A/N: you seemed to have survived the fingering, at least none of you, so far, has yelled at me. A bit surprising, but maybe you yelled at your computer screen instead. Poor thing. ;)

Tuesday, 11th of December 2012

"So that's the gist of it. Think you can help?" Robin asked the masked man on the screen.

"I'll try. So… Slade's ex wife?"

"No comment."

"I thought not." The Dark knight looked a bit smug for some reason, maybe because he thought that Robin had finally grasped the concept of the big age difference, but if he thought that the teen had begun to re-evaluate his relationship with the mercenary he would be disappointed. Robin had decided that he would just be plain dumb when it came to things like that.

"You'll get to meet her in Gotham. She knew who you were, though."

"She should. She's running Searchers Inc after all," the detective shrugged and Robin gaped.

"Don't you just hate him a little right now?" Slade, who was walking by in the background at that moment, asked.

"A little, yes. You know Addie?"

"We've never met, but yes, I know who she is. After all, I had to do some research on Slade once it was clear that he wouldn't just stay the hell away," the man said pointedly, staring over the teen's shoulder.

"Speaking about how people should stay away from each other but won't, how is my daughter?" Slade asked.

"She is just fine, but tired."

"Tired? She should be resting!" the man snapped.

"For once I can't wait to see you, Deathstroke," Batman smiled and looked very sincere. "Because I really need you to tell her that."

"Watch out, it's a trap!" Robin stage whispered.

The teen spent the rest of the morning running every test he could think of on the cards. He had received yet another one this morning. Unfortunately they hadn't exactly treated the old ones as forensic evidence, and if there had been any DNA from the kidnapper on them from the beginning, it had been ruined by theirs by now, as well as anyone else who might have handled it on its way across the continent. Even the stamp was self-adhesive, so no DNA to be found there either. The microscope also didn't reveal anything, and a quick search online told him that the cards were sold all over the US and even Europe, making them impossible to track to any specific store or even line of stores. Even the ink seemed to be from a big brand of pens, and thus untraceable as well. With a sigh he finally gave up. They would find this guy, but not through the cards, that much was clear. Not unless the sender started writing out names and addresses.

"So… you live here with the Titans?" Addie asked Slade. Robin had invited her to the Tower for dinner, and now, after all the presentations were over and done with, the former husband and wife had ended up a bit to the side, talking privately.

"I do."

"It seems very… domestic."

"It is. Painfully so."

"Yes, you're used to being a bachelor after all," the woman smirked a little. "You must really care for Robin to withstand this."

"Trust me," Slade said, "I don't plan to stay for much longer."

The woman was about to ask what he meant when Cyborg called that the food was ready.

Dinner was usually a rather loud event in the Tower, even more so when they had guests, and this particular guest got a lot of attention.

"So what was Slade like when he was young…-er?" Beast Boy asked.

"Nice save," the mercenary snorted.

"You got them whipped," Addie smirked. "But to answer your question BB, he was… stubborn."

"Nothing has changed there, then," Robin grinned. He didn't like his friends bringing up old times, because that made him remember that Slade and Addie used to be married and that seemed to form clumps of ice in his stomach. Still, he kept his polite mask up because he didn't want to act like a fool, and jealousy was foolish, after all.

"No, he tends to get what he wants," the woman shrugged. "He was a good student, though. Very obedient."

That made the table burst out in snickers, and Slade gave his ex a glare. Addie, however, just smiled sweetly back.

Dinner was cut a bit short by an alarm, having the Titans rushing to the rescue, leaving Slade to show Addie out.

"What did you mean by not planning to stay?" she asked him before she left.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

"Just don't…" the woman hesitated and shook her head, obviously changing her mind.

"Just say it. I know what's coming," Slade muttered.

"There's something about that young man. Don't get me wrong, if I had to I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in his head, but-"

"Don't hurt him?" Slade filled in.

"That's right."

"I know, that's what people in general tend to tell me, in one way or another, when it comes to Robin. I doubt they are saying the same thing to him."

"Well, you need to have some feelings for them to get hurt…" Addie muttered.

"Ow. I'll see you on the fourteenth."

"That was a nice way of saying 'get out and stay away'."

"I don't think you want me to be clearer," Slade smirked. "We're going to find our son, Addie, that is all that matters at the moment."

"What about your daughter and grandchild?"

"They are both safe, but of course they matter as well."

"And you son-in-law?"

"Can burn in hell."

"I'm so looking forward to meeting them all. I hope we can all have dinner together," she grinned. "The tension would be amazingly entertaining…"

"You'd be the only one having fun. Goodnight," the man said, looking like he dreaded the very idea.

"Goodnight. I'll keep in touch."

A/N: Over already? Yup. Wow, we're soon half way through! I better write my Christmas cards and wrap the presents soon…