A/N: this is a long overdo story for MonsterOfCookies as a thank you for being my Beta for "See if I Care" (original story).
She doesn't like dark, so I guess I have to put a FLUFF WARNING on this one… ;) The prompt was very fitting, as I wrote this while being sick myself… still not 100 % I have some kind of virus which has attacked my lungs for no good reason, but I'm getting there…
It's a freestanding oneshot, and quite long (16-17 pages).
Thank you to Higashisaru for being my beta for this!
Sick of You
Last night had been great fun. They had held a farewell party at the Tower as Starfire and the rest of the Titans –except Robin– were travelling to Tamaran for the wedding of Galfore, the man who had cared for Starfire as a child and was now the ruler of the planet. There would be a magnificent feast and with the travel time included, the Titans would be gone for almost three weeks.
The long absence from Jump was one of the reasons that Robin had decided to stay behind. The other one was that he and Starfire had had a little bit of a falling out. For the last year or so Robin had discovered, or rather come to terms with, the fact that he was gay. Possibly bisexual, but he definitely had a stronger attraction to males. It wasn't something that was easy for him to discover about himself and he had to admit that he might have led Starfire on a bit in a desperate attempt to disprove his theory. All in all he had handled things rather badly, and when he finally told his team a few weeks ago, Star didn't quite want to accept it. They had not truly been a couple, but Robin agreed that there had been some kind of understanding between them, which he now had shattered. Long story short; they could use some time apart.
The team had left very early in the morning, telling Robin not to bother waving them off, but the teen hadn't expected to sleep for as long as he did. When he opened his eyes the clock on his bedside table said eight AM, and the alarm –in the form of a news radio station− was blaring at him. His alarm was usually set at six, meaning that he much have slept through two hours of the sound. How?
The answer came to him when he sat up. His head felt like it was filled with lead. He was pretty sure no one had spiked the punch last night, but he planned to run whatever might remain through a few lab tests. Oh, well. No rest for the wicked; he had a whole city to protect. On his own. He felt a bit of a pleased tingle in his stomach at the thought. It was nerves, yes, but also pride. He could do this.
After a cup of strong, hot coffee to get that annoying feeling out of his head, the alarm went off. Robin winced when he hurried towards the R-cycle. It didn't feel like he had had fun last night anymore; it felt like had been taking on an exercise regime way beyond his capability. Something was wrong, but there was no time for that now. Crime had to be stopped.
Crime, this particular day, turned out to be Red X, who was leaving the scene just as Robin got there. After a long, silent chase across the rooftops the thief slowed down and turned around.
"Hey, you okay, kid?"
"Mind… your… own… business…" Robin panted and took the opportunity to lean against a wall.
"I'm trying, but you keep following me. Barely, might I add. Are you sick or something?"
"I'm… never… sick."
"Well, sorry Mister Superman-wannabe but the flu is brutal this year. Everyone's down with it. Congrats, you won a trip to bed land. The boring kind."
"I'm… not… sick…" Robin insisted.
"Sure. Oh, by the way, speaking about the fun trips to bed… been hitting any clubs lately?"
"…What?" Robin was wondering if he was hearing wrong. He was steeling himself for the final attack. He'd use his jump cord to trap the thief, and he knew exactly how. He just needed one more minute.
"I'm at The Spinning Top quite a lot… I'll keep an eye out for you… if you wanna hook up or something."
Robin's face already felt strangely hot, but now it went up to planet core temperatures. He recognized the name of the one of the more infamous gay clubs in town.
"How…?"
"Everyone knows. As far as I can figure out Jinx overheard your space princess rant about it in the mall like two weeks ago… guess she was pretty pissed about not getting the D, huh?"
Robin just groaned. Fantastic. He hadn't even told Bruce yet, and here a whole city apparently knew. Why hadn't the press beaten down the doors for an exclusive coming-out story? Maybe it hadn't reached above the underbelly of Jump, but the newspapers weren't far above the scum so he should expect them soon. Dammit.
"Kid?" the thief asked when the hero didn't say anything for a while. "You okay?"
"No."
"Well, apart from being sick, I mea-"
"I'M NOT SICK!" The outburst ended rather meekly with Robin feeling lightheaded and having to lean even heavier on the wall.
"Sure."
"Why… why are you even still here?" Robin groaned. He had gotten to the point where he didn't care about catching Red, as long as he would get out of his sight.
"I'm waiting for your owner."
"What?"
"Everyone who messes with the Titans knows that if something is up with you, they have to report it."
"What are you… who?!" Robin asked. It seemed his world was getting crazier by the second.
"Me."
Robin's head snapped to the left. Emerging from the shadows was one man he definitely didn't have the strength to fight at the moment.
"Slade!" the teen gasped and then turned to Red with a snarl. "You… you… traitor!"
"Excuse you? I work for myself, kid. Can't betray you if I'm not on the same team, you know."
Robin didn't have a comeback for that. The thief was right, after all.
"… I hate you…" he muttered.
"Ow… rough. I will cry myself to sleep. Anyway, the kid's feeling poorly, Slade, and he's all alone. Maybe you should make him some chicken soup or something… or kidnap him for your own dark intentions, I don't know… anyway, I hope there's a finder's fee?"
"You'll get a bonus," the taller man said, sounding quite pleased. "I'll be in touch."
"See you 'round!" Red X chirped and was off.
Robin tried to steel himself. His vision was not quite stable at the moment… maybe he had a bug or something after all. Still…
"I won't give in without a fight," he growled, clenching his fists and moving into a better defense position. He knew he would lose, but he didn't know what he would lose. His freedom? His life?
