Merry Christmas! This one is for Yumi-wuves-YAOI who wanted X-mas in the Terms-universe… but not with Robin and Slade alone… nooo… she wanted something MUCH more dangerous… ;o)
Err… this turned out to be the longest X-mas drabble… Its 19 pages… I got just a BIT carried away, and I thought I could use this drabble to continue the 'saga' as a whole, so it's not 'just' a Christmas-gift…
Anyway, hope you like it! Fluff-warning!
Holiday Plights
Robin groaned quietly as the mail was delivered that morning. It was getting worse. It was bad enough that the headquarters needed its own mailroom to sort through everything from important correspondence to extremely weird and scary packages. And the fan-mail. Both Robin and Slade preferred to hire people to do that. And, as it was a rather high-risk job, they were well paid. Crazy people cost money. Go figure.
But the last weeks it had gotten worse. Now they were getting Christmas cards. The first Robin had thought were rather cute. One was from a kid asking them to please not kill Santa. Some were from kids who actually wanted to take out a contract on the red clad jolly guy. Presumingly they had only gotten socks for Christmas last year… or been very, very naughty…
Robin felt at least one forest could have been saved instead of being turned to these garish, often glittery, cards that he had no idea why people sent. Did they think they would be put on a 'don't kill or rob'-list because they had sent a freaking card?!
He glanced at the pile, more than ready to just throw it all in the bin, when an envelope on the top caught his eye. He knew that handwriting. It was the same spidery but elegant hand that had signed most of his permission slips when he was still at school. Alfred. He snatched it from the pile and withdrew to his favourite sofa to read it.
It was already opened; the mailroom did that to check for whatever people liked to send them… which were everything from bombs and drugs to underwear and body parts. He withdrew the elegant card and opened it.
Ten minutes later Slade found him sitting in the couch with a strange expression on his face.
"What's the matter? Another marriage-proposal?" the man asked, sliding down next to his little bird.
"No. We… umm…" Robin started but didn't seem to be quite able to finish.
"We're what?" asked Slade, trying to snatch the card from Robin, but failed.
Robin stood up in a hurry and paced around.
"Are… are we working this Christmas?"
"Nooo…" Slade sounded rather suspicious "We don't have anything urgent, at least… why?"
"Because we're kind off…invitedtoBruce'sfortheholidays." Robin blurted out.
"What was that?" Slade thought he had caught what the boy had said, but since that was impossible… well, he must have heard wrong.
"We're invited… to Bruce's… over Christmas…"
Slade laughed.
"I don't think I have ever heard anything as ridiculous, and I used to be in the military, mind you…" the man stopped himself, seeing a quick shift in Robin's features before they were masked by a blank face more impenetrable when the mask he used to wear.
"Wait… you asked if we were going to work… you want to go?!"
"I… I don't know!" Robin sighed, and threw himself down on the couch again, stretching out on his back with his head in Slade's lap. "It's probably a mistake anyway… Alfred sent it… maybe he's getting senile…"
"Are you sure we are invited? Not just you?"
"Nope. It was addressed to both of us… 'Mr Grayson and Mr. Wilson'" Robin grinned.
"You realise of course that Bruce and I will kill each other?"
"Yeah, well… a widower at my age isn't that much of a disaster, is it?" the boy grinned wider.
"Brat." Slade snorted.
"Old man." Robin laughed back.
"Well… before we decide anything, and before I spank you for that remark… why not call the bat up and check if he happens to be a few stalagmites short of a cave…"
"Let's." Robin agreed, and added with glittering eyes "Just don't forget about the spanking, it was a rather disrespectful thing to call you, after all…"
"I'm not sure the punishment is valid if it's enjoyed." Slade smirked down on the boy.
"Awww… I promise I won't! I was such a bad boy…" Robin succeeded in sounding sincere for a full five seconds, before cracking up.
"Now I'm just going to tell your daddy about you." Slade decided and stood up, making Robin almost fall to the floor. The boy stood up quickly and hurried after him as Slade strode out of the room towards the communication central.
"Wait! Tell him what?!"
As it turned out it was Bruce who answered. Robin had rather hoped it would be Alfred, but he guessed he couldn't avoid the man if they were to spend Christmas together.
"So. Are you coming?" Bruce asked before either Slade or Robin had been able to say anything.
"It's for real? You are really inviting us, both of us, for Christmas?"
"I wanted to only invite you. Alfred didn't think you would come." Bruce's voice sounded rather clipped and he tended to glare a lot at Slade. Even so, the last sentence had a hint of 'hopeful question' in it.
"I wouldn't." Robin confirmed.
"And exactly how many police cars will there be on the driveway?" Slade asked dryly.
"It's not a trap. I want to spend time with my son. I need to speak to him." Bruce tried not to growl, but not that hard.
"It's up to him." Slade turned to Robin who bit his lip for a while.
"We'll come. But you two have to play nice."
The men looked at each other and shrugged. It wasn't the most secure of promises, but Robin knew that he wouldn't get any better.
They spoke for a short while, deciding that the pair would arrive the day before Christmas eve, in time for a late dinner. When the call ended, Robin all but collapsed in the closest chair.
"I'm so gonna regret this." he sighed with his head in his hands.
"Probably." Slade agreed, helpful and supportive as ever.
"Remember that you did agree to be nice!" Robin reminded the man, who snorted.
"Absolutely. By the way…" Slade came up to Robin, grabbed his hand and held it up in front of the boy's eyes. "What do you think daddy dearest will say about this?" The man grinned wickedly as Robin's eyes widened. The boy stared at the shining band of metal around his ring finger.
"Oh my god, he's gonna freak!"
"I know." Slade chuckled and Robin had a feeling the man had been aching for Bruce to find out about the engagement. If he didn't know better he would suspect that Slade had only proposed to piss the bat off. But fortunately he did know better.
"I haven't even told Alfred…. Oh, he's gonna freak too!"
"I wouldn't bet on it. He has struck me as someone who doesn't freak easily. Now, if you had been pregnant…" Slade smirked.
"Well, good thing that can't happen…" Robin sighed and tried to delete the image of a freaked out Batman in his mind.
"It can't? Well… I'm going to try…" Slade chuckled and hoisted the boy off the chair.
"Hey! Wait!" Robin tried to object, wriggling in Slade's arms, but to no avail. "I thought you were going to punish me…?"
"That can wait." Slade decided. "Trying to get you to behave is a chore for a lifetime… I'm just going to have some fun for now…"
"Oh? What about me-ouff!" Robin was cut off as Slade dropped him on the couch.
"You? Well… I'll try to make it fun for you too… although you don't deserve it… making me behave with your father…"
"I'm just curious about who will throw the first punch…" Robin grinned up at the man who suddenly was on top of him.
"And who will you cheer for?" the man smirked back.
