First… I kind of like to thank the anonymous reviewer "slade/robin fan" who REALLY didn't like the last chapter (Earning once keep). I love you for speaking your mind and putting your foot down! You SHOULD! I swear I can take bad critique so don't be "scared" to tell me how you feel… No one can write stories that every one likes all the time… we all have different preferences. If you have critique (good or bad) the worst thing I will do is perhaps to ask you about more details or explaining my point of view, so you can do it logged in, too… Anyway, here's a fluffy one for you who need it after "Earning…"

Disclaimer: No! It's not me who owns them! I swear!
Pairing: Slade/Robin
Warning: only a suggestion of Slash… just a fluffy-talkie-thing… a hint of angst on Robin's part…
Background: Another one… future fic of "Terms..." that is… Tied to the others like Old friends/family in this collection… could be read as a freestanding piece, though… I had to write it 'cause I was wondering what it would feel like to really realize that your life-mate was immortal… I mean, that happens a lot, right? ;o)


Immortal love

It's not easy to contemplate death when you are sixteen years old. At that age you still think you are immortal. Even Robin, who had been close enough to death to accept it as a fact, had trouble seeing himself actually growing old.
He was standing in a doorway, hidden in shadows and was watching Slade and Wintergreen discussing something. Wintergreen was old. The strange thing was that he wasn't that much older than Slade, and yet, due to Slade's special gifts, Will looked almost twice Slade's age. The sight gnawed at Robin's stomach. Ha had been thinking about this a while now. He would grow up with Slade. He loved that idea, but then what? What would happen as he grew older? How long would Slade have any use for him? Sooner or later Robin wouldn't be able to keep up… It might not happen at all, though… Living and working with Slade was not a low-risk life. He could die tomorrow. But that wasn't any different from when he was a hero, so that didn't bother the boy that much.

What would Slade do? Turn away from him? Find someone else? Robin's hands balled into fists at the thought. Slade was his! Only his! But if he was useless… old… ugly? How long would Slade find him attractive? The knot in his stomach grew larger. When would Slade stop loving him?

Suddenly the man's head turned towards the doorway.

"Robin? What are you doing hiding in the dark?" Slade asked gently.

Robin put on a little smile and sauntered towards him.

"Just watching you…"

Slade smirked. "Why?"

Robin reached him and took his hand, lifting it to wrap the man's arm around his shoulders.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Robin grinned and almost snuggled up to the man, trying to get those thoughts out of his head. He was still young… he didn't need to think about these things…

Slade sighed and turned to Wintergreen.

"Will, that suggestion was excellent, draw up some plans… I just need to speak to my bird for a while."

Robin was suddenly whipped of his feet and sat down on a table like a little kid who was going to be told off. It irritated Robin that Slade could still handle him like he weighed close to nothing… weeeeell… it irritated him sometimes…

"What's on your mind, Robin? Don't you think I've noticed you, sulking around here the last couple of days?"

"Nothing… It's nothing… I'm just being childish…" Robin tried to avoid the man's eye, but that was never a good thing to do around Slade. His chin was caught in a firm grip, and he was made to look up into Slade's face.

"It's not 'nothing'. Now. Tell me."

"It's just….! Argh! I don't know! I'm just thinking about the future… kind of…"

"What about it? Are you considering changing careers?" Slade smiled and let go of his chin.

Robin grinned right back, hoping for a way out. "Yeah, right, I suddenly realized my life's goal is to become a dentist. Or President. Can't decide."

"President? Not such a bad idea…" Slade mused.

"Don't you dare!" Robin protested "Meetings, red tape, administration… No way am I going into politics! I would be bored to death within a week…"

"But the control and insight, it would…"

"You realize of course, that if I become president, it will make you the first lady?" Robin countered quickly.

Wintergreen had a severe cough attack in the background and Slade snorted.

"All right Robin. Just for that we are going right back to the core of this discussion. What did you mean by the future? Are you regretting spending it with me?"

"No… the opposite…" Robin mumbled

"Explain."

"I'm…. afraid there won't be enough of it …" Robin squirmed, trying to look away again. Slade let him, pondering the boy's words.

"What have you been thinking, Robin? What are your worst fears?"

Robin stayed quiet, slightly blushing. Slade hadn't seen the boy blush in quite some time. It was very fetching. The man put his hands on Robin's thighs, massaging them gently, to try to reassure him enough to answer. His touch almost always helped, and it did so this time too.

"That… that I'll be useless to you soon, because I'll be old… and… and that you won't like me anymore then… and… and… find someone new…" The boy looked stubbornly down on his knees, his blush deepening somewhat. When Slade didn't answer, Robin finally had to force himself to look up. As he met Slade's eye he saw the love there, and the man almost looked touched. Robin leaned towards him and Slade's arms enclosed him, drawing him tight against his chest.

"My little Robin…" Slade whispered in his ear. "I had no idea you were thinking about these things."

"Of course I am…" Robin mumbled back. "I don't want to loose you. Ever."

"You won't. I promise."

"But you know you can't promise that!" Robin objected "it's not in your control!"

"Not yet." Slade agreed.

Robin looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes." The answer was immediate and very definite.

"Then just leave it to me for now. We will have all the time in the world together."

Robin's eyes lit up.

"Thank you."

"I love you, my little bird."

"I love you too."

"Do you think Wintergreen can be trusted to work on his own for a while?" Slade grinned wickedly.

"Oh, yes, I'm pretty sure he's capable." Robin grinned back.

There was a chuckle behind them. "You two run along, leave the real work to me." Will sighed theatrically and rolled his eyes.

"What? This isn't real work? You have no idea how demanding this kid can be..." Slade laughed and hoisted a complaining Robin over his shoulder. As the pair left the room, Robin laughing, but still trying to get free, Wintergreen shook his head and smiled after his old friend. They would have quite a future together those two…

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A/N: This was so short and kind of pointless it doesn't really deserve any reviews… the thought had just been getting to me since I let Robin discover Slade's immortality in "terms" and I had to deal with it… But I have an even MORE pointless story in the back of my mind, so... ;o)