"I thought you wouldn't," Slade said, pulled out a gun and shot him.
Robin stared at the small dart in his arm for a full five seconds before trying to take a step and failing. Someone caught him. The teen felt his eyelids getting heavy as he stared up into that hard mask. He was lifted quite gently and to his embarrassment his head lolled uselessly to the side, against the man's metal chest plate.
"What… are you gonna…. do to me…?" Robin forced out, lisping slightly because of the drug.
"Get you some chicken soup," was the answer he received before passing out.
Robin woke up in a surprising place; his own bedroom. He had almost convinced himself that he had been dreaming the whole thing when a man walked into his room. A tall, broad shouldered, muscular man with white hair and an eye patch. Maybe the dream wasn't quite over yet.
"You're awake. Good," said the man in Slade's voice. The young detective eventually put the pieces together.
"…S… Slade?" he whispered, having to try twice as his voice wouldn't cooperate. It felt like he had been eating barbed wire, accompanied by a nice glass of chlorine.
"Yes. Care to tell me why I only was able to find one thermometer in the whole building?"
"I… Cy… Cy scans us." Robin mumbled, a bit too dazed not to obey.
"Of course. Well, I'm not part machine, so I'm afraid this will be uncomfortable," the man said and picked up an old-looking thermometer from Robin's nightstand. The teen just looked at it blearily, trying to understand, but his eyes didn't widen until his arch enemy put a large dollop of clear lotion of some kind on the tip.
The teen's knees slammed together with a clonking sound. "No…?" he half objected, half pleaded.
"You're running a fever; I need to monitor it to make sure it's not too high. People have died of this flu."
"I'm not sick," Robin objected.
"Then it would be even more awkward having this shoved up your ass," the man replied.
"You're not go-" But Slade didn't ask nicely and he didn't bother waiting for Robin to comply. He simply pulled the covers off the teen, rolled him over and pushed the only piece of clothes the young man was wearing –his underwear− down.
Robin was preoccupied by different things in a specific order. First the arctic cold which hit him when the covers were removed, then the fact that he was all but naked and couldn't remember how that had happened, and then the sticky cold thing between his lower cheeks.
"Ow!" he grunted out as the instrument slid inside him.
"Oh, don't complain. And don't tense up so much, do you want it to snap in half inside you?"
That warning didn't exactly make Robin relax. He was too weak to do anything about it, however and could just lie there, feeling miserable, as the seconds ticked past.
"Stay still," came the next order, and Slade left his side and the teen heard him go into the bathroom, starting the water faucet. Just as the young hero thought he would expire from the cold the man was back. "That should be long enough." There was a weird feeling in his backside and then a hum. "As I thought, way too high."
"I'm… c-c-cold…" Robin complained pathetically through clattering teeth. The next moment he was enveloped in blissful warmth, making him let out a sigh of contentment. He was rolled over, still within the covers, and the man lifted him into a sitting position.
"You need to swallow these." Two white pills rested in the man's hand.
Taking pills from Slade? What was he, an idiot?
"I won't−" But again the man didn't care what Robin wanted, not one bit. His head was tilted back, a pill popped into his mouth, and then water was poured in after it until the teen had to swallow. The procedure was repeated once more, but the teen was more agreeable this time, as he had gotten a taste of heaven; the water. When Slade tried to pull the glass away Robin caught his hand in a weak grip and continued drinking. Once it was empty he made a disgruntled sound.
"I'll get you some more," the villain told him with a chuckle, and soon another tall glass of cool goodness was brought to his lips. He emptied two and a half before he was done. At that point the hero was ready for a nap, but instead he was once again brought out of his warm cocoon.
"Nooo…" he objected weakly, "…cold…"
"You'll be back in your bed in no time, I'm just taking you to the bathroom."
"…whyyyy?" Robin grumbled.
"Because I don't want to change your sheets if I don't have to," the man told him frankly.
"…don't wanna…"
"Well, I don't want to take care of the four-year old you apparently turned into, but I still will," the man huffed.
"…why?" Robin asked. He didn't get an answer.
His underwear was pulled down again and he was placed on the toilet seat.
"Do your business. I'll be back in ten minutes," Slade told him. "And please," the man paused in the doorway, "try to wipe yourself."
Robin had a hard enough time trying to sit up, but he found himself actually needing to go after a while. He somewhat resented that, as it meant Slade had been right.
He woke up as he was close to smacking his head on the floor, but caught himself in time. Damn all this to hell.
Slade collected him after a while and he was returned to his blissful wrapped up state. Although it wasn't blissful any more.
"Too… hot!" he growled and tried to kick the covers off himself.
"You're shivering," his unlikely caretaker told him and tucked him back in.
"NO!" he grunted and pushed the comforter down once more. After a bit of a wrestling match they came to a compromise which consisted of a thin sheet.
"Why... you're not… mask?" Robin finally remembered to ask.
"I thought that would ease your discomfort of not having one yourself."
"Wha-?" Robin's hand flew to his eyes. "You… you bastard!"
"Not my fault. You went out without one."
"I… what?"
"You went after Red X without a mask. Apart from you obviously being too sick to stand, why did you think he called me? Your identity could have been all over the city by now if he hadn't lured you away like he did."
The reprimanding tone reminded Robin of someone. "You sound like Batman…" he muttered.
"Heaven forbid," the villain sighed. "Go to sleep, Robin."
"I… still don't understand why…" the teen insisted.
"If you're lucky you'll find out," the man smirked. The smile made the teen feel something flutter weirdly inside of him. Nothing at all like with Batman, in fact.
