A/N: This is a prize drabble for Dragonessblade/Janusbouu (on dA) who won the Sladin Easter competition with a wonderful comic called "Happy Easter To Us" (look it up on dA! NOW!). I'll include part of the prompts for this drabble at the bottom, mainly to have someone to blame if it seems weird… ;) Hopefully it will just be funny, though, because it's supposed to be.
Keep Calm And…
"Robin of the Teen Titans, how may I help you?" the hero answered the incoming call. It was on their 'official' phone line so it might be the mayor, he guessed, or the police commissioner, who both had this number for non-emergencies.
"Robin, this is Doctor Bergstrom, I'm calling about the results of your yearly physical."
"Ah, yes Doctor, was anything amiss?" Robin asked. He was not really worried as he felt fine and the examination had just been routine.
"Everything looks good, except… your blood pressure. According to the nurse who took it, it was through the roof even after some extra rest."
"Um, yeah.. I just came from a mission, maybe that was the cause?" Robin said.
"Yes, stress is a likely factor in your case, but just to cover the other causes… you don't smoke, do you?"
"Of course not," Robin half laughed half snorted.
"Good, and I know you're not overweight and get plenty of physical activity… You're not old, and your kidneys are fine. I'm going to guess you don't drink either?"
"No, Doctor," the teen answered.
"We might have to rule out adrenal and thyroid disorders, but I doubt those are the cause as your results over all are fine. How about your diet? Do you eat a lot of salt?"
"Well… I guess there's a lot of junk food and snacks now and then…" Robin admitted.
"Hmmm… yes… is there a record of high blood pressure in your family?"
"I… I don't know… my parents died in an accident when I was a child," the hero said. As the Titans didn't know about his past he hadn't talked about his parents in so long that it was actually a bit painful to do so now.
"I'm very sorry to hear that, Robin," the doctor said. "Still, I would say that stress and diet might be the cause, but we don't know yet if it was only temporary… as the normal amount of rest before the test didn't seem to help, I want you to come in for another one later this week. However, I would like you to be completely rested and to not take on any stressful tasks for quite some time before then, understand?"
"Um… doctor, how much time, because in my job…?"
"I'll schedule your appointment for Wednesday morning, and I would like you to take time off from work from tomorrow, Tuesday. I don't know how it works with your missions, but I assume one day off is doable?"
"Um… yeah, I guess…" Robin said. "Should I lay off the salt as well?"
"Not this time, eat as you normally do, I want to see if the blood pressure was stress related first," the doctor told him, "But after that you might want to consider your salt intake, yes."
"Will do, Doctor. I'll see you in two days, then," Robin said and they bid farewell before hanging up. The young man then stared ahead of himself for a while. How the heck did you take a day off?
His team seemed equally perplexed.
"A day off?" Cyborg said. "I mean, yeah, we do fun stuff and just hang out, but… like… NO work?"
"Nope. Even if there's an alarm , I can't go. Doctor's orders…" Robin said, scratching his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Do we all get the day off?" Beast Boy wanted to know, looking excited.
"I'm sorry, but no… I mean, sure, to be fair we can each have a day off, but it can't be the same day, okay?"
"I'm so going to the beach!" the green boy grinned.
"I'm going to read," Raven declared.
"And I shall do the shopping!" Starfire smiled.
"Yes, well, that's great, but not tomorrow… all agreed?"
"'Course, man! It's your health!" Cyborg said. "But where are you gonna go? I mean, if there's an alarm that's just gonna stress you out, right?"
"I've thought about that, and if you could disconnect the PA system to the roof, I will be able to stay up there without hearing any alarms. The weather is great, so I'll just bring some books, maybe do a few laps in the pool… I ought to be relaxed in no time flat."
"You just sounded like you are trying to turn it into a competition," Raven pointed out flatly.
"So, we can't come talk to you or anything?" Beast Boy asked.
"Sure you can, but not about work," Robin said. "Unless something really bad happens."
"There has surely been many bad things happening in the recent past…" Starfire said, sounding unsure. The city had had a bit of a crime wave as the H.I.V.E academy was on a break and the students had to find ways to entertain themselves.
"Hey, maybe we can call Titans East," Cyborg suggested. "Ask if we could borrow one of them for the day?"
"Yes…" Robin said thoughtfully. "And maybe there's something I can do to help too…"
"Hello Robin… how nice of you to call…"
The Titan was in his bedroom, the door securely locked, as he was looking at the computer screen where Slade's masked face had just appeared.
