A/N: Hi All! I had extra time this week, so have an update! (And Happy Star Wars weekend! I haven't seen it yet, so no spoilers!)
Chapter 9: Talk Less. Smile More.
This was the last day before Dick had to go back to school, and even with his new schedule he was looking forward to going back to people. Weekends for most people were refreshing, and now he felt drained.
He rose before Wintergreen had the chance to wake him. Maybe if he woke early enough he'd have some time to himself before their morning training session. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Dick made his way to the kitchen, though he stopped dead in the doorway.
Slade stood at the stove, angrily stabbing something in a frying pan.
"What are you doing?" Dick asked, suppressing a yawn.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"A science experiment."
"It's breakfast."
"Ah." Dick looked around. "Doesn't Wintergreen usually do that?"
"Shut up and sit down."
Dick sat down at the kitchen table, feeling weird as he waited for Slade to finish cooking. Now that he was here he wouldn't be allowed back to his room, so instead he made conversation.
"So where's Wintergreen?"
"Out."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know where he is."
They stopped talking when Wintergreen walked into the room. Oh. He shuffled through the room and made his way to the kitchen counter. Dick and Slade watched him in silence. He opened a drawer, took out a pill, and poured himself a glass of water.
"Good morning, Wintergreen," Dick said.
Wintergreen peered at him through reddened eyes. He grinned slightly and nodded his head.
"Morning."
Without saying a word, he turned straight around and walked out of the kitchen. They listened to him walk all the way back to his room. Any sleepiness that weighed Dick down was gone in an instant.
"He's wearing the same clothes as last night," Dick said, straightening in his chair.
"Glad to see that you're using your detective skills," Slade replied dryly, putting a plate in front of Dick.
"Did he just come back?"
"Shut up and eat your breakfast."
"Did he just come back after leaving with the Headmistress?"
"Wintergreen's business is his own."
"It seems pretty obvious to me what happened. You don't even have to be a detective to know what happened last night." Dick surprised himself with his interest in Wintergreen's love life.
"And what exactly are you insinuating?"
Slade totally knew. "They went out last night and got-"
"I'm not going to talk about this."
"How long has this been going on?"
Slade stared at him for a moment, as though bewildered by Dick's interest.
"Come on, Slade, I have to know."
"We're not talking about this."
"Did he text you his date night? I hope he did. I hope he instagrammed it so it's all over the Internet."
Slade just stood there. Huh. Maybe Dick used too many Internet words in one sentence for him to understand.
"He's always been that way."
"But how long has he been with the Headmistress?"
"I don't know. Why are you so damned interested in this?"
"Interested only in the fact that it's amazing that Wintergreen has more friends than you."
"We have a lot to do today. Shut up and eat your breakfast."
Dick finally got around to eating his eggs, though now he couldn't think of anything else but Wintergreen's night out. Up until now he didn't know that much about Wintergreen. And everything he had known about the Headmistress was thrown under a different light. He probably won't be able to look at her the same way again.
"Seems a little silly," Dick said, breaking the silence again.
"I'm glad we agree on something," Slade said.
"And do we agree?" Dick stuffed a forkful of eggs into his mouth. "I'm not so sure you like the fact that Wintergreen is dating the Headmistress. I, for one, applaud Wintergreen, even if I don't like the Headmistress."
"Who said that I didn't approve?"
"You seemed mad last night. Pretty sure Wintergreen was texting you the whole time."
"Never thought you would be interested in Wintergreen's love life. Perhaps you're more invested here than I thought."
The smirk on Robin's face vanished. "Eat crud, Slade."
Slade didn't even reprimand him. He just laughed. Fuming, Dick shoved his plates into the dishwasher and stalked out of the room.
Well, the fact that the nanobots hadn't been activated meant that Robin somehow talked his way out of trouble. Good. If Slade decided to test out his nanobots, then Cyborg's cover would be blown.
Much to Cyborg's relief, Robin came back on Monday morning. After Robin surrendered his utility belt to the HIVE security guards, Cyborg went up to him and spoke in a low voice. "Are you okay, man?"
"I'm fine."
"How mad was he?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Robin shook his head. "Let's not talk about this now."
Robin walked ahead, signaling the end of the conversation. If Robin had been punished for talking about the nanobots so openly, then he didn't show it. Just looked a little more tired than usual, but otherwise fine. And if he was hurt, then would he show it? Would Slade let him expose another weakness to the student body?
Robin had taken a great risk talking about the nanobots like that. Cyborg would have expected him to arrange a secret meeting so they could talk about their plan for getting rid of them. But in doing so, Robin protected Cyborg's identity. Who knew how closely Slade was watching Robin? He could have microphones or recording equipment on him, so Slade could listen to anyone he spoke with at school. That would explain how Slade knew about it so fast, and why he immediately pulled Robin out of school.
