A/N: I somehow don't want this to end… but since this is the second to last chapter… well… I have already started a few drabbles, though, to keep me going after this…;o) not gonna stop bugging you yet!
Disclaimer: -sigh- Ok… not mine…But I do now have a bar of chocolate! I'm happy.
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Chapter twelve: Setting up the pieces
They set up a command centre in the basement… the 'war-room' as BB and Cy liked to call it. Beast Boy had gotten quite a bashing for telling Robin the news in the living room. What if Slade had called in that instant and overheard them? This didn't dampen Beast Boy's mood, though. Finally they would get rid of Slade! Finally his leader would be safe! Then Robin spoke.
"I must tell you something. It's important. It happened when Slade rescued me from that lunatic… I haven't told you about it 'cause I wasn't sure if I was seeing things, I was pretty out of it…" Robin drew a breath. "Slade's immortal"
"Say what?!"
"Please? That is not possible, correct?"
"No!"
"Dude?!"
"I saw it. The man stabbed Slade with a knife in the shoulder and the chest. To the hilt. And he barely reacted… And now… the wounds have healed." Robin continued to tell them about the army experiment and since the ointment had worked so well, the team started to think Slade's words might very well be true.
"But… how will we… how can we ever…?" Beast Boy sounded close to tears.
"Listen!" Robin barked, looking around at his friends. "Slade is immortal, but that does not mean that he is invincible!"
Please define 'immortal'…
Robin, ignoring that stray thought, continued. "As long as we can keep him down, we can bring him to justice. This is an advantage, this means we don't have to hold back, understand?"
The rest of the team nodded, uncertainly. This had stunned them as it had Robin, but they needed to snap out of it. More awe against the man when they met would not make things better.
Robin's team had been very thorough in their research. The result they had come up with was that the numbers were a date, and on that date there would be a very rare, very secretive, delivery to Jump City.
"It's an experimental titanium-alloy" Cy had explained. "Not even the guys who discovered it knows its limits yet. Right up Slade's alley."
Robin had nodded. It was.
Now they were sitting and standing around a big table covered by maps, photos and files regarding the transportation and the building it was supposed to be delivered to. After confirming that Slade's target was about the size of a suitcase, weighing around 20 kilos, Robin lost interest in that particular detail. He needed to know the size and weight to try and figure out how Slade was going to move it, but he didn't need any more than that. Since it would be no problems at all for the man to just grab the thing and run, their work was quite difficult.
The target would arrive by airplane to the central airport just outside Jump and then be driven in a reinforced but nondescript truck to the Neutec company, that was, unfortunately, located in the town centre.
"Do you believe Slade will apprehend this alloy of titanium at the site of landing?" Starfire asked.
"Maybe…" Robin mumbled. "No! Wait… during one of our security-lessons Slade said something…" he racked his brain, trying to remember.
"Jeeeze… I'm starting to wish that Slade picked a smarter student…" Beast Boy grinned.
"Shut up, tofu-brain" Cy told him, in a very loving way of course.
"It was something about…" Robin hadn't heard them at all "Yes! He told me to avoid airports if it wasn't necessary, because they have their own security, the place is fenced in and there are a lot of people and things that might mean something unexpected could happen…" Robin was quiet for a while. "No... Don't think he'll do it at the airport… and I don't think he'll hold up the truck along the road either… I think he will strike at the delivery site..."
"But that's in the middle of town!" Cy said. "There will be a lot of people around…"
Robin nodded grimly.
"Distractions…"
"Speaking of distractions, I'm hungry!" BB shouted. "Anyone for pizza?" The team nodded, even Robin.
"Let's take the car! I'll drive!" BB hollered and started for the garage, followed by a frantic Cyborg.
"No you're not, you little…"
"Please, I want jam on my piece!" Starfire exclaimed.
"Tofu-sardines!"
"Bacon!"
"Are you coming?" Raven asked Robin who was just standing there, smiling at his disappearing friends.
"No, I have to think about this… but bring me back a slice, ok?"
"Sure. I'll better go to make sure some part of that pizza is going to be even remotely edible."
The boy smiled wider. "Bring me back one of those slices, then, please."