"I'm not sure… Care to try to win my vote?"
"If I do, will you cheer in a short pleated skirt and use pom-poms?"
"I think I'll go for Bruce in this…"
"Spoil-sport"
"Hey, I wore a dress for you once. That's enough. If you don't quit it, I know who's going to be Santa this year."
"Weeeelll… as long as you sit on my lap…?"
"Eeew! Stop! Please try not to ruin Christmas?!"
"Stop? Stop this?" Slade's hands had been busy.
"Nooo… not that…" Robin purred. "Please, continue that."
"…and try to act normally around me, will you?" Robin ended the lecture for the moment, and Slade enjoyed the silence. The monolog had been going on a loooong time. They had taken their private plane to Gotham airport and actually rented a car to drive to the mansion. That was probably the closest to 'roughing it' either one of them had done in a while. Sure, they could have taken a chopper, but the snow had started to fall quite heavily by now and the flight conditions weren't optimal. As soon as they got in the car Slade could practically hear Robin tense up, and so the lectures had started. Slade had tuned them out, trying at least to nod once in a while, and concentrate on the road. Now they only had a mile to go and Slade decided to tease the boy.
"Normally? So if I decide I want you, I should just-"
"You should just control yourself, Mister." Robin cut in.
"Sounds like you are ashamed of us?" Slade had meant it as a joke, but an edge sneaked into the tone.
Robin gasped. "Never! Slade, you can't even think that, okay? It's just… Bruce will go nuts, and for a few days I would like… I would like this to work…"
For a few days I would like to have my family complete…
Both of them could almost hear the unspoken words, and Slade placed a hand on Robin's thigh shortly.
"I'll try. You will owe me, but I'll try."
"You still owe me for the dress-thing!" Robin reminded him, sounding more relaxed now.
"I won't try that hard…" Slade grinned.
"It's not like you can't rub it in his face a little…" Robin had the 'innocent as a kitten' voice, and as every cat owner knows, a kitten is never innocent. Of anything.
"Really?" Slade perked up a bit.
"Yeah, it's not like I expect you to just sit back and take it… If he starts anything that is… and if he does, I bet he has to deal with Alfred…"
"And that's scary?"
"An angry Alfred? He's scarier than you."
"Is that so...? I have to ask the old man for some pointers then…"
Before Robin had time to find an answer they pulled up to the gates, which automatically swung open. Alfred must be monitoring them from inside.
Butterflies ruled Robin's stomach by now and as they stopped in front of the driveway. Slade sensed that the tension was back and leaned over towards the boy's seat. As Robin turned his head Slade caught his lips with his own.
"Another kiss for good luck? And to hold me over?" Slade asked as he broke the first. Robin just smiled up at him and leaned in closer.
They walked up the stairs a few minutes later, leaving a car with rather steamed up windows behind. Robin hesitated in front of the door and then rang the bell. It was a strange thing to do as he still considered the house his home. Well. His childhood home. But he didn't belong to this world anymore, and as he didn't… he had to ask permission to enter.
"Master Richard!" a very happy and yet very frail old man opened the door and Robin flew into his arms.
He is starting to look old… I mean, he's ALWAYS looked old, but…Robin pushed the sad thoughts away. It was the holidays. No sad thoughts allowed.
"What took you so long?" a rather grumpy voice asked in the background, and Robin blushed a bit.
"The weather makes the roads dangerous. We had to take it slow." Slade answered, coming to the rescue by interpreting the question slightly differently then Robin did. He probably did it on purpose, though.
Robin had released Alfred, who was wheezing slightly from the hard hug, and took a hesitant step towards Bruce. The man sighed and held out his arms.
"Come here, kid…"
Robin felt himself being hugged fiercely and he hugged the man back just as hard.
"I have missed you, you know…" Bruce told him softly.
"… missed you too…"
They broke the hug, both feeling a bit embarrassed at the blatant show of emotions.
"I think I will let you settle in. Then I need to talk to you Richard."
"Tonight?" Robin had been dreading whatever the dark knight had wanted to talk to him about and had hoped to put it off a bit longer.
"Yes. It's important, and I don't want it hanging over us… it would dampen the mood…" he added, sounding like he didn't really think that would be possible. "Alfred has prepared your old room for you."
"My old room? But my bed isn't really big en-"
"Another room has been prepared for Slade." the man interrupted.
"What?!" Robin was offended. He had expected some trouble, but this was just ridiculous!
There was a soft cough from Alfred.
"I have taken the liberty of installing Mr. Wilson in the blue room."
"I don't care, this is-! Oh." Robin caught himself. "Oh. All right. I guess it will do."
Bruce nodded briskly, rather surprised at the young man's change of mind. Maybe the boy was growing up after all…?
"Come to my study once you are unpacked. And this is just between you and me. Privately." he added, glaring over his shoulder at Slade as he walked up the flight of stairs.
Slade grabbed Robin's arm.
"What was that about? You let him separate us, just like that?!" he growled.
Robin grinned up at the man.
"Alfred put you in the blue room. It's upstairs from mine, but there is a secret passage. Bruce doesn't know about it, because he has never lived in that part of the house… it has only been used as guestrooms until I moved in, and I found it by accident… The passage was built at the same time as the mansion… and if I know Alfred he has probably vacuumed it… Look out on the steps, though, they are rather steep."
That information got the man in a much better mood and he grinned back.
"So, where is it?"
Robin's grin turned into a smirk.
"Oh, well, that you have to figure out by yourself… you have to earn it, you know…"
Slade snorted and muttered something about insolent boys under his breath, before stalking away in the direction Alfred showed him. Robin grinned and hoisted his own suitcase up one flight of stairs and took off to his old room.
Opening that door was almost traumatic. And when Robin noticed that time had practically stood still here, he had to blink a few extra times. It was neat, and a bit bare, but Robin spotted the stickers he had gotten with a packet of cereals when he was ten and thought would look really good on the expensive wood panelling. Alfred and Bruce had told him in detail how wrong he had been. But, even now, they were still there. Robin unpacked quickly, he hadn't brought much… just a few changes of clothes and of course the presents. He had spent almost two days shopping to find something for the three others. He didn't exactly know if there would be any presents, as such, but he intended to get into the Christmas spirit anyway.
He left the room again and headed for the dreaded office. Bruce liked to scold him in the office for some reason… and Robin didn't think that this would be a pleasant conversation. Not at all.
He knocked at the door and heard a muffled "Come in." from inside.
As he stepped over the threshold Bruce got up from behind the desk and smiled wanly at him as he gestured to some upholstered chairs. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all…? Or maybe it would be worse…
"What I am going to say will probably upset you. But please hear me out. I promise to take your answer seriously." Bruce started as they sat down.
"What's on your mind?" Robin asked, on his guard now.
