A/N: Last chapter and pretty long-ish.
Jail Bird
Chapter 15: New Chances
No one was more surprised than Robin when his fist actually connected with Slade's nose, creating a crunching sound, followed by a splatter of blood.
The hero stepped back, outwardly calm, but inside a volcano of emotions were brewing.
"How did you know what I got arrested for?" he asked coldly. The thought 'he's going to kill me' briefly ran through his mind, but he stood his ground.
Slade was actually speechless for a moment. Then he smirked, pinched and straightened his nose with a grunt of pain, and turned his back to the teen, walking over to the kitchen-area. He grabbed a towel, wet it in the sink, and gently started to clean off.
"You're not going to answer me?" Robin growled.
"I'll be over here. All the way over here. Not being a witness to anything," Red almost whimpered and escaped to the other side of the vast living room. "Don't kill him!"
"I won't," Slade snorted.
"Wasn't speaking to you," Red informed the mercenary, which made Robin smirk and straighten up a little.
"Well?" the hero prompted.
"I'll tell you. But can we wait until I don't sound like a Muppet anymore?" Slade asked as he continued to clean up. His nose had stopped bleeding, but his shirt looked like evidence from a gruesome murder.
There was a certain nasal note to the man's voice, and Robin had to bite back a snicker. Red let his free, however, although just briefly, before he remembered that it was better if he melted into the background a bit more.
A few moments later, Slade blew his nose, washed his face and, apart from some redness, there was no sign of the broken nose. Robin doubted it had already healed completely, but there wasn't any swelling and it had quickly stopped bleeding.
"So… you found out… when?" Slade asked and glanced at Red, clearly thinking it was his fault.
"Your poker buddies told me they had no idea what had happened, yet, somehow, you knew details," Robin said accusingly.
"Well, that was clumsy of me," Slade said in a tone that told Robin that the man had known exactly what he was doing.
The teen snorted. "Right. So how did you know? The pill-messages?"
"Yes. And no."
"Fucking tell me already!" Robin snapped, losing his cool and letting some of his feelings, none of them good, surface.
"You're not going to like it," Slade warned him. Red whimpered softly from his corner.
"I haven't liked much in my life lately, so just go ahead. Mess my life up more if you can," the hero snorted.
"Very well." Slade walked slowly through the room, looking thoughtful, like he was trying to decide how to start. "When I took on this mission, I knew it would be boring," he said. "I decided that if I was going to spend a certain amount of time in there… I wanted some entertainment."
Robin felt himself grow cold.
"You… you didn't…?" he gasped, almost pleaded.
"Of course not," Slade said and then smirked. "My clients did. They set it all up. They had some people they needed to get rid of, and you were a decent scape goat."
"So… I… I really didn't kill anyone?" Robin asked.
"Of course not!" Slade snorted.
"Told you!" Red piped up, but then made a small distressed sound when Slade glanced over his way.
"I knew you would doubt that you were guilty, but it was interesting to see you try to come to terms with it," Slade told him.
"I WAS RAPED, YOU BASTARD!" Robin roared, grabbed something off the coffee table and hurled it at the man's head.
Slade simply caught the thing, a small but heavy ceramic figurine, out of the air, and placed it down on a shelf close to him.
"No. You weren't."
Robin took a step back, almost staggering. "I… I… wasn't?"
"No. It was set up as well."
"On… your orders?"
"Yes."
"How… how could you?" the teen asked, feeling broken. The anger inside only found temporary footholds, to launch itself to the surface in short bursts, before the footholds broke again, plunging all feelings into a black pit of despair once more.
"I wanted to bring you down a few pegs. I thought that if you were already cracked when you came to me, breaking you wouldn't be hard. And it wasn't. After I showed you that you needed me, you latched on. You saw me as your savior. And I was, make no mistake, but only by design."
The teen launched himself at the man with a roar. He was swatted away, but simply rolled when he landed, shot to his feet and attacked again. Robin hadn't hated this blindly since his parents died, never been in a rage like this, never tried to hurt someone as much as he was right now. Because he wasn't in control, however, Slade had little to no trouble keeping him away. The man didn't retaliate, but made sure he blocked the attacks in a way that either hurt or had the teen flying through the air. It went on until long after the hero was actually exhausted. His clothes were soaked in sweat and a bit of blood. They were also torn in several places, his t-shirt having a large rip down the back. He landed heavily on the floor after his last attack, and stayed there. He managed to sit up, leaning on his hands, and that was it. No more. He was waiting for words to come to him, any words. More accusations, questions… but nothing came for a long while.
"Robin…?" It was Red X, close by, his voice worried. "Are… are you… ok?"
"…no…" Robin gasped out. He looked up at Slade, who was still standing in the same place, looking grim. "Do… do you think I… deserved this?" he asked, brokenly. "You… must really… hate me."
"No," Slade answered after a moment's hesitation. "And no. I did think you deserved it at first. You were becoming arrogant, Robin. Dangerously arrogant. You were leading your team into situations neither them or you were quite equipped to handle yet. Taking on too much. That path would have gotten you killed."
