Nemesis Ch. 12

Trust

Slade lifted him into a steady position.

"Are you alright?" Slade asked a little concerned. Robin made sure to regain his balance and stay off his left foot. Ouch. He held on tight to the counter.

"Yeah. I'm good now. Uh, thanks..." Robin replied. Slade took it as an invitation to leave. He left the room closing the door, and waited on the outside. As much as he would like to help Robin out,...he continued to wait, leaning on the doorway. He had pretty good hearing, so he heard Robin limping around in the inside. And after he, went, he heard the toilet flush, some more shuffling and finally the door opened again. With Robin gripping the counter for dear life. His right foot was probably starting to hurt now. He looked up at Slade, asking for a little help. Slade smirked under the mask and bent down to pick him up.

Robin practically fell into Slade's arms, feeling thankful he could stay off his feet. Slade carried him to the kitchen and Robin took a moment to look around. It was pretty homey, for Slade anyway. Robin spotted a table and Slade was headed for it. He pulled out a chair with one hand and gently put Robin in a sitting position on the chair. Robin let out a small noise and winced as he was put down. He closed his eyes and adjusted himself lightly because of it. And Slade knew why. Down there was where the worst crime took place, and it still hurt like hell. He was going to have a hard time sitting for a while, especially on hard surfaces. And the chairs were wooden.

Slade looked at him with sincerity and some strange mix of guilt and sorrow for a moment before walking toward the stove. He took out a plate and started to put things on it as Robin turned his head around to watch him curiously. He saw Slade heat up something in a microwave, and then take it out on the plate. Slade carried it to Robin and placed it in front of him. It was bacon and eggs. Robin was quite surprised that Slade knew how to cook if he actually made this. It looked really good, and he was starving, but just because it was Slade, he was hesitant to eat it. He looked at the plate suspiciously. Slade saw this and almost rolled his eye.

"It's okay, Robin, you can eat it. I didn't drug it or anything." Slade stated. And it may have been a mistake. Something sparked in Robin's mind, and he suddenly remembered something he was thinking last night. ...Like that he had been drugged. This brought the memory back and Robin got angry. Last night, he couldn't do anything about it because he was half asleep. Now, he could.

"W-wait, you- you drugged me last night, didn't you? I remember now, I know what it's like to be like that, and, and you made me take one of those sedatives, didn't you! And-and then I was so, wasted, I asked you who were, and you said,...and then I, I said,..." Robin was speaking as he was remembering. So, he wasn't thinking when he was talking. And yes, now he remembered exactly what he had said. His eyes widened with realization. His face immediately flushed a deep red. He took one last look at Slade and then he just looked down in embarrassment. Had he really meant the last thing he said last night? He was pretty tired then. He had no idea where such words came from? Some of them,...all of them, were they from somewhere in his mind? Could they have been!

It took some self control to keep from chuckling aloud for the masked villian. Slade knew last night was somewhat of a mistake. But yet, he was glad he heard those things out of the boy. They say you only speak what's on your mind when you're in a state like that. And Slade believed everything he said was the truth. And decided to humor him.

"I know what you said." Slade said in this cool, collected voice that made Robin want to rip his hair out. Robin blushed even more red. Then he continued.

"And it was deceitful of me to sneak a sedative to you, but, you can't say you didn't sleep better. You didn't wake up from another nightmare last night, did you? It was only for your best interest. If you don't want to take it again, that's your choice. But the food has nothing in it." Slade said with honesty. Robin looked at him, still beet red. He still couldn't believe he said the things he did. And Slade heard him loud and clear. This did not bode well for Robin. Even if some of the things Robin said Robin knew were true. How was Slade, or how did Slade react when he said this? He fell asleep. Shit.

Robin didn't dare look up at Slade, and he knew he had a point. He may very well take those sedatives again. No more nightmares. But right now, he had a bigger thing to think about. He was starting to realize these strange feelings for the older male.

Slade walked toward him, knowing he was now making Robin interestingly uncomfortable. Slade smiled and spoke.

"So, eat up. I know you're hungry." Slade walked to the other edge of the room, leaned against the wall and watched as Robin sat there, dumbfounded. Until Robin got hungry enough and Robin trusted his better judgement as he started to eat the food. He ate greedily. He hadn't eaten for a while, and the food was as good as it looked. He couldn't believe Slade cooked this. It was great, he even had a second helping and he finished in less than 15 minutes.

Slade sat back and watched. Good thing Robin enjoyed his cooking.

When he was done, Slade took the plate and put it in the sink. Robin wasn't sure who exactly did the dishes, but before he knew it Slade was carrying him out of the room again. And then, he was in his room again. A little confused, Robin looked up at Slade expectantly. Slade put him gently sitting on the side of the bed.

"I have to change your bandages, Robin. As well as give you a check up of sorts." Slade stated dully, and if you didn't know him, you'd think he was bored. Robin looked at him skeptically. Slade told him to stay and left the room momentarily to fetch some things. Which were things like bandages, ointment, a wash cloth, and other medical supplies. Robin watched him awkwardly as Slade put the tools on the counter next to his chair by the bed. He sat in it, and then spoke to Robin.

Slade told him to take off his shirt. It was a bit necessary now that Slade had to take the old bandages off all over his chest and replace them. Keeping the same bandages on for too long would not be healthy. Robin was still not too calm with this whole 'check up' idea. But on the other hand, Slade was trying his best to help him, so Robin couldn't say no to that. So, he cooperated, taking off the loose black shirt that wasn't exactly his.

