A/N: holiday drabble 1 out of 2! And number 40! I asked for some drabble-ideas, and boy, did I get some! Unfortunately I kind of went wild with this one, so I only gave my self time to write this and one more for now… then I have to go back to the Peace Contract… bu I have saved all your ideas in my 'ideas'-file, so I will get back to them…
This one, then… If you are in the mood for strangely flyffy romance with a hint of danger, this is the story for you… I have written this genre before, and I wasn't going to again, so this you can blame completely on Yumi-wuves-YAOI. Well. Unless you like it. Then I take full credit. –grin- Well, I hope you like it, Yumi… I played around with it, but I think you will recognize it… and it ran away on me, so it's 24 pages…
kitsunechibiko also gets some credit… I didn't go overboard with your idea (I would love too, though, in a more crackish drabble, 'cause it was FUN) but it inspired me for some scenes…
GO on… I dare you to make your way through:
A Fairy Tale
"I have an idea…"
The Titans were gathered around a map of Jump's large, wood like City Park, and the one who had spoken was Robin. During the last month, there had been many assaults on young women in this park, several had been raped and beaten quite badly. The Titans would naturally not stand for something like that in their city, and had started to survey the place closely. It hadn't led to an arrest, though, and Robin was getting desperate. Not many women of Jump dared to go out at night any longer and that meant that the attacks had stopped, but Robin knew this kind of predator… he knew that as soon as things calmed down and people went back to their old habits, the attacks would start all over again. This guy had to be caught. All they had to go on was a vague description of a not very tall wrestler-type, in a grey hoodie and torn jeans. None of the victims had ever seen a face, as the man had the deep hood pulled up over his head. Looking through the criminal records didn't help much. As Cy had said:
"Can't arrest some dude for being short and looking like a monkey… in that case, BB would have been locked away ages ago…"
Robin was tired of patrolling seemingly empty woods. His conclusion now was that the perpetrator either lived or hung around close to the park so he could see people entering it. Hiking through it on the small gravel roads were the quickest way between the different parts of the city, and even though it may not be completely safe, the temptation were often too great… The problem was that the park was surrounded by apartments, coffee shops and restaurants, making it easy to keep watch without being seen... and now, with no one out there…
So Robin had come up with a plan. It was simple, but quite brilliant: provide a victim and the criminal might show up. Pity it backfired on him.
"To build a case against this man we will have to know how he does this. Just hauling him to the cops will prove nothing and he will be free within days." Raven stated. "We need to know how and from where he has been monitoring the park. The only way to survey the whole park is from the air. Starfire and I can fly, to use either of us as decoys would be a waste of resources."
"Hey, I can fly too!" Beast Boy objected.
"Yeah, but you can hide better than any of us as well… you need to keep an eye on the vict- decoy." Robin said, frowning. Raven had a point, but he had really liked his plan… it was a bit devious, a bit dangerous… and all him.
"Well, using a civilian is out of the question… we have to wait until the man attacks to be able to bind him to the crime and we can't risk anyone else getting hurt… sooo… any other ideas, then?"
"Yes." Raven said. Was that a smirk on his face? Naaahhh… couldn't be…
"Well… what?" Robin would never admit it, but he was a bit peeved that Rae thought she had a better plan.
"Yours."
"What?"
"We'll still use yours. We'll just choose another decoy…" Raven explained, and yes… there was a small grin on her face.
"But…" Starfire looked unsure "We are no more girls on the team? Will we do the recruiting?"
"Robin can do it." Raven said, and suddenly the leader heard a nasty trap slamming shut.
Cy and BB howled in laughter, while Robin shot very deadly glares in Raven's direction.
"I. Don't. Think. So." he hissed.
Starfire looked a bit blank.
"But… Robin is no girl? Humans can change?"
"Called cross-dressing, Star." Cy explained, trying to stop laughing. "He'll just dress up as one."
"He. Will. Not." their leader disagreed.
"It's the logical choice." Raven crossed her arms and looked all business.
"What about … Cy…?" Robin tried.
"Yeah, a tall, muscular, half metal chick in a skirt… I bet our guy will come running…" Cyborg snorted.
"BB-" Robin tried again.
"Will be your tail, as he is the only one who can really hide." Raven said. "Besides, have you any idea how much concealer it would take to cover up his green skin? It would bust our budget."
"But-"
"Yeah, dude, Rae's right... It's gotta be you!" BB grinned "Besides, you're… you know…" the green cheeks managed to blush a tad.
"I did not tell you about me being gay so I would be forced to do these kinds of things!" Robin exclaimed. "Besides, being gay does not mean you are into cross dressing!" out of the corner of his eye, Robin saw Starfire take out a notebook and make an actual note of that fact. She had started that notebook the day after he had told them, determined to understand every aspect of this strange phenomena.
The others had also taken it well. Raven didn't even arch a brow, and had just nodded. Cy and BB had been a bit uncomfortable at first, but then came to the conclusion that it meant 'more babes for them'. Robin suspected that the changeling was secretly happy, he knew that BB was occasionally jealous about how close Robin and Raven really was, and now he didn't have to fear that competition.
"So? Will you do it?" Raven asked impatiently.
"I didn't know deafness was contagious: NO." Robin growled.
"Al right. You choice." Raven said dryly. "I'll just tell that girl who is still in hospital that she will never feel safe again, because you wouldn't wear a skirt for a night."
Robin narrowed his eyes.
"I don't like you right now." he hissed.
"I'm just the voice of reason." Raven defended herself.
"Well, you enjoy it too much." Robin snorted and then sighed in defeat. "All right. I'll do it. But if anyone as much as grins, movie and pizza-night is cancelled for a month!"
Cy glanced at BB.
"What'd ya think?"
"Worth it?"
"Yeah, me too."
They both turned to Robin grinning like maniacs.
The preparations took a day, but raiding the female Titans wardrobes made the job easier.
"We have to make you look like the typical victim." Raven said. "Cy, did you compare the profiles?"
"Yeah. The women are all short and slim, so no problem there…" Cyborg grinned, getting a 'shut up'-look from his leader. "They all have long or longish hair and their clothes were a bit on the revealing side."
"What do you expect, it's summer…" Robin muttered.
"Please grow your hair, Robin." Starfire ordered, and Robin gave her an odd look.
"Can't do that on command, Star… and I'm not wearing a wig, they always look fake. But he hasn't attacked anyone in a while, maybe he's desperate enough to go for someone with short hair?" Robin added hopefully.
"How 'bout extensions?" Cy suggested and got some very weird looks.
"What do you know about extensions?" Raven wanted to know.
"Hey! Star made me watch that make-over program!"
"Sure, dude! Maybe you should join Robin on the other team, huh?" BB grinned.
That comment lead to a slight disturbance, and while it lasted, Raven had time to think, now and then ducking various projectiles.
"I belive your hair is too short for extensions…" she said to Robin, who drew a breath of relief. "So I'll try to lengthen it with magic instead…"
"Damn…" Robin muttered, but then succumbed to his teams administrations.
"Dude…"
"Wow…"
"It's truly splendid"
-smirk-
"Stop gaping. Titan's Go!" Robin commanded, only marring the image slightly by coming up last, as he was having trouble running, or even walking, in high heels.
