Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: an answer to crystal Cerberus (anon. rev): I have written Red/Robin… check out "For Better or For Worse", and the drabbles following that… if you already have… well, I'm sure there is more to come in the future… ;o)
To all reviewers: Sorry I haven't answered any revs this time… time has been short (that's why this is sooo late) and most of them I couldn't answered without giving the story away… so… Love you all, though!
This chapter is for Yumi-wuves-YAOI who turned 17 a bit back… happy B-day! And for Bakkazaru who is turning two of my drabbles into a comic on her Deviant Art account! Go see! I'm amazed…
Last chapter:
Innocent Games 7: Orange
Robin fought his way back to the world of the living a few times, but every time he was strong enough to move, someone was there, tipping a liquid in his mouth and making him swallow. After a few times, this registered with him, and he tried to stay still, get stronger, before acting, but somehow they seemed to know when it was time for another dose. He appeared to be getting less and less, though, and soon he was awake, but drowsy and weak as a newborn kitten.
"Gray? Gray? Are you with us?"
Nick's voice.
Robin turned his head slowly, opening his eyes wider.
"N-nick…?"
"Good. You are awake. You can't really do this sleeping, no one would bid for you."
How come he sounds so cheerful? Like nothing is wrong… How…
"…how?... why…?" It was hard to form the words. His head felt like it was filled with cotton, and Robin closed his eyes again.
"He's drifting off, boss."
Who's that? Bill? Bull? One of them… Robin wasn't quite asleep, but he was getting there.
"No matter. I'll explain things to him later."
"He really was gonna leave?"
"Yes. I overheard him talking to that Red-kid." Nick growled.
"Yeah… about him… should he be invited to the auction?"
"No. Only the top VIP's who has expressed an interest. To everyone else, it's top secret. Make sure of that."
"And… Slade?"
Nick seemed to hesitate.
"He likes the kid… maybe a bit too much, though… I'll invite him personally, but I won't tell him what the invitation is about. I want you to keep close to him, and if he is causing any trouble… take care of it."
"K-kill Slade?" the voice said and Robin almost smiled. Seemed Slade had made an impact on the overly-build bouncer.
"No, you idiot… He's my main sponsor… just keep him out of the way until it's over. If he won't pay, he won't play… and he'll get over it… Gray's just a little street-runt anyway, Slade doesn't really care…"
"He… he seems to…" Bill, or Bull, argued carefully.
"Only to get the kid to agree to the auction, believe me… he's humoring the boy… he'll be glad I've taken care of it…"
"So Slade will come?"
"Yes… and hopefully he wins… especially since I have a job for him afterwards."
The voices either stopped or Robin drifted off to sleep again, he wasn't sure. As he woke up again, he felt a little better. Until he was pulled up by his arm, that is.
"Get up. I'm taking you to the bathroom. You'll use the toilet and take a shower, and if I get any trouble, I'll help you, understood?"
Robin only mumbled, pressing a hand over his eyes. It was too much… too much movement, too much noise… The brief walk down the corridor cleared his mind enough to figure out what the person dragging him wanted. Robin glanced up at the man. Bill. Or Bull. He still wasn't sure. He could tell them apart when they were together, but…
Bathroom… shower… didn't sound too bad, Robin decided. And trouble? Now? He couldn't even slightly annoy a slug in this condition. He would wait. Bide his time. He'll get out of there… and if he couldn't do it himself, Slade would come.
If he doesn't explode and ends up being knocked on the head by the goons… Robin thought darkly.
The shower was nice and made him a bit more alert, but it wasn't exactly private. His guard stood outside the frosted glass, in case, Robin assumed, he tried to do something… stupid. As he finished he cracked the sliding door open a bit.
"Give me a towel."
"Sure kid… might wanna drop the modesty, though…. you ain't gonna be able to keep it, trust me."
"Trust you? Yeah, been there, done that… didn't work out to well, did it?" Robin snorted, grabbing the towel the man handed him. "You usually help getting kids raped, huh?"
"Watch it, or you are going on that stand with bruises… which means less money… which means bad news for you…" his guard growled.
Robin shrugged. How much worse could it get?
He was led back to the room, taking it in for the first time. It looked pretty much like a holding cell with a cot and not much else. Robin had seen the 'regular' rooms of the establishment, with different decorations and themes, when he had gotten the 'tour' as he first started, but this room hadn't been on the list.
I wonder WHY… Robin thought dryly.
"We'll come back to get you ready in an hour. Try to run away and you'll regret it." his guard said and slammed the door shut. Robin could hear the click of the lock.
An hour? I slept all through the night and the whole day? Robin sank down on the bed heavily. His legs were like jelly after the short walk, and he could just barely keep his eyes open. He had to, though! There had to be a way out… maybe the ceiling? He just… he just needed to close his eyes for a second.
He was roughly shaken awake sometime later.
"Up!"
