Merry Christmas kitsunechibiko! You actually wanted a sequel to "The Peace Contract", but, since you are you, you didn't want it too dark and not non-con. –grin- I wrote this for you with the reservation that this is ONE way this story could go… MAYBE I'll write another in the future, but that one will, in that case, be much darker… couldn't do that to your Christmas wish, however! I hope I didn't overdo it on the fluff, either, though… maybe I did… I will hear from some people… -grin- I just hope YOU will like it!
Oh, and a note… some of you will react to a name in this story. Just read the bottom A/N afterwards, and I'll explain, kay?
This is the last of the Christmas drabbles! I want to wish you all a happy holiday, and I will return at New Years! There is a wedding then, isn't there? You all got your invitations, right? ;o) I'm also planning a new chaptered story, so don't think I'm just being lazy over here, kay? ;o)
A New Future
From the Peace Contract, the epilogue:
Suddenly the computer in the corner buzzed into life and Robin made an irritated sound. He had forgotten to turn it off again… it had clearly gone into it's 'sleep' mode, but it activated itself every now and then, often scaring him. He was walking up to it to turn it off, when a face he hoped he would never see again, appeared on the screen.
"Hello, Robin."
To say the boy jumped was an understatement. He gasped and took several steps back until he fell onto his bed. As he scrabbled to get up, the man on the screen chuckled. He wasn't wearing his mask, actually he even looked to be wearing a regular shirt instead of his armor.
"So flustered, boy? Well it has been a long time, hasn't it?"
"What- what do you want, Slade?" Robin growled, but his voice shook so badly it sounded like a whimper. The boy's finger hovered over the alarm button by the side of his bed. Slade might only be on the screen, but there might be a way to track the transmission, even though Robin suspected that if there were it was because Slade wanted it tracked.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm coming for you soon."
"No! No, leave me alone!" Robin yelled, his face having turned white. He wasn't even considering that he might be safe here, he knew Slade could get to him if the man said he could. Slade didn't lie. He was about to push the button as the man on the screen smiled and tilted his head to his side, letting his eyes roam over the boy's body until Robin thought that he could feel the man's hands as well.
"Oh, but you need me… don't you Robin?"
"No! I don't need you, Slade, I never have!" Robin snarled, but he was still shaking badly, clutching the bedspread until it tore.
"But I have watched you… how you roll up your comforter to hug at night, as you miss my body... how you touch your throat, wishing the collar was still there… how you scream out my name-"
"That was a dream! It was just a dream!" Robin had tears rolling down his cheeks now. Slade had been watching. He had been here all this time… they had told him that he was safe here… they had lied!
"Yes, but you seemed to enjoy it so much, pet… all that moaning and begging…"
"Stop it!"
Slade chuckled again.
"Don't worry, little one… you will experience it for real soon enough… I know what you need now…"
"What- what do you mean?" Robin's finger withdrew slightly from the button.
"Robin…I know all your little secrets…I have been watching you, remember…? You belong to me… and the child you carry does to..."
Robin stared at the face on the screen. He couldn't move or even breathe. He knew he was pregnant, he had known for four months and had suspected it for a week or so before that. The knowledge had made his world turn upside down once more, and he had been living in fear ever since. The fear of losing this child too, the fear of anyone finding out, the terror when he understood that he had to tell someone, eventually… and the fear of what would happen then. Add the worry that something might go wrong if he didn't tell… Covering this was the shadow of Slade, which never left. He relived the days as a pet every night. The bad ones and the somewhat better ones. It was like different people dreaming, different voices, different points of view. Some nights he was screaming in pain and fear, and others he was, disgustingly, moaning in pleasure, reveling in being the man's pet and loving every minute of it… Loving Slade. His morning sickness the first trimester had always been worse after nights like that.
Perhaps the worst thing, however, was that he was all alone. He knew he had to share his secret, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He remembered the look on Bruce's face when Slade had told him the first time. He had more or less decided that he should tell Clark first. Not Alfred. He didn't want to upset the man, or make him to worry… Clark was… safer… and he had defended the baby even when Robin himself had hated the thing growing inside him. He had said that every child was a gift. He would understand, Robin felt it. But still, he couldn't bring himself to tell. Now, however… now he had no choice…
All those thoughts and emotions flashed through Robin's head in an instant, appearing clearly on his face as well. Slade had no trouble reading his little bird.
"Easy, Robin. Don't panic… everything will be well." he said in a deep , soothing voice.
The boy's eyes seemed to snap back, focusing on him once more. Robin let out a dry, strangled chuckle. Before he was able to say anything, however, Slade continued. "Go tell your father, Robin. Tell him you're pregnant. How do you think he'll react? Be happy for you? I've told you this before, haven't I? What do you think he'll do? Let it live? Let it join the family? Live happily ever after?" Slade shook his head. "He'll never love the baby, Robin, you know that… tell him, and you'll put the child in great danger." The man saw a stony, determined look settle on Robin's face and tried not to smile. The boy would go straight to Bruce, and Bruce, Slade was sure, would react badly from the shock. He knew he would. Given time the man might really come around, but by then, it would be too late. "No, Robin, you shouldn't tell him. I'm willing to offer you a deal."
"W-what kind of a deal?" Robin asked quietly.
"Forgiveness and protection. Come back to me, and you and the baby will be safe. All you have to do is walk outside those gates and I'll find you."
Robin stared at the screen. Safe. It was such a mocking word to him now, almost a curse. Only a few minutes ago, he hade believed that he was safe in here. Safe… It called to him. It was what he wanted. More than 'happiness' or 'wealth' or even 'love'. Those words meant close to nothing. 'Safe' was everything.
"You will receive no punishment …" Slade continued, "but that offer only stands if you come to me willingly… if I have to come and get you… well…"
Robin threw himself forward and turned the screen off. He had felt a pull, urging him to obey the man and it had pierced his heart like a cold dagger, filling him with fear. There was only one thing he could do. He had to do it. He had to tell Bruce.
Walking downstairs, he figured that he could soften the blow by talking to someone else first, but then he squared his shoulders. He had been a hero, damn it, and he might be scared, but he was no coward. He would face this. Dumping it on someone else first, would perhaps help himself to feel better, but not the poor person he told… No. He was, if not responsible for its creation, at least responsible for the baby now. He was the only one it got.
He found Bruce in the lounge for once. It was the last place he would have looked before all this happened, but lately it seemed that the man had taken a step back from his busy life, just, Robin suspected, to be available. Robin really appreciated this, and ignored the little spiteful voice that said that it wished the man had thought of this a lot sooner… like when he was little, for example.
"Bruce?"
"Robin?" the man looked up, surprised. Robin's slipper-clad feet hadn't made any noise on the deep carpet. "What's the matter? You are pale…. feeling sick again?" The man had some disturbing news for the boy, something he had put of telling him for almost two days… and now didn't seem to be the time either.
"No… no, there's something I have to tell you."
The attention he got from his guardian was almost painful to Robin, who fought against the urge to shy away.
"Please, sit, Robin… you know you can tell me anything…"
Robin almost laughed at the cliché, but, somehow, in situations like these, those made it easier. Robin sat down in a plush chair opposite the man, pulling the thick, oversized robe he had put on, tighter around him.
"I've been… I mean, I… there's something I haven't told you…" Robin started, relived that Bruce only nodded in encouragement. He studied the man. His mentor. His guardian. Not father. No. Slade liked to refer to Bruce as Robin's father, but in Robin's mind he wasn't. He was a father-figure, yes, and he loved him. He considered Bruce and Alfred to be family… He had been too old when his parent's died to really call the man father, though. But it was the closest thing he got, and he really could use both some fatherly love and advice right now. Robin lowered his gaze to his knees.
