A/N: A fluffy/talkie/hurt/comfort/slight slashy-chapter ahead… I can't seem to stick to ONE genre… ;o)
Disclaimer: I don't… No… screw this. Not going to do it this time.
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Chapter eleven: Fading
The team stared at each other.
"Did he just tell you to…"
"He did…" Robin growled. Taking that walk wasn't something he looked forward to. The bike was still at Slade's, however, and he didn't think he would be able to manage it anyway.
No choice. As usual.
His friends were still trying to talk him out of it, when the elevator doors closed behind him.
As he walked up to the building he realized two things. That he didn't know how to get in without his communicator, and that he was scared. Really scared. He pushed open the outer door, which was never locked, as far as he knew. As he neared the next door it swung open. Slade stepped out. In his full uniform and mask he was a fearsome sight and Robin stopped. His heart pounded almost painfully in his chest. He swallowed. Was Slade still angry? Would he punish him again? The time after the rescue was hazy to Robin. Maybe Slade blamed him for being abducted? He had been short with him, only sending emails and then that command to come to him… As Slade slowly came closer, panic at not being able to read the man's state of mind, made Robin tremble. A few steps away Slade stopped. He made the tiniest gesture, extending his hands towards the boy.
"Robin…"
With a low cry Robin flew into the man's arms, hugging him tightly. Slade went down on one knee, and, holding the shaking boy carefully around his tender back, he lifted him up to carry him inside.
"You are safe now, Robin." He whispered. "As long as you stay with me, you will always be safe." He smiled faintly as he felt the boy nod against his chest.
Slade tried to sit Robin down on a chair in the workshop, but as the boy wouldn't let go he took him into the bedroom instead. Sitting back in bed, he took off his mask and let the boy cling to him as he stroked his hair. Robin didn't cry, he was in a state of chock… With his friends he had been able to talk about, and started to work through, the physical torture he had been exposed to, but seeing Slade brought everything else back. The fight they had, the punishment, what the nameless man had told him, how he had stabbed, actually stabbed, Slade in the chest… how Robin had just watched the man die…
"I… I want to know…" Robin's voice was low, pleading.
"Just ask…" Slade urged him.
Robin remained quiet for the longest time.
"What was his name?" To say the question surprised Slade was an understatement, but he somehow understood why Robin wanted to know.
"John. John Olsen. I did some research, looking out for more crazy friends."
"They were lovers."
"I know."
A small hand placed itself over Slade's heart.
"How did you survive this?"
"I'm immortal."
The boy gasped, looking up at him for the first time.
"Noo..?"
"Yes, Robin."
"Why haven't you..?"
"Told you? Didn't want you to stop trying, did I?"
Robin stared at the man he'd thought he'd known so well. All this time… all this fighting… and we would never have been able to stop him anyway… while he has all the time in the world to stop US… he suddenly feared more, not for himself, but for his friends.
"How?"
"Army experiment. Only survivor"
"Soo… how old are you, then?"
"That's still a spanking-question, Robin." The man grinned.
Robin let out a small laugh in reply.
"How did you find me so fast?"
"I checked your tracker. I thought it was odd that you suddenly were heading for the other part of town… I was already on my way when the communicator broke." They were both quiet for a moment, and then Slade whispered.
"I thought I was going to loose you…"
Robin looked up on him again, wonder in his eyes.
"Don't look so surprised, kid, I have already told you that I care about you…" Slade said and kissed the boy's forehead.
"You do?"
"Now, Robin, that is called 'fishing'…"
Robin smiled up at the man, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
"Can't blame me for trying…"
Letting his head rest against the man's chest again, he closed his eyes. The two just sat there for a long time. Robin thought about what more he wanted to ask Slade.
"That robot… you should have prepared me… you should have said…!"
"How real it was? I thought I did."
"It talked!"
"People usually do."
"I enjoyed the chase."
Hearing Robin unexpectedly admit to something like that was like music to Slade ears.
"Good."
