A/N: Happy B-day SpaceyLoon (January 18)!

This is posted rather early for some of you, but it's around 11 AM on the 18'th here, so… ;)

Sometimes wishes works out weird… SpaceyLoon wished for a puppy-story just as I was writing "Every Dog Has His Day" and I really couldn't write two puppy-stories so close together so I kinda said that "well, I have a story like yours coming up, and if you like that one, maybe I can write a sequel to that one?" And she did, so here it is… ;)

I had plans for this story, but, as usual, the characters took it in a different direction… damn characters… and Max is not an easy OC to work with, let me tell you… ;)

Some Dogs Have Two… Days…

Robin was still not absolutely sure that he wasn't in a coma as he waited outside the Tower at five to eight that night. This was more than a little insane, not only talking to your arch enemy and saying things that could be considered… raunchy, but agreeing to taking care of his dog as well? Robin pinched himself and winced. That only worked when you were dreaming, anyway…

"On time. Good," Slade's voice spoke from the shadows, making Robin jump. "But letting yourself be taken by surprise like that… sloppy. Don't you think so, Max?"

"Aff-aff!"

"Yes, I agree," Slade smirked. Robin was surprised to find that the man wasn't actually wearing his mask, or his uniform, but instead civilian clothes, dark pants and a tight long-sleeved top which made his arm look very- Robin coughed and focused on the big-eared pup in the man's arms.

"You didn't agree with the nasty man, did you Max?" he asked pleadingly.

"Aff!"

"I thought not…" Robin nodded, convinced that the dog had taken his side. "So… umm... you want me to watch him?" The question was stupid, and the look he got from Slade confirmed it.

"No, we just walk by here every night, since I'm hoping he's going to leave you a present outside the door…" the man deadpanned.

"Alright, alright…" Robin raised his hand. He had dressed in full uniform and mask, of course, and his belt was fully loaded as well… one should never trust Slade. "So a week?"

"Give or take… you never know on these things…"

"Yeah, and what kinds of things are we talking about?" Robin demanded to know.

"Classified."

"Something bad, then."

"No allowed to say," the man smirked again.

"I'm not sure if this makes me an accessory to crime…" Robin muttered, but took the puppy as it was held out to him. Along with it came several bags, and they were quite heavy.

"There is food in there for a little over a week, both wet and dry," Slade informed him. "There's also his eating schedule, his walking schedule, his sleeping schedule, his blanket, his brush, a few of his favorite toys, plastic bags for his business, his leash, dog shampoo in case he rolls in something, a few treats, nail clippers, tick pliers, a list of do-and-don'ts, a jacket if it's rainy or cold-"

"Wait… you got the dog a jacket?" Robin gaped. He hadn't believed most of the things Slade had said, but this rather took the prize.

"It's not one of those stupid little sweaters!" the man snorted. "He got soaked in the rain one day and- well, it doesn't have rhinestones… it is camouflage colored. Rather macho."

"I'm sure it is…" Robin tried to keep a straight face. There was nothing less macho in the world than the puppy currently licking his face.

"Anyway, here's a list of phone-numbers. The closest vets, and their emergency numbers, his insurance information, all the animal shelters in the city in case you lose him, the police-"

"I know the number to the police, Slade…" Robin rolled his eyes.

"… the hospital-"

"Wait… the hospital? Why would I need that?"

"Robin, if you lose him… you will need a hospital, trust me."

"Ouch."

"Just making sure you will take responsibility," Slade shrugged.

"By threatening to kill me if I don't?" the teen exclaimed.

The man raised an eyebrow.

"Wasn't that effective enough?"

"Fine. Lose or hurt the puppy and bad things will happen. Got it."

"Good. My number is on the top of the list, call me if you have any questions."

"Oh… your… your number?"

"Yes."

"So… I guess… you want mine?"

"Already have it."

"But it's a secret number, unlisted, untraceable!" Robin objected.

"Your point?"

Robin closed his mouth which was hanging open again. It tended to do that a lot around Slade lately.

"Forget it… he mumbled. "So… guess it's time to say goodbye to your master, Max," Robin continued.

"I'm not his master," Slade snorted. "I'm only the master of insolent little birds."

"And blond girls, if I'm not mistaken…" Robin muttered, his eyes narrowing.

"That got you jealous, didn't it?" the man smirked.

Robin snorted. All that was years in the past, after all, and after finding out that Terra was alive, some of the darker feelings he had had about that event had died away. After all, Terra had wanted to join Slade, and the teen could never let go of the feeling that she had deserved what she got.

"So what are you? Oh, I bet you're his daddy, right? Wave to daddy!" Robin grinned, waving the dog's paw at Slade.

