EDIT July 2016: this story is in the process of being edited for spelling mistakes and the like. Nothing about the story line or characters will change. If you notice anything wrong, like a chapter in the wrong place, let me know! The editing should be finished within about a week. Disclaimer:
Hello!
You thought it was a myth, but here it is, the first chapter of Black Sheep 3 (the real title below). It's long awaited, I know, and I'm very nervous… it can't possibly live up to everybody's expectations, but I've tried my best…
You should read "Black Sheep Wanted", and "Black Sheep 2: Most Wanted", before this, but I think you understand that… -pats clever reader on the head- ;)
Something else I've tried is the patience of Jayto, who is my beta-muse for this story! She has read the existing chapters in peace but now, as I have to keep up, the real work begins, honey! ;) If there are any typos and stuff left, they are mine, I love them, and I intend to keep them! Oh, okay, cookies for corrections as usual, then!
I will be posting about once a week, but the day might vary slightly… Go join "WynjasTinyDucklings" on DA while you wait!
Black Sheep - Third Time's the Charm
Chapter 1: S.O.S.
It all started with a call.
The Titan's leader flipped the lid of his communicator open.
"Robin here."
"It's me. You have to get over here. Right now."
"Slade? This is not an emergency booty-call again, is it?" Robin smirked. "Because there are no such things, you know… I looked it up."
"Something's happened… it's… it's Rose. Hurry."
The line went dead.
Robin's heart started beating faster as he hurried down to the garage.
"I'm going to Slade's!" he shouted to Cyborg, who was down there with his precious T-car. "It's important!"
"Yeah, but if you come back with a silly grin on your face, you're busted, man…" Cyborg called after him.
Robin ignored the jibe and straddled his bike; the Harley Slade had given him, and took off.
The not-so-former mercenary had taken a small apartment by the docks. It was more of an over-night place in a dingy area, although the neighborhood's reputation had gotten a bit better since it seemed a certain hero had taken a special interest in it.
The trip took only a few minutes, but a thousand thoughts had plenty of time to run through Robin's mind. He had spoken to Bruce and Rose only a few days ago. Of course, seconds were enough for something to happen… was it Batman-related? Had she been hurt, maybe kidnapped? Was Bruce okay? Alfred?
By pressing a button on the bike's handle, a garage-door on the side of the building opened as Robin drove up. It was a safety-measurement as well as a convenience; he didn't want to leave the bike on the streets in this area.
Too agitated to wait for the ancient and slow elevator, he started running up the stairs, all fifteen of them, until he reached Slade's floor. He had his own key, and stormed inside, where the man was pacing.
"What? What is it? What happened?" he cried out.
Slade, looking ashen-faced, barely stopped pacing.
"She… they…"
"They? Slade! Just tell me!" Robin went as far as to get in the man's way and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Tell me now!"
"They are getting married!"
One minute later, Robin was still staring at Slade with his mouth open.
"They… they what?"
"I know!" Slade growled and threw his arms out in a desperate gesture that looked weird on the man. "She just called me!"
Robin sank down in a second-hand sofa, which actually had been left by the previous owner. The teen had been avoiding it up until now, because it looked like it had seen its share of weird stuff, but right now he was just glad that something caught him before he hit the floor.
"Slade, that's not a catastrophe! It's a bit soon, perhaps, they have only been together for what? Six months?"
"Yes! It's too soon! That's what I'll tell her!" Slade looked happier now when he had an argument.
"Maybe they have to get married, if you know what I mean?" Robin leered. Slade was never this upset, and he only got this way when it came to his daughter. Robin's friends had claimed the man had been acting rather erratic while Robin himself had been injured by Blood, but the teen didn't really believe it had been as bad as Speedy and the others said. Now his words flipped a whole new switch in the man's brain, though.
"I'll kill him!"
Slade really looked like he was on his way to Gotham right that instant, on foot if need be, so Robin got in his way again.
"Sit. Down."
"Right after I make you an orphan again," Slade snarled.
"No. Now." Robin knew his words didn't stand a chance of reaching Slade at the moment, but a flying tackle did. The man lost his footing and plopped down on the sofa. Robin was quick to straddle him.
"Think about it, idiot!" Robin growled. "If Rose is pregnant, and I said if, I bet they are both deliriously happy! Bruce will make a great dad, and have you considered the best thing?"
"There's no 'best thing'… there's not even a 'not so bad' thing…" Slade sulked.
