A/N: Happy B-day cellowings (February 29)
This is the second part of "The Trial of Fledglings"! Hope you enjoy!
Warnings: AU and a "glitch" of sorts, because this story includes Red X. This shouldn't be possible as Robin never "created" him in this universe, but, with the wise words from Jurassic Park: "life will find a way"… and so will, apparently, Red X… ;) So I will just boldly ask you to accept his appearance, and note that it's not a mistake on my part but a choice… haters gonna hate... ;)
The Trial of Fledglings, part two: The Mission
"So, how are we doing this?" Robin asked huskily as he kissed Slade's neck, just below the man's ear.
"I thought I'd fuck you on your back," Slade smirked.
"I meant the mission!" Robin clarified with a huff. "And I want to ride you."
"You'll be on your back and like it."
"Yes, Master," the teen sighed dejectedly, but over-the-top so, so Slade knew he was faking it. The small grin was also a clue.
"Good boy. About the mission, then…" Slade said and rolled them both over just as he had planned, "Brother Blood will send some young H.I.V.E members to the Titan's favorite mall, to cause mayhem. Spread your legs. They won't know that you are on their side, so to speak, so while you try to stop them, they will do their best to make sure that you can't."
"UUnnngh…" Robin groaned as Slade had, in a rather literal way, driven the point home. "And I… I can't kill them?"
"No, that would ruin the whole mission. I'd rather you would not even hurt them, at least as little as possible. See, I told you that you would like this position. Hopefully the Titans will arrive just in time to see you being heroic, but if not, don't stick around, just make sure to smile at the people and leave, and we'll try again. Building a reputation as a hero is very important."
"UUUhh-hu…."
"Are you listening to me?"
"Mmmh-hmm…?"
"Good. When you meet the Titans, you are to befriend them. You need to be invited to the T-Tower to even have a chance of stealing the plans, and you need to stay overnight… how you do it is not important."
"E-even if I have to… sleep around?" Robin grinned.
"Even so."
"Really?" the teen blinked in surprise, having expected Slade to put his foot down.
"Really. Anything for the mission. At the end of the day you are still mine, after all," the man smirked and proved it by thrusting harder and faster. "But be careful. Heroes-"
"-don't have sex?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that… but they are probably a lot more innocent than you are, so you should act like them."
"Well… I'm… pretty… innocent…?" Robin objected, because he wasn't a slut after all.
"At least pretty…" Slade leered.
"I can't help it if big bad mercenaries sweeps in and takes advantage of me! I'm a victim in this!" the teen claimed.
"Would you like me to stop?" the big bad mercenary offered.
"No! No, sorry! Please continue!" the poor victim begged.
"Very well. Once you encounter the Titans, it's very important that you-"
"Please Master, could we fuck now and plan later?"
"You started it."
"Well, what kind of Master follows his apprentice if I might ask?" Robin smirked.
"You're right. Plan now, and fuck later it is," the man smirked back.
"No, please! I'll be good! Really, really good! French-maid-outfit-good!"
"That was merely an exercise in disguise," Slade muttered.
"Yeah… right…" Robin snorted but then remembered himself. "I mean, yes, of course! And I think it's also very important that I can pass as a schoolgirl, don't you?"
"Yes, that could come in handy…" Slade admitted. "Very well, fucking first then.
"Nah, that's okay," Robin shrugged underneath him. "We can plan now. I just came."
The young assassin admitted that he had a bit of stage fright… he was glad he was still going to call himself Robin, if only Robin, because then at least he wouldn't have to worry about remembering his own name. He only had to worry about not killing anyone.
The fight was fun, although the teen was far from used to doing this. He was a hunter, not a fighter. It was a huge difference stalking people, sneaking around and steadily getting closer to his target, than this kind of 'show-fighting'. It wasn't about even terms; Robin had gone after individuals and groups who were both stronger and much better armed than he was, but it was like… singing in the shower and then suddenly finding yourself with a microphone standing on a huge stage in front of thousands of people. Still naked.
He might have used a bit too much force at one point, because the Mammoth-guy would probably have a concussion, but the one he had trouble with was a pink-haired witch-girl. Robin didn't like to fight girls. They fought dirty.
Still, he won, and had just wrapped them up in a decorative fishing net which had been hanging outside a sea-food restaurant, when the Titans arrived.
The young assassin's initial reactions were to get out of there, or at least claim innocence, but he stomped down hard on those feelings and put on a friendly smile instead.
"Hi… do you happen to know how to get the police here quicker?" he grinned.
"Dude, you took down the H.I.V.E?" the greed guy, the shape shifter gaped.
"Um… if these are them, yeah… they were causing trouble… they aren't friends of yours, are they?" Robin asked.
"They most certainly are not!" the alien, Starfire, proclaimed.
"Glad to hear it. I'm Robin, I'm new in town."
"Hi, I'm Speedy," the other redhead of the group said with a smile. It was a bit tight, but it would do. He reached out and shook Robin's hand. "We are the Teen Titans."
"Wow! I've heard of you! I'm from Gotham, but you're quite famous there too," Robin flattered smoothly. Claiming to be from any place else was too dangerous, Slade had told him, because he was bound to get questions.
