Evil intentions. Chats with an assassin.

Separated from friends.

Silence.

Chapter 1: Masks

-DG-

This was it.

I jumped quietly down into the room where the chip was being held. It had been easy enough getting past the guards. Truthfully, I surprised myself at how easy it had been. It was easier than dodging Ra's al Ghul's security guards, I can tell you.

If Bruce knew about this…

I mentally shook myself. This plan would work and Bruce would be none the wiser. Everything was going to work out. I wasn't stupid. I made sure that I cleaned up my trail. By the end of the night I would be back at the Tower with enough information to put Slade in jail. When the Titans eventually figured out that I was Red X then they would forgive me for lying to them once I caught Slade. At least I hoped that they would.

As I walked towards the end of the room, where the chip floated in midair, I remembered the many conversation we had before I undertook this latest mission. It had taken a lot of grueling undercover work juts to get Slade's contact information. The guy was pretty hard to find. Of course, the only leads I had were the words of the HIVE kids and the medallion that Slade left behind when he manipulated Thunder and Lightning. As I headed towards my target I thought back to our last conversation.

I nearly sat on the edge of my seat, waiting somewhat nervously for Slade's response. Even through the webcam his face was still hidden in shadow. That still annoyed me. Of course, I didn't show my face either, so I suppose that we were square.

For the past few nights Slade had been patient with me, slowly chiding me for mistakes like a child. Did he always talk that way to people? Was his ego so large that he always talked down to people? He seemed to be that kind of person. I didn't like it. Not one bit. A patient criminal was the one who would screw you up the most.

"Impressive, Red X. I tapped the security cameras to catch your performance. You treated the Titans to quite a show."

"Glad you enjoyed it. Is the audition over?"

"Patience. Trust is easy to destroy, but takes time to build. One last test to prove yourself…and then we'll meet to discuss your future."

He logged off and disappeared from the screen. His last sentence irritated me. Who was he to lecture? But it didn't matter. I wasn't going to listen to him or his lectures. This was just an act. Words and actions meant nothing unless my heart was into them.

"Good," I said, pulling Red X's mask off of my face, "it's about time we meet face-to-face."

Later that evening I received an email with my instructions. I noted that all of the technology he wanted me to steal were compatible with one another, despite being made in different companies. Well, it was either that or they were easy for someone to modify. I would have to ask Cyborg.

Once Slade gave me my assignment I didn't waste any time. Although I hated stealing I knew that it had to be done to gain Slade's trust. I immediately made a plan of action. I ignored the little voice in my head telling me that this was a stupid idea and figured out how to do it.

And now here I was, turning my back on everything Batman taught me for the sake of justice. How ironic. If I were younger then I would have cracked a bad pun about it. But now wasn't the time for that. I wasn't a kid anymore. I can take care of myself.

This was the culmination of many weeks of work. After all of this time I would finally find out what Slade was up to. I had so many questions to ask him once I gained his trust. Was he the one who ordered Cinderblock to release Plasmus? If we hadn't foiled his plan, then what would he have done? Why did he hire the HIVE kids to take us down? I didn't know, but at least tonight I would begin to get some answers.

I reached out to take the floating green computer chip.

"Excellent work. Honestly, I couldn't have done better myself."

I gripped the chip tightly in my gloved hand and turned around. A figure appeared from the shadows. I recognized his profile from our many webcam conversations, but this was the first time I saw Slade in person. The mask hid my surprise. He had followed me here? Probably. Disregarding this, I turned to face him and spoke with as much arrogance as I could.

"So, do we have a deal?"

Slade's mask was expressionless. I hadn't seen much of him in our conversations beforehand. Now that he was standing in the light I could see his full costume. He was a large man whose broad build reminded me somewhat of Bruce. It's strange how I keep comparing people to Bruce, but for some reason this guy reminded me of him. That feeling would only grow as time went on. I didn't notice this before, but Slade only had one eye. How strange.

