Light pierced into the room and Robin came awake with a start. He bolted upright and slowly calmed down as he took in his surroundings. The room had not changed since he had fallen asleep, Robin looked down and noticed that Terra had draped her arm around him inn her sleep. She was now stirring, the light may not have bothered her but Robin's sudden movements were rousing her from her slumber.
"Robin, 'yawn,' what's happening?"
"Morning I guess." Robin got out of the bed and stretched, trying to clear the cobwebs out of his head. For an instant Robin thought about getting dressed then he remembered he only had one set of clothes, if you could call Slade's uniform clothing. Terra disappeared into the bathroom and the food dispenser slot opened revealing breakfast, more porridge stuff.
"Ah it is good to see that you're on your feet and ready to continue students." Robin spun around looking for the speaker that Slade's voice was coming form.
"Show yourself coward." Slade continued talking ignoring Robin.
"After you eat and have properly woken up you two will begin your training. Robin you are to teach Terra everything you know about martial arts, you'll find the open floor to your left has the constancy of a training mat."
"That will take…"
"I am well aware of your skills Robin, training non-stop it should take one month. Think of it this way, the faster she learns the faster you two can leave this place." At that the speaker cut off.
"Terra did you here that?" Robin asked as he stood next to the bathroom door.
"Yes I heard." Terra opened the door and sat down at the table.
"Yummy, mush." Robin thought about laughing but couldn't bring himself to that much joy right now. He just smiled to himself as he entered and closed the door.
"Ok well start with the basics." Robin assumed an open palmed fighting stance that he preferred because of its wide range of mobility. "Just do what I do." Robin looked back to see if Terra, who stood behind him off to the right, was following instructions.
"Like this?"
"Almost raise your right arm up a little, good like that."
"Right." Robin began to lead Terra through a basic warm-up exercise. While T'ai chi was actually a fighting style of its own, if you speed it up, it would make a perfect warm up. First he taught her basic stances and foot movements then he began to teach her proper punching techniques when Slade's cold voice cut into the room.
"Very good Robin, Terra I am glade that you are doing so well." Their meals arrived. "After all this is only the first day of many, don't wear yourselves out too soon now." The speaker clicked off leaving the two in silence.
"I hope he extra suits because I'm going to destroy this one."
"I think it's supposed to last."
"Then I'll have to make it my prerogative." Terra laughed a little. "What's wrong Robin?" Terra was reacting to Robin's scowl.
"Nothing, just, I don't see any reason to be so happy right now." Terra sat down on the bed and flopped over on her back.
"Your right there is little to be happy about now, which is why we need to seize every moment of joy we can find. Robin I don't know what your feeling but me being here, him being here, that means that for all I did and for all I suffered trying to make amends, I failed. If I don't find the silver lining I'm afraid that I'll drown in the cloud."
Robin sat down beside her and she sat up leaning into his shoulder.
"It's alright Terra, we'll get through this. Everything that happened, it's all in the past and I forgive you for it. You're right if we don't make this better it won't on its own."
Terra sounded like she was going to say something but all that came out was sob. She just sat there crying into his shoulder for several minutes. All the time Robin sat there frozen questioning himself and his motives.
Stop it Robin your interfering with things you needn't mess with.
What am I to do, just let her cry by herself?
You've always seen yourself with Starfire right?
Right, but.
And you know how Beastboy feels about Terra.
Yeah, but.
You're just going to make your eventual escape and return to the Titans harder.
It can't be helped, now just quit it!
Robin looked down at the sobbing girl; she's not even that pretty Robin thought to himself. Starfire had a much nicer body and far larger breasts, and Terra was. Robin looked down again and sighed, perfect and here. Robin shook his head trying to expunge such thoughts; he defiantly didn't need any sort of romantic involvement going on, not now. Not in such close quarters. Yes, he would drop all of these ideas until they got out, then there would be plenty of time to pursue any type of relationship.
You'll never make it.
Shut up, not only will I make it, I won't get involved with her at all.
Unless she wants it.
Unless she… shut up.
Time passed, Terra wasn't sure how long it was she had been counting the days but it was a pointless exercise. She didn't even now what the corresponding time was outside, she guessed almost three weeks have passed. Robin would of course know, she was really surprised that he was not constantly thinking of the other Titans and drawing up escape plans. If she had anyone waiting outside of here for her, she would have spent all her time focused on that person, and getting back to him. She inwardly sighed, Beastboy, he had been her friend and would have been so much more had she not screwed it up. But Robin had Starfire right? She hadn't asked him but she knew, things change but those two seamed to be meat for each other. Still it was to bad he was already taken he was kinda cute once you got to know him. Terra shook her head that type of thought would accomplish nothing except make this room way too uncomfortable to bear.
Terra threw a straight left punch aiming for Robin's throat, but he side stepped grabbed her arm pulling her close to him.