Slade could see the light pink on his cheeks. He ignored it and got to work on the main bandage across his torso, holding his fractured ribs in place. If kept in place and unmoved, it would take some time, but they would heal on their own. He started to unwrap the thick layer of bandages, going around his chest with his hands. Also uncovering some bruises along the way. His chest was mostly covered with dark patches from his beating. It must have hurt just to move slightly. Slade pitied the kid. He really did. More than he would ever think to.

Robin was holding himself steady, just hissing a bit when Slade accidentally hit a pressure point. When his chest was bare, most of it was paler then usual, due to less than normal blood flow, but it made the bruises even more visible. Robin was uncomfortable, but he tried his best to ignore it and limit his fidgety movements as Slade finished the unwrapping. He watched Slade unnervingly, Slade's steady eye kept an eye on his injuries and his work. Slade was always a concentrated and diligent person. Always very focused on his project at hand. Even if it was concentrating on Robin's now defining muscles. In which there was something to look at.

Then Slade got out the ointment and started to rub it, with now gloveless hands, on the many patches on his chest. Robin grit his teeth and held back some of the noises of pain and uncomfort that escaped his mouth. It hurt. Even with Slade's, surprisingly gentle, touch. As soon as he was done with that, he began to re-wrap Robin's torso with new bandages. Awkward as it was, Robin admitted Slade was being quite careful with him. And even more surprisingly, his touches were sending coarse shivers to his very core.

After his ribs and shoulder were completely bandaged again, Slade put the cream and a new bandage on a hurt bicep on his arm. After that, Slade looked him over again, only finding a scratch or two on his back, in which he promptly patched up. After another thorough inspection, Slade decided that his upper body was taken care of to the best of his ability. ...Now the problem, Slade had to inspect his lower body, and from there on, he didn't know how his actions would take place. He gave Robin back the shirt, for more support.

He hesitated before he spoke, and Robin was now more nervous than ever.

"Robin,...I need to ask you to be calm about this. You need to remove the rest of your clothing. I know you don't, want to do this. But really I have no other option. You're really hurt, and I need to treat you." Slade said in a most convincing voice. He was pretty sympathetic for Robin at this point. He was telling the truth. He didn't want to do to Robin what those gang members did. He didn't want to touch him without consent, or humiliate him. He had been through too much already. But, this was really not his choice.

Robin looked at him nervously for a while. He was trying to breathe properly. He was having a hard time battling with his mind whether to permit this or not. It was difficult. Of course he didn't want to, but, what other choice did he have? Or Slade for that matter. Robin was very unwilling at this point, and was on the verge of completely not allowing it, and struggling, but then he remembered how kind Slade had been to him. Even if it was against his nature and everything he stood for. He remembered how everything Slade had done so far had been for him, in his best interest. Slade did save him, after all.

Robin gazed at Slade with sad, confused eyes under his mask. He didn't know what to do. And Slade felt his discontentment. And the look he was giving him was like he looked like the lost puppy again. Robin sniffed once. The sight was really adorable. But Slade had to worry about Robin's feelings. He was still sick, and nothing seemed to be going his way.

In what seemed like forever, Robin finally submitted to Slade. Trembling and nodding his head ever so slowly. Slade could almost see his eyes watering under the mask, and it made Slade actually feel bad again. He had to stop doing that. Poor Robin.

The boy leaned back on his elbows, almost reading Slade's thoughts, in a way, showing his sign of submission, stomach up. Slade still looked at Robin, still looking for more consent from him. Slade felt guilty for having to do this. He needed Robin's support. Robin could tell Slade was almost as unhappy to go through with this as he was. And it made him feel a little better at least. He knew that Slade wasn't going to hurt him. He hadn't done so, thus far.

Robin finally spoke, but it was in a sad, shaky voice that Slade had a hard time determining if it was Robin's.

"Nn,...just, just... don't, hurt me..." Robin said, whimpering a tiny bit. He didn't want to be hurt like that again. And he didn't want his only comfort to turn his back on him either. He didn't trust anybody. Slade did used to be his enemy, and now the one that was going to treat him. This made Slade feel bad. I mean, it was actually making Slade feel terrible. And nothing made him feel this way.

"Robin...I won't hurt you. ...Never again..." Slade said, in a soft voice, a little unsure of himself. How was he going to be able to hurt Robin after this, now? He wouldn't have the heart to. Even if he was the villain, he couldn't pick on this hero anymore. Never again.

This was a pretty interesting chapter to write. Two completely different themes in one chapter. Phew. The next chapter I guarantee will be twice as awkward between these two. As you can probably guess. I really hope everyone is enjoying this. From the reviews, I can tell that already, this story has a lot of fans. Makes me very happy.

Ah, the reviews! I'd like to personally thank everyone who reviewed my story. I would name everyone who reviewed the chapters, but I've heard it was not allowed...damn. Shiza, I'm actually close to 100 reviews! So...happy!

Well, it also seems that along with my fellow slashers and slash-lovers, I am also attracting a few non-fans as well who are finding interest in this story. Which is great! I'm very happy to be attracting a wide crowd. I hope I'm turning a few people to appreciate these stories as well.

Thank you everyone, once again. Good evening, readers.

Until next time,

D.O.P.