They sat in their usual seats on the opposite end of the classroom, not daring to change seats or glance at each other again for the rest of the period. Cyborg tapped his fingers against his notebook, not taking notes as he thought. Once the period ended, Robin picked up his books and raced out of the classroom. Cyborg gathered his things and followed him.
Now he's going to go to chemistry, Cyborg thought, thinking back to his notes. Robin's class schedule would be extremely important when the Titans came in to rescue him—
Instead of turning right towards the chemistry lab, Robin veered left.
What the heck?
Well, if he were a few minutes late to class, no big deal, right? Cyborg trailed Robin as closely as he could without being too obvious. Robin was walking towards Brother Blood's office, but he didn't have that class until last period, so why was he going there now instead of chemistry? Was it always gonna be like this? Cyborg made a note to start tracking Robin's new schedule. If Slade thought that he could throw them off with a new schedule, then he was dead wrong.
Though Robin had integrated himself into the school, he was still pretty much a loner. No one, aside from Stone and maybe Jinx, had tried to be his friend. Stone, on the other hand, quickly grew popular.
Class began a long time ago, but Cyborg didn't care. Having an extra class period with Brother Blood was too significant to ignore. Maybe Robin was in more trouble than everyone realized.
He looked all around the hallway, checking out the security cameras that were filming his delinquency. Cyborg rifled through his bag, pretending to be checking for something, trying to think of some excuse to walk in through the office. Then, after a few seconds, he went up to Brother Blood's door and knocked. Robin and Brother Blood stopped talking.
"Come in."
Cyborg pushed the door open. Robin sat across from Blood's desk, and he straightened in his seat when he saw Cyborg come in.
"What is it Mr. Stone?"
"Sorry. Didn't know you were in a meeting. I thought I left my physics books in your classroom yesterday."
"And you didn't think to find it until now?"
"Didn't need it until now."
Blood stared at Cyborg with his heavily hooded eyes. "Get back to class. Now."
"Yes, Brother."
Cyborg shut the door behind him, not daring to slow down until he made it back to class.
Private lessons with Brother Blood wasn't something Robin had been looking forward to. For a few long seconds Brother Blood said nothing as he glared at the door, annoyed that they had been interrupted. Any favor that Stone had managed to curry could be destroyed if Blood suspected that he was a traitor.
Idiot, Robin thought. Why did you follow me here? Don't be stupid like me.
"Perhaps you're wondering why we have arranged several private lessons with me," Brother Blood said finally, turning back around to look at Robin.
Robin turned his attention back to Blood. "Well, sure. Seems a little low for the vice-principal to be conducting private lessons for a freshman."
"We have a lot to discuss, then." Brother Blood folded his hands together in front of him. Man, he was getting ready for a good long talk. "The Headmistress has found it necessary to arrange these meetings with you, not only for your benefit but for our school."
"I haven't caused that much trouble yet, have I?" Robin shrugged. "All I did was talk about the nanobots."
"Your presence disrupts classes," Blood replied. "I'm here to make suggestions based on your situation. Instruct you on how to act before you open your stupid mouth."
"That's Slade's job."
"He can't control what you say or do here. At least, not all the time. It is for this very reason that I'm speaking with you now."
"And why should I listen to you?"
"Because I said so."
So, Brother Blood was gonna be Slade at the Academy. Fine. Whatever. If talking was all they were gonna do, then Robin could handle that. Anything more than that and Slade would freak out.
"I'm certain you got an earful about the nanobots from Deathstroke, but let's talk about the repercussions here: why did you bring it up?"
"I said it because it's the truth," Robin said.
"Oh, so now you're telling the truth? From what I understand you weren't telling the truth before, not to the Titans you call friends."
"Ok, look, pal," Robin said angrily, standing up to leave. "I get enough of this from Slade, and I don't need your input."
"The truth hurts, doesn't it?"
Robin wrenched the door open, but to his surprise it slammed shut. He backed away. He had almost forgotten about Blood's telekinesis.
"Do you ever wonder why we allowed you to enroll?"
Robin wanted to say something inappropriate, but he restrained himself. Humor would only get him in trouble. "No."
"You have potential, even if it's not apparent at first. Now, if you were thinking like a villain like you're supposed to, what would you have said if someone confronted you about the nanobots?"
"Why?"
"Answer my question."
"No."
"Hyacinth was right: people will see it as a weakness. It is how Slade controls you, and if he can use that then anyone can."
