Onward with the tale...
Chapter Ten - Wilson
'It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.' -Frederick Douglass
Robin, clicked the speaker, hearing a voice greet him.
"Hello?" Wilson, asked over the com.
"It's me."
"Come on up." He was buzzed in, entering the building, making his way to the third floor, finding the room he seeked, knocking.
"You've never showed up on your own before. Should I be worried?" Wilson greeted, though, Robin, didn't say a word, making his way to the table.
"Sit." He stated bluntly, taking the other by surprise, though he complied, taking seat opposite the boy.
"Is this about the kiss?"
"Not- not entirely…" He muttered, blushing slightly. "I'm going to ask you a question, if you lie I'm leaving, if you tell the truth, I might stay." He said, glaring at the other.
"Fair enough. Ask away." He motioned, smirking at the boy, seeing him sigh, looking away for a moment, hesitating as though he didn't want to know the answer to his question, before his eyes returned.
"Slade?" He stared dead in the other's eye, silence filling the air, the other seemingly taken by surprise by the sudden accusation.
Robin's head landed in hands, groaning, knowing what the silence meant.
"How did you figure it out?" The bird, heard, surprised when he saw the man's smirk had faded.
"So it is true…" He wanted to cry, but refused. "Is this… Is this a game to you? Another scheme to get me as your apprentice?! I was raped! For fucks sake, Slade!" He started to breath a bit heavier, biting his lower lip, pain seeping past his unshielded gaze. "I- I cried in front of you…" He rubbed his head, wanting to kick himself for his weakness, though seeming he was going to do it again.
"You had good reason." Slade noted.
"Oh god… How did you find me?!" The Titan realized, shaking slightly, having forgotten he'd been the one to 'find' him in the warehouse.
"I did find you. That wasn't a lie." Slade took a hearty breath. "I've been watching you for a while, since that parasite took residence in your body."
"You were stalking me…? Surprise surprise..."
"Yes, well. It started with me wanting to be sure you weren't injured in any way that would lead to you not being able to be my apprentice, as I said when you woke the first time."
"Go on."
"Well, that desire to protect you morphed to intrigue of the creature hiding inside you." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I was meaning to watch when you went out that night, but I lost track of you, they moved you." He was referring to the boy's rapists. "When I found you it was to late. I shot them and took you to my apartment."
"Oh…" His tone was lighter, no more than a whisper. "Why did you kiss me...?" He wondered.
"I felt like I needed to." He responded honestly. "Did you dislike it?"
"..." His silence said it all.
"Can I do it again?" The Titan's eyes looked away.
"I- I- Your a villain…"
"In your eyes, yes." The mercenary replied, calm, balanced, no annoyance heard as he spoke.
Robin seemed to contemplate, fighting to keep his gaze on the other, an urge to look at his hands rising, which scratched at his jeans. "I won't without consent, boy."
"No- I mean-" He sighed, blush radiation despite himself, only now breaking eye contact, looking to the side in thought. "Are you trying to blackmail me or something…?"
"No. In fact my reputation would be damaged as well if word got out that I was 'with' the leader of the Teen Titans." The bird took the man's words, allowing them to set for a moment, biting his lower lip, before his eyes rose back to the other, nodding.
A hand found his chin, leading him to stare into a grey, blue orb, gently kissed, so gently in fact he wondered if it was actually Slade on the other end, allowing himself to sink into the touch, not wanting to think of consequences at the moment. Robin allowed the man to deepen the contact this time.
They eventually found themselves on the couch, Robin wrapping his arms around the man's neck, Slade pressing against him, boy allowing himself to have a slight lapse in control.
The kissing would have gone on longer, if not for the ringing at his side, having to reluctantly push Slade off his person, panicking slightly as he saw it was Beast Boy.
He did a quick once over with his hand before flipping the device open.
"Yeah, Beast Boy?" He smiled.
"Dude…?" He noted his disheveled appearance, before laughing slightly. "Umm… Star wanted me to ask you what you want for dinner."
"You have plans." Slade purred, smirking down at his prey.
"Oh, okay, dude, see you later than." He laughed again. "And tell your boyfriend we said hi." The call ended, Robin, beat red.
"The Titans say hi." He said through a muffle, head buried in hands.
"I heard." He chuckled, somehow managing to untangle the teen under him, finding his lips again, wishing he could ravenge him as he saw his state, knowing that wasn't wise.