"I want to ask you to come back. No! Just listen! Slade has been known to use all kinds of tricks, blackmail, mind control… it wouldn't be hard to convince a jury that you where only a victim in this. Maybe you don't want to work as a hero anymore, but that's even better. Come back as my ward, as my son…" Bruce's voice trailed off.
"And what about Slade?" Robin glared, just interested in what the man had planned for him.
Bruce sighed.
"Alfred tries to tell me that you really love him… if that is the case…. we can just let him go. But I never met a man that belonged in jail more…"
Robin took a few deep breaths.
"I have to turn you down. I'm sorry. Your offer is more than generous and if I truly was unhappy I would have taken it… but I'm not. And I do love him. Life without him… it's just not possible."
Bruce made a face, but then he smiled slightly again.
"I expected you to throw a tantrum and storm out of here. You have grown, Richard." he sighed, a little sadly. "I expected you to say no. I have slowly grown used to it, but as you know I hate what you do now. The deal softens the blow, but…"
"You know? Alfred told you about the deal?" Robin was genuinely surprised.
"Well… I guess he took pity on me. Do you still keep to it?"
Robin had, before the old butler was to undergo a major surgery, promised the man that for every life he took, he would save another.
He nodded. "More than that. We seldom kill, so I extended it to cover all of our… business. Besides, I tend to get bored without patrolling…"
"And Slade knows? He allows this?" Bruce wondered.
Robin shrugged. "Yes. He loves me. He knows what I need."
The man looked doubtful, but Robin let it slide. He would never be able to convince his old mentor that his relationship with Slade was good for him, so he had stopped trying.
"Well." Bruce spoke up again. "If your answer is no, and I still will give you time to think about it, let's say a month, then we have another problem. I'm sorry to say, but Richard Grayson must die."
Robin flinched. He knew that Batman didn't mean the he had to die, but it hurt nonetheless. The man made a soothing gesture.
"We have used the excuse that you have been educated abroad for years… people expected you to take over Wayne enterprises, and that will probably never happen now… but they will ask questions… I'm afraid we will have to arrange an accident… I hope you understand, Richard? The situation is getting out of hand…"
Robin nodded. "I do understand… it just sounded very strange hearing it. When will you…?"
"After the month is up, if you still say no. You will have a way back until then…"
"And how…?"
"Not sure. Something simple. A car accident?"
"Naaahh… make it a plane crash. A small plane… a Cessna or something. Tell people I was taking lessons."
"A plane? Why?"
"A bird should die on the wing, right?"
"Although it's not the bird that will perish…"
"No. The bird…" Robin smiled "…will be set free…"
A minute later they walked out the door, and Robin almost collided with Slade who had, possibly, been pacing outside.
"Ouff… Missed me that much?" Robin smiled up at the man and snuck an arm around his waist.
"Not for a second" Slade told him coolly, but Robin smirked, hearing the teasing undertone in his voice. "So what did you and bats talk about?"
Bruce shouldered his way out in the corridor, looking imposing as only he could.
"That was private." He told the mercenary in a tone you could have used as a refrigerator.
"No." Robin objected. "The conversation itself was best held privately, but Slade has a right to know." He then told the man about the question and the soon-to-be demise of Richard.
"Let me go? Really. You must really like me, 'dad'." Slade smirked and found both the members of the bat-family glaring at him with horrendously similar expressions on their faces.
"You are not curious about if I took the deal?" Robin wanted to know, sounding a bit irritated.
"Of course you didn't. Bruce here wouldn't look so crabby if you did." Slade said. "Besides, I will never let you go."
A small chill ran down Robin's back at hearing those familiar words, but it was a good chill.
"No, you wouldn't dare." the boy smiled, nestling in closer against Slade's side as they walked down the hall. At the stairs they were met by Alfred.
"Dinner is in 30 minutes, gentlemen. You just have time to wash up."
Bruce headed off to his own rooms while Slade held Robin back for a moment.
"You said no and he just gave in? Doesn't sound like the bat I know and loathe." the man sounded suspicious.
"I know. But I also know he won't try anything over Christmas. I guess he will attempt to persuade me before the month is up, though. But for now… there is a truce. And I expect you to keep it! What was that 'dad'-business back there?! Do you want him to pop a vein?"
Slade looked like that didn't sound all that terrible, but then smiled soothingly and gave Robin a quick kiss.
"I'll be good… moderately…"
"You better. Now, shower and dress for dinner. Dress up, but causal if you can manage."
"A tie and sweatpants?" Slade chuckled and got a push towards the stairs.
As it turned out, Slade could manage, and Robin had trouble not to drool as he met up with the man in the dining room twenty minutes later. A pair of grey pants, jacket and a crisp white shirt, all tailored to fit and show off his build. A grey-blue tie matched perfectly. Robin walked up to him, shamelessly letting his eyes roam the man's body and he just knew that he was grinning like crazy.
"You are looking very handsome..." Robin admitted, and stole a kiss while they were still alone in the room.
"And look at you… where did the bad boy from the city go…?"
Robin blushed a little. He was wearing dark grey pants, a white shirt and a tie the same colour as the pants. Instead of a jacket he and chosen a dark red cashmere sweater.
"Yeah, I know I look like a total schoolboy…" he muttered.
"You look delicious… I can't wait to make you look less innocent…" Slade purred in his ear.
There was a soft cough behind them and the pair discovered that the other two men of the household had joined them. Alfred has always refused to wear anything but his butler uniform and Bruce wore, not surprisingly, black.
"The dinner looks wonderful, Alfred." Robin told the man who smiled at him. But he deserved it. A big roast with potatoes and root vegetables that glistened in melted butter, and gravy so thick and creamy you could probably write on the surface of it, was placed on the table which was set beautifully. Robin was glad Alfred had decided to set a smaller, round table for them; he hoped the tension would lessen if he and Slade weren't seated as a pair.
"It does look like your skill can even give our Sarah a run for her money." Slade agreed.
"Back off. You will not steal Alfred away too." Bruce told the man, but at least there was a small hint of humour in his voice.
"No? How much is the bat paying you? I'll double it." Slade grinned at the butler. Alfred sighed slightly and smiled, knowing the man was only joking and didn't mean to insult him.
"Let's be seated, shall we?" he said instead and they all agreed.
Alfred started to pass the food around. It had been years since he had even tried to act like a butler on Christmas. Bruce would have none of it, even before Robin joined the picture.
Bruce opened a bottle of read wine and looked at Robin.
"I'm afraid to ask, but…?"
Robin shook his head. "I still don't drink, and I don't like the taste of wine."
Bruce seemed to like hearing that answer and turned to Slade.
"None for me either, but thank you." the man said courteously.
"Really? You don't drink either?"
"Oh, I enjoy a glass of wine or a brandy from time to time… but as he said, Robin doesn't like the taste." the man had the slightest hint of a smirk on his face.
