To answer some questions before we get started:

Cass and Serve the Abbalah wanted to know why I used Roy Harper (Speedy) to be the one knocking sense into Robin. It just came naturally, I suppose. I wanted him to be the one foiling everything and tipping the scales in Robin's direction, for a change instead of someone like Raven. And also because I was so pleased with "Acceleration", I wanted Speedy to have his brief moment to shine again as Robin's other half, being the one holding up the mirror to Robin and questioning his status in life.

Though I confess, I'm not at all as original as you think I am. The archery scene was based off an episode from Inuyasha where Kagome is back in her time, but sees a woman resembling Kikyo assist her in archery. Questioning herself, Kagome finds out she is living inside of an illusion that is shutting out Inuyasha and all of her times in Feudal Japan.

And just because it felt so right to make Speedy be the one. I can't explain it any other way.

If anyone reads this and/or has watched The Animatrix, I implore you. PLEASE do not get any ideas and go jumping out of windows in high buildings or else I will not forgive myself. Seriously.

Mystyre wanted to know about some of the characters' identities. (I don't do OCs) Karen Beecher is Bumblebee, Rose and Joey are two of Slade's children from the comics, though they have different mothers (Joey's mother is Adeline Kane, Rose's mother is Lillian Worth). I believe Garth was Aqualad from someone else, but I don't know his real name. And of course, I made up Miguel and Mario for Mas and Menos, as "Acceleration" gave its own version of their past.

A-A-A

"Car 94, car 94," the buzzing tone crackled into Matt's car. He picked up the receiver and brought the small black compact device to his mouth. His partner looked on while the police car sped along the highway.

"Go ahead, Jack."

"We got a lead on the runaway juvenile leading up the Bayside Bridge of the city, but things are kind of thinning out now."

Mat frowned and glanced at his partner. "Right, lets go over the facts. Fifteen year old Caucasian male, white, black hair. Grayson. Richard Grayson just ran away from school today at 1:35 PM and was sited on a red motorcycle leaving town. No sign of him entering Star City just yet, but-"

"Found him!" his partner yelled. The car swerved a second just before coming to a halt on the side of the highway. The cops got out and peered over the metal railing where the bay lay before their feet.

"What'd I tell, ya, Matt?" the first one said. "I said I found him."

Or rather, found it. The cops eased down the slippery pile of rocks and walked towards the edge of the sand where land just barely kissed the lapping waters of the shores to Jump City. A red motorcycle lay on its side, halfway embedded in the sand like some injured sprawling animal. A trail of footprints led to the water and just stopped.

"Think the kid might have, ya know . . . tried to put a hole in it?" the first cop suggested.

Matt frowned and shook his head. "His Mom and Dad said he was happy. I don't know why he'd try to drown himself."

There was silence. Crickets cheeped and cars zoomed by behind them.

"Wait, do you hear something?" Matt said. He put a finger to his lips and strained for silence.

Sure enough, faint sounds of water lapping accompanied the constant thrusting beat of some splashing could be heard coming from the bay. Matt shined his light across the water, his eyes nearly squinted shut to see what was up ahead. Something was swimming across the bay towards a tiny rock island that was lodged in the middle of the water.

Something? Or. . someone?

A-A-A

Richard hadn't even bothered to take off his shoes or jacket. He had just run to the beach and without a second thought, taken the perfect plunge into the water. At once the cold salty liquid stung in his eyes, but it was a small price to pay for what he wanted. Richard started the butterfly crawl slowly, and then accelerated his pace when he heard the sound of police cars coming. At once he had forced his aching legs and arms to continue kicking and tugging away without mercy at the water.

Black hair whipped around his head in the water and thoughts turned over and over in his mind.

I have to get to the middle of the bay.

T. . . T. . .

Something that begins with a T was standing there.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he reached his destination. Richard pulled his body out of the water, crawling on his hands and knees. He dropped his tired body on the sticky sand bank and rested his head down, too tired to move on. Air never felt better in his lungs and land never felt so good being hugged under his body.

But he knew that his rest would be shortly enjoyed. Exhausted, Richard lifted up his face from the ground and wiped the sand off his wet cheek. He got to his knees and pushed down to propel himself up onto his feet. His sneakers made a sick squelching sound when he took two steps forward.

Then he froze in his tracks.

He tiled his head up.

His stomach sank down into his toes.

It wasn't there.

It just wasn't there! Whatever he knew was supposed to be standing on that rock in the bay had been replaced by an ancient run down lighthouse. Richard just stared up at that awful looking rusty cylinder shaped building and shook his head.

"No," he said softly, his fingers curling into tight fists. He had come too far, worked too hard, and lost too much to turn back now. Richard ran to the lighthouse and ripped open the moss covered door.