Robin knew he looked good, and it grated on his ego. On the other hand, looking ugly would have been worse, right? He knew it wasn't logical, but he tried to live with it. His hair, after a bit of painful experimenting on Raven's part, though the pain was mostly Robin's, now reached almost to his middle back. It fell freely in loose, glossy black curls, suitable for any shampoo commercial. His mask had, naturally, had to go, but that was no big deal. He knew he could trust his friends. A light makeup, courtesy of Starfire, made his already stunning blue eyes pop, and his lips look fuller and… well.. wetter… Robin didn't really get the lip gloss-thing, but he was told it looked good so he complied. He had argued that he really didn't need to look like a girl close up, but Raven had waved that away with another burst of logic. What if the criminal only passed his victims first, to get a closer look? Robin had to pull this charade off, even under close scrutiny. Robin had sighed and let them get on with it, trying to find some clothes for him. He was wearing a white miniskirt and a light blue blouse, since he had refused the pink one. Besides, blue was more his color. He might never be able to look his teammates in the eye after this, but he had limits. What he was wearing under the blouse, he would rather not think about, but it must look natural, considering how the male part of his team kept glancing at him in the car.
"Hey, pervs, I'm up here!" Robin hissed, pointing at his face.
"Yeah, but there's quite a lot of you down there as well…" BB snickered and nodded at his leader's chest.
"No pizza for TWO months." Robin warned.
"Please, Robin, your underwear is not doing the riding up, are they? At some times-"
"I'm FINE!" Robin got Starfire quiet, but it was too late. Cy almost swerved off the road.
"You are wearing PANTIES?"
"THREE months! And I had no damn choice in this skirt!"
"Robin is right, stop harassing him." Raven warned the others. "And… ehh… Robin? Keep your legs together…"
The car just missed a tree.
They parked in a secluded area close to the park, and soon everyone was in place. Robin had a hidden earpiece and mike, so he could communicate with the others, and soon it was apparent that it was needed.
"Robin, stop walking like that!" Raven scolded him, making the boy jump.
"Walking like what?" Robin hissed.
"Like you could kick the world's ass! We know you can, but you can't look like it!"
Again, Raven was right, and Robin muttered darkly to himself before asking.
"Then how should I walk?"
"If you want to be attacked, you must walk like a victim. Walk quickly, keep your eyes down, hunch your shoulders and grab your purse tightly. There. Better. Now you are asking to be attacked."
Robin did as he was told, feeling slightly better as he felt the communicator and one or two bird-a-rangs in the purse. It reminded him that he was still a Titan… only a slightly gender confused one at the moment.
It would have been great if they had caught the guy on the first day. Or the second. Or the third. Robin had walked across the damn park so many times his shoes were starting to look pretty worse for wear. The team had tried a lot of different techniques, even having Robin visit a few cafés and shops around the edge of the park, trying to draw the 'right' person's eye. He was drawing attention to himself, but the cat calls from college boys were hardly the 'right' sort.
This was why Robin didn't feel too optimistic as he put on the skirt on the fourth night.
Slade had been busy controlling one of his countless cameras around the city, when something caught his eye. First he didn't care, he just made sure to retreat further into the shadows so he wasn't seen. That was out of habit, as he wore civilian clothes at the moment. He had been out of town for almost a month, away on business, and, as always, he did a surveillance check as he got back. This camera had been knocked off line, and since it monitored a rather long stretch of the park's main paths, he wanted it to work. He saw the movement again.
He looked over and stiffened. A green squirrel. What was the changeling doing, seemingly all alone, in the park this late at night? Slade moved to a better advantage point. Ahhh… the man grinned. A girl. A very pretty one at that, as girls went. Was the little beastling stalking her? Did the green boy have a crush? Immediately Slade started thinking about how to use this knowledge to his advantage, watching both teenagers closely. The squirrel seemed to follow the girl, jumping from tree to tree. Slade frowned, feeling irritated. For an animal lover this kid was stupid. Who would not notice a green squirrel? And at night? Slade fought an urge to pluck the kid out of the tree and shake some sense into him. He didn't, though, because if Beast Boy was here, there was a chance Slade's favorite Titan would be too.
The man kept to the shadows, watching the girl and her stalker. More and more he watched the girl, though. That young woman had some ass… and the way she moved… he could understand why the little grass stain seemed glued to her… Even Slade felt the pull, and considering he preferred male company, that was slightly odd.
Suddenly something rushed from the bushes and threw itself at the girl, who swore somewhat unladylike. In an instant the area was filled with Titans, but they were hardly needed. The young woman had practically exploded in her attackers face and he was already down on the ground in a considerable amount of pain. The girl didn't seem to think it was enough, though, and it took the Goth, Raven, to pull her away.
"Come on, dude, we got him!" the changeling cried out, pumping his fist in the air. They all looked relived and as Cyborg cuffed the whimpering man on the ground, even the young woman smiled a tight smile of triumph.
Slade's eye narrowed as it roamed over the nearly complete team of Titans and then back to the unknown woman. Then a smile started to spread across the man's face. It couldn't be? Yes… it was. Christmas had really come early this year…
Robin brushed himself off, the man hadn't been able to cause any damage to the clothes, thanks god, or Starfire would have been pissed. Well, no. She wouldn't… but she would definitely see it as an excuse to go on a wild shopping spree again. Oh, well, with the amount they would save on pizza the next three months…
"Lets' take him to the cops." he told his team, taking his earpiece and microphone off and handing them to Cyborg. "By the way, were you able to see were he came from?"
"Yes, I was that lucky, Robin." Starfire smiled. "From Ethan's house of coffee… I think he has been having a job there, I have seen him before."
"Star, didn't we talk about the coffee?" Robin asked, but couldn't help but grin.
"It makes sense, there is quite a view of the park from there…" Raven said.
"Yeah… but wait! If you saw him, why didn't you warn me?" Robin wanted to know. "I almost had a heart attach!"
"I am most sorry." Starfire looked the part. "But Raven said it might give you away."
"Yes." Raven nodded. "If you were to tense up, he might not have attacked."
Robin nodded and cracked his knuckles.
"All right… I get the point. Let's go…"
As they were about to move off, Robin swore and leaned against a tree to take his shoe off.
"Damn gravel…" he muttered. "You know what, guys… I need to blow off some steam… just take him to the cops and I'll start to walk home. You can pick me up after you are done with the testimonies. Tell them I'll give mine tomorrow."
"You'll know you will have to explain why you were dressed like a girl, right?" Cy grinned.
"Yes. I. Know." Robin growled and was about to make it four months.
"Just tell them it was a bet or a magic accident… they won't even think twice about it… I mean, that just doesn't compare to all the other strange things going on here…" Raven said dryly.
"Sure you don't want me to tag along, dude?" BB wanted to know. "What if some guys start hitting on you?"
"Then they'd make his day, wouldn't they?" Cy laughed.
"Yeah, Cy's right… you need a date…" BB grinned.
"There are these clubs of gay-" Star started.
"Yes, yes, that's enough. Too busy to start dating, all right?" Robin laughed. He was feeling a lot better about this whole thing, now then it had actually worked. He loved plans that worked.
"I know you'll find a nice guy…" Raven smiled.
"Thanks. Well. Call me when you'd done."
"We'll do! Might take some time, though… you might beat us back to the tower…"
"In heels? Well, you're on…" Robin grinned and waved as his teammates took a shortcut towards the hidden T-car.