"You know, Slade can tell me this himself. I don't need you to tell me."
"But do you want him to?" Brother Blood smiled. "He doesn't understand you, not as well as he thinks he does."
"And you do?"
"I know what you want: to free your friends."
"Slade knows that."
"He knows, but he will never give you what you want."
"You won't help me free them. And even if you do, then what? I work for you instead?"
"Then you'll be free."
Robin bristled, though he didn't know what was bothering him. Knowing what the enemy wanted went both ways. Brother Blood's ambitions were clouded, and until he knew what Blood wanted then he could never trust him.
"I'm looking forward to our talks," Blood said. "I'm only here to help you. Will you permit me to give you some free advice?"
"That's all anyone wants to do these days."
"Don't let anyone know whose side you're on. If you want control, then you will have to be as enigmatic and volatile as your mentor. You do not have control of your situation now because Deathstroke can read you. You allow him to provoke you, just as you allow so many other teachers at this school."
Is this what their private lessons would be about, then? How to overthrow Slade? Robin got up to leave, and this time Brother Blood did not try to stop him.
"Trust me, Robin. If you bring me blueprints, weapons, anything that belongs to Slade, I can help you disable the nanobots."
Robin pushed open the door again. He didn't need Brother Blood's help with that. Cyborg was at the Academy, and he was the only person he would trust with Slade's technology. If Cyborg hadn't infiltrated the HIVE, then Robin may have considered the offer.
"It will take you years to figure it out on your own, even if you had your friends to help you," Brother Blood said. "Remember that."
Robin bolted out of the school at the end of the day, though Cyborg expected it. Until things settled down about the nanobots, he would probably be avoiding any unnecessary contact. Cyborg retired to his dorm room that night, wondering if he should check in at the Tower before turning in for the night. Maybe it would be better to gather more information before talking to him. They probably had a lot of questions he could find the answers to beforehand.
Someone knocked on his dorm door. Without waiting for Cyborg to answer, Brother Blood came in.
"Mr. Stone, a word."
"Of course, Brother." Cyborg gestured towards an empty chair, though Blood didn't sit down.
"Were you following Robin this morning to my office?"
"Uh….."
"It's quite all right. I mistrust him as well. I'd like you to keep an eye on Robin for me."
"Why?"
"There's a larger game at stake, Stone," Brother Blood replied. "Surely you can see the subtleties of what Deathstroke is really planning. Why do you think Robin was absent last week?"
"Because he talked about the nanobots."
"Correct, though I hope you see the greater implications of his words. He exposed his weakness not because he wanted to participate in a class discussion, but because he wanted someone to hear him. I intend to find out who. Now, he will be taking extra classes with me—"
"So why do you need me to spy on him?"
"I can only learn so much about Deathstroke's plan as his teacher," Brother Blood said. "We have a restricted agenda. The nanobots are only just part of it. Obtaining an apprentice is just one part of a larger plan. He needs someone as his right hand man, and as much as I want to believe that Robin is here to learn, I'm afraid that he's here to learn about the wrong things."
"So you think he's a spy."
"Correct."
"Why are you trusting me with this information? Why not Jinx, or—"
"Because, Mr. Stone, he will trust you."
Cyborg looked at Brother Blood steadily. It would be foolish to ask if Brother Blood knew who he was. This request could be genuine, or Brother Blood could be using this opportunity as a thinly-veiled threat. And after interrupting Brother Blood and Robin's talk, he couldn't say or do anything foolish.
"And why will he trust me? He talks to Jinx more often than everyone else here."
"You have yet to learn the subtleties of villainy," Brother Blood replied. "Robin is at a standstill. He will not fully trust Jinx because she reminds him of the Titans because she has fought him before. Though he was sent here as a spy, he is reluctant and be more willing to reveal Slade's plans to someone he doesn't know. You have no connection to the Titans. He will be more open with you, if you play it right."
"Slade's keeping a close watch on who Robin comes into contact with."
"That does not surprise me. If he did not, I would be disappointed."
Was there something going on between Slade and Brother Blood? If there was, then Cyborg hadn't noticed it before now. They were using Robin as part of their proxy war, if there was something going on.
"You really think Robin's a spy?" Cyborg asked. "You don't think he's still a hero at heart?"
"Of that I have no doubt, but Deathstroke is crushing his heroic resolve. This is part of Deathstroke's training." Blood looked at him. "So, will you assist me?"
"Of course, Brother."
"Thank you, Mr. Stone. I look forward to working with you."
How on earth was he going to explain this to the Titans? And what Brother Blood's real plan? At the very least, Cyborg now had an excuse to talk to Robin without it looking so suspicious. Yikes.