"Oh, so I'm lucky then? You did me a favor?" Robin snarled, with all the energy he had left.
"In a way," the man smirked. "Make no mistake, I didn't particularly like you before this. I thought I could use you, though. An asset, if trained correctly. And quite an achievement for me, turning Batman's prodigy to the… profitable side. I think I told you, didn't I, that I wanted to see you suffer? That I'd find it entertaining? But I had a reason."
"Being an evil psychotic bastard with a hubris complex is no reason," Robin grunted, still trying to regain his strength to attack again.
"Well…" The man shrugged, like he didn't quite agree. "Anyway, no, it had nothing to do with me, but with you. Something you did. A decision you made led to you ending up in there with me."
Robin blinked, perplexed. "What… what do you mean?"
"My clients had a specific order. They would only make all this happen if, and only if, you openly celebrated your 'victory'."
Robin's mind went blank for a moment, while he was trying to understand what Slade had just told him.
"But… I…"
"Drinking and dancing with your team and Titans East," Slade said, like he thought he needed to remind the teen. "Arrogant, Robin. And sloppy. Very sloppy. Did Bruce teach you that? I can't really picture him intoxicated at some gay club because he put away the Joker yet again."
"It… it wasn't… it's not like that! We always celebrate! We'll have pizza or… or a movie night… The only reason was that Titans East helped and … and we thought… we… someone suggested…"
"Of course you celebrate. Winning the battle, still being alive… but this wasn't a fair fight, Robin. This was a trap. Two teams against one man, who, may I remind you, was set up. This wasn't a celebration for saving the world or even the city. It was personal. And public."
The hero didn't want to, but he did feel a flash of shame. He remembered feeling uneasy about it at first when going out was first suggested, but it wasn't often the two teams got to hang out, and he had decided that it was ok, just for the company if nothing else. The fact was that the victory had felt strangely… empty. Uneasy. It wasn't at all like shutting down the H.I.V.E, for example. He remembered thinking that it would help him feel better, and that he'd be as happy as the rest of the Titans seemed to be, if he just celebrated it properly. Still, what Slade had done…
"Don't try to paint yourself as the victim here," Robin growled. "We are teenagers, and we had a damn good reason to celebrate!"
"Yes, and I'd expect it from the others. Just not you. As much as I enjoyed you joining me in there, I have to say… I was disappointed in you, Robin."
"Fuck you!"
"Yes, but that part wasn't disappointing at all," the man chuckled. "It's late. Go to bed."
Robin glanced towards the window and Slade sighed.
"Yes, boy, I know your instincts are telling you to run. Don't. The compound is on lock down and there are more booby traps out there than you are equipped to deal with. We'll make plans tomorrow."
"I'm going back to Gotham!" Robin hissed.
Slade gave him a rather flat look. "Yes. You are."
The man then left, entering what Robin assumed was the master bedroom. The teen still hadn't managed to stand up, but as soon as Slade was gone, Red came to his aid, taking his arm to help him up.
"Let me show you the bedroom," he said. Robin's eyes again went to the window and the thief's grip hardened. "No, Robin. Just no, ok? Please?"
Robin sighed but looked away from the tempting sight of perceived freedom.
"Ok…" he said softly and allowed himself to be led to a room. He fell down on the bed in there, on his stomach, and just stayed still.
"Do you… um… need anything?" Red asked.
"A gun?" the hero said dryly.
"Ok, what kind?"
"It was a joke."
"Oh… yeah… I was hoping it was," the other teen admitted. "Listen, I'm… I'm not good at this, ok? Been looking out for number one all my life, only been me, really… I don't know what to do here, so… I'm… sorry if I suck, ok?"
Robin chuckled a little and, using all his energy, rolled over to look at the former redhead.
"It's ok. I just need to rest. I'll deal with it when I've had time to really… take it in."
"Ok. Ok good. Listen, I'm in the room just down the hall. If you need something… if you don't wanna be alone…?"
"You're pretty good at 'this' for a beginner," Robin told him with a small smile.
"If there's any potatoes in that kitchen I could see about getting both of us an 'I hate Slade' t-shirt by tomorrow? You know? Potato-print? I remember that from some show on TV…"
Robin chuckled a bit more, but then said wryly, "Wouldn't that be bad for business?" The thief looked a bit hurt, and the hero quickly continued, "Sorry! I know things are a bit… complicated for you. I don't blame you, remember?"
"Yeah… sorry…" Red shrugged awkwardly. "So… try to get some sleep, ok?"
"I will."
"No running away into the night?"
"Promise."
"Because he'll win if you do, you know. He'll think you're weak. Or acting like a sulking kid," Red said solemnly.
Robin just looked at him quietly for a while. "Damn you," he then grunted.
"Aha! I knew you were going to run!"
"I was not!" Robin blatantly lied. "I'm tired. I'm gonna sleep," he muttered and rolled over again, back against the door.
He heard the thief chuckle, bid him goodnight and close the door.
Robin fully intended to just rest for a bit and then either try to find his trunk with his pajamas or at least undress, but instead he was simply out like a light.