A while later Robin walked into the living room, deep in thought. They had to plan this perfectly; they had to know more about what the man was planning, and-
"Afternoon, Robin, keeping busy?"
The boy looked up at the screen. It was blank. It took him a moment to realize that Slade's voice hadn't come from the screen at all. It had come from-
Slade's arms wrapped themselves around him.
"Not being very alert today, are you my boy? You must have a lot on your mind…?"
Robin gasped, trying to get away, but he didn't stand a chance unless he was actually going to strike the man… and that might not be such a smart thing to do.
"There, there Robin…" Slade whispered. "Isn't this nice? Where are your friends?"
"Out… out for pizza" Robin relaxed against Slade now, finding it useless to fight. "But they might be back any second…" he added, so the man didn't get any ideas. Slade only chuckled against his ear.
"Sorry Robin, no time for fantasies… I came to give you this." He held up a new communicator in front of the boy, before slipping it into the Robin's left pocket. As he did, he, as if by accident, stroked his hand across Robin's crotch and the boy moaned a little. "Unless" the man added "we were quick about it…"
"Slade, please, we can't…"
"Don't tell me you refuse me, again Robin?"
"No… no, Master… but my friends…Let's go to the base, if you want to…"
"Well... I really don't have time…" Slade said, sounding regretful, but he spun Robin around to face him. "I might take a moment, though…" He took off his mask and kissed the rather stunned boy.
Robin felt himself being picked up and then standing on the couch, still kissing Slade. At this height he was nearly as tall as the man, and Robin found that very hot. He wrapped his arms around Slade's neck and started kissing more aggressively. Slade gripped his hair and pulled back a little, grinning at the boy.
"I can see I'm going to have to keep an eye on you when you're older, boy… you might forget who your Master is…"
"Can't you just shut up and kiss me?... Master…?" Robin gasped and Slade smirked, letting go of his hair. Robin tried to take control again, but when Slade's hands grabbed his ass, the boy melted into submissiveness once more.
"Booh-yah! Pizza's in the house!" The voice was coming from the elevator shaft but the doors had, thankfully, not opened yet as the elevator were still on its way up.
"Master, please!" Robin begged as Slade seemed unwilling to let him go. The man smiled at him, gave him one last quick kiss on the mouth and stepped away.
Robin sat down on the couch quickly as Slade walked away a bit further, putting his mask back on. As the team more or less exploded into the room their mood went from cheerfulness to aggravated disbelief in an instant.
"Man, again?!"
"No, surely…!?"
"Damn."
"Dude?!"
Slade studied them calmly. "Hello again. Cyborg, have you actually tried to update the security system since last time, or did you make it worse on purpose?"
"Play nice, Slade…" Robin murmured, getting a chuckle from the man who walked around behind the couch and bent down to whisper in Robin's ear.
"Oh, you know you like me to play rough…"
"Not with my friends…" Robin muttered, very low indeed, feeling his face go slightly red.
"Jealous?"
Robin snorted and Slade straightened up, giving the boy's team a cold stare.
"I came by to give Robin a new communicator and leave a few instructions. Come by tonight, Robin, and we'll finish then."
Robin nodded, not really trusting his own voice, since Slade's fingers were playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. The others couldn't see it from this angle, and, right now, Robin wished that his friends where very far away indeed. Damn, he hated Slade for being able to do this to him! What was he? Boy-shaped putty?! No shame or restraint at all anymore…
Yes, isn't that nice…?
As Slade left he was followed by glares and low curses, many of which were from Cyborg, and then Robin's team turned to him.
"He was just standing here in the room when I came upstairs…" Robin said. Cy cursed louder, but Robin waved a hand at him. "Don't worry, Cy, I'm sure no one else could get in… Slade is just…. Slade…"
"Damn place stinks of him again..," muttered BB
"Let's go downstairs." Robin sighed, keeping a bit of a distance from the green boy and his nose.
"We brought the pizza instead of eating out… thought it would be more fun to eat with you…" BB said.
"Thanks!" damn-you-damn-you-damn-you… "Let's take the food down with us…"
They worked for a few more hours, Robin getting increasingly agitated. I really AM useless when I'm horny… He kept checking his watch, wondering what Slade had meant by "tonight"… what kind of a time reference was that? He finally got up.