"There will be a little boy or girl, with your smile, inheriting all of Bruce's money… and driving him nuts in the process…" Robin smirked. "And you can teach the kid how to do it perfectly…"
Slade's eye narrowed slightly, but when a smirk started to play in the corners of his lips, Robin knew he had won this round.
"Hmmm…." the man hummed. "I might…"
"And you will. One day. Now, let's call them and congratulate them, shall we? I bet you didn't do that before, did you?"
"I… think I just hung up…" Slade mumbled.
"'Just hung up'?" Robin repeated a few moments later. He was standing in front of the computer Slade had used to talk to Rose, and it had a fist-sized hole in the screen. The teen gave the mercenary a level look, and Slade actually seemed slightly abashed. Muttering about stupid old men, Robin hooked the computer and camera up to the TV instead, and made the call.
Rose answered promptly, looking nervous.
"Robin! You must go to Slade, I- oh! Hi dad."
"I've just heard. Congratulations!" Robin grinned.
"I wanted to tell dad first, sorry Robin…" Rose said. "Not the smartest thing to do, perhaps."
"Don't worry about it," Robin shrugged. "Now… Slade… Is there something you wanted to say?"
The man muttered a bit.
"Ooookay…" Robin rolled his eyes. "You might not have caught that, Rose, but Slade is giving you his blessing and wishes you all the happiness in the world."
"I'm sure he does…" Rose snickered, and then looked over her shoulder. "Honey? You can lower the defenses; dad is not on his way to kill you!"
"I wasn't worried; it was just a routine security check…" Robin heard Bruce mutter just before he showed up on the screen.
"Sure it was, Bruce," the teen grinned. "Congrats! By the way, did you knock her up?" Robin felt Slade tense beside him, and the couple on the screen gasped and blushed.
"Robin! What a horrible way to ask! And no, he hasn't… yet." Rose looked half shocked, half amused.
Slade muttered something about Bruce being lucky, but in general, seemed to be in pretty good control at the moment.
"So, when is the wedding?" Robin asked.
"In two weeks," Rose answered.
"Wow! That soon?" Robin gaped.
"We have been planning it for a month… it's just that we've…" Bruce started.
"Haven't had the guts to tell you," Rose grinned.
"And no one is holding a gun to anyone's head," Bruce clarified, clearly trying to ignore Rose's revelation. "It might seem like it's too soon, but Rose is just the one. I've dated enough wrongs to know when I've found the right one, and she is the most amazing woman alive."
Robin had to hold onto Slade's arm as the couple kissed, or this screen would soon also be junk.
"You are all invited, of course, Titans East as well…" Bruce told them as they returned to reality. "You'll get the invitations tomorrow. We will keep it rather small, I think. Close friends and family."
"Hmmm… 'small' by millionaire standards… will Slade have to get an extra job?" Robin grinned.
"What?" the man next to him asked.
"Well, it is the parents of the bride who traditionally pays for the wedding, isn't it?" Robin chuckled.
"You hear that, honey?" Bruce grinned. "How about inviting a few more people? About three- or four hundred more? And I've always liked truffles and Russian caviar…On the other hand…" Bruce's eyes traveled beyond the couple, taking in the bare and run-down living room behind them. "Looks like your dad is a bit short on cash at the moment, Rose… well, a McDonalds wedding can be nice too… if we're lucky we might get the super-size menu…"
"Don't worry about my finances. I'm just renting this to have a place to fuck your ward where people won't come running from the screams…" Slade drawled.
Robin saw the little vein on Bruce's forehead pop, but the man stayed deceivingly calm.
"Interesting how you think he's not worth anything better…" Bruce drawled vindictively.
"Oh, shut up, the both of you!" Robin barked. "We picked this place together because it's convenient, all right? Now, I can't wait for the invitations. Let us know if we can help?"
"Thanks Robin…" Rose smiled. "I will… now go calm dad down, and try to find a sedative for the ceremony, okay?"
"Will do!" Robin grinned. "Bye!"
"I don't need a sedative…" Slade muttered. "A set of really sharp throwing-knives, though…"
"Oh, don't be grumpy! Can't you be happy for them?" Robin said. "She could have been marrying Brother Blood, you know."
"I know. I like that idea… HE's dead."
"Oh, Lord…" Robin sighed. "Well, if you are going to be like this, fine. I have work to do." he headed towards the exit, but was caught around his waist half way there.
"Yes you do…" the man started to carry him towards the bedroom. "You are going to cheer me up."