"Slade… I need a favor," he admitted up front.
"I thought I did you one just last week…?" the mercenary said smugly, making Robin blush.
"This is not about… that thing…" he said, trying to gain some control of the conversation.
"'That thing'? Haven't learned how to say 'sex' yet?"
"Slade, please!"
"Well, that I know you can say… repeatedly."
Robin put a hand over his eyes and slid it slowly down his face in an effort to remain calm.
"Slade, the doctor called today-"
"Don't tell me you're pregnant."
"What? No!? How would that even- No!"
"Well, what did the doctor say then? I know it can't be an STD as I'm immune and I'm pretty sure you're not seeing anyone els-"
"It's nothing like that! I have high blood pressure, okay? I'm going in for a test on Wednesday but I need to rest until then… so I need you to make sure that Jump City's criminals takes it easy tomorrow! Especially the H.I.V.E."
"I see."
"Well… will you do it?"
"Of course."
"Really? Thank you!"
"Let's see… for that amount of hours… Expected material use… a rather big personal discount… fifteen thousand."
"What? Fifteen thousand what?" Robin gaped.
"Dollars," Slade said. "American," he clarified further.
"You're charging me? I was asking for a favor!"
"And I granted it. Taking the assignment is a favor," the man claimed. "And you got a discount."
"I can hear my pulse… this can not be good…" Robin mumbled. "Listen, Slade, you will do this, pro bono, or I will never do another favor for you again!"
"Is it a favor if we both enjoy it?" the man asked dryly.
"I mean it!"
"We said that whatever we did it wouldn't affect our work," the man reminded him.
"Yes, but… but…" Robin sighed. "Fine. I'll do that thing you been wanting me to do."
"Specify."
"I'll… I'll suck you off on a rooftop, in public, while we're both wearing full uniforms and might be spotted at any time. As long as it's dark."
"I don't remember the 'dark' part."
"Slade…?"
"Fine. I'll tell the hooligans to pipe down. They have been annoying me lately as well. Just for tomorrow though. And I expect that you pay your dues on Wednesday evening."
"I will. Unless there's a monster loose," Robin promised.
"Oh, there will be…" the man chuckled and ended the transmission.
Robin sighed as he stared at the black screen. Well, he needed to take it easy and, as long as they weren't spotted he didn't mind paying the price. Actually it made him a little hot under the collar, but he pushed that feeling away because it was probably not good for his blood pressure. He didn't worry about his health, though… he was young and fit… yes, the stress could be a bit much sometimes, maybe, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He just wanted to go to the doctor's on Wednesday and prove that he was fine… that couldn't be too much to ask, could it?
He woke up early the next morning and raided the kitchen for things to eat during the day. There was a small fridge next to the grill on the roof for him to store any perishables in and Robin borrowed one of the microwave ovens. The Titans had three, although one was reserved for Starfire's cooking. The other two were to avoid arguments about what was most important; tea or pop-tarts. That argument just had to happen today, Robin guessed.
When he reached the roof the sun was just coming up and, after making a sandwich for himself, the teen flopped down on one of the sun beds and just enjoyed the view. He didn't do this enough anymore. It was still a bit chilly in the air, but he had packed a pair of trunks for when it got warmer. There was a bathroom up here too, and showers to get the smell of chlorine out of your hair after a dip.
Everything was set up, he had brought plenty of things to keep him entertained, and he wouldn't go back down until late. Maybe not at all. Maybe he'll spend the whole night up here, watching the stars come out, enjoying the quiet-
"DUDE, SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE TOWER!" The door to the roof had slammed open, framing a frantic Beast Boy.
"What?! When?" Robin asked shooting up from his chair, ready for anything.
"They stole the microwave in the kitchen!" the younger teen claimed.
"BB, I took it…" Robin groaned. "I left a note, didn't you read it?"
"Note?"
"What are you doing up anyway?" his leader asked tiredly.
"Night snack."
"It's morning."
"Nu-huh, unless there's an alarm mornings never start this early," the changeling said. "So… no burglar, then?"
"No. Go back to bed."
"At once, great leader!" Beast Boy grinned and saluted him before scurrying away.
Robin sighed and sank down on the sun bed again, drawing a few deep breaths. Calm… calm and quiet.
He read for almost an hour, and then the alarm started blaring.
Robin was running down the stairs when Cyborg came up them, and they almost crashed into each other.