Taking the rickety stairs two at a time, he forced his way up the rotating staircase until he had reached the top of the lighthouse. At last, he came to the small room where a cracked glass box stood in the center of the cobwebbed place. He glanced around, making sure not to tread on the other shards of broken glass, loose bricks, and bits of trash.

Richard sucked in a breath and did his best to force down the burning rage that was starting to rumble between his ribs. Why the hell couldn't he recall what things were supposed to be, what he remembered about that other life?

A slight shrieking noise made Richard take a step back. Two rats jumped out of a tin can and scurried away. The rustling sound of their feet caused him to stumble against the wall.

"No," he repeated in a much more violent tone. "No, no NO!" Richard shouted this time. He grabbed a worn brick and hurled it against the wall. Immediately, part of the wall crumbled into pieces of stone, allowing dust to curl around Richard.

"Arrrrgggh!" he snarled, pulling at his hair and kicking at the old walls. "This isn't supposed to be this way! This can't be the truth!" he cried out, shaking his head with frustration.

"You're not well, Mr. Grayson," a cool voice replied behind him.

Richard lowered his hands and slowly turned around. Lo and behold, there was Robin leaning in the doorway casually. The same red tunic, red pants, yellow lined cape, and black mask that Richard recognized from the television news report.

Robin emerged from the shadows, the wind softly ruffling his black hair. A playful smirk was on his face as he smiled fine white teeth at Richard.

"YOU!" he shouted, pointing a finger in accusation.

"You did this to me," he said.

When Robin did nothing, Richard charged for him with a snarl. The Boy of Wonder bent over, causing Richard to trip and get knocked against a wall. Robin grabbed him by the lapels and delivered a powerful blow across the jaw. Richard forced himself to attack and lifted his foot in a side kick, knocking Robin down for the first time.

Robin wiped the spit off his mouth and stood up, chuckling softly.

"What's so funny?" Richard demanded, raising his balled up fists.

"You need help, Mr. Grayson," Robin smiled at him. "Professional help, in my opinion." From his utility belt, he withdrew a syringe. Richard recoiled at once, recognizing the menacing danger that lurked within that very tip of the fine sharp needle. He had to stay back and keep at bay. He needed some time to think. Slowly, he began to pace around the room. Robin followed his footsteps and the boys were circling each other, looking like two animals preparing for a tense fight.

"Please, Richard. Try to understand," Robin drawled out. "This isn't going to hurt at all, unless you refuse to cooperate."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do," Richard spat out. "I want answers from you. Now. What's going on here?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," the masked boy replied.

"Yes you do. Somehow, I don't know how, but you're behind all of this," Richard said. He noticed a crowbar lying on the opposite side of the room and began slow easy steps towards it, not taking his eyes off of Robin.

"I knew something was off when I tried to read those books. And I know that this place is off as well. I used to live here, and my home is missing. So is the family I had here."

Robin threw back his head and gave off a thin bitter laugh. "A home? In this rotten old dump? Now I know you're delusional, Richard. Why would you leave your beautiful home back in the city for a place like this?"

"Because-because," Richard sputtered, fumbling for an explanation. He stood up with blue eyes blazing at Robin.

"Because this is a dream," he said out loud. "And you've replaced my real life with a fake one!"

He dove for the crowbar and his fingers gripped around the metal. Robin had already lunged with the syringe, grabbing Richard's arm. Richard swung the crowbar in the air madly.

CRACK!

Boy Wonder screamed at the painful blow done to his head, causing him to drop the syringe. The small tube of liquid fell to the ground and smashed, joining all the other broken glass pieces at their feet.

Robin lowered his hands from his aching scalp and growled like a wounded dog. "You little brat," he threatened Richard. Both boys crashed not each other, struggling for a grip on the crowbar.

Richard felt himself getting pushed back towards the open window. His wet feet were still slippery, scooting him closer and closer. If he wasn't careful, he'd fall out and go flying downward, into the ground.

A flash of lightning stuck across the sky, followed by a moaning sound that could only mean thunder. Richard looked at Robin's masked face and dug into his own strength, forcing himself to push back.

A single spotlight snapped across Richard's face. He blinked from the harsh light and looked down with horror. Several police cars were at the base of the lighthouse. One had a megaphone to his mouth.

"Mr. Grayson, we have the place surrounded. We don't want to hurt you, just come on down," he shouted out loud.

"Do you hear that, Richard?" Robin hissed to him. "That's your call. They're coming for you, not me." A fighting staff appeared in his right hand, knocking Richard off his feet again. He landed against the wall, but dove into the air and flipped over in a superb maneuver from long years ago of trapeze training.

"Shut up and fight," Richard snapped. The fighting staff lashed back and forth, but he dodged the whipping metal much to Robin's disgust. Just as it seemed like he might get struck again, Richard grabbed the metal end and swung Robin across the room, knocking the costumed caper to the window.