"But not the kill! That was… terrible…"
"Do you think assassins enjoy it? People who actually like killing can't do it for a living for long… an effective assassin learns to do the work without emotions messing up the job."
"But you enjoyed killing John." Robin accused him.
"John wasn't a job. With him it was more like… a hobby."
Robin moved a little and winced.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yeah… I think the painkillers are wearing off."
"I might have something for those bruises…"
Slade let go of Robin and disappeared from the room for a while. When he came back he was holding a medium-sized, unlabeled jar in his hand. He put it beside Robin on the bed.
"I'm going to help you to get undressed." He stated and pulled the boy's shoes off.
"Hey! Why is it you never let me keep my clothes on for long in here?" Robin asked, slightly annoyed.
"Because I like you that way…" Slade grinned up at him. "Besides, there's an ointment in that jar and it would be a little hard to use it unless I can't get to you skin."
Robin grumbled. "Well, at least it's warmer in here now…"
"See? I learn…" Slade grinned and added "I see you are wearing my shirt again?" He looked kind of smug, discovering this.
"Why does everyone seems so interested in that? It's roomy, all right?"
Robin slowly pulled his t-shirt off, hissing as all the bruises on his upper body seemed to come alive and fight for attention. He sagged back on the bed with a sigh.
"If you say so… lift your hips."
Robin obeyed and Slade slipped his pants and underwear off him.
"I can't even keep my boxers?"
"Questioning me?"
"No…" Robin sighed again. He had been close to calling the man "Master" again. Damn! He had to watch his tongue… He had agreed that Slade was his Master when they… played… but the word started slipping out of him way too easily now… Slade helped to unwrap the bandages around his chest, and then the man was ready to start the treatment.
"Turn over. We'll start with your back."
Robin obeyed, grimacing with the twinges the motion caused.
"What is that stuff, anyway?"
"A little side-experiment from the military… they tried to create super-soldiers and there were a lot of tests involving pain reducing and quicker ways to get the body to heal."
Robin got up on his elbows.
"You are going to smear some experimental stuff on me?!"
"Yes."
A heavy hand pressed down on his back, making him yelp and lie down again. "Don't worry, it works… I have been intending to analyse it, but I don't have much use for it myself these days."
"You stole it, didn't you?"
"They owed me."
Slade unscrewed the lid and started to spread the balm across Robins back. The kid hissed again.
"Does it hurt?"
"It's cold!"
"What is it with you and temperatures? It's like you should live on a tropical island somewhere."
"That would be nice…" Robin smirked.
"I'll take you some day…"
Robin frowned slightly, but decided not to argue. It was his fault the conversation veered off in that direction anyway... he needed to learn when to shut up.
Slade's hands moved over Robin's back, stroking and massaging gently, working the ointment into the bruised skin. He could feel the boy starting to relax beneath his hands and smiled.
"Does it feel good?"
"Mmmm…"
Chuckling, Slade continued downward. He spent a little more time massaging the boy's behind that was actually necessary, and Robin, of course, noticed.
"I got bruises down there?"
"No… why?" Slade asked, sounding very innocent.
"You are just bad."
Slade gave a low, throaty laugh that made Robin's spine tingle, and continued to move down to his thighs.
"Turn over" he ordered as he finished.
"Errr… no…" Robin answered, blushing.
"Oh, it felt that good, did it? Turn over like a good boy and I'll take care of you as soon as I'm finished."
Robin, flushing fiercely now, did as he was told. He looked up at Slade with a defiant look in his eyes, but the man only smiled down on him. "It's quite all right, Robin, feel this." He took the boy's hand and placed it over his own crotch, letting Robin know that he wasn't the only one affected by the situation. Robin gave him a small smile, running his hand over the bulge.
"That's enough… You are still too bruised for me to want to go any further, and if you keep doing that, I won't be able to resist." Slade warned.
Robin's smile turned slightly wider and a bit more teasing.
"Can't resist me, huh?" he chirped, but removed his hand, not wanting to push his luck.
"I've said it before, Robin; you are a very brave boy."