By now, though, the drugs had almost completely left Robin's body, and he answered the wakeup-call with a fist. Unfortunately the man wasn't alone in the room and, although Robin got a few good kicks and punches in, he was soon overpowered.
"Didn't know you were such a fighter, Gray…" Nick said, stepping into view. Robin hesitated. He had been about to free himself, using every trick in the book, but would his skill in fighting alert the men to who he really was? That would be bad…. really, really bad… Robin swallowed his pride and did a weak and clumsy escape attempt before seemingly giving up completely. He just glared up at the men from under his bangs. He swore to himself though, that if he ended up bought, he would not hold back. Not for a second.
Unfortunately he had been doing himself another disfavor by fighting, as Nick now looked thoughtful.
"Give him half a dose. I don't want him completely out of it, but I can't have him kicking and screaming. It will frighten the bidders away."
Robin swore silently, for the first time feeling a real pang of fear. If he was drugged, how would he be able to fight the buyer off? There was no time, however, before one set of fingers pressed into the sides of his cheeks, forcing his mouth open and pouring something into it. Robin had time to spit it out, though, before his captors could change their grip and make him swallow.
"Use the syringe, idiots…" Nick said, and a moment later a needle stabbed Robin's arm. He cursed the men loudly until his words became slurred, and his body suddenly felt so very heavy again.
Half an hour later Robin shook his head, trying to clear it. He hadn't exactly been asleep, but he hadn't been quite aware what had been happening around him for a while. He tried to move, but groaned at an unexpected pain in his arms.
… what…?
He was standing… how was that even possible? Robin tried to move but cried out softly in pain. He wasn't standing. He was hanging. From his wrists. It the cage. As soon as his addled brain had grasped these things, Robin's fingers started tracing the cuffs. These weren't the fake ones. Surprise.
Robin steadied himself, trying to take some strain off his arms. Everything was so blurry, not only his sight but the sounds seemed blurred to. Suddenly the cage was hit by a spotlight and there was an eruption of sounds. Robin flinched, trying to back away like a scared animal, before he recognized the noise as people… cheering? No, not quite, but almost. He blinked, trying to see past the bright light, trying to see anything, but couldn't.
"Gentlemen, please settle down. As you see, Grey has joined us here tonight, although, I have to admit, perhaps not completely voluntary. So if you bid, make sure you are man enough to handle him. Isn't he pretty? And let me remind you; a virgin… Who among you here tonight will have the pleasure and the -heh- honor? He is somewhat drugged at the moment, but I guarantee that most of it will ware off shortly. Let's begin, shall we? I would like to remind you that the winning bid has to be paid in full before you may take… possession… of your winnings. A room of your choosing will be provided. I wish you all good luck."
Robin closed his eyes, hoping it would somehow shield him from the noise as well. He shivered. Cold air met bare skin. Too much bare skin. Robin opened his eyes and looked down on himself. He wasn't naked, thank god, but someone had dressed him in something that looked like a tiny loincloth…
Tasteful…he thought dryly.
He tried to follow the bidding, but numbers were rattled off too quickly for his addled brain. He had expected to hear bids shouted, but that only happen now and again. He tried to remember the charity auctions he had attended with Bruce… wow, that feels like a lifetime ago… and he came to the conclusion that the bidders must use signs or hand signals to bid. It seemed… practiced…
They have done this before… he realized. He had suspected it, in the cold way he had been treated, but this made him almost completely sure… So I won't be the first… well, I'll damn well be the last! Robin swore to himself. He just wished he had enough strength to stand up properly.
Suddenly it all seemed to be over. Nick had stopped calling out numbers and there was a scattering of applauds, hoots and shouts of very, very nasty suggestions. Robin wasn't even aware of what the final price had been… however much he hated this, he couldn't help to be a bit curious about that detail.
The cage jerked. Robin looked up, seeing Bill and Bull on either side, carrying the whole thing backstage. He swallowed. Time to find out.
"Here he is. The transaction is almost completed." Robin heard Nick say. He raised his still so heavy head and-
Thank you-thank-you-thank you!
Robin would recognize that silhouette anywhere.
I'll be out of here in minutes…
"So, would kind of room do you want? The bondage room? He's a fighter this one…"
"Any room with a bed will do…" Slade chuckled "As long as you hurry. I can't wait…"
"He's still drugged… I can give him something that will wake him up quicker, if you want?" Nick offered.
"No… " Robin could see the man shake his head and then take a step forward, looking down on him. "He'll need to be really relaxed, if you know what I mean?"
Nick and the others chuckled and Robin snarled, leaning away from the man. He didn't like the look in Slade's eye. The man was… different. He looked… hungry. Robin's eyes widened as his heart started beating harder. A small whimper escaped him as Slade smirked.
No… no he's just acting! He IS… this isn't him! Slade is… Robin blinked. Funny? Courteous? Had… had THAT been the act?
"The transaction is complete." someone said, leaning over a computer.