Robin started to walk briskly, and had gotten almost to the edge of the park when there was a snap. The shoes, being abused for days, had finally decided to give up and a heel had broken. Robin felt a sharp jolt of pain in his foot, and cried out as he stumbled. He limped over to a bench and sat down, checking his ankle. He had twisted it, and quite badly. He was about to reach for his communicator when something blocked his light.
"Can I help you, Miss?"
Slade had watched the whole seen with a raising sense of glee. As Robin stumbled, the man only hesitated for a moment. Yes, there was a very good chance that the boy would recognize him, even without his mask and uniform, but maybe it was time to come out of the shadows… especially after what he had just overheard…
Robin's head shot up, and he was expecting to see something else than he did. What he saw was a handsome man in a white short-sleeved shirt and dark blue slacks. The eye patch was a surprise, as was the ruffled white hair, not matching the smooth face and sharp gray eye. But with that voice, Robin had expected to see black and orange. He mentally shrugged. More men than one had a sex voice.
"I'm… I'm just fine."
"If you'd like I could-"
"You should keep walking, mister." Robin warned him, narrowing his eyes. "I got mace."
"Ah… I see… I just wanted to offer you to borrow my cell phone. I have a little medical knowledge, and you shouldn't walk on that ankle for longer than necessary."
"Oh… I… Sorry."
"Not at all. Women need to be careful in the world of today, I'm sorry to say. You have nothing to apologize for. I was, however, sincere in my offer to help you."
"Well… thanks… I'm really fine, though, no need to worry." Robin tried to dismiss the man. He seemed honest, but there was just something wrong here. Robin gasped as the man took a few more steps forward. As he saw the way he moved there was no longer any doubt in the boy's mind. This was Slade.
"I didn't mean to startle you. May I at least escort you out of this park and fetch you a cab? I refuse to leave you out here like this."
Robin swallowed. He knew that his disguise was good, but he didn't feel comfortable enough to wager his life on it. He had little choice, though, if he didn't want to act any more suspicious.
"I… yes… thank you." was all he could manage, and he swallowed again as the man came all the way up to him.
"I'm delighted. Here, support yourself on my arm. There. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." Robin bit his lip to stop himself from laughing nervously. This was insane! His number one enemy was helping him to safety!
Slade glanced down at the petite shape beside him. He guessed, by Robin's reaction, that the boy had indeed recognized him, and now he grinned, wondering how far he could take this without ending up with a bird-a-rang in his shoulder… or somewhere even more uncomfortable, for that matter.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Slade. And you are, Miss?"
Robin gaped. The man actually admitted it? That's… that's… a name! He needed a name!
"I'm… Mary." he said, no other name than his mother's coming to mind.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mary." There were a purr in Slade's voice now, and Robin shivered a little from that deep rumble.
The walked together in silence until they reached the edge of the park. There didn't seem to be any cabs around, and they crossed the street to try their luck on the other side. Or so Robin thought. Slade had other plans.
"You need to put some ice on that ankle before that swelling gets any worse." the man observed. "I'll take you to that café and we'll call you a cab once you have rested for a moment."
"I… uhh… okay..." Robin said, hating how weak he sounded, but he couldn't very well do his the 'get your paws off me' routine now, could he? Besides, he had another little problem…
As they reached the café Robin excused himself.
"I just need to visit the… ladies room." he blushed.
"You do that. I'll see about some ice, and then why don't we take a seat at the tables outside… it's a beautiful night, isn't it?"
Robin nodded and fled. The 24 hour coffee shop turned out to be some kind of 'café by day, bar by night' cross, something quite a few people took advantage of. Robin almost went to the wrong door, but remembered himself at the last moment. The bathroom was clean enough, and as he really had to go, Robin was grateful. Afterwards he quickly flicked his communicator open and called his team.
"Hi, man, getting bored already? We just got here…" Cy answered.
"No… I… look, I met someone… I'll take a cab home, 'kay?"
The wide grin on the older teens face told Robin that he would have to eat this up for a loooong time.
"Sure, man, but midnight at the latest, right? No sleepovers on the first date!"
"Like I would ev-! Shut up, Cy and get to work!" Robin hissed.
"You too, fearless leader… you too… good luck!"
"Call me if there's an emer-"
"I wouldn't count on it, Rob… enjoy your date!"
Robin muttered something about four months, and clicked the communicator shut. Then, as an afterthought, he turned the signal off and left it on 'vibrate'. It wouldn't do for Slade to hear that signal, after all… Robin glanced at himself in the mirror and ripped off a paper towel. He didn't have any make-up with him, and if he had, he would have probably messed it up, anyway. He didn't look too bad, but he had a slight smudge in the corner of his eyes that he wiped away. Not to look good for Slade, mind you, it was just that the make-up might get in his eyes and sting… yes… that was it…
As Robin caught up with Slade again, the man was sitting at a private table on the veranda. Robin could have sworn that all these tables had been occupied when they arrived, and now all the tables around them seemed to have 'reserved' cards on them. Strange…
"Ah… Mary. There you are." Slade got up and went around the table to hold out Robin's chair for him. As Robin sat down, trying not to blush and to act like these things happened to him every day, Slade got down on one knee in front of him. Robin nearly had a stroke, but then the man took a hold of his swollen ankle and started wrapping it in a cold towel before he fastened an icepack in either side. The support and coolness immediately made the foot feel better.
"Thank you." Robin said warmly, and Slade glanced up at him.
"Not at all…" the man said, a bit gruffly, and Robin smiled. Did Slade just get embarrassed? Was that a hint of a blush on his cheeks? Robin chuckled to himself. This could be fun…
Then a waiter arrived with coffee and a plate of bite-sized sandwiches, before quickly and discreetly disappearing again.
"I hope you didn't mind… It's a warm night, but I thought you could use some coffee after your ordeal… if you like it, that is? Or would you rather have some tea? Juice?"
"No… Coffee is fine, but… well, I was just out walking, I didn't bring any money…" Robin said, looking uncomfortable. In fact, the communicator held an electronic credit card, but he couldn't very well pay with that.
"It's on me… I don't get to come to the rescue that often… I quite enjoy it…" Slade smirked.
"You do, don't you?" Robin raised an eyebrow. "So how is like, being the knight in shining armor?"
"Not bad, then the maiden is as fair as you…" Slade gave back, delighted to make Robin blush again. "I'm just sorry I seem to have misplaced the horse…"
Robin laughed and the tension seemed to be gone. They drank their coffee slowly, and even ordered seconds, talking about this and that.
"So, how did you hurt your eye? Or did you have surgery?" Robin asked. He had, after all, a perfect opportunity to learn more about the man, and he had a feeling Slade would tell the truth.
"I lost it. A shooting accident."
"Oh… I'm sorry. During hunting?" Robin asked, not feeling too guilty for prying.
"No, I was in the military. Still works for the government as a consultant from time to time…"
"That sounds interesting!" Robin beamed, silently begging for more… information, that is…
"I do enjoy hunting from time to time, though…" the damn man purred again. "And bird watching…"
Robin's heart felt like it stumbled over a beat. Did Slade know? He studied the man carefully, but his face gave as little away as his mask did. The man only looked friendly and… well… hot as hell… Robin had to remind himself that any attention Slade gave him was directed at Mary, not him. If it was possible to be jealous at himself, he was.