They indulged in one another until the man broke the contact, staring down at the lusting bird, whose lips, parted slightly, were red from friction, eyes half lidded, glazed in ecstacy.
"Dinner?"
"Wha-…?" He breathed, completely out of it.
"Dinner." He chuckled.
"Oh, yeah… yeah." He cleared his throat, straightening, bringing his knees together as the other pulled back, blushing as he noted his situation. "I- I need a minute…" He heard a chuckle.
"Take all you need. Italian okay with you?"
"Yeah…" He said, trying to get the other to stop talking, it not helping his state.
"Ravioli? Wait, no. Pasta salad?" He corrected.
"Why not ravioli?" He asked, distraction helping.
"I don't want you to throw up."
"Why would ravioli make me throw up and not pasta salad?"
"Pasta salad is cold."
"So?"
"Hot foods make you throw up."
"No they don't." He huffed.
"That's why you couldn't keep down spaghetti."
"That has nothing to do with it!"
"Yes it does."
"No it doesn't!" He jumped to his knees, looking over the couch.
"Would you like ravioli?" He smirked.
"Yes. Yes I would!" He said, crossing his arms over chest.
"Fine." He watched the man smirk, walking to the kitchen.
Within ten minutes, they sat at the table, Slade setting a plate in front of him, steam rising off the pasta.
"Go on." The man said, seeing the boy stare at the food, gulping to himself.
"Where'd you learn to cook?"
"My wife."
"You're married?!" He coughed, nearly choking on air.
"Ex-wife."
"Oh… Okay." He sighed.
"So are you going to eat?" He asked.
"I- I'm- yes." He looked to the plate.
"Then eat." Attention was on him, as he grabbed his fork, stabbing the meal. "Go ahead."
"I will!" He shoved the pocket past his teeth.
"Are you just going to chew, or are you going to swallow it?" Slade said, resting his head on a hand, watching the boy swallow his mouth full.
His eyes glazed in what could only be described as pure anguish, staring straight ahead as his grip on his fork tightened. Slade, taken slightly aback by surprise, tried to touch the Titan's head, feeling him tense.
"Are you alright?" He leaned the other's head so pure blue eyes met his own. "Robin?" He snapped his fingers, looking directly into his pained stare. "Come on." The older male helped him rise, though the boy jolted suddenly, bolting towards the trash, where he thusly vomited, acid the main component, throat burning, as he released the waves, tears stinging his vision. A hand rubbed circles on his back as the outburst commenced.
"I- I thought I could…" Robin, said as he finished his release, shaking slightly.
"I know…" The man continued to rub circles on his back, comforting him, hearing the sobs leave him. "Let's watch a movie." He offered a hand, which the boy accepted when he was sure he could walk without stumbling.
"If you ever tell anyone, I'll never talk to you again…" He said as they made their way to the living quarters.
"Who would I tell?" He said, turning on the television. "What's your favorite movie?"
"What's yours?" He rebutled.
"I don't have a particular favorite, but I like Back to the Future."
"Back to the Future is fine." Robin said, watching the man grab the disc from the library of films stored in the side shelves, popping it in the player.
They watched the film, at least Slade did, Robin falling asleep mid way through, now lying on the other's lap, sleeping on Slade's leg.
"Robin…" He shook him lightly, seeing him groan, nuzzling his leg farther. "Robin, wake up." He tried.
"What…?" He asked, not opening his eyes.
"Time to eat."
"What…?" He cracked open a lid, looking at the mercenary.
"Come on, you need to eat."
"I was already asleep, I'll eat in the morning…" He closed his eye.
"No, come on." He moved, standing, boy growling as his head fell on the cushion.
"No…" He turned.
"Come on." He grabbed the Titan's middle, lifting him, hearing a sigh as his head rolled back, looking to the other.
"Fine." He allowed his form to be carried, set in a chair.
"Eat up." He motioned towards the meal already set on the table.
"But-"
"It's cold now." He assured, sitting across from the boy, watching him eat a bite, swallowing.
"Guess you were right…" He said, frowning.
"And you doubted me." He smirked, trying to liven the mood.
"Can I still drink coffee?" He realized he hadn't drank any since the attack.
"Would you like some?"
"No… it's to late for coffee when I'm not working." He assured, shrugging.
