Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans. I do own a rubber duck. Be afraid.
Pairing: Slade/Robin
Warning: VERY fluffy, very stupid little talkie-thing. Only a mentioning of slash, no one should be able to take much offence…
Background:I wrote this today, because the other thing I'm working on is going to be long… and this idea came to me this morning, so… This is ALSO something that happens after "Terms…" You must think I'm totally full of myself, but it's so EASY to write snippets of something that can be connected to another story… you don't need to work out the whole background or anything… The main story of "Terms" ended in July, this is set in December… You don't have to read "Terms of Endearment", you just need to know that Robin has joined Slade… there… go on… And there is no rubber ducks in this story, so relax… ;o)
Cold
Robin did not like to be cold. In this case, though, he had only himself to blame.
He and Slade had been training non stop for months and they had reached the stage where Robin was allowed to accompany his Master on missions. The boy was slowly learning to turn off his emotions and, so far, he had made Slade proud. The man had then decided that his apprentice deserved a break, a little Christmas and New Year's present combined, so he had taken him to one of his bases in the Alps for a skiing vacation.
Until that afternoon, Robin had really enjoyed it, too.
"Here you are." Slade stood over him as he was cuddled up in one of the two oversized armchairs in front of a huge, blazing fire. The man was handing him a big cup of warm chocolate which Robin gratefully took.
"Thank you Sla- Master."
Slade sighed inwardly. The boy still had problems with the title. It was the only thing that created any sort of wall between them, and Slade had wondered if he should give up insisting on it, but no. Not yet. The boy didn't deserve it right now anyway, pulling that idiotic stunt…
Robin sipped the hot drink, hoping that it, at last, would do the trick. He was wrapped up in blankets in front of a roaring fire but the warmth seemed to evade him.
Slade sat down in the other chair, flicking through some papers and making notes. He was preparing for their next mission, which they would leave for tomorrow. Hopefully.
As Robin drank the last of the beverage he sighed and set the cup down on the side table. So much for hoping for warmth. His teeth clattered slightly. He glanced over at Slade. He sure looks warm enough. Robin bit his lip, assessing the dangerous mission he had in mind. He had been acting like an idiot, after all, and he guessed Slade was rather upset with him. Well. Here goes nothing.
Robin got up, wrapped one of the blankets around himself, went over to Slade and, without a word, curled up in his knee.
Slade was somewhat surprised. Robin had started taking the initiative from time to time, something Slade encouraged, and the boy liked to cuddle too, but he was never clingy.
He put the papers aside for now, drawing the boy towards him.
"What's this about?" he asked softly.
"You are warm…" Robin smiled sleepily.
"You wouldn't be cold if you were a little less of a moron." Slade grinned at him.
"Yeah…" Robin agreed. "Way to go, Master, picking a moron for an apprentice… what does that say about you?"
Slade chuckled.
"Brave bird."
"Cold bird. You better start calling me the Penguin." Robin replied, shivering.
"And what did you think you were doing out there this afternoon?"
"Snowboarding" The Penguin quipped.
"Off-pist? Why?"
"It was there. Untouched snow. Beautiful"
"And the warning-signs?"
Robin snorted.
"I thought we didn't do rules."
"It is always wise to obey the sensible ones."
"You made me do a U-turn on a motorcycle on the interstate once, remember?"
"Yes, but that was because I wanted to see you."
"So that makes it okay?"
"Yes."
"So if the off-pist route actually was a shortcut to get here to you…?"
"No."
The boy muttered.
"Anyway, it was great." he concluded.
"Until the avalanche buried you."
"Obviously."
"If you hadn't reached the communicator in time and pressed the alarm…"
"Yeah… I know…." Robin sounded really tired now. "I am a moron. Sorry."
"You are. But since you are my moron, I guess I have to cope." Slade smiled. Robin smiled weakly back, his eyes strangely shiny. The boy curled up closer and rested his forehead against Slade's chin. The man almost jerked back.
"You are burning up."
"No, stupid, I'm freezing…" the boy mumbled, obviously having lost the little sense he had from the fever.
Slade carried him to the bedroom and fetched a bag from a cupboard. Thankfully he had his staff refill all the first aid-kits and medicine cabinets on all his bases, for the boy's sake. He himself didn't need any, as he had very quick healing abilities. He checked the boy's temperature. It was through the roof. As a cough shook Robin's body, something in Slade's stomach clenched. This was not good.
The avalanche had buried not only Robin, but also the road. It had smashed telephone poles as well, making the secluded cabin even more unreachable. There was always satellite communications, but as the weather was acting up, heavy snow falling outside the window, the connection was weak. The mountains didn't help either. No helicopter would be able to land in this weather anyway.
He found some Ibuprofen that would hopefully reduce the fever somewhat, and he got the boy to swallow the medicine. Robin fell into a deep slumber, only disturbed by that rattling cough.
One moment Robin felt ice cold, the next scorching hot. He threw off the covers and panted. Slade seemed to be asleep beside him, and Robin desperately tried to think of ways to cool down.
Slade startled awake, and saw that the boy was missing. He found Robin a few steps outside the front door, about to throw himself in the snow. Cursing loudly he dragged the protesting boy back inside.
"No… so hot!" Robin complained, but stopped struggling as Slade held a glass of cold water near his lips. The boy drank eagerly and then fell back to sleep. Slade latched the doors shut and locked the door to the bedroom too. He even locked the windows, if his little penguin might get the idea he could fly.
Robin didn't know what was happening. He thought he must be sick, and sometimes he had trouble breathing. The room's temperature seemed to shift constantly too, making him a bit irritated. Slade was there, always nagging him to drink, trying to get him to stay awake for short periods of time. Days passed, but the boy was unaware of time. Slade, on the other hand was painfully aware of every minute. At last, after almost a week, Robin woke up properly, eyelids fluttering open.
"Wh… what…?"
"Robin? Are you feeling better?"
Feeling better? Robin wanted to laugh, but only a small cackling sound came out. Better? He was in hell! He had never felt so sick in his life…
Strong arms lifted his upper body slightly and there was something cold on his lips. He drank some and then turned his head away, feebly. Something pushed into his ear and beeped. The thermometer.
"You fever is down, finally." Slade sounded relived, but Robin didn't much share his feelings. Down? How sick had he been? He suddenly became afraid.
"S-Slade?" He groped for the man's hand, finding it. Slade squeezed his hand gently, assuring him he was there.
"Sorry… I m-mean…. M-master…" Robin gripped the hand harder. "Sorry… didn't mean… I…"
A hand stroked his cheek, and he heard the man above him sigh.
"Slade is fine."
"What?" Robin opened his eyes, trying to focus on the strangely elusive face above him.
"You have progressed far enough in your training to be allowed to decide what to call me by yourself."
Robin stared up at him, feeling very happy for some strange reason. Then his lingering fever apparently threw his brain a curve ball, because he smiled widely at the man.
"Then I think I'll call you Bob." he declared.