"Really?" Speedy seemed a bit friendlier now, and Beast Boy was jumping with excitement.
"Gotham? Have you seen Batman!"
"Well, I don't know him, but I see him more or less every night," Robin nodded. The group had connections with the JL, through Speedy's mentor, and claiming friendship with one of their front figures was also much too risky. "Are you Beast Boy?"
"Yeah, call me BB!"
"You have such a cool power! I mean you can turn into a T-rex!" Robin gushed, but now he was somewhat sincere… it was a cool power… oh, what he would give for that… "Can I see you do that sometimes, you think?"
"Sure dude!" the changeling grinned and looked up. "Can't do it in here, though…"
"Finally learned that, did you?" Robin's ultimate target snorted. "Hi. I'm Cyborg,"
The half metal half flesh man's grip was firm but friendly.
"Yeah, he's my second in command," Speedy told him and then gestured to the alien. "This is Starfire,"
"Hi!" Robin smiled as charmingly as he could.
"-and this is Raven."
"Hi!" Robin turned his smile on here with very little result. "Ummm… is she having PMS or something?" he stage-whispered to the rest of the group, who paled, blushed and tried to hold back their snickers respectively.
Raven's gaze turned icy cold and for a moment Robin thought he had just ruined the whole mission, but then a tiny smile curved those normally so straight lips.
"You're brave. Or stupid."
"A little of both, my lady," Robin bowed in an overly dramatic way. He grinned as he straightened up and then stretched. "Oww… I think I need to chill for a bit... missed my meditation this morning."
"You meditate?" Raven asked, and Robin nodded. His damn Master made him. There was no need to mention that the success rate was very low.
"Yes, it helps me focus," he nodded seriously. He then touched his stomach with an embarrassed expression. "Seems like the body wins over the mind right now however, I'm starving… I… um… I suppose you wouldn't want to get some lunch? Pizza perhaps?"
They did. The flat dish was, after all, the key to the Titan's love, which Robin was very well aware of…
"Are you crazy? Why would you wanna ruin your pizza with mustard?" Robin asked Starfire incredulously a while later.
"I am only trying all the exquisite tastes of Earth!" she explained.
"Yeah, but do you see any human putting mustard on pizza? You're doing it wrong, girl," Robin grinned jokingly.
"Yeah, it's totally weird!" Beast Boy, who was just so happy to be announced as 'cool' by the new hero to go along with anything, snickered.
"Oh, like you should talk! Tofu on pizza? That's worse!" Robin now snickered. As he saw a hurt, and slightly guarded, look in the green teen's eyes, though, he decided to soften the blow. "I mean, I completely understand the veggie-thing, since you can turn into animals and stuff, but tofu? No, man, that's just… Yuuuuck!"
"Hear, hear…" Cyborg muttered.
"So, Robin, tell us about yourself!" Speedy insisted. "Are you in Jump for a visit or what?"
"Well… like I said, I'm from Gotham…" Robin began, trying to remember Slade's suggestions about how he should generally stick to the truth but put a spin on it. He couldn't tell them details, however, because when this mission was over he didn't want his new 'friends' to really know anything about him. "My parents were murdered when I was eight…" he waited for, and got, the expected sounds of sympathy. "Anyway, the police didn't find the killer, but I had a hunch, found a clue and I got him arrested," Robin claimed. "I felt… well, my parents were still dead but… at least there was some kind of justice, you know? It was important to me so I got… a bit obsessed…" he grinned and shook his head. "But with no parents I ended up in foster care, and… I don't know… Some places were good I guess, some were horrible, but I never stayed long… different reasons… I ran away from the system after a while and never looked back. I've been trying to help people ever since, seeking out Masters to learn from, working all kinds of odd jobs to get by… and then, last month, an old guy got in touch with me… I saved him and his whole family from a mugging, but now he was dying of cancer and he wanted me to have something… since I refused anything back when it happened, of course," he added, getting understanding nods. "He left me some money and a small studio apartment he kept here for his business-travels… I'm not rich or anything, I need to find a job soon, but it's nice to see the world a bit, you know…" he trailed off for a moment, trying to look the part of a good orphan tramp. "So… I hope I can stick around here for a while at least… maybe help you guys out now and again?"
"Well, it's not that we don't appreciate the help," Speedy said, scratching the back of his neck, "and I'm 'only' human too… but… well… we need to be sure that you can hold your own… I mean, it wouldn't feel right to let someone out to fight in Jump otherwise… if something would happen…"
"No, I get it, don't worry! But maybe… well… I can train with you guys sometime?" Robin asked humbly.
"Sure," the archer shrugged. "How about tomorrow morning?"
"Really? Great, thanks!"
"Well, meet us in the park at eight, sounds good?"
It didn't sound good. Robin had hoped for the Tower, but he just grinned and nodded.
"Sounds super!"
"UUggh… Eight? That early?"
"Early bird catches the worm," Robin chuckled.
"Aw, that's funny, man! 'Cause you have a bird-name!" Cyborg guffawed.
"Yeah, is that kinda your thing? Bird jokes?" Beast Boy snickered.