"Oh… that's... interesting…" Robin managed at the end.
"More than you know…" Slade agreed. "Now, how do you enjoy yourself?"
"I just hang around with my friends… I work a lot, so I really don't have time for…pleasures…"
"You work? Aren't you a little bit young?"
"I'm old enough." Robin grinned and then blushed deeply as he caught the double meaning.
Slade chuckled.
"I apologize. I meant that I thought you were in college. So were do you work?"
"I'm… a private secretary…" Robin went with the first thing that flew into his mind.
"And that takes up so much of your time?" Slade asked, clearly amused.
"Pfffttt… yeah, my boss is crazy…" Robin grinned.
"A bit of an over-achiever, perhaps?" Slade suggested.
"Oh, yeah… perfectionist… you should hear him… and I wonder if he sleeps at all…"
"You should be careful… sound like he might snap…"
Robin coughed.
"I wouldn't go that far…" he muttered.
"Wait and see… one morning he'll come in to the office in a skirt…" Slade grinned.
"… only if there's a good reason for it…" Robin murmured, and then the both of them burst out laughing.
An hour later and Robin felt like he had known Slade forever. It was getting more than a little late, though, or rather early, depending how you looked at it.
Robin had to stifle a yawn. Having walked the park for four nights in a row had left him a bit drained.
"You are tired. I should have gotten you home a long time ago…" Slade sounded remorseful, which was quite a novelty.
"That's all right, I had a wonderful time." Robin smiled at the man again.
"At the risk of sounding forward… may I see you again? Dinner? Tomorrow night?" Slade asked.
Robin hesitated. It's been hard enough, hiding his long hair during missions for the last couple of days. Raven couldn't grow it out every day since it rexuired quite complex magic. And how would he explain this to his friends? The offer was too tempting, though…
"Y-yes… I…. that would be nice…" he nodded, feeling a bit flustered.
"Wonderful…" Slade purred. "Shall we meet here? Tomorrow night at eight?"
Robin nodded, and then remembered something.
"I might have to work, though… I never know when a miss- an assignment pops up…"
"Here." the man handed Robin a handwritten card. "My number. Please call if anything comes up… or for whatever reason." he added, tilting his head.
"I will… but I hope I'll see you tomorrow." Robin answered, letting the card slip into his purse.
"Me too."
Slade hailed a cab, and now, for some reason, there seemed to be many, just waiting for a customer.
"Thank you. For everything." Robin smiled.
"My pleasure. I'll take care of cab-fare. Where are you going?"
"No, that's all right. I'll sort it out when I get there…" Robin insisted.
"Are you sure? Well, as you wish." Slade said as Robin nodded.
Slade took a step closer, and for a dizzying moment Robin thought he was going to get kissed. Slade just went to open the car door for him, though. As he was about to get into the car, the man got hold of Robin's hand and brought it to his lips, still playing the part of the knight. Robin wished he was a slightly naughtier knight…
"Until tomorrow." Slade purred.
"Can't wait. Do try to find your horse until then, will you?" Robin quipped, trying to hide how many butterflies that suddenly had hatched in his stomach.
"Now, don't make me jealous, little lady…" Slade smirked. "Pleasant dreams…"
Robin waved as the cab drove away, and then leaned back with a sigh. Damn he was in trouble! How come trouble felt so nice?
Robin was too tired to walk, so he activated the hidden tunnel and let the cabby take him all the way home. He was even too tired to smile at the driver's wide eyes as he realized he got the customer of a life time.
"So… err… you're a new Titan, then, miss?" He finally dared to ask as they pulled up to the tower.
"No, only a family member. I'm just visiting…" Robin explained hurriedly, before telling the man how to get back. "And you better hurry… the tunnel fills with water as a security measure if it's open too long." he said, and watched the car speed away. The tunnel really didn't, but Robin did not want some curious civilian wandering around down there, maybe looking for souvenirs to sell at E-bay.
As he dragged his feet inside he was attacked. By his team.
"How was it?"
"Who was he?"
"Did he kiss you?"
"Will you see each other again?"
"What does he look like?"
Robin groaned. "Wonderful, a knight, no, yes, and so hot I got blisters on my retinas, 'kay…? And I need some sleep… give me a break until morning, please, guys?"
His team seemed happy with this, as their leader didn't appear to clam up as he usually did, and a moment later Robin fell onto his bed in a blissful sleep.
"You can't do this, Robin" Raven said determinedly, crossing her arms. "If you like this guy, how can you go on tricking him by going on a second date? You have to tell him."
Yes, and then I'll have his bo-staff through my spine in seconds…Robin thought darkly to himself.
"Look, Rae, he knows, all right…? I told him when he tried to help me in the park, just to get him to back off… turns out he's gay and don't mind… happily enough…" he added with a little grin.
"Then why don't you go as… you?" Raven asked, still on the defensive.
"Because I just want a date without getting stared at, okay? I'm not ready for that yet… I know people are quite open-minded here, but I'm just not… ready…" his voice trailed off and he looked at Raven, begging.
"Fine." the girl snorted. "I created the monster, so I guess I have to deal with it… but you get three dates, tops! And then we want to meet the guy…"
"Sure. No prob." Robin smiled, putting that image out of his head. "Now, what kinds of dresses do you have?"
Raiding Raven's closet turned out a high necked, dark purple number that was just clingy enough to actually fit Robin. It just needed to be shortened, and Starfire took care of that. While they worked they chatted.
"So, how is he?"
"The perfect gentleman… unfortunately…" Robin grinned, and Star giggled.
"How old is he? He sounds older?" Raven asked.
"I guess. He's a former military. A consultant. He looks about thirty." Robin answered, lying through his teeth. He knew Slade was older than that, but his friends didn't have to know.
"That is surely old!" Starfire exclaimed.
"Yes, Robin. You are only sixteen. Are you sure he's not looking for… you know… young boys…?"
"No! Ewww, Raven!" Robin exclaimed. "No, he thinks I'm in college... I told him I work, though…
"Why?"
"Well, you don't really get called away to college while on a date, do you? And something might come up…"
"I see… but what do you think he'll do when you tell him the truth? That you are a Titan?" the girl insisted.
Snap my neck… bash my head in… something like that…Robin thought, making a face.
"We just met… It's not like I can tell just anyone… I got to be sure… so give me some time, huh?"
"Sure! We will do the backing off!" Star promised. And Robin grinned gratefully at her.
"Oh, just let me tell you what he did as I was about to leave…"
Robin was seriously nervous as the cab pulled up to the café at eight sharp. The door opened and there was Slade, dressed in a very nice light gray summer suit with a crisp white shirt that was slightly open at the neck in the warm weather.
"I'm delighted you could make it, Mary. How is that ankle?"
In fact, Raven had healed it completely, and Robin only wore a light bandage for show.
"It's much better, it doesn't even hurt." Robin smiled, taking the hand Slade offered him to help him out of the car. He could feel the man's eye travel over his body appreciatively and grinned to himself.
Let's see how much of a gentleman you really are, Slade… He wouldn't try to entice the man, though. Raven had a point. Slade thought he was a woman, and, however much that hurt, Robin couldn't go on fooling the man forever. Just one date. Just one.
Somehow, as they parted that night, he found himself promising to meet the man for a second, or was that third, date in two days time. Dinner and a movie. Classic. Robin blamed the wine. Not that he was drunk. Not at all. Slade had bought them each a glass, and only one, but Robin, not being used to it, felt he could blame the alcohol anyway.