He knew he should be more worried and upset about having Slade in the Tower, but he just couldn't gather the energy.
He fell asleep pretty quickly and when he woke up the light in the room told him it was early morning. He hadn't woken up by himself, however. The alarm had gone off.
He was up from his bed and stumbling through the hallway before his brain caught up with the situation. Even then the brain had very little to add, and just went along with it. In the common room Robin encountered a grumbling Slade, who was by the main terminal, hands dancing over the keys. The alarm turned off and the man then discovered the swaying teen.
"What are you doing out of bed?"
"Alarm… must… help," Robin insisted.
"Oh, no, you don't."
"You… can't stop me. I'll… I'll kick your ass," the hero growled, looking as threatening as a newly bathed kitten.
"You will, will you?" the man chuckled as he walked up to him. "Would you like me to turn around and stand still while you try?"
"I have to save… save…" the world spun in front of Robin's eyes, but he was determined. He staggered towards the exit.
"In your underwear? Without your mask?"
Shit. Even in his current state the teen realized that that wasn't the best starting point. "I'm…" he turned around. Then he pointed at Slade. "You gotta… gotta help."
"I do? Fancy that. Now," the man said and simply lifted the teen like he weighed nothing, "I'm going to take you back to bed."
"No! I… help."
"Your brain only has one setting, doesn't it?" the man sighed. "Calm down, I will help. I just won't help getting you killed."
Robin snorted. He wasn't going to get killed, he was fine! He just needed to close his eyes for a second.
When he opened them again he was tucked back in bed and Slade was pacing the room, talking into a communicator. The teen couldn't quite make out what the person on the other side of the line was saying.
"I don't care about your personal safety. Do as I say or it will deteriorate quickly! Spread the word; if I hear the alarm go off one more time I will personally hunt down the one who set it off and make them regret it. Yes, X, that goes for you too! Don't complain, I thought having the other Titans out of town would be a lot more fun as well." After the other person –Red X, Robin deducted− said something else, Slade glanced in his direction. "He's sick. I'm not a monster. Some day you will learn that just taking what you want isn't satisfying enough. Now, get to work."
"What did all that mean?" Robin asked tiredly.
"As you can't protect the city, I am."
The teen pondered this for a moment and asked "How much do you want for a weekend a month?"
The man chuckled and took the almost empty glass by the bedside table. "Nice try, little hero."
"It was worth it," the Titan sighed with a small smile. "I'm thirsty," he added when he saw the glass in the man's hand.
"Just going to get it refilled," he answered and headed towards the bathroom. When he got back Robin reached for the water with shaking hands. Slade didn't give it to him at once, though, and instead propped him up and helped him hold it. The teen felt a bit childish, but truth was that he would most likely have spilled it all over the bed if he had tried to drink by himself.
"What did you mean by you're not a monster?" he asked after he had quenched his thirst.
"Nothing important. Not now, anyway. You might find out one day."
"You the Riddler now or somethin'?" Robin mumbled, being tired again.
"Sleep. Hopefully you'll feel better tomorrow."
It took two days before Robin was somewhat better, though. He demonstrated this by shuffling into the main room, wrapped in his comforter.
"You're up, I see," Slade said, apparently hell bent on stating the obvious.
"Wanna watch TV," Robin muttered.
He checked for incoming calls first, but there were none. Not surprising, as the Titans wouldn't be able to send any direct communication from space. Signals had to obey the laws of physics after all. They were cut off. In an emergency Raven had said that she might be able to send a message to him through the ethereal planes, but so far so good, apparently. Or it had been lost in weird fever dreams.
"Do you think you can manage something light to eat?" he was asked.
"You're going to cook for me?" the teen snorted. He had given up on trying to get the man out of the building, or even feel threatened by him. Slade had been –at least temporarily− reduced to something he just had to accept because he couldn't get rid of it… like an annoying itch.
"I still owe you some chicken soup."
Robin chuckled. "I think there's a can somewhere."
"I know. I've found it. Or I wouldn't offer," the man admitted.
"Ah, so there's a limit to what you'd do for me?"
"Yes. But it's more flexible than you might think," the man told him giving him a look which made the teen blush for no good reason. A lot of what the man had said to him these past couple of days had made him blush. He didn't know why. Yes he did. Fuck. But he was terrified of Slade even suspecting that… no. No, don't even think about it, Robin told himself.
He focused his attention on the TV, trying to catch up on what had happened in the world while he'd been 'out' so to speak. A steaming mug of soup was held out to him after a while and he took it, not letting his eyes leave the screen. He felt the man sit down next to him and heard him take a sip of his own soup.
"I'm better now, you don't have to stay," the teen said after tasting it himself.
"The moment I leave you will struggle into those tights of yours and go out heroing."
"One: 'heroing' isn't a word, two; I don't have to 'struggle', thank you very much, and three; that's none of your business."
"I've made it my business," the man drawled, letting Robin know that he had sounded silly just to rile him up and was very pleased with the reaction.
Robin glared at him, but couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat when the man smirked back. Dammit all to hell! The guy had fed him, taken his temperature and carried him to the bathroom for days and that was apparently enough for Robin to forget who the man really was and start crushing on him! And crushing hard! It was embarrassing and he should be ashamed of himself.
"Are your feet cold?" Slade chose to ask at that moment, which wasn't exactly helping.
"They are fine!" Robin hissed.
"Really?" the man simply bent over and grabbed one of the teen's feet, which were sticking out of the comforter. "Like I thought; clumps of ice." The man grabbed a blanket from the other side of the sofa and wrapped the teen's feet up carefully, rubbing some warmth back into them as he went. "If you are going to be out of bed you need to stay warm," he ordered.