"I'm his owner…" the man growled, but Robin could swear he saw the faintest of blushes on his cheeks. It was a really good day for the teen. "Be good now, Max," Slade said and petted the pup's head. Max whined a little, like he had a feeling that something bad was going on. Robin, on the other hand, swallowed, a bit nervous about having the man's hand so close to his face. And it was about to get closer. Slade put his fingers under his chin and tilted it upwards.

"You be good too," the man smirked as Robin's eyes widened. "And he's not allowed to sleep in the bed."

The teen blinked, and the man was gone, swallowed by the shadows again.

"Your daddy is crazy," Robin mumbled to Max. The puppy, however, had just understood that he was being left behind.

"AAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"That's my eardrums you are destroying. Don't worry, daddy will be back soon! Uncle Robin will take care- what the hell am I saying? Shhh…. shhh, Max, it will be alright…"

But Max didn't think it would be alright, because the really big white-haired dog who he adored so much had walked away from him. It wasn't until he got distracted by a lot of other weird creatures, who cooed at him and petted him, that he thought that life was looking up again.

"So who is his owner then?" Cyborg asked, scratching the puppy behind a floppy ear.

"Up, just a guy I met in the park…" Robin began.

"OOohhh!" Beast Boy grinned. "Robin has a boyfriend!"

"He's not my- anyway, he asked if I could doggie-sit and I said yes… hope you don't mind?"

"He is most adorable!" Starfire smiled and looked like she wanted to hug Max, something the puppy surely wouldn't survive, so Robin saved him by picking him up and bringing him into the kitchen.

"He's cute," Raven admitted.

"He's not an alien dog, is he?" Beast Boy asked suspiciously.

"Don't think he is," his leader grinned. "Nothing to worry about…"

"He's peeing on the floor," the changeling pointed out.

"Yes, isn't he?" Robin said distractedly as he was digging through the bags of stuff Slade had left him with. "Wait, what?" he looked down to where Beast Boy was pointing. "Oww, Max! We don't do that on the floor!"

Suddenly his friends decided that Max was Robin's responsibility, after all, and the teen just sighed and got to work.

That night he had a long discussion with the puppy.

"But Slade said you can't sleep in the bed, Max… look here; niiiiiice blankie! Warm and soft and… oh, don't cry like that!" Robin gave up, in the end and fell asleep with the pup nuzzled happily against his side.

At five in the morning his communicator rang, and he reached out for it on the nightstand.

"Robin?" he answered groggily.

"Good morning," Slade's voice came through, and Robin tried to get his act together.

"Um… yeah… morning. It's early…"

"Yes, you should walk him before breakfast, it's on the list," the man told him.

"Sorry… didn't have time to read it all last night," Robin mumbled.

"It is fine, it's just a suggestion, or he might do his business inside. He's not quite house-broken yet and when his bladder gets full he just generally let go."

"I've noticed, we had an accident here last night," Robin smiled, knowing Slade couldn't see him as the man was on a regular phone.

"The night went well?"

"Yeah, no problem," Robin said.

"He slept on the floor, then?"

"Of course, just like you said."

"How long did it take you to crack?" the man chuckled, and Robin sighed.

"Half an hour."

"You're tougher than I thought."

"Of course I am… so… having a good time in…?"

"Nice try."

"Damn."

"I'll be in touch," Slade chuckled and hung up.

Two days later Robin stumbled into bed completely exhausted. He snatched up his communicator and glared at it for a bit, before deciding to call the number he had already programmed into it. A few signals went through before the call was answered with a gruff "Yes?".

"Max is not a puppy, he's a hellhound!" Robin growled.

The man on the other side of the line chuckled.

"Given you a run for your money, has he?"

"Well, let's see… he chewed up one of Raven's spell books today and started burping purple bubbles…"

"Item five on the 'do-and-don'ts'-list-" Slade began.

"Yeah, I know, 'leave no paper-object within reach', but he's so damn quick!"

"Strange with those short legs, isn't it? He's alright though, I trust?" the man's voice turned threatening.

"Yes, he's completely fine… although the next thing that happened was that he managed to enrage Starfire's dinner and got chased by it around the room."

"Come again?"

"Starfire likes to cook Tamaranian stuff and… well… not all of it is… exactly dead."

"But dinner remained hungry?"

"Yes, Cyborg got a shot in, and fried it with his blaster… It actually tasted pretty good."

"You are a very weird group of people."

"We manage," Robin grinned.

"I guess you have had a long day, then?" the man asked.

"Yes, because the next thing… you know how Max squats when he pees?"

"Yes?"

"Well, he learned how to lift his leg today. He's only lost his balance a few times."

"He did?" Slade's voice sounded slightly hollow.

"Yeah, I took a pic, I'm sending it to you right now," Robin said.

"Can't believe I missed that…" the man muttered darkly.

"Um… sorry?" the teen mumbled.

"Not your fault. So you're taking pictures of my dog peeing. Is this something I should be concerned about?"