"I better go meet Slade. Are you going to continue?"
"Of course, the seventh is in two days… What could be more important?" Raven asked.
Don't know… getting your head banged against a headboard, perhaps…?
"Nothing. You are absolutely right, Rae." Robin smiled, "I'm so sorry I have to abandon you…"
"Surely this is a 'no worries', Robin!"
"Yeah, man, we'll find the puzzle-pieces and you figure out how to put them together, right?
"Sure. Bye guys!"
"Errr… dude? Are you gonna eat the rest of your pizza?"
"No, BB, but I think you'll find it's not vegetarian…"
"Oh…"
As Robin straddled his new bike again he got the urge to take it for a real test-drive before going to Slade's place, so he did. When he left Jump city to cruise down the highway for a mile or so, Slade's communicator started beeping. Damn! He slowed down to fish it out, opened the visor on his helmet and flicked the gadget open.
"Yes?"
"Out for a ride, Robin?"
"I'm just testing the bike… are there any rules against that you didn't tell me about?"
"No. I'm glad you enjoy my gift, but right now, I would like to enjoy you. Come."
"I'm on the highway… can't just do a U-turn..."
"Why?"
"It's forbidden. AND stupid."
"And you will do it anyway."
Robin just gave the man on the small screen a blank stare.
"Guess I will" he sighed "See you in ten…"
"Make it five."
Robin clicked the communicator shut, made the turn and sped back towards the city.
Seven minutes later he walked into the base, helmet under his arm.
"You're late." Slade had materialized in front of him.
"You can't be serious! I was half way to…"
As Slade took a step forward, Robin shrank back. Was Slade going to punish him again? For this? For something he couldn't help?
"Make it up to me." Slade ordered.
"How?"
"Oh, you know how, Robin, you did it so well last time. On your knees."
As Robin sank down in front of Slade, reaching for him, he, for the first time, really felt like a slut. Unfortunately, this didn't make him feel nearly as ashamed as it should. As Slade placed his hands at the back of Robin's head again, pulling him forward as he plunged into the boy's mouth, he looked up at the man.
"Wouldn't you love for your friends to see you now?" Slade whispered.
Robin, for obvious reasons, couldn't reply. It's not polite to talk with you mouth full.
Later, after moving into the more comfortable bedroom, Robin again got a demonstration of Slade's recuperations-skills. After the third time, however, Robin couldn't take much more.
"Please, Master, can… can we take a break?"
"Tired already, Robin? We got to work on that."
"I'm sorry if I don't the stamina of an immortal… I just can't keep up with you…"
"You were doing fine. But, as you wish, Let's take five."
"Please tell me that's five hours?" Robin panted and slumped over Slade's chest. The man chuckled and played with the boy's hair.
"Sooo… you have been keeping busy at the tower?"
Robin stiffened. Not good. What did Slade know?
"As usual." he replied in a, he hoped, casual voice.
"Really?" Slade sounded amused, but didn't push the boy. He didn't want him to figure out his plan, after all, just keep him on his toes. "Well, you better not be too busy, I need you to do an assignment tomorrow."
"What's it about?"
"A test run Allert's Security Company is doing. I need you to time them."
Robin had to stop himself from gasping. Allert's security? They were the ones who were going to deliver the titanium!
"Sure." he said, trying to sound indifferent. "You're not going to use the information, though, are you?"
"No, it is a field test after all the assignments you did while you were healing. I thought you deserved to take the bike out, too."
"Hey, I thought so too, but see what happened."
"Would you say it's been five minutes yet?" Slade grinned.
"Errr… ops! Forgot to set the time, we better start over and– oh…!"
Slade hadn't agreed with him.
An hour or so later Slade finally seemed to have had enough. Robin was sprawled out next to him feeling rather thankful. Not that it hadn't been good, it had been very good, just way too intense.
"If you are going to keep doing that to me, I better start eating some sort of vitamins or something." the boy wheezed.
