Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you all for your lovely reviews. They really do make me smile and they were a lovely reminder that there were readers still looking forward to the story. I'm glad you're able to enjoy this story and even imagine it actually happening. :3

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to keep a regular update. Still, I am unsure if I can like I had been during the posting of Forgotten Bonds. You should know that I always have this document open on my computer, so there's never a moment where I'm not thinking about it or that I'm not aware of it. I'll keep trying! Life's been throwing curve balls! XD

Luckily, though, I can give you a heads up for the next update. ^^

Oh, but Happy November! The month of NaNoWriMo for those of the United States – National Novel Writing Month. However, there are people all around the world that participates in this. 50,000 words in 30 days. I'm going for it, so hopefully you all will see more updates!

To all you writers, may you find the soul and perseverance to continue on! Write!

On with the story!

Chapter Ten

Shattered Deception

Six days.

It had been six days since Robin had learned the truth – learned that his father was not John Grayson, but Slade Wilson, who was none other than the very same criminal that he had been working so hard to take down.

Monday was the first day.

Now it was Saturday morning and Robin was planning to visit the man once again tonight.

There was a problem, however. The entire Tower had a terrible tense air about it. Everyone was thoroughly suspicious of Robin. Yesterday had been completely horrible for him; worse day of his life as the leader of the Teen Titans – he swore to it. Commanding the team in a fight against criminals had been absolutely awkward and tense; distrust prevalent in so many ways. It was as if they had lost their faith in their leader.

Of course, it had to be on a very busy day – crime wise.

It didn't affect their work, however. It was just more than obvious the distrusting feelings that emanated from the others. Thankfully – or else Robin probably would've died completely inside – Starfire was more cautious and worried around him than outright distrusting.

But the rift between him and his team members was becoming bigger and bigger; the chasm black as the depths of the Marina Trench.

As if Robin didn't have enough problems, now he had to deal with distrust among his friends – the same already fragile trust that he had cracked due to donning his Red X identity. Now the crack was growing ever more, wider and wider with every passing second. How much pressure could it handle before it shattered into countless irreparable pieces?

He couldn't help but wonder what would they think if they knew the truth. Look how they were treating him now. What made Robin think that telling them the truth would be any different?

Just what could he do? There were no answers, were there? There wasn't even any time for Robin to sit back and consider things heavily. With each passing second, Robin lost valuable trust and peace. There just wasn't anything he could at that moment. He was stuck. He couldn't tell them about Slade. He couldn't explain himself.

There was no escaping this.

In so many ways, Robin dreaded even leaving his room at that moment. He wasn't sure if he could handle the stares that he would no doubt receive as he entered the main room of the tower. It was too much for him. He just couldn't bear to see those faces – which were normally lit with happiness and delight – filled with awkward glances of uncertainty and doubt.

Robin had enough of that inside his heart without seeing it.

He rolled onto his side and stared into the darkness of his room, only a small litter of light streaming through the sides of his closed curtains. Why was it that he preferred the darkness? Was it because it seemed to hide everything? Could he truly remain hidden within the darkness, never needing to surface to the world of light?

Could he really hide away all these secrets and lies that he kept burying himself under?

There was a gentle knock at his door.

"Robin? Robin?"

That beautiful voice made Robin freeze. For a long moment, he could only hear the shuffle of Starfire's feet as she waited for his response. Slowly, Robin began to turn towards the door. He wasn't sure of anything any more. There was only one thing that he knew and that was the fact that he had to go visit Slade – he had to keep up his end of the deal. If he did, Slade wouldn't threaten the city.

But the more time Robin spent at the man's place, the more he felt that he had been missing something. Why hadn't he noticed these small things? Had he been too blind? If so, what if other villains had secrets that Robin just hadn't allowed himself to see? Was he so determined that he couldn't notice truth? After all, Slade just didn't seem like the same man that he had fought with for so long.

What was so different?

"Robin?"

His chest lowered in a slow sigh. This time Robin couldn't deny the voice that sounded so longing.

"Come in, Star."

