Nemesis Ch. 10

Inner Emotions

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, only the plot line of this story.

Oncoming Chapter: Major OOC-ness. ...It's intended.

"Robin, as much as you have to say, I have to point out that you are still ill and you are in desperate need of sleep. I don't know how you now plan to sleep now, but stubborn as you are, you must rest or you are in danger of hurting yourself." Slade was completely contradicting himself. How many numerous occations had Slade not slept even when he was injured or sick? In all truth, he was more stubborn than Robin.

Robin just looked at him for a minute, not saying anything. No doubt calming himself down. He remained silent as Slade stood up. Robin watched his every move with a piercing stare.

"I'll get you medicine...and pain killers. ...And while I'm there, I'm sure you would like something more comfortable to sleep in." Slade said, and then left for a minute to get the supplies. He couldn't believe he just thought to get all of these items now.

Slade was just leaving for a moment, but it still gave Robin that fleeting nauseous feeling when he was gone. Robin was so baffled by the clingy feeling, he just wanted to make it go away by Slade coming back. It wasn't helping his pains.

Slade came back with a couple of bottles of who knows what, and threw Robin some night clothes. Robin arched a brow and looked at them. A large black tee shirt and large plaid pajama pants. Robin looked back up at him, a 'you've gotta be kidding me' look on his face. Slade looked at him with mild annoyance.

"In case you haven't noticed, I don't have any children running around here. If you want to sleep comfortably, you'll have to use mine." Slade said with a tone in which Robin guessed he didn't feel like being argued with. Robin looked at the clothes again and decided to wear them. What the hell, he'd give it a shot. It was better than sleeping with no shirt and his spandex pants. That are not as comfortable as it may look. And the clothes looked really warm right now considering Robin was freezing.

So he took the shirt and eagerly put it on, covering his half bandaged torso. Crossing his arms to make himself warmer, hugging his chest. And it thankfully was warmer, as Robin sighed lightly from the knew warmth covering him.

Slade prepared Robin's medicine while watching Robin with vague interest. He was a mystery that one.

Robin was about to put on the pants, but then realized that Slade was there watching. He stopped and blushed slightly, looking to Slade.

"Could you, uh, turn around, for a sec?" Robin asked lightly. He still couldn't stop the blushing. Slade quirked a brow, but sighed and gave in, turning around. Having no idea why he just did so. They were both male, correct? And didn't he have boxers...? It was going to take some getting used to having a kid around again. Although, if Joey and Grant were still alive,...they would probably be only a little older than Robin. How coincidental. And just a bit unnerving.

Slade lost track of his thoughts when he heard Robin's rustling behind him. He turned back around, knowing Robin was changed. He saw Robin, now in his own pajamas, not like he ever wore them, and now he was trying to gain even more warmth by wrapping the blankets around his shoulders. The poor thing was still shaking. Trying not to move, for it caused him pain. It was almost a funny sight.

But Slade ignored his funny bone again and got Robin's medicine. One of them was some pills, pain killers, another was liquid, medicine. Slade also brought him another blanket. And then there was another container on the table.

Nonetheless, Slade put the other blanket around the shivering Robin, and Robin looked up at him with a thankful look as he gripped the comforters closer to himself. Slade grabbed a few of the pills and a drink and offered it to the boy.

"Here, pain killers. Have this before the medicine." Slade handed over the materials while Robin inspected the pills and the beverage cautiously. Slade knew he was going to, so he stood there and watched. Robin looked back up at him, eyeing him suspiciously. Slade almost rolled his eye. Suspicious of everything as always.

"Go on." Slade encouraged blankly. Robin decided it was for the best, anything to make his body stop hurting. He swallowed the pills down with the water that was in the cup. Then Slade got a small measuring cup with a red syrupy liquid in it. Robin stuck out his hand again from the warmth of his blankets and took it from him. Knowing it was medicine, he swallowed it down, now grimacing at the bitter taste. He guessed that since Slade obviously had connections, he had the best working supplies. So it was probably bitter because it was strong. He hoped it worked. A fever with these pains was a menace.

