A/N: Chapter three… took almost a week… I have been pondering the plot, making sure I won't get stuck AND reading and pondering (even harder, cause I like to ponder... such a funny word…) the wonderful reviews! Thank you everybody for your input! I hope the final result will be pleasing…
Disclaimer: There is no god. If there was, I would have owned them. There. Your final proof.
Over a week had passed. Every day Robin was given a mission, some more complex than others. The things he had to steal didn't seem to have much in common. Chemicals, electronics, a laptop belonging to a scientist Robin has never heard of… The boy tried to piece the puzzle together, but this, for once, was over his head. His fifth day's mission almost made him loose it, though.
"You want me to break into a sports' store!?"
"Yes. You will need the equipment."
"Climbing equipment? I…" Robin was simply lost for words and threw out his hands.
"Why are you so upset, Robin? Breaking into the mall doesn't appeal to you?" Slade chuckled.
Red, leaning on the bars that separated the rooms, chuckled too.
"It's petty theft, Slade. My bird only likes the difficult stuff… Hey? Why not let me go?"
Both Robin and Slade looked at the thief who shrugged.
"Why not?" Red continued "I'm dying in here! I'm so bored that if I had a book I might actually read it." The boy shuddered and Robin laughed softly.
"Nooo… you would have torn out the pages and made paper airplanes." he smiled.
"Good idea! Can I have a book?" Red asked Slade expectantly.
"Will it shut you up?" Slade growled.
"Possibly?" Red didn't sound sure himself. "But come on! Let me go this time? Please?"
"No." Slade said firmly, and that had been the end of that discussion. Well. It had been the end of Slade's part of it, because Red kept nagging him until the man showed him the control to Robin's collar.
That had been three days ago. Since then Robin had brought back a newly developed non friction material, a batch of microscopic needles and even more electrical parts. These, at least, Robin thought could be used to override electronic locks.
Their life as prisoners was fast becoming routine, which scared Robin almost as much as the thought of messing up on an assignment.
They were fed inconsistently, which was harder on Red than Robin. But to be fair it was often Red who didn't get his rations. There wasn't any reason for the missed meals. As far as they could see, it wasn't a punishment. Robin thought it was a way for their captor to break their spirits, but even if Red complained, profoundly and at length, it didn't work. At least not yet.
Boredom was a greater enemy to the thief, who often spent the days pacing in the confined space. Robin tried to keep him occupied, but at least he got to go outside. Red definitely had the worst end of this deal. He couldn't even taunt Slade, much, in fear that Robin would get punished.
They first took turns carrying the vile of acid, but there had been a close call four days ago when Slade first decided that they were allowed to shower. Robin was carrying the acid at that moment and it was only in the nick of time he managed to slip it to Red before the Slade-bots escorted him away. It was lucky, as all their clothes were now taken away and new ones, including new underwear and socks, were provided.
After that they made sure that Red kept the container inside the cell most of the time, often hidden away near the bed, always handy but hopefully safe. They still hadn't had a chance to use it, but the time wasn't wasted. The boy's minds took note of everything, trying to find weaknesses and patterns they could use.
One of the more important discoveries was how Slade operated the gate to their cell. His glove contained a small transmitter and made the gate open as he held on to a bar and pressed a tiny button next to his thumb. The whole situation was draining them, though, and the only thing that kept them from giving up, was each other.
They had gotten to know one another a lot better during these few days. How could they not, when all they could do was talk and, well… make out. Red, not really embarrassed about anything, had respected Robin's wishes about not going any further. Red agreed that their first time should be away from this place, but he warned Robin that once they had escaped the kid wouldn't know what hit him. Robin had just grinned and nodded.
It was awkward, though, sleeping in each other arms at night and then having to go to the bathroom practically in front of each other, especially when you just started dating. At first Robin had waited for Red to fall asleep, but the third night they had burst out laughing as it turned out they both were doing just that. After this, even that part was slightly less embarrassing.
The morning started like the ones before with the light suddenly turning on. Slade wasn't in the room so it must have been done from outside. The boys got to their feet as Slade came in and Robin felt a surge of despair. How long would this go on? How many more 'warm up-missions'? Would they be here for weeks? Months? He looked at Slade, though he knew the hopelessness in his eyes must be showing. What was the point of hiding it anyway? As long as he could keep Red safe, what else mattered?
"Not very happy this morning, Robin?" Slade asked mockingly.
"No." Robin just replied, as it was a question and Slade always demanded answers.
"Something on your mind again? Any questions?"
"None that you would answer."
"I see. Well, you will both have breakfast today, and I know that will make at least one of you happy." Slade told them and Red seemed to perk up considerably. "Robin, come out here. Red will eat inside."
Junk food again. Robin made a face, but Red happily dug in, of course.
Another folder was put in front of Robin.
"This time I need you to get a research paper. It's not especially heavily guarded, but it's in the university, with a lot of people around it, almost around the clock. It can't be discovered that it's missing, so I want you to make a copy and put the folder back before you leave."