Bruce blinked, probably erasing the last few seconds of conversation from memory and poured a big glass of the red liquid for himself. He felt he would need it.
Robin had in the meanwhile carefully kicked his partner's leg in a warning.
Bruce raised his glass in an informal toast.
"I'm glad to have you here, Robin. And Slade… you are… here too." Both Robin and Slade snorted with laughter at this, Alfred tried to hide a grin behind his napkin, and even the corner of Bruce's mouth twitched a little. "Let's just enjoy the dinner..."
"I'll drink to that…" Robin still giggled and raised his glass. The other two joined in as well.
There was a small cough from Alfred at that point and Robin looked over at him, alarmed. He seemed to be fine, although his eyes twinkled mischievously.
"My, my. Am I to understand congratulations are in order?"
Bruce put down the bowl of potatoes.
"What are you talking about Alfr-" his eyes followed the old man's and he cut himself off. "Is that a ring?!"
Robin took a deep breath and held out his hand across the table.
"Yes. It is."
Bruce stared at the gold band with the engraved S and R like it was the most horrible thing he had ever seen.
"It's very beautiful." Alfred said mildly.
"It's… it's... an engagement ring?!"
"I don't understand why you are so upset, Bruce." Slade said flatly and sipped his water. "Did you want me to ask your permission?"
Bruce was, when he wanted to be, a gentleman. And though he lost his parents early, Alfred had been sure to teach him what was expected of him as one. It did not include storming away from dinner, or nailing a hated man's ear to the table with his fork. So he didn't. He put on a very careful mask instead.
"No. It's… lovely." he gave Slade and incredulous look. "You actually proposed to my son?"
"After a romantic dinner at a restaurant." Slade admitted getting another warning kick from Robin, telling the man that if he even daredto hint at what he was wearing at the time… This time Slade was prepared, though, and caught Robin's foot between his own and started running his own foot up and down Robin's calf.
"Sorry I haven't… you know… mentioned it…" Robin said, trying to wriggle his foot out of Slade's grip without being noticed.
"I could have done with some warning, yes." Bruce agreed. "But being able to spread the word about Deathstroke the Terminator's romantic side will just about make up for that…" he grinned.
"I bet." Slade said sourly, but smirked after an instant. "I'm sure the proud father of the young groom can't wait to tell everyone."
Bruce huffed and muttered something.
"The food is delicious! And what about the weather? Looks like more snow?" Robin blurted in a rather pitiful attempt to change the subject. At least it made everyone laugh.
After that, the dinner went rather smoothly and Robin relaxed to the point that he let Slade feed him a steamed baby carrot, completely oblivious to the others around the table.
"Well, if everyone is quite finished, maybe you should move on to the lounge?" Alfred wondered trying to mask the snort of disgust from Bruce at the guest's behaviour.
"I'll help you clear the table." Robin offered and as it turned out they all helped, stowing away everything in the restaurant-sized dishwashers.
Slade looked around.
"This is quite a kitchen you have here. Isn't it just the two of you?"
"Yes, but Master Bruce does have social obligations quite often."
"Meaning big parties." Robin cut in. "And speaking of which… no big Wayne Christmas party this year? How did the city react?"
"They had to settle for a big New Year's Eve party instead…" Bruce shrugged.
"I bet the gossip is running wild…" Robin chuckled as they withdrew to the lounge.
A big fire was smattering lively in the fireplace and Robin noticed the nice, but discreet holiday decorations that were typical for the manor. As a small child he had insisted on what he called 'real' decorations, but as the years passed he had found he liked this style better.
"Oh, is that homemade fudge?!" he squealed and attacked a small box of candy. Slade sat down in a corner of a couch, looking completely at home and relaxed, and Robin, ignoring Bruce's looks, curled up next to him. It was Christmas and he would be damned if the bat would succeed in keeping him away from his love. Slade drew him closer and kissed the top of his head softly. Robin looked up at him, smiled and got a kiss on the nose instead.
Bruce made a strangled noise and Robin shot him an irritated glance.
"Please, Bruce, if you are going to have fits whenever Slade and I kiss, you might want to get a straightjacket and a bib right now. Try to get over it. I had no idea you were this homophobic."
"I'm not." the man protested. "It's just… him. Couldn't you have chosen someone nice… like Speedy?"
"Oh. You are right. He is cute." Robin grinned. "Didn't know he was gay, though. Aw. Pity."
"That boy flirts with anyone. And anything. If he was alone in the room, he would try to pick up a wall." Bruce said in an unexpected burst of humour.
"Sounds to me that your father wants you to date someone who would cheat on you with furniture…" Slade growled. Robin chuckled until the man took a strong hold on his hair and tilted his head back for a real kiss. He had to remind the boy who he belonged to, after all.
Bruce clamped up again after that rough kiss, and Robin saw his hands grip the armrests of his chair. It was clear he was only just holding back from attacking and tearing Robin away from Slade. Robin, still a bit breathless, tried to smile calmingly at him.
Alfred, in the meanwhile had watched the little scene quietly. He too knew there was only a matter of time before things went downhill.
"Any plans for tomorrow?" Robin asked, hoping against hope that things would go smoother if the men were occupied. Preferably on opposite sides of town.
"I thought we would go into town and watch the Christmas decorations." Alfred suggested. "Perhaps do a little last minute shopping?"
"That sounds great!" Robin nodded and then yawned. "Well, I'm beat. I'm going to bed… Bruce are you still going to insist that-"
"Yes." The man said resolutely. "And I'll turn the inner security system on."
"Which means?" Slade wanted to know.
"It means no sneaking into each other's rooms or all hell will break loose." Robin sighed. "All right. Your house and all that…" Robin sighed and winked at Alfred. Bruce seemed to get in a better mood, though, at least until Robin kissed Slade goodnight. For a very long time. The mercenary couldn't help but chuckle and purred in his little bird's ear;
"Who's showing off now?"
"Well, since you probably won't be able to find the hidden door…" Robin whispered back "this might be all I will be getting for days…"
"Don't worry… you'll be getting something within the hour." Slade grinned.
"It will take you that long?" Robin pouted.
As he returned to the bedroom, Robin noted something folded on the bed. He laughed. Alfred had laid out his pyjamas as he always used to do. Wait a minute… He didn't wear pyjamas anymore! Slade preferred him naked, and well… it saved time… Had Alfred went through his clothes and noticed that? Robin blushed. He unfolded the nightclothes and choked. What the hell?!
Oh my god, SLADE will freak this time… Robin stopped himself and started to grin. That might be fun…. He quickly changed, and had just managed to turn off the lights and get into bed when a built in bookcase swung open.
Robin pretended to yawn, sat up in bed and turned the bedside lamp on. He stretched.
"That was quick…" he said and smiled sweetly at the man coming through the opening. The man closed the bookshelf behind him before turning around.