"Before… before the Tower collapsed… Slade… he raped me… and, as you told me… Raven had… restored…" Robin looked up into the man's eyes, but he couldn't see any sign of understanding. Bruce was always one to connect the dots, but this time, apparently, his brain failed him. Robin took a deep breath. "Bruce… I'm pregnant."
Silence.
After almost a minute, Robin dared to look up. Bruce's face was white and hard, like marble. He looked dead.
"Impossible." the man hissed.
Robin ducked his head and opened his robe. Underneath he was only wearing boxers and a tight t-shirt. A t-shirt that hadn't been tight at all a few months ago. His swollen belly was very evident.
Bruce got on his feet, startling Robin, who drew back into the chair, looking up at the man. Robin would never forget that face. Bruce stared at Robin's stomach in pure disgust and rage, like it was a cancer growth, threatening a loved ones life.
"How did this happen?" the man growled. Robin wasn't sure what to answer, but barely had time to open his mouth before the man continued. "You said you had bled! You lied to me! And why haven't you told me until now? You wanted to protect it? Did you? You want this… this monster?"
Robin had pressed himself further back into the chair and was staring up at the man in terror. He had never seen Bruce looking this furious. The baby felt the tension and moved, making Robin put a hand protectively over his stomach. Seeing this made Bruce even more livid.
"You do, don't you? You want the monster's child? What's wrong with you? I will call a surgeon in the morning, and we'll take care of this!"
"No!" Robin could no longer be silent, not when the life of his child was at stake. "No! I'm five month's pregnant, it's illegal!"
"So was everything Slade did to you! That's not a baby, it's a crime against nature, against everything… it needs to die!"
Robin pushed himself up with difficulty. Moving, and especially getting up from sitting or lying down, had started to be increasingly difficult with his otherwise lithe frame.
There were no words… there was nothing he could say… that the baby was his, that it was innocent, that he wanted it… none of that would Bruce understand. Robin drew back and eventually fled out of one of the doors, flinching as he heard something breaking against the door he had just closed.
Robin wasn't aware himself where he was going, and his feet led him towards the main door. He walked out, hearing the snow creak under his slippers, pulling the robe tightly once again. He didn't feel the cold however. It was soon Christmas, he realized. His first one at the manor for years, really, since he had only visited briefly when he was a Titan. Or it should have been his first.
After walking down the long driveway, Robin reached the immense iron wrought gate. A shadow moved on the other side, coming closer.
"Robin…"
It was half a greeting, half a question.
Robin stopped. Only bits and pieces of metal between them, but he was still thankful for them. He could still turn back. Who knew, he might even reach the manor, before…
"You are not taking the child from me." Robin said darkly. "Not now, and not when it's born." Demanding this from Slade took guts, but when it came to the baby, Robin's courage had no boundaries.
"What kind of man would I be if I threatened to do that?" Slade asked, knowing things had gone as planned with Bruce. "There is no contract anymore, no reason to move the child to keep it safe… actually, it would be safest with us."
"You will not hurt me while I'm pregnant. If you want revenge, then you will wait." Robin insisted next, his blue eyes meeting Slade's single gray steadily.
"I have no intention of hurting you, Robin. You are mine, and you have to relearn that, but that is all. Didn't you hear me? I forgive you for leaving. Your slate is clean. Now, come to me."
Robin didn't move. He might, perhaps, have turned away, if the door to the house hadn't slammed open. It was too far away to see, but Robin thought it was Bruce, and the man was screaming something, still enraged. Robin reached for the gate's handle and pulled it open.
Twenty-four hours later, and Robin was dead on his feet. They had spent most of the time in a car, in silence, and he had tried to sleep but couldn't. Not surprising, perhaps, considering his company. He was now being led into what looked like a somewhat run-down Victorian house in the middle of nowhere. There were just forests and fields as far as the eye could see, and that worried him.
"Where's the closest hospital?" Robin asked, breaking the silence at last.
"You won't need one." was all Slade answered.
Robin glanced at the man. If he had said it earlier, Robin would have interpreted it as Slade was planning to kill him, but to take him this far just for that? Not likely. And if the man wanted the child, he needed it delivered safely, right?
"Would you care to elaborate?" Robin asked dryly. Slade scared him to death, but he had to protect his child and wanted nothing to do with half-truths and word-games.
"You'll see."
Apparently Slade hadn't read the rules.
As they walked into the house, it suddenly didn't look so run down anymore, quite the opposite, actually. It was spotlessly clean, sparsely but comfortable furnished and done in light colors. It looked like it came from a magazine, and it probably had. If Slade had had this done, Robin doubted that he had wasted time actually picking out the sofa.
Robin heard footsteps coming towards them and looked up.
"No…!"
"Heh-heh… Not happy to see me, boy?"
"Chang? But… but you are in… they…" Robin closed his mouth, realizing he sounded stupid. Slade had obviously helped the blasted man escape… he just wondered why no one had told him about it? On the other hand, he had a feeling they hadn't wanted to scare him.
"I'm sorry you object to the company, but Professor Chang is the best option for the baby's sake at the moment, don't you agree?"
Robin could only nod, and actually felt his worries lift a little.
"Yes. Yes, I do. I'm sorry, Professor, seen from that point of view I actually am glad to see you…"
The horrid little man chuckled.
"Good… good… I've set up the equipment for all the tests. Will we do them now?"
Slade looked over at Robin.
"Tomorrow, I think. My little bird needs to rest. Robin, my bedroom is up the stairs and second door on the right."
"Oh? And where's mine?" Robin asked sourly, too tired to have much sense at the moment.
"Very funny, pet." Slade drawled, noting with satisfaction how Robin flinched at the title. "Go now, or you'll regret it."
Exhausted, Robin didn't feel like arguing, especially since he had his child to consider. He walked heavily up the stairs and found the room. It all looked so… normal. It reminded him of the manor, of a real home… he had been expecting a bunker somewhere, but he had gotten to know Slade by now and he knew the man was practical but liked to be comfortable as well. Well… there probably was a torture-chamber somewhere…
He studied the room, the large oak framed bed, the large window nook where it looked like one could sit very comfortably, a fireplace holding a slowly dying fire, and a pair of stuffed chairs with a table between them. There were also a few bookcases, but Robin wasn't up to checking out the titles. A door stood slightly ajar, and Robin looked longingly into a large bathroom, equipped with both a shower and a big tub. He would have loved a soak, but he was too tired, and only used the toilet before returning to the bedroom. He shrugged off the robe, only now realizing that he was still only wearing that and his slippers, over his boxers and t-shirt.
The bed, even considering who it belonged to, looked inviting, and Robin walked over to the right side. He always slept on the right side. He didn't even consider it; he just fell into the routine like it never had ended.
The sheets felt cool against his skin. The warmth from the fireplace was soothing, but there still was a certain rawness to the air that always seemed to linger when a house hadn't been lived in for a while. Robin wondered how Slade had found this place. Had it belonged to him for long? Or had he just killed the people who lived here and moved in? Maybe that was why it was furnished in the first place? His head full of questions and worry, Robin never thought he would fall asleep, but everything that had happen in the passed day took its toll, and he was actually out like a light within minutes.
Robin woke up curled up against a warm body, and with a large hand resting on his stomach, inside of his t-shirt.