Robins 'thing' was to impale someone's neck from across the street, but he just grinned and nodded again, before, shortly after, bidding the team goodbye.
"Oh, god, I'm going crazy!" Robin complained to Slade when he got back an hour later. He had gone in through the window of his own studio, only to continue across the hall to his Master's flat.
"That uniform is driving me crazy, take it off," Slade snorted.
"Gladly. I have no idea why heroes have capes, because they fucking get in the way," Robin muttered as he ripped his off.
"Language."
"Fuck language! I've been minding it the whole damn afternoon! I've been all 'oh, you're so coooool, please can I be your frieeeend, because I'm so niiiiiice!'"
"Sounds like you're doing your job then."
"I thought being an assassin was about being cool, not being a total nerdy pussy-wimp…" the teen growled as he continued to strip down to his underwear.
"It's about doing what you have to do. This is undercover-work, Robin, but I don't recall you having to be 'a total nerdy pussy-wimp'," Slade smirked.
"Then how else am I going to make them like me? I'm not a hero!" the teen complained.
"No, but they might sense if you are being insincere," his Master pointed out. "Did you tell them your background story?"
"Yeah?"
"Then they should expect you to be a bit rough around the edges… even though I still think of you as Orphan Annie," the man leered.
"Yes, but that's because you're insecure in your sexuality and wishes I was a girl," Robin snorted.
"You are just trying to get out of the dress-up-thing."
"Damn. But really? I could be more… me?"
"I think they will see it in your fighting-style anyway… but do it gradually, don't show them a completely different personality when you see them next."
"Okay… oh, that's tomorrow, by the way! Training in the park," Robin told him.
"Good. Progress," Slade nodded approvingly. "Now, are you going to keep those briefs on much longer?"
"Mmm…. that was nice…" Robin grinned lazily twenty minutes later.
"You're welcome. Go take care of your uniform before it wrinkles," his Master ordered.
"Housework? This soon after sex?" the teen complained.
"Life is so hard for you, isn't it?" Slade chuckled. "How about I go out and buy us a couple of steaks to celebrate our first step towards our goal?"
"Sounds great! I like you better when you're not cruel."
"Good. I don't have to tell you that you will have to do the cooking, do I?"
Robin left early the next morning while Slade was busy working on the Titan's security system and the special memory-stick the teen was going to use to steal Cyborg's blueprints. It had to be completely compatible to the Tower's systems or the security they had installed would find it instantly and sound the alarm. Robin trusted his Master to get it right, however. Slade had taught him a lot about computers, something Robin hadn't come that much in contact with before, and he had taken to it like a fish to water. A whole new world of technology and information had opened up to him, and it was immensely fascinating.
But today he couldn't stay in and play with his laptop; had had a mission to work on, after all. He arrived at the park before the rest and sat down to meditate. It might impress Raven, if nothing else.
Half an hour later the Titans arrived; some chipper, some dragging themselves across the lawn.
"Morning!" Robin grinned as he opened his eyes.
"Morning Robin, up for a little sparring?" Speedy asked.
"You bet… just come at me, bro," the young assassin grinned. This was what he had been hoping for, because in the worst case scenario they would be doing laps.
He met Speedy in hand-to-hand combat first, and was worried in the beginning, holding back.
"Hey, Rob, I'm not going to break. I'm not saying we should go full contact, but I need to know what you can do, alright?" the archer told him.
"Okay… you asked for it," Robin grinned and from then on it was a lot more fun to be an undercover agent.
"Damn, you're flexible!" Speedy panted after a while, as Robin had somehow made it from the ground to sailing over his head.
"You should see me in bed," the black haired teen grinned.
The hero froze for a second and Robin could hear his friends gasp and snicker. Then a little smirk appeared on the red-head's face.
"Is that so?"
Robin had been holding his breath, again afraid that he had ruined it all. Now he released it with a snort.
"Yeah, wouldn't you wanna know, ginger?"
Their sparring turned slightly more into a wrestling-match after that.
"Hey, guys! If you're finished tickling each other, maybe I can go a round with Robin?" Cyborg asked.
"Me next!" Beast Boy piped up.
"Boys…" Raven muttered and shook his head.
"Yes, they are very entertaining, are they not?" Starfire smiled.
"What do you say, Rob, ready to face the tin-man?" Speedy asked.
"Sure, but don't worry… I'll be thinking about you the whole time…" Robin smirked.
"You better…" was the reply.
Robin returned home after lunch, covered in goo, light burns, bruises and with a huge smile on his face.
"You look like you had fun…" Slade commented.
"Yeah, we did a whole lot of fighting exercises, it was great," the teen grinned.
"What on earth is this?" his Master asked and touched the sticky substance his apprentice was more or less covered in.
"From one of Speedy's arrows… it's not as bad as his regular ones, though; he only used practice arrows."
"Is he as good as we thought?"
"Better. I'm glad I don't actually have to fight them… although I'd kick his ass, of course," Robin shrugged.
"And why are you so confident you'll win?" Slade asked with an amused look on his face.
"Easy… he doesn't have you as a Master," Robin smiled.
"Flatterer… are you feeling guilty about something?" the man asked.