He grabbed Robin by the shoulders and forced him down on the window ledge.

Robin tried to wrestle a way out but it was a losing battle. Adrenaline was pumping into Richard now, far too much for him to stop acting like a madman. He began to shake the Boy Wonder who was trying to strangle him, hands around Richard's neck.

After what seemed like an eternity, Richard's shaking hands came to Robin's face. Trembling fingers were barely an inch from that black mask.

A little closer. .. just a bit more. . .

He got a grip on the mask and ripped it off Robin's face. Richard immediately jumped back with a scream of fright at what he saw.

Robin had only one eye!

The Boy Wonder had no right eye, just a blank smooth place of pale colored flesh. His left eye was black and beady like a hawk. It seemed to stare at Richard with a sinister menacing force that held him paralyzed.

"Heh heh heh. . ." Robin startle to chuckle. He got up and lifted a hand into the air. Between his gloved fingers was a small compact.

"Ha ha ha," he laughed again, his voice getting louder and stronger. The compact landed on the ground and exploded into a bang. Richard found himself coughing painfully, eyes blinded by thick white smoke.

"HA HA HA!" the laughter continued through the smoke. Richard strained his tearing eyes and waved his hands to clear the fog. But he felt an icy knife twisting in his stomach at the newest surprise that night.

The laughter had gotten deeper and deeper. Now the sinister sound of amusement was not the gleeful laugh of a teenager, but the deep chuckling of a grown man.

Heavy footsteps were heard. Richard looked down to see a new pair of boots stepping towards him from the smoke. Heavy metal tipped combat boots. The outline of a new figure was coming out from the thick gray clouds. Not Robin, but someone else. Someone taller than his father and more muscular than Victor.

The knife was cutting out his innards by now. His mouth was dry. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead and into his eyes, stinging from the saltwater. His heart was beating so loud that he heard it thundering in his ears. Richard had never felt this frightened before in his life. He wanted to run away, but his body was paralyzed with fear and his feet seemed nailed to the floor.

A large man with a muscular powerful body and strapping muscles.

Black leather, steel wrist guards on his arms, knuckles, and legs.

A helmeted mask that was divided like a shattered soul.

Half black, half gold.

One evil looking eye leering at Richard like a predator on its prey.

"You . . . you did this to me!" he cried out bitterly. The man laughed again, his whole body shaking slightly from the clear amusement that was seen in Richard's horror.

"Did I?" he asked lightly. "You don't even know who I am."

"Richard, you must be exhausted from your journey," the man said in a mock tone of seriousness. "Perhaps you need to rest," he suggested, drawing out his last word in a smooth purring flow.

"Rest," Richard said blankly. He dig his nails into his palms, scraping into his mind and body to recollect something of that other life that he was so sure he had. Whoever this man was, Richard remembered one thing: that he was the cause of a tremendous amount of pain in Richard's life.

S

S

Stop. .

Someone. . stop

Stop. . hurting. . me...

"Slade," he said at last. It was a puzzle piece that had finally clicked into place. And once that piece had snapped into order, he felt other tiny pieces that were once floating around his mind slowly draw together, forming a new picture.

"Your name is Slade and you are my enemy," Richard said aloud, somewhat dazed from shock. "And you put me inside of this dream world. You. . you must know everything about me right now."

"Not necessarily," Slade said smoothly. Hands locked behind his back, he began to pace around Richard. The boy's body edged tensely, waiting for his adversary to strike like a cobra. But he didn't, at least not yet. Slade continued to talk, his words forming an endless chain of flowing events like a silvery river that could ensnare every thought in Richard's mind.

"The mechanical device that is operating on your mind now does not need past information or exterior knowledge to create your dreams. Rather, it merely fabricates the story from your personal past and thoughts. Your emotions made the dream materialize into the reality that you wanted. I did nothing, young man. Your own desires created this mesmerizing fantasy that you exist in right now."

Richard's lower lip trembled. His own emotions had done this?

"NO!" he shouted in defense to Slade. The man turned his head, shifting the eyeless black side to the orange side. His eye alone had enough depth to tell Richard that he was smiling cruelly under his mask.

"You never want to admit your errors, do you, Richard?" he taunted. "But search your feelings; you know it's the truth. You wanted this world, and so it became yours."

The boy's eyes grew wide from his words. He knew there may be only a solution by doing something he would have loathed to do otherwise: plead to Slade.

"Make it stop," Richard begged. "Let me wake up."

"I cannot do that," Slade said with a shake of his head. "This world was created within your own mind, within the boundaries of your own desires. You have done the impossible, Richard, and there is no escape."

Richard had begun to take a shaking step back, but Slade held up a hand to command him to stop. At once, he stopped.