"This is a lively one." he heard Slade purr. As usual the man immediately knew when he was awake. "Has he caused you any trouble? Any pains?"
It was a simple question, but it made a dam burst inside Robin. So long, so many months he had had to keep all his fears and questions on the inside, and now… now someone asked… someone who already knew…
"I… the morning sickness was terrible… they thought I had the stomach flu until I was able to hide it… I've… I've been so scared…" Robin said in a small voice. "Without Raven, I didn't know… didn't know if it would survive…"
"Raven mainly kept your hormones in check so the contract wouldn't break." Slade said, "But it probably helped that you were in the manor and felt rather safe, despite everything. You are safer now, though. Both of you." Slade moved his hand slightly, and the baby seemed to sense it, kicking against that area instead. Slade chuckled.
"I've… I think I've changed more this time…" Robin whispered, jumping a bit at the tickling sensation in his belly. "It's been… harder… emotionally…"
"Really? Somehow I'm having trouble believing that…" Slade snorted, and Robin couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"Well… there's also… well…" Robin blushed and suddenly remembered who he was talking to.
"What?" Slade asked.
"Nothing."
"It could be important for the sake of the baby, Robin. I know this is awkward, but you need to tell me everything."
"It's my… my nipples… they… they are very sore."
"So they were the first time."
"And… bigger…" Robin mumbled, quite red in the face by now.
"Oh? Let me see." Slade purred and raised the shirt. Robin heard the man hiss, and looked up into an eye filling with lust. "They are gorgeous, pet…" the man purred and let a finger trace the areola which was much darker then Robin's usual pale pink. He then flicked the finger over the nipple itself, making Robin whimper faintly. The man didn't miss, however, that the young man's hips slightly bucked as well. The nipples were very swollen, the size of large peas, and very hard. The whole area around them seemed swollen and enlarged, and Slade, for once, felt rather amazed.
"Looks like you are developing breasts, Robin."
Robin made a noise, embarrassed beyond belief, and the man chuckled once more.
"We'll ask Chang about this later, he might be able to help..." he tried to calm him. "Any other changes I should know about?"
Robin shook his head but Slade noticed how he pressed his legs together, and his hand trailed down to the boy's boxers.
"Something in here? How curious…" the man smirked.
Robin tried to press his thighs together even more, but Slade's hand easily pried them apart.
"Oh… I see… how precious…" The man leered, as his hand had found its target.
"It's… it's not dangerous?" Robin stuttered, tears in his eyes.
"No. Testicular atrophy is an effect of using Anabolic steroids, and I guess it has happened since your hormone levels are out of order. They will probably change back to normal when the baby is born."
"You think so?"
"We'll ask Chang to look into that as well. Now, don't look so embarrassed, it's for your own good. You and the child."
Robin nodded, feeling rather vulnerable, and hating that.
"You chose this." Slade said sternly and moved his hand. Robin jumped a little, as he realized that it was still inside his boxers. "You knew this was the best place for you, and I won't have any of your brooding attitude. It was your decision."
"It wasn't much of a choice!" the teen objected. "Bruce was going to kill the baby!" Robin didn't like the grin on Slade's face and glared.
"Yes. You did well by going directly to him… if you had gone to any of the others, things might have turned out differently…"
Robin's eyes widened as he played back that conversation in his bedroom, and the pieces fell into place.
"You manipulating-"
"Yes, yes, enough with the flattery…" Slade chuckled. "It's not that hard you know, making a scared over-hormonal teenager do what you want. I'm amazed that so many parents fail at it."
Robin was seething, and tried to scramble away from the man. Slade only tightened his hold, though, and with a yelp Robin stayed still once more.
"You- you've been planning this? For how long?" Robin growled.
"Since the day the Tower fell, of course. It took some time, considering I had to revert to my back-up resources, but not to worry. They are extensive enough to make sure you remain mine for as long as I please."
"Why?" Robin asked, and then he closed his eyes and let his head fall back onto the pillow. "To make me pay?" he asked quietly. "To make sure I'd never grow up or be happy? Why do you hate me so much to do this to me again? The last few months… I'm broken, Slade… I'll never be whole again… you needn't have bothered… sure, you can make sure I'm in more physical pain, but…"
"It's not hate, Robin…" Slade cut him off. "It's… fascination, I guess. And ownership. I made you mine. You were my perfect little pet, and you will remain that."
"And the child? Is he or she a pet too?" Robin asked tiredly.
"No. This child will grow up a perfect mix of both of us. Eventually I hope he or she will follow in my footsteps, though. To take the place you refused."
"As… your apprentice?" Robin opened his eyes, looking up at the man blankly.
"Yes. I might have offered you that place once more, but I have found that I much prefer you under me than beside me…" the man leered. "And now… time to remind you of your duties, don't you think?"
Robin gasped as his boxers were torn off. He had known this was coming, of course, and struggling seemed almost childish. It didn't mean he was ready, though.
"Can't… can't we wait? A-after the examination- uuhhh…" Slade had devoured his entire length as a reply, even his now somewhat shrunken balls. As the hot wetness and suction left, Robin mumbled and thrust his hips upwards in frustration.
"So close already? Poor neglected boy… I've watched you every night you know. Lots of soiled sheets, weren't there?"
"H… hormones…" Robin defended himself, as Slade's tongue slid up over his rounded stomach.
"Oh, yes… and habit, no doubt. You were used to getting fucked practically daily and suddenly you were cut off… must have been hell…"
Robin manages a small smirk.
"You tell me."
To his amazement Slade merely laughed, he had almost expected to at least get his face slapped.
"I assure you I have kept myself busy enough." the man assured him. "Preparing this house for you, and then for our child as well, has distracted me enough… although, I'm eager to make up for it…" Slade reached over him and retrieved a bottle of gel from the nightstand, before making a few cold drops fall over Robin's tender nipples. Robin squirmed as they hardened even more, almost painfully, and Slade played with the cool gel, coating both of them until Robin's hips bucked repeatedly.
"There, there… I'll get there…" Slade smirked, making Robin glare weakly. After teasing him some more, Slade's mouth suddenly covered Robin's in a heated kiss. Robin tried not to let his urges overrun him, but as Slade then pinched one swollen nipple he cried out into the man's mouth, letting him in. A gel-coated finger was at his entrance then, slowly pushing in. Robin clenched around it. It felt so big, so filling, and it was only one finger! He started to almost panic then, whimpering against Slade's lips.
"Oh, you are so tight, Robin… it happens when you haven't been properly fucked in a while… it is almost going to be like taking your virginity again."
Now Robin really panicked. That had hurt.
"Shhhh… easy now… I'm going to be generous with you and take it slowly… you'll remember how good it feels soon enough, pet…"
However much he hated it, Robin had to admit that Slade was right. The finger inside him quickly started to make him hotter as it massaged his inner walls. As it found his prostate it merely rested there, pressing lightly, until Robin thought he would explode, and started to press to down on the hand. Slade had not stopped kissing his mouth, jaw, and shoulder, and as the man's lips latched on to one of his nipples, Robin threw his head back and screamed, fisting his hands in the man's hair.
"Come so soon?" Slade chuckled, and Robin realized he had. He also realized that he was stretched by three fingers by now, and that he wanted more. He whimpered again, eyes glazed over.
