A/N: WARNING! I may be the author of this drabble here below, but the main drabble, which I wrote my own version of, is written by THE awesome Wynja. She deserves the whole credit! PS: I have permission, so don't sue me and the characters belong to the DC- universe.


The bird and the baddies

Secrets. He hated them all like Batman hated the Joker. He hated secrets that were kept away from him. He hated secrets that would lead to pain, if revealed. Like this secret he had.

He liked to think 'if only'- thoughts. if only Slade was a good guy, he wouldn't have fallen for him. Litterally. If only Slade had decided to meet up with him today in civillian clothes like others and not the old uniform that would haunt Robbin's happy nights. If only they could be quiet during their time tigether, if onlyyyyyy...the rest of his team didn't walk in on them as Robin had taken his pants down with his butt to Slade's mouth.

The reaction: Let's put it simple: BB was mentally scarred for life, Raven simply stood there in shock with wide eyes, saying nothing, Cyborg closed his eyes in disgust and said "OH, HEEEEEELL NOH!"

Starfire closed her eyes and screamed stronger than a police car, Robin quickly took his pants on again, and Slade just stepped back.

"Robin, what the hell! I know you are gay and all, but have some standard, man! How can you get so low!"Cyborg lectured, and throwing a fit.

"Excuse me?" Slade said, highly offended.

"Yeah, dude! Him of all people! HIM!" "How could you betray us again! You are our leader, by azarath!" Starfire was the only one who didn't say anything. Robin noted that, but didn't ask.

"I'm not betraying you guys! I am your leader and nothing could change that!" Cyborg grabbed Robin's wrist and dragged.

"Let go, Cyborg! Where are you taking me? Let go!"

"Hell no, man! We're gonna talk, and Raven's gonna figure out what the hell's wrong with ya!"

"I don't want to!"

"I don't care! You're coming whether you like it or not!"

"LET GO, YOU-" Robin yelled, but was interrupted by Slade who hit Cyborg in the back with his staff and pulled Robin away from him. "Robin is not going anywhere if he doesn't want to." Slade said in a 'as of matter of fact'-tone while holding Robin close to him. Robin looked up at him. "Slade..." Said man looked down at him and placed a smile on his own face. "Don't worry, Robin. It's okay." Slade patted Robin head and Robin clinged to Slade's waist and tried to hide himself behind Slade. "Robin! Get away from Slade! NOW!" Raven ordered. Robin just shook his head.

"Azarath Methrion Zinthos!" Black energy leaked out of her and flew towards the mercenary and the leader. Slade held Robin and jumped while hitting all the black energy. He almost didn't dodge BB's attack which was an angry tiger. Slade landed steady on his feet. Suddenly, Robin untangled himself from Slade and stood infront of him like a shield.

"STOP NOW THIS INSTANT!" Robin yelled. They stopped, but didn't let their guard down.

"I'll go with you."

"Robin, no!" Slade said and grabbed Robin's arm.

"I'll go, just leave Slade alone." Robin looked over his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Slade. It's okay." Robin said with a smile on his face. Slade's eye widened, and regrettably let go. The other Titans took Robin away and Slade stood there alone. He knew Robin said it was okay, but they both knew it wasn't. His gut told him to not lose Robin. And he wouldn't. He would fight for his lover 'Robin...'


Robin was more or less dragged to the sick bay, even though he protested. It was taken bloodtests, hairsamples, they tried everything. "Will you guys stop it! There's nothing wrong with me!" Robin growled and was about to leave when Cyborg held him down and strapped him to the bed, like they did when Robin was having illusions of seeing Slade. "OW! Cyborg! Release me!"

"Not happening, man! Raven! Check his brain and see if there is a spell there or something!" Raven nodded and went forward to Robin. She reached out her hand, hesitated, and then put it on Robin's head. Robin shuddered as he felt his brain getting a ice-cold shower, but he didn't say anything.

After a while, Raven pulled back. "I didn't find anything, Cyborg." Cyborg slammed a table nearby. "No! There has to be something!"

"There is something." Robin said, and got all the attention.

"What's that?" BB said, eager to hear.

"I love him."

Silence filled the room. "Cut that shit." Cyborg muttered. Robin rised his head. "Excuse me?"

PUNCH!

"I. SAID. CUT. THAT. SHIT!" Robin was shocked. Had his...friend...just...hit him?

"Cyborg!" BB, Raven and Starfire gasped. "Cyborg! I know your shocked, confused ,angry, feeling betrayed, i know, but that's not a reason to hit Robin!" Raven said gently, but firmly.

"No reason? LOOK at him, Raven. He's not our leader! He's been brainwashed by Slade! Robin's been obsessed by Slade since ever! Robin has stolen, fought, betrayed, hurt us and for what? For that Fucking Slade! That darn...Slade." Cyborg said with disgust and spat at the name Slade.

"Cyborg, he's been pardoned by the goverment and he's not wanted for any crimes-" Robin said, but was interrupted.

"You believe that crap? He's used you and Terra like puppets!"

"That was years ago! We have put it behind us! We didn't know eachother back then!"

"You're kiddin' me!"

"NO! I love him, and that's that!"