Robin had so much blood in his cheeks that he couldn't think of an answer.
"Did your fever spike again?" Slade asked and put a hand to the hero's forehead.
"No! I'm alright! Really, you can just leav-" the teen's claim of health ended suddenly with a rattling cough.
"I think I'll stick around," the man said dryly. "I think it's time for you to go back to bed.
"I'm. Watching. The. News." Robin growled.
"Fine. Let's see for how long," the man shrugged and took the teen's now empty mug. Fourteen minutes later Robin was asleep.
Of course he woke up back in his bed. And of course he stubbornly shuffled out to the couch again. Slade, who was working by the computer, just gave him a look and let him be. Robin curled up on the couch, facing him.
"I don't like you going through our mainframe," he said, pretending that he could do something about it.
"I'm just using it to access my own. Besides, I've known your system better than you have for years."
"Why am I not surprised?" Robin sighed.
"Yes, why aren't you?" the man smirked at him.
That damn butterfly-inducing smirk.
"I can't figure out what you want, though," Robin continued.
"For you to be well."
"So I can kick your ass?"
"So you can try."
"Aha, so you like that, don't you? Pervert." Robin snorted.
"As far as I hear, I'm not the only pervert here."
Robin paled.
"I- I- I-" he stuttered.
The man raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? It was just a joke."
"Well, I'm not- I'm not… I mean, I'm…"
"A pervert? Pity. The joke meant to insinuate that you are gay, though… although I guess it's far from politically correct to call homosexuals perverts… If I cared I would take it back."
"I'm… I'm not… I-"
"What is wrong with you?" Slade had now turned in his chair, facing the teen completely.
"Nothing is wrong with me! I'm normal! I'm completely normal!" Robin yelled and stood up. He had long since dressed in slightly more dignifying pajama pants, but no shirt as he had taken it off in one of his hot spells. He gathered the comforter around himself like it would protect him from something, or hide him from more than Slade's curious gaze.
"What are you on about? Is it the fever?" the man asked, somewhat bewildered.
"I'm not sick! Leave! I want you to go!" Robin yelled. Slade knowing was just too much to bear. He must think… he…
"Listen-" the man began in his lecturing voice, but the teen turned on his heel and ran for his room. He made it just in time to lock it behind himself.
Five minutes later Slade was standing by his bed, frowning down on him. Having to unlock the door electronically had only irritated him more than slowed him down.
"Explain yourself, Robin, or I'm going to take your temperature again."
The teen blushed. "There is nothing to explain. There's nothing wrong. I'm normal. A normal man."
"That doesn't explain your internet history."
"I wipe-" Robin just realized the trap, but it was too late. The man smirked.
"I thought so."
"It's none of your business!"
"Perhaps not. But I don't like what I am hearing. Had it been fifty years ago, sure, but you're a modern young man in a modern society… are you really saying that homosexuality is wrong?"
"No, of course not! It's perfectly fine for someone to be gay!" Robin objected. "It's just… Just not…"
"Just not for you? How unfair."
The teen glared at the man, but wasn't able to judge if he was teasing him or not. "Just admit it, Robin. Admit that you're gay. Or bi, or pan or omni or whatever the kids are calling it these days."
"I'm not, I-"
"I should tell you that you are horrible at lying with your mask off."
"I…" Robin took a deep breath. "Fine! I am, okay? Bi, or whatever! There, now use that to ruin my life like you want!"
"How will being gay ruin your life?" the villain asked. "Where is all this coming from? Batman?"
"No, but… I'm supposed to be a hero!"
"Yes, unfortunately. But what does that have to do with your sexuality?"
"Nothing… it's just that… Batman and Superman, they are so… I don't know… all men, you know?"
"And you don't think you are? Because I've seen you naked, and I have some great news," the man snorted.
"Yes, but-"
"Do you identify as a man?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then you're a man. Simple. Nothing to be confused about. Case solved."
"You wouldn't understand…" Robin sighed, wrapping himself tighter in his comforter.
"Because I'm 'all man'?"
Robin just blushed deeper and nodded.
"Funny," Slade said thoughtfully, "Considering I wouldn't mind fucking a man or two."
The teen had to close his mouth after just staring at the man for several seconds.
"You're… you're… gay?"
"I don't like labels. Labels are constricting, but if I would describe my orientation it would probably be something like people-sexual. I'm attracted to certain types of people, and their gender doesn't matter to me."
"So… what kind of people…?"
"Intelligent, Competent. Physical. Fearless. And I don't mind a bit of cheek either."
"Like… Red X?" Robin asked hesitantly.
"X isn't bad," Slade shrugged as the young hero's heart sank. "But he's a bit full of himself for my taste."
"Oh," Robin said, his heart suddenly back in his throat again. "So… is there someone you…?"
"You should rest, or –if you feel up to it− take a shower. Just dry off well and keep warm afterwards. I'm going to see about something for dinner later. Does your team really just live on junk food?"
"Our arteries are just barely open," Robin grinned, actually glad for the change of topic.
"Let's see what we can do about that, shall we?" the man chuckled and left the room.
Robin took a shower as the man had suggested. He probably smelled, and he didn't want to do that. He couldn't help but wonder if he fitted the man's description of people he might feel attracted to. He shook his head, water droplets flying. No, it was silly. Slade would want someone who fitted his moral compass. Someone older as well. The man had treated him like a child while he was sick, after all… that was probably all he was in his eyes.
