A/N: So Wintergreen has arrived at the scene! Will Slade appear round the corner or will a sudden twist swap events around…Robin, Robin, Robin...Thanks for those reviews guys. Hope this chapter is good enough :)
DISCLAIMER- I don't own the Teen Titans or DC Comics. Also I do not own The Art Of War by Sun Tzu.
~AprilRaven~
-Sunlight-
Wintergreen…
Dick's eyes widened, with no hesitation, he attempted to calmly leave without drawing attention to himself. With his heart continuously throbbing to the point of pain, Dick immediately disconnected his blue eyes from Wintergreen who was still stood in the same position as before. In other words Dick broke the eye contact with him.
From the corner of Dick's eyes, he could see Wintergreen cautiously watching his movements as he moved hastily back into the manor.
From this moment, Dick felt cold…ice cold.
What the hell is Wintergreen doing here?
Dick's pace slowly speeded up as he turned around the corner. Passing an antique mirror, he quickly glanced at his reflection. His face had paled causing his eyes to brighten.
There was no doubt about it.
That man was absolutely Wintergreen. Since the occasion was for the achievements of Wayne Enterprises developments on weapons, then it was obvious that Slade wanted information. The only way he could do that was by sending Wintergreen to do the snooping. It was just as Robin suspected from the start, Slade surely wanted a part of Wayne Techs weapons. Slade wanted the thermal blaster in the past during the time when Robin was his apprentice. It was only a coincidence that it happened to be developed by Wayne Enterprises.
At the time Robin frequently told himself that it was a coincidence that he was sent to steal from his 'father'.
It was a coincidence…
Slade knew nothing about the real Robin.
However, Robin knew nothing about him.
Dick shook his head, returning to the present. Glancing at the mirror once again, his face was still pale, if anything his face was paler. Sighing, Dick ignored the fact that he looked like the dead and carried on walking down the hall.
Brushing past a strongly built man who was heading outside, Dick took a quicker route away from the hallway in a chance to find Bruce somewhere in the main foyer. Dick was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even apologise for almost bumping into the man that walked by him. Actually, Dick was so clueless of his surroundings he didn't even acknowledge him. He was completely oblivious to the fact that the man he brushed past was looking at him with an intrigued look across his face.
Continuing down the hallway Dick only hoped that Bruce wasn't in an important conversation with some sort of high-ranking military officer. Dick desperately needed to find Bruce in a hope to find out about a certain guest here.
Making his way back through the main foyer, Dick realised that the crowds of people had quietened down slightly. The piano melodies had ceased and music was now heard from outside. There was a larger crowd near the main doors leading to the extravagant gardens. It was probably because most of the guests wanted to cool down and follow the conversations. If that was where everyone was then Bruce was more likely to be with them.
"Master Richard, I haven't seen you all evening", a British voice sounded from behind.
Dick turned around seeing Alfred with a tray full of glasses of champagne, "Hey Alfred, you haven't by any chance seen Bruce anywhere?".
"Last time I saw him he was talking with the general", Alfred replied apologetically.
"I'll probably see him in the morning", Dick said.
Alfred looked at Dick with a curious look on his face after hearing his tone of voice, "Are you alright Master Richard, you look as though you've seen a ghost."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just starting to get tired", Dick lied.
"Try not to fall asleep yet, Master Richard, it may be a long night", Alfred joked.
"Yeah I know", Dick mumbled as started to stare off into space.
Alfred narrowed his eyes, "Are you sure you're alright Master Richard?"
Dick brought his eyesight back to the old butler in front of him, "Yeah, I'm absolutely fine Alfred, thanks for the concern".
Dick was certainly not fine and he knew it himself.
His head was starting to ache from the constant reminders of the past and the fact that his archenemy could be plotting something once again really made his mind spin.
"Erm…do you need any help with anything?" Dick asked, indicating to the glasses of champagne on the tray Alfred was holding and also changing the subject.
"No thank you, I don't see why you're offering, there really is no need".
"Alright", Dick answered.
Alfred chuckled, "If your looking for something to pass the time, then there is something you could do if you don't mind."
Dick looked at the elder in front of him, "Sure, what's up?"
Ignoring the use of improper language from Dick, Alfred mentally shook his head and reached into the inside of his blazer pocket.
He pulled out a fairly small book and handed it to him.
"Could you return this to the main library for me please?", Alfred asked.
Dick took the book from Alfred and held it in his hands, "The Art Of War by Sun Tzu?"
"Indeed, Master Bruce required it whilst he was talking to Gothams military general. It's a very interesting book if I do say so myself".
"Yeah, I've read parts of it before", Dick said with a soft smile on his face as he flicked through the pages. "I didn't really have time to read the rest".
"Perhaps you should retire to the library and return to reading. After all if you are tired, you should rest for a while", wise old Alfred insisted.
"Perhaps", Dick started to say as he ran his hands over the book. "Maybe I'll just go to bed afterwards".
"It's up to you Master Richard", Alfred smiled.
"I guess I'll see you later Alfred".
"Yes, I shall see you later. Try not to fall asleep in the library." Alfred joked as he turned around with his tray of champagne to head outside to offer them to the guests.
Dick nodded his head as he watched the old man disappear into the gathering crowd near the front doors.
Peering down onto the book in his hands he ran his thumb across the bold title across the front cover. Dick really needed to talk to Bruce, but a voice at the back of his head was screaming at him to confront Wintergreen right at this very moment. It was like he was a child trying to run away from a nightmare by going to Bruce. However Dick knew how Bruce would react to the situation and Robin knew that he would eventually be left in the shadows of the Batman…once again.
What was I thinking?