He pushed himself up and let his legs dangle over the edge of the bed, just as the door slid open to reveal a guarded looking Starfire. She was holding her arm with her hand; her posture hesitant as she gave him a soft smile before stepping into the room.

"Hello, Robin."

"Hey, Star."

The room fell into awkward silence as the door slid shut behind Starfire; closing the room back into the darkness that Robin had become so used to. Starfire took a step towards him. She took another one, each step cautious; but as they continued, she grew stronger in her stance – until she stood right in front of Robin, looking down at him with tender monochromatic eyes.

"Robin, why are you all alone in here?" asked Starfire; her soft eyes bending in gentle concern.

"I…"

Robin was a little startled by the direct question from Starfire. He quickly turned his head away from her so she wouldn't be able to see the emotions that were so easily flooding through his face. He let out a deep breath.

A hand touched his cheek, sending a shockwave of chills through the skin there – startling him. Starfire's tender hand was so soft and kind, yet it gently tickled the surface of his skin. Finally, her hand became firmer as she forced Robin's face to look back up at her. He couldn't help but close his eyes beneath his mask as the sensation of her hand on his skin sent pleasant tingling shivers through him.

"Robin, please, why will you not speak to me?"

He wished he could tell her everything. He wished he could tell her everything that his heart was struggling with – everything. He so wanted to take her in his arms and tell her that he only had eyes for her and her alone; tell her all the locked feelings inside his heart.

He wished he could tell Starfire that he loved her.

But there were too many things dragging him down. He couldn't tell her – he just couldn't. What was so hard about releasing all those pent up feelings inside his soul? Would Starfire dislike him for it? Of course, not. Robin knew so well that there wasn't such a thing as hate inside the young alien's heart – she was too precious, too innocent for such things.

But she wouldn't be able to understand Robin's feelings. She wouldn't be able to comprehend what he was feeling over this news – the fact that he was Slade's son. She wouldn't be able to understand his need to hide the knowledge away, and yet how he also felt the draw of the man pull him closer to learn more of the past.

He wanted the answers that only this man could give him.

"Star… I'm sorry," said Robin, pulling his face away from her soft hand. He felt her fingers curl away from his skin. "I can't yet."

The room was terribly silent. It seemed to burn into Robin's ears with a powerfully strong force. He hated himself. Why couldn't he just grab her and hold her tight? Why couldn't he let it all go? It felt like there was a barrier around his heart; something ever so powerful in its strength that locked away his true feelings.

It wasn't fair.

"Very well, Robin," said Starfire, sounding extremely hurt. "I shall… leave you to the… brooding."

The footsteps were quick; the door opened, light flooding the room; the door slid shut, darkness surrounding everything once again.

Robin closed his eyes and flopped down on his side, curling onto the bed to hide his face into the depths of his pillow; wishing he could block out the world.

….….…

Raven was startled to see Starfire running past her. As the other girl swept by, Raven could see tears sliding down her face. Raven stopped her walking to watch the girl turn the corner. There was the collective gasps of two boys and then, the releasing sob of Starfire.

"Hey, Star, are—"

"Star, what's—"

"Forgive me!"

Raven heard flying footsteps fade away. Raven stepped forward around the corner to see Beast Boy and Cyborg looking extremely confused. In the distance, there was Starfire's fleeing form running into her bedroom; the door sliding shut behind her. Her sobs could still be heard.

"What just happened?" asked Cyborg, glancing over at Beast Boy.

"Hey, don't look at me," shrugged Beast Boy, looking just as confused.

Raven looked back down the hallway that Starfire had rushed down. There was only one other resident to this hallway and that person was Robin. Logic deemed to say that she had visited and had gotten nowhere in speaking with him – just like the rest of them.

"She went to talk to Robin," said Raven. "It would appear she left a bit unhappy."

"But why would she cry?" asked Beast Boy, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow. "I mean, I know something's up with Robin, but it's not like he'd say anything cruel."

"Maybe… Maybe Robin really does have a girlfriend," suggested Cyborg, appearing as if this information sounded so strange to him.

"But why would Star cry about that?" asked Beast Boy, looking thoroughly perplexed.