He pulled at Slade, willing him into position, and as the head of the man's cock breached him, Robin was close to coming again. Slade minded his stomach, only making shallow thrust, but Robin, his mind drowned in pleasure by now, wanted more. He grunted and made a move, letting Slade know what he wanted, and the man pulled out as Robin turned around on his hands and knees. Sinking in to the hilt again with one swift thrust, Slade continued to fuck him harder. Robin pushed back, meeting each stroke eagerly, feeling like a complete whore, but unable to stop himself. It was like all his blood had rushed to his groin, leaving nothing behind to make his brain work. He could barely hold himself up, sinking down on his forearms as the thrusting increased, Robin was pushed towards the edge again so quickly it nearly hurt, and as Slade closed in as well, he yanked Robin backwards by his neck to impale him even deeper. No… not by his neck, Robin realized… by something… Robin screamed in frustration and helplessness as he came, clutching at his throat. It was back. The collar was back.
"I won't be your damn pet!" Robin roared, fighting to get the collar off. Unfortunately, Slade seemed to have changed the latch to a small combination lock.
"The time for making demands has passed, Robin. I agreed to letting you keep the baby and not hurting you while you were pregnant… even though you are about to earn it."
Robin stared at the man, wanting to punch his face in. So he did. It wasn't like Slade could control his every move now, or make his friends pay.
The man's head had snapped back from the blow, but he turned back like nothing had happened, wiping a thin trail of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Impressive. I had expected to find you more docile now." the man smirked, angering Robin further.
"Take it off, Slade!"
"No. And I would behave myself if I were you, boy. You still have family left."
Robin froze for a second but then sneered.
"You are bluffing, Slade. You wouldn't risk it. You know Superman will be there, and you might have had the resources to keep him away when you were almost ruling the world, but now? He will get you in a second."
Slade's grin widened.
"Very good, Robin. Yes. I was bluffing, I admit it." he said easily, making Robin's jaw drop slightly. "It doesn't change things, though. You are mine and if you want an easy life, you'll wear that collar to prove it. Now control your temper. It's not good for the baby. Children born as prematurely at only 5 months have in some cases survived, but I assure you that I don't have anything close to the equipment needed for that."
Robin only snorted.
"Sure, I don't even get to be angry, is that so? I should have taken my chances with Bruce."
"You stomach would have been flat by now." Slade bit back, "Do you want me to take you back?"
Robin paled, his arms curling around his middle, protecting the bulge. He knew Slade was bluffing again, but his reaction overran his logic. As Slade saw that the boy wasn't about to talk back to him right now, he gestured towards the bathroom. "Clean up. You are to see Chang before breakfast."
Robin's feet started walking towards the bathroom, seemingly without caring about what the rest of him wanted.
Robin was sitting in the window-nook in the bedroom, watching large snowflakes fall outside, adding to the thickening white blanket. It was the evening of his first day at the house, and he had barely spoken a word to Slade all day. He wasn't giving the man the silent-treatment, he told himself, that would be childish, he just had nothing to say. Instead, he was thinking. He sighed and tried to look at the positive side of things. The examination had gone well. Chang had told him everything was normal, and when he had seen the image of the little one on the screen, he had cried from pure joy. He couldn't believe it was possible to love someone that much. Chang hadn't told him what gender the child was, saying he didn't have that kind of expertise, but Robin was fine with that.
Slade had then taken him for breakfast and after that a tour of the house. It turned out to be an old estate of Slade's, a house he had bought many years ago as a hiding-place. Robin felt relived that he wouldn't stumble onto a dead family in the basement.
Next to Slade's, or rather their bedroom, Robin supposed, sneering at the thought, he had been surprised to find a fully equipped nursery. He had to smile a bit, though, as it was very Slade-like in design. Not a frill anywhere, but extremely thought out and practical. It even had a small kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave oven to store and heat the formula in, as well as a comfortable chair for feeding, a changing table with a washing area next to it, with a small tub at the right height for bathing the child. There was a cupboard stacked with diapers, linen and basic clothes, more than enough to get them through the first months, Robin figured. Something basic, the room lacked, though.
"What about toys?" Robin asked, for once breaking the silence.
"Newborns are in no need for toys. I have acquired some things that are said to heighten the fine motor skills, as well as hand-eye coordination, but those are for when the child is older. Too much stimuli too early can cause stress and even learning disability… look at the children of today, raised in front of the TV… idiots, all of them…"
Robin looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and after a while Slade shrugged.
"I'll get you a catalogue and you may purchase something. A bear perhaps… or a doll."
Robin nodded curtly. He now had an idea of how Slade had planned to raise their child and he had realized that he would have to play the counterpart to his role.
Damn… I really need to BE the mother… Robin realized as he sat in the window, shaking his head in disbelief. He had taken the time to look through the bookcases and it was all about children. Pre-natal care, newborns, the first few years, medical books, child psychology, education and even cooking books with special recipes of soft foods … and Robin was completely convinced that Slade had read every word. All this meant one thing to Robin, though: Slade really wanted the child. That was good. Well… mainly good, at least. A too focused Slade was dangerous as well, but Robin had no idea how to take care of a baby, and Slade even had earlier experience, since he once had two sons of his own. Robin sighed again, leaning his head against the cool window. He needed Slade. He couldn't do this on his own, not the medical part or taking care of the child… if he had stayed, talked to Clark first… but Bruce wouldn't come around that easily, and it would be impossible for him to stay in the manor… and where would he go? He couldn't stay with anyone else, they had their own lives… taking both him and a baby in… no. They might say yes, but Robin couldn't impose on anyone like that… And now…Even if he escaped… they had all fought Slade so hard, how could they ever forgive him for going back?
No… maybe this was the best place for him… he pulled at the collar again. It was the same one, but it only had the letter "S" on it, this time. Slade had stolen it back in the confusing few days after the Tower collapsed, and no one had even noticed… well, when you are trying to push a whole building down into evidence-bags, some things might go missing. It was enough, though. Robin made up his mind.
"I won't play your games anymore."
Slade looked up from his desk to see Robin standing in the doorway. The teen had free range of the house, except for the locked communication room. Still, Slade had thought he would stay and sulk in the bedroom all day. This room, like the others unlocked ones, didn't have any computers, here Slade worked by hand, or read. There were bookshelves, and a fireplace as well, like most of the rooms had, with comfy reading chairs in front of it. The desk was a heavy oak one, three hundred years old, and a favorite of Slade's. Now he put the pen down, however.
"Oh?" he said, leaning back. "And what games would that be?"
"Pet and Master." Robin said calmly. "And I would like to ask you to let me tell you why."
Slade gestured at the chair in front of his desk, and, to his surprise, the boy took a seat. The man studied him closely. It was clear that the teen had thought this through carefully.
"Yes?" he urged Robin on.
"You want this child, don't you?"
"Yes. I thought that was obvious." Slade nodded.
Robin gave him a small, tight smile.
"It's… starting to sink in… Well, so do I. I already love this baby so much it hurts. You have told me your plan of making him or her your apprentice, right?"
"Yes, Robin." Slade sighed "Again, you already know this."
"Well, since being trained by you myself, I know that the one thing one needs to follow in your footsteps over all else, is a strong mind and stability… we are both going to be in our child's life, influencing it… how will he or she react when it dawns on the kid that you treat me like a pet? That one parent has the worth of a dog in the other's eyes? Will he or she feel safe then? Maybe turn against you? Or me, for that matter… how can you be sure about the reaction?" Robin leaned back a little and studied the man's face. Slade seemed to be thinking his words over, and that was even more than Robin had dared to hope for. Time to let the man hear something he wanted to hear. "Look, Slade, I need you. I understand that, I really do. I'll stay for the baby's sake, and I'll even let you fuck me whenever you want, hell, I enjoy it too, as much as I hate to admit it… but I won't be your dog. I won't sit at your feet and wag my tail whenever you look at me… and you know why? Not because I'm proud, and not because I don't think you can't find a million new ways to hurt me, not because I don't think you can break me again. No… I won't be your dog, because that's not the parent our child NEEDS."