Strangely enough he had barely had any nightmares in prison. But he had them now. Zaid featured a lot, both reaching for him, intending to rape him, or dying on the floor in front of him. Ore was there too, also in those two roles. Then there was a whole drove of people, mostly faceless, chasing him, grabbing for him, tearing off his clothes, trying to hold him down, choking him, but each time they were stopped. Someone pulled them away, stepped in front of them or carried him away from them. Someone held him when he cried and screamed, not in a coddling way, but securely. Someone's voice kept telling him not to give up, that he was stronger than them, better than them, that he wouldn't let anything happen to him. Slade.
Robin suddenly awoke, a cry on his lips and tears streaming down his cheeks. He was alone. Cold. No one was holding him. A fleeting memory of something the man had said before, surfaced, and he wondered to himself what Slade had meant when he had said that he hadn't liked him 'before this'... Almost immediately he fell asleep again, to more of the same nightmares but, this time, there was no Slade.
Next time he woke up it was light outside. He sat up, shakily. His torn clothes were even more torn now, and the neck band of his t-shirt was pulled quite tightly around his throat.
"Explains some of the dreams," Robin muttered as he disentangled himself.
He stood up, looked around, and noticed a door that wasn't the door out to the hallway. He tried it, and, as he had hoped, it led to a small bathroom and shower. He turned the water on, stripped completely and stepped under the spray. He just stood there for fifteen minutes before even reaching for the bottles of body wash and shampoo which were neatly lined up on the counter, like at a hotel room. Whoever Slade had paid to stock this place had done a thorough job. When he felt more like himself again, he got out and dried off. Having nothing he wanted to dress in, he wrapped a towel around himself. He then stood in front of the door for a while, gathering courage, building up his walls, before taking a deep breath and opening it.
The first thing that hit him was the absolutely mouthwatering smell of breakfast cooking. He could find his way to the kitchen by smell alone. It was Slade standing in front of the stove, frying bacon. The sight didn't surprise Robin like it would have a few months ago.
"Good morning. Slept well?" the man asked.
"Where is my bag?" the teen asked, refusing to even look at the man.
"Just inside the door," Slade told him.
Robin found it, returned to his room and got dressed. When he came back out, Red had appeared as well, sitting at the kitchen table and enthusiastically buttering a piece of hot, golden brown toast.
Robin sat down too, reluctantly, but feeling it was the adult thing to do.
"Morning," Red greeted him with a small smile. "Feel any better?"
"A bit," Robin said, not quite knowing if it was a lie.
"Here you go," Slade told them, putting a big plate of bacon and fried eggs in the middle of the table. "Eat, and you can go back to trying to kill me later."
"Great, that's a date," Robin muttered. He was hungry, starving actually, so he dug in with only little less enthusiasm than Red X. He was happy that he could eat, because otherwise he was afraid that Slade would see him as a sulking kid, just like Red had warned him about.
They ate mostly in silence. Robin stole glances of the mercenary now and then and noticed that his eyepatch was back. He was also dressed in a well fitting t-shirt and jeans now, the 'middle age man' clothes gone. Even his hair seemed a touch lighter, and Red's hair had some of the redness back. Robin assumed their colors weren't that permanent.
"There are recommendations out to avoid crowds and self-isolate as much as possible," Slade told them. "There shouldn't be any problems traveling, though, as Gotham is just a few hours away."
Robin looked up from his food, surprised. "So… I can just… go home?"
"Yes. Soon, at least. Probably in two days. We need to plan for it first, though. All right?"
The man was, subtly, asking him if he was going to be able to hold things together for long enough, and Robin snorted.
"Hell yeah."
"Good." The man stood up. "I'll get some things together. As I cooked, you two do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. I don't want to see any sloppy work either."
"Yes, dad," Red grinned, mouth still full of food. Robin just shrugged in agreement. Slade left them to do whatever it was he was going to do.
They finished eating and then did as the man had demanded, and cleaned up. They didn't stop until everything was spotless. Figuring out where everything went after washing it probably took the longest, though, but when they found the right drawers or cupboards it was pretty obvious where it all went. The man was meticulously organized to a fault.
"Must be something wrong with him," Red snorted.
"You think?!" Robin snorted.
"Well, besides the obvious!" Red defended himself. "No one is this neat!"
Robin, who had secretly admired the organized kitchen and wished it was his, blushed and didn't reply.
"All done?" they heard Slade ask. The man looked around and then nodded, so they had obviously passed. "Alright. Let's sit down around the dinner table and discuss our plans," he said.
Robin turned towards the table, but Slade walked out of the kitchen area. Perplexed, the teen followed him with his eyes until he realized that he was heading to another, bigger table standing by a window. Ah, so that was the 'dinner table' then. The teens followed him and sat down. On the table Slade placed a laptop, a note book and a map.
"Let's start with you, Red," he said. "I have transmitted the rest of the payment to you, and, as promised, you'll get a whole new identity. The one you got from my client was just an ID-card, after all, and it wouldn't hold up under any closer scrutiny. Now you'll get everything from birth certificate, social security number, driver's license and passport, lust like we agreed. I ordered it done before my arrest, so it's no hasty work, you will have a traceable background from new born to today."