"Because Starfire likes Robin," hissed Cyborg, glaring at the smaller clueless boy. Beast Boy's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"What?! Since when?!"

"Beast Boy, transform into a chicken," said Raven, completely deadpanned; feeling extremely annoyed with the changeling who seemed to have the emotional span of a flea.

"Huh? Why?"

"So we can toss your clueless chicken butt into the oven!" snapped Raven, her purple eyes glinting dangerously. A moment later, she quickly closed her eyes and gave out a tired sigh.

"Whoa, Rae, you all right there?" asked Cyborg, looking slightly concerned and just a bit more apprehensive. "Although I kinda agree with you there about Mr. Clueless Chicken Butt here."

There was stern glare sent towards the young changeling. Green ears drooped underneath the reproof and Beast Boy appeared to do his best to look repentant. Raven opened her eyes again.

"Something needs to be done. Everything is falling apart around us," said Raven. "However, I honestly don't think this has anything to do with romance in Robin's case."

"Yeah, but we can't push Robin," said Cyborg, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck. "Whatever's going on; it just never works with him. It'll always backfire."

"We have to do something," said Raven, her voice wavering slightly from her monotone sound. "Starfire is becoming more unhappy and we're drifting away from Robin. I know he's holding something back. He's going through something and he's trying to endure it alone."

"But…"

Beast Boy's tentative voice made the other two look over at him. He squirmed slightly from the unified attention, but after a moment, he spoke his thoughts.

"But what could Robin be going through that he can't even tell us, his friends? What if… What if it's something… bad?"

There was a chilled silence at this suggestion. Cyborg looked between the two of them, obviously extremely unsettled by this possibility. Then, he broke the terrible silence with a hesitant chuckle.

"Aha, uh… Naw, BB, there's no way Robin's in something too deep. It's Robin. I mean, come on. It's Robin." He seemed to pause for a moment. "Right?"

"Right!" said Beast Boy quickly, looking relieved. "Right, Robin's fine. He's just doing what he always does."

The two boys looked at Raven, almost expectantly. It took all of Raven's self control to not roll her eyes and yell at them. How foolish they were being, but it was apparent that they couldn't handle the truth. It seemed as if Raven was all on her own with this one.

That was fine; it suited her well. She would figure out what was really going on with Robin. He was struggling with something – something that he was hiding from them all. And it was something big; horribly big, that much Raven was sure of – the feeling she got whenever she was around him told her that much.

She could also tell when he was lying, which he had been doing quite a lot of recently. It was tiny things, little things of mere consequence – and the more he did it, the more he made himself sick. He knew what he was doing, too. But it was as if he couldn't stop; slowly burying himself beneath lie after lie.

Beast Boy had hit the mark straight on without realizing it – what was so horrible that Robin couldn't bear to tell them; what was so horrible that he would do everything he could to hide any evidence of its existence?

For now, Raven would be the only one to find out; it was obvious the others couldn't handle it.

"Right. I'm sure we're making a bigger deal than we need to," said Raven. Then, without giving the two boys a moment to reply, she turned away and walked down the hallway. She was going to confront Robin no matter what now. She figured he would leave the tower again tonight. If not, then tomorrow. She would wait for him and she wasn't going to let him leave until he told her everything.

Raven was more than determined to get some answers, if not for herself, if not for Robin's sake, but for Starfire – she needed comfort and reassurance more than the rest of them.

….….…

There was no trouble for the entire day. Thus, Robin stayed holed up in his room; hoping he wouldn't have to face his friends. Only once had he sneaked into the main room for some food, which luckily, no one had been around to see. Just how much things had begun to fall apart if he couldn't bear his friends' presence? He knew his life was basically going to the dogs, as the saying went. How could he get it all together? What did normal people do? How could he rise above the lies and secrets he had formed around himself? How could he tell them the truth when the truth was so strange?

He couldn't bring himself to call the truth absolutely horrible, because the more he learned about Slade, the more he knew there was no possible way to describe Slade as horrible. No horrible man would apologize like Slade had done for something so simple as a slap.

