A/N: Well, as you probably have guessed, we are not dealing with a "Terms-" Slade in this story, but a rather darker one. I still like him though, and I like him more and more the more I write…;o) this chapter you'll get further glimpses of his personality, and some thoughts from Robin's point of view… Though Robin isn't exactly objective… I love the way they clash… -grin-

Disclaimer: Errr… what? Oh, right… Titans not mine… blah-blah... No, I'm not bitter…


Black Sheep Wanted

Chapter 3: How I Wonder Who You Are

"You want to hire me?" Slade asked, incredulously.

"Yes."

"You are aware that this will only add to your debt to me?"

"It will work in your advantage, too." Robin said, and struggled to sit up a bit straighter in bed. He really felt like the underdog, slumped against the pillows. It was especially bad as Slade was sitting on the bed, next to him. "You are right; Bruce's assets, and mine, are most likely locked, especially in a situation like this. Help me free Bruce and the money is yours."

"If you need help, why don't call your little friends?" Slade asked. "After I am fully reimbursed, of course." he added calmly.

Robin looked away, and Slade understood the situation.

"I see. Your friends don't know about your identity, and you don't want them to find out?"

"Preferably." Robin nodded reluctantly. "Besides, our time might be limited, and I don't have time to steal enough knick-knacks for you, before going after Bruce."

"Very well, Robin… using every tool available to you, that's good. I will consider your offer," Slade agreed and then chuckled. "Don't look so surprised, boy. I will always regard sober and logical suggestions seriously. Especially if I might gain from them." He took the now empty mug from Robin's hands and rose from the bed. "Do you think you could eat some solids?"

Robin nodded numbly, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"Good, I will see what I have."

Slade returned some time later with what looked like beef hash and fried eggs. Robin tucked in, his hunger coming back with a vengeance, even after the soup. The portion wasn't large, but it was enough to make Robin feel like he was about to explode. With the fullness he felt tired again, and slowly started to slip down into a laying position. He didn't want to go back to sleep quite yet, though.

"Well?" he said, groggily.

"Well, what?"

"'ave you thought 'bout 't yet?" he murmured.

"I'll let you know tonight. It is about lunchtime now, and you are to get some rest. I need to pick up a few things, and I'm going to lock you in… not that I don't trust you, mind you…" Slade smirked.

Robin only nodded. He was curious about where they were and what the rest of Slade's base looked like, but all that could wait; he didn't plan to leave this bed right now. He hadn't even finished that thought, before making a dreadful discovery.

"I…I need to use the bathroom…" he said, trying not to feel ashamed. Slade had made it very clear that he wouldn't ridicule him for normal bodily functions, hadn't he?

"I was just about to ask." Slade nodded and, after pulling the covers off him, lifted Robin up bridal-style. Robin gave the man an affronted glare and Slade snorted.

"Come now. You can walk back, and then tell me you're not glad I carried you."

Robin looked down on himself. He was wearing a t-shirt that was much too big for him, so he figured that it was Slade's. It reached his thighs, and that was a good thing, because from the cool air, Robin could feel that he didn't have any underwear on… The way Slade was carrying him, almost touching his… Robin grew hot and cold at the same time.

"Is that a fever peak, or are you just embarrassed again?" Slade said dryly, finally letting him down as they entered the bathroom. Robin ignored the man, trying to quench his humiliation by letting his curiosity take over, as he looked around. The room was small, and wasn't really a bathroom. There was a shower, barely more than a hose, which was connected to a tank, about Robin's height but twice his girth. The toilet was of the portable camping variety, and there was another hose over a well in the floor, in place of a sink.

"Lovely." Robin muttered, studying the bare rock walls. A natural shelf in the rock was used for storing some hygienic products like soap, a toothbrush and razing-equipment. There was also a towel-rack of sorts, the hooks hammered into crevices in the wall.

"Not appealing to your spoilt little self?" Slade said dryly.

"No, no, no…. it's… rustic…" Robin said, with the smallest of grins of his face. "Where does the water go?" he asked, watching the simple drains in the floor.

"Out into the sea, through a natural fissure." Slade said. "What do you need to do?"

"Err… what?" Robin said, unprepared for the question.

Slade rolled his eyes, which was a strange sight, since only one was visible.

"Do you need to empty your bladder or your bowels?"

"The… the first." Robin stammered.

"Then use the drain. It will save room in the waste tank." Slade told him, as a matter-of-fact, and led him towards it.