Slade was Robin's adversary, Robin's problem and Robin's darker side…
But it hurt Robin when Slade said that he could be a father to him. Probably a better father than Batman ever was. That was the only reason why Robin returned to Gotham right after the apprenticeship; to prove to himself that even after the arguments and disagreements Batman truly cared for him. At that time, Robin needed to clear all the doubts that he had brought upon himself.
Afterwards Bruce promised to be there for Dick if he needed anything.
However, they both still had trust issues regarding the secrecy that the Batman held. Batman never really allowed anyone to get close to him like a family would. On the other hand, Robin could see that Slade was trying to act like he cared.
At least Slade attempted to make the effort…
Dick cleared his head from any thoughts that might lead him into trouble. Deciding to leave Bruce for now, Dick left the main foyer so he could get to the manor library.
The great library was hidden in the depths of the manor away from the entire party. The room was usually freezing since it was at the back of the manor. It was a good way for Robin to blow off some steam from earlier events.
Advancing through the passageway connecting the main foyer and numerous doorways that lead to different rooms, Dick made his way through. Checking out the party from one of the windows Dick could vaguely make out Bruce socializing in the distance. Roaming his eye back down onto the book in his hand, Dick ignored Bruce and carried on walking to the library.
The Art Of War.
Dick leisurely turned to the first chapter in the book. The context of the chapter was all about preparation, planning and calculating. A lesson which Robin learnt a lot of by now. Learning to be prepared before walking into someone else's trap, planning what to do in a relentless situation and to be able to calculate your opponent's actions. The only lesson that Robin really needed to revise on was 'calculating your opponent'. Slade was the main cause of this. He was always predicting Robin's movements and Robin could never figure him out. That agitated Robin the most and that normally leads him to forgetting the first part of the lesson, which lands him in a whole lot of difficultly.
Slade is my adversary and he's more advanced than me…
Dick carried on walking blindly down the next hallway since he was so mentally occupied in the book in his hands. As he was about to turn to the next page when a strongly built man clashed into him, causing him to drop the book that was in his hands. Unknown to Dick, it was the same man from earlier.
"Ah…sorry", Dick apologised as he immediately crouched to the floor to pick up the fallen book. As he dropped to the carpeted floor, he felt something sharp move in his inner pocket. Although he was intrigued about what was there, Dick chose to ignore it.
As he placed his hand on the book on the floor, someone else had beaten him to it.
"It's alright", the man purred as he held the book in his large hands.
Both males started to stand up, eyes studying one another. Dick scanned the man in front of him as he got himself off of the floor. Dick took a step back, slightly startled, looked up to see a man in a stylish black tux fitted perfectly against his body and a pair of designer cufflinks that completed the outfit. Gazing to his face, the man had white shining hair and a single gray eye. The man didn't look old because of his white hair; he had a strong build kind of like Bruce's and a striking white-eye patch across his right eye.
A missing right eye…
The single, emotionless gray-blue eye…
"The Art of War, a rather interesting book", the man smoothly said as he held the book in front of Dick.
Hearing his voice brought Dick away from his thoughts. "Err…Thanks and yeah it is an interesting book to read", Dick awkwardly replied as he took the book off of the man. His blue eyes never left the single grayish-blue eye, but he couldn't help not to notice the devious smirk on his face.
"You're a bit far from the main party", Dick noted since he was intrigued by the way this man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Especially since the man was so far from the main event. His eyes still never left the grayish-blue one in front of him.
"Just breaking away from the high activity going on outside", the man replied making a hand gesture to the window next to him.
Dick looked at him and nodded in agreement.
Something about this guy too seems awfully familiar…
This is definitely not my day…
Reverting his eyes away from the grayish-blue eye, Dick immediately brought his gaze to the guy's stance, which was locking his hands behind his back.
The signature stance that brought back many memories…
Dick swallowed a surprised gulp and clutched the book tighter in his hands.
If Wintergreen is here then there is no way that Slaa…
"So what are you doing so far away from the main event?", the man asked pulling Robin away from his thoughts.
"Erm…just…returning this book to the main library".
"Is that so?"
"Err…yeah", Dick stuttered gazing at the way he changed his stance to a much more relaxed stance.
"Would it be ok if I joined you?", the man asked with a smirk across his face. "This party is rather crowded and I'd like to take a break, that is if you don't mind."
Dick's heart collapsed and stopped momentarily.
This guy seems so familiar…what if he is Slade?
The eye sure does remind me of him…
His stance reminds me of him…
Especially with Wintergreen being here, things seem familiar…
Basically, this guy just screams Slade…
His heart was pounding rapidly even more from earlier.
"Err…I guess…if you want", Dick finally concluded. For some reason Dick didn't want to say no to the older man in font of him.
"Ok then, would you like to lead the way?" the man said as he swiftly turned to his side. The man's action unnerved him to the core; Dick managed to suppress a shiver from escaping his body.
Watching this guys movements as they both walked down the hallway, Dick calculated his heavy footsteps remembering the first chapter in the book. Roaming his eye up to the black-suited man next to him, Dick saw something awfully familiar next to the deadly white-eye patch.
The way the gray-blue eye narrowed as a smirk was brought across the guys face.
Just like Slade…
"Wilson", the guy tilted his head holding out a hand to Dick who was surprised at the sudden gesture.
"Richard", Dick said swallowing a shocked gasp as he shook the large hand in front of him, making the object in his pocket move again.
Slade?
Is this really you?
A/N: So there we have it. The Art Of War by Sun Tzu is a very awesome book :D What's next? Well…it's only fair to warn you that Slade is being the Slade we all know and love. Robin has his suspicions and without giving too much away, Slade plays the good guy. ~grins~ Please review and let me know how I did!