"Oh, shut up…" Robin snorted. "Anyway, once he learned, he has been doing it non-stop! Everywhere! He has forgotten everything about going outside… You owe us like a hundred rolls of kitchen towels…"

"Thank you, that image put me in a slightly better mood," the man chuckled.

"Please come back soon?"

"Send me a pic of you naked on the bed saying that and we'll see…" the man purred.

"Slade!"

"Well, you sounded like you really needed me," the villain defended himself with another chuckle.

"Not like that!"

"Sure about that, Robin? Sure you're not squirming a bit, right now? Rubbing your thighs together? Feeling something harden, lengthening?"

"Not even a tingle," Robin lied, his voice a bit strained.

"I'm sure not," Slade chuckled again and hung up.

"Your daddy is a bastard, you know that, right?" Robin asked Max who was curled up against his side. One of the pup's ears twitched and he opened a bleary eye. Robin sighed and petted his head, staring up at the ceiling. "The strange thing is that he really likes you…" the teen continued. "And I don't mean that you are unlikable or anything, but that he does, you know? I kinda always assumed that people who really love and cares for their pets are decent… and he's not decent…" Robin blushed a bit at how indecent the man had just actually been. "But… I guess there must be something good in him… there must be… right?" Robin looked down on the puppy but he was fast asleep. "You're not going to tell me anything, are you?" the teen muttered and then closed his own tired eyes.

The next morning Max wasn't really his usual energetic self.

"Not hungry, boy?" Robin asked when the puppy wouldn't even look at his food. "How about a treat? You love your treats! No?" At first the teen had thought that maybe the dog was just tired out after two days of Teen Titan crazy, but now he started to wonder… and worry.

Raven came up and ran a hand over the animal's body.

"It's nothing magical. I can't sense any residue from the book or anything else. He feels warm, though."

"Yeah, he does…" Robin mumbled and touched the warm nose gently. "Can you do anything?"

The empath shook her head.

"I wouldn't dare. Healing people is hard enough and at least they can usually tell you what's going on… Maybe he just needs some rest or…"

"… or maybe I should take him to a vet," Robin said and stood up. "Keep an eye on him, I'm just going to get his papers." The sound of the puppy throwing up made him hurry his steps.

It was Slade's turn to have his rest disturbed by a phone-signal, but when the man saw who was calling he immediately answered.

"Yes?"

"It's Robin… I… It's Max, he's… he's sick."

The man frowned. The young hero sounded rather upset, which made him worry.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, he just woke up and didn't feel well. I'm at the vets with him now, the clinic you had him registered at? They are running tests-"

"If it's that book-"

"No, nothing magical, Rae said so, and they don't seem to think he's been poisoned by anything, but… he has a high fever, he throws up and he has diarrhea…"

"How bad is it?" the man felt a knot in his stomach tightening.

"They won't tell me yet… they put him on a drip and made me go out in the waiting room… Slade it… it might be bad… I…"

"I'll be there in three hours. Whatever happens, and I mean whatever, don't move."

"I promise. Slade, I'm sorr-"

The man clicked his phone shut, got up from the motel bed and started packing. He never abandoned missions like this. Ever. But he had never had a dog before either, and there was no way he would be able to finish this when the floppy-eared, short-legged little Weiner-dog was on his mind. He went to the airport but saw no flights that would be quick enough for him. Fortunately the city he was in was a hot-spot for the rich and famous, so he simply went to the private hangars, kicked some snotty-nosed little singer off his private jet and took off. Flight-permits be damned.

Two-and a half hours later he landed in Jump, at an abandoned airfield, and took the car he kept hidden close by for these kinds of emergencies, into the city. When he walked into the veterinary clinic it was lunch-lime and the first thing he spotted was a very miserable little bird curled up in one of the seats in the waiting room. Robin wasn't wearing a mask or uniform, just a pair of blue jeans and a rather faded t-shirt, which the man approved of. If Robin of the Teen Titans had come in here with a sick puppy, the paparazzi would be crowding the place by now, something which wasn't good for a certain mercenary.

"Is he alive?"

Robin's head jerked up, his eyes wide.

"Slade!" the man found himself with his arms full of teenager all of a sudden. "He's alive, but he's really sick, we're still waiting for the results… I'm so glad you're here!"

"Of course I am, Max is my dog," the man muttered.

"Mr. Wilson?" a man in a white coat asked.

"Yes?"

"You are Max's owner?"

"I am."

"Would you come with me, please?" the man asked gently and gestured towards a door.

"May… may I come too?" Robin asked quietly, and Slade nodded. He wouldn't let the young man out of his sight, because if this was his fault… Well… he'd deal with that later. The teen didn't seem inclined to run away, however, instead he clung to the man's arm as they walked through the door.