"Good. I'll take him, then." Slade declared, and opened the cage door. He was handed a key and unlocked the cuffs. Holding the boy's wrists in a grip stronger than the steel, he dragged him from the cage. Robin did his best to fight both Slade and the drug, but failing miserably at both.
"Have the first room on the left… that should be good enough for our little virgin princess…" Nick chuckled. "And, Slade? You will still do the job afterwards, right?"
"Certainly."
"Good. Just don't dump his body anywhere near here, will you?"
"Of course not, I'm a professional." Slade snorted. "Besides, you took ten grand off to pay for the job… consider it done."
"Well… take your time fucking him first… that will get you half way there, I'm sure…" Nick laughed. He then noticed Robin's wide eyes. "Yeah, sorry, kid… can't have any little sluts running around telling people about this deal, now can I? Enjoy…"
Robin could barely believe his ears.
Must be the drugs… right? Slade wasn't really going to rape him and kill him, was he? The way he was dragged up the stairs didn't exactly sooth Robin's fears. He tried to kick and struggle, while cursing the man to the best of his abilities, which weren't so great due to the drugs.
Suddenly he was pushed into a room and onto a very large bed. Robin tried to stifle a sob. He was just so fucking weak! His arms hurt like hell, and he couldn't even lift himself off the bed. He heard the door lock.
"Slade-"
"Shut up." The man circled the room, apparently appreciating the deep red and gold theme, the heavy curtains with gold tassels, covering a large, fake window. Large oil-paintings, in wide frames hung on the wall, fakes too, naturally. Deep, soft rugs covered the floor almost up to the fireplace (also fake). Besides the door to the corridor, there was another, leading to an on-suit bathroom. Only the two largest rooms had these, if you didn't count the room that actually only was a bathroom, although big and luxurious… The immense, canopied bed dominated the room, though, for good reason. Robin thought the completed image was very ugly, tacky beyond anything he had ever seen, and Slade looked like he agreed. After looking it over he turned towards the bed again, and Robin swallowed.
"It's clear."
"W-what?"
"I can't be completely sure, but I don't think the room is bugged."
Robin suddenly felt weightless.
"So… that's… that's why you told me to shut up?"
"Of course." Slade shrugged, and glanced around the room again, while removing his jacket. Robin tensed.
"You… you are not… going to…?"
"What?" Slade looked at him blankly, before he understood. "Robin, no… that was just an act… you know that, don't you?" the man sounded somewhat disgusted at himself or the situation.
Robin closed his eyes for a moment.
"I… I wasn't sure…"
The bed dipped down as Slade sat on the edge, and Robin felt a hand stroking the side of his face.
"It must be the drugs… how are you feeling? Do you know what they gave you?"
"'m alright…" Robin mumbled. "… don't know…" he blinked "Then… why are we here, then?"
Slade sighed, and Robin found himself in the man's arms. He had stretched out next to Robin and gathered him up, holding him gently.
"I'm sorry about the pretending, love…" Slade said quietly. Robin grunted a bit at the "love"-part, but let it slide. "When I arrived tonight I got the shock of my life, but I couldn't act… there were too many people and it was easy to see that the bouncers were armed… I decided to play along. Forgive me?"
Robin took a deep breath.
"I… yes."
Slade chuckled.
"That easily? I was afraid I would have to earn your forgiveness the hard way."
Robin smiled lazily.
"Well… I'm drugged… you know just when to apologize, don't you?"
"I'm smart that way." Slade said airily and Robin laughed, resting his tired head against the man's chest.
"So… how much did this little rendezvous set you back?"
"You didn't hear? 120.000 dollars."
"Wow… Good thing I'm worth it." Robin said dryly.
"Good thing you are…" Slade agreed.
"What now?" Robin still sounded tired.
"We stay here for an hour or two and then we leave. I've decided to keep the charade up… this place, even though I dislike it very much at the moment, is an important hub in the underground world of not only Jump, but the whole state. Exposing it will do irreparable damage to my business, so I would like to go by the 'live and let live' rule for once…"
Robin frowned.
"Irreparable?"
It was Slade's turn to frown.
"Afraid so… ahh… you want to take it down?"
"Yes." Robin's answer was immediate.
"Then we will."
"Really?" Robin was blown away. "You… you would do that… for me?"
"Easily. But not tonight… you need to recover, and can you allow me a few days to minimize the damages?"
Robin nodded. His head swam for more than one reason, and then another was added as Slade's lips met his.
"Thank you." The man said simply, after the kiss ended.
Robin was suddenly very aware of the large, warm hand that rested on his hip. He was even more aware of Slade absentmindedly letting his thumb stroke over Robin's hipbone.
Oh, damn… think about something else! Anything! But he's so close…Robin wasn't aware that it was him, pressing closer.
"K-kiss me again…" Robin could not believe his own words, but they were obeyed immediately. Slade rolled over more and more until his body almost covered Robin's. The young hero himself was showing great signs of multitasking, as he managed to unbutton Slade's shirt while kissing him. As soon as the shirt was off, the undershirt soon followed. One of Robin's legs wrapping around his hips brought Slade back to the hard reality. The really hard reality. He ended the kiss, both of them gasping for air.