"Richard, Richard," his voice crooned, attempting to soothe him. "There's no need to be afraid of me. I'm not here to torment you anymore." He pointed out to the window where the clouds were parting slightly, revealing a jewel lit sky.

"Look at what you have. This is time for you to live happily ever after."

"This isn't some stupid storybook," Richard snapped at him. The man laughed, a low rumbling laugh that made the hairs on his neck start to rise.

"Oh, but it is, my dear boy. This is a perfect story, a most excellent one. Just look at what you have."

He extended his hand to Richard. Within his cupped palm, a flame of fire began to roar before twisting into a mesmerizing spiral of gold flames. Richard watched the fire begin to materialize and within it, pictures were forming. With each passing vision before his eyes, his chest was getting tighter and tighter. He could see his most treasured memories and desires take life within Slade's hand.

"You have a family," the masked man began.

The fire twisted around to show Richard's parents. His mother was holding a potted plant and his father had his arms around her in a loving embrace.

"You have friends."

Gar was teasing Raven, grinning white pearly teeth at her. Tara was giggling and holding on to his arm. Vic was flashing a victory sign, looking right at Richard with a bold confidant star.

"And you have. . ."

Kory's radiant face was lighting up inside of the fire, the most enchanting smile on her lips and eyes half closed in a dreamy look. Her hair was dancing with a life of its own, the soft red sliding against her cream colored skin like a sheet of red crimson silk.

"Richard," she whispered gently, coaxing him. "Stay with me, please. Just be with me,"

He couldn't resist at all, his feet took a step forward and his head helplessly followed the spell. This is what he wanted more than anything else in the world. It was just perfect.

"You have someone who loves you, Richard. Do not let this slip away," the man continued to purr softly.

In a trance, Richard took yet another step to the fire. Within his own blue eyes, faint golden orbs were forming, binding him into the hypnotic spell. He felt light and heady, and his eyes wanted to close. Eyelids grew heavy when Richard stretched his arms out to Kory.

"Come to me, Dick," Kory chanted to him in a lulling musical voice. "Come to me."

"I'm coming," he repeated in a tired voice. Richard felt a yawn coming on and his head nodding off. He leaned forward drowsily, unaware of the spell that had just been woven around him like a spider's web.

"That's it," Slade said quietly. "Go back into your peaceful slumber, little boy. Sleep and come back to her."

I'm coming. . .

I'm coming. ..

Richard leaned forward, ready to fall into her arms and back into sleep. He wanted to be with Kory forever, to love and cherish her, rescue her from all danger. .

Somewhere in the back of his mind, a girl with red hair was being hauled off the T-shaped building.

Richard's eyes snapped open. A powerful memory had rushed to the surface of his mind like a person rushing to the surface after nearly drowning in water.

The two aliens took her away and onto her spaceship. He jumped off the roof and reached out for her leg.

"No one is taking my friend away!" he shouted.

His heart nearly stopped beating for a minute. The girl had been calling out for him.

"Robin!" she screamed out his name, emerald eyes tearing painfully for his rescue.

I'm coming, Starfire.

I'm coming back.

"NOOOOOO!" he screamed, grabbing his scalp and yanking at his black hair. Richard thrust his head back and forth to drive out the drowsiness, clinging to the memory of that girl. Starfire! Kory's real name was Starfire! And there was a T-shaped tower where they lived together.

He forced his head up angrily.

"I won't live in lies, no matter how great you make them!" he shouted at Slade. The man glared at Richard and clasped his hands together.

"Is that so?" he demanded. He suddenly parted his hands, stretching them out to the walls. Hot thick flames burst from Slade's palms and swirled around the room until Richard was encompassed in a ring of fire. The hot flames licked up the walls like thousands of red and gold daggers, torching the stones into ugly black boulders.

Richard looked around franticly for a way out, but he felt Slade grab him by the shoulders and force him to look forward.

"Is THIS what you want to remember?" the masked man hissed, needling Richard in his injured memories. His mouth twisted into a gasp when he saw what really happened.

The circus cord had snapped. His mother and father fell to the ground and remained cold and silent forever. He was screaming inside of the circus tent but all of the colored lights faded into black. Little Robin was crying to himself, unable to nurse his broken wings and heart.

Bruce Wayne's normally cheerful face was replaced with the harsh cold mouth of Batman. His entire body was cloaked n black and the bitterness of death had turned him frosty and threatening, No matter how hard Richard would try to cheer him up, he would always remain brooding and gloomy.

My friends. . .

Raven was snarling, fighting to resist the demons that were lurking inside of her. Richard had to calm her down and ease the girl lest her deadly wrath eat them all alive. She parted her teeth revealing razor sharp fangs and growled, the once indigo eyes flashing blood red from their sockets.

Tara was no more. She was Terra, a thin girl with a fragile ego and trembling powers. She was floating on top of a crater wearing a metallic suit of armor and smiling cruelly. Hurling chunks of rock at them, they all dodged the girl and pleaded for her to stop.

