Thursday, 24 December ~*Tales*~

Robin had, like Alfred had threatened, been forced to stay in bed all Wednesday. Slade seemed to have enjoyed the reversed roles to a degree. He hadn't been allowed to do any school work, as they all wanted him to lie as flat and still as possible to allow the wounds to heal better. He had gotten pretty strong pain meds which had made him woozy, but also helped him sleep through most of the day.

He grunted as he woke up on Christmas Eve.

"Morning sunshine, how's those pain levels?" Slade asked.

"Manageable," Robin claimed. "I mostly feel sore."

"Let's take a look at those wounds, then, and then I'll get you breakfast," the man told him.

"I can go down to eat, can't I?" Robin groaned. "Please?"

"I have to check with Alfred, I don't dare make a decision like that" the man said, half jokingly, half dead serious.

The man checked his wounds and nodded. "They look much more closed up now, I don't think you'll split them open, but I'll go get Alfred," he said. "Stay," he added, as he left.

Robin snorted, but settled back against the pillows. He knew that if Alfred found him on his feet, he'd be sent straight back to bed for the rest of the day no matter how good his wounds looked. Alfred had a limited hold on Bruce when it came to these things, so he had always made sure Robin obeyed him to a T.

"How are you this morning, Master Richard?" the old man asked as he came in, followed by Slade carrying a breakfast tray.

"Much better, just a bit sore," Robin smiled.

"Hmmm. Well. Mr. Wilson claims you need to stretch your muscles to help with the pain, so I guess that you can get out of bed today, if you're careful. After breakfast that is. Would you like anything for the pain?"

"Not if they are the same as yesterday, they made me feel queasy," Robin told him.

"Just normal pain killers," Alfred nodded and headed into the bathroom to, assumingly, fetch the pills, while Slade settled the tray on Robin's lap.

"Might be for the best, you got a bit strange yesterday," the man teased him.

Robin blinked. "Strange, how?"

"You don't remember? You babbled on about how sorry you were for hating me, and asked if I hated you for it."

"Oh, shit…" Robin muttered, very embarrassed. "I'm sorry."

"It was a bit entertaining too," the man claimed evilly. "And I think we concluded that neither one of us hated the other, which is nice, isn't it?"

The teen chuckled, still embarrassed, and nodded. He reached or his tea so he wouldn't have to answer, and hoped against hope that he hadn't started to gush at the man… It was black tea with wild strawberries. It was nice.

"Here you go," Alfred said as he came out from the bathroom. He handed the teen a couple of headache pills and a glass of water. "I've tidied up in there and you should have a shower later, before dinner. And… you don't have to dress for dinner. Wear something comfortable."

"Alfred! You sound like I'm about to die, giving me that much leeway!" Robin jokingly exclaimed. "Are you saying I could come to dinner in a … bathrobe?"

The butler visibly flinched and looked pained.

"Yes, sir, of course," he managed to say.

"Don't worry, Al, I'd never do that to you," Robin grinned.

"This is about your comfort level," the old man insisted.

"You once made Bruce wear a tie to dinner when he was hurt."

"Yes, well, I think a certain amount of-"

"He was in a neck brace," Robin pointed out.

"You just eat your breakfast, Master Richard," Alfred told him firmly. "And Mr. Wilson will keep an eye on you today, as well. You're not to do anything too strenuous."

"Yes, Al, thank you," Robin nodded.

When the butler had left, Slade joined him on the bed and stole some toast.

"You haven't had breakfast?" Robin asked.

"Well, yes," the man admitted. "The jam's good, though."

"I really think you will get fat if you stay here much longer," Robin chuckled.

"Speaking of that…While I do adore Alfred and his food, I think we should go back to your apartment on boxing day," Slade said.

"Oh, that's great!" Robin exclaimed. "I was gonna ask, but I wasn't sure… I mean… it's much smaller... and Alfred isn't there."

"How much do you think it would take for him to come with us?" Slade asked with a grin.

"Well, if Bruce died…" Robin said, thoughtfully.

"I like the way you think."

Robin snickered and then turned dead serious. "Shit, I forgot I was talking to an assassin. It was a joke, Slade, not a contract, ok?"

"Sorry, a verbal contract is still valid."

"There is no way to break it?"

"Yes, well, but that involved the signer to agree to a vast number of sexual favors for the contract holder."

"Deal!" the teen grinned. "And I'd start right now, but I'm not sure I quite up for it," he added dejectedly, lightly touching his covered wounds.

"Well, you're off the hook. Until you have healed," Slade generously said.

"You're too kind."

"Considering I'm giving up Alfred's food, then yes."

"There's still Sunday dinners."

"Alright, you've just sweetened the deal," the man smirked.

"Hey!" Robin, who didn't appreciate that his sexual favors didn't outrank food, even Alfred's.

Slade just chuckled. "You don't mind going back, then?" he asked.

"No. It would be nice to be… alone," Robin smiled at the man, and it wasn't very innocent. "Besides, staying here for this long almost made me feel like I had moved back home… It was nice for a bit, but I want my life back."

"Understandable," the man nodded. "And besides, if we want something bigger, we could always-"

"No," Robin said quickly.

"No?" Slade repeated, looking nonplussed.

"I… well, I'm living pretty much off Bruce now. We talked through all this before I started college and he didn't think it made sense for me to take a loan, so he's paid for pretty much everything. I have trust funds but those I won't be able to access until I'm twenty-one. I don't really have much when it comes to funds and-"

"But I have," Slade interrupted.

"You don't understand," Robin said quickly, "I don't want to be depended on anyone like this, and I don't want to live in someone else's apartment. It wouldn't feel like mine, if I couldn't contribute… and it wouldn't feel safe, if… something happened."