"Ummm… well, there was a bit a flirting…"
"As long as I don't have to drag you from his bed when this is over, that's fine." Slade told him. "But I advice you not to get too close. You are far too inexperienced for that."
"Hey, you don't think I can get him off? Oh… you mean I'll fall for him…" Robin realized and blushed.
"Yes. You're not that awful in bed."
"A student is only as good as his teacher!"
"Touché."
"Anyway, do you know of any more crimes I can take on? Or do I just like… patrol?" Robin asked.
"There's another set up, down by the harbor."
"Oh? I've not been to that area yet," the teen said, sounding curious.
"It's quite a good place, actually, a lot of interesting opportunities for ambushes and lairs," Slade told him and opened a 3D map on one of the computer screens he had set up. "The attack is going to take place here around five PM. This time I'll make sure the Titans get the alarm in time, so they should join you in the middle of the fight… if they are late you can hold back for a bit…"
"And if they are on another mission?"
"Just finish yours… I'd rather they see you in action this time, but you can't just abandon the fight just because the audience doesn't turn up.
"Nah, I'm not a total bird brain," Robin said, putting weigh on the last two words.
"What was that?" Slade asked to know.
"Um… yeah… I kinda said something that made them think I had this bird-saying-jingo going on… what the hell am I going to do with that?"
"Well, they are quite a few bird idioms, I guess…" Slade said thoughtfully. "'As the bird flies', 'early bird', 'eat like a bird'…"
Oh, screw it, I'm just going to pretend it was a joke…" Robin muttered. "I just can't have a catch-phrase; I would have to kill myself…"
"I thought you did have one?"
"Really? What?"
"'Harder! Faster!'" Slade smirked.
"Oh, yeah, I say that a lot, don't I?" Robin chuckled. "Soo… mission this afternoon… but until then?" the teen purred, tracing a finger down his amused Master's chest.
"I suggest you clean up."
"Hm-mm… wanna scrub my back?"
"I might actually have to," Slade admitted, looking at the goo.
It took two hours, but finally Robin and his uniform were both clean enough to be presentable, so Slade sent him out on a recognition round of the city until it was time for the faked 'attack'. It was important to know your surroundings, and the teen had a feeling that he would be questioned when he came back. That was perhaps the reason why he was a bit too focused on his surroundings to realize what was actually in them.
"You-"
Robin spun around at the unexpected call, and immediately had a sharp throwing weapon in each hand. The fact that he didn't recognize the one the voice belonged to made him tense even more and he was only holding on to the urge to let the blades fly by the skin of his teeth.
"Whew, what kind of hero are you?" the masked stranger said.
Robin didn't want to, but he immediately put the blades away and straightened up. Was this some kind of test, perhaps? Was it Speedy under that skull mask?
"Sorry. Bit jumpy… ummm… are you one of the Titans?"
"Pfft, as if. I'm Red X."
"Um… okay?"
"I'm a thief."
"Oh, alright, I thought you might be one of the good guys… well, then, I'd better arrest you."
"Excuse me?"
"You just said you were a thief!" Robin exclaimed. He might not have all the information on being a hero, but arresting criminals seemed like a thing most of them would do.
"You can't just waltz into this city, flirt with my redhead and then try to arrest me!" the thief sounded deeply offended.
"I can't?" Robin, on the other hand, was still a bit baffled. "Ummm… and what redhead? Speedy? Starfire? Random person in the pizza queue?"
"All of the above."
"What? A bit greedy, aren't we?"
"What can I say? Jump is my city and all the redheads in it are mine as well… but mainly Speedy."
"He doesn't strike me as a guy who likes thugs," Robin smirked.
"He doesn't like killers either," Red X shot back, making the apprentice freeze.
"W-what?"
"A hero wouldn't react like that; you moved like a killer, kid," the other stated, crossing his arms.
"Hey, I'm from Gotham. It's rougher back there," Robin snorted, pulling himself up. If the thief didn't have more to go on than that, he was probably in the clear.
"Well, why don't you go back?" the other almost hissed.
"Not as many cute redheads," Robin snapped back.
The thief seemed to startle and then burst out laughing.
"Hey, if you weren't hitting on my future sex-kitten, I think I'd like you," he chuckled.
"Speedy? Sex-kitten? Robin snickered, despite himself. "And don't worry, X, the flirting is just for fun… I'm kinda… taken."
"Really? Because you might just make my sex-kitten list…?" the other young man suggested.
"Despite my hair color?"
"I'll make an exception."
"Oh, wow… thanks. I'll think about it," Robin leered. Not that he had any idea what the guy looked like but firstly he sounded hot, and secondly there was nothing wrong with his body.
"Do that. See you around, kid. No inappropriate behavior, now."
"Hey, that goes for you too!" Robin called out, but did so to empty air. The thief had just seemed to disappear in front of him. "How the hell did he do that?" Robin asked himself and thought he heard a quiet snicker from across the roof. He shrugged and continued on his way. This city was apparently as full of weirdness as Gotham.
He stayed away from the dock until he heard loud explosion-like noises from that area, and then he, like a hero foolishly would, rushed over. He came to a screeching halt on top of a building as he saw what was waiting for him below. And not much below.