"Naaah" he grinned "I just don't have any sense when it comes to you…"
Slade gave a short laugh and started to work the ointment into Robin's chest.
"My nipples are kind of sore…"
"You are fishing again, Robin…"
The boy muttered something, sounding disappointed.
As Slade moved downwards he avoided Robin's crotch-area, which made the boy whimper quietly in frustration.
"Patience, Robin."
"I hate it when you say that."
"I know." Slade answered calmly and continued to massage Robin's thighs and legs. As he reached the boy's feet he decided to massage them too, just for the hell of annoying the kid even more.
"No one's stepped on my toes, Slade…"
"Do you want me to do something else?" The man grinned, arching a brow.
"Do you want me to beg?"
"That would be nice, yes..."
"I won't. Because you always keep your promises, right?" Robin smiled with a very fake naïve look on his face.
"Got me there."
"Want you here..." Robin arched his hips.
"Brave bird…" Slade whispered, closing in on the boy.
As Robin felt the man's mouth on his member he let out a small cry and couldn't help but buck his hips. Slade pressed him down firmly, punishing the boy by biting down on the sensitive skin. Robin hissed and tried to lay still. He lifted his head, looking down on the man, trying to learn what the heck he did that made him feel so good. Then Slade let his mouth swallow Robin's entire length and the boy's head flew back again.
"Ahhh!.. how… how do you--- Ahh-mmm.… DO that?!"
I want to be able to do that...!
The boy had no chance of lasting very long with that kind of attention and screamed as he emptied himself in Slade's mouth.
The man moved up, forcing the boy to open his lips and kissed him deeply, making him swallow his own seed. Robin tried, feebly, to turn his head away when he understood what Slade wanted, but Slade wouldn't have it. As a warning he grabbed a nipple, pinching, until the boy succumbed. Robin answered willingly after that, pressing himself up against the man, moaning. Slade broke the kiss after a while and rolled over to his side.
Robin knew that he probably was in trouble for turning his head away, and moved with him.
"I'm sorry, Master" he said, looking ashamed of himself.
"Never do it again."
"I won't! I… may I try to make it up to you?"
Slade lifted his head to look down on him.
"What did you have in mind?"
"I want to try… what you did…"
Slade smiled at him.
"That's nice of you Robin, but I'm too big for you to do that yet. In a few years perhaps…"
Robin got a very determent expression on his face. "I can, and I wi-" he got quiet, glancing at Slade suspiciously. "You only said that to push me on, right?"
Slade chuckled. "You are beginning to know me far too well, my boy. But yes and no… I think I might be too big, but you are welcome to try…"
Robin snorted in disgust over his Masters lack of confidence in him and moved down to unzip the man's pants. Slade was really hard, and, swallowing, Robin realized that he was big. How the heck does that thing fit inside me? He thought, and at the same time had a weird sense of pride to be able to take it. He started licking the shaft, making it as slick as he could, and then, with a quick glance up at Slade, he started lowering his mouth. First he couldn't do it at all, but then he remembered something he had learned as a child at the circus. There had been a guy with an act where he swallowed swords and all kinds of things. The young Richard had been fascinated, and the man had tried to teach him a few tricks about how to relax your throat and 'bypass' the gag-reflex. Robin tried very hard to remember now, and felt Slade's cock slipping further down his throat. The boy worked his head up and down, trying for more and more every time, but then he suddenly couldn't get it further in. He lifted his head and looked up at Slade.
"Master, I need you to help me."
"Robin, you are doing fine, you don't have to-"
"Please!"