Robin suddenly realized that Slade hadn't planned on leaving him alone.

"Err… could you… go?" he asked.

Slade let go of his arms and took a few steps back. Without the support, Robin's knees almost buckled. He hadn't understood that Slade had been holding him up all this time.

"It wouldn't seem so," the man said, having made his point, catching him before he really fell.

"Then could you…c-close your eyes…?"

"Oh, for the love of… I won't look, Robin, believe me, I have no interest in watching you urinate, I'm just happy you won't do it in the bed anymore." Slade scoffed, and then, mercifully, switched his grip while turning around, so Robin now could hang onto his arm while he had his back turned towards the boy. "There. Better?"

Robin made a small, affirmative sound, and after a moment the sound of trickling could be heard.

"Want me to hum as well?" Slade asked evilly, making the flow stop for a moment.

"Shut up!" Robin almost cried, as he tried to relax enough again. "I really hate you…" he added, with a low growl.

"Well, I guess it's not too late to take you back…" Slade suggested. "If you really think I'm treating you that badly? Although, judging by the stench I had to wash off you when I got you here, the piss you were covered in wasn't all yours."

Robin shuddered at the memories and quickly finished his business. He 'flushed' by opening the tap and let some water flow down the sewer, and then turned around, indicating that he was ready to head back to bed.

"Do you want to walk back?"

Robin had never felt more miserable and weak than when he had to shake his head right then, but the spiteful remark from Slade that Robin had expected, never came. The man simply lifted him up again and carried him back to bed.

Robin slept the whole afternoon and didn't wake until Slade returned, holding a few bags. He watched silently as the man unpacked a toothbrush and some clothes and shoes that seemed more his size.

"You'll bill me for that, won't you?" he said ironically, and Slade chuckled.

"You bet."

"Save the receipts." Robin muttered, and got another chuckle in response.

"What is this place? It looks like a natural cave, but it has doors and electricity…" Robin said a moment later, looking around.

"And the bat-cave hasn't?" Slade asked innocently. "It's mainly natural. It was used as a base for smugglers and pirates over two hundred years ago. I found it and have improved it since then." Slade continued, still putting things away, rearranging the contents in the large, simple dresser, to make the new items fit.

"So where does the electricity come from?"

"Generators. The water is from a spring, and I found a place, further into the cave, where it turns into a small waterfall. It gives me enough power for lights, the water heater, my computer and a few kitchen basics and so on."

"That's unexpectedly eco-friendly of you…" Robin said, in a teasing but rather polite tone.

"Well, this way I don't have to visit the nearest town that often, to restock on fuel, and I don't want to draw any attention to myself."

"Of course." Robin nodded. "Coast and pirates… we are still among the islands, then?"

"We are. It's far from the ship's course, but still the same general area."

Robin nodded.

"I had no idea where the slavers had taken us… I woke up in the hold… I think they kept us drugged for at least a day."

Robin fell silent then, watching Slade work. For a moment it looked like the man thought he had spoken enough for one day, but after a few minutes he seemed to change his mind.

"I have considered your offer," Slade said as he had finished unpacking. Robin sat up, almost afraid to breathe. "I am ready to discuss my fee and the conditions. If we can agree, then you have a deal," the man continued, and Robin's brow furrowed.

"I won't put a price on Bruce's life!" he hissed, stubbornly.

"Splendid. Then my price is sixty million dollars." Slade said, smugly.

"S-sixty…? I don't have that kind of money!" Robin growled.

"Oh. So… ready to haggle now?" the man smirked.


One hour later, they were both glaring at each other, Robin in bed and Slade leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

"Only if additional costs are added to the total," Slade said, breaking the temporary silence after Robin's last offer.

"If you include the amount you bought me for in the base-sum." Robin said quickly, crossing his arms as well.

"Alright. But if Bruce is dead, or dies before he can be rescued, you will agree to remain with me. Permanently," Slade said grimly.

"No way!" Robin objected. "You might already know that he's…!"

"I have no prior knowledge, regarding his health." Slade said firmly. "I will make all the information any outsider could have, available to you, and if you can find any such fact, you can annul the deal and walk free."

"Okay…" Robin said cautiously. "But why would I give up my life if Bruce turns out to be… dead…" the last word, the teen found a bit hard to say. As Slade only arched his brow, he leaned back slightly, looking haughty. "Well… give me a, what did you call it? A 'sober and logical' reason."