"Now I suggest you get some rest." Slade said as Robin settled back in his bed and pulled the covers over himself. He coughed again and looked up at Slade. Sure he wanted to sleep that would be a privilege right now. He laid his head on the pillow and stared at the ceiling worriedly. He just couldn't get the images of yesterday out of his head. How was he supposed to sleep? No matter how much he wanted to, this was going to be difficult. Even though at the moment he now felt strangely...eased. And,...Slade wasn't going to leave him by himself, was he?

Slade saw Robin look at the ceiling and then him nervously. He could almost sense what the boy was feeling. All that was on his mind, was the incident, and as much as he hated to admit it, he really did not want to be alone. Even if his only company was indeed Slade, it was better than nothing. Like he was observing earlier, Slade made him feel, protected, and cared for. Even if he was a villain. If it was one thing he learned today, is to never judge a book by its cover, no matter how corny that is. Because Slade was obviously more than just a super human in a mask.

Just when he thought that Slade was about to leave, he spoke up.

"D-don't leave..." Robin said worriedly, looking at Slade's back facing him. The boy mildly panicked at the thought of being alone if only for a moment. Slade turned to glance at the boy before turning to face him again. His voice had amusement sewed into it.

"Calm down, Robin, I'm not leaving." Slade said smirking. The kid's dependence on him was very amusing, and kind of heart-warming. In a weird sort of way. He then added something to Robin, but was said only within the confounds of his mind.

'In this state, I know you don't want to be alone, Little Bird. You'll need support through this. And lucky for you, I'm here. ...Hm, when I was in a damn self-moral crisis, there was no one there to help me.' Slade finished his thought mentally, sitting in the chair by the bed. Robin gave him a curious look. Which Slade found was another pretty cute look. This boy could look and be so damn innocent if he wanted to be. And most of the time, he didn't even mean to be.

Robin put his head back down on the pillow, knowing his guardian was now going to watch over him as he slept. So he could feel safe again. But he still felt this sudden drowsiness. Almost as if he was in a drunk-like state. As if something was pulling him down as he battled to stay awake and in a clear mind for as long as he could. He was losing the internal fight with his mind, as he was dragged under a clear point of view, and put in a foggy one. Soon he could no longer control himself. So let's just say he really wasn't thinking too clearly for the next couple of sentences...

The boy looked up at Slade curiously, eyes half-lidded, looking very tired, even through the mask.

"...What's your real name...?" Robin said, a little slurred from his drowsiness. Like I said, he wasn't all there right now. And with everything, including the mystery of Slade, still bubbling in his mind, he had to find some way to relieve it.

Though Slade was a bit unnerved about the question, he expected something of the odd nature, considering that one of the pills that Robin took, was indeed a sedative. Slade slipped one in there to help the youngling sleep better without Robin noticing at all. Better for him, Slade was sneaky. But the direct personal aspect of the question was what bothered him. Even though he knew that Robin was half asleep. ...So he decided to play along...

"...Why should I tell you that? I'd be jeapordizing myself." Slade answered calmly. He knew Robin wasn't going to stay awake long enough, or in the right mind to finish this conversation.And most likely he won't even remember any of this in the morning. Which was a good thing.

Robin still stared at him, with droopy eyes under the mask. The swollen one was recovering fast, but it could still not open fully. Robin would look drunk to someone who didn't know him. But Slade knew him.

"Because, you know mine,...and it's not fair. And-and I'm curious. I wanna, know what happened, to you,...to make you, like that..." Robin said sleepily, pausing frequently, raising a hand to gesture at Slade's face for emphasis. Slade guessed the missing eye. And the near seriousness of the question itself made Slade's eye widen slightly. He guessed this really was what went on in Robin's head. He figured Robin was just as curious about Slade's past. He decided not to answer so soon, he wanted to wait for the boy to explain himself.

He looked to the boy again to find this strange, drunken smile on his face. Slade quirked a brow. That he hadn't seen before.

"...Besides," Robin continued, slurring frequently. "I wanna know all about you. You,...intrigue me. And,..ya know what?...I like you..."

Before promptly falling asleep.

Okay, I know you're all going to kill me for this cliffie. It was just very necessary. This chapter may have come off a bit too homey and maybe even a bit corny, but I really ended up liking it. It seemed even, fluffy. And I like fluffy.

Comments equal a happy author.

'Till next time,

D.O.P.