The room was an examination-room, the strange, mixed smell of animals and disinfectant fermenting the air.

"Please sit," the veterinarian said and gestured to a couple of hard chairs against the wall.

Slade, who normally remained standing for pretty much anything, no pun intended, found himself sinking down on one of them, Robin close beside him.

"How bad is it?" the man asked for the second time that day.

"The tests show that Max has a viral disease called Canine Distemper. It is very contagious and he has been isolated for now."

"Is it… bad?" Robin asked.

"It can be, yes, especially with young dogs. The virus attacks many of the body's organs, in this case it manifested itself through gastrointestinal symptoms, that is, Max didn't want to eat and he was vomiting and had diarrhea. In other cases it's respiratory in nature, with trouble breathing."

"What is the treatment? I'd like to add that money is not an issue," Slade said in a tense voice.

"I'm afraid that, since it's viral, there is no direct treatment, We're making sure to give him fluids and antibiotics to battle any secondary bacterial infections which might take the opportunity to blossom now as he's weakened, but the disease itself… it's a wait and see game…"

"I don't like those kinds…" Slade muttered quietly.

"How… how is it contracted? Was it… was it something I…?" Robin began.

"No, Richard," the vet said, and Slade raised an eyebrow at the fact that the hero had used his real name. "The virus is very easily transmitted from dog to dog. Even if he hasn't met any other dogs lately, just sniffing at the feces or urine from a sick dog would do it. It is very unlikely that he was infected while in your care, even, as the incubation time is four to ten days."

Slade expected to see some relief on the teen's face, but there was only constant worry, and it was not, the man thought, for himself.

"Max had been extremely unlucky," the veterinarian continued. "The way to fight Canine Distemper is through vaccinations, and I see that you had his shots scheduled for next week, Mr. Wilson?"

"Yes. I just found him on the street recently and I was away this week so-"

"No need to blame yourself… that Max would run into a dog carrying this and within such a short time-frame… as I said, very bad luck. It was caught early, however, and that Richard brought him in that quickly instead of waiting just might have saved his life, but, still… I want you to be prepared… sudden death is not uncommon in this situation."

"I understand. Will you keep him here?"

"As there is nothing much we can do you can take him home in about an hour, as long as you make absolutely sure to keep him isolated from other dogs. Should he not make it, it's also important that his body is taken care of appropriately."

"We'll take care of him," Robin said firmly, making Slade glance at the teen, who had his lips set in a firm line. The man almost smiled at that determined expression, because he knew it so well. It's was Robin's 'fight face'… the 'things just got serious and I'm going to kick your ass'-look. The man has seen it many times, after all. He almost felt sorry for the virus. "Just tell us what to do."

"You will get instructions, some equipment that will help you feed him, his medication and some special food and nutrition-supplements," the vet nodded. "I'll have one of the nurses go through it with you shortly. I want to say again. Richard, that whatever happens, you did the right thing, Must dog owners would have waited. A puppy with an upset stomach is nothing new, after all, and it's usually nothing dangerous, but you noticed the fever… I wish more pet-owners would take the 'just in case' approach sometimes."

"Well, Richard here is quite a hero… always has been," Slade said, making the teen's eyes widen and his cheeks go red.

"I bet he is, and you seem like a very caring owner as well, Mr. Wilson, Max is lucky to have you. I hope the next time I see you it will be to confirm that Max is on the mend and will be perfectly healthy again."

"He… he can be? I mean, he can fully recover?" Robin asked.

"Yes. In many cases there are lingering or even life-long signs, like muscle-twitching, but the virus doesn't seem to have affected Max's neurological systems, at least so far, and that's a good thing."

"Will he always need to be isolated from other dogs?" Slade asked, feeling that this wasn't what he wanted for the highly sociable puppy.

"No, once he's well he won't be a carrier and he will be immune for life," the vet told them.

"Well, that's good. How long will it take for him to get well?"

The vet looked like he wanted to caution them once more, that Max might never recover, but something in the man's eye seemed to stop him

"In a mild case, which we are hoping Max is, a few weeks for a full recovery. You will have my number and I want to follow his progress closely, preferably including house calls as that will lessen the risk of the virus spreading.

"You'd do that?" Robin gaped.

"Of course. Mr. Wilson chose the best clinic in the city, after all," the vet smiled a little.

"Clearly I did," Slade nodded.

The veterinarian got a feeling that, if he was ever in trouble, somehow things would work out. Strangely enough he got the same feeling from the short, lithe teen.

"I'll get things started, you can wait here," he said and left the room.

"You're taking him to your place?" Robin asked.

"Yes. You can go now," Slade dismissed him.

"No, I… I have to go get all his things… so… where do you live now?"

"I have already had to move once this month because of you," the man snorted.