"Sweet!"
"They are getting put together and will be shipped here, so it might be a day or two."
"We have food, right?"
"Yes?"
"No problem then."
The mercenary seemed to roll his eye. "I have a shampoo that will get the dye out of your hair, if you want to," he offered.
"Hell yeah, being a brunette suck," the thief admitted.
"I rather agree. Besides, Robin keep looking at me thinking I look strange with brown hair," Slade smirked, looking at the hero.
"I'm not!" Robin, who had been thinking precisely that just a second ago, spluttered. "I don't give a damn what you look like."
"Strange, then, that you keep thinking about it," the man smirked at him, but then turned to Red again. "The situation in the country is grim. It might lead to people being more suspicious of strangers, you will also need to stay inside more. I'd recommend finding a place to live for at least a few months, maybe a year. You can't stay at a hotel room as they might shut down, you'll need to rent or buy. I can try to hook you up with something if you let me know where you'd want to be."
"Thank you," Red said, sounding genuinely grateful.
"Then that's settled. Onto you, Robin."
"Yes, let's hear your excuse for keeping me around as your sex slave for a few years, shall we?" the teen drawled.
The mercenary paused, looking thoughtful for a moment. "I really wish I had such an idea," he then admitted. "But alas. As soon as Red here gets his papers, I'll drive you to Gotham myself. You can call Bruce on this laptop, I've made sure it's a secure connection, however-" the man added as Robin reached out for the computer, "I have one condition."
"Which I'm not going to like?" Robin asked.
"I don't think you'll mind it too much." Slade told him. "I need you to keep my involvement in your arrest to yourself. You were set up, of course, and I'm willing to provide a cover story, but keep my name out of it."
"Scared?" Robin smirked.
Slade snorted. "I'd like to work without having the JL on my tail, and they will be hounding me if I have to kill Batman."
"You'd… you'd kill him?" the hero asked worriedly.
"Yes. But only because he'd come after me," the man told him seriously. "And your anger and hate would urge him on."
"I- I wouldn't…" Robin started, but his voice faltered because he didn't know what to say, or if what he wanted to say was true.
"I don't blame you," Slade told him solemnly. "What I did to you… Maybe I deserve to die for that, but I don't intend it to be by someone else's hand."
Robin was stunned, speechless, by the man's words. Red was looking equally dumbfounded.
"Are… you…?" Robin shook his head and tried again. "Are… you apologizing?"
"I'm not sure I'd go that far," the man smirked a little. "I might have misjudged your character in the beginning."
"So… you don't think I… deserved it?"
"You might not remember, but I answered that question last night, No, you didn't deserve what happened to you. And it got out of hand as well. Me having to go on that mission was not part of my plan, and it might have truly hurt you."
"You hurt me, though. You raped me." Robin's voice wasn't angry, he was just trying to understand.
"Yes. I did. I have never tried to pretend otherwise, and like I told you back then, I did it because I wanted to. But I also thought I needed to punish you. Break you. I hadn't needed to do that. That was my biggest mistake in all this, misjudging you."
"Oh, because I kinda think setting me up and sending me to prison in the first place is rather high on that list as well," Robin drawled.
"Pft. Details," the man snorted and did a dismissive gesture. "Do we have a deal, then? You'll keep my involvement quiet?"
"For Batman's sake yes. Not that I think you can take him," Robin added, though that might just have been a small lie.
Slade just gave him a look like he saw through that fib, and then shrugged. "Good enough for me. You can call him whenever it suits you. Take the computer to your room if you want."
"What time is it?" Robin asked, looking around for a clock. "And day?" he added, realizing that he had no idea.
"Nine in the morning," Slade supplied. "And it's Sunday."
"I'll wait until the afternoon, then," Robin decided, although it almost hurt. "He's most likely sleeping. Or should be."
"I'll leave that up to you."
"About you driving me there… you can't get me a bike? Or a car? I can drive there myself."
"You only have your ID showing you're fifteen. It's not worth the money getting you a driver's license for a few hour's drive, and if you get pulled over… It's a stupid risk to take."
Old Robin would have scoffed at that risk, but new Robin was a bit too paranoid about the police to dare, so he just nodded.
"Um… Rob?" Red asked.
"Yeah?"
"Um, so… well… you can't go back to being… you know... Robin, right?"
Robin gave Slade a cold glare, but then looked back at the thief and shook his head. "I suppose not. But I have been thinking. I was trialed as Robin. As far as the law is concerned, Dick Grayson has done nothing wrong. I guess I'll just be Richard for a while… I might be able to go back to the Titans under a new name, later… I'm just not sure I feel up for it right now, though… Can I call them on this too?" he asked Slade, gesturing to the laptop.
The man nodded, and looked thoughtful. "I'll make sure to clear your name," he said.
"What?" Robin gaped.