"Well, I couldn't keep my prince waiti-" Slade fell silent. Robin fought to keep back a rush of hysterical giggles. "What are you wearing?!" the man finally managed.
"What? Don't you like it? It's Spiderman!"
"I can see that… why are you wearing Spiderman pyjamas?"
"Because I am in bed?" Robin's face was carefully blank.
"I see. Would you mind taking them off?"
"Maaaaybe…" Robin grinned. "What's the matter? Don't you like Spiderman?"
"He is a cartoon character. Why would I care about an imaginary twit with a spider fetish?"
"But he's cooooool! He can climb walls and shoot nets and he got a spider-sense!" Robin insisted, trying not to grin like mad.
"A what?"
"It's this sense that tingles when danger is near…"
Slade leered down on him.
"Then yours should be tingling right now..." he shook the robe he had been wearing off his shoulders and he was only wearing boxers underneath. Slade climbed into bed and pinned the boy under him. "But you really need to loose the pyjamas…"
"But Alfred got this for me!" Robin complained.
"He did, huh? And I was thinking of hiring him… I must take back that offer at once…" Slade growled. "Oh, there are pants too?"
"He probably did is as a joke…and of course there's pants, what kinds of pyjamas doesn't have pants?"
"The good kind?" Slade grinned and Robin laughed.
"You are just impossible. Let me up. I won't let you rip them off me… they were a gift."
Slade muttered about senile old men, but backed off, giving Robin enough space to undress.
As he did he noticed that Slade had an evil grin on his face.
"Should I be worried about that look?" he asked and Slade chuckled.
"I was just thinking about how dirty this is…. fucking you in your old bed…"
"M-hmm..." Robin grinned, sliding up to the man.
"You know what would be even dirtier?"
"Nooo… what?" Robin asked suspiciously.
"Fucking you in Bruce's bed…"
"AW, no! You did NOT just say that!" Robin glared up at the man. "That's just… gross!"
Slade sighed melodramatically.
"No Santa-fetish, no doing it in the parents bed… where's your sense of adventure gone to?" The man whined.
"Same place as my lust, apparently. You can stay, but we are just going to sleep."
"Really?" Slade wanted to know.
"Really." Robin confirmed.
"Okay." Slade gave in, to Robin's amazement. "Just let me get comfortable…" he rolled them around and Robin suddenly felt hands where there shouldn't be any.
"Hey! Hand's off! Just sleep!"
"But I'm getting comfortable…" Slade chuckled and started to kiss Robin's neck.
"How… is… doing that… making you… oh… damn…"
"Changing your mind?" Slade smirked.
"I don't like you very much right now." Robin huffed, but then broke into a grin. "I'm taking those pyjamas back home with me, you know…" he threatened the man.
"No need to get nasty…." Slade growled
"Oh? I thought that was what you were aiming for?" Robin purred and drew the man closer for a kiss.
As they both were men, they fell asleep quickly afterwards and somehow managed to be rather cosy on the narrow bed.
Robin awoke suddenly. What was that sound?! Before figuring that out his brain had to remember where he was in the first place, but then it kicked in and he panicked.
"Slade! Wake up! Now!"
The man was a light sleeper and alert in no time flat.
"What?" he hissed, prepared for anything from a single attacker to the American army.
"Someone's coming! Get on the floor!" Robin hissed and pulled the pyjama top on in a hurry.
"Is that really neces-"
"NOW! And stay down or you are SO cut off! For real this time!" the boy growled.
The sound he had heard was one he had found very useful growing up. The old mansion was full of strange creaking noises and this particular one was created when someone entered the hall where his room was located. It was created by a loose floorboard, and though it wasn't noticeable outside, the sound appeared in his room as the board presumingly moved against the wall and then travelled through a supportive beam. It wasn't loud but it had long given the boy a few seconds warning to use, for example, to pretend to be asleep… or hide his lover under his bed… whatever the case might be…
There was a knock on the door and the person outside opened it rather quickly without waiting for a reply.
"Come in…" Robin mumbled anyway, lifting his head from his pillow and looked sleepily at the man standing there. He thought the man's eyes were looking over the room a bit too suspiciously.
"Bruce? What time is it?"
"Seven thirty. Did I wake you?"
"Mhh… When's breakfast?"
"Half an hour."
"M'kay."
"Is that a Spiderman pyjama?"
At eight sharp they were all seated around the table. Robin eyed the food and grinned.
"I love your breakfasts, Alfred!" he exclaimed. "And thank you for the present."
"Yes…" muttered Slade. "Really nice…"
The old man smiled brightly at the pair and winked at Robin.
"I'm so glad you liked it Master Richard."
"How do you know about the gift?" Bruce asked Slade, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"I told him." Robin said firmly, hoping Alfred managed to hide that grin behind his napkin before Bruce saw it.
When they were finished Alfred suggested that Batman would give the guests, especially Slade, a tour of the house. Robin soon started to yawn, having heard all the details before, but Slade was interested. History was a favourite subject of his, and the manor was filled with interesting art too. For a moment, discussing styles and specific painters, the two men seemed to forget they were supposed to be enemies.
As they finished the tour Slade smirked at Robin.
"I guess you are not up for 'let's do it in every room of the house' either?"
"No. We would be here until March." Robin told him.
"You might be right." Slade consented. "Let's stick to a few."
Robin just snorted at that and hurried up to Bruce.
"Hey, you are not forgetting about the cave, are you?"
"I'm not bringing a criminal down there." Bruce growled.
"Oh? And what about when I walked in on you and catw-"
"Fine!" Bruce quickly ended the discussion and Robin walked happily ahead.
Slade came up alongside Bruce and smiled after his lover.
"He always seemed to get his way, doesn't he?" Slade chuckled softly.
"He has a gift." Bruce admitted reluctantly.
"And you still think I am forcing him into something?"
"You took advantage off him! That was rape!" Bruce snarled, but was careful so Robin wouldn't hear.
"Yes. We have spoken about that many times… but he chose to stay, Wayne. He chose me. Heaven knows why, but he did. And he always gets his way."
The dark knight looked into the mercenary's single eye for quite a while, trying to find some hint of untruth or deceit. Then he turned away.
"Maybe." he said and stalked off after Robin.
Slade would never admit it, not even under torture, but he was actually rather impressed with the Batcave. It wasn't just the fantastic technology, it was the vastness off the natural formed cave itself.
"Murky and dank." he muttered though, and Robin burst out in laughter.
"Look who's talking! What is it with the men in my life and dark, cold lairs?"
Both men snorted simultaneously and then tried to pretend that it never happened. Robin chuckled.
"Why have you installed an elevator by the way, Bruce? Getting too old to slide down a pole?" Slade wondered innocently.