"I won't tell and I won't take advantage of it," Robin growled. "This is for Max, alright? What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Very well," the man sighed and gave him his address. Robin stayed until after the debriefing, however, asking tons of questions about everything, and stroking Max's ears through the bars to the carrier-box before leaving. Max slept through it all, his little nose still much too warm.

Robin blinked and checked the address one more time. He had expected a warehouse, not a small, well maintained apartment building on the edge of the park. He thought that the man had tricked him but decided to ring the doorbell anyway. When he got to the second floor, he found the right door quickly, the label on it reading 'S. Wilson'. If he hadn't been so worried he would have laughed.

"Come in," the man said gruffly when he opened the door. "Take your shoes off."

The teen toed his sneakers off as he was weighed down with bags, and looked around.

Slade noticed the look and snorted.

"What? Not what you expected?"

"It… kinda lacks in the cogwheel-department…" Robin admitted. The place was half empty and although the apartment itself looked newly renovated and fresh, Slade had obviously not really 'decorated' it. He had needed a place to sit, so there was a stuffed chair, he had needed a place to eat, so there was a table… just the essentials, and all of them looked like they had come from a garage sale.

"You should have seen my old place… oh wait. You did," the man muttered.

"Yes, yes, I made you move. Got it. It's actually a bit of a victory for me, so I'm not going to feel guilty about it…" Robin smirked. "Where's Max? Is he alright?"

"He's in here," Slade said and led Robin into an equally bare bedroom. Max was tucked into a basket on soft blankets.

"The vet told me to keep him warm," Slade explained.

"I know, I was there," Robin said, but in a gentle way.

"So, care to explain all the bags to me? I know I gave you a lot of things, but that is twice as much."

"Oh, well…" Robin said and clutched a large duffel bag. "This one is for me."

"You?"

"Yeah. I'm staying."

"Is that so?"

"Unless you literally kick me out," Robin said and crossed his arms. "I love Max, I want to help."

"And what do your friends have to say about this?" the man asked, looking somewhat taken aback.

"I told them what it was and that he needs to be isolated… and that I'm staying with him. With you. Unless someone tries to take over the world, of course, and since you are already here…"

"I only have one bed," the man pointed out.

"Got it covered, brought an inflatable mattress," the teen grinned and patted the bag.

"Damn," the man deadpanned.

"I sleep in the nude and I tend to sleep-walk…" Robin deadpanned right back.

"Stay as long as you want."

Right then Max whimpered softly and they both turned to his basket, Robin falling to his knees next to it and stroking the puppy's fur.

"Don't worry, sweetie, we're both here… are you thirsty? Do you have that syringe-thing, Slade?"

"It's right here. I was about to hook the drip up again too."

"They let you have some?"

"Like they could have denied me," the man snorted.

Robin gave him a thoughtful look.

"What is it?" Slade asked.

"Huh? Oh… nothing, I was just… it's weird… seeing you like this."

"Like what?"

"Caring."

"Congratulations, you have figured out I'm human," the man muttered.

"You are?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, just checking… I mean, really? Completely? There's no like… demon blood in you or anything?"

"Just some experimental military drugs."

"Ha! I knew it," Robin grinned a bit before looking down on Max again. "Is he… is he swallowing any water?"

"A little bit."

"That's a good dog, Max… such a good puppy!"

"Well, if you are going to stay here, I have the full right of ordering you around," Slade said after a moment, "so take Max's things into the kitchen and sterilize them, everything you need will be there. Things that can't be sterilized will be put in a plastic bag to be burned."

"Oh… but his favorite toys…?"

"Goes in the bag. After you finished with his things start on the floors."

"He's already infected, though, will it… will it do any good?"

"He's infected, yes, which means he's weak… I'm not going to let any more germs get to him. Do as I say."

"Of course." Robin got up from the floor, ready to help. "But… call me if… anything happens, alright?"

"I will."

One hour later, Robin was about to finish mopping the floors, the smell of chlorine and bleach pretty strong in the air, when Slade came out of the bedroom.

"I should get you a French maid outfit and do the floors all over again on your knees," the man smirked.

"How's Max?" was Robin's only reaction.

"As before. We should eat something. Should I order in or do you cook as well?"

"Actually I do cook, but not for villains, so pizza it is," the teen smirked.

"No, we're having Lebanese."

"Fine, have it your way," Robin shrugged.

"Is there another?"

"Ha-ha… I'm going to sit with Max now… how about the bedroom, should I clean that too?"

"First thing I did when I got back before putting him in there," Slade said, shaking his head. "I think that we probably killed off all other dog-germs now…"

"I put our shoes in plastic bags, so they won't drag in contaminated soil, and if we go out we can just put them back in the bags afterwards," Robin explained.

"Good thinking," the man gave him a brief smile, which made Robin feel rather funny. Like he was about to throw up. But in a good way. "I'll order the food then,"

Robin nodded and went to sit with Max. Hours later he still was.