"It's the least I can do. I'm sure my clients made sure to make things reversable, they are pretty good at that. Or, an easier way might be the official rout… There won't be any records from the prison, and the government might be very, very interested in buying your silence with a clean slate. Would you like me to look into it?"
"Yes, of course!" Robin exclaimed. "Right the hell now!"
Slade chuckled. "All right. I'll go work on it 'right the hell now'. Entertain yourselves for a few hours. Locked doors stay locked."
"Is it safe to go outside?" Robin asked, looking through the window longingly.
Slade went up to a wall panel and punched in a string of numbers. "It is now, everything apart from the outer parameters is off. Lunch will be at one."
Robin stepped out on the deck and took a very deep breath of the fresh morning air. It was lovely. It was basically heaven. It was going to be an amazing summer day, and, as of now, it wasn't too hot yet.
"There's a pool!" Red called out from around the other side of the building. "Let's go swimming later!"
"Mm-hmm…" Robin half agreed, sinking down on a patch of lawn, face towards the sun, just soaking it in. Red kept exploring but soon got bored and declared that he was going inside. Robin just hummed again, but remained where he was. He was, in a way, meditating, but instead of emptying his mind, he was sorting through it. His experiences, his emotions. It was confusing and sometimes painful, but being outdoors, being safe, in the sun, somehow soothed it all, like a giant mental band aid. He had missed the sun and sky so much.
He brought the image of Slade up in his mind and tried to decide what he felt. Slade had used the word hate, and yes, last night that had been true. Now, he wasn't too sure. The feeling of betrayal kind of overpowered it, but that feeling was confusing on its own. Why would you feel betrayed when your enemy treated you like garbage? Wouldn't that be expected? So that meant that he hadn't seen Slade as his enemy, not really, not for a while. Red had teased him about liking the man. Robin was ashamed to admit that maybe, just maybe, he had been… charmed by him. But only because of the unique situation they had been in, where others were a greater enemy, a greater threat. The best thing would be, Robin decided, if he could just turn off all emotions when it came to the man. The problem, of course, was that he had had feelings for him since the very first time they had met. Fear, awe, attraction. Yes, Robin had to admit the last one to himself, although reluctantly. Long before he knew what the mercenary looked like, he had been attracted to him. To his body, skill, mannerism, voice… And it didn't hurt that the man's face had turned out to be attractive to Robin as well. Not everyone might find him hot, but he was definitely Robin's type. Manly. Mature. Hard. The teen felt a stirring between his legs when the last word entered his mind, but quickly pushed it down. It was the man's face that looked hard. Nothing else. Nope. Nothing at all.
Robin snorted, annoyed with himself, and slowly opened his eyes. He had been out here for quite a while by now, and he felt the slight tightening of the skin on his face that meant that he should probably get out of the sun. He should also call the Titans. He was putting it off, though, because it scared him. Calling Bruce too. He didn't know why, it made no logical sense, he just… dreaded it.
He picked himself off the grass and walked inside. He grabbed the computer off the table, and, blinking, trying to see properly after being outside in the sunlight, he walked into his bedroom. Only, it wasn't his. He spotted as much immediately, as it was much bigger than he remembered from this morning. A naked Slade walking out from the bathroom was also a hint. The man was busy drying his hair and didn't see him for a few seconds. Robin, on the other hand, had frozen in place.
"I'd ask if you missed me, but you probably just chose the wrong door, didn't you?" the man asked. His wet hair was almost white again, it was now a very light sandy color. Robin thought it looked quite good. Actually, all of the man looked-
"Yeah, sorry!" the teen said, turned on his heel and headed for the door.
"I'll start lunch in a bit, you have about an hour to make a call if you want to do it now," Slade told him calmly from behind.
"Yeah… I'm… calling my team," Robin spluttered and left.
It took a few deep breaths more to finally patch into the Titan's communication's system. The first person he saw was Beast Boy, looking wide eyed up at the screen.
Robin froze, only being able to stutter out a cracked 'Hi!'.
"CY!" the changeling called out, with a bit of panic in his voice.
"What?" the older Titan asked and came into view.
"This dude just appeared on our screen!" Beast Boy told him, gesturing to Robin.
"Who are you, what do you want?" the cyborg asked him, quite harshly.
Robin felt cold. It was like his worst nightmare was coming true. They didn't recognize him. His logical side came to the rescue. His hair color had changed, as well as his hairstyle, as it was now falling down into his eyes. He was wearing civilian clothes. No mask.
"Guys, it's me," he was finally able to say. By now Raven and Starfire was in view as well, looking pensive.
"R-Robin?!" Star called out, and suddenly it all seemed to click for them. The next twenty minutes were mainly a cacophony of questions, but eventually it settled down somewhat.
"Mammoth said you'd probably escaped!" Beast Boy suddenly told him.
"Mammoth! Oh my god, I haven't thought about him, he made it? And is he back in Jump so soon? How?!"
"Apparently he hitched a ride with a little old lady, borrowed her phone and had the H.I.V.E extract him," Cyborg told him.
Robin shook his head and laughed. "Man, talk about dumb luck. Literally," he said.