This time Slade did kiss him goodnight. It almost made Robin's knees buckle, and Slade wrapped his hands around his waist. They didn't wander any further, though, much to Robin's irritation. The kiss was marvelous, but it was almost chaste, deepening slowly, and Slade broke it before it could be considered raunchy.
"Good night, Mary…"
"Good night…" Robin whispered back, eyes half closed.
"Your cab is here."
"Mhhmm…"
Slade chuckled.
"You need to let go of my neck…"
Robin blushed and finally snapped back to reality.
"Ops… Sorry…" he laughed. "I'll see you Friday?"
"Yes… and remember to call if you want to talk…" Slade reminded him, as he held the car door open.
"I will." Robin promised, without really intending too. They would see each other in two days anyway…
The next night Robin was in a foul mood as he slumped down on the bed. Damn all the lawyers to hell! He pulled his mask off and put it on the nightstand as his fingers brushed a certain card. Should he? His thumb thought so, as it dialed the numbers, seemingly all by itself.
As the first signal went through Robin realized it was in the middle of the night. He smacked his own forehead, but he couldn't hang up now! That would be worse…. god… he would look so psychotic…
"Slade?"
"Oh… Um… It's Mary… I'm sorry, I just realized that it's really late… did I wake you?"
"No, I'm in bed, reading… nasty habit of mine… just can't put some books down…" Slade answered, not sounding annoyed in the least, thank god.
A picture of Slade in bed flashed across Robin's mind. It was a nice picture. He wanted to frame it.
"Good… that I didn't wake you, that is…" Robin laughed a bit nervously.
"Is anything wrong? "Slade asked. "Is this about our date tomorrow?"
Robin's heart fluttered as the man called their meeting a date up front.
"No... no… it's still on… I just…"
"Come on… tell me…" Slade urged him, and Robin sighed, trying to tell the story so it wouldn't sound suspicious…
"Well, you know about the attacks in the park?"
"I just came back to town the day I met you, but I heard they caught the guy that very night… no wonder you were jumpy…" Slade chuckled lightly.
"Was not." Robin bit back with a smile on his face. "Anyway, yeah, the Titans caught the creep, but now his lawyer claims he was trapped… that he would never do anything like this if he wasn't lead to it… and the only reason was temporary insanity… they say he only did it this once."
"And you think it's a lie? I have nothing against the Titans, nothing at all, but the only one with a bit of brain seems to be their leader… the rest of them acts like kids most of the time… maybe they got carried away?"
Robin gaped a bit at that statement, but luckily Slade couldn't see him. So Slade thought he was smart, huh? Robin smiled, the world was suddenly not such a bad place.
"Well, they say that the description fits and that the attack was just like the others… I think it's him… and now he might walk free! The disgusting son of a…"
"Easy there, Mary… you sound like you want to drop-kick the guy… I agree he deserves it, though…" Slade chuckled on the other end. "I bet they get him. The Titans or the police will figure something out… don't you think?"
"Yeah… hope so… looks pretty bad though… the guy hadn't attacked anyone for over a week… apparently…" Robin muttered.
"You know what? I have some contacts… I can't do anything, mind you, but I'll pick some brains… see if I can hear anything about what's going on…"
Robin gaped once again.
"You-you'd do that? For me? Just because I'm upset about some creep?"
Slade gave an amused snort.
"But of course… to ease your mind… I want you to dream about me, after all…"
"I will… I promise…" Robin laughed quietly.
"I will hold you to that… and remember… I'll be the man in armor…" Slade purred.
"No." Robin smirked. "You'll be naked." Robin ended the call at once, cheeks burning. He couldn't believe himself. He was still in a daze a few seconds later, when the phone, still in his hand, rang.
"Yes?" he answered numbly.
"If I am, you will be too…" a deep voice purred and then there was a click, followed only by silence.
Robin stared at the phone with a silly grin on his face. Then he frowned. This was a secure number. How the hell did Slade…? Oh, of course… He's Slade… As soon as Robin called, the number was probably put through all kinds of tracking systems. Robin grew cold. Did this mean Slade had found out? No… he only knew the number… there was no way for him to find out where the phone was, was there? Was there? And the man would not flirt with him if he knew the truth… Robin calmed down. As much as he hated it, Slade wouldn't… that, at least, he was sure about.
The date started with a kiss, this time. Just a light peck on the lips, but the promise of more was there…
Slade took him to see an old classic, "Gilda" with Rita Hayworth. Robin hadn't seen it before and enjoyed it immensely.
"Did you pick up on the gay undertone?" Slade grinned over dinner.
"Yeah, that man was just a little bit too fond of his cane, wasn't he? And soooo jealous…" Robin grinned back.
"It's strange how women seem to pick up on these things…" Slade smirked. "They don't seem to mind it, either..."
Robin looked down on his plate, biting his lip. This was an opening…
"And… do you…? Mind?"
"Mind what? Gays? No, why would I?" Slade seemed to study him over the table and then sighed, putting down his knife and fork. "Mary… since you seem open to the subject… I know this is early, but I want to be honest with you… I'm bi… My last relationship, with a woman, I might add, ended rather badly a while back, and I haven't dated seriously since… I hope this doesn't change anything…?"
"You're bi?" Robin exclaimed, and then hushed, looking around at the other tables, blushing. "That's great!" he added, in a quieter voice.
"It is? Why? Do you happen to have a brother you want to share me with?" Slade chuckled.
Robin stifled a laugh.
"No... I mean… that's great… that you trust me enough to tell me… and it doesn't change anything…" Robin beamed. Inside, a single thought nearly tore him apart though… because he knew that even if Slade was bi, he was still Robin. And Slade hated Robin… as much as Robin should hate Slade…
"You look troubled, are you sure-" Slade started.
"Huh? Oh, yes… it's just… you know… that creep… still thinking about him." Robin lied, since he actually hadn't since the date started.
"Oh, yes. I meant to tell you… Since it's the weekend I couldn't get hold of many of my contacts… you know lawyers… they always sneak out at the office at noon on Fridays…" Slade smiled ruefully. "But from what I've heard there is a risk that the man will walk… I pointed out to one of my friends, though, that even if he's innocent he might get attacked if they let him out of jail… so they raised his bail. For his own good, mind you… That might give the detectives some extra time…"
"You are brilliant." Robin beamed and burst out laughing as Slade did a mock bow.
"It's an honor to serve you, my lady." the man haughtily declared.
The night ended with a long walk. Holding hands seemed silly to Robin, but he snuck his arm around one of Slade's, smiling up at the man as Slade put his hand on his.
It was romantic, perfect, wonderful, impossible, dangerous and it couldn't last… Robin knew this. He had to end it. He would. Soon.
They were, ironically enough, walking in the park, and as they reached the shore of a small lake, Slade turned Robin around for a kiss. This was not a chaste one, and it deepened so quickly that Robin lost his breath. This time Slade's hands also traveled down, slowly as if he was waiting for Robin to stop him. There was no way in hell the teen would, though, and soon the man's hands cupped Robin's behind. Robin gasped and pressed himself closer, just before realizing… he broke the kiss and pushed Slade away, not too roughly, just enough so the man knew he meant business.
He had to, because Slade was about to make something happen to Robin that would be quite difficult for him to explain.