The man nodded and as Robin let his mouth sink down over the length once again, he felt a hand at the back of his neck. Slade let Robin work up and down for a few strokes, before putting a slight pressure on his head. At first, Robin almost panicked, but then he could feel himself slip down a bit further. Again there was a stop, but as Robin felt Slade's other hand joining the first he realized, with a pang of fear, that the man was a bit too far along to care. He tried to relax, breathing through his nose, and then Slade's hands pressed down again, hard and sudden, making his cock slam deep into Robin's throat. The boy let out a muffled cry, his fingernails digging into Slade's hips. Slade held him still and Robin slowly calmed down, realizing that he had made it. But he soon found out this wasn't the end. Slade's hips started to buck, and now the boy understood why the man had held him down before. Slade wasn't going to let Robin have the same control, though. Instead he started thrusting into the boy, fucking his mouth. Robin wanted the man to come, soon, and started massaging his balls. A finger found its way behind the sack, teasing the area between it and Slade's entrance. Robin didn't dare to go any further, having no idea how the man would react. Slade seemed to like Robin's finger were it was, though, and with a few more thrusts he filled the boy's throat and mouth to the brim. As the man finally released Robin's head he worked himself up along the shaft, licking and swallowing along the way. The boy sat up and looked down on the man with eyes that positively shone.
"Told you I could." he said, just a bit hoarsely.
Resting in Slade's arms Robin slowly noticed that his body wasn't aching as much anymore. Looking down on his chest he gasped. "My bruises! They are almost gone! Even the cuts have faded."
"I promised it would work, didn't I?" Slade replied. "Let's take a look at your back." Robin sat up, letting the man study his skin. "Much better. It only works on bruising and smaller wounds, though, so you better keep minding your ribs for a few more days."
Robin nodded.
"By the way… did I make it up to you?" the boy wanted to know.
"Oh, yes…" Slade answered, pulling the boy nearer. "I was very impressed. How did you learn that so fast?"
"I remembered what a performer at the circus told m-" Robin's mouth clamped shut, horrified eyes staring at Slade. "When… When we were there last year…" he finished lamely.
"When you grew up there, you mean, Richard?"
Robin was terrified now. "You… you know…?"
"Yes. I know about your life and I know who Bruce Wayne is. I have known for quite some time."
Robin shook his head, tears in his eyes. "No. Not him too…"
"Don't worry, Robin. I won't sell the information. I just want you to know that the Batcave won't be a sanctuary for you. I can find you even there…" He drew the boy closer still.
"He didn't let me hide there anyway." Robin muttered. "He didn't even offer too."
"Your old mentor surprises me sometimes… but I'm sure he loves you… in his own way… I don't think he is as proud of you as I am, though. But the poor man can't see who you are. What you will become."
Robin went very still and quiet.
"What? Nothing to say about the subject today?" Slade taunted mildly.
"Can't we… just… enjoy the time we have…?"
"But Robin, we have all the time in the world."
"No, Slade… we don't." The boy sounded so sad at the thought that Slade couldn't really reproach him.
They were silent for a while longer. Slade sensed that the boy was about to say something and was trying to find the words, or the courage, to do so, so he let him take his time.
"If…" Robin started, his voice low, "If it comes to that… If I join you… will the Titans be safe?"
Slade's breath almost caught in his chest as he heard the boy's choice of words. He was probably not aware of it himself… "the Titans". Not "my friends" or "my team", just… "the Titans"…
"I promise you that you will be able to keep them safe. You will have every chance."
"And we will leave? I won't have to fight them?"
"We'll leave. Jump is too small for us anyway…"
Robin made a sound like a sad laugh, before continuing.
"And will I be happy?" Robin's voice was now very small. Very quiet.
"As happy as I'll let you."
Robin then turned, so he could meet Slade's eye.
"I'm not giving up yet, Slade."
"I would be disappointed if you did" Especially since it took so long to plan all this…
"Just so we are clear."
Slade gave Robin a wide, slightly sharp-toothed grin. "Crystal" he confirmed and kissed the boy hungrily.
A bit later Robin was enjoying Slade's shower again. I REALLY have to get one of these, he thought. Then there was a cold gush of air as the door opened. As Slade stepped in behind him Robin laughed.
"I knew it! I knew you had dirty shower-fantasies!"
"How can shower-fantasies possible be dirty?" Slade wondered innocently and started to lather up Robin's body. The boy returned the favour, paying extra attention to Slade's upped body. He found a small scar above the collarbone that looked vaguely familiar.
"How did you get this?"
"That was you, little bird… one of your sharp little toys".
