Chapter 10: Home Bitter Home

Disclaimer: See chapter one

Author's note: Thanks for the reviews. Will this chapter gradually get lighter?

"I'm so glad we're almost home," Robin sighed. It was another sunny day in the Bay Area and the two were being driven back to Slade's hideout.

"I imagine so. A dreary city like Gotham can't be good for someone like you."

"I was depressed for years, Slade—years. I had no one to turn to talk or anything for that matter. It wasn't like I could tell Alfred 'Hey, Bruce is fucking me. Should I call the police?' I wish it were that simple. Sometimes, I thought about killing him. But then that would mean that I would be the one going to jail and not he. I've exposed him. Everyone will see who he is thanks to my craftiness. Now, I have no more demons and it's all thanks to you." Robin planted a chaste kiss on the man's lips.

"Flattery will get you no where," Slade smirked. "Besides, if you hadn't told me, I would have never known why you always acted so weird."

"Like how? Was I that bad?" Robin frowned.

"I'm afraid so. One moment you were melancholy the next euphoric to angsty. You were quite the roller coaster."

"Sound like a real bitch," Robin laughed wryly.

"No, Robin. I would tell you, if you were acting like one, believe me. But you had every right to act the way you did."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Of course, I am right," Slade snorted.

"It's two a.m. This is normally the time I go to bed. And then I wake up at six."

"How disappointing. No wonder why you're not growing. A growing boy needs his rest."

"Tch. I'll be eighteen in a week. Not much growing left." Robin rested his right temple against the car window.

"And you still haven't told your team about your identity," It was a statement and not a question.

"Gah! I hate the secret identity; it's like a double life. Batman never let me tell anyone, even Kidflash. Now, I does what I wants," Robin sung.

"Bad grammar and your jarring singing," The mercenary grinned.

"Hey!" Robin crossed his arms over his chest. "I can sing."

"Another time then."

"Umm. Do you want to come over tomorrow—I mean today to meet the team...as my boyfriend?" Robin shifted awkwardly in his seat.

"I do not believe that they would take it well that the Boy Wonder and Deathstroke the Terminator...kiss," Slade supplied.

"Well, they don't have to know exactly who you are," Robin grinned.

"Are you implying that I play along, as your mysterious boyfriend?" Slade raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, but you don't have to lie about anything. Just don't flat out say, 'Hi! I'm Slade', either."

"I understand.

"Slade, I am not ashamed of you," Grabbing the man's hands. "I just don't want my friends having a heart attack is all."

"Driver, to Titan's tower."

"I thought that we were going back to the hideout?" Robin frowned.

"Did you think that I would allow you to spend the night after such a traumatic day? You need your beauty sleep. Training is cancelled until further notice."

"But Slade-"

"Make sure to eat and don't skimp out on the protein."

"Slade."

"Here we are." The driver stepped out to open the passenger door on Robin's side. He stepped out and turned around to see the driver entering the driver's side to leave. Down the passenger window was rolled.

"Good morning, Robin."

"Good morning, Slade." And with that, up the window was rolled and the vehicle departed and sped away from the darkness of the morning. Just like that, Robin was once again alone. There had been a few rain droplets, but now, it had begun to pour. Turning on his heels, he muttered, "I'm sorry."

Robin was not a happy camper. He felt like the Boy Blunder. Alas, he could not out right tell his friends that he was dating Slade, could he? Was his statement contradictory. Was he ashamed of Slade? No. He was ashamed of himself. It was what he was and how he changed. All of the training and fighting brought out another side to him. He was once again, care-free like he was as a child, yet he had more of an aggressive side to him. He did not regret anything he did to Bruce. What bothered him was that he was increasingly becoming darker. He was succumbing to the darkness. That did not frighten him. It frightened him that he was not disturbed by this transformation. He walked into the distance; the darkness awaiting him.