"Oh, fuck… send a Cyborg to catch a Cyborg?" he muttered, but after a closer look he realized that this was probably all robot. A huge one that looked like it was built in someone's garage from scrap metal. There were no shiny, clean lines here, just jagged bits of malicious power. "If Slade knew about this…" Robin muttered. He hadn't been trained to fight anything like this! Before Cyborg he had never even met something that could be called a robot. And this was one angry robot. It didn't seem to have a mission, per se; it was just randomly destroying the neighborhood. "And I'm supposed to stop this thing…? God, I'm glad I'm not permanently on the good side, because damn, they have the worse deal… Well… time to be a hero…"
He jumped into the air and landed on the robot's head, hoping to get a hit in before the thing knew he was there, but he had barely landed when he was flying through the air again, and not from his own will this time.
"You saw that, huh?" the teen groaned as he picked himself up from the ground. "Oh, what he hell? Lasers are unfair!" He managed to just jump behind a pile of rubble, but it seemed the metal monster had abandoned its mission to wreck Jump and now only wanted to wreck Robin.
The thing looked like a mix between a gorilla and a caricature cave man; it's head sitting low on bulky shoulders, and with its long arms it was more than able to drag its knuckles on the ground as it walked. But long arms meant a long reach, and Robin was fighting for his life when the Titans showed up.
"Is this a relative of yours?" Robin panted as he landed next to Cyborg.
"Nah, sorry, never seen him before," the hero grinned.
"Come on team, multiple attacks!" Speedy ordered, and Robin joined in almost seamlessly.
The young assassin finally got to see the T-rex up close, but the dinosaur wasn't very effective against the robot and Beast Boy whimpered and clutched his mouth as he returned to normal.
"Biting metal, BB?" he heard Raven tut.
"Watch out!" Robin cried and pulled the magic user out of the way from a steel fist, which punched into the ground at the place she had just been standing. Starfire swooped down and managed to push the thing back before it had time to strike again. The empath nodded her thanks and soared off to try to shackle the machines' feet with her magic.
At least with them all attacking Robin could focus on other thing than just to stay alive, and then he spotted something interesting.
"Speedy!" he called out and, as soon as the archer came close enough he pointed to their enemy's neck.
"I think one of BB's bites ripped something, looks like he's leaking oil!"
"One flaming arrow coming up," Speedy grinned.
"Wait, what if we can get him to leak even more before that?" Robin suggested.
"You're right, up for it?" the redhead asked.
"Always," Robin leered.
"Cy! We need liftoff!" Speedy ordered and their own hunk of metal offered them a palm each as a stirrup. Robin jumped, and, using the extra boost he got from the Titan, he soared through the air next to Speedy, both of them drawing weapons.
Robin buried one of his throwing knives in the robot's neck, severing a few more tubes, and Speedy did the same on the other side, using a sharp arrow.
They cleared off the thing as quickly as they could, and as they landed on the ground again, Speedy called a temporary retreat.
"Let's hope for a bonfire," Robin heard him mutter as he cocked an already burning arrow and let it fly.
It turned out the oil was really flammable. The circuits inside the robot melted before it had time to do too much more damage, and as the fire-brigade rushed in things were soon in control.
"WOOO-HOOO!" Beast Boy whooped. "PARTY TIME!"
"That was a great shot, bro…" Robin grinned and slapped Speedy's shoulder, not being quite brave enough to slap anything else.
"Pft, that was nothing, I would have never thought of using a fire-arrow unless you had spotted the oil," the redheaded leader shrugged.
"Glad to help," Robin smiled. "Um… so, can we work out again you think?"
"Oh, you're not getting away from us now, birdy!" the arched chuckled.
"Please do join our party?" Starfire asked, and then all eyes were on Robin.
"Really? I can? Sweet!" the teen exclaimed.
"Sure, but what some of my team likes to forget is that we have work to do here first… like helping with the cleanup and talking to the police… so how about we have a movie and computer-game night tonight? Come by at seven?"
"I'll be there!" Robin promised. "Although… well… I never played much computer games…"
"Dibs on playing Robin!" Beast Boy shouted.
"How come you never taught me to fight alien ninja-monkeys?" Robin asked, plopping down on Slade's bed, waking the man up.
"Because there's no such thing?" Slade muttered, again feeling slightly uneasy about how quiet the teen could be when he wanted to. "At least I hope not."
"Nah, it's a computer game. Computer games RULE!"Robin exclaimed.
"It's three in the morning..:" Slade muttered.
"I've had some coffee… they had coffee… you never let me have coffee!"
"And this is why. Go to sleep, or at least go to your own apartment and be hyper," the man growled, an arm over his face. "I've been working with microscopic circuits for hours tonight, my eyes hurt."
"You mean eye?"
"No, it's phantom pain," the mercenary muttered. "They both hurt."
"You're whiny when you're tired," Robin grinned and then yelped as his neck was suddenly caught in an iron grip. Slade drew back the covers with his free hand and forced the teen's head down towards his crotch.
"Here. Suck on that, it will shut you up," the man half growled, half purred.