"I thought I recognized the shape."
Slade traced a finger down Robin's chest.
"And which of these are mine?"
"Huh, take your pick!" Robin snorted.
Slade smiled slightly. "We have really fought some, haven't we?"
"I fought" Robin corrected him "You were only playing with me. I understood that when we fought the last time… You only let me think I had a chance, before…"
Slade met the boy's eyes evenly and nodded.
"Is… is this a game too?" Robin looked up on him, doubt in his eyes.
"How do you mean?"
"Games are fun for a while… until they get too easy… when you get bored… If you win… will you get bored?"
Slade suddenly understood something he had missed before. Robin's greatest fear might not, really, be to join him. He was afraid that in doing so, Slade would loose interest in him, throw him out. And that would kill the boy.
"Never, Robin. When you come to me, a new game will start. You and me against the world. And we will win. We will always play. Who could ever grow tired of that?"
"I feel like I am so many different people right now" Robin sighed. "I am you student, but also your… well… lover I guess… but those are two separate people… I am also the leader of the Teen Titans and, to add to the fun of it, Batman's former sidekick! It's so tiring to keep them apart!"
"I'm afraid that, for the moment, you have to go back and play the roll of leader again, but soon you only need to be one thing: mine."
Robin glared. "As I said, I'm not that screwed up yet, Slade! And I'm not playing a damn roll either!" He slumped against a wall. "Why do you keep sending me back, anyway? All you have to do is lock me in here, after all…"
"I think you would like that."
Robin looked up at Slade, another glare in his eyes and he was about to say something when Slade held up his hand and continued. "You would like that, because then it wouldn't be your decision, not your fault. But it's not going to be that way, Robin. If you don't come to me willingly, you will be worthless to me as an apprentice. And you are not ready to do that yet… so go back to your friends and play, little bird… for now…"
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After Robin left, Slade took the time to type down a few notes, a sort of progress report. Earlier notes reminded him that he had been worried about the plants effect on his plan. He laughed softly. He didn't have to question that anymore. It might have been an unknown factor at the beginning, but it sure had turned out to his advantage. And Robin's too, he had to admit, since the boy seemed to enjoy their time together. He fought him in other areas, though, but, up to a point, Slade would let him. Robin was first and foremost a fighter, he needed to fight. And that, small characteristic alone, was going to make him an exceptional apprentice... with benefits...
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As Robin returned to the tower he found his friends gone. Out on a mission. They hadn't called him. Good. They needed to be stronger on their own. Somehow, after this was over, Robin was unsure he would, could, stay with them anymore. He had gone behind their backs, he had played them and he didn't feel he was worthy to be their leader anymore. Maybe he should go solo? The thought appealed to him. To only have himself to worry about, only himself to answer too… Yes… he could see himself in that kind of future… He smiled slightly as he lay down on the couch; it is nice to have a future…
He didn't awake until his friends were gathered around him, asking him questions before he even woke up.
He shook his head. "One at the time, ok?"
"You were gone a long time!"
What was he suppose to answer? "Yes."
"Did he hurt you again?"
"No, the opposite actually…" Robin lifted his T-shirt to show his friends how the bruises had faded. He explained about Slade's ointment.
"Dude! That's great! Can't you steal a little? We could make millions!"
Raven glared at the kid.
"Yes. Until some very serious military men knocks on the door and wants to know how the heck we got our hands on their secret formula." she commented. "Then I expect you get a use for it."
Beast Boys ears drooped a little but perked up again a second later.
"Dude! We forgot to tell you! We know what the numbers mean!"
Robin felt himself get cold. So this was it, then. This was the beginning of the end.
To be continued…
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A/N: Told you the end draws nearer! This was a slightly weird chapter… and he was VERY errrrr... 'seductive' wasn't he? Have no idea what that came from... ;o) Psychologically, probably from a very deep-rooted urge to feel loved after all he's been through with the beating… the kid wavers so much it's confusing to me too… An if I think so how the hell should you feel?! Well, he WON'T give up, it's time to fight now… damn Slade…