"That place… Mammoth has actually talked to us quite a bit. It was… bad, wasn't it?" Raven asked.
"Very," Robin mumbled. Then he noticed his teem looking very awkward and blushing.
"Is… Is it the truth… that…" Starfire began.
"Mammoth insisted that…" Raven started.
"Man, this sounds cray-cray, but he kinda said…" Cyborg tried to take over.
"Dude, did Slade fuck you?" Beast Boy finally cut to the core.
Robin felt his face turn red. This was not something he had wanted his team to know. Next time he saw Mammoth he'd kick the guy in the balls so hard that he'd spit them out!
"It's… complicated," he said. "Slade… He saved my life, he was my… protector in there. Without him I'd probably not be alive now," he said, ignoring that fact that without Slade, he wouldn't have ended up in prison in the first place. He had promised not to tell Bruce about that little detail and didn't think telling the Titans would be such a good idea either. "We had to… act in a certain way, to keep up appearances, and… certain things happened."
"Phew, I mean... good thing it was just an act," Cyborg said looking relived, hearing what he wanted to hear, Robin suspected.
"When are you coming home?" Starfire asked.
"I'm… not sure. I'm going to Gotham first and foremost," Robin said. "Slade has promised to help me clear my name, but with everything… I think I need some time off. Maybe do something else for a while. Does… that make any sense?"
"As long as you need, dude, just keep in touch," Cyborg told him.
"And talk to us," Raven added. "Any time."
"Is it true that Red X was in there too?" Beast Boy asked curiously, and then they spent another talking about the escape. Robin carefully avoided anything about how close he had been with Slade.
"Robin, lunch," the man's voice was heard through the door.
"Coming!" the teen called out. "Guys, I have to go. I'll call again from Gotham in a few days or so, ok? And I'll be contacting Batman this afternoon, so keep all this to yourselves for now."
"Of course," Raven nodded.
"I hope your meal will be most pleasant!" Starfire called and waved.
Robin said goodbye and waved as well, before breaking the connection. He didn't think Slade would mind him talking to the Titans whenever he wanted, but he… didn't want to. Well he wanted to, but it was also exhausting, and he was afraid to slip up somehow.
During lunch he filled Red and Slade in on what had been said, to a certain extent.
"Well, I'm glad Mammoth made it, in a way," Red shrugged. "I mean, I don't know the guy, not really, but he was set up as well… in a way."
"I appreciate you keeping me out of things," Slade nodded.
"I'm not stupid, it would reach Batman one way or the other if the Titans had reason to hate you," Robin sighed. "Oh, and Red: if you ever, somehow no matter how unlikely, gets questioned about… well… me and Slade…. I told the Titans that it was basically an act. I'd appreciate if you back up that story."
"Sure. Both of you are amazing actors. Method actors, actually."
"Shut up," Robin muttered while Slade seemed to be disguising a chuckle with a small cough. "Besides," the teen added haughtily, "You seem to have bought the medias misconception about what method acting actually entails."
"Can I hit him?" Red asked Slade.
"Not at the table," the mercenary told him.
"Hey!" Robin objected to the lack of defense.
"If you want me to be your protector again, all you have to do is ask," the man smirked.
"Oh, don't worry, I won't," Robin snorted and focused on his pasta. "You can become my cook, though," he offered.
"Well, if the offers dry up during the pandemic, I'll be in touch," the man promised. "I'm sure Alfred and I will get along marvelously. I always liked that man."
"Who's Alfred?" Red asked.
"Our butler," Robin explained. "You know him?" he asked Slade.
"We've met," the man told him.
"You have a butler?" Red gaped. "That's it, I'm gonna hit you twice now."
Robin chuckled, but realized how entitled the whole thing sounded.
"I'll leave you two to do the clean up again," Slade told them. "I'm going to work for a few hours. You won't be able to enter the area, so just play nice. There's a screening room at the back if you haven't found it, and there's snacks in the kitchen if you want."
"Snacks? At your place?" Red exclaimed.
"Well, I knew I had you two to feed, I thought you'd appreciate some," the man shrugged.
"That's actually worriedly thoughtful, are you sure prison didn't give you a stroke or something?" the red head asked. "Ow!" he added, clutching his head, when the man had cuffed him as he passed by. "Maybe not. Robin? Pool time?"
"Yeah, sure," the teen said, eager to enjoy more of the outside.
"Just be careful, I don't have any sun block," Slade told them.
"Guess you can't think of everything, huh?" Robin couldn't help but taunt the man.
"Guess not," was the only reply.
"What, he gets away with that? You still want to do him, don't you?" Red snorted. "Simp!"
"Maybe start doing the dishes before you start annoying me, thief," Slade grunted.
"Oh. Yeah. Chores. Family life just isn't for me," Red sighed, but started collecting the plates.
"Robin, a word?" Slade asked and gestured towards the hallway.
Robin nodded, his pulse speeding up as he followed the man into his bedroom.
"I just wanted to say, privately, that I meant it," Slade told him, once the door had closed behind them.