Robin nodded. "I see." He understood why he was, for this mission at least, a bit better suited than Slade to perform the task. A kid, even a younger kid, at a university wouldn't be as questionable as an unknown adult. A kid at a chemical facility, though…
This looked like another pretty easy deal. He should perhaps feel grateful, but he was only irritated. He wanted the last mission. He wanted this to be over.
"Slade?" He looked up at the man, but was unsure if he should continue.
"Yes?"
Robin shot a glance at Red, but he was still busy with the remains of the breakfast.
"You said that, after the last mission, we would be free to go?"
"Yes."
"Is that the truth? I mean…" Robin's voice trailed off, he didn't really know why he had asked, what good did it do?
Slade's hand was suddenly on his shoulder, and Robin tensed. Slade seemed to be touching him a lot lately. Robin tried to brush it off as it was him who was paranoid after that Red claimed that the man was interested in him. It probably was. Robin always tried to keep a distance between them and talk to the man as little as possible now, though. This time, however, he just had to find out…
"Do you believe I would tell you the truth?" the man asked, almost gently.
Robin looked up at him.
"Y… Yes, I do. I mean, if we are never getting out of here, even if we were to be… killed… I would still do the job, to try to keep Red safe for as long as possible… so why lie about letting us go?" there was a challenge in the look he gave Slade.
"Why indeed?"
"So you are going to…?"
"Yes. You will have that option."
"And I will take it. As long as Red is with me."
"Sure you will." Slade patted the boy's shoulder. "I will be back in two hours. Learn all the routes."
"What should I choose?" Robin asked Red. "The nearest copying machine, or the one that's least likely to be used much?"
"The one nearest to the candy-dispensers, of course!" Red grinned.
"That's a good point-" Robin started.
"Yeah it is!"
"No, I didn't mean it like that… quite the opposite… I need to stay away from the hallway with the candy-dispensers, that's where people are most likely to stop by."
"Awww… no candy?"
"No money, Red."
"Who needs it? I can teach you this trick..."
"No thank you. Remember, I don't usually steal things."
"Right. Forgot."
"And we will have a long talk about your 'carrier' one of theses days."
"Nah, with you being rich, I figured I can be a kept boy, right?"
"Sure…" Robin grinned. "I'd like to see that…"
"I'd like to be that..." Red grinned right back.
Robin revised his plans yet again and felt he had, finally, something that looked like a pretty good strategy.
They were sitting on either side of the bars again. Slade really didn't have a reason for keeping them separated like this, Robin didn't really need a table after all, but as the man did, the boys thought that this was a small way to protest.
"I hate these things." Red muttered and tugged at the thin plastic strip around his neck.
"Oh? And here I was, thinking about getting you a collar…" Robin smirked.
Red shivered. "Don't even joke about it! I will throw mine out as soon as I get home."
Robin couldn't help but burst out in a laughing fit.
"You have collars? Really?"
"What?! They were so in… like a few years ago or so…"
"I'm sure they were."
"Robin the fashion police? Gimme a break…" Red snorted. "How do we get these off? I mean, when it's time?"
"Can't we just pull them off?" Robin said uncertainly. "They are thin, they will brake away if you would yank hard enough on them, I think."
"I sure like to try that theory."
Robin studied him.
"Yeah… maybe we should… tonight?"
"You know we are in for some serious pain, right?"
"Yes, but at least we'll know. And if we are really lucky, Slade might not have any more…"
"I bet he has rolls of the stuff…" Red muttered. "He gets it special order form 'Jerks R Us'"
Robin laughed softly. "Maybe we can make it look like an accident? Why don't you see if you get any ideas while I'm gone?" Robin knew it was a transparent attempt to get Red something to occupy his mind with, and so did the thief.
"Trying to get me to think again, Grayson?" he smirked.
Robin sighed.
"Worth a shot… With practice you might be able to do it without closing your eyes and mumbling to yourself…" he grinned, getting a fake very hurtful look in reply.
"Abusive again?" Red sighed. "Nobody loves me…"
Robin smiled warmly at him. "I'm sorry… I just can't help myself."
"No worries… as soon as we get out of here I'm gonna abuse you. A lot. And I will not be able to help myself either…" Red's grin looked almost like a sharks, making Robin gulp.
"You know who I miss?" Red asked suddenly after a moment's silence.
"No? Who? Except for the pizza-delivery-guy…"
"Starfire."
"What!?" Robin almost banged his head on a bar, as it whipped around to face Red.
"Yeah. Your whole team, really… I wouldn't mind them rushing in here, right about now."
"Know what you mean..." Robin sighed.
"You haven't even seen them on your little heists! What, their leader disappears and they go, 'Great! Boss is gone! Vacation-time!'"
"I know they are looking…It's just, how are they supposed to know there's a robbery when there's no alarm? And if I should trigger an alarm..." he shuddered.