Victor. . his body was shackled in his own metal, but not of his own choice. He had become more machine now than man. He looked at his hands, the hands of an android, and shook his head sadly. Shiny metal rubbed shoulders sank heavily in depression.

Kory. .

"You have to rescue her time and time again," the man drawled out with a shake of his head. "The alien girl, if you recall, was so naïve and petty. She was always a victim to predators. You had to rescue Kory time and time again, but what did she ever do for you-"

"Her name is STARFIRE!" Richard screamed out, squirming within Slade's iron bound grasp. "Don't you ever call her by any other name."

"Temper temper, young man," he taunted the boy. "You should really be careful."

New images appeared in the fires. And he saw himself arguing with his friends. They kept insisting that he was overworking himself. They shook their heads when he ran around, fighting as hard as he could to keep chaos from erupting again.

And when he threatened them if they didn't help, his very own friends would knock him unconscious and tie him up. The bitter sting of treason left a bitter taste in Richard's mouth.

"Now, you have two options," Slade said very calmly and coldly into his ear. The fingers curled up tightly into Richard's arms, nearly cutting off his circulation.

"You can accept yourself and your wishes, and I will leave you alone," Slade said. "Just imagine how that would feel, Robin. A life to enjoy without me torturing you, haunting you, giving you nightmares and bruised limbs."

His breath had been stolen away. The thought of living without those terrible frustrations would lift a weight off his chest for eternity. It was something his mind blissfully wanted to savor just as much as the happy dreams he had just experienced until now.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" he asked in a very decisive voice into Richard's face.

The pounding sound of footsteps was being heard from bellow. Richard heard muffled shouts coming from under his feet accompanied by breaking doors. He realized that the police were coming from him.

Slade released his grip on Robin and stepped back.

"Or do you want to spend the rest of your dream in Arkam Asylum?" he threatened as he folded his arms across his chest.

Richard didn't answer. He gazed at the room that was consuming itself in the flames, then at Slade, then back at the single window glowing blue sky against the red fire. Then he lowered his head, sighing in defeat.

"Stop fighting it," Slade ordered him. "There's no way out."

Out. .

T. . .

T. .

T is for teenagers.

T is for terrible, terrific, taunting, and tickling.

For screaming, laughing, giggling, fighting, and joking.

For never giving up no matter how hard it seems

For believing in my friends, as they believe in me

T is for TEEN TITANS

A fresh surge of courage swirled inside of Richard. He stood up and glared at Slade. Now he knew what he had to do.

"You're wrong," Richard declared. He walked over to the window and climbed onto the edge. Richard stood on the ledge with his feet spread apart in fierce determination. "There IS a way out, and I'm going to find it."

"Not so fast, Robin," Slade threatened sharply. "This isn't just any ordinary dream. What it it's real? What if everyone else is real?"

Richard glanced down. Nothing but ten stories of air separated his skull from the ground. The shock alone would kill him even if he didn't collapse onto one of the squad cars. The wind whipped around his shivering body and through his hair impatiently. It seemed to be coaching him to follow his instincts.

"What if you are wrong!" Slade shouted at him.

"Then at least I'll know one thing," Richard said from the window.

He turned back to see Slade, face to face. Blazing blue eyes locked with his black sphere.

"I am not afraid of you anymore," he said out loud.

Richard jumped off out of the window.

He heard Slade shout something from behind him, but it was swallowed up in the wind that whistled around Richard and screamed in his ears. The scene bellow his eyes was spinning madly inside his eyes. Sand, air, stars, buildings, and grass were all rotating into a giant blue of colors and shapes.

He waited for his body to hit the ground, but it was taking longer than he thought, as if time had slowed down. Everything was getting darker and colder by the minute. He felt his body give a sharp tug in the opposite direction. He felt his body thrash around like it was being ripped by six different directions.

He shut his eyes and screamed as loud as he could muster.

A-A-A

Robin opened his eyes and gasped for breath.

Headache. He had a splitting headache.

But he was also hot, thirsty, and exhausted.

Perspiration was gathering around his face, due to his mask that was stuck taped around his eyes as always.

I'm awake.

Hot white lights snapped overhead, making him squint from the glare. He raised a fist to brush his face, but such an action appeared impossible. He twisted his head to see his arms shackled to a metal table with iron clamps.

At once he noticed the irritating buzzing sound in his ear and shook his head. Something that was metal and circular in shape was fit over his head. Several wires had been taped to his skull and face,

He began to struggle madly against the bonds without much success.

Flicking a finger, a tiny metal rod protruded from Robin's gloved index finger. He began to pick the lock on the metal cuff slowly. Finally, it snapped open.

He knocked the metal helmet off his head, ripping off the tiny wires and setting the rest of his body free. Rest was short-lived when he realized his surroundings.