"Is something wrong?" Slade asked carefully, his hands resting on Robin's hips now.
"I… I can't do this… I'm sorry Slade, but… there's something you don't know…"
"I doubt there is anything you can say that can change anything between us…" Slade purred, telling the truth, only Robin didn't know that.
"This would." Robin whispered, his eyes tearing up. "Thus would change everything… if you knew…"
"There is nothing you can say that I don't already know… Robin."
Robin's heart stopped for a second as his head shot up. He stared up at Slade with wide, disbelieving eyes. The man knew? For how long? Did he find out tonight? Was that why he had brought him here? God, they were in the most secluded part of the park, no one would be around to help him, no o-
Robin's thoughts were disturbed as Slade kissed him again, hungrily, crushing their bodies together.
"…You... knew…?" Robin panted between kisses.
"Yes." Slade admitted before attacking again. Robin felt a hand slide up under his dress and moaned.
"How… long…?"
"Since before we met in the park. I saw you take the guy down."
Slade moved backwards and took Robin along with him. He slipped down on a bench by the waterside and pulled Robin down on his lap, never once breaking the kiss. Robin felt their bodies grinding together, both wanting this so much. But…
"Slade… we… can't…"
"Why not?" the man asked, almost out of the corner of his mouth, as he kissed Robin's throat.
"I… you and I…"
"You care? I don't." Slade told the boy, only able to speak in very short sentences himself.
"… I'm not ready…" Robin almost whimpered.
This made Slade hold up, just a little.
"What's the matter, Robin?" he asked, gently, as Robin worried his rather swollen lower lip nervously.
"I… I've only just admitted being gay to myself... I've told my friends but… that's… that's the only thing I've… done…" he said awkwardly
"So you are my lovely maiden after all…" Slade chuckled.
"….es…" Robin said, so quietly Slade barely caught it.
"That is fine, Robin… I understand if you are nervous. We don't have to do this… not tonight."
"We… don't?"
"No… but don't think you can hold out on me forever…" Slade warned him with a hungry smirk.
Robin grinned back.
"I wouldn't dream about it…"
"Speaking about dreams, how was I?" Slade chuckled, making Robin blush once more.
They continued their walk, stopping now and then for a kiss. Slade seemed to think Robin's ass was the perfect place to rest his hand, and Robin couldn't agree more.
"About the assaulter…" Slade started as they neared the edge of the park.
"Oh. Yes." Robin sighed and frowned. "I guess you didn't talk to anyone, did you?"
"Of course I did." Slade sounded affronted. "He's not going anywhere unless he can cough up two hundred thousand…"
"Really? Thank you, Slade, that's great! You are right… we'll think of something… I'm just not sure what…" Robin sounded like he really didn't believe himself by the end.
"There might be a simpler way…" Slade said. "I have cameras mounted in this park. I have been away, but they might have caught something… at least enough to tie him to the park on the nights of the assaults… I have a months worth of backup material. There's only one catch… they are at my base…"
"Hey, you said…" Robin started, about to pull away.
"Yes, and I'm sincere… you'll be safe. As long as you promise not to tell your friends about the location, I'll take you there… We can go tomorrow night…"
"Why can't you just send me the recordings?" Robin asked, feeling a bit nervous about entering the lion's den.
"The recordings from 25 cameras for the past month? Have you any idea how many gigs that is? That sad excuse for junk your technician calls a computer couldn't handle it."
Robin chuckled.
"If Cy heard you say that, he would have been warming up his sonic blaster by now…"
"I'm shaking." Slade said dryly. "So, you'll come?"
"Yes." Robin nodded. "I'll bring all the records. That way we have the dates and times, it shouldn't take too long…"
"You do that. I'll arrange dinner." At an incredulous look from Robin, Slade smirked. "What, you thought it would be all work and no play?"
As Robin got into bed that night his head was swimming. He unconsciously reached for the phone and dialed Slade's number.
As the man answered at the first signal, Robin grinned.
"So…. what are you wearing…?"
Slade picked him up not far from the Tower the next evening, in a white Ferrari. Robin grinned as he saw the car's logo.
"Really, Slade?" Robin laughed as he jumped in.
"Well, it was the closest thing I could get to white stallion…" the man chuckled, before taking the sight of Robin in. The boy had dressed nicely enough, but Slade missed something. "What, no skirt?"
"Err… I thought that was kind of pointless…" Robin muttered.
"You in a skirt can never be pointless." Slade said as a matter-of-fact. "Though, I like those jeans as well… nice and tight…"
"Too tight… I should have tried sitting down in them…." Robin winced, and tried to find a better position on the car seat.
"If you want, I'll help you out of them soon enough…" Slade purred, and Robin shot him a warning glance.
"I still have the mace…"
"Point taken."
They grinned at each other, both knowing that the other one just had been joking. Or hoping they had.
Robin paid close attention to the road, drawing up a mental map out of habit. As they closed in on a building, Slade pressed a button in the car and part of a wall slid to the side, soundlessly.
After parking in the seemingly empty room, another hidden button was pushed and another wall opened to reveal a small elevator shaft. Robin stood with his back pressed against Slade's front, out of necessity in the narrow elevator, and couldn't help but gulp as the door closed. The man placed his hands on Robin's shoulders. To reassure him or to keep him put, Robin couldn't tell.
"Nervous, my little bird? Maybe you should be… you realize there is no way for you to get out of here without my help?"
"You are my knight, remember?" Robin laughed, trying to sound more secure than he felt as the elevator moved deeper and deeper. He could trust Slade, right? Pfffttt… 'trust Slade'… It was better than 'trust the Joker' but maybe not by much.
"I am. But maybe I feel like being the dragon tonight… abducting the fair maiden to my cavernous, secret lair…" Slade purred. As he felt the boy tense under his hands, he decided he had had his fun. "I'm only joking Robin. You are safe with me. As safe as you want to be."
"I'm glad to hear it, or I would have to kick some dragon ass." Robin huffed, not liking that he had fallen for Slade's teasing… and trying not to think about the fluttering feeling in his stomach, well… groin… as Slade had talked that way to him.
As the elevator door finally opened, Robin felt like they ought to be on the other side of the world by now. The short corridor opened up into a work area filled with screens and hard drives. To the left was a sitting area with a huge screen and a sofa, not unlike the setup in Titans Tower, although this couch was nowhere near as big, it was only a plush four-seater. Enough for Slade to stretch out on, Robin guessed. There were other rooms leading off to the right, and as Robin eyed them curiously, Slade made a sweeping gesture.
"Welcome to the dragon's lair, Robin… feel free to look around. No doors are locked, nothing is off limits. Just try not to touch anything that looks like it might explode, though…" he added thoughtfully. "Dinner is in ten minutes."
Robin took Slade up on his offer with gusto, and really didn't leave a door unopened. He found a bedroom, simple enough, with a big bed that made Robin blush. It had to be big. Slade was big… but somehow it made him blush none the less. Next to that was a really luxurious bathroom with both a shower and a bath big enough for three… or for him and Slade. Again he blushed, almost fleeing the suggestive rooms.
Next were storage rooms, row after row of Slade-bots and slade-bots parts. Then came the gym. Robin gaped. The other rooms had been kind of Spartan, even though Robin was sure everything was of the best quality. Slade wasn't exactly the 'add a pillow or two' kind of man, though. The gym, on the other hand, was over the top. The man had EVERYTHING and it was bigger then all the different gyms in the Tower combined.