"I bet they are in Aruba. Ever seen Raven on a beech?"
Robin just shook his head at his boyfriend, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Any ideas yet?" Red asked and Robin of course understood what he meant.
"I don't know. I figure we should wait for a bit longer. Maybe I'll find something better." he answered, indicating the acid. He hadn't yet, though, not anything he would be able to bring back without Slade noticing. Not anything that could be useful, anyway.
"You're my clever little snuggle bug, aren't you?" Red grinned.
"Hey, I wondered where the nick-names had gone to. I've missed them…" Robin laughed.
"Sorry, doll face, I just can't think on an empty stomach."
"I shall remember to keep you well fed in the mansion, then, Mr. Knight." Robin said in a mocking snobbish tone that made Red laugh out loud.
Slade entered at that time and seemed to glare at the laughing boy.
"Time for the mission."
The bots held on to Robin as usual and Red was taken out to the chair. Robin hated knowing that he was bound to that thing during missions. He knew the bonds were painful and some missions could take hours. Sometimes when he came back he noticed that Red had been hurt. The older boy clamed it was because he couldn't just sit quiet for hours and that Slade was quite touchy, but he wouldn't tell Robin what exactly he had said to the man.
Robin got changed and finished just in time for Slade to come back. He had been allowed normal clothes this time, as he sometimes was, depending on where the missions were taking place. In the outer room he was as usual given his equipment.
"Again you have two hours." Slade told Robin and set the timer. The boy nodded. The timeframes so far had been fair, at least, and this time he even knew the building somewhat as he had visited the university on occasion.
"Is this a good time? Isn't it in the middle of the day?" Robin wanted to know.
"Yes. But it's Saturday."
"Oh." Robin didn't like that he had lost track of the days. It was bad enough not having any natural light. He found himself always searching for a clock on his missions, just to try to get a time reference.
"Be careful, peanut." Red mumbled as Robin kissed him goodbye.
"If you just stay quiet this time…" Robin smiled.
"Can't promise anything…" Red grinned back.
"Sometimes I just think you are a masochist." he sighed.
"Oooohhh… big word. Explain later?" Red smirked.
"Sure. Love you."
"Right back at you." Red grinned. "Always." he added more seriously. Robin just had to waste a few more seconds on another kiss after that.
Again everything was going smoothly. It took a while to get his hands on the report, as he had to wait for a janitor to finish cleaning the floors, but Robin finally managed, and, checking the time, headed for the copying machine. It was a pretty thick report but he would be able to stack the papers in the feeder and the machine would do the rest. He figured he would have time to try to read some of it too, and try to figure out what Slade was up to. Robin didn't know that this was the copying machine from hell.
First the paper ran out, which was easily fixed, but then the toner also turned out to be empty. Robin swore quietly as he looked around the room. Finally he spotted some toner-cartridges stacked against a wall, and luckily, they fit the copier. Then the paper jams started. Robin, realizing he had little time, turned to the communicator on his wrist. A small button on its side made it open.
"Slade. Everything is fine, but I'm having problems with the copying machine. I need more time."
"You were given two hours, Robin. I expect you to be here by then." the man's cold voice answered.
"Please! I won't make it! Give me 15 more minutes!"
"No." The communicator clicked off and Robin couldn't get it to work again. Another grinding sound let him know that the papers had stuck once more.
"Fuck!" He kicked the machine hard, probably making things worse, and gathered up the papers to head for another one.
Not really caring if he was spotted, he ran flat out along the hallways towards the other copying room on the floor. It was just dumb luck that he didn't run into anybody and this copier had a good day. He hurriedly returned the original report to its file and started to run back. He wouldn't make it. It was too far. His lungs burned as he finally got close to Slade's building. Before he reached the entrance he glanced at the timer. Minus 6 minutes. His heart pounded as he threw the door open.
Red's chair was empty.
To be continued…
A/N: Copying is often a part of my workday. Does that show in any way? No? –grins-
I just wanted to say that I now KNOW what Slade is planning. Finally. Not easy to get it out of the guy, let me tell you… so if you were worried that this story would suddenly just… stop (and I was, at a point) don't be. It still won't be a long one, though! The other Titans are not at Aruba, by the way. The hotel prizes there are ridiculous. They had to go somewhere cheaper. –grins- Only kidding! This story won't be from their point of view, though, so no chapters of Raven breaking stuff, Cyborg in I'M LEADER NOW-fits, BB eating ham out of depression or Starfire having hysterics. Nope. Just Slade, Robin and Red X. And you. And me. Aren't we a happy little family? We put the 'fun' back in 'dysfunctional'… (Simpsons-quote)
Oh! Go myself a deviant-art-account under the name of 'wynjas' (notice the 's').. just one pic there right now… a Slade/Robin one.. But I'm thinking of a Red/Robin one too… pity I'm no good drawing humans...