"No sir, " Alfred said before Bruce could answer… or explode, whatever came first, "the lift is for my benefit. My knees are getting quite stiff these days."
Slade nodded and turned to Robin. "Do you remember me suggesting that we'd get a pole for the bedroom?" he smirked.
"Do you remember me suggesting what you could do with it?" Robin smirked back.
"Vividly" Slade muttered glumly, but he sounded rather amused when he added, "Do you remember what happened then?"
"Vividly." It was Robin's turn to admit and he winced slightly. It had been… interesting…
They had reached the end of the tour, ending up in the training area. An innocent question from Bruce about Slade's favourite martial arts discipline led to a challenge, and ten minutes later the two men stood facing each other on a large, thin mat. There were both bare-chested, wearing loose-fitting gi-trousers.
"You are not going to do this!" Robin objected, but the men ignored him.
"Of course we are, Robin." Slade told him without taking his eye off his opponent.
"I have wanted to do this for a long time." Bruce growled.
"What? Lose to me?" Slade smirked.
"Okay, if you insist there will be rules! And I will referee!" Robin told them sternly.
"No. You are bias." both men objected, and in the end Robin had to share the 'privilege' with Alfred.
The men circled each other, trying to read their opponent
"Stick to the discipline you have chosen. No weapons. No broken bones. And no hits to the face or the groin." Robin reminded the men, feeling rather afraid for both of them.
"Oh, you just want to keep me handsome and able to please you…" Slade chuckled, but then got other things to think about as Bruce attacked.
The fight was vicious, but Robin had to admit it was fair. Both men stuck to the rules. It turned out, just as Robin had suspected, that they were very evenly matched, and after a while he could just stare at them in awe, completely forgetting the scores. The fight lasted an hour before Alfred finally broke it off.
"Gentlemen! I must remind you that we had planned to go into the city today, and before that we should have some lunch. As the score is currently a tie I suggest we end it."
Both men and even Robin seemed disappointed, but Robin really wanted to visit Gotham and Slade hastily agreed as Robin mouthed "I'll join you in the shower." when Bruce turned his back.
As they sat down for lunch Bruce noted the satisfied grin on Slade's face and frowned.
"You look like you think won…" he growled at the mercenary.
"Well… there are different ways of scoring..." the man grinned and glanced at Robin. The boy bent lower over his plate, acting like he was very interested in the vegetables on it.
The centre of Gotham sparkled with a million electric lights. It always astounded Robin that, for a few weeks every year, the dark city actually shone. It was still snowing lightly and more snow was promised before nightfall, so the group had decided they would only stay for an hour before heading home.
The big apartment stores were open and as they stood outside, Robin turned to Bruce and Slade.
"All right, I know you don't like each other, and probably never will, but I want you to get each other a gift. I don't care what… put a value of ten bucks maximum on it or whatever… just get something. Will you do that for me?"
The men grudgingly agreed and the group split up. Robin joined Alfred as they both were finished with their shopping and the two of them just admired the lights and decorations. Slade turned up 15 minutes later with a smug look on his face, and Bruce joined them moments afterwards, looking even smugger. Robin swallowed. What the heck had he done now? He figured that the men would get each other something boring… like socks… but they seemed to have enjoyed themselves… a bit too much.
Robin then enjoyed the rest of the time strolling through the streets with Slade, only having to stop him from killing one merchant as the man wanted to know if Slade was interested in buying a toy for his son. Robin had dragged the man away, as Slade had started to tell the poor street vendor that Robin was not his son and the toys he had for sale would be of no interest to them. Even if they did have batteries.
As they drove home the snow had stopped kidding around and now put some real effort in it, giving even Wayne Manor's heated driveway a run for its money.
"It's so great with snow! I really missed that back in Jump… and back home we never get this much!" Robin smiled as he stepped out of the car.
"What's so great with snow?" Slade wanted to know. "It's difficult to walk silently, it's difficult to fight in, and it's even harder to cover your tracks sufficiently."
"Yeah… but you can do this…" Robin laughed, and a snow ball hit Slade square in the face.
In seconds a two-person full-out snow-war had broken out. The two other members of the group had retreated to the stairs and just watched, dodging the occasional stray projectile.
Laughter and playful snarls sounded over the courtyard and Alfred glanced at Bruce.
"Can you deny there is love there, Master Bruce?" The old butler asked.
Bruce snorted, but still watched the scene.
"I will go inside to prepare some hot chocolate," Alfred offered with a small smile on his face "I expect them to be in dire need of it when they come in."
Bruce joined him, with one last look behind him.
An hour later, Robin and Slade were curled up under a blanket in front of the fire with steaming mugs of chocolate in their hands. Their clothes were strewn around them to dry. They had been left alone, which was a nice change for the pair as they were used to be able to retreat to their private floor whenever it suited them. Alfred was in the kitchen preparing dinner and Bruce had to take some phone calls. It might be Christmas, but Wayne industries never took a day off.
"So what did you get for Bruce?" Robin wanted to know.
"You'll see tomorrow."
"It was something insulting, wasn't it?"
"Not very."
"Damn you."
"What? At least I got him something personal… I could have just gotten him socks!"
"That was what I hoped…"
Slade grinned and emptied his cocoa, twirling the rather thick mix that was left in the bottom of the mug. As he noticed that Robin had drank his too, he leaned over the boy, tilting the mug just a bit.
"Ouch!" Robin cried out in surprise as the still rather hot blend hit is chest. "What are you doing?"
"Ops." Slade grinned. "It seemed I spilled. And now you are all sticky…. I better clean you up." he quickly pressed Robin down on his back and started licking at the trail.
"Slade! Not here! Someone could…oh… walk in…"
"So? We're under a blanket…" the man grinned up at him and Robin shook his head.
"Are your parent's still alive? If so, I demand that we go to them right now, and have sex on their kitchen table…" the boy laughed.
"Damn. Now I wish they were." Slade chuckled and returned to his task.
"What's going on here?!" Bruce had just walked in and stopped dead. The sight of his ward lounging on his back supported by his elbows while someone moved around under a blanket above him… Well… it wasn't something he wanted to see. Ever.
Slade appeared from under the blanket again, licking his lips and smiling.
"I believe it is called foreplay."
"IN HERE?"
"Well, you wouldn't let us share a bedroom…" the man reasoned.
Robin, who had just experienced a small panic attack, finally managed to talk again.
"Bruce! Calm down… You can yell at us later, but for now, could you leave the room, please? I was enjoying this…"
The dark knight turned on his heel and closed the door firmly behind him. Robin giggled. Slade gave him an unreadable look.
"Sooo… putting Bruce in his place? Really?"
"I hate taking sides, but it's you I love… and besides, I was enjoying it, so why did you stop, Mister?"
"Ran out of chocolate." Slade grinned.
