A/N: ... Hi...? (Is anyone even here anymore lol) I can't believe it's been eight, almost nine months since I've uploaded something on here. I guess things just get in the way sometimes. The only reason I even remembered this Fic existed was because i was doing something on my laptop and i got an email saying someone had commented on this and was like 'huh, i forgot this existed' so yeah, that happened. I don't even know what happened in the last chapter it's been that long. I think something was happening with something... gimme a sec... So Batman and Batman are aware of the codes the two have been sending them, TT Robin fired a gun, and YJ Robin threw some axes. Yeah... I think this chapter's kinda short, but I can't find my planning sheet so i have no idea what is going on and if that doesn't sum my life up, i don't know what does...

Now i shall let you read this chapter. See u at the end :)

Chapter 18: Trial and Error

-The main room-

-Robin (The Team)-

There's a noise and Robin looks up from his work, his older self- Dick – walks into the haunt, he doesn't look too pleased judging by the sour look on his face.

"What happened to you?" He asks and Dick turns to look at him.

"Same old, same old." Dick grumbles, flopping down in the opposite corner of the room.

Deathstroke looks up from the computers for a moment to check on the two Robins before continuing his work. Not even a few moments later the large screen flashes and the ugly face of Lex Luthor comes into view.

Deathstroke stands up and comes into view of the camera like he always does and like always, Robin and Dick hide in the far corner so not to be seen.

"Lex, what do you want?" Deathstroke asks.

"I am aware you declined to kill Bruce Wayne, why is that Slade?" Deathstroke shrugs.

"He could still be important, he's a widely known figure of Gotham and a large supplier of tech. Surely you understand that. I can't kill everyone you ask of me." Deathstroke says coolly.

Lex frowns for a moment before nodding. "I see your point." He says.

"Do you have someone else in mind?" Deathstroke crosses his arms behind his back.

"Yes, I do, a lowly thug has been causing mayhem in my part of town. Batman doesn't care and I want you to… eliminate them."

Dick frowns in anger and Robin watches them carefully, readying himself for Dick to jump up and start attacking people per usual.

"I'll see what I can do." Deathstroke says and the screen goes black. He then turns to the two ebony haired boys with an eyeroll.

"Luthor, am I right?" he says, amusement thick in his tone.

"I'm not the biggest fan." Robin says with a small smirk.

"I guess that means I'm going out. Will, tell Slade he has some… babysitting on his schedule today." Deathstroke calls and Wintergreen pokes his head out from the kitchen with a nod.

"Babysitting!" Dick says with a scoff. Deathstroke turns to him.

"I'm cancelling your lessons, play nice and try not to kill each other." He warns.

"Can I come?" Robin asks and Deathstroke shakes his head.

"This is a solo mission I'm afraid." He says and Robin huffs, sliding to the floor. "I think Will's making cookies so maybe if you're good he'll let you have some." He teases and Robin slides further down until he's like a starfish on the floor. Dick kicks him with his foot in the side.

"Hey!" Robin says, glaring up at him.

Deathstroke goes to the weapons room and Robin thinks for a moment before grinning, rushing off to the room that the two heroes share.

"It's okay, I'll be fine by myself!" Dick calls sarcastically after him.

-The Haunt-

-Robin (Teen Titans)-

Dick wanders around for a while when he realises that the kid isn't coming back any time soon until Wintergreen finally has enough and pulls him into the kitchen.

"You can help me with the cookie dough, I have another batch to prepare." He says and Dick grumbles but doesn't complain, sneaking clumps of the mixture when the old man isn't looking.

"Mr Wintergreen, what would you do if you met your double?" Dick asks after the silence becomes too much.

"Oh my child, I wouldn't want to meet my double, I feel we wouldn't hit it off very well." Wintergreen says with a laugh.

"Why's that?" Dick asks curiously, stealing another clump of cookie dough.

"Slade says that I'm quite the stubborn old man, I feel that if he's right I wouldn't want to come face to face with my double. Have you met my double?" Wintergreen asks.

"Only from afar." Dick says.

"He can't be as handsome as me, that's for sure." Wintergreen jokes and Dick finds himself smiling slightly.

The two continue to work in comfortable silence when Slade suddenly walks in. Dick frowns as he rolls out cookie dough.

"Since when have you become a baker, apprentice?" Slade asks, his eyes flash with humour.

"Ha, ha." Dick says dryly. "You haven't happened to see Robin have you?" he asks shortly.

"Not since this morning." Slade says, taking a seat at the table and pulling out the newspaper. Dick's frown deepens when he realises Slade won't be moving for a while and the silence becomes uncomfortable again.

Wintergreen raises his eyebrow after a moment of observing the pair and flicks on the radio. Somehow he manages to have perfect reception this far underground. Dick's thankful for the distraction as he cuts shapes out of the dough.

It almost feels normal to him, like cooking with a grandparent. But his grandparents are dead, and it's not normal. Nothing in his life is ever normal.

Dick slides the batch of cookies into the oven and washes his hands. "They'll be ready shortly, go read a book or something." Wintergreen says with a dismissive wave of the hand.

"I would if I had any books." Dick grumbles.

"End room to the right." Slade says without looking up.

"Never mind." Dick says, lazily making his way out the room.

"A thank you would be nice." Slade says.

"Maybe." Dick replies, quickening his pace slightly and reaching the room in a few strides. The door opens easily and Dick marvels at the sheer volume of books he glances around before picking out one that he's familiar with and flopping down into a nearby chair and trying to find a comfortable position before he begins to read. He tries to concentrate on the words, but they lose their meaning, the letters separating and sliding around and no matter how hard he tries to concentrate he just can't seem to be able to so instead he leans back and closes his eyes, trying to get some rest.