0_o

The following morning, Robin woke up sometime after seven o'clock. He decided to partake in a nice hot shower. Stripping to nothing but his skin, he drowned himself in the warmth of the running water. He grabbed the shampoo, lathered, rinsed and repeated. He then conditioned his hair. While waiting five minutes for the conditioner to work its magic, Robin soaped up his body with his favourite shower-gel, Ax. The metrosexual shaved the stubble from his arms pits and cleaned up the design near his pelvic region. Rinsing the suds from his body and the conditioner from his hair, he turned off the faucet and stepped out of the shower. Before he could grab for a towel, at the corner of his eye, the mirror caught his attention. His own appearance captivated him. It felt like months, since he last glanced into one. He took in his long ebony hair that reached his shoulders, his high cheek bones, his radiant smile that he always whitened, his red, cupid-bow lips, his thick and black eyelashes and his shimmering blue eyes. That is what stood out the most because they were very clear. Robin looked happy and at peace. His eyes zeroed in on the scars on his body. Despite what others may think, Robin did not have flawless skin, though his pale olive tone complexion seemed a bit healthier. His lithe form was covered in stabs, cuts and gun shot wounds. Tracing the bullet wound around his left shoulder, did he notice that he was like an onion. With the first couple of layers, he looked beautiful. But as he was stripped to his birthday suit, he felt...ugly. These haunted markings were all reminders of his past failures.

He ambled to his bedroom and donned a pair of grey sweatpants and slim-fitted, long-sleeved, black t-shirt and clad his mask with spirit gum. While brushing and flossing his teeth, he opted to leave his hair down, for he liked his natural beauty. After exiting his room, he adjourned to the gymnasium. His workout was more vigorous than the five months ago. Robin ran twelve miles, practised gymnastics, two-hundred and fifty sit-ups, one-hundred push-ups and spent the rest of his workout on the punching bag. As he travelled back to his room, the alarm sounded. He quickly dressed into his traffic-light coloured uniform and raced to the main room.

"Titans, report!" Everyone, including Raven, jumped out of their skin, from hearing the voice of their leader.

"Dude! When did you get back? You scared the shellac out of us."

"We weren't expecting you until a couple of days, at the least," Raven added.

"Long story," Robin waved dismissively. "Report?"

"Looks like we got someone robbin' a jewellery store," Cyborg supplied.

"Titans, head out!" Everyone could not help but to stare at Robin's appearance. "What?"

"Ah, Robin? Your, umm..." Beastboy stammered.

"Please. Robin, I do not think that you should...perhaps, ..." Starfire could not bring herself to say it.

"Oh! You mean my hair. I'm trying something new." Robin was already running towards the elevator for the garage.

"Cy, I had no idea that Robin-" Beatboy wispered.

"Save it BB. We gotta go."

The five of the Titans jumped into Cyborg's baby (vehicle) and sped off to down-town. Everyone raced out the car, when Cyborg parked at the corner of E 2nd street. They entered the Steinberg's jewellery shop to find none other than Red X.

"Drop it, Red," Robin demanded.

"Listen, kid. I'm a little short on change, but I got plenty of hope."

"You won't have any hope left, once I take your change," Robin countered.

"I'm just looking out for numero uno. How about you..." Red was at a loss for words, when he took in Robin's appearance."Damn, kid. You've got some big balls."

"Well, I'm about to bust yours," Robin quipped, feeling that he heard that recently.

"Let me put it to you simple. Oh, Boy Wonder, what great big balls and dick you have!" Robin's eye widened and his mouth fell to the floor. He dared to look down at this groin area and found that he was not wearing his special compression underwear that he would always clad underneath his tights or any underwear for that matter. To say that he was humiliated, was an understatement. He shot a glare up to Red X, blushing fervently.

"You just made a big boner," Robin growled, pulling out his escrima sticks.

"How about we call it a draw," Raising his hands and backing away. "I can't fight someone who's handicapped. Hell, pick on someone your own size. Later, kiddies," Red X gave a mock salute, before vanishing. All of the Titans were utterly silent for two minutes, until Raven spoke:

"Well, that was...awkward."

"Please. When did your bourklums grow in size?" Starfire questioned.