"We… got to stop." Slade said, while his hands showed no such restraints as they wandered up Robin's chest.
"Y-Yes, we better…" Robin agreed, arching his back, wrapping his arms tightly around the man's chest.
"You are drugged." Slade made an effort to roll away from the boy, but Robin only ended up on top of him. "It's not right."
"I… agree. It's wrong. Very, very wrong." Robin said seriously, looking down at Slade. Then a devilish gin appeared on his face. "Let's do it."
"You don't know what-" Slade stared, but Robin's finger on his lips quieted him.
"I'm not that drugged." the boy smiled. "Besides, just waiting here for two hours… boring, right?"
"You need to spend less time with Red X. You are starting to sound like him." Slade muttered.
Robin thought it was very funny, though.
"Red X is me drunk…" he giggled.
"So what's Red X like when he's drunk? Slade smirked.
Robin shuddered.
"Let's never find out."
They laughed but then turned serious again in moments. Staring at each other they slowly leaned in until their lips touched once more. Robin closed his eyes, enjoying kissing from this weird angle.
It's not weird, I'm just on top… as soon as the thought crossed his mind he felt himself harden even more and he blushed deeply. The concept was exciting, but he knew he would do no 'real' topping any time soon. Slade was an alpha-male, and- Robin frowned. He was an alpha male too! He was a leader, damn it! It was just that Slade made him feel so very, very submissive.
"We can't… I don't even have any lubricant." Slade disrupted Robin's thoughts with plain logic.
Robin looked down on him with disbelieving eyes.
"You are aware that we are in a brothel, right?" he said, and then reached over towards the bedside table, pulling out a drawer. It was well stocked with everything a couple might desire. He grabbed a bottle, pressing it into Slade's hands.
"There. No more excuses. I'm starting to feel unwanted." he pouted as he said the last words and Slade chuckled.
"As you wish, love. Just one thing… this is editable paint."
Robin had all but forgotten that little embarrassing detail a few minutes later, thanks to Slade's lips and hands. Robin had done his own fair share of exploring and Slade was now completely naked. Robin's own loincloth was somewhere across the room. His movements were still a bit sluggish, but Robin was mostly himself again by now, and he started to get nervous… both in a bad and in a good way… Slade had rolled them over again and he was now enjoying himself by dribbling cold oil on Robin's nipples and stomach. Robin hissed as the drops hit, but they heated quickly, and then Slade added more. Lower and lower, until Robin had some of it pooling in his navel and then lower still.
"Ah!" Robin couldn't help it as Slade more or less emptied the whole bottle over his groin. "Shite! Cold down there is not a good thing!" he growled, but the man on top of him only chuckled.
"Someone is disagreeing with you…" Slade said and ran a finger up Robin's length, making the boy buck and moan.
"Yeah, well, don't listen to him, he disagrees with me all the time…" Robin muttered, with a smirk on his face.
"Oh, but I think I'm on his side…" Slade let his hands move down to Robin's balls, coating them as well. Robin parted his legs slightly and felt a small stream of oil run down between his cheeks.
It's going to stain the bedcovers… his irrelevant thought were pushed aside as Slade's fingers found Robin's tight entrance, and circled it, slowly. Robin tensed involuntary.
"Don't. Relax. I won't hurt you." Slade whispered softy.
Robin snorted. He had seen Slade's cock. It had been in his mouth… no one was going to tell him that this wasn't going to hurt.
"Trust me." Slade said, and Robin wanted to snort again, but couldn't. He had to trust Slade. Trust that the man wasn't simply playing with him, hadn't planned all this. Robin knew that he very well could have…
If he did, I hope he kills me quickly afterwards… Robin thought darkly to himself. If Slade let him live long enough for the man to gloat… Robin didn't think he would be able to stand that.
"Robin, get the silver colored tube in the drawer." Slade instructed him, and Robin tried to reach it without questions. He had to roll over to see what he was doing, and as he did, Slade slipped a finger inside him.
Robin gasped.
"Hey!" he called out, a bit indignant at being tricked like that.
"Get the tube…" Slade repeated, sounding pleased with himself.
Robin grumbled and did, glancing at the label before he handed it back to Slade.
"More lube?"
"The thick kind… this oil will disappear too quickly."
Robin groaned.
"Do you have to explain things?"
"You asked."
"Ignore me." Robin then changed his mind. "At least don't sound so damn clinical."
"How about 'with this I can shove my big cock in your tight little ass and fuck it so hard that you'll come just by thinking about it for the rest of your life…'?" Slade purred.
"B-better…" Robin said, while, still on his stomach, he raised his hips a bit. Slade took the opportunity to insert a second finger. Robin's breath hitched in his throat when Slade started moving the fingers inside him, slowly spreading them and stretching him. Then something cold joined the fingers and Robin tensed again.