Dinner was chicken, rice and vegetables, to 'start out carefully' as Slade said. Robin had been on a more or less liquid diet since he got sick, not being able to stomach much. The food was good, but he didn't have much of an appetite.
"I hope you have forgotten that manly nonsense by now," Slade said while serving him some ice cream for dessert.
"It's just that… it's weird. I'm just not sure," the teen admitted.
"You're not sure you like men?"
"Yeah... I mean… I think I do, but it's not like I'm not interested in women, it's just that… they are a bit… boring."
Slade outright laughed at that. "Then I think you might have been doing things wrong, my boy."
"I haven't… haven't been doing much of anything," Robin admitted, his cheeks red. "Starfire and I… well, it just didn't happen."
"Well, maybe that's for the best. She's an alien; who know what she has down there? Maybe it will rip it off and stuff it inside her?"
The teen choked on his food as he laughed, shaking his head at that man. "I think you just turned me slightly more gay," he admitted as he coughed.
"All in a day's work," Slade answered smugly.
The better Robin got, the more bored he got. He wanted to do things and became frustrated when he realized that he didn't have the energy to. He even fell asleep watching a movie, waking up with his head leaning against Slade's arm. He felt useless, and he was afraid that Slade thought him that as well.
"I need to go to the gym, I'm going crazy," the teen let his 'nurse' know.
"While still having a slight fever? No."
"I'm fine! I only get a fever in the afternoons now, and barely even then. I need to move."
"You need to rest for at least a few more days."
"Days?!"
"Yes."
Robin seethed a bit and then blinked.
"I just realized something," he said.
"Oh? And what is that?" Slade asked.
"You're not the boss of me. I've done what you said –more or less− while being sick, and thank you for helping me, but I'm more than capable to manage on my own now."
"Are you trying to dismiss me again?"
"Yes. Like I said, thank you and…" Robin hesitated. "If you want to stay for a bit, I don't mind anymore, but you… well you don't have to take care of me anymore, okay?"
"Alright."
"What, really?"
"You're almost well again, I'm sure you'll manage."
"And no trying to tell me what to do?"
"Not unless you ask for my advice."
"Great! I'll be back in an hour."
Slade looked like he was going to say something, but didn't.
After the warm up, Robin was sweating profoundly. He was as tired as after an extreme workout session and he hadn't even started yet. Still, he had learned to push through exhaustion, to ignore his body's pleas for rest, and he did so now.
He decided to do something fun instead of hard: acrobatics. He hit the rings first, but he found his arms shaking, he couldn't get the lift he wanted. Decided that the rings required more strength than maybe he could afford right now, he moved onto the bar. He had had several set up, at different heights from his chin all the way up to the ceiling so he could practice flying between them. He loved it. He felt so free doings so and he grinned as he started. He had missed this! As it was mainly momentum which propelled him everything went fine… until it didn't. A dizzy spell among the highest bars and he missed his grip. He fell. It seemed to take forever, and yet he couldn't stop the fall, not even get into the right impact position; the world was spinning too much. He hit the thin gym mat front first with a resounding crash, only matched by the door flying open a few second later.
"Idiot!" was the first thing the teen heard before he was carefully examined by Slade's large hands. "Does anything hurt? Can you move your fingers? Your toes? How is your neck?"
"I just got the wind knocked out of me," Robin gasped.
" know, I was watching on the monitors. I'd like to see if I can knock some sense into you in its place," the man muttered. "I thought you would do some weights, not fly around under the ceiling! Do you have anything to say before I say 'I told you so'?"
"Um…" Robin mumbled. "Help?"
The man snorted and carefully rolled him over before lifting him up.
"I can wal-" the teen started.
"No."
"Okay." Robin knew when to give in. Well. Sometimes. He had started to learn, at least.
Slade carried him back to his bedroom, put him down carefully and then started to feel through every bone and muscle of the teen's body. At least that's what it felt like. He also checked the abdomen for unusual pain.
"Carpet burns and you'll have some bruises. You're a lucky boy."
Robin, who had secretly enjoyed the touches, shrugged. "Maybe I took on a bit too much at once."
"Maybe?" the man snorted. "You're smarter than letting your stubbornness get the upper hand, Robin."
The teen swallowed. He didn't like Slade chiding him. It made him feel like a child. He took a deep breath. "You're right. I was going stir crazy, I guess, from being cooped up for so long. It was childish of me; I should have listened to your advice."
"That's what I want to hear."
"I'm not a boy, you know. I'm not a child. Being sick just doesn't bring out the best of me," Robin admitted.
"I know you're not a boy, Robin."
"Why do you keep calling me that, then?"
"Well, it's more of a pet name than anything else. Does anyone else call you 'boy'?"
"No?"
"Good."
Robin blinked. Then he blushed. "Well… I mean… if you don't mean it like that, then… it's okay."
"Thank you. And only in private, of course," the man smirked.
In private… Robin's heart fluttered. He knew he had to get a grip on himself soon and not let this infatuation fester, but he didn't know how. "O-of course," he answered, seeing the man's smirk widen. Slade was probably just teasing him, playing him for a fool. Robin couldn't figure out what the man would have to gain from first more or less saving his life and then flirting with him, but who knew?
"So, what would you do in my situation so you wouldn't go crazy?" the hero asked.
"I haven't been sick in a long, long time. Something to keep you still but engaged, I assume. Something which will occupy your mind more than TV…"
"Well… Cy and BB have a lot of videogames, I guess…?" Robin shrugged.
"I can't see how a dumb game would be engaging," Slade snorted.
"Cover me!" the man shouted. "Sniper on your left!"
"Negative, need ammo!" Robin shouted back. "Back down, let's go around!"