It occurs to him just how much has happened in such a small amount of time; suddenly interdimensional travel was a thing that existed, he's met his double, and the double of his arch nemesis, he's been forced into another apprenticeship with the man, not that one could call him a man- more like a monster. And after years of trying to avoid him, Batman was back in his life, a thorn in his side after finally having a sense of independence in his life. Oh, and it's only a few weeks into the new year.

"I think you're supposed to look at the book when you're reading it." Dick frowns, not looking up.

"I've read it hundreds of times before." He grumbles and he feels the book leave his lap and Robin looks at it with a tilt of the head.

"Looks boring." He says and Dick rolls his eyes.

"Let me guess, you're used to reading baby books still?" He asks and Robin throws the book at him. He catches it with an eyebrow raise. "What are you doing in here anyway? I thought you'd be off making friends with Slade." Robin frowns, sitting down on the floor in front of him.

"I don't like them either you know." He says and Dick lets out a dry laugh.

"That's not what it looks like from where I am."

"I have found that well behaved people get better privileges. It happens in the war, and kidnapping scenarios, so why should this be any different and honestly it's working well. Unlike you I'm getting a good night sleep, three meals a day and a whole lot more free time. You're being a grump and constantly trying to make irrational decisions. Wintergreen told me you tried to blow up the microwave this morning." Dick's lips twitch into a smirk for a second.

"It's hard to be content when you're stuck in the home of your worst enemy." Dick says and Robin shrugs.

"Jericho turned out fine." He points out and Dick frowns, "So why should it be any different for anyone else, if Slade could raise a perfect kid like him, why do you think he'd be unable to teach you a thing or to. Honestly, if you were listening to Slade half the time you'd be able to beat the Joker by now, maybe even Batman." That catches Dick's attention.

"You seem to think highly of him." He says.

"He might be an assassin, but they both know a thing or two about fighting." Robin says and Dick shrugs, putting his arms behind his head.

"Meh, not interested." He says and Robin rolls his eyes- why did he have to be so difficult?

"Can I ask you something?" Robin asks after a moment and Dick stays quiet, he takes that as a yes and continues, "Why are you so angry?" Dick stays silent for a moment longer before sighing.

"I don't know kid," He says finally, "It's a lifestyle choice I guess."

"Do you wanna know what I think?" Robin asks.

"Not really." Dick says, but Robin continues anyway.

"You're angry because you're lonely." Dick's ears prick up and he glances down at the younger boy.

"Oh?" He asks slowly and Robin nods. "Explain the Titans then?"

"You act like a group of teens drawn together by accident- if it weren't for your common goal of needing to be heroes you'd all be strangers. You all seem so far away. My team was an accident, we rebelled against The Justice League, and then it all grew from there, but we made an effort to actually get to know everyone else. Your team doesn't act like that." Robin glances at Dick, the older boy is frowning, but he doesn't argue.

"You think I'm angry because I'm lonely?" He asks and Robin nods, but then he shakes his head, giving a shrug and Dick raises an eyebrow.

"I think you just need to get a whole lotta stuff off your chest." Robin says and Dick gives him a look.

"And how do I do that?" He asks.

"Cookies are ready!" Wintergreen calls from the kitchen and Robin stands. Dick makes no move to get up, merely staring at Robin.

"That's for you to find out for yourself, I always go to Alfred when I need to get something off my chest, but even if we are the same person, we're completely different. It's just gonna be trial and error for a while I guess." Robin disappears down the hallway and out towards the kitchen and Dick stays seated, thinking things over with a frown.

"Trial and error…" He picks up his book once more and starts to read.

A/N: The time it took you to read that was probably the same amount of time it took me to wrestle my cat. I should know because i too, read this chapter whilst wrestling my cat. There is a bird stuck in with our chickens and it was cute so i was looking after the cat while everyone else was trying to free a bird. I have a pet bird now, it's called Donovan and it's a turtle dove. We don't know its gender, but they live with us now so... yeah.

Red Blaze 16

I cannot answer your first question with a definite answer because it will spoil things so i will just say maybe ;P and to your second question I hope it was answered in this Chapter. Also thank you!

Guest

I hope this is enough :) I was also really excited because i knew enough to not have to translate your message so yay! School has taught me how to read other languages! :)

Hoppy854

Yay, great observation! Yes, YJ Robin is able to think clearer and isn't as negative about the situation as TT Robin is, and it'll take some time but TT Robin will probably begin to like YJ Robin better and in doing so he'll be able to feel better and cope with the situation more. I hope that answers your question.

Guest

Ta-da! I wrote more, thanks for reminding me this existed, even if i did read your review, then wait exactly an entire month to post a new chapter (Whoops...)

So yes, i forgot all about this, and knowing me, I'll probably forget about it again, but hey, I'll try my hardest to remember. I know it was a short chapter, but I've been busy and I haven't been as active in this fandom anymore as I've moved onto new things and I've grown more excited about other fandoms. But I WILL finish this, even if i'm ninety three by the time i finish. (I promise it won't take that long... hopefully)

I hope everyone is staying safe and ya know, everything else everyone has been saying these days. And i hope that Everyone has an AMAZING day, and tomorrow, and the day after that too. I hope that everyone just has an Amazing life in general :)

And this is Top Hat signing off for another day. Maybe I'll go explore the moon or something idk.

TTFN!