Slade smiled slowly at him, but Robin couldn't decide if it was good or bad.
"It's not like our child will have a normal family anyway… or a normal life, for that matter." Slade challenged him.
"I'm not saying we'll become the fucking Brady-bunch!" Robin snorted. "Hell, we won't even get to the Bundy's level… But we can do the best we can. And we can do better than this. We can give the kid at least a shot at not being completely screwed up, right?"
Slade chuckled and got to his feet. Robin rose to, not wanting to be sitting down when the mercenary wasn't. He stood his ground, however, as Slade came up to him and tilted his head back for a kiss. As their lips parted there was a soft click and a weight disappeared around his neck as well as his soul.
"You are still mine, though…" Slade softly warned him. "And I'll keep this handy if it's needed."
Robin nodded, more than a bit overwhelmed that his plan had succeeded.
Maybe trying to take over the world really fucks up ones personality? Robin wondered, but then snorted at himself. No, Slade was still the same manipulating bastard he had always been, and- waaaaaait a minute….
"Did you-?" Robin stopped himself.
"Did I what?" Slade asked, looking up from shuffling some papers, innocence written all across his face.
Robin groaned, but didn't finish the sentence.
"Nothing…" he muttered.
"Ready for bed?" Slade grinned, and Robin wanted to punch him again. He was sure of it now… Slade had never wanted him back as a pet… for some reason the man had decided he wanted something else… and he had played him, beautifully, Robin admitted, until Robin himself had decided that it was best if he stayed with him… Robin shook his head in disgust with himself, but couldn't help but feel a tiny hint of admiration for Slade.
Staying of my own free will…Robin thought darkly to himself while entering the bedroom and pulling his sweater over his head. Yeah… free will, my ass… there is no such thing around Slade…
Robin had spent most of the day exploring the house on his own and was now outside, enjoying the snow and avoiding Chang, who had taken to walking around with a tape measurer. Apparently measuring his stomach constantly was very important for some chart or something. The professor had been over the moon about being able to take up his 'research' again, but Robin only played along to make sure everything was okay. He was in the backyard, where he was apparently allowed. There were a few outhouses and a large garage here, but they were all locked and the garage looked like it had one hell of a security system hooked up to it. That wasn't very surprising, as the only way to leave this place seemed to be to drive. He had checked it out, though, he wouldn't be Robin if he hadn't.
He looked up into the very blue sky. It had snowed most of the night, and the road outside was more or less invisible. Now it was clear, though, and rather cold. Robin was happy for the very large wardrobe Slade had provided for him, especially since it didn't include any skimpy outfits as far as he knew. It was all well fitting, though, and good quality. Warm. Very important when you were lying in the snow.
"What are you doing?" Slade asked, coming into view and blocking the sky.
"Step back, you'll ruin it!" Robin objected and sat up.
"Ruin what?" The man asked, sounding a bit annoyed.
"My snow-angel." Robin explained and held his hand out. Slade took it and helped him to his feet. Robin turned around to look at his artwork and grinned.
"Isn't that a bit childish?" Slade asked dryly.
"No. It's tradition. I make one every year."
Slade just shook his head and snorted.
"And I thought you were out here writing big letters in the snow so Superman might see…" he said.
"Damn! That's a really good idea!" Robin exclaimed, looking around thoughtfully.
"Forget it." Slade chuckled. "Lunch is ready."
A week passed by slowly. The soon-to-be parents had fallen into a strange truce. Robin was still sulking a bit over how Slade had tricked him… or, how he thought Slade had tricked him, because he knew better than to confront the man. No, let Slade think that he was content with his decision, and if, or rather when, it was time to leave, it would be easier to get away. There was no way Robin were going to stay with Slade for the rest of his life, and letting the man raise his child to become a killer? Over his dead body. He had to be careful, though, so that part didn't come true. Robin had no doubts about whom Slade would choose if it came down to it…
Robin had the place figured out by now. Slade still kept a few robots around, but mainly, it seemed, for housework. The rest of the things were probably in storage somewhere. Robin spent a lot of the time reading the baby-books, but mainly only ending up getting more confused and scared by every page. There was almost nothing these experts agreed upon, and the warnings about every horrible accident and decease that could happen to a child gave him nightmares.
All in all, they barely spent any time even in the same room, except for the nights, and, on occasion, when Slade sought him out for some 'fun'. First, Robin was more than happy with not spending any time with the man, but soon, having no one around, started to get to him. At least in the city there were people… and noise… out here there were only Slade, Chang, the robots and some crows he had spotted flying overhead one day. There wasn't even any TV or radio, and, naturally, no available computers to waste his time on. Talking to Chang was still something to be avoided, Robin felt, so one night, by the end of the week, he slipped into Slade's study, grabbed a book at random and sank down in one of the stuffed chairs in front of the fire.
"What brings me the pleasure?" Slade asked, amused, after a while.
"Boredom. And I felt lonely." Robin muttered, not even giving the man a glance.
"Enjoy it. Once the baby comes, you'll long to be bored again…" the man chuckled and returned to work.
This turned into a new routine. As soon as Robin got bored during the day, he sought Slade out. One reason that he continued to do so was that Slade never took advantage of him at those times, and Robin was grateful for that. If the man had, Robin would feel like he was begging Slade to fuck him, and would rather stay away. The man naturally knew this. Slade noticed, however, that Robin had spent the last couple of evenings mainly staring into the fire and chewing his lip. Patient he might be, but after three nights, Slade finally asked what was on the boy's mind.
"They don't even know that I'm alive…" Robin answered.
"Good." Slade said, knowing fully well who 'they' were.
"I want to call them." Robin said, looking up with a stubborn expression.
Slade let out a short laugh.
"No."
"Why? You can make the connection safe!" Robin objected.
"Oh yes. And the moment you call they will know, just because the connection is untraceable, that you are with me."
"So?" Robin shrugged "Don't you think they do already?"
"They might suspect it… but you left of your own free will, and you could have hitched a ride with anyone. They don't know. And I'm going to keep it that way."
"But it's Christmas!" Robin pointed out. "It's the 24'Th of December! I want to let them know I'm at least alive!"
"Do you think they'll care?" Slade asked, smirking.
"Don't even try. I know they do. Even Bruce…. a bit…" Robin huffed, making Slade smirk.
"That question would have had you sniffling just a year ago…" the man smirked.
Robin only snorted. He knew it was probably true, but things had changed. He had changed. Thank god.
"So let me write them a postcard." Robin insisted.
"Excuse me?" Slade had returned to his work, thinking the discussion was over, but now looked up again.
"Get someone to buy a postcard and send it here in an envelope. I'll write it, you read it, and then send it somewhere else to be stamped and posted… That's safe and it's a likely way for me to keep in touch if I had left on my own… right?"
"I like the way you think." Slade nodded. "Maybe letting them think you are on your own but out of trouble would calm everything down a bit… I'll think about it."
Robin nodded, smiling to himself. Slade might be in control, but as long as Robin got his way once in a while, life actually wasn't too bad.