"Look out, the window! Where the hell do all these guys come from?"
"Fall back!"
"I do not 'fall back'" Slade snorted.
"We're so dead," Robin sighed. "Fine. Rush them?"
"Yes," the man grinned.
A few moments later Robin leaned back against the coach pillows with a chuckle. "At least we went down in a blaze of glory," he said.
"I wouldn't have minded taking a few more of them with me, though," the man muttered, glaring angrily at the scores.
Robin laughed. "You got really into this 'dumb game' didn't you?" he teased.
"I doubt that would have been the case with those ninja-ducks or whatever it was. This was fairly realistic. You know that side street where we found the first box of ammo? I once killed a man there."
"And I didn't need to hear that."
"Presidential orders, if that makes you feel better. That bullet possibly saved more lives than you have your whole life."
"And now you've made me feel useless," Robin sorted playfully.
"Well, as long as what you do matters to you-"
"It does."
"Well, that's the important thing."
Hearing that was slightly unreal to Robin. He was a hero, someone people looked up to, this city's safety depended on him, and Slade more or less shrugged at it all, saying 'well as long as you're having fun…'.
"You don't have a lot of respect for my line of work, do you?" the teen snorted.
"Oh, I do. It's the black and white thing I find somewhat… naïve."
"I've learned the world isn't like that, though," Robin pointed out.
"I know, and that's impressive. Most heroes die without knowing."
"You have to teach me how to insult and praise someone at the same time like that," Robin muttered.
"You are different from the others, Robin. I do respect you, I hope you know that?"
"This is so weird…" the teen groaned and hid his face in his hands.
"I assume you think I'm too old to pay you compliments," the man said, quite guardedly.
"Too old? TOO OLD?! Slade you're a villain! You're my enemy; at least I thought you were, that's what is freaking me out!"
"Oh, only that?"
"ONLY that? This is like if Batman and the Joker-"
"Oh, the Joker has quite the crush if Bats swung that way-"
"Wha- Nooo?!"
"I'm not saying they would make a good couple or anything, Uptight and crazy seldom works out, but…"
"Congratulations. I have some emotional scars, and you've just added to them."
"I'm sure you'll have some interesting dreams tonight. Please tell me all about them tomorrow."
"Urgh, no! Or maybe I will. In detail."
"Forget I asked," the man declined, making Robin smirk. "About our animosity, however, I do have something important to tell you."
"As soon as I'm well again, you'll kidnap me and make me your apprentice?"
"Hardly. I've recently signed a contract with the government. I agreed to do their dirty job for them in exchange for a clean slate."
"You… did?"
"Not from any moral reasons, let me assure you, but in these times there's very good money to be made, and all my equipment and travel expenses will be covered."
"So you are saying that you will still kill people but that's okay…?" Robin frowned.
"My last mission was freeing ISIS prisoners, it's not that often the president needs specific people to die, but if he does: yes. Not everything can be done with diplomacy, Robin."
"I guess…" the teen said, not quite convinced, but the world out there had changed, and he didn't know enough about it.
"I knew the other Titans would be leaving for their trip, so I've waited to tell you until now."
"Why?"
"Because first and foremost it only concerns you."
Robin tried to find a better question to ask, but again he only came up with "Why?"
"A blank slate in the name of the law doesn't mean the same thing when it comes to people. Forgiveness is not as easily achieved."
"You're asking me to forgive you?" Robin blinked. The man made a face. He obviously wasn't happy doing this and would have rather avoided that wording. In the end he nodded curtly. "Well," Robin said. "If anything the Titans got better as a team for facing you. You also helped us with Trigon. I can't speak for all of us, especially not Raven, but… if you're really sorry…?"
"Don't make me say it."
"Slade…"
"I might have made some mistakes. Error of judgment."
Robin chuckled. "That's good enough, I guess. Also, I'm not sure I'd have gotten through the worst of the fever without you here, so…" the teen stood up and held out his hand. "Let's start over, then. Hello, I'm Robin, pleased to meet you."
The man rose with the agility of a large cat and took his hand. "Well, hello Robin. I'm Slade Wilson. I'm very pleased to meet you," he said. No, Robin decided; purred. The teen promptly reacted by blushing, of course.
"So what do you do for a living, Mr. Wilson?" he asked.
"I kill people."
"Now you ruined it!" Robin complained, although he was laughing at the same time.
"Oh. Sorry. I work for the government," the man grinned, obviously teasing.
"Oh, that sounds interesting, tell me more!"
"Sorry, I can't. I would have to dispose of you."
"Well, that's… nice…" the teen scrunched up his nose.
"What do you do yourself, Robin?"
"I'm a hero. I live to save people and kick the asses of those who try to hurt them. I also like to annoy villains who think they are all that."
"And are there many of them around?"
"Only one, though he recently switched careers," the teen grinned.
"A waste of talent, I'm sure," the man smirked back.
"Well, I can still kick his ass in other ways," Robin said and held up the controller. "How about some PVP?"
"What is that?"
The teen smirked. "That's a surprise…"
"You little shit!" Slade laughed fifteen minutes later. "Remind me to stay out of your way if you ever lose those morals of yours."
"Aw, thanks, that's so sweet," Robin, who had just managed to shoot the man in the back, grinned. Once he put down the controller, however, he felt his head swim a little, a headache waiting to break out just behind his temples.
"I think that's enough for now," Slade told him.
"Beast Boy will never believe this," Robin chuckled.
"Maybe if you don't tell him, I won't tell him about the thermometer," Slade growled.
"Oh, god, don't remind me."