"I'm calling Batman. Starfire, take Robin to a waiting cell, but take away his belt and communicator."

"WHAT? Cyborg, you can't be serious!"


He was. Robin couldn't believe his team! Well...maybe at some point somewhere. He had worked for Slade and he had done all those things Cyborg said, but still! How could they say things like that? Hurt him like that? Hit...Robin lightly sobbed and embraced himself. How could Cyborg hit him? Weren't they friends? Robin shook his head. They were still his friends. They just got upset, no wonder. After a while they would see things more clear. He was sure of it. At least...hoped so.

"R-Robin?" The light and gentle voice made Robin dry his tears and look after the keeper of the voice. He saw Starfire standing uncomfortable in the doorway. "I- I am supposed to do the picking up with you. Follow me please." Robin nodded and followed her. He didn't say a word, trying not to make his friend even more uncomfortable.

"Robin? If I may ask, do you really love Slade? Is he not a bad man?" They stopped in the hallway.

"Yes, Starfire. I love Slade. True, he is a bad man, or used to be. I admit his bad sides are more than his good sides, but the good sides are greater and have more importance than his bad sides. Me and my team will stop him if he's doing crime ,of course, but I love him and his body for what and who he is, not what he's done and what he hasn't done."

"Will it be that easy, though? If you ever catch him doing a crime, will you release him or bring him to justice? If you release him, you will be loyal to him, but betray us. If you bring him to justice, however, you will be loyal to us, but betray the man you love! Will it not be difficult?" Robin thought over the question before he answered.

"It will be hard, Starfire. Slade and I have talked about it. I've made clear that my career and responsibility goes first, you guys included, and Slade second. Luckily, Slade has the same point of view, so it was easier to accept it. " Starfir held her arm and looked hurt. "I thought...you loved me."Robin looked at her and felt bad for her. He took her hands in his.

"That's right, Starfire. I did. It came and went like the wind. You are still a precious coworker, friend and many other things, just not my love any more. I hope you understand."

"I will try, even though it is hard."

"That's all I ask."

They came into the living room, and Batman's stern face on the big screen was the first thing that met Robin's had seen that stern look so many times before, so it wasn't a surprise, but in this situation it was a little frightening. He kept his cool, though.

"Hello, Batman. I see my friends has called you." I decided to be polite, trying to talk as civilized as possible. A crying, brattish teen wouldn't do any good.

"Hello, Robin. I've been called because you've appearently been taking for betraying your team with this man called Slade, and have also heard you love him."

"It's not betrayal! Yes, I love Slade, but that doesn't make me a traitor! I've not told him any secrets of the tower or any of us, I swear it."

"Your team has told that you've worked for Slade and such. I would frown upon it if I hadn't done any worse or if the reason for your action was different. I'm still worried, though. Slade is a criminal, and a good one at that. He may be manipulating you, Robin. Plus, he seems a deal older than you, and it may be frowned upon."

"Batman, I'm soon eighteen in a few weeks! I know he has a bad career, but I know what he's capable of and what he just can't do. I can see when he's angry, hurt or happy just looking at him in his full uniform. I don't even have to hear him. Just watch him. I can be comfortable around him, he has ahown me sides of him I would never think of. Some, yes, but none of them were out of character. I know him, Batman. I love him for who he is."

"A criminal?"

"A man. A man who has lost his love, but stood up again. A man who is honest, strong and mighty. The label 'criminal' can't just be put on him and that's it! He's so much more. Catwoman is the same, right? She's much more, isn't she?"

"Yes, but this is not about her. This is about you seeing a criminal, a mercenary, a man who has tricked you, manipulated you hurt you and your friedns many times over. We are concerned, Robin."

"Yes, but you really don't have to! We've put all of that in the past. It was hard for me and him, but we did it. I have the rights to see him wether you like it or not. Why can't you accept my feelings?"

"I accept them, but not the man you have the feelings for. You've said you love him, right? Want to prove it?"

Robin stared at his mentor disbelieveingly, then interested. "I think I'm listening..."

"I have a stack of people's profiles, people I'm sure will be to your liking. You will date at least some of them, and if you choose one of them to have a second date with, you're officially dating the person and then you have chosen him over Slade. However, if you don't approve of any, you are free to choose any person to date without me getting a say in it, even Slade. You will date the person halfway before I text you, give you an opportunity to continue the date, or stop it right there and come home. How does it sound?"


"You seem in a good mood, Master Bruce? I assume he accepted the bet?" Alfred asked Bruce who was sitting at the tabble, eating his dinner.

"Yes. He accepted the bet to prove that Slade was the best. Too bad he will lose, though." Alfred rised his eyebrow and narrowed his eyes.

"What makes you so sure, Master Bruce?" Bruce grinned after eating his last potatoe. He made his way out of the door.

"I have chosen these dates, precisely these dates, to make Slade seem dull in comparison. Besides," Bruce said, as he looked over his shoulder at Alfred in the door opening. "No true lover would ever cheat on him to prove himself to someone, when all they really need to prove themselfs to, is each other." Bruce left Alfred in the room.

'Robin...you do love Slade, don't you? If not, you're entering a dangerous game without him to have your back.' Alfred thought depressed as he cleaned up.