"In the morning then." They both returned to eating, Robin able without puking, to his delight.
They ended up in the bed, simply pressed against each other, Slade resting an arm over the bird's middle, pulling him close. They both lay there for the longest while, enjoying each others company. Robin thought to himself, thinking of the events, who he was lying with, not believing it himself. If someone had told him a month prior he'd be in bed with Slade, someone would be in a hospital with a broken jaw. Now it wasn't any more believable. Before today he hadn't even figured Wilson was Slade. He wondered why he'd gone along with it even after he'd figured out his true identity, why had he let the man kiss him?
The hold around his midsection tightened, if only just, the mercenary's head nuzzling into the crook in his neck. He wanted to turn. His body spun to face the man, seeing he was awake as his eye stared down on the teen. Neither said a word as the small form curled against the man's chest, head now resting under Slade's chin, allowing his arms to envelope him.
They eventually fell asleep, Robin feeling safe, oddly enough, against the muscular other, finding, for the first time in a long time, he managed to sleep through the night.
The next morning, they were tangled worse than the night prior. The bird found his head nuzzled against Slade's chest, two arms wrapped around his waist, held tight to the other's person, making him blush, though he made no attempt at escape, deciding if the world wasn't in peril, he could lie for a bit longer. His breath was even as he inhaled the man's scent, unaware he was awake, and knew he was as well. The hold on him pulled him up slightly, making his head peak up, seeing a familiar smirk staring down at him, only seeing it for a moment before he felt lips find his mouth, making him jolt, Slade pulling back.
"Yes?" He asked with a raised brow.
"Morning breath." The Titan laughed nervously.
"I'm hurt, wounded even."
"Not you, me." He nuzzled his chest.
"I don't mind." He tried, though to no avail, boy nodding. "Fine. Wait here."
"Wha-" He whined as the man stood up,
"Here." He handed him a new toothbrush, still in the packaging.
"Why do you have that…" He asked, none too happy about being made to move.
"In case of emergency." The boy narrowed his gaze. "Does this not qualify?" The man smirked.
"Fine…" He sat up, hair a mess, rubbing the back of his head with a yawn.
He sat at the table, served a plate of cold foods, making him sigh.
"Something wrong?"
"Not important." He probed a slice of banana with his fork, shoving it past teeth, chewing.
"We can try something warm in a few days. Coffee?"
"No…" He feared the result.
"Are you sure? You won't know if you don't try."
"Not now."
"Well I'm going to have some."
"Fair enough." He ate another slice of fruit, watching the other brew the pot. "What are your plans for today?"
"Oh, thought I'd stalk you."
"Then I should leave. Would hate to mess up your plans."
"Easier to stalk you when your sitting at my table." He poured the beverage. "Sure you wouldn't like a cup?" He asked, seeing his gaze hover longingly over the mug.
"No..."
"I'm pouring you a cup." Slade, noted the tone and slight shift in his posture.
"I don't want to throw up…"
"I didn't hear a no." He sat across from the Titan with two mugs, placing one in front of him. "Go ahead." Robin, stared at the drink, hesitating. "The suspense is killing me." The man said, taking a drink of his own coffee.
When he took a heary sip of his drink, he prepared to flee to the trash can, a moment passing before he sighed in relief.
"Thank God…"
"Your welcome." The boy rolled his eyes, as, Slade, spoke, man smirking.
"I hate to eat and run, but I need to get back before the Titans wake up." He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head.
"It's six."
"Raven, gets up at seven."
"That means you have an hour. It should take half an hour to get back… so that gives us another half hour before you have to leave." The man concluded, watching the boy eat the last slice on his plate.
"What'd you have in mind?" He asked, curious.
"Let's start here, and we'll see where it goes." He kissed the bird, leaning his head back.
They didn't get past kissing, half an hour not long enough for a breakthrough, plus, as expected, Robin, wasn't willing to do much more, simply not ready. He had to hurry to the tower, realizing running took a lot longer than swinging, the thought that he was in civilian clothes having left him, it seven twenty by the time he reached the door, taking a moment to catch his breath.
"Welcome home." Raven said as he left the elevator. "They're still asleep." She added, noting his relief.
"Thanks." He made his way towards his room, nearly having a heart attack as the doors parted, Cyborg, and Star, blocking his path.
Oh my…
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