The bed was the only furniture in the flat not second hand, but Robin had a feeling it wouldn't last long due to over-use. It had been sturdy when Slade bought it, but it already creaked ominously, especially at times like this.
They had picked it out together, just like the flat, but making it very clear they weren't doing it together-together, just that it was the reasonable thing to do, since they would both be using it. They had no problems agreeing on the size (the biggest the store had), the firmness (medium-to-hard), or even the headboard.
They had went to the store incognito, of course, but Robin suspected that they would be remembered, especially since he had spotted the headboard he was currently clutching, and made an unconsciously loud remark about bondage. The thing seemed constructed for it, however, mainly consisting of metal beams welded together to form a sparse grid-like pattern. It reminded him a bit of the bed they had had at the H.I.V.E, but, thankfully, without the bee-cell pattern. The headboard was now making a rather big impact on the wall behind it.
Robin was extremely close to coming, when a signal, sounding like an old-style phone, made itself known through all the other noise.
"Don't get that!" Robin begged, tightening his legs around Slade's hips.
Slade, however, paid him no mind, and reached for the small, black, logo-less cell phone on the nightstand.
"Yes?" he answered, still moving in and out of Robin, but at a slower and much less satisfying pace. Robin flexed his legs, trying to get him to speed up, but Slade was listening to a voice on the other end.
"Yes," the man said again. "One hour." He then did something Robin wouldn't believe unless he hadn't just experienced it himself: he pulled out. Without coming, and without, more importantly, making Robin come, the man headed for the bathroom.
"What the…?" the teen started. "Slade?"
"That was work, Robin. Get dressed."
"You're kicking me out?"
"No, you can stay, but I'm leaving. Might be a week or two."
"But… we… right NOW?" Robin yelled at the closing door.
"If it had been your alarm, would you have let me finish?" Slade's muffled, amused voice said.
"Yes," Robin muttered, feeling very guilty over the fact.
"Don't worry, princess. I always finish what I start. Just consider this very long foreplay," the man said, just before the shower started and drenched all other sounds, including Robin's cursing as he dressed.
"I can't believe that he just fucking left!" Robin growled to the room in general, as he stormed into the Titan's main lounge.
"Hi, sunshine-boy!" Speedy grinned at him from the screen.
"Hi," Robin muttered, wondering why he was interrupting a call with Titans East. "Has something happened?"
"No, everything's just groovy… not at your end, though? Slade's not riding you hard enough?"
"Exactly!" Robin snarled, not caring that his team cringed and blushed. "He left for a damn mission, right in the middle of-" now Robin noticed the others. "… a game of poker…"
"More like a game of poke-him, looks like…" Speedy leered.
"Or tease-and-hold-it?" a new voice broke through, and Robin saw another familiar grin.
"Flame! Please don't tell me Speedy's terrible sense of crude humor has rubbed off on you?" Robin sighed.
"I'm trying to minimalize the damages…" a third person cut in, and Aqualad came into view.
"Work harder," Robin grunted. "By the way, I might want Flame back. I need a nice guy right now."
"Sorry, Robin, I have my hands full with these two. Literally," Flame grinned.
"Join us?" Speedy suggested.
"A trio in the Titans East Tower is bad enough. A foursome, and the government will shut us down," Robin said, rolling his eyes behind his mask.
"Yeah… but we would have fun until then, right?" the archer wriggled his eyebrows.
"Where's Bumble Bee? Why isn't she making you do laps or something?" Robin muttered.
"Because it's the middle of the night here?" Aqualad suggested.
"You can't run when it's dark?" Robin shot back teasingly. "All right, I was interrupting something. What did you want?"
"Speak to you, actually," Speedy let him know. "Err… sooo… when is Slade coming back?"
"He didn't know. A week or so. I didn't exactly hang around to get the details… not that he would have told me anyway, the jerk…" Robin added under his breath.
"Great! I mean… well… so then you are free for a few days, right?" Speedy asked.
"Yes, well, I kinda do have this city out there…" Robin said dryly and pointed his thumb in the general direction of Jump.
"Yes, yes, but that will hold!" Speedy shrugged. "It's Shield and Shift. They need a hand, and I suggested you."
"I don't know… will it take long? I have some news… actually, I can just tell all of you at once: Rose and Bruce are getting married."
There was a general outburst of cheers and questions.