Slade was sitting as well, on the floor, leaning against the bed, while Robin was slumped against the wall. There were food-containers around them, as they had been eating there too, next to Max's basket.

"Slade, why don't you sleep for a while?" Robin suggested and straightened up. "I'll watch him."

"You need it more than me," the man snorted.

"Well, I just thought with that mission of yours and the flight and everything…" Robin shrugged. "I'm alright, just get some shut-eye for half an hour or so… that's what I'm here for, you know."

"What? Watching me sleep?" the man smirked.

"Making sure you can sleep without having to worry about Max," Robin snorted. "Pervert."

"For an obnoxious enemy you are rather considerate," Slade chuckled and got off the floor in one fluent movement which actually had the teen tense. He had, somehow, gotten in his head that Slade was weakened by all the things that had happened, and thus not a threat, but now it occurred to him that even though the man had flirted with him and not acted hostile, he was still Slade, and it might not be such a good idea just to decide to trust him all of a sudden without any sort of reassurance.

"Umm… Slade?" he began just as the man pulled his white polo shirt over his head.

"Yes?"

Robin felt his mouth go slightly dry as the man loomed over him, and he had to fight an urge to jump to his feet and get into a defense position. The naked muscular torso and arms did theirs to distract him as well, but, after a moment, the teen managed to swallow and go on.

"Well… we… I mean… right now, with Max and everything… we have a truce, right?"

"No, as soon as you fall asleep I plan to violently rape you and then slit your throat," the man muttered, his hands going to the button of his jeans.

"…" Robin couldn't find any words as his eyes were glued to the man's fingers.

"Of course."

"Huh?"

"Of course we have a truce. Max decided he didn't want to eat you after all, remember?" the man smirked just as the button popped open and the zipper was lowered.

"Mmm… I mean… yeah! Good… just… just wanted to check."

"I noticed, but you should check on Max, not anything else," the man told him, and Robin felt like he had been slapped. How could he have checked someone out, and Slade, even, when a poor puppy might be dying next to him?

"Oh, god, I'm… I'm sorry…" he mumbled and turned to the basket where Max was shivering. He tucked the puppy in a little better and put his hands under the blanket, helping to warm him up.

"Yes, try to control yourself, Robin," the man said in a too dry voice.

The teen glanced up at him and the man chuckled, shaking his head.

"You are too easy sometimes," Slade smirked.

Robin huffed and kept his eyes on Max while the man finished undressing and lay down on his bed in his boxers. Robin sneaked enough peeks to see that they were black with an orange trim, which he found somewhat funny, even though he knew the brand. Still, the thought of Slade in the store going 'oh, black and orange, that's stylish!' made him want to giggle.

As Slade's breathing evened out, Robin set up his own mattress. It was a self-inflatable one and he put it next to the basket so he would be able to see Max. He changed quickly into his sleeping-pants without daring to leave the room and then settled down.

Over forty minutes later Slade still seemed to be sleeping, but Robin decided that he should let him. He was moved by the man's worry and found it oddly… sweet. Robin snorted softly. It was sweet, of course, but the very word fitted Slade like a glove on the foot.

"ff… af…"

"Max?" Robin said softly, petting the puppy, trying to calm his little cries. "Don't worry, Max, we're both here, there's nothing to be scared of…"

But the pup didn't seem to want to calm down, even though he wasn't really awake. Robin gathered him in his arms and went over to the bed.

"Slade?"

"Yes?"

The teen almost jumped. The man's voice hadn't even sounded sleepy, just instantly awake.

"It's Max, he's making those sad sounds he made when you left… I thought maybe if he could sleep with you…? Smell your scent?"

The man reached out wordlessly, took the pup from Robin and placed him on his stomach. As by magic the whimpering stopped and Max seemed to curl up a little tighter. Robin picked up his blanked and spread over the both of them, making Slade chuckle.

"Tucking us in?"

"Tucking Max in… you just happen to be the mattress."

"Ow. Never been called that before," the man smirked. That lazy smile was the only indication Robin had that maybe the man had been sleeping after all, because it was a bit too unguarded to be Slade.

"So, what's with these…?" the man then said and snapped the elastic band in Robin's sleeping pants. "I thought you said you slept naked?"

"Maybe lied about that a little…" Robin admitted with a little smirk, trying not to blush from having the man's fingers down his pants, if only waist high and for a mere second.

"My loss, I'm sure. Should kick you out…" Slade muttered. "Why don't you get some sleep now, it's your turn."

"Sure? I can stay up a while longer?" Robin offered.

"Sleep."

"Okay." Robin knew better than to push it but promised himself that it would only be for an hour or so. When he woke up next it was to sun in his face and the smell of coffee.