"Like if we broke up?"

"Yes… or something like that," Robin sighed. "I chose my apartment because if I can get a somewhat ok job after college, then I can pay for it myself."

"You're the ward of a billionaire," Slade pointed out. "You don't really have to be frugal."

"True. But he might soon have actual kids. I know I'm protected in his will, but I'm not, really, his heir. I'm not saying I won't have funds, but I might not be swimming in it. And I'm ok with that. Bruce wanted to pay for a bigger apartment, he has no problem funding college, I actually think it makes him happy to do that for me, but…"

"You don't want to be dependent."

"Exactly. And, I mean, I'm not saying no to moving at some point, but for now, while I'm in college… I'd prefer not to, if that's ok?"

"It is. I can always rent a place in the area to use as an office and a storage place," Slade shrugged.

"And now I kinda feel bad. Of course you should be allowed to live in something that suits your standards better…" Robin muttered.

"My standards? You've seen some of my lairs, haven't you?" the man snorted.

Robin thought about that. "You're moving up in the world," he then grinned.

"I'd say," the mercenary chuckled.

"My bathroom actually has a door."

"I was living alone, it wasn't a priority," the man said defending one of his more run down places.

"So… you're staying with me, then?" Robin asked hopefully.

"If you'll have me. If it turns out I'll be too much in your way, I can get a place nearby."

"I'd like you to be in my way. A lot," the teen said, and actually blushed a bit.

"Then I will be," the man promised, moved the tray out of the way, and kissed him. Robin moved to put his arms around the man, but winced as that pulled on a wound. Slade pulled back.

"No strenuous activities," the man sighed.

"Yeah, it sucks…" Robin muttered. "But at least I'm allowed out of bed, and I really need the bathroom. Help me up?"

Not much later the man had helped him dress in soft sweats and was escorting him downstairs. Robin was surprised and even a bit worried about how sore he actually was, and he needed to take the steps carefully, one by one.

Once downstairs, Alfred fluttered around him for a moment, looking like he wanted to order him to get back in bed. Bruce and Selina had driven off to spend the day alone out of the house, apparently skiing as there was snow for once. They had both asked after him before leaving, however, but Alfred told Robin that he had ordered them not to disturb him.

Having the house to themselves was nice, but would be nicer, Robin felt, if he had been a bit more mobile. Slade helped him stretch and gave him a careful massage, all very innocent and only as a medical treatment. Boring, thought the teen, but knew he wouldn't be able to offer anything, no matter how much he wanted to.

"What do you want to do for New Year's?" he asked over a very light lunch consisting of chicken salad. It was tradition to save room for dinner.

"What had you planned to do?" Slade asked.

"Spend it here," Robin said. "But if you want it to be just you and me…?"

"Maybe family should come first this year," Slade chuckled. "We could come her for dinner and then leave the next morning?"

"You're just in it for the food," Robin snorted.

"No, no, I love Bruce, I'm going to miss him terribly after Christmas," Slade deadpanned, making the teen burst out laughing.

He then couldn't help but ask. "What do you really think of him?" He was a bit worried about the answer, but the mercenary snorted.

"He's a good man. He has a lot of baggage and I honestly think that if he had just shot a couple of people he has been fighting, he would have been less messed up than he is. Selina won't stand for any of his bullshit, though. They are a good match."

Robin nodded. "Yeah. She'll be good for him. I hope he doesn't fuck it up."

"I think he knows it's his last chance with her. And he's not stupid."

"I wish you'd say such sweet things about me," Robin muttered teasingly.

"You're not stupid either," Slade said generously, with a smirk.

"Awww! You love me!" Robin said, and then felt himself freeze. It had been meant as a joke but now it was hanging between them, as they were looking at each other. Slade looked away and stood up, starting to gather their empty plates.

"Yes, well, I don't put up with the bat because I care about him," he muttered.

Robin wasn't sure if a heart could explode in a good way, but it very much felt like it. He stood up, rounded the table, made the mercenary put the dishes down and melted wordlessly into his arms. He never wanted to let go.

"I don't think I've ever had goose," Slade let them know during dinner that evening. They were all dressed to the teeth, even Robin, although he was wearing a very nice dark red sweater instead of a suit, to make it a bit easier on his wounds.

"I hope you'll like it, Mr. Wilson," Alfred told him with a smile as he served the man.

"Never met a bird I didn't like," the mercenary smirked, looking at Robin.

"So… Black Canary?" Bruce cut in, teasingly.

"Oh, I like her fine. Bit loud," Slade shrugged.

"Raven?" Robin smirked.

"My second favorite Titan," the man claimed.

Robin snorted, but looked too delighted to pull that attitude off.

After dinner they settled in the sitting room, all groaning that they were too stuffed for anything else. When Alfred served homemade treats, however, quite a lot of those mysteriously disappeared as well.

The old butler then entered the room with a box. "Traditionally," he said, "the family tended to enjoy a few games on Christmas Eve. I was thinking, perhaps, something suitable would be in here."

"As long as I don't have to move," Robin mumbled. He didn't think he'd be able to stay awake for much longer.

They ended up having a good time playing cards and Jenga. Selina and Robin said a firm no to UNO, however, claiming that they didn't want a war on their hands. Robin kept an eye on Slade, as ever worried that the family time would be too much for him, but the mercenary showed every sign of enjoying himself and the games, So the teen relaxed, allowing himself to enjoy it all fully as well.

It was late when they all decided to head to bed, and Robin was out like a light the moment his head hit the pillow. Or, Slade's arm, as it were.

To be Continued…