Robin, who despite the coffee, understood that he might have taken things a bit too far by calling his Master 'grumpy' had nothing against making it up to him. After all, it might perk the man up in more ways than one.
Robin woke up in Slade's bed the next morning which was nice. Slade started questioning him right away, which wasn't.
"Two blocks east from the city hall there's an atypical building for that area in terms of color. Its façade is made off…?" he began.
"…red brick…" Robin mumbled into his pillow.
"And how many fire escapes does that building have?"
"Four."
"How far is it to the closest building from there?"
"Ummm… an easy jump."
"That's your answer?"
"I didn't bring a tape-measure!"
"We have to work on your estimation-skills, then," his Master told him.
"Can't we talk about the fight instead?" Robin begged.
"I watched it from the security cameras. Good job on the team-work thing."
"Thank you, Master," the teen smiled and turned over on his back so he could actually see the man, who was sitting by his desk.
"And last night? It seemed it went well?"
"Yeah, it was great!" Robin sat up, excitement shining in his eyes. "And great news… I have a bit of an open invitation! So whenever you have the memory-stick ready, maybe I can arrange a sleepover or something…"
"I finished it last night," Slade said and placed a small flash-drive on the desktop.
"All right, then I guess I'll go for it?"
"If there's an opportunity. Don't take too many risks. Our client is patent when it comes to this, so if it takes a month, it takes a month."
"But the quicker the better, right?"
"Absolutely. Doing a difficult undercover task like this in only a few days will be really good for your reputation… and mine as well, of course," the man nodded and Robin felt his excitement grow.
"I'll try my best," he promised eagerly.
Later that day he stumbled onto Cyborg as the hero was getting his team some pizza.
"Hi Robin!" the Titan bellowed and waved to the teen, who grinned back and came over.
"Hi! Pizza again, huh? Lucky bastards, it's noodles for me," he joked.
"Why don't you skip the noodles and come back with me and hang out? There's plenty enough for everyone!" the other teen suggested.
"There's never plenty enough when BB's around, but hopefully you have some with meat?" Robin stated.
"'Course I do! It's not that I have anything against vegetarian food, really, but if the rest of us didn't eat meat, we'd be starving," the big guy guffawed and gestured to his car. "You get to ride shot gun in the T-car, Robin, I hope you get the amazingness of that, man."
"Oh, yeah, I'm all in awe," Robin snickered and jumped in. "This is some wheels…"
"Yeah, she's my baby," the hero proclaimed proudly.
"Umm… you don't mean that literally, are you?"
"Huh?"
"Well… it's a car, right... not a… umm… sentient… umm…"
"She's a car," Cyborg laughed. "Hey, I'm weird about her, but I'm not that weird!"
"Just checking," Robin smirked. He liked the other teen, business aside. He could sense a darker side to his playful nature, however, like Cyborg knew all too well that it could all be over in an instant, and really tried to make the most of it, almost anxiously grabbing as much fun out of life as he possibly could. Robin found himself hoping the teen would have a lot more time on his hands.
He was welcomed heartily at the Tower and grinned sheepishly.
"Seriously guys, just kick me out if it gets too much, I don't wanna cramp your style or anything," he told them.
"You are our new and dear friend, do not speak of yourself as a concern!" Starfire told him firmly.
"Thanks… you're really good friends, too; I'm so glad I came to Jump," Robin smiled. "But I won't be crashing too many of your parties, I need to get a job to keep my apartment. It might be mine, but it still costs money…"
"Well, unless we cramp your style…" Speedy said and looked around at the others. Robin saw them all nod more or less enthusiastically. But a complete nod from Raven probably counted as enthusiastic, as she didn't just incline her head slightly. "Well, we wanted to ask if you wanted to move in for a bit… a try-out-Titan, so to speak…"
"R-really?" Robin didn't have to fake being astounded; he had never expected the heroes to be this trusting. They needed to live on the streets of Gotham for a week…
"Yeah, dude, at least while I can beat you at computer games!" Beast Boy snickered.
"And then I'm out on my ass, right?" Robin smirked. "But yeah! I mean… wow, that's great!" He decided to add a little safety-rope, however, because he knew he would be leaving soon and the client had specifically ordered that the Titans shouldn't know what had been stolen from them, and that mean that any suspicions about Robin should also be avoided if possible. "One thing, though… I got a call from a friend in Gotham the other day and it sounded like they are in trouble. He didn't want to say anything, but I might have to go back home, maybe even in a few days… but if I could stay here until then, it would be great… and I could put my place on the market, because if I come back to Jump again… maybe I can crash here? If it all works out and everything, I mean?"
"Sounds fine, but sorry you might be leaving…" Speedy said.
"Don't be sorry, because you won't have time for me anyway… I know someone who liiiikes youuuuuu!" Robin sang, making the redhead's face match his hair.
"What? Who?" Cyborg asked.
"Red X," Robin grinned.
"Pfft, that thief likes everyone... strangely enough…" the archer snorted, but he was a bit redder in the face now.
"Yeah, but he must have seen us sparring, because he was veeeery jealous, and he called you his sex-kitten," Robin chuckled, making the rest of the room, sans Starfire, burst into laughter.
"Please, this is a funny word?" she asked.