So why was he still holding everything close to his heart?

As the clock turned six, Robin rolled off his bed. He quickly changed his clothes and completed it with his usual sunglasses. He walked to his door and glanced back over the darkened room, remembering the moment when Starfire's hand touched his face. Robin's hand reached up and brushed over the skin she had touched. A wash of pain flooded over Robin's heart and he clenched his hands. He walked out of his room without another glance backwards.

He dug his hands into his jeans' pockets and started down the hallway; his head down and staring at the carpeted flooring. He hoped no one would stop him; hoped no one would notice that he was leaving again.

Of course, such things were simply unrealistic wishes.

"Robin, we need to talk."

The owner of the name stopped suddenly, cringing as he instantly recognized the voice. He slowly looked up to see Raven standing in front of him. Her hood was lowered and her deep purple eyes were boring into him with great intensity.

"I've gotta go, Rae," said Robin, hoping to blow her off easily; taking another step forward to walk past her. "Maybe some other time."

"No, we're going to talk now, Robin," said Raven, blocking his pathway so that he couldn't get passed her. "Why do you refuse to talk about what's going on? I know something's going on." She folded her arms and stared at him. Robin's chest constricted at the look in her eyes. "You've been lying all this time. I know when you're tell the truth. What aren't you saying?"

"Please…" murmured Robin, unconsciously taking a step backwards. "Just let me go. I just need to go."

"No, not until you talk. You're holding back some big secret. You can't keep doing this, Robin."

Robin's chest constricted even harder; almost choking him in its strength. At the determined look in her eyes, he knew that he wouldn't be able to leave very easily.

"Look, I'm gonna be late—"

"You're going to this Mr. Wilson's home?"

Robin's breath hitched and he quickly averted his gaze downwards; forgetting that he still had the barrier of his sunglasses to guard his emotions.

"Why do you keep going to this Mr. Wilson?" asked Raven, her voice even as she continued to drill for information. "What's going on? You're so tense when I mention that name. Does he have something over you?"

Robin placed a hand over his face; his sunglasses biting into his skin. He shook his head.

"Raven, please… Just leave it be. I can't—"

"Stop," said Raven, putting up a hand. Robin looked up to see a pained light entering her eyes. "You need to tell someone what's going on. Everyone is worried."

"I can't—"

"That's not true at all. You need to talk about what's going on. This isn't healthy."

Robin's breath caught in his throat and he had to turn his head away again. Pain ravaged his heart at that moment; every part of his mind wishing there was a release for it. There was no way he could do this; no way he could let it all out.

"Please, Robin. Please…"

Somehow the pleading voice of Raven seemed to unlock his tongue for a moment and he couldn't stop the name from slipping unbidden through his lips.

"Slade…"

Raven stiffened at the name. She took a step forward and placed a hand on Robin's arm. Regret instantly flooded through him as he saw the concern that entered her purple eyes.

"Is he doing something? Is that what this is about? You've been searching for him?"

Robin could only shake his head; the words on the tip of his tongue, yet the pain rising inside his heart. It felt like it was about to burst forth at any moment. Was he really going to tell Raven? Would she really understand? There was no possible way she could. She was the first to distrust him, after all. She wouldn't understand.

No, he couldn't tell anyone yet.

"Something like that," murmured Robin; turning his head away.

"You're lying again."

"Raven—"

"No," said Raven firmly. "You're lying again, Robin. Why? For what purpose? What are you hiding? What can't you tell me? Us? The team?"

"I'm not—"

"Stop lying to me."

A choking, strangled sound broke inside Robin's chest. He tore away from her; turning his back to her as he clenched his fists at his sides. It broke; the emotions were falling forth. He could feel it again – that terrible uncontrolled power that he wished he possessed over his emotions. Freaking emotions. Why couldn't he have some peace? Already he could feel the hot bead of a tear sliding down his cheek; his sunglasses unable to protect him like his mask could.

He prayed she couldn't see in the darkened hallway.

"He's my father," whispered Robin ever so softly – so softly he doubted she could hear. He swallowed once as he said those fated words out loud; the sound of them seeming to anchor themselves in reality.