"Sorry, sorry, false alarm!" the metal teen told him.
"What?" his leader growled.
"Yeah, I turned off the alarm to the roof last night, but then I wasn't sure it would really work, so I was just going to run a quiet test and… well…"
"Now you can't turn it off?" Robin stated. "Great."
"Don't worry, man, just gotta do it manually, I'll be out of your face in no time," his friend promised.
Robin grumbled as he turned around and walked up the stairs again, the alarm still blaring. It had just quieted down when a grinning masked face with short red hair appeared on the roof.
"Hi bro, just popped by to help, but damn it's quiet here!"
"Hi Speedy," Robin grinned back. "Sorry we're been having some trouble lately, but I don't think you needed to come all the way here for that…"
"Well.. Cy called last night and honestly? Needed the change of air. Aqualad is all into whale song at the moment, Bumble Bee is trying to 'implement a new routine', which is code for driving everybody nuts and the kids are all over the place like a constant sugar rush… I'm starting to miss Ollie."
"Hey, I know what you mean… It had its ups and downs, but at least it was quiet in the Batcave…" Robin chuckled.
"So… mind if I hand out for a while?"
"No, do… Just don't make me into a pressure cooker for my own blood and it's fine."
"Aww… so no… fun?" the redhead smirked.
"Speedy…" Robin blushed a little as he tutted and shook his head.
"Hey, a guy can ask, can't he? Besides, I miss you…"
"Yeah, well… you know... we said…"
"I know, I know… 'no strings attached'… oh, so you're seeing someone?"
"Not… not as such…"
"Hmm… you must tell me about him…" the archer smirked and stretched out on the other sun bed. They chatted amiable for a while and then Speedy started to get impatient. He was easily bored and disliked sitting still for long unless he had to.
"Wanna shoot some hoops?" he asked. "If we just do it from a standing position it shouldn't be stressful, should it?"
"Well, okay…" Robin said, getting up. He then smirked. "Been a while since I had the opportunity to kick your ass…"
Anyone who knew these two young men even slightly could foresee that it couldn't possibly end with just a 'friendly game'. They were soon battling it out on the court, still having fun but not exactly relaxing. They both seemed to realize this at the same time and stopped, looking at each other sheepishly.
"Tie?" Speedy suggested.
"Tie." Robin nodded.
"Yeah, you should rest. I'm just gonna take a leak," the archer said and disappeared around the corner to the bathroom. Robin put the ball away and had made it almost all the way back to the sun bed when he was suddenly hugged fiercely from behind.
"What-?" For a moment he thought it was Starfire, because she was the only one who usually hugged that tightly, but the truth was much more unexpected. "Red X?!"
"Please don't die!" the other young man sobbed against his shoulder.
"What are you- WOULD YOU LET GO OF ME?!"
"God, you're all out of breath and sweaty… kid, I didn't even know! We fought just last week!"
"Um… Robin? Is this your boy friend?" the Titan heard Speedy ask.
"No, this is one of Jump's criminals. Speedy, meet Red X, Red X, Speedy."
"Is he your REPLACEMENT!?" the thief gasped. "How could they?! And you're not even… no!"
"Red X, let me go and explain what the heck you are talking about!" Robin finally yelled.
"This is not how criminals act in Steel… I wonder if we're doing something wrong?" Speedy said, almost to himself.
"You go away!" Red told him. "You're hot, but you're not going to replace my Robin!"
"So he is your boyfriend?" the redhead asked.
"NO! Red, before I arrest the crap out of you for… for… molestation or whatever, you are going to talk! Why are you here?!"
"Because… Slade said you were sick?" the thief said, sounding a bit uncertain now. "But you seem more pissed off… oh, is that one of the symptoms?"
"Slade told you I was sick?" the teen hero asked incredulously.
"Well, no, I just overheard him talking to you last night and Slade said something about a doctor calling… and then he got all serious and today I heard the H.I.V.E was told not to make as much as a sound, and-"
"Well, I am going to the hospital, but-"
"No! Are you in pain? How long-?"
"I'm not sick! Not really! I have high blood pressure! I'm trying to RELAX!" Robin's voice rose with every word until the thief shirked back.
"Hey, it's not like anyone's stopping you!" he said, raising his hands. "Really, you should do a better job!"
"I'm. Trying. Very. Hard," the black-haired teen growled.
"Wait, did he say you called Slade last night? Is Slade your boyfriend?" Speedy cut in.