"Oooohh," Robin groaned, covering his face with both hands, shaking his head in denial. "That's what you were trying to tell me, before we left and then I just-"

"Man, don't sweat it. Someday, you're gonna look back at this and laugh," Cyborg interrupted.

"Yeah, and besides, your going to make all the guys jealous," Beastboy patted Robin on the back. "Cool sticks by the way."

"Thanks, Beastboy," Robin gave a small smile. The only guy that he wanted was Slade.

0_o

Back at the t-shaped tower, Robin was finishing up his last hundredth lap, before climbing out of the pool. He took a seat next to Raven, who was laying in a lounge chair reading Edgar Allen Poe's works of art, while a black-laced parasol shaded her from the sun's rays. She was wearing a black, two piece bathing suit with blue lace and a pair of black sunglasses.

"I thought goths don't fancy the sun."

"And I didn't know that a certain hero was packing hand grenades and a Mac-10," Raven smirked, setting her book aside and taking off the sunglasses.

"Ha-ha. Very funny, Raven," Robin rolled his eyes underneath his masked eyes.

"Something's on your mind. What happened between you, Slade, and Batman?"

"Everything," Robin mused.

"Explain." Robin started from the very beginning, where he first met Wilson. The real action began in Gotham, so he continued there. Robin wore his heart on his sleeve, as he told Raven about the rapes. He spoke of the sex tapes and finding out that the two had strong feelings for one another. Lastly, he spoke of Bruce's punishment. Raven had known for a while about Robin's identity; they shared a bond.

"...and then on the way back home, I asked him if he wants to meet the team, but then I tell him not to out right say who he is. Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Robin growled.

"Robin,-"

"A-a-and now, he thinks that I'm ashamed of him!"

"Robin,-"

"Hahahahaha! I didn't even offer him any of Alfred's cookies!"

"We know."

"What?" Robin asked puzzled.

"We've known for some time that you are dating the infamous Deathstroke," Raven crossed her arms over her chest, while smirking.

"How?" Robin was completely flabbergasted as to how the witch knew this.

"Simple. When Starfire found out that you were going on dates, she was determined to find out who the lucky lady must be, only to find out that it was a man. She brought Beastboy along; he likes acting like a detective. They followed you and took pictures and even managed to grab a DNA sample from Slade's drink. They took it back to the crime lab and examined the evidence. We were all shocked and intrigged. This explains why you spent your days with Slade."

"You guys don't think that I'm insane?"

"Nope. We are all happy for you. If you love him and he treats you right, then that's good enough for all of us."

"That's one way to keep crime down. Step right up, folks! Come one, come all. Win a date with the Boy Wonder," Robin said with his best carnival voice. Raven giggled softly.

"So,..did you...?"

"Did I what?"

"Seal the deal."

"I don't think I follow,"Robin frowned.

"Eel entering the cave?"

"Umm.."

"Buttering up the hotdog?"

"Er.."

"Eatting the banana?"

"..."

Raven sighed, before continuing. "Did you and Slade have sex, yet?" Robin went into a horrible coughing fit, grabbing his throat with both hands.

"NO!" Robin said,realising his voice was too loud, so he lowered it two decimals. "No, I mean I don't know if I'm ready. I guess it's one of those things you can't be totally ready for, you know?"

"You'll know when the time comes," Raven placed a hand on his shoulder. "How about inviting him over?"

"You know what? I just may do that," Robin grinned. "Cookie?" Robin grabbed the container from out of no where.

"Sure." They each took a cookie and bit into their own. "Mmh," They moaned in unison.

0_o

"I have something I want to show everyone," Robin and Raven had walked into the main room.

"Look, man, if it's about-"

"It's not about my manhood, Cyborg," Robin interrupted. Robin looked over at Raven and she nodded in consent. The Teen Wonder slowly peeled off his masked eyes. "This," he said. "is who I am."

Author's note: Did I surprise you again? Was it funny or boring? Reviews, please. I'd like to hear your thoughts.