Slade had been slightly wrong about the sniffling, though. Robin's hormones were driving him crazy, but whenever he felt like crying his heart out over something stupid, like there weren't two snowflakes that were alike, or something completely logical like being a prisoner of his worst enemy and seeing no way out, he tried to get away. The small home gym was a good place, or the kitchen. Locking himself up in a seldom used bathroom also proved a good idea. Yes. The crying spells he could mostly handle. The horniness, though, was more difficult. His pride forbade him from ever taking the first step, at least up front. In bed at night he could happen to come closer to the man and, sometimes, get what he wanted, but unfortunately his hormones didn't know how to tell the time, and he could become horny any time of the day. Robin wished he had some of those snug clothes at those times, thinking they might bloody well help towards his goal.
After about a week, Robin got to send his card. Christmas had passed without much notice, but Robin had warned Slade that there better be decorations next year. His son or daughter would not grow up without Christmas.
Writing his family was rather hard. Robin addressed the envelope to Alfred, in case Bruce would just rip it up without reading it. After thinking about it the whole night, Robin looked down on the finished result.
"Dear Alfred.
I wanted to let you know I'm okay, and so is the baby. I expect Bruce has told you that I'm pregnant? Bruce wanted me to have an abortion, but I couldn't. Slade might be the father, but it is still MY child too! So I left. I'm sorry I didn't have time to say goodbye, but I was too scared. I'm fine now, however. I've even found a surgeon for when it's time for the baby to be born… only four months left now! I have some savings Bruce doesn't know about, and I'm living off them for the moment. After the child is born I might be in contact again, perhaps come visit, but please don't look for me in the mean time. If I get in trouble, I promise to let Superman know, I know how… So please don't worry, and please try to forgive me… I love you all, but this is the right thing to do.
Love
Robin."
Finishing the card, he folded it and handed it to Slade. He knew the man would look for codes and hidden meanings and therefore had included none… this was all a game of trust, after all.
"Very touching." Slade smirked, as handed the card back.
"Fuck you." Robin snorted amiably, "But thank you for letting me send this."
"How do you know I will? It's not like you'll never find out if it gets there." Slade asked.
"You said you would." Robin shrugged. "I guess I just have to trust you."
"Good answer." the man smirked and Robin silently congratulated himself on another small victory.
One night, in the study, after watching Slade for days, Robin had to ask the man something.
"What do you do?"
Slade looked up from a book about ancient cultures, but on his desk was also a completely new article about dark matter, a few books about medicinal plants and one about gorillas, of all things. This was a rather usual mix of reading material for Slade and Robin was damned if he could figure out what was going on. And, once it's been awoken, he had to satisfy his curiosity. Slade didn't quite seem to understand the question, however, so Robin explained.
"What are you up to? Any new plans about ruling the world? Weapons of mass destruction? And how are gorillas involved? What are you working on all day and night?"
Slade glanced down on his desk and chuckled
"I see. Well, I do have some economical investments to oversee, but I usually take care of that in the morning. The rest of the day I generally study."
"Study? What?"
Slade gestured to the table.
"Everything."
"Don't you have people to kill or something?" Robin asked dryly, not quite believing the Slade would sit around and idly read all the time.
"Actually, no. I have arranged to take the next ten or fifteen years off."
"Ten or… what?" Robin's mouth was hanging open almost comically.
"You are not going to raise this child alone, Robin, I have made sure that I will be here."
"Fifteen years…." Robin could barely understand the concept… he would be over thirty in fifteen years!
"Well, it's not like my time is running out… and I consider this to be the most important investment in my life."
Robin was still not quite over it, staring at Slade as if the man had just told a knock-knock joke. Another aspect of this had just entered his mind, though.
"But… you are aware that we are having a child, right?"
"Yes. Did you think I was expecting a puppy?"
"No, but… you know… a kid! Who will throw up on you, have accidents, cry for no reason, be afraid of monsters under the bed, refuse to get dressed, throw food, wreck stuff… I mean… it's not gonna be this perfect creature!"
"I know." Slade snorted.
"Are you sure? Because I know what you are like when it comes to perfection! I remember what you look liked when Raven said I would have stretch marks…" Robin muttered dryly. As Slade only chuckled again, Robin got somewhat pissed. "What's so funny? Because Raven isn't here, and I will have stretch marks, and a scar from the c-section and god knows if I ever get my old body back!"
"Afraid I won't love you anymore?" Slade smirked.
Normally, Robin would just snap back, but right now, that comment proved just a bit too much. He had thought a lot about his family lately, about those who loved him… or should love him, and Slade's comment seemed to mock his very core. He felt tears welling up in his eyes before he could stop them, and already spilling over as he fought to get up from the deep chair. He tried to keep his eyes down so Slade wouldn't see, as he quietly excused himself and left the room.
He went to the bedroom and curled up in the window-sill, knowing that Slade would stay in the study for a few more hours. He let his tears run freely, and jumped a bit as the door opened. When he saw that it was Slade, he quickly turned his head towards the window, staring out into the complete darkness.
"You left."
"Just… tired." Robin said, fighting to keep his voice steady.
"I shouldn't have let you sent that card." Slade said bluntly.
Robin turned towards him now, sadness exploding into anger, his hormones working overtime.
"No? Because then I would just forget about them, right? You sit there and you say 'fifteen years', like it's nothing! It's… it's a lifetime! Alfred is an old man, will he even be alive then? And I'll never know! I'll never see them again! I gave that up to be able to safely have this baby, but if you say I'm not allowed to mourn them, then go to hell!" Robin was breathing rather harshly by now, cradling his stomach where the baby showed its resentment at being disturbed by kicking violently.
"Someone needs a nap." Slade said dryly, just a slight hint of amusement on his face.
"Someone needs a bullet in his brain, but that doesn't seem to be happening either." Robin growled, and then yelped as Slade came forward and scooted him up in his arms. Slade walked over to the bed and dropped him there. Not from very high up, but enough so that Robin understood that he'd better stay put.
"I understand that you are upset, Robin, I'm not trying to make fun of you. You need to calm down, though. You'll be a parent in a few short months, just focus on that. We'll talk more later."
Robin looked away, ignoring Slade, but he stayed in the bed even after the man had left the room and after tiring himself out after half an hours internal raving, he managed to fall asleep.
He woke up after midnight and found that Slade had gone to bed without waking him up. That was perhaps a nice thought, but Robin hated to fall asleep like this, fully clothed and without having brushed his teeth. He grumbled as he got up, or rather rolled up, and went to the bathroom. As he came back, he was wearing his comfy sleeping pants and a large t-shirt, as the room could get a bit nippy in the morning, and he crawled into the bed again, curling his toes under the warm comforter. He stretched out on his back, closed his eyes, and…. was wide awake. He sighed, muttering an ugly word or two. Now his whole sleeping cycle was out of sync as well…
"Not sleepy?" Slade suddenly said, turning towards him.
"Depends on how horny you are." Robin bit back.
Slade merely laughed, and the corner of Robin's lips twisted a bit as well.
"Ready to talk?" Slade asked.
"What about? You can't say anything to make me feel better…" Robin sighed, blinking as again there were some burning in his eyes. He hated hormones!
"Maybe not. At least not anything that would be true. But maybe you'll feel better if I told you that you are a part of my plan, that I do consider you an important part of this child's life. You are not just a vessel, Robin, to be thrown away once it's empty… I consider your skills and your intellect essential for the development of the baby. Do you understand?"
Robin turned his face towards Slade, his heart skipping a beat as that made their lips suddenly only a hairsbreadth apart.
"I do. And it… it does make me feel better… it just hurts so much sometimes…"
"Tell me… Would you leave without the child?" Slade suddenly asked.