"What- aaahhhh…" Robin realized that the cold thing was the opening of the tube, that Slade had pushed inside him and then the man had squeezed, emptying what felt like the whole thing inside him. Robin writhed, feeling filled by the cold stickiness, and only then noticed that that Slade's fingers were moving faster. The three of them.
Deciding that his inexperienced lover was probably focusing too much on the new sensations to really enjoy them, Slade slipped his other hand under Robin's body and gently started to stroke the hardness he found there. Robin moaned and lifted his hips to give Slade more space. Slowly coaxing him, Slade got Robin up all the way on his elbows and knees, careful not to stroke him too hard or more than nudge his sweet spot, since he didn't want him to come just yet.
Slade knew that asking would just make Robin tense up again, so without a word he carefully got in position. Without missing a stroke he pulled his fingers out and pushed the engorged, blunt head of his cock against Robin's opening. The muscle gave quite willingly, and the head popped in before Robin had any time to tense up. He did then, though.
"Ooowwww…" Robin swore quietly. It hadn't hurt until he tensed.
"Relax." Slade purred, trying to stop himself from plunging in completely, and just keep still until his partner relaxed again.
"Easy… for you to… say… you don't… have a … fucking… baseball bat… up your ass…" Robin panted.
"I told you it would be a fuck to remember…" Slade chuckled, and started stroking Robin's cock harder. The boy's member had softened somewhat from the discomfort. "Take it easy… I won't push in until you are ready…"
"You're not all the way in?!" Robin exclaimed.
"Ummm… no… only about one third…" Slade answered.
"Are you kidding me?" Robin all but shouted.
Slade knew he could do this in two ways. He could continue to be gentle and go slowly, eventually making Robin relax enough, or he could depend on the hero's will to submit to him. He decided to go with the last strategy.
Robin yelped as his hair was grabbed roughly and his head pulled back.
"You will take my cock, all of it, and you will love it, understood?" Slade snarled in his ear, having leaned forward over Robin's trembling back.
Robin thought he would come that instant, just by the man's voice.
"Y-yes…" He had honestly never been this hard in his life.
"Then do it! Push back… fuck yourself!"
Robin obeyed, crying out as he did, but he was so horny right now, that there was no real pain. Suddenly Robin's backside met Slade's front.
"Is… is it…?"
"Yes…" Slade grabbed Robin's hips and held them tightly. "Now it's my turn."
As the man withdrew almost completely and plunged in again, Robin decided that Slade had been right. He would never forget this… if he survived it. But on the second stroke the man changed his angle, and Robin remembered why gays were so… gay… he even saw the colors of the freakin' rainbow. He was soon begging like a pro for harder, faster, deeper. The fact that Slade's hand had disappeared from his erection didn't matter, Robin was still on the brink. Then his legs gave out and he found out what the term 'being fucked into the mattress' meant. The added friction on his member from said mattress, was finally too much. Robin cried out loudly as he came, thankful for the thick walls.
'Nother stain…was all his brain managed, before deciding that a black-out was a good idea. He wasn't completely lost to the world, though, because he definitely felt Slade thrusting into him a few more times, before crying out in his own release. Something hot flooded his insides, some of it slithering out as Slade pulled out a moment later. The man almost collapsed on top of him, and Robin only had the energy to grunt. It was enough for Slade to realize that his lover didn't want to be crushed, thank you very much, and the man shifted to the side.
Robin turned around, searching for and finding Slade's lips, kissing them as the heat of passion slowly died down to a more bearable warmth.
Robin felt more relaxed than ever. His head rested on Slade's chest and his fingers were playing with the man's nipples. He had, to Slade's amusement, taken to exploring the man's body in the smallest detail, using every detective skill he had. He couldn't help but compare, though… Robin knew he wasn't fully developed yet. He would bulk out and probably grow taller, a lot hopefully, but there were other things he wondered if they would change. Would his nipples darken to the brownish-pink of Slade's? His own were so embarrassingly light pink… it looked childish… and what about more hair? He had pubes, naturally, but only a fine smattering of downy hair on his thighs. Slade wasn't really hairy, as some men he had seen, but it was just enough to be really sexy…. especially the trail of hair leading down to the man's crotch. Robin's fingers wandered down there, exploring those some more. Robin wanted that too… From what he remembered of his father, though, he had been rather smooth, so maybe it wouldn't happen… Robin sighed and decided he might have be content with playing with Slade's happy trail… and that wasn't so bad, after all.
"What's the matter?" Slade asked, having heard the sigh.
Robin chuckled. There was no way in hell he was going to tell him.
"Nothing… tired… wanna take a shower?"
"Don't think I have the energy to get up." Slade mumbled, and Robin laughed.
"Oh, poor baby… all exhausted… so I guess you're gonna be useless the rest of the night aren't you?"
Slade snorted.
"You wish. I'm not done with that ass of yours yet."
Slade proved that a few minutes later in the shower, and then again in the bed, before Robin called a truce.
