These chapters are quite short in this story... hadn't even realized up til this point...
Warnings and disclaimer in first chapter, lovelies.
Chapter 4 - Sleep
"It's as though I've been sleepwalking and suddenly woken to find myself here" - Sara Gruen
The following day his friends noticed he hadn't slept, but what really caught their attention was his state, seeming to fade in and out of focus, deep in thought. Every so often a forlorn look cast over his features, though only when he thought no one was looking.
"Friend, Robin?"
"What is it Starfire…?" He asked, mind on other things, mainly the night prior.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine…" He muttered, though didn't change his expression, as though not processing the conversation. As the leader's voice trailed, the interaction ended, Robin, eventually sighing. "I'll be in my room…" He pushed from the table, running a hand through his hair, team watching as he retreated.
He simply laid in his bed, pulling the sheet around himself, thinking about the blood splattering across his bare neck, glad his cape covered the majority, hands moving to grab his raven locks, gritting his teeth.
He just needed a moment.
He was suddenly on his feet, tired of his mind running through the dank cave, the cave which only got darker the farther he walked. He was in the training room the rest of the day, a few of the other Titans walking in on him, simply watching, noticing his distress as he attacked the bag, emotions usually released through his fighting, concern growing.
"Robin…" Beast Boy said in a squeek.
"Yeah?" Robin asked, stretching his arms behind his back.
"Are you doing okay, dude…?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, why?" He turned to his friend.
"No reason…" The youngest decided not to press the issue, honestly a bit scared to.
The alarm sounded, Robin, gulping as he noted the time, it'd be dark soon, night concerning him due to what he'd been told. Despite he soon found himself fighting Red-X, or chasing more like, through the city, running along buildings.
"Give it back, Red!" Robin cried, Titans trailing if only just. Red chuckled under his breath.
"Sorry, kids, but I like my new toy." The thief said, lifting the toy car, laughing once again. The leader huffed, nearly rolling his eyes, though followed close behind as the villain jumped to the next building.
He soon found himself in the more run down part of town, still in hot pursuit of the masked fiend. Robin was the only one able to keep pace, others having trailed, mainly to care for Beast Boy as he passed out from exhaustion about twenty minutes into the chase.
"Don't you ever quit, kid…" Even, Red, seemed to be on the verge of going unconscious despite teleporting through the majority of the chase.
"No! Give it back!" His tone was even, seeming completely unfazed by the activity.
"How… are you not… dying…?" He said, huffing.
"I workout."
"Ugg! My greatest weakness..." He groaned, not understanding how the boy'd been able to stay pace as long as he had, usually able to leave him in the dust within ten minutes, though this time he felt like he was trapped in a never ending nightmare were he was unable to escape the hero.
Red looked around, feeling his ability to flee diminish, spotting an oncoming street light, lifting the diamond encrusted toy car to catch the light, which it did, aiming it in the bird's eyes, again hitting dead.
Robin lost his footing, tripping, striking the concret, flipping, trying to catch himself as gravity took him, unable, glad his hands where gloved as they skidded across the ruff alley, sliding slightly as his back landed on the ground, head hitting harder than, Red, had intended, motionless as he ceased.
"R… Robin...?" He was out of breath, though panicked as the hero didn't respond, kneeling at his side. "Kid...?!" He touched the side of his face, leading it to face him. "Wake up kid…" He said, leaning over to check his pulse... he had a pulse. Red's ear moved close to the Titan's mouth to check for breathing.
A hand shot up, catching the thief, who startled, hearing a deep growl. He managed to shake off the touch, backing up, though not leaving, knowing leaving the unconscious bird alone in this section of the city wasn't a bright idea.
He watched in terror as the boy's head snapped back, cracking, muscles tensing as his back arched, pained cries leaving him, as though on fire.
"K-kid…" He stared wide eyed as the Titan transformed, skin ripping and distorting, tinting an unnatural shade.
"Ahh… That's better." He said, cracking his neck with a hum. "Thanks, thought he'd never get to sleep, I took him for quite a ride the other day. Scared him to." The creature giggled, looking to the petrified other, on hands and knees, as he stretched his back..
"R-rob-bin…?" Red stuttered, mind unable to comprehend the events.
"Oh, no, call me… hmm… Amet should work. Easier that way." He laughed again, winking at the thief.
"Wh- where's, Robin?" He composed himself as best as able.