"What? No!" Robin cried out, mortified.
"Then maybe, once he or she is old enough, we could see about taking you to Gotham for a surprise visit… not at the manor, though… Does Alfred run errands? You might be able to 'bump into him' in the city… I would make sure to remain unseen, but I wouldn't be worried about you not coming back to your child…"
Robin stared at him.
"Why? Why would you do something like that? Even mentioning it… it's… are you on drugs?"
Slade snorted.
"I'm doing it so the child won't grow up with a depressed parent. I won't pretend you'll be completely happy, but I want you comfortable enough to be all there for the child."
"Oh… so it's for completely selfish reasons, then? Good…" Robin said as Slade nodded. "You started to scare me there…"
"You'll find that I will go to great lengths for this baby." Slade said, a bit stiffly.
"Good." Robin rolled over with a grunt, turning his back on the man. "Because he or she wants fried bananas for breakfast."
Another week passed, and Robin spent a lot of time thinking about Slade and the whole situation. They had spoken a few more times, and he was beginning to understand that Slade was more complex than he first had thought. He was in no way easy to figure out, and the man's relationship to his unborn child was a mystery as well. Slade didn't only look forward to the baby, Robin suspected the man actually loved it… as far as a man like Slade could love. He didn't say as much, and definitely didn't get emotional, but the way his hand rested on Robin's stomach now and then… and then there was that strange half-smile that Robin caught him with at times… Everything about it gave Robin conflicting emotions. He actually did want Slade to love the baby, for the baby's sake… and love might make the man go easier on the child, although Robin thought that it might be the other way around. But… he shook his head, the emotions were too hard to even define… it couldn't be jealousy, could it? No, it couldn't. He didn't want Slade to love him too, he didn't want that kind of attention from him… he just felt strangely… left out.
He was standing in the bathroom at the moment, naked and soaking wet after a warm bath. He took a lot of those, since he had started getting back pain from the extra weight he was carrying around. And speaking about that… Robin turned towards the mirror. His reflection looked like a stranger, and not only because of his swollen belly. He had refused to let anyone close regarding his appearance after the Tower fell, and the last haircut he had had was at the hands of the hairdressers that Slade had invited as a treat for his pet. Robin's hair hadn't been short then, and now it reached well below the shoulders, the tips bending in lazy curls. The hormones had changed him even more, and he had indeed developed what looked like small breasts. They were barely more than swollen nipples with a bit of padding behind them, but instead of flat his chest now was subtly softly rounded. Robin had tried to ignore it, especially after Professor Chang had refused to do anything about them, claiming that any hormonal alteration now could be dangerous to the child. At least, Robin tried to console himself, they couldn't be seen when he had clothes on… Slade liked them, though, as just touching them made Robin's knees buckle.
I'm so easy nowadays that I should be ashamed of myself… Robin thought, and frowned at himself in the mirror.
At that moment Slade walked in. Robin only bothered to lock the door when he had to use the toilet, he did need some privacy after all, but after reading some safety tips in one of the books, he figured that if he should slip and fall in the bath, he didn't need it to take an extra few seconds for Slade to knock the door of it's hinges.
"Admiring yourself?" Slade chuckled, his eyes traveling up and down Robin's body, seemingly doing the same thing.
"Shouldn't I?" Robin quipped back, as he was in a rather stable mood at the moment. "How big will I get? I'm huge!" he said and started brushing his hair.
"Well the baby is about 32 centimeters… that's about 12,6 inches right now…" Slade said.
"No way! Then I must have at least three of them in here!"
Slade grinned and shook his head.
"You've seen the ultrasounds… only one."
"Yeah, well, the others were probably hiding… They are your kids, so they are probably all sneaky bastards…"
Slade was fortunately also in a good mood and just chuckled.
"Watch it. But speaking about kids… would you like more than one?"
Robin dropped the hairbrush.
"Wh-what?"
"The chances of something like this happening again are very slim, but the eggs Raven created are still there inside you. I could have Chang take them out and-"
"No!" Robin was slightly shaking by now. "No… It… it wouldn't be right, Slade. This child it… it happened, but planning another? No."
"Well, you might change your mind in a few years. I thought you should know that the option was there."
"Is it an option?" Robin said, guardedly.
"What do you mean?"
"You won't… force me?"
Slade looked at the wet, anxious boy. He looked so vulnerable and so very, very resigned. Slade liked that look. It told him that Robin knew that if Slade chose to, he could do whatever he wanted, and Robin was powerless to stop him He was in control. This time, however, he needed the young man calm again.
"No. I won't. We'll leave the eggs where they are for now… it's not like they won't keep."
Slade saw the 'thank you' forming on Robin's lips before the boy managed to stop himself and just nod curtly. The man smiled.
The weeks continued to roll by, turning into months as the snow melted and was about to be replaced by the greenery of early spring. Robin had gotten more and more immobile as the time passed. Professor Chang took advantage of the boy not being able to slip away, and his treasured collections of graphs grew. Robin's stomach also began to harden, which felt incredibly weird to the boy. Weirder still was that he had woken up one morning in a very wet t-shirt. He had started producing milk! The prospect of nursing was both welcomed and a little embarrassing, but Robin tried hard to forget everything about being a conventional male… it just didn't make any sense to even try anymore.
After almost four weeks of more or less bed rest, he was about to jump ship. He had had it. Chang had even forbidden sex, claiming that since Robin wasn't really female, he wanted nothing that could disturb anything at this stage. Had the proclamation come earlier, Robin might have welcomed it, but right then, sex was more or less the only thing that happened in an otherwise boring day of staring at the wall or frowning at books. The frowning came of getting tired of reading. He had always enjoyed learning new things, but enough was enough. And besides, the stomach was just in the way everywhere, and it wasn't easy to read with a barrel in one's lap.
One day Chang told him that the C-section was planned in only a week. The following seven days Robin could barely sleep. He spent a lot of time in the nursery, which now had a few teddy-bears and a soft green blanket Robin had seen in a catalogue and insisted on getting. He mainly sat in the nursing chair, too tired to move around a lot, but it did calm him down. Slade kept a close watch on him, but Robin tried hard to stay away from the man. He had discovered that the closer he got to the birth, the more worried he got, the more he bonded to Slade, and he couldn't let himself do that, it scared him even more than being a parent. He still planned to get away with the child as soon as it was old enough, or as soon as opportunity arose, whichever came first, and he didn't want to be fettered emotionally to Slade as well. It was bad enough to be forced to depend on him for everything else.
When the big day finally came, Robin was very tired. There was a whole range of embarrassing medical stuff he had to go through, like fasting ending with an enema, and having a catheter placed, both to prevent him having to go to the bathroom for a day or two while the scar was starting to heal. He laid on the operating table, trying to listen to Chang explain that he was going to do a 'bikini-cut', a horizontal cut below the navel. Robin merely noted that Slade and Chang looked funny in their green surgery scrubs. There was a drape hiding what went on below his chest, but after the epidural, things moved quickly. Robin was wide awake the whole time, and only felt weird 'tugs', completely forgotten the moment he heard a small cry.
"Was… was that?" he whispered.
"Yes." Slade said, and Robin could hear the smile in his voice even though the surgical mask hid it. "I'm going to clean her up while Chang is closing."
"H-her?"
"Yes, Robin. We have a daughter."
Robin's head swam, and tears started to roll down his cheeks. He felt so many things at once… he was so happy, so tired, so scared, so relived and so… so…
"But… I don't know anything about girls!" he objected.