"You are welcome to come by and try it out any day, Robin." Slade said behind him. "Dinner's ready."
They ate a pasta dinner that Robin could have sworn was home cooked… he had yet to see the kitchen, though, and when he did, he would definitely look for the containers.
Robin offered to help clean up, and took his plate to said kitchen, looking around curiously. There was a big pan on the stove, puttering away. Slade had cooked.
"You look surprised?" Slade chuckled.
"This just makes you seem so… human…" Robin tried to explain, and Slade answered with a laugh.
"What did you believe? That I plugged myself in at night? Or maybe..." the man swooped in on an unsuspecting Robin "that I drained the blood of virgins?" Slade nibbled on the crook of the boy's neck, and Robin really tried not to giggle. Really. "I have set everything up for you. I hooked the database up to the big screen so you would be more comfortable. Start going through the material and I'll clean up…" Slade smiled as he let the teen go.
"What? Oh. Right." Robin had, momentarily, completely forgotten why he was here. He pulled out an USB memory stick from his pocket. "Do you have somewhere to hook this up to as well?" Slade nodded, and soon Robin had one small screen with all the information he had collected about the attack, and one large screen, divided into 25 tiny ones, one for each camera. Robin soon learned how to bring only the cameras he thought was relevant up larger, and then started searching for the right day and time. It was mostly boring work, and Robin didn't mind as Slade joined him on the couch and wrapped an arm around him. It took a lot more time then Robin thought. He had believed that having the date and approximate time would help, but the victims had been shocked and some of them had lost consciousness, so there was a time span of several hours to go through in each case. Fast forwarding was a good thing.
"There!" Robin suddenly shouted, startling both Slade and himself. One of the cameras had picked up the first victim entering the park and now, a few minutes later, a man in a grey hoodie seemed to be following.
"He has his hood up… damn, that will never stick…" Robin growled.
"Maybe it will. They can analyze the way he walks, and a thousand other things…" Slade reassured him. "But there might be something a bit clearer."
Twenty-five cameras in one park may sound like a lot, but with the size of Jump's city park they really didn't cover such a big area. After a few hours, however, Robin hit the jackpot.
"Look…" He said excitingly. "She enters here, he enters a few minutes afterwards and here… thirty minutes later he comes out wit a limp! She reports that she managed to kick him, before he overpowered her, so that fits. And he pulls his hood down before crossing the street to the coffee shop! And it's clear that this is the man from the first assault, so now we can tie him to at least two victims!"
"I would say that seals it." Slade nodded. "Good job, Robin."
Robin turned around in the sofa, beaming.
"It's all thanks to you…" he said, reached up and pulled the man's head down for a kiss.
"Can we play now?" Slade smirked, pulling Robin closer.
"Yes… now we can play…" Robin agreed breathlessly.
Playing with Slade was serious enough, Robin knew, and soon they were both shirtless. Robin could tell the man was holding back as his kissing went from demanding to almost gentle, and his hands explored Robin body without getting too personal. Robin yearned for personal, but it was like the man was determined not to scare him... how could he have known that that was exactly what Robin craved?
"You can tell me what to do… or not to do…" Slade whispered.
Robin made a low, keening sound as the man bit down gently on one of his nipples.
"Could you… could you be… be more…" Robin's voice trailed off. How to ask for that? "Could you be more… Slade-ish..?" he finished, his cheeks burning.
The man, on whose lap Robin was perched, blinked, and then understanding dawned on his face and a grin appeared. A rather dangerous grin.
"My little bird likes the dragon, doesn't he?"
"…mhmm…" Robin mumbled, nodding and blushing still.
Before Robin had a chance to even cry out, he was on his back in the sofa. Slade held both of the teens wrists in one of his own, pinning them above Robin's head, while using the other hand to pry the Titans knees apart. Robin gasped and struggled before arching into the man's body, which came down on him hard, crushing and grinding. Robin was rock hard in an instant, and even through his jeans, Slade felt it.
"You really like this…" the man chuckled, before attacking Robin's lips.
Everything changed then and became a panting, nipping, tugging, groping mass of sensations. Robin was being handled like he weighed nothing, like his struggles didn't matter, like he was completely helpless in the hands of this man… and he loved it.
Slade wound his hand into Robin's long hair and yanked him off the sofa, almost dragging him to the bedroom. Once there the man stopped, looking seriously down into the boy's lust filled eyes.
"There's still time to say no."
Robin shook head as much as he could with Slade's grip on his hair.
"I won't." he claimed.
"No, I mean it. I'll wait for you. Days. Weeks. Months. Years. Until you are ready."
"I am."
"Since last night?" Slade chuckled, and then the hungry smirk returned. "All right, my little maiden. Show me how ready you are..." Robin was suddenly forced to his knees on the bedroom floor, and could only watch as Slade unbuckled his trousers with his free hand.
"Now, open your mouth, Robin… good boy…"
Robin got no time to get used to the idea or even the taste, as Slade plunged deep into his throat. He did everything Slade told him to do, like the good little submissive he wanted to be. His team would be surprised to see, the sex with the villain aside, that their normally rather bossy leader obeyed so well. Robin had barely gotten used to the harsh introduction to fellatio, when he was thrown onto his back on the bed. Robin stared helplessly up at Slade, licking his bruised lips and just laid there as the man bent down over him and unbuttoned his now extremely tight jeans. It was a relief to feel them being pulled down together with his underwear. He didn't have time to enjoy it long, though, as Slade moved onto the bed and hovered on top of him.
"Almost too late…" Slade warned, and Robin could practically see the restraints the man had on himself still. Robin hesitated. He was nervous, scared even, but that had never stopped him before.
"Come here, dragon…" he purred.
Robin slowly opened his eyes and blinked, confused by the color on the wall. This wasn't his bedroom… It took a well muscled arm around his waist to get him to remember where he was and what had happened.
He turned around, with difficulty and a certain amount of pain, towards the man beside him. Slade looked to be sleeping soundly, and after a moment Robin, out of pure boredom, just reached out and flicked one of his nipples. That woke the man up.
"What? I want breakfast!" Robin said, looking as innocent as he could.
"I see… " Slade chuckled. "Back from 'maiden in distress' to 'pampered princess', are we?"
"I kind of feel like I have earned a breakfast in bed. At least." Robin muttered, eyes glittering with mirth.
"You did get dinner, you know…" Slade teased him, and then smothered an indignant reply with his lips. "Stay."
Slade returned a bit later with a tray, stacked with all kinds of breakfast goodies.
Robin found that he had an appetite and decided that he should eat snuggled up in bed with Slade a bit more often. Might put some meat on his bones. Suddenly something dawned on him.
"I'm so dead."
"Excuse me?" said Slade, trying to remember if he had threatened his bird in any way.
"My team! They will lock me up in the Tower and interrogate me until I break down and tell them every single detail…" Robin muttered.
"And they are the good guys?" Slade snorted.
"Not when it comes to me dating…" Robin sighed. "Would you do me a favor and kidnap me?"
"Who? Me?" Slade chuckled and ruffled Robin's already rather messed up hair. "I like your hair long…" he added as an afterthought.
"What am I going to do…?" Robin muttered, resting his head on Slade's shoulder.