"I see…" Robin reached for his own mug and poured the sticky residue over his lap. "Ops. Seems that I'm clumsy too…" he grinned.
"Go figure." Slade laughed and started all over again.
They didn't get yelled at, as it turned out, they only got a dark stare. Alfred was probably behind that. The old man unexpectedly told Robin a few well chosen words about appropriate behaviour and locks on doors, and Robin felt bad enough to try to explain over the dinner table.
"I'm sorry you walked in on us Bruce, but we were just fooling around… and it wasn't like we planned it or anything…"
Bruce attacked the honey glazed ham like it was Slade, and muttered something inaudible.
"Your father needs to get used to it. I bet you walked in on him a few times too?" Slade smirked.
Bruce stiffened and Robin paled and shuddered.
"Bruce, I'm very, very sorry!" the boy said again, remembering a traumatic event or two.
"It's… all right." Bruce now muttered with a very slight blush on his face.
"For what it's worth I'm sorry too. I took the initiative, not Robin. We should at least have locked the door." Slade told them and got a very surprised look from the three others. "What?" he added. "If we had, I would at least have-"
"Yes, thank you!" Robin interrupted a bit hysterically, having a feeling where this was going. "Now, let's talk about something else, shall we?"
Everyone survived dinner and the tension had eased somewhat during the long evening. Then Robin yawned and told the others that he was going to bed. Bruce was engrossed in an article and nodded goodnight. Alfred and Slade both wished him a good night, Slade with a small smirk telling Robin he would be along shortly.
Crawling into bed Robin noticed that he really was sleepy. All the tension over the day had drained him, and soon he fell asleep. He woke up at around three in the morning, feeling something was wrong. No. Not wrong. Missing. Where was Slade? Robin turned around but there was no one in bed with him. He started to feel uneasy. He threw a t-shirt and boxers on (he had decided not to wear the Spiderman pyjamas tonight, as it might have gotten ripped) and pulled on a dressing gown. He decided to look in the man's room first. Maybe he had also been tired and just fallen asleep? He used the secret passage, but as he entered the room he immediately sensed that it was empty. Where was he? What had happened? Robin started to panic and ran out of the man's room into the hallway. He didn't give a damn if Bruce had activated the alarm or not.
It turned out he hadn't as Robin had reached the stairs without triggering anything. He ran down to the main floor and looked around. There was light coming from the drawing room. He headed that way and threw the door wide open. The sight threw him for a loop.
"What is going on here?!"
Bruce and Slade looked up briefly but then returned to what they were doing.
Alfred suddenly appeared behind Robin, dressed in a nightshirt and robe. The man sighed slightly. "I believe, Master Richard, that it is called 'chess'."
"I can see that! How long have they been playing?"
"Mr. Wilson spotted the board just moments after you left."
Robin did a quick estimation.
"They have been playing for five hours?"
"Yes. I believe this is the third game, though. They have both won one as I understand it."
"Oh, god. Why aren't you asleep?" Robin wondered.
"I felt it might be best to check on them from time to time…" The butler smiled. "Just to be on the safe side."
Robin grinned at him. "Thank you. Go to bed. I'll take care of the kids…"
The man chuckled and bid him goodnight again.
Robin stalked up to the table, studying the board. Then he snorted.
"It's a draw, people! Come on, off to bed with you!"
"Soon."
"In a moment."
"I know how to play chess, it's a DRAW, no one will win! Just give it up!"
"Patience." both men said at once and looked up at each other, grinning.
"What?" Robin was taken aback.
"You lack it." Bruce explained. "When Slade asked me if I played we started talking about whom we usually play with."
"And we came to the conclusion that you would probably make a great chess player if you had some patience for the game." Slade finished.
"It takes too long." Robin shrugged. "And this game IS over… unless one of you makes a really stupid move, which neither off you will…"
Slade and Bruce straightened, looking at each other rather foolishly.
"I guess you are right, Robin…" Slade yawned. "Thank you for the games, Bruce."
"No problem."
Robin shook his head. "You two would still be here, staring at the board tomorrow morning if I hadn't woken up…"
"Wait… how come you knew that Slade wasn't in his room?" Bruce narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"That… was… instinct!" Robin said and fled.
When Robin walked into the sitting room on Christmas morning, there were presents under the tree and four stockings hanging from the mantle peace. Robin knew they had extra ones for guests, but it was still nice of Alfred to include Slade. The presents under the tree was no mystery anymore like it had been when he was a boy. When they arrived Slade and Robin had handed over their presents to Alfred who had deposited the bag somewhere until now.
Slade trailed in after Robin and the teen showed him his stocking, while digging into his own. Alfred had filled it with homemade candy and other treats, and at the bottom…
"What the heck is this?" Slade asked, holding up what appeared to be an orange having a dress up party.
Robin laughed. "That's a christingle! It's a British thing… there is supposed to be a candle in it too, but Alfred just makes them for fun…"
Slade studied the thing in his hand. It was an orange all right, with a red ribbon tied around it. Four cocktail sticks with candy were stuck into it as well. "What exactly," Slade wanted to know "does Alfred have against oranges?"
As Robin giggled the man found something else in his stocking, a small sealed envelope.
"And what's this?"
"That," Robin said "I told Alfred to put in…" The boy winked at him and went to sit down on the couch were Bruce was already sitting, smirking at Slade's feelings for oranges.
The both watched as Slade slit the envelope open and read the card. A wide grin spread on his face.
"What did it say?" Bruce wanted to know suspiciously.
"That's private" Robin said quickly before Slade had time to answer something stupid. The man only chuckled, though, and shot Robin a glance that was so filled with amused mischief the boy gulped. He had thought the card would be a fun gift for both of them, but now he wondered what was on the man's mind…
Alfred joined them, as they always opened the presents before breakfast anyway, and as usual the old man was the one who handed over the gifts. Robin swallowed, suddenly wondering what Christmas mornings had been like the last years. Sure, when he was a Titan he usually came back to visit, but not every year, and the first year with Slade… that first year he had been fighting pneumonia in a sickbed after an avalanche, and no one had known where he was, except Slade. Slade had taken him away a few months earlier and they probably didn't even know if he was even still alive. A great son and friend, indeed.
He was pulled out of his sombre thoughts, making up his mind to talk to Bruce and Alfred about it, by a present landing in his knee. A rather heavy one.
"To Richard from Bruce." Alfred announced, grinning.
"Thank you." Robin grinned back.
Soon all the presents was deposited and the opening could begin. Robin had gotten Bruce a sophisticated little spy ware that he had built himself and perfected with the help from the guys and girls in the computer lab. "It's not illegal, "he told the man "it will be as soon as the government finds out about it, but I thought that if you wanted to check the Penguins accounts…" he grinned, knowing that Bruce didn't always go by the book.
"Thank you, Richard." Bruce was trying to keep a straight face.