His mask, though, was an enigma. It covered his entire face. The only part of him that expressed any sort of emotion was his eye. I knew at once that this was the sort of man one did not mess around with. Well, I could tell from my past conversations that he was like that, but seeing him in person made all of the difference. He held the air of a former military man. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy. All the more reason to exercise caution.

"Indeed. You and I are…so very much alike. It seems only natural that we should be partners."

Slade held out his hand. Instead of taking his hand, however, I held up the computer chips. I couldn't trust him quite yet. I didn't want to trust him. But still, I had this act to keep up. I couldn't stop now…not when I was so close to achieving my goal.

"What are these for? I need to know what we're planning…partner."

"Patience. You can't expect me to trust you with such sensitive information right away, can you…Robin?"

A net appeared out of nowhere and caught the computer chips. Slade's words caught me by surprise, so much that I could hardly speak. I barely made a move to retrieve the computer chips as I stood shock still, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.

What?

How on earth had I given myself away? The lights switched on. I tensed as hundreds of robots stormed into the room. I didn't have my friends with me. I felt the slightest hint of cold fear in my stomach as I assumed a fighting position.

I thought about pulling out my communicator and calling for help, but something held me back. For the past few weeks I had lied to all of them in order to get closer to Slade. It was the only way to approach an unapproachable man. They thought that I was back at the Tower doing research on Slade, not out here dressed as a villain and dealing with villains. While I could be sure that they would come to help me, a part of me dreaded the inevitable coldness and shouting matches that would occur between us.

I dreaded their reactions to my betrayal of trust.

"Now, really," Slade said, "there's no need to fight. We're only here to talk."

I had been led straight into a trap. How incredibly stupid of me. Yet as I stood there I knew that Slade was lying. From my experience criminals like Slade didn't just want to "talk." He didn't seriously expect me to come quietly, did he? If he intended to capture me here then I wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"When you have a hundred robots against me?" I asked. "How long were you waiting to ambush me?"

Slade stepped forward. I tensed automatically. Even though I knew that if I didn't have backup soon I would lose, I still prepared myself to fight. He adjusted one of his gloves calmly before turning his attention back to me.

"Honestly, did you expect your plan to work?" Slade asked, amusement evident in his voice. "Such childish optimism. Still, you tricked enough people to fool the press and your friends. You just failed to trick me."

Again, I wondered what I did wrong. While I hated that amused tone he used I knew that it was true. But if Slade figured it out then it was possible that someone else could. A shiver ran down my spine as I thought of all of the different possibilities. Other villains could have figured it out. The Titans could figure it out. Bruce could…

"You double-crossed me!" I shouted.

"Unfortunately, Robin, I expect everyone to double-cross me. I can't just trust anyone now, can I?" Slade asked. "You, on the other hand, are too quick to trust people. I'm sure your mentor would be disappointed."

"He has nothing to do with this," I spat. "I'm here to take you down, Slade."

I hated that jab at Batman. I hated when anyone made a jab about Batman. When I first moved to Jump City everyone always assumed that Batman was around town as well. I had to make it clear that I wasn't working with him anymore. Working with the Titans had helped…somewhat.

And as for that jab about trusting people…well, I trusted people more than Bruce did. Slade was also wrong: I wasn't that quick to trust people. Certainly, I thought him to be a man who kept his word. I guess I was at least wrong about that.

"As I am."

As I leapt towards him the Sladebots sprang into action. Even though I knew that it was a lost fight I fought anyway. A part of me wanted to see how long I would in this fight all by myself. Slade stood there as he watched his robots attack me.

The coward.

Did he really believe that he was that good? So good that he didn't even have to deal with me himself? However, he didn't leave. He just watched me fight them, not saying a word. The longer I fought the more I realized that I needed the Titans to back me up. After dodging a Sladebot I reached into my belt and pulled out my communicator.