"We have a deal, then?"
"We do. Are you going to tell them anything, though?"
"It depends."
"On what?"
"Reasons."
Robin gave the man a level look. "You don't say?"
"I think it might be too early to discuss," Slade said, avoiding the subject.
Robin crossed his arms and his glare intensified. "I do not appreciate when people hold back information from me."
Slade raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. "Is that so? Can't imagine why. Well, let's just say it depends on whether or not I'm going to stay in Jump."
"You… might leave?" Robin's whole world just crumbled into little pieces.
"I would like to set up an office, so of speak, somewhere in the US. Washington DC would come to mind as it's close to the 'boss', or New York…"
Robin didn't like the thought of the man being on the other side of the continent at all.
"…it could really be anywhere, though," the man continued. "It's not like the missions will be delivered face-to-face. All I know is that I don't want to use any of my old bases… They don't know about them, and if I should need to disappear…"
"Don't want to give away your secrets?" Robin smirked, though his heart was pounding. Slade might not leave? What could make him stay, then?
"Not to them, now," Slade answered, implying that he might give those secrets away to someone else.
"So…" Robin hesitated. "You might stay?"
"Maybe. It depends."
"On what?"
"The climate."
"Come on!" the teen snorted.
"I think it's time to start dinner, why don't you rest a bit? You look like you might getting a headache."
"Yeah, and I know who's fault that is," the hero muttered.
They both stayed away from the confusing subject after that, but Robin couldn't stop thinking about it. Two nights later he was tossing and turning in bed until he punched his pillow and sat up angrily. In his mind it was obvious that whether or not Slade would stay depended on him. Slade hadn't said as much, but what else kind of connection might keep the man here in Jump? And as Robin wanted him to stay, why the hell wasn't he doing anything about it? Why was he just waiting for Slade to make the first move? That wasn't like him! On the other hand, Robin hadn't been in this situation before, but as always he felt like he needed to take charge. Take charge or this might just amount to nothing. He was brave, dammit! He was a leader! … It was just that this situation made him feel very, very nervous.
He sighed and got up. He needed some hot coco to make him sleep. Yes, it was a childish drink, perhaps, but it got the job done. Besides, it reminded him of Alfred. Hmmm… he might have some of Alfred's cookies hidden away still, unless Cyborg had found them.
He tiptoed into the common room in his dark blue pajama pants. He wasn't quite sure where Slade spent the nights, but he didn't want to bother him… or be caught drinking hot chocolate.
Robin stopped on the way to the kitchen when he spotted the man stretched out on the couch. One arm behind his head, one arm hanging down as the sofa was a bit too narrow and, most importantly, half naked. Slade was only wearing pajama pants as well. The chiseled chest was bare, and Robin's eyes followed the happy trail down towards− when the teen swallowed audibly the man stirred and opened his eye.
"Robin?" the man asked. "Are you feeling well?"
"Yeah, I just couldn't sleep," the Titan answered. He hesitated for long enough for the man's eyebrow to rise in question, but then gathered to courage to press on. "So… about you staying in Jump…"
"Yes?"
"Would me wanting you to stay, matter?"
"It's possible," the man said, and Robin rolled his eyes at not getting a straight answer, or any help in confirming what he hoped to be true. He walked up to the couch.
"Would me and you being friends help you make up your mind?"
"I'd appreciate your friendship, but there's always Skype," the man smirked.
"I see…" Robin started to understand that the man was teasing him and enjoyed watching him squirm. It was time for a bolder move. "How about me wanting you like this, then?" he said and bravely straddled the man.
"You're getting warmer," the man smirked.
Robin leaned down over him, his elbows resting on the man's wide chest. "Still warmer?" he asked with a grin.
"Yes."
The teen came even closer, his lips hovering just above the man's. "Still warmer?" he whispered.
"Very hot," the man answered with a purr.
Robin let their lips meet, ever so slowly. He had kissed someone before −Starfire− but this was far beyond that experience. Bubbles of lust, fear and curiosity rose and popped inside him, making not only his body but very being tingle. He grew bolder, letting his tongue out to play, tasting and nibbling at the man's lips, deepening the kiss, taking more and more control.
A hand at the back of his head signaled that Slade thought it was time that he took over the steering wheel, and Robin let him. He had no idea where to go from here anyway. Slade seemed to do. The man took it slow, making sure Robin didn't lose his balance as he sat up. A hand on the teen's hip guided him to sit back against the man's thighs.
Robin gasped for breath as their lips parted and Slade chuckled.
"Breathe through your nose," he instructed him.
"Forgot I had one," Robin admitted freely.
"Let's see what else I can make you forget," the man grinned and then, after a short kiss on the lips, let his lips explore the teen's jaw line and neck instead.
Robin inhaled sharply and then giggled as the man's beard tickled him. It was surreal. Slade was kissing him. Slade was kissing him. Slade. He hesitantly at first, but then more and more bravely, started to explore the man's body, starting with running a hand through his hair. It was so white, almost unnaturally so, and it all but glowed in the faint lights from the city on the other side of the water.
The man's arms and back were next in line to be explored and then, when Slade pulled back a little, Robin ran his hands down his chest. The teen bravely leaned forwards for another kiss, but froze when the movement made his groin brush up against Slade's. He had become hard and so had the man. Exciting, but at the same time embarrassing. The ex villain didn't seem to think so, as he grabbed the young man's butt cheeks and pressed their groins closer. Robin's face reached top temperature.
"Am I going too far for you?" Slade asked.
"Uh-uh," the teen claimed, shaking his head.
The man chuckled and gave his ass and extra squeeze.