"Terra you're still telegraphing your actions, don't move your feet until you start to swing."
"You're only so good at predicting me because you taught me. I'd do fine against anyone else."
"You wish."
"Robin." Terra laughed "Uh Robin." Robin hadn't released her yet and they were standing far to close to even be awkward.
"Oh sorry." Robin released her and stepped away. Terra rolled her neck and returned to her fighting stance.
"Alright here I come."
"Remember your footwork can give away your move." Terra stepped forward with her left leg again, Robin sighed to himself she was trying the same move again, no she was to low perhaps a feint. Robin suddenly moved forward coming just inside the range of a vicious right haymaker from Terra, her arm wrapped around him barley missing the back of his head. Terra kept going wrapping around Robin's neck and throwing him to the ground. Then she let out a startled cry as Robin grabbed her by the waist and they both went down in a tangled mass.
"Damit how'd you manage to do that?" Robin had ended up on top pining Terra beneath him.
"I'm just that amazing."
"Liar."
The two lay there for a second catching their breath, looking into each other's eyes and Robin drew closer, Terra made no move to stop him she lifted her face to meet his and partially closed her eyes. Something in her was screaming to stop or do anything but what her body was about to do, but at the same time a much more powerful voice was drowning out Terra's conscience, kiss the boy it was yelling. She stopped moving upwards and closed her eyes, or at least pretended. Robin moved to meet her at the half way but he stopped and jerked back as a cold hard voice cut in over the intercom.
"I am pleased to see that you've come so far in your training Terra." Robin stood up and held out his hand to Terra, but she brushed him off and stood on her own. "Now we will move on to the next stage…" A seamless door that neither teen had previously noticed slid open revealing a long and dark passage way. "…Through there you will encounter your next test and if you past you will be much closer to freedom."
Dam you Slade, Terra thought to herself. How the hell can you ruin two first kisses with two different guys! "I will be expecting you up ahead, do hurry I don't enjoy waiting." The loudspeaker cut off leaving Robin and Terra alone again.
"Should we go?" Terra said nothing.
"Terra."
"What." She snapped.
"I asked should we go?"
"Where?"
"Down that tunnel of course."
"Oh." Terra turned to face him, she hadn't been paying attention to what Slade or Robin had said. "Yes we better go." She fell into step behind Robin as they advanced down the tunnel. Robin wanted to say something but was totally at a loss of words presently.
Did we almost kiss?
Should have just ignored Slade. That still small voice in his head responded.
I can't get involved with her, what about Star…
What about her, is she here?
N, no.
Then don't worry about her.
This whole thing feels wrong, we shouldn't be together its not our fate.
Ha, fate, you wouldn't know fate if it jumped up and hoofed you in the balls. Starfire has been waiting for you to return her feelings for almost four years. If you haven't done so know perhaps its not meant to be.
Then what should I do?
Do nothing; don't bring up that moment again. If this is what you truly want then you'll get another chance.
Robin refocused his mind to take in the tunnel they where nearing a corner and there was a light around it. The room they entered was a locker room of sorts with an array of equipment and gadgets meant for the suits they currently wore.
"I will let you pick out items for your selves, have fun." Terra was going to say something but the speaker cut off as fast as it started.
Robin helped Terra put together a pack of weapons and various utility gadgets, and then the two of them faced the closed door at the far end and waited.
"Slade we did what you wanted, what now?"
"Patience dear, it's a virtue that you should learn." Terra said something else but Slade refused to talk again. Several minutes passed, Robin spent the time inspecting the items in the room that he couldn't fit on his belt or suit. Terra spent the time watching Robin.
What am I doing, we managed to spend almost a month together and nothing happened. Why am I fucking it all up now?
Because you like him.
No, he's just a friend I like Beastboy.
Do you really.
Yes, he was there for me when no one else was.
Well it seams like he your favorite out of necessity, not because he was special.
That's not true, he is special.
Yet you were about to kiss him.
I, I don't know what to think.
If you truly loved Beastboy there would be no conflict.
What does that mean?
It means you must choose, you can't love them both.
Terra shock her head trying to shake loose her conscience, it had been feeding her bad information from the start. Or news she knew was true but didn't want to admit.
Her reprieve was ended as the door clicked and swung outward.
"Your final test is through here, clear this room and you will have graduated. While I realize that you can probably take this course on your own Robin, It doesn't count unless Terra can prove herself."
"Then what?"
"You will find out when we get to then Robin." Slade was once again silent and the two cautiously stepped through the door.
"Are you ready?" Robin stepped next to Terra as the two confronted the closed door.
"Yeah." Terra lifted the mask on the back of her jumpsuit over her head and secured the fittings.
"On three then. One. Two." Terra grabbed Robin's hand and squeezed. Robin paused a second to smile. "Three."