EDIT: thank you to DragonsDreamer who discovered a plot-hole in the last story. Shouldn't Robin have Slade-like powers if the experiment was successful? Yes, he should! I had forgotten to mention that the powers needed one final injection to activate, as a safety measure, but it's in there now... damn line was only in my head... A big bunch of cookies has been given! ;)

A/N: Merry Christmas to yay (anonymous reviewer). I changed the prompts a tiny bit, for this one, how you don't mind…

Genre: today is another "L-day" and in- no, not lesbian day, this is still Sladin: Light-day! No specific warnings for this one, I think… ;)

All Grown Up

"You know, Bruce, I am eighteen!" Robin half growled with his hands on his hips. He was glaring at his former mentor who didn't look too perturbed as he stood, leaning against one of the many fireplaces in Wayne manor. Right now they happened to be in the library, Robin, Bruce and, sitting in a comfy chair just to the side of the fire: Slade Wilson. They were staying the night too, and it fell upon Robin's shoulder to make sure it wouldn't be a disaster.

"Just," the millionaire only said.

"Yeah, well, just. Still, I'm not a child anymore."

"I'm aware."

"Good! Because I've been leading the Titans for the last five years, and I deserve some credit. I know Slade might not be your favorite person in the world, but he is mine, and you just have to accept that!"

"He's a mercenary," Bruce stated.

"Yes, that's what his license says. His mercenary license. Issued by the government. By which he is not wanted, by the way, not in any state."

"Right now."

"For over a year!"

"He doesn't seem to have much to say for himself," Bruce muttered and cast a cold glare in the other formerly-not-so-legal mercenary's direction.

"What can I say?" Slade smirked and threw his hands out. "Robin has not been wrong, so far, and I rather enjoy hearing him fight for me… I'm a romantic."

"Yeah, sure you are…" Robin snorted, a similar sound coming from Bruce at the same time. The younger man's eyes were warm, however, as he looked at his lover. Then he coughed and straightened up again, putting on a more businesslike face.

"Yeah, so… I'm eighteen… I'm in a relationship… and I'm going solo."

"Ah, so that was the second piece of news you talked about on the phone," Bruce said. "And what are your reasons for this? Did Slade-"

"No, Slade didn't influence me in any way, but yeah, it's partly because of us. We're all grownups at the Tower now, we all have relationships on and off, and it's getting… crowded. I need some space, and living in a collective household like that… well, let's just say I'm getting tired of people not knocking."

"There are locks," Bruce shrugged.

"I try to remind him," Slade nodded.

Robin ignored them and continued. "I need to live on my own, well… with Slade, but to have some privacy… You understand that part, don't you?"

"I do."

"Good… then… Well, I was thinking of moving to Blüdhaven… That place could really need some help, and it's close to Gotham, but it won't work unless you accept that I'm an adult!"

"I do."

"Really?"

"Yes. I think you will do great on your own, and I think Slade has told you so too. You don't need my permission, which I'm also rather sure he has said…"

"I did," Slade nodded.

"Wow… you're… you're pretty cool with this. I thought for sure there would be at least a bloodstain on the carpet or something by now…" Robin said.

"You have disappointed him, Bruce. He kept practicing speeches all the way here…" Slade chuckled.

"Well… I have known about Slade for about six months…" the Dark Knight admitted.

"You have? How? WHO?"

"Beast Boy let it slip when I called one night and you were… unavailable," Bruce shrugged.

"And you didn't fly across the continent to rip Slade's balls off?" Robin gaped, almost sounding a little disappointed.

"Oh, we had a… talk."

"You… so… you knew… and you knew he knew and he knew and I didn't and… why didn't you tell me?"

"You were hard to follow there for a while…" Slade confessed. "Did you mean to ask me why I didn't tell you about Bruce knowing about us?"

"YES!"

"Well, firstly we decided not to tell you together. We figured that if you thought our relationship was serious enough, you'd tell him when you felt ready. And you did. And I didn't want to ruin your little independence-moment…" the man added with a little grin.

Robin closed his eyes and seemed to be counting.

"Funny," Bruce chuckled. "Whenever I had the misfortune of running into your… boyfriend, I usually ended up with that expression as well…"

"I'm trying to be mature and not yell at him."

"I understand perfectly, trust me."

"Well, okay, you kept this from me but that's better than Slade bleeding to death on the floor, I guess…" Robin sighed.

"Excuse me? Who's side are you on?" the mercenary complained.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure Bruce could take you if he was angry enough…" the teen smirked.

"Why thank you, Robin! You're getting a car for Christmas…" the millionaire grinned, giving the mercenary a smug look.

"I was thinking of buying him a plane…" Slade said airily.

"Oh, act your age you two…" the teen sighed.

At that moment Alfred appeared in the door.

"Your bubble-bath is ready, Master Richard."

"Great, Al, thanks!" Robin grinned.

"Oh, he's so grown up…" Bruce chuckled, so only the white haired man could hear it.

"Well, night, Bruce," Robin said, walking towards the door. He looked back and gave Slade a very telling look. "Planning on joining me any time soon?"

"Oh, he has grown up… in some ways…" the mercenary leered at his host and followed.

The End.

A/N: the original prompt was "it's time for your bubble bath, Robin" but I at once thought Alfred should be the one to say it, and he wouldn't say it like that, so I rewrote it to "Your bubble-bath is ready, Master Richard." I kinda think it's the bubble-bath that is the THING here, anyway… ;)