"It's funny for Speedy, trust me," Robin smirked.
"Just… shut up…" Speedy groaned.
"Sure, sex-kitten," Robin leered.
"Forget honorary Titan, I think I'd rather have you killed…" the archer growled.
"Well, I know someone you can call for an estimate…" Robin quipped and then got funny looks again. "What can I say, you run into all kinds of people in Gotham," he shrugged. "And your criminals are interesting too. Red X got all huffy when I wanted to arrest him…"
"Yeah, he tends to try to talk you out of it…" Speedy admitted.
"In the end you just stand there arguing with him about if it's the right thing to do or not," Cyborg filled in.
"He's a mean player, though," Beast Buy cut in, and now the weird looks were aimed at him. "Computer games! Geez!"
"You… play games with a criminal?" Robin asked, astonished.
"Ummm… well… we know it sounds crazy…"
"He's charming," Raven muttered.
"And it's not like we never arrest him or anything!" Beast Boy said, trying to patch the Titan's reputation up a bit.
"He is a charmer of the police as well," Starfire said solemnly. Robin's head ached a little. He really had problem with how this girl talked, even when she did make sense.
"And gets out of handcuffs quickly," Speedy added.
"Oh, and you would know this how?" Robin smirked.
"Not like that," the redhead hissed, even though the comment seemed to go over the other Titan's heads. Maybe there was some innocence present after all.
"Will you make us joyful and move in this very evening?" Starfire asked.
"Well, if it will make you joyful," Robin grinned. "It's not like I have much to pack or anything…"
And so it was decided. After 'the sharing of the pizza' as a certain someone put it, he took off home, declining a ride, claiming he wanted to stretch his legs after the heavy meal.
"I'm in!" he cried out as soon as he entered Slade's apartment a while later.
"Really? And even without sleeping with anyone?" the man smirked.
"Wouldn't you want to know?" the teen snorted. "Well… aren't you going to miss me?"
"Immensely, Now don't try anything on the first night. I have showed you where you need to go; Cyborg's room, and you need to insert the memory stick in the main consol while he is sleeping-"
"I know!" Robin groaned. "I could do it in my sleep, Slade!"
"Good. Now go pack."
"Already done!"
"I hope you didn't bring anything suspicious."
"Oh, you mean I shouldn't bring my gun, an outline of our plans and my scrapbook of you?" Robin gasped somewhat sarcastically.
"Cute. Off you go then. Make me proud."
"Don't I always?" Robin asked wide-eyed and innocently before leaving through the door to his own place.
Slade just chuckled and shook his head as the door closed. He had wondered how he would adapt to having an apprentice. Well… an 'apprentice with benefits', as it were, as he had worked alone for such a long time.
He had found that the whole thing wasn't as exhausting as he had first feared. Robin was eager to learn and Slade had found that he himself was actually eager to teach. It was nice to show someone the tricks of the trade, something he wished that someone had taught him.
Robin would never have to make the same mistakes Slade had, and, being so young, he would, if he stayed alive, perhaps even outshine him one day. The mercenary didn't feel threatened by that, however, as he had his longevity and powers, whereas Robin was only human. Well… maybe part incubus, judging by his… appetite… Slade chuckled again, as it actually matched his. 'Match' was a good word here, because it suited their relationship. They both gave each other space when needed, and support at other times. Robin was a find, plain and simple, and Slade didn't regret his decision for a moment.
Late that night Robin lay twisting and turning in his bed in the guest bedroom. He had a hard time falling asleep, partly because of excitement and nerves, and partly because he missed Slade. He knew it was silly, as he might not have been allowed to sleep in the man's bed anyway, and because it was only for a few days at most, but…
Robin missed the warmth of a body next to him, the movement, the sounds that wasn't quite snoring, but not completely silent breaths either… those sounds had come to mean something to him he hadn't experienced since he was eight: security. Someone was looking out for him, he was safe, and he knew where his next meal would come from… that meant much more to the young killer than he had known up until now. He had told himself that he needed no one, and was happy to get by on scraps, because he was free. That was still partly true, perhaps, because even though he had tied himself to Slade, he was still fiercely independent, but the man understood that aspect of him. The man seemed to understand every aspect of him, which was, frankly, a bit daunting.
He finally gave up and decided to take a trip to the kitchen. His hosts had told him to help himself, and it was a good opportunity to get a better grip of the Tower's sometimes confusing layout. He was standing by the vast windows overlooking the city with a warm cup of coco in his hands when he heard someone entering the room.
"Couldn't sleep?" Speedy asked.
"Nah," Robin shrugged, still looking out over Jump.
"Something's the matter? Homesick for Gotham?" the archer asked kindly as he came up to join him.
As he couldn't say that he was actually missing a certain mercenary and assassin which was also his Master and… well… other things, Robin nodded.
"It's strange, you know… you spend your whole time as you grow up wanting out, and when you get the chance… not all of it really seems so bad…"
"I know, I've seen a fair share of places myself," Speedy nodded. "I think I've made Jump my own, though, although sometimes… a bigger city… somewhere more exciting…"
"Sounds like you should come to Gotham," Robin grinned.
