"Slade!" I practically cursed under my breath. The flight was smooth and I made it to San Diego in a little over three hours, but now I had an hour ride on my R-Cycle before I made it to Jump City. I had changed back into my Robin suit, the cold wind chilled my bare legs.
Raven had called me to tell me that there were four break ins tonight, while I was asleep on my flight of course. It was very obviously Slade behind them, and my skin itched at just the mere thought of being gone while he was so active.
"Calm down Robin, we have it under control," Raven tried to assure me, but I wasn't convinced. The Titans knew about my….obsession of Slade. I couldn't let anything go with him. The man is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma, not to mention dowsed with abilities and incredible strength. I couldn't even begin to wrap my brain around him, though I had been trying to for a while now. He intrigued me, he fascinated me, he made my insides tingle and my the blood in my veins flow with adrenaline.
"How far out are you?" Raven asked me through her communicator. Her image was displayed in front of me through my helmet.
"About 40 minutes but I can make it 25."
"Robin don't do anything reckless," she warned me. "Like I've said, we have it under control. You're letting Slade get under your skin again."
"Yeah chillax Robbie girl, we're cool!" Beast Boy came into frame then. He let the sunglasses that were previously resting on his green forehead slide down over his eyes. He was trying to act cool.
Normally I would laugh but I had Slade on the brain.
"Are those my shades?" I deadpan.
"No mama, you must be seeing things!" Beast Boy quickly flicked the glasses to the side and turned into a cobra, slithering out of frame.
"Guys quit fooling around and keep an eye on Slade! Find out what he's planning. I'll be home soon, keep me updated if anything new comes up." I don't even wait for them to reply or argue or tell me to "calm down", I just click the button on the side of my helmet to break our connection and rev up my bike, flying down the California highway.
My skin continues to crawl. I ignore it, considering it just another Slade symptom. Along with tunnel vision, goosebumps, hair standing on end, chills, incoherent thoughts, and other things that seem to be brought on by the thought of Slade. These symptoms have only gotten worse since my unwilling apprenticeship. Heck it was more like captivity, in fact that's exactly what it was. I learned a bit about Slade while I was there that I hadn't known before, it was a horrifying and complicated experience. The man was always watching me, always training me, always touching me.
I would be lying if I said I didn't feel some sort of...attraction toward my enemy, and yes he is my enemy. The Joker to my Batman, The Lex Luthor to my Superman. Bruce wouldn't be as proud of his Girl Wonder if he found out that she has a minor to moderate case of the hots for her arch nemesis, even if she does slightly hate herself for it.
I exhale dramatically, fogging up my helmet before speeding up. I screech down the highway at a ridiculous pace, trying to swallow the lump in my throat, trying to stay focused on my anger toward the man instead of my undeniable intrigue and downright lust toward him.
When I am finally inside Jump City Limits, I slow down to an acceptable speed. Being close to the city calms me down, making me less paranoid about Slade. I can think clearer surrounded by the early morning fog of city pollution and industrialization.
As I make my way through the suburbs, I realize that my skin is more than crawling, it's aching. My arm right forearm is swollen, I hadn't noticed in my blind rage.
Now it clicks. Poison Ivy's thorn. The one I had fallen on during the fight. The one I had pulled out and ignored completely.
I pull over, and hanging out behind some buildings away from possible prying eyes, I call Bruce.
"Robin why didn't you tell me about it before you left?" His tone wasn't as stern as it could be and I was grateful for that.
"I didn't even notice it until later, because...you know, adrenaline?" Maybe it was adrenaline initially, but I hadn't truly noticed it flare up do to Slade brain.
We began discussing the thorn, what it looked like, what the plant looked like, and what my symptoms were. Batman did some work on the batcomputer while Alfred brought him coffee, they both looked tired. 3:00 in the morning and they probably haven't gotten a bit of sleep.
I sat quietly on my R-cycle, scanning my surroundings. There wasn't anyone around, and I didn't really expect there to be anyone this early, but I always like to be alert.
"Robin, how far are you from the city?" Batman's voice was strained. This was alarming.
"I just made it to the city limits, why?"
"Are you parked somewhere safe, secluded?"
"A bit...I can cover the cycle with a tarp...Why?"
"Good idea. Cover it and then get to the top of your nearest building."
"WHY?!" I ask again, "What, am I poisoned?!"
"No Robin, nothing lethal, but yes you are poisoned," again he sounded strained, uncomfortable even.
I covered the cycle, putting my helmet on top of it. I switched my communication from my helmet to my communicator, talking into it like I would any phone. Looking over my shoulder to be sure that no one was watching, I grappled up to the nearest building and stand on the rooftop.
"Okay so if it's not lethal, what's the big deal?" I questioned warily.
Bruce sighed, "You know how Ivy can be, how some of her plants have certain toxins?"
I nodded, still completely clueless, "Yeah...so…?"
Bruce sighed again, I could hear him scratching the stubble on his chin.
"The plant's thorns gave off a hormonal toxin," he finally revealed. "Basically Robin, if you have skin to skin contact with anyone 24 hours after you are exposed to the toxin, then you will be practically under their spell, craving and physically needing skin to skin contact with said person."
"Good heavens," I heard Alfred curse quietly.
I blushed at that.
"The tower is across town, I can go now, call, warn the others not to touch me before I arrive." I said, swallowing a nervous lump in my throat.
"Avoid people Robin, and get there quickly, understand?"
After spending a week and Gotham, fighting crime with Batman, it took me until this moment to feel like a sidekick again. I chew on my lip, frustrated at the situation.
"Understood."
I heard Alfred warn me to be safe before I cut the connection. I sighed, and stepped onto the ledge of the building when I heard a voice behind me.
"Leaving so soon Robin?"