"Okay, you win… I can't take it anymore… you are not useless, 'kay?"
"As long as you got the point…" Slade purred.
"I got it all right… over and over again…" Robin muttered and then grinned. "Could we please get out of here now?"
Slade looked thoughtful.
"Yes… we might have to act again, though…"
"Duh! It's not like we can't walk out of here holding hands…" Robin rolled his eyes.
Slade only chuckled and shook his head.
"Lie down and keep still. Pretend to be unconscious or at least very weak if anyone follows me back, okay?"
"Okay."
"Trust me?"
"… a little…"
Slade smirked.
"Smart boy."
Slade left and was gone for about fifteen minutes. As Robin heard the door open he quickly closed his eyes. Slade wasn't alone.
"You killed him?"
It was Nick asking, and now, free from the drugs, it was all Robin could no not to jump up and attack him.
"Not yet. Didn't want to do it here." Slade answered.
"Why not? We have to get rid of the bedding anyway in case there was an investigation. A bit more DNA wouldn't make a difference."
Slade snorted. "And you are the expert now?"
"No, but I am your boss at the moment. I want what I paid for. Kill the kid."
"You are paranoid… like anyone is even going to notice one less street-rat…" Slade muttered.
"I'm just being careful."
"All right. But I want to move the body quickly afterwards, it will take time to get rid of it, and I guess his bike will have to go too?"
"Yeah… forgot about that…." Nick sounded a bit uncertain.
"That's why you hired a pro." Slade said dryly. Robin heard some beeping noises like from a cell phone and then Slade spoke again. "I have arranged for a van to appear at the back. It should be here in a few minutes. Have the bike loaded when it does."
"Will do. Care to discuss some business while we wait?"
"I don't see why not." Slade agreed.
"Can we leave him here?" Robin heard Nick say.
"The door has a lock, hasn't it? Besides, I doubt that he'll wake up any time soon."
The men left and Robin slowly opened his eyes. How was Slade going to get them out of this? Robin shook his head and sat up half way.
What the hell am I thinking? That lock can't be that good, I'm sure I can pick it... and I'm not drugged anymore, so of course I can escape… and kick some serious ass on the way out, too… He hesitated. But if I do, I will probably screw things up for Slade… I might even put him in danger… Robin sighed and let his head fall back on the pillow with a thud. So I'm gonna lie here like a fucking helpless victim, then…? Yeah… guess I am…But I swear… if anyone as much as JAYWALKS in Jump tomorrow… the loss of masculinity felt better after the silent promise, and as someone rattled the door handle, Robin quickly closed his eyes again.
"So how are you gonna do it? Shoot him?" Nick asked, sounding much too curious.
Slade laughed mockingly.
"Yes, because what you need is more DNA-traces. No I won't shoot him. Why do you ask?"
"I want to watch."
"Are you kidding me? Why?"
"I'm… intrigued…"
"This is my job, not a snuff-show, Nick. Get lost."
"Well, look at it as insurance, then."
"You don't trust me?"
"Only an idiot would."
Slade chuckled at that.
"All right, then… watch all you want… but it's going to cost you a tie back."
"A what?"
Robin heard Slade moving towards the 'windows' of the room and knew what the man had in mind. He decided it was time to wake up. He moved slightly, lifting his head and blinking.
"Hey, the kid is awake!"
"Gray, stay where you are or I'm going to hurt you again." Slade's voice where like a whip, making Robin flinch and freeze up. He knew the man was acting, but….
Nick chuckled.
"Seems like you have him trained already."
"Pain is a great teacher." Slade said simply and returned to the bed holding one of the thick golden silk ropes that were used to hold the curtains. Robin swallowed and couldn't help but crawl backwards. How had Slade planned to do this? The man moved with his usual speed, suddenly straddling Robin to keep him down.
"Slade-" Robin gasped but was cut off.
"This won't hurt, Gray, I promise. Trust me."
Like an idiot? Robin's inner voice asked dryly. It wouldn't look real unless he fought, and, since that was all his brain shouted for him to do, that worked out. All his twisting, bucking and yelling couldn't prevent the silk rope to slide around his throat, though.
Robin thought that Slade would simply tighten the noose a bit, and when he could just barely breathe he let himself go limp, trying to act convincingly. But Slade tightened it further. Robin couldn't breathe at all now, and started to panic for real. He looked up pleadingly into a blank face.
Give me a sign, Slade… anything… just a sign that it's okay… please… please…. The man didn't, however, and, loosing the struggle with his burning lungs, Robin eventually went limp.
"There." Slade said. "Care to check his pulse while I wrap him up?"
Nick hesitantly agreed. He had been on his way to suggest it himself.
"Can't feel a thing." he said after a while. "Hey, why are you using the bedspread?"
"Do you want me to carry a body around openly?"
"Of course not… just… get rid of it afterwards, right?"
Slade just snorted impatiently. After wrapping Robin's body in the fabric he lifted it up.