"If Bruce is dead, your life, as you know it, is over anyway." Slade answered.

"How do you figure that?" Robin snorted.

"Place yourself in that situation. Bruce is dead. You are the sole heir, I expect, to a massive fortune. Your sense of responsibility would force you to go back to Gotham. The eyes of the world will focus on you, follow your every step. Your responsibilities would make it impossible for you to return to the Titans, Richard Grayson the billionaire, can't simply disappear like that, the stockholders would get jumpy… but that is only the beginning. Bruce Wayne is gone. Batman is gone. Sooner or later, someone will come to a very unpleasant conclusion… and then… they will rip it all to shreds… and not only the criminals… the press, I suspect, will do the worst damage. And it's not only your life on the line, but Wayne industries. You will, by simply being there, have had destroyed everything Bruce and his father built. The whole family legacy."

Robin swallowed. As much as he hated to admit it, Slade's reasoning was logical.

"Okay." he said. "I agree… if Bruce is dead… I'm yours… but, I will have the opportunity to contact both the Titans and our family's butler and explain."

"Furthermore, you have to agree to follow my commands." Slade told him, without missing a beat.

"Like hell! I'm employing you, why would I let you decide everything?"

"Because you want me to agree to this deal." Slade stated calmly.

Robin glared a bit, but then shrugged.

"Alright, but if I don't like your orders, you have to give me damn good reasons, or I'll get the right to veto."

"You may only veto life and death decisions, and you need good reasons for that as well," Slade said, shaking his head. "I won't have you object to every little detail."

"I'm not that childish." Robin pouted, proving himself wrong.

"I'm glad to hear it. Then you'll agree to that part?"

Robin muttered, but nodded.

The males stared at each other for a full minute. Then Slade pushed off the wall and came up to the bed.

"Done," he said and reached out his hand.

"Done." Robin said, and shook it. He got a very strange feeling at that moment, when the large, callused hand surrounded his, and he realized, that before this 'little adventure', he had never seen, even less touched, Slade's bare skin.

"Good, I'll draw up the contract," the mercenary said, and left the room.

After the man had closed the door behind him, a grin spread across Slade's face. That little hero had been a really tough negotiator, and Slade hadn't gotten nearly as much as he had originally planned. It didn't matter, though; the pleasure of bartering with the young man had been payment in itself. He hadn't been wrong a year ago; the teen was exceptional… in every way… Slade then shook his head and quickly made his way to the alcove where his computer was located. Robin had been his adversary, then his apprentice and now his… employer, he guessed. Nothing more.

Robin also pondered his new business-partner. Slade wasn't acting that differently from when Robin had been his apprentice, and the boy was sure that if he lashed out at the man, Slade would only tell him to straighten his wrist and use his shoulders to gain more impact. After smacking him into the wall, naturally. The main difference, Robin knew, was the lack of armor. And that was a big difference… Now he could see Slade's mouth widen in a grin, or snarl, his eye, a lighter gray than Robin had originally thought, sparkle with amusement or anger. Before he had been like an emotionless, metal wall, and now, he was suddenly… a man… Robin cringed a bit at the thought. Thinking of Slade as even only slightly human, was unnerving, for some reason.

Who was Slade? Robin almost winced as the old question resurfaced. He had told Bruce that spending time as Slade's apprentice, had quenched his curiosity about the man, but that wasn't completely true. At that time, he had focused on the safety of his friends more than on the man, and it was only later, after he had finally been able to relax again, that he had started to think about what Slade had actually said, what he had tried to teach him, and how he acted.

It wasn't much different from now, except now, Slade was completely relaxed. They were entirely in his part of the playing field, and there were no pesky Titans around. He didn't even have to really fear that Robin would do something to spoil his plans, because, for once, they were working towards the same goal, although for different reasons.

Robin still knew that he was being watched closely, though, there weren't much of a real trust between them. Robin snorted. The day he trusted Slade, the devil would have to wear a woolly jumper and matching hat. The thought brought another question; didn't he have to trust the man? Damn, he hated when his thoughts ran in circles like this!