He had just been clamped down onto an operation table. Several of Slade's ninja droids were positioned around the room and had only started moving once he got off the table.

Robin had little time to react. He jumped back over the metal bed and tipped it forward, causing droids to crash into each other. Robin gasped quickly, pressing a hand to his chest to calm his raggedly beating heart. He discovered that his knees were knocking against each other loudly and he felt dangerously dehydrated. If he didn't get something to drink, he know he'd pass out.

What had happened that made him so weak and drained out?

There wasn't time for an explanation. He hurled down a smoke bomb to stall the droids just before running out of the room and down a corridor. Robin skid to a halt, searching for an exit. If this was like similar headquarters, he'd have to take stairs or an elevator to find a way out.

Without further distractions, Robin switched corridors and came to a ladder. His eye fell on a small stream of water trickling out of a pipe in the wall. This was too much to put off. He fell before it with cupped hands and gathered the water in his palms. Robin bent down and gulped down the water. It flowed into his parched mouth and down his dry throat, quenching his thirst at once. He sipped through another two cupped hands, just enough to give him strength to climb up the ladder and pry open the manhole that had been clamped on the top.

Robin climbed through the round hole, hoisted himself up, and prepared to seal off the exit.

"Sleep well, Robin?"

The manhole landed back down with a loud BANG noise clumsily.

Slade was standing there in the doorway, one hand behind his back and the other toying with one of his trademark discuses.

Robin, on any other occasion, would have been wiling to charge at Slade in a snarl of righteous fury, armed with his staff and with anger in his eyes. But now, he just stared at his enemy, too exhausted to fight but with enough pain to question.

"Why?" he demanded flatly. "Why did you do it to me?"

Slade cocked his head to the side sharply.

"You of all people have the nerve to ask me that," he said in a tone of disgust that was a far cry from his usual malevolent amusement that he used to toy with Robin.

"I was willing to give you whatever life you desired, so long as you would submit to me."

"Its always been about me, hasn't it?" Robin asked.

"Always," Slade repeated. "I wanted you to serve me, and you rebelled. I sent a small girl to make your team erode, and you defeated her. My implanted chemicals could have killed you out of fear, but you resisted the effect."

"And now, I know victory would not come by merely breaking your body, Robin. That is no triumph when it comes so easily. I wanted you to be tested in your convictions again."

"Looks like you lost," Robin breathed out.

"Perhaps," Slade said. "But only the battle. The war goes on."

He pressed a button and the exit door slide open. Robin was astonished as Slade stepped aside, allowing Robin a possible way out of the laboratory. The Boy Wonder raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

"You're worn out because your body has been draining itself of physical needs while you've been asleep. There's no purpose in fighting you now, at least. Another day, Robin. Another day we'll meet and face in combat."

Hesitantly, Robin stepped forward. He could have held back, but he knew that Slade-in his own twisted perverted warped psychopath mind-had a shred of respect for Robin. If he meant his word, he'd keep it for the Titan's leader. And never would he allow Robin to die unless it was on his own terms. That alone was insurance for Robin's ability to get out of the place alive.

Robin stopped quickly, avoiding Slade's glare as he looked down at the boy from the doorway. "Why? Why this way?" Robin said softly.

"I wanted to test your resistance, young man, but my assumptions were incorrect. I underestimated your willpower," Slade said, glancing down at Robin. "You were willing to sacrifice bliss happiness that was false for an imperfect reality."

Robin slowly walked past his enemy and to the door. They stood back to back against each other.

"Am I that much of a nuisance to you?" he couldn't help but ask over his shoulder.

"You are either the most foolish boy or the bravest young man I have ever known," Slade said behind him. "And perhaps both in the end."

Robin had to bite his tongue from saying what he just thought: Thank you. He forced the idea out, reprimanding himself for even the thought that Slade would get a shred of gratitude for his insult/compliment to Robin.

He ran out of the lab and out into the cool night air of Jump City, as fast as his legs could take him.

I'm also a friend to some of the best friends that anyone could ever have.

A-A-A

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

Although weak from the constant fasting, Robin found himself more animated then ever when he got back to the Tower and began banging on the door madly. "Open up! Open up!" he shouted, rapping his fist on the metal doors quickly. "I'm back!"

Damnit, what had happened to his communicator?

"Rob?"

There was no mistaking the perky voice of Beast Boy from behind the door.

"Yeah, its me, Beast Boy!" he shouted. The doors parted with a SWOOSH and lo and behold, the green skinned changeling was standing in front of Robin with his pointy ears, wide black eyes, and molar peeping out of his mouth which was hanging open in shock.

"Dude! Where the heck have you-aah!"