Slade smiled, eyes closed. "I'll get you a prescription…"
Robin snorted and struggled to sit up in bed. He watched the man resting beside him for a while. He liked watching him. Am I falling for him? The thought was disturbing. He loved the closeness, the sex, but the man? Body, heart, soul. Two down, one to go. No! No, he couldn't love Slade, surely? It was just his hormones talking, nothing else.
Sure will miss him, though…
It occurred to Robin that the date on the note only were two days away… less, now… it would soon be the sixth… this might be the last time… He lay down and snuggled up close to the man, sighing in contentment as Slade wrapped an arm around him. His time of playing the game was almost over. He felt a small lump in his throat and held on to the man, not really wanting to let go, ever again. His soul, his still free soul, whispered to him, though, and he knew what he had to do… I'm not sacrificing myself this time... he thought as he looked up at the man. I'm sacrificing you… Why did that feel like it was the same thing?
Slade woke him the next morning, informing him that the security company would start their rehearsal in about an hour. He had time to prepare, calling the Titans to reassure them and eating a light breakfast before it was time to go. Slade handed him a small digital film camera.
"Make notes, time and film everything. You can analyse the footage and type out your notes at the tower. I expect a mail from you in three hours."
"Yes sir!" Robin grinned and hopped on the bike, eager to be off. He was going to get to ride his new bike, probably find out more about how Slade would pull off the robbery, and looking like he was working for the man at the same time. Things were sure looking up.
The job went flawlessly and Robin actually had a good time. Watching the film over and over, though, jutting down every little time interval he thought could matter, even remotely, was very boring. But it had to be done. Finally he email Slade the results and printed a copy for himself. Ha had just enough time to hand his friends a copy too, before Slade called him on the communicator.
"Good job, Robin. Let's discuss it. Your room. Three minutes." Slade broke off the connection.
"Boy, the guy doesn't waste words…" Beast Boy whispered.
"Pfff.. you should hear him sometimes, he can go on for hours, talking your head off." Robin grinned. "That was just him being effective".
Robin spread out the notes on his bed, making himself comfortable, as he waited for Slade to call. As usual three minutes later, on the dot, his face appeared.
"So, Robin. Tell me how you would do it."
"Rob the truck? Depends on what's in it, I guess…"
"Let's say it's not lethal and that you could carry it."
Robin looked down on his papers, thinking. Actually following the truck, watching the guards routines, had made the whole thing a bit clearer to him.
"I wouldn't do it at the airport… you told me to avoid those if I could…"
"Nice to hear you are listening to me."
"Yeah, well, occasionally..." Robin smirked. "On the road may be an option, but they have really chosen a safe route. No real good place for an ambush and a lot of other traffic."
"So I guess you would strike as the goods were being unloaded?"
Robin sat quiet a bit longer.
"It's tricky." A thought hit him "There is no way to infiltrate the security guards? Exchange them perhaps, or bribe them?"
"Nice idea, but this company runs a tight ship. They all know each other; they have electronic ID's and security questions to confirm each others and the client's identity. It could be done, but only with a lot of time and planning."
"I see… well, in that case, yes I would do it at the delivery."
"How?"
Robin had really tried to think this through, but hadn't had much opportunity.
"I… I'm not sure…"
"Don't disappoint me, Robin."
"Hey! You were the one who insisted on fucking me silly all through last night! Can't expect me to be very bright the next day then, can you?"
"I really hope you enjoyed all that time spent straddling the bike today."
Robin winced "That was mean."
Slade chuckled behind his mask. "Now, now Robin… I need you to use that brilliant mind of yours."
"Just give me a minute, ok?" Robin frowned and went back to studying the papers.
After a moment he started talking. "I would wait until they opened the doors, otherwise it would be useless… then I think I would use a diversion…" Robin went through the plan with Slade, who nodded and asked questions along the way. "All in all" Robin concluded "I still would have preferred to steal the thing from inside the building… less people, more routines and less fear of surprises."
"I agree, but this was a security transport mission, after all."
Robin nodded. "How would you do it?"
Slade tilted his head.
"With a tad more violence."
They continued to discuss different aspects of the heist, Robin asking very careful questions along the way. When they seemed to be just about finished the boy gathered the courage to innocently ask.
"What are the plans for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah, if we are going to have an early training session or something, I would rather know now…"
"I think you better spend the day in the gym at the Tower. You need to stretch those muscles, especially your back."