"Meant… what?" the hero wanted to know.
"If you need me. Now or in the future…" the man said, handing him a card with a hand written phone number.
"If I have a phone this number will connect to it. If not, record a message and my people will get it to me. Don't include details, of course, but you're not an idiot."
"Why? And why would I ever want to call you?" Robin tried to sound disdainful, but felt quite differently.
"To answer the first question… maybe I feel that I owe you something. I'd like to repay that debt. I have started the process of clearing the name, by the way. You will be contacted, discreetly, in a few weeks at most. They knew about your identity, but it's not like they would tell anyone. The second question…" the man hesitated. "Isn't as easily answered. But if you ever use the number, I guess we'll find out."
"Well…" Robin sighed. "Thank you. I'd like to throw this card in your face, but like you pointed out, I'm not an idiot. Connections are good to have, after all, especially if they owe you something. Please don't look so damn proud."
"I just like to think that I was able to teach you something," the mercenary chuckled. Robin gasped as the man's hand suddenly, very lightly, caressed his cheek, tilting his head up. For a moment Robin thought the man would try to kiss him. For a moment he was pretty sure he'd let him. "I absolutely hate having messed this up, Robin," the man said seriously. "And if I saw a way out of it, I'd take it. Including locking you up in the basement for a few years. But the only thing to do is let you go."
"You're just missing the sex," Robin snorted, feeling very vulnerable all of a sudden. "And that's stupid, you can have great sex with Red, for crying out loud! Or anyone!"
"A great fuck, sure," Slade shrugged and withdrew his hand. "But great sex? No."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
The man chuckled. "Call me after a few relationships, and let's talk then," he said.
"Sure," Robin muttered. "Are you done?"
"Apparently."
The teen left, irritated with himself. Irritated that he had wanted that kiss, irritated that talking about Red and Slade doing it still made him feel livid, and irritated that the number in his pocket made him so… happy?
"I'm sick," he whined to Red out by the pool a bit later.
"Maybe get out of the pool, then?" the now slightly more redheaded teen suggested.
"Not like that. Like… perverted…"
"Ooookay, seems I need to get into the pool!" was the enthusiastic answer.
Robin just groaned and leaned his head against the edge. The pool was a small one, but with a jet stream to swim against. It was clearly built more for exercise than anything else.
"I'm… just… it's Slade."
"The fact that you like him?" Red asked jokingly. When he didn't get a reply, he added. "Oh."
"Yeah. How sick and wrong is that? He trapped me in the prison of hell and raped me!"
"Yeah, not going on the pro-side those things…" Red admitted. "He likes you too, though. Not that that should matter."
"No, he doesn't."
"Are you kidding me?! You could walk up to him and kick him in the balls, and he would kill me!"
"Well, it was your idea," Robin smirked.
"You know what I mean. I've never seen Slade feel bad about anything before, and he's done some shifty shit."
"Which makes me even more sick in the head," Robin groaned. "Besides, remember on the way here? He basically bragged that I wouldn't like the truth!"
"Well, as I see it, that's because one of two things: either he didn't mean to tell you the whole truth back then or… it was that detaching thing…"
"The what thing?"
"I don't know what it's called! But, like… you don't think someone's really into you, right, or that you don't deserve them, so you treat them like shit so they take off?"
"Is that a thing?" Robin asked. "That's so… sad."
"Yeah, well, it's like protecting your own feelings, in a way?" Red said. "I don't know, I'm not a scientist!"
"Psychologist?"
"Whatever!"
"Push them away before they can hurt you. Yeah. I can see that…" Robin mumbled.
"Doesn't mean you should just forgive him, though," Red said.
"I… guess not…?" the hero, who actually felt a bit disappointed hear that, said.
"Well… at least not now. Not when you're still in the middle of it."
"You are a very wise thief."
"Yup. Don't tell anyone, my reputation would be ruined," Red said. "Tsunami warning!" he then yelled and cannonballed into the pool.
After an hour, Robin bit the bullet and called Bruce. It wasn't like he expected the man to get angry or anything, it was just that he had a way of seeing through him, greater than even Slade's. It felt good afterwards, though. Robin had, again, presented Slade as a 'good guy' of sorts, and Bruce had bought it surprisingly easily. "I've worked both with him and against him. He sticks to his ethics," Bruce had nodded. "I'm glad he was there for you."
The teen had kept a carefully blank face, and the call was soon over. Robin had promised to let him know when they were to expect him, and told Slade as much over dinner. Again, the man had cooked, barbecue this time, and Robin stuffed his face almost as much as Red.
Slade had agreed to the call, and told them that Red's things were on their way, and would probably arrive late tomorrow, meaning they could leave the day after.
"I still need a place to stay," Red reminded them.
"You can stay here for a while," Slade offered. "I'm looking through work offers but the market is rather uncertain, especially with limited traveling. I might wait out the whole pandemic here."
"Or you can come with me?" Robin offered. "Stay at the mansion? See the Batcave? Apartment hunting in Gotham?"