"He's sleeping, I already told you that." The winged thing began making its way towards the villain, who was already pressed against a wall. "You know… I can do whatever I want with this body while he's asleep…" Red's eyes widened at the seductive suggestion in Amet's tone.
"N-no I'm fine… Plus I know he wouldn't appreciate it if I took advantage." He chuckled nervously, seeing the other pout.
"But yesterday he interrupted…"
"What do you mean?" Had he already had another take advantage.
"I was in an alley, had my mate all picked out and willing, hot and bothered, when he woke up right before the best part…" He whispered, a finger tracing his chest and stomach, slowly going lower, as though to explain.
"He woke up…" Surprisingly enough he sighed in relief.
"Yeah, interrupted our kiss… though that man wasn't going to let him leave so easily…"
"Did he-"
"No, he handled it before it came to that…" The hand rubbed his chest, exploring his body through the clothe.
"H-handled…?" The villain was ashamed to admit he was getting aroused, but he was still a young male, hormones were a factor in the matter.
"Stabbed him… Right… through… the… stomach…" The virus's pointer circled Red's belly button as he whispered the words, hearing an audible gulp.
"...He- he killed h-him…?"
"Right… through… the… stomach…" The demon moved in closer, mere millimeters from his lips. "...I don't think he meant to… panicked as he was… Don't think he handled it quite as well as say… I would have…" He moved to grab the others hands, placing them as his hips. "... Now… this body technically belongs to me at the moment… so… we might as well use it…" Their bodies pressed together as he finished his sentence.
"...N-no." Red bit his lower lip, though it wasn't visible due to his mask. "...I- I can't do that… not unless, Robin, gives consent t-to..." He stuttered, pulling his hands away from the slender form.
"He does want this… Can't you feel…?" He rubbed against him, showing he was half hard.
"...N-no… I can't…" He pushed the boy away, seeing him pout, before sighing.
"I won't force you… Plus… someone's watching…" His head cocked to the side, aimed to the shadows. He turned to the thief with one last giggle, placing a finger to his lips, as his shoulders bounced in a quick shrug.
Without any further hesitation the demon lunged towards the form hidden in the shadows, baring his teeth.
"Come out, come out wherever you are…" Red simply slumped against the wall, relief finding him, watching the form disappear into the alley.
It wasn't long when, Amet, found his objective, purring at the sight, buff form sporting a bicolored mask.
"Hello…" The parasite mewed, not attacking as he looked to the man with the gun. "He likes you…"
"You're not, Robin." He said in monotone, not the least bit interested in the 'guest' partaking in his bird's body.
"I'm better…" He said, seduction seeping past lips like syrup.
"Doubtful." He returned his gun to hollister.
"You can do whatever you want to me… this body belongs to me now…"
"I have no intention of 'doing whatever I want' I don't need him in that way, but if you break his mind, or body for that matter, his value drops drastically." He grabbed the creature by the arm, feeling him squirm in the grasp.
"... So you like it ruff… him to…" It whispered in a low tone.
"No, I'm taking you to my base until, Robin, wakes up." He said, hearing the other hum.
"Going back to your place… sounds fun…" Amet moaned lightly as he was pulled along.
Robin woke a few hours later, though he wasn't rested, looking around wide eyed.
"Where am I?" He asked in a weary tone, hearing the chains rattle around his wrists, eyes widening.
"Awake?" A deep voice vocalized, head shooting to the source.
"Slade." He was immediately alert, eyes narrow as he saw the man, growling.
"Awake." Slade confirmed, setting his current project to the side, screwdriver slipped in his back pocket, walking over, venom soaked gaze aimed at him as the chains rattled.
"What do you want, Slade." Robin more stated than asked, watching the man pull something from his pocket, suspicious of its purpose.
"First, I'm going to unlock your cuffs." He moved to do so, boy raising a brow in confusion. "Then you can leave. Doors over there." The teen looked over with confused features, mouth slightly agape.
"Really?" He was half expecting the man to take it back.
"Yes, I only restrained you to begin with due to the parasite possessing your body. I do plan to have you as an apprentice at some point, and if your broken that ruins the plan." He said simply, already focused on his project again.
"...Oh…" His tone was sadder than usual, if only just, Slade, not mentioning it. "Thanks then, I guess." He started walking towards the door, stopped.
"Come back tonight and I'll restrain you again for the things 'time'." The boy wanted to scoff, though didn't. He wouldn't dare come back to the man willingly.
End Chapter.
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