"Alright…" Robin had known there wouldn't be any sessions; Slade had a robbery to pull off after all. Suddenly he didn't know what to say… This might be the last time they spoke like this, and somehow he kind of wanted to say goodbye… but that would take the stupid-prize off the year, off course.
"I think you better turn in early this evening, you haven't had enough sleep lately. You need a good night rest."
Robin smiled. "That I do. Well, I got to go see my team, now. We have a bit of catching up to do too."
"That is fine Robin. I will call you tomorrow night."
"Bye."
The screen want blank and Robin couldn't help but sigh. Damn games! It would have been so much easier if his relationship with Slade had been purely a teacher/student-thing… I should never have gone to him that night. I should have chosen the cold showers. He grinned sarcastically. I would have died of pneumonia by now, but what the hell…
He made his way down to the war-room. It was now early afternoon and they had precious few hours to prepare. As they discussed the plans Robin's brain slowly started to turn into 'fight-mood". Slade was the opponent, and, this time, he didn't stand a chance. Robin firmly pushed any other thoughts his mind threw at him, aside. This wasn't the time to think about what had happened, or, even what Robin himself wanted. This was for the team. For the world. And he was going to win. For them.
His team felt his resolve and that lifted their spirits. Having a plan to follow also helped. Still. They were going to face Slade.
"All right, everybody. Everything's clear? We'll stay hidden until Slade strikes and then we attack. The goal is to take Slade down, while protecting the guards and civilians. Since the delivery is in centre of town I'm afraid there will be quite a lot of people around, but if we warn them Slade will know that we're on to him."
"What if he takes a hostage or something?" BB wanted to know.
"If he does…" Robin said gravely "then it's over. I won't let an innocent get hurt because of me… If it comes to that I'll face him alone. That's why it is so important to isolate him. Raven, are you sure that you feel up to it? You have to create that wall to keep people out of our way."
Raven nodded, a more than usual serious look on her face.
"Yes, I have meditated and gathered my strength as much as I can. I can do it."
"Good. Well BB, how do you feel about the plan?"
The boy was, if possible, greener than ever. His part of the mission was a big one, and he didn't like it at all. He felt Robin's hand on his shoulder.
"As soon as people are safe, me, Star and Cy are going to attack with everything we got… but when Slade falls we need you to keep him down."
"Dude, it's Slade!"
Robin sighed, but smiled at his young friend.
"I know, BB. He is strong, and big, and scary, but he is only a man! I don't care if you have to turn to an elephant and sit on him, but you can't let him escape, ok?" Robin thought for a moment. "The elephant-thing might no be a bad idea… Slade is strong, but no human can lift an elephant."
"I'm not that crazy about having Slade near my butt." Beast Boy murmured and startled as Robin burst out laughing. The others soon joined him, maybe not for the same reason, but it felt good just to laugh together again.
"Heh… Cy? Are you ready?" Robin asked, trying to pull himself together before anyone asked what it was that was so funny.
"Sure man, charged up and ready to go."
"And Starfire?"
"I am ready friend Robin!" She announced, with fire in her eyes.
"Good. Well…" Robin checked his watch; it was soon nine PM "I think it would be best to call it a night. We need all the rest we can get. That means no late night reading and no computer games. Get to bed. Sleep."
"Sure, Rob."
"Absolutely."
"I agree"
"Okay, dude."
As they left the room, Cy grinned at his friends. "Who wanna bet against me that Robin stays up 'til dawn?"
"No takers. Lousy odds." Raven commented.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I am going to bed" Robin laughed. This was followed by expressions of doubt from his friends, but he continued laughing and waved goodnight to them before heading to his room.
To be continued…
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A/N: I alternate between wanting to scream at Robin to 1) just give UP already, 2) FIGHT! and 3) scream at his friends to just get LOST… -smile- I am going to have to go into hiding after this story is done… the last chapter will be up pretty soon… I still have a bit of work to do to it, though, and since the weather seems intent on guiding a lot of thunder-showers this way all the time, I can't really say when it will be done… It MIGHT be tomorrow… it might be Monday-Tuesday…the end will come, though…