"I hope you have ensured our systems are secured against that thing…" Slade said, looking like he wanted to snatch the disc back.
"Of course. Sorry Bruce."
Robin's former mentor shrugged. "Can't have it all…"
Robin opened his own present from Bruce and laughed. It was a rather thick book called "Inside the Criminal Mind." by a Dr Samenow.
"He wants you to get to know me better. How sweet." Slade grinned.
"Actually I quite admire Doctor Samenow," Robin explained "and… wow! It's a first edition! And it's signed! Thank you, Bruce!"
Alfred was about to open his gift from Robin when the boy stopped him. "Err, Alf? Can you open that later? I need to explain it…" the old man quirked an eyebrow at him but put the small parcel aside.
The next one Robin opened was from Slade. The box was rather big, but it seemed to be nothing inside. In the end he found a stack of oblong cards. "What's this? Plane tickets?"
"Well, it's a rather bad gift, since those aren't for you." Slade confessed.
"Oooo-kay… soooo…? Who gets the tickets…?" Robin wondered, frowning slightly in confusion.
"Anyone you chose to invite." Slade explained.
"Invite?" Robin was still lost.
"The tickets will fly anyone you choose to our island… for the ceremony."
It suddenly dawned on him that Slade had not only set a time and a place, but also wanted Robin to bring his family, maybe even his old friends… if any would come… The boy threw himself around the man's neck and kissed him thoroughly. "I love you…" he whispered.
"I love you too." Slade told him softly. "Happy? I wasn't sure if I would be yelled at for setting a date…. but it can be changed…"
"No, I'm sure it's perfect! Err… when is it? I forgot to look."
"February fourteenth" Slade smiled.
"You are a real closet romantic, aren't you?" Robin grinned, amused that Slade had picked Valentines Day.
"Yup. Due to your bad influence." Slade admitted and grinned back, kissing him again.
Robin spent the rest of the time opening presents in Slade's lap, and by now even Bruce had given up shooting dark glances their way.
Robin's snuggling with Slade was interrupted by a short bark of laughter from Bruce. Looking up in alarm, Robin saw that the man had opened his present from Slade. Worried, Robin craned his neck to see what it was.
"Thank you, Slade, I'll keep it in the Batcave." Bruce chuckled and held up a mug. Robin's eyes narrowed. What was so funny about a… wait a minute…
"Where the heck did you find that?" he asked Slade in astonishment.
"Well, that store's advertisements were true… they really DO have everything… I picked it up in a second hand shop…"
Robin was handed the object for a closer look. It was a regular white porcelain mug, but the print on it set it apart. It was a souvenir from their city, featuring a photograph of Slade and Robin kissing on a rooftop. The photo was blurry, Robin recognised it from one of the papers, but it was unmistakable them.
Slade started laughing himself as he opened Bruce's gift.
"Bruce!" Robin scolded him in shock as he saw what the man had bought. The dark knight shifted uncomfortably.
"I apologise, it is rather bad taste, but when I saw it…"
"I would say it proves you really have a sense of humour…" Slade was still laughing. "But I hope you excuse me if I don't wear it on missions." Alfred leaned over and started laughing himself when he saw the item. It was a black eye patch like the one Slade was wearing, but printed on it was a bulls-eye.
"And I thought Slade would get the worst one…" Robin sighed, but couldn't help to start laughing himself.
Before breakfast Robin took Alfred aside and explained the gift. Seeing the happy expression on the man's face Slade got suspicious and corned Robin after the meal.
"What exactly did you get him?"
Robin squirmed.
"Weeelll… you know how we decided it would be from the both of us since you don't really know him? And, well… the one thing he does is worry… so I gave him a tracking receiver…"
"What? Not for what I think …?"
"Err, well… yes actually…"
"We had those trackers inserted under our skin so we could always find each other! It was supposed to be top secret! What if anyone else found out?"
Robin scratched the small scar behind his ear. "Yeah, I know, but we can trust Alfred! I wired the thing to his fingerprints, only he can operate it, and I also gave an extra tracker to him for putting into Batman's suit. He will always know where we are… it means a lot to him…"
Slade sighed. "I wished you asked me first, but all right. I trust the old coot."
"He did give us the recipe collection…" Robin reminded him "It's full of his old family recipes… it's like being chosen as godfathers or something… you think the trackers are secret? Huh! People have died to find out how to make that fudge…"
"All right…" the man said again. "But because of that, I'm cashing in on my present right now…"
"What? The Korean war diaries? How are you supposed to… oh."
"That's right, the stocking-present. Let's see…" Slade took out the card and read. "'Chose a room then. Bruce's still off limits.' Well… I choose… the cave…"
"What? No, that's…"
"… That's by the rules, my bird… and it's almost as kinky as Bruce's bed."
It was Robin's turn to sigh. "You win. When?"
"Now."
"I'll just go make sure that Alfred keeps him busy…" Robin mumbled and went to find the butler. It turned out they were in luck. Bruce was cooped up in the office again, and Alfred promised to keep an eye on him. The man also helped Robin turn of the alarms and cameras, without asking any questions. Robin's face was still very red when he returned to Slade.
"You better make it worth it!" he hissed threateningly, as he grabbed the man's hand and pulled him towards the elevator.
As it turned out, he did. Several times.
The pair was sprawled out on the training mat as a signal sounded, meaning that Bruce had exited the office at last. They got dressed in a hurry and when Bruce walked into the sitting room he found the two of them fairly innocently jumbled together on the couch. Both of them wore rather happy grins, though…
The rest of Christmas passed rather peacefully. Robin naturally gave both Alfred and Bruce a ticket to the island. Alfred said yes immediately and Bruce grudgingly agreed to come if he could get away. But not after giving Robin a talk about how he still couldn't accept his choice of life, meaning the criminal elements in it. Robin had a rather long and serious talk with his old family about what had happened during that long absence after the last battle, and they all felt better afterwards, getting some answers to questions they never had dared ask before.
The next day, on Boxing day, Batgirl came to visit. Barbara had never met Slade and was a bit cold towards him at first. The man's charm soon won her over, though, and Bruce muttered something about "embarrassing". Barbara got a ticket as well. She had, after all, been present when that plant had stung Robin in the first place.
"I must send Poison Ivy one too…" Robin grinned.
The day after the pair left the manor, returning home to their own city for New Years.
"See? We lived." Robin laughed in the car.
"Barely" Slade grinned back, thinking about how nervous the boy had been on the way there.
Robin smiled. He still felt a bit uncertain about Bruce's offer… his no had been received rather lightly, and Robin suspected there was more to it. But he wouldn't let himself be concerned by something that might or might not happen in the future… with this life you had to live in the present.
His smile widened and his eyes started to glitter naughtily.
"Hey, Slade? I forgot… have we ever done it in a car?"
The End.