"Well…. something like it," Speedy chuckled. "Although having a team is great too…"
"Yeah! I mean, I've never been part of one, but…" Robin trailed off. Actually he was quite sure that he would end up snapping his teammates necks if he had one of his own… it would smother him eventually and just drive him crazy to be surrounded by people like that all the time.
"Well, you have one now, for whenever you need one," the archer said and placed a hand on the teen's shoulder. It then slipped down across his back and ended up at his hip. "Now, if you can't sleep…?" the hero grinned.
Robin grinned back but, after a short consideration, pulled away slightly.
"Sorry… that friend in trouble? We're like… involved. It's complicated. Besides, Red X would castrate me."
"It's okay, just feeling a bit horny," the redhead shrugged.
"Pfft, you really should go look Red X up, you'd be great together," Robin laughed.
"Just might do that one of these nights…" the other one leered.
"Send me pictures?"
"Maybe even video."
"You really are a very good guy," Robin sighed in an overly dreamy way, making them both chuckle.
Life with the Titans wasn't boring, he could say that much. If there weren't missions and adventures there was training or games. It was a bit loud, however, and Robin groaned as his head hit the pillow the next night.
He had tried to spend a lot of time with Cyborg, especially that evening, claiming he wanted to learn more about computers, which, in fact, was true. The older teen had showed him out of his room when it came time for him to power down, however, and Robin had found out that his door locked while he was being charged.
This was tricky, because in the teen's mind he would have been able to just walk right into the room any night. He spent some time while trying to fall asleep imagining possible solutions, and entered dreamland with a smile on his face and a plan in his mind.
The next evening he waited until right before he knew that Cyborg would bid them all goodnight. Robin went to get a glass of milk and made sure to pass the Titan's door as he was getting ready.
"Night, Cy!" He said brightly as he stuck his head around the door, and then he pretended to look at the teen's desk. "Oh, could I borrow those computer magazines?" he asked.
"Sure, man," the Titan said gesturing to the pile as he was getting up on his… well… 'bed' Robin guessed he could call it.
"Thanks, that's really-" the apprentice took two steps into the room and then stumbled, dropping his glass of milk which shattered on the floor. "Damn! I'm sorry, I'll go get some rags," he said in a hurry.
"Don't worry about it; I'll get in the morning. I'm beat," Cyborg dismissed him.
"No, that's milk, that will stink up the place," Robin told him. "And the glass… if I hurry?"
"Fine, I'll over-ride the automatic locks so it won't lock until you close the door when you're done," the Titan said and his fingers danced over the control panel, "But I better not wake up painted green!"
"That happened to you?"
"What can I say, you just can't trust your friends…" the other teen muttered and then smirked. "Night, Robin."
"Night, Cy," Robin smiled back. Maybe he should have felt a pang of guilt at the Titan's words but… naaah… he didn't do guilt a lot, and it was more important for him to make Slade proud.
As soon as the half man-half machine had powered down and immediately started snoring, Robin took the memory stick out of his pocket and pushed it into the right slot on the main charging consol. The stick would now download all vital information about the Titan, and it would only take about five minutes before it would beep softly, signaling that it was ready to be removed. Robin then went to get rags and a broom, so he could clean up.
"Hi dude, watcha doin'?"
Robin jumped and looked up from his cleaning.
"Hi, BB… Just spilled some milk," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. The memory stick was so small so he wasn't too worried about the changeling spotting it, but you never knew.
"Oh, neat, let's draw pictures on him!"
"No! No, BB, I promised… was it you who painted him green?"
"Who else?" the Titan grinned.
"Yeah…" Robin admitted. "Anyway, get out of here, I'm just going to finish cleaning this up and then leave."
"But I'm boooored!"
"How about we play some games then? After I'm done?" Robin asked. He desperately needed the teen out of the room, because he would hear the beep, and probably investigate it.
"Well I'll help!"
Robin wanted to shout at him to get the hell out. The download would be finished any minute.
"No, just go start the game up, that takes a while… and then decide on the character you're gonna play… I'll be right there…"
"Okay! Be ready to get your ass kicked!" the little hero grinned and, finally, left. Only twenty seconds later the memory stick beeped.
Jump City was disappearing beneath them just as Gotham had only about a week ago. Robin watched and then turned to Slade.
"So, what's next?"
"There are a few missions to choose from, but for now we're stopping over in Metropolis. It's a good city to know your way around."
"Cool… Think we'll see Superman?"
"Probably."
"I want his autograph," Robin grinned.
"If you go up to him and ask, I'll autograph your ass. Low profile. It should mean something to you by now."
"Yeah, yeah…" Robin muttered.
"So, your first mission is completed… How does it feel?"
"Great!" the teen grinned.
"You don't feel guilty? You parted as friends with the Titans after all. They even gave you a communicator… and you are paying them back by selling Cyborg's secrets," Slade pushed. He needed to know that Robin had his moralities straight… or rather; crooked. "And that's not making you feel bad at all?"
"Nah, and you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because they are a damn good team," Robin smirked confidently, "and I know that whatever that old fart throws at them… they can handle."
The End
A/N: Well, this universe is open for more wishes, and if you have any ideas about their next mission, please share!