"Limp in there and take it like a man." Slade smirked and got an elbow in the stomach as a reward.
"You are not helping. Besides, didn't I do that last night?" Robin smirked, his heart skipping a beat as he saw a rekindled lust in Slade's eye.
"You sure did…" the man growled and, breakfast tray crashing to the floor, he pounced.
Afterwards Robin groaned as he tried to sit up.
"Ouch-ouch-ouch…" he muttered and gave Slade an evil glare.
"What?" it was the man's turn to try to look innocent. He did a worse job than Robin.
"You did this."
"You begged for it." Slade shrugged.
"You shouldn't give me what I want all the time, you'll spoil me." Robin smirked, and 'ouch-ed' his way to the bathroom.
Slade joined him in the shower, claiming hot water was expensive, and besides, it was an environmental friendly thing to do.
"If you wanna save the earth, take the bus…" Robin snorted.
"I would, but they make lousy get-away vehicles…" Slade chuckled.
Robin shook his head, giving up trying to get the last word.
As they remerged into the 'den' Robin gathered up the DVD-discs containing copies he had made of the surveillance photo, showing the perpetrator stalking the women. He put it all together and then looked up as Slade suddenly completely serious.
"So… what now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I have to get this evidence to the police, probably leave another statement... then I thought about having chicken for dinner and- are you stupid? What about us?" Robin crossed his arms. "What was this? A one time thing? Or are we a couple? Do you even want my number once the Titans kick me out?"
"Why would they do that?" Slade asked. "Or are you planning on telling them?"
"I won't have to. BB have already been sniffing the air when I got back from the dates, and then we barely touched…now… he will know in a heartbeat. Can't have a leader that goes around-- dating criminals… not good for business."
"You just realized this?" Slade asked carefully, not really wanting to give away his position just yet.
Robin sighed and his shoulder's slumped.
"No… I knew from the beginning… I knew that if I let myself do this, then that was it… the end of Robin, leader of the Teen Titans. Even if they forgive me, and they are great friends so they just might… I can't lead them anymore… and since I can't have both worlds…" Robin glanced up at Slade from behind the long curtain for still damp locks. "I just… want to know if you'll be there… at all? Just be honest. I can handle myself, don't worry. I'm used to-"
"Shut up and come here." Slade growled, ending Robin's 'I'm a big boy'-speech by pulling him closer. That speech never works when your lower lip quivers, anyway.
"With Slade? Man, are you crazy?"
"But that is close to an act of treachery, is it not?"
"Dude, get a shower, you stink!"
"Did you know who he was all the time?"
Robin looked at his friends. All-in-all this wasn't going to badly. At least he had gotten a 'I have something to tell you' in before BB had bristled like a wild cat, so they didn't blame him for trying to hide it. He hadn't even sneaked in, even calling up ahead, making sure everyone was present for an emergency meeting.
"I hope not, maybe, sorry, and yes, sorry again." he tried to answer their questions and accusations. "That's why I'm leaving."
"What about Slade? What about next time he tries to burn down the city or blow it to smithereens… are you just gonna sit on the sidelines, cheering him on?" Cyborg wanted to know, looking dangerous.
Maybe this wasn't going all that well, after all.
"Slade won't bother Jump again… it's not what he usually does anyway… he just wanted to get my attention."
"What? That was his way of pulling your pigtails?" Raven asked disbelievingly.
"Well, what can I say? He's childish…" Robin threw his arms out and grinned. He soon got serious again, though.
"I understand that you are angry, and shocked, and YES, BB, I stink, I get it, stop making that face… but having sex, -don't look like that! – with a criminal is not a crime… sure you could claim I was aiding him or hiding him, but you haven't actually asked me where his base is, have you? No, don't… I don't want to hide anything from you, but I have already broken enough trusts lately. I'm moving out. I'll stay in Jump for a while and you are welcome to call me… no, Raven I won't live with Slade, I'll get my own place… this is something I have been wanting to do for a while… I love you, it's been an honor to be your leader, but I need to be on my own now… You are strong individuals, and even stronger as a team… I know that you are angry at me right now, but don't disappoint me by letting Jump suffer for it… I'll be in my room, packing."
There was a soft knock on the door, and Robin straightened up from his suitcase. It was so damn hard to decide what to pack. He would have to send for the other stuff later.
He looked up to see Starfire in the doorway.
"Do you love him?"
The toughest question in the world.
"No… maybe… I'm just getting to know him… It's not that simple." Robin tried.
"But you love us?"
"Yes. With all my heart."
"Then it is simple, is it not?"
"No… this isn't even about Slade, Star… I wouldn't say he doesn't matter, mostly because he would smack my ass blue if I did, but this is mostly about me. I need this. I know you can't understand…"
"I do. You are turning into a Grimlaak."
Robin winced, but Starfire smiled sweetly.
"It is not a bad word, Robin. On my planet, warriors begin as Garraags, fighters within a family, but then they need to take the step of next. They become lone fighters. Grimlaaks."
Robin smiled.
"I need to be a Grimlaak, Starfire…"
"Yes. I know. I have seen it, do you not remember?"
"Nightwing? But that must be years from now? My hair was much lo- oh…"
"Yes." Starfire smiled again. "I do see him in you."
"Thank you." Robin said quietly. As Star was about to turn away, he stopped her with a question. "Star? Tell me… what happens to Grimlaags in the end?"
Starfire beamed at him.
"They find the strength and the wisdom, and with this… they return."
"Because a group is stronger?" Robin asked.
"No. Because love is."
Robin mounted his R-cycle, which he would have to give a new paintjob now, by the way, feeling calm. He knew this was the right decision. Right before he started the bike, his untraceable cell phone rang.
"Robin." he answered, knowing fully well who it was.
"How about playing tonight?" Slade purred.
"Sorry, Dragon… but if he wants I'll let the Knight go apartment hunting with me?" Robin chuckled as the disgruntled sound in the other end. "Tell you what… I'll call you when I find a place." he offered.
"It better not take too long… or I'll come and find you…" Slade threatened on the other end. "And you can't imagine the peril the fair maiden will be in when I do…"
"That sounds like a dare… you are on, Dragon… find me before nightfall tomorrow, or you will have to spend a week as my Knight." Robin grinned and clicked the phone shut.
He was still wearing the grin as he pulled out of the hidden garage. He didn't know what this new life would bring, but he sure as hell would make certain it was interesting.
The End.
A/N: There is a problem with Sladin stories (What, only one, you ask? Yes. One… ;o) ) and that is the ending… you could cut off somewhere leaving it open, that's fine… maybe that's BETTER in a way… you can let Robin rejoin his team, or you can let them end up together, in an angsty or in a fluffy way… or you can let one or both of them die, I suppose…
I choose the fluffier ending for this one, but I didn't want it to resemble "Terms…" too much… I wanted Robin more independent, and I hoped I was able to achieve that… I also didn't want him to leave the life of a hero, but I couldn't see him with the Titans either… especially since I didn't want Slade out of his life completely… and I know I totally overdid this… it was supposed to be a silly cross-dressing drabble after all, and now, twenty-four pages later, I'm suddenly taking it serious… AAAARGH! It wasn't supposed to be this way! Bad writer! –slaps my hand- But… I think I'm falling for this little fairy tale… I hope you did too…
Don't let the dragons push you around!
/Wynja