"What?"

"I lied. Lead wasn't a dud," said Robin in another whisper, power and control returning; his voice louder this time. He prayed that Raven would be silent as the words poured from his mouth against his will. While he was absolutely terrified as he spoke, it also felt as if a burden were being lifted from his shoulders. Luckily, Raven didn't speak and he could continue, "I found Slade. At first, he planned to blackmail me with your lives. He wanted me to be his apprentice. It worked, too."

"Oh, Robin…"

"S'not what you think," cried Robin in a hushed voice, still unable to turn around. "Something else happened. He found out something else that made him stop. He released you guys already; you're safe now."

There was a long moment of silence; Robin unable to say it again. He couldn't; he just couldn't bear to say it again – say those condemning words that both seemed to squeeze the life out of him and lift every hope in his soul.

"Robin… What did he learn that changed his mind?"

That broke through Robin's defenses.

He whirled around; his hand slicing in the air in front of him. He could feel the few stray tears blinking away as he opened his mouth in a terrible, anguished cry.

"He's my father! Slade is my father!"

Raven's mouth opened slowly in her surprise; her entire stance stopped in her shock. Robin couldn't bear to see it. He sunk to his knees, falling back on his heels, and curled over; his face collapsing into his hands. The sunglasses bit into his skin painfully. His shoulders shook terribly underneath the weight of it all. Saying those words out loud seemed to cement it into reality. It was real; it was truth. There was no escaping it. He was the son of Slade; hence, the man was his father.

Robin's shoulders shuddered under the burden; his very spine seeming to groan under its weight.

A hand touched his shoulder. He stiffened underneath the tender touch. He couldn't bear to look up. He didn't want to see the expression on his friend's face. He didn't want to know the condemnation that would no doubt be placed over him – something he never wanted, and yet as each second passed, it didn't seem as bad as the previous second; as if his heart was slowly warming up to the idea and beginning to latch onto it with all its soul.

Was that allowed?

"It's okay, Robin," whispered Raven; her voice so uncharacteristically kind and soft. A tenderness seemed to radiate throughout it; one that even rivaled Starfire's abilities. "It's okay."

It wasn't okay. There were so many things that weren't okay. He'd been doing nothing but lying to his friends and sneaking behind their backs. But he hadn't a choice. Would it have been better if he had been the man's apprentice? What would've happened then? It would've been far worse. At least here he wasn't a criminal; just a liar, perhaps. But not a criminal.

Robin could only shake his head.

"Robin, look at me."

There was another vigorous shake of the head.

But it was obvious that Raven wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. Robin felt hands pry at his wrists; strength coming from those smaller hands as they pulled his wrists away from his face. A moment later, Robin was forced forward, his arms being pulled, while Raven's hands quickly released his wrists to wrap themselves around his back. There was the soft sound of plastic hitting the carpet. Robin gasped softly in surprised as he was pulled into a hug; his chin resting on her shoulder while his arms lied loosely at his sides.

Robin's breath caught in his throat; stunned by this show of kindness from Raven.

"Listen, Robin," whispered Raven in his ear; one arm curled around the small of his back and gently rubbing there, while her other hand reached up toward his hair; stroking the strands there like a mother would her child. "I understand. You don't have to endure on your own."

He couldn't understand it.

Robin just couldn't understand.

How could Raven, of all people, offer such comfort? Especially after learning who he was? He was the son of the man that they had been fighting all this time. Why was she even touching him? Shouldn't she be recoiling away from him?

Of course, such thoughts were foolishness and a part of Robin's heart knew that. Deep down he knew that he wasn't defined by this, but his thoughts were clouded; his mind fogged to the truth, drowned beneath his ever growing pile of lies – and even within the tender hug, he still couldn't understand.

"I know what it's like," whispered Raven, her voice dropping even more. "I know what it's like to have a less than desirable parentage. But… But you can't let that drag you down."

Robin pulled back slightly, unable to fully break away as Raven kept a firm hold on his arms. As he studied her, he could see a number of emotions flowing through her purple eyes; one of contemplation, one of softness, and one of wryness as a light smile tugged at the edge of her lips.