"My family loves me!" Red exclaimed but then just smiled warmly at them both. "Seriously, thank you. Robin, it sounds awesome, but I'm thinking I'd like to live in New York, and this place is close, after all. Do you have any real estate buddies in New York?" he asked Slade.
"Better, I have a penthouse I've been thinking of selling. You can have that."
"Wow! Thank you!"
"At market value."
"Oh. Well. Still."
"With what I'm paying you, you can afford it. It's not in the most expensive parts of town, but decent. And if you promise to do me a favor or two, I might knock some of the price off."
"New York, here I come!"
"I'll show it to you tomorrow," Slade said.
"Is it safe? To leave here?" Robin asked, feeling a flash of dread.
"As safe as it could be, I'm sure. We'll only be gone a few hours. You can stay here if-"
"No, I'll come!" Robin hurriedly confirmed. He didn't want to be left alone here, not knowing if the others were ok.
The next day he was standing on a terrace, looking out over New York.
"You seem to be deep in thought?" Slade asked behind him.
"Yeah. I'm thinking that this might be what I need. A new city," he said.
"There's a second bedroom that's currently a gym, and I don't think Red would mind," Slade told him.
Robin chuckled. "Nah. Alone, in that case, I think. But I also don't think I'm ready. Not quite yet."
"Understandable. He seems to approve. Should we leave? His papers are in town, we're picking them up on the way back."
Robin nodded. Red was excited, and understandably so, as the apartment was great. Like Slade had said it wasn't in the richest parts of the city, but it looked like it could have been. He was buying it furnished as well, they had agreed, so he could basically just pick up some essentials and move in. After a look from Robin, Red declared that he'd do so tomorrow, though, after Slade and Robin had left for Gotham. The hero was grateful, he didn't want to be alone with Slade overnight. Not because he didn't trust the man, but because he didn't quite trust himself…
The car ride the next day was a bit awkward. They mostly spent it in silence or discussing very, very neutral subjects.
Slade opted to let him off outside the gates.
"Take care, Robin," the man said.
"You too," was all the teen could think of saying, and then he got out. The car drove away. And that was it.
Epilogue
Robin was deeply asleep. He was currently studying at a university in New York and as Red had decided to travel the world for a year, to celebrate that Covid 19, after almost two years, now was over, Robin was subletting his apartment.
It had been rough, in the beginning, trying to find a new mission in life. He had also been plagued with nightmares and certain forms of social anxiety that he had never experienced before all this. He thought it would get batter after he was cleared, but it didn't. In the end he had decided to talk to Leslie Thompkins, their medical confidant and friend, and she agreed to try her hand at healing his mind for a change. At their third meeting he broke down and told her everything. Absolutely everything. After that, it got… easier. She helped him set small, attainable goals which still pushed him in the right direction. It also helped him decide not to return to the superhero world, at least not for a good while. He had to deal with some guilt associated with that, but once he decided to study, he felt that motivated the choice. And he enjoyed school. The goals, the deadlines, applying himself, it suited him. He didn't quite know what he wanted to 'be' in the future, but law and psychology were high on the list right now.
It had been absolutely great. Until someone heavily sat down on his bed in the middle of the night.
"Wha-" Robin started and then his throat was grabbed, cutting off his voice as well as his air.
"Who are-" someone barked and then, "Robin?"
"Slade?!"
The man turned on the lights and the two stared at each other.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Slade asked.
"Me? What are you doing here, this is Red's place!"
"He's on vacation, I contacted him just the other day. I have just gotten off a plane from Russia, I've been awake for three days straight and I'm here to sleep. Figured it was empty."
"Yeah, well, you have to get a hotel room," Robin told him.
Slade looked at him, Robin could practically feel his gaze over his body, and wished he had more than his underwear on. "No."
"No? You can't say no! Get out!" Robin exclaimed.
"No. I'm too tired." The man removed his shirt, and at some point, before he got into bed, he must have chucked his pants off too. "You can yell at me tomorrow morning. Or possibly tomorrow evening. I'm going to sleep."
With that, the man put the lights out again and simply got under the covers.
Robin gaped but he heard the man's breathing change almost immediately. He really had been exhausted. There was nowhere else to sleep, as the sofa wasn't that great, and the bed was big enough, so Robin sighed and laid back down. He had barely done that before Slade turned in his sleep and slipped an arm around him from behind.
"Mine," he heard the man mumble in his sleep.
"In your dreams!" Robin snorted but, as he fell asleep, there was a small smile on his lips.
The End.
A/N: Canon Slade somewhat recently intentionally killed a girl's dog, later felt a bit guilty and got her a puppy. Canon Slade is… complicated… and not great at apologies…
So, there it is! And yes, yes, I veered into the light more and more in this story, I know some of you prefer them to be pitch black, but Slade is NOT a pitch black character, so I find it so difficult to write him like that… I hope it was enjoyable either way. Love to hear from you! I will now take a break, most likely a quite long one, but I AM going to open my "Black Sheep 5" file (yes, it exists) and see if there's anything I get inspiration to work with…
As usual, suggestions (not demands!) are welcome.
All the best!
Wynja