He shook his head and continued to think about Slade-the-enigma. He was a killer, that he knew, and a cold-blooded one as well. The thought of being paid to kill someone, made him shiver. How did the man do it? Did he really enjoy it? He never occurred to Robin like the crazy killer-type, he was a far leap from, for example, the Joker… no, Slade was all business; it was just such a macabre business he had chosen… Maybe one that suited bastards, Robin figured, because a bastard he was. It was clear that he was very used to working alone, and although he definitely paid attention to Robin's needs, the teen got a feeling that he wasn't the man's top priority… well, his health might be, for the moment, but not really his comfort… That was also a thing he recognized from his apprentice days: Slade would see to it that Robin had everything he would need, but not a thing more. His personality wasn't exactly the doting kind… Robin smirked at the thought. He found himself with a thousand questions, and wondered how many he would have time to ask. How many he would dare to ask.

Robin was reading the contract Slade had handed him, eyes squinting at the fine print.

"There is nothing here about the price for me being included." Robin said, handing the paper back to Slade.

"So you spotted that?"

"You can't be raised by a businessman and not pick up a few things." Robin snorted. "Change it."

Slade chuckled and there was another paper in his hand.

"This is the real one. The first was only a test. You passed. Congratulations."

Robin shook his head tiredly.

"You never quit, do you? Don't you grow tired of tests?"

"Why? If you succeed, your confidence will grow, and if you fail, you'll learn something."

Robin just shook his head again and started reading the new contract. After being satisfied that it said what it said, he signed it, next to Slade's signature.

"Why is this necessary, anyway? Isn't a paper trail a bad thing?"

"It's just security. I know the bat, but even he can't argue with the conditions if they are in black and white.

"All right…" Robin sighed. "Where's my copy?"

"Pardon?"

"I want a copy. When this is over, I want to make sure you have lived up to our deal."

"I think you have spent a little too much time with you guardian…" Slade muttered.

"And his lawyers…" Robin smirked.

Soon enough Robin had his copy, and folded it up. He then realized that he didn't have a place to keep it, so he just put it on the bedside table for the time being.

"So… what do we do now?" he said, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Information. You will share everything you know, and I will do likewise…" Slade studied the boy. "But first, we both need some food and sleep."

"No, we have to get started-" Robin objected, but Slade cut him off.

"You still need to get better. We have a lot of work to do, yes, but you can't afford to get sicker again. Patience, Robin… will I always have to remind you?"

"I want to add a clause that forbids you from that…" Robin muttered.

Robin ate his meat ball sandwich, bought in a store, and drank his orange juice, having declined the milk. He watched Slade do the same, with some amazement, like everything Slade did, that was vaguely human, was fascinating.

He, stubbornly, filled Slade in on the details he could remember from the hi-jacking, which wasn't much.

"I know I've heard more names, but I just can't remember!" he growled, frustrated. "Jamie called his boss something…" He had told Slade about Jamie without telling him about their relationship, naturally.

"Perhaps you will. Maybe I can help you with that, I know some memory exercises that can be very efficient."

"Like I would ever let you hypnotize me…" Robin snorted. "No telling what you'll muck around with if you do…"

Slade chuckled and got up, signaling that it was time for sleep.

The man helped him to the bathroom, but, this time, Robin could walk, more or less, by himself, and was thankfully left in private. Brushing his teeth and washing off a bit, was heaven, and it felt even nicer to put on a pair of the boxers that Slade had bought him… it was almost so welcome that Robin didn't feel embarrassed about the man getting him underwear. Almost. He still had Slade's T-shirt on, but he was only going to bed, so why get a new one dirty? Especially since he refused to ask Slade to help him shower.

Robin crawled under the sheets, curling his cold toes against them for some warmth. He had almost gone to sleep, when Slade came out from the bathroom, wearing only boxers. Robin's mouth went dry. Slade was… defined… He quickly took an interest in the wall, but Slade didn't seem to have noticed his look. The man came closer, though, and Robin found himself thinking that he would have preferred a dressed Slade carrying a gun, than an unarmed, half naked one.

"Move over."

"W-what?"

"Move over. Make some room."

"You don't mean…? No, you're not sleeping in the same bed as me!"

"You weren't complaining when you were shivering…" Slade snorted. "Come to think of it, you were much more pleasant then… quiet… liked to snuggle…" Slade could see that his teasing only made the boy more distressed, and shook his head. "Look, I know I haven't been able to show you around, but this is a hole in the wall. Literally. It's mostly storage and only one more open area. And only this room is heated." Slade gestured at an electronic element in the corner.

"I don't care! Go away! Or sleep on the floor!" Robin growled, tightening his hold on the covers.

"As I seldom, that is, never entertain guests here, I don't have a spare bed. Or even a mattress. Now move over."