"There. I better move… I'll contact you in a few days."
Nick waved him off.
Slade tried not to look like he was hurrying, but he had never wanted to run so badly. The van was parked just outside, filled with the emergency equipment he had ordered via the code he had sent to his headquarters. He hopefully wouldn't need them, though.
As soon as he entered the back of the van, the doors closed. He placed Robin on the floor and again he let his lips and hands work on the young man's body… but in a much more dire way than before.
Slade didn't pray. He never did. But he came close this time. He had done it as quickly and carefully as he could, making sure not to crush anything in the tender throat, but Robin was dead, and there were never any guarantees. Slade worked furiously for several minutes, and, finally, Robin started breathing on his own. Slade never cried, but again… he was close this time…
Robin woke up in a bed. He found it strange how that surprised him; after all, he usually woke up in a bed. This was a new one, though, in a room he had never seen before. The rising sun was shining through a panorama window, painting the room strangely pink.
Robin moved his head and grunted. His throat hurt like hell. What…? His memory came flooding back and he sat up with a gasp. Slade had strangled him! He got to his, very shaky, feet and headed for the closest door. Bathroom. He choose another and found another room, looking like a living room. Probably because it was. There was noise coming from behind a partition wall, and Slade appeared.
"Robin... you are awake…"
"No, I'm a damn ghost!" Robin croaked. "What the hell did you do?! Where am I?"
"I killed you. Go back to bed."
Robin stared at Slade.
"This bluntness thing… not working…" he said faintly. He was swaying dangerously on his feet, and was actually glad when Slade simply picked him up. The man carried him back to the bedroom and laid him down.
"I'm sorry. I knew Nick would check. I couldn't fake it."
"What if I had died?" Robin asked indignantly.
"You did."
"I mean died-died!"
Slade sighed, and Robin suddenly noticed how pale he looked. He gave the impression of having been in immense pain. Robin came to wonder if his part had been the easy one. "Slade it's… it's okay…"
"I understand if you never want to see me again."
"Don't be silly, who else will help me bring 'Not' down, huh?" Robin managed a grin, and he saw Slade's face lose some of the tension. "Just do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Never EVER ask me to trust you again."
EPILOGUE (yes, I included it IN the chapter this time! Who-ho!)
It was just before noon when Robin returned to the Tower. Well… returned for the second time. First he had to go back through his secret entrance, change and go back out to enter by the main entrance dressed as Robin. Living two lives were hell sometimes.
Slade had made him rest for a few hours, and then had him do all sorts of tests to see that he was really all right. Some of those Robin didn't think were necessary, but Slade insisted. Robin figured that the man just wanted to touch him, really… it took Robin calling Slade a mother hen to make the man realize that he was being ridiculous. It had been a nice couple of hours, though. Robin smiled to himself as he entered the main room, grateful for his outfit's high neck, because he had a rather nasty bruise around his throat… oh… and a few hickeys.
"Robin!" The shout almost sounded rehearsed, it was that instantaneous.
"Hi guys!" Robin started before being overrun by questions. "Hey, everything is okay… I'm sorry I haven't been in touch. No, Star I'm not hungry… No, BB I wasn't kidnapped by meat-eating plants… Yes, Raven I really am fine… Good to see you too, Cy…"
Robin knew there were hours of questions and talking in front of him, but, luckily, he was saved by the bell, as the alarm went off.
"Do you not want to stay and do the resting?" Starfire asked.
"No, plenty rested, thanks…" Robin said. "Come on!"
Robin couldn't wait to kick some butt, but, alas, that was not to be. As they arrived on the scene it looked like a very sloppy 'smash n' grab'. They usually didn't get the call for things like that, so… A flash of a tattered cape was the answer.
"Red X!" Starfire hissed, and Robin almost burst out laughing. The girl sounded pissed!
Red didn't seem to notice, though, he focused on someone else.
Suddenly Robin found himself in a bone-crushing hug.
"Robin! Damn, there's this rumor going around that Slade killed you last night!"
"Red-what-the-hell!" Robin gasped for breath.
"What? Oh!" Red looked around rather frantically. "Uhhh… sorry… I… just a case of mistaken identity! My bad! Gotta go!" He got away in the nick of time by activating his belt.
There was a rather stretched out silence as the thief had disappeared, finally broken by Beast Boy.
"Dudes… who do you think he thought Robin was, then?"
Robin had the luck of the devil at the moment, because another alarm went off. He gestured to his team to go ahead, and as soon as they were out of sight he stepped close to the nearest alley and extended his arm with a sigh. As expected it was grabbed and he was tugged in.
"Damn, kid I was really worried about you!" Red exclaimed.
"Do you have ANY idea how hard that will be to explain?"
"Nah… you'll manage…" Red chuckled, removed his mask and bent down to give Robin a kiss. His lips only met Robin's finger.
"No, Red… I'm sorry…"
Red straightened up and looked down on him solemnly.
"You're with Slade, aren't you?"