After their latest adventure, Robin had told both groups of Titans about his and Bruce's identity. It was just the simplest way to go, especially since Rose and Bruce got involved, and the Brother/Sister-project with the teens from the H.I.V.E-academy got started. Shield and Shift also knew, since they worked closely with Rose on the project, as well as getting their own business going at the same time.
"When?"
"Did Slade freak out?"
"Are we invited?"
"Two weeks, more than a little, and yes of course," Robin grinned.
"Well, that's enough time, then! I mean, if you feel up to it, just give them a call, huh?"
"I don't think-" Robin said, but got cut off by Cyborg.
"Well, actually, if Slade just took off, you'll be no joy to have around, so if it's only for a few days…"
"I'm not that bad!" Robin bristled. "Just because he's a complete jerk and the bastard wouldn't know what decency was if it bit him on the ass, I-"
"See? That's the rambling we'll be listening to until you calm down. A bit of a road trip might do you good," his metal friend smirked.
"I think I hate all of you…" Robin muttered and stomped off.
"Boy… that must have been one hell of a poker-game…" Speedy grinned after him.
After slaughtering a Slade-bot, which he had borrowed as a sparring-partner, the teen had calmed down enough to call Shield.
"Hi! What's new in Gotham?" Robin forced a grin on his face.
"Shift's nose, for one…" Shield grinned back.
"Oh, so his powers are coming along then?" Robin asked, feeling relived. Brother Blood had very nearly killed the teen, and his abilities had been all but gone for a long time.
"Yeah, well, he can change his hair, eyes, nose… general appearance stuff," Shield announced happily.
"But no objects… and not… you know… the other gender?" Robin asked.
"Nope. I'm still a straight guy with a girlfriend who happens to be a boy…" Shield sighed dramatically. "Poor me."
"I'm kinda trying imagining you guys having sex…" Robin laughed.
"Don't, you'll get jealous." the older teen smirked. "So… I guess Speedy harassed you? I told him not to…"
"Well, I just got curious. I'm not making any promises, but I wanted to know what you were up to," Robin said.
"Yes, well, it's a simple thing really… it's a delivery."
"Delivery?" Robin asked. "The mail's not good enough for you?"
"Wouldn't work… You see, it's a very sensitive piece of technology, not much bigger than a USB-stick, but it can't be exposed to any form of electrical or magnetic wave or current."
"Errr… okay… let me just point out that if it is a technological item that is not supposed to be used with electronics… it's pretty useless, right?" Robin raised an eyebrow.
"Not the wrong kind of electronics," Shield explained. "You know how your cell-phone can erase your magnetic cards?"
"Well, that's a bit of a myth in most cases, but yes, I know the theory…" Robin shrugged.
Shield gave him a look like he was being difficult, before continuing.
"Yes, well, it's the same with this… it can only be used in controlled environments. And now it needs to be moved from one such place to another."
"Sounds stupid. Why?" Robin asked. Yes, he was being difficult, but he was just in that kind of mood. Coitus interruptus will do that to some people.
"Hey, we're just the hired help here, I don't question my clients," Shield complained. "Anyway, it's over in your neck of the woods, it involves a pleasant walk in the beautiful country-side, and it won't take more than a week. Tops."
"That long of a walk, huh?" Robin asked. "And why a walk, anyway?"
"You could skateboard… but you can't use anything that creates any form of electrical current, and that includes almost all forms of modern transportation. And it's not that long… about 62 miles. As the bird flies."
"Doesn't sound too bad… what's the catch?"
"There's a mountain-range in the way."
"Oh."
"And a desert."
"Really?"
"Not a whole real desert, though! Just a bit of wasteland… your goal is in the middle of it, will probably just take a day or so to cross."
"Right."
"Of course you can't bring any communication-devices, or even a compass…"
"Do I have to deal with any one-eyed bastards who insist on calling me 'princess'?" Robin asked.
"Errr… no? I wouldn't think so…?" Shield answered hesitantly.
"Perfect. I'll start packing."
To be continued…
A/N: Well, that's a way to start the story, huh? Getting the two main characters as far away from each other as possible? Err… I might have screwed this up already… ;)
Anyway, I'm aware that Slade might seem a bit OOC in the beginning, in his somewhat hysteric mood, BUT his daughter was involved, and I'm going to let him be a little weird when it comes to Rose, okay? Oh, and Robin too, in some cases. His daughter has, after all, just recently came into his life again, and had the bad taste of hooking up with a bat… I'd be a concerned parent too… ;)
All the best, and please review!
See you next week!