"I should follow my own advice," said Raven, that smile tugging a little higher. Then, after a moment, she dropped her gaze to the side. She let go of Robin's arms and reached towards something on the floor. She handed it to Robin a moment later. His stomach fell at the sight of the item and he couldn't bring himself to look up at Raven again.

"You dropped this," said Raven gently, placing the black sunglasses into his hand.

Robin could only numbly accept the glasses. She had seen his face – his eyes, specifically. She knew what he looked like completely. Strange emotions were rising inside Robin's chest. He had been so used to hiding behind the mask that he had grown to fear anything else. While he accepted not wearing a mask around Slade, it felt different around the man. Perhaps it was because Slade himself forwent his own mask.

Why was he always hiding? Whether it was behind a mask or a lie, Robin was always hiding something – always had secrets to guard. But for what purpose? What was the reason for it? Raven didn't wear a mask. Cyborg didn't wear a mask. Beast Boy didn't wear a mask – any more, at least. Starfire didn't wear a mask.

So, why?

Why did Robin? Did he really still need to hide?

"Look, Robin… Are you going back to him again?" asked Raven, sounding slightly uncomfortable. Robin merely nodded, unsure of his voice at that moment. Raven's purple eyes shone brightly with worry. "Do you really think you should? I mean—"

"I need to go," said Robin in a low voice. "For a lot of reasons…"

He left it at that. At first, he had only gone to protect the city. But now, he had some questions that he wanted answers to – and the only way to find out was to talk to the man, to spend time with him. There wasn't any way around it. Also, his curiosity was aroused. He couldn't let things fall by the side now. He couldn't ever go back to fighting against Slade knowing what he knew now. It was just too much to ask of him.

When was he going soft?

"I better get going," said Robin, slowly getting to his feet. He placed the sunglasses on; shadowing his eyes. He looked down at Raven, who hadn't gotten up. "I'll probably be back late tonight or tomorrow – not sure."

"You're going to stay overnight?" asked Raven, her tone lifting slightly in worry.

"I've done it before. Not a big deal," said Robin with a shrug.

"But—"

"Honestly, Raven. I'll be fine."

He turned away completely and began to walk down the hallway. Raven knows… He couldn't believe it. Would Raven trust him now after all this? Would everything really fall apart now? Would—

"Robin, stop that."

He startled, shocked by Raven's sharp tone. He whirled back around to see her standing up and giving him an even stare.

"Whoever your father is doesn't define who you are. You're Robin and that's that."

Robin sucked in his breath, overwhelmed by her words. Was this Raven's way of saying she accepted him now?

There was a tentative smile from Raven; almost encouraging in her own way. Then, she lifted the hood of her cloak and turned away; leaving Robin completely alone within the hallway. It took him a few moments to regain himself. He continued down the hallway, his thoughts in a whirl, until he began his journey to Slade's home.

He couldn't believe it. How could Raven accept him so easily? How could she so easily accept him after learning something so terrible? It was permanent – he couldn't change it. It wasn't even something he could beg forgiveness for; nothing he could alter. There was nothing he could do to change history, fate, destiny – it was what it was.

But Raven had just accepted it. She hadn't cared if Slade was his father – he was still Robin to her. Did this mean, she wasn't angry with him for his lies? She just merely seemed to accept it. Was it too good to be true?

For a brief moment, Robin was suddenly curious if Starfire would so easily accept him as well.

But the darker side of his mind slipped his heart even more lies.

Next Time: Chapter Eleven: Nostalgic Romp – As Robin visits for the fourth time, he continues to see news sides to the man – ones he never would've imagined in a million years.

Author's Notes: I ended up splitting this chapter because it was just getting too big. At first, I was unsure what I wanted for the next Slade and Robin interaction and that blocked me from finishing. But then, finally it came to me and the chapter ended up getting so big. So, that's why I can guarantee the next chapter. :3

Thanks for reading! Next update will be on Thursday! See ya next time! Reviews = love and ideas! ^.^