"NO ONE IS MY BOYFRIEND!" Robin snapped. "Please, please take the thief here and go away?"
"So the hottie here is not your replacement?" Red wanted to clarify.
"No, he's part of Titan's East."
"Oh…" X said and then turned to the redhead. "How are you a long distant relationships?"
"How about we try a really close one first?" the archer smirked.
"Hey, you realize he's a thief, right?" Robin warned his friend.
"If you're bumping uglies with Slade-" his friend defended himself.
"I'm not-"
"Ah-ha, don't lie, Robin, I've seen you sneaking around together," Red X snickered.
"It's… complicated."
"Sure it is, kid." X snorted. "So, 'Arrow-Boy', let's go get 'complicated'… I wanna see how far you can shoot."
"I'm Speedy."
"Let's hope not."
When the two new… acquaintances… had left the roof Robin decided that a long, relaxing shower was in order. He entered the boy's showers, undressed and then sighed happily as the water washed over him. He was shampooing his hair when Raven suddenly swept up through the floor.
"Rae!" The young man's hands shot to his crotch.
"Sorry. Trying to avoid a stank ball."
"So you took a short cut through the showers?!"
"I don't have the blueprints to the tower memorized. It could have been worse," the young woman said. It might have been a trick of the light but she seemed to be grinning a little.
"Could you… you know… GET OUT?!" her leader yelled. He definitely heard a snicker as the girl vanished through the wall.
He finished up quickly, not finding the shower relaxing anymore, and put on a pair of trunks. He was starting to feel hungry, though, and decided that a snack might calm him down. All was not lost; if the rest of the day could just be nice and quiet…
He went through what he had grabbed from the kitchen and decided to keep things simple with cup noodles. He heated the water in the microwave, put everything in the cup and stirred. He had just put the lid on and was walking back to his chair when something flew through the door at full speed, ramming him. Covered in hot noodles Robin looked up at his attacker, his shoulders shaking a bit from repressed sobs.
"Starfire…? What…?" he just asked.
"Please! You have to help! I have seen Speedy and he is going through the cloning!"
"The… what?"
"As what was portrayed in that most excellent movie we watched the other night!"
"You mean… those aliens who could split into two?"
"Yes! And Speedy is doing that! I found him naked, attached to his other self by the middle! We must help!"
"Oh… dear… god…" Robin groaned.
"Please! Do not fear! We can still help!" the alien princess tried to comfort him.
"Star… he's not… he's not in danger… well… if they are using protection…" he added under his breath
"I saw no such thing. No shields, no-"
"No, not like… He's not cloning himself he's… umm.."
"Yes?"
"He met a.. friend.. .and they… ummm…"
"Yes?"
"Well… they are… playing a game… of sorts…"
"Oh. Well, then let us join this game!"
"NO! You see… only two can play, and… I… Listen, go find Raven, tell her what you saw and she'll explain, alright?"
"I shall!" the princess smiled and flew off again, calling for her friend.
A lump of noodles dropped into his lap with a sad, wet sound, and Robin sighed deeper than ever.
"Things going well?" a dark, amused voice asked and the teen looked up at his arch nemesis / occasional lover standing before him. Robin reached up towards him with his arms.
"Slade? Take me away from here? Please?"
On Thursday the doctor called again.
"Well, Robin, I have your results. Everything is looking just fine. The nurse said you seemed very relaxed and happy… did you have a nice day off?"
"It started a bit bumpy…" the teen chuckled. "But then I was flat on my back all day."
"Good. I recommend days like those, at least once or twice a week if you can manage," the physician told him and then they said goodbye. Robin, however, immediately dialed another number.
"Slade? Well, I got some new orders from the doctor… I need another favor…"
The End
A/N: so this was (part of) the prompt I got:
"What I would like is something fluffy and funny and silly! Maybe something involving Robin trying to enjoy a day off (a day that he's told all the titans and even Slade because he's been having some weird off again, on again fling...sex...thingy with the man. I dunno, THAT'S UP TO YOU) And he's just trying to enjoy his day on top of the tower with a cup noodles. But his day off ends up being one his most exhausting because of reasons."
There was more, but it's all in the story, I think.. .;) I feel like the only thing I came up with was the high blood pressure thing… hmmm…
Hope I managed to pull it off, though! That is, that Dragonessblade enjoyed it! Now I owe her and Teania a drawing each and then all the prizes are done…
