"Seven minutes," Slade spoke, his voice measured and lilted with something mischievous as he calmly observed you. "That's how long it'll take for the drug to render you unconscious. You've got seven minutes to listen to me."

You can already feel your vision wavering, the pinprick on the back of your neck from where Slade had slid the needle in sensitive across your flesh. He'd shown up within the shadows while you were on your way back to the Tower, and he'd incapacitated you swiftly enough. Dick wasn't joking when he'd warned you to stay away from him, that Slade was dangerous - you had never fought him like this, just knew that your mentor wanted you to stay clear of him, that they had a history that went way back.

"You're different than the pets Richard usually wrangles off the streets," Slade spoke, and as your staggering to your feet, he circles you, calm and predatory. It resonates that Slade knows Dick's identity. "But, you know, it's not as altruistic as you may think. Never has been. He's said he'll help you change? Grow? Richard is driven by some self-righteous indignation, kid. It's never as selfless as it seems."

Your vision is slammed by another wave of dizziness. Slade's fingers dig into your jaw, forcing your head back so you can meet his steely gaze through that mask, grey eye narrowing coldly. His head tilts mockingly. "You're wasted potential if you stay with him. You're like charity, something he feels obligated to oblige just because you're a little troubled."

He squeezes your jaw harder.

"You really want to grow? You want someone to guide you?" Slade's grasp eases, and you almost slump against his chest, the drug digging it's claws into your mind. "Being a Titan isn't the way to do it." He tilts your head, almost as if he was assessing you with languid ease, voice mockingly cruel. "I know you're smart enough to figure out why I'm here. There isn't much you can do to stop me if I feel like taking you away, is there? This is what Richard's training does for you - absolutely nothing."