Beast Boy began gasping from the lack of air, not to mention lack of sanity that he feared Robin may have lost. The masked boy had immediately wrapped his arms around the smaller teen and hugged him tightly! Robin had never been so thrilled to see one of his fellow teammates in the flesh. Heck, he felt like hugging everyone.

"Rob, rob," Beast Boy gagged in the middle of the hug. "You all right?"

Robin released his grip on Beast Boy and stepped back. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said with a shaky laugh. "I'm just glad to be back, that's all."

"Ok, but, uh, just don't hug me anymore, ok?" Beast Boy said, stepping back and shaking his hands in defense.

"Robin's come back?"

He turned around just in time to see Raven's black shadow form in the wall. A second later, the gothic girl had materialized through the metal wall and was standing next to him. Her usual calm expression was done for as well. Amethyst eyes were wide open and her hands flew to her mouth.

"Robin, what on earth happened to you?" Raven demanded. "What happened to you? You're pale as a ghost, and you're shaking all over. When was the last time you even ate!"

"ROB!" Cyborg leapt over the banister on the staircase and landed on the ground with a loud crashing sound, thanks to the heavy armor on his body. Ignoring the commotion, he grabbed Robin's arm and lightly rubbed the top of his head with his metallic knuckles.

"Man, we have been worried sick about you," he chided his friend. "Titan's East has been ringing up the whole other side of the coast for you." Cyborg held Robin back at arm's length and studied his face.

"You gotta eat something," he decided out loud. "Two sloppy joes for starters."

Robin was laughing unstoppably hard at this point. Oh, home never felt this good before. True, there were no serene little flower beds, but that didn't matter. This is where he belonged. This is where pizza parties, training practices, and battle triumphs were all real for the taking.

"Robin!" A musical feminine voice chimed out his name in a high ringing tone. Starfire had already been soaring through the tower like a purple and orange comet. She crashed into Robin, nearly knocking them both to the ground.,

"Easy, Star," Cyborg reminded her. "Rob needs some break time."

But Robin had accepted her embrace in return and found himself holding onto Starfire like an anchor of relief. He ran a gloved hand through her soft red hair and recognized the lingering scent of strawberries and watermelon from her favorite shampoo. Her arms made all of his insides nearly melt, holding him in to protect and cherish the friend. Robin discovered that her whole body was warm, but trembling.

"Starfire," he said, releasing his grip on her. "Are you all right?"

Emerald eyes that were formerly moist were now trickling over with tears. She nodded and sniffed, bringing a hand to her face.

"I, I have missed you so much," she said, wiping away a tear that just rolled down her rosy cheek like a shining pearl. "And I am glad that you are back with us, safe and alive."

Robin noticed a beaded blue bracelet on her slim wrist. "What's that?"

"This?" Starfire managed a small smile and touched the bracelet. "Strength beads. We wear them on Tameran when others are gone or missing, to ask for hope and valor to return them safely."

"Prayer beads," Raven suggested out loud.

Cyborg clapped his hands and rubbed them together.

"Come on, ya'll. We gotta put some meat and muscle back into our leader."

Robin allowed Starfire to support him as he took shaking steps up the stairs and into the main control room. Cyborg and Beast Boy were already squabbling in the kitchen.

"You can't just jar cow guts into a starving man," Beast Boy argued. "Give him some organic protein bars instead."

"What? No way!" Cyborg shot back at him. "He needs some of my patented spaghetti with three meat sauce."

"Perhaps Robin, you may want me to make you some Tameranean pudding?" Starfire suggested.

"Time out," Raven snapped sharply, making a gesture with her hands. Her remark made everyone seal their lips for silence.

"Robin's been gone for almost a week now and his stomach can't just settle anything. He needs mild food, like what people would eat for breaking a fast. Cyborg, some hot cereal and milk. Beast Boy, get the orange juice."

Raven waved an index finger, causing a fork to coat itself with black energy just before floating onto the table along with a kettle of hot water.

"Almost a week?" Robin looked up from the fragrant tea he was sipping carefully. "I've been gone that long?"

"Yeah, we've been going bonkers all this time," Beast Boy said.

"Robin," he heard Starfire say gravely. She took one of his own gloved hands into her own and a pained expression came across her face when she saw how pale and haggard Robin looked.

"Where on earth have you been?" she asked softly, touching his cool skin and brushing a delicate thumb across his cheek. A longing look crossed Robin's face and he gazed off, as if in a trance for a moment.,

"In dreams," he said quietly, drinking the rest of his beverage. "In dreams."

Half and hour later. . .

Four wide eyed Titans were sitting on the couch, listening to Robin with fascination.

"So all this time, Slade was able to trap you with this dream enhancer machine?" Starfire asked.

"Yes, and I hate to admit it, but it was a great dream," Robin said. "It was just the kind of life I would have wanted, if things hadn't been that way."