Max was still the same and the day passed with them taking turns to feed him and keep him clean and warm. They could only give him very little at the time, or it came straight back up again, and the pup showed no inclination to eat the mush at all, so it had to be fed straight down his throat. The next evening found the puppy sleeping on Slade's stomach once more, but the man called Robin over.

"Could you take over here for a bit? I have to shower or I'll stink the place up more than Max."

"Aw, don't say that! Even with poo all over him, Max could never smell as bad as you!" Robin snorted and then grinned. "Very well, give him here…"

"I don't want to disturb him too much. Lie down," the man said and gestured to the space beside him on the bed.

"Umm… okay?" Robin hesitated a bit, but he thought he knew what the man intended, so he followed orders. Once he had gotten down he tensed as Slade reached for him and pulled his t-shirt up, exposing his stomach. He was just about to ask what the hell the man was up to when Slade carefully shuffled the sleeping puppy over to the bare spot.

"There. He needs the skin-contact," the man explained quietly.

"Oh," was all Robin could get out.

"Thought I was stripping you?" the man smirked, still keeping his voice low.

"Go shower."

"Mind if I think about stripping you in there?" Slade asked innocently, already on his way out of the room.

"No. I know how happy it will make you," Robin smirked back. "Just try to keep your wanton moans to a minimum, will you?" Robin heard the man's quiet laughter all the way down the hall.

The teen kept still. The hot, soft little body felt surprisingly heavy, and so did his eyes. He fell asleep not three seconds later.

Robin woke up in the middle of the night with Max still on his stomach and a warm body next to him. His brain barely noticed it before he was back to sleep again.

When he woke the next time the body was still there, but the puppy was missing.

"Max?" Robin mumbled sleepily.

"Shhh… I got him. He just licked up a few drops of water on his own," Slade mumbled.

"Really?" Robin sat up a little, not even noticing that he had been sleeping with his head on the man's shoulder, and looked down at the brown dog, who looked back and managed a very weak little 'Aff!'

"Is he… do you think it means he's getting better?" Robin asked carefully.

"These things can go up and down, but it's a good sign, isn't it?" Slade said softly.

The next day the vet visited and he agreed that it was a good sign. Max was still weak and slept most of the time, but the fever was down.

"A few more days without fever and a little bit more appetite and I can almost promise that he's out of the woods," the vet said and Robin had to hug him. Slade didn't, but shook the man's hand instead. It looked like the hug had been less painful, if only barely. Robin then hugged Slade as well, because he was on a roll. He felt an arm slip around his waist, and, somehow, it kind of stayed there until after the vet left.

"I think this is cause for celebration," the man said as the door closed.

"Yeah… so… Chinese? On me this time."

"I'd love to eat Chinese on you," the man smirked, "so you have a deal." the arm disappeared and Slade went to pick up his phone. Robin rather missed it.

The days blurred into each other after that. Max was far from well, and they had a bad scare when it seemed that he turned worse one night, but the next morning he was eating a little.

"You don't have to stay anymore, you know," Slade said one morning. "You have a city to protect after all."

They were next to each other on the bed again, because Max seemed to whine whenever one of them were too far away.

"As I see it, I'm keeping an eye on the most evil mastermind of Jump, so I'm kinda already doing the city a favor, don't you think?" Robin grinned.

"You shouldn't call Max names," the man smirked.

"Sorry, Max… I meant your daddy," Robin told the pup, who raised its head a little from where it was resting on the teen's chest. "You are a good boy, aren't you? Not taking after your daddy at all…"

"Don't say that, he made you fall twice already…"

"So? I'm falling for Max, not you," Robin said haughtily.

"Sure about that?" The look the man gave him was very meaningful and Robin felt himself shiver. He instinctively knew that they had come to a crossroad here. Should he joke it off and ban the man to some sort of friend/enemy zone, or…? Both choices were really impossible… he couldn't be friends with Slade and about being something more? How would that work out? How would they- but Robin's mind just shrugged at the questions, too curious about the path his body wanted to take.

"No. Not sure…"

"Is that so…?"

The man rolled over on his side and leaned in. Robin raised his head to meet him and their lips touched. Unfortunately there were soon three tongues involved.

"Ew! Max!" Robin spluttered.

"Aff!" The puppy said and his thin little tail was wagging slightly.

"I think it means he approves," Slade chuckled.

"Yeah, it's so good to see him awake like this…" Robin nodded.

The hero and villain glanced at the pup and then each other and then at Max again.

"Umm… so… Max… not tired at all, are you?" the teen asked.

"Want to take a nap in your nice basket?" Slade added.

"Aff?"

"I guess we should feed him… get him to drink some water…" Robin said, pushing any selfishness down.

"I'll go prepare his food."

Max ate a little all by himself and then went to the bathroom on a newspaper, looking slightly ashamed of himself until he was reassured that it was just fine.