Slade merely chuckled as he appeared behind the drape, holding a small bundle in his arms. He placed the warm little thing on Robin's chest, and Robin cradled his arms around the baby, afraid it might somehow slip away.
"I don't either. But don't worry, we'll learn." the man said.
Robin nodded numbly, looking down at a small, pink face that looked pinched as if the girl was slightly disapproving of being removed form her warm and cozy home.
"Is she supposed to be this pink?" Robin asked worriedly.
"Yes. Perfectly normal." Chang assured him. "I have finished closing you up. Everything went according to plan."
"Thank you." Robin said softly.
"Do you have any suggestions for a name?" Slade asked.
"I… don't know… I was so sure she would be a boy…" Robin said, realizing how weird that would be, as he now, suddenly, couldn't imagine anything more perfect than this little girl. "Are… are you going to let me choose?"
"Within reason. I will veto 'Bruceilla'."
Robin grinned. "'Alfreda' too?"
"Oh, yes."
Robin laughed softly. It would be nice to honor his family in some way, but he felt that this girl deserved something that was just… her. A pair of beautiful eyes opened, pale blue. Robin had read that most babies are born with blue eyes and that the color would change to the real one after a few months, but, somehow, he thought that this might be the real color. Tufts of blond hair might also darken, he supposed, but it made her look like a little angel. A little pissed off angel, but an angel nonetheless. A hand, the smallest thing Robin had ever seen, found its way out of the blanket and waved around a little. Robin couldn't help but touch it, and small fingers closed around his single one like a vice.
"Oh… wow…. look at the little nails!" he said, breathlessly.
"Robin? A name?" Slade said, sounding amused.
"What about… Rose?" he said, drowning in his daughter's eyes.
"Rose it is." Slade nodded. "It fits her."
"Yeah, it does… and not only because she's pink…" Robin grinned.
A week later Robin was moving around freely again, and started to get the hang of being a parent. To his utter surprise, Slade really was there, changing diapers, doing midnight feedings and cleaning up, just as much as Robin himself was. At the moment Rose was being fed by the man by bottle. Robin loved nursing her, but didn't quite have enough milk for the hungry little girl.
"There, all gone." Slade declared, putting the bottle away. "Now, go to mummy and spit up all over him…" he grinned and handed the girl over.
"Stop calling me mum…" Robin groaned, taking the girl. Slade handled the baby gently but surely. Robin, however, still had a nagging suspicion that she might break if he didn't hold on in full concentration. Rose didn't care one way or another, as she happily spit up some of her meal over Robin's shoulder.
The spring sun warmed the back yard just enough to let its occupants get away with only wearing light jackets. Robin smiled at his daughter who was having what looked like a very serious discussion with her father. Blond, curly hair, the sun already turning it almost white, flew around her face, getting into forget-me-not-blue eyes. As he walked up to them, Slade snuck an arm around his waist and pulled him in. Seeing the grin on Rose's face as the man did so, Robin grinned back and relaxed, fighting the feeling of being caught that still lingered in the back of his mind when Slade did something like this. Rose loved it when her parent's touched or kissed, and Robin would never, ever let her even suspect that it wasn't out of love.
"Mummy! Daddy won't let me fly it!"
Robin chuckled.
"Slade, it is her birthday present! Give Rose the control."
"I was merely explaining the basics of flying a radio controlled helicopter-"
"You were playing with it. Give it to her." Robin snorted, still grinning.
"It is a very complicated-"
"And you bought it for her. Rose knows how to handle it, don't you, Rose?"
"Yes, mummy! And daddy, you can play with it later? Kay? Mum and I are gonna do a-co-batics!"
"Acrobatics." Robin smiled. "Yes, and you are going to stay on the thick mat this time, right?"
"But I almost made it!"
"You almost broke that pretty little neck." Robin frowned down at her and crossed his arms.
"Well, you shouldn't show her such advanced moves. Of course she would want to try them out…" Slade lectured Robin in turn.
Perhaps he had been a bit too enthusiastic, but after regaining his figure after only two months in the gym, Robin had trained harder than ever, trying to be in top condition as he had a feeling that he would need to be in the future. Still, Slade just had to point it out, didn't he? Robin rolled his eyes, making Rose giggle.
"Mummy thinks you're stupid again!" she let Slade know.
"Really… and how should I punish him?" Slade fake-growled.
"Kiss him!" Rose thrilled and laughed with glee as Slade did.
"Stop stalling and let the girl play with her present!" Robin snorted as he was allowed to breathe again. An amazing fact that Robin had only realized a few days after Rose was born, was that they shared birthdays. His wasn't really celebrated, but it didn't matter to Robin, Rose was the greatest present he could ever wish for.
It was Slade's turn to chuckle as he handled the remote control to the excited little girl. They both watched her run off, and withdrew under an old apple tree for some protection, should a large toy suddenly happen to fall out of the sky.
Robin had long since accepted the title of mother. He had decided to change it before Rose started to talk, but the girl's fast progress surprised them, and suddenly it was too late. They would have to explain, naturally, one day, but even as they left the house to go to the nearest city once a week, no one as much as glanced at them oddly when Rose called him 'mum'. The word combined with 'him', though, did make some people smile, thinking the cute little girl simply misspoke. Robin's long hair and slender figure probably helped. He had very androgynous features, some more pronounced after the pregnancy, and next to Slade, as the man never let them out of sight, it was easy to assume that Robin was the mother in the small family.
"She is quite amazing, isn't she?" Slade said quietly.
Robin wholeheartedly agreed, and as Slade hadn't let go of him yet, he leaned closer to the man, stealing some of his warmth. In the shadow under the tree it was still quite chilly.
"Yeah… but I bet all parents feel that way…" Robin said, smiling at the distant shape on the other side of the large lawn.
"Well, I bet their children didn't learn how to talk as early as she did. And she can already read and write quite fluently. Her Spanish is progressing, as is her French and German… and I heard you are teaching her some Romani as well?"
"Yes, the little bit I know…" Robin nodded. "I try to hold back, I'm afraid to push her, but she is she keeps asking… little curious George…"
"Tell me about it…" Slade snorted, "And she is only five years old today!"
Robin suddenly felt faint, as he realized that it was true. Five years. Where had the time gone? What had happened? More importantly; when had he stopped planning their escape? An answer came to him in that moment, by the simple act of a smile. Rose beamed over at her father, and Slade returned it, practically shining with pride. Then Rose's gaze shifted to Robin, smiling at him as well. Robin smiled back, feeling his stomach tighten. That was what had happened. Love. A child's love for her parents. Both of them. How could Robin take that away, especially after losing his own? He couldn't. And so he stayed. And now… well, it was too late. Especially now.
"She is a little miracle." Slade stated, sounding rather smug.
Robin nodded, not wanting to think about how that miracle came to be. It was something else his daughter would never know.
"Slade?" Robin chewed his bottom lip.
"Yes?"
"Speaking about miracles… I think I'm pregnant…"
The End.
A/N:
So, this was the last of the X-mas drabbles! Even though these were written mainly for the wishers, I hope everyone have found at least ONE you enjoyed, and if you want to, you can tell me your favorite, it's always fun to know!
Okay, I know most of you went: 'But Slade already has a daughter named Rose!". Nope. Not in THIS universe. He only mentioned having two sons in "The Peace Contract", so when it came to choosing a name, 'Rose' kinda stuck… this doesn't mean she is THAT Rose… just a strange twist of fate… ;o)I'll be back around New Years!
Love
/Wynja