"But life isn't meant to be perfect," Raven insisted. "We must accept the obstacles that come our way with courage and hope."

"I know, I know," Robin sighed longingly. "But all of you guys were in it, and you were all just as happy as I was. Everyone was normal, don't you get it? No weird powers or mutant abilities or anything." He looked down at the floor for a moment.

"Sometimes I don't even know how you guys all deal with it."

"Rob, everyone's got a challenge in life," Cyborg said. "Its like the start of a game. Everyone's got a part to play. And if it means dealin' with hard things like this," he said, curling up a metal hand. "Then that's just the strategy that we've got to play."

"Yeah, and you're the team captain," Beast Boy added.

Robin looked up at all of his friends with a grateful smile. "Thanks guys. It was just so real, that's what kept me inside for so long. It wasn't until I realized something that made me see what it was worth breaking out for?"

"What was it?" Raven questioned him.

"The only way I could have created such an inspirational world of harmony was from my own reality," Robin said slowly. "My subconscious reflected from my real conscience. And if seeing my friends in school meant I had friends here, I couldn't just leave you guys and forget about them. I had to wake up and come back."

A loud beeping sound followed by a crackle of static interrupted the talking. The Titan's main control screen was flashing colors. Within a few seconds, the image and voice of Speedy was on the screen.

"Well, its nice to see someone is gonna relax tonight," he said sarcastically.

"Hey, Speedster," Cyborg called from the couch. "You told Bee to wrap things up now that Robin's home?"

"Yeah, and it's a good thing too," he said. "She's been running us up and down the highway for the past three nights and I've been all over Star City just to make sure." The Agile Archer smothered a yawn, covering his hand with a fist. Robin noticed the bags under Speedy's eyes that seeped out from behind his mask.

"Glad to have ya back, Robin," he added. "It's about time, too. I told Bee not to get overly worked up."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Robin asked.

Speedy shrugged. "Not like I'm trying to play this down at all, don't get me wrong. I was also getting the creeps while you were missing."

"But hey, I knew you'd come back. I just knew it. Robin's tough as nails, sharp as a tack, and has a will of iron," he said as he looked at the other Titans from the screen. "Robin will always stick with his team through everything. Nothing will keep him down."

A large grin broke out onto Robin's face from the red headed words.

"Thanks, Speedy. It means a lot to me."

"Anytime, Wonder Boy," he saluted with amusement. "Now go get some sleep before we all start snoring when the next badass guy comes into town."

The screen clicked off.

A-A-A

Everyone else had gone to sleep but Robin was still wide awake. After all, he had just spent quite a lot of time sleeping. Nevertheless, he lay on his back on the bed and stared at the ceiling with his hands locked behind his back.

What if I had never woken up? Slade would have won, but that's not all. I could have just stayed like that and died in my dreams, never able to help the Titans.

An uneasy shiver ran down his spine and he rolled over.

Starfire must have been sick with worry while I was gone.

Life's not so bad really, is it? Of course, lots of other kids would be delighted to have a life like Robin: glamorous, fun, exciting, and adventurous. There was no doubt a thrill he savored in being in a large fun home without parental supervision, with a great team, exciting attack powers. You're a crime fighter 24/7 without homework or rules or detention.

And yet. .

And yet. . .

Robin reached over on his dressed and picked up a framed picture. His green gloved fingers lightly traced over the letters at the bottom of the photograph that read The Flying Graysons. He was about eight years old and posed between his parents in the pictures. They were all wearing their circus leotards and waving for the picture.

He sighed and brought the picture to his chest longingly. Somehow, the grass is always greener on the other side. No matter how great this life was, he still wished that things could have changed in the past. And it was still the best dream that he had ever experienced in his life.

It was a very difficult challenge to let go and move on.

But as Raven had said before:

We cannot change the past, not matter how much we dislike it.

And as Batman had once told him:

You can turn your anger into a safeguard. It will protect you for the future.

Robin nodded to himself, digesting the words of his friend and mentor. There was darkness and there was light. There were times we felt pain and times that we felt joy. So much he wanted everything to be easily understood, to see the world cut and dry, black and white. But not always do the answers become so clear. Sometimes the detective must earn to live with the mystery that he cannot solve.

Robin resolved that not all questions will be answered right away. If he couldn't solve them, it didn't make him any less of a good leader or a fighter. It meant he has to accept what he couldn't change, and trust his friends with what they all could change.

Darkness and light must be intertwined at times for life to exist.

He stretched his hands above his head and relaxed his tense muscles. Tomorrow would be a better day. He knew because he would make it real, and make it happen. In memory of the past, in gratitude of the present, and in the promise of the future, he would make this a better place for everyone.

"Good night, Mom," he said to the photograph. "Good night, Dad. I love you both."

Robin replaced it on the bedside table. He reached over and turned out the light.

We love you too, little Robin.

THE END