"Yeah… I am… sort of." Robin nodded. "Please don't be angry… you are a great guy and I could fall for you sooo easily, but-"
"It's okay… After the other night I kinda feel like your older brother anyway… can I be that?"
"Only if you promise to be the weird older brother who occasionally perves on me…" Robin grinned.
"Well, naturally!" Red X exclaimed. "Wouldn't have it any other way… and if you ever ditch Slade at the old folk's home…"
"I'll hook up with my bro in no time…" Robin chuckled.
"Good… besides, I've been thinking a lot about Lace lately…"
"Really? Well you are a cute couple…"
"Do you think Slade would be open to a four-way?"
"Doubt it."
"Pity…. you'll really have to work on that egotistical part with him…"
"I'll do that. Ehhh… Red… If you like Lace… you might want to take him out of town for a few days…"
"Know something I don't?"
"Oh, yes. An immense amount. But that's not the issue…. just… trust me, 'kay?" Robin smirked.
Red smirked back and kissed his cheek.
"Will do, little bro. Now go have fun…"
"Yeah… thanks to you…"
"And how did you explain it?" Slade laughed as Robin told him three days later.
"With a mix of drugs, practical jokes and dares…" Robin snorted. "I have no idea if they bought it, but they have dropped the issue at last…Hey, can I take this off yet?" his hand went to the blindfold Slade had made him wear.
"No. Patience."
Robin muttered something under his breath. Slade had taken him somewhere by car and was now leading him to a 'surprise'. He had to have a talk to Slade about surprises.
Suddenly they stopped and Slade's hands started to undo the cloth covering Robin's eyes.
"Surprise…" the man said softly as it fell away.
Robin looked around, his eyes getting rounder.
"This… this is 'Not'! What are we doing here?!"
"We should be here… since it's ours."
"What?"
"It's completely up to you, but I figured that it was the people behind the place you had issues with, not the place itself… I got rid of the persons who were involved or had any knowledge of the auction… there wasn't that many, Nick apparently had trust-issues… but I have kept everything else… business as usual… if you feel like it, there's even a place in the spotlight for you from time to time if you should need it."
"But… but the guests who were bidding…"
"The guest-list has been severely altered. We can turn this place completely legal too, if you want… it's your call…"
"I hope the guest-list includes my pervy older brother?"
"Who?"
"Never mind." Robin grinned. He might just have left out that part… yeah… he had… "I could… still perform sometimes…?" he was somewhat shell-shocked.
"Yes… I'll try to control my jealousy. No promises, though. Do you think you will?" Slade asked, trying for carelessly and missing by a mile.
"I… don't know… being with you, I have a feeling I will feel… seen…"
"Trus- count on it." Slade smiled.
"What about Nick and the others…?"
"Taken care of." Slade saw Robin's look and continued. "Not dead… but taken care of… they will never be seen here again… or father children…" he added quietly.
"I hope it was painful…" Robin growled. "I know it's ugly to think like that, but I do…"
"Oh, it was." Slade grinned. "I doubt that they have stopped screaming yet."
Later they were curled up, entwined, in bed in the apartment where Robin had woken up. It turned out to be rented by Slade, the whole rooftop in fact, and it was down by the waterfront, right across from the Tower. Easy access through the roof made it perfect.
"So… we're in item now?" Robin asked, sounding both unsure and pretty amazed.
"Definitely."
"What if it's only… you know… lust?" Robin said, blushing a bit.
"What if lust is only the starting point? Would that be so wrong?"
"If you ask any moral pillar in the society: yes." Robin muttered.
"I'm not. I'm asking you."
"…Well… in that case… no. Maybe not." Robin mumbled.
"It depends on what you want. Our whole future staked out? All the answers? I'm sorry, but that's impossible. We can only find out with time… if we both want to." Slade said, softly.
"Well… one other thing you need to know about robins… they are very curious birds…" Robin smiled. "I think… I think I want to find out…"
THE END
A/N: the credit for the ending goes to kitsunechibiko who came up with the "Slade taking over the club"-thing… I would never have thought of that myself, and I thought it was a fun twist…
There were several wishes for Batman and the JL to be involved… those who usually read my moaning in the A/N's know that I really don't like to write them… I'm not even that found of Batman… so I left them out… besides, they weren't a part of the Cartoon, so I'm actually being more accurate by leaving them out… ha! I can get away with it! ;o) Sure it would be fun to have them find out, and the Titan's too, but where do you go after the AAAHHH!-moment? What happens? I have no idea….
Ummm… what else… Oh, I hope you have enjoyed this little story… I kept it all nice and light for you! It felt good to write something like this after "The Peace Contract"… happy endings and fluffy love… ahhhh… ;o)
What now? I'm not sure… maybe I'll take that break now… I have stuff to write, and ideas floating around, though… and I will spend some time on Deviant Art, doing a few more Titan's Tails, I think… and some other stuff… So I'll probably see you soon… somewhere… -grin-