While this was going on, Robin was panicking. He should really leave, shouldn't he? Kissing Slade was bad enough… apart from the fact that it had been very good… which was, of course, very bad. He was just about to leave the bedroom and then the apartment, when Slade came in with a fresh bowl of water for Max, blocking his path.

"Running away?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ye-no… no…" Robin backed up a little.

"Panicking?"

"A bit," the teen admitted.

"Well…" the man said and put the water down. "I can't stop you." He straightened up and took a step closer, "Max can, though."

"Huh? Ma-? Oh shit!" Robin had backed up again, not seeing the pup right behind him. He managed to miss him but tripped and fell backwards helplessly, landing on top of the bed.

"Good boy, Max," Slade smirked and straddled the teen.

"Aff!"

"He really is a hell hound, isn't he?" Robin grumbled, glaring at the pup, who actually went to his basket and laid down, mission accomplished.

"He just knows you don't really want to leave," the man smirked.

"I don't?"

"No."

Robin glared up at the man. He wasn't restrained, and although getting out from under Slade's bulk might take some doing, it wasn't impossible. He glanced over as Max and saw the tail thump a little against the blanket.

"Max is watching," he said, like it was a complete deal breaker. Robin then gaped as the dog stood up, turned around on the spot a few times like some dogs tended to do, and then plopped down again, this time with his back to the bed.

"You were saying?" Slade leered.

"That was… how did…" Robin stuttered.

"Coincidence, I'm sure," Slade shrugged. "Now… as long as no one's watching…" The man leaned down and kissed him. The teen found himself letting out a long sigh and relaxing against the mattress, moving up on it when Slade urged him to, so they both could get a little bit more comfortable.

"I think it's time for you to keep your promise and get naked," the man mumbled, hooking his fingers into Robin's jeans.

"Must remember… not to keep promising people that…" the teen smirked.

"Hmmm… just got a mental picture there, and I'm not sure if I'm aroused or jealous," Slade muttered.

"Aroused. Trust me," Robin answered and raised his hips a little, grinding them against the man's crotch.

"How do you want to do this?" the man mumbled against the side of his throat a while later, where he had been busy leaving marks.

"Um… do you mean about… who tops?" Robin asked unsurely.

"No," the man chuckled. "I'll top… I wanted to know if you wanted to go all the way, but I guess I have my answer…"

"Um… yeah, but… I… kinda… never…"

"Got it."

"Yeah, so I you could… you know…"

"Shut up and trust me."

"Easier said than done…" Robin muttered.

"I could make a gag?" Slade offered.

"I meant the trust-part."

"I won't hurt you."

Robin raised his hips again, feeling the bulge in the man's pants.

"Oh, you'll hurt me alright," he said, trying to joke his nervousness away.

"Only in a good way."

Robin took another deep breath, bit his lip and then nodded.

"Okay."

It did hurt. A little. It was all made better by the feeling of the man moving inside him, though. He had no idea where it would all lead… well… he knew were this activity would lead, because Slade was pushing him towards that point rather quickly, but the whole friends-or-lovers-with-your-enemy-thing was still a bit unclear. Maybe it didn't matter. It seemed like a huge thing to 'didn't matter', but maybe it would just work out somehow. Robin nodded to himself. Yes. He had a feeling it would.

The next morning he was woken up by something ice-cold pressing against the small of his back and he yelled out.

"Aff-aff!"

"Max! Get your nose the hell away from me!" Robin barked, still not quite awake. "Wait… you climbed the bed on your own? Good dog!"

"He cheated, he jumped from your mattress," Slade chuckled deeply from beside the teen. "But he seems a lot better. I'm going to go call the vet… maybe we can dare to celebrate for real now…"

"If we do any more celebrating the vet has to bring something for me…" Robin groaned, trying to roll over in bed without aggravating any sore part of his body, and there were a few to choose from.

"Well, I can ask if he can recommend somet-"

"Don't you dare!"

"Ah, then I'm afraid you're stuck with me playing doctor with you. I warn you, my treatments are a bit… unorthodox."

"Oh, really? I wonder what that could mean?" Robin said, feigning innocence badly.

"You'll find out soon enough," the man smirked as he left the room.

"Aff! Aff!"

"No, I didn't forget about you, Max," Robin grinned and scratched the pup behind a floppy ear. "So… are you going to share your daddy with me?"

"Aff!" the pup wagged his tail, and whole behind, hard.

"Not sure it's such a good idea, though…" Robin mumbled quietly.

"Aff! Aff! Aff!"

"Really? Yes, well…" the teen sighed and then chuckled. "Guess I have to trust the word of man's best friend, right?"

"Aff!" Max agreed happily.

The End

A/N: and here we leave Max and… well… whatever the other characters in this were called… ;) Every review means a doggy-treat for the puppy! ;)