Almost immediately it exploded in my hand. I dropped it in surprise before the sudden sparks could burn a hole in my glove. Slade, who had been standing there so passively before, had a gun out, its tip still smoking. I punched one of his Sladebots and turned towards him furiously.

"You won't—!"

Slade cut me off by firing the gun again. I stopped yelling to duck out of the way, rolling swiftly on the floor to avoid the bullet. He could easily gun me down, but why didn't he? Did he enjoy watching people suffer or what?

The fight didn't last much longer.

That was the beauty of an ambush, which unfortunately Slade pulled off quite well. He wasn't here for a fight. He was here to win in as fast as possible. One of the larger robots yanked me roughly backwards by my cape and caught me around the middle. I activated one of the weapons hidden in my glove designed to slice through metal. However, this plan was hastily remedied as the robot slammed me against a wall. Stars popped in front of my eyes as I hung limply in the robot's arms.

"Ah…" Slade said, finally speaking, "can't let you cheat now with your new toys now, can I?"

The blow made me discombobulated. I blinked several times to clear my hazy vision. The beginning pangs of a headache began to pound against the walls of my skull. I lifted my head and found Slade staring straight at my face. He reached out and took off my Red X mask. For a moment I thought I saw surprise in Slade's eye. He must not have expected me to be wearing my regular mask underneath my Red X one. Slade could have easily taken off my real mask right then and there, but he didn't. He studied my face with his single eye for a moment as I tried to squirm my way out of the robot's arms.

"Coward!" I shouted desperately. "Fight me!"

Slade ignored me, although I could tell that I was getting on his nerves. His single eye had narrowed and his stance suggested that he was ready to punch me. Good. I wanted to get on his nerves. Sometimes the only way to beat men like him was to get on his nerves. Once he began to get flustered then he would lose his cool. Bruce was like that.

"You're not going to get away with this!" I exclaimed. "The Titans will be here any minute!"

Surely the building's security would have picked up the fight by now. The others had to be on their way! I hoped that they would be on their way. For a few moments I allowed my desperation to overcome my fear of being discovered that I was Red X. Despite my fear of being discovered I wanted them to come and help me. We were a team, after all.

In that moment I realized that I was in over my head. I shouldn't have gone into this mission by myself. I should have told someone that I was going to face Slade alone. This was stupid. I walked right in here without thinking that Slade would be tracking me. I should have called my friends the moment I knew I was surrounded before Slade had the chance to destroy my communicator.

"I'm sure they will be," Slade replied, "which is why we have to leave now."

Leave…now…?

He reached into his utility belt and pulled out a piece of cloth. At first I thought he was going to gag me, but then I recognized the smell almost at once. I jerked my head backwards and held my breath, but it didn't do any good. Slade hit me across the face and I let go of the breath I was holding. He jammed the cloth right into my face, holding my head still with the same hand.

"Sorry, but I'd rather not hit you on the head," Slade said, "this is just assuming that you would prefer not to have a concussion…?"

"I'd prefer not to be knocked…out…" I was falling fast. My head fell forward onto my chest. "Screw…you…Slade…"

My words fell on deaf ears. As I begin to slip into unconsciousness I wished that my friends were here to help me. Even though I pushed them away to catch Slade I wanted them here now. Ever since my parents died I didn't want to be alone again. That was the worst feeling in the world. And if I had to deal with this monster alone…

"I know, Robin, but trust me: you'll wake up with a whole new perspective. This is just the beginning."

My flailing began to subside. It was no use struggling now. I inhaled too much of the stuff to even hope to regain consciousness. I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to deal with Slade when I woke up. However, even in those hazy moments between consciousness and unconsciousness I thought that Slade's words were…strange.

What…does he mean by…th… ?

A/N: A bit shorter than my chapters usually are, but stuff will happen! Writing in first-person is a bit more of a challenge for me, but I'll make it work.

OMG, I just realized that I'm slipping back into my Stephen King writing mode. XD

Review!