"No."

"What are you afraid of? That I'll molest you in your sleep? Trust me, I'm not attracted to children."

"I'm not a child! It's not like I'm a virgin!" Robin didn't know where the words came from, and just couldn't stop them. He wondered if he would be able to swallow his tongue if he really tried, because now seemed a very good time to die.

"Really? Who's the lucky boy?"

"Jam-" Robin was still in such a state of shock that he had almost answered Slade's question before he bit down on his evil tongue. It was more than enough for Slade to make the connection, though. He had already wondered how Robin had been able to describe the boy in detail. A grin grew on his face. Not only had Robin admitted to him that he was, indeed, gay, not that his sexually mattered, but also to be so innocent that he allowed himself to be romanced on a cruise ship. Slade thought it was kind of sweet.

"Sooo… sleeping with the enemy, are we?"

"I didn't know! He… he…" Robin's iron mask slid in place and Slade understood that the boy had been more hurt that he had been able to deal with yet. Well, he would have to deal. He couldn't have him run after an ex-lover to settle some kind of score.

"Move over now. My feet are freezing." Slade said, his voice, if not his words, slightly apologetic.

Robin snorted, but did shuffle closer to the wall, which the bed was pushed against.

"It's not even a double bed…" Slade heard him mutter.

"It's an occasional double." Slade said, like that made it all right.

"I didn't even know you did sleep." Robin bit back, but there was no real edge to his words, he was too tired. "Beast Boy hated you for always waking him up."

"He should have told me you kept office hours." Slade smirked. "And of course I sleep, it is necessary for the brain to function."

"Let me guess, you don't sleep that much, do you?"

"Oh, that was mean, Robin. I'm hurt. Were you top or bottom?"

"To- Stop that!"

"Top, huh…? Well, that makes you half a virgin, doesn't it?"

"Are you saying you're not?" Robin grinned, turning his head towards Slade. The man rolled over on his side, facing, and very much staring down at, Robin, who suddenly had a hard time breathing.

"Let me assure you, Robin… man or woman, I always top." Slade smirked.

He had no time to answer, because the man then turned around again, and reached out for the light switch next to the bed.

Robin stared up in the dark, trying to get himself to breathe again. He then turned to his side as well, away from Slade, facing the wall. How was he ever going to fall asleep with Slade next to him? He listened to the man's deep, even breathing and wondered if he had fallen asleep that quickly. It did sound like it… The bed really was too narrow, and whenever Robin moved as much as an inch he seemed to bump into the man. The problem was that he was a 'twister and turner', he always moved quite a bit before finding the perfect position to fall asleep in. He sighed and wriggled a little closer to the wall. It was cold, though, and he pulled away again.

"Could you keep still?" he heard Slade murmur.

"Well, you should get a bigger bed!" Robin hissed.

He felt the bed shaking somewhat and realized that Slade was quietly chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Robin snorted.

"Only the fact, my dear little bird, that you didn't tell me to buy an extra bed… Freudian slip, perhaps?"

"Get bent, Slade, you're so not my type."

"Really? Seems to me I fit the picture perfectly, looking at your record."

"I have no record. It was a mistake. That's all." Robin growled and then swallowed. It had been a mistake… everything had… but why had it happened? Why had the boy been able to get that close to him that quickly? Robin remembered how it had felt, being just Richard, just a normal teenager, on a beautiful cruise ship filled with people having a great time. He had felt… free… no responsibilities, no strings… just free to enjoy himself. Jamie… well, he had added to that, maybe felt it, and lured him in. Robin frowned. No. He hadn't been lured; he had damn well walked there all by himself. It was still a mistake, though, and now his first time in someone's arms would always be clouded by the betrayal.

"Well, don't worry…" Slade now said, without the teasing tone. "You'll learn. Now go to sleep, or I'll knock you on the head."

To be continued…


A/N: Slade has nice bed-side manners… ;o) So, have you figured out the title/chapter-titles yet? Sure you have… They are all part of children's songs/nursery rhymes (slightly altered at times). It's just for my own enjoyment. Don't read too much into it… although this story is partly about leaving ones childhood behind… ;o)

Since nursery-rhymes, especially in English, isn't exactly my forte, please feel free to recommend ones you feel might fit…

Please review! I'll try to answer questions and stuff if you have them… so far you are whipping me into updating as quickly as I can, so good job there… I guess… -winces- ;o)