The hands grabbing him like that, made the fire inside the hero roar. For a moment he considered what 'too far' was, and then decided there wasn't such a thing; he'd let Slade decide. He had nothing to lose. Sure, it was his first time, but so what? He wasn't risking anything. The only thing which might stop him was fear, and Robin was not afraid. Well. The bulge he was feeling made him slightly apprehensive, but mostly excited.
"Time to go to bed," Slade suddenly said, and, with a firmer grip of the teen's behind, stood up, making Robin cling to him.
"What are you- I'm not sick anymore, I don't need to- oh." The man had raised an eyebrow, helping the hero to switch to his train of thought, as he was carried down the hallway.
"Are we a bit slow tonight?" Slade smirked.
"You've just been taking me to bed a lot lately," Robin muttered.
"Not like this."
"No, not like this." The teen grinned, butterflies multiplying in his stomach. "This I like."
"Just let me know if that changes," the man said. Robin interpreted that as 'feel free to tell me to stop' and nodded.
"I think I'd be more likely to urge you on," the chuckled.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, and don't make me beg. It was annoying enough to take the first step; you'd better do your part of the job from now on." Robin said as he was, surprisingly gently, laid down on his own bed.
"You understand why it had to be you, though?" the man asked, looking more serious now.
"I think I do… you wanted it to be my decision, right?" Robin asked.
"It had to be. I'm older, I'm in a position of power over you-"
"Excuse me?" the teen snorted, although he only pretending to be annoyed.
"I'm," the man said leisurely and got on top of him, "in a," he added, making Robin part his knees and got down on his elbows to really make his point clear, "position of power," he made a suggestive thrust with his hips, making the teen let out a rather undignified little sound, "over you."
"I… see your point."
"At least you will… shortly," Slade smirked.
Robin rolled his eyes. "I'm so lucky, getting stuck with a nemesis who thinks he's funny," he sighed.
"Yes, poor you," the man chuckled and kissed him again.
Things got hazy after that. Lips, tongues, hands, grinding bodies, all melted together and suddenly they were both naked. Robin wanted to look, touch and taste the whole of the man's body, but he had a stronger urge to take care of at the moment.
"Fuck me," he gasped, winding his legs around Slade.
"You've already gotten enough foreplay?" the man smirked.
"I'm impatient, remember?"
"Yes. I have to admit that it's not always a bad thing."
"See?" Robin grinned with all the bravery he could muster. "There's… um… in the drawer…" he added embarrassedly.
"I know." Slade said and reached for the lube in the nightstand. "I also know I'm somewhat bigger than your toys. Are you ready for that?"
"You… you found my…?"
"I had to get you new underwear. Really, Robin, the underwear drawer? That's the first place people look for embarrassing secrets."
"You being quiet is so important right now," Robin groaned.
"I'll use my mouth for better things, then," the man chuckled and kissed him.
The teen soon forgot about being embarrassed and raised his hips, urging the man to get in position already.
Soon the room filled with panting, grunts and moans. The man had told the truth when he said he was bigger, but the girth was something the teen welcomed. It burned a bit, but didn't hurt, at least not in a bad way. Funny how sex could hurt in a good way. He pondered this very fleetingly, because deep thoughts weren't exactly something his brain could process at the moment.
Robin didn't think he'd last more than a few minutes, but his lover was good and seemed to know exactly when to slow down to drag things out. He didn't bring them over the top until the teen had called out in wordless plea.
Robin opened his eyes. He moved a little and groaned. He felt like he had been through a grinder. What he had been doing was having sex. A lot. Everywhere. In all kinds of positions and then some more he was pretty sure Slade had just made up. Let's just say that Robin's flexibility and Slade's strength was a pretty interesting combination.
Currently he was in bed. He sniffed. He needed a shower. He actually remembered having one just last night, but then a certain baddie joined him and… well… They better take advantage of the situation, though. The Titans would be back eventually and Robin didn't even know what to tell them. He hadn't brought the subject up with Slade either, and realized that he didn't know if the man wanted this to be a permanent thing or them just being fuck buddies. His instincts told him Slade wanted something deeper and was already committed to it. It was just the way the man looked at him now that screamed 'you're mine'.
Robin wasn't going to object, he was sure he had the same look in his eyes. Slade was his. The sexiest man on earth was all his. That felt pretty good. He stretched and immediately felt said man move behind him. An arm reached around him and pulled him flush against the wide chest.
"I was going to get a shower and some breakfast," Robin said, without much conviction.
"You're going to get something else first," the man hummed and the hero felt a certain body part poke at his behind.
"So you're not sick of me yet, then?" he joked.
The man chuckled. "I'm sure you're some kind of infection, but I'm not suffering."
Robin laughed. "I'm sure I'll never get sick again. With all these extra injections and all," he grinned.
"If you do, I'll be there, carrying you kicking and screaming back to bed."
"You'd have to tie me down."
"You don't have to be sick for that."
"Ooohhh…" Robin said teasingly. "Have you been holding out on me Mr. Wilson?"
"You can't learn everything in one weekend."
Robin snorted. "Try me."
The End
A/N: THAT had to be fluffy enough for the fluff lovers of the duckling pond, surely? ;) And the rest of you need a darkness injection, but we'll see about that.
Writing is slow: I work full time, study part time (a university class I'm taking for work) and yeah… not a LOT of time, but I AM working on "the good boy" I just haven't gotten very far. I know what it's gonna be about, though, that's good, right? I also have an urge to write m-preg. And I owe someone a darkish story because of